NHL Predictions for the 2009 Season…
After reading the expert picks on ESPN.com for the upcoming NHL season, I figured I would give everyone my own take. I will pick who the division winners will be this season and ultimately, the Stanley Cup Champions. Here we go:
Eastern Conference:
Atlantic: Pittsburgh Penguins
Northeast: Boston Bruins
Southeast: Washington Capitals
* If anything, the Eastern Conference is much easier to decide the division winners. It is hard not to choose the Penguins to win the Atlantic being the reigning and defending Stanley Cup Champs. Boston has a stacked team on offense even without Phil Kessel, a Norris winning defensemen in Zdeno Chara and a Vezina winner with Tim Thomas. The Southwest division over the past years has been a close call at the end of the season, but Alexander Ovechkin has become a true leader and will take the Cappies to the top of the division easily.
Western Conference:
Central: Chicago Blackhawks
Northwest: Calgary Flames
Pacific: San Jose Sharks
* The years of Red Wing domination have come to an end in the Central division with Chicago grabbing hold of the title this year. The wings have lost a lot of options on offense and defense, one factor being Marian Hossa, who coincidentally went to the Hawks. Chicago has solid defense, offense and goaltending and the making of a cup-contending team. The Calgary Flames seem to be the best choice this season (it was a toss-up between the Canucks, but I am huge Jarome Iginla fan) in the Northwest as long as goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff and Dion Phaneuf re-emerge as stars of the Flames. With the addition of Dany Heatley on the Sharks and solid goaltending from Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose seems poised to take the division, now lets hope they don’t choke in the playoffs.
Eastern Conference Champions: Boston Bruins
Western Conference Champions: Chicago Blackhawks
* There is no doubt that the Bruins are a cup-contender, especially after the effort last season. The Penguins will put up a fight in the Eastern Conference finals, but the Bruins have one of the best defenses in the league behind Chara and Thomas. In my eyes, defense wins championships and the Bruins can do it. The Blackhawks are the favorite in the west and arguably had the best off-season acquiring Marian Hossa. As long as the goaltending holds up, the Hawks have the scoring to reach the Stanley Cup finals.
Stanley Cup Champions: Chicago Blackhawks
* The Chicago Blackhawks have every element a team needs to win the Stanley Cup and in 2009, the Hawks will be able to accomplish this feat and raise the cup above their heads. If they aren’t able to, can we blame Marian Hossa?
Here is just some quick predictions of who will win the most prominent awards at the end of the 2009 NHL season:
MVP: Alexander Ovechkin
Vezina: Evgeni Nabokov
Norris: Mike Green
Rookie: Victor Hedman
Selke: Mike Richards
Coach: Joel Quenneville
