With the season beginning today (and in just a couple minutes) now is the perfect time to unveil some general NHL predictions, award winners, etc.
Eastern Champion – Pittsburgh
No Sidney Crosby, at least for the foreseeable future, but after watching the Penguins play in person a week ago, no team looks better than they do right now (I know, it’s preseason blah blah blah). James Neal will be a key for the Pens this year as he enters his first full season with the team, and of course we are all interested in seeing how the Penguins cope without Sid. Defensively Marc Andre Fleury has the ability to shut teams out, but has a propensity to give up some horrible gaffes as well. Still, the Pens are pretty damn good.
West Champion – San Jose
Forget the choker label, the Sharks are the best team in the west. Right now the West looks to be a bit of a two horse race between them and Vancouver, but with all the Sharks’ talent up front they look like the best team in the West to me. The obvious question is what happens in net.
Cup champ – Pittsburgh
Hart – Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh
At the aforementioned preseason game I attended, Malkin looked like he was playing a different sport than everyone else on the ice. He’s motivated, eager to prove doubters wrong, whatever other cliches you want to throw out there, but above all he is tremendously skilled and has the ability to put up points in bunches.
Vezina – Ryan Miller, Buffalo
Tim Thomas was phenomenal last year, and Carey Price basically dragged the Habs to the playoffs. But Miller is the guy for the Sabres, who are short on offensive skill and proven defensemen.
Calder – Stephane Da Costa, Ottawa
The Calder race looks especially good, with Sean Couturier making the Flyers, Adam Larsson making the Devils roster, RNH making the Oilers roster, Scheifele making the Jets roster (though hopefully for not more than nine games), as well as a number of college free agents and graduates making their mark. If the injury bug keeps hitting Toronto Matt Frattin could make a charge, but my bet is on the former Merrimack Warrior, who was one of the most sought after college free agents in recent memory.