Let's talk hockey shall we.  No off season strike.  No drug suspensions.  No problems with the law.  Just good old fashioned sports talk.  The start of the season where Leaf fans rejoice with how great their team looks in the preseason.  Flyer fans just complain that they took away the ladies in the short skirts that clean the ice in Philly.  Every team is on a level playing field.  One thing that I did notice is that the talent is staying with their current teams.  Kane, Toews, Giroux, Getzlaf, and Subban most notably in the past couple of years have stayed with the teams that they were drafted by.  Hopefully this trend continues.  We don't need any announcements of Sidney taking his talents to south beach.  Sid is joining the Panthers? 

Where do we begin?  Let's start with most improved this year.  I think the Islanders have a great shot at getting back to the playoffs.  They have brought in an overpriced, but steady Jaroslav Halak, have solidified the back end, and have a healthy John Tavares.  They were the runner up.  The most improved team and cup contender will be the Dallas Stars.  Top to bottom this team is going to be a force to be reckoned with.  The acquisition of Jason Spezza, the emergence of Tyler Seguin, and the all around play of Jamie Benn will have this team in the running.  I also think Kari Lehtenon can be one of the best if he is able to stay healthy. Their power play should be deadly.  They also have one of the best coaches in Lindy Ruff.  They should be right there with the Hawks, Kings, Ducks, and Blues.  Western Conference just seems to get tougher and tougher.

This might garner some attention, but the team that slides this year is the Colorado Avalanche.  Everything went perfect for them last year.  Every single young talented player they had developed at the same time.  Varlamov played over his head, and Roy was made to look like Punch Imlach.  Sorry everything doesn't always go right one year and continue to go right year after year.  The talent is there no question.  This prediction has a lot to do with them being in the Western Conference and their defense is suspect.  They will not fool anyone this year with their style of play and will fall back to earth.  I predict them to just sneak into the playoffs or miss it entirely. 

Cream of the crop is the Chicago Blackhawks.  Their core of players are fantastic.  Every player has their role.  Toews is a great captain and his supporting cast is the best in the league.  Every line can produce at any point and they have more kids that should get better and better.  They are so good that they have to trade talent away to teams because they can't fit everybody into the lineup or under their cap.  In the East.  It's the Montreal Canadiens.  It pains me to say this.  They have the best goalie in the world.  Their top lines keep getting better and better. Their ability to roll four lines is something in the East that only the Bruins can do.   They have cut the fat of some of their salaries and they are able to play the talent shift after shift.  Subban is going to have a monster year.  They could be destined for the cup.

Where do the Leafs sit in all of this?  They sit where the Philadelphia Flyers do.  Right in the middle of mediocrity.  Toronto's first line is excellent.  After that though?  All it will take is an injury to somebody on that line and they are in big trouble.  They didn't shore up their defense.  Unless Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner make huge leaps this year they will miss the playoffs once again.  As for my Flyers.  Kimmo Timonen went down which is a major blow.  They dealt the contract and heart of Scott Hartnell away.  They need huge years from Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier to stay in the playoffs this year.  One positive with being in the East is that it isn't the death match like the West is.  You can make the playoffs with a few lucky bounces.  This is what the Flyers and Leafs both need to make it there. 

Bullet points for the year.  Carolina Hurricanes end up with the first pick in the draft.  Everybody other then Sid in Pittsburgh struggles to score goals.  Columbus Blue Jackets will be the toughest team in the East to play against.  Steven Stamkos pots 50 .  Vancouver Canucks bounce back and sneak into the 7th spot in the West.  Ben Bishop is not as good as we thought.  LA Kings will regret not buying out Mike Richards (that's an expensive checking centre.)  Cam Ward will be dealt.  Buffalo Sabres will start off hot.  Matt Duchene will be 5th in scoring.  Evgeni Malkin won't be in the top 10.  If the Predators are not in the playoff hunt at the trade deadline Shea Weber will be dealt.  The Toronto Raptors will be the 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. All the Arizona Coyotes wins will be 2-1.  NY Rangers missed their shot at the cup.  It will be a long road back.  No one in the NHL will be suspended for domestic violence.  We will be sick of the Sportnet announcers within the first month of the NHL season.

Stanley Cup Champs - Chicago Blackhawks
2nd to Sidney Crosby in Art Ross - John Tavares
Vezina - Carey Price
Hart - Sidney Crosby
Norris - PK Subban

Have a great year.