Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Preview of the Metropolitan division and Who Will Win Lord Stanley's Cup?

          With the 2013-14 NHL season underway, I will preview all 8 teams in the Metropolitan division, with their strengths, weaknesses, and my prediction for that squad. During the off season, the NHL and NHLPA approved the division realignment, which has shook up the conferences quite a bit. Instead of 6 divisions (3 in each conference), there is now only 4. Columbus and Detroit has moved to the East, and Winnipeg has moved to the West. Lets take a look at where the eight competitors stand, and who will bring home Lord Stanley's Cup this year.

          The Metropolitan division consists of 5 former Atlantic division contenders and now 3 new teams.

          Carolina Hurricanes - The Staal brothers come to mind when you think of the Hurricanes. A team that missed the playoffs in the lockout shortened season, and could very well miss out this year because of there defensive struggles. Losing Joni Pitkanen to injury in the off season will play a big part, and now Carolina looks to Cam Ward as their savior, who could be out by the trade deadline if the team is not performing well.
          Prediction: 8th in the division, no playoffs, and Cam Ward is out as goalie.

          New Jersey Devils - Acquiring Corey Schneider at the draft shocked the NHL world, as the Devils possibly have the best 1-2 tandem in the league, unless Marty Brodeurs' age slows him down and New Jersey misses the playoffs. They signed Damien Brunner, and Ryan Clowe during the off season, along with Jaromir Jagr, but I just don't see this team as contenders and they sit second to last in the division in my prediction
          Prediction: 7th in the division, no playoffs, and Jagr is traded to a contender at the deadline.

          Columbus Blue Jackets - This team is so close to playing in late April they can taste it. But the taste won't be too sweet this year. The reason for that is, they are in a new conference in a new division playing tougher opponents, and need to adjust which will take them a year. The talent on this squad is off the charts, but they will not have success until late in the season which will prove to be too late. Next off season they will build up their defense and become a dominant team in the East.
          Prediction: 6th in the division, no playoffs, dangerous threat for the future

          New York Rangers - A team that will rely on their goalie to bail them out in a ton of games tells you one thing, they have trouble scoring. I know i'll get questioned on why I have them 6th in the divison, considering they have Nash, Stepan, Callahan, Richards, and Hagelin, but they lost Gaborik who is a dominant scorer. Their defense is good, but you can't win games if you don't get goals. With new teams joining the division, I can see New York falling in the bottom of the standings simply because of not enough goals scored.
          Prediction: 5th in the division, no playoffs, bounce back year in 2014-15

          New York Islanders - This is a team that should be in the playoffs for the next 5 years, because sooner rather than later they will have a goalie that is consistent, and I believe Ryan Miller will one day be that guy. They have the potential to be good, and this season is exactly what they will be.
          Prediction: 4th in the division, playoff bound, Tavares has huge year as captain
          
          Philadelphia Flyers - A healthy defense, new goalies, added veteran leadership, and one of the top 5 players in the NHL (Claude Giroux) will prove to be what the Flyers needed to get back into the playoffs. The addition of former Tampa captain Vincent Lecavalier, former New York Islander captain Mark Streit, and rejoining the Flyers for his second stint goaltender Ray Emery, who is coming off a 17-1 year backing up Corey Crawford for the Blackhawks, who are the defending Stanley Cup champions. With these additions brings a veteran presence to the locker room, something the Flyers can definitely build off. I look for the young studs Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier, and Matt Read to have solid years and be a big reason they make the playoffs.
          Prediction: 3rd in the division, playoff bound, Peter Laviolette does not get fired, but rather gets a contract extension when the season is over with

          Washington Capitals - Ovechkin and company lead the Caps back into the playoffs, as Braden Holtby has a career year. Mike Green and John Carlson both have good arguments to be the Norris trophy winner, and could this be the year the Capitals finally make it out of the first round?
          Prediction: 2nd in the division, playoff bound, Ovie scores 60

          Pittsburgh Penguins - Easily the best team in the East, if not the whole league. Led by Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Sutter, Letang and Orpik, the Penguins will win the division, and possibly the President's trophy. However, things could go terribly wrong for the Pens if they don't figure out their goalie situation. Marc-Andre Fluery is not the goalie he used to be, and Tomas Vokoun is coming off the back surgery which might force Pittsburgh to get a backup, which could be former Flyer Ilya Bryzgalov. The Penguins should have no problem scoring, but if they get in a slump, they might be looking up in the standings instead of down.
          Prediction: 1st in the division, playoff bound, Crosby plays all 82 and wins MVP

          With the division set, I'd like to give my prediction for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and ultimately who will win it all.

Eastern Conference:

1st - Pittsburgh Penguins
2nd - Detroit Red Wings
3rd - Washington Capitals
4th - Boston Bruins
5th - Ottawa Senators
6th - Philadelphia Flyers
7th - New York Islanders
8th - Toronto Maple Leafs

Western Conference:

1st - Chicago Blackhawks
2nd - Los Angeles Kings
3rd - St. Louis Blues
4th - Vancouver Canucks
5th - Minnesota Wild
6th - San Jose Sharks
7th - Edmonton Oilers
8th - Nashville Predators

East Playoffs:

Penguins defeat Maple Leafs in 5 games
Islanders shock Detroit in 7 games
Flyers beat the Capitals in 6 games
Senators beat the Bruins in 6 games

Penguins defeat Islanders in 6 games
Flyers defeat Senators in 5 games setting up "Battle of Pennsylvania" ECF matchup

Penguins defeat Flyers in 7 games to advance to Stanley Cup

West Playoffs:

Blackhawks defeat Predators in 4 games
Kings defeat Oilers in 5 games
Blues defeat Sharks in 7 games
Wild defeat Canucks in 6 games

Blackhawks defeat Wild in 5 games
Blues defeat Kings in 7 games

Blues defeat Blackhawks in 6 games to advance to Stanley Cup

Stanley Cup Final:

St. Louis Blues defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in 7 games to hoist their first Stanley Cup as a franchise!

Thanks for reading!
- Jimmy "the Fish" Forte (Associate producer for the Sports Goombahs radio show)
          
        

         

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