Realignment hasn’t changed the NHL balance of power even with the Red Wings’ move to the East many years after choosing to remain in the West in order to exploit what Detroit management then perceived as an easier path to the playoffs.
Nope, the path to the Stanley Cup will still go through Chicago and Los Angeles, homes of the last two champions, and if the NHL had been truly creative in recasting its look, we’d have a crossover semifinals to ensure the last two teams standing would be the best two teams.
Hybrid icing has been adopted as part of the game, a less than aesthetically pleasing but necessary response to the inherent danger of high speed chases to the wall.
Good: fewer broken legs and ankles as a result of accidental collisions in pursuit of the puck. Bad: the expected same number of brain injuries and broken facial bones from punches being thrown by the union’s protected class of enforcers in pursuit of the code.
THE POST’S POWER RANKINGS
1. Kings: Size, speed, strength, depth on the blue line, outstanding on both sides of the puck, elite presence in net with Jonathan Quick and kids awaiting promotion.
2. Blackhawks: Perfect mixture of an elite nucleus supplemented by a feeder system of high-end kids such as Brandon Saad. Might not be two forwards you’d want more to play in a big game than Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
3. Senators: You’d trade Daniel Alfredsson for Bobby Ryan, wouldn’t you? Eugene Melnyk is, we’re told, already $4M over budget, so what will the owner do when the team needs to invest more in order to add pieces at the deadline?
4. Blues: They put opponents through the wringer almost every night, with balance throughout the lineup and strength on the blue line three pairs deep. A breakout year by Jake Allen in net (or a full, healthy season from Jaroslav Halak) would elevate the team.
5. Penguins: Have become the 2001-08 and 2010-12 Yankees of the NHL, a regular-season powerhouse undermined in the postseason by critical flaws. In other words, does GM Ray Shero have the organizational assets to move for a goaltender at the deadline?
6. Bruins: Goaltending and defense remain towering strengths, Loui Eriksson should turn into a quintessential Bruin, but there’s a question whether Jarome Iginla can thrive through the 82-game grind and whether Milan Lucic will sleepwalk through the regular season the way he did last time?
7. Sharks: This has just got to be the last ride in San Jose for impending free agent Joe Thornton, doesn’t it? And when will the chatter start about Jumbo coming to New York to team up with Rick Nash?
8. Red Wings: The NHL’s shining example of a winning culture elevating a team’s talent.
9. Rangers: Having a clean slate equates to having no excuses about offense being held back by the guy behind the bench. In need of some bulk up front to become a serious Cup contender. Will be finished if Henrik Lundqvist’s unresolved future becomes a primary topic following the Olympics.
10. Capitals: Finally return to the Patrick Division only to find it has been renamed in honor of the Mets. Mikhail Grabovski vs. Mike Ribeiro: discuss.
11. Wild: Zach Parise, impact dimmed by the lockout, ready to lead by example.
12. Maple Leafs: Boston has one Cup and one other trip to the Final since dealing Phil Kessel for the right to draft Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton, so the $64 Million Question is how can Toronto ever win the deal?
13. Canucks: Over/under on the number of games it takes the Vancouver coach to split up the Sedin twins? Or to being able to tell them apart, which comes first?
14. Blue Jackets: But only if Sergei Bobrovsky, a conditioning zealot, isn’t a one-hit wonder, and if Marian Gaborik gets his every-other-year 40 goals.
15. Canadiens: Sorry sight indeed, the way the Habs went down in the playoffs. Brandon Prust has the right idea: it’s only pain.
16. Islanders: They’ve got 34 more games to navigate this time, meaning a much heavier workload on Evgeni Nabokov.
17. Jets: Out of the dreaded Southeast, but could use more consistency in goal from the talented but erratic Ondrej Pavelec.
18. Flyers: Ray Emery only second most significant acquisition of goaltender, with Ron Hextall having joined front office from L.A. as GM-in-waiting.
19. Ducks: Finally broke up the combo of Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry, need more from an influx of Entry Level guys.
20. Devils: Cory Schneider likely the most important offseason acquisition by any team in the NHL, but it will take all of Pete DeBoer’s powers to oversee a smooth transition from Martin Brodeur.
21. Coyotes: Unencumbered by NHL oversight but still a bare-bones operation.
22. Lightning: Lots of sizzle with Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis, but that hole in goal overshadows everything else.
23. Stars: GM Jim Nill brings the Detroit model with him while Lindy Ruff imports the Buffalo experience. OK, so on balance that leaves work to be done.
24. Predators: Somehow, someone will attempt to blame this on Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn.
25. Oilers: Dallas Eakins, no longer the best young coach outside the NHL, charged with turning young horses into a team.
26. Sabres: Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek as rental properties. What could go wrong?
27. Hurricanes: Well, things seem to have, uh, (Eric-Jordan-Jared) Staal-ed, for the Metropolitan team.
28. Avalanche: It will take time for Broadway Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy to restore Glory Days that have long since passed by the franchise.
29. Flames: Waiting for Brian Burke to start advising Jay Feaster.
30. Panthers: So maybe it’s Tim Thomas the Penguins target at the deadline?
LARRY BROOKS’ PREDICTIONS
East: 1. Senators; 2. Penguins; 3. Bruins; 4. Red Wings; 5. Rangers; 6. Capitals; 7. Maple Leafs; 8. Blue Jackets
West: 1. Kings; 2. Blackhawks; 3. Blues; 4. Sharks; 5. Wild; 6. Canucks; 7. Jets; 8. Ducks
Eastern Finals: Senators over Bruins
Western Finals: Kings over Blackhawks
Stanley Cup Final: Kings over Senators
Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby, Penguins
Norris Trophy: Drew Doughty, Kings
Vezina Trophy: Jonathan Quick, Kings
Calder Trophy: Boone Jenner, Blue Jackets
Adams Trophy: Paul MacLean, Senators
First coach fired: Peter Laviolette, Flyers
BRETT CYRGALIS’ PREDICTIONS
East: 1. Penguins; 2. Bruins; 3. Senators; 4. Rangers; 5. Red Wings; 6. Maple Leafs; 7. Islanders; 8. Flyers
West: 1. Blackhawks; 2. Kings; 3. Sharks; 4. Blues; 5. Canucks; 6. Wild; 7. Avalanche; 8. Ducks
East Finals: Senators over Rangers
West Finals: Blues over Sharks
Stanley Cup Final: Senators over Blues
Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby, Penguins
Norris Trophy: Erik Karlsson, Senators
Vezina Trophy: Jonathan Quick, Kings
Calder Trophy: Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche
Adams Trophy : Claude Julien, Bruins
First coach fired: Peter Laviolette, Flyers