The fourth and final division is the Pacific. It is home to at least four teams that could win the Western Conference.

How They Will Finish:

7. Calgary Flames +4000

Here they are. The worst team in hockey. They have next to nothing in the forwards department. They will be relying heavily on defenseman Dennis Wideman to create the offense and lead the defense. Then behind that they have Karri Ramo, who hasn’t played since 2009, and Joey MacDonald who has the highest GAA among active netminders with at least 70 starts.

6. Phoenix Coyotes +1600

The Coyotes are just straight up mediocre. Their mediocre offseason, was fitting but not helpful.

5. Edmonton Oilers +650

How many years of top picks does it take to rebuild a franchise? It feels like Edmonton has been bad forever at this point. However, I like that they brought in AHL coach Dallas Eakins. Now he has had a full offseason to work these young kids. I’m just not sure if they can be consistent enough to live up to the hype. +650 is not the value you are looking for from a perennial bottom dweller.

4. Vancouver Canucks +350

I really need someone to sit me down and explain how this Rangers Canucks pseudo coach trade went down. Who thought it would be a good idea to take the defensive minded coach away from the team with a rock solid goalie and place him into the offensively talented team with a headcase of a goaltender? Conversely why would you want the offensive minded coach on the team that plays great defense? Neither the Canucks or Rangers are going to do shit this year, and it’s all their front office’s fault.

3. Anaheim Ducks +450

The Ducks are legit. They got better and deeper on offense and have some nice pieces in the defensive unit that could make them a complete team. And I say complete because everyone should remember Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth standing on their heads for most of last season. You don’t start a season 22-3-4 because it’s a fluke. Not to forget that playoff loss to the Red Wings in the first round may end up unleashing them this year. I have high hopes for this club, they could win themselves a championship.

2. San Jose Sharks +450

The Sharks found something late in the season last year. They struggled big time to score goals and then suddenly coach Todd McLellan took 6’5 defenseman Brent Burns and put him up front on offense. In the next 23 games he tallied 20 points. He will be side by side with Joe Thornton and newly acquired Tyler Kennedy. This team has some offensive depth and defensive prowess. They believe in Antii Niemi and they should, the dude was a stud last year. The Sharks are going to be a threat even if some people are writing them off before the season for the last three or four years.

1. LA Kings +140

The loss of Dustin Penner is going to hurt but I really think this may dominate the most in the NHL this year. They have the pedigree and the talent to do it. Even in a let down year last year, they made it to the Conference Finals before losing to the Blackhawks. They are going to come back really strong this year. Expect a lot of Bruins-Kings Stanley Cup Final talk early in the season.

Best Future Bets:

SJ Sharks to win the West 10-1

LA Kings to win the Stanley Cup 12-1

mlz

Tuesday, October 1, 2013