2012-2013 season standings + reasoning

west:

1. Vancouver Canucks(wins NW division and presidents trophy)

-we are the deepest team in the west, if not the whole league and our goaltending and defense are great. we just need to stay healthy and we have another presidents trophy due to our weak division(tho the teams have improved) and many eastern teams getting better but western teams getting worse.

2. St. Louis Blues(wins central division)

-a great coach and defensive system along with great goaltending and a roster with a lot of depth really makes the blues a great team. i think the teams in there division have gotten worse while the blues have largely stayed the same.

3. LA Kings(wins pacific division)

-tho they did win the cup, you must not forget they barley made the playoffs. a full 82 game season can hurt this team, but they are the cup champs so they might surprise and dominate the regular season much like they did the post season.

4. Chicago Black-hawks

-there teams as a whole is great but the goaltending is still weak and a big concern. if they fix there goaltending i can see them winning there division as of now. they dont

5. San Jose Sharks

-there top 6 is great bottom 6 not so much. there depth will hurt them and goaltending is not great. i dont think they will have enough depth to do great this year but better than last year where they under performed. plus they filled some holes in the defense

6. Detroit Red-Wings

-with the loss of lindstrom they will undoubtedly falter but there team is still good enough to make the playoffs plus they are getting old so they fall a bit in the standings.

7. Minnesota Wild

-part of the reason they were so bad last year was most of there roster got injured so a heathy roster and the additions of both suter and parise will help them a lot and they will finally make the playoffs again.

8. Dallas Stars

-they added a lot to there team with veteran players and depth guys. i can see them finally squeaking into the post season.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Nashville Predators

-with the loss of suter and several other players i just dont see this team being good enough to get into the playoffs. they lost top 6 forwards and didnt add much to there team. rinne will steal a few games for them but i just see other teams getting better and this team getting worse.

10. Anaheim Ducks

-they did improve there team mainly on defense but if there stars under perform again i dont see them being playoff bound. depth is still a major issue they need to address and if hiller is good enough to get them to the post season.

11. Edmonton Oilers

-great youth on this team. they will compete in a few years but there defense is still not good. they need to fix there defense if they want to make the playoffs. forwards are great tho

12. Calgary Flames

-iginla and kipper are getting older and cant carry that team forever. they added some good pieces but they also lost some good pieces. i think this will be the breaking point there going to start rebuilding and trade away some players for young guns and picks.

13. Phoenix Coyotes

-they lost some guys who contributed heavily to there team and if doan leaves there even worse off. plus i think mike smith was a one hit wonder i dont think he will do aswell next year.

14. Colorado Avalanche

-a young team inexperienced and tho they did improve i still think they need more. looking at there defense and i see a bunch of 5th-6th d-men playing in there top 4. plus varlamov is still a question mark.i think they drop and look for another top 5 draft pick

15. Cloumbus Blue Jackets

-there defense looks good, goaltending and forwards not so much. they lost there top point producer and got a few guys that will even things out a bit but there still largely the same team as last year. maybe worse

Playoff Predictions: Round #1

1. Vancouver canucks vs 8. Dallas stars: Vancouver in 4

-we are the better team in all aspects. better offense, defense, toughness, goaltending etc.. we win easy

2.St Louis blues vs 7. Minnesota wild :Minnesota in 7

-i think with the stars on Minnesota roster they can really put a dent in st louis's defensive system. st.louis has more depth but there top 6 id worse than the wilds. suter and parise will help a lot and backstrom will have to shine if they want to make it out of the first round. i say halak and backstrom are roughly the same level when healthy.

3.LA kings vs 6. detroit red-wings: LA in 6

LA is tougher, younger, and deeper than the wings. la has better goaltending and defense than the wings and i dont think the wings can handle a team like this.

4.Chicago Black-hawks vs 5. San Jose Sharks: Chicago in 7

these teams are very even. both have great top 6 but goaltending is again an issue. i think the hawks are a tougher team and tho SJ goaltending is slightly better than the hawks i still think with the hawks ability to score and if crawford plays aswell as he did against us they can move on.

Round #2

1.Vancouver canucks vs 7. Minnesota wild: Vancouver in 6

-its nice to have a division rival to play in the playoffs, but ultimatley we are the better team. they had the star power against the blues but we have more star power. the sedins>suter and parise. kesler,booth>koivu, heatley. we are deeper, better defensivley, better goaltending, better toughness. we take this series and make the wild division rivals now.

3.LA kings vs 4.Chicago Blackhawks: LA in 5

-LA is a better version of the hawks. they are bigger, tougher, more well rounded and a lot better goaltending. LA can bully the hawks because they dont have any big enforcers that will mess anyone up. plus LA is a lot deeper team. quick will outplay crawford in every game. i can see the hawks maybe win one game but thats all.

Western Conference finals

1.Vancouver canucks vs 3.LA Kings. Vancouver in 7

-yes we meet our nemesis in the playoffs again but we are the better team. our roster is deeper and our goaltending is on par with there's. toughness will not be such a big issue this year because we have gotten better and meaner. with kassian on a line with the sedins, brown wont try anything unless he wants a fight and with our team healthy we can win.

so thats my predictions for the western conference.next will be the eastern conference and the finals