The L.A. Kings' fast start will come in handy later when they are adding up their meager win total. Anze Kopitar is the only pure scorer and will need help. The Ducks will make things interesting as guys like Getzlaf grow into Gordie Howe, but it is San Jose that has the horses to take the Pacific Division.
San Jose Sharks - With Thornton, Heatley and Marleau they have as good a first line as there is the NHL and toss in Joe Pavelski, Ryan Clowe and an explosive Devin Setoguchie, and secondary scoring won't be an issue.
Dan Boyle leads the defence and is one of the true elite NHL players.
Even Microsoft can't spell the names of their goalies but Nittymaki and Anton Niemi give them a good tandem and Nittymaki started red hot. This usually means a cold stretch is on the horizon, but that's why teams employ at least two net minders.
Anaheim Ducks - The star power of Bobby Ryan and the proven success of Getzlaf and Perry, along with the ageless wonder, Teemu Selanne, who will go out in style and in the playoffs, makes the Ducks legitimate. Grinders like Kyle Chipchura and Todd Marchant provide the dirty work necessary to keep the big guys on the scoresheet.
Thedefence is a little thin, but if Visnovsky, Lydmann and Sutton stay healthy then Jonas Hiller should be fine. Hiller's butterfly style suits him and he is as quick as a cat for a big man.
Dallas Stars - Tough call here with not much of a buffer over clubs like L.A. Brad Richards and Carlyle's Brenden Morrow will lead the club offensively and provide leadership and class to the organization. James Neal is being groomed as a power forward and has the tools for the job but needs to play tougher. Youngster Loui Erikkson might develop into a 30-goal man if they can get meat on his bones.
Kari Lehtonen started ice cold between the pipes and with Andrew Raycroft as the backup plan, Lehtonen better straighten things out fast.
LA Kings - Beyond Kopitar there isn't much to keep you from spending your California leisure time skateboarding down Venice Beach unless you've been banned by police for harassing locals and scaring the kids with your leather Speedo.They do have one of the NHL's best defencemen in Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson is a looming star who plays a physical style so violent it often takes him out of the play. He can be a cross between Pronger and Bouwmeester and will soon need to be paid as much. I might already hate him as much as Pronger.
The Kings still have aging Ryan Smith, but the local bookmakers have him at six to one odds that he will be injured before Christmas. Handzus and Ponikarovsky are serviceable players, but watch for Justin Williams to churn out a splendid 30 goal-plus season with his skill set.
Phoenix Coyotes - I can't remember how the Cinderella book ended and if she went on to a world of eternal joy and happiness, but last year's run by the Coyotes was an anomaly. Their own fairy tale will eventually land them in another venue and with enough support transportation, bullets and money I could drop by Bettman's office for a visit on behalf of the Winnipeg Jets fans who built a palace of a rink and then washed it in hot water, put it into the dryer and it ended up not fitting.
Lets face it - that's exactly what happened to Bettman himself and his "short man syndrome" is a farce when you see 5,000 to 6,000 bored fans wondering if there is still enough light outside to fit in another nine holes. Their fan base is made up ofmainly homeless middle class types who were forced to foreclose on their mortgage and use the rink as a place to sleep.?
While they're at it, let's move a franchise to Saskatoon - give us two weeks notice and we'll have the rink expanded to fit in at least 20,000 fans a game.
Like most leagues, the NHL is focused on cutting back on the runaway violence and "kill-shots" that will eventually maim someone. Like most sports fans, I just finished watching the plays of the day on TSN and the devil in me took a strange pleasure in seeing the bodies fly through air with the greatest of ease.
Where is the balance? Ask Bettman - he seems to have all the answers.
