NHL Picks and Things to Watch For This Season

Each of us here at TPTFUA have made our picks for the upcoming 08-09 NHL season, and have included a few of the trends that we'll be watching for this year - a feature we intend to duplicate for all the major sports seasons in Toronto. So take our words for what they're worth (spoiler alert: nothing!) and be sure to check back in April to see how we fared...



#1) Tex's picks...

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic - Philly
Northeast - Montreal
Southeast - Washington

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central - Detroit
Northwest - Calgary
Pacific - Dallas

Eastern Conference Finals: Montreal over Pittsburgh
Western Conference Finals: Detroit over Calgary
Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit over Montreal

Things to Watch for This Season: I'm making these picks, and following the 08-09 season, from the most gorgeous city in North America: San Diego (discovered by the Germans in 1904). I'm here after spending the past 5 years in LA and, suffice it to say, I am an island of NHL fandom. The subject has been beaten to death: Americans don't like hockey and don't pay attention to you. But after 5 years of trying to convince American friends and co-workers otherwise, I've just come to this conclusion: I don't care. You guys can keep your wresting, MMA and arena league football - and I'll keep one of the most storied leagues on the planet. Its a game played by humble and tough young men (see Smokey's comments below) who don't have champagne bukkake parties with each other after simply winning a wild card series. Its a sport filled with intense tradition and reverence for those traditions. So if ESPN wants to shun it - then I'll tune out the 4-letter. I'll sacrifice my hard earned $ for the CentreIcePack, will get my highlights on the web and don't need a man with a mullet to tell me who to look out for when there are a slew of talented writers only a mouse click away. In short, let the ratings drop and the Americans tune out. Let Balsillie move the Preds to Hamilton, let the Panthers move to Winnipeg, let the rest of the warm weather teams fold and let Bettman's head roll. The game will be stronger for it - and the true fans (of which there are many) will be waiting there on the other side. In the meantime, I'm heading to the beach.

Oh, and Tampa Bay is going to suck. Melrose won't get fired, but its only because the new owners are young guys who don't want to look stupid. Mark my words, this club may not even make the playoffs - but PHX will!


#2) Billy Bee's picks...

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic - Pittsburgh (Why: is it wise to pick against Crosby and Malkin? Sure Malkin might bolt to Russia for a few extra million and a couple of Anna Kournikova clones, but for now, I like the young Pens. Of course, Steve "the missile" Donwie might be able to cheap shot both guys, so Philly is always a contender)

Northeast - Montreal (Why: I have no idea, the rest of this division is radioactive, head lined by our beloved/loothed Maple Leafs. I feel like I just picked the one eyed king in the land of the blind)

Southeast - Washington (Why? Cause Ovchekin is awesome beyond words. You think Crosby cried hard after he lost his Canadian Junior's jersey, wait until he gets his lunch eaten by Ovie in the playoffs)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Caveat - I didn't even know that the Western Conference plays regular season games. I just assumed Detroit just shows up in the Cup Finals every year.

Central - Detroit (Why? Hockeytown USA, they draft guys in Rd 6 who turn out to be amazing, and they are so good they can let a senior citizen play defense for them, and still be Cup winners)

Northwest - Colorado (Why? I dispise anything that comes from Calgary

Pacific - Vancouver (Why? Because they are the first team I could think of in the division because I never stay awake long enough to see any of these guys play)

Things to Watch for This Season: When will the Leafs officially start to tank their season, so they can have a realistic shot at winning the "Jonathan Tavares" lottery? My best guess NEVER because doing so would make way too much sense, and it might enable the Leafs a realistic shot at winning a cup in a few years. Why do I think this? Because I think it is the manifest destiny of the Leaf's to exceed the 100 year drought precedent that the Cubs have set. There are 60 more years of suffering to go, woohoo. Also, will Ovchekin decapitate someone with a hit in the playoffs this year?

#3) Richie's picks...

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic - Pittsburgh
Northeast - Leafs
Southeast - Washington

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central - Detroit
Northwest - Edmonton
Pacific - San Jose

Eastern Conference Finals: Toronto over Montreal
Western Conference Finals: Nashville over Phoenix
Stanley Cup Finals: Toronto over Nashville

Things to Watch for This Season: I like the Leafs sleeper potential. Ron Wilson's quote about "It doesn't matter how many games we win this year" has got the opponents right where we want 'em. Talk quietly and carry a big stick. While the Cubs may lose for another 100 years, the Leafs are winners in my heart. Quick cut to a shot of Doug Gilmour faking right, then left, then slipping the wrap-around behind Cujo for dramatic effect.


#4) Smokey's picks...

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic - Pittsburgh

Northeast - Montreal
Southeast - Washington

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central - Detroit
Northwest - Calgary

Pacific - San Jose

Eastern Conference Finals: Pittsburgh over Montreal
Western Conference Finals: San Jose over Detroit
Stanley Cup Finals: San Jose over Pittsburgh

Things to Watch for This Season: It's a great time to be a hockey fan, isn't it? The depth of the younger generation of the NHL is absolutely amazing, and it just seems to get better. Players like Jarome Iginla, Vincent Lecavelier, and Dany Heatley have become the elder statesmen of a league that was in total disarray in only too recent history. The NHL is in great shape in terms of talent. Sid The Kid and Alexander The Great are the obvious focal points of the league, but the Young NHL has talent that we have never seen. Kane, Toews, Spezza, Nash to name just a few. Phanuef is a monster who has been laying out hits that resemble Scott Stevens. Evgeni Malkin also came into his own last year, and is a treat to watch. This league rules.


#5) Jimmy's picks...

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic - Pittsburgh
Northeast - Montreal
Southeast - Carolina

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central - Detroit
Northwest - Minnesota
Pacific - Anaheim

Other East Playoff Teams - New York Rangers, Philly, Tampa Bay, Washington, Toronto
Other West Playoff Teams - Chicago, San Jose, Dallas, Phoenix, Edmonton

East Finals - Pittsburgh over Washington
West Finals - Dallas over San Jose
Stanley Cup - Pittsburgh over Dallas


#6) Nickey Finn’s Picks:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic: Pittsburgh
Northeast: Montreal
Southeast: Tampa Bay

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central: Nashville
Northwest: Calgary
Pacific: San Jose

East Final: Habs over Pittsburgh
West Final: Dallas over San Jose
CUP: Montreal over Dallas