The NFL kicked off the meaningless (and ridiculously dangerous) preseason Sunday night. While the Dallas Cowboys left Tony Romo on the bench with all the obligatory turnover jokes, the arrival of the pigskin means that the NHL is soon to follow.
Over the next few weeks we will predict and prognosticate about who the top teams are and who or what could surprise the NHL in 2013-14. The usual suspects will certainly be in play next season and hopefully the stars will shine on and help us forget the season that was nearly lost less than a year ago.
The Eastern Conference looks different with three divisions condensed into two. Detroit and Columbus replace Winnipeg in the 16-team conference and will now occupy the Metropolitan and Atlantic Divisions. With a new playoff format in play this season, division rivalries will be renewed and should generate some of the bitterness from the former Wales and Campbell Conferences
Here are my top five Stanley Cup contenders in the East and why I think they will be the teams to beat in the 2013-14 season.
Boston Bruins
The defending conference champions were so close to the Stanley Cup until they blinked for 17 seconds and it got away from them. Boston will certainly have a say in next season’s playoffs as they look to have reloaded will trimming some fat from their already potent roster. Tyler Seguin is replaced with Loui Eriksson while Jarome Iginla fills the cagy veteran role vacated by Jaromir Jagr. The rest of the squad is intact and will be tough to knock off as the kings of the east.
Detroit Red Wings
The perennially powerful Red Wings look to make some noise in their new Eastern Conference digs. They’ll enter the Atlantic Division after fleecing new division rivals Ottawa and Florida of Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss respectively. Detroit will look to build on the strength of a young defense anchored by goaltender Jimmy Howard. Eurotwins Pavel Datsyuk and captain Henrik Zetterberg will drive the offense and make the Wings unwelcome newcomers to their conference.
New York Rangers
With a new face behind the bench, will the real New York Rangers show up in 2013/14? John Tortorella’s demanding defensive style took its toll on the talented Rangers and it showed last season. With a roster that was put together to contend for a Stanley Cup, new coach Alain Vigneault will attempt to help right the Rangers’ ship. His offensive style of coaching should better suit gifted stars like Rick Nash, Brad Richards and Derek Stepan. The strength of the Rangers still lies in goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, but he won’t have to shoulder as much of the load with the shackles removed from New York’s offensive horses.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Everyone had the Penguins penciled, actually Sharpied in, as Stanley Cup favorites after GM Ray Shero’s shrewd trade deadline deals last spring. However, Pittsburgh went out with a whimper against a rugged Boston team that looked hungrier than the talented Pens. The big question for Pittsburgh will be devising a plan to overcome the successful blueprint developed by the Boston Bruins of how to defeat Pittsburgh. Talent will only get you so far in the NHL. Goaltending could be an issue again if Marc-Andre Fleury is still battling confidence issues.
Ottawa Senators
Coach Paul MacLean was the Jack Adams award winner for his ability to make the Senators contenders even after losing his top three players for significant games. With Jason Spezza, Erik Karlsson and goaltender Craig Anderson back and healthy, Ottawa will contend in the East. The void of their captain Alfredsson was quickly filled with the acquisition of sniper Bobby Ryan. The Senators are strong and young top to bottom and showed that they can be a force with a makeshift roster.