With so many things going on in the sports world these days, from pre-playoff playoff games to the looming NFL trade deadline and the continuing recovery effort from last Monday night, it is easy to lose sight of the NHL.
There are all sorts of plot lines weaving through the frozen ponds that deserve attention.
The most important is how each team will do, and how good their chances are of hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup. Let’s start in New England.
Northeast
Boston is the trendy pick because, well, there is no other viable option. Montreal can score, but so does whomever they are playing.
Ottawa is average across the board. Buffalo, despite its best efforts, is still not Canadian.
Winners: Everyone except Toronto.
Losers: The Maple Leafs. They gave up all hope at a future when they gave Boston two first-round picks (2010 and 2011) and a second round pick (2010) for Phil Kessel. Then they signed the former Gopher to a five-year, $27 million contract.
Kessel is good, but even if they have Ovechkin, I would say they got fleeced.
Atlantic
Pittsburgh is the favorite, if for no other reason than they are the defending champs.
Philadelphia should push the Penguins, but a title makes Sidney Crosby seem less like a snotty kid and more like a standoffish vet.
Winners: The Islanders. They got their Crosby with No. 1 pick John Tavares in last June’s draft. They’ll get their other Crosby with the first pick in next June’s draft.
Losers: New York City. The Rangers gave Marian Gaborik $7.5 million a year to play 30 games.
Southeast
Washington wins this division by virtue of being the only team capable of doing so.
Winners: Printing companies. Map makers should reap massive profits from everyone in D.C. who need directions to find their home in the Southeast.
Losers: The world of hockey. Raleigh and Atlanta? Tampa Bay and Sunrise? They have hockey teams there? What’s next, a team in Arkansas. (I’m kidding, Bettman. Don’t even think about it.)
Pacific
The west coast has teams too? L.A.? San Jose? Phoenix? Dallas is in the Pacific division?
The Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA pulls more fans than the Kings and the Coyotes can’t seem to figure out if they’re coming or going.
Anyway, the Sharks will win, and then fold in the playoffs like Kimbo Slice facing a real, sober fighter.
Winners: There are no winners here. Losers: Uh, Dallas. Do you even have to ask?
Central
Chicago got more than a prolific scorer when they drafted Patrick Kane. They got a playmaker that can intimidate even the stingiest of cab drivers.
The Red Wings had better look out. If Kane feels the least bit slighted, he may beat one of them and empty the contents of their pockets. (There are no pockets in breezers? I don’t think Kane cares.)
Winners: St. Louis. They should sell out several games this year with two Stanley Cup contenders in their division.
Losers: Ohio. Seriously, the Browns and Bengals are the definition of loser and the Cavaliers can’t win with LeBron. And the Indians? Yeah, right. Go, Blue Jackets?
Northwest
Calgary and Vancouver will battle in anonymity for this division.
Edmonton could give Canada the top three spots, but keep an eye on the Wild. They have a new coach and a new up-tempo style.
Some say that the Wild don’t have the type of players to succeed with speed and finesse as opposed to the grindit- out style they’ve played forever.
The thing is, no one knows. With Jacques Lemaire gone, the concrete skates are in the shed, players will have a defined role and uttering the word “offense” won’t result in a public tongue-lashing.
Winners: The State of Hockey. Finally, the greatest hockey fans in the nation get a chance to watch hockey. Losers: Canada. Yeah, I said it.
East playoffs
There should be some good matchups in the early rounds, but the one series everyone wants to see is Washington and Pittsburgh.
Ovechkin and Crosby should meet in the conference finals for the second year in a row and the outcome will be the same.
I only hope that Ovie drops his gloves in front of the Pittsburgh crowd and KO’s the Kid.
West playoffs
Chicago will give Detroit fits in the conference finals, but the Red Wings are just too experienced to let the Blackhawks get by them.
Unless Detroit forgets to take their afternoon naps or to restock their Geritol supply, the Wings should get by the Hawks.
Stanley cup Finals
Pittsburgh versus Detroit. Crosby gets title number two, but remains the worst interview in professional sports.
Winners: Versus. They still make me turn the channel at intermission, but their game coverage is getting better every year.
Losers: Any couch made in the late 1960s. Run and hide, flowered davenport. I saw Don Cherry around the corner.
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