2010-11 NHL Regular Season Power Rankings - Western Conference 4

When using the start of 2010-11 NHL season now nothing more than seven days away I figured the time had come to get out my crystal ball and try and predict which Western Conference teams are going to be Stanley Cup contenders this holiday season, and which teams will probably be dusting over the old golf irons come early April. Just last year the Phoenix Coyotes and also the Colorado Avalanche were predicted to always be cellar dwellers but surprised hockey experts across the league by designing the playoffs. With parity the name of the game inside NHL as of late, there is little doubt that similar surprises will occurs in the 2010-11 season. Let us discuss my 2010-11 regular season power rankings for those NHL's Western Conference: 聽 15 鈥?Minnesota Wild 聽 That is a franchise basically is definetly heading in the wrong direction. It is just a new era in Minnesota following last season's departure of superstar Marian Gaborik and coach Jacques Lemaire, and this also team has a ways to spend before they will likely again contend to have a playoff spot. Martin Havlat was created to try to substitute for Gaborik, but was largely unimpressive as part of his first season while using the club. Both Mikko Koivu and Guillaume Latendresse had career years just last year, and will also be hard-pressed correspond their offensive totals within the previous campaign. With a anemic offense goaltender Niklas Backstrom needs to possess a Vezina-caliber season to the Wild to also have a shot along the playoffs. I find myself even that goal is actually ambitious and it may likely be a handful of seasons leading to a Wild contend again in a playoff spot. 聽 14 鈥?Columbus Blue Jackets 聽 Another team with offensive challenges the Columbus Blue Jackets have been completely treading water after joining the league at the outset of the new century. Rick Nash will obviously really do the go-to guy in the club, but beyond him the c's doesn't really boast any offensive stars. Sure, Kristian Huselius, R.J. Umberger and Antoine Vermette will all do operator, however their contributions probably will not enough to push this team into playoff contention. If Steve Mason can recapture the contour he had in their rookie campaign then perhaps the team could move up their email list two or three spots, but young goalies are notoriously inconsistent, so that scenario is actually difficult to bank on at this point. 聽 13 鈥?Nashville Predators 聽 Even so the Predators were a playoff team just last year, and really gave the Chicago Blackhawks a bad go ahead round one if you don't cause for optimism in Nashville starting the 2010-11 season. Rock steady defenseman Dan Hamhuis has found greener pastures considering the Vancouver Canucks, and captain Jason Arnott has returned to his old stomping grounds in Nj. Shea Weber and goaltender Pekka Rinne would be fundamentals for the team's success, they can simply achieve much about the roster that boasts other sorts of good, but 1 great players. 聽 12 鈥?Edmonton Oilers 聽 " shopping " at 2010-11 regular season predictions from hockey bloggers There is the Edmonton Oilers at the base on most power rankings. Any problem the consensus opinion is the Oilers fans can be made to endure a second straight dreadful season. Needless expenses the c's actually underachieved last season, and their 30th place finish weren't an indication of their potential. Adding young stars like #1 overall draft pick Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Magnus Paajarvi should create the team a risky offensive opponent, and therefore the return of goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin should shore the team on the all-important goaltending position. I still don't believe they'll make playoffs, but additionally should climb two or three spots during the Western Conference standings in 2010. 聽 11 鈥?Dallas Stars 聽 Another team in transition the Dallas Stars can have a considerably different look at the moment. Team mainstays Marty Turco and Mike Modano have improved within the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings respectively. However, the emergence of players like Jamie Benn, Loui Eriksson and James Neal give Stars fans advantages of optimism, and veterans like Brad Richards and Brenden Morrow should help fill the leadership void left by the departure of Modano and Turco. Ultimately it is usually goaltending this is the biggest question mark in Dallas this holiday season. If Kari Lehtonen can elevate his game along with his new club this team can certainly create a run for a playoff spot. 聽 10 鈥?Anaheim Ducks 聽 Nevertheless the Ducks boast stars including Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan and also the ageless Teemu Selanne initially it truly is their blueline which includes them ranked 10th using this list, sitting away from playoff picture looking in. The retirement of Scott Niedermayer has left a gaping hole to the tailgate end, and Jonas Hiller still is struggling to prove himself a real main. Having said that the Ducks continues to a hardcore team to try out against and may even they be capable of squeak straight into the playoffs they've already the ability and capacity use the spoiler role versus the powerhouse teams belonging to the Western Conference. 聽 9 鈥?St. Louis Blues 聽 Skin color teams in the Western Conference the Blues were the toughest to put in my opinion. For my part this squad could finish from about 6th 鈥?13th place without surprising anyone. They've been a team that scores by committee and though they already have young players with plenty of potential they're one of the few teams while in the league that will not boast a particular star. The biggest the factor in the Blues season, along with the result with numerous within the teams through these power rankings, could be the play off newly acquired goaltender Jaroslav Halak. If Halak can perform at or towards the level he showed during last spring's playoff run while using Montreal Canadiens then an Blues should be a shoe-in in order to make the playoffs. 聽 8 鈥?Colorado Avalanche 聽 Last season the Avalanche exceeded expectations by way of a wide margin, however i can't locate them getting than marginally better at the moment, which is very possible they can experience a precipitous drop should goaltender Craig Anderson be unable to duplicate his incredible performance associated with a last year. With plenty young firepower like 聽聽Stastny, Chris Stewart, Peter Mueller and Matt Duchene they shouldn't hurt for goals. The departure of defensive stalwart Brett Clark does leave a void about the back end, however. All in all this team should hover about the bubble all season, incase they actually get the playoffs it really is unlikely the can depart quickly without greater whisper. 聽 7 鈥?Phoenix Coyotes 聽 Another surprise from last season the Phoenix Coyotes have earned every ounce of respect they've been being given there is much surprise. Nearly every one is predicting the Coyotes to comfortably improve post-season. Another team like St. Louis that likes to spread the offense for the Coyotes are short on superstars. What you don't lack though is often a strong work ethic. Coach Dave Tippett was masterful at acquiring the most out of his players last season, and providing his players haven't tuned him in existence is not any reason to doubt that it hard-working bunch will make it within the playoffs with the second straight year. 聽 6 鈥?Chicago Kings 聽 If you want for the rationality why the Los Angeles Kings will help make the playoffs this season you will need look no further than franchise defenseman Drew Doughty. Doughty established himself as a superstar last season, and could only recover as the years pass. Furthermore likely Norris Trophy candidate the Kings also boast an intense core of forwards that features Slovenian star Anze Kopitar, hitting and goal-scoring machine Dustin Brown as well as indomitable Ryan Smyth. In net Jonathan Quick will continue to live as many as his name, and must he stumble Jonathan Bernier delays inside wings, prepared assume the first job. The Kings should easily nab a playoff spot, and can even conceivably pull off a primary round upset with the 2011 playoffs. 聽 5 鈥?Calgary Flames 聽 Some might feel I've ranked this club a small amount of high, but Brent Sutter is just too big good a coach to imagine a lesser finish. Of course a coach is able to implement it much 鈥?the squad will need to perform at the ice. However, with captain Jarome Iginla 鈥?arguably the most successful leader amongst people today 鈥?and former Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff between the pipes on-ice performance won't be an issue. Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester's second year in the Flames could be far better than his first as well as return of former Flames Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay usually supplies the Flames with enough scoring punch to win those tight one goal games they always fall into. No, they will not challenge the Canucks with the Northwest Division title this year, but additionally would be a tough team to experiment with against, and must make the playoffs with lots of points to spare. 聽 4 鈥?Detroit Red Wings 聽 Even though Red Wings aren't as mighty simply because they were just two short issue, they're still a force for being reckoned within the Western Conference. Both Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg should produce higher offensive numbers than they did last season, specifically in light of the fact that it appears like they'll be playing together 2010. Young kids Mike Modano and also the return of Jiri Hudler should add additional scoring punch to your team that never has trouble scoring goals because it's. For the blueline Nicklas Lidstrom will again function as a lynch pin, simple fact he could be getting long while in the tooth will likely again challenge for any Norris Trophy because the NHL's best defenseman. With great coaching and solid team defense sophomore goalie Jimmy Howard should have a large amount of easy nights involving the pipes as well as the Wings should finish with the top 1 / 2 of the West. 聽 3 鈥?San Jose Sharks 聽 A perennial regular season powerhouse the Sharks should for a second time end up challenging for the top spot while in the Western Conference. Boasting stars like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley and Joe Pavelski the club should have no problem scoring goals. During the last few seasons to remain masterful at limiting how many shots on goal their opponents get and that also trait should help ease the sting of losing long-time primary netminder Evgeni Nabokov in to the KHL. 聽 2 鈥?Chicago Blackhawks 聽 Many hockey experts are predicting a precipitous drop during the standings for the defending Stanley Cup champions, following your dismantling of this roster in your off-season caused by salary cap issues. However, though they've lost guys like Dustin Byfuglien and Kris Versteeg this roster 's still as powerful as any during the league. It can be challenging to cast doubt on the team that boasts other snack food of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Marian Hossa in their line-up. If goaltender Marty Turco can recapture his form of a short while ago the Hawks should've little problem overcoming numerous Byfuglien and crew and should contend for the Western Conference title. 聽 1 鈥?Vancouver Canucks 聽 Going through the Canucks roster entering into at the moment it is actually hard predict not really first from the Western Conference to deal with in 2010-11. Led by Art Ross Trophy and Hart Trophy winner Henrik Sedin wonderful brother Daniel, goaltender Roberto Luongo and a strong supporting cast that includes Ryan Kesler, Mason Raymond, Alex Burrows, Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis, the Canucks are strong at each and every position. For long-suffering Canucks fans who have been waiting 4 decades for glory might finally get to see their team go right this year. 聽 Consider rinkjerseys.com for excellent deals on NHL hockey jerseys including vintage gear like Quebec Nordiques jerseys.