Western Conference

NORTHWEST DIVISION

1. MINNESOTA WILD

Eric Belanger (17-18-35) was just the type of two-way player you'd suspect would be attractive to this defense-first club. Belanger split last season between Carolina and Atlanta. He'll bring the ability to play on any one of the Wild's forward lines, checking or scoring, and is a nice acquisition by GM Doug Risebrough. With Todd White exiting to Atlanta, the larger Belanger fills the gap.

On offense, as Marian Gaborik's health goes, so go the Wild. Gaborik scored thirty goals after missing 34 games in '06-'07, and the club was 33-9-6 with him, 15-17-2 without. 196 shots on goal in 48 games, 18 shots in five playoff tilts.

Not yet at elite level in terms of forwards, the Wild does offer a good mix with five players netting 20 or more goals (a sixth, Mark Parrish, scored 19). Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra are dangerous. 23 year-old Pierre-Marc Bouchard and 24 year-old Mikko Koivu are emerging as consistent threats. Dean of a hockey fighting academy--ahem--for kids, Derek Boogard is so big (6'7") that he rarely needs to fight, which keeps things honest in the vacinity of Gaborik and others. His importance is not to be underestimated.

Sean Hill joins the Wild defense after completing a 20-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. Brent Burns and Kurtis Foster are scaling the heights and will likely be top four d-men this season. Nick Schultz, Martin Skoula and Keith Carney bring veteran smarts.

In goal, Nicklas Backstrom had better be as good as Manny Fernandez. He certainly looked the part last season in relief of the injured Fernandez (41GP; 23-8-6; 1.97GAA .929SV%). Josh Harding backs up.

THE MAN: Marian Gaborik. The last of the original Wild, he defines the franchise a la Bryan Trottier or Guy Lafleur did in their time. He's indispensible.

STATS: 48GP; 30-27-57; 196 SOG

Deep playoff push a distinct possibility.

2. COLORADO AVALANCHE

I'm buying the goods that the Avalanche are selling this season because of the signings of defenseman Scott Hannan and wing Ryan Smyth. This combo will help the Avs return to the postseason after a one-year hiatus.

Jordan Leopold, after missing 67 games to injury, will be champing at the bit to play alongside Hannan. Brett Clark, who leads the club in minutes played, will look to develop further. John-Michel Liles potted 14 goals, eight on the power play. While a bit young and not that big, this defensive corps improves with age and Hannan’s addition.

Like the Wild, the Avs feature five 20-goal scorers, including the underrated Andrew Brunette, whose 27 goals went unnoticed, largely, outside Denver. But he crashes the net with Tomas Holmstrom-style pinache, and is truly useful. Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk both topped 35 goals. Rookie Paul Stastny (28-50-78) looks to continue his spectacular success. Marek Svatos, with 15 goals, is an emerging talent on the right wing.

Hockeytalk has a hunch that Smyth’s style of play will vault the Avs in the penalty kill department, which finished tied for 23rd overall. The power play, ranked fourth, should continue to be strong.

In goal, Peter Budaj is a man of faith. His spirit was strong last year, and so were his stats. He wrestled the starting gig from Jose Theodore, and the former Hart trophy winner will backup Budaj unless and until he falters.

THE MAN: Joe Sakic, all 38 years of him, should be as good as ever, showing no signs of slowing down, and benefiting from Smyth’s addition on the wing.

STATS: 1589 career points in 1319 games (imagine what his stats would be had he not played during the “Dead Puck” era!).

3. VANCOUVER CANUCKS

The Canucks put forth a quality effort in last season's playoffs, despite losing to the Ducks in the second round. The club lost three games in overtime, two of which went to double overtime.

GM David Nonis has smartly built the Canucks from the goal line out, establishing Roberto Luongo as the basis for all things Canuck, and shifting some pieces around to achieve an up-and-coming defense. The forward lines, however, are light.

On defense, hard-hitting Kevin Bieksa (12-30-42) mashed enough of the opposition and scored on just enough of his blistering shots from the point to merit a substantial increase in pay, an 11.25-million, three-year contract extension. Aaron Miller, who was finally healthy enough to appear in all 82 games for the Kings, was brought onboard for 1.5M for one season, but is now on the shelf after hernia surgery. Mattais Ohlund, Willie Mitchell and Lucas Krajicek round out a formidable group.

On offense, it's suspected that a move or two is in order, and indeed it's been rumored that Markus Naslund has spoken with Peter Forsberg about making Vancouver his home, if he returns. There are simply not enough game-breakers on the 'Nucks. While the Sedins are scaling the heights (165 combined points; 36 goals for Daniel), and Taylor Pyatt popped 24 goals for a career high, and Naslund remains dangerous, the club will have to be content with any playoff appearance until some depth charges start popping 20+ goals on their own.

THE MAN: Roberto Luongo. Who else? He survived a brutal 4OT win vs. Dallas, stood on his head against the Ducks, and appeared in 76 games, winning 47, just one shy of Martin Brodeur's new record. The workhorse will be relieved by Curtis Sanford once in a while. Sanford, a UFA, signed after seven years in Blues system.

STATS: 76GP; 47-22-6. 2.29GAA; .921SV%

No division title this year, but should scrape into the postseason.

4. CALGARY FLAMES

Coach Jim Playfair was jettisoned in place of Mike Keenan, because the Flames seemed to lose their grinding identity last season, shuffling into the playoffs in the final few days of the season, only to fizzle during an ugly opening round loss to Detroit. Kicking butt, taking names and playing mind games is Keenan’s style, and it had better work early in the season, because this division is as tight as a drum.

On defense, Adrian Aucoin, former minute-muncher for the Islanders who was hobbled by injuries, playing 92 games in two seasons in Chicago joins the club. Andrei Zyuzin was dealt away to make room, and Aucoin looks to become a top-four d-man consistently. He’ll join an impressive young group that features Robyn Regehr and Dion Phaneuf, a potential Norris winner, and a young one at that. Phaneuf managed 17 goals and a whopping 230 shots on goal in 79 contests.

Offensively, the Flames added Owen Nolan, hoping that he’ll have something left in the tank. A curious move, but the club probably figures that center Craig Conroy can feed Nolan the puck. Conroy gelled very well upon returning to the club after almost two seasons in Los Angeles. Daymond Langkow had a career year with 33 goals. Jarome Iginla, drafted after Langkow in 1995, continues his brilliant career. Eric Nystrom, the club’s 2002 first round pick, had surgery last December to repair a tear in his right shoulder. A full season’s development would be a relief.

The not-so-brilliant part of the Flames club is its road record, for which no one has an answer and about which no Flames want to be asked. One clue is the dreadful third and fourth lines on the club. Changes abound on the lower lines as Darren McCarty, Jeff Friesen and Tony Amonte are no more.

Miikka Kiprusoff was a Vezina finalist and won 40 games, finishing with a .917SV%. The Flames stay in the playoff hunt due to his efforts more than any other on the club, save Phaneuf or Iginla.

THE MAN: Jarome Iginla. Darryl Sutter extended the captain for five years, to the tune of 7Mil per. Well spent for a superstar who can scrap. Honorable mention: Dion Phaneuf.

STATS: 39-55-94 in 70GP.

Hard to believe a club as good as Calgary will be out of the playoffs, but…

5. EDMONTON OILERS

Oh, what a tangled mess Kevin Lowe has created after failing to sign the club’s identity player Ryan Smyth. Balking at 6Mil per, Lowe will now spend tons more trying to replace a player whose effectiveness was measured beyond the score sheet. In the process of trying to cover his tracks, Lowe pissed off GM Brian Burke of Anaheim as well as the already-stressed Darcy Regeir of Buffalo.

Burke balked at paying sophomore Dustin Penner (29 goals), so Lowe will now pay well over 4Mil per for an emerging talent who has never played on a top line for an extended period of time. Penner was excellent in the playoffs and should have an excellent career, but might need time to adjust to his new club, and time is something Lowe doesn’t possess. Lowe failed to land Tomas Vanek of Buffalo, but that’s probably a blessing in disguise, because his 7Mil per, 50Mil total offer to the Buffalo third-year pro was matched by the Sabres. Gee, imagine if he’d just given that kind of money to Smyth.

Duh.

On a happier note, Sheldon Souray, who has scored more goals (53) in the past three seasons than any other NHL defenseman, is happy to be home in Alberta after leaving the Canadiens. With a power play ranked 27th last season, the Oilers welcome his booming shot. Captain Jason Smith departed (Philly), but Steve Staios remains, and Joni Pitkanen comes over from the Flyers. Dwayne Roloson will see tons of pucks, but is a formidable goalie.

THE MAN: Souray. The new guy is THE guy, now that confusion reigns in Edmonton in the wake of Smyth’s departure.

STATS: 26-38-64.

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