Bajahobo

My devils won last year, but I don't see them repeating...

Ottawa over Colorado in five.

MikeyChalupa

I dunno, but let me get the Rangers box in the "won't finish over .500" pool.

-Mikey

God of Thunder

As an avid Redwings fan, I have to say the Wings. The "Dominator" is back, I feel cocky.

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I reject your reality, and substitute my own

-- Adam Savage

Thraeryn

This will sound pretty sad of me, but . . .
THRASHERS. All the way.

(At least to the playoffs this year, guys. )

NeverBorn

I am an wings fan too so I say wings. But I expect Minnasota to put up a show this year, they were pretty good last year and they're young.

Dragon_Imp

Colorado will win they are gonna be unstopable this season, They should have won last season but Minnesota somehow got lucky and came back from a Colorado series lead 3-1 it wont happen again and if Colorado doesnt win my second choice would have to be Anaheim they are pretty good with some young players.!!!!!!!!!!Detroit dont stand a chance they cant perform like they did 2 years ago, New Jersey wont repeat because I think Tampa will make it to the finals they are getting way better and that is the only reason why New Jersey even got to the finals is because the east has the worse teams in the sport they only have to play one good team in the playoffs and thats in the finals they got lucky!!!!!!!!!!!

maximusveritas

If Aebischer plays half as well as Roy, the Avs will win. Otherwise, its the Wings.

Dragon_Imp

Yea but if Aebischer plays like he did in that young all stars game or whatever its called like he did last year Colorado is gonna be screwed thats why i said my second choice is Anaheim Cause I know Giguere can keep his team in games Aebischer is a 50/50

RAMONES!!!

to tough to call to early...i've been to lightnings camp 2 times and thier looking good, stillman should fit in well, great goaltending wins, and we have it. Should be a good season for my Lightning

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Come on

The_Dude

From the hockey I watched last year, I would have to go with the red wings.

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"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

crfpilot

It's going to be interesting to see how the Ducks do this year, I hope they do well and bring the cup to Anaheim, but it probably won't happen. I'm pretty sure we will be watching post season hockey here in Anaheim again though. As far as the cup...I'd hate to say it but Colorado is going to be tough this year.

dylanmarsh

Colorado has no goaltending. Detroit has Hasek but not the Hasek of the mid to late 90's. Philly got Hackett but that will be as about important as Al Sharpton to the presidential race. At this point, I think the Devils and Stars look to be the most likely candidates to be there in June. If Boston somehow gets Cujo off of Detroit, perhaps, the B's have a shot at winning two games from Jersey in the playoffs instead of one.

Goaltending is always the key to winning the cup. Jersey has always had it in their cup runs and that's why they have three cups.

djtestudo

Capitals over Avalanche while pigs fly over the frozen wastelands of Hell.

__________________
"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

God of Thunder

Anaheim is definately going to be a team to watch this year. They devastated Detroit in the finals and picked up Fedorov in the off season.

I'm still backing the Wings, but will be keeping a close watch on the Ducks. I'm predicting a re-match in the conference finals.

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I reject your reality, and substitute my own

-- Adam Savage

laconic1

Colorado will win it. If Aebischer stumbles they won't hesitate for a second to find a way to acquire a top notch goaltender. Everywhere else they have too much depth, plus the sting of last year's embarassment should help motivate them.

BigGov

Avs over Wings in 6, aww hell, 7, if I'm gonna predict something I might as well predict something great.

__________________
One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

archer2371

Errr, they're both in the same conference, that would be a good Western Conference Final prediction.
However, the team to watch this year is the Dallas Stars, because I think they'll be focusing more on TEAM DEFENSE rather than just saying "Oh, let Hatch handle it." Look for Dallas to make a good early run with Marty Turco still in his record breaking form and Dallas' newfound (refound would be more like it) ability to grind it out. It is too early to tell tho seeing as how it's only the preseason and that doesn't matter.

__________________
"This ain't no Ice Cream Social!"

"Hey Grif, Chupathingy...how bout that? I like it...got a ring to it."

"I have no earthly idea what it is I just saw, or what this place is, or where in the hell O'Malley is! My only choice is to blame Grif for coming up with such a flawed plan. Stupid, stupid Grif."

canucker

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Go hard or go home;
Just don't go home hard.

Dr.Who

The Sens baby!!

Ottawa are gonna beat the team that with survive the Western Conference.

Detroit is gonna go to the final but the youth of Ottawa will be too much for the old Red Wings.

Surprise team of the 2004 playoffs; Atlanta

ledhead

i here you. the ducks have a lot of young talent. if not this year, watch out in the coming seasons. i think the avalanche will tough but without goal tending they wont make it far into the playoffs.

go ducks

Damnyankee

Go Wings Baby!!! They've got a shot if they can just get the puck in the net!!!

stallion

r...e...d........w...i...n...g...s...

The Dominator is back!!!

BigGov

Smacks himself

I knew that...I seriously did...except when I posted...

Umm...Avs over Devils in 6?

__________________
One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

Dano069

Nashville vs. Atlanta.

Hey, I always root for the underdogs! I KNOW it ain't gonna involve my Blackhawks.

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I may look attentive, but I'm taking peeks down your blouse faster than the human eye can follow.

Dragon_Imp

LOL yea that is pretty low but if it ever did happen i would go for Atlanta over Nashville in 5!!!!!! But guys come on the Red Wings omg even with Hasak back they are too old they won 2 years ago for their coach he isnt their anymore they are just too old now the young talent will out play them example(Anahiem) in the playoffs last year!!!!!!!!!!

jjwinc

My money is going with Anaheim this year; they really impressed me last year.

The ads they're running in Pittsburgh are using the hook "The X Generation". They point out how young this team is and how they are going to have a lot of spirit. Then they have little audio clips from youngsters on the team and one of them says something to the effect of "...this team could bring a cup to Pittsburgh in three or four years."

Nothing like warning the fans plunking down $75 per ticket that your team is going to suck this year...and probably next.

JW

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"There comes a time when every man feels the urge to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and start slitting throats."
-- H.L. Mencken

j8ear

Two words...

Montreal Canadiens!

Gotta root for my 'homies' no matter what.

-bear

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It's alot easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission.

spicegonk

Gotta say Ottawa has it... They were a goal away from taking it all last year.

Balanced scoring and an effective defensive (trap) system...

Now that we have a billionaire owner the sky is the limit!

Go Sens Go!!!

docbungle

I think the Avs goaltending will be ok, despite what all the critics say. They will be unstoppable.

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Bad Luck City

ForgottenKnight

Colorado Avalanche all the way!

Based on: Colorado Last Year - Roy + Players picked and traded for between seasons.

I don't think the Stars are focusing much on defense with how they traded their top defensive player to the Wings between seasons.

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"People say I'm strange, does that make me a stranger?"

archer2371

Ok, you obviously don't read into this stuff much. The Stars did not TRADE Hatch away. Hatcher was an Unrestricted Free Agent who SIGNED with the Red Wings. Dallas tried to dump Pierre Turgeon to make room for Hatch, nobody claimed Turgeon off waivers, nor could they trade him away. Hell, they even tried TRADING Bill Guerin away to make room for Hatcher. Remember, the D in Dallas stands for Defense, and it always will. Their plus/minus differential last year was second only to Ottawa, yeah, they're not focusing on defense AT ALL.

__________________
"This ain't no Ice Cream Social!"

"Hey Grif, Chupathingy...how bout that? I like it...got a ring to it."

"I have no earthly idea what it is I just saw, or what this place is, or where in the hell O'Malley is! My only choice is to blame Grif for coming up with such a flawed plan. Stupid, stupid Grif."

grumpyolddude

Nobody on ice can match Detroit's defense, and it took the Dominator 3 preseason games to record his first shutout. Datsyuk and Zetterberg will fill a little bit of the void left by Fedorov. Scoring won't be a problem.

Colorado may score a lot, but they're gonna have trouble stopping people.

Is Giguere for real? He's got the pressure of high expectations this year. Look for early struggles.

Ottowa vs NJ in the east. Vancouver vs Detroit in the west.
Ottowa vs Detroit in the finals.
Parade down Woodward Ave. in June, 2004. Go Wings!

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"Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard

hansthemolemann

djtestudo

What? No more love for the Capitals in here?

__________________
"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

j8ear

The Capitals?...are they a triple A baseball team?