NHL Conference Preview: Best Bets In The West
By DUSTIN NIELSON
The new hockey season starts Thursday, so we thought it'd be a good idea to get the help of a hockey expert. Dustin Nielson, who covers the Edmonton Oilers, breaks down how the West will be won this season.
Last year’s lowest scoring team:
The Colorado Avalanche were a league worst putting the puck in the back of the net last year averaging just 2.32 goals per game. The Avs finished with a 36-45-1 over/under record, including 16-25 away from the Pepsi Center in Denver.
This year’s best under bet:
Thanks to a coaching change and a new style of play the Minnesota Wild are no longer a lock to be the best looking under bet in the Western Conference. Instead that title should be passed on to the Nashville Predators. The Preds struggled scoring last season and were unable to pick up any offensive help during the summer.
Nashville has a solid blue line and Finnish goaltender Pekka Rinne turned a lot of heads last year, so opposition totals should be low. A combination of lack of offense and good goaltending will lead to a number of under games for Nashville this year.
Last year’s highest-scoring team:
The Red Wings were far and away the most offensive team in the West scoring at a clip of 3.52 goals per game. The Wings were tops in the Conference finishing above the total 46 times. Losing perennial 35-goal scorer Marian Hossa could hurt Detroit offense this year.
This year’s best over bet:
The Chicago Blackhawks’ young stars have another year of experience under their belt and the team added Hossa to the mix. Hossa will miss the first part of the season due to an injury but when he is healthy this team has the potential to put up four goals a game on a regular basis.
The Hawks let free agent goalie Nikolai Khabibulin walk away during the offseason. Cristobal Huet is good but he’s a steep down between the pipes. Huet has been known to allow soft goals which could mean a lot of 6-4 contests.
Most improved team:
Despite trading Chris Pronger, the Anaheim Ducks should be the most improved team in the Western Conference. Scott Niedermayer returns for another season on the backend and will be joined by Ryan Whitney for a full season along with youngster Luca Sbisa, who was a key part of the Pronger trade.
The Ducks offensive punch will pack a wallop in 2009-10. Second year forward Bobby Ryan will line up with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry to form one of the best lines in the league. Former Canadiens captain Saku Koivu will provide some much-needed secondary playmaking centering a line with Joffrey Lupul and fellow Finn Teemu Selanne.
Jonas Hillier are both proven commodities in net, giving the club a strong backup behind the No. 1.
Team that will take the biggest step back this season:
Minnesota Wild new coach Todd Richards plans on changing the team’s style of play. The Wild have played a tight defensive game that involved little risk in the offensive zone for what seems like forever.
Richards plans on having his team play a more aggressive attacking style but it doesn’t have the personnel to be successful in the first year.
Best offseason acquisition:
The Calgary Flames have put together a fantastically talented trio of defensemen. The Flames managed to trade for and sign Jay Bouwmeester prior to the July 1 free agent frenzy, taking the most sought after commodity off the market. The Flames can now have an All-Star defenseman on the ice whenever they want with Bouwmeester joining Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr.
Pick to win conference:
They may not be able to win anything when it really matters but the San Jose Sharks are money in the regular season.
The Sharks went out and picked up disgruntled sniper Dany Heatley from the Ottawa Senators just prior to the beginning of training camp. Heatley has the ability to score 55 goals playing with elite set up man Joe Thornton. Devon Setoguchi will continue to develop into one of the games most consistent finishers while Patrick Marleau has something to prove after having the captaincy taken away by head coach Todd McLellan.
The Sharks should have no problem dismantling their division and this will be the year it finally translates into postseason success.