Early NHL 2006-2007 Predictions, Part 2: Eastern Conference

Although I have been told it might be a little early to predict the NHL season, I will continue anyway to make my predictions for the upcoming 2006-2007 NHL season, today highlighting the Eastern Conference.

Atlantic Division

1) New Jersey Devils

2) Philadelphia Flyers

3) New York Rangers

4) New York Islanders

5) Pittsburgh Penguins

Probably the craziest finish in the NHL last season, with the New York Rangers holding the division title until the very last games of the season, and then seeing it drift away as the Devils won 10 straight to finish the season one point better. The Devils are the Eastern Conference since 1995. I don't know how to put that any other way. Three cups, 4 trips to the finals, and 6 division championships in the last 10 years, they have been the most consistently dominate team in the division and the conference, and will continue to be the divisions powerhouse. I think the Flyers will take second by more than one point, having dropped Donald Brashear, who isn't needed as much in the new NHL, and having a healthy Peter Forsberg(at least he is healthy right now, and expected to be ready for the first game of the season). The Rangers will come in a close third, and then the Islanders in 4th, as the Penguins haven't made a huge improvement from their awful season last year.

Northeast Division

1) Buffalo Sabres

2) Ottawa Senators

3) Montreal Canadiens

4) Toronto Maple Leafs

5) Boston Bruins

Buffalo was one game - one period - away from the Stanley Cup Finals, where they would have done the same thing Carolina did to Edmonton. Beat them. The Sabres are returning almost all of their line-up from last season, and the good thing for them is, they had one of the lowest payrolls in the league last year, meaning they can give huge pay-raises to their deserving stars, and still be well under the cap. Ottawa should be able to compete, not as well as last year, but still make the playoffs easily. Toronto and Montreal were neck-and-neck until the end of the season, I see that happening once again, but Montreal coming out on top again. Sorry Boston, I think it'll be the cellar for you again.

Southeast Division

1) Carolina Hurricanes

2) Tampa Bay Lightning

3) Florida Panthers

4) Atlanta Thrashers

5) Washington Capitals

The defending champions will outright dominate this division again. It's not the strongest division in the NHL, and the Hurricanes are too good for the other four teams. However, as weak of a division that it may be, you still have to remember that the division is home to the last two Stanley Cup champs. Even though it seems like Tampa Bay's victory was long ago, they were actually the reining Stanley Cup champions until a month ago. They made a good acquisition in goaltender Marc Denis, and have Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis all locked up, which should lead them into the playoffs once again. The Panthers were edged out by Atlanta last season, I think it'll switch up this season, and the Capitals are making stupid moves signing enforcers like Donald Brashear in a league that is now dominated by speed and goal scoring. They are living in the past, and that will keep them at the bottom

Playoff Seeds

1) Buffalo Sabres

2) Carolina Hurricanes

3) New Jersey Devils

4) Ottawa Senators

5) Philadelphia Flyers

6) Montreal Canadiens

7) Tampa Bay Lightning

8) New York Rangers