5 MORE NHL PREDICTIONS

The majority of NHL teams have played 69-70 of their 82 regular season games for the year. With that said, here are five more predictions for the rest of the NHL season. Who will make the playoffs? Who will be left out in the cold? We'll find out in the days and weeks ahead. Here are a few things we might see before the season ends in mid-April.

5. The Hurricanes will not make the playoffs
Carolina had been playing great since dealing for old friend Erik Cole. But they have struggled recently, losing three straight on the road in Chicago, Dallas, and Washington. The 'Canes remaining schedule is a difficult one, with games against the Rangers, Penguins, and three games against a very strong New Jersey club. Even the Islanders, who Carolina faces twice, are playing well. It's gonna be tough for Carolina to sneak into the postseason with a schedule that tough.

4. The Devils will reach the Eastern Conference Finals
Yes, they are that good. With Martin Brodeur back, New Jersey is probably the best team in the Conference. They are clearly better than Washington, and Boston has been struggling mightily as of late. The Devils are a pretty safe bet to win at least two rounds, even if they are the most boring, trap-filled two rounds in the playoffs.

3. Columbus will shock some people
The Jackets--currently 6th in the Western Conference--are a solid, scrappy team and might surprise a few people come playoff time. They are a solid 7-7-1 against the Central division, which includes Detroit and Chicago, so they can win against good teams. Antoine Vermette, acquired from Ottawa at the trade deadline, has been fantastic for the Blue Jackets in his brief stay in Columbus, and if Steve Mason is playing well anything can happen.

2. Nashville will miss the playoffs
The Preds, currently the 9th place team in the west but tied with 8th place Edmonton (73 points), won't make the postseason because they can't win on the road. They have 5 home games and 8 road games left on the schedule, which is a big problem considering they are 13-18-2 away from the Sommet Center this season. With two games at Detroit, and one at Chicago and San Jose, the Predators will be left out in the cold once again.

1. We will have a new Stanley Cup Champion
Detroit simply doesn't have the goaltending this season to hoist Lord Stanley's cup once again. Chris Osgood looks old and Ty Conklin isn't that number one that's going to carry them deep into the playoffs. You would never see the old Red Wings teams lose games 8-2 (3/7 vs. Columbus), 8-0 (2/28 at Nashville), or 5-2 (2/21 at light scoring Minnesota). They have the offense--there's no doubt about that--but the goaltending just isn't there this time around. The Wings seem poised for an early (2nd maybe?) round flameout in 2009.

AN NHL MAKEOVER

It's pretty common knowledge that the NHL has struggled more than any other of the United States' four major sports. The lockout in 2004-05, rising ticket prices, and the lack of a major television contract have all had a negative effect on the league, it's policies, and the way it conducts it's business. I think it's time for Gary Bettman to give the NHL what it so desperately needs: a complete and utter makeover. A lot of these changes would help revamp the league, get more butts in the seats, and make hockey a big time draw once again. That said, I know most/all of these suggestions are never going to happen, but hey, I can dream, right?

Contraction
There are simply too many teams in the NHL. 30 teams is far too many for a true competitive balance because there are just too many players. Eliminate a few teams, and the league needs fewer players. The more talented players will always fill those spots, and the problem is solved. A watered down talent pool hurts the NHL big time because the players are just not as good. It's one reason why the MLS struggles too: why would I watch mediocre players in the US on television when I could just as easily watch the best in the world compete in Europe? The NHL needs to eliminate two markets: The Phoenix Coyotes and the New York Islanders. Those two rate last in overall value, and continue to lose tons of money each year. Get rid of 'em!

Relocation
Now that the NHL is down to 28 teams, some of them need a change of scenery. Canada is all about hockey, yet the league continues to ignore them to put teams in the American south. Get real! The Nashville Predators move to Hamilton, Ontario, and the Florida Panthers move to Winnipeg. Additionally, the Atlanta Thrashers move north and become the Quebec Nationales. The new Hamilton Predators move to the Eastern Conference, and the Winnipeg Winterhawks switch to the West. It's a pretty well known fact that attendance in Canadian markets is never really a problem. Why are the Predators in Nashville and the Thrashers in Atlanta when nobody there even cares about them? It's ridiculous.

Realignment
Because of all the changes, the league would need to realign the divisions. Each league would now have two divisions instead of three, with seven teams in each. Here is what the new alignments would look like.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Willie O'Ree Division
Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Quebec Nationales

Scotty Bowman Division
Hamilton Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Gordie Howe Division
Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Winnipeg Winterhawks

Herb Brooks Division
Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars

A New Playoff System
Finally, the playoff system needs a little bit of tweaking. Now that the league has fewer teams, there need to be fewer playoff spots. I propose that six teams in each conference make the postseason, with the division winners getting first round byes. Here is a sample of how it might look.

First Round
1. Detroit Red Wings (Howe Winners)-- First Round Bye
2. Chicago Blackhawks (Brooks Winners)-- First Round Bye

3. San Jose Sharks vs. 6. Anaheim Ducks
4. Edmonton Oilers vs. 5. Calgary Flames

Western Conference Semi-Finals
1. Detroit Red Wings vs. 4. Edmonton Oilers
2. Chicago Blackhawks vs. 3. San Jose Sharks

It would give a real benefit to teams for winning their division, while mantaining competitive fairness for the rest of the teams in the league.

Revenue Changes
Finally, the NHL needs to lower it's ticket prices significantly in order for fans to restore faith in the league, and keep those butts in the seats. While, yes, lowering ticket prices may mean less money for the league at first, it means more fans, and in the long run that means more money. Lower ticket prices will turn casual fans into die-hard fans, and would raise the league's profits significantly.

While Gary Bettman probably won't take my suggestions, and the CBA and current econony most likely wouldn't allow any of these changes to actually take place, I think the NHL would have a much brighter future like this. But hey, who doesn't want to pay $200 to see Florida and Phoenix? Oh, right...

PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

Having already predicted the SuperSkills and the end of season awards, let's round out the picks with the post-season standings and playoff results. The crystal ball tells me...

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. San Jose Sharks (Pacific Division Champ)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Central Division Champ)
3. Calgary Flames (Northwest Division Champ)
4. Chicago Blackhawks
5. Vancouver Canucks
6. Edmonton Oilers
7. Phoenix Coyotes
8. Anaheim Ducks

Conference Quarter Finals
Sharks OVER Ducks
Red Wings OVER Coyotes
Flames OVER Oilers
Blackhawks OVER Canucks

Conference Semi Finals
Blackhawks OVER Sharks
Red Wings OVER Flames

Conference Finals
Red Wings OVER Blackhawks

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Boston Bruins (Northeast Division Champ)
2. Washington Capitals (Southeast Division Champ)
3. New Jersey Devils (Atlantic Division Champ)
4. Montreal Canadiens
5. Philadelphia Flyers
6. New York Rangers
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
8. Buffalo Sabres

Conference Quarter Finals
Bruins OVER Sabres
Capitals OVER Penguins
Rangers OVER Devils
Canadiens OVER Flyers

Conference Semi Finals
Bruins OVER Canadiens
Capitals OVER Rangers

Conference Finals
Capitals OVER Bruins

STANLEY CUP FINALS
Detroit Redwings OVER Washington Capitals

WERE LAST NIGHT'S GAMES CONFERENCE FINALS PREVIEWS?

With the NFL playing it's Conference Championship games today, I can't help but wonder about the NHL playoffs coming up in a couple of months; especially with the one versus two matchups taking place in both the west and east last night. But are Boston, Washington, and San Jose, Detroit going to still be the top seeds once the post-season finally does roll around? There is no way to know for sure. What we do know though, is that all four of these clubs will be in the playoffs, and all appear poised to make a run towards Lord Stanley's Cup.

Despite a 2-1 loss in D.C. last night, the Boston Bruins remain the top overall seed in the Eastern Conference. At 33-8-4, Boston is in the driver's seat and seems ready to claim home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. The team's 70 points are nine ahead of the second place Capitals, and the B's have played one fewer game than Washington. They lead the Canadiens (4th in the East) by 10 points in the Northeast Division.

Washington too, seems set for the playoffs. They are 29-14-3 and sit 12 points up on Florida in the weak Southeast. Their second win over the Bruins this season shouldn't come as too big a shock. The Caps are 19-3-1 inside the Verizon Center this year, making it the toughest place to play in the Eastern Conference (Boston is 17-3-1 at home).

Out west, San Jose held serve on home ice, defeating the defending Cup Champion Red Wings last night, 6-5. The Sharks and Detroit are clearly the two best teams in the west (sorry Blackhawks), and last night's game proved that they are seemingly interchangeable in going for that number one seed. The Wings sit three points back of the Sharks, but those three points could turn out to be huge. Should these two teams meet in the Western Conference Finals, San Jose would really benefit from playing games one and two (and potentially game seven) in the Shark Tank. San Jose's 21-1-2 record on home ice is the best in the NHL.

While it is certainly too early to be saying last night's games were Conference Final Previews, that really wouldn't be a surprise. Either way, I'm looking forward to April, when we will learn the final standings, and let one through eight battle it out in the quest for the Stanley Cup.