1. Detroit Red Wings- No matter what happens, this team always finds a way to rise to the top. Even now critics have run out of excuses since they finally have competition in the Central division. 2. Ottawa Senators- They were the best team for the longest time this year, only losing 3 out of 19 games. However, since then they came crashing back to Earth, losing their last 6 games. The focus there is on the goaltending battle between Gerber and Emery. 3. Dallas Stars- The Stars got off to a slow start, which led to the firing of long time GM Doug Armstrong and the hiring of Les Jackson and Brett Hull to replace him. But since then they?ve picked up and taken up the lead in the Pacific division. They are also 6th in the league in goals, which was their entire problem last year. 4. New York Rangers- Surprisingly, the Rangers have been a very strong defensive team, holding teams to scores like 1-0 and 2-0 scores a few nights this year. Once their offense starts to click they will be almost unstoppable. Oh, and having the best goalie in the league Henrik Lundqvist helps too. 5. St. Louis Blues- One of the best teams that no one is talking about right now, and it?s about time! They have had one of the best young defenses for the past two years; they?ve spent the past two years restocking the shelves; and it?s starting to pay off. The combination of the acquisitions of Paul Kariya and Brad Boyes has remade the offense while the steady goaltending of Manny Legace has brought the team back to respectability. 6. Vancouver Canucks- The Canucks and Luongo got off to a slow start, but both have begun to hit their strides. For Luongo, it took his own fans to start booing him and as goes Luongo, goes the Canucks. 7. Chicago Blackhawks- The kids are alright in Chicago. The Hawk?s resurgence is mainly due to rookies Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, both of whom will probably be competing for the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. The kids will only get better with star winger Martin Havlat coming back from injury, which means teams will have to stop focusing on those two and worry about Havlat?s line as well. This is a team on the rise. 8. Minnesota Wild- Like last year, the Wild went off to a fantastic start but also like last year has started to tail off. For the Wild to be successful their big 3 of Marian Gaborik, Pavol Demitra and goaltender Niklas Backstrom need to be at their best and stay healthy. The latter of that isn?t very likely with those three. 9. Carolina Hurricanes- The 2006 Stanley Cup champs want to show that it was just a hang over that caused them to miss the playoffs last year. This year, being led by a surging Rod Brind?Amour, Eric Staal, and the 20 pounds lighter Cam Ward, the Hurricanes are back at the top of the South East division. 10. New Jersey Devils- Everyone thought that this was the year the Devils falter after struggling to come out of the gate. However, Zach Parise and Martin Brodeur think otherwise. The Devils have won 7 straight games with those two players carrying the team on their backs. We?ll see how long they can keep it up. 11. Philadelphia Flyers- The Flyers are this year?s most improved team and also most changed team since last year. Being led by Mike Richards and Daniel Briere, the Flyers have come out of the basement of the league with a vengeance. The only problem is they may be a little too aggressive in this vengeance. With 5 Flyers being suspended for a significant amount of time this year, the NHL has put the team on notice. 12. Boston Bruins- The Bruins have quietly made their way into the playoff hunt which is probably the way they want it. With Patrice Bergeron out long term with a severe concussion, the majority of the offense relies on forward Marc Savard, who has not disappointed. Tim Thomas has shown that he?s not just a journeyman goalie anymore and is playing like the star this team desperately needs. Combine that with the leadership and consistency that Zdeno Chara brings to the table puts Boston back on the map to respectability. 13. Colorado Avalanche- The Avs have not fully hit their stride yet this year. After missing the playoffs last year, the Avalanche added new faces like Ryan Smyth and Scott Hannen to bring them back to the big dance. The offense has not fully clicked yet, but you get the impression that it will. The main problem will be goaltending, which has not been addressed fully since Patrick Roy retired. 14. San Jose Sharks- The Sharks have started off slowly but this is nothing new because they have done that past two years as well. Thornton has been great as always, but they need Patrick Marleau and Jonathan Cheechoo to snap out of their funks to be as successful as before. Also this is Nabokov?s first full year as a starter, and we?ll have to see how he reacts to that. 15. Montreal Canadiens- History does tend to repeat itself. Last year the Habs got off to a great start, but once Christobal Huet got hurt they faltered and missed the playoffs on the last game of the season. This year they got off to a great start again but are starting to tail off a bit, and Huet has a groin injury. The difference is this year they have a capable starting goalie to take the slack in Carey Price. If he continues to play the way he has, the Habs will be in the playoffs again. 16. Nashville Predators- After almost being sold and moved to Hamilton this past summer, everyone thought the Preds would sink off the face of the Earth. However, despite their moves to clear salary, they have maintained themselves in the playoff hunt. Guys like Jason Arnott, Martin Erat, JP Dumont, Shea Weber and Alexander Radulov have led the charge in Nashville. They will only get better when Steve Sullivan returns from injury due to he is suited to this new NHL style of game. The question mark still is can Chris Mason be a starting goalie in this league? 17. Columbus Blue Jackets- Ken Hitchcock has created a well-oiled machine here. The man preaches defense, and that?s exactly what this team has done. Pascal Leclaire has gotten 6 shut outs this year due to that. Rick Nash has become a solid two-way player while being in the scoring race as well. 18. New York Islanders- The Islanders lost some key members to their team this past offseason, leaving some (including myself) to believe that they would fall to the bottom of the conference. Those that did should have realized that you can never count a Ted Nolan coached team out. Mike Comrie and Bill Guerin have been the force offensively while Diepietro is starting to earn that 15 year contract. 19. Anaheim Ducks- The losses of Scott Neidermayer, Teemu Selanne and Dustin Penner have seemed to hurt this team more than they thought. They appear to be on their way back up now, and rumours are swirling that Neidermayer may be coming back sooner rather than later. 20. Buffalo Sabres- Last year?s President Trophy winners took a beating this offseason losing both of their captains and almost losing their best young player in Thomas Vanek. They are starting to pick it up now, but the question here will be who will step up and be the leader. 21. Pittsburgh Penguins- The Pens came out to a slow start, and now are just inconsistent. Crosby is the same as he was last year, but the supporting cast isn?t as great. Staal is suffering for a sophomore slump, and Malkin is quietly putting up good numbers but has only 3 goals. The key to their power play is Sergei Gonchar, who has been a great leader for them. The main problem is goaltending; Marc-Andre Fleury has not gotten the job done, and Danny Sabourin can?t do the job. It may be time to look for help there. 22. Edmonton Oilers- The Oilers were desperate this summer, and that desperation led to the acquisition of Dustin Penner, leading Edmonton to be without their 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks this year. They will be life and death to make the playoffs, and if they don?t, fans will be calling for GM Lowe?s head. 23. Florida Panthers- The Panthers are really going nowhere. They will be fighting for a playoff spot all year, but in order to contend they need the young guns to play as good as their potential. If they don?t and the Panthers miss the playoffs, this could be the last season for Jokinen and Coach Martin in Florida. 24. Atlanta Thrashers- The Thrasher?s slow start this year cost Coach Bob Hartley his job. However with GM Don Waddell taking Hartley?s job in the interim, the Thrashers have jumped back into the playoff race. Kovalchuk and Hossa figured out how to score again, which is the main cause of their resurgence. Once Kari Lethonen is healthy, they should be a top 8 team again. 25. Toronto Maple Leafs- The Leafs were very close to what they?ve been needing to do for 3 years, until they started to win again. This team was just about ready to implode from the inside until captain Sundin turned the ship around. With that said, even MLSE can?t over look the fact that Sundin?s value will never be this high again. With the team only winning consecutive games twice this season, it?s looking like a major change will happen within the organization sooner rather than later. 26. Phoenix Coyotes- Gretzky?s Coyotes got a much needed boost when they acquired Iyla Bryzgalov off the waiver wire from the Anaheim Ducks. They won 4 in a row after that. However, it will still be a few more years before they are ready to contend for a playoff spot. 27. Los Angeles Kings- The Kings have one of the best young teams around and will be fine eventually. However, they are still maturing and until goaltender Jonathan Bernier is ready, they won?t really go anywhere. With that said, Jack Johnson, Anze Kopitar, and Mike Cammalleri are monsters. 28. Calgary Flames- The Flames haven?t reached expectations for the past 3 years since their Cup run in 2004. The excuses have being piling up to the point where they are back near the bottom of the Western Conference again. With Mike Keenan as coach, you have to wonder if he?s more likely to turn the ship around or have the team implode on him? We?ll have to wait and see. 29. Tampa Bay Lightning- The Lightning have three top forwards right now and 1 defenseman. The problem is the rest of the team is sub-par, at best. Their goaltending is below average, and aside from Ranger the defense corps has not been great, especially with Boyle hurt. With the Lightning looking to shed salary for a self-imposed salary cap, look for them to trade one of their big 3 forwards, notably Lecavalier. 30. Washington Capitals- The Capitals have one of the best wingers in the league in Alexander Ovechkin and two very good young players in Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom. However the rest of the team is lacking, and it shows. Their #1 goalie is getting up there in age, and their defense aside from Boyle and Ranger is pretty bad. Coach Scott Hanlan was already fired for this, and GM McPhee won?t be too far behind if they don?t improve. Agree? Disagree? You can email me at kirshenblatt@gmail.com