STONY POINT… Last week I previewed the Western Conference teams in the NHL that I look to finish in the 1-8 positions and make the playoffs. To finish up with the West projections, this is how I see the rest of the clubs for the regular season. In the West, I see just one playoff team from last season being displaced. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if two or three were out of the picture come April. That would probably be a minor miracle, though. And the boys on XM Home Ice have a rock-solid formula stating that if you look at the standings at American Thanksgiving in both conferences, the eight teams that are in place for a playoff spot usually get in. Interesting, eh? Without further ado:

9. CALGARY FLAMES. The team finished sixth in their division last year and out of the tourney. Yet they seemed to be competitive throughout the year, driven by taskmaster Coach Bob Hartley. This year, I would be concerned about the loss of sniper Mike Camalleri (and three D-men, two centers, and a goalie), but after Camalleri, none of the departed players had that much impact. They pick up G/Jonas Hiller, some muscle in F/Bollig, D/England, and some offense in F/Raymond (former UMD) and F/Setoguchi. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Flame challenged for a spot right to the end…

10. VANCOUVER CANUCKS. Last year was basically a disaster for the Canucks, as the club owner brought in fiery Coach John Tortorella to take the reins, and as former GM Mike Gillis tried to make some moves to smooth out his goalie situation and totally blew it, dealing his one and two. Add in that the club’s farm hands and prospects were thin in quality and quantity, and the year was a washout. They played well at times in the first half, then some injuries hit, as well as Tort’s epic rage during a tilt at Calgary. It was downhill from there. They have a new GM (Jim Benning) and coach (Willie DesJardins) as well as obtaining G/Ryan Miller. They lose F/Ryan Kesler but gain Miller, F/Bonino, D/Sbisa, F/Dorsett, and F/Vrbata. Improved over last season…

11. COLORADO AVALANCHE. Last year’s edition of the ‘Lanche overachieved in just about every phase of the game, so much so that many experts are saying that based on over-inflated analytics alone, the Av’s are bound to go downward this year and even miss the tourney. While I agree with that mostly, I believe it is their youth and the fact that the Wild exposed their defense in the playoff that will hold them back this campaign. They lose two key players in F/Stastny and F/Parenteau but add some vet power in F/Inginla, F/Briere, F/Winchester, and D/Stuart. Iggy and Brie are good, but you just made your club slower by adding them. Plus, G/Varlamov won’t have another year like last, and the youth will be subject to some growing pains. No playoffs this year…

12. ARIZONA COYOTES. In the first 20 tilts of last year, the team’s GF was great but then steadily declined. The GA numbers did, too, but not enough to overcome the team’s scoring woes. The losses and gains here are negligible, with F/Gagner coming in looking for a revival, and no young team changers making the final roster. It’s early and most of the club’s players already have substantial minus numbers in the stats, including “D” star Ekman-Larsson. They will fight to stay above water…

13. WINNIPEG JETS. The Jets will struggle to take flight once again, and I’m not even certain if the future has some hope concealed within. Paul Maurice replaced the brusque Claude Noel behind the bench mid-season, and the club got a 10-game splash (8-2) out of it but finished poorly, gaining fewer than half of the points available to them through victory in the last 20 games. Potential-laden but enigmatic F/Evander Kane has appeared in only one game due to injury, and his questionable attitude seems to be holding the club back at times. Losses vs. gains? The Jet may have actually gained in this area, with two promising players in F/Galiardi and F/Perreault coming in…

14. EDMONTON OILERS. If ownership and team management have any clue about what each other are doing here, please call me. The problems are too many to list, and even the tunnel is looking dark. You would think that a team that has enjoyed the draft positioning that the Oil have in the recent past would be making a run already. Not so here. The roster is poorly constructed: top-heavy with forwards and thin at the “D” and goalie spots. The coaching isn’t even average, and GM Mac T doesn’t appear able to convert numbers at the F position into trades that could shore up the rest of the roster…
Calgary, Vancouver, and Colorado could challenge for a playoff berth with some breaks, but those kinds of breaks may be in short supply, as overall the West looks poised to retain their NHL supremacy…

THE MINNESOTA WILD ARE OFF to a nice start and would be in possession of a perfect 6-0 record if not for some challenges in finishing plays on a two-game West Coast swing. The team is off to a 4-2 start off of two smashing wins (home and home, both shutouts) vs. the Av’s to start the campaign. They lost to the Ducks and Kings out in L.A. before coming home to best Arizona and Tampa Bay. The club looks good, fast, in control with strong puck possession, and tight in goal with Darcy Kuemper in the one spot and Niklas Backstrom in the two spot.
The following questions give me things to ponder, though, about the team and their potential for the season. If G/Josh Harding returns from injury, does he get the net back? There is illness and injury to consider, as well as trade possibilities. Kuemps is making this into a hard decision with his stellar play, and Backy’s days as a viable number one might be over. Does the team need a “muscle guy” to come in on nights when we need a tougher presence to keep the opposition honest and from running at our younger players? I see evidence of this and I don’t think it would hurt. It could possibly be a guy you float between Iowa and the big club. Finally, is it time for a total revamp of the club’s sweaters? YES! I could go for it… PEACE

Marc Elliott is a sports opinion writer who splits his time between Minnesota and his hometown in Illinois.