Recently, we examined why each team in the Eastern Conference would win or lose the Stanley Cup. Now, our attention shifts over to the Western Conference as we point out why each team could hoist the Cup and why each team might come up empty.
Anaheim Ducks
Why They Will:
When you have names like Getzlaf and Perry, you are always going to be in the conversation. Goalies are young and are capable of vast improvements. Young enough and have cap space to move past other contenders.
Why They Won’t:
Young players don’t play up to potential. Not able to properly find a goalie to stick with. They have up to three goalies that they could possibly use but it is unsure whether or not they are up to it.
Arizona Coyotes
Why They Will:
Young players all play record setting seasons. That is pretty much the only way they do it.
Why They Won’t:
Goalie isn’t as great as he used to be. No depth on offense or defense. If you are a Coyotes fan you should be looking forward to your team within the next three years, but not this year.
Calgary Flames
Why They Will:
Improvements made on defense courtesy of Dougie Hamilton. Young offense grows into its role. Improved depth with additions like Michael Frolik.
Why They Won’t:
Average goaltending that may or may not put a damper on their season. Possession woes continue. Will need startling improvement on that end to have even a chance.
Edmonton Oilers
Why They Will:
Connor McDavid is everything he is cracked up to be. New coach Todd McLellan brings a style of play that befits the team and they improve greatly.
Why They Won’t:
They are the Oilers. But seriously they will need to put together a lot of pieces that previously weren’t there in prior coaching gigs. They have pieces that could possibly bring a winning season and a great roster but that remains to be seen.
Los Angeles Kings
Why They Will:
The skeleton of this team is very very strong. They are only a couple of seasons removed from a Stanley Cup. Additions of Milan Lucic and Christian Ehrhoff may be bigger than anyone realizes.
Why They Won’t:
Inability to turn it “on” and because of it allow the whole league to question what is really happening with this team.
San Jose Sharks
Why They Will:
Peter DeBoer and the old players find the groove that they were missing last year. Goaltending at least goes back to average after a lackluster year with Niemi and Stalock.
Why They Won’t:
Need to find depth on offense and defense. While the top end has names like Brent Burns and Joe Thornton, they will need to find replacements.
Vancouver Canucks
Why They Will:
Expectations will need to be exceeded across the board. Rewind the clock to earlier this decade to ensure that the Sedins and Alex Burrows become the players they once were.
Why They Won’t:
Cap mismanagement across the board will doom them. They are in the middle of a pseudo rebuild that may or may not be going according to plan. This season may prove to be a breaking point.
Chicago Blackhawks
Why They Will:
As the reigning champions, they have every reason to believe that they can repeat. While getting younger they also may be getting more utility out of their core then ever before.
Why They Won’t:
Off-ice distractions. Trading a lot of players may cause a stir in the chemistry of the team. This team will have one of the most interesting seasons to monitor moving forward.
Colorado Avalanche
Why They Will:
Defense becomes massively improved. The offense has already proven its worth but the defense will need to step up to prove that this team can compete in the very tough Central division.
Why They Won’t:
The defense. It is a mashup of journeymen defensemen that will more than likely get run over against stronger foes.
Dallas Stars
Why They Will:
The team got better on both offense and defense this year. Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya bring experience to a team that at times looked lost last year. Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn should once again team up to be one of the most high powered duos in the NHL.
Why They Won’t:
The defense is young and unproven. The goaltending is still shaky at best. They were predicted to be one of the better teams last year and that thought was proven to be unfounded.
Minnesota Wild
Why They Will:
Good mix of both the young and the old. They as of right now are caught in a no man’s land similar to the St Louis Blues. Both are good but don’t have the necessary talent to take them over the hump. Will the talent improve to a point that allows them to compete for a Stanley Cup?
Why They Won’t:
While young players are beginning to make headway, highest paid players on the team are older in age and eat up too much of the cap for this team to compete for much longer. The change over may not be as smooth as anticipated. Will the team be able to mesh?
Nashville Predators
Why They Will:
The defense is one of the best in the game and only improved under the tutelage of a Peter Laviolette coached team. After being one of the most improved teams in the entire NHL, they could see an even starker improvement as their offensive players gain experience.
Why They Won’t:
The stars on offense outside of Forsberg are quite old and past their prime. The need for stars on offense for Nashville is a process that needs to be started sooner rather than later or the offensive output will dry up.
St. Louis Blues
Why They Will:
Young players across the board filling into prominent roles. Tarasenko. Schwartz. This team at any time can take the next step. New stars can allow this team to be reborn.
Why They Won’t:
The bad vibes that have been surrounding this team are starting to become more than troubling. The coaching staff is on the hot seat and everyone in town knows it. This NEEDS to be their year.
Winnipeg Jets
Why They Will:
A mix of playoff experience and a mix of youthful ignorance should allow this team to make it back to the playoffs. Is the team going to be able to stay on the path that Paul Maurice set for the them? They battled adversity last year and because of it should have an “easier” year.
Why They Won’t:
Did they make the right or the wrong movie in trading Evander Kane? They have players coming up through the system that should make up for some of the playmaking ability lost after the trade. The team and its season are resting on the players involved in that trade. Drew Stafford and Tyler Myers will play a big role on this team but should they? It is an awkward question they will need to ask themselves: Do we have the players to compete in this division?
