Pre-Season Predictions: End of Season Standings

Now that I have made comments about each team in the League, I will try to predict how the teams will sit in April (and then in April we can all see just how wrong I am).

Eastern Conference

1. Ottawa (President's Trophy)
2. New York Rangers
3. Atlanta
4. Pittsburgh
5. Buffalo
6. Toronto
7. New Jersey
8. Philadelphia

9. Tampa Bay
10. Montreal
11. Washington
12. Carolina
13. New York Islanders
14. Florida
15. Boston

* I believe that the teams will be very close in the standings (especially those teams in the 5th to 12th spots, as well as the race for the Southeast crown), and that the final standings may not be set until the last day.

Western Conference

1. Detroit
2. Anaheim
3. Colorado
4. San Jose
5. Vancouver
6. Calgary
7. Dallas
8. Minnesota

9. St. Louis
10. Chicago
11. Edmonton
12. Nashville
13. Los Angeles
14. Columbus
15. Phoenix

* I think that we will see a lot more parity in the West this season, and those teams in the 9th to 12th spots may still be in playoff contention in the last week or two of the season.

* Since I think that we will see a lot more parity in the League this year, similar to what we saw in the Eastern Conference last season, it only makes sense that injuries will play an even bigger role in whether a team makes the playoffs.