The NHL's best division

Having seen three of the Northwest Division’s teams in person and the other two (Colorado and Minnesota) in on Center Ice numerous times, here is how things could shake out. The NHL’s best division top to bottom, the Northwest likely will have three teams make the playoffs (figuring Dallas, San Jose and Anaheim from the Pacific appear to be locks and Detroit and Nashville will go from the Central).

I think Minnesota is for real. The Wild skates, plays defense and has the most offense in its history. I don’t know that it will win the division, but goalie Manny Fernandez gives them a chance every night. … I think Edmonton is going to be right there with the Wild. Goalie Dwayne Roloson (acquired last season from the Wild) has picked right up where he left off in the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Oilers also have adjusted well to the new NHL. Their forwards are as deep as anyone’s and defensemen Daniel Tjarnqvist and Ladislav Smid have stepped in to help fill the void left by Chris Pronger and Jaroslav Spacek. … Calgary, which is coming on after a rough start, also boasts good goaltending with Miika Kiprusoff, and is starting to get more scoring from forwards such as Kristian Huselius and Alex Tanguay in support of captain Jarome Iginla. The defense, led by Robin Regehr, Dion Phaneuf and Rhett Warrener is rock solid. … That leaves Vancouver, which must have better play from goaltender Roberto Luongo and more scoring, and Colorado, which has had weak goaltending from Jose Theodore, on the outside looking in. Put any of these teams in the Central Division, and they’d be a threat to win it.