Generally considered the more competitive of the NHL's two conferences, the West has several solid Stanley Cup contenders and should feature a heated battle for its final 3-4 playoff spots.
An overview of the West:
Best Division: The Pacific, home to Stanley Cup champion Anaheim, San Jose, Dallas - all three playoff teams, and the up-and-coming Kings.
Worst Division: The Central. After Detroit, it's tough to envision another team aside from Nashville or St. Louis possibly sneaking into the playoffs.
Most Balanced Division: The Northwest. Aside from Edmonton, any of the other four teams could win it, and it would not shock me if Calgary, Colorado, Minnesota and Vancouver all made the playoffs.
Cup Contenders: Anaheim, San Jose, Detroit, Minnesota and possibly Calgary.
The skinny: If D Scott Niedermayer and/or F Teemu Selanne return at some point, the Ducks' chances improve. Anaheim must not fall too far back as it deals with early season injuries. ... If the Sharks' young players continue trend upward, particularly on defense, they will be a force to be reckoned with. ... The Red Wings are putting a lot of faith in goalie Dominik Hasek, but they play in a bad division and will pile up points and get a high postseason seed. ... The Wild have the best goaltender you've never heard of - Nicklas Backstrom - solid systems and great team speed. As they develop complementary scoring and toughness to their top line, they will be very difficult to play against. ... Either the Mike Keenan experiement in Calgary will be a rousing success or cause the Flames to implode. I question their offseason personnel moves (smell like "Keenan guys"), but they have great on-ice leaders and one of the top goalies in Mikka Kiprusoff.
Have Holes: Colorado, Vancouver, Dallas, Nashville
The skinny: The Avalanche need improved goaltending and defense, though signing D Scott Hannan and getting D Jordan Leopold back from injury helps. Offense will not be a problem. ... The Canucks have the opposite problem - great goaltending and defense, but not nearly enough offense. ... Ditto the Stars, whose best offensive players are getting long in the tooth. Still, Dallas is hard to play again. ... The Predators need a lot of young players to step to offset massive losses in the offseason, but the cupboard is far from bare - particularly on defense. A playoff berth is not out of the question.
Not Yet: Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago, Columbus, Phoenix, Edmonton.
The Skinny: Of these five, Los Angeles and St. Louis are best-positioned to make the leap into the playoffs. ... The Kings added a lot of complementary players to their young offensive stars. If they get consistent goaltending, they'll be better than expected. ... The Blues' signing of Paul Kariya will help their offense. St. Louis' play picked up dramatically under Coach Andy Murray. I question if they have the horses to keep up in the West. ... Chicago has good young talent and an excellent goaltender in Nikolai Khabibulin, but the Hawks need more time and more consistent scoring. ... Columbus has some questions in net and lacks scoring depth, but F Rick Nash should grow into a dominant player under Coach Ken Hitchcock. ... The Coyotes will be the West's worst team by virtue of weak goaltending, suspect offense and playing in the toughest division. ... The Oilers are in rebuild mode, and it's tough to see where they will get their offense from. If goalie Dwayne Roloson goes down, it could get ugly again.
Showing posts with label season preview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label season preview. Show all posts
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Monday, September 03, 2007
2007 NFC Preview
A division-by-division look at the NFC, including playoff picks and projections of teams rising and falling.
EAST
1 - Dallas - I liked all of the Cowboys' offseason moves: Leonard Davis will be a force at guard, Ken Hamlin solidifies the secondary, and Coach Wade Phillips will reinvigorate an already very good defense with his array of schemes and blitz packages. The Cowboys have a rising quarterback, size and speed at receiver, an excellent tight end and two very solid running backs.
2 - Philadelphia - It all comes down to Donovan McNabb's health and the ability of the defense to stop the run. If those are positives, the Eagles can contend for the division title. If McNabb gets hurt again or the Eagles can't stop the run, they'll struggle to reach the postseason. RB Brian Westbrook is the most versatile back in the NFL.
3 - Washington - Like Dallas, this is another team with two very good running backs, a good tight end and a developing QB (Jason Campbell). I'm not crazy about the Redskins' front seven on defense or their receivers, but the talent is there for those areas to improve. The secondary could be dominant if its members play to their vast potentials. Washington has disappointed the past few seasons, so this might be a make or break year for it.
4 - New York Giants - The Giants will really miss retired RB Tiki Barber. Unless QB Eli Manning takes a big step forward in his development, this will be a very predictable offense, and the defenses in this division are good enough to take advantage of that. A team that appears unsettled under Coach Tom Coghlin might come apart at the seems by midseason.
NORTH
1. Chicago - The Bears appear to have a lot of questions after their Super Bowl appearance: Is Rex Grossman the answer at QB? Can RB Cedric Benson handle the load now that Thomas Jones is gone? Will all the coaching staff changes (five assistants left) affect the on-field play? Chicago still has more talent than any team in this division by a mile.
2. Green Bay - The Packers feature and up-and-coming defense and slowly are building some depth on the offensive line. QB Brett Favre is back, which will aid the development of the young and talented group of receivers. But the Pack has no one, literally, to run the ball, and that will be their undoing. Had they kept Ahman Green or acquired a suitable replacement, they'd be a playoff team.
3. Minnesota -The Vikings have an opportunistic defense, and one that is excellent vs. the run. Rookie RB Adrian Peterson looks like a franchise back, and he and Chester Taylor should complement one another well. They have the opposite problem that the Packers do, no QB and receivers with any significant experience.
4. Detroit - Will the Lions never learn? They again addressed their offense (drafting WR Calvin Johnson and trading for RB Tatum Bell) at the expense of their defense, which outside of DLs Shaun Rodgers and Cory Redding and LB Ernie Sims, will be awful.
SOUTH
1. New Orleans - The Saints, yes the Saints, are Super Bowl contenders if the middle of their defense improves. Adding TE Eric Johnson was brilliant and further diversifies the conference's top offense.
2. Carolina - The Panthers get this spot by default because I think the teams below them are horrible. Two years ago, Carolina looked like a budding dynasty, but now it appears to have a lot of holes. I'm not sure RBs DeShaun Foster or DeAngelo Williams are good fits for the offense, and beyond Steve Smith there is not much at WR. Both lines have had injury problems, and the defense - supposedly elite - could not pressure the QB or stop the run nearly as well as advertised last season.
3. Tampa Bay - Obtaining QB Jeff Garcia will help solidify that position for a season, but it can't mask that this is an aging team at several positions, and one almost completely void of playmakers. The defense will be OK, but the offense really needs to involve RB Carnell Williams more. It's a make-or-break season for Coach Jon Gruden, but this is a franchise that should go into rebuild mode.
4. Atlanta - I might have put the Falcons in this spot BEFORE all the Michael Vick revelations, but that cemented it. The all-around impact of that on a team that had a lot of holes and a new coach with very little NFL experience will be devastating. In terms of personnel, losing DE Patrick Kearney in free agency and trading QB Matt Schaub really hurt. Winning more than three games would be a miracle.
WEST
1. Seattle - The Seahawks have the best all-around talent in this division, a solid coaching staff, an enormous home-field edge and the experience of winning. If they stay healthy and some of their more recent acquisitions play to their potential (WR Deion Branch, DE Patrick Kearney, S Deon Grant), they will be formidable.
2. San Francisco - A fashionable pick as a division winner, the 49ers need three things to happen for that to become a reality: Alex Smith must continue to progress at QB (and do so despite his third coordinator in three seasons), RB Frank Gore must stay healthy (he was nicked in preseason and has a lengthy college injury history), and the Niners need some receivers to emerge (obtaining Darrell Jackson from Seattle was a start). The defense should be even better with the additions of CB Nate Clements, S Michael Lewis and rookie LB Patrick Willis.
3. St. Louis - If only the Rams had a better defense. Their offense will be diversified and explosive. Adding WR Drew Bennett and TE Randy McMichael will enhance their red-zone scoring capabilities. The secret to beating the Rams has been running the ball on them, and I see no reason for that to change. The defense is youthful, and thus could improve.
4. Arizona - See St. Louis. The Cardinals have a lot of talent on offense, but this is a team that is handicapped by its weak line play on both sides of the ball. The Cards also might have the weakest linebacking group in the league. They'll be fun to watch, but unless their line play improves dramatically, it will be more of the same.
Going up: Dallas, San Francisco
Going down: Atlanta, Tampa Bay, New York
Best division: East - Dallas and Philadelphia will be two of the better teams in the conference. If Washington plays up to its potential and stays healthy, it could be in the mix for a playoff spot as well.
Worst division: South - Beyond New Orleans, I don't see a playoff team. What I do see are the conference's two worst teams, hands down, in Tampa Bay and Atlanta.
Playoff teams: Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, Seattle, San Francisco
Conference champion: Dallas (over New Orleans)
EAST
1 - Dallas - I liked all of the Cowboys' offseason moves: Leonard Davis will be a force at guard, Ken Hamlin solidifies the secondary, and Coach Wade Phillips will reinvigorate an already very good defense with his array of schemes and blitz packages. The Cowboys have a rising quarterback, size and speed at receiver, an excellent tight end and two very solid running backs.
2 - Philadelphia - It all comes down to Donovan McNabb's health and the ability of the defense to stop the run. If those are positives, the Eagles can contend for the division title. If McNabb gets hurt again or the Eagles can't stop the run, they'll struggle to reach the postseason. RB Brian Westbrook is the most versatile back in the NFL.
3 - Washington - Like Dallas, this is another team with two very good running backs, a good tight end and a developing QB (Jason Campbell). I'm not crazy about the Redskins' front seven on defense or their receivers, but the talent is there for those areas to improve. The secondary could be dominant if its members play to their vast potentials. Washington has disappointed the past few seasons, so this might be a make or break year for it.
4 - New York Giants - The Giants will really miss retired RB Tiki Barber. Unless QB Eli Manning takes a big step forward in his development, this will be a very predictable offense, and the defenses in this division are good enough to take advantage of that. A team that appears unsettled under Coach Tom Coghlin might come apart at the seems by midseason.
NORTH
1. Chicago - The Bears appear to have a lot of questions after their Super Bowl appearance: Is Rex Grossman the answer at QB? Can RB Cedric Benson handle the load now that Thomas Jones is gone? Will all the coaching staff changes (five assistants left) affect the on-field play? Chicago still has more talent than any team in this division by a mile.
2. Green Bay - The Packers feature and up-and-coming defense and slowly are building some depth on the offensive line. QB Brett Favre is back, which will aid the development of the young and talented group of receivers. But the Pack has no one, literally, to run the ball, and that will be their undoing. Had they kept Ahman Green or acquired a suitable replacement, they'd be a playoff team.
3. Minnesota -The Vikings have an opportunistic defense, and one that is excellent vs. the run. Rookie RB Adrian Peterson looks like a franchise back, and he and Chester Taylor should complement one another well. They have the opposite problem that the Packers do, no QB and receivers with any significant experience.
4. Detroit - Will the Lions never learn? They again addressed their offense (drafting WR Calvin Johnson and trading for RB Tatum Bell) at the expense of their defense, which outside of DLs Shaun Rodgers and Cory Redding and LB Ernie Sims, will be awful.
SOUTH
1. New Orleans - The Saints, yes the Saints, are Super Bowl contenders if the middle of their defense improves. Adding TE Eric Johnson was brilliant and further diversifies the conference's top offense.
2. Carolina - The Panthers get this spot by default because I think the teams below them are horrible. Two years ago, Carolina looked like a budding dynasty, but now it appears to have a lot of holes. I'm not sure RBs DeShaun Foster or DeAngelo Williams are good fits for the offense, and beyond Steve Smith there is not much at WR. Both lines have had injury problems, and the defense - supposedly elite - could not pressure the QB or stop the run nearly as well as advertised last season.
3. Tampa Bay - Obtaining QB Jeff Garcia will help solidify that position for a season, but it can't mask that this is an aging team at several positions, and one almost completely void of playmakers. The defense will be OK, but the offense really needs to involve RB Carnell Williams more. It's a make-or-break season for Coach Jon Gruden, but this is a franchise that should go into rebuild mode.
4. Atlanta - I might have put the Falcons in this spot BEFORE all the Michael Vick revelations, but that cemented it. The all-around impact of that on a team that had a lot of holes and a new coach with very little NFL experience will be devastating. In terms of personnel, losing DE Patrick Kearney in free agency and trading QB Matt Schaub really hurt. Winning more than three games would be a miracle.
WEST
1. Seattle - The Seahawks have the best all-around talent in this division, a solid coaching staff, an enormous home-field edge and the experience of winning. If they stay healthy and some of their more recent acquisitions play to their potential (WR Deion Branch, DE Patrick Kearney, S Deon Grant), they will be formidable.
2. San Francisco - A fashionable pick as a division winner, the 49ers need three things to happen for that to become a reality: Alex Smith must continue to progress at QB (and do so despite his third coordinator in three seasons), RB Frank Gore must stay healthy (he was nicked in preseason and has a lengthy college injury history), and the Niners need some receivers to emerge (obtaining Darrell Jackson from Seattle was a start). The defense should be even better with the additions of CB Nate Clements, S Michael Lewis and rookie LB Patrick Willis.
3. St. Louis - If only the Rams had a better defense. Their offense will be diversified and explosive. Adding WR Drew Bennett and TE Randy McMichael will enhance their red-zone scoring capabilities. The secret to beating the Rams has been running the ball on them, and I see no reason for that to change. The defense is youthful, and thus could improve.
4. Arizona - See St. Louis. The Cardinals have a lot of talent on offense, but this is a team that is handicapped by its weak line play on both sides of the ball. The Cards also might have the weakest linebacking group in the league. They'll be fun to watch, but unless their line play improves dramatically, it will be more of the same.
Going up: Dallas, San Francisco
Going down: Atlanta, Tampa Bay, New York
Best division: East - Dallas and Philadelphia will be two of the better teams in the conference. If Washington plays up to its potential and stays healthy, it could be in the mix for a playoff spot as well.
Worst division: South - Beyond New Orleans, I don't see a playoff team. What I do see are the conference's two worst teams, hands down, in Tampa Bay and Atlanta.
Playoff teams: Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, Seattle, San Francisco
Conference champion: Dallas (over New Orleans)
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