1st CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS - TOP LINE54 Petteri Nokelainen 0 R C 5 8 9 5 4 5 9 8 9 9 6 77
32 Lukas Vantuch 0 R LW 1 9 8 6 3 9 7 5 9 6 9 72
13 Jonathan Cheechoo 0 R RW 2 9 8 9 9 8 8 5 9 8 9 84
88 Matt Niskanen 0 L D 1 8 8 5 5 9 9 9 9 7 7 77
7 James Wisniewski 0 L D 7 8 9 6 8 3 8 9 9 9 8 84
The Hawks match up well to most of the top lines in the league - this line should create alot of offense and will be tough to score against. The thing that impresses me about the hawks is their depth - their second line could be a first line on most teams. Only thing is that they have a rookie goalie in Varlamov. Varlamov has skill but is not proven in the Pro league. I predict the Hawks winning the Division with 105 pts.
2nd TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS - TOP LINE91 Sergei Fedorov 0 L C 6 9 7 9 9 4 9 9 9 9 6 86
4 Oscar Sundh 0 L LW 7 9 1 1 9 9 9 2 9 1 9 66
26 Martin St.Louis 0 L RW 2 9 3 9 9 8 9 8 9 6 9 81
6 Joni Pitkanen 0 L D 4 9 9 9 8 6 9 9 9 9 8 89
39 Niklas Lidstrom 0 L D 1 9 6 9 8 9 8 9 9 8 6 82
The Maple Leafs have a solid team and there defense is amazing. 5 out of 6 of the forwards have 9's for shot. There goalie Jonathan Bernier was thrown in last season to carry the team and is a proven playoff performer and should play well behind the defense. Chicago and Toronto will be fighting for 1st in the division. I think the Leafs will end up 2nd in the division with 98 pts.
3rd DETROIT RED WINGS - TOP LINE14 Tyler Spurgeon L C 4 9 2 6 2 6 9 9 9 6 8 70
93 Sergei Samsonov R LW 1 9 3 9 4 9 9 6 9 4 9 72
61 Andrew Ladd R RW 5 9 7 8 7 5 9 6 7 8 9 80
4 Cody Franson L D 3 8 8 8 5 4 7 6 9 8 6 72
33 Eric Johnson L D 3 8 5 6 6 7 8 7 8 9 6 73
The Red Wings have put together a top line that can compete with most of the top lines in the league and have some depth players on other lines. Tim Kerr will be relied on for much needed offense from the second line. Tyler Plante was solid last season but will have his work cut out for him as the division is highly competative. The Red Wings lack some offense from the backend but have some nice defensive talent. Look for the Red Wings to battle Columbus for 3rd spot in the division. Red Wings 3rd 90 pts.
4th COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS - TOP LINE
23 Patrice Bergeron 0 R C 5 7 8 7 7 5 9 8 9 5 8 78
21 Ruslan Fedotenko L LW 2 8 8 8 8 8 9 7 9 7 7 81
69 Jozef Balej 0 R RW 1 6 4 7 6 9 9 5 9 4 9 69
6 Aaron Johnson 0 L D 4 8 7 8 8 6 7 7 9 9 5 78
88 Sheldon Souray 0 L D 7 8 8 8 6 5 8 7 9 8 5 79
It maybe a rebuilding year for the Blue Jackets a few forwards lack the skill to compete against the Leafs and Blackhawks. The Jackets will have to rely on their top line for most of the scoring. Thier defense will hold them in games but lack of a decent backup goalie for the last 15 to 20 games will hurt them. So it might be another close game season and the Jackets main players will have to perform well to compete for the 3rd spot in the division - Jackets 4th 85 pts.
5th ST. LOUIS BLUES - TOP LINE6 John Tavares 0 R C 4 9 6 4 6 6 9 9 8 5 7 73
7 Patrick Elias 0 L LW 5 8 6 8 8 5 9 9 9 6 6 79
11 Eric Perrin 0 L RW 1 4 3 9 9 9 5 3 7 8 9 67
5 Jay Bouwmeester 0 L D 1 8 6 7 5 9 8 7 7 6 7 71
20 Rod Langway 0 L D 9 6 9 6 5 6 7 9 8 9 5 79
With all of the Blues solid skill on the farm team it will be a long season for the Blues - The Blues looking forward to the draft next season and all of his talent coming up from the farm club. The Blues do have a few things to be positive about with two very young centers in Tavares and Pairse and there top defense is pretty solid in Bouwmeester and Langway. His top line will create some offense and having the Baulin wall as there goalie doesn't hurt there chances. Blues 5th 58 pts.





