Yep.  I promised to do this in a couple days.  Yep, it took me about two weeks. 
 
So, 82 games have passed in the NHL, and the Western Conference looks a little bit strange.  First, the Central Division.  Wait, where's Detroit?  Not the best team in the NHL?  Who the heck are the Nashville Predators?
 
Well, Detroit will not win the President's trophy this season, but they'll definitely be around in the playoffs.  Don't count on contenders this season.  They're a young group, and they'll be using this season to gel and gain valuable experience. 
 
Instead, look forward to seeing Nashville atop the Central division this season.  With Vokoun healthy, the Preds have a great advantage over any team's offense backstopping them.  I wouldn't say they've got an All-Star lineup on the blue line.  However, they've got talent enough to get the job done and help their goaltender, while chipping in on the offense.  Their offense can be potent with the likes of Kariya, Dumont, Arnott and Erat.   
 
Despite the way things look now, Chicago will rebound from their wave of injuries.  Khabibulin will pick up his play.  Blackhawk fans will see him rebound to his glory cup days in Tampa Bay.  As the season rolls forward, we'll also see some injuries around the division, right around the time the stars in Chicago come back to life.  Expect a very strong second half for this club. 
 
St. Louis looks to be another disappointment this season.  Despite some young talent and plenty of veteran leadership, they're not getting the job done.  I don't see them making the playoffs this season.  A thought nags at me from the back of my mind: "You don't rebuild with veterans."  They will finish last in the division.
 
Columbus will have a decent year, and they'll fight right down to the wire for a spot in the playoffs.  You might call them stacked when it comes to their wingers.  Nash, Modin, Zherdev, Carter.  Sounds like last season's All-Star lineup, and that's not including the centers.  Defense is a healthy mix of veterans and young skaters, and I can't forsee any problems with Pascal Leclaire.  Unless they're plagued by injuries in the second half, I'm counting Columbus as a playoff team. 
 
 
 
In the Pacific Division, we have three great teams and two mediocre teams.  The atrocity that is the Coyotes lineup is almost surreal.  Looking at their roster, I see a lot of guys I rooted for back in the 90's.  Stalwart veterans, to say the best of the Coyotes.  Jeremy Roenick and Owen Nolan are old men compared to most of the NHL.  Nagy is the shining star on their offensive roster.  Looking into my crystal ball, I see two thirds of the team injured before January.  Things do not look good for the desert dogs.
 
Los Angeles is rebuilding.  I can't really say a whole lot else about this team.  I'd certainly like to ask GM Lombardi a few questions, the first of which is not exactly suited for FOX Blogs.  See ya next season, Kings fans.  
 
The Ducks, Sharks, and Stars have put up more points this season than some entire divisions.  All three are playoff bound, in the order I mentioned.  The Ducks will take the Western Conference this season, with the Sharks and Stars in fourth and fifth respectively.  Both squads will have more points than at least one division leading team in the west.  
 
The Stars are a veteran team.  Only four players on the roster have fewer than five seasons' experience.  Lindros and Modano are still playing their game.  New Captain Brenden Morrow looks comfortable in his role, and Marty Turco will have another excellent year.  To this point, the Stars have allowed a league-low 26 goals. 
 
San Jose has a surplus of goaltending talent, and they look to be using it all.  Nabokov and Toskala have split the season just about down the middle so far.  Their numbers are very comparable.  This could be a ploy to grow their market value for a late season trade.  Meanwhile, the top two lines picked up right where they left off last season: raising hell for opposing defensive corps.  Two thirds of Joe Thornton's points have come on the power play.  They're the best in the league when it comes to the man advantage, however their penalty killing is 25th in the league, 12th in the west.  The best way to beat the Sharks is by playing a disciplined hockey game. 
 
Speaking of power plays, the Ducks are right behind San Jose, with the second best return on the man advantage.  Three big names lead this team in points: Niedermayer, Pronger, and Selanne.  Giguere has reclaimed the number one spot, and his numbers thus far are impressive.  Anaheim has yet to lose in regulation. 
 
 
 
The Minnesota Wild are running away with the Northwest Division.  Don't expect them to look back any time soon.  Like the Southeast division last year, the cream will rise to the top of the Northwest.  Expect the Wild to finish second in the Western conference. 
 
Vancouver has a lot of work to do.  They're playing just over .500, and it's going to hurt them down the road.  As we see now with Bertuzzi out with back surgery, the Canucks won out on that big trade with Florida.  However, the Sedin line cannot carry this team's offense by themselves.  Special teams should be a concern down the road. 
 
The Avalanche are not the Avalanche of old.  They've scored 46 goals, which is good enough for second in the conference.  However, they've also allowed 43 goals.  If they keep this pace up, we'll not be seeing Colorado in the playoffs.
 
The Oilers lost several key players in the off-season, and I don't think they've recovered from that yet.  Having said that, I think theirs is a team many in the west want to beat, having championed the Western Conference playoffs last season.  I don't see them making the playoffs this season. 
 
Calgary needs to get it together.  Their offense is once again dismal.  Picking up Tanguay was helpful, but it doesn't seem to be enough.  If Calgary's going to get out of the Northwest basement, they'll need to swing a trade and bring in some potent firepower. 
 
To break it down by Division:
 
Central:
 
1 - Nashville Predators
2 - Columbus Blue Jackets
3 - Detroit Red Wings
4 - Chicago Blackhawks
5 - St. Louis Blues
 
Pacific:
 
1 - Anaheim Ducks
2 - San Jose Sharks
3 - Dallas Stars
4 - Los Angeles Kings
5 - Phoenix Coyotes
 
Northwest:
 
1 - Minnesota Wild
2 - Vancouver Canucks
3 - Calgary Flames
4 - Edmonton Oilers
5 - Colorado Avalanche
 
 
And by playoff position:
 
1 - Anaheim Ducks
2 - Minnesota Wild
3 - Nashville Predators
4 - San Jose Sharks
5 - Dallas Stars
6 - Columbus Blue Jackets
7 - Detroit Red Wings
8 - Vancouver Canucks
 
My prediction for the cup playoffs:
 
San Jose vs. Buffalo
Buffalo in 6.