It is half done.  The National Hockey League is winding towards the playoffs.  Here are my predictions for the playoffs and I will predict the winner.  There is still half a season left I will pick the 16 teams now.  I will also predict that two teams will make trades that no one thought would ever happen.  One team from the east and one from the west.  They will not swap players with each other they will address a need and both of these teams have some salary cap room.  The playoff predictions are:

From the Eastern Confrence-

Buffalo Sabres

New Jersey Devils

Atlanta Thrashers

Montreal Canadiens

New York Rangers

Carolina Hurricanes

Toronto Maple Leafs

Ottawa Senators

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Representing the Western Confrence-

Nashville Predators

Vancouver Canucks

Anaheim Ducks

Detroit Red Wings

Calgary Flames

San Jose Sharks

Minnesota Wild

Dallas Stars

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     Stanley Cup victor and the city that will host the parade will be from the result of an upset the Atlanta Thrashers.  Why?  The goalkeeping and the play of the offense will keep them in contention the remaining half of the regular season and then in the playoffs they have the team that is built to win close games.   The city of Atlanta will come to celebrate the victory as the result of winning the Cup in seven games over the Nashville Predators.  Nashville came oh, so close but 2007 was not meant to be for them.  The Conn Smythe trophy winner is Ilya Kovalchuk. 

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     The two teams that will make the trades are Detroit from the West and Buffalo from the East.  Detroit trades for a forward who can score and Buffalo trades for checking wing. 

    Now is the time to sit back, read up and realize that the NHL is not doomed but captivating, grabbing new fans everyday because the game is to intense to ignore.  This series will come to an end next week and thank you for the new readers and comments with feedback suggestions.  Now for more players to watch and an extra bonus.  

  John-Michael Liles of the Colorado Avalanche is much esteemed in Michigan, it sounds funny, because of the fierce rivalry between the Avalanche and Red Wings, however there are Wings fans who cheer the successor of Rob Blake, why do some fan of Red Wings hockey want him to have success in the NHL?  He went to Michigan State University and was one of the "ironmen" defenders for the Spartans of East Lansing when Ryan Miller was minding the net before and during the Hobey Baker award season of the elite netminder now with the Buffalo Sabres.  John-Michael Liles can be counted on during even strength, the penalty kill and power play to score, move and not get lost in the action.  He does not get tied up and bullied in the action, his shot from the blueline is one reason why the Avalanche management felt comfortable with Rob Blake heading back to the Kings.  Now Liles is still learning the game but he will only improve and he should be in the top five in scoring statistics for defenseman.  He is a player to watch and he is fun to watch; alot of forwards take it that Liles is small so he is easy to push around, when they learn otherwise is when John-Michael Liles has taken their scoring chance away and he is skating down the ice setting up one for his team or himself.  In other words he can skate, pass, take a shot and score.  All in a matter of seconds.

  Russia has given hockey some memorable moments; they were the opponents at  Lake Placid, New York in 1980.  Now they have contributed to the NHL talent and one of the players is Ilya Kovalchuk.  He is not a bully but can be a force to reckon with.  He is not a media hog but does garner respect from the press and photographers.  He is major reason that the Thrashers are always knocking on the door of the eighth seed of the playoffs when the regular is nearing the finish for the start of the quest for the Cup.  Take a look at this.  Last year  he did not play a complete season and finished in the top five for goals scored and total points, one word will sufice here, watch.  He is more than able to steal a game for his team. So when you are watching the NHL do not forget about Ilya Kovalchuk, he will make sure you do not make that mistake twice.

How many players are capable of being everything to a team? A leader with integrity and who by example mentors others.  Steve Sullivan started with the Chicago Black Hawks then trWho is this playeraded to the Nashville Predators for a second round draft pick (Ryan Garlock).  Nashville before this trade were a team who would compete in the Central Division but the owners, management and coaching staff would set goals and not be able to complete the ones for the playoffs, then Steve Sullivan arrived and the goals for getting to the playoffs were reached, now if the Cup was won that would be the best goal accomplished for any team.  The Predators right winger and power play specialist is a player to watch for his ability to create plays and score alot of game winning goals.  He is my fourth player to watch in 2006-07 because of the arrival Jason Arnott, this will provide opportunity for him to score a higher total than his combined 68 points of last year.  And he is one who will make sure that happens.

NHL players to watch 2006-07--Bonus Material.

Maurice Richard is the first player  to  score 50 goals in 50 games.

Original Six Hockey is defined by Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Frank Boucher and Rocket Richard.  Note the wooden hockey stick and this picture is one of all the time best of this player.