...to pick an underdog, and I'm likely to do it. When it comes to the NHL, what fun is it to tuck your cahones away and pick Ottawa and Detroit every year? With that said, let's talk some hockey with guts!
WHY YOU SHOULDN'T BET AGAINST:
The Chicago Blackhawks - They upgraded an already decent team that just underachieved last season. Khabibulin will not struggle two years in a row. They signed two very legit players in Martin Havlat and Michal Handzus, and Bryan Smolinski is no joke either. A heathly Tuomo Ruutu could easily mean a 30 goal swing. The Norfolk Admirals were 7 games over .500 last season.
The St. Louis Blues - John Davidson is credible, and Mike Kitchen gets two upgrades in assistants Rick Wamsley and Brad Shaw. Doug Weight and Bill Guerin aren't done just yet. Dan Hinote is a pain in the ####. Manny Legace can win some games, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The Peoria Riverman were a very respectable 12 games over .500 last season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins - Evgeni Malkin. Even though he's 18, Jordan Staal might just be ready enough to contribute this year. The power play will be devestating. Nils Eckman is a contributor. Marc-Andre Fleury has more than enough talent to get it together in the NHL the way he dominates the AHL. Wilkes-Burre Scranton was a rediculous 22 games over .500.
The Boston Bruins - They lost the Thorton trade, but that doesn't mean the depth they received won't help them. Phil Kessel is an A+ player, was the steal of the draft at 6, and should see big club game time this year. Brad Boyes may be the last of a litany of first line youngsters the old Leaf's regime donated to the rest of the league . A healthy Alex Zhamnov is an enormous upgrade at center. The Providence Bruins were 7 games over .500 a season ago, and Eastern Conference finalists.
The Washington Capitals - Olaf Kolzig is not done just yet. Richard Zednik can be a big time upgrade. Chris Bourque can contribute at the NHL level. Oh yeah, and that Russian kid with the shot, the one who'll win MVP this year? He'll be everything expected of him and more. The Hershey Bears were 4 games over .500 in 2005/2006.
I am a Sabres fan, a Cubs fan, a Boilermakers fan, a Ti-cat fan and a Hamilton Bulldogs fan. I'm an obvious sucker for punishment. I believe that while playing them can be a tolerable way to kill 5 hours, there is nothing more painful than talking golf or watching poker. There's no excuse for fantasy football, no matter how bored or lonely you are. I don't consider you an athelete unless you can beat me in a race to the corner and back. I'm landlocked and terrible, but I carry on an irrational love affair with surfing. We are in the midst of one of the greatest horseracing years in decades.
