We heard it over and over, the NHL needs a salary cap.  It was beat into the brains of hockey fans all around, whether or not they wanted to hear it.  No one did.  The salary cap was supposed to help those small market teams compete.  Well with each team now having played 30 or so games let's take a look at how well this "New Order" has panned out for the NHL.

     Let's start by taking a look at the final standings for 2003-2004 season.  Here are the top 8 from the east:
1. Tampa Bay
2. Boston
3. Philadelphia 
4. Toronto
5. Ottawa
6. New Jersey
7. Montreal
8. New York Islanders.

Here are the current standings :
1. Ottawa
2. New York Rangers
3. Carolina
4. Buffalo
5. Philadelphia
6. Montreal
7. Tampa Bay
8. Toronto

     If the season ended today we'd still have 5 out of 8 teams returning to the playoffs.  Not too bad, but consider this,  none of the three teams that didn't make the playoffs last season made any real significant moves in the off-season.  Of the 2003-2004 playoff teams not currently in the top 8 only one team really felt the impact of the salary cap, the Boston Bruins.

     The Bruins during the lockout only had a handful of players signed to contracts for when the NHL resumed.  The team seemed to be doomed with chemistry issues before the season even started. 

     The New Jersey Devils were a team on the decline.  The abscence of Scott Stevens is hurting the Devils.  It was evident last season with the teams poor play after he was lost for the remainder of the season.  The devils currently sit in a tie for 9th place, just one point out of the playoffs.  The salary cap didn't hurt the Devils as much as the rule changes have.  They can no longer hold up opposing players in the nuetral zone but this is a team that seems to have what it takes to be a success in the New NHL, young speedy players.  When the regular season ends don't expect these Devils to watching at home.

     The New York Islanders are currently tied with the Devils for 9th place one point out of the playoffs.  Not much has changed for the final playoff team in 03-04, a constant underachiever.

     Of the teams in the playoffs now that weren't there in 03-04,  the Sabre's are continuing to climb and build off of their 9th place finish in 03-04.  Carolina has made leaps and bounds however they made no significant additions in the offseason.  The Hurricanes are the equivilent of the University of West Virginia football team, pretty darn good every 4 years or so.  The New York Rangers rise to the top is a bit of a surprise considering the Rangers were one of those teams targeted by the salary cap. 

So to recap the Eastern Conference, 4 small market teams as opposed to 3 in 03-04.  Now let's have a look at the Western Conference standings currently and from the past season. Here are the final standings from 03-04 in the Western Conference.
1. Detroit
2. San Jose
3. Vancouver
4. Colorado
5. Dallas
6. Calgary
7. St. Louis
8. Nashville

Currently the standings in the West are:
1. Detroit
2. Vancouver
3. Dallas
4.Calgary
5. Nashville
6. Los Angeles
7. Edmonton
8. Colorado

     The West has changed too much, too much.  Only two teams from the 03-04 season are not currently in the top 8.  The only real big change is the abysmal display of hockey out of St. Louis.  Last year the Blues hung on to keep their steak of consecutive playoff apperences intact.  However they were a team on the way down. 

     The Sharks seem to be feeling the same kinda blues that their 2nd place Eastern Conference counter parts  (in 03-04).  Not too many changes to their line-up in the off-season.  With the recent addition of Joe Thorton expect this team to start rolling and be back in contention come playoff time. 

     The real winner in the West with the New salary cap is the Los Angeles Kings.  Who added big names and got some help in goal when Roman Chechmanek did them a favor and stayed back in the Cech Republic. 

     Net gain in the West zero small market teams.  So what has the NHL actually accomplished in an attempt at parity in the league?  Pretty much nothing.  With a gain of just one small market team over the 03-04 season and the addition of teams from the top two markets in the country, i'd say that the New World Order in the NHL looks pretty much like the Old World Order in the NHL.  So far....