Anze Kopitar is one of our picks to have a big year.
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Predicting the NHL always presents a unique challenge. Reflecting back on last year, what was I thinking? I had the Rangers beating the Canucks in a ’94 rematch. Instead, John Tortorella and Alain Vigneault swapped places. All the more reason for why it’s almost impossible to predict what will happen. Which coach will fare better? Fuh-get ’bout it!

The biggest question is can the Blackhawks repeat. Short answer. Yes. They could become the first repeat winner since the Red Wings. It’s the NHL that has a different champ every year despite the cap and every ticky tac rule change that flusters the diehards. Hybrid icing is in for player safety. So is the helmet rule that’s geared to protect fighters from dangerous head injuries. The jersey no tuck rule is odd. It’s better off I don’t say anything I might regret later.

Even with the new rules, hockey fans are still the most passionate of any sport. The added excitement of six outdoor games including the Devils, Islanders and Rangers participating in the Stadium Series at Yankee Stadium will generate even more revenue. The Winter Classic features Original Six rivals Detroit and Toronto, who now play in the same division. This would’ve been hard to picture 20 years ago when each still existed in the old Norris. Realignment has made it possible. The other outdoor events include the Blackhawks and Pens meeting at historic Soldier Field, the Kings hosting the Ducks at Dodger Stadium and the Canucks and Senators at Vancouver’s BC Place. How exactly will that hockey game look at Dodger Stadium? That’s the one I’m most excited about.

It all takes place in an Olympic year with the world’s best players headed to Russia. By then, Ilya Kovalchuk should be recovered. Depth will get tested. There are sure to be plenty of injuries which could further throw things out of whack. With four action packed divisions and a full slate, it’s sure to be wild. Let’s take a closer look at each division and who’ll be crashing the Spring party.

METRO

+*1.Capitals

*2.Penguins

*3.Rangers

4.Devils

5.Blue Jackets

6.Flyers

7.Islanders

8.Hurricanes

ATLANTIC

+*1.Bruins

*2.Red Wings

*3.Senators

*4.Canadiens

*5.Maple Leafs

6.Lightning

7.Sabres

8.Panthers

FINAL EAST RANKINGS

1.Bruins

2.Capitals

3.Penguins

4.Red Wings

5.Rangers

6.Senators

7.Canadiens

8.Maple Leafs

9.Devils

10.Blue Jackets

11.Flyers

12.Islanders

13.Lightning

14.Sabres

15.Panthers

16.Hurricanes

EASTERN CHAMP-Capitals

CENTRAL

+*1.Blackhawks

*2.Blues

*3,Wild

4.Stars

5.Predators

6.Jets

7.Avalanche

PACIFIC

+*1.Kings

*2.Canucks

*3.Sharks

*4.Ducks

*5.Coyotes

6.Oilers

7.Flames

FINAL WEST RANKINGS

1.Kings

2.Blackhawks

3.Canucks

4.Blues

5.Sharks

6.Ducks

7.Wild

8.Coyotes

9.Stars

10.Oilers

11.Predators

12.Jets

13.Avalanche

14.Flames

WESTERN CHAMP-Kings

STANLEY CUP WINNER-Kings

HART-Anze Kopitar

ART ROSS-Sidney Crosby

ROCKET RICHARD-Steven Stamkos

VEZINA-Jonathan Quick

NORRIS-Erik Karlsson

CALDER-Nathan MacKinnon

SELKE-Anze Kopitar

JACK ADAMS-Dallas Eakins

FIRST TEAM Ovechkin-Crosby-Stamkos Karlsson-Weber Quick

SECOND TEAM Malkin-Kopitar-P. Kane Chara-Subban Lundqvist