Western Conference Predictions

Follow up to the Eastern predictions (duh).

Western Conference

1) St. Louis Blues (CEN)   

The St. Louis Blues were the second best team in the league last year, and will have the benefit of a goaltending tandem splitting the workload of the season.  I'm not suggesting that Brian Elliot posts the same numbers as last year, but I don't think the regression will be all the way to the mean; his season will be above average.  Ken Hitchcock's defence-first system will be an asset, as Western conference teams traditionally play a less open game than their Eastern counterparts.  Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk patrolling the blueline will help ensure that the defence remains solid.  Look out for Backes to have a monster year.

2) Los Angeles Kings (PAC)   

The defending Cup champions will be icing essentially the same roster that steamrolled through last year's playoffs.  I enter every single season looking at the West and thinking "Holy shit, the Kings are going to be great this year!", only for them to underachieve, and me not feel anxious about them at all.  I have the same outlook this year, and with Jon Quick being backed up by Jon Bernier, not many goals will be scored against L.A..  This minimizes the effect of Kopitar being out of the lineup to begin the season.  Holy shit, the Kings are going to be great this year!

3) Vancouver Canucks (NW)   

Hockey's seeding ensures that the divisional leaders obtain the top three seeds in the playoffs.  This iteration of the Canucks is not the third best Western team, I say they're fifth.  Still, due to the seeding, they fall here. Schnieder's situation mirrors Tukka Rask's in that a more than capable backup is getting his first full season workload.  Schnieder should be up to the task.  Kesler is out for who knows how long; he and his agent are hinting that it's possible it won't be until the playoffs.  Couple that with a defence that is, while still solid at the top, thinner than it has been in years, and the shortened season will see a statistical step back for the back-to-back Presidents Trophy winners.  The second line is in shambles, and if this team can't produce on the powerplay, then it's difficult to call them legitimate Cup contenders.  The fact is that the Canucks have long benefited from playing in one of the weakest divisions in the NHL.  I'm not saying this is the year someone displaces them, but the North-West as a whole improved, which should see the Canucks winning percentage against its own division (last year, .771) take a hit.

4) Anaheim Ducks (PAC)   

Boy were the Ducks bad last year.  This year will be different; Perry, Ryan, and Getzlaf are simply too good to be that bad again.  Same goes for Jonas Hiller.  I think that Anaheim will be powerhouses of the West this year, competing with the Kings for the division title.  The Teemu Selanne farewell tour begins Saturday in Vancouver, as it will likely be his last season.  Can he continue to produce at such a high pace?  I think that he'll still be considered a consensus top-6 player (on a team, not league-wide), so no problem there.

5) Chicago Blackhawks (CEN)   

It pains me to type this as a Canucks fan, but the Blackhawks will be good.  Yeah, they don't have the depth that won them the Cup.  Yeah, their goaltending leaves much to be desired.  But they will benefit from having a young team, and from Detroit likely taking a step back this year.  The Blackhawks' success, much like the Canucks', will be dependent on whether the powerplay can be effective.

6) Detroit Red Wings (CEN)   

Gone are Lidstrom and Kronwall.  A rookie called Damian Brunner is likely going to be the top line forward.  Gone is Hudler.  The Red Wings are in a mini-transformation period; a small bump in the road for an extremely well run team.  They'll be a tough matchup almost every night, but this is not the season that the Red Wings run away with the West.

7) Dallas Stars (PAC)   

I'm not sure what to think of the Stars this year to be quite honest.  Jamie Benn is still unsigned (though that be sorted out within a couple of days), and Jagr is going to be a focal point of their offence.  I don't know why (hell it might just be wishful thinking given that I have Lehtonen in my fantasy hockey league), but I think the Stars will surprise some people this year.  For the past two seasons, they have been vying for a playoff spot right up into the last week of the season.  This year has to be playoffs or bust; if they miss this year, it might be time to blow it up.

8) Minnesota Wild (NW)   

Twin $98 million contracts to Parise and Suter means the Wild are a better team.  They're not great or anything, but certainly better.  This team tends to be streaky and that will be a huge factor in this shortened season.  I think that Mikael Granlund will have a big impact with the club this year, and even though Danny Heatley is just awful, the Wild will make the playoffs.

9) Phoenix Coyotes (PAC)

Shane Doan is getting older, and Mike Smith won't have as good a year.  It'll be a tough year for the defending Pacific division champions.

10)  Edmonton Oilers (NW)

Tons of exciting young players won't be enough to get the Oilers into the playoffs this year.  God, could you imagine if they won the lottery a fourth year in a row?  Because that's a possibility now with the restructured CBA.

11) Nashville Predators (CEN)

Am I overrating the effect Ryan Suter's departure will have on this club?  Maybe, but I think that Weber will have a slightly harder time with his new defensive partner, and the fact the Weber seemed intent on getting out of Nashville will be an awkward elephant in the corner until he proves otherwise.  Any team with Rinne in net will be competitive, but the Preds will fall short.

12)  San Jose Sharks (PAC)

The once-powerful Sharks are a shell of themselves.  For those of you who don't know, I hate Joe Thornton, and will be pleased to see this team miss the playoffs.

13)  Colorado Avalanche (NW)

Good young players, but not enough to make an impact.  I do love Landeskog and O'Reilley though.

14) Calgary Flames (NW)

I predict that Hudler is a massive bust.  I feel bad for Kipprusoff.

15) Columbus Blue Jackets (CEN)

When you lose your best player and were already the worst team, you're in trouble.  This isn't Coach Carter on ice.

Eastern Conference Predictions

So NHL hockey is back.  Training camps open today, the season begins on the 19th, and so I'm back in the mindset of thinking about hockey.  That has been on pause since September, but now I feel the need to make predictions about the coming season.

Some notes about this season:
- A 48 game season will be conducted over the course of 99 days.
- The schedule will be entirely intraconference play.
- The format of the playoffs remains the same.


Eastern Conference


1) New York Rangers (ATL)     

The best team in the East last year has added Rick Nash to its forward corps.  Provided the roster stays healthy, there's no reason that there shouldn't be an uptick in the Rangers' offence.  In terms of defence, the team re-signed Michael Del Zotto earlier today, and have Henrik Lundqvist in net.

2) Boston Bruins (NE)   

The Bruins should benefit from the shortened schedule.  The Bruins' M.O. is rough play and intimidation, and without a marathon of a season, they should be able to bring a high intensity every night.  The Bruins were also dominant in their own conference last year, and there should be no reason for that to change drastically. There is something of a question mark in net in Tukka Rask, but that's only because he hasn't had a full season's workload yet.  He has the skill to be an NHL starter, so it shouldn't be too huge of an issue.

3) Washington Capitals (SE)     

The Southeast division is basically up in the air.  Alexander Ovechkin should have a better year than last with a new coach that will give him more leeway on offence.  The hole - if you want to call it that - left by Semin's departure has been filled by Mike Ribeiro, which is a bit odd because the two players have similar reputations as talented players whose work ethic is sometimes scrutinized.

4) Pittsburgh Penguins (ATL)   

Losing Jordan Staal is a blow; he brought far more to this team than his third line role suggested.  Still, with a defence headmanned by Kris Letang, and both Crosby and Malkin in their lineup, they're in good shape.  I find that people either greatly overestimate or underestimate the Penguins; this I feel is accurate.  They are a dangerous team with or without Crosby healthy, but he should be for the first time in two years.  On the flip side, I've heard people knock the Penguins because of their goaltending.  Yes, Fleury was a special kind of bad in the playoffs last year, but I think he'll be better this year.  And even if he falters, they have Vokoun backing him up, a more than capable goalie.  The Penguins will be good, end of story.

5) Carolina Hurricanes (SE)   

Jordan Staal left the Penguins to play with his brother Eric, and they will be joined by Semin.  Cam Ward is the kind of goalie that can get hot for three weeks at any time, and that means much much more in a shortened season.

6) Philadelphia Flyers (ATL)   

This is basically a contract year for Ilya Bryzgalov.  With buyouts available to teams next summer, the club has got to be taking a long look at their situation in net.  Claude Giroux is one of the elite players in the league, but I think that he regresses this year, but only slightly.  The Flyers open their season on the 19th against the Penguins, which should be awesome.  Don't miss this game.

7) Tampa Bay Lightning (SE)   

Steven Stamkos: best goal scorer in the game.  Lecavalier and St. Louis are still in the mix, along with youngster Teddy Purcell.  I think that the Lightning should be on the upturn in the nest few years, but with it looking more and more likely that Ohlund won't be returning from surgery any time soon (if at all), and Sami Salo's health always a question mark, I don't see them being a powerhouse in the East quite yet.

8) Buffalo Sabres (NE)   

Ryan Miller: good to great goalie.  That means a lot in the NHL.  Cody Hodgson has a chance to man the first line at the beginning of the season.  The Sabres have an owner who seems willing to spend as much money as he feels necessary to improve his team.  They should sneak into the playoffs this year.

9) Florida Panthers (SE)

Only won the division last year because all the other teams were disasters.

10) Toronto Maple Leafs (NE)

Burke's abridged re-imagining of the franchise begins their first campaign without him.  No Luongo likely means just missing the playoffs (*With Luongo, I see them at seventh, which bumps Buffalo out.).

11) New Jersey Devils (ATL)

Over-achieved last year.  Martin Brodeur is older; Parise is gone.

12) Ottawa Senators (NE)

I feel they also over-achieved last year, and that resulted in an 8th place finish.

13) Montreal Canadiens (NE)

Carey Price is good, Scott Gomez is being sent home so that he isn't injured when he gets bought out in the summer, and Subban should be re-signed soon.

14) Winnipeg Jets (SE)

Brutal travel in a year that has no inter-conference play.  Likely will be an above average home team, but an atrocious road team.

15) New York Islanders (ATL)

Eastern conference sandwiched by New York teams.  Good young players, but just not a great team.  Matt Moulson is underrated as a goal scorer.

A post that is far from purrfect

There's a kitten trying to help me write this.

I've decided that he'll be allowed to contribute at a later date, but today, we're on a tight time frame to get this done before the end of the day.  I really need to work on scheduling this better, but we're still at a post per day pace, so there's that.

This kitten looks a lot like my cat does: all black, though the kitten has a white heart-shaped patch near his junk.  I've always been a cat person, not just because I've had a cat for almost my whole life; it goes beyond that.  I will forgo people for most cats - as I write this with a kitten curled in my lap, there are several people outside; I'm sure I'll socialize soon, but now I have a cat with me.  Life is good.

When I was a kid, Creamy, one of two childhood cats, could always tell when my sister and I were sad.  Whenever Sophie or I were crying, she would come sit on our laps and purr and purr until we were feeling better.  That's probably the moment I became a cat person for life.  Eeyore was a big, half-siamese cat that could bring down crows larger than he was.  I know this because he'd hide them behind the TV for us to find at a later date.

Now that I'm talking about my cats, I want to elaborate, but I don't have the time.  Pictures of the kitten are pending another post, as he belongs to someone else.  Pictures of my cats are forthcoming in a future post.

****I do apologize to anyone who reads this for the lack of both content and quality.  It's not fair to have subpar content in favour of quantity, and I shall work on adjusting that.  For now, if you have a cat, go give him or her a good pet and have a cuddle with it.  Same goes for dog-owners.  Those who don't have a pet, go scour the backyards of your neighbours until you find a household that has a pet.  Covertly break in and cuddle with them.  Don't worry, I said it's alright.

TV Show of the Year: A Cracked 64 ripoff

The beginning of the year is the time to look back on what has just passed us by - through Top of the Year lists.  While many will be publishing their lists of the best of 2012, I'm more interested in what happens over at Cracked; they try to identify what typified the year that was.  This is, to me, far more interesting, and so, I will be offering my take on the same 8 categories that Cracked's columnists wrote on.

Movie

Tweet

Person

Song

Video Game

Photo

Video Clip

*     *     *

TV Show of the Year: Community

Community has largely been off the air for 2012; the second half of season 3 aired through early May, and then NBC pulled season 4 from its fall lineup.  But, returning to my statement that 2012 was defined by a revolution of sorts that has led to the wall between media and audience shrinking, it was also the show that best defined the year.  

It's no secret that Community has a loyal fan base.  The show has earned it ten fold, and when NBC pulled it, there was an absolute uproar.  This is unfortunately nothing new for fans of the show; season 3 only aired that late because the same thing had happened the year prior.  There is a battle being waged between a following that believes this is one of the smartest shows on television, and a network that deems it unmarketable.

October 19th was set to be the air date of season 4, a season that had been curtailed to 13 episodes, and had the creator and director, Dan Harmon, removed from his position.  After all that, NBC still decided to not air it, prompting the cast and crew to film this short, reassuring fans that the show will air, and that whenever it does, it will be October 19th in spirit.

It's been confirmed that February 7th is October 19th, so adjust your calendars accordingly, and settle in to watch a show that is likely only airing because its fans regularly vote it as the top show on NBC's website, among other places, and have kept it alive despite the network clearly not wanting anything to do with it.  I'm still holding out for 6 seasons and a movie.  And hopefully the movie is crossed with Cougar Town, because that would be just great.

Runner Up: The Olympics

Okay, sure, I'm cheating because it's not actually a TV show, but this post is already going up late, and it was a huge televised event.  Can you just give me a break on this?  Thank you.  Tomorrow, I will be back to regular scheduling - that is, entirely random stuff.  I apologise for the poorly written post; I was with friends all evening, one of whom is back from Hong Kong for only a brief time.  I'm sure you understand.

Video Clip of the Year: A Cracked 64 ripoff

The beginning of the year is the time to look back on what has just passed us by - through Top of the Year lists.  While many will be publishing their lists of the best of 2012, I'm more interested in what happens over at Cracked; they try to identify what typified the year that was.  This is, to me, far more interesting, and so, I will be offering my take on the same 8 categories that Cracked's columnists wrote on.

Movie

Tweet

Person

Song

Video Game

Photo

*     *     *

Video Clip of the Year: Call Me Maybe - US Olympic Swimming Team

I'm just going to link to the video right here, because in the past I've had some difficulty with embedding video clips on my blog.  If it hadn't been for Gangnam Style blowing up the way it did, Call Me Maybe would have probably been my runner up in 'Song of the Year'.  For the better part of the year, it was everywhere, and I mean everywhere.  On the radio, playing in the car passing by you on the street, in an Olympic viral video; just everywhere.  I tried to convince myself that, while I liked Ben Howard's cover, I didn't like the original, but I don't think that's true; it's catchy in the best possible way.  I do prefer the Howard cover though.

Anyhow, the US Olympic swim team produced that video, of them all lip syncing along with the song, to the tune of 10 million YouTube views.  It was a brilliant marketing move: take an immensely popular song that is difficult to actively dislike, and show your athletes singing the hell out of it.  Throw in some hand phones and you're golden (hopefully not only in the metaphorical sense given that it's the Olympics).

Usain Bolt's viral video just repeated that line over and over.

The London Olympics were the most watched Olympics in history, and the best viral video Olympics in history as well.  The US' video also happens to sum up what the IOC tries to tell you about the Olympics: It's all about unity and the bringing together of nations.  They forget to then mention that nations are brought together so as to try to crush them in competition and return home with the most impressive medal count, but hey, half way isn't bad.  Call Me Maybe unintentionally manages to capture the IOC's message, given that the American team is just enjoying the hell out of a Canadian singer's song.  To give it bonus points, it was written by another Canadian as well.

Going to use pretty much any excuse to work in Josh Ramsay references from time to time.

Runner Up: Call Me Maybe - Chatroulette

Seriously, this song was everywhere, and I would argue was at its best when it was a video of someone dancing along to it.  This is by far my favourite of such videos, seriously, if anything on YouTube deserves a view, it's this.  Many many times.

Photo of the Year: A Cracked 64 ripoff

The beginning of the year is the time to look back on what has just passed us by - through Top of the Year lists.  While many will be publishing their lists of the best of 2012, I'm more interested in what happens over at Cracked; they try to identify what typified the year that was.  This is, to me, far more interesting, and so, I will be offering my take on the same 8 categories that Cracked's columnists wrote on.

Movie

Tweet

Person

Song

Video Game

*     *     *

Photo of the Year

I'm honestly not sure if this is cheating or not.  Are gifs (or is that .gifs?  Or GIFs?  I really am not sure.) eligible for this category?  Hmm, I'm not sure, but I'm going with it anyway, because I can link to this GIF through Blogger's 'insert image' button.

Felix Baumgertner's freefall was one of the most amazing videos I watched this year, and, in true 2012 form, it was pretty much immediately turned into a meme.

No, this isn't a cop out, GIF is the American word of the year, according to Oxford American Dictionary.  While it's certainly not a new concept, GIFs are a cultural product of the Internet.  Our propensity to turn everything into a meme knows no bounds.

Now, maybe I'm looking into this too much, but YOLO was also on the shortlist for word of the year...

Runner Up: Mars

This is seriously the coolest thing ever.  Some scientist was likely stoned out of his mind, and thought "Dude, what if we just send a camera to Mars," and in 2012, after several expeditions, Curiostiy is the best Mars rover we've sent up.  No big deal, just sending a rover up to Mars.  Enjoy the pics it sends back.  Standard stuff, apparently.

Video Game of the Year: A Cracked 64 ripoff

The beginning of the year is the time to look back on what has just passed us by - through Top of the Year lists.  While many will be publishing their lists of the best of 2012, I'm more interested in what happens over at Cracked; they try to identify what typified the year that was.  This is, to me, far more interesting, and so, I will be offering my take on the same 8 categories that Cracked's columnists wrote on.

Movie

Tweet

Person

Song

*     *     *

Video Game of the Year: Diablo III

Diablo III was the hugely anticipated third installment of Blizzard's PC game.  So highly anticipated in fact, that when it was released in May, it promptly crashed due to an overload of their servers.  It was finally worked out, and players have been doing their thing on it since.  I'm not sure exactly what 'it' is, so I'm speaking generally on purpose.

The reason I say it is the game of 2012 is that, even in the one-player, solo campaign mode, you need to be logged in online.  To me, this is absurd; when I play my video games, I want to do so without distractions.  I don't want to gripe too much, because I know that the prominence of online gaming is here to stay, and that a lot of people love it.  Myself, I like platformers and RPGs; Mario is my video game messiah.

Now, Diablo III is my choice because it was so used that it rendered the servers unusable  and it's because every major release seems to have online play.  Hell, the Wii U console, to the best of my knowledge, requires you to be logged in at all times.  This means that, even when you are not playing a game online, alerts and messages will pop up on your screen.  I've owned every Nintendo home console since the SuperNES, but I have no plans to purchase the Wii U; it's just not my thing.

Several years ago, I was fairly into video games, while now, not so much.  It's just that the industry is not trending toward what I happen to like, and that's alright, I just won't partake.  Until they make the next Mario adventure on the Wii U - then I'll in all likelihood succumb to its majesty.

Nope, nothing weird about this.

Runner Up: Journey

When this game dropped, I heard great things about it, but it wasn't until I read Cracked's rundown of video games of the year that I learned what was being praised.  I won't spoil it here (though if you're into video games, you likely already know), but suffice it to say that it utilizes the online trend beautifully.