Polls only allow 10 options so if your pick isn't listed you will have to post a reply.

I went with the team with the deepest defense in the NHL - Detroit Red Wings

gotta go with the Senators, they have a balanced team that hasn't lost much, if they can get their chemistry right they will be fine, canucks are a dark horse

My ranked choices:
1. Detroit
2. Colorado
3. Ottawa

Dark Horse: New Jersey

Detroit - Hasek will be the determining factor if they win the Cup or not. If he plays like his old self, Cup finals are pretty much in the books. If he turns out like Cujo, it could be a rough season. I like what they've done with deepening their D with Hatcher. Big Question: Will the loss of Federov be a factor?

Colorado - Acquisitions during the offseason are huge. Selanne, Kariya. Wow. That goes along with Sakic and Foresberg. Can you say loaded? Big Question: Roy is gone and backup Aebischer now has the starting role. How good is this guy?

Ottawa - With All-star goalie Patrick Lalime in net and Hossa, Alfredson, and Bonk leading the chrage, this team is well balanced and looks good to go after winning the Presidents Trophy last year. Big Question: How deep is their D?

Dark Horse New Jersey - I'm not sure if they qualify as a Dark Horse but the hype around Colorado and Detroit seems to overshadow the fact that this team still has the best goalie in hockey in Broduer. And with Madden, Stevens, and Elias back, this team will be tough physically as well. Big Question: Will the loss of Nieuwendyk and lack of depth at the blue line be a factor?

T-Monay820 Wrote:Detroit - Hasek will be the determining factor if they win the Cup or not. If he plays like his old self, Cup finals are pretty much in the books. If he turns out like Cujo, it could be a rough season. I like what they've done with deepening their D with Hatcher. Big Question: Will the loss of Federov be a factor?

On top of getting Hatcher, Jiri Fischer is back this year. He missed all but a couple of games last season with injury. He is a big guy, the size of Hatcher, and he is only like 25 years old. Detroit has a lot of depth on D:

Nicklas Lidstrom
Derian Hatcher
Chris Chelios
Matthew Schneider
Jiri Fischer
Jason Woolley
Matthew Dandenault (one of the fastest players on the team)

4 of those guys have been all-stars multiple times in their careers.

As for losing Federov, you can't really replace him unless you get someone like Peter Forsberg. However, we did get Ray Whitney and Pavel Datysuk and Henrik Zetterberg will get more playing time and are expected to pick up some slack.

Now look at our goalies:

Dominik Hasek (he is showing his pre-retirement form already too)
Curtis Joseph (good goalie, but no Hasek.....trade bait)
Manny Legace (probably the best backup in the league....would start for most teams)

This Detoit team is better and deeper than the one last season. That being said, they still have to live up to their potential and get lucky at the right times. Anyone that wins the Cup needs to live up to their potential and get lucky. There are about 6 teams that I think could seriously do just that.

Zetterberg looks like a really good player and should be exciting to watch. Dumping Cujo will be hard because of the trade clause.

Bold statement, but Ottawa I think has the best offense in hockey. Lalime is a painfully underrated goalie that makes up for a lot of their defenses mistakes. They have several players capable of 90 points and play well as a team. Detroit will definately be factors, but Ottawa has several underrated players ready to make names of themselves. It will be an interesting season.

Detroit has several advantages over Ottawa. With the incredible depth at the blue line, with Lindstrom and Hatcher to name a very few, Ottawa's O would have a difficult time getting shots on net. And then the shots they do get on net are at the Dominator. If Hasek can see it, its pretty likely that he can stop it. Yes, Lalime is one of the top 5 goalies in the league, but he can't do it alone.

Also, what about Colorado? They could have 5 of the top 10 scorers this year. Sakic, Forsberg, Kariya, Hejduk, and Selanne. This is like watching the All-Star game.

Colorado gets the nod as best Offense. Detroit gets the title of best and deepest D. And best overall goes to Detroit with their depth at both forward, defense, and in net.

If Colorado finds a goalie to replace Roy they are going to be tough!

detroit and colorado have the big names, but ottawa has offensive depth and chemistry the avs cant match, there isnt a question they can get it done during the regular season, its about the playoffs, they can get it done against detroit if they need to

Ottawa looked good last night, and Detroit made a nice comeback. Jeff Hackett looked very good as well.

Detroit beats Ottawa 3-2 in O/T. Mean anything to you Chris?

In case you didnt notice Thomas, there are more than one game in a season.

In case you didn't notice Chris, they only play each other once. And Detroit won that matchup.

reg season doesnt matter anyway, lets see what happens in the playoffs

cbfranchise3 Wrote:reg season doesnt matter anyway, lets see what happens in the playoffs

Agreed, the regular season justs seperates the pretenders from the contenders. The Wings will fall in the playoffs. They tank will be empty come playoff time.

Good call.

Fall in the playoffs with an empty tank? They've got so much depth at the blue line they'll be fresh for the next season and a half. Their backup goalies is good enough to start with any team, and they've got a ton of young talented players that could skate all day.

Colorado is making a powerful statment after its first two games. Aebischer got a shutout in his first game and only gave up 2 to a good Blues team. Not bad for a first time starter. I guess the saying, a good offense is sometimes the best defense, is true.

Ottawa has more depth on offense and can continually throw guys at you. True Detroits D may be better, but Ottawa has a lot of guys they could prove worthy this year.