My bet would either be Montreal or Vancouver. The Rangers don't have the room to sign him, the Leafs jerked Sundin around too much last season that I doubt he'll go back (I think he has just cause. Don't try to force your star player to wave his no trade clause and turn the fans on him... Like just bullshit).

Don't count out Detroit either. They have a lot of cap room to work with, and that would be a great place for him to land if he wants to win a cup.

God, I can't wait for the season to start... come on October!

Booooo Detroit!

I'm anxious to see what the Wild do this year, after picking up Owen Nolan and getting Brunette back.

The Wild got Nolan? I didn't even know that! He's a good grey beard, he sure showed that in the playoffs last season!

man, its gonna be dark times for Toronto Maple Leaf fans these days....like me. Im kinda tired to see Toronto not accomplish anything in the last 5 years (3 of em not even being able to make the fucking playoffs). something best happen.

oh, and fun fact: when I worked security up in Ottawa, I did security at the ScotiaBank Place, and got to even work during game 3 of the playoff massacre between Ottawa and Pittsburgh. That was one dangerous night.

The Bank is really close to where I work!

You want to talk about dangerous? I get a lot of ice level tickets for free through my work, as well I have a ticket plan so I'm there quite frequently. I attended every Sens vs. Leafs game at the Bank last season... WOW. A few times I honestly thought brawls were going to break out.

You working security again? Any chance... you can get me Alfie's autograph? hahahaha

sorry Uncle Blackie, but im in New Brunswick now.

I remember at a Martina McBryde concert, there were sens players coming in the parking, and I had to turn em away (Alfie and Spezza included).

by the way, the leafs and sens game in late february? I was there...and it was awesome!!! 5-0 win for Toronto, it made my soul so happy.

Ya, I was at ice level for that game... first and only time I left a hockey game early. It was bad... BUT I do remember a 7-2 win for Ottawa against TO in November that I was also sitting ice level for. Now that was a great game!

atleast you were able to beat traffic...daamn.

but working at the scotiabank sucks when the leafs and/or Canadiens are in town

torontonians like to think they own the place, and canadiens drink tooooo too much and cause trouble.

I know what they'll do this year... suck!

Nah, but I didn't really see Minnesota get any better. In fact with the loss of Rolston and Demitra I'd say they're worse. But then again, my Canucks haven't improved much either...

The race for division title will be tight this year!

We got size now with Boogaard, Simon, Fedoruk and Nolan. Not to mention Burns can't scrap too, we got pushed around and mangled by Anaheim in the 05/06 playoffs. At least now that won't happen again, but we still have Gaborik, Pierre Marc Bouchard, Stephanne Veilleux, Miiko Koivu, Kim Johnsson, James Sheppard and Nick Schultz. We got a ton of talent and Vancouver is going down!

I thought Chris Simon's playing in Russia? I don't think the Wild renewed his contract.

On a side note, Chris Simon is actually a really nice guy in person, even though he loses it on the ice and does really dumb things.

Wow, that's a new one by me, I better check the Wild roster in a bit.
Yeah he has done some pretty stupid shit on the ice, but the guy is really useful as far as talent and everything.

One of my girlfriend's best friends used to babysit Simon's kids at his home in Wawa Ontario (his hometown) and she's still really close with him. I remember hearing in the news that he was going to Europe and I think she told us he's going to Russia but I could be wrong. Like I said, really nice guy, like an amazingly nice guy in person, on the ice... I dunno, he just loses it.

So Tampa took one of Ottawa's worst players (in my mind, and if you ever talk hockey with me in person you'll know I hate this guy with a passion), Andrej Meszaros for defensemen Filip Kuba, Alexandre Picard and a 2009 first-round draft pick (traded from San Jose for Dan Boyle). I think I did the biggest happy dance ever after FINALLY hearing Meszaros is leaving! Tampa fans, have fun with a guy who can score goals from the point... but cannot do the main task of being a defenceman... PLAY DEFENCE!!

I didn't like Kuba when we had him before the lockout, but I'm stoked we got Brunette back, he was awesome when we had him and he was bad ass in Colorado too.

From what I know, Kuba's ok and 1000 times better than Meszaros. I would have traded Meszaros away for a sack of potatoes. I'm not joking. At least that way all the Sens players would get their vitamins!

Let's talk about this season , Who will be the first in each of the association?

East playoff prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins
West playoff predictions: Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, Nashville Predators

As far as the East goes, I think Atlanta and the Islanders will be interesting to see how they go this season. Atlanta always seems to be right there before playoff time and New York is stacking up for a run with some young guns, mainly I want to see how Kyle Okposo does this year, the kid has skills. In the west Chicago and Nashville will be two teams to watch, Nashville is very much in the same boat as Atlanta, always there but can't quite get it done around pre-post season time. Chicago has a ton of talent and will be an interesting watch as well.

I only dropped four teams per side, mostly the ones I'm sure will be in the playoffs or have a wild chance at the post-season.

My playoff predictions are as follows:

1) Montreal - Very strong team just got stronger in the off season. No one can deny Montreal is a cup contender this year... even though I'm not a fan of them, they have a great team.

2) Pittsburg: After making the cup finals, this young team will be that much more mature. Although losing a great leader in Roberts (to Tampa) as well as Malone (also to Tampa), no one can deny these guys have all the talent to go all the way two years in a row.

3) Washington: Often overlooked, people forgot the insane drive they had to make the playoffs and gave the Flyers all they could handle in round 1. Ovechkin, the greatest player in the league right now as far as I'm concerned, still hasn't reached his full potential (as hard as that is to believe), they're still a young team but they're hungry...

4) New Jersey: The Devils are always among the elite of the East, and with the greatest goalie to play the game on their team they have good reason to be. While not really addressing a need for more offense, and while Brodeur had a "sub par" year last season (by his standards), the defensive-minded Devils are always a tough team to score goals on, and are usually in the top 5 teams.

5) Ottawa: The Sens have had a major facelift in the offseason (thank god). Losing two "top" defencemen, Redden and Meszaros, their outspoken goalie Emery, Commadore and Stillman to free agency, I knew there would be many new faces. For once in Sens history, the team looks gritty picking up Rutuu from the Pens abd Smith from the Flyers will add some much needed toughness and hard hitting. While not all the scoring issues were addressed, when you have a line of Afie, Spezza, Heatly.... you don't need much more scoring. And with our defence looking very good (not offensive wise, but they will make you pay for entering the defensive zone), the Sens will be a tough team to play against. Sorry for tooting my team's horn, but honestly, I really like the new look of the Sens and really look forward to watching them play.

6) NY Rangers: While making big free agent signings like Naslund and Redden, the Rangers are definetly a dangerous team to play against. With Jagr's ego out of the way, I think the Rangers will be able to concentrate more as a team, which will make them a a tough team to play against.

7) Boston: While making big stides last season, and pushing Montreal to the limit and what I thought was the best series in the playoffs last season, the Bruins will continue to make steps forward. With Chara returning to his old for last year, be prepared for him to take it one step further this year... god I wish we signed him instead of Redden...

8) Buffalo: After a sub-par season, watch for the Sabres to rebound. While not as strong as they were a couple of years ago, they still have some really good talent to pull from (as long as they play to their potential). Miller is still a great goalie and can steal a few games for them. Watch for the Sabres to squeak in.

I'll do up the West in a bit... I need a break from thinking hockey!

Washington only has Ovechkin and Backstrom, other than that they are pretty stale imo.
Ottawa lost way too much of their talent, although Heatley is still the shit.

Otherwise, the rest of your picks are decent, I'd agree with most of them.

Washington also has Green. They play the underdog role very well, and I think they'll be good this year.

Ottawa lost a lot of dead weight. Redden didn't played well the last two seasons, same with Meszaros. Emery had to go. The only player I really wish we kept was Stillman, but what can you do? Heatly is the man, if he can learn to use his size he could be so punishing.

Signing's of Smith and Rutuu will do wonders for us. We'll be punishing finally!