Toronto Maple Leafs News

National Hockey League Predictions 2008-2009

Howard Berger: TORONTO (Aug. 26) – The moment you have all been waiting for is here.

The summertime fog in the crystal ball has dissipated, providing yours truly with a 20/20 look at the up-coming National Hockey League season. These predictions have been copyrighted and filed with top government agencies on both sides of the border. They are foolproof, and should be consulted on a regular basis as a guide for your hockey viewing enjoyment in 2008-09. Compiled with the exclusive, one-time-only cooperation of all 30 general managers and coaches, this forecast renders meaningless the futile comparisons you may come upon elsewhere. Ignore them, as you would any person with the gall to suggest your favorite team may not qualify for the playoffs.

I begin by telling you, without reservation, that the Pittsburgh Penguins will avenge their defeat in the 2008 Stanley Cup final by hoisting the cherished mug next June, having subdued the Anaheim Ducks in a six-game championship skirmish. All Canadian-based teams other than Vancouver and Toronto will make the playoffs. The Maple Leafs will have the right to draft either John Tavares or Victor Hedman, as they will finish ahead of only the New York Islanders in the overall standings. Montreal and Calgary will be the other Conference finalists. Boston and New Jersey will fall from playoff territory in the East, replaced by Buffalo and Tampa Bay. Nashville will be the only Western playoff qualifier from last season to miss out, usurped by Edmonton.

Here, then, is the cast-in-stone, unequivocal, not-to-be tinkered with, final standings for the 2008-09 NHL season*:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. PITTSBURGH 107 pts.
2. MONTREAL 104 pts.
3. WASHINGTON 100 pts.
4. OTTAWA 103 pts.
5. PHILADELPHIA 96 pts.
6. NEW YORK RANGERS 93 pts.
7. BUFFALO 92 pts.
8. TAMPA BAY 91 pts.
9. CAROLINA 88 pts.
10. NEW JERSEY 86 pts.
11. BOSTON 85 pts.
12. FLORIDA 83 pts.
13. ATLANTA 76 pts.
14. TORONTO 73 pts.
15. NEW YORK ISLANDERS 69 pts.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. SAN JOSE 114 pts.
2. DETROIT 111 pts.
3. CALGARY 100 pts.
4. ANAHEIM 104 pts.
5. DALLAS 100 pts.
6. COLORADO 97 pts.
7. MINNESOTA 95 pts.
8. EDMONTON 93 pts.
9. CHICAGO 91 pts.
10. PHOENIX 89 pts.
11. VANCOUVER 88 pts.
12. NASHVILLE 85 pts.
13. COLUMBUS 82 pts.
14. ST. LOUIS 79 pts.
15. LOS ANGELES 74 pts.

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