, Another season of surprises or do the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? It takes two or three seasons for NHL teams to turn it around and this year it seems like the same old same old with a few exceptions. Now that we are at the quarter season mark, it\'s time to re-evaluate those predictions as things take shape. Here we go - hang on for some surprises.
1. Pittsburgh - Malkin and Crosby are playing like ...... Malkin and Crosby. Satan is really only a minus 2? Marc Andre Fleury is the most underrated goalie in the NHL. They are for real.
2. Detroit - They make you sick don\'t they? Hossa and Datsuk lead the way and Zetterburg is just warming up. Osgood does not look like last season and goals against are not Red Wing - like. Powerplay is keeping them in business.
3. Washington - Yes they are good even without the temporary absence of Ovechkin, the best and most entertaining player in the NHL. Alexander Semin is an emerging top 10 player. Jose Theodore could do them in - he is very shaky.
4. Anaheim - Big Ducks are finding their form. Their goal against is terrible. Giggy is waking up though and the road record is impressive. Ryan Getzlaf is Cheap Red Wings Jerseys a great team leader and Selanne looks like he could play until Social Security.
5. Chicago - I still like these guys to go far. Patrick Kane is no fluke. Khabibulin has a good save percentage and the team is getting hotter all the time.
6. San Jose - I know, I know - how the heck does an undefeated at home team fit in at number 6. Especially a team with a goals for and against like them. Well I say Patrick Marleau, Devin Setoguchi, Ryane Clowe, and Evgeni Nabokov are all early flukes. They are barely .500 on the road. We will see.
7. Montreal - What a disappointment so far. Can\'t blame Price this year. Tanguay lead them in scoring? Where is the vaunted power play?
8. Boston - I am not a Bruins fan but they have to be the most improved team in the NHL so far. They actually work hard and are consistent. A nice power play and Tim Thomas is playing like Cheevers.
9. NY Rangers - if not for Henrik Lundqvist they would be average. Nothing spectacular anywhere. Then again, maybe I just don\'t like the hockey version of the Yankees.
10. Buffalo - Here\'s thinking the Yo Yo Sabres will eventually play a little more consistent. Thomas Vanek has been intense and effective. Ryan Miller has been good, then bad, then good. Why they put up with Kotalik and lazy players like him is beyond me. They are deep and should make some trades.
11. Minnesota - Ok, Niklas Backstrom is awesome. It would be hard for anyone to fall asleep at a hockey game but the Wild could \"trap\" you into it. They remind me of baseballs \"Boring Orioles\". Get some zip, will ya?
12. Vancouver - Could be the hardest working team in hockey. FIVE shutouts for Luongo? Are you kidding me? If the Rangers played this hard they would be undefeated. No stars other than Roberto, just teamwork.
13. Calgary - Iginla and Kiprusoff can\'t do it alone. I still like them to go very far though. Need to play better on the road.
14. St. Louis - Here\'s a ringer for ya\'. Below .500 with and average goaltender. Their leading scorer (Andy McDonald) is a minus 12, so why so high? They are fun to watch. They fight and scrap. Go see the Blues. They might lose but they will not be intimidated.
15. Toronto - Oh my! Two average teams in a row rated higher than the standing show. Why the Leafs? They play hard, have a good power play, and you gotta love Stajan and Toskala. No more \"slow Leafs slow\".
16. Nashville - Here\'s hoping Shea Weber passes JP Dumont as the team\'s leading scorer. A defenseman leading a team in scoring, how cool. Dan Ellis is underrated too. If they would just change the name if the team to the Nashville Cats and put a guitar on the jersey I would love them.
17. Columbus - Broussard looks like the real thing and Nash is healthy. Goaltending is decent but they are not deep and play like a bunch of stick artists. Would be runner ups to the Portland Pirates of the American League.
18. New Jersey - How important is a goalie to a team built for defense? Just watch. They simply don\'t have it. Pathetic powerplay. Big Lou might even make some trades this year. They have a good core.
19. Phoenix - Bryzgalov, Doan, and Jokinen want a powerplay for Christmas. They could eventually be vastly improved but need to get some scoring touch.
20. Carolina - Cam Ward lifts this pathetic bunch to number 20. What\'s funny is that on some nights they actually look decent. Maybe a coaching change? I Cheap Red Wings Jerseys couldn\'t find and Hurricanes in the leading scorers - not even close.
21. Philadelphia - Couldn\'t happen to a nicer bunch of guys. They have more cracks than the Liberty Bell. Last Cheap Red Wings Jerseys couple of years they were getting so cocky too. Marty Biron should sue for non-support.
22. Ottawa - Couldn\'t happen to a nicer bunch of guys. Sorry I just can\'t stand Murray. Come on, Heatly, Alfreddson, Spezza - Don Cherry may turn loose on all of them soon. Who needs a goalie when you can surround about six talented guys with cheap shots?
23. Colorado - Wish they would trade Stastny - I really like him. Cool uniforms and Budaj - that\'s about it.
24. Edmonton - Can\'t score, can\'t play good defense, and lousy goaltending. Talk about bad moves. They went way backwards this year.
25. Atlanta - Brian Little and Kozlov are the only bright spots on injury riddled \"Bird Team\" They also play a little chippy and can\'t really back it up.
26. Los Angeles - Goaltending is very good. Young Stars are good. There are not enough of them . Big market mishap here.
27. Dallas - Don\'t blame Marty Turco for the NHL\'s biggest team disappointment. They can\'t seem to do anything consistently.
28. Florida - Another team much like LA. Good goaltending and not much more - Sure trade Jokinen - go ahead - make my day.
29. Tampa Bay - I rated them last because they are the laziest team in hockey. Lot\'s of talent. Just lazy. Can\'t blame goaltender Mike Smith for horrible power play. Some nights they wake up and then go to sleep for another week. It was not Barry Melrose - It\'s the team leadership.
30. NY Islanders - Doug Weight is their leading scorer. DOUG WEIGHT!
Charles Priore
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