Howe close is it 1/3 review of the Howe
Well most of us will not dispute the the top end of the Gretzky Confernce is where a majority of the CPHL's power lies. But when it comes to mid tier teams the Howe Conference seems to have that area locked up. Once again the lower end of the Howe Conference is a tight knit group and it looks to remain that way for awhile. For the past few seasons the Howes final playoff spots seem to come right down to the last week of the season often with 6 teams vying for 3 positions in the standings. If the early part of this season is any indication that will indeed be the case again.
The cream of the Howe Confernce thus far has been the surprising Colorado Avalanche. But after a hot start the Av's have shown some chinks in their armour lately and the pack is starting to close in on them. The jury is still out on them as to whether they'll hold this position at the half way mark of the season. Although if the CPHL does midseason re-rates they might just have a new number one goalie rise from within who could keep them at the top end of the conference.
After some early season struggles the Minnesota Wild looked to have things back in place and had moved to the top of the Mikita Division ahead of the upstart Stars. On paper this is exactly where you'd expect the Wild to be, and therefore, should expect them to stay here.
The L.A. Kings finally look like they might make the playoffs after 5 years of building and a couple regimes being too chicken to make the trades neccessary to get them to the playoffs at the end of the year when they needed that extra push. But the patience is paying off as the team looks pretty solid and is looking poised to take out the Avs and the outright confernce lead. Whether or not they can win the Martin Division is unknown, but a top 3 finish in the conference would seem likely.
The surprising Dallas Stars currently sit 4th in the Howe Confernce after 3 seasons of being near the bottom of the conference. Early on the Stars have rode the likes of Alex Tanguay, Milan Michalek, Darryl Sydor, Tony Lydman, and Kevin Weekes extremely hard. As the season wears on can they continue to go to the same well? This reporter thinks that unless a couple of key upgrades are made that they'll be trying to fend off challengers for their playoff lives.
The Edmonton Oilers are perhaps the leagues biggest disappointment this season. The team should have run away with the Howe Conference but continues to be an indifferent bunch. Still the team has been a bit better lately and thats been good enough to get them from outside the playoff picture and into 5th place. Theres too much talent on this squad for them not to be top 4, and at the top of their division sooner than later.
About 9 days ago the Chigago Blackhawks were 10th in the confernce and 4 points out of a playoff spot. Yesterday they were in 5th place and today sit 6th and 2 points back of the dirty grease with a game in hand. After a couple bold moves to bring in talent like Ollie Jokinen, Marian Hossa, and Jere Lehtinen the team went on a nice run. But they succombed to temptation and moved Lehtinen out for some more depth and good young talent. Up front Chigago is pretty solid, and Ryan Miller is a keeper. Can that defence hold up? We'll find out as the Hawks should be part of that 6 team group vying for the final 3 spots.
No one in the CPHL boasts the young superstars like the St.Louis Blues. Problem is in the CPHL you don't usually win with young superstars . The Blues had a nice start to the season but have run into a rough patch here of late but still hold down the 7th spot. So long as they can keep goalie Dominek Hasek healthy and fresh they should be able to sneak in to the playoffs.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are the poster children of mediocrity as every year they seem to be a .500 team that finishes 8th or 9th in the conference. As of today they're in familiar territory sitting in 8th place. New GM Sylvanfan has tried some moves, but they haven't really done anything as the team continues to be mediocre. In order to get to the playoffs a few players will really need to overachieve. Chances are when the final bell rings they'll be a day late and a buck short again, and hanging out with the ugly broads in the parking lot while the gorgeous folk are inside at the ball.
The Vancouver Canucks also are in that .500'ish finish in the middle of the conference rut that the Blue Jackets seem to find themselves in. The Canucks are pretty challenged offensively as their 70 goals for has them tied for 14th in the conference with the Ducks. But if the Canucks can make a couple moves to give them some added firepower they might just be able to push themselves into that playoff door.
The Phoenix Coyotes have shot the lights out lately scoring at a blistering pace. They also seem to have forgotten that you're suppose to play defence in hockey as well. The Coyotes feature a pretty good group of top 6 forwards and should get adequate goaltending. Look for them to charge up the standings as time ellapses.
Like that bad guy in a horror movie the Detroit Red Wings continue to hang around. Despite woeful defence and goaltending and an awful start, the Wings have clawed back to within striking distance. They've refused to go away in the past, and expect them to stick around till the bitter end again.
The Flames GM claimed he was looking to get younger and trade a few veteran players. 4 days later zero trades and pending UFA's like Darcy Tucker, Adrian Aucoin, Willie Mitchell are still Flames along with aging dwindling veteran players like Robert Lang, and Craig Conroy. The Flames are only 4 points out and if Miikka Kiprusoff would get his rear in gear they could get back into the thick of things. But based on whats happened thus far, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to happen. If the current pace continues the Flames could have a chance in the last two weeks, but be out of it by the final week in terms of the playoffs.
The Predators used to boast that they would own the CPHL this year. 15 games in they gave up and decided to rebuild. They have some nice young players in Nashville, but for now they look like a long shot for the playoffs in terms of this season.
The Jets and Ducks are both in rebuild type mode, although the Ducks have shown some desire to make a couple immediate upgrades. Although neither one is that far back that you should count them out, I think it's unlikely either team will get much closer to the playoffs than what they curreltly are.
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"Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
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