It'll be a Wild year

With Pittsburgh's overabundance of talent, it's no surprise that the Penguins have become a popular pick to carry Lord Stanley's Cup late next spring. And then, this morning, as I slowly woke up watching ESPN's SportsCenter, hockey god/analyst Barry Melrose says he's keeping an eye on the New York Rangers.

Funny thing, though, I've heard/read very little about Anaheim successfully defending its championship run. Detroit, as always, is getting some buzz, but beyond that, hockey's mainstream media is making what appears to be safe and easy picks.

So now, less than 24 hours before the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings drop the puck on the 2007-08 season across the pond in London, I offer these predictions. No picking with my heart nor head, but just a gut feeling.

And, as you'll see, I'm a little beyond the mainstream:

Eastern Conference
No. 1: Pittsburgh Penguins (Presidents' Trophy - 112 points)
No. 2: Ottawa Senators
No. 3: Atlanta Thrashers
No. 4: Buffalo Sabres
No. 5: Carolina Hurricanes
No. 6: Philadelphia Flyers
No. 7: New Jersey Devils
No. 8: Tampa Bay Lightning
Just missing: New York Rangers (Sorry, Chuck V.)

Quarterfinals:
Pittsburgh beats Tampa Bay, 4-1
Ottawa beats New Jersey, 4-2
Philadelphia beats Atlanta, 4-1
Buffalo beats Carolina, 4-3

Semifinals:
Philadelphia beats Pittsburgh, 4-3
Buffalo beats Ottawa, 4-3

Conference finals:
Philadelphia beats Buffalo, 4-2

Western Conference
No. 1: Minnesota Wild
No. 2: Detroit Red Wings
No. 3: Anaheim Ducks
No. 4: San Jose Sharks
No. 5: Dallas Stars
No. 6: Vancouver Canucks
No. 7: Colorado Avalanche
No. 8: Calgary Flames
Just missing: Nashville Predators

Quarterfinals:
Minnesota beats Calgary, 4-3
Colorado beats Detroit, 4-2
Vancouver beats Anaheim, 4-1
San Jose beats Dallas, 4-3

Semifinals:
Minnesota beats Colorado, 4-2
Vancouver beats San Jose, 4-3

Conference finals:
Minnesota beats Vancouver, 4-2

Stanley Cup finals:
Minnesota beats Philadelphia, 4-1

Individual honors
Art Ross Trophy (top point scorer):
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, 114 points
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (perseverance and sportsmanship):
Brad Boyes, St. Louis Blues
Calder Memorial Trophy (top rookie):
Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP):
Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild
Frank J. Selke Trophy (defensive forward):
Jason Ward, Tampa Bay Lightning
Hart Memorial Trophy (league MVP):
Sidney Crosby
Jack Adams Award (top coach):
Jacques Lemaire, Minnesota Wild
James Norris Memorial Trophy (top defenseman):
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
King Clancy Memorial Trophy
(leadership and humanitarian efforts):
Daniel Briere, Philadelphia Flyers
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (gentlemanly conduct):
Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
Lester B. Pearson Award (players' MVP):
Sidney Crosby
Maurice Richard Trophy (most regular-season goals):
Vinny Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning, 55 goals
Vezina Trophy (top goalie):
Niklas Backstrom
William M. Jennings Trophy (fewest goals scored against):
Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding, Minnesota Wild