NHL Pacific Division Preview
The Ducks won the cup and they could do it again. The club has two number one goalies and look to keep Jean-Sebastien Giguere (.918 SV%, 2.26 GAA) in the net. The club has what may be the best defense in the NHL, and it includes Chris Pronger (59 PTS), Scott Niedermayer (69 PTS) and Francois Beauchemin (28 PTS). Former Red Wing Mathieu Schneider (52 PTS) has been added to an already great defense.
If you’re looking for the second-place team, the Sharks look like the logical pick. First, they’ve got Joe Thornton (114 PTS) at center, Milan Michalek (66 PTS) on wing and Matt Carle (42 PTS) on “D.” In goal, it’s the big and tough Evgeni Nabokov (.914 SV%, 2.29 GAA). The Sharks could surprise all and take the division.
The Dallas Stars emerged last season as the finest third-place club in the NHL. Although they have a fine goalie in Marty Turco (.912 SV%, 2.23 GAA) and an excellent defense, they lack that great offensive franchise player. The team should be competitive this season.
The final two teams in the Pacific Division, the Kings and the Coyotes, are doubtful playoff contenders. In 2006- 07, the Kings were a team riddled with a lot of minuses when it came to plus/minus rankings. Their defense and special teams were terrible and their goaltending was worse! The Kings allowed 3.38 GPG while scoring only 2.72 GPG. Jason LaBarbera (.933 SV%, 2.21 GAA), from the AHL’s Manchester Monarch’s, may be in goal. That might be an improvement.
At the bottom of the division sit the Phoenix Coyotes. They have talent, but they are very young. The best thing going for this team is it’s defense and that’s not very good. The Kings will feature a whole lot of hungry guys looking to make a name for themselves in the NHL and pull Phoenix out of the cellar.
Projected Finish in 2007- 2008
1) Anaheim Ducks
2) San Jose Sharks
3) Dallas Stars
4) Los Angeles Kings
5) Phoenix Coyotes
Check out the other Western Conference divisions previews including the Central and Northwest.
