Quick Notes on the Eve of the 2011-2012 NHL Season

Some quick thoughts one day before the 2011-2012 NHL season kicks off:

Lidstrom

• Why does it seem that every "expert" is picking the Washington Capitals and/or the San Jose Sharks to win the Stanley Cup? Both of these teams are notorious for being great in the regular season and choking in the playoffs.
• Why aren't more people picking the Boston Bruins to repeat? They barely lost any key players from their 2011 Stanley Cup championship team.
• I like the Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos as the popular MVP pick, but don't count out the Anaheim Ducks' Bobby Ryan, Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews, or Pittsburgh's Evengi Malkin. 
• Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom should win his 8th Norris Trophy, given out to the league's best defenseman. He should win, although Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, and Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins will make it a close race.
• The Montreal Canadiens will barely sneak into the playoffs, but will be swept in the first round. 
• Also, the Canadiens will frustrate opposing teams with their diving and cheap play.
• Alexandre Burrows of the Vancouver Canucks will not get a pleasant ovation when the Canucks return to the TD Garden for the first time since Game 6 of the Cup Finals. They play in Boston January 7th.
• The NHL has to deal with schedule issues now that the Atalanta Thrashers have moved to Winnipeg (they are now the Winnipeg Jets). Teams used to be able to do trips through the Southeast Division, but now they are going to need at least on day off to account for time zone differences and travel time.
• The Philadelphia Flyers will make the playoffs, but they are no longer and elite team after trading Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.
•   All of Canada wants the Stanley Cup to be won by a Canadian team, but that won't happen this year.



Burrows biting Patrice Bergeron Stanley Cup 2011

• The New York Rangers won the prize of the off-season, signing forward Brad Richards, but they are also not a contender.

• Is Alexandre Ovechkin the NHL's LeBron James? Is he a great player who can't get it done in the playoffs?

Ovechkin