It is easy to look at the standings and see who is playing well and who is not. So stop reading and just click here.
Or take my take...
Eastern Conference
The Cream: Montreal
This team has come out of the gate playing great hockey. (they kinda did this last year) Plekanec and Pacioretty are the keys. When these two create offense, the Canadiens are as good as any team and I don't see them losing 4 out of 7 to anyone. The defense is great in depth and in top-tier talent. If P and P can avoid going cold against the likes of Tampa and the Rangers, the Canadiens are legitimately looking at the Cup this season.
The Sugar: Florida
Not as clear as in the West. Florida is adding to last year's successes, though. Skilled youth like Bjugstad and Huberdeau up front finishing and creating, vets like Bolland and Jagr leading, Ekblad's solid and possibly stellar play on defense - this team has the pieces and, if truly improving upon last year, should be in the playoffs and more! The effect of guys like Willie Mitchell and Dave Bolland who know what it takes to win and the guys like Jokinen and Campbell who are late in their careers and hungry for success can keep this group focused on the right things. I like this team. (Philly intrigues me here also. The last two wins has me doubting their porous defense is porous! If not, this team has the ingredients to keep winning. I doubt their mental side though - their leadership is unproven to me.)
The Coffee: New Yorks, Tampa Bay, Washington, Ottawa
These are the solid teams to weigh yourself against. They are playing good hockey and can be there in the end. If you beat these consistently, you are in the playoffs.
The Stain on the Tie: Pittsburgh Penguins
Not a difficult selection. The Pens should be scoring with ease. They haven't. The tools are there. Are they not buying the system? They look a bit lost in the transition game. Puck movement should not be a problem with this team. This team has to turn it around, right? Right! (ok so Columbus could go here, as well. The way they are giving up goals is a shock. But Pens not scoring is more striking.)
Western Conference
The Cream: Nashville
This conference is DEEP. I could choose any of the top 7 or I could get all predictive/prognosticative/wizard-like by choosing one of the poorer starting teams with the thinking they HAVE TO play better. But I won't. I like Nashville. Top to bottom a very tough team. Skill players and grinders, tough defense and transition defense, coaching and leaders - it is a well balanced team. They are playing hungry. Despite the weak opponents, I think this team is the early conference leader.
The Sugar: Arizona
Dave Tippett has this re-built group GOING OFF early. I can't imagine this is real but when I step back, why not!? Great coaching, great leadership (Shane Doan! Antoine Vermette), great d-man (Oliver Ekman-Larsson), and skilled youth (Max Domi, Anthony DuClair). The more I look at them, the more I believe. If they continue playing Tippett's system and the kids don't burn out, this team might be there in the end. (I could have picked San Jose - but I don't believe in their core as much. Added toughness with Ward may balance out the softness of Thornton and Marleau, though)
The Coffee: St. Louis, Minnesota, Vancouver and San Jose
These teams should be there in the end. The cores are proven. How you do against these is a good indicator of where you stand.
The Stain on the Tie: Los Angeles Kings
Hard for me to choose between these the Kings and Anaheim. Anaheim has come off a great season, but they lost some key component players in Beauchemin and Palmieri and Wisniewski. The Kings coming off a non-playoff season have lost less in the off-season and added Lucic. I expected more from this team. Darryl Sutter has created greatness in LA but so far this season, the team looks ragged - like a guy sneaking off in a taxi at 6am from a nameless woman's apartment. Hangover and No breakfast.
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