(CE et October 16, 2002 Sports The NHL in 2002-03 Jordan Cripps Sports Editor After Patrick's picks were made last week, I felt like it was a good chance for me to give my own opinion about the NHL this season. My rankings are based on points rather than divisional champions. Western Conference I think Colorado will take over from Detroit as icons of NHL supremacy. They have nearly as much talent as Detroit, but are certainly younger. Most of their players are still in their prime or haven't reached it yet (Alex Tanguay, for example). Adding Derek Morris makes the defense younger and faster. I don’t see Detroit at the top of the conference for the first time in awhile. I think they will finally see their age catch up to them. This doesn’t mean they'll miss the playoffs or anything, but I think they will realize the need to conserve their energy for the playofts. Dallas will be improved. They've got Guerin now to take some of the offen- this might not be a big problem after all. Phoenix could make some leaps this year since they made the playoffs based solely on the performance of Seany ¥ Burke last yeary Adding Modano should bring offense to a team that sorely needs it. Their defense is also young and mobile. The six through eight positions will be interesting once again. I think Calgary might finish on top of this group if they get solid performances from an unheralded and young defence corps. Adding Chris Drury and Stephane Yelle gives much-needed depth at the forward positions. The Kings and Canucks will com- pete for seventh or eighth place throughout the season. This will be an exciting battle, Both teams seem to me They both have an experienced (and highly skilled) top line with young supporting casts that will need to con- tribute for either team to have success. team like Carolina will advance far into the playoffs—if they make it, in the first place. In some ways it is a more interesting conference because there is more Pattity (or mediocrity) amongst the.teams. Philadel phia will probably finish first becaiise: of Hitchcock's commitment | defense. He will get them to play a style that will guarantee lots of wins (and lots. of really bering hockey!) against teams that play the same style but have less talent. One of the Ontario teams will finish second, probably Toronto. Toronto has lots of skill and will be able to win _ games by outscoring their opposition. Their defense is a question, although the addition of Robert Svehla may help. The jury is still out on Ed Belfour. to be similar in.a number of ways. — : default than anything they'll do to Beso Pwill finish third, but more by earm it. They've got no goalie that can take them into the playoffs and losing Guerin certainly doesn't help. Joe the other press post-season play if Jaromir Jagr turns his career around after two sub-par seasons. They don’t have much youth, having given most of it up to get Jagr, which means that they are also lacking depth all over. Ottawa should be strong defensively again, but I’m not sure where the scor- ings going to come from. Peter Schaeffer will help a bit, but Daniel Alfredsson and Radek Bonk will still be asked to carry the team’s offensive load. New Jersey has made the decision to go in a different direction this year, exchanging Peter Sykora for Jef Friesen and Oleg Tverdovsky. This suggests they will be trying to play a more offensive style than in previous years. Really, any one of the rest of the con- ference could take this position, but I unfortunately see the New Yor Rangers led back into the playoffs by Mark Messier and new acquisitions Bobby Holik and Darius Kasparitis. sive load off Mike Modano, and Marty I do disagree with the perception that Thornton should take another step to Western Eastern Turco seems to be a solid young goalie. the Canucks are going to make signif- becoming a star player. Conference Conference I think they will also benefit from hav- icant improvements this season. Most The Bruins should be challenged by Coitade Philadelphia _ te : Detroit Toronto ing a new coach. predictions have them making the _ the Islanders, who seem to have finally Dalles HHS San Jose could be in the top four in _ playoffs easily. ’m not convinced yet. repaired their sinking ship. They are San Joes My York Glades the conference if they can get their young, skilled and gained valuable Phocaix Washington goalie situation sorted out. Judging Eastern Conference experience from their playoffs last Calgary Onaea from the performance their third Once again this conference will be year, when they faced Toronto. Moe coiner New Jersey stringer put on at GM Place recently, weak, and there is the likelihood that a Washington should makeareturnto Los Angeles New York classifieds Students advertise for free! following Wednesday's paper. Check New Westminster Campus Announcements e| Join the Green oe meet For free student dassifieds up to 30 your ad for errors and please call or Learning Centre 2nd Floor, South | September 19 — October 29 every 4th Thursday of the month, words, e-mail: e-mail our offices to report any Building, Room 2847. 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