Detroit Red Wings
They’re still the champs until someone knocks them off. And by the looks of the 2008/09 roster, don’t count on it.
The Red Wings dominated the post-season, thanks to new playoff performers Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.
And, not only did they not get any weaker over the summer, they got better, if that’s possible.
We’re not sure where Marian Hossa fits in, but we’re sure the overloaded Wings will find room for him.

Nashville Predators
Alexander Radulov might be gone, but the Predators’ hopes didn’t go to Russia with him.
The Preds will feature their third starting goaltender in as many years, but Dan Ellis (.924 save precentage and 2.34 GAA) appears ready.
With Dan Hamhuis and Shea Webber quarterbacking the powerplay, Nashville should be a legitimate playoff contender once again.

Chicago Blackhawks
The ’Hawks may not snap the NHL’s longest drought without a Cup (1961), but there’s plenty to like about the new kids on the block — super sophomores Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
Throw in Patrick Sharp (36 goals), D-man Duncan Keith (plus-30), newcomers Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet, and senior advisor Scotty Bowman (11 Cups), and it’s easy to see this team is on the rise.

Columbus Blue Jackets
The Jackets are the only NHL team that hasn’t made a playoffs appearance (in seven years of existence).
And major off-season changes may not help with the chemistry.
But Columbus did add Philadelphia Flyers playoff hero R.J. Umberger, who will be given every opportunity to continue his meteoric rise alonside sniper Rick Nash.
Pascal Leclaire, who posted nine shutouts, was also signed to a multi-year deal.

St. Louis Blues
The rebuilding process continues in St. Louis.
The Blues don’t expect to contend this year, but, much like the L.A. Kings, have a long list of hot-shot prospects who could dominate in a few years’ time.
Brad Boyes, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2007/08, and Lee Stempniak, will be asked to hold down the fort until up-and-coming studs Erik Johnson and Alex Pietrangelo are ready for primetime. Johnson is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

Minnesota Wild
With Pavol Demitra gone, Mikko Koivu becomes the club’s top centre, but he’ll be just fine if winger Marian Gaborik continues to enjoy good health. Gaborik’s contract is up next July.
The Wild also lost enforcers Todd Fedoruk and Chris Simon, but rising stars D Brent Burns and goaltender Niklas Backstrom and solid special teams should keep the Wild in the hunt.

Colorado Avalanche
Captain Joe Sakic took a while before deciding to return for his 20th season. Good news for Avalanche fans.
He missed 38 games recovering from hernia surgery last season and he wasn’t the only one. Ryan Smyth was also sidelined for a significant period of time.
If there’s a silver lining to the Avs injursy rash, however, it opened the door for Paul Stastny to develop into a front line player.
Don’t count these guys out.

Vancouver Canucks
With all-world goaltender Roberto Luongo between the pipes, anything is possible.
The Canucks hope to have found a new second line combination in Mason Raymond, Taylor Pyatt, and Pavol Demitra. If this trio has success, it should take pressure off the big line: Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, and Steve Bernier.
If they can stay healthy, Vancouver will ice a solid top five D group that is one of the most balanced in the league: Mattias Ohlund, Willie Mitchell, Sami Salo, Kevin Bieksa, and Alexander Edler.

Calgary Flames
Alex Tanguay and Kristian Huselius are out. Todd Bertuzzi and Mike Cammalleri are in.
The Flames’ biggest off-season changes makes for a bigger, more rugged line-up — a style of play favoured by GM Darryl Sutter.
Captain Jarome Iginla has been a model of consistency while D-man Dion Phaneuf’s totals have improved every season since he came into the league.
This is a team built for a playoff run.

Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers just missed the playoffs last season, despite a devastating rash of injuries to some of their best players.
A full season from prized free-agent signee Sheldon Souray would do wonders for the 
club’s powerplay.
The Oilers added Lubomir Visnovsky and Erik Cole during a very successful off-season.
If the goaltending situation sorts itself out — both Mathieu Garon and Dwayne Roloson are playing for new contracts — post-season hockey could return to Alberta’s capital.

San Jose Sharks
The Sharks added Dan Boyle and Rob Blake on the blue line.
They’re solid in goal with Vezina candidate Evgeni Nabokov, although the coaching staff might want to play him a little less than the 77 games he played last season.
Milan Michalek has shown glimpses of becoming an elite force. If he continues to develop, it’ll give the Sharks two (Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo) legitimate scoring lines.

Anaheim Ducks
With Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermeyer on the blueline, the Ducks can ice two of the most elite defencemen in the game on a nightly basis.
And young all-star Ryan Getzlaf’s point production has jumped by about 20 points per season since he came into the league. If he can build on last season’s 82-point campaign, he’ll join the league’s elite.
Fellow fourth-year standout Corey Perry, veteran sniper Teemu Selanne and newcomer Brendan Morrison ensure the 2007 champs will still be a force to be reckoned with.

Dallas Stars
Goaltender Marty Turco has erased all past playoff demons with last spring’s stellar post-season showing.
The offence should be much improved after the trade-deadline acquisition of Brad Richards, who settled in nicely in the Lone Star State.
The Stars, who emerged victorious in the Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes, won’t be fun to play against with both Steve Ott and Sean Avery in the lineup.

Phoenix Coyotes
The Desert Dogs went looking for some scoring up the middle. And they found exactly what the doctor ordered in former Florida Panthers C 
Olli Jokinen.
The big Finn could form a dominant line with Shane Doan and Peter Mueller.
If that trio gives the Coyotes an additional eight-to-10 points in the standings, they’ll likely squeeze into the post-season.

Los Angeles Kings
The Kings have been stockpiling draft picks and prospects for the past couple of seasons.
And while it may take a couple of years for the youngsters to develop, there’s no denying the potential in La La Land.
Young guns Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown form a solid foundation to build around. On the back end, Jack Johnson, Thomas Hickey, Colten Teubert and Drew Doughty give the Kings four of the best defensive prospects in the league.