LCS Hockey - A Few Predictions

A Few Predictions
by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief

Normally, we like to make our predictions for the upcoming year in our annual Season Preview. But a broken thumb sort of cramped our style. So we're back this issue with some more fearless forecasting. Keep in mind, this is not a competition. This is only an exhibition. Please, as always, no wagering. Oh yeah, one more thing... only remember the ones we get right. Thanks.

PRESIDENT'S TROPHY
The Dallas Stars should repeat as the league's best team during the regular season. Not only will the addition of Brett Hull give the club two potent scoring lines, but the Stars return with the best group of defensemen in the league and a star netminder in the form of Ed Belfour. They'll be tough to beat. The only real question mark will be the health of Joey Nieuwendyk.

Other Notables: Colorado should make mince meant of its Northwest competition and Philadelphia will be the dominant force in the East.

HART TROPHY
Mike Modano would be the obvious choice, since Dallas is going to be a powerhouse. However, Eric Lindros gets the nod from us. He's not going to take Bobby Clarke's challenge lightly. Lindros will be a mission man. Lining up alongside the best left winger in hockey certainly won't hurt his cause, either.

Other Notables: Aside from Modano, Dominik Hasek should get his share of consideration, as will Paul Kariya if he can stay healthy. And don't be surprised to see Ron Francis get some much-deserved recognition when he turns Carolina into a playoff squad.

ART ROSS
This is a tough call. There are plenty of worthy candidates, although you can pretty much scratch Jaromir Jagr's name off the list now that Ron Francis is in Carolina. Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne are sure to ring up lofty numbers, and the same can be said for Colorado's lethal duo of Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg. But in the end I'm goin' with the E Train. This will be Lindros' year to stay healthy. Mike Maneluk is an upgrade in talent on his right side and everyone knows what John LeClair can do. The Legion of Doom will be back.

Other Notables: The four guys mentioned above will be serious threats for the title. In fact, that should be your top five in scoring right there: Lindros, Kariya, Selanne, Forsberg, and Sakic. And not many points will separate the pack. Jagr could slip in there if he really dedicates himself to carrying the Pittsburgh franchise.

RICHARD TROPHY
This year the NHL will award the Maurice Richard Trophy to the player that leads the league in goals. One favorite would have to be big John LeClair. The guy's 50 goals in the bank. But with the league looking to further crack down on obstruction, the days of the small, speedy scorers may have returned. That's one reason why we think Sakic will be such a force. Look for the Colorado captain to be back in the 50-goal range once again. It's too bad he doesn't get to play with Selanne. That's why Kariya will lap everyone. Not only will the Mighty Duckling have the Finnish Flash at his side, but Anaheim acquired some muscle to protect him. The combination should mean plenty of open ice.

Other Notables: Peter Bondra is almost a lock for 50+. Jagr, LeClair, Lindros, Sakic, and Selanne should also be in the picture.

NORRIS TROPHY
The league's not going to be able to ignore Chris Pronger two years in a row. He may not score the most, but he's the best defenseman in the game today. There's just no arguing the point anymore. Pronger is the man.

Other Notables: Rob Blake and Nicklas Lidstrom will be returning contenders. Al MacInnis should also get some consideration, even though Pronger will steal most of the heat. A new face among the crowd? Alexei Zhitnik. The Russian has matured so much over the past year that it's hard to believe he used to be the Red Cross of the NHL, always being found at the scene of catastrophes. But those days are long gone. Zhitnik could be one of the three finalists for the hardware.

VEZINA TROPHY
What's the point? Just give it to Hasek now.

Other Notables: Ed Belfour can't help but put up amazing numbers in Dallas. Martin Brodeur is always there at the end. If not for the Dominator, Brodeur would have a mantle full of Vezinas at home. Pittsburgh's decline will remove Tom Barrasso from the race, but John Vanbiesbrouck should see a renaissance in Philadelphia. And don't rule out Patrick Roy, who will be playing for a new contract this season.

CALDER TROPHY
While there's little doubt Vincent Levavalier will be an impact player, he doesn't have much help in Tampa Bay. It would take an astounding effort on the part of the number one pick to cop rookie-of-the-year honors. Put your money on Colorado's Milan Hejduk. At 22, Hejduk has international experience with the gold-medal winning Czech national team to go with his marvelous puck skills. He'll also be skating on a line with Sakic. Aw, that's nice work if you can get it.

Other Notables: Lecavalier isn't the only competition for Hejduk. Check out Jim Iovino's feature article elsewhere in this issue for more about this year's rookie crop.

SELKE TROPHY
Peter Forsberg is too good defensively to have never won a Selke. This will be his year.

Other Notables: Michael Peca, Jere Lehtinen, and Mike Modano will all receive a mess of votes. The Rangers sucking will all but take Niklas Sundstrom out of contention, likewise with Rob Zamuner.

LADY BYNG TROPHY
Does anyone care? Wayne Gretzky will probably get it out of pity.

Other Notables: Francis, Kariya, and Adam Oates.

JACK ADAMS TROPHY
Usually the winner is the guy that forges the greatest single- season turnaround. The table is definitely set for Paul Maurice in Carolina, but he may not be a good enough coach to get the job done. He'll either reach the top of the mountain or fall to earth hard. The latter is more likely. If Maurice falters, look for Dirk Graham to swipe the trophy in the end for getting the Blackhawks back into the postseason.

Other Notables: Ken Hitchcock will be a contender, as will first-year man Bob Hartley if he can light a fire under the complacent Avalanche.

STANLEY CUP

Michael Dell, Editor-in-Chief: I've been picking a Colorado-Philadelphia Stanley Cup Final for the past forever, so there's no real point in breaking tradition. It has to happen eventually. And I'll go with Carolina and Dallas as the respective runner-ups.

Philly is clearly the team to beat in the East. Eric Lindros will be on a mission. As for Colorado, they would have beaten Detroit last season if they met in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Avalanche had a knack of playing down to the level of their competition. All they need is inspiration. New coach Bob Hartley will provide it. Patrick Roy will also have something else to play for, as he's set to become a free agent this summer. In the end, Colorado and Roy will claim their second Cup over John Vanbiesbrouck.

Zippy, Wonder Chimp: Finals: Dallas vs. Buffalo

Dallas in six.

Regular season champs: Dallas, Philadelphia.

Lindros will lead the team to a regular season victory, but will disappear in the playoffs... probably due to an injury.

The Sabres will sneak into the playoffs and the Dominator will make another run at the Cup.

However, Dallas, with a very balanced lineup, will oust Buffalo with their superior offensive. It will be a low scoring series, but Dallas will be victorious in the end.

Detroit and Colorado will be forces in the playoffs, but will fall short. Detroit won't have Bowman to lead them and Colorado needs a few younger wingers for Sakic and Forsberg.

Jim Iovino, Ace Reporter: The Dallas Stars will defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup Finals... oh, let's say in six games.

Matthew Secosky, Private Eye: I predict that an advanced race of space goats will come to Earth and enslave all its inhabitants... except, of course, for the Earth goats, who will all be given positions of power.