2008 Woodie Awards
Penguins, Crosby lead emerging Eastern Conference
Jordan Freemyer
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the balance of power in the NHL was swayed severely to the Western Conference. During the last few years, however, the Eastern Conference has come on strong. That trend should continue in the 2007-08 season.
This year's Eastern Conference Stanley Cup combatants should be the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh's young stars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, are perhaps the two best players in the league. Crosby won last year's scoring title and MVP award at age 19 and will only get better as he matures. Malkin, just 21-years-old, scored six goals in his first six games.
They will be challenged in the Eastern Conference by the New York Rangers. The Rangers had one of the off-season's biggest acquisitions in former Avalanche and Buffalo Sabre Chris Drury. Drury will provide the Rangers with much needed leadership and playmaking ability, which could put New York over the top.
Canada's best chance for the cup comes from its capital city of Ottawa and the defending East champions, the Senators. The Sens have a lot of speed with forwards Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson. They will surely be a threat to win the conference.
The 2005 Stanley Cup champs from Tampa Bay are also in the mix. Vincent Lecavaler will provide quite the punch up front, but the Lightning may be on the decline, especially with Marc Denis in goal.
Fans looking for a sleeper should look to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 'Canes have 2006 playoff MVP Cam Ward in goal and have up-and-coming forward Keith Aucoin, who had 72 assists with AHL Albany, in the mix this season. They should improve significantly from last season's 40-34-8 record.
When we get to the playoffs in the spring, the East will come down to a clash between the Rangers and Penguins. I think the Penguins will come out on top and prove the East has got what it takes to win Lord Stanley's Cup.
-Jordan Freemyer is a sophomore journalism major and a Mirror sports writer.
This year's Eastern Conference Stanley Cup combatants should be the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh's young stars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, are perhaps the two best players in the league. Crosby won last year's scoring title and MVP award at age 19 and will only get better as he matures. Malkin, just 21-years-old, scored six goals in his first six games.
They will be challenged in the Eastern Conference by the New York Rangers. The Rangers had one of the off-season's biggest acquisitions in former Avalanche and Buffalo Sabre Chris Drury. Drury will provide the Rangers with much needed leadership and playmaking ability, which could put New York over the top.
Canada's best chance for the cup comes from its capital city of Ottawa and the defending East champions, the Senators. The Sens have a lot of speed with forwards Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson. They will surely be a threat to win the conference.
The 2005 Stanley Cup champs from Tampa Bay are also in the mix. Vincent Lecavaler will provide quite the punch up front, but the Lightning may be on the decline, especially with Marc Denis in goal.
Fans looking for a sleeper should look to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 'Canes have 2006 playoff MVP Cam Ward in goal and have up-and-coming forward Keith Aucoin, who had 72 assists with AHL Albany, in the mix this season. They should improve significantly from last season's 40-34-8 record.
When we get to the playoffs in the spring, the East will come down to a clash between the Rangers and Penguins. I think the Penguins will come out on top and prove the East has got what it takes to win Lord Stanley's Cup.
-Jordan Freemyer is a sophomore journalism major and a Mirror sports writer.
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