Might as well post it here also.
YES, I have calgary ahead of the oilers.
Well the draft is over, the off-season is in the "null" mode, I think it's a good time to make some early predictions.
Which teams are the risers, Which teams are the fallers.
Metro Division
Pittsburgh Penguins
New York Islanders
Columbus Blue Jackets
Philadelphia Flyers <-- Wild card.
New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes
Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins
Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning
Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
Florida Panthers
Buffalo Sabres
Central Division
St. Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks
Dallas Stars
Colorado Avalanche
Nashville Predators
Minnesota Wild
Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
Los Angeles Kings
Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks
Anaheim Ducks <-- Wild Card
Phoenix Coyotes
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
New Playoff Format.The 2013-14 schedule ensures that all 30 teams play in all 30 arenas at least once during the season.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs will still consist of 16 teams, eight from each conference, but it will be division-based and a wild-card system has been added.
The top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs. The remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference -- regardless of division -- based on regular-season points. It will be possible for one division to send five teams to the postseason while the other sends three.
The seeding of the wild-card teams within each divisional playoff will be determined by regular-season points. The division winner with the most points in the conference will be matched against the wild-card team with the fewest points; the division winner with the second-most points in the conference will play the wild-card team with the second-fewest points.
(If I screwed up how the playoffs work, please correct me, thanks.
Rising Teams.
Philadelphia Flyers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Dallas Stars
Colorado Avalanche
Phoenix Coyotes
Falling Teams.
Washington Capitals
Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
Minnesota Wild
Edmonton Oilers
Summary
I expect this season to be the most different, and unique season to date. With new schedule and conferences, I see very good teams struggling, and teams who had performed poorly before Rising. This is just my opinion, but I expect a ton of positional changes in the standings.