What was your 'educated guess' on the 2003-04 Sharks? Pretty ugly huh? Or how about the 2002-03 Sharks? Potential Stanley Cup?
In the words of Chris Berman, "That's why they play the games". When they don't, you can't assume anything. The same people that are saying we CAN assume the 2004-05 standings are probably the same ones who blast prognosticators for their off-the-wall preseason predictions every year. And why do they do that? Because they all have a wait-and-see attitude. As in, let's wait and see what happens ON THE ICE.
Well, this year we can't. And if anybody, and I do mean ANYBODY, can figure out the 2004-05 NHL standings with zero games played, with players sitting out the entire season, with others developing their games in the AHL, CHL or NCAA, still others keeping in shape in the European elite leagues as well as lesser pro leagues like the ECHL, with un-signed UFA's still numbering in the 200's, with injuries coming out of the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and with an infinite amount of intangibles and imponderables permeating throughout the entire league and all 30 of its franchises...well, then I guess that person should have sent in his/her resume to the Vatican last week!