Predict Western Conference Standings for 2015-16

[PaPaDee]

With rosters close to finalized, what do you think the standings will look like at the end of the 2015-16 season? My prediction:

1. Anaheim
2. Minnesota
3. St. Louis
4. Chicago
5. Calgary
6. Dallas
7. Los Angeles
8. San Jose
9. Nashville
10. Edmonton
11. Winnipeg
12. Colorado
13. Vancouver
14. Arizona

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[McDeathbyCheerios*]

With rosters close to finalized, what do you think the standings will look like at the end of the 2015-16 season? My prediction:

1. Anaheim
2. Minnesota
3. St. Louis
4. Chicago
5. Calgary
6. Dallas
7. Los Angeles
8. San Jose
9. Nashville
10. Edmonton
11. Winnipeg
12. Colorado
13. Vancouver
14. Arizona

1. Anaheim
2. Chicago
3. Nashville
4. Dallas
5. St Louis
6. Winnipeg
7. Minnesota
8. LA
9. Calgary
10. Edmonton
11. San Jose
12. Colorado
13. Vancouver
14. Arizona

 

[rickysusedsht]

1. Anaheim
2. Chicago
3. St. Louis
4. Dallas
5. Los Angeles
6.Winnipeg
7. Minnesota
8. San Jose
9. Nashville
10. Edmonton
11. Calgary
12. Vancouver
13.Colorado
14. Arizona

 

[oXo Cube]

Anaheim
San Jose
LA
Calgary
-----------------
Edmonton
Vancouver
Phoenixazona


St. Louis
Chicago
Nashville
Minnesota
------------------
Winnipeg
Dallas
Colorado

 

[FlameChampion]

1. Anaheim
2. Nashville
3. Chicago
4. Los Angeles
5. St. Louis
6. Calgary
7. Minnesota
8. Winnipeg
9. San Jose
10. Edmonton
11. Dallas
12. Colorado
13. Vancouver
14. Arizona

I really have no idea.

I am comfortable with Anaheim at #1 and Arizona at #14. Everything in between /shrug.

 

[OilerPensfan97]

1. Anaheim
2. St. Louis
3. Calgary
4. Minnesota
5. LA
6. Winnipeg
7. Chicago
8. Nashville
9. Edmonton
10. Dallas
11. Colorado
12. San Jose
13. Vancouver
14. Arizona

 

[lakai17]

Anaheim
Calgary
LA
-----------------
Edmonton
San Jose
Vancouver
Arizona


Nashville
Chicago(depending on Patrick Kane for 2nd-4th)
St.louis
Winnipeg
Dallas
------------------
Minnesota
Colorado

 

[Broilers]

1. Anaheim
2. Chicago
3. Nashville
4. Dallas
5. St Louis
6. Winnipeg
7. Minnesota
8. LA
9. Calgary
10. Edmonton
11. San Jose
12. Colorado
13. Vancouver
14. Arizona

Why Everybody sees Chicago so high. They have a short summer, Kane, Saada traded. They will end up between 4-8. Probably 6.
Calgar will make playoffs but Minnesota won't

 

[smokersarejokers]

1. Anaheim
2. Minnesota
3. St. Louis
4. Los Angeles
5. Chicago
6. Colorado
7. Dallas
8. Nashville
9. Calgary
10. Edmonton
11. Winnipeg
12. San Jose
13. Vancouver
14. Arizona

 

[Dangles13]

Anaheim
Los Angeles
San Jose
Vancouver
Edmonton
Calgary
Arizona

St. Louis
Chicago
Nashville
Dallas
Winnipeg
Minnesota
Colorado

 

[Soundwave]

Wouldn't it be something if Chicago missed the playoffs. Lots of turmoil there and a very short summer. Who knows. I doubt it but no one pegged LA to miss the playoffs last season either.

 

[Quinteoilers]

Oilers make it some how, 98 pts. Win the 1st round and scare the heck out of 2nd round team in a 6 game series.

 

[Stud Muffin]

Central

St.Louis
Chicago
Minnesota
Winnipeg
Dallas
-----------------
Nashville
Colorado


Pacific

Ducks
Kings
Calgary
----------------
Edmonton
San Jose
Vancouver
Arizona

 

[Spawn]

What is it with everyone putting San Jose so low? That team is pretty stacked.

Great top 6 forwards, great top 4 group of d-men. Great vets. Some promising young guys. Last year was just a down year imo where McLellan and the players had fatigue with each other. They'll be revitalized with a new coach and a slightly different message imo.

The only thing that might sink them is if Jones sucks. Which is certainly a possibility I suppose.

Honestly I think they have a better chance to bounce back than the Kings do.

 

[Mr Positive]

What is it with everyone putting San Jose so low? That team is pretty stacked.

Great top 6 forwards, great top 4 group of d-men. Great vets. Some promising young guys. Last year was just a down year imo where McLellan and the players had fatigue with each other. They'll be revitalized with a new coach and a slightly different message imo.

The only thing that might sink them is if Jones sucks. Which is certainly a possibility I suppose.

Honestly I think they have a better chance to bounce back than the Kings do.

there are some good reasons

1. getting a new coach with a new philosophy often backfires if it is used to revitalize a team
2. In net, they viewed Niemi as the problem and Jones as the answer. That's a tough call to make.
3. Their best players are aging. Thornton is 36 and nowhere near what he was 5 years ago. Marleau is 35 and appears to be declining. I don't think their young players are quite the calibre to replace what they are losing in this way.

That's just one of many possible outcomes. Maybe everything will click and they will make another push like how Vancouver limped into the playoffs last year. They also have the potential to crash and burn. The likely outcome is somewhere in the middle, and they finish outside the playoffs again. They are a team to watch though.

 

[lakai17]

What is it with everyone putting San Jose so low? That team is pretty stacked.

Great top 6 forwards, great top 4 group of d-men. Great vets. Some promising young guys. Last year was just a down year imo where McLellan and the players had fatigue with each other. They'll be revitalized with a new coach and a slightly different message imo.

The only thing that might sink them is if Jones sucks. Which is certainly a possibility I suppose.

Honestly I think they have a better chance to bounce back than the Kings do.

I am not sold on their goaltending or consistency level today.

 

[CupofOil]

St. Louis
Nashville
Chicago
Minnesota (WC 1)
Dallas (WC 2)
-----------
Colorado
Winnipeg

Anaheim
San Jose (everybody seems to be underrating them, one of the best looking lineups in the league outside of goaltending)
L.A. Kings
------------
Calgary (I expect a step back from them even with the Hamilton and Frolik adds. They will be the hunted this season as opposed to the hunter)
Vancouver
Edmonton (I'll believe it when I see it. Too soft, too inexperienced and big question marks on defense and in goal although improvement should be expected but the west is still too tough for the Oilers to make a significant jump in the standings. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Prove me wrong Oilers)
Arizona

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Even numbered year = Colorado in the playoffs.

 

[KCC]

Why Everybody sees Chicago so high. They have a short summer, Kane, Saada traded. They will end up between 4-8. Probably 6.
Calgar will make playoffs but Minnesota won't

On paper I'd agree with you, but it's Chicago. They always seem to be able to surprise.

 

[McTrashBoat]

On paper I'd agree with you, but it's Chicago. They always seem to be able to surprise.

Yeah that Kane thing is a surprise

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

1. Anaheim
2. Los Angeles
3. Chicago
4. Edmonton
5. St. Louis
6. Dallas
7. Minnesota
8. Nashville
9. Calgary
10. San Jose
11. Winnipeg
12. Colorado
13. Vancouver
14. Arizona

Ottawa wins lottery and punches the flames downa a spot

 

[Mr Positive]

Even numbered year = Colorado in the playoffs.

I see Colorado making a big push. MacKinnon had a bit of a sophomore slump and that guy is a sleeping giant. Swapping O'Reilly for Soderberg is a tough position, but I think Soderberg will be well suited for the western conference. I know they are starting MacKinnon on the wing, but if he moves to center, that becomes Duchene-MacKinnon-Soderberg down the middle. Potentially Griorenko and Rantanen taking over on the wing, and they've got Landeskog, Tanguay and Iginla there too.

The Avs D is also a bit of a wildcard. Johnson is a solid first pairing guy and they need him to stay healthy. They added Beachemin, who could have a big impact in helping their younger guys like Barrie, Bigras and Zadarov. Varlamov and Pickard might be one of the greatest tandems in the league before long. This is a team on the rise.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

St. Louis
Chicago
Nashville
Dallas
Colorado
--------
Minny
Winnipeg

Anaheim
LA
Calgary
-------
SJ
Vancouver
Edmonton
Arizona

Oiler just have too many team to climb to get a sniff

 

[lakai17]

Why Everybody sees Chicago so high. They have a short summer, Kane, Saada traded. They will end up between 4-8. Probably 6.
Calgar will make playoffs but Minnesota won't

Panarin, Anisimov and Dano are legit additions.

 

[Aceboogie]

I got a bad feeling Calgary with just edge out Edmonton for final playoff spot, and Vancouver will knock out Edmonton in final game they play in the year

Finish side by side just like 13 and 14