If Ottawa can stay healthy they could be challenging Boston for the top spot, if they can't stay healthy or their best players need a lot of games off to heal, they may find themselves fighting for a playoff spot. Ottawa has a lot of good depth, if they don't lose some to waivers. They need to make a deal to bring in one more top 6 forward to assure secondary scoring & their young defence has to play big.
1. Boston - big, tough, skilled, best faceoff guy in the league, Chara, Iginla & Lucic
2. Ottawa - depends on the health of their key players & the youngsters stepping up
3. Toronto - they will try & beat the crap out of everyone on their way to the Cup
4. Detroit - very good veteran leadership but may be getting long in the tooth
5. Tampa Bay - they are an improving team with a lot of good young players
6. Montreal - still too small, still too soft & will still get pushed around by teams
7. Buffalo - a team in transition, likely to trade one of Vanek or Miller or both
8. Florida - lots of good young players but few are NHL ready