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Central Division

Geographically, the Central Division will look familiar this season because the Nashville Predators aren't going anywhere. Not just yet anyway.

But the future of the franchise in its current location is in doubt, and the impact of the uncertainty will be felt throughout the division. Although the Detroit Red Wings never seem to get younger while remaining the best of the bunch, the budget-driven dismantling of the Predators in the last couple of months creates openings for other Central Division teams to think realistically about playoff spots.

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Northwest Division

The Vancouver Canucks finally fixed their goaltending problems last season by getting Roberto Luongo and ended up winning the Northwest Division because of it.

Now they'll get a chance to personally thank the man who made it all possible. Luongo's old nemesis, Mike Keenan, who traded the goalie when he was GM of the Florida Panthers, has moved into the neighborhood as coach of the Calgary Flames. The division rivals meet eight times this season in games that likely will have a critical impact on the final standings.

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Northeast Division

There have been some significant changes in the Northeast Division during the past month or so, but things may not look that much different next season.


The first-place Buffalo Sabres lost two of their best players, and the Stanley Cup finalist Ottawa Senators fired their general manager and will have a new coach, but both teams will look a lot like this year, which should be enough to separate them from the division pack.

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Southeast Division

There was a balance of power shift last season, subtle perhaps, but enough to prevent the Southeast Division from having a serious chance at a Stanley Cup three-peat.

The Atlanta Thrashers made the playoffs for the first time by winning the division, but they were overwhelmed in the opening round and sent packing in four games. Meanwhile, the 2004 league champions from Tampa Bay elbowed their way into the postseason only to go home after the first round, while the 2006 Stanley Cup winners, the Carolina Hurricanes, didn't even make the playoffs.

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Pacific Division

The Anaheim Ducks hardly had time to celebrate their Stanley Cup victory in June before critical issues about the team's look next season popped up, and they wasted little time making significant moves.

Nothing they did suggests the Ducks are no longer a championship-caliber team, but the changes do have the potential to alter the dynamics next season in the ultra-competitive Pacific Division.

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Atlantic Division

Four of the five Atlantic Division teams made the playoffs last season, more than any other grouping in the NHL. This season, the division could be even stronger.

Credit that in part to the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, who took a trip down memory lane back to a time when their deep pockets meant something and struck gold. The division-champion New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders weren't as lucky, losing a pair of key players each, but both have done well enough on the replacement market to keep their strong core lineups competitive.

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