CENTRAL DIVISION

No. 1 Detroit Red Wings

Last Year: 54-21-7, President's Trophy winner, Stanley Cup champion.

Who's In: RW Marian Hossa, G Ty Conklin.

Who's Out: G Dominik Hasek, RW Dallas Drake.

What's Happening: The Wings have to avoid the dreaded (OK, not-so-dreaded depending on how you look at it) Cup hangover. This is a veteran bunch that really seemed to enjoy last year's run and would like to do it again. They certainly are talented enough. Nice score, lifting Hossa from Pittsburgh for a nice payday, yes, but also a promise this team would be back in the running for a repeat.

The Prediction: Detroit continues to show it's the best team in hockey, and after an early lull, get rolling and top Montreal in a Stanley Cup classic.

No. 2 Chicago Blackhawks

Last Year: 40-34-8, third in CEN.

Who's In: G Cristobal Huet, D Brian Campbell.

Who's Out: C Robert Lang, C Kevyn Adams, C Yanic Perreault, LW Rene Bourque.

What's Happening: One of the trendy picks this season is the young-and-rising Blackhawks, a team that now has Chicago's attention once more. This team seemingly has it all, yet still has to prove it can put everything together.

The Prediction: The renaissance in Chicago continues, the young Hawks winning a thriller at Wrigley Field on New Year's Day before storming into the postseason.

No. 3 Columbus Blue Jackets

Last Year: 34-36-12, fourth in CEN.

Who's In: D Mike Commodore, LW Kristian Huselius, C R.J. Umberger, D Fedor Tyutin.

Who's Out: D Ron Hainsey, RW Nikolai Zherdev, RW Gilbert Bryle, D Dick Tarnstrom.

What's Happening: Coach Ken Hitchcock is doing plenty of good things in Buckeye country, only in this brutal division, it appears the Jackets are stuck in quicksand. Commodore is a nice upgrade on the blueline, and Huselius can do some sick things with the puck and should compliment rising superstar Rick Nash. But this team is still a year away.

The Prediction: The only team to never advance to the Stanley Cup playoffs keep their streak alive. The Jackets will be better, only the west is the best.

No. 4 Nashville Predators

Last Year: 41-32-9, second in CEN, lost in opening round to Detroit (6).

Who's In: None.

Who's Out: RW Alex Radulov, LW Martin Gelinas, G Chris Mason, LW Darcy Hordichuk.

What's Happening: An intriguing team, the Predators survived last summer's salary dump just fine, playing well in a tough division (and conference) before getting a first-round date with the hated Wings. This version is younger, and not better with Radulov showing off his talents in Russia (despite having a contract in Nashville).

The Prediction: The Preds keep things close and fight for a playoff berth only come up just short in the final week.

No. 5 St. Louis Blues

Last Year: 33-36-13, fifth in CEN.

Who's In: G Chris Mason, D Alex Pietrangelo, C Patrik Berglund.

Who's Out: C Ryan Johnson, LW Martin Rucinsky.

What's Happening: It's been a rough ride for the Blues, who weren't expected to be all that good before Erik Johnson was lost for the season after a freakish knee injury courtesy of a runaway golf cart. Burglund, the talented Swedish rookie, will be fun to watch though.

The Prediction: St. Louis can't fight through its many injuries and battle Atlanta for top pick in draft.

NORTHWEST DIVISION

No. 1 Edmonton Oilers

Last Year: 41-35-6, fourth in NW.

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