Joe Haggerty's 2011-12 NHL preview

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By Joe Haggerty
CSNNE.com Bruins InsiderFollow @hackswithhaggs

It wont be nearly as wide open for the Bruins in the Eastern Conference this time around.

The Bruins return 18 players (16 skaters and two goaltenders) to this seasons team from last years Cup champions, and have a young nucleus paired with a solid defensive philosophy and elite goaltenders. But theyre also stepping into a Northeast Division thats much improved from top to bottom, and an Eastern Conference that saw the Flyers, Rangers and Capitals make big upgrades to teams that were already playoff caliber.

Not only that, but Sidney Crosby is expected to return at some point during the season after last years concussion issues, and that makes the Penguins the prohibitive favorites with the best hockey player in the world.

Itll be a testing battleground for the Bruins for all 82 games, coming off a year that saw them play 107 games (regular season and playoffs) and log an extra two months of hockey when other players were off golfing. Coach Claude Julien was only speaking about the goaltenders the Bruins will have to face with regularity, but one got the impression he knows exactly what his team is in for this season.

We're in a conference -- and even a division -- that has some pretty good goaltenders, so it's not like we're going into the unknown here, said Julien. Ryan Miller in Buffalo Sabres and Carey Price with Montreal Canadiens, who had a great season last year. Craig Anderson's played well for Ottawa. This is only in our division.

I think the way goaltending in Toronto is this season they seem pretty confident there too. When youve got Martin Brodeur in New Jersey and so-on-and-so-forth, this is the challenge you have almost every night. A lot of teams say the same thing about our team and about our goaltending. So it's just one of the pieces of the puzzle that you have to solve, and there's not a million ways to solve that.

There arent a million ways to solve it, but the Bruins came across a few last season that are probably going to do them some good again this year. Here is the CSNNE.com NHL preview with Bostons final predicted place within the final painting (and for the record I predicted the Bruins losing to the Wings in the Cup Finals last season before the year got going).

Eastern ConferenceNortheast Division
1. Boston BruinsThe Bruins barely hang on in a much tougher division despite returning cast.
2. Buffalo SabresThe new owner, energy and attitude help when it comes with good players for the Sabres.
3. Montreal CanadiensGuys like Subban, Price and Plekanec are only going to get better this season.
4. Toronto Maple LeafsCould this be the year that Toronto makes it back to the postseason? This writer is betting the answer is yes.
5. Ottawa SenatorsCraig Anderson will need to stand on his head, and that could happen on any given night.

Atlantic Division
1. Pittsburgh PenguinsThe belief here is that Sidney Crosby is back sooner rather than later, and that makes the Pens everybodys favorite.
2. Philadelphia FlyersIt may take some time for the new pieces to gel, but Bryzgalov is a huge regular season upgrade at goalie.
3. New York RangersBrad Richards and Marian Gaborik could be deadly in Gotham.
4. New York IslandersThe return of Mark Streit gives the young Isles enough talent to throw scares in other teams.
5. New Jersey DevilsThis is a difficult team to figure out, but Martin Brodeurs swan song may be a sad one.

Southeast Division
1. Washington CapitalsThe best team in the East that nobody is talking about got much better with Tomas Vokoun.
2. Tampa Bay LightningThere may be a small dip in Tampa Bays performance, but this Bolts team is playoff-hardened and talent-blessed.
3. Winnipeg JetsThe move to Canada agrees with a star-crossed franchise, and talented players like Byfuglien, Kane and Pavelec get the Jets back into the postseason.
4. Carolina HurricanesStaal and Co. are young and formidable, but they still dont seem to have enough depth to truly challenge.
5. Florida PanthersHockey purgatory remains firmly in place in Sunrise, Florida. A series of embarrassing signings this summer mean they deserve what they get.

The Washington Capitals over the Boston Bruins in the second round.
The Pittsburgh Penguins over the Montreal Canadiens in the second round.

Caps over the Pens in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Western Conference

Central Division
1. Chicago BlackhawksKane and Toews show becomes must see hockey TV once again this season free of Cup hangover.
2. Detroit Red WingsThe Wings have started to show their age, but theyve still got some sting left before flying East.
3. Nashville PredatorsThe Preds proved last year that theyre for real, and Rinne can beat just about anybody.
4. St. Louis BluesThe Blues would have much better chances if their division wasnt so talented and dangerous.
5. Columbus Blue JacketsOn paper the Blue Jackets should be much better with Jeff Carter and Rich Nash. On paper that is.

Northwest Division
1. Vancouver CanucksThe Sedins have proven they bounce back up when theyre mercilessly driven to the ice. This season will confirm that.
2. Edmonton OilersThe growing pains were many last season, but the young and restless Oilers are ready to ride Eberle, Hall, Nugent-Hopkins and Co. to the playoffs.
3. Calgary FlamesThings could go awfully wrong with so much reliance on NHL graybeards like Jarome Iginla and Mikka Kiprusoff.
4. Colorado AvalancheTheres plenty of talent to climb up the rankings for the Avs, but Russian goalie Semyon Varlamov will have to come ready to play.
5. Minnesota WildDany Heatley brings his sniping skills to the Wild, but theres a long way to go.

Pacific Division
1. Los Angeles KingsThe dark horse for a Stanley Cup championship this season, Mike Richards adds a lot to an already talented bunch without a true, gritty leader.
2. San Jose SharksThe Sharks are obviously loaded once again, but there is growing that San Jose will ever get to Stanleys promise land.
3. Anaheim DucksThe talented core is still there with Getzlaf, Perry and Selanne, and a healthy Jonas Hiller makes them a team without many holes.
4. Phoenix CoyotesShould everyone take it as a bad omen that Kyle Turris refuses to sign a contract to play with the Desert Dogs?
5. Dallas StarsThe loss of Brad Richards hurts the Stars, and toxic twins pairing of Michael RyderMike Ribeiro certainly doesnt help.

Vancouver Canucks over the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round
Los Angeles Kings over the San Jose Sharks in the second round
The Kings over the Canucks in the Western Conference Finals

2011-12 NHL Award Winners

Hart TrophyAlex Ovechkin
Vezina TrophyCarey Price
Norris TrophyShea Weber
Art Ross TrophyDaniel Sedin
Calder TrophyRyan Nugent-Hopkins
Jack Adams AwardGuy Boucher
Maurice Richard TrophySteve Stamkos
Selke TrophyPatrice Bergeron

Stanley Cup Finals: The Kings over the Capitals in seven games to make the fourth straight Stanley Cup winner that began the season in Europe.
Conn Smythe Winner: Mike Richards

Joe Haggerty can be reached at jhaggerty@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Joe on Twitter at http:twitter.comHackswithHaggs.

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