Games Review Blog

Predicting the best teams in the NHL can often be full of surprises, but predicting the league’s worst team is usually a little easier. Not much has happened since the end of the NHL season, but the best teams became a little better, and the bad teams a little worse.

Here is a list of the five worst NHL teams going into the 2009-2010 season.

1. Toronto Maple Leafs – This is a tough one since the team’s fans are some of the most loyal in all of hockey, but it’s been 42 years since their last Stanley Cup and their next one definitely won’t be coming in 2010. They’ve made a few minor enhancements at defense, but this team simply has no offense. Look for another very weak season in Toronto.

2. Atlanta Thrashers – Atlanta has made a few minor moves, acquiring Ilya Kovalchuk before the trade deadline last season, as well as the acquisition of Antropov. Both are capable scorers, but there’s not enough defense in Atlanta to make this team any kind of threat. Their defenders are poor and their goalies even worse.

3. Edmonton Oilers – It’s never a wise move to let three of your players know you’re willing to trade them away for someone else. Especially when you don’t end up getting that player. Look for Smid, Cogliano, and Penner to rub it back in the team’s face by playing an entire season of hockey with little motivation to do well for the GM who was willing to trade them away in a flash.

4. COLORADO AVALANCHE – What happened to these guys? Just two short years ago the Northwest was the best division in hockey, and now with the Avs, Oilers, and flighty Wild, it is one of the worst – Bettman, you have achieved parity in the league, somewhat. With Sakic retiring, and Budaj as your starter, things aren’t looking good this year. If Stastny, Hejduk and newcomer Matt Duchene can make some noise, they may not be on this list. Odds are they will finish out of the playoffs…again. Budaj, really???

5. Florida Panthers – Perhaps the biggest bunch of no-names on an NHL roster, and a less than interested fan base. It’s not good to be a Florida Panther and it’s not good to be a fan. Booth and Weiss are both decent players, but that’s all they’ve got. I expect a last place finish in Florida.

I know that you may be saying what about…(fill the blank in with the Islanders, Dallas, Kings, Lightning). I hate to tell you that I think all four of those teams are on the upswing and are going to surprise a few people this season.