2013 NHL Picks and Predictions: Western Conference Odds, Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

2013 NHL Picks and Predictions – Western Conference Odds, Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers: The lockout is over and the 2013 NHL season is officially underway. As the teams and players get up to speed, it is time to take a look a closer look at the Western Conference. It has certainly been the deeper of the two conferences in recent years, and teams from the West have won four of the last six Stanley Cups. The conference appears to be loaded again in 2013, and with that in mind, here is a look at the top contenders.

2013 NHL Picks and Predictions: Western Conference Odds, Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

The Favorites

Fresh off a season when they posted the league’s best record and two years removed from a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, the Vancouver Canucks are a perennial contender in the Western Conference. Henrik and Daniel Sedin are two of the most productive players in the league, and they anchor an offense that always seems to rank in the top 10 in scoring. Meanwhile, emotional leader Ryan Kesler is expected back sooner rather than later. The goal tending situation is in flux with Cory Schneider set to replace Roberto Luongo as the starter, but both players performed well in the opposite roles last year as Vancouver allowed the fourth-fewest goals. Vancouver’s reign as one of the Western Conference’s best is far from over.

The defending Stanly Cup champion Los Angeles Kings won the title as the No. 8 seed last year. If goalie Jonathan Quick continues to play at the same level he reached in last year’s postseason, they should have a much better seed as they try to repeat. Quick already led full-time starters in goals against average and shutouts in the regular season last year, and he was even better come playoff time. Los Angeles doesn’t have a high-powered offense, but Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards and Dustin Brown are the main cogs for a unit that seems to have a knack for timely goals. A few timely goals is all the Kings will need if Quick is still in top form in 2013.

The Dark Horses

David Backes and T.J. Oshie are the closest things to offensive stars for the St. Louis Blues, but even though they are likely to be in the bottom half of the league in scoring again in 2013, the Blues still figure to be a major factor in the Western Conference thanks to stellar defense. St. Louis has the best goalie tandem in the NHL in Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak, and the two ranked first and fourth in goals against average last season, respectively. Overall, the Blues allowed the fewest goals in the league last year and posted the second-best record. With the core of the defense still intact, St. Louis is primed for another strong season.

Goal tending is likely to remain an issue, but a promising offense led by some young players is going to make the Chicago Blackhawks a contender. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews should only get better for an offense that already ranked fifth in scoring last year, and Marian Hossa provides a nice veteran scoring presence. Goalie Corey Crawford will have to rebound after a sophomore slump, but Chicago made the playoffs last year despite his struggles. If Crawford shows the form he flashed in his first year between the pipes, Chicago has the offensive firepower to challenge any team in the league in 2013.

The Sleepers

After posting abysmal offensive numbers last year, the Minnesota Wild addressed the issue in a big way in the offseason. The team signed Zach Parise, adding a proven 30-plus goal scorer to a top line already featuring Dany Heatley and Mikko Koivu. While they were at it, the Wild added star defenseman Ryan Suter, as well. Not only should Suter help goalie Niklas Backstrom, but he should also provide a boost to the Minnesota power play. The Wild paid a hefty price for their new pieces, but the end result could be worth it.

A year after posting the third-best in the Western Conference, the Nashville Predators could be ready for bigger and better things in 2013. The front office did its part, resigning star defenseman Shea Weber. With goalie Pekka Rinne also locked to a long-term deal, Nashville promises to have one of the tougher defenses in the league this year and beyond. The Predators offense should be solid, as well. The team doesn’t have a big name superstar, but Nashville’s top two lines are both solid, giving the Predators above average firepower. Plain and simple, Nashville has plenty of balance and should be in the mix in the Western Conference.

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