NHL Offseason Stanley Cup Favourites

Now that all the wheeling and dealing of the NHL offseason has more or less wrapped up, it’s time to start naming the top contenders for the 2012 Stanley Cup. We’ll name two favourites and one sleeper from each conference.

Eastern Conference

Pittsburgh Penguins – The Pens were a win away from advancing past the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs this spring, despite missing two of the best hockey players on the planet in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. While they didn’t make any major moves in the offseason – though signing Steve Sullivan to a small deal was smart – bringing back their All-Star scorers should immediately return them to the top of the NHL standings.

Washington Capitals – The Caps made a disappointing second-round playoff exit after a season in which they became one of the stingiest defensive teams in the league. Their goaltending was inconsistent, though, and they didn’t get elite production from their best offensive players. The offseason acquisition of Tomas Vokoun – on the cheap, no less – was borderline miraculous and should immediately take pressure off the defence. Roman Hamrlik and Joel Ward should boost the offensive production on the blue line and the defensive grit up front, respectively. If Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin can bounce back, the Caps could have a real shot at capturing the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

Sleeper: Buffalo Sabres – New owner Terry Pegula told Sabres fans that he was fully intent on building a Stanley Cup winner in upstate New York, and judging by the way he opened his wallet this offseason, he wasn’t kidding. The Sabres added up-and-coming forward Ville Leino and defenceman Christian Ehrhoff and Robyn Regehr to a team that took the defending Eastern Conference champion Flyers to seven games in Round 1. A healthy Derek Roy should work wonders for the offence, and if the new pieces can fit in quickly, the Sabres could surprise people.

Western Conference

Vancouver Canucks  – Their disappointing no-show in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals notwithstanding, the Canucks enjoyed a pretty tremendous 2010-11 season, winning the President’s Cup and coming within a game of their first championship. Other than scoring defenceman Christian Ehrhoff, most of the pieces are still in place from last year’s squad, and Ryan Kesler seems to only be getting better. The duo of Daniel and Henrik Sedin still scores as much as any pair of linemates in hockey, and they’re still in their prime.

Detroit Red Wings – Like the Canucks, the Red Wings didn’t make any major moves this summer, content to let their talented veterans take another stab at a Cup. When that group includes Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom and Johan Franzen, it’s hard to argue with that strategy. There’s no reason to believe the Red Wings won’t be right in the thick of it as always.

Sleeper: Los Angeles Kings – Over the last few years, the Kings have been gradually assembling some of the best young talent in hockey, and by adding Mike Richards and Simon Gagne they might now have the veteran forwards to bring it all together. There will be a lot of pressure on 25-year-old goaltender Jonathan Quick, but if he can continue to improve the Kings might end up winning the Western Conference.