October 1, 2009
2009-10 NHL Opening Weekend
Staff Predictions

Puck Prospectus

With the NHL season ready to begin, the Puck Prospectus staff is ready to roll out their picks for the 2009-10 division champions, the Stanley Cup Finals matchup, the Stanley Cup champions, and the award winners.

Tom Awad:

Western Conference:
Northwest: Vancouver Canucks
Central: Chicago Blackhawks
Pacific: Anaheim Ducks

Eastern Conference:
Northeast: Boston Bruins
Southeast: Washington Capitals
Atlantic: Philadelphia Flyers

Stanley Cup Winner: Chicago Blackhawks over Washington Capitals

Awards:
Conn Smythe: Jonathan Toews, CHI
Norris: Mike Green, WSH
Selke: Pavel Datsyuk, DET
Hart: Alexander Ovechkin, WSH
Vezina: Roberto Luongo, VAN

Gabriel Desjardins:

Western Conference:
Northwest: Vancouver Canucks
Central: Detroit Red Wings
Pacific: San Jose Sharks

Eastern Conference:
Northeast: Boston Bruins
Southeast: Washington Capitals
Atlantic: Philadelphia Flyers

Stanley Cup Winner: Detroit Red Wings over Pittsburgh Penguins

Awards:
Conn Smythe: Henrik Zetterberg, DET
Norris: Nicklas Lidstrom, DET
Selke: Pavel Datsyuk, DET
Hart: Alexander Ovechkin, WSH
Vezina: Roberto Luongo, VAN

Iain Fyffe:

Western Conference:
Northwest: Vancouver Canucks
Central: Chicago Blackhawks
Pacific: San Jose Sharks

Eastern Conference:
Northeast: Boston Bruins
Southeast: Washington Capitals
Atlantic: Pittsburgh Penguins

Stanley Cup Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins over Chicago Blackhawks

Awards:
Conn Smythe: Evgeni Malkin, PIT
Norris: Dion Phaneuf, CGY
Selke: Mike Richards, PHI
Hart: Sidney Crosby, PIT
Vezina: Roberto Luongo, VAN

Richard Pollock:

Western Conference:
Northwest: Calgary Flames
Central: Detroit Red Wings
Pacific: San Jose Sharks

Eastern Conference:
Northeast: Boston Bruins
Southeast: Washington Capitals
Atlantic: Philadelphia Flyers

Stanley Cup Winner: Philadelphia Flyers over Anaheim Ducks

Awards:
Conn Smythe: Chris Pronger, PHI
Norris: Mike Green, WSH
Selke: Mike Richards, PHI
Hart: Alexander Ovechkin, WSH
Vezina: Tomas Vokoun, FLA

Andrew Rothstein:

Western Conference:
Northwest: Vancouver Canucks
Central: Chicago Blackhawks
Pacific: Anaheim Ducks

Eastern Conference:
Northeast: Boston Bruins
Southeast: Washington Capitals
Atlantic: Philadelphia Flyers

Stanley Cup Winner: Vancouver Canucks over Boston Bruins

Awards:
Conn Smythe: Henrik Sedin, VAN
Norris: Duncan Keith, CHI
Selke: Zach Parise, NJD
Hart: Alexander Ovechkin, WSH
Vezina: Jonas Hiller, ANA

Timo Seppa:

Western Conference:
Northwest: Calgary Flames
Central: Detroit Red Wings
Pacific: San Jose Sharks

Eastern Conference:
Northeast: Boston Bruins
Southeast: Washington Capitals
Atlantic: Pittsburgh Penguins

Stanley Cup Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins over Anaheim Ducks

Awards:
Conn Smythe: Evgeni Malkin, PIT
Norris: Dion Phaneuf, CGY
Selke: Pavel Datsyuk, DET
Hart: Alexander Ovechkin, WSH
Vezina: Tim Thomas, BOS

Robert Vollman:

Western Conference:
Northwest: Chicago Blackhawks
Central: Vancouver Canucks
Pacific: San Jose Sharks

Eastern Conference:
Northeast: Boston Bruins
Southeast: Washington Capitals
Atlantic: Philadelphia Flyers

Stanley Cup Winner: Boston Bruins over Chicago Blackhawks

Awards:
Conn Smythe: Tim Thomas, BOS
Norris: Michael Green, WSH
Selke: Rene Bourque, CGY
Hart: Alexander Ovechkin, WSH
Vezina: Tim Thomas, BOS

This column was authored by the staff of Puck Prospectus.