Beyond Kings and Blackhawks, Western Conference continues to get deeper

Beyond Kings and Blackhawks, Western Conference continues to get deeper
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Come playoff time, the road through the Western Conference to the Stanley Cup final goes through Los Angeles or Chicago. The defending-champion Kings and still-in-their-prime Blackhawks remain the standard.
The regular season? That's a different story.
Remember, last season, it wasn't even the St. Louis Blues who won the Central Division but the upstart Colorado Avalanche. In the Pacific, the Kings and San Jose Sharks had the memorable first-round series, but the Anaheim Ducks get the division champions banner.
Those teams — beginning with the Ducks, Blues and Avalanche and continuing down to the Dallas Stars — are already focused on making that next step to competing against the Kings and Blackhawks.
Over the grind of an 82-game season, it's a daunting task for any team outside last year's playoff withh battery like Toshiba PA3250U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3356U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3291U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3591U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3641U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3641U-1BRS Battery, Toshiba PABAS123 Battery, Toshiba PA3727U-1BRS Battery, Toshiba PA3534U-1BRS Battery, Toshiba PA3535U-1BRS Battery, Toshiba PA3905U-1BRS Battery, Toshiba PABAS246 Batteryfield to crack the top eight.
"It is tough and it's getting tougher," Vancouver Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa said. "It seems like over the summer every team in the West adds more pieces that make them deeper."
There's no doubt the West is deep, and even with 14 teams there will be at least one or two out in the cold come April who could make a run in the East.
Here's a look at the Western Conference in the predicted order of finish by division (asterisk indicates wild-card playoff teams):
CENTRAL DIVISION
1. St. Louis Blues
Last season: 52-23-7, 111 points, second in Central, lost in division semifinals to Chicago
Who's gone: G Ryan Miller, LW Brenden Morrow, D Roman Polak
Who's new: C Paul Stastny, D Carl Gunnarsson, D Chris Butler
Outlook: After trading Jaroslav Halak and counting on Miller down the stretch and in the playoffs backfired, the Blues go into this season with Brian Elliott and Jake Allen. Unlike Miller, they're used to coach Ken Hitchcock's system and how few shots St. Louis likes to give up. Up front, Stastny and captain David Backes combine for a nice one-two punch down the middle and there's plenty of talent on the wings. On defence, Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester lead a group that's at least five strong.
2. Chicago Blackhawks
Last season: 46-21-15, 107 points, third in Central, lost in conference final to Los Angeles
Who's gone: C Michal Handzus, F Brandon Bollig, D Sheldon Brookbank
Who's new: C Brad Richards
Outlook: This might be the best top six in the NHL with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Bryan Bickell and Richards. And that's still a crazy-deep defence, led by Norris Trophy-winner Duncan Keith. Injuries contributed to last year's third-place finish, but this is a group that knows to turn it on when it matters. Chicago is a Stanley Cup favourite even if it doesn't win the Central or even finish second.
3. Dallas Stars
Last season: 40-31-11, 91 points, fifth in Central, lost in division semifinals to Anaheim
Who's gone: G Tim Thomas, RW Alex Chiasson, D Aaron Rome
Who's new: C Jason Spezza, RW Ales Hemsky, G Anders Lindback, F Patrick Eaves