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THN.com Top 10: Contenders in the John Tavares sweepstakes

The Los Angeles Kings recorded 71 points in the 2007-08 season, last in the Western Conference. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)

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The Los Angeles Kings recorded 71 points in the 2007-08 season, last in the Western Conference. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)

Brian Costello

Brian Costello
2008-08-06 14:28:56

A pessimist would give this top 10 list the following headline: The top 10 teams most likely to miss the playoffs in 2008-09.
 
The optimist in me prefers to look at the bright side. These are the teams with the best chances of securing the first pick in the 2009 entry draft and earning the right to select either John Tavares or super Swede Victor Hedman, pending the results of the draft lottery, of course.

10. Minnesota Wild. They’re due for a big fall from defending division champions.
 
9. Columbus Blue Jackets. It’ll be eight years and no NHL playoffs in Ohio.
 
8. Florida Panthers. Can’t wait for the first Panthers versus Predators game.
 
7. Colorado Avalanche. If Joe Sakic comes back, the Avalanche are off this list.
 
6. Nashville Predators. No scoring depth, middling goaltenders. Watch for a big fall.
 
5. Atlanta Thrashers. One of these days, Don Waddell will run out of chances as Thrashers’ GM.
 
4. St. Louis Blues. Not enough depth and talent to make a playoff run over 82 games.
 
3. New York Islanders. Recent moves make it look as though they’re taking a run at Tavares.
 
2. Toronto Maple Leafs. If the Leafs prove me wrong and make the playoffs, I’ll eat a printed copy of this top 10 list, shredded and doused in Tabasco.

1. Los Angeles Kings. Great young talent is a couple years away from blossoming.

The THN.com Top 10 appears Wednesdays only on thehockeyenews.com.

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COMMENTS (46)

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Maxime Posted
(2009-04-30 06:51:24)



Come the All-Star Game, we all gotta do some heavy voting to get Jeff Finger in there...push this 3 year joke even further! And right now i wonder? How does Jeff Finger feels right now? Doesn't care cuz he's got millions in the bag, or fearful he will NEVER even COME CLOSE to performing at a level that would be expected from a player winning that kind of money? I wonder what MLSE keeps in store for us next...it's been awhile now since their last mishap...they must be preparing something big...Like signing back Babe Dye post-mortem (he did score 9 goals in a 3 game Stanley Cup Final, back in 1922...you know...back when the Leafs used to make the playoffs...).
    0



Huyder Posted
(2009-04-30 06:49:26)



I think they should change the draft order around for non-playoff teams. The non-playoff team with the most number of points should end up with the first draft pick... At least they 'earned' it. This gives non-playoff teams something to fight for. Hm... The Leafs would have had pretty good draft picks under this format :-)
    0



Leftticicle Posted
(2009-04-30 06:48:53)



Undisclosed name - 2008-08-07 00:51:54 ET If sundin returns the Leafs could potentially get ninth place with some rising young talent. Oh and of course Jeff Finger. Hes an early Norris Trophy candidate. ----- Sundin is a huge boost to whatever team he goes to. The Leafs are nearly guaranteed to be cellar dwellers w/out him BUT "rising young talent" ... The last time the Leafs had rising young talent the guy's name was Thomas, he had bright pink cheeks (matched nice to Mike Johnson's) and the Leafs were in the beginning of a period when they made the playoffs for 4 consecutive years... Finger... Noris... Pigs... Fly...
    0



snowman Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:21)



The leafs lead the league as the biggest losers, they have a better chance at Tavaras than making the playoffs.
    0



Brian Kemp Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:14)



Curtis, Edmonton won't win the Northwest. I don't think they'll be in the running for Tavares, but they're not that much better than they were last year. If they get in, it will be because both the Wild and the Avs (if Sakic retires) got worse, not because of anything they did in the off-season. Calgary should win the Northwest. They're just better than Edmonton, at least on paper, and they've got some questions to answer, too. Vancouver could win it, but only if Luongo wins almost 50 games again.
    0



Kevin Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:11)



Blue and White. If you are that big of a leafs fan you will be dying that the LEAFS FINISH IN DEAD LAST so they have a huge building block for years to come! If they even finish 9th in the conference or even make the playoffs (witch none of that will happend) it will be disaster for them. they need top 3 picks in each of the next 3 drafts. So in 5 years or so we will have a contender again.
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Flyerfan52 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:46:54)



fred laughs pretty hard for a guy that doesn't recognize an attempt at humor. I agree it's pitiful to want your team to finish last to get best odds at the next projected superstar. Spezza (not bad, but no superstar), Daigle, Wickenheiser were all forecast to be great.
    0



fred Posted
(2009-04-30 06:46:53)



dear ms. undisclosed....finger????????norris trophy????????i'm glad i can type with one hand.....that's one of the funniest things i've read in a long time....holdin my gut with the other
    0



fred Posted
(2009-04-30 06:46:53)



still laughing.......FINGER THE NORRIS TROPHY WINNER will never be read other than here...i find it funny when people don't know hockey at all,oh yah and michael jordan's coming out of retirement for the 6th time to play for the leafs
    0



The Savage Atheist Posted
(2009-04-30 06:46:52)



OK... great list and Tavares is the real deal, he is a fantastic player and will live up to all the hype in the NHL. As for the draft here is my prediction. He will go to the leafs but will be traded to detroit for Kirk Maltby and Andreas Lilja. Leaf fans will applaud the trade (for obvious reasons) but when they miss the playoffs again they'll ask for fletch's head. - A recovering Leaf Fan.
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