2013-2014 NHL preview

After last year's lockout shortened campaign, NHL hockey is finally ready to start this October. With all the free agents moving around and the whole realignment thing, it might have been a little tough to formulate expectations for this full 82 game season. That's why you have the Poppers, we'll tell you all you need to know about 2013-2014. We've got an explanation of realignment, Stanley Cup predictions and even predictions for all the major individual awards. So grab your stick and sharpen your skates, ‘cause it's gonna be a heck of a season.

How does the NHL work following realignment?

Gone is the six division format that had Detroit in the Western Conference and Winnipeg in the southeast division of the Eastern Conference. The NHL will now feature four new divisions, still split into Eastern and Western conferences. After the conference changes, the Eastern Conference has 16 teams (two 8 team divisions) and the Western Conference has 14 teams (two 7 team divisions).

Conference Changes:

East to West: Winnipeg Jets

West to East: Detroit Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets

Eastern Conference

Metropolitan

Carolina Hurricanes

Columbus Blue Jackets

New Jersey Devils

New York Islanders

New York Rangers

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

Washington Capitals

Atlantic

Boston Bruins

Buffalo Sabres

Detroit Red Wings

Florida Panthers

Montreal Canadiens

Ottawa Senators

Tampa Bay Lightning

Toronto Maple Leafs

Western Conference

Pacific

Anaheim Ducks

Calgary Flames

Edmonton Oilers

Los Angeles Kings

Phoenix Coyotes

San Jose Sharks

Vancouver Canucks

Central

Chicago Blackhawks

Colorado Avalanche

Dallas Stars

Minnesota Wild

Nashville Predators

St. Louis Blues

Winnipeg Jets

The Stanley Cup Playoffs:

The playoffs will still be comprised of 16 teams, eight from each conference. The top three teams from each division automatically get in, plus two wild card teams from each conference with the highest point total regardless of division. This makes it possible for one division in a conference to send three teams while the other sends five. In the first round the division winner with the highest point total will face the wild card team with the fewest points. The other division winner will face the other wild card, and the teams seeded 2 and 3 in each division will also play each other. Winners will advance to the conference semi-finals, conference finals and eventually the Stanley Cup Finals. How will the Stanley Cup Playoffs shape up? The Poppers Predict:

Eastern Conference

Division Champ #1 (Most Points)

Jacob: Pittsburgh Penguins

Sam: Pittsburg Penguins

Division Champ #2 (Fewer Points)

Jacob: Montreal Canadians

Sam: Detroit Red Wings

Metropolitan #2

Jacob: New York Rangers

Sam: New York Rangers

Metropolitan #3

Jacob: Philadelphia Flyers

Sam: Washington Capitals

Atlantic #2

Jacob: Boston Bruins

Sam: Boston Bruins

Atlantic #3

Jacob: Ottawa Senators

Sam: Toronto Maple Leafs

Wild Card #1 (More points)

Jacob Detroit Red Wings

Sam: Philadelphia Flyers

Wild Card #2 (Fewer Points)

Jacob: Washington Capitals

Sam: Ottawa Senators

Western Conference

Division Champ #1 (Most Points)

Jacob: Chicago Blackhawks

Sam: Chicago Blackhawks

Division Champ #2 (Fewer Points)

Jacob: Los Angeles Kings

Sam: Vancouver Canucks

Central #2

Jacob: St. Louis Blues

Sam: Minnesota Wild

Central #3

Jacob: Minnesota Wild

Sam: Nashville Predators

Pacific #2

Jacob: San Jose Sharks

Sam: Anaheim Ducks

Pacific #3

Jacob: Vancouver Canucks

Sam: Los Angeles Kings

Wild Card #1 (More points)

Jacob: Edmonton Oilers

Sam: St. Louis Blues

Wild Card #2 (Fewer Points)

Jacob: Anaheim Ducks

Sam: Phoenix Coyotes

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference

Jacob: Ottawa Senators over

New York Rangers

Sam: Detroit Red Wings over

Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference

Jacob: Chicago Blackhawks over

San Jose Sharks

Sam: Anaheim Ducks over

Minnesota Wild

Who Raises the Cup this June…

Jacob: I've got the Ottawa Senators over the Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games. I know it's a bit of an outlandish pick but Craig Anderson had Vezina type numbers last year before his injury and although former captain Daniel Alfredsson will be missed, the addition of Bobby Ryan should provide more scoring. Canada will get its first Stanley Cup since the Canadiens won it in 1992-1993.

Sam: Give me the Anaheim Ducks over the Detroit Red Wings in 5 games. What a rematch of a dramatic playoff series this would be! The Ducks are improving rapidly under the guidance of Coach Bruce Boudreau. With firepower offensively and the brilliance of Jonas Hiller in goal, expect the Ducks to make an amazing postseason run.

Individual Awards:

Hart (MVP)

Jacob: Sidney Crosby (C- PIT)

Sam: Corey Perry (RW-ANA)

Vezina (Best Goaltender)

Jacob Craig Anderson (G- OTT)

Sam: Henrik Lundqvist (G-NYR)

Norris (Best Defenseman)

Jacob: Duncan Keith (D- CHI)

Sam: Zdeno Chara (D-BOS)

Calder ( Best Rookie)

Jacob: Seth Jones (D-NSH)

Sam: Seth Jones (D-NSH)Art Ross (Most Points)

Jacob: John Tavares (C- NYI)

Sam: Daniel Sedin (LW-VAN)

Selke (Best Defensive Forward)

Jacob: Patrice Bergeron (C- BOS)

Sam: David Backes (C-STL)

Rocket Richard (Most Goals)

Jacob: Steven Stamkos (C-TBL)

Sam: Alex Ovechkin (RW-WSH)