The Stanley Cup race

  Is it to early to already pick Stanley Cup favourites? Maybe but I like to make bold predictions and at this point in the regular season I think you can separate the teams into four separate categories, Cup contenders, mid range contenders, playoff pushers and out of the picture. Each of these categories could make drastic changes come the trade deadline but at this point in the season here is where I see every team and why the contenders aren't pretenders. We will start with out of the picture, these are the teams who have little to no shot at the playoffs these teams include the: Leafs, Oilers, Blue Jackets, Sabres, Jets and Flames. Seeing as all these teams are a long shot from the playoffs baring some miracle at the end of the season these teams are most likely going to draft in the top ten and retool for next year. the next group are the playoff pushers the teams that are close and could make a late season push but are not necessarily true contenders these teams include the: Cancuks, Wild, Coyotes, Avalanche, Senators, Canadians, Flyers and Hurricanes. This is the group that has maybe the biggest group as these are the teams that for the most part have cap space and can make a move at the trade deadline to make a true playoff push for the possible number eight seed. Our next group are the mid range contenders, these are the teams that will most likely make the playoffs and could be a surprise upset against the true contenders but for the most part are a move or two away from being cup contenders, these teams include the: Predators, Sharks, Ducks, Penguins, Lightning, Devils, Islanders, Bruins, Panthers, and Red Wings. These are all very capable and good hockey teams and any of them are capable of creating and upset and marching to the cup finals but for the most part are a move of two away from being in the elite category which are the cup contenders which include the: Kings, Blues, Blackhawks, Stars, Rangers, and Capitals  these are the teams that have been proving themselves all season and will continue to do so through the playoffs but which of these teams are my picks for the cup finals well that's easy. Out of the East I think the clear cut choice is the Washington Capitals, for the first time since Alex Ovechkin has been a part of the team they are legitimate, with the likes of Backstrom, Holtby, Kuznetsov and Carlson to back up possibly the deepest Capitals team ever. They finally have scoring from more than just the first line and a defence that is one of the deepest in the league, on top of that this is a team that has one of the best goalies in the entire league, which as we all know can make a huge difference. When it comes to my pick out of the west I believe the L.A Kings will return to glory this year, the team is just as deep as they were for either of their previous two cup wins and has made some very good additions in Lucic, Schenn and Lecavalier. These players add a combination of size and veteran leadership with Lecavalier and Lucic both having won Stanley Cups in the past. Overall I think this will be an exciting regular season and playoffs, and if I had to pick a team today who I think will win the Stanley Cup I would look no further than the L.A Kings.

  Who do you think will be in the cup finals? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to follow!