EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

CNNSI.com GROUP
 Sports Illustrated
 Life of Reilly
 Television
 SI Women
 SI for Kids
 Press Room
 TBS/TNT Sports
 CNN Languages

COMMERCE
 SI Customer Service
 SI Media Kits
 Get into College
 Sports Memorabilia
 TeamStore

Reactions: NHL West Predictions

Stars, Blues, Avs and Red Wings: It's a four-team race

Returning a young solid defense this season, the Dallas Stars may be the team to beat. Tom Pidgeon/Allsport

The NHL regular season is less than two weeks away. That means it's prediction time. We asked CNNSI.com users to go on the record with their thought on the Western Conference race and judging by the responses, it’s probably a four-team race between Dallas, St. Louis Colorado and Detroit. Here’s a sample:

The fact that the Dallas Stars made it to the Stanley Cup Finals with so many young defensive players this past year is the key. A year of seasoning in the NHL and getting a whiff of the Cup ensures that they will only be better this year. They will three-peat! The only question is who will lose to them in the finals!
Eric Webb, Baltimore, Md.

Let's be honest, who really wants to watch a Blues-Stars final? I think it would be a far more interesting if it was a Redwings-Avalanche finals. And in that case, I think the Avalanche is more talented and has much more depth. As a Redwing fan, it is very hard to accept, but the Avalanche is going to win that series 4-2, if, and ONLY if, stars like Forsberg and Sakic can stay healthy.
Ario Nasserian, Tehran, Iran

San Jose Sharks - Great young talent at both ends of the ice, especially speed on the offensive end and sophomore Brad Stuart on the defensive end, all mixed with some seasoned veterans. If Marleau (21), Sturm (21), Sundstrom (25) and Friesen (24) make significant improvements over last year as they should, it will be an exciting offensive team. Owen Nolan, Vincent Damphousse, Marcus Ragnarsson, Mike Rathje and Gary Suter are solid veterans to anchor the young corps, a group that knocked off the top team in the league (Blues) in the playoffs last year. The Sharks' power play and short-handed special teams are among the best. Goaltending was adequate but must improve in terms of consistency.
Dennis Geiszler, Los Gatos, Calif.

The St. Louis Blues are the team to beat in the West. Defending President's Cup winners who added Sean Hill and Dallas Drake without losing any key components makes them look impressive on paper. As for the early exit to San Jose last year, it is said that all champions must first learn to lose to appreciate winning that much more. New Jersey, Detroit and Colorado all had their early exits before making their Cup runs. This year, the Blues take their turn.
Jamie Vahlkamp, Quincy, Ill.

St. Louis will win in the West. They learned how to lose last year. Now they know what it takes and besides, they picked up Dallas Drake.
Jeff, Phoenix, Ariz.

It's gonna be Dallas. Belfour wants to improve on his performance of last year, and the nasty feeling from losing to the Devils in the Finals will give them the drive to do it even better this year. Add to that some of the youth that is being injected in to the system, and we will have it made. Furthermore, the only other real threat, Colorado, will not be able to solve Belfour and will probably run out of steam in the first or second round. "Eddie's Better!"
Brett, Dallas

I think the Detroit Red Wings will dethrone the Dallas Stars this season for bragging rights as the Western Conference champion. Yes, they are getting old on defense. Yes, they have been ousted the last two seasons by Colorado. But the fact still remains that Scotty Bowman wants the all time Stanley Cup coaching record and Steve Yzerman is always hungry. This team is still as dangerous as they were during the back-to-back years. Those who do not take them seriously will end up playing golf before June.
Andy Delavan, Round Rock, Texas

St. Louis is due. They are the only team in the top four (Detroit, Dallas, Colorado and St. Louis) that has not won the Western Conference championship in the last five years. They are a fast, young, talented and extremely well coached team.
Luke Gebhard, Washington, D.C.

Colorado Avalanche will win the Western Conference and the Stanley Cup. With Bourque being able to play more with the same players, they will gel a lot more. With Hejduk and Drury entering their third year, they will kick it up a notch and take control.
Erik Rasmussen, Columbus, Ohio

Colorado is my pick to win the Western Conference this season. With The 'Lanche's young talent, I think they will out shine the older players of the Stars and the Wings.
Tim, Iowa

Colorado Avalanche ... with last year's addition of Ray Borque on the point, the Avs' youth and experience will bring them to the finals once again. Ray Borque, maybe in his last year, will lay everything on the line to get one more chance at winning the ultimate prize. Sakic and Forsberg will be under the microscope this year and will need to perform like they did in their 1996 Stanley Cup run.
Jason Frank, Fargo, N.D.

You're still the champs until someone proves they are better than you are.
Thomas Tarpley, Dallas

Copyright © 2001 CNN/Sports Illustrated An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.