NHL Insider - Western Conference Betting Preview (Top 7)

To Win the NHL Western Conference 2009-2010

• Detroit Red Wings +300
• Chicago Blackhawks +350
• San Jose Sharks +450
• Vancouver Canucks +800
• Calgary Flames +1000
• Anaheim Ducks +1000
• St Louis Blues +1600

The DETROIT RED WINGS (+300 at BetUS) have some great players remaining, but it's going to be hard to sustain the losses of people like Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Jiri Hudler and Tomas Kopecky, who comprised a lot of the attack. They lost 90 goals in all, which is obviously a blow for a team that led the NHL in goal scoring, and the Red Wings also lost that spiritual leader, Chirs Chelios, who finally retired.

Detroit should maintain a strong power play unit, which hit 25.5% of the time last season, but in the end they might need better goaltending from Chris Osgood, who raised his level of play in the post-season but had just a .887 save percentage during the regular slate. Attrition is always a worry for a team that was the oldest in the NHL.

The CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (+350 at BetUS) grabbed a couple of stalwarts from Central Division rival Detroit, signing Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky. Hossa is one of the monster goal scorers in the league, nabbing 40 of them last season, but underwent shoulder surgery and could be lost until early December. That's okay, because Chicago has firepower in other places, and perhaps Patrick Kane (25 goals, 70 points last year) can take public transit or get a chauffeur and stay out of trouble (you've heard enough jokes like that already, I trust). Kane and Jonathan Toews (34 goals) comprise a dynamite 1-2 baby duo.

Actually, this is a balanced offense throughout. John Madden is a new addition to make the defense better. As the veteran goalie on board now, Christobal Huet will assume more responsibility after appearing in 41 games last year (with a 2.53 GAA). Chicago did surprise many people by making their way to the NHL's "final four" last season, but no one will get caught not looking this time.

The SAN JOSE SHARKS (+450 at BetUS) had the best record in the league last season but spit the bit with a first-round playoff exit, courtesy of the Anaheim Ducks. It was time for some moves. For one thing, Patrick Marleau, a 38-goal scorer last season, is no longer team captain, that designation going to Rob Blake. They made the bold move to acquire Dany Heatley from Ottawa, and the hope is that Heatley can get back to being the top tier scoring machine he was when he netted back-to-back 50-goal seasons. Since then he has dipped to 39 last season with the Senators, which isn't bad either. After asking for a trade out of Ottawa, he is hoping the change of scenery will do him, and the Sharks, some good. Let's see how angry and hungry they come out.

The VANCOUVER CANUCKS (+800 at BetUS) made sure they tied up the most important piece of the puzzle when they signed goaltender Roberto Luongo (2.34 GAA) to a long-term deal. Luongo was not at his best in the playoffs, however, and in fact has rarely over-achieved in the post-season. The Canucks hope that Mikael Samuelsson, who left Detroit, can stay healthy throughout the season, as they can put him on a line with the Sedin twins (53 goals between them and "twin" totals of 82 points), who also got re-signed. Christian Ehrhoff comes over from San Jose as one of the people to fill the hole left by Mattias Ohlund's departure (along with 40-year-old Mathieu Schneider), but Ehrhoff had a minus-16 rating with the Sharks, which could be a red flag.