Power Rankings:

Eastern Conference

1.Philedelphia Flyers:

Any team with 80+ players playing every position on the first two lines has to be considered as Stanley Cup Champion material. If they have a weak point it is defense, but even that is looking fairly strong. Add the outstanding goalie, Chechmanek, and you have the best team in the league.

2.New Jersey Devils

Right on the heals of Philadelphia. If the commish wants to win it all this year, he’s going to have to stay healthy. Unfortunately this is not easy with the injury prone Eric Lindros as his number one center. He is much stronger at defense than his rival Philly, and Brodeur is still one of the best. It should make for a very interesting Eastern final.

3.Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the few teams that has a shot at taking out the previous two. GM Matchett could use a little more help on Left Wing, but every other position is completely solid. Another thing Toronto has in abundance is experience and leadership that will be invaluable when the playoffs roll around.

Ottawa Senators

Boasting two of the top three players in the league, Ottawa is another good team that could go all the way. Sakic and Lemieux make a terrific one two punch at center that is unrivaled in the league. One thing that GM Hockin needs to do is get some more winger support for his superstars. Mario Lemieux is not quite as great when he’s playing on a line with Magnus Arvedson. A better starting goalie would help as well. Lalime is no slouch but he isn’t nearly as great as the other top four teams.

5.Washington Capitals

The mix of Olaf Kolzig with the above average depth up front should allow Washington to stay one step ahead of his rivals and make the playoffs in fifth place. Also don’t count this team out when playoffs come around either. GM Errickson has gotten a few highly skilled players in Selanne and Arnott, who should help rack up the points.

6. Buffalo Sabres

Despite a disappointing beginning to the season, the Buffalo Sabres have a very good team. This should be enough to crawl out of the hole and into playoff spot contention. You can never not worry about playing a team with Jagr and Bure up front with Hasek defending the net. If GM Larre wants to be a contender the first thing he needs to do is find a number one center to play on the top line with Jagr and Bure.

7.Montreal Canadiens

GM Rehm has obtained many players with above average ratings but does not have a real star that will fill the seats. Despite this He still has more than enough depth at most positions and a solid goaltender in Theodore. This will give them a good shot at a playoff spot.

8.Carolina Hurricanes

Although Irbe is the best endurance goalie in the game, a backup would be helpful to GM Howell. As well, they need to upgrade at defense and right wing if they want to guarantee themselves a spot in the post season.

9. Boston Bruins

Here’s a team that just does not have enough depth to be a threat in the MuleFHL. Oates and Bondra should be able to provide some offence but after them, its looking pretty sparse. Especially on defense with the young Andrei Markov as there best defender. They are solid in net though with JS Giguere, one of the best young goalies in the league.

10.Pittsburgh Penguins

After dealing all of his star quality players for youth GM McNaughton is not much of a threat this year. Also this team is going through a special teams nightmare with the worst power play(6%) and the 3rd worse penalty killing(77.3%). These are all problems that need to be addressed before they can challenge for a playoff spot.

11. Tampa Bay Lightning

The young Richards and Lecalvier will not be enough to lead Tampa Bay to a playoff spot. They have had a good start to the season but will not hang on to 4th place for sure. They need to upgrade at every position, with an emphasis on Defense.

12.New York Rangers

Here’s a team with a very high payroll and not too much to show for it. If GM Gernack can pick up some skilled wingers, Messier may be able to lead them to a playoff spot, although it is fairly unlikely. Another strong point is goaltending with Richter and Hebert

13.New York Islanders

Normally a team with Yashin, Czerkawski, Isbister and Hamrlik wouldn’t be placed so low down the power rankings, but the isles have one serious problem. Chris Terreri as your starting goalie is not going to get you anywhere. Perhaps an upgrade here will give them an outside chance at a playoff spot.

14.Florida Panthers

An above average first line won’t make up for the overall weakness at all other positions on this team. Some solid goaltending may help them finish higher than this in the rankings but a playoff spot is unattainable. Despite this, GM Dallaire has the one player the everybody in the league wants. Luongo is guaranteed to be a star and an excellent asset in the long run.

15.Atlanta Thrashers

A good start to the season is deceiving because I believe that this will be the worst team in the East this year. Ferraro and Burnette won’t be enough to win many games and with Rhodes as a starter Atlanta will soon fall off map.

Western Conference

1.Dallas Stars

So far leading the west in points and should be considered early favorites for winning it all. This is by far on of the most experienced teams in the league and that should help in the long run. The hardest part for GM Larre would be picking out his captains.

2.Colorado Avalanche

The perfect mix of youth and experience come together to make this years Colorado team. As well you can’t go wrong when you have Patrick Roy as a goalie. GM Usher has made a young team that is not only a contender right now but will remain to be a contender for many seasons.

3.St.Louis Blues

Arguably the team with the most depth in the Mulefhl. With superstar players at every position and the best top defensive pairing in the league watch out for the Blues when the season starts. If they have a weakness it would be in goal with Brathwaite as the starter, but Brent Johnson will make an excellent back up goalie for this year. He will likely get the starting job next season.

4.Phoenix Coyotes

Some good early season deals as well as a strong start to the season has earned Phoenix GM Paras 4th spot. He could use a first line left-winger though, as well as some more offence from his star players. All things considered, this team should finish fairly high in the West.

5.Detroit Red Wings

What Detroit lacks is the superstar player who is able to fill the seats and single handedly win games that all the other contenders have. Despite this, GM Murray has built a team with depth at every single position and just may give him a chance at a long playoff run.

6.Columbus Blue Jackets

GM Price has done an excellent job improving this team in such a short time. At the beginning of the year I wouldn’t have put this team anywhere near a playoff spot but now I’m predicting a 6th place finish but they could place even higher.

7.Anaheim Mighty Ducks

Although he does have a few decent players, it will not be enough to compete with the above average teams. With the right additions though he just may be able to improve enough by years end to have a shot at a first round victory.

8.Edmonton Oilers

GM Cairns has two superstar centers in Weight and Straka that gives him a very good shot at a playoff spot. But competition will be fierce for the final two playoff spots, and he may have to do a few more deals to stay one step ahead of Los Angeles and Chicago.

9.Los Angeles Kings

A complete team all around. After GM Houghson dealt away present talent like Pallfy for young talent like Spezza and Nieminen he is a team to be watched out for in the future. This year he will probably make the playoffs but it would take a huge upset to do much more than that.

10.San Jose Sharks

Just another team that will be battling out for the last few playoff spots in the west. They could finish anywhere between 6th place and 10th place. The first thing GM Klett should consider doing to strengthen his team is to pick up a solid back up to Nabokov. Or possibly Marchment could injure all the other teams back up goalies to even things out a little.

11.Chicago Blackhawks

Here is another team that is dealing away present talent for future consideration. He has picked up plenty of prospects that once develop should make GM Walker a formidable opponent in years to come, but it will be a struggle to make the playoffs for the next few seasons.

12.Vancouver Canucks

Although they have a first line that can play with the best of them the rest of the team will probably leave Vancouver on the outside looking in when playoff time rolls around. The lack of depth at every position and questionable goaltending will be enough to cause the Canucks to miss the playoffs.

13.Calgary Flames

Although GM Kozina has a great number one goalie in Turek it will not be enough to contend for a playoff spot. There’s not too much to do with this team to improve it right now but, give them a couple years to develop and they should become a respectable team in the Mulefhl

14.Nashville Predators

Despite a promising start to the season I predict that Nashville will not be able to keep this up and soon fall deep into the standings of the Western Conference. This team has a solid starter and a good back up in Dunham and Vokoun but, it all ends there. A team won’t be going too far with Patrick Kjellberg as his best player.

15.Minnesota Wild

Although they have a few bright spots in Fernandez and Gaborik they will not be winning many games anytime soon. Look for this team to remain at the bottom for the rest of the season.