Western Conference Outlook

from Adam Proteau of The Hockey News, 3. Detroit. In the same way many now refuse to believe in the Sharks as a bona fide Stanley Cup threat until they prove themselves worthy of that belief, I also won’t assume Detroit will take a huge step back in the standings until it actually happens. Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom remain too spectacularly talented for me to see the Red Wings any other way. 4. Vancouver. The Canucks surprised many – including me – last year by surviving a tepid start to the year and a brutal 2-10 record in January to win the Northwest Division and take Chicago to the limit in the second round of the playoffs. GM Mike Gillis has done well to increase the depth of a defense corps that was stellar to begin with; now the question becomes whether or not the Sedins and Roberto Luongo can justify their lucrative new contracts – and whether Alex Burrows and Ryan Kesler can at least replicate their breakout seasons. more