Things are finally going right in Boston. With current Vezina Trophy Winner Tim Thomas, and Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara, I’m picking Boston to take home the Stanley Cup in 2010. They also have the 2009 Jack Adams winner in Claude Julien who was given a three year extension this off season. It appears that they’re going to lose Phil Kessel lead their team in goal scoring, but I expect him to be traded before he signs an offer sheet.

I truly am starting to believe that Savard can make anyone score, which is why the potential loss of Kessel doesn’t concern me. With little cap space left ($1.8 million according to NhlNumers.com), I also don’t expect them to make many additions. What I would like to see though is the addition of a stay at home defensemen for them.

Jeff Gesner is the owner/operator of a small sports apparel/memorabilia business
called “The Stadium”. He spent some time in the scriptwriting business for film. The transition has been satisfying for Jeff being a sports fanatic.

Obviously picking Detroit, San Jose or Pittsburgh are sensible choices for the 2010 Stanley Cup Winner, but there is another team that I feel has improved this off-season and will make a push for the Stanley Cup. That team is the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Flyers have improved an already solid roster, they acquired goaltender Ray Emery this summer, and as well they added all-star defenseman Chris Pronger. Emery’s off ice problems haven’t been kept confidential, we all know about his road rage issues and the party scene he enjoyed while being in Ottawa, but he did go to the Stanley Cup finals in the 2006-07 season, so unlike Biron and Niittymaki, he has some experience. I think Philadelphia will be a good fit for Ray as long as he is willing to stay away from the problems that eventually ended his career in Ottawa.

Chris Pronger doesn’t need to be hyped-up, he’s been a top blue liner in the NHL for over a decade, Pronger has a Norris Trophy, Hart Trophy, and a Stanley Cup on his resume, along with being a five time all-star. Pronger is going to be the key to Philadelphia’s success this year.

Returning to the Flyers roster is Simon Gagne, Jeff Carter, and team captain Mike Richards. I feel both Carter and Richards will be top 10 in scoring amongst the NHL this upcoming season, I’m also watching for Danny Briere to have a comeback year. Scott Hartnell put up career high 30 goals last season, and sophomore sensation Claude Giroux will add a scoring presence as well.

Philadelphia possesses youth, experience, scoring punch, and of course that Flyer toughness. If players such as Briere and Gagne can stay healthy, they have a legit shot at winning the cup in 2010.

Adam Steevens is a student, author and blogger who has semi-coherent thoughts about the NHL

I admit, this is a dark-horse pick, (In vegas, Vancouver is sitting at 18/1 odds) but the Canucks have the balanced formula it takes to bring the Cup back to Canada for the first time since 1993. You can’t ignore Roberto Luongo; he is arguably one of the best netminders in the league, and championships are often won or lost on goaltending alone. Luongo kept a stellar .920 save percentage over 54 games, and stayed consistent throughout the playoffs last year (.914 over 10 games). Not only is Roberto hungry to win a cup for Vancouver, but he’s competing for starting job for Team Canada in the Olympics; expect him to have an outstanding year.

The Canucks have a top-six that can compete in the stacked Western Conference, (D. Sedin, H. Sedin, Wellwood, Demitra, Kesler, Burrows, Johnson) and expect a breakout year from youngster Alexandre Burrows; he netted 51 points in his third year in the NHL last season, and proved he can score clutch goals when he knocked St.Louis out of the first round with an overtime, series-ending goal.

The Vancouver blueline looks like one of the best in the Western Conference (Ehrhoff, Edler, Schneider, Bieksa, Lukowich, Salo), and with the recent acquisition of Ehrhoff and Schneider, they continued to build up depth on defense. Couple this strong defense with the world-class goaltending in Roberto Luongo, and it’s clear that the Vancouver Canucks are a serious contender for the 2010 Stanley cup.