Pacific Division Power Rankings

With less than 45 days until the puck drops on the 2013-14 NHL season, it's time for the bloggers (that's us) to start telling you that we can predict the future. The Pacific Division kicks off our four-part series of NHL power rankings.

1. Los Angeles Kings

Players gained: None

Players lost: Willie Mitchell

Where could you possibly rank a team that has won two of the past three Stanley Cups? First. You rank them first. The L.A. Kings are the current powerhouse of the NHL and it's because they have the full package. With Marian Gaborik and Anze Kopitar up front, and Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick on the back lines, this team has a lot of reasons why they are so dominant. The Kings are a force to be reckoned with and it's going to be that way for a very long time.

2. San Jose Sharks

Players gained: John Scott, Tye McGinn

Players Lost: Dan Boyle, Brad Stuart, Martin Havlat, John McCarthy

The Sharks finished 2nd in a division with some of the best teams in the NHL last season. After winning the first 3 games of their first round playoff series against the Kings, they fell apart and lost 4 straight to lose the series to the future champs. Although San Jose lost defensive pillars Dan Boyle and Brad Stuart, younger defensemen such as Jason Demers and undrafted third year player Matt Irwin should come in to their own under the leadership of Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The Sharks forwards corps, and goaltending are just as strong as they have been in recent years. The future is looking good in San Jose.

3. Anaheim Ducks

Players gained: Ryan Kesler, Clayton Stoner, Jason LaBarbera, Nate Thompson, Dany Heatley, Louis Leblanc

Players Lost: Teemu Selanne, Nick Bonino, Lucas Sbisa, Jonas Hiller, Zack Sortini, Stephane Robidas, Mathieu Perrault

With offseason moves landing both Ryan Kesler and Dany Heatley in Anaheim, there's no question that the Ducks can provide the offence they're looking for. It's the goaltending that should worry them. Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth are both long gone now, leaving the opening for two very young goaltenders in Frederik Anderson and John Gibson. Andersen is the more experienced netminder, but when the Ducks were out of luck with Jonas Hiller in the playoffs, they turned to Gibson to right the ship. The Ducks put a lot of confidence in Gibson last postseason, but it'll be hard to give the starting job to a 21-year old. Just remember, goalie controversy ruins teams.

4. Phoenix Arizona Coyotes

Players gained: Devyn Dubnyk, Joe Vitale, Sam Gagner, B.J Crombeen

Players lost: Thomas Greiss, Radim Vrbata, Mike Ribeiro, Tim Kennedy, Gilbert Brule 

The 'Yotes lost out on a playoff spot by 3 points last season, and made off season moves that could boost them into claiming a wild card spot this coming year. They deepened their forward group with the additions of Gagner, Vitale and Crombeen and simultaneously made it younger, by losing Vrbata and Ribeiro, who are both on the wrong side of 30. Arizona will have work to hard in the Pacific division to be competitive, but they are most certainly making moves that send them in the right direction. 

5. Vancouver Canucks

Players gained: Radim Vrbata, Dustin Jeffery, Ryan Miller, Derek Dorsett, Nick Bonino, Luca Sbisa

Players lost: David Booth, Mike Santorelli, Ryan Kesler

The Vancouver Canucks are a very interesting case. In the past two seasons, they have had three different starting goaltenders, traded two of them away, and when the season starts, the Canucks will play their fourth different starting goaltender in 3 years. Signing Ryan Miller was the acquisition of the summer for the 'Nucks, maybe even saved their playoff hopes. But if Vancouver wants to return to the post season, the Sedins will definitely have to return to their usual offensively gifted ways. Excluding the 2012-13 shortened season, last year was the worst year for combined production for the Sedin twins since 2002. Daniel and Henrik will really have to show they can still be two of the best players in the league next year, especially with the departure of Ryan Kesler.

6. Edmonton Oilers

Players gained: Mark Fayne, Benoit Pouliot, Keith Aulie, Teddy Purcell, Nikita Nikitin

Players lost: Ryan Smyth, Darcy Hordichuk, Sam Gagner

It’s no secret to anyone that the Oilers have been one of the most consistently under performing teams in the NHL in recent seasons, and they have found themselves in the basement of their division more often than not during the stretch as well. Off season acquisitions for Edmonton may very well move them above their division rivals and provincial counterparts, the Calgary Flames, in the near future. Edmonton has lacked experience and depth and that has been their downfall, especially on the back end. Adding defensemen Nikita Nikitin, Mark Fayne and Keith Aulie through free agency was huge for the Oilers, and the offensive additions of Benoit Pouliot and Teddy Purcell will certainly strengthen the forward corps. If the newly formed young goaltending tandem of Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth can hold up, the Oilers should be looking at a more positive season than those they have experienced as of late. 

7. Calgary Flames

Players gained: Jonas Hiller, Deryk Engelland, Brandon Bolig, Devon Setoguchi

Players lost: Joey MacDonald, Mike Cammalleri

As you might have guessed it, the Flames won't be moving up in the standings this season. Quite the opposite. Sadly, it might be the same story for a while. Not enough change has been made to make this team better and the minor free agency signings aren't exactly drastically improving their chances. Taking shots on Devon Setoguchi and Deryk Engelland just won't cut it for a team who has struggled for so long and with only one player hitting the 50-point mark last season, the much needed fire power isn't being provided. Can you say "Connor McDavid", Flames fans? Bundle up Connor, it's a bit cold where you're going.