Rating the divisions: we weigh 10 categories and reveal why the Northwest runs away with the title of NHL's best division

Hockey Digest, July-August, 2004 by Barry Wilner

EVERY DIVISION HAS A STANLEY Cup contender--yes, even the Southeast.

They all have at least one strong offensive team, and one that has trouble in its own end.

There's a minimum of one terrific hockey venue in each sector. And each division has at least one pretty cool uniform, including some third jerseys, regardless of what the purists say.

Hockey Digest decided to look at the NHL's six divisions, breaking them down into 10 categories. Then we ranked them from best (1) to worst (6). The accompanying chart shows exactly where each division rates in offense, defense, goaltending, coaching/management, skating, hitting, arenas, uniforms, entertainment value, and future.

Here's why they are ranked there:

OFFENSE

With the explosiveness of the Avalanche and the Canucks, this was an easy choice. For scoring depth alone, the Northwest has Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Milan Hejduk, Alex Tanguay, Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya, even Rob Blake in Colorado. Plus Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi, Brendan Morrison and the Sedins in Vancouver. Not to mention the trade deadline acquisitions to bolster the Canucks.

Calgary shows promise, led by Jarome Iginla, and Minnesota has perhaps the best young offensive threat in hockey, Marian Gaborik. Edmonton might not have the stars, but it has a system that gets the Oilers in dangerous scoring positions.

The Northeast is second because Ottawa and Toronto are among the best attacking teams in hockey and even former weakling Buffalo has found some offense.

At the other end, well, the Central does have the Red Wings and such all-time greats as Brett Hull, Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan and Nicklas Lidstrom. It also has three goals-challenged franchises and one, Nashville, that only this year showed any awareness of where the opposition's net is located.

DEFENSE

Yes, the Northwest again, in part because of the Wild's dedication to stopping opponents (and to the trap--UGH!).

Most impressive about this division's defense is the balance it supplies. Top scoring lines show the willingness to backcheck and do the little things usually reserved for checking units. For instance, Forsberg and Sakic not only don't ignore their own end, they excel in it.

This was not a close choice, because the Northeast, which ranks second, still has two mediocre defenses in Toronto and Buffalo--although the Sabres are improving and the Leafs could surprise with Brian Leetch on hand.

Selecting the Southeast for the bottom rung was easy. Atlanta and Washington simply are awful, Florida is not a lot better.

GOALTENDING

No, not the Northwest this time. And not even if Patrick Roy was back in Denver. Not that David Aebischer has been any sort of slouch, and Tommy Salo should be a good backup.

Anyway, the Pacific gets the nod. Evgeni Nabokov's revitalization is a major reason, and even though Anaheim has slumped, J.S. Giguere remains a quality netminder.

Where the Pacific earns the edge over the Northeast is thanks to the work of Marty Turco in Dallas. Turco has proven he is an elite goalie, giving this division three of them. And watch for Cristobal Huet in Los Angeles.

For goaltending struggles--such as they are in a league ripe with solid puck--stoppers---the Central has the most problems. Chicago, St. Louis and Columbus all have questions in the crease.

COACHING/MANAGEMENT

Ranking the Southeast and Central at the bottom has more to do with the poor performances by the leadership in bottom feeders Chicago, Washington, Carolina and Columbus than anything. That offsets the excellence in Detroit and Tampa Bay, and the patience in Atlanta and Nashville.

As for the top, it's hard to argue with the Northwest. Again. Find a weak organization in this group of five. We can't, and the work done in Edmonton and Calgary against difficult odds has been exemplary.

Why does Colorado stay at the summit? Aggressive ownership and general manager Pierre Lacroix.

Why has Vancouver become a Cup contender? Brilliant trades by superb GM Brian Burke--all three members of the No. 1 line and the team's best defensemen came in deals. And look how busy the Canucks were at the trade deadline.

How did Minnesota surge into the Western Conference final last year? Jacques Lemaire's system and Doug Risebrough's ability to find players who fit it.

SKATING

For aLL the trapping and checking and hitting that gets emphasized today, the game still should be about skating. At other levels, when players are developing, it certainly is.

When it is about the skating, the Northeast gets the edge in the NHL. Only Buffalo is not at or near the highest level when blade hits the ice. Ottawa might be unrivaled as a skating outfit, and the Leafs and Canadiens are very strong. Boston keeps getting better in this area, too.

The Atlantic and Central are at the bottom. The Atlantic is plagued by the Rangers and Penguins and the sometimes-lumbering Flyers, who aren't nearly as stationary as in the past. The Central has no outstanding skating club, although Nashville is getting there.

HITTING

OUCH! You hear that word most often around the Atlantic, which features some rugged checkers, some enforcers and a whole bunch of board-rattling confrontations.