Next stanley cup team?

based on the pickups in free angency so far and other transactions, what team will win the stanley cup next season?

The blues are looking pretty good, but teams don't just win the cup after missing the playoffs the previous year (Carolina doesn't count because the rule changes changed things so drastically)

From the East, the big one for me is the New York Rangers. A good team that made it deep this year (well, not that deep) they have not lost anything important as of yet. and they've improved. (do I get an understatement of the year nomination for that one?)

From the west- Watch out for Colorado. I know what I said about teams not in the playoffs the year before, but the Avs are different. Playing down the stretch, they proved that they're a good team, it just took the a while to figure it out with their new players. With Sakic and Smyth, they're a team to watch.

Bonus team: Pittsburgh has done pretty well, adding to their young core. that young core that won quite a few awards, including rookie of the year, The Hart, the Pearson, and the Art Ross. Defense and net needs more experience, but I think they'll have enough to make a serious run next year.

Until I hear that Selanne and Neidermeyer are definitely retiring, I still believe the champs are the team to beat. I will only acknowledge that the Rangers should be the front-runners in the east.
I agree, the Ducks (until niedermayer and selanne announce something) are going to be the team to beat, but, i think that in the Eastern Conference, the best bid is the New York Rangers, they have strong Goalkeeping and a decent defense, and the addition of Gomez and Drury to their Forward crew, i think they are the next best bid besides the Ducks.
St. Louis made some major acquisitions in the off-season with the re-signing of Keith Tkachuk, and Barret Jackman, Eric Johnson will be playing his rookie season in the NHL, a healthy Manny Legace plus some guy they signed in free agency named Kariya or something (sarcasm). They have one of the deepest farm systems in the NHL so the St. Louis Blues will be contenders this year and for years to come.
I BLEED BLUE!!
SAN JOSE
Mark my words.

Flyers vs Avs (Blues, if they get goal-tending)

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