NHL previews: Atlantic Division | Metropolitan Division | Central Division | Pacific Division
With the new alignment in the NHL comes new possibilities in the Stanley Cup Final, including the potential for a Red Wings-Blackhawks battle royale. But don't forget about those Kings out in LA, the winners of the Cup the last time there was a full 82-game season.
CBSSports.com Eye on Hockey staff Brian Stubits, Chris Peters and Andrew DeWitt make their predictions for the season. The East looks to be open and that doesn't even include the betting favorites in the Penguins from Pittsburgh while the West has just as many Cup contenders. This should be fun.
(Note: The top three teams from each division earn a playoff spot. The remaining two spots in each conference will go to the next two highest point totals. These teams are noted with * in the picks, denoting playoff berths.)
| 2013 NHL Season Preview Expert Picks | |||
| Eastern Conference | |||
| Atlantic Division | |||
| Finish | Brian Stubits | Chris Peters | Andrew DeWitt |
| 1st place |  |
|
 |
| 2nd place |  |
|
|
| 3rd place | |
 |
|
| 4th place | * |
* |
 |
| 5th place |  |
* |
|
| 6th place | |
|
|
| 7th place |  |
 |
|
| 8th place | |
|
|
| Metropolitan Division | |||
| Finish | Brian Stubits | Chris Peters | Andrew DeWitt |
| 1st place |  |
|
|
| 2nd place |  |
|
 |
| 3rd place | |
|
|
| 4th place |  * |
 |
* |
| 5th place | |
|
 * |
| 6th place | |
|
|
| 7th place |  |
|
 |
| 8th place | |
|
|
| Western Conference | |||
| Central Division | |||
| Finish | Brian Stubits | Chris Peters | Andrew DeWitt |
| 1st place |  |
|
|
| 2nd place |  |
|
|
| 3rd place |  |
|
 |
| 4th place |  * |
* |
* |
| 5th place |  |
 |
|
| 6th place | |
|
|
| 7th place | |
|
|
| Pacific Division | |||
| Finish | Brian Stubits | Chris Peters | Andrew DeWitt |
| 1st place |  |
 |
|
| 2nd place | |
 |
|
| 3rd place |  |
|
 |
| 4th place |  * |
* |
* |
| 5th place | |
|
|
| 6th place | |
|
|
| 7th place |  |
|
|
| Conference and Cup Finals | |||
| Finish | Brian Stubits | Chris Peters | Andrew DeWitt |
| Western Conf. Champ | |
|
|
| Eastern Conf. Champ | |
|
|
| Stanley Cup Champions | |
|
|
