Detroit ran away with the West last season. That won't happen this year.
The second half will include one of the most intense battles for playoff positioning in any NHL season as Vancouver, Detroit, Dallas -- and even St. Louis and Minnesota -- battle for home ice.
Of the past four Western Conference champions, each had home ice throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs.
Anaheim Mighty Ducks (16-16-7-3)
A team in transition, the Mighty Ducks are consistently inconsistent. They play great defense one game and are all over the place the next. They show scoring depth one game and then can't get even one line going the next. Their goaltending is spectacular, and then middling. Bottom line, the Mighty Ducks are improving … but that might not be enough in the West, where they have fallen out of the playoff race and need a huge boost in the second half. On the upside, the power play and penalty kill have been decent and they get a couple of more games at home in the second half. If the team can maintain decent health, there is the potential for a decent run at the playoffs. But don't look at this as anything more than a stepping stone toward next year.
Calgary Flames (14-19-6-3)
It's difficult to forgive this team all of its transgressions in such a short period of time, but, hey, they're winning now. Simply put, the Flames have talent. GM Craig Button has made some good deals to bring in "winning" players like Craig Conroy and Chris Drury. He's just never been able to find the right coach. Darryl Sutter might be that guy this time. Since Sutter's hiring, the Flames have begun to play as a team. Their young defense has come together and their talented forwards are starting to see a way to be disciplined and creative at the same time. This team will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs, but here are a couple of good signs. They were shut out eight times in the first half, and that won't happen again. And they went 5-10-5-1 on home ice, and should be able to improve there.
Chicago Blackhawks (19-13-8-2)
A Brian-Sutter coached team can be a wonderful thing to watch. It just doesn't ever give up. Because of that, the Blackhawks should be in the playoff race right until the end. Even with all of the problems early in the season surrounding Theo Fleury and Eric Daze and Boris Mironov, the Blackhawks have maintained focus. Sutter deserves all of the credit for that. GM Mike Smith, meanwhile, deserves credit for putting together some decent talent on a reasonable budget. Steve Sullivan, Phil Housley and Sergei Berezin all continue to play well and youngsters like Tyler Arnason, Mark Bell and Kyle Calder have the potential to play even better. That's a nice slice of reality for fans in Chicago.
Colorado Avalanche (16-12-9-5)
Do you hammer them for sleepwalking through the first 30 games or praise them for finally waking up? If you're grading the Avalanche today, you have to fear this team. The top-end talent is downright scary. The physical element is there if needed. And Patrick Roy is the only goalie in the Western Conference who really strikes fear into a team heading into the playoffs. Every other Western Conference netminder has something to prove. The Avalanche are going to be as good as their best players, and that's something new coach Tony Granato has embraced. By allowing Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Milan Hejduk and Alex Tanguay the freedom to be creative, Granato has unleashed an offensive force. The question is, when the playoffs begin, will Colorado have the defense to play with teams like Detroit and Dallas?
Columbus Blue Jackets (15-20-4-2)
In retrospect, maybe it was time for coach Dave King to go. The Blue Jackets gave up an average of 32.3 shots per game and simply weren't following the game plans that were being drawn up. Now, they will get a little taste of what it's like to play with a boot in their keester. With GM Doug MacLean taking over, the Blue Jackets will be more aggressive and more disciplined, all at the same time. The question is, will that be enough for the hard-driving MacLean? Bottom line, the GM spent some money to bring in free agents Andrew Cassels, Luke Richardson and Scott Lachance over the summer. Now the coach has to make those moves work on the ice. If rookie Rick Nash can improve and Espen Knutsen can return from his groin injury, the Blue Jackets might get the scoring depth they need to be competitive.
Dallas Stars (24-10-10-1)
The Stars have shown some weak moments in the first half, but the bottom line is they have completed much of their road schedule, they were trying to bond as a team and they still sported the third best winning percentage in the West. The free-agent signings of Bill Guerin and Philippe Boucher have been received magnificently. Scott Young has struggled, but has helped make Pierre Turgeon a better player. The development of youngsters Niko Kapanen and Manny Malhotra have provided needed depth. Still, the most important development so far is that Marty Turco seems very serious about grabbing this opportunity to prove himself. While others might question whether Turco is the right goalie at the right time, he never has had a doubt.
Detroit Red Wings (24-10-7-1)
The Red Wings didn't have near the questions to answer that the Stars did. Still, they're happy so far with what they have seen. Sergei Fedorov (seven game-winning goals) has stepped up in the absence of injured Steve Yzerman, Dave Lewis has smoothly taken over for Scotty Bowman and Curtis Joseph is finally proving to critics that he might be able to step in for Dominik Hasek. Still, the Red Wings' recent 8-2-3 run has been fueled more by organizational depth and pride in the Winged Wheel than anything else -- and that might be the best sign of all. Detroit's scouts have done a wonderful job producing talents like Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Maxim Kuznetzov and Jiri Fischer, and GM Ken Holland has been Johnny-on-the-spot when it comes to plugging holes with players like Jason Woolley. As an added bonus, Brett Hull has been darn near magical. If there is one player on this team who makes you believe Detroit can win another Cup, it's Hull.
Edmonton Oilers (20-13-5-5)
On a tight budget, the Oilers have once again put themselves back in the playoff picture. Never mind that they're only good for a first-round upset every other year or so, this organization does more on a budget than just about anyone else in the league. The problem is they are constantly trading down. Anson Carter and Mike Comrie are good, but they aren't Bill Guerin and Doug Weight. Tommy Salo is improved, but he has never won a playoff series. The Oilers continue to fight valiantly, but as they contemplate trading Carter or Todd Marchant, you can see just how much they are spinning their wheels -- and how much an error in judgment like the one they made on Jiri Dopita can hurt the team. One thing to watch in the second half is not whether the Oilers offer Marchant a decent contract, it's whether he wants to stay at any price. The gritty center, who can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer, might be looking for a move to a contender.
Los Angeles Kings (17-18-4-3)
This is the sleeper team for the second half. If the Kings can get even halfway healthy, they can compete with just about anybody. They have proved that in the past few seasons with Game 7 playoff losses and they have proved that early in this season by dismantling some top teams. When Jason Allison (knee), Adam Deadmarsh (concussion, dizziness) and Zigmund Palffy (groin) have been healthy and playing together, they have combined for 33 points in eight games. The problem is they have been healthy and playing together for only eight games. Allison and Palffy should be better in the second half, but the health of Deadmarsh is a real concern. He has been the team's sparkplug since being acquired in the Rob Blake trade in 2001 and they simply don't play as well without him. Still, the Kings are playing .500 hockey with all of these injuries and they have a chance to really change things if they can ice a somewhat complete lineup.
Minnesota Wild (21-14-7-1)
Yes, they have lost the Northwest Division lead to the hottest team in hockey. Yes, there is a chance they are overtaken for second place by the streaking Colorado Avalanche. But let's appreciate accomplishment for it is. The Minnesota Wild, in its third year of existence, is some seven games above .500 and a real contender to shake things up in the Western Conference. That is worth four pucks. Adams Award front-runner Jacques Lemaire has coaxed a lineup full of grinders to give 100 percent effort every night, and the Wild have shown they are comfortable playing in close games. Goalies Dwayne Roloson and Manny Fernandez have carried a fair share of the load, and 20-year-old winger Marian Gaborik is proving he's one of the best players in the league. What's more, Cliff Ronning has been a welcomed addition One thing to work on in the second half? Good teams need a power play that can score key goals. The Wild struggle at around 12 percent.
Nashville Predators (12-18-7-4)
Predators fans are disappointed, but the thing you have to look at for Nashville in the first half is it played a team full of prospects and made tremendous learning strides. After starting 2-10-4-4 and fighting through some rocky times, the Predators are 5-2-2 in their last nine games. Youngsters David Legwand, Kimmo Timmonen and Tomas Vokoun each have stepped up and players like Andreas Johansson and Rem Murray seem to be nice gap-stop veterans to help the youngsters along. However, there are some issues to discuss. Scott Hartnell is fighting through a horrible slump and Vladimir Orszagh also has seen his numbers decrease. If the Predators are serious about someday competing for a playoff spot, they need to get a core of youngsters competing.
Phoenix Coyotes (15-17-7-3)
To say Sean Burke carried the Phoenix Coyotes last season is inaccurate. The Coyotes were a much better team with him, though. In a strange case of perfect synergy, a team full of players had career seasons in front of a goalie who had revived his career. This season, with Burke battling a high ankle sprain and a knee injury, the Coyotes have reverted to muckers and grinders. Daniel Briere can't score anymore. Daymond Langkow is average once again. Claude Lemieux is old. In truth, the Coyotes are dealing with more injuries than just Burke's. Krys Kolanos' career could end because of concussions. Landon Wilson's career could end because of an eye injury. Danny Markov has a broken arm, Brian Savage can't seem to stay healthy and Drake Berehowsky is out until January. Mix that with the absence of Burke and the Coyotes are in a pack of trouble this season. If Burke returns in time, a run to the playoffs is possible. Without him, Phoenix will have more of the same.
San Jose Sharks (15-18-5-3)
And to think, many had the Sharks competing for the Stanley Cup this season. Maybe they still will. Maybe all of this adversity will harden the team and make it more playoff ready. Then again, it still has to make the playoffs first. On paper, this team should be one of the best in the league. It has talented forwards, a physical defense and a goalie who has been spectacular at times. On the ice, though, you have to wonder if the Sharks will ever get it together. After firing Darryl Sutter, San Jose made a quick run under new coach Ron Wilson. But, of late, the momentum has seemed to trickle out of the coaching change and the Sharks are back to losing. Momentum is a strange thing. Once it starts rolling down, it's hard to stop. The Sharks are finding that out as they simply get bad break after bad break. During a recent eight-game homestand, they even hosted a crowd that was almost 1,000 fans below capacity. That's a sign that the faithful might have even given up. It all starts with goaltending for the Sharks in the second half. If Evgeni Nabokov can get it together, there is still hope.
St. Louis Blues (22-12-5-3)
Yes, Detroit and Dallas have been impressive handling transition this season, but nobody has been better at adjusting on the run than the Blues. Injuris have riddled this team, and yet it is sitting just four points behind the mighty Red Wings for first in the Central Division (when was the last time any team could say that?). Brent Johnson is healthy and playing well. Fred Brathwaite is a capable backup. That's a joy to say after all of the goaltending problems this team has had. Al MacInnis is a Norris Trophy candidate, Doug Weight is a true leader and Keith Tkachuk is getting hot. Mix in the quiet contributions of Pavol Demitra, Petr Cajanek and Scott Mellanby and, all of the sudden, you don't want to play this team in the playoffs.
Chris Pronger (wrist) could come back, but don't count on it. Instead, look for Barrett Jackman to get even better in the second half.
Vancouver Canucks (25-11-5-0)
Ed Jovanovski is out for a month with a broken foot, the Sedin twins have been stunningly average and Mats Lindgren hasn't been defensive hero the team needed. Yet that doesn't matter when you have the best line in hockey. Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison had combined for 141 points through 41 games and had accounted for 48.1 percent of the team's goals. And they did that while playing just about 20 minutes a game. Naslund is making a case for the Hart Trophy with 30 goals and 25 assists. What's more, he is the leader of the Canucks. You keep waiting for this team to falter, but it has been the best team in hockey since the start of last year -- and it could be the best team when the season is over. The pressure is on Dan Cloutier in goal. He's been great, but the challenge will be in the playoffs.
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
