A Look at the West : Two Weeks Pre-Deadline

I like to do this every once in a while to check up on the Western Conference and see what is going on and what I think will eventually be happening throughout a given period of time: in this case it will be the last two weeks before the trade deadline.

So let's get started.

In order of their placement in the West:

San Jose: 83 Pts, last ten: 4-2-4, Current Streak: Lost 3.
Games remaining before the deadline: 8
Opponents: Oilers, Kings, Thrashers, Stars, Red Wings, Senators, Canadiens, Stars

At this point with San Jose there is almost no chance that they don't make the playoffs, and I think that the whole league has pretty much come to terms with this fact. All I'll say about this is that I hope they can win against the Kings and the Stars, that would really help the Oilers out.
Ideal record for their next two weeks: at least 3-6-0, with the wins against the Stars (2X) and the Kings.
Likely record for the next two weeks: 6-2-1 or something similar. Hopefully one of those wins is not against us.
will be buyers or stand-pat at the deadline (if they need anything to begin with).

Detroit: 82 Pts, Last ten: 6-3-1, Current streak: Lost 2
Games remaining before the dealdline: 7 (8 including the deadline)
Opponents: Predators, Ducks, Wild, Sharks, Kings, Predators, Blues, (Avalanche)

This is another team that will not be missing out on the post-season this season. The Red Wings are also in a position to really help out the Oilers. All of their opponents in these next two weeks are teams that are teams that are fighting for the playoffs this season.
Ideal record for the following weeks: 7-0-0/8-0-0
Likely record for the nest weeks: 5-1-1/5-2-1 or something similar.
Will be buyers or stand pat at the deadline.

Calgary: 71 Pts, Last ten: 5-4-1. Current streak: won 2
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Canucks, Wild, Oilers, Blue Jackets, Wild, Lightning, Senators

The Flamers, as much as I don't want to admit it, will likely not be golfing early this summer. At the same time the Flames could really end up helping the Oilers out in the standings.
Ideal record: 6-1-0 with the loss coming to the Oilers.
Likely record: 5-2-0/5-1-1
Will be buyers at the deadline

Chicago: 70 Pts, Last ten: 6-4-0, Current streak: won 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Panthers, Stars, Wild, Predators, Penguins, Kings, Ducks

Will be making the playoffs this season. We can finally stop seeing that effing commercial with Kane 'crying' about how he was thirteen, or something like that, the last time the Blackhawks made the playoffs.
Ideal record: 4-3-0
likely record: 5-2-0
Will likely be buyers at the deadline

Dallas: 63 Pts, Last ten: 7-3-0, Current streak: won 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Oilers, Blackhawks, Sharks, Blues, Ducks, Penguins, Sharks

Are in the mix with about 6 or 7 other teams that all could drop out of the race at any time. Don't want them to do too well but there are a couple games I'd like them to win.
Ideal record: 2-5-0
Likely record: 4-3-0
The Stars will likely be buyers at the deadline

Edmonton: 62 Pts, Last ten: 5-4-1, Current streak: won 3
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Sharks, Stars, Flames, Lightning, Blue Jackets, Wild, Predators

In the interest of keeping this short I'm not going to say anything here.
Ideal record: 7-0-0
Likely record: 4-3-0/5-2-0
The Oilers will likely be buyers at the deadline

Vancouver: 62 Pts, Last ten: 5-2-3, Current streak: won 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Flames, Senators, Leafs, Canadiens, Lightning, Blue Jackets, Wild

This one of the many teams that the Oilers do not want to win games. Period.
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 3-4-0
The Canucks will likely be buyers at the deadline

Columbus: 62 Pts, Last ten: 6-3-1, Current streak: lost 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Blues, Leafs, Ducks, Flames, Oilers, Canucks, Kings

Another team that the Oilers want to lose as much as possible.
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 2-5-0/3-4-0
The Blue Jackets will likely be buyers at the deadline

Anaheim: 61 Pts, Last ten: 5-5, Current streak: lost 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Kings, Red Wings, Blue Jackets, Sabres, Bruins, Stars, Blackhawks

Barely on the outside looking in right now are the Ducks. The Oilers want them to fail, and they've got a hard couple of weeks coming up.
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 2-5-0
The Ducks will likely be buyers at the deadline

Minnesota: 59 Pts, Last ten: 5-5-0, Current streak: lost 2
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Flames, Red Wings, Blackhawks, Kings, Flames, Oilers, Canucks

A bit out of character for Minnesota to be in this position at this point in the game. The Oilers want them to lose as much as possible, and their weeks ahead are quite tough.
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 2-5-0
At this point the Minnesota Wild are likely buyers

LA: 57 Pts, Last ten: 6-2-2, Current streak: lost 3
Games remaining before the deadline: 8
Opponents: Ducks, Sharks, Coyotes, Wild, Flyers, Red Wings, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets

One of the hottest teams in the league right now, ideally the Kings will begin to choke, and by the look of their current streak that may be what's happening.
Ideal record: 0-8-0
Likely record: 2-6-0
Right now the Kings are likely buyers but I think that will change.

Nashville: 57 Pts, Last ten: 6-4-0, Current streak:lost 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Red Wings, Blues, Blues, Blackhawks, Coyotes, Red Wings, Oilers

LOSE LOSE LOSE!!
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 3-4-0
At this point the Predators are reserving judgement on whether to be buyers or sellers I think, at this point I think they're buyers.

St Louis: 55 Pts, Last ten: 5-2-3, Current streak: won 2
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Blue Jackets, Predators, Predators, Coyotes, Stars, Coyotes, Red WIngs

LOSE!!!!!
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 1-6-0/2-5-0
The Blues are likely standing pat right now, I think they'll stay that way.

Phoenix: 55 Pts, Last ten: 1-9-0, Current streak: lost 3
Games remaining before the deadline: 5
Opponents: Thrashers, Kings, Blues, Predators, Blues

Fail.
Ideal record: 0-5-0
Likely record: 1-4-0
At this point Phoenix is standing pat.

Colorado: 53 Pts, Last ten: 3-7-0, Current streak: won 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7 (8 including the deadline)
Opponents: Senators, Capitals, Hurricanes, Thrashers, Devils, Rangers, Islanders, Red Wings

Ideal record: 0-7-0/0-8-0
Likely record: 3-4-0/3-5-0
Colorado will likely be standing pat come the deadline.

If all of this occurs the standings don't change that much and would be as follows:

San Jose: 96 Pts
Detroit: 93 Pts
Calgary: 82 Pts
Chicago: 80 Pts
Dallas: 71 Pts
Edmonton: 70 Pts
Vancouver: 68 Pts
Columbus: 68 Pts
Anaheim: 65 Pts
Minnesota: 63 Pts
Nashville: 63 Pts
LA: 61 Pts
St Louis: 59 Pts
Colorado: 59 Pts
Phoenix: 57 Pts

I guess we'll have to wait and see what actually happens.