Get out the magic crystal ball. We’re about to embark on a long journey. Thirty teams get a fresh start where they can dare to dream of winning Lord Stanley. The most spectacular trophy in all of sports which arguably is the hardest to win.

It’s not just because you have to gut out an 82-game schedule which at times can be trying due to the tireless back to backs, three in four nights and even seven in 11 days the Rangers have beginning with tomorrow’s home opener versus Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and the Blackhawks following a hectic preseason concluding with a two-game sweep of the overmatched Lightning in Croatia.

Such can be life in a league which seems to be pointed for expansion towards Europe emphasizing just how global the game has become with the Penguins and Senators also splitting a series in Stockholm last weekend.

Finally, the other 26 get started including an improved Devils team who dialed up Doc Brown’s time machine and went Back To The Future literally to the year of their first Stanley Cup luring free agent centers Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik for one more run while Martin Brodeur’s still good enough.

For other teams like the Islanders, the immediate future doesn’t look so bright with new coach Scott Gordon behind the bench where returning leading scorer Mike Comrie had only 49 points on what’s a rebuild around Rick DiPietro and young former No.1 Kyle Okposo. They’ll try to overachieve in an ultra competitive Atlantic where the Flyers fresh off a run to the Conference Finals losing to the Pens appear to be the favorite while Pittsburgh lost Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone and are without top D Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar for at least the first three months.

Can the new look Rangers featuring Nikolai Zherdev, Markus Naslund and Wade Redden make fans forget Jaromir Jagr or did Glen Sather slip up?

Are the Panthers ready to qualify for their first postseason since Pavel Bure was the league’s best finisher or will their revamped blueline not be enough without departed captain Olli Jokinen? Can Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals do it again even with Jose Theodore in net?

Meanwhile in Carolina, the injury bug has already hit infecting Justin Williams, Scott Walker and Rod Brind’Amour making the loss of Erik Cole big though Joni Pitkanen was brought into help anchor the D. Will Barry Melrose’s return to the NHL bench be ruined by the Lightning’s apparent weak blueline?

Should the Thashers even bother taking the ice? They’ll have company in Columbus, St. Louis and Los Angeles who all should be ticketed in the John Tavares sweepstakes. Are the Leafs going to be in this process too without Mats Sundin? Maybe Toronto fans should hope.

Can Carey Price recover from last Spring to lead what looks like an even stronger Habs roster into serious contention? Are Craig Rivet and the return of Teppo Numminen enough to get a talented Sabres team back to the postseason? Is Tim Thomas a fluke and will Patrice Bergeron be the same in Beantown? Can the Senators continue defying logic despite losing another key cog?

These questions and more will get answered in due time along with whether Hossa’s addition is enough for the Red Wings to become the first repeat winner since they did it a decade ago. They’ll have plenty of stiff competition in the loaded Stars, Sharks and Ducks with maybe a couple of newcomers sneaking into the parade.

This is how we see it:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

*1.Flyers- plenty of talent in Richards/Carter but can Biron build off last year’s run?

*2.Canadiens- adding Lang and Tanguay up front makes them scarier but it all depends on Price.

*3.Capitals- the game’s best player, a healthy Nylander plus Green and Backstrom should be enough.

4.Senators- best line in game plus deep forward corps and tougher D help despite questions in net.

5.Devils- Rolston and Holik should boost scoring, D remains question but can’t bet against Brodeur.

6.Rangers- Drury leads an improved transition game. could miss Jagr and Avery but Lundqvist helps.

7.Penguins- Crosby and Malkin get them in but we don’t like Satan or Fedotenko. Hard to take seriously.

8.Sabres- balanced scoring led by Pominville, Vanek, Roy plus better D and steady Miller in net.

9.Bruins- Ryder added to solid forward corps but it’s dependent on Thomas and system.

10.Panthers- love their new look with Ballard and McCabe but who’s scoring the goals up front?

11.Maple Leafs- Wilson will get them to play hard but there’s just not enough there to get in.

12.Hurricanes- injuries already taking toll. Laviolette’s a fine coach but Ward needs to be consistent.

13.Lightning- Stamkos should win Calder and they’ll score but the D is brutal and will tire out goalies.

14.Thrashers- Schneider was good addition but they’ll have to outscore teams until Lehtonen improves.

15.Islanders- they’ll work hard but they’re young and don’t have enough scoring even with Streit.
PLAYOFFS

Flyers over Sabres in 6

Habs over Pens in 7

Rangers over Caps in 6

Devils over Sens in 5

Flyers over Rangers in 6

Devils over Habs in 7

Flyers over Devils in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE

*1.Red Wings- until proven otherwise, they’re the best team and add Hossa to mix. Conklin’s solid backup.

*2.Stars- play in top division but Avery, full year of B. Richards should be plenty. Need Zubov healthy.

*3.Canucks- scoring could still be tough but like changes and see Luongo bouncing back big time.

4.Sharks- Marleau with Thornton, Boyle, Blake plus Nabokov make them awfully tough.

5.Flames- nice additions including Bertuzzi/Keenan reunion but they’ll be hardpressed to win a round.

6.Ducks- Teemu’s back plus Getzlaf/Perry, Niedermayer/Pronger and Giguere make them lock.

7.Avalanche- Sakic takes one more shot with Tucker added but can Budaj or Raycroft do job?

8.Blackhawks- Campbell and Huet help young core led by Kane/Toews. Huet could get them in.

9.Oilers- bolstered scoring with Cole and Visnovsky. Lots of young talent but what about goalies?

10.Predators- Radulov’s departure hurts scoring. Solid D but can Ellis repeat? Trotz is a great coach.

11.Wild- possess nice blueline led by Burns/Zidlicky and Gaborik’s great but is there enough scoring?

12.Coyotes- Jokinen helps but D is thin past top 3 and they’re depending on too much young talent.

13.Blue Jackets- Umberger and Huselius boost Nash plus revamped D and Leclaire but who else will score?

14.Blues- Love Boyes and Kariya’s due for bounce back season but they’re extremely young.

15.Kings- top line of Brown, Kopitar and O’Sullivan will be fun but LaBarbera in net? They can’t be serious!

PLAYOFFS

Wings over Hawks in 5

Stars over Avs in 4

Ducks over Canucks in 6

Sharks over Flames in 6

Wings over Ducks in 6

Stars over Sharks in 5

Wings over Stars in 7

Stanley Cup Red Wings over Flyers in 7

NHL Awards

Conn Smythe- Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit

Hart- Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit

Vezina- Roberto Luongo, Vancouver

Norris- Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit (renamed The Lidstrom)

Calder- Kyle Okposo, Islanders

Selke- Mike Fisher, Ottawa

Byng- Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit

Adams- Denis Savard, Chicago

The Wayne Gretzky blockbuster trade from Edmonton to LA changed the NHL landscape forever resulting in post expansion.

August 9 will be here before you know it. On that day, it will mark the 20 Year Anniversary of the most shocking trade in the great sport of hockey. The day that the Edmonton Oilers agreed to trade the greatest player in the game Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings in a blockbuster deal along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first round picks and $15 million.

Amazingly, this really happened on Aug.9, 1988 thanks to the cheapness of then Edmonton owner Peter Pocklington. I can kind of recall that tearful Gretzky press conference where he said goodbye to the former WHA expansion team he was largely responsible for most of its success winning four Stanley Cups while shattering scoring records and changing the game forever.

At the time, I was an awe struck kid who couldn’t believe the magnitude of such a deal. It was hard to comprehend as I hadn’t been a hockey fan too long. All I knew was the greatest thing since sliced bread was moving from Western Alberta to Hollywood forever changing the dynamic of a then 21 team league into the Post Expansion 30 team Era which includes three teams in California and two in Florida while branching out to other unchartered territories.

Back then, I never pondered teams such as Winnipeg, Hartford and Quebec relocating to other cities. Maybe that’s what I liked about those carefree days when anything really seemed possible. The NHL was a normal league before Gary Bettman got his hands on it regionalizing the sport a la the NBA. A topic for another day.

Gretzky was The Great One. No.99 made anything seem possible. Suddenly, the Kings were the team to see with Hollywood’s big actors and actresses turning out at The Great Western Forum to see Gretzky form a dynamic combo with Luc Robitaille and emerge into a Cup contender. His name transcended the sport popularizing it in the United States like never before.

That’s why this week, the NHL Today is commemorating the most historic trade in league history with articles on the very big topic taking us back to a time before Genesis and Super Nintendo, Xbox and Ipods existed. I’ll tell ya what I remember playing a lot of back then. Blades of Steel on my Nintendo. Very good game too which I beat time and time again.

Ahhh…being a kid was fun! Suddenly, I’m getting that feeling of deja vu. When you’re young, anything really seems possible.

In SI.com Michael Farber’s piece, he takes a look back at what the Gretzky trade signaled.

Here’s an excerpt which proves symbolic:

If nothing else, Gretzky’s exile to Los Angeles produced one of hockey’s immortal phrases, something trotted out every year at the trade deadline. Like death and taxes, it is a stone-cold lock that someone changing addresses on that day will say, “Even Wayne Gretzky got traded.“

Since we’re looking back in time, let’s conclude this entry by taking a glance at just how different an NHL it was:

1988-89

CLARENCE CAMPBELL CONFERENCE

Norris Division

GP W L T GF GA PTS

Detroit 80 34 34 12 313 316 80

St. Louis 80 33 35 12 275 285 78

Minnesota 80 27 37 16 258 278 70

Chicago 80 27 41 12 297 335 66

Toronto 80 28 46 6 259 342 62

Smythe Division

*Calgary 80 54 17 9 354 226 117

Los Angeles 80 42 31 7 376 335 91

Edmonton 80 38 34 8 325 306 84

Vancouver 80 33 39 8 251 253 74

Winnipeg 80 26 42 12 300 355 64

PRINCE OF WALES CONFERENCE

Adams Division

Montreal 80 53 18 9 315 218 115

Boston 80 37 29 14 289 256 88

Buffalo 80 38 35 7 291 299 83

Hartford 80 37 38 5 299 290 79

Quebec 80 27 46 7 269 342 61

Patrick Division

Washington 80 41 29 10 305 259 92

Pittsburgh 80 40 33 7 347 349 87

NY Rangers 80 37 35 8 310 307 82

Philadelphia 80 36 36 8 307 285 80

New Jersey 80 27 41 12 281 325 66

NY Islanders 80 28 47 5 265 325 61

Leading Scorers

Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh 76 GP 85 G 114 A 199 Pts 100 PIM

Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles 78 GP 54 G 114 A 168 Pts 26 PIM

Steve Yzerman, Detroit 80 GP 65 G 90 A 155 Pts 61 PIM

Bernie Nicholls, Los Angeles 79 GP 70 G 80 A 150 Pts 96 PIM

Rob Brown, Pittsburgh 68 GP 49 G 66 A 115 Pts 118 PIM

Paul Coffey, Pittsburgh 75 GP 30 G 83 A 113 Pts 193 PIM

Joe Mullen, Calgary 79 GP 51 G 59 A 110 Pts 98 PIM

Jari Kurri, Edmonton 76 GP 44 G 58 A 102 Pts 69 PIM

Jimmy Carson, Los Angeles 80 GP 49 G 51 A 100 Pts 36 PIM

Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles 78 GP 46 G 52 A 98 Pts 65 PIM

Sure makes ya think, doesn’t it? A different time and a very different game. Who wants to get out the time machine a la Marty McFly and Doc Brown? Count us in!

Just a couple of quick tidbits over the past couple of days in case you missed it:

-The Rangers re-signed restricted forward Nigel Dawes to a one-year $600,000 deal. In 61 games during his rookie season, the 23 year-old Manitoban who the Original Six club selected in the fifth round back in 2003 posted 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points while pacing them with a plus-11 rating. His four deciding tallies tied with Sean Avery for third on the team and put him in a tie for second among rookies.

No surprise here that the Blueshirts brought the promising left wing back. He really made strides last season improving his overall speed and really becoming an effective forechecker. His passing also was very underrated. Figure Dawes to take that next step up this Fall with 20-25 goals a possibility.

Recently acquired forward Dan Fritsche was also re-signed.

In other club news, the team signed 24 year-old Russian defenseman Vladimir Denisov. He played in 66 games for Lake Erie of the AHL registering two goals and six assists for eight points while racking up 111 penalty minutes.

-The Oilers re-signed center Shawn Horcoff to a six-year $33 million extension. The new contract will keep him in Edmonton through 2014-15. In 53 games this past season, the 29 year-old from British Columbia tallied 21 goals and 29 helpers for 50 points bouncing back from a disappointing 2006-07 in which he had just one more point (51) while posting a minus-22 rating in 27 more games played.

Horcoff’s a nice playmaking pivot but giving him six years seems a bit much as by the end of the contract, he’ll be 35 going on 36. Is he really a $5 million dollar player? I guess in today’s crazy NHL, that’s the case.

-In a couple of minor signings, the Thrashers added former Edmonton veteran forward Marty Reasoner while Calgary brought back ex-Ranger 1999 first round pick Jamie Lundmark. It’s ashame what became of his career after the Blueshirts ruined him letting the Edmonton native waste away in Hartford before barely playing him in New York. Why did the Flames even bring him back? Amazingly, he’s only 27. So, we’ll see if he’s got anything left after splitting the past year in Moscow and Lake Erie.

As for Reasoner, I always liked him as he was a decent skater who put forth an honest effort fitting in well on Edmonton after starting his career with St. Louis. The 31 year-old Rochester native will probably play on the fourth line with Atlanta.

-The Islanders re-signed forwards Sean Bergenheim and Jeff Tambellini. The 24 year-old Bergenheim attained career highs in games (78), goals (10), assists (12), points (22) and PIM (62) last season after spending 2006-07 with Frolunda in Sweden posting near a point-a-game. He’s a solid energy player who can play in a third line role and agitate the opposition.

As for Tambellini who the Isles acquired from Los Angeles a couple of years prior, the former Kings’ 2003 first round selection has yet to develop scoring just one goal while adding three helpers in 31 games last season on Long Island. For some reason, GM Garth Snow gave the 24 year-old Calgary native a two-year contract. They’re only paying him $1.175 million which is an average of less than 600 K. Still, it would’ve made more sense to give Tambellini a year and see how he does.

-Other minor signings included the Blues inking former Leaf D Andy Wozniewski while the Sharks added a pair of veteran blueliners in Matt Kinch and Brett Westgarth.

-The Sabres re-signed forward Daniel Paille to a multi-year deal. The former Buffalo 2002 first rounder achieved new career bests in games (77), goals (19), assists (16), points (35) and plus/minus (9) while registering three shorthanded goals. For some reason, the 24 year-old out of Welland, Ontario didn’t have a link in the original TSN story. Doesn’t that seem odd considering the kind of season he had? As our Buffalo blogger might say, it’s a Buffalo thing. If it were the Leafs, well…Seems like a decent move anyway.

-From the bizarro world last night, the Kings reportedly have hired Terry Murray as their new coach giving him a three-year deal to replace Marc Crawford. He was an assistant with the Flyers the last four seasons. He hasn’t coached since 2000-01 with the Panthers.

Murray’s best known for guiding the Flyers to the Stanley Cup 11 years ago before referring to them going down 3-0 to Detroit as a “choking situation,” sealing his fate. I doubt he’ll be able to utter those words with the porous Kings. Best of luck.

Let’s face it folks. This team just can’t get it done against a Western Conference opponent. Heck. They couldn’t even beat a bad Oilers team which once again failed to win in regulation even though the Rangers tried their best to hand them the game.

Only a last second tying goal by Mr. Clutch, Chris Drury off a brilliant stop of a hard Jaromir Jagr pass with Henrik Lundqvist pulled for an extra attacker allowed the Blueshirts to come away with a brownie point at Rexall Place.

Before the game, leading goalscorer Brendan Shanahan talked about the lack of discipline his team had in their recent shutout loss in Vancouver. Then Shanny took a dumb slashing minor which led to the Oilers’ first power play goal by Jarret Stoll.

The ill advised penalties continued in the third period when Ryan Hollweg foolishly boarded Shawn Horcoff from behind being assessed a match penalty and automatic game misconduct and probable suspension, especially given the energizer’s reputation.

While it’s true No.44 tried to let up, he still nailed Horcoff from behind and the Oiler center was in a prone position. So, you can certainly understand why he was ejected from the game.

It was totally unnecessary and came at an inopportune time for his team who very well could’ve won the contest in regulation if not for some splendid netminding from Mathieu Garon (29 saves).

That the major was followed by a Martin Straka hold only 15 seconds later summed up another mystifying night for this underachieving team.

Of course, the Oilers made them pay the price as Ales Hemsky setup Horcoff on the doorstep for his 17th with 8:31 left.

Sadly, the Rangers weren’t done taking silly penalties. Jagr got into the act with a lazy trip with 3:48 remaining which easily could’ve meant no point. And on a night when other teams such as the Flyers, Bruins and Pens all won, the Rangers needed that point.

That’s what it’s come down to for this club. Against a team which sucked ass on home ice ranking dead last on the man-advantage. But here were the Rangers staring up at the scoreboard despite outshooting another opponent (31-25).

The saving grace was that Joni Pitkanen took a penalty with 62 seconds left giving the Rangers a power play. With Lundqvist pulled, they worked the puck around forever before Jagr found Drury, who got them a point by stopping the puck with his shin before depositing his 11th with seven seconds left.

After another needless undisciplined penalty- this time a Blair Betts goalie interference in overtime, Lundqvist made a couple of big stops and then Stoll went to the box for interference off a faceoff.

Anyone who’s followed the Oilers slightly knows that they’ve been money in the shootout all season. So the Rangers really needed to go for the kill on their late PP. Instead, they passed the puck around during a dreadful 4-on-3 even with Straka failing to keep a puck in at the point for an offside. Un-freaking-believable!

This team flat out sucks right now! When are they finally going to show some urgency and wake the hell up already?!?!?!?!?!

Especially on a day where the first place Devils somehow didn’t win or even get a point because Tim Thomas (19 third period stops, 42 overall) flat out stoned them, this was a chance to pickup two on their Hudson rivals.

But instead, they chanced it to the skills competition where Tom Renney couldn’t even use his best shooter in Shanahan because he suffered a left knee injury when he collided with big power forward Dustin Penner late in the third.

Even the goalie let the team down in this one. Was anyone surprised given how pedestrian Lundqvist has looked the past month that he would let rookie Sam Gagner’s wrister sneak through his pads?

That’s how they lost. Of course Jagr was denied by Garon who somehow was turned into Patrick Roy by this Broadway gang which can’t shoot straight.

I’m sick of Marcel “One Goal” Hossa. Ryan Callahan was a healthy scratch. He really needs to be sent down on a conditioning assignment to regain lost confidence.

When is our genius of a coach going to recall Nigel Dawes??? He of course factored into both Wolf Pack goals in a 3-2 home defeat to Lowell.

What else does the kid who put up as many points as Zach Parise in the 2003 WJC have to prove to get a fair shake? This team has zero secondary scoring right now.

Is it going to take a foolish trade where Dawes morphs into a Brian Gionta clone cause I can totally see that happening?!?!?!?!?!?!

Speaking of Gionta, he is the definition of a dirty player. All those sneaky hacks are starting to catch up as he’s being nailed for it a lot more this season. And did anyone see that crazy finish at TD Bank Garden where No.14 and Boston captain Zdeno Chara were at each other’s throats as the buzzer sounded? Slashes and all sorts of illegal stickwork were being done.

And why you ask? Because of the stupid instigator. Does anyone really think Gionta would be able to get away with all the stuff he does in front of opposing nets? And Chara’s stick coming dangerously close to the Mighty Mite’s neck was ridiculous. How dirty does it have to get?

If anyone wants a good read, try to pickup THN’s Top 60 Game Changing Moments. No.52 is appropriately entitled, “Goon Hockey Is Done” and has plenty on the lack of accountability where players sticks continue to come higher. There’s little respect today as compared to the game before the big change came into place starting in the 1992-93 season.

If you want to learn about the history of the game, pick up this special issue as it’s very well written. I’ve gotten through the first 10 thus far.

Also, if you haven’t picked up THN’s Top 60 Post Expansion Era, please do.

According to TSN, he’s agreed on a contract.

October 4th versus the Panthers.

It’ll be LA-ANA in London on 9/29 - 9/30, then regular opening night on 10/3, which will feature Leafs-Sens and likely an American doubleheader for Versus, and everybody’s in action 10/4.

Devils will likely open in the south, because their 2nd game will be 10/6 at Florida.

Philadelphia opens up in the northwest at Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

Made an offer sheet to Thomas Vanek for 7 Years, $50 Mill, but Darcy Regier and the Sabres immediately matched it.

Sabres re-signed Teppo Numminen for 1 year, $2.6M.

Oilers signed Matt Greene for 2 years.

Fedotenko signs with the Isles for 1 year, $2.9M

And a Biggie: Slava Kozlov signs a multi-year deal with the Thrash.

Minnesota re-signed Wez Walz for 1 year.

Vancouver signed Curtis Sanford - 1 Year, $600K

Raffi Torres re-signed in Edmonton. 3 Years, $6.75M total.

Kings signed Brad Stuart - 1 Year, $3.5 Mill. Kings continue to build.

Brad Ference is signed with the Red Wings.

Speaking of the Kings, Jason LaBarbera signed a 2-year extension with them. Finally, they can keep him at the NHL level.

Columbus has signed Washington’s Jiri Novotny.

Edmonton signed LA’s Matheiu Garon.