Post NHL All-Star Break Predictions: What Awaits Out West?

The all-star break draws near, and while some teams are sitting pretty, others in the Western Conference may have tough decisions and big moves ahead. Adam Proteau has his predictions.

As the NHL’s all-star break arrives, let’s have some fun and reel off a few predictions for the rest of the season. Today, we’ll make three predictions for the Western Conference, and then later this week, we’ll predict three things that will happen in the Eastern Conference.

As always, remember this type of column is a hunch-friendly zone; believe or disbelieve these picks at your own peril.

The Kings have been struggling for weeks now, and there’s rising speculation that head coach Todd McLellan’s job security is hanging by a thread. Firing him might seem like a surprise to some, but given that he’s currently got the fourth-longest tenure of any NHL bench boss, McLellan may not make it to enjoy his fifth year on the job in Los Angeles. Kings GM Rob Blake has seen his team win just two games since Dec. 28, and their first three games after the all-star break are against teams (Buffalo, Edmonton and New Jersey) either on a roll or in desperate need of wins.

So it’s entirely possible L.A.’s woes are going to continue, and Blake will be forced to make a move and bring in a new coach. Maybe that’s Gerard Gallant. Maybe it’s an interim situation, and Blake goes internal to promote someone such as current assistant Jim Hiller. In any case, McLellan is probably toast, and though we’re sure he’ll get another opportunity, his time in California is careening toward an end. But we still like the Kings enough to predict they’ll return to their winning ways after dismissing McLellan. There’s just too much talent there for them not to be a playoff team.

The Blues have made a late charge to get back into the playoff race in the West, and they’re in need of offense. We’re predicting there’s not a big market for winger Adam Henrique. Suppose Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek can get a first-rounder and the expiring $2.65-million in salary cap space on winger Jakub Vrana’s deal. He might be able to parlay that expiring cap space into a trade with another team looking for cap flexibility this summer.

It’s a little bit convoluted, but these are the types of trades teams can be limited in making in a cap world. Henrique could give St. Louis a bump in offense and wouldn't cost them multiple picks and/or prospects. The closer we get to the March 8 trade deadline, the more a deal like this seems likely to happen.

The Calgary Flames are on the precipice of missing the playoffs for the second straight season and the third season in their past four years. That stark reality ought to disabuse people of the notions this is a roster that (a) is worth continuing to believe in, and (b) that doesn’t need a major rebuild. As such, Flames GM Craig Conroy has full cause to deal away his veterans on expiring contracts, and he becomes the biggest seller at the trade deadline, peddling stars Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev by the trade deadline.

The rebuild continues in earnest this summer, with new homes found for Nazem Kadri, Mikael Backlund and Jacob Markstrom. But at the very least, Conroy makes it clear to Flames fans – the time for massive change has begun. If they’re going to land the generational talents that only come when you’re at the top of the league’s draft order, the Flames have to go through pain, and that time has arrived.