With only 48 games available in the 2013 NHL schedule, there is a bevy of speculation about who can come out on top in this short contest.  NHL 2013 predictions take into account the shortened season and the compressed schedule, in which every game counts for more in the standings and every team will have to dig deeper to eke out two points each night.

The Standings: It’s Good To Be The King

With a longer downtime since their victory in June 2012, the reigning Cup champion Los Angeles Kings look to repeat their success going into the shortened season.  No team has two-peated the Cup since the Detroit Red Wings in 1998.  The Kings stand as good a chance as the field, however, since they return their entire lineup and have their young core — Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Mike Richards, and Jonathan Quick — gain a year of experience.

Other contenders in the West are the Vancouver Canucks, who may be slow out of the gate due to Ryan Kesler’s injury, and the Chicago Blackhawks, who enjoy one of the best young forward tandems in Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane as well as one of the best defensive tandems in Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.  Darkhorses for western playoff teams include the Colorado Avalanche, whose younger core could benefit from the sprint of the short season.

Beasts of the East

It is an easy pick to say that the Pittsburgh Penguins will be major movers and shakers in the Eastern Conference this season.  Crosby looks healthy and concussion-free, while reigning MVP Evgeni Malkin should have no problems picking up where he left off.  The Boston Bruins, the 2011 Cup champs, appear to have another strong season up their sleeves, returning a lineup filled with elite veterans like Zdeno Chara as well as dynamite youth like Tyler Seguin.  Darkhorse picks for the East could include the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have arguably the best young center and defenseman combo in the league with Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman.

Trophy Picks

• Evgeni Malkin looks a good bet to win another scoring title, though he’ll have competition from teammate Sidney Crosby, division rival Claude Giroux, and fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin.

• Former partners on defense Shea Weber and Ryan Suter will have to cope with playing on different teams for the first time in their career.  Both should persevere — they’ve been the go-to guy on both Team Canada and Team USA, respectively.  Weber is as good a pick for the Norris as any.

• Henrik Lundqvist finally took home a well-deserved Vezina Trophy.  He looks like a good pick to repeat it playing behind the Rangers defense.

• Who takes home the MVP in these NHL 2013 predictions?  Here’s a pick out of left field — Ryan Getzlaf of Anaheim, who takes the Ducks to the playoffs alongside former MVP Corry Perry.

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