It's Hockey Time!

Finally, hockey is back and so is the Week Ahead. The National Hockey League begins its 91st season on Saturday. There are four games being played on the weekend of October 3rd as the NHL starts its season in Prague and Stockholm. The North American portion of the schedule starts on October 9. Since the schedule is so light, we will give you Rotoworld's predictions for the upcoming season. Here is the first week of the "Week Ahead".

THE SCHEDULE - WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 4

2 Games - New York Rangers, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay

0 Games - All other teams

The Rangers play Tampa Bay twice in Prague while the Senators and Penguins play twice in Stockholm. Play everyone you can on all four teams.

INJURIES

Anton Babchuk - Hurricanes (Knee) Day-to-day
Erik Christensen - Thrashers (Shoulder) Day-to-day
Marc-Andre Clich‚ - Kings (Shoulder) Indefinitely
Shean Donovan - Senators (Hip Flexor) Day-to-day
Mike Fisher - Senators (Groin) Day-to-day
Kurtis Foster - Wild (Leg) Early November
Alexander Frolov - Kings (Groin) Day-to-day
Marian Gaborik - Wild (Quadriceps) Day-to-day
Sergei Gonchar - Penguins (Shoulder) Mid-November at the earliest
Bill Guerin - Islanders (Shoulder) Day-to-day
Jeff Halpern - Lightning (Knee) January
Martin Hanzal - Coyotes (Back) Day-to-day
Christopher Higgins - Canadiens (Groin) Day-to-day
Erik Johnson - Blues (Knee Surgery) Gone for the season
Jonas Junland - Blues (Shoulder) Early October
Chuck Kobasew - Bruins (Leg) Day-to-day
Saku Koivu - Canadiens (Foot) Day-to-day
Alexei Kovalev - Canadiens (Groin) Day-to-day
Robert Lang - Canadiens (Groin) Day-to-day
Georges Laraque - Canadiens (Groin) Day-to-day
Guillaume Latendresse - Canadiens (Groin) Day-to-day
Nicklas Lidstrom - Red Wings (Broken Nose) Day-to-day
Adam Mair - Sabres (Knee Surgery) Indefinitely
Jed Ortmeyer - Predators (Knee surgery) Indefinitely
Alexandre Picard - Senators (Groin) Day-to-day
Paul Ranger - Lightning (Shoulder) Day-to-day
Jeremy Roenick - Sharks (Knee) Day-to-day
Steve Sullivan - Predators (Back) Indefinitely
Barry Tallackson - Devils (Heart) Day-to-day
Alex Tanguay - Canadiens (Groin) Day-to-day
Nick Tarnsky - Lightning (Fractured Thumb) Day-to-day
Darcy Tucker - Avalanche (Ankle) Day-to-day
Ryan Whitney - Penguins (Foot) December-January
Justin Williams - Hurricanes (Achilles Tendon) Indefinitely
James Wisniewski - Blackhawks (Knee surgery) December
Wojtek Wolski - Avalanche (Foot) Day-to-day
Sergei Zubov - Stars (Hip) Mid-October/Mid-November

Predictions

Brian Rosenbaum's predictions:

Hart Trophy: Joe Thornton
Norris Trophy: Dion Phaneuf
Vezina Trophy: Evgeni Nabokov
Art Ross Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Calder Trophy: Steve Stamkos

Best Fantasy Forward: Jarome Iginla
Best Fantasy Defenseman: Dion Phaneuf
Best Fantasy Goaltender: Evgeni Nabokov
Penalty Minutes Leader: Daniel Carcillo

Eastern Conference Champions: Pittsburgh
Western Conference Champions: San Jose
Stanley Cup Champions: San Jose

Michael Finewax's predictions:

Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Norris Trophy: Dion Phaneuf
Vezina Trophy: Roberto Luongo
Art Ross Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Calder Trophy: Shawn Matthias

Best Fantasy Forward: Alex Ovechkin
Best Fantasy Defenseman: Dion Phaneuf
Best Fantasy Goaltender: Roberto Luongo
Penalty Minutes Leader: Daniel Carcillo

Eastern Conference Champions: Pittsburgh
Western Conference Champions: Anaheim
Stanley Cup Champions: Anaheim
Liam Casey's predictions:

Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Norris Trophy: Nicklas Lidstrom
Vezina Trophy: Martin Brodeur
Art Ross Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Calder Trophy: Kyle Turris

Best Fantasy Forward: Alex Ovechkin
Best Fantasy Defenseman: Dion Phaneuf
Best Fantasy Goaltender: Martin Brodeur
Penalty Minutes Leader: Daniel Carcillo

Eastern Conference Champions: Montreal
Western Conference Champions: Detroit
Stanley Cup Champions: Montreal

Corey Abbott's predictions:

Hart Trophy: Alex Ovechkin
Norris Trophy: Nicklas Lidstrom
Vezina Trophy: Martin Brodeur
Art Ross Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Calder Trophy: Steve Stamkos

Best Fantasy Forward: Alex Ovechkin
Best Fantasy Defenseman: Dion Phaneuf
Best Fantasy Goaltender: Evgeni Nabokov
Penalty Minutes Leader: Daniel Carcillo

Eastern Conference Champions: Pittsburgh
Western Conference Champions: San Jose
Stanley Cup Champions: San Jose

Ryan Dadoun's predictions:

Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Norris Trophy: Dion Phaneuf
Vezina Trophy: Martin Brodeur
Art Ross Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Calder Trophy: Steve Stamkos

Best Fantasy Forward: Evgeni Malkin
Best Fantasy Defenseman: Dion Phaneuf
Best Fantasy Goaltender: Martin Brodeur
Penalty Minutes Leader: Steve Downie

Eastern Conference Champions: Montreal
Western Conference Champions: Detroit
Stanley Cup Champions: Detroit

Monika Moravan's predictions:

Hart Trophy: Alex Ovechkin
Norris Trophy: Brian Campbell
Vezina Trophy: Martin Brodeur
Art Ross Trophy: Alex Ovechkin
Calder Trophy: Steve Stamkos

Best Fantasy Forward: Alex Ovechkin
Best Fantasy Defenseman: Dion Phaneuf
Best Fantasy Goaltender: Roberto Luongo
Penalty Minutes Leader: Daniel Carcillo

Eastern Conference Champions: Montreal
Western Conference Champions: Chicago
Stanley Cup Champions: Montreal

Jayson Pharoah's predictions:

Hart Trophy: Evgeni Malkin
Norris Trophy: Nicklas Lidstrom
Vezina Trophy: Evgeni Nabokov
Art Ross Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Calder Trophy: Kyle Turris

Best Fantasy Forward: Alex Ovechkin
Best Fantasy Defenseman: Dion Phaneuf
Best Fantasy Goaltender: Evgeni Nabokov
Penalty Minutes Leader: Riley Cote

Eastern Conference Champions: Montreal
Western Conference Champions: San Jose
Stanley Cup Champions: San Jose