The new west is the best

We may only be three weeks into the National Hockey League season, but I think it's pretty clear that the Western Conference is the power broker in the league.

Even with the Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets relocated to the Eastern Conference, the west is looking very strong. Seven western teams are already distinguishing themselves as contenders led by the dominant San Jose Sharks (7-0-1) and the resurgent Colorado Avalanche (7-1-0), and most of the remaining conference teams are playing well. Only the Edmonton Oilers (2-6-1) are limping right now, but the Oilers are young. They could have a turnaround if they don't get frustrated by their early struggles.

Compare that to the east. Sure, the Pittsburgh Penguins (7-1-0) have played very well. And the Red Wings (6-3-0) are making their presence known in their new conference. But, you've got some real bottom feeders developing in the Metropolitan Division between the New Jersey Devils (1-4-3), the New York Rangers (2-5-0) and the Philadelphia Flyers (1-7-0).

Side note: How bad are things in Philly these days? Besides the Flyers, the city is dealing with a baseball team in decline (the Phillies), a football team in free fall (the Eagles) and a basketball team that could struggle to make the playoffs (the 76ers). "The City of Brotherly Love" could use a hug right about now.

Back to the hockey world. I am really impressed with the Sharks, but we've been down this road before with this team. They'll put together a terrific regular season, but when push comes to shove in the playoffs, they fold up shop quicker than a three card monte dealer who spots a police officer heading his way.

I'm not entirely convinced that Patrick Roy can make the Avs a true contender in the west in his first season as head coach, either. Maybe if this was the mid-1990s and Roy was tending goal, I'd suggest that the Avs were for real. But Roy is on the bench, and as successful as he was in the Canadian junior leagues, the NHL is a much different deal. He might have the Avs playing well now, but let's see what happens when the Avs go on a losing streak. Can he get them righted quickly, or will they fall apart?

I like the Blackhawks, the Ducks and the St. Louis Blues (5-1-1) out west. The defending champs from Chi-town aren't showing any signs of a letdown following last year's stellar campaign, while the Ducks are playing up to the level I think a lot of people expected them to be at during the shortened 2012-13 season. As for the Blues, they just continue to plug along as that team no one is going to want to face in the playoffs.

As for the east, what you see is probably what you'll get. The Penguins, the Red Wings, the Toronto Maple Leafs (6-3-0) and the Boston Bruins (5-2-0) will continue to pile up wins, while the Rangers, the Devils, the Flyers and the Buffalo Sabres (1-8-1) will battle each other to see who will get the worst record in the conference. Yes, it's going to be ugly at the bottom of this conference.

On to the fourth week of the season.