Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China .com) - Thankfully, there will be no labor disputes or Winter Olympics disrupting NHL action this season, as the league tries to get back to normal in 2014-15. After suffering through a lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, the NHL saw last season halted for nearly a month while the league went on hiatus for the Sochi Olympics. However, no such interruptions are expected this season and hockey fans will even get to see the return of the NHL All-Star Game, an event that hasnt been held since January of 2012. Dynasty is a word being thrown around quite a bit these days thanks to the recent success experienced in Chicago and Los Angeles, a pair of franchises with two Cup victories over the past several seasons. Neither team is worthy of the dynasty label yet, but the race is on to see if either club can add to its title haul in 2015. The Blackhawks won their second Cup title in four seasons in the spring of 2013 and the Kings made it two championships in three years back in June. The clubs battled in the Western Conference finals in last seasons playoffs and theres a good chance that both the West crown and the Cup could go through Chicago or L.A. yet again. The realignment plan instituted at the start of the last season has set the West up as the stronger of the two conferences, with the East lagging far behind. In addition to Chicago and L.A., Anaheim, Colorado, Minnesota, St. Louis and San Jose also have legitimate Cup dreams, but theres a solid chance theyll need to upset either the Blackhawks or Kings in order to reach the promised land. The top contender in the East, meanwhile, is the Boston Bruins, who won last seasons Presidents Trophy before getting knocked out in the second round by Montreal. The defending conference champion New York Rangers also figure to be among the Easts top teams, while the Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning also could be in the mix at seasons end. Odds are the 2015 champion will come from the West. If that happens it would mark the conferences fifth title since 2010, with only the 2010-11 Bruins claiming a Cup for the East so far during the stretch. Once again the top three clubs from each of the leagues four divisions will earn automatic bids to the playoffs, while wild card spots account for the remaining two postseason spots in each conference. The second- and third-place teams from each division will meet in the first round of the playoffs. The remaining opening-round series will feature one matchup between the division winner with the most points against the wild card with the lowest point total and another featuring the other division winner and wild card representative. Without further ado, its time to make predictions on which teams are bound for the playoffs. Here it goes: EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC Boston Bruins (champion) Tampa Bay Lightning (automatic bid) Montreal Canadiens (automatic bid) METROPOLITAN Pittsburgh Penguins (champion) New York Rangers (automatic bid) Columbus Blue Jackets (automatic bid) WILD CARDS New Jersey Devils New York Islanders EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Boston Heading into the 2014 playoffs, the Bruins were billed as the only East team with a real chance of beating one of the Wests elite clubs in the Cup Finals. However, Claude Juliens club didnt get the chance to test its mettle against the representatives from the NHLs power conference as Boston fell in seven games to the rival Montreal Canadiens in the East semifinals. The Habs downed Boston with speed in the playoffs before the Rangers beat Montreal at its own game in the conference finals. Both clubs obviously have the skaters to take down the Bruins again, but Boston shouldnt be counted out due to one shaky postseason performance. The Bruins, after all, have shown the ability to rebound from poor playoff appearances in recent years under Julien and it could be time for them to prove it again. Boston won the Stanley Cup in 2011 just one year removed from a monumental 0-3 collapse against Philadelphia in the 2010 playoffs. Then after getting bounced by Washington in the first round of the 2012 playoffs, the Bs went on to face the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2013 Cup Finals before ultimately falling in six games. Juliens system, which puts an emphasis on responsible team defense, is the major reason Boston is still a threat. Steady on-ice leaders like star defenseman Zdeno Chara and versatile centerman Patrice Bergeron make sure the team sticks to the plan, and having reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tuukka Rask between the pipes doesnt hurt either. The Bruins may not be able to stop the trend of Western Conference dominance in the end, but a return to the Cup Finals is well within Bostons reach. WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL St. Louis Blues (champion) Chicago Blackhawks (automatic bid) Minnesota Wild (automatic bid) PACIFIC Anaheim Ducks (champion) Los Angeles Kings (automatic bid) San Jose Sharks (automatic bid) WILD CARDS Colorado Avalanche Dallas Stars WESTERN CONFERENCE/STANLEY CUP CHAMPION: Chicago Blackhawks No team has been able to claim consecutive Cups since Detroit pulled off the repeat in 1997 and 98, but the Kings are a serious threat to supplant the Red Wings as the most recent back-to-back champions. Of course, the Blackhawks figure to be the biggest obstacle standing in the way of a second straight L.A. title. Chicago not only pushed the Kings to the limit in last springs classic Western Conference finals battle, it also carried a 4-3 edge into the third period of Game 7 before L.A. rallied for a 5-4 OT victory in the Windy City. The Blackhawks and Kings are similar in many ways. They boast two of the NHLs deepest rosters with star players littered throughout and both clubs are used to dominating the opposition when it comes to puck possession. Chicago seems to own a slight edge in overall defensive depth, but Kings blueliner Drew Doughty appeared to be the biggest difference maker during last years playoff battle. L.A. goaltender Jonathan Quick also is a better regarded goaltender than Chicagos Corey Crawford, but both players have proven themselves capable of anchoring a Cup-winning team. When two teams match up this closely with one another, intangible factors can often tip the balance in one clubs favor. What L.A. did in last years playoffs was amazing, but the Kings did receive their share of puck luck along the way and theres a good chance it could run out in 2015. Darryl Sutters resilient club deserves credit for rallying from down 3-0 to beat San Jose in Round 1 last spring and coming back from a 3-2 deficit to eliminate Anaheim in the conference semis before outlasting Chicago, but a few bounces the other way easily could have ended L.A.s title hopes prematurely. After the Kings magical run to the Cup in 2014, it isnt crazy to think the Blackhawks will have luck on their side this time. One thing is clear: as hockey fans, wed all be lucky to see another Western Conference battle between Chicago and L.A. The race to claim a dynasty is on, and in 2014-15 it could be Chicagos turn to take another lap with Lord Stanleys Cup. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . "After consultation with the Team USA medical staff and officials, it was determined that he should return to Winnipeg as a precaution due to his previous injury history," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Wednesday in a statement. Wholesale MLB Jerseys . The Islanders own the fifth pick in the 2014 draft but had until June 1 to decide whether to keep it or defer to 2015. The selection was packaged in the teams deal for Thomas Vanek on October 27, 2013. http://www.chinawholesalejerseysnfl.com/ . Its the games against the leagues struggling franchises that have proved to be an issue.RENTON, Wash. -- Running back Marshawn Lynch returned to practice for the first time since reporting to training camp late last week, but who will block for him at right tackle this season remains in question. The Seahawks released Michael Bowie on Saturday after it was determined his injured shoulder would require surgery. Bowie, who started eight games as a rookie for the Seahawks, was the favourite to win the teams starting right tackle job entering training camp. However, he reported to camp 20 pounds overweight, according to head coach Pete Carroll, and he injured his shoulder again on the first day of practice. With Bowie gone, the battle for the starting job shifts firmly to second-round pick Justin Britt and veteran Eric Winston. Britt has taken nearly every first-team snap at right tackle since Bowies injury. Winston has started 119 consecutive games over the last seven seasons for the Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals. "Its a big competition going on. There has been since the start of camp," Carroll said. "Its unfortunate that we dont get to keep Michael (Bowie) but we have to keep moving and keep going here. This is a very competitive situation with Britt and with Winston in there and I think Alvin Bailey will be mixed into this thing too, eventually. Its a really good spot for us in that we do have depth and we do have competition." Left tackle Russell Okung took part in individual drills for the first time after off-season foot surgery. Alvin Bailey has been taking the first-team snaps at left tackle in Okungss absence, but could enter the battle at right tackle once Okung is back to full speed. China Jerseys Online. . "Alvin has got the flexibility to play a couple different spots. Hes played guard a little bit, too, so hes a valuable guy in that regard," Carroll said. Seattle also added two new linemen on Monday, claiming tackle Cory Brandon off waivers from Arizona and signing veteran guard Wade Smith. "Were hoping (they) can bring us something," Carroll said. "We want to continue to work to make this position as competitive as possible." Lynch was very limited as he took just a handful of snaps during Mondays practice. He did not take part in any off-season practices and missed the first week of training camp in a contract dispute. Carroll said Lynch kept in shape on his own but needs some time still to work into football shape. "Were going to take our time and make sure that we do that. Weve always been very patient with him, making sure his body is in great shape and all. Were just going to bring him along," Carroll said. Notes: Seattle waived LB Brandon Denmark and WR Ronald Johnson, signed DT Andru Pulu and OL Wade Smith, and claimed OT Cory Brandon off waivers from Arizona. ... OT Russell Okung (foot) and S Kam Chancellor (hip) worked through individual drills for the first time since having off-season surgeries. ... G James Carpenter (calf) could return to practice Tuesday. ... S Dion Bailey was on crutches after suffering a sprained ankle on Saturday. ... WR Phil Bates left practice due to illness. ' ' '