NHL Western Converence

Central Division

1 DETROIT RED WINGS

Coach: Scotty Bowman

1997-98 record: 44-23-15 (2nd)

Ice chips: Three-peat anyone? What's not to like about the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. Captain Steve Yzerman (24 goals, 69 points) was playoff MVP and remains at at the top of his game. Nicklas Lidstrom (17 goals, 59 points) became one of the league's best defensemen. G Chris Osgood (35 wins, six shutouts, 2.21 GAA) silenced critics who said he couldn't win the Cup. C Sergei Fedorov will be available for a full season after holding out for more than half of 1997-98.

Comings and goings: Status of coach Scotty Bowman is uncertain after surgery to unblock clogged arteries in his heart. He'll only return if he feel completely healthy. In his absence, associate coaches Dave Lewis and Barry Smith are serving as co-interim coaches. Red Wings signed free-agent defenseman Uwe Krupp (6-foot-6, 235 pounds) away from rival Colorado.

So intent were the Red Wings on keeping together a winning team that they reacquired 34-year-old RW Doug Brown (19 goals) from Nashville after the Predators claimed him in the expansion draft.

Eyes on: F Brendan Shanahan, who was a principal component of Detroit's 1996-97 championship team but was dogged by back problems last season.

2 ST. LOUIS BLUES

Coach: Joel Quenneville

1997-98 record: 45-29-8 (3rd)

Ice chips: The Blues begin life without Brett Hull, who signed a free-agent contract with Dallas in the offseason. Minus Hull, the Blues still have an outstanding group of young players, led by huge D Chris Pronger (6-5, 220). The Blues' 23-year-old captain had 36 points and an NHL-best plus-47 rating. And don't forget Grant Fuher in goal.

Comings and goings: The team made good moves in re-signing D Al MacInnis (19 goals, 49 points) and LW Geoff Courtnall (31 goals, 62 points).

Eyes on: Pronger. Perhaps the league's best defenseman, despite finishing third in the Norris Trophy vote.

3 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Coach: Dirk Graham (new)

1997-98 record: 30-39-13 (5th)