Last Monday in Philadelphia we had a serious incident.
Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger took a stick to the face when Toronto forward Mikhail Grabovski spun around to take a shot on goal not knowing Pronger was standing right were his follow through on the shot would be going.
Pronger immediately grabbed his face after being hit & skated off the ice. The diagnosis on Pronger was blurred vision in his right eye & a cut on his eyelid. Early speculation had Pronger out for 2-3 weeks but as of right now there is no timetable for his return.
The incident brought to mind a similar situation with defenseman Bryan Berard. Back on March 11th 2000 Berard was hurt when the stick of Marian Hossa clipped his face on a follow through shot. Berard suffered a retinal tear & a detached retina of his right eye & came very close to losing it.
Berard would undergo numerous surgeries & would return to the NHL in 2002 with the New York Rangers but he was never the same player. Berard would have stints with three other NHL clubs before calling it a career in 2009.
What do these two incidents have in common? The damage from both could have been minimal if each player was wearing a visor.
Now I know I may be opening a can of worms with the visor debate here as I can find just as many for wearing a visor as against it but for me the call is simple, Visors should be grandfathered in much like helmets were.
Players already wear full face shields at the high school, college, & junior hockey levels. They are accustomed to playing with them on. It wouldn't be much of a transition for a player to go to a visor at the NHL level.
Looking at how the game has evolved since players didn't wear helmets I can't imagine a player not wearing one today. The same should be said with visors. If the NHL is serious about player safety like they say they are then this is a no-brainer.
Let's make this happen before another player loses an eye.
Here is this week's Power Poll.
1. Pittsburgh 8-3-2 18 points
Looks like the earliest Sidney Crosby will return is November 11th and that's not for certain.
2. Edmonton 7-2-2 16 points
When you have been as bad as they have been the last few years and you find yourself on top of the Western Conference you are no worse than number 2 in the Power Poll.
3. Dallas 8-3-0 16 points
11 games in, the transition to the Glen Gulutzan era seems to be going smoothly.
4. Toronto 7-3-1 15 points
Maple Leafs are 0-2-0 on the 2nd half of back to back games.
5. Washington 7-2-0 14 points
Capitals are 2-13-1 in recent trips to Edmonton & Vancouver after losses on two game road trip.
6. Chicago 6-2-2 14 points
Blackhawks are 4-0-2 on home ice this season.
7. Los Angeles 6-3-2 14 points
Good news for the Kings as Drew Doughty is back on the ice.
8. Colorado 7-4-0 14 points
Avs rookie Gabriel Landeskog finished October with 4 goals. One short of the club's rookie record set by Marek Svatos with 5 in 2005-06.
9. Ottawa 7-5-0 14 points
Senators have won six in a row.
10. Philadelphia 6-4-1 13 points
Ilya Bryzgalov is lacking a little confidence right now. Not what you want to hear from a goaltender you signed to a nine year contract.
11. San Jose 6-3-0 12 points
Looking to complete a six game unbeaten road trip tonight in New York.
12. Buffalo 6-4-0 12 points
Thomas Vanek (7G, 7A) off to the best start of his career.
13. Tampa Bay 5-4-2 12 points
Brett Connolly (0G, 2A) is sticking with the Lightning instead of going back to juniors.
14. Florida 6-4-0 12 points
Looking at the moves Dale Tallon has made to the roster this season I get the feeling he is bored & likes to tinker with the roster.
15. Phoenix 5-3-2 12 points
Congrats to Shane Doan on scoring 300 career goals.
16. Vancouver 5-5-1 11 points
Beat Washington 7-4 in what could be a preview of the Stanley Cup Finals.
17. Nashville 5-4-1 11 points
Predators start their annual CMA Awards road trip tonight with a division battle in Chicago.
18. Anaheim 5-5-1 11 points
Ducks have scored one goal in last 156:02 minutes of play.
19. Minnesota 4-3-3 11 points
Josh Harding (36 saves) was spectacular in 1-0 win over Detroit Saturday night.
20. Carolina 4-4-3 11 points
Hurricanes finish with 11 out of a possible 22 points in the month of October.
21. Detroit 5-4-0 10 points
Red Wings have lost four straight since starting the season 5-0. It's still way too early to panic.
22. Montreal 4-5-2 10 points
1st time I have seen an assistant coach take the fall in the NHL for a team's slow start
23. St. Louis 5-6-0 10 points
Now that the World Series is over the people of St. Louis can start paying attention once again to the Blues.
24. New York Rangers 3-3-3 9 points
Sean Avery will be rejoining the team later this week.
25. New Jersey 4-4-1 9 points
Martin Brodeur could return in net as early as this week.
26. Calgary 4-4-1 9 points
Rookie Roman Horak (2G, 3A) a bright spot for a Flames team that has started slow.
27. N.Y. Islanders 3-4-2 8 points
Islanders are winless in their last five games (0-3-2)
28. Winnipeg 3-6-1 7 points
Scored nine goals in a win over Philadelphia last Thursday night. Followed it up by getting shut out in Tampa.
29. Boston 3-7-0 6 points
Milan Lucic could be on the trading block as Stanley Cup hangover continues to linger.
30. Columbus 2-9-1 5 points
Rumor has it Ken Hitchcock could return as coach if things don't turn around soon.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Week 2 Power Poll
A couple things caught my attention this weekend.
First of all Washington remained the lone unbeaten team in the NHL by handing Detroit it's 1st loss of the season 7-1. It's one thing to beat the Wings, it's another to beat them by six goals. It's only October but an impressive win nonetheless.
The second thing that caught by attention was the trade of David Booth from Florida to Vancouver.
Booth had been linked in rumors to the Canucks for a while now & with Dale Tallon making over the roster in South Beach Booth being traded isn't much of a surprise. What is surprising is what the Canucks had to give up to get him.
Vancouver traded Mikael Samuelsson & Marco Sturm, two decent role players at this stage in their career for Booth, Steve Reinprecht & a 3rd round pick.
Not only do the Canucks get the best player in the deal in Booth but they also get a 3rd round pick in 2013. I know Florida is rebuilding but wouldn't it make sense that if you are going to trade one of your better players you get something in return you can build around instead of two role players.
Maybe Dale Tallon knows something I don't.
Here is your Power Poll for Week 2.
1. Washington 7-0-0 14 points
When you hand the Red Wings their 1st loss by scoring 7 goals, you deserve the top spot.
2. Pittsburgh 6-2-2 14 points
Just as Brooks Orpik returns on defense the Penguins lose Zybnek Michalek for 4-6 weeks with a broken finger.
3. Dallas 6-2-0 12 points
Loss to the Kings snaps the Stars five game winning streak.
4. Colorado 6-2-0 12 points
Avs have won all their road games but are winless at home.
5. Los Angeles 5-1-1 11 points
Johnathan Quick (5-0-1, 0.81 GAA, .972 save %) named 1st star of the week.
6. Toronto 5-1-1 11 points
Phil Kessel (8G, 6A) is leading the NHL in scoring.
7. Detroit 5-1-0 10 points
It's only October, that loss to Washington won't phase Detroit.
8. Chicago 4-1-2 10 points
Marian Hossa has a goal in each game since returning to the Blackhawks lineup last Tuesday.
9. Buffalo 5-2-0 10 points
Tyler Ennis listed as week to week with an ankle injury. Ville Leino to play wing in his absence.
10. Vancouver 4-3-1 9 points
Acquiring David Booth from Florida is a steal for GM Mike Gillis.
11. Philadelphia 4-2-1 9 points
Back to back losses has caused Peter Laviolette to juggle his line combinations.
12. Minnesota 3-2-3 9 points
Somehow someway the Wild are finding ways to get points early in the season.
13. Tampa Bay 3-3-2 8 points
Lightning end two 3 game winning streaks last week with wins over the Islanders & Buffalo.
14. Anaheim 4-3-0 8 points
Back to back home losses to Dallas & Phoenix is a reminder to Anaheim how tough the Pacific Division is.
15. Carolina 3-3-2 8 points
Hurricanes end four game road trip going 2-1-1.
16. Edmonton 3-2-2 8 points
The big question for the Oilers is do they keep Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (5G, 2A) or send him back to juniors before the end of the week.
17. St. Louis 4-4-0 8 points
Good news for the Blues, David Perron close to returning from Post-Concussion Syndrome.
18. Florida 4-3-0 8 points
I still don't know what Dale Tallon is thinking
19. Nashville 3-3-1 7 points
Predators begin a much needed three game homestand this Tuesday against San Jose.
20. New Jersey 3-2-1 7 points
Devils start a three game road trip out West on Tuesday that should give us an idea of how good they might be.
21. Phoenix 3-3-1 7 points
Coyotes make a trade acquiring Brock Trotter & a 7th round pick from Montreal for Petteri Nokaleinen & Garrett Stafford.
22. San Jose 3-3-0 6 points
Back to back road wins over New Jersey & Boston should have Sharks moving in the right direction.
23. Boston 3-5-0 6 points
No game until Thursday gives the Bruins time to work on things. Coach Claude Julien thinks his team is almost there.
24. N.Y. Rangers 2-2-2 6 points
Rangers end seven game road trip tonight in Winnipeg before heading home for opener against Toronto on Thursday.
25. N.Y. Islanders 3-3-0 6 points
John Tavares (6G, 4A) has 10 points in his last four games.
26. Ottawa 3-5-0 6 points
Daniel Alfredsson to miss game against Carolina with a hip flexor ailment.
27. Calgary 2-4-1 5 points
Rumor has it that The Flames may be the next team to make a deal.
28. Winnipeg 2-4-1 5 points
Still the Thrashers in cooler uniforms.
29. Montreal 1-4-2 4 points
Something needs to change & soon for the Canadiens before it's too late.
30. Columbus 0-7-1 1 points
If this was a video game the Blue Jackets would have already hit the reset button on the season.
First of all Washington remained the lone unbeaten team in the NHL by handing Detroit it's 1st loss of the season 7-1. It's one thing to beat the Wings, it's another to beat them by six goals. It's only October but an impressive win nonetheless.
The second thing that caught by attention was the trade of David Booth from Florida to Vancouver.
Booth had been linked in rumors to the Canucks for a while now & with Dale Tallon making over the roster in South Beach Booth being traded isn't much of a surprise. What is surprising is what the Canucks had to give up to get him.
Vancouver traded Mikael Samuelsson & Marco Sturm, two decent role players at this stage in their career for Booth, Steve Reinprecht & a 3rd round pick.
Not only do the Canucks get the best player in the deal in Booth but they also get a 3rd round pick in 2013. I know Florida is rebuilding but wouldn't it make sense that if you are going to trade one of your better players you get something in return you can build around instead of two role players.
Maybe Dale Tallon knows something I don't.
Here is your Power Poll for Week 2.
1. Washington 7-0-0 14 points
When you hand the Red Wings their 1st loss by scoring 7 goals, you deserve the top spot.
2. Pittsburgh 6-2-2 14 points
Just as Brooks Orpik returns on defense the Penguins lose Zybnek Michalek for 4-6 weeks with a broken finger.
3. Dallas 6-2-0 12 points
Loss to the Kings snaps the Stars five game winning streak.
4. Colorado 6-2-0 12 points
Avs have won all their road games but are winless at home.
5. Los Angeles 5-1-1 11 points
Johnathan Quick (5-0-1, 0.81 GAA, .972 save %) named 1st star of the week.
6. Toronto 5-1-1 11 points
Phil Kessel (8G, 6A) is leading the NHL in scoring.
7. Detroit 5-1-0 10 points
It's only October, that loss to Washington won't phase Detroit.
8. Chicago 4-1-2 10 points
Marian Hossa has a goal in each game since returning to the Blackhawks lineup last Tuesday.
9. Buffalo 5-2-0 10 points
Tyler Ennis listed as week to week with an ankle injury. Ville Leino to play wing in his absence.
10. Vancouver 4-3-1 9 points
Acquiring David Booth from Florida is a steal for GM Mike Gillis.
11. Philadelphia 4-2-1 9 points
Back to back losses has caused Peter Laviolette to juggle his line combinations.
12. Minnesota 3-2-3 9 points
Somehow someway the Wild are finding ways to get points early in the season.
13. Tampa Bay 3-3-2 8 points
Lightning end two 3 game winning streaks last week with wins over the Islanders & Buffalo.
14. Anaheim 4-3-0 8 points
Back to back home losses to Dallas & Phoenix is a reminder to Anaheim how tough the Pacific Division is.
15. Carolina 3-3-2 8 points
Hurricanes end four game road trip going 2-1-1.
16. Edmonton 3-2-2 8 points
The big question for the Oilers is do they keep Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (5G, 2A) or send him back to juniors before the end of the week.
17. St. Louis 4-4-0 8 points
Good news for the Blues, David Perron close to returning from Post-Concussion Syndrome.
18. Florida 4-3-0 8 points
I still don't know what Dale Tallon is thinking
19. Nashville 3-3-1 7 points
Predators begin a much needed three game homestand this Tuesday against San Jose.
20. New Jersey 3-2-1 7 points
Devils start a three game road trip out West on Tuesday that should give us an idea of how good they might be.
21. Phoenix 3-3-1 7 points
Coyotes make a trade acquiring Brock Trotter & a 7th round pick from Montreal for Petteri Nokaleinen & Garrett Stafford.
22. San Jose 3-3-0 6 points
Back to back road wins over New Jersey & Boston should have Sharks moving in the right direction.
23. Boston 3-5-0 6 points
No game until Thursday gives the Bruins time to work on things. Coach Claude Julien thinks his team is almost there.
24. N.Y. Rangers 2-2-2 6 points
Rangers end seven game road trip tonight in Winnipeg before heading home for opener against Toronto on Thursday.
25. N.Y. Islanders 3-3-0 6 points
John Tavares (6G, 4A) has 10 points in his last four games.
26. Ottawa 3-5-0 6 points
Daniel Alfredsson to miss game against Carolina with a hip flexor ailment.
27. Calgary 2-4-1 5 points
Rumor has it that The Flames may be the next team to make a deal.
28. Winnipeg 2-4-1 5 points
Still the Thrashers in cooler uniforms.
29. Montreal 1-4-2 4 points
Something needs to change & soon for the Canadiens before it's too late.
30. Columbus 0-7-1 1 points
If this was a video game the Blue Jackets would have already hit the reset button on the season.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Realignment On The Horizon
Early into the NHL season one of the better stories is the return of the Winnipeg Jets.
It took 15 years but after losing their original franchise to Phoenix in 1996 the NHL returned to "The Peg" this past summer when the Atlanta Thrashers were purchased by Mark Chipman & True North Sports Entertainment.
So far it has been a rough start in Winnipeg as the Jets are 1-4-1 in their 1st six games. However the locals don't care that they are watching the Thrashers in cooler uniforms. They could finish 2-78-2 and Winnipeg would be fine with it this season because the NHL has returned.
While the focus in Winnipeg is having the NHL back around the rest of the league Owners & GM's are wondering how to realign for the 2012-2013 season.
Since the deal to purchase Atlanta & move them to Winnipeg happened in late June there wasn't enough time for the NHL to realign and adjust the schedule for the 2011-2012 season. Because of this the Jets are playing in the Southeast Division with Tampa Bay, Carolina, Florida, & Washington.
That will change next year when the Jets move out of the Souheast & into the Western Conference. That much we do know. What we don't know is which team will move East & what the domino effect will be for all the other teams involved.
Let's look at the realignment possibilities and how they affect a few NHL teams.
Detroit Red Wings:
There has been an understanding between Detroit owner Mike Illitch & NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman that if there was ever an opportunity for the Red Wings to move to the Eastern Conference they would be given 1st consideration over any NHL club.
It makes sense as Detroit is one of two teams in the Western Conference that play in the Eastern time zone. With four of the original six teams in the East you could move Detroit and rekindle old rivalries that have gone stale in the last few years.
But I don't believe that the Red Wings moving to the East is a lock. It takes 2/3rds of a vote for realignment to take place. With as good as Detroit has been the last 20 years the last thing an owner from the East wants to do is have to compete with Detroit for a playoff spot.
Another thing to factor in is Detroit is one of a handful of teams that draws good crowds on the road. The owners of the teams in the West can't like the idea of Detroit coming into their building once a year instead of 2 to 3 times a year.
And then you have the Central Division.
The big rival for the Red Wings in the Central is the Chicago Blackhawks. I can't imagine Chicago would be too happy with their rival leaving them behind for the Eastern Conference.
Another rival in the Central is the St. Louis Blues. While it doesn't have the history it does with Chicago, The Red Wings have had a heated rivalry with the Blues in the past. St. Louis probably isn't thrilled with the possibility of Detroit leaving the West either.
As for the other teams in the Central Nashville & Columbus the history may not be there but the seeds have been planted for competitive rivalries to develop. Nashville finished 2nd in the Central last year & has played Detroit well in the past while Columbus & Detroit adds another layer to the rivalry between the State of Ohio & the state of Michigan.
The other thing is if Detroit goes East where do you put them? The teams in the Atlantic & Northeast fit so well together it makes no sense to break them up to make room for Detroit. The only opening is in the Southeast Division which only makes sense in the fact that Detroit is in Southeast Michigan.
Columbus Blue Jackets:
Columbus would love to leave the West & play in the Eastern Conference for the same reason Detroit does. Unlike Detroit they don't have the history the Red Wings do & would probably cause the least amount of controversy.
You would have the same issue in the Atlantic & Northeast as you do with moving the Wings but the Blue Jackets would be a better fit geographically in the Southeast than Detroit.
And with the Southeast being a weaker division than the Central the Blue Jackets would have a better chance to compete for a playoff spot than they do right now.
Nashville Predators:
If you want to talk about geographic fits then no team makes more sense than moving the Predators to the Southeast. Nashville is the definition of a southern town. Plus like Columbus they have a young history where if you move Nashville you aren't disrupting a lot of rivalries.
The thing that works against Nashville is they are in the Central time zone. I can't believe the NHL is anxious to move a team in the Central time zone to the East when their are two Western Conference teams that currently play in the Eastern Time zone that also prefer to move.
While these three teams are the ones most likely to move to the East the talk of realignment doesn't end there. There are a couple teams in the Western Conference that would love to move to the Central Division should a spot open up.
Minnesota Wild:
It's no secret that fans of the Minnesota Wild have never been crazy about being in the Northwest Division. Road games within the division start around 8 PM at the earliest which means fans have to stay up anywhere between 10:30-11:30 waiting for a game to finish.
Plus ask a Minnesota hockey fan and they remember the good old days of the Norris Division when Chicago, St. Louis, & Detroit were the main rivals for Minnesota hockey.
Rivalries against Vancouver, Calgary & Colorado just seem forced & doesn't inspire the same passion as the old Norris Division. Being placed in the Central would provide the chance to rekindle those old rivalries & cut down on travel within the division.
Dallas Stars:
While the state of Minnesota remembers those rivalries & would love a return to the Central Division, the team involved in those rivalries would like the same thing even though home is now 946 miles away from where they use to play.
Even after moving to Dallas, the Stars still had good rivalries with Detroit, St. Louis, & Chicago. Much like the Wild, Dallas would like to leave their division because of travel.
The Stars play in the Pacific Division which means most of their division road games start at 9 PM Central time. Dallas has had good fan support since moving to Texas but it would be beneficial to their fans if they were in a division where their road games where to start around 7 PM instead of 9 PM.
Phoenix Coyotes:
Why do I mention Phoenix here?
Because the franchise is still up for sale and until they have an owner we don't know where they are going to end up.
They could stay in the desert which would keep realignment at a minimum. Or they could leave Phoenix & start a second wave of realignment. Anything is a possibility with the Coyotes which is why Winnipeg may go to the Central in a straight swap with Detroit, Columbus, or Nashville going to the Southeast.
At this point I don't know what is going to happen with realignment. I have seen numerous scenarios. Some which make sense & some which are way too extreme even for my liking.
If you had to ask me my best guess is Columbus is swapped out with Winnipeg while the NHL waits to see what happens with Phoenix.
The next meeting with the NHL Board of Governors is in December. We should have an answer by then.
It took 15 years but after losing their original franchise to Phoenix in 1996 the NHL returned to "The Peg" this past summer when the Atlanta Thrashers were purchased by Mark Chipman & True North Sports Entertainment.
So far it has been a rough start in Winnipeg as the Jets are 1-4-1 in their 1st six games. However the locals don't care that they are watching the Thrashers in cooler uniforms. They could finish 2-78-2 and Winnipeg would be fine with it this season because the NHL has returned.
While the focus in Winnipeg is having the NHL back around the rest of the league Owners & GM's are wondering how to realign for the 2012-2013 season.
Since the deal to purchase Atlanta & move them to Winnipeg happened in late June there wasn't enough time for the NHL to realign and adjust the schedule for the 2011-2012 season. Because of this the Jets are playing in the Southeast Division with Tampa Bay, Carolina, Florida, & Washington.
That will change next year when the Jets move out of the Souheast & into the Western Conference. That much we do know. What we don't know is which team will move East & what the domino effect will be for all the other teams involved.
Let's look at the realignment possibilities and how they affect a few NHL teams.
Detroit Red Wings:
There has been an understanding between Detroit owner Mike Illitch & NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman that if there was ever an opportunity for the Red Wings to move to the Eastern Conference they would be given 1st consideration over any NHL club.
It makes sense as Detroit is one of two teams in the Western Conference that play in the Eastern time zone. With four of the original six teams in the East you could move Detroit and rekindle old rivalries that have gone stale in the last few years.
But I don't believe that the Red Wings moving to the East is a lock. It takes 2/3rds of a vote for realignment to take place. With as good as Detroit has been the last 20 years the last thing an owner from the East wants to do is have to compete with Detroit for a playoff spot.
Another thing to factor in is Detroit is one of a handful of teams that draws good crowds on the road. The owners of the teams in the West can't like the idea of Detroit coming into their building once a year instead of 2 to 3 times a year.
And then you have the Central Division.
The big rival for the Red Wings in the Central is the Chicago Blackhawks. I can't imagine Chicago would be too happy with their rival leaving them behind for the Eastern Conference.
Another rival in the Central is the St. Louis Blues. While it doesn't have the history it does with Chicago, The Red Wings have had a heated rivalry with the Blues in the past. St. Louis probably isn't thrilled with the possibility of Detroit leaving the West either.
As for the other teams in the Central Nashville & Columbus the history may not be there but the seeds have been planted for competitive rivalries to develop. Nashville finished 2nd in the Central last year & has played Detroit well in the past while Columbus & Detroit adds another layer to the rivalry between the State of Ohio & the state of Michigan.
The other thing is if Detroit goes East where do you put them? The teams in the Atlantic & Northeast fit so well together it makes no sense to break them up to make room for Detroit. The only opening is in the Southeast Division which only makes sense in the fact that Detroit is in Southeast Michigan.
Columbus Blue Jackets:
Columbus would love to leave the West & play in the Eastern Conference for the same reason Detroit does. Unlike Detroit they don't have the history the Red Wings do & would probably cause the least amount of controversy.
You would have the same issue in the Atlantic & Northeast as you do with moving the Wings but the Blue Jackets would be a better fit geographically in the Southeast than Detroit.
And with the Southeast being a weaker division than the Central the Blue Jackets would have a better chance to compete for a playoff spot than they do right now.
Nashville Predators:
If you want to talk about geographic fits then no team makes more sense than moving the Predators to the Southeast. Nashville is the definition of a southern town. Plus like Columbus they have a young history where if you move Nashville you aren't disrupting a lot of rivalries.
The thing that works against Nashville is they are in the Central time zone. I can't believe the NHL is anxious to move a team in the Central time zone to the East when their are two Western Conference teams that currently play in the Eastern Time zone that also prefer to move.
While these three teams are the ones most likely to move to the East the talk of realignment doesn't end there. There are a couple teams in the Western Conference that would love to move to the Central Division should a spot open up.
Minnesota Wild:
It's no secret that fans of the Minnesota Wild have never been crazy about being in the Northwest Division. Road games within the division start around 8 PM at the earliest which means fans have to stay up anywhere between 10:30-11:30 waiting for a game to finish.
Plus ask a Minnesota hockey fan and they remember the good old days of the Norris Division when Chicago, St. Louis, & Detroit were the main rivals for Minnesota hockey.
Rivalries against Vancouver, Calgary & Colorado just seem forced & doesn't inspire the same passion as the old Norris Division. Being placed in the Central would provide the chance to rekindle those old rivalries & cut down on travel within the division.
Dallas Stars:
While the state of Minnesota remembers those rivalries & would love a return to the Central Division, the team involved in those rivalries would like the same thing even though home is now 946 miles away from where they use to play.
Even after moving to Dallas, the Stars still had good rivalries with Detroit, St. Louis, & Chicago. Much like the Wild, Dallas would like to leave their division because of travel.
The Stars play in the Pacific Division which means most of their division road games start at 9 PM Central time. Dallas has had good fan support since moving to Texas but it would be beneficial to their fans if they were in a division where their road games where to start around 7 PM instead of 9 PM.
Phoenix Coyotes:
Why do I mention Phoenix here?
Because the franchise is still up for sale and until they have an owner we don't know where they are going to end up.
They could stay in the desert which would keep realignment at a minimum. Or they could leave Phoenix & start a second wave of realignment. Anything is a possibility with the Coyotes which is why Winnipeg may go to the Central in a straight swap with Detroit, Columbus, or Nashville going to the Southeast.
At this point I don't know what is going to happen with realignment. I have seen numerous scenarios. Some which make sense & some which are way too extreme even for my liking.
If you had to ask me my best guess is Columbus is swapped out with Winnipeg while the NHL waits to see what happens with Phoenix.
The next meeting with the NHL Board of Governors is in December. We should have an answer by then.
Monday, October 17, 2011
WEEK 1 POWER POLL
I apologize for the lack of hockey updates early in the season. With the Milwaukee Brewers in the playoffs my attention has been elsewhere. You can't blame me though, this doesn't happen every year.
With the Brewers season coming to an end last night I can now turn my focus to the NHL season. The best way for me to get back into it is with the 1st Power Poll of the 2011-2012 season.
Any comments or disagreements, feel free to let me know.
1. Washington 4-0-0 8 points
Last time the Capitals started the season with 4 straight wins was 97-98 when they went to the Stanley Cup Finals.
2. Detroit 4-0-0 8 points
Red Wings are also 4-0 for the 1st time since 97-98 when they defeated Washington in the Stanley Cup Finals.
3. Pittsburgh 3-1-2 8 points
Good news for the Penguins as Sidney Crosby is cleared for contact.
4. Dallas 4-1-0 8 points
Kari Lehtonen named 3rd star of the week. (4-0-0 1.48 GAA, .955 save percentage)
5. Colorado 4-1-0 8 points
Nice start for the Avs but I want to see a little more before I buy in.
6. Philadelphia 3-0-1 7 points
Through four games Jaromir Jagr has zero goals & three assists for the Flyers.
7. Buffalo 3-1-0 6 points
Nathan Gerbe (1G, 3A) is picking up where he left off last year.
8. Anaheim 3-1-0 6 points
Jason Blake expected to miss 3 months after suffering a deep cut to his wrist against San Jose.
9. Toronto 3-0-0 6 points
Phil Kessel (5G, 3A) tied for the lead in scoring & named 1st star of the week.
10. N.Y. Islanders 3-1-0 6 points
Back to back four point games results in John Tavares being named 2nd star of the week.
11. Minnesota 2-1-2 6 points
Has received a point in four out of five games this season.
12. New Jersey 3-1-0 6 points
Cause for concern? Martin Brodeur leaves game early against Los Angeles with upper body soreness & doesn't play against Nashville.
13. Vancouver 2-2-1 5 points
Ryan Kesler to make season debut Tuesday against New York.
14. Chicago 2-1-1 5 points
Blackhawks lose shootout to Boston 3-2 in match-up of previous Stanley Cup Champions.
15. Los Angeles 2-1-1 5 points
Drew Doughty out 7-10 days with an upper body injury after taking a hit by Zac Rinaldo.
16. Nashville 2-1-1 5 points
Predators start a 3 game road trip in Edmonton Tuesday night where they are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games at Rexall Place.
17. Carolina 2-2-1 5 points
Last two wins for the Hurricanes are due to special teams.
18. Phoenix 2-1-1 5 points
Old Winnipeg Jets defeat New Winnipeg Jets 4-1 in home opener for the Coyotes.
19. Boston 2-3-0 4 points
Bruins may be 2-3 so far but I won't call it a hangover yet.
20. Tampa Bay 1-2-2 4 points
Lightning finally open at the newly renovated St. Pete Times Forum tonight against Florida.
21. St. Louis 2-3-0 4 points
I don't think anyone in St. Louis cares about the Blues right now.
22. Florida 2-1-0 4 points
Nice start for a team that is a work in progress.
23. Montreal 1-2-1 3 points
With the exception being the game against Winnipeg the Habs have yet to play their best hockey.
24. Edmonton 1-1-1 3 points
Nikolai Khabibulin showed shades of his old self in shootout loss to Minnesota last Thursday.
25. San Jose 1-2-0 2 points
Sharks looking to snap a 2 game slide tonight against Anaheim.
26. N.Y. Rangers 0-1-2 2 points
Of all the teams without a win this one is the most surprising.
27. Calgary 1-3-0 2 points
Miikka Kiprusoff becomes the Flames leader in career victories in goal with 263 in 4-1 win over Montreal.
28. Ottawa 1-4-0 2 points
This might be as high as the Senators get in the Power Poll this season.
29. Columbus 0-4-1 1 points
Jeff Carter is day to day with a foot injury. Not good news for a Blue Jacket team looking for it's first win.
30. Winnipeg 0-3-0 0 points
Right now it doesn't matter what their record is, it's just nice to have the NHL back in Winnipeg.
With the Brewers season coming to an end last night I can now turn my focus to the NHL season. The best way for me to get back into it is with the 1st Power Poll of the 2011-2012 season.
Any comments or disagreements, feel free to let me know.
1. Washington 4-0-0 8 points
Last time the Capitals started the season with 4 straight wins was 97-98 when they went to the Stanley Cup Finals.
2. Detroit 4-0-0 8 points
Red Wings are also 4-0 for the 1st time since 97-98 when they defeated Washington in the Stanley Cup Finals.
3. Pittsburgh 3-1-2 8 points
Good news for the Penguins as Sidney Crosby is cleared for contact.
4. Dallas 4-1-0 8 points
Kari Lehtonen named 3rd star of the week. (4-0-0 1.48 GAA, .955 save percentage)
5. Colorado 4-1-0 8 points
Nice start for the Avs but I want to see a little more before I buy in.
6. Philadelphia 3-0-1 7 points
Through four games Jaromir Jagr has zero goals & three assists for the Flyers.
7. Buffalo 3-1-0 6 points
Nathan Gerbe (1G, 3A) is picking up where he left off last year.
8. Anaheim 3-1-0 6 points
Jason Blake expected to miss 3 months after suffering a deep cut to his wrist against San Jose.
9. Toronto 3-0-0 6 points
Phil Kessel (5G, 3A) tied for the lead in scoring & named 1st star of the week.
10. N.Y. Islanders 3-1-0 6 points
Back to back four point games results in John Tavares being named 2nd star of the week.
11. Minnesota 2-1-2 6 points
Has received a point in four out of five games this season.
12. New Jersey 3-1-0 6 points
Cause for concern? Martin Brodeur leaves game early against Los Angeles with upper body soreness & doesn't play against Nashville.
13. Vancouver 2-2-1 5 points
Ryan Kesler to make season debut Tuesday against New York.
14. Chicago 2-1-1 5 points
Blackhawks lose shootout to Boston 3-2 in match-up of previous Stanley Cup Champions.
15. Los Angeles 2-1-1 5 points
Drew Doughty out 7-10 days with an upper body injury after taking a hit by Zac Rinaldo.
16. Nashville 2-1-1 5 points
Predators start a 3 game road trip in Edmonton Tuesday night where they are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games at Rexall Place.
17. Carolina 2-2-1 5 points
Last two wins for the Hurricanes are due to special teams.
18. Phoenix 2-1-1 5 points
Old Winnipeg Jets defeat New Winnipeg Jets 4-1 in home opener for the Coyotes.
19. Boston 2-3-0 4 points
Bruins may be 2-3 so far but I won't call it a hangover yet.
20. Tampa Bay 1-2-2 4 points
Lightning finally open at the newly renovated St. Pete Times Forum tonight against Florida.
21. St. Louis 2-3-0 4 points
I don't think anyone in St. Louis cares about the Blues right now.
22. Florida 2-1-0 4 points
Nice start for a team that is a work in progress.
23. Montreal 1-2-1 3 points
With the exception being the game against Winnipeg the Habs have yet to play their best hockey.
24. Edmonton 1-1-1 3 points
Nikolai Khabibulin showed shades of his old self in shootout loss to Minnesota last Thursday.
25. San Jose 1-2-0 2 points
Sharks looking to snap a 2 game slide tonight against Anaheim.
26. N.Y. Rangers 0-1-2 2 points
Of all the teams without a win this one is the most surprising.
27. Calgary 1-3-0 2 points
Miikka Kiprusoff becomes the Flames leader in career victories in goal with 263 in 4-1 win over Montreal.
28. Ottawa 1-4-0 2 points
This might be as high as the Senators get in the Power Poll this season.
29. Columbus 0-4-1 1 points
Jeff Carter is day to day with a foot injury. Not good news for a Blue Jacket team looking for it's first win.
30. Winnipeg 0-3-0 0 points
Right now it doesn't matter what their record is, it's just nice to have the NHL back in Winnipeg.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
PACIFIC DIVISION PREVIEW
We finish our NHL conference previews with a look at the Pacific Division. Last year the Pacific sent four teams to the playoffs with the 5th team, Dallas just missing the post-season.
In the off-season all five teams have significant changes made to their roster. Will all five teams contend for a playoff spot this year? Let's break it down.
1. San Jose Sharks
How They Finished: 48-25-9 105 points 1st in Pacific, 2nd in West Lost in Conference Finals to Vancouver.
Additions:
Brent Burns (Minnesota) Martin Havlat (Minnesota) James Sheppard (Minnesota) Michal Handzus (Los Angeles) Jim Vandermeer (Edmonton) Andrew Murray (Columbus) Colin White (New Jersey)
Subtractions:
Dany Heatley (Minnesota) Devon Setoguchi (Minnesota) Ben Eager (Edmonton) Jamal Mayers (Chicago) Ian White (Detroit) Scott Nichol (St. Louis) Kent Huskins (St. Louis) Kyle Wellwood (Winnipeg) Niclas Wallin (Sweden)
Why They'll Succeed:
Looking at the roster this might be deepest team in the NHL. Patrick Marleau (37G, 36A) and Joe Thornton (21G, 49A) each reached the 70 point plateau to lead all scorers.
The trade of Devon Setoguchi was made because of the emergence of Joe Pavelski & Logan Couture. Pavelski was 3rd on the team in points last year with 66 (20G, 46A) while Couture 1st full season in the NHL ended with him finishing 2nd on the Sharks in goals scored with 32.
Martin Havlat and James Sheppard come over to the Sharks from Minnesota.Havlat had 22 goals & 40 assist last year for the Wild and will fit in nicely on the 2nd line. Sheppard missed last year with a knee injury and is looking to resurrect what has been a disappointing NHL career.
In goal the Sharks have Antti Niemi in net. Niemi was 35-18-6 in goal with a GAA of 2.38 and a save percentage of .920. Most importantly in the playoffs he gave the Sharks a sense of calm in goal that they haven't had in recent years.
Why They'll Fail:
The biggest move the Sharks made in the off-season was getting Brent Burns from Minnesota to go with Dan Boyle on the blueline.
Burns was an All-Star last year with 17 goals and 29 assists. He also played at times last year like a #5 defenseman instead of an All-Star. Burns is a good player who has done a great job transitioning from forward to defense but there are still some lapses in his game.
Another move the Sharks made was letting Ian White and Kent Huskins leave as free agents and bringing in Colin White from New Jersey and Jim Vandermeer from Edmonton to replace them.
From a talent standpoint the Sharks are better on defense but when you bring in a lot of new faces chemistry is always a concern right away.
Prediction:
GM Doug Wilson realizes the window for the Sharks is closing. That's why these bold moves were made. Yes there is always some concern when making these deals but I believe the Sharks are a stronger team overall because of these deal. I like the Sharks to win the Pacific once again with another deep run in the playoffs to follow.
2. Los Angeles Kings
How They Finished: 46-30-6 98 points 4th in Pacific, 7th in West.
Lost in 1st Round to San Jose.
Additions:
Mike Richards (Philadelphia) Colin Fraser (Edmonton) Simon Gagne (Tampa Bay) Ethan Moreau (Columbus) Trent Hunter (NY Islanders)
Subtractions:
Wayne Simmonds (Philadelphia) Brayden Schenn (Philadelphia) Michal Handzus (San Jose) Alexei Ponikarovsky (Carolina) Peter Harrold (New Jersey) Oscar Moller (Sweden)
Why They'll Succeed:
For the last few seasons the Kings have had a lot of salary cap space but failed to land a marque free agent. This year they decided to trade for one acquiring Mike Richards from Philadelphia.
Richards is one of if not the best two-way center in the NHL. He can score and set up goal and is great on the penalty kill. He won't be under the microscope in LA like he was in Philadelphia.
Richards joins a talented group of forwards led by Anze Kopitar who lead the Kings with 73 points (25G, 48A) last season. Dustin Brown (28G, 29A) and Justin Williams (22G, 35A) finished tied for 2nd on the team with 57 points.
The Kings will also benefit by having Dustin Penner (23G, 22A) for a full season and also bringing in Simon Gagne (17G, 23A) from Tampa Bay.
On defense the Kings are led by Drew Doughty. Doughty was a finalist for the Norris Trophy in 2010. If he can get back to that form for the 2011-2012 season the Kings will be in great shape on the blueline.
Doughty is joined on defense by Jack Johnson who led all defenseman on the Kings in scoring with 42 points (5G, 37A).
Why They'll Fail:
There is a drop-off in talent on defense after Doughty & Johnson.
That's not a knock on Matt Greene, Willie Mitchell, and Rob Scuderi. It's just that they aren't as good as Doughty & Johnson. Their play on the blueline will determine how good the Kings are defensively.
The Kings have two good goaltenders in Johnathan Quick & Jonathan Bernier. While both have proven they can play at the NHL level neither one has shown they can seize the job as the number one goaltender. I believe for the Kings to take the next step one of these two needs to claim the job in goal.
Prediction:
Last year I predicted the Kings to win the Pacific. That didn't happen as they finished 4th. This year I think the Kings are better but I don't think they are good enough to over take San Jose for the division crown. Los Angeles finishes 2nd and reaches the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row.
3. Anaheim Ducks
How They Finished: 47-30-5 99 points 2nd in Pacific, 4th in West. Lost in 1st Round to Nashville.
Additions:
Kurtis Foster (Edmonton) Andrew Cogliano (Edmonton) Mathieu Carle (Montreal) J.F. Jacques (Edmonton) Jeff Deslauriens (Edmonton) Matt Smaby (Tampa Bay)
Subtractions:
Andy Sutton (Edmonton) Andreas Lilja (Philadelphia) Kyle Chipchura (Winnipeg)
Why They'll Succeed:
They have the best line in the NHL in Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, & Bobby Ryan.
Perry, the reigning Hart Trophy winner, finished with 98 points last year and led the NHL in goals with 50. Getzlaf was 3rd on the team with 76 points (19G, 57A) while Ryan was 4th with 71 points (34G, 37A)
The Ducks also received good news with Teemu Selanne announcing he would return for another season. Selanne was 2nd in scoring last year for the Ducks with 31 goals and 49 assists. He'll anchor the 2nd line.
On defense the Ducks have a nice core of defenseman that can score.
Lubomir Visnovsky led all defenseman with 68 points (18G, 50A) while Cam Fowler had a solid rookie campaign with 40 points (10G, 30A) Toni Lydman was 3rd on the team with 25 points (3G, 22A) and led all defenseman in plus/minus at +32.
Why They'll Fail:
The status of Jonas Hiller is a concern for Anaheim. Hiller missed time last season battling Vertigo like symptoms. He did return at the end of the year only to be sent home during the playoffs.
If Hiller can't go in net the job will fall to Dan Ellis with Jeff Deslaureins backing him up. Either way I'm concerned if I am a Ducks fan.
Prediction:
It all depends on the health of Hiller. If he is healthy the Ducks are hands down a playoff team. If not it could be a struggle for Anaheim to get in. I'll say right now Anaheim is a playoff team but that is subject to change.
4. Dallas Stars
How They Finished: 42-29-11 95 points 5th in Pacific, 9th in West. Missed Playoffs
Additions:
Michael Ryder (Boston) Radek Dvorak (Atlanta) Vernon Fiddler (Phoenix) Adam Pardy (Calgary) Sheldon Souray (Edmonton) Jake Dowell (Chicago) Eric Godard (Pittsburgh)
Subtractions:
Brad Richards (NY Rangers) Jamie Langenbrunner (St. Louis) Jason Williams (Pittsburgh) Jeff Woywitka (Montreal) Brandon Segal (Chicago)
Why They'll Succeed:
Four of their top five scorers return this season for Dallas.
Loui Eriksson (27G, 46A) and Mike Ribeiro (19G, 52A) each reached the 70 point mark while Brendan Morrow (33G, 23A) and Jamie Benn (22G, 34A) each had 56 points.
They'll be joined up front from Michael Ryder who scored 41 points (18G, 23A) last season with the Bruins.
On defense the Stars should benefit from having Alex Gologoski for an entire season. Acquired last season from Pittsburgh, Gologoski finished with 14 goals and 32 points. He'll lead a blueline that consists of Stephane Robidas (5G, 25A), Trevor Daley (8G, 19A) and Nicklas Grossman (1G, 9A)
Why They'll Fail:
The Stars best player last year is now playing in New York.
Brad Richards left as a free agent and as to who will step in to fill his skates is anybody's guess. Truth be told no one player on the roster will be able to do it by themselves. Each forward will have to produce more to fill the 77 points that Richards had last year.
Another thing to watch is the return of Sheldon Souray to the NHL. Souray has been the property of the Edmonton Oilers since 2007 but played last year in the AHL. Souray should be able to get a spot on the Dallas roster but there is no guarantee he will be the same player he was in Montreal.
Kari Lehtonen did play well in net for Dallas finishing 34-24-11 with a GAA of 2.55 and a save percentage of .914. While he did better than I thought he would I'm still not convinced he can lead the Stars to the playoffs.
Prediction:
Dallas led the Pacific Division for most of the season before falling back and missing a playoff berth on the final day of the season. With the ownership situation being unsettled and Richards leaving the team I see the Stars missing the playoffs once again.
5. Phoenix Coyotes
How They Finished: 43-26-13 99 points 3rd in Pacific, 6th in West. Lost in 1st Round to Detroit.
Additions:
Marc-Antoine Pouliot (Tampa Bay) Daymond Langkow (Calgary) Petteri Nokelainain (Finland) Boyd Gordan (Washington) Mike Smith (Tampa Bay) Raffi Torres (Vancouver) Alex Bolduc (Vancouver) Curtis McElhinney (Ottawa) Kyle Chipchura (Anaheim) Patrick O'Sullivan (Minnesota)
Subtractions:
Ilya Bryzgalov (Philadelphia) Lee Stempniak (Calgary) Ed Jovanovski (Florida) Eric Belanger (Edmonton) Vernon Fiddler (Dallas) Andrew Ebbett (Vancouver) Alex Picard (Tampa Bay)
Why They'll Succeed:
Dave Tippett seems to get the most out of the Coyotes.
Two years ago they were picked to finish last in the Western Conference only to makes the playoffs and have home ice in the 1st round. Last year I picked them to miss the playoffs only for them to return for the 2nd year in a row.
Scoring goals shouldn't be an issue for the Coyotes as their top four scorers from last season return.
Shane Doan (20G, 40A) led Phoenix in scoring with 60 points last year with Ray Whitney (17G, 40A) was 2nd among forwards with 57. Radim Vrbata (19G, 29A) & Lauri Korpikoski (19G, 21A) also reached the 40 point mark.
On the blueline the Coyotes have a potential Norris Trophy candidate in Keith Yandle. Yandle finished with 59 points (11G, 48) and was a +12 on the ice. He might be the most important player this year for Phoenix.
Why They'll Fail:
The reason Yandle might be Phoenix's most important player is because Ilya Bryzagalov has left the desert for Philadelphia.
Last year Bryzgalov was 36-20-10 with a GAA of 2.48 and a save percentage of .921. In a system where team defense & limiting the number of goals is the key just to compete losing Bryzgalov is a big blow for the Coyotes.
The task of replacing Bryzgalov will fall into the hands of Mike Smith. Smith played in 22 games for Tampa last year and was 13-6-1 with a GAA of 2.90 and a save percentage of .899.
What concerns me about Smith is he was never able to claim the job as number one goalie in Tampa. With Phoenix's ownership situation still in limbo the Coyotes couldn't afford to keep Bryzgalov and won't be able to go after a top goaltender should Smith fail.
Prediction:
The Coyotes aren't a fancy team but the last two years they found a way to win hockey games. With Bryzgalov gone the number of wins is going to drop. The Coyotes will be competitive but they won't make the playoffs.
In the off-season all five teams have significant changes made to their roster. Will all five teams contend for a playoff spot this year? Let's break it down.
1. San Jose Sharks
How They Finished: 48-25-9 105 points 1st in Pacific, 2nd in West Lost in Conference Finals to Vancouver.
Additions:
Brent Burns (Minnesota) Martin Havlat (Minnesota) James Sheppard (Minnesota) Michal Handzus (Los Angeles) Jim Vandermeer (Edmonton) Andrew Murray (Columbus) Colin White (New Jersey)
Subtractions:
Dany Heatley (Minnesota) Devon Setoguchi (Minnesota) Ben Eager (Edmonton) Jamal Mayers (Chicago) Ian White (Detroit) Scott Nichol (St. Louis) Kent Huskins (St. Louis) Kyle Wellwood (Winnipeg) Niclas Wallin (Sweden)
Why They'll Succeed:
Looking at the roster this might be deepest team in the NHL. Patrick Marleau (37G, 36A) and Joe Thornton (21G, 49A) each reached the 70 point plateau to lead all scorers.
The trade of Devon Setoguchi was made because of the emergence of Joe Pavelski & Logan Couture. Pavelski was 3rd on the team in points last year with 66 (20G, 46A) while Couture 1st full season in the NHL ended with him finishing 2nd on the Sharks in goals scored with 32.
Martin Havlat and James Sheppard come over to the Sharks from Minnesota.Havlat had 22 goals & 40 assist last year for the Wild and will fit in nicely on the 2nd line. Sheppard missed last year with a knee injury and is looking to resurrect what has been a disappointing NHL career.
In goal the Sharks have Antti Niemi in net. Niemi was 35-18-6 in goal with a GAA of 2.38 and a save percentage of .920. Most importantly in the playoffs he gave the Sharks a sense of calm in goal that they haven't had in recent years.
Why They'll Fail:
The biggest move the Sharks made in the off-season was getting Brent Burns from Minnesota to go with Dan Boyle on the blueline.
Burns was an All-Star last year with 17 goals and 29 assists. He also played at times last year like a #5 defenseman instead of an All-Star. Burns is a good player who has done a great job transitioning from forward to defense but there are still some lapses in his game.
Another move the Sharks made was letting Ian White and Kent Huskins leave as free agents and bringing in Colin White from New Jersey and Jim Vandermeer from Edmonton to replace them.
From a talent standpoint the Sharks are better on defense but when you bring in a lot of new faces chemistry is always a concern right away.
Prediction:
GM Doug Wilson realizes the window for the Sharks is closing. That's why these bold moves were made. Yes there is always some concern when making these deals but I believe the Sharks are a stronger team overall because of these deal. I like the Sharks to win the Pacific once again with another deep run in the playoffs to follow.
2. Los Angeles Kings
How They Finished: 46-30-6 98 points 4th in Pacific, 7th in West.
Lost in 1st Round to San Jose.
Additions:
Mike Richards (Philadelphia) Colin Fraser (Edmonton) Simon Gagne (Tampa Bay) Ethan Moreau (Columbus) Trent Hunter (NY Islanders)
Subtractions:
Wayne Simmonds (Philadelphia) Brayden Schenn (Philadelphia) Michal Handzus (San Jose) Alexei Ponikarovsky (Carolina) Peter Harrold (New Jersey) Oscar Moller (Sweden)
Why They'll Succeed:
For the last few seasons the Kings have had a lot of salary cap space but failed to land a marque free agent. This year they decided to trade for one acquiring Mike Richards from Philadelphia.
Richards is one of if not the best two-way center in the NHL. He can score and set up goal and is great on the penalty kill. He won't be under the microscope in LA like he was in Philadelphia.
Richards joins a talented group of forwards led by Anze Kopitar who lead the Kings with 73 points (25G, 48A) last season. Dustin Brown (28G, 29A) and Justin Williams (22G, 35A) finished tied for 2nd on the team with 57 points.
The Kings will also benefit by having Dustin Penner (23G, 22A) for a full season and also bringing in Simon Gagne (17G, 23A) from Tampa Bay.
On defense the Kings are led by Drew Doughty. Doughty was a finalist for the Norris Trophy in 2010. If he can get back to that form for the 2011-2012 season the Kings will be in great shape on the blueline.
Doughty is joined on defense by Jack Johnson who led all defenseman on the Kings in scoring with 42 points (5G, 37A).
Why They'll Fail:
There is a drop-off in talent on defense after Doughty & Johnson.
That's not a knock on Matt Greene, Willie Mitchell, and Rob Scuderi. It's just that they aren't as good as Doughty & Johnson. Their play on the blueline will determine how good the Kings are defensively.
The Kings have two good goaltenders in Johnathan Quick & Jonathan Bernier. While both have proven they can play at the NHL level neither one has shown they can seize the job as the number one goaltender. I believe for the Kings to take the next step one of these two needs to claim the job in goal.
Prediction:
Last year I predicted the Kings to win the Pacific. That didn't happen as they finished 4th. This year I think the Kings are better but I don't think they are good enough to over take San Jose for the division crown. Los Angeles finishes 2nd and reaches the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row.
3. Anaheim Ducks
How They Finished: 47-30-5 99 points 2nd in Pacific, 4th in West. Lost in 1st Round to Nashville.
Additions:
Kurtis Foster (Edmonton) Andrew Cogliano (Edmonton) Mathieu Carle (Montreal) J.F. Jacques (Edmonton) Jeff Deslauriens (Edmonton) Matt Smaby (Tampa Bay)
Subtractions:
Andy Sutton (Edmonton) Andreas Lilja (Philadelphia) Kyle Chipchura (Winnipeg)
Why They'll Succeed:
They have the best line in the NHL in Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, & Bobby Ryan.
Perry, the reigning Hart Trophy winner, finished with 98 points last year and led the NHL in goals with 50. Getzlaf was 3rd on the team with 76 points (19G, 57A) while Ryan was 4th with 71 points (34G, 37A)
The Ducks also received good news with Teemu Selanne announcing he would return for another season. Selanne was 2nd in scoring last year for the Ducks with 31 goals and 49 assists. He'll anchor the 2nd line.
On defense the Ducks have a nice core of defenseman that can score.
Lubomir Visnovsky led all defenseman with 68 points (18G, 50A) while Cam Fowler had a solid rookie campaign with 40 points (10G, 30A) Toni Lydman was 3rd on the team with 25 points (3G, 22A) and led all defenseman in plus/minus at +32.
Why They'll Fail:
The status of Jonas Hiller is a concern for Anaheim. Hiller missed time last season battling Vertigo like symptoms. He did return at the end of the year only to be sent home during the playoffs.
If Hiller can't go in net the job will fall to Dan Ellis with Jeff Deslaureins backing him up. Either way I'm concerned if I am a Ducks fan.
Prediction:
It all depends on the health of Hiller. If he is healthy the Ducks are hands down a playoff team. If not it could be a struggle for Anaheim to get in. I'll say right now Anaheim is a playoff team but that is subject to change.
4. Dallas Stars
How They Finished: 42-29-11 95 points 5th in Pacific, 9th in West. Missed Playoffs
Additions:
Michael Ryder (Boston) Radek Dvorak (Atlanta) Vernon Fiddler (Phoenix) Adam Pardy (Calgary) Sheldon Souray (Edmonton) Jake Dowell (Chicago) Eric Godard (Pittsburgh)
Subtractions:
Brad Richards (NY Rangers) Jamie Langenbrunner (St. Louis) Jason Williams (Pittsburgh) Jeff Woywitka (Montreal) Brandon Segal (Chicago)
Why They'll Succeed:
Four of their top five scorers return this season for Dallas.
Loui Eriksson (27G, 46A) and Mike Ribeiro (19G, 52A) each reached the 70 point mark while Brendan Morrow (33G, 23A) and Jamie Benn (22G, 34A) each had 56 points.
They'll be joined up front from Michael Ryder who scored 41 points (18G, 23A) last season with the Bruins.
On defense the Stars should benefit from having Alex Gologoski for an entire season. Acquired last season from Pittsburgh, Gologoski finished with 14 goals and 32 points. He'll lead a blueline that consists of Stephane Robidas (5G, 25A), Trevor Daley (8G, 19A) and Nicklas Grossman (1G, 9A)
Why They'll Fail:
The Stars best player last year is now playing in New York.
Brad Richards left as a free agent and as to who will step in to fill his skates is anybody's guess. Truth be told no one player on the roster will be able to do it by themselves. Each forward will have to produce more to fill the 77 points that Richards had last year.
Another thing to watch is the return of Sheldon Souray to the NHL. Souray has been the property of the Edmonton Oilers since 2007 but played last year in the AHL. Souray should be able to get a spot on the Dallas roster but there is no guarantee he will be the same player he was in Montreal.
Kari Lehtonen did play well in net for Dallas finishing 34-24-11 with a GAA of 2.55 and a save percentage of .914. While he did better than I thought he would I'm still not convinced he can lead the Stars to the playoffs.
Prediction:
Dallas led the Pacific Division for most of the season before falling back and missing a playoff berth on the final day of the season. With the ownership situation being unsettled and Richards leaving the team I see the Stars missing the playoffs once again.
5. Phoenix Coyotes
How They Finished: 43-26-13 99 points 3rd in Pacific, 6th in West. Lost in 1st Round to Detroit.
Additions:
Marc-Antoine Pouliot (Tampa Bay) Daymond Langkow (Calgary) Petteri Nokelainain (Finland) Boyd Gordan (Washington) Mike Smith (Tampa Bay) Raffi Torres (Vancouver) Alex Bolduc (Vancouver) Curtis McElhinney (Ottawa) Kyle Chipchura (Anaheim) Patrick O'Sullivan (Minnesota)
Subtractions:
Ilya Bryzgalov (Philadelphia) Lee Stempniak (Calgary) Ed Jovanovski (Florida) Eric Belanger (Edmonton) Vernon Fiddler (Dallas) Andrew Ebbett (Vancouver) Alex Picard (Tampa Bay)
Why They'll Succeed:
Dave Tippett seems to get the most out of the Coyotes.
Two years ago they were picked to finish last in the Western Conference only to makes the playoffs and have home ice in the 1st round. Last year I picked them to miss the playoffs only for them to return for the 2nd year in a row.
Scoring goals shouldn't be an issue for the Coyotes as their top four scorers from last season return.
Shane Doan (20G, 40A) led Phoenix in scoring with 60 points last year with Ray Whitney (17G, 40A) was 2nd among forwards with 57. Radim Vrbata (19G, 29A) & Lauri Korpikoski (19G, 21A) also reached the 40 point mark.
On the blueline the Coyotes have a potential Norris Trophy candidate in Keith Yandle. Yandle finished with 59 points (11G, 48) and was a +12 on the ice. He might be the most important player this year for Phoenix.
Why They'll Fail:
The reason Yandle might be Phoenix's most important player is because Ilya Bryzagalov has left the desert for Philadelphia.
Last year Bryzgalov was 36-20-10 with a GAA of 2.48 and a save percentage of .921. In a system where team defense & limiting the number of goals is the key just to compete losing Bryzgalov is a big blow for the Coyotes.
The task of replacing Bryzgalov will fall into the hands of Mike Smith. Smith played in 22 games for Tampa last year and was 13-6-1 with a GAA of 2.90 and a save percentage of .899.
What concerns me about Smith is he was never able to claim the job as number one goalie in Tampa. With Phoenix's ownership situation still in limbo the Coyotes couldn't afford to keep Bryzgalov and won't be able to go after a top goaltender should Smith fail.
Prediction:
The Coyotes aren't a fancy team but the last two years they found a way to win hockey games. With Bryzgalov gone the number of wins is going to drop. The Coyotes will be competitive but they won't make the playoffs.
Friday, September 30, 2011
NORTHWEST DIVISION PREVIEW
When breaking down each division in the NHL, by default one has to be the worst. That honor once again falls to the Northwest Division which saw the Vancouver Canucks reach the Stanley Cup Finals while the other four teams missed the playoffs.
Will that happen again this season or can one of the other teams close the gap in the division?
1. Vancouver Canucks
How They Finished: 54-19-9 117 points 1st in Northwest, 1st in Western Conference. Lost in Stanley Cup Finals.
Additions:
Mike Duco (Florida) Byron Bitz (Florida) Alexander Sulzer (Florida) Andrew Ebbett (Phoenix) Marco Sturm (Washington) Mark Mancari (Buffalo)
Subtractions:
Christian Ehrhoff (Buffalo) Jeff Tambellini (Switzerland) Tanner Glass (Winnipeg) Raffi Torres (Phoenix) Rick Rypien (Deceased)
Why They'll Succeed:
They were the best team in the NHL last year and most of the key players are still with the Canucks.
Daniel Sedin was the leading score in the NHL with 104 points last year (41G, 63A) while brother Henrik finished 2nd on the team with 94 points (19G, 75A). Ryan Kesler also had a career year scoring 41 goals and was a finalist for the Selke Award.
The Canucks have one of the deepest teams in the NHL at every position. Injuries slowed them down in the playoffs but when healthy this may be the most talented team in the NHL.
Even with defenseman Christian Ehrhoff leaving for Buffalo the defense of the Canucks is still deep. Alex Edler, Dan Hamhuis, Kevin Bieskla, and Sami Salo all return with Keith Ballard, Aaron Rome, Ryan Parent, Andrew Alberts & Alexander Sulzer fighting for those final two spots on defense.
Why They'll Fail:
We aren't sure what to expect from Roberto Luongo in goal.
Last year Luongo was 38-15-7 with a GAA of 2.11, a save percentage of .928 and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy.
For as great of a season Luongo had, he did have his struggles in the playoffs. He was benched in Game 6 against Chicago after losing games 4 & 5. In the Stanley Cup Finals he was brilliant in Vancouver but struggled in Boston being replaced twice by Cory Schneider.
I'm interested to seeing how Luongo responds after coming so close to winning last year. He has the talent but does he have the mentality? Lucky for the Canucks they have a capable backup in Schneider they can turn to if needed.
Prediction:
Vancouver is still a great hockey club and coming close last year should only make them hungrier. They are by far the best team in the Northwest and should win the division easily.
2. Minnesota Wild
How They Finished: 39-35-8 86 points 3rd in Northwest, 12th in West. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Devon Setoguchi (San Jose) Dany Heatley (San Jose) Darroll Powe (Philadelphia) Jeff Taffe (Chicago) Mike Lundin (Tampa Bay)
Subtractions:
Brent Burns (San Jose) Martin Havlat (San Jose) James Sheppard (San Jose) Jose Theodore (Florida) Andrew Brunette (Chicago) Chuck Kobasew (Colorado) Cam Barker (Edmonton) Antti Miettinen (KHL) John Madden (Free Agent)
Why They'll Succeed:
They actually have a pair of wings to go with Mikko Koivu. Last year Koivu was paired on the top line with Brunette & Miettinen. This year he will have Setoguchi & Heatley playing with him a significant upgrade.
The additions of Setoguchi & Heatley will give the Wild a better balance of forwards up front. 3rd line players can now be 3rd line players instead of trying to fill spots on the 1st & 2nd lines.
The Wild also bring in a new coach in Mike Yeo who replaces Todd Richards. Yeo led the Wild's AHL affiliate Houston to the Calder Cup finals last year. He should bring an edge & a level of intensity to a Wild team that seem to be lacking passion at times last season.
Why They'll Fail:
To get Setoguchi the Wild had to trade their only all-star, Brent Burns.
It was the right move for the Wild, Burns was going into the final year of his contract with no guarantee he was going to re-sign. Minnesota had a lot of depth on defense but not a lot at forward which is why I believe this was a good trade.
That being said the depth on defense will be tested. Marek Zidlicky, Nick Schultz, Clayton Stoner & Greg Zanon all return as regulars with Jared Spurgeon, Marco Scandella, Justin Falk, Drew Bagnall & Mike Lundin competing for the final couple spots on defense.
Minnesota may score a lot of goals but they also may give up a lot of scoring chances. That's where Nicklas Backstrom comes in. Backstrom was 22-23-5 last year with a GAA of 2.66 and a save percentage of .916. With a defense that's in transition playing in front of him Backstrom will have to play better.
Prediction:
A lot of people are predicting the Wild to struggle again this season. Truthfully I think they are a lot better than people give them credit for. They were in the playoff picture until the middle of March last year.
While I don't know if they are better overall I know they are better in the areas they needed to improve and they play in the right division for them. If they can hang around until April the final playoff spot in the West isn't out of the question.
3. Calgary Flames
How They Finished: 41-29-12 94 points 2nd in Northwest, 9th in West. Missed playoffs.
Additions:
Chris Butler (Buffalo) Jordan Henry (Florida) Pierre-Luc Leblond-Letourneau (New Jersey) Lee Stempniak (Phoenix) Clay Wilson (Florida) Scott Hannan (Washington)
Subtractions:
Ales Kotalik (Buffalo) Robyn Regehr (Buffalo) Daymond Langkow (Phoenix) Adam Pardy (Dallas) Fredrik Modin (Retired) Steve Staios (Free Agent)
Why They Succeed:
There is a sense of urgency in Calgary. The Flames have missed the playoffs the last two seasons and the core of this team is getting older. In any other division I think the Flames would struggle to be a playoff team but in the Northwest they have a chance.
Jarome Iginla led the Flames in scoring with 86 points (43G, 43A) To put in perspective how impressive Iginla was for Calgary last year only three other Flames reached the 20 goal mark, Rene Bourque (27), Curtis Glencross (24), and Alex Tanguay (22).
The Flames also still have one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL in Miikka Kiprusoff. Kiprusoff was 37-24-6 with a GAA of 2.63 and a save percentage of .906. As long as Kiprusoff is in net the Flames will have a chance to compete.
Why They'll Fail:
The Flames convinced Robyn Regehr to waive his no trade clause so they could send him & Ales Kotalik to Buffalo for Chris Butler. As I write this I have no idea how this deal makes Calgary better. I do like the Flames addition of Scott Hannan and I expect him to fill Regehr's role on the blueline.
The other thing I don't like about Calgary is Olli Jokinen on their roster. I know he is a personal whipping boy among hockey writers but the fact remains, No team has ever started a season with Olli Jokinen on the roster and made the playoffs. I don't see any reason why that will change this year.
Prediction:
Hate to break it to you Flames fans but your window has closed. One thing you do have going for you is Jay Feaster as GM. He'll do a good job helping the Flames become competitive once again but it won't be this season as Calgary misses the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row.
4. Colorado Avalanche
How They Finished: 30-44-8 68 points 4th in Northwest, 14th in Western Conference. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Seymon Varlamov (Washington) Jan Hedja (Columbus) Jean-Sebastian Giguere (Toronto) Chuck Kobasew (Minnesota) Patrick Rissmiller (Florida) Shane O'Brien (Nashville)
Subtractions:
John Michael Liles (Toronto) Peter Budaj (Montreal) Tomas Fleischmann (Florida) Brian Elliott (St. Louis) Philippe Dupuis (Toronto) Adam Foote (Retired)
Why They'll Succeed:
Seymon Varlamov and J.S. Giguere were brought in to replace Brian Elliott and Peter Budaj in goal and that move alone should make Colorado better.
Varlamov had been the starting goalie in Washington but failed to ever claim the job as his own. With Varlamov it always seem like he was the better option by default. He'll have less pressure in Colorado to perform than in Washington.
On defense Colorado made a bold trade last year acquiring Erik Johnson from St. Louis last year in exchange for Chris Stewart. So far it looks like the Blues have gotten the better end of the deal but starting a full season in Colorado Johnson should be a lot better this season.
Why They'll Fail:
The Avalanche are a young hockey club.
Matt Duchene was their leading scorer with 67 points (27G, 40A) with Paul Statsny finishing 2nd on the team with 57 points (22G, 35A). These are two of the young players the Avalanche are building around.
However it is going to take more than these two for the Avalanche to compete and Colorado just doesn't have those players on their roster.
While the additions of Varmalov & Giguere make Colorado better in goal the Avalanche gave up a league high 287 goals. That number should go down this season but not enough to make a difference.
Prediction:
Looking at Colorado's roster most of the players are scheduled to be restricted or unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. It looks like their playoff appearance two years ago was an aberration with the rebuilding continuing this season. At least they won't finish last.
5. Edmonton Oilers
How They Finished: 25-45-12 62 points. 5th in Northwest, 15th in West. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Ryan Smyth (Edmonton) Andy Sutton (Anaheim) Ben Eager (San Jose) Eric Belanger (Phoenix) Cam Barker (Minnesota) Darcy Hordichuk (Florida)
Subtractions:
Colin Fraser (Los Angeles) Kurtis Foster (Anaheim) Andrew Cogliano (Anaheim) Jim Vandermeer (San Jose) Sheldon Souray (Dallas) Alex Giroux (Columbus) Zach Stortini (Nashville) J.F. Jacques (Anaheim) Jeff Deslauries (Anaheim)
Why They'll Succeed:
The young talent on this team has another year under it's belt. Yes they are still a ways away from competing for a playoff spot but the core of players is shaping up nicely.
Adding Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with the likes of Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi, & Sam Gagner gives the Oilers two solid lines that will develop in due time.
Another reason for Oiler fans to smile is Ryan Smyth is coming home. Traded away at the deadline in 2007 the Oilers have struggled since he left. While Smyth isn't the same player he was five years ago the fact he wanted to play in Edmonton should make Oiler fans happy.
Why They'll Fail:
The Oilers may look good at forward but they still need to upgrade in defense and goal.
Nikolai Khabibulin is looking to bounce back from a rough season that saw him deal with injuries and off-ice issues. At 38 his best days are behind him. The best the Oilers can hope for is that his play keeps them in games giving them a chance to win.
On defense the Oilers gave up 260 which was the 3rd worst in the NHL. The additions of Cam Barker & Andy Sutton on defense is not going to solve that problem.
Prediction:
The return of Ryan Smyth will provide a ray of sunshine on what looks to be another down year in Edmonton. The Oilers hope his leadership will rub off on the young kids moving forward.
While the Oilers look pretty good up front there is still a lot of work to do on the back end. They won't make the playoffs this year but if things break right they might not be the worst team in the league. Things can only get better in Edmonton.
Will that happen again this season or can one of the other teams close the gap in the division?
1. Vancouver Canucks
How They Finished: 54-19-9 117 points 1st in Northwest, 1st in Western Conference. Lost in Stanley Cup Finals.
Additions:
Mike Duco (Florida) Byron Bitz (Florida) Alexander Sulzer (Florida) Andrew Ebbett (Phoenix) Marco Sturm (Washington) Mark Mancari (Buffalo)
Subtractions:
Christian Ehrhoff (Buffalo) Jeff Tambellini (Switzerland) Tanner Glass (Winnipeg) Raffi Torres (Phoenix) Rick Rypien (Deceased)
Why They'll Succeed:
They were the best team in the NHL last year and most of the key players are still with the Canucks.
Daniel Sedin was the leading score in the NHL with 104 points last year (41G, 63A) while brother Henrik finished 2nd on the team with 94 points (19G, 75A). Ryan Kesler also had a career year scoring 41 goals and was a finalist for the Selke Award.
The Canucks have one of the deepest teams in the NHL at every position. Injuries slowed them down in the playoffs but when healthy this may be the most talented team in the NHL.
Even with defenseman Christian Ehrhoff leaving for Buffalo the defense of the Canucks is still deep. Alex Edler, Dan Hamhuis, Kevin Bieskla, and Sami Salo all return with Keith Ballard, Aaron Rome, Ryan Parent, Andrew Alberts & Alexander Sulzer fighting for those final two spots on defense.
Why They'll Fail:
We aren't sure what to expect from Roberto Luongo in goal.
Last year Luongo was 38-15-7 with a GAA of 2.11, a save percentage of .928 and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy.
For as great of a season Luongo had, he did have his struggles in the playoffs. He was benched in Game 6 against Chicago after losing games 4 & 5. In the Stanley Cup Finals he was brilliant in Vancouver but struggled in Boston being replaced twice by Cory Schneider.
I'm interested to seeing how Luongo responds after coming so close to winning last year. He has the talent but does he have the mentality? Lucky for the Canucks they have a capable backup in Schneider they can turn to if needed.
Prediction:
Vancouver is still a great hockey club and coming close last year should only make them hungrier. They are by far the best team in the Northwest and should win the division easily.
2. Minnesota Wild
How They Finished: 39-35-8 86 points 3rd in Northwest, 12th in West. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Devon Setoguchi (San Jose) Dany Heatley (San Jose) Darroll Powe (Philadelphia) Jeff Taffe (Chicago) Mike Lundin (Tampa Bay)
Subtractions:
Brent Burns (San Jose) Martin Havlat (San Jose) James Sheppard (San Jose) Jose Theodore (Florida) Andrew Brunette (Chicago) Chuck Kobasew (Colorado) Cam Barker (Edmonton) Antti Miettinen (KHL) John Madden (Free Agent)
Why They'll Succeed:
They actually have a pair of wings to go with Mikko Koivu. Last year Koivu was paired on the top line with Brunette & Miettinen. This year he will have Setoguchi & Heatley playing with him a significant upgrade.
The additions of Setoguchi & Heatley will give the Wild a better balance of forwards up front. 3rd line players can now be 3rd line players instead of trying to fill spots on the 1st & 2nd lines.
The Wild also bring in a new coach in Mike Yeo who replaces Todd Richards. Yeo led the Wild's AHL affiliate Houston to the Calder Cup finals last year. He should bring an edge & a level of intensity to a Wild team that seem to be lacking passion at times last season.
Why They'll Fail:
To get Setoguchi the Wild had to trade their only all-star, Brent Burns.
It was the right move for the Wild, Burns was going into the final year of his contract with no guarantee he was going to re-sign. Minnesota had a lot of depth on defense but not a lot at forward which is why I believe this was a good trade.
That being said the depth on defense will be tested. Marek Zidlicky, Nick Schultz, Clayton Stoner & Greg Zanon all return as regulars with Jared Spurgeon, Marco Scandella, Justin Falk, Drew Bagnall & Mike Lundin competing for the final couple spots on defense.
Minnesota may score a lot of goals but they also may give up a lot of scoring chances. That's where Nicklas Backstrom comes in. Backstrom was 22-23-5 last year with a GAA of 2.66 and a save percentage of .916. With a defense that's in transition playing in front of him Backstrom will have to play better.
Prediction:
A lot of people are predicting the Wild to struggle again this season. Truthfully I think they are a lot better than people give them credit for. They were in the playoff picture until the middle of March last year.
While I don't know if they are better overall I know they are better in the areas they needed to improve and they play in the right division for them. If they can hang around until April the final playoff spot in the West isn't out of the question.
3. Calgary Flames
How They Finished: 41-29-12 94 points 2nd in Northwest, 9th in West. Missed playoffs.
Additions:
Chris Butler (Buffalo) Jordan Henry (Florida) Pierre-Luc Leblond-Letourneau (New Jersey) Lee Stempniak (Phoenix) Clay Wilson (Florida) Scott Hannan (Washington)
Subtractions:
Ales Kotalik (Buffalo) Robyn Regehr (Buffalo) Daymond Langkow (Phoenix) Adam Pardy (Dallas) Fredrik Modin (Retired) Steve Staios (Free Agent)
Why They Succeed:
There is a sense of urgency in Calgary. The Flames have missed the playoffs the last two seasons and the core of this team is getting older. In any other division I think the Flames would struggle to be a playoff team but in the Northwest they have a chance.
Jarome Iginla led the Flames in scoring with 86 points (43G, 43A) To put in perspective how impressive Iginla was for Calgary last year only three other Flames reached the 20 goal mark, Rene Bourque (27), Curtis Glencross (24), and Alex Tanguay (22).
The Flames also still have one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL in Miikka Kiprusoff. Kiprusoff was 37-24-6 with a GAA of 2.63 and a save percentage of .906. As long as Kiprusoff is in net the Flames will have a chance to compete.
Why They'll Fail:
The Flames convinced Robyn Regehr to waive his no trade clause so they could send him & Ales Kotalik to Buffalo for Chris Butler. As I write this I have no idea how this deal makes Calgary better. I do like the Flames addition of Scott Hannan and I expect him to fill Regehr's role on the blueline.
The other thing I don't like about Calgary is Olli Jokinen on their roster. I know he is a personal whipping boy among hockey writers but the fact remains, No team has ever started a season with Olli Jokinen on the roster and made the playoffs. I don't see any reason why that will change this year.
Prediction:
Hate to break it to you Flames fans but your window has closed. One thing you do have going for you is Jay Feaster as GM. He'll do a good job helping the Flames become competitive once again but it won't be this season as Calgary misses the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row.
4. Colorado Avalanche
How They Finished: 30-44-8 68 points 4th in Northwest, 14th in Western Conference. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Seymon Varlamov (Washington) Jan Hedja (Columbus) Jean-Sebastian Giguere (Toronto) Chuck Kobasew (Minnesota) Patrick Rissmiller (Florida) Shane O'Brien (Nashville)
Subtractions:
John Michael Liles (Toronto) Peter Budaj (Montreal) Tomas Fleischmann (Florida) Brian Elliott (St. Louis) Philippe Dupuis (Toronto) Adam Foote (Retired)
Why They'll Succeed:
Seymon Varlamov and J.S. Giguere were brought in to replace Brian Elliott and Peter Budaj in goal and that move alone should make Colorado better.
Varlamov had been the starting goalie in Washington but failed to ever claim the job as his own. With Varlamov it always seem like he was the better option by default. He'll have less pressure in Colorado to perform than in Washington.
On defense Colorado made a bold trade last year acquiring Erik Johnson from St. Louis last year in exchange for Chris Stewart. So far it looks like the Blues have gotten the better end of the deal but starting a full season in Colorado Johnson should be a lot better this season.
Why They'll Fail:
The Avalanche are a young hockey club.
Matt Duchene was their leading scorer with 67 points (27G, 40A) with Paul Statsny finishing 2nd on the team with 57 points (22G, 35A). These are two of the young players the Avalanche are building around.
However it is going to take more than these two for the Avalanche to compete and Colorado just doesn't have those players on their roster.
While the additions of Varmalov & Giguere make Colorado better in goal the Avalanche gave up a league high 287 goals. That number should go down this season but not enough to make a difference.
Prediction:
Looking at Colorado's roster most of the players are scheduled to be restricted or unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. It looks like their playoff appearance two years ago was an aberration with the rebuilding continuing this season. At least they won't finish last.
5. Edmonton Oilers
How They Finished: 25-45-12 62 points. 5th in Northwest, 15th in West. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Ryan Smyth (Edmonton) Andy Sutton (Anaheim) Ben Eager (San Jose) Eric Belanger (Phoenix) Cam Barker (Minnesota) Darcy Hordichuk (Florida)
Subtractions:
Colin Fraser (Los Angeles) Kurtis Foster (Anaheim) Andrew Cogliano (Anaheim) Jim Vandermeer (San Jose) Sheldon Souray (Dallas) Alex Giroux (Columbus) Zach Stortini (Nashville) J.F. Jacques (Anaheim) Jeff Deslauries (Anaheim)
Why They'll Succeed:
The young talent on this team has another year under it's belt. Yes they are still a ways away from competing for a playoff spot but the core of players is shaping up nicely.
Adding Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with the likes of Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi, & Sam Gagner gives the Oilers two solid lines that will develop in due time.
Another reason for Oiler fans to smile is Ryan Smyth is coming home. Traded away at the deadline in 2007 the Oilers have struggled since he left. While Smyth isn't the same player he was five years ago the fact he wanted to play in Edmonton should make Oiler fans happy.
Why They'll Fail:
The Oilers may look good at forward but they still need to upgrade in defense and goal.
Nikolai Khabibulin is looking to bounce back from a rough season that saw him deal with injuries and off-ice issues. At 38 his best days are behind him. The best the Oilers can hope for is that his play keeps them in games giving them a chance to win.
On defense the Oilers gave up 260 which was the 3rd worst in the NHL. The additions of Cam Barker & Andy Sutton on defense is not going to solve that problem.
Prediction:
The return of Ryan Smyth will provide a ray of sunshine on what looks to be another down year in Edmonton. The Oilers hope his leadership will rub off on the young kids moving forward.
While the Oilers look pretty good up front there is still a lot of work to do on the back end. They won't make the playoffs this year but if things break right they might not be the worst team in the league. Things can only get better in Edmonton.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
CENTRAL DIVISION PREVIEW
Last year the Detroit Red Wings won the Central Division title, their 9th in 10 seasons. The way most people look at this is the Red Wings are the class of a weak division. The truth is the dominance by Detroit has forced the other four teams in the division to step up their game. Because of that the Central Division might be the toughest division in the NHL this season.
Is it still Detroit's division to lose or can one of the other teams knock them off the top? Here's my break down of the Central Division?
1. Detroit Red Wings
How They Finished: 47-25-10 104 points 1st in Central, 3rd in West. Lost in 2nd Round to San Jose.
Additions:
Mike Commodore (Columbus) Ian White (San Jose) Chris Connor (Pittsburgh) Ty Conklin (St. Louis)
Subtractions:
Derek Meech (Winnipeg) Mike Modano (Retired) Kris Draper (Retired) Chris Osgood (Retired) Brian Ralfalski (Retired)
Why They'll Succeed:
Nicklas Lidstrom returns for a 20th season.
No one player in the NHL means more to his team than Lidstrom does to Detroit. Even at 41, he skates and plays like he's 21. His presence on the blueline keeps Detroit as one of the top teams in the West.
The Red Wings also have a good group of forwards that can score. Henrik Zetteberg finished as their leading scorer with 80 points (24G, 56A). Johan Franzen led the team in goals with 28 while Dan Cleary finished 2nd with a career high 26.
Keep in mind Detroit best forward, Pavel Datsyuk, only played in 56 games last season and finished with 3rd on the team & 2nd among forwards with 59 points (23G, 36A)
Why They'll Fail:
The Red Wings had four players retire from their roster with three of them playing a prominent role on their Stanley Cup winning teams.
The retirements of Kris Draper (Four Cups) and Chris Osgood (Three Cups) were not a complete surprise. The retirement of Brian Rafalski (One Cup) was.
The task of replacing these three players will be handled by Darren Helm (Draper) Ty Conklin (Osgood) and Ian White (Rafalski)
Helm has become a regular in the last couple years while Conklin has proved himself to be a serviceable backup in the NHL. Replacing Rafalski on defense will be a little tougher.
White has had solid numbers in his career but has never shown he can be more than a number four defenseman in the NHL. The Wings are hoping that will change in Detroit & he can fill Rafalski's role.
Another concern for Red Wings fans is Jimmy Howard in goal.
Personally I like Howard in goal and I think he is going to be fine but a lot of Red Wings fans do not feel the same way. Howard doesn't give off the confidence other goaltenders do that they can steal a series. Until he does that or win a Stanley Cup he will continue to have his doubters.
Prediction:
With the four retirements the depth of the Red Wings took a big hit. Fortunately GM Ken Holland has been preparing for this the last couple years. The players mentioned above should have no problem replacing Rafalski, Draper, & Osgood.
As always with Lidstrom on the roster the Central Division is Detroit's to lose.
2. Chicago Blackhawks
How They Finished: 44-29-9 97 points 3rd in Central, 8th in West. Lost in 1st Round to Vancouver.
Additions:
Rostislav Olesz (Florida) Steve Montador (Buffalo) Jamal Mayers (San Jose) Andrew Brunette (Minnesota) Sean O'Donnell (Philadelphia) Dan Carcillo (Philadelphia) Sami Lepisto (Columbus) Brandon Segal (Dallas)
Subtractions:
Troy Brouwer (Washington) Brian Campbell (Florida) Tomas Kopecky (Florida) Jake Dowell (Dallas) Marty Turco (Free Agent) Chris Campoli (Free Agent)
Why They'll Succeed:
The core players for the Blackhawks are back for another season.
Johnathan Toews (32G, 44A) Patrick Kane (27G, 46A) & Patrick Sharp (34G, 37A) all reached the 70 point mark last season while Marian Hossa finished with 65 points (25G, 32A) all four will be counted on once again to lead the way in scoring.
In goal Corey Crawford was able to seize the job in net away from Marty Turco & never let go. Crawford finished with a record of 33-18-6 with a GAA of 2.30 and a save percentage of .917. Having him in net for a full season should only make the Blackhawks better. Of course it helps when you have one of the best defensive pairing playing in front of you.
The core of defenseman is led by Duncan Keith (7G, 38A) & Brent Seabrook (9G, 39A) Both players had down years by their standards and should bounce back strong this season.
Why They'll Fail:
The Blackhawks depth has taken a hit the last couple years because of the Salary Cap and they are still replacing players.
One of the biggest losses was Brian Campbell on defense. Campbell took a lot of grief for not living up to his contract but he finished with 5 goals & 22 assists and was a team best +28 on the ice. Chicago is hoping either Niklas Hjalmarsson or Nick Leddy can fill the void.
While the top two lines seem to be set there continues to be turnover on the bottom two lines. Andrew Brunette, Jamal Mayers & Dan Carcillo are each going to get their chance to play a role on the 3rd line.
I like the addition of Brunette, a smart hockey player and Mayers, a hard nose hockey player. I don't like the addition of Carcillo who seems to lead the league in stupidity. He is always a good bet to take a dumb penalty at the worst time.
Prediction:
Chicago is the biggest threat to Detroit in the Central Division and should be battling them for the top spot. In the end I expect them to finish 2nd and clinch a playoff spot.
3. Nashville Predators
How They Finished: 44-27-11 99 points 2nd in Central, 5th in West. Lost in 2nd Round to Vancouver.
Additions:
Brett Lebda (Toronto) Niclas Bergfors (Florida) Zach Stortini (Edmonton) Kyle Wilson (Columbus) Jack Hillen (NY Islanders) Tyler Sloan (Washington)
Subtractions:
Joel Ward (Washington) Matthew Lombardi (Toronto) Cody Franson (Toronto) Marcel Goc (Florida) Steve Sullivan (Pittsburgh) Shane O'Brien (Colorado)
Why They'll Succeed:
Last year the Predators finished 3rd in goals allowed with 190. That was due to Pekka Rinne in net and the presence of Shea Weber & Ryan Suter on defense.
Rinne was a Vezina Trophy finalist, was 33-22-9 with a GAA of 2.12 and a save percentage of .930. Weber finished tied for 2nd on the team in scoring with 48 points (16G, 32A) while Ryan Suter was team high +20 on the ice.
Another reason Nashville will be successful is because of coach Barry Trotz. Year in & Year out Trotz seems to get the most out of his roster. With Jacques Lemaire now retired Trotz might be the best coach in the NHL.
Why They'll Fail:
Somebody has to score for Nashville. Last year Sergei Kostitsyn (23G, 27A) & Martin Erat (17G, 33A) reached the 50 point mark while Patric Hornqvist (21G, 27A) was tied for 2nd with Shea Weber with 48 points.
While those are solid numbers they also are numbers you find from secondary scorers on championship rosters. Offensive numbers like that will keep you near the playoff bubble.
Having Mike Fisher for a full season will help but one thing to keep an eye on is who replaces Joel Ward and Steve Sullivan. Ward had 10 goals in the regular season but scored 7 in the playoffs. Sullivan has battled injuries the last couple years but was a productive player on the ice when he played.
Prediction:
The Predators are a hard team to play against. If their defense can take control of the game they will succeed. If they get in a shootout they are going to have their problems winning games. My guess is they will hover around the playoff bubble once again and find their way into the post-season.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
How They Finished: 34-35-13 81 points 5th in Central, 13th in West. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Jeff Carter (Philadelphia) James Wisniewski (Montreal) Radek Martinek (NY Islanders) Vinny Prospal (NY Rangers)
Subtractions:
Jakub Voracek (Philadelphia) Nikita Filatov (Ottawa) Scottie Upshall (Florida) Mathieu Garon (Montreal) Mike Commodore (Detroit) Jan Hedja (Colorado) Kyle Wilson (Nashville) Sami Lepisto (Chicago) Andrew Murray (San Jose) Ethan Moreau (Los Angeles)
Why They'll Succeed:
Columbus finally has the center they have been looking for.
Jeff Carter comes over from Philadelphia where he finished last season with 66 points (36G, 30A) He should fit nicely playing along side Rick Nash who led the Jackets in scoring with 66 points (32G, 34A)
The addition of Prospal gives Columbus a forward who can play the center or wing. Prospal is looking to bounce back after playing in only 29 games last season. If healthy he'll be a nice addition to the 2nd line.
On defense James Wisniewski gives Columbus a puck moving defenseman that can score. Wisniewski finished last season with 51 points (10G, 41A) playing for the Islanders & Montreal. His 51 points will be a welcome addition to the blueline.
Why They'll Fail:
Because the rest of the defense isn't that good.
Fedor Tyutin had the highest point total among defenseman with 27 (7G, 20A). What's worse is he was a team low -12 on the ice. Their best defenseman in terms of plus/minus, Sami Lepisto (+10) left as a free agent for Chicago.
The other question for Columbus is which Steve Mason are they getting. Are they getting the Steve Mason that won the Calder trophy in 2009 and led Columbus to their 1st ever playoff berth or are they getting the one that has underachieved the last couple seasons?
Prediction:
I like what the Blue Jackets have done up front by getting Carter to play with Nash. Those two are going to be fun to watch. However Columbus has a lot of work to do on the back end of their team.
Whether they get a playoff berth or not depends on the play of Mason. Playing in the Central Division makes it a more difficult path. I think Columbus is on the outside looking in.
5. St. Louis Blues
How They Finished: 38-33-11 87 points 4th in Central, 11th in West. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Brian Elliott (Colorado) Kent Huskins (San Jose) Brett Sterling (Pittsburgh) Scott Nichol (San Jose) Jason Arnott (Washington) Jamie Langenbrunner (Dallas) Johnathan Cheechoo (AHL)
Subtractions:
Cam Janssen (New Jersey) Ty Conklin (Detroit) Paul Kariya (Retired)
Why They'll Succeed:
The Blues battled a lot of injuries last season. By the time they were healthy they were playing catch up just missing out on a playoff spot.
One thing that will help is having Chris Stewart for a full season. Stewart came over in a trade from Colorado and finished as the 2nd leading scorer on the Blues with 28 goals & 25 assists. He'll fit nicely along side David Backes who led the team in scoring with 62 points (31G, 31A) and was a team high +32 on ice.
Jaroslav Halak returns in goal and looks to recapture his form in the 2010 playoffs. Halak was 27-21-7 with a GAA of 2.48 and a save percentage of .910. He should be a lot better in year two for St. Louis.
Why They'll Fail:
To get Stewart last year it cost St. Louis Erik Johnson. While Johnson has yet to live up to the standards of a number one draft his void on defense still has to be filled.
Alex Pieterangelo (11G, 32A) and Kevin Shattenkirk (9G, 34A) each had 43 points with Pieterangelo a +18 on the ice. While those were nice seasons I want to see each player do it again before I buy in.
Prediction:
The Blues did have a lot of roster turnover this off-season as a result of the injuries last year. Their depth may be better but I don't see any of their additions making a huge impact. My guess is the Blues miss the playoffs once again.
Is it still Detroit's division to lose or can one of the other teams knock them off the top? Here's my break down of the Central Division?
1. Detroit Red Wings
How They Finished: 47-25-10 104 points 1st in Central, 3rd in West. Lost in 2nd Round to San Jose.
Additions:
Mike Commodore (Columbus) Ian White (San Jose) Chris Connor (Pittsburgh) Ty Conklin (St. Louis)
Subtractions:
Derek Meech (Winnipeg) Mike Modano (Retired) Kris Draper (Retired) Chris Osgood (Retired) Brian Ralfalski (Retired)
Why They'll Succeed:
Nicklas Lidstrom returns for a 20th season.
No one player in the NHL means more to his team than Lidstrom does to Detroit. Even at 41, he skates and plays like he's 21. His presence on the blueline keeps Detroit as one of the top teams in the West.
The Red Wings also have a good group of forwards that can score. Henrik Zetteberg finished as their leading scorer with 80 points (24G, 56A). Johan Franzen led the team in goals with 28 while Dan Cleary finished 2nd with a career high 26.
Keep in mind Detroit best forward, Pavel Datsyuk, only played in 56 games last season and finished with 3rd on the team & 2nd among forwards with 59 points (23G, 36A)
Why They'll Fail:
The Red Wings had four players retire from their roster with three of them playing a prominent role on their Stanley Cup winning teams.
The retirements of Kris Draper (Four Cups) and Chris Osgood (Three Cups) were not a complete surprise. The retirement of Brian Rafalski (One Cup) was.
The task of replacing these three players will be handled by Darren Helm (Draper) Ty Conklin (Osgood) and Ian White (Rafalski)
Helm has become a regular in the last couple years while Conklin has proved himself to be a serviceable backup in the NHL. Replacing Rafalski on defense will be a little tougher.
White has had solid numbers in his career but has never shown he can be more than a number four defenseman in the NHL. The Wings are hoping that will change in Detroit & he can fill Rafalski's role.
Another concern for Red Wings fans is Jimmy Howard in goal.
Personally I like Howard in goal and I think he is going to be fine but a lot of Red Wings fans do not feel the same way. Howard doesn't give off the confidence other goaltenders do that they can steal a series. Until he does that or win a Stanley Cup he will continue to have his doubters.
Prediction:
With the four retirements the depth of the Red Wings took a big hit. Fortunately GM Ken Holland has been preparing for this the last couple years. The players mentioned above should have no problem replacing Rafalski, Draper, & Osgood.
As always with Lidstrom on the roster the Central Division is Detroit's to lose.
2. Chicago Blackhawks
How They Finished: 44-29-9 97 points 3rd in Central, 8th in West. Lost in 1st Round to Vancouver.
Additions:
Rostislav Olesz (Florida) Steve Montador (Buffalo) Jamal Mayers (San Jose) Andrew Brunette (Minnesota) Sean O'Donnell (Philadelphia) Dan Carcillo (Philadelphia) Sami Lepisto (Columbus) Brandon Segal (Dallas)
Subtractions:
Troy Brouwer (Washington) Brian Campbell (Florida) Tomas Kopecky (Florida) Jake Dowell (Dallas) Marty Turco (Free Agent) Chris Campoli (Free Agent)
Why They'll Succeed:
The core players for the Blackhawks are back for another season.
Johnathan Toews (32G, 44A) Patrick Kane (27G, 46A) & Patrick Sharp (34G, 37A) all reached the 70 point mark last season while Marian Hossa finished with 65 points (25G, 32A) all four will be counted on once again to lead the way in scoring.
In goal Corey Crawford was able to seize the job in net away from Marty Turco & never let go. Crawford finished with a record of 33-18-6 with a GAA of 2.30 and a save percentage of .917. Having him in net for a full season should only make the Blackhawks better. Of course it helps when you have one of the best defensive pairing playing in front of you.
The core of defenseman is led by Duncan Keith (7G, 38A) & Brent Seabrook (9G, 39A) Both players had down years by their standards and should bounce back strong this season.
Why They'll Fail:
The Blackhawks depth has taken a hit the last couple years because of the Salary Cap and they are still replacing players.
One of the biggest losses was Brian Campbell on defense. Campbell took a lot of grief for not living up to his contract but he finished with 5 goals & 22 assists and was a team best +28 on the ice. Chicago is hoping either Niklas Hjalmarsson or Nick Leddy can fill the void.
While the top two lines seem to be set there continues to be turnover on the bottom two lines. Andrew Brunette, Jamal Mayers & Dan Carcillo are each going to get their chance to play a role on the 3rd line.
I like the addition of Brunette, a smart hockey player and Mayers, a hard nose hockey player. I don't like the addition of Carcillo who seems to lead the league in stupidity. He is always a good bet to take a dumb penalty at the worst time.
Prediction:
Chicago is the biggest threat to Detroit in the Central Division and should be battling them for the top spot. In the end I expect them to finish 2nd and clinch a playoff spot.
3. Nashville Predators
How They Finished: 44-27-11 99 points 2nd in Central, 5th in West. Lost in 2nd Round to Vancouver.
Additions:
Brett Lebda (Toronto) Niclas Bergfors (Florida) Zach Stortini (Edmonton) Kyle Wilson (Columbus) Jack Hillen (NY Islanders) Tyler Sloan (Washington)
Subtractions:
Joel Ward (Washington) Matthew Lombardi (Toronto) Cody Franson (Toronto) Marcel Goc (Florida) Steve Sullivan (Pittsburgh) Shane O'Brien (Colorado)
Why They'll Succeed:
Last year the Predators finished 3rd in goals allowed with 190. That was due to Pekka Rinne in net and the presence of Shea Weber & Ryan Suter on defense.
Rinne was a Vezina Trophy finalist, was 33-22-9 with a GAA of 2.12 and a save percentage of .930. Weber finished tied for 2nd on the team in scoring with 48 points (16G, 32A) while Ryan Suter was team high +20 on the ice.
Another reason Nashville will be successful is because of coach Barry Trotz. Year in & Year out Trotz seems to get the most out of his roster. With Jacques Lemaire now retired Trotz might be the best coach in the NHL.
Why They'll Fail:
Somebody has to score for Nashville. Last year Sergei Kostitsyn (23G, 27A) & Martin Erat (17G, 33A) reached the 50 point mark while Patric Hornqvist (21G, 27A) was tied for 2nd with Shea Weber with 48 points.
While those are solid numbers they also are numbers you find from secondary scorers on championship rosters. Offensive numbers like that will keep you near the playoff bubble.
Having Mike Fisher for a full season will help but one thing to keep an eye on is who replaces Joel Ward and Steve Sullivan. Ward had 10 goals in the regular season but scored 7 in the playoffs. Sullivan has battled injuries the last couple years but was a productive player on the ice when he played.
Prediction:
The Predators are a hard team to play against. If their defense can take control of the game they will succeed. If they get in a shootout they are going to have their problems winning games. My guess is they will hover around the playoff bubble once again and find their way into the post-season.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
How They Finished: 34-35-13 81 points 5th in Central, 13th in West. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Jeff Carter (Philadelphia) James Wisniewski (Montreal) Radek Martinek (NY Islanders) Vinny Prospal (NY Rangers)
Subtractions:
Jakub Voracek (Philadelphia) Nikita Filatov (Ottawa) Scottie Upshall (Florida) Mathieu Garon (Montreal) Mike Commodore (Detroit) Jan Hedja (Colorado) Kyle Wilson (Nashville) Sami Lepisto (Chicago) Andrew Murray (San Jose) Ethan Moreau (Los Angeles)
Why They'll Succeed:
Columbus finally has the center they have been looking for.
Jeff Carter comes over from Philadelphia where he finished last season with 66 points (36G, 30A) He should fit nicely playing along side Rick Nash who led the Jackets in scoring with 66 points (32G, 34A)
The addition of Prospal gives Columbus a forward who can play the center or wing. Prospal is looking to bounce back after playing in only 29 games last season. If healthy he'll be a nice addition to the 2nd line.
On defense James Wisniewski gives Columbus a puck moving defenseman that can score. Wisniewski finished last season with 51 points (10G, 41A) playing for the Islanders & Montreal. His 51 points will be a welcome addition to the blueline.
Why They'll Fail:
Because the rest of the defense isn't that good.
Fedor Tyutin had the highest point total among defenseman with 27 (7G, 20A). What's worse is he was a team low -12 on the ice. Their best defenseman in terms of plus/minus, Sami Lepisto (+10) left as a free agent for Chicago.
The other question for Columbus is which Steve Mason are they getting. Are they getting the Steve Mason that won the Calder trophy in 2009 and led Columbus to their 1st ever playoff berth or are they getting the one that has underachieved the last couple seasons?
Prediction:
I like what the Blue Jackets have done up front by getting Carter to play with Nash. Those two are going to be fun to watch. However Columbus has a lot of work to do on the back end of their team.
Whether they get a playoff berth or not depends on the play of Mason. Playing in the Central Division makes it a more difficult path. I think Columbus is on the outside looking in.
5. St. Louis Blues
How They Finished: 38-33-11 87 points 4th in Central, 11th in West. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Brian Elliott (Colorado) Kent Huskins (San Jose) Brett Sterling (Pittsburgh) Scott Nichol (San Jose) Jason Arnott (Washington) Jamie Langenbrunner (Dallas) Johnathan Cheechoo (AHL)
Subtractions:
Cam Janssen (New Jersey) Ty Conklin (Detroit) Paul Kariya (Retired)
Why They'll Succeed:
The Blues battled a lot of injuries last season. By the time they were healthy they were playing catch up just missing out on a playoff spot.
One thing that will help is having Chris Stewart for a full season. Stewart came over in a trade from Colorado and finished as the 2nd leading scorer on the Blues with 28 goals & 25 assists. He'll fit nicely along side David Backes who led the team in scoring with 62 points (31G, 31A) and was a team high +32 on ice.
Jaroslav Halak returns in goal and looks to recapture his form in the 2010 playoffs. Halak was 27-21-7 with a GAA of 2.48 and a save percentage of .910. He should be a lot better in year two for St. Louis.
Why They'll Fail:
To get Stewart last year it cost St. Louis Erik Johnson. While Johnson has yet to live up to the standards of a number one draft his void on defense still has to be filled.
Alex Pieterangelo (11G, 32A) and Kevin Shattenkirk (9G, 34A) each had 43 points with Pieterangelo a +18 on the ice. While those were nice seasons I want to see each player do it again before I buy in.
Prediction:
The Blues did have a lot of roster turnover this off-season as a result of the injuries last year. Their depth may be better but I don't see any of their additions making a huge impact. My guess is the Blues miss the playoffs once again.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
SOUTHEAST DIVISION PREVIEW
The Southeast Division looks a lot different this year.
For the last few seasons Washington has been the elite team in the division but with Tampa Bay's run to the Eastern Conference Finals last year the Lightning looks to be the biggest threat to the Capitals.
The other big change is the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg to become the 2nd coming of the Jets. Granted the only thing Winnipeg is southeast of in the NHL is Edmonton but they are in the Southeast for only one more season until realignment takes place.
How will these three teams along with Carolina & Florida fare this season. Let's break it down.
1. Washington Capitals:
How They Finished: 48-23-11 107 points 1st in Southeast, 1st in East. Lost in 2nd Round to Tampa Bay.
Additions:
Troy Brouwer (Chicago) Jeff Halpern (Montreal) Joel Ward (Nashville) Roman Hamrlik (Montreal) Ryan Potulny (Ottawa) Tomas Vokoun (Florida)
Subtractions:
Marco Sturm (Vancouver) Matt Bradley (Florida) Eric Fehr (Winnipeg) Seymon Varlamov (Colorado) Boyd Gordon (Phoenix) Jason Arnott (St. Louis) Scott Hannan (Calgary) Brian Willsie (Montreal) Tyler Sloan (Nashville)
Why They'll Succeed:
They are still the most talented team in the division. Alex Ovechkin once again made his case for the best player in the NHL finishing with 85 points (32G, 53A)
Ovechkin leads a group of forwards that features Alexander Semin (28 Goals) Mike Knuble (24 goals) & Nicklas Backstrom (18 goals) that has no problem finding the back of the net.
Another reason the Capitals should succeed is because the core of players that helped lead Hershey to Calder Cup titles in 2009 & 2010 are starting to play a prominent role on the current roster.
Why They'll Fail:
Last year the Capitals finished 15-4-1 down the stretch without defenseman Mike Green. When Green returned Washington struggled and were swept in the 2nd round by Tampa Bay.
This is not coincidental.
Green is a talented defenseman that is a threat to score whenever he touches the puck. He is also a liability on defense. After watching Washington last spring I'm starting to believe they will never win with Green in the lineup.
Another move they made this off-season was signing Tomas Vokoun to play goal instead of Michal Neuvirth. I liked what I saw out of Neuvirth & thought he deserved a chance to earn the job as starting goaltender. The Capitals decided to sign a goalie has decent stats but has never won a post-season series & hasn't played in the playoffs since 2007.
Prediction:
They still have the most talent of any team in the division. Tampa Bay may have swept them last post-season but the Capitals are still a better team over an 82 game schedule. Washington should win 5th straight division title.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
How They Finished: 46-25-11 103 points. 2nd in Southeast, 5th in East. Lost in Conference Finals to Boston.
Additions:
Bruno Gervais (NY Islanders) Mathieu Garon (Montreal) Matt Gilroy (NY Rangers) Tom Pyatt (Montreal) Ryan Shannon (Ottawa)
Subtractions:
Marc-Andre Pouliot (Phoenix) Sean Bergenheim (Florida) Mike Smith (Phoenix) Simon Gagne (Los Angeles) Randy Jones (Winnipeg) Mike Lundin (Minnesota) Matt Smaby (Anaheim)
Why They'll Succeed:
It's starts at the top with their management.
With a good core of players already in place GM Steve Yzerman did an excellent job adding the necessary pieces & coach Guy Boucher pushed all the right buttons leading Tampa Bay back to the conference finals. Another year of experience will only make them better.
Martin St. Louis played like a Hart Trophy candidate (31G, 68A) and Steven Stamkos (45G, 46A) put his name in the same category as Sidney Crosby & Alex Ovechkin. Big seasons are expected from both of them once again.
On defense Victor Hedman continues to develop into a top notch defenseman & the additions of Matt Gilroy & Bruno Gervais gives the Lightning quality depth on defense.
Why They'll Fail:
Let me just start by saying I thought Dwayne Roloson was awesome last year in the post-season finishing 10-6 with a GAA of 2.51 and a save percentage on .924.
However he also started to get tired near the end of the playoff run. He turns 42 years old and the Lightning will not be able to ride him all season like they did in the playoffs.
With Mike Smith now in Phoenix backup duties fall to Mathieu Garon who comes over from Montreal. He'll have to play well in games when Roloson has the night off.
Prediction:
I really like how the Tampa Bay roster is built. If the can find the right balance for when to play Roloson so they don't burn him out the Lightning could contend for the division crown.
They won't surprise anyone like they did last year but a 2nd place finish in the Southeast should be enough to get them back to the playoffs.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
How They Finished: 40-31-11 91 points 3rd in Southeast, 9th in East. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Brian Boucher (Philadelphia) Tim Brent (Toronto) Alexei Ponikarovsky (Los Angeles) Anthony Stewart (Atlanta) Tomas Kaberle (Boston)
Subtractions:
Joe Corvo (Boston) Erik Cole (Montreal)
Why They'll Succeed:
They just missed out on a playoff spot last year. Tomas Kaberle is an offensive presence on the blueline and will fill the void left by Joe Corvo going to Boston.
Eric Staal had another great season finishing with 33 goals & 43 assists. Jeff Skinner had a great rookie campaign finishing 2nd on the team with 31 goals. At 19 years old he should only get better.
Cam Ward went 37-26-10 in net finishing with GAA of 2.56 and a save percentage of .923. With Brian Boucher backing him up Ward won't have to be asked to play in every game for Carolina.
Why They'll Fail:
While the Hurricanes were able to replace Corvo the question of who will replace Erik Cole remains to be seen.
Alexei Ponikarovsky has the skills but only scored 5 goals last season. Anthony Stewart has the grit up front but only scored 14 goals last season. Both will have their work cut out for them trying to replace Cole.
On defense Carolina only had one defenseman (Jay Harrison) finish plus last year in plus/minus. Even with the addition of Kaberle I don't see that improving.
Prediction:
Carolina is the ultimate hit or miss team. They either get in the playoffs and go on a run or they miss the post-season.
In an improving Southeast Division the Hurricanes stayed pretty neutral with their roster. They'll be in the hunt but unless they make a deal during the season or one of the other playoff teams from last year stumble the Hurricanes will miss the playoffs again.
4. Florida Panthers
How They Finished: 30-40-12 72 points 5th in Southeast, 15th in East. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Brian Campbell (Chicago) Tomas Kopecky (Chicago) Kris Versteeg (Philadelphia) Scottie Upshall (Columbus) Jose Theodore (Minnesota) Ed Jovanovski (Phoenix) Tomas Fleischmann (Colorado) Marcel Goc (Nashville) Sean Bergenheim (Tampa Bay) Matt Bradley (Washington)
Subtractions:
Rostislav Olesz (Chicago) Marty Reasoner (NY Islanders) Darcy Hordichuk (Edmonton) Tomas Vokoun (Washington) Niclas Bergfors (Nashville) Alexander Sulzer (Nashville) Patrick Rissmiller (NY Rangers) Byron Bitz (Vancouver) Cory Stillman (Retired)
Why They'll Succeed:
When you haven't made the playoffs in 11 seasons any change is welcomed.
The Panthers did just that bringing in 10 new players some of whom have been successful in previous stops. The infusion of new talent does bring a little bit of a buzz to South Florida and should make the Panthers competitive.
Why They'll Fail:
We don't know what kind of chemistry this team is going to have. Of all the players they brought in the only one to make a big impact in the NHL is Jose Theodore who won a Vezina & Hart Trophy in 2002.
Ed Jovanovski's career is winding down and isn't the same defenseman he was when the Panthers drafted him. Brian Campbell has never lived up to the contract he signed in Chicago. Sean Bergenheim (14G, 15A) is trying to repeat the career year he had in Tampa while Kris Versteeg is looking to bounce back from a forgettable season in Toronto & Philadelphia.
Prediction:
The Panthers needed to do something. They were becoming the most irrelevant team in the NHL. The transactions gives them a little buzz going into the season but we don't know what to expect.
I have them finishing 4th in the division & missing the playoffs but if they start strong anything is possible.
5. Winnipeg Jets
How They Finished: 34-36-12 80 points 4th in Southeast, 12th in East. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Eric Fehr (Washington) Derek Meech (Detroit) Tanner Glass (Vancouver) Randy Jones (Tampa Bay) Kyle Wellwood (San Jose)
Subtractions:
Radek Dvorak (Dallas) Anthony Stewart (Carolina) Eric Boulton (New Jersey)
Why They'll Succeed:
When they were in Atlanta, I thought the Jets had a nice core of young players that were close to making an impact. Now that the franchise is in Winnipeg and playing in front of 15,000 passionate hockey fans every night the energy level will be insane. That can only inspire the players on the ice.
Why They'll Fail:
They are still the Atlanta Thrashers.
Just because you move the franchise doesn't mean things are going to get better right away. The downside of finally playing in front of 15,000 rabid hockey fans is there is a honeymoon period. The Jets could play bad hockey this whole season and hardly anybody in Winnipeg will care.
Another concern is Dustin Byfuglien. Not the fact he was arrested in the off-season for operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol (BWI) People make mistakes, that problem will work itself out.
What concerns me is that Byfuglien weighs 286 pounds going into the season. Weighing that much while trying to defend against the likes of Ovechkin, Stamkos, St. Louis & Staal is very difficult to do.
Prediction:
Teams that usually move from one city to another struggle their 1st season in it's new market. (Colorado is the exception to the rule) But that doesn't matter here. Hockey is back in Winnipeg and that's all the fans care about. I'll say 5th in the division for now with better days ahead.
For the last few seasons Washington has been the elite team in the division but with Tampa Bay's run to the Eastern Conference Finals last year the Lightning looks to be the biggest threat to the Capitals.
The other big change is the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg to become the 2nd coming of the Jets. Granted the only thing Winnipeg is southeast of in the NHL is Edmonton but they are in the Southeast for only one more season until realignment takes place.
How will these three teams along with Carolina & Florida fare this season. Let's break it down.
1. Washington Capitals:
How They Finished: 48-23-11 107 points 1st in Southeast, 1st in East. Lost in 2nd Round to Tampa Bay.
Additions:
Troy Brouwer (Chicago) Jeff Halpern (Montreal) Joel Ward (Nashville) Roman Hamrlik (Montreal) Ryan Potulny (Ottawa) Tomas Vokoun (Florida)
Subtractions:
Marco Sturm (Vancouver) Matt Bradley (Florida) Eric Fehr (Winnipeg) Seymon Varlamov (Colorado) Boyd Gordon (Phoenix) Jason Arnott (St. Louis) Scott Hannan (Calgary) Brian Willsie (Montreal) Tyler Sloan (Nashville)
Why They'll Succeed:
They are still the most talented team in the division. Alex Ovechkin once again made his case for the best player in the NHL finishing with 85 points (32G, 53A)
Ovechkin leads a group of forwards that features Alexander Semin (28 Goals) Mike Knuble (24 goals) & Nicklas Backstrom (18 goals) that has no problem finding the back of the net.
Another reason the Capitals should succeed is because the core of players that helped lead Hershey to Calder Cup titles in 2009 & 2010 are starting to play a prominent role on the current roster.
Why They'll Fail:
Last year the Capitals finished 15-4-1 down the stretch without defenseman Mike Green. When Green returned Washington struggled and were swept in the 2nd round by Tampa Bay.
This is not coincidental.
Green is a talented defenseman that is a threat to score whenever he touches the puck. He is also a liability on defense. After watching Washington last spring I'm starting to believe they will never win with Green in the lineup.
Another move they made this off-season was signing Tomas Vokoun to play goal instead of Michal Neuvirth. I liked what I saw out of Neuvirth & thought he deserved a chance to earn the job as starting goaltender. The Capitals decided to sign a goalie has decent stats but has never won a post-season series & hasn't played in the playoffs since 2007.
Prediction:
They still have the most talent of any team in the division. Tampa Bay may have swept them last post-season but the Capitals are still a better team over an 82 game schedule. Washington should win 5th straight division title.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
How They Finished: 46-25-11 103 points. 2nd in Southeast, 5th in East. Lost in Conference Finals to Boston.
Additions:
Bruno Gervais (NY Islanders) Mathieu Garon (Montreal) Matt Gilroy (NY Rangers) Tom Pyatt (Montreal) Ryan Shannon (Ottawa)
Subtractions:
Marc-Andre Pouliot (Phoenix) Sean Bergenheim (Florida) Mike Smith (Phoenix) Simon Gagne (Los Angeles) Randy Jones (Winnipeg) Mike Lundin (Minnesota) Matt Smaby (Anaheim)
Why They'll Succeed:
It's starts at the top with their management.
With a good core of players already in place GM Steve Yzerman did an excellent job adding the necessary pieces & coach Guy Boucher pushed all the right buttons leading Tampa Bay back to the conference finals. Another year of experience will only make them better.
Martin St. Louis played like a Hart Trophy candidate (31G, 68A) and Steven Stamkos (45G, 46A) put his name in the same category as Sidney Crosby & Alex Ovechkin. Big seasons are expected from both of them once again.
On defense Victor Hedman continues to develop into a top notch defenseman & the additions of Matt Gilroy & Bruno Gervais gives the Lightning quality depth on defense.
Why They'll Fail:
Let me just start by saying I thought Dwayne Roloson was awesome last year in the post-season finishing 10-6 with a GAA of 2.51 and a save percentage on .924.
However he also started to get tired near the end of the playoff run. He turns 42 years old and the Lightning will not be able to ride him all season like they did in the playoffs.
With Mike Smith now in Phoenix backup duties fall to Mathieu Garon who comes over from Montreal. He'll have to play well in games when Roloson has the night off.
Prediction:
I really like how the Tampa Bay roster is built. If the can find the right balance for when to play Roloson so they don't burn him out the Lightning could contend for the division crown.
They won't surprise anyone like they did last year but a 2nd place finish in the Southeast should be enough to get them back to the playoffs.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
How They Finished: 40-31-11 91 points 3rd in Southeast, 9th in East. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Brian Boucher (Philadelphia) Tim Brent (Toronto) Alexei Ponikarovsky (Los Angeles) Anthony Stewart (Atlanta) Tomas Kaberle (Boston)
Subtractions:
Joe Corvo (Boston) Erik Cole (Montreal)
Why They'll Succeed:
They just missed out on a playoff spot last year. Tomas Kaberle is an offensive presence on the blueline and will fill the void left by Joe Corvo going to Boston.
Eric Staal had another great season finishing with 33 goals & 43 assists. Jeff Skinner had a great rookie campaign finishing 2nd on the team with 31 goals. At 19 years old he should only get better.
Cam Ward went 37-26-10 in net finishing with GAA of 2.56 and a save percentage of .923. With Brian Boucher backing him up Ward won't have to be asked to play in every game for Carolina.
Why They'll Fail:
While the Hurricanes were able to replace Corvo the question of who will replace Erik Cole remains to be seen.
Alexei Ponikarovsky has the skills but only scored 5 goals last season. Anthony Stewart has the grit up front but only scored 14 goals last season. Both will have their work cut out for them trying to replace Cole.
On defense Carolina only had one defenseman (Jay Harrison) finish plus last year in plus/minus. Even with the addition of Kaberle I don't see that improving.
Prediction:
Carolina is the ultimate hit or miss team. They either get in the playoffs and go on a run or they miss the post-season.
In an improving Southeast Division the Hurricanes stayed pretty neutral with their roster. They'll be in the hunt but unless they make a deal during the season or one of the other playoff teams from last year stumble the Hurricanes will miss the playoffs again.
4. Florida Panthers
How They Finished: 30-40-12 72 points 5th in Southeast, 15th in East. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Brian Campbell (Chicago) Tomas Kopecky (Chicago) Kris Versteeg (Philadelphia) Scottie Upshall (Columbus) Jose Theodore (Minnesota) Ed Jovanovski (Phoenix) Tomas Fleischmann (Colorado) Marcel Goc (Nashville) Sean Bergenheim (Tampa Bay) Matt Bradley (Washington)
Subtractions:
Rostislav Olesz (Chicago) Marty Reasoner (NY Islanders) Darcy Hordichuk (Edmonton) Tomas Vokoun (Washington) Niclas Bergfors (Nashville) Alexander Sulzer (Nashville) Patrick Rissmiller (NY Rangers) Byron Bitz (Vancouver) Cory Stillman (Retired)
Why They'll Succeed:
When you haven't made the playoffs in 11 seasons any change is welcomed.
The Panthers did just that bringing in 10 new players some of whom have been successful in previous stops. The infusion of new talent does bring a little bit of a buzz to South Florida and should make the Panthers competitive.
Why They'll Fail:
We don't know what kind of chemistry this team is going to have. Of all the players they brought in the only one to make a big impact in the NHL is Jose Theodore who won a Vezina & Hart Trophy in 2002.
Ed Jovanovski's career is winding down and isn't the same defenseman he was when the Panthers drafted him. Brian Campbell has never lived up to the contract he signed in Chicago. Sean Bergenheim (14G, 15A) is trying to repeat the career year he had in Tampa while Kris Versteeg is looking to bounce back from a forgettable season in Toronto & Philadelphia.
Prediction:
The Panthers needed to do something. They were becoming the most irrelevant team in the NHL. The transactions gives them a little buzz going into the season but we don't know what to expect.
I have them finishing 4th in the division & missing the playoffs but if they start strong anything is possible.
5. Winnipeg Jets
How They Finished: 34-36-12 80 points 4th in Southeast, 12th in East. Missed Playoffs.
Additions:
Eric Fehr (Washington) Derek Meech (Detroit) Tanner Glass (Vancouver) Randy Jones (Tampa Bay) Kyle Wellwood (San Jose)
Subtractions:
Radek Dvorak (Dallas) Anthony Stewart (Carolina) Eric Boulton (New Jersey)
Why They'll Succeed:
When they were in Atlanta, I thought the Jets had a nice core of young players that were close to making an impact. Now that the franchise is in Winnipeg and playing in front of 15,000 passionate hockey fans every night the energy level will be insane. That can only inspire the players on the ice.
Why They'll Fail:
They are still the Atlanta Thrashers.
Just because you move the franchise doesn't mean things are going to get better right away. The downside of finally playing in front of 15,000 rabid hockey fans is there is a honeymoon period. The Jets could play bad hockey this whole season and hardly anybody in Winnipeg will care.
Another concern is Dustin Byfuglien. Not the fact he was arrested in the off-season for operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol (BWI) People make mistakes, that problem will work itself out.
What concerns me is that Byfuglien weighs 286 pounds going into the season. Weighing that much while trying to defend against the likes of Ovechkin, Stamkos, St. Louis & Staal is very difficult to do.
Prediction:
Teams that usually move from one city to another struggle their 1st season in it's new market. (Colorado is the exception to the rule) But that doesn't matter here. Hockey is back in Winnipeg and that's all the fans care about. I'll say 5th in the division for now with better days ahead.
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