Last year we saw San Jose exercise some demons to reach the Western Conference Finals. Yes they got swept by Chicago but compared to the last couple seasons progress is being made.
Last year also saw the return of the Los Angeles Kings to the playoffs. They lost in the 1st round but their roster is similar to where Chicago was a couple years ago.
Phoenix surprised everyone by clinching home ice in the 1st round while Anaheim & Dallas both were absent from the playoffs.
Does this division still belong to San Jose or are the Kings ready to take over? Is Phoenix a one year wonder? Will Anaheim & Dallas return to the playoffs? Let's break it down
Los Angeles Kings
Last Season: 46-27-9 101 points. Lost in 1st Round to Vancouver
New Additions:
Alexei Ponikarovsky, RW (Pittsburgh) Willie Mitchell, D (Vancouver)
Subtractions:
Sean O' Donnell, D (Philadelphia) Alexander Frolov, LW (NY Rangers) Fredrik Modin, LW (Atlanta) Jeff Halpern, C (Montreal)
Why They'll Succeed:
Their core of young talent. The Kings were in rebuilding mode since the lockout until last season when they clinched their 1st playoff berth since 2002.
Led by Drew Doughty & Jack Johnson on the blueline you will not find a better pair of young defenseman in the NHL anywhere else except maybe in Chicago. Mix in veterans Rob Scuderi & Willie Mitchell and you have a top four that can shut down any teams scoring line.
Jonathan Quick had a breakout season in goal winning 39 games and having a Goals Against Average of 2.54. Kings fans are hoping last season wasn't a fluke and even if it is they have another good young goaltender waiting in the wings in Johnathan Bernier.
Why They'll Fail:
They are still missing a sniper. Kings GM Dean Lombardi made a strong push for Ilya Kovalchuk this summer only to see him eventually re-sign with New Jersey.
Ponikarovsky was brought in to replace Frolov on the wing. When you bring in a guy who averages nearly 12 goals a season to replace a guy who averages 24 goals a season it isn't nearly much of an upgrade.
Anze Kopitar led the Kings with 34 goals and will be expected to do so once again. Dustin Brown & Ryan Smith both reached the 20 goal mark and will be under more pressure to help pick up the scoring slack with the departure of Frolov.
Playoff Team:
I really like the core of this team and I think they are one player away from being a serious cup contender. Their defense is the best in the division and their goaltending is just as good as San Jose. I like the Kings to win their 1st division title since the 1990-1991 season.
San Jose Sharks
Last Season: 51-20-11 113 points Lost in Conference Finals to Chicago.
New Additions:
Antti Niemi, G (San Jose) Antero Nittymaki, G (Tampa Bay) Jamal Mayers, F (Calgary)
Subtractions:
Evgeni Nabokov, G (KHL) Manny Maholtra, C (Vancouver) Rob Blake, D (Retired)
Why They'll Succeed:
The two most constants for the Sharks playoff failures were Patrick Marleau & Evgeni Nabokov.
Last season Marleau was removed as captain of the Sharks. He responded by scoring a career high 44 goals in the regular season and finished with 83 points on the season. In the playoffs he had 8 goals in 14 playoff games.
Nabokov won 44 games in net and had a Goals Against Average of 2.43 in the regular season but was once again outplayed in the playoffs 1st by Craig Anderson of Colorado and then Antti Niemi of Chicago
Sharks GM Doug Wilson decided to let Nabokov go as a free agent this season and brought in Nittymaki to replace him in net. Later that summer Niemi became a free agent & Wilson brought him in to compete with Nittymaki. The additions of these two goaltenders plus the departure of Nabokov should make the Sharks better in net.
Marleau's decision to not test the free agent waters keep the Sharks strong up front as he is paired with Joe Thornton & Dany Heatley.
Joe Pavelski had his coming out party last year scoring 9 goals in 15 playoff games. Ryan Clowe & Devon Setogucchi make up the wings on the second line. Also keep an eye on Forward Logan Couture. He looks ready to make the leap.
Why They'll Fail:
As much as I like the additions of Niemi & Nittymaki to replace Nabokov there is still some questions around their play in goal.
Nittymaki has played well in tandems in Philadelphia & Tampa Bay and yet has never been able to claim the number one job as his own.
Niemi joins him in San Jose fresh off a Stanley Cup win but will not have as good as group of defenseman in front of him like he did in Chicago.
Speaking of defenseman, Rob Blake's departure leaves a void on the blueline. Dan Boyle will fill Blake's role on defense while Jason Demars is expected to be paired up with Boyle.
Playoff Team:
There is still a lot of talent on this team and another post-season berth is likely. Whether they can finally get over the hump and reach the Stanley Cup Finals remains to be seen. I won't believe it until I see it and yet if they make it there I won't be surprised.
Anaheim Ducks
Last Season: 39-32-11 89 points Did Not Qualify
New Additions:
Toni Lydman, D (Buffalo) Andy Sutton, D Ottawa Aaron Voros, RW (NY Rangers)
Subtractions:
Scott Niedermeyer, D (Retired) James Wisniewski, D (NY Islanders) Steve Eminger, D (NY Rangers) Mike Brown, F (Toronto)
Why They'll Succeed;
Their top line consists of Bobby Ryan (35 goals) Corey Perry (27 goals) Ryan Getzlaf (19 goals). Add Saku Koivu (19 goals) & Teemu Selanne (27 goals) and putting the puck in the back of the net shouldn't be an issue for the Ducks.
Why They'll Fail:
Keeping the puck out of the back of the net may be however. Niedemeyer's retirement ends a great era of Ducks defenseman on the blueline that consisted of Niedermeyer, Chris Pronger & Francois Beauchemin.
Along with new addition Sutton & Lydman the blueline will consist of Lubomir Visnovsky & Luca Sbisa. I think it's safe to say we will find out if Jonas Hiller is actually a pretty good goalie or if he just benefited from having good defenseman in front of him.
Playoff Team:
Last season the Ducks missed the playoffs for the 1st time since the lockout as the departures of Pronger & Beauchemin were never properly replaced. As i write this they still haven't been and now Anaheim has to deal will Niedermeyer being gone.
They are hoping that Sbisa & Cam Fowler can develop and become the next generation of shutdown defensemen. I believe they will eventually but it won't happen this season as the Ducks will be sitting at home this spring.
Phoenix Coyotes
Last Season: 50-25-7 107 points. Lost in 1st Round to Detroit
New Additions:
Raw Whitney, LW (Carolina) Eric Belanger, C (Washington)
Subtractions:
Zybnek Michalek, D (Pittsburgh) Jim Vandemeer, D (Edmonton) Mathieu Schneider, D (Free Agent) Robert Lang, C (Free Agent)
Why They'll Succeed:
They have the best coach in the division in Dave Tippett. When he was with Dallas he led the Stars to the playoffs five times in six years. When he came into Phoenix last fall there weren't a lot of expectations. Instead he led the Coyotes to 50 wins & 107 points which is their best showing since moving to the desert from Winnipeg in 1996.
The addition of Whitney (21 goals) gives the Coyotes top line another scoring threat to go with Shane Doan (18 goals) while Keith Yandle looks to improve on his 12 goal/41 point season and fill the void of Michalek on the blueline. Veterans Ed Jovonovski & Adrian Aucoin remain key players on the blueline for Phoenix
Ilya Bryzgalov came aboard in 2007 and won 42 games last season for the Coyotes. His play in net was a main factor in Phoenix clinching their 1st playoff berth since 2002.
Why They'll Fail:
Was last season a mirage? Sure the Coyotes are well coached but I watched them twice in person last season and I have a hard time finding one thing they do better than any other team in the Western Conference.
They outworked a lot of teams to get to the playoffs with most of their points coming in overtime/shootout. They can't expect that to happen again.
I like the addition of Eric Belanger at Center. I would like it a lot more if he had a couple wings to pass the puck to. If Phoenix is expecting him to score then they are in for a disappointment.
Playoff Team:
After being picked to finish dead last in the Western Conference last year they surprised a lot of people by making the playoffs. They won't surprised a lot of teams this season.
The Coyotes are an improved franchise but I think their division is too tough and Phoenix will finish 4th in the pacific.
Dallas Stars
Last Season: 37-31-14 88 points Did Not Qualify
New Additions:
Brad Lukowich, D (Vancouver) Andrew Raycroft, G (Vancouver) Adam Burish, F (Chicago)
Subtractions:
Marty Turco, G (Chicago) Jere Lehtinen, RW (Free Agent) Mike Modano, C (Detroit)
Why They'll Succeed:
Dallas ranked 11th in the NHL in scoring last season with six forwards reaching the 20 goal mark. One of the forwards to watch is Jamie Benn who had 22 goals & 41 points last season. He represents the next generation of Stars players.
Why They'll Fail:
Their defense ranked 23rd in the league last season & their core returns for another season. The group of Trevor Daley, mark Fistric, Nicklas Grossman, & Matt Niskanen are still developing. Dallas is hoping their play will continue this season.
In goal Kari Lehtonen replaces Marty Turco. Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a big Turco fan but his play in net was good enough to get Dallas to the playoffs during most of his tenure.
Lehtonen has underachieved throughout most of his career and has never experienced any success in the post-season. combine that with a young defense core and growing pains are to be expected.
Playoff Team:
Looking at the Dallas stars roster it's hard to believe that this team was in the Conference finals in 2008. Ownership issues have caused some turnover on the roster. The departure of Modano means the Stars are in a rebuilding mode.
The young players on the roster are going to get their opportunity to show that they are part of the future this season. However, when that is the case the playoffs seem like a pipe dream. Dallas will finish last in the Pacific this season.
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