Tampa Bay Lightning: Despite losing Boyle and still having no bonafide #1 goalie, they added an innumerable caravan of talented forwards to bolster their team. They should be able to make the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference.
Chicago Blackhawks: Despite paying almost $13 million to their goaltenders and basically forcing themselves to trade Khabibulin for less than his value, they have solid goaltending, a tremendously upgraded defense, and young developing forwards. they almost made the playoffs with only one of those assets, and their division got weaker with the fall-off of Nashville...they'll be in this year.
New York Rangers: The players lost are less than those gained. Jagr is past his prime and not a two-way player to begin with; Marcus Nasland is at least his equal. Adding Wade Redden (albeit to an overpriced contract) will make the Rangers already solid blueline one of the ten best in the league, and by adding Kalininas well, they are unquestionably the best blueline in the East. The loss of Avery is mitigated somewhat by the signing of Rissmiller (a solid role-player and energy guy) and Aaron Voros.
New Jersey Devils: They added depth and missing scoring talent to their forward lines with Holik and Rolston.
Losers:
Nashville Predators: They have lost their best defenseman, one of the best back-up goalies in the league, and a couple role-players to boot. This after losing an all-world goaltender and a couple players last year and barely making the playoffs. They struggle to make the salary FLOOR, so why again did that idiot Bettman insist the team stay in TN?
Buffalo Sabres: They lost the player that they had gotten in return for Brian Campbell (Steve Bernier), two defensemen (Teppo Numinnen and Dimitry Kalinin), and were unable to lock up Ryan Miller who may be next to go. They replaced him with Craig Rivet, a very solid defenseman, but hardly compensation for all they lost.





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