NHL: Atlantic Division Preview

The New York Rangers made possibly the biggest splash in the offseason with their signing of center Brad Richards. They made their team a good deal better with Richards added to the mix, but will it be enough to beat out the in-division competition?

Considering Ilya Kovalchuk and the Devils are eager to show they aren't a flop, the Penguins have star center Sidney Crosby on his way back, there's a revamped roster in Philly, and an up-and-coming Islanders team lead by youngster John Tavares, it won't be easy.

1. New Jersey Devils

Last Season: 38-39-5 (Fourth in Division, 11th in Conference)

Key Additions: LW Eric Boulton, RW Cam Janssen

Key Losses: LW Pierre Luc-Letourneau Leblond

A lot was expected out of the Devils last season after they added a guy that they wanted so bad the NHL had to force them to pay him less.

I don't know if it was those expectations that caused it, or just a lack of chemistry, but those Devils got off to one of the worst starts to a season I've ever seen. Eventually though, those same Devils went on to dominate the competition, finishing the season on a hot streak and coming close to the playoffs. 

As you can see from the additions and losses, the Devils have barely changed at all from last season's roster. For that reason, I expect to see the New Jersey team that we saw finish the season, resulting in a very productive season from the Jersey Boys. 

2. Pittsburgh Penguins

Last Season: 49-25-8 (Second in Division, Fourth in Conference)

Key Additions: LW Steve Sullivan, LW Steve McIntyre, D Alexander Picard

Key Losses: C Maxime Talbot, RW Alex Kovalev, C Mike Comrie

It's a mystery to me how the Penguins even made the playoffs last year after losing their two biggest stars in Crosby and Malkin for a large chunk of the season.

If a team can get fourth place in the East without the two players that their team is built around, I can't wait to see what they can do with them.

As long as the Penguins can stay healthy, they'll stay dangerous. 

3. New York Rangers

Last Season: 44-33-5 (Third in Division, Eighth in Conference)

Key Additions: C Brad Richards, C Michael Rupp

Key Losses: C Vinny Prospal, C Chris Drury, LW Alex Frolov

The Rangers' situation is an interesting one.

They upgraded from Drury with the addition of Richards, but downgraded from Prospal with Rupp. Overall, despite scoring one of the best free agents of the summer, I feel like the Rangers left themselves in a very similar position to the one they were in last year. 

I expect NY to finish in the same spot they did a season ago, that is, third in the Atlantic and eighth in the East. 

4. Philadelphia Flyers

Last Season: 47-23-12 (First in Division, Second in Conference)

Key Additions: LW Jaromir Jagr, G Ilya Bryzgalov, RW Wayne Simmons, C Maxime Talbot, D Andres Lilja

Key Losses: C Mike Richards, C Jeff Carter, LW Ville Leino, RW Nikolay Zherdev, LW Dan Carcillo, G Brian Boucher

Philadelphia won the Atlantic last year and finished at second place in the East a season after making it to the Stanley Cup Final; so, why did they change up their team so much?

They traded away two great players that wore letters with the Flyers (Richards and Carter), decided against bringing back two of their great enforcers (Leino and Carcillo), and brought in a highly experimental comeback story in Jagr.

None of this makes sense to me, but the one thing that does make sense is switching goaltender Brian Boucher with Ilya Bryzgalov, bringing in a lot more stability and predictability to Philly's goaltending situation.

But a goaltender is only part of a team, and what the Flyers did with the rest of their team over the offseason has left me scratching my head. 

5. New York Islanders

Last Season: 30-39-13 (Fifth in Division, 14th in Conference)

Key Additions: C Marty Reasoner

Key Losses: C Doug Weight, D Radek Martinek

It's pretty clear that the Islanders are built for the future.

They lost one of their veteran leaders when captain Doug Weight retired from the league, leaving a void of leadership on the team. The player that seems to be becoming the leader of the team is in going into his third year in the league, so he won't be fully ready for a while, meaning the Islanders won't be ready for a while.