Bleacher Report - Articles by James Sheehy

Here Comes Fall, and Here We Go

James Sheehy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:46:18 -0400

"Nous vivions en trois lieux: l'école, l'église et la patinoire; mais la vraie vie était sur la patinoire." - Roch Carrier

It's October, and the smothering months of Summer are finally over.

There's something about Fall that puts me at ease. A certain humbleness that the other seasons lack. Winter flaunts Christmas, Summer boasts the beach and pools, and Spring won't shut up about rejuvenation and new beginnings.

Fall carries itself with a quiet grace and class, like it knows that it's better, but would rather show it than scream it from the rafters.

Fall is the Jean Beliveau of seasons. That's why it fits hockey so well.

While other sports run around yelling about their unbridled superiority, like a false prophet desperate for followers, hockey lets the game speak for itself, a combination of the best aspects of every sport, brought together in one.

And the thing is, I don't care that others don't realize it. If they don't understand that the sound of frozen rubber hitting a metal pipe can be either the most beautiful or the most depressing thing you've ever heard, their loss.

I don't mind that when they think of the Forum, they don't think of ghosts.

Or when people hear Le Bleu, Blanc, et Rouge, all they see are colours.

Or when somebody says "The Rocket," they can't see his eyes.

We know that the speed of Yvan Cournoyer is still here in Mike Cammalleri, that the effortless grace of Doug Harvey is on the ice every night Andrei Markov is, and that the determination of Henri Richard has returned in Brian Gionta.

And so here we are, the sport we love is back.

Celebrate however you know how.

I don't have any grand traditions. I don't go tailgating with buddies, or spend a fortune at a bar.

I'm going to put on a jacket, clean out my gutters, then sit down with a dark beer, and enjoy the first game of the season.

My own humble tribute to my own humble sport.

Brian Gionta: My New Obsession

James Sheehy — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:42:37 -0400

For those who have been watching the Canadiens' preseason games, I have one question to ask: Who HASN'T fallen in love with Brian Gionta?

In each game he's played, he has been hands down our best forward. Gionta has been all over the ice, so much so that at times it seem like there's two of him.

No seriously, I was pretty sure he had a clone on a few occasions.

He's been first in the zone, first in the corners, and the first back on defense. This guy is everywhere. And he's hustling like a kid off his Riddlin on every single play.

In addition to all of this, he has re-sparked Pleky, with the two showing chemistry I didn't expect to develop till December, at the earliest.

Oh, and did I mention that after about one stride, he can flat out fly? Well if you'd been watching, I wouldn't have to tell you. The blur from the little engine that could would still be burnt into your retinas.

In the first match against the Senators, Gionta already had the go-ahead goal. While up 2-1 as the game came to a close, Gio had a chance to pot an empty netter and missed wide, crashing into the boards. It was an awkward play you'd expect in peewee, and yet he rose with a big smile.

That's something we've been missing in Montreal, genuine joy.

In last nights tilt against the Boston Bruins one play sums up my new found obsession. Trying to cycle the puck in the offensive zone, our defensemen turned the puck over and it sprang an odd man rush the other way. Just as it looked like they were going to have a man wide open in front of the net, Gionta came screaming into the picture at about 200 mph to prevent the pass.

He went end to end faster than most of the guys went redline to redline. And from that moment, I was hooked.

Small is the new Big.

P.S. In terms of little players with big hearts, how about this David Desharnais kid.

Standing at an imposing 5'7", he played lights out yesterday. Great puck control, can make the tough pass, and ferocious on the fore-check. And most admirably, he doesn't shy away from contact, even with the enormous Zdeno Chara, whom he went after a few times.

He had a solid rookie year with Hamilton after tearing apart the ECHL and the QMJHL. This kid could be something special.

Montreal Canadiens: Five Questions Entering Preseason

James Sheehy — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:56:48 -0400

The Preseason is underway and the Canadiens play their first exhibition against the Florida Panthers tomorrow night (Sept 17). My anticipation of the upcoming season is matched only by the curiosity that comes with the drastic changes that the team underwent in the off-season. Here are a few of the questions that keep rolling around in my mind.

1) How quickly will the team adapt to Jacques Martin's system?

If players have trouble fitting into the new system, which stresses defensive responsibility and puck control, then all the talent in the world isn't going to matter.

Martin's success in Ottawa shows the system works, but after three years of Carbonneau's ever-changing strategy, it might take some of the guys a little time.

The Canadiens have seven exhibition games in a little over a week, so if they fail to pull together by then, they may be in for rough start thanks to a difficult road-trip to open the season.

2) How much will Martin experiment with lines?

The preseason is for tweaking the lines, but the surplus of newcomers and Martin's inexperience with the players both old and new means he's starting at square one.

Martin has the difficult job of experimenting with the lines to see which combinations click, but at the same leaving guys together long enough to develop a little chemistry.

It's a difficult balance to find, so don't be surprised if there's less line juggling than many expect.

Scott Gomez will be centering Mike Cammalleri and Andrei Kostitsyn against Florida, a combo that was used throughout the intra-squad scrimmages. Similarly, Martin has said he's really liked the combo of Tomas Plekanec and Brian Gionta, especially with Travis Moen riding shotgun. It'll be interesting to see if these lines stick.

3) Will one of the youth emerge and steal a spot?

Barring an outstanding showing, I don't see anybody moving on the blueline, with the exception of possibly O'Byrne jumping into the top six. PK Subban and Yannick Weber will likely be playing in Hamilton this year, if only because Montreal has seven defensemen on one-way contracts.

The real intrigue here, is who emerges from the forwards. Assuming Moen is used in the top nine, that leaves one spot open for either Sergei Kostitsyn, Matt D'Agostini, and Max Pacioretty.

Sergei has the edge in experience, and has talent through the roof if he could just put forth a consistent effort. Dags has speed and a great shot, but was horrible away from the puck last season. Patches is a big body with great hands and can absolutely fly. Expect a ferocious competition between these three.

The fourth line will also have some competition with Gregory Stewart and Kyle Chipchura trying to crack the lineup permanently.

4) Is Carey Price already the No. 1 goalie?

After a great start, Price collapsed in the second half of the season. Many argued that Halak should have been given the reins while others blame the complete collapse of the whole team and ex-goaltender coach Rollie Melanson for Price's lackluster play.

Either way, it was believed that with a new coach both goalies would enter the season competing for the starter job; however, in the past few weeks Martin's actions indicate that Price is in fact the undisputed No. 1.

Can Halak do enough in the preseason to prove he deserves a shot?

5) Who will be named Captain?

This is the most obvious question. Everything about the next captain has been argued endlessly all summer long.

Who is it going to be? When will they be named? Will they be appointed or voted on?

Well the last two questions have been answered. Martin and Gainey have said that they will make their selection at the end of camp. So we have the when and how, now all that remains is the who.

No matter who is selected, there's going to be plenty to discuss. It seems odd to hand the "C" to a new arrival, but with the exception of Andrei Markov and Roman Hamrlik, most of the returning players have been argued as too young to handle such responsibility.

Is it too soon to name a captain? This group has been together for all of about two weeks, why the urgency to have someone wearing the C before the season begins? The team seems to be overflowing with potential leaders, wouldn't it be better to let one emerge naturally a few months down the road?

Equally important, aside from Bob Gainey, the captain of the Montreal Canadiens has always been voted on by the players. Will an appointment by management cause resentment as it did for Gainey in the first years of his captaincy?

Well, the answers to all these questions will be answered shortly. All we can do is watch, and hope for the best.

NHL West: Why Every Team Will (and Won't) Make the Playoffs

James Sheehy — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:13:49 -0400

Central

Chicago

Why They Will: Well, Chicago is officially back in the Windy City. Last year, the immense amount of young talent the Blackhawks stockpiled finally came together and the sight was something to behold. The Hawks finished third overall in the conference (though seeded fourth due to division winners), nipping at the heels of the Central Division powerhouse Detroit Red Wings. This year, that order might be reversed.

In the offseason, the Hawks stole coveted sniper Marian Hossa away from their rivals, which will make an already potent offense (264 GF, tied for fourth overall) even more dangerous.

Another key addition is defensive-minded John Madden, who will replace Samuel Pahlsson on the third line. Besides his shutdown abilities, Madden will bring the veteran leadership of which this team is in short supply.

The defense is good to say the least, and nobody really gives them enough credit. Brian Campbell, Cam Barker, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook combine to make a top four any team would be jealous of. They are young, fast, and incredibly effective (their 216 GA was the 5th lowest in the league).

Led by super-talented youngsters Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, this team is better than last year's version that made it to the Western Finals. They'll be good enough to get there again, and this time leave with a Stanley Cup berth.

Why They Won't: Two key cogs in last year's success were the outstanding play of Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin. Havlat led the team in points and was as clutch a player as the team could ask for. Khabibulin returned to his Tampa Bay form, putting up an impressive .919 save percentage. Both are now gone.

While in theory Hossa replaces Havlat, until we see him in action with the team, it remains unproven whether he will be as effective in this offense. Additionally, Cristobal Huet will have to take over the reins as the No. 1 goaltender, something he was unable to do last year. If he can't meet expectations, untested Antti Niemi or Corey Crawford will have to fill in.

Too many offseason distractions (the RFA debacle, firing of Dave Tallon, Patrick Kane's criminal charges) and question marks in net will be difficult for this young team to overcome.

Columbus

Why They Will: If I'm picking a player to build a team around, Rick Nash is near the top of my list. How many 6'4" 215-lb. players can skate and stick-handle like this guy can? He just put up a career high in points with 79, he's become a solid two-way player, and he's just entering his prime at the young age of 25.

Seriously, he alone should be reason enough why Columbus will make it back to playoffs.

On top of Nash, the Blue Jackets have last year's Calder trophy winner Steve Mason tending the net. After posting an absurd 10 shutouts in his rookie year, Mason will look to build on his playoff experience and confirm that he is one of the best young goalies in the league.

By the end of this season, fans outside Columbus are going to know just how good youngsters Jakub Voracek and Derrick Brassard really are.

The Blue Jackets have improved each of the last three seasons, and that trend will continue as Columbus reaches the playoffs for the second time.

Why They Won't: This team does not have the depth needed to emerge from a tough division. Nash and Mason are nice, but they need more to remain in the top eight.

Kristian Huselius (56 points) and RJ Umberger (46 points) were second and third in team scoring. That's not going to get it done two years in a row.

Mason, while terrific last year, is still very young and it's rare to have a young goalie continue on without a hiccup in their development. The problem is, the Jackets need Mason at his best. If he even remotely regresses, this team does not have the talent to stay afloat.

Columbus scored 226 goals and had a goal differential of -4, ranking them 15th in both categories among playoff teams. This team snuck in to the playoffs thanks to tremendous play from their rookie goaltender, but I wouldn't bet on that happening twice.

Detroit

Why They Will: Many people are saying this is the season that Detroit finally begins to fall, citing their age and personnel losses this offseason. Well, the team's average age is 30. That doesn't exactly scream retirement home escapees.

To anybody that watched Detroit play last season, run away with the scoring race (295 goals) and dominate possession, they certainly weren't watching a team that was losing a step.

Osgood isn't good enough? Well he only posted a .926 save percentage in the playoffs.

Lidstrom is too old? Tell that to his 59 points, his +31, and his 24:49 ATOI.

Everyone is talking about the players lost. Now all they have is Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, Daniel Cleary, Brian Rafalski, Brad Stuart, Jonathan Ericsson and Niklas Kronwall. And oh yeah, Todd Bertuzzi, Ville Leino, Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader, and Patrick Eaves probably won't help out either.

Yeah, with a roster like this, who wouldn't think they were in trouble?

Why They Won't: Losing Marian Hossa is a huge loss. Say what you will, but 40-goal scorers who are sound defensively don't grow on trees.

While there is no doubt Osgood always steps it up in the playoffs, if he continues to be so-so in the regular season, this team will have to continue to light it up to stay competitive.

An uncommonly discussed stat from last year, Detroit had the fourth worst GA among playoff teams with 244 (Washington had 245, Montreal had 247, and Calgary had 248). Offense can come and go, but their defense will have to improve if they plan on holding off the rest of the division.

Nashville

Why They Will: If there are two things that make a playoff team, it's a hot goalie and a great coach. The Predators are blessed to have both.

Barry Trotz can make any team competitive. He should be a perennial Jack Adams finalist. Despite what talent he is given, you know his team is going to be difficult to play against.

Pekka Rinne, the OTHER rookie goalie that tore up the league last year, will be back to prove that his Calder nomination slight was a mistake. And unfortunately for other teams, he has the talent to do just that. It's rare when a goalie posts a .917 SP with seven shutouts and gets as little press as this guy got. You can be sure by the end of this season that won't happen again.

Jason Arnott leads a balanced though unspectacular forward corps. But it's at the other end of the ice that Nashville intimidates. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter make up one of the best top pairings in the league, and I'd be surprised if Weber isn't in the Norris discussion this season.

Why They Won't: Nashville thought they had their starting goalie in Tomas Vokoun, and then he was supplanted by Chris Mason, who in turn was overtaken by Dan Ellis, who lost his job to Pekke Rinne. That's an uncomfortable trend.

Even if that doesn't continue, the Preds need more scoring. 213 goals isn't going to get you a ticket to the postseason, especially when you allow 233 goals.

Barry Trotz is a great coach, but he isn't a miracle worker. The west is stacked, and the central is probably its best division. Nashville simply doesn't have the horses to compete.

St. Louis

Why They Will: When people talk about teams with exciting youth, the Blues are somehow always overlooked.

David Backes, David Perron, Patrick Berglund, TJ Oshie, and Erik Johnson are all 25 or younger, and will continue to improve and become the core of this team. And honestly, besides maybe Chicago or Pittsburgh, I can't think of a young core I'd rather have than this one.

Everybody expected last season to be a rebuilding year for the Blues, but they jumped ahead of schedule and made the playoffs thanks to a scorching record in the second half. And that was with major injuries to Andy McDonald and Paul Kariya only playing a combined 57 games, and Erik Johnson missing the whole season.

Is there really any possibility that those player back in the lineup somehow makes the team worse? Let me answer that for you. No, there isn't.

The Blues will once again be playing extra games this year. I love this team, I love this youth, and I love this third jersey.

Why They Won't: If hockey has taught us anything, it's that the young underdog team that beats the odds and makes the playoffs doesn't always do so next season. We often forget that there was a reason that they were underdogs: They weren't supposed to beat the odds.

This is a very young team. Besides Kariya, McDonald, Brad Boyes, and Eric Brewer, the best players are still learning the game. And you can always expect some growing pains.

It remains to be seen whether Johnson and Kariya can return to form, and if they don't, the Blues may be in trouble.

Despite basically being shot out of a cannon to end the season, the Blues still ended up allowing as many goals as they scored (233). If they start the season like they did last year, it will be difficult to replicate last season's second half.

I hope all the best for Chris Mason, but he seems to be a good-year bad-year player. He alternates between steps forward and backward. Last year was a step forward, so you can guess what this year will probably be. Additionally, he always seems to play better trying to take over the No. 1 position then when he actually has it.

I'm not saying the Blues don't have a chance at consecutive postseasons, but Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, and the odds are standing in the way.

Northwest

Calgary

Why They Will: A blue line consisting of Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr is good. Throw Jay Bouwmeester into the equation and it's just unfair. Calgary will enter next season with, at least on paper, one of the best top three in the league. A defense with this kind of potential demands success.

Losing Mike Cammalleri and Todd Bertuzzi is bringing some to question where the goals are going to come from, and rightly so. But those people should remember, as long as you score more then your opponent, who cares?

This team may have difficulty scoring, but not as much as teams trying to score against them.

Also remember the overwhelming success new coach Brent Sutter had last year with New Jersey, another team that was expected to have trouble scoring.

On top of all this, I never bet against Jarome Iginla. No, literally, never. Calgary will finish with a top three seed.

Why They Won't: There is no denying the talent on the blueline, but take away Iginla, and the Flames don't have a go-to guy on offense (Daymond Langkow is the closest thing with 21 goals). They aren't going to be able to shut out opponents every game.

Don't listen to people who say all you need is a great defense to win. They're wrong. Just ask the Minnesota Wild.

Losing Cammalleri and Bertuzzi not only takes away their goals, but also will greatly hurt the PP and allow teams to focus solely on Iginla. If he can match his output from last season, I'll be surprised.

Most important, Mikka Kiprusoff is—get ready for this—an average goalie. This year, Kipper put up a .903 SP. The year before that, .906 SP. While by no means is this awful, he is clearly no longer the goalie many make him out to be.

To put that in perspective, the only starting goalie in the NW with a worst SP last year was Peter Budaj on an abysmal Avalanche team with a .899 SP.

By the way, the most goals allowed by a playoff team was 248. Guess which team that was.

Colorado

Why They Will: Now that the great Joe Sakic is retired, the Avalanche will quickly become Paul Stastny's team. The 23-year-old showed tremendous talent and poise in his first two seasons, and clearly established himself as the team's best player moving forward.

An injury limited him to just 45 games this past season, but a healthy Stastny is a big step in the right direction. Assuming Milan Hejduk, Marek Svatos, and Wojtek Wolski can provide the proper support, Stastny should return to the point-a-game pace he showed in his first two seasons.

Scott Hannan and John-Michael Liles head up an underrated defense that will be further solidified by trade acquisitions Tom Preissing and Kyle Quincey.

The biggest improvement will come in thhe net, where Colorado picked up Craig Anderson in free agency. While Anderson wasn't one of the big names on the market, he might just be one of the best grabs.

Anderson had tremendous numbers as a backup in Florida, posting a .924 SP last season. He'll be given the chance to take over as the starter for the Avalanche. And from what I've seen in Florida, he'll do just that and never look back.

Why They Won't: Do you know who Ben Guite and Daniel Tjarnqvist are? Well, you should. Out of those who played more than 10 games for the Avs last season, Guite and Tjarnqvist were the only ones to finish the season with a plus rating (+2 and +1, respectively).

That is a scary statistic, one that shows in what utter disarray this team has found itself.

The Avalanche scored a league-worst 199 goals last season, and after trading away Ryan Smyth—who was tied for the team lead with 59 points—things honestly don't look much better.

Colorado may not like to admit it, but they are entering a rebuild and it's a drastic one. It will take years, and it will be painful.

If Joe Sakic—one of the greatest captains to play the game—can't get this group to perform, who can?

Edmonton

Why They Will: Sometimes the most important change a team can make isn't on the ice. That was the case in Edmonton this offseason, as Pat Quinn and Tom Renney were brought in as the new coaches.

Quinn has a proven track record, most recently highlighted by leading Team Canada to gold at the World Juniors last year. The win proved Quinn can handle kids, which Edmonton has in spades. And with Tom Renney, the Oilers get perhaps the most overqualified assistant coach in the league.

On the ice, the Oilers are laden with young talent that have yet to become a cohesive group, but expect that to change this season.

Ales Hemsky is an amazing talent with hands as slick as silk. He'll lead the offense, but he isn't alone. Shawn Horcoff is capable of 60+ points, but the most important key to success will be the growth of the youth.

Sam Ganger, Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner, and Robert Nilsson all showed that they can contribute, and that trend will continue under Quinn's tutelage.

Khabibulin will fill in for Roloson, the defense will put up points, the offense will drum along to Quinn's rhythm, and the Oil will be back in the playoffs.

Why They Won't: The Oilers have a plethora of second line centers and, unless Horcoff can really step up his game, no first line center. Depth down the middle is nice, but a center who can keep up with Hemsky is needed if Edmonton is going be any real threat.

The kids, while talented, are far too inconsistent and need a lot of work on their play away from the puck.

The defense is the biggest concern. While Sheldon Souray, Tom Gilbert, Lubomir Visnovsky, and Denis Grebeshkov can all put up a boatload of points, none are the shutdown defenders that the team so desperately needs.

The Oilers allowed 248 goals last season, and that was with the very good Dwayne Roloson. Khabibulin played well last season, but is getting up in age and historically only plays up to his potential in a contract year.

If he doesn't play at least on par with his performance of last year, Edmonton won't emerge from the NW.

Minnesota

Why They Will: With nothing but respect for Jacques Lemaire and all that he has accomplished, Minnesota needed this change. Todd Richards will bring an up-tempo game to some of the greatest fans in any sport. And they will flourish.

Out is Marian Gaborik and his glass hip, in comes Martin Havlat. Havlat will replace Gabby as the team's primary offensive threat, a role he proved he could handle last season in Chicago.

Mikko Koivu has emerged as one of the premier two way players in the game. Arguably the most underrated player in the league, Koivu put up 67 points in a stifling system, and there is no reason he can't produce even more under new Coach Richards.

Pierre Marc Bouchard, Stephane Veilleux, Antti Miettinen, and James Sheppard will provide the secondary scoring, while Brent Burns leads a more than capable defense.

Niklas Backstrom is the most underrated goalie in the NHL. If you don't believe me, look at the stats. No goalie has a better SP over the last three seasons. And with a rock like Backstrom in net, the Wild can take chances offensively and utilize their talent.

If all of this isn't enough, they have Cal Clutterbuck. You don't think the Wild have what it takes? Don't let him hear you say that.

Why They Won't: Adjusting to a new coach can be difficult, especially when that coach is implementing a completely different system. In this case, a system that all of these players were brought up in. There are going to be some growing pains and, with the conference as tough as it is, the Wild may not have the luxury of time to sort things out.

What if the team's scoring troubles weren't the fault of Lemaire's system? What if the blame lies with the players? If so, the defensive system was the only thing keeping them competitive.

Gaborik was injury-prone and consequently rarely got to show his tremendous talent. Well, Havlat is actually a similar player, an immense talent who rarely plays a whole season. If he can't stay healthy, Minnesota is going to be feeling some deja vu.

Vancouver

Why They Will: Vancouver proved last year that they were more than just an average team with a great goalie. Edging out Calgary for the division title, the Canucks were beaten in the second round by a hot Blackhawks team. The core of the team is back, and out to prove last year was no fluke.

Henrik and Daniel Sedin have established themselves as elite forwards. Both are point-a-game players, incredibly durable, and show up when needed the most.

Roberto Luongo is considered by many to be the best goalie in the league. Whether or not you agree with that, his talent is undeniable. And when he's on, it will be difficult for any team to top the Canucks.

The biggest reason Vancouver will stay atop the NW is because their depth and secondary players have finally showed up. Ryan Kesler developed an offensive side to his already dominating defensive play while Alex Burrows showed his goal-scoring touch, finishing with 28 goals—second only to Daniel Sedin.

The defense will be led by Alexander Edler, Kevin Bieska, and Willie Mitchell, the last of whom had a terrific +29.

Why They Won't: Losing Mattias Ohland is a major loss, one Vancouver won't be able to fully recover from. Big 6'2" D-men who can put up 25 points and move the puck don't grow on trees.

Mats Sundin was really starting to come on near the end of the season, and losing depth down the middle never makes a team better.

As good as the Sedins are together, what if one goes down? Usually when you have two all-star caliber players, if one goes down the other doesn't miss a beat. If one Sedin goes down, you basically lose the other as well.

Pavol Demitra is talented but inconsistent. If Kesler and Burrows prove last year was the exception rather than the norm, Demitra will be relied upon to pick up the slack and I don't think he can.

While everyone has already ordained Luongo as the best in the game, what has he actually done? He hasn't proven himself to be a winner at nearly any level, and he wilted in the playoffs, getting lit up by Chicago. Now he is apparently asking for $8+ million in his new contract. Vancouver is going to pay it, and they'll regret it.

Pacific

Anaheim

Why They Will: Anaheim snuck into the eighth spot last season, but what you do in the playoffs is more important than how you enter them. Anaheim quickly dispatched the heavily favored San Jose Sharks and gave Detroit all they could handle before bowing out in the second round.

Any team that saw how well the Ducks played last postseason is scared, and they should be. This is a team that has "Cup contender" written all over it.

Jonas Hillar supplanted JS Giguere as the team's starter in the regular season before dazzling us in the postseason. Hillar put up an unworldly .943 SP through two rounds, and if that was any sign of things to come the Ducks are set for years.

Even with the losses of Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin, Scott Niedermeyer leads a very skilled blueline consisting of Ryan Whitney, James Wisninewski, Nick Boynton, and Luca Sbisa that can contribute at both ends of the ice.

One of—if not the best—lines in the league returns with Ryan Getzlaf centering Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan. Ryan exploded last year, finally displaying the potential that the Ducks had seen when they drafted him, while Getzlaf has emerged as the premier big-bodied center.

The additions of Saku Koivu and Joffrey Lupol will play with Teemu Selanne and give the Ducks the second line support they've needed since their cup run.

This is one of the last teams I would want to face in a seven-game series.

Why They Won't: Giguere has clearly lost a step, and if Hillar can't keep up his play it will be interesting to see if Giguere can regain his swagger.

One of the reasons the Ducks were so good in recent years was their defense, and you don't lose two of your top three guys and roll on without a hitch.

If Saku and Teemu can't rekindle the magic they've had in international play, the team doesn't have many options to pump up the secondary scoring, as the rest of the lineup is more geared to grinding.

With Brendan Morrow returning for Dallas and LA taking steps forward, the Ducks are going to have a hard time standing out in a very tough division.

Dallas

Why They Will: Dallas looked like a team that could challenge for the cup last preseason, instead they didn't even make the playoffs. Injuries ravaged this team, but after time to rest, Dallas will be back to form

Brendan Morrow is the heart and soul of this team, and when he went down the team suffered without him. A healthy Morrow completely changes their dynamic. Brad Richards and Mike Ribero give the Stars a talented one-two punch down the middle.

While no one outside of Dallas may know who Loui Eriksson is, you can bet opposing goalies do. The young 24-year-old put up 36 goals last season and promises to get better with experience.

Why They Won't: This team is far removed from the one that surprised two years ago in the playoffs. Having Morrow back helps, but a litany of problems will hold Dallas back.

Brad Richards is a shadow of the player that helped Tampa win the Cup, and this shadow comes with a $7.8 million cap hit. Similarly, Mike Modano, while still producing, isn't ageless. The Stars can't rely on him to be a major component of the attack and still expect to succeed.

The defense is questionable at best. At times they looked downright lost last season without Sergei Zubov, who as of right now will not be returning.

Marty Turco is, sadly, probably done. He hasn't come close to achieving the numbers he put up at the beginning of the decade, and has put up a mediocre .903 SP since the lockout.

This team has questions all over the lineup, and doesn't have great youth coming up the pipeline. They will miss the playoffs, and unless management does something they will be missing them for some time.

Los Angeles

Why They Will: Anze Kopitar, Alexander Frolov and Dustin Brown lead the Kings attack. They are talented, young (Frolov at 27 is the old man amongst the three), and finally have a supporting cast capable of making the playoffs.

Ryan Smyth was brought in by trade to give this team the push it needs to get over the hump. Jarret Stoll, Michael Handzus, and Kyle Calder will give the necessary support.

On the blue line, the Kings grabbed Rob Scuderi to help mentor a young D corps consisting of Jack Johnson, Drew Doughty, and Matt Greene. Scuderi will bring a calming presence both in the lockerroom and on the ice.

Jonathon Quick emerged as a viable starter in net, posting an impressive .914 SP. If he can keep up his play, LA will finally have an answer to the goalie problem that they've had for some time now: consistency.

Many believe if Quick had started the year, LA would have made the playoffs. Well, they'll get the chance to prove that theory this season.

Why They Won't: Yes, this team does have talented youth but when people compare them to Pittsburgh or Chicago, they're deluding themselves.

Kopitar has all the tools to be a dominant player, but needs to work on his defensive play as well as his consistency.

Brown, while a player any team would be lucky to have, will probably top out at a mid-60s point range. There is nothing wrong with that, but LA expects and needs him to become a point-a-game player.

Smyth has not been as effective since leaving Edmonton and will start to show the effects of years of his gritty style of play.

Bringing in Scuderi helps, but, at best, it is a lateral move for a defense that gave up Tom Preissing and Kyle Quincey.

Even if Quick can play like he did the second half, the team still needs to score more goals—a lot more goals. For a team pegged as dangerous by so many, 207 goals isn't going to cut it.

Phoenix

Why They Will: Here is a team with a lot to like.

Shane Doan continues to be an unsung hero, putting up 31 goals and 73 points last season. He works hard on both ends and sets a good example for the youth.

And what youth the Coyotes have.

Kyle Turris, Mikkel Boedker, Viktor Tikhonov, Peter Mueller, and Martin Hanzal are all 22 or younger and blessed with tremendous potential. If they can take steps in the right direction, Phoenix will do damage in the Pacific.

Ilya Bryzgalov struggled, but he has proven that he can get the job done. If a couple bounces go their way, the Coyotes may finally prove their worth.

Why They Won't: This organization is an absolute train wreck. Are they staying or going? Who's going to own the team? Can they attract fans?

All those distractions aside, the Coyotes don't have the players to compete. Steve Reinprecht was second to Doan in scoring with an anemic 41 points. They simply can't score.

The defense is about as average as you could imagine. While Bryzgalov is a solid goaltender, he isn't a franchise saviour.

Horrible PK and PP, bad five-on-five play, no scoring, average defense and goaltending. What about that spells success to anyone?

The youth is talented and will be part of a winning team some day. Just not today.

San Jose

Why They Will: Though San Jose bowed out in the first round, this is still a top-tier team. Winning the Presidents' Trophy is no fluke, and anybody who makes that assumption will be sorely mistaken.

The Sharks are absolutely stacked down the middle, with Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Pavelski all capable of playing anywhere in the lineup.

Devin Setoguchi replaced Cheechoo as the resident triggerman, and he performs the job well. With seven players eclipsing the 50-point mark—including Ryane Clowe and Milan Michalek—SJ has the depth to send wave after wave at their opponents.

And like Boston, the Sharks can beat you any way you choose. Call ahead and they'll be sure to have your humble pie ready for pick-up.

Anchored by the ageless Rob Blake and Dan Boyle (thanks, Tampa), the defense is more than formidable with Christian Erhoff and Marc-Edouard Vlasic rounding out the top four.

Former Vezina finalist Evgeni Nabokov is more than capable of taking care of his end.

The Sharks may make some changes, but don't expect them to be anything but a powerhouse.

Why They Won't: We have the underachievers of the decade. So much talent, such little by way of results.

The Sharks are going to be looking to make some changes. Coach McClellan led them to a league-leading 117 points, but the same fate befell the Sharks as always—an early playoff exit.

If the team remains complacent, they will be subjecting themselves to same torture over and over again. But making a move for the cap-strapped Sharks isn't as easy as hoped.

Patrick Marleau and Jonathan Cheechoo are two of the names mentioned to be on the move. With Marleau, a team will have to take on his large contract and he has to waive his NTC. With Cheechoo, nobody wants to give up anything for a $3 million one-hit wonder.

To make matters worse, the Sharks still need to sign a large number of players, so they can take nearly no salary back in a trade.

The frustrations of years past combined with the increasing age of their stars will finally grind the Sharks down.

NHL East: Why Every Team Will (and Won't) Make The Playoffs

James Sheehy — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:17:00 -0400

The Atlantic

New Jersey

Why They Will: This is primarily the same team that won the ultra-competitive Atlantic and finished third in the East with 106 points and was considered one of the hottest teams in the league down the stretch.

They have a good mix of returning youth and veteran players with Johnny Oduya, Travis Zajac, Patrick Elias, Paul Martin, and Jamie Langenbrunner.

The defense is solid, Zach Parise has burst into the upper-echelon, and Martin Brodeur is...well, Martin Brodeur.

Additionally, hopefully some of the youngsters like Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (immediately one of my favorite names in the game) can step up and keep these devils dangerous.

Why They Won't: One of the reasons the Devils surprised so many people last year was because of Coach Brent Sutter, who jumped ship to Calgary to coach for his brother's team.

While newcomer Jacques Lemaire has had success with NJ in the past, his past few years in Minnesota lead many to believe that maybe the game is starting to pass him by. Minnesota missed the playoffs last year despite allowing the second least amount of goals in the league with 200 (NJ was fourth with 209).

Parise, Zajac, and Oduya should continue their development, and while I can't see Elias or Langenbrunner dropping off much, the loss of John Madden and Brian Gionta might make it difficult to replicate the success of last year.

Brian Rolston will have to step up, and as legendary as Brodeur is, it seems time will eventually catch up with him; the only question is when.

New York Islanders

Why They Will: The Islanders were fully devoted to the rebuild last season, letting their young guys play in all situations and gain valuable experience despite the standings. As a result, players like Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, and Blake Comeau emerged as the future go-to players of this team.

Mark Streit is proving to be worth every cent of his contract, as he led the team in points last season. The additions of Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron to Rick Dipietro give the Islanders a formidable goaltending corps, as all three are more than capable of running with the No. 1 spot, and it also gives them trade bait.

With the first overall pick, the Islanders grabbed the much coveted John Tavares, who is the most hyped prospect since Sidney Crosby was picked by the Penguins. He tore up the OHL and the World Juniors, and should be the frontrunner for the Calder Trophy. All in all, this a team that could surprise.

Why They Won't: This team isn't surprising anyone. When you're led offensively with 56 points by a defenseman, the team is in trouble.

Yes, Okposo, Bailey and Comeau were bright spots last year and showed that there is light at the end of the tunnel, but the three of them combined for 89 points last season, not exactly the second coming of Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Clark Gillies.

Tavares hasn't done anything in the NHL yet, and even if he fits right in and is a point-a-game player, even Crosby and Oveckin couldn't turn their teams around instantly.

The Islanders also boasted the worst goal differential in the league last year with a -78. That isn't something fixed easily.

The Islanders won't make the playoffs, but at least fans can be thankful that GM Garth Snow seems steadfast in rebuilding through the draft, which is the way to build a team that will be competitive for years. That team just isn't here yet.

New York Rangers

Why They Will: The Rangers seem to be perennially in contention for the 4-8 spot, and there is no reason to expect that to change this year. A full year under Coach Tortorella will allow the players to become comfortable in his system, and you can be sure that system will include discipline and defensive responsibility.

Marian Gaborik was one of the prized forward UFA's, and when healthy, one of the most dangerous players in the league. Marc Staal is a bright young spot on the blueline as is Brandon Dubinsky of the forwards.

And if the defense fails, Henrik Lundqvist is as good as a last line of defense as one could ask for. GM Sather managed to trade away Scott Gomez with his cap strangling contract and got underrated Chris Higgins, who's very solid in both ends and capable of chipping in 20+, and blue chip prospect Ryan McDonagh, who could push for a roster spot.

Ryan Callahan emerged near the end of last year and, with newcomers Vaclav Prospal and Ales Kotalik, will supply the secondary scoring. All in all, this is a balanced team with a great goaltender, exactly the type of team I wouldn't bet against.

Why They Won't: The Rangers squeezed in last year, and managed to hold onto the seventh spot with mediocre play due to the teams chasing them missing opportunities.

Getting rid of Gomez opened up some cap space, but it left them weak at center, and that space was immediately used on Gaborik, who is as fragile as a Faberge egg.

True, if he stays healthy he'll be the team's X-factor, but does anybody honestly believe he avoids injury playing against Pronger six times? The bloated contracts of Chris Drury, Michael Rosival, and Wade Redden limit what NY can do if they want to make a move by trade.

The loss of Blair Betts and Fredrik Sjostrom puts a question mark on the best PK in the league last year, and the loss of underrated Paul Mara is going to hurt an already suspect defense.

Along with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Rangers were the only playoff teams that allowed more goals than they scored. Too many question marks, plus one of the toughest two divisions in the NHL, will be too much for the Rangers to overcome.

Philadelphia Flyers

Why They Will: The Flyers were a very dangerous team last year and there is nothing to suggest they won't be at least as equally dangerous this year. The Flyers had an incredible four players with 30+ goals this past season, led by Jeff Carter's 46.

Philadelphia's depth and willingness to attack in any situation gave other team's fits, and will continue to do so this year.

Led by Captain Mike Richards, Simon Gagne, Daniel Briere and Scott Hartnell, the Flyers forward squad is as dangerous as there is in the league, and with expected full-time spots available for Claude Giroux and possibly James Van-Riemsdyk, they're only going to get more dangerous.

The talented blue line consisting of youngsters Braydon Coburn and Matt Carle and veteran Kimmo Timmonen seemed one player away from being formidable. Well the Flyers went out and got the most formidable bruiser out there in Chris Pronger.

His arrival, combined with recently signed Ian Laperriere and last season's acquisition of Daniel Carcillo, these Flyers, like the Broadstreet Bullies before them, will be make the Flyers a difficult opponent. This is a team that should challenge for the division and even the conference title.

Why They Won't: The loss of Mike Knuble could lead a void in the leadership, while giving away talented depth in Joffrey Lupol and Luca Sbisa to Anaheim in exchange for Pronger may hurt the Flyers if they become susceptible to the injury bug.

Additionally, Pronger is getting up in age, and considering his style of play should be expected to slow down a bit.

Bringing in Ray Emery to replace Martin Biron may blow up in Philly's face. Biron was quietly solid, and always seemed to play his best in the playoffs.

Emery, on the other hand, is known as a moody, egotistical prima donna and besides one good season with Ottawa, hasn't proven much.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Why They Will: Well, being the defending cup champions proves they're good. Really, really good. This team is overflowing with talent. In net, Marc-Andre Fleury has grown into one of the premier stoppers in the league.

Sergei Gonchar, Kris Letang, Alex Goligoski, and Brooks Orpik are joined by shot blocking Jay McKee to form a blueline that protects Fleury as much as can be asked. Ruslan Fedotenko, Bill Geurin, and Chris Kunitz help support the tremendous depth at the center that the Pens are blessed with.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are arguably the best in the game, and Jordan Staal and Maxim Talbot round out the third and fourth lines and can be used interchangeably on the wing throughout the lineup. A full year under Coach Bylsma will prove that their scorching hot record down the stretch was no fluke.

Did I mention the Penguins did as well as they did even with a considerable injury to Sergei Gonchar (25 games played)? This is one of the few teams that you can already pencil in to a spot.

Why They Won't: Many don't remember that the Penguins were well below average midway through the season, it was only because of their ridiculous stretch to close the season that they ended up in fourth.

Obviously that coincided with the coaching change, but the season before last, they challenged for first in the East under Therrien.

With that in mind, was it really him that was holding the Pens back this year? Will they tire of Bylsma the same way halfway through this season?

Losing Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi is going to hurt this defense. Throughout the playoffs, this was the duo that kept shutting down opponents' best line after best line.

And most importantly, playing the whole season with a target on your back can wear a team down.

The Northeast

Boston Bruins

Why They Will: +78 goal differential last season, Norris Winner, Vezina Winner, Jack Adams winner... Wait, you still here? What more do you need?

While San Jose got all the press last year, Boston was with them point for point throughout the season. This is a well balanced machine. Every line is defensively responsible, and contributes offensively.

Last season, the Bruins scored the second most goals in the league, and they did so with only player hitting the 30-goal plateau (Phil Kessel 36), but they had 10 players break into double digits, and that's why this team will continue to succeed.

If you want to play finesse, Marc Savard, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Michael Ryder can beat you with skill. If you want to play tough, Milan Lucic and Blake Wheeler can beat you with grit. And oh yeah, having a tower on defence in Zdeno Chara doesn't hurt.

Why They Won't: The Bruins biggest offensive threat, Phil Kessel, remains unsigned at the point of this writing. If Boston can't come to terms with their sniper, the team will suffer as a result.

As phenomenal as Tim Thomas has been, his unorthodox style can always set him up for a down season, and Manny Fernandez won't be here this year to fill in when needed.

Asking Krejci to replicate his terrific season may be a bit much, and can Patrice Bergeron stay healthy and return to form?

Buffalo Sabres

Why They Will: They came oh so close last season, missing the playoffs by only two points. Make no mistake, this is a dangerous run-and-gun team that I'm sure Boston was happy they didn't end up facing in the first round.

No player is more instrumental to this team's success than the man between the pipes, Ryan Miller. Had Miller not gone down to injury, it would have been surprising not to see the Sabres earn that one extra win.

Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek, Drew Stafford, and Jason Pominville lead an incredibly quick group of forwards. A plethora of players like Paul Gaustad, Daniel Paille, and familiar face Mike Grier allow the Sabres to dress a physical 3rd and 4th line even with some injuries.

If the oft-injured, super-talented Tim Connolly can stay healthy and youngster Nathan Gerbe can have an immediate impact, look for this team to be amongst the most dangerous offensively in the East.

Why They Wont: Far too many "if's" on this team. IF Miller can stay healthy, IF Connolly can stay healthy, IF Vanek, Stafford, and Pominville don't have off seasons.

Most importantly, the defense was questionable last season, and losing Jaroslav Spacek to free agency and replacing him with Steve Montador makes them even worse. Rest of the East improved too much, some of the most loyal fans in the game may begin to lose patience.

Montreal Canadiens

Why They Will: Centennial pressure, injuries, and off-ice distractions derailed Montreal's season, but the Canadiens will be a drastically different team this year.

Out are long time captian Saku Koivu, talented engima Alex Kovalev, playmaking Alex Tanguay, smash mouth Mike Komisarek, and heart and soul guys like Chris Higgins, Tom Kostopoulos, Francis Bouillon, Mathieu Dandenault, and Mathieu Schneider. With them, Bob Gainey hopes to have purged the organization of any of the possible reasons that caused last season's collapse.

In come Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Travis Moen, Hal Gill, Jaroslav Spacek, and Paul Mara. Say what you will, but this team is faster, stronger, and younger than last year's version.

Cammalleri can be expected to pot 30, while Gomez and Gionta will look to rekindle the magic they had in New Jersey. Andrei Kostitsyn had 23 goals in a bad year, while Tomas Plekanec and Sergei Kostitsyn look to rebound from seasons to forget.

The third line of Guillaume Latendresse, Maxim Lapierre, and Travis Moen will be difficult to play against and capable of contributing offensively.

Incoming coach Jacques Martin will implement a system to better insulate young goaltender Carey Price, who will benefit from the crease clearing abilities of Hal Gill and Paul Mara.

Everything considered, Montreal could contend for the division crown.

Why They Won't: Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemistry. The most important key to success, is unfortunately a big question mark for this year's Habs.

Will new teammates gel in a new system? Will Carey Price prove mentally tough enough to handle the pressure in Montreal? Will that second line be able to support the first line?

The new forwards are fast and skilled, but will they be able to handle the bruising they are sure to receive from oversized Toronto and Boston?

Koivu was the heart and soul of this team for a decade, and there's already questions as to who can step up and try to fill his enormous Finnish shoes. Too many question marks for success.

Ottawa Senators

Why They Will: This was another team that benefited greatly from a coaching change mid-season. The Sens will look to build on the momentum they gained at the end of last season.

Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, and Dany Heatley form one of the most dangerous lines in the league, and if Heatley stays, will surely continue to do damage to other team's defense.

If he leaves, Ottawa will gain something in the trade, and new-comer Alex Kovalev can step in on the first line. Either way the Sens look alright in that respect.

Pascal Leclaire finally gives them a bona fide No. 1 goalie and an underrated defense will surely rebound from an off year. The Sens will make the playoffs, and could do some real damage once there.

Why They Won't: Remember when Ottawa had locker-room problems, and everybody blamed Ray Emery? Well they got rid of him, and picked up veteran leader Jason Smith...and they still had problems. Now Heatley is causing a stir, and everybody thinks he's the problem.

If Bryan Murray (who is flirting with disaster by not trading him) isn't able to move him, don't let hope delude you, this team will be in serious trouble. And Alex Kovalev is certainly not the guy to calm the situation.

Additionally, while Leclaire is a No. 1 on paper, it has yet to be seen if he can recover from his injuries and surgery. On top of that, only two defensemen were in the plus (Filip Kuba and Chris Campoli both ended the season with +4).

The defense is a major concern, and they still have a drastic drop-off in talent after their big three (four if you include Kovalev).

Toronto Maple Leafs

Why They Will: Brian Burke went out and put his stamp on this team in a hurry. While the offense isn't stacked with All-Stars, people seem to ignore that they put up 250 goals last season.

The problem wasn't scoring it was getting scored on, and that is exactly where Burke put his attention. Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin, both of whom were considered amongst the best available defensemen, eagerly signed to play for the blue and white.

In both players, you get a physical guy who is solid in his own end and uses his size well. They join an increasingly appealing blueline consisting of Tomas Kaberle, Luke Schenn, Mike Van Ryn, and trade acquisition Garnet Exelby.

In net, Jonas Gustavsson joins the Leafs and will push Vesa Toskala. This team has no illusions, they are set up to flat-out beat you up, and that's what they'll do.

Why They Won't: While Burke is doing a good job of rebuilding the team, they aren't ready to make a push for the playoffs. Nik Antropov and Dominic Moore were big parts of the offense last season prior to the deadline, and they won't be there this year.

While it is true that the defense is big and mean, people are expecting way too much. Mike Komisarek, while a physical shot blocker, has absolutely no offensive upside. He can't hit the net, he isn't a tremendous skater, he doesn't have great vision, and is an average passer.

He was exposed last season when separated from Andrei Markov, who made him look better than he was. And while Beauchemin is a solid player, he isn't the top pairing Dman that many are making him out to be.

People seem to forget that in Anaheim, he was playing with two future Hall of Famers in Scott Neidermeyer and Chris Pronger, a luxury he won't be afforded in Toronto.

Gustavsson, while highly touted, hasn't done anything in the NHL yet. On top of all of this, the team let up an abysmal 293 goals this season, which was good for dead last in the league. You don't fix that overnight.

The Southeast

Atlanta Thrashers

Why They Will: Atlanta was another team that seemed to play best when they had no pressure. After hitting nearly rock bottom, the Thrashers put together a solid end to the season.

Led by the ridiculously talented Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta will once again be a team that can score. What makes them dangerous though, is the talent that nobody outside of Atlanta seems to know.

Todd White might have put up the quietest 73 points in the league last year, and Bryan Little had the quietest 31 goals. Nik Antropov will fit in on Kovalchuk's line, and it's always nice to have a 6'6" winger.

Zach Bogosian put up an impressive 19 points and a +11 as an 18-year-old, and showed all the potential in the world. And one last thing, Kovalchuk in a contract year, might be fun to watch...just maybe.

Why They Won't: The Thrashers seem to always play well after they've been eliminated from playoff contention, so there's no reason the expect them to build on their end of the season success. Even with some of the talent Atlanta has flying under the radar, they still are not a complete enough team.

While the defense has potential, it is still young, and allowed an embarrassing 280 goals last year. Kari Lehtonen never seems able to put together a complete season, and Johan Hedberg, while an efficient backup, isn't capable of taking the reins year round.

Too many questions on the defensive side of the puck will prevent the Thrashers from going back to the post-season. Kovalchuk can't outscore everybody every night.

Carolina Hurricanes

Why They Will: Wow this team was hot down the stretch. Eric Staal is a beast of a player, and Ray Whitney continues to produce at almost a point per game without recognition. Cam Ward once again proved that he is a stud goalie.

There really isn't a lot to have to say here. Solid depth support and underrated defense propel this team back to the playoffs. And make no mistake about it, this is as team-first a group as you can find.

Why They Won't: Carolina has a tendency to have a down season after a good one, as does Cam Ward. Rod Brind'Amour is a great leader, but the normally defensively sound captain had a team worst -23 and at 39 may finally be succumbing to his age.

As good as this team can be, and it's difficult to root against them, if any of Staal, Whitney, or Ward have an off-season or go down with any considerable injury, the Canes will struggle.

Florida Panthers

Why They Will: Florida couldn't have come closer to the playoffs without making them, losing out due to a tiebreaker with Montreal. They will be led by emerging youth David Booth, Stephen Weiss, Nathan Horton, and Michael Frolik, all four of whom have first-line talent.

While losing Jay Bouwmeester hurts, they could have done worse than replacing him with Ville Koistinen and Jordan Leopold. They won't be the most exciting team to watch, but they will be very sound defensively.

Being backstopped by Tomas Vokoun, who has the second-best save percentage over the last three seasons, should boost the confidence of any team. As Coach Deboer grows into his role, so shall the team grow into a playoff contender.

Why They Won't: Ex-GM Jacques Martin gambled and lost in not trading Bouwmeester at the trade deadline. And while they did get Leopold in return, they could have had much more.

This team's bread and butter is defense, and at least on paper, they're worse off in that department than they were last year when they missed the playoffs. Florida may not have taken a step back, but too many teams took steps forward for them to survive.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Why They Will: At the beginning of last year, everybody talked about how great the Lightning were going to be thanks to all the personnel changes. Well that obviously didn't work out as planned.

But Tampa has learned from their mistakes and accepted that they need a defense to compete. In comes prized free agent Mattias Ohland and bluechip prospect Victor Hedman. Joining them are solid depth defensemen Matt Walker and Kurtis Foster who were picked up at a steal.

Put them with the incumbent Andrej Meszaros, Paul Ranger, and Lukas Krajicek, and suddenly Tampa has a very good looking blueline. Good enough to get them back to the dance.

Why They Won't: The defense is improved, and that was a drastic need that management addressed (279 GA, third worst overall) but why does everybody forget how poor this team was offensively.

People see names like Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos, and Ryan Malone instead of the results, which was a measly 210 goals (5th worst overall).

Learn your lesson from last season and ignore all those guaranteeing you a vastly improved team, because the Lightning will once again be on the outside looking in.

Washington Capitals

Why They Will: Fresh off a second-round exit to eventual cup winner Pittsburgh, the Caps are hungry and looking to learn from their playoff experience. Washington was an offensive juggernaut last season, led by the explosive play of Rocket Richard winner Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green, who led all defensemen in scoring.

Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin round out the high-end talent, while role players like Brooks Laich, David Steckel, and Tom Poti help fill out an admittedly top-heavy team. As last year, watch for Bruce Boudreau to let his guys fly.

Equally as dangerous 5 on 5 as they were on the Eastern Conference leading PP, the question isn't whether this team is going to score on you, it's how many they want to score.

Why They Won't: Yes this team can score, but the defense was unspectacular to say the least. Green is certainly an offensive dynamo, but his game in his own end is average.

In fact, behind Tom Poti, nobody really jumps out at you, and even Poti on most teams wouldn't be considered above a 3 or 4. Considering his physical style, what would happen to this team if, god forbid, Ovechkin goes down with an injury?

This is a team that needs to score to stay in games. Jose Theodore is a major question mark in net, putting up a very pedestrian .900 SP. While Simeon Varlamov played terrifically in the playoffs, that isn't a full season, so hanging your hopes on him might be a little much to ask.

A big factor is the loss of Sergei Federov, who really brought the young talent on this team together. While Mike Knuble will help fill the veteran void, Federov's leadership as well as his versatility will be greatly missed.

Remembering Saku Koivu and the Search for the Canadiens' New Captain

James Sheehy — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:57:04 -0400

I woke up on July 1 with an empty feeling. That morning brought with it a drastic change—the realization that Saku Koivu would no longer be a part of the Montreal Canadiens.

I'm only 23 years old, so while I have watched tape of the legends like Richard, Beliveau, and Dryden, nearly all of my defining moments with the Habs have been with Saku.

Being named the first European captain of the Canadiens in 1999. The deafening ovation he received upon his return from cancer in 2002, and then leading the upset of the No. 1 seeded Bruins. Upsetting the Bruins again in 2004. Nearly being blinded in 2006. Scoring the shootout winner against the Rangers in 2008 to cement the greatest comeback in team history.

Throughout his tenure, Koivu was criticized by certain groups for nearly everything, ranging from his play to his tentativeness to speak French. Fortunately for most fans, actions speak louder than words. Koivu's courage, dedication to the CH, and contributions to the community will never be forgotten.

As I mentally prepare myself for the first season without Saku since my childhood, all I can say is thank you, merci, and kiitos.

Losing Saku Koivu has been but one of the many stories in Montreal. As any Canadiens fan can tell you, this past month or so has been tumultuous to say the least.

Acquiring Scott Gomez for Chris Higgins was the trigger that set off the avalanche of changes in La Belle Province. In the frenzied blur that was the beginning of free agency, the Habs were revamped seemingly overnight.

Leaving with Koivu is the super-talented Alex Kovalev and Alex Tanguay, ordained future captain Mike Komisarek, the surprising Robert Lang, fan favorite Tom Kostopoulos, and half the defence with Mathieu Schneider, Mathieu Dandenault, Francois Bouillon, and Patrice Brisebois.

Joining Gomez will be heralded sniper Mike Cammalleri, undersized Brian Gionta, over sized Hal Gill, and offensive-minded Jaroslav Spacek.

As I've had time to digest the changes, I'm happy with the way the team is looking. I believe the additions will work well in Jacques Martin's system.

Many fans were screaming for change after the meltdown of the centennial season, and change is exactly what they got. However, most were unprepared for the level of change that transpired.

The old saying goes, "If it isn't broken, don't fix it." Well, Bob Gainey looked at the team and decided—if it is broken, fix it completely.

I wasn't an advocate for major change, but I agree with the idea that if change is to occur, it's better to change completely rather than half heartedly.

My level of optimism for the upcoming season is met only by the depth of uncertainty regarding the team's leadership going forward. Andrei Markov is the only returning player who wore a letter regularly, and the three players who had been discussed as possible captains after Koivu are no longer with the team: Alex Kovalev, Mike Komisarek, and Chris Higgins.

Who will be the next captain of the Montreal Canadiens?

The obvious suggestion is Andrei Markov. He's worn the A, and is the club's best player. But it isn't known whether he would accept it.

Naturally soft-spoken and linguistically limited, Markov is more of a lead-by-example type of player. That isn't a bad thing, but the captain should be someone vocal enough to address any issues that arise.

Another popular suggestion has been newcomer Scott Gomez. He's worn the A with the New York Rangers and before that the New Jersey Devils, with whom he won two Stanley Cups.

But even New York isn't like the fishbowl that is Montreal. Considering the amount of pressure on Gomez—partly due to his contract—to immediately step in and perform, it might be unfair to throw on the additional stress of replacing the second longest serving captain in team history.

A candidate that should be receiving more discussion is Josh Gorges. Though he has only been with the team for two-and-a-half seasons, Gorges has been one of the Canadiens' most improved players each year.

He played his best hockey with the added pressure of first line duty with Markov when Komisarek went down with injuries, he was second on the team in plus minus this past season, put up 23 points, and is solid in his own end.

But more important than his skills are the intangibles that he brings. He is articulate and witty in his interviews, he never makes excuses, and he seems to be well liked within the locker-room, (the guys "sacrificing" his stick to end his goal drought is one example for those that remember). Not the best fighter, he's still willing to stand up for his teammates.

Additionally, you can tell he's willing to sacrifice to win games. He never quits on the play while constantly battling larger players. Gorges may get knocked down, but gets back up and goes right back after the guy.

One moment that stands out for me, and many Habs fans may remember, was in the last 15 or so games of the season (the exact game escapes me at the moment). On the penalty kill, Gorges blocked two shots in succession, and limping over to the loose puck, managed to clear the zone. That's the kind of play I expect a captain to make.

Luckily for us, none of our opinions have any impact. The players will vote on who becomes captain, and as Jacques Martin has said, if no one proves themselves, he has no problem starting the season without a declared captain until one emerges.

So as we anticipate and guess who will be the next captain, all we can do is sit and wait, and spend hours on articles that will only be read by a few. Thanks for taking the time.

NHL Free Agency Preview: UFAs Flying under the Radar

James Sheehy — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:28:21 -0400

Every summer, fans from across the league speculate about where the big name free agents are going to end up. Last season, it was names like Mats Sundin, Brian Campbell, and Marian Hossa that stole all the headlines. This year it's players like Marion Gaborik, Jay Bouwmeester, the Sedin brothers, and Marian Hossa (again) making us eagerly hold our breath in anticipation.

While these stars are deservedly the center of attention, the second-tier free agents are equally as important in building a competitive team. Here's a look at the best affordable players available.

Forwards

Mike Grier, Age 34, Salary: $1,775,000

Grier is big body (6'1", 225) who can go to the net. He is a responsible forward who uses his size well and still has the skating ability to keep up with the play. His age has diminished his value, but he should be available at around 1 to 1.25 million. He would be a good asset if a team is interested in solid third or fourth-liner that can chip in 30 points.

Samuel Pahlsson, Age 31, Salary: $1,400,000

Pahlsson isn't going to contribute much offensively, but if a team needs help on the defensive side of the puck, they could do worse than taking a chance on Pahlsson.

Mikael Sammuelsson, Age 32, Salary: $1,200,000

Sammuelsson put up 40 points on a deep Detroit squad. If the Wings don't resign him, he should be expected to stay around that output on another team. At 6'2", 211 lbs., any team looking to add some affordable size should look his way.

Travis Moen, Age 27, Salary: $925,000

Moen is 6'2", 216 lbs. and an effective forechecker. He isn't going to pot too many goals (11 is his career-high), but at under a million dollars, he's a cheap option to give opponent's defencemen something to think about when they go into the corners.

Dominic Moore, Age 28, Salary: $900,000

Moore is one of the better players flying under the radar in my mind. He's got good size, skates well, and plays well in both ends. He had a career year last year, putting up 45 points. He brings a great energy to the lineup and would be an ideal third-line center on any team with that hole to fill.

Chad Larose, Age 27, Salary: $875,000

This is a player I absolutely love. He brings it every night and is willing to do whatever is needed to win. Blocking shots, going into the corners, taking a hit to make the play, Larose does it all. Also, he should be good for 30 to 40 points.

Apparently, the Canes are having trouble resigning him, which means he may be asking for too much, but I would run to sign this guy at anything under $1.25 million.

Stephane Yelle, Age 35, Salary: $750,000

His age is definitely a deterrent, but he can still chip in the occasional point here and there. More importantly, at $750,000, he is a huge bargain for any team desperately needing help in the faceoff circle. I'm looking at you, Edmonton.

Blair Betts, Age 29, Salary: $615,000

A number of sources are speculating that the Rangers will let Betts walk. If this happens, Sather is an even worse GM then I thought he was. Betts is an absolute steal at his minuscule cap-hit. He is terrific defender and penalty killer.

Defence

Paul Mara, Age 29, Salary: $1,950,000

When people talk about the Rangers defence, Mara is somehow constantly overlooked. The 6'4" 219-pound bruiser could be the poster boy for an underrated, unflashy defencemen.

He's doesn't have the highlight reel hits of Niklas Kronwall or the end-to-end rushes of Mike Green, but he always separates his man from the puck and clears the zone. By the way, he put up 21 points last year. This guy can play on my team any day.

Mathieu Dandenault, Age 33, Salary: $1,750,000

After being bounced around under Carbonneau's juggling system, it looked like as if Dandy was going to earn a permanent spot on the blueline after some other players went down with injury.

He was playing solid in both ends and was one of the Canadiens most consistent players for a stretch. Then, Dandy broke his arm (though he finished his shift anyways). Terrific skater, doesn't panic, good passer, team first attitude, he is an ideal fifth or six defenceman for any team with the need.

Francois Beauchemin, Age 29, Salary: $1,650,000

I hesitated to put Beauchemin on this list because I think he's one of the best free agents available, but his salary merits him a spot. He has great hockey sense, has a smooth skating style, and has the potential to contribute offensively. The only drawback is that he often goes down with small injuries. He's due for a raise, but as long as it isn't anything ridiculous, he will benefit whichever team picks him up.

Jordan Leopold, Age 28, Salary: $1,500,000

Another player due in for a raise, Leopold plays like a seasoned veteran despite his age. Effective in both zones, Leopold would be a solid three or four on any team. Florida would do well to sign him as they attempt to replace Jay Bouwmeester and Nick Boynton.

Kurtis Foster, Age 27, Salary: $1,025,000

This is kind of a sentimental pick for me. I'm a huge fan of Foster, but he only played 10 games this season coming back from a horrific leg injury; however, in those 10 games, he put up six points and ended up a +7. Foster is an all-around player with tremendous character, and with his salary, he is a steal. Putting him on this list may be a moot point simply because I would be stunned if he isn't resigned by the Wild.

Rob Scuderi, Age 30, Salary: $725,000

He is not flashy, but he is willing to do the little things to win. He also has a tendency to raise his game when it matters most. Unfortunately for the Penguins, his performance in the playoffs probably raises his salary out of their price range.

Johnny Oduya, Age 27, Salary: $600,000

Oduya might be the steal of the summer if a team can pry him away from New Jersey. Due for an increase of at least a million, Oduya is a durable puck-moving defencemen who can consistently contribute offensively. His strong skating and and decision-making put him at the top of many people's short list of best defenceman available.

Thanks for reading, and good luck to everyone's favorite teams in attracting some of these players.

NHL Suspensions Need to Focus on Intent, Not Result

James Sheehy — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:58:31 -0500

If anyone watched the Habs vs. Sens game on Nov. 11, they were treated to a tremendously paced game with exciting end-to-end action. They were also witness to another glaring example of the NHL's inability to properly discipline its players.

Down 3-0 in the third period, Jarkko Ruutu hit Maxim Lapierre with a high elbow that, despite Jarkko Ruutu's claim, displayed clear intent to injure. Almost immediately after the hit, Lapierre got up and Francois Bouillon stepped in to defend his teammate. After reviewing the hit, the NHL has suspended Ruutu for two games for the altercation.

Does this confuse anyone else as much as me?

Fresh off slapping Tom Kostopoulos with a three-game suspension for the Mike Van Ryn hit, what was the determining factor in giving Ruutu only two games? For that matter, why was perennial offender Ryan Hollweg given the same three-game suspension as Kostopoulos? Shouldn't repeat offenses merit harsher responses?

Let me first say that I do not think Kostopoulos is a dirty player or was attempting to injure Van Ryn—whom I hope has a speedy and full recovery—and I believe that he is truly remorseful for the hit.

Despite this, I agreed with his suspension. While at least some of the responsibility lies with the player to protect himself, the forechecker should be in better control of his check.

With that said, how can you possibly justify giving Hollweg the same punishment and Ruutu less punishment? Ruutu's hit had clear intent to injure and, considering Ruutu's reputation and post-game interview, it's difficult to believe he feels any guilt whatsoever. Additionally, Hollweg's reputation is far from impeccable.

These suspensions raise a disturbing question. Is an injury required for serious repercussion? That's what it's beginning to look like. Intent should be the determining factor in a suspension, not the result.

Unless this issue is addressed and suspensions are of a considerable length, players such as Ruutu and Hollweg will continue to cross the line only to be met with minimal punishment.

Until then, these infractions will continue to be a slap in the face. Not only to the players at risk, but to the fans as well.

NHL: A Fan's Perspective on Possible Rule Changes

James Sheehy — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:19:43 -0500

There has been a lot of talk recently, by both the league and the fans, that has centered around recent rule changes and possible ones to come. Whether met with adulation or condemnation, these changes allow our game to grow. So whether you're a purist or a reformist, feel free to throw in your two cents.

Some rules already implemented have achieved overwhelming success. The elimination of the Red Line has opened up the game to longer passes and speed, while the cracking down on obstruction penalties such holding, hooking, and interference has allowed for increased flow and greatly benefits the skill players.

Considering the success of such changes, the NHL has continued to throw out some new ideas. Here's my take on a select few.

Shot Blocking

Very recently, the possibility of limiting shot blocking has entered public discourse. Because of the willingness of players to block shots, fewer pucks are reaching the net. To remedy this, players would be prohibited from lying down in front of a shot, though players would still be able to drop to one knee or tighten the skates.

I have one major problem with this proposal. Having the fortitude to lay down in front of a 90 mph shot is one of the greatest attributes a player can have in my mind. It's representative of the sacrifice, selflessness, and determination that makes hockey the best sport in the world.

I get almost as excited about a great shot block on a penalty kill as I do with a great scoring chance. I don't see how prohibiting this mindset makes our sport better.

Additionally, I think the rule change would in fact have an adverse affect than desired. To begin with, most shots that are blocked aren't done so by a sprawling player, but rather a player in great position who uses his body well.

While lying down is admirable, it is also reckless. A defender can just as easily take themselves out of the play as stop a shot. If the rule were to take affect, players would adapt to going down to one knee and using their stick to make themselves large while remaining in position.

Diving

I'm only going to speak briefly on this subject because I don't think there is much to argue. Following the lockout, diving was more rampant than ever before. However, it has decreased—both in the amount it's being called and occurring—as each year progresses.

That being said, there are few things that can ruin a sport's reputation more so than diving. As a result, I think the penalty for diving should be more severe, especially if it is painfully obvious. The player should be given a game misconduct and fined by the league upon repeat offenses, while the other team should not be penalized at all.

Diving is a serious problem that needs to be dealt with immediately and severely.

Overtime

I have two suggestions here. The first is to extend the overtime period to 10 minutes. Many players and coaches have argued that while the shoot-out is exciting and the game needs a limit in length to attract TV audiences and keep players rested, it is still a skills competition.

If the four-on-four OT period was extended by five minutes, then more games would be decided by the team, not just the goalie or one or two shooters. This would also make games more exciting as four on four is terrific end to end hockey, and increasing the rarity of the shootout would only add to its spectacle.

On a related topic, I think the league needs to do away with the three-point game. The winner of every game should receive two points while the loser should receive none, regardless of whether the game ended in regulation or OT. My reasoning for this isn't primarily for the fact that rewarding the loser makes little sense—though that is a valid argument—but rather to prevent teams from "locking down" in the closing minutes of a tie game.

Coaches, aware that one point is better than none, will often go into a defensive shell when tied with three or four minutes left in the game to ensure overtime. If they eliminated the conciliatory extra point, they would also eliminate the motivation to "survive" until OT, which would cause teams to go hard after that game-winning goal.

Decreased Goalie Equipment/Larger Nets

Creating offense was and remains one of the primary goals of the new rules. The first year after the lockout did see a spike in goals, but the Goals-Per-Game average has decreased every season since (though the current average for this season is up if I am not mistaken).

This has caused the league to turn to the two obvious targets, decreasing goalie equipment or increasing net size.

The arguments for both are similar: Goalies are not only bigger, faster, and better than in the past, but their equipment has also increased drastically. Compare pictures of Ron Hextall or Patrick Roy to Roberto Luongo or Carey Price.

Goalies today look enormous. Even Ryan Miller, who is a lanky 6'2" 165 pounds, looks intimidating in net. As a result, there is so much less net for shooters to find. To counter this, either the nets could be increased by an inch or two on either side, or goalie equipment could be further reduced, thus giving shooters more net to shoot at.

While I have no problem with making goalie equipment slightly more form fitting—I understand the goalies still need to be protected—I'm not sold on bigger nets. Smaller acrobatic goalies like Manny Legace and Tim Thomas would become all but extinct.

In addition, players would be able to redirect higher shots—due to the crossbar-redirect rule—which would increase the risks of stick to face injuries.

Furthermore, one component that the larger net supporters are ignoring is that shooters are also bigger, faster, and better than in the past. With their ability to pick the corners, imagine how many goals players like Ilya Kovalchuk, Alex Ovechkin, or Dany Heatley would get with an extra inch or two.

It is true that goals are exciting, but one of the reasons they are so is because of their difficulty. Whether it be due to a great save or a deflection off the post, it is the missed opportunities that make the successful ones so great.

Well that's it for now, there are other rules worth discussing but I have a sandwich and NHL '09 calling my name. Please feel free to enter the discussion on any rules that you hold an opinion on.

Montreal Canadiens: New Additions Have Fared Pretty Well So Far

James Sheehy — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:14:10 -0500

The Habs are 10 games in and are currently sporting an outstanding 8-1-1 record. Though the season is still young, I think enough time has passed to discuss how the new players are adapting to the team. So without further adieu, let's take a look at Alex Tanguay, Robert Lang, and Georges Laraque.

Alex Tanguay

Wow, so does anybody doubt that Mike Keenan's style stifled Tanguay's production? Since Tanguay joined the team in midsummer, Canadiens fans have been frothing at the mouth to see the slick passing of the Quebec Native, and he certainly hasn't disappointed.

Tanguay's addition to the Saku Koivu and Guillaume Latendresse line has given Guy Carbonneau two legitimate first lines. Watching some of the plays unfold on that line is like watching artists at work. Tanguay has also had little difficulty finding the back of the net.

As of now, it is Tanguay, not Alex Kovalev or Andrei Kostitsyn or Tomas Plekanec, that leads the team in goals (six). All in all, Tanguay's play has been terrific, and is adding to the difficult choices Bob Gainey faces in the upcoming offseason.

Robert Lang

I'll admit I wasn't exactly sold on Lang when he was acquired. I was worried that he wasn't going to match the speed or intensity of the Canadiens. Lang's play, however, has delivered a quick smack to the side of my head for doubting him.

Never mind not looking out of place this season, few Canadiens have looked more in place. Lang has three goals, three assists, and a very encouraging plus-4 rating. Aside from his favorable stats, Lang has also excelled in nearly every area of the game, earning him time on the penalty kill and power play.

Lang has yet to really settle in with a consistent line thus far (due to injuries), but once he gets a few games with Chris Higgins and Sergei Kostitsyn returns to form, there's no reason to believe Lang can't keep up with his tremendous start.

Georges Laraque

So far, Big Georges seems like the only questionable pickup. Having only played four games, it may be unfair to criticize Laraque's play this early in the season. But he is the only player (other than Kyle Chipchura, who only dressed for one game) who has yet to register a point and is a team worst minus-2.

Considering he's only averaging 7:25 of ice time, a minus-2 on the team with the best goal differential in the Eastern Conference may not be reason for concern, but it certainly isn't reason for praise. On top of that, he doesn't seem to be able to shake his nagging groin injury.

I understand Laraque was brought in to be an enforcer who can chip in a few points here and there, but if he plays as poorly as he has, it's difficult to give him the ice time to do that job.

Here's looking forward to the rest of the season.

Montreal Canadiens Looking Ahead to Their Centennial Season

James Sheehy — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:03:00 -0400

"In a land so inescapably and inhospitably cold, hockey is the chance of life, and an affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter, we are alive." Stephen Leacock

Summer has never seemed so long.

We're just a few weeks away from dropping the puck—don't anyone dare tell me the preseason counts—and I, for one, am teeming with anticipation.

And why wouldn't I be? Centennial Year. Following up a first-place finish in the East. Roy's jersey retirement. Best Habs team in over a decade—if Koivu says it, that's good enough for me.

You need to get your pulse checked if you aren't pumped for Oct 10.

The Habs exceeded everyone's expectations last year by edging Pittsburgh for the conference lead. This year, they will be looking to match that success—and there is no reason to think they won't be in the running.

The main thing now is that Montreal isn't going to sneak up on anyone this season. That giant thing that looks like a dart-board on the back of the jersey? That's a target—and you can be sure other teams are already taking aim. A big factor this year will be how Coach Carbonneau and the team can respond to being the favorites.

Accompanying the raised expectations are a slew of questions. Will Tanguay and Lang fit into the system? Can Price handle the load of a full season? Will Higgins break the 30-goal plateau? Will Komisarek kill the next reporter to ask him if Laraque's arrival relieves the pressure on him to drop the gloves? What is the media gonna yell at Koivu for this year?

While I don't know how these or any other situations will play out—Mats Sundin stole my Magic 8 Ball to decide whether to retire or play— I can say I'm eager to see them answered.

But feel that change in the air? It's a crisp optimism that every hockey fan shares that comes with the beginning of autumn.

We are fans of the most storied team in the greatest sport there is. We are graced with some of the most grateful, humble players in the league. Don't take that for granted.

Enjoy the season everyone. Remember the legends of Richard, Beliveau, and Dryden. Take in the future legends playing today, 'cause some day you'll be telling your kids that you were there when the Habs came back from five down to beat the Rangers, when Koivu returned from cancer to a standing ovation that wouldn't be silenced, and when Bob Gainey built a champion.

So Habs fans, get ready for Komisarek's thundering hits and Kovalev's sick stick-handling. Get ready for Koivu's overflowing heart and the flying Kostitsyns. Get ready for Price is Right. Get ready for 21,273 loud. Get ready—for the Bleu, Blanc, et Rouge.

NHL 2008-09 Season Predictions: Western Conference

James Sheehy — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:31:12 -0400

Okay, with the East out of the way, let's get rolling with the West:

1. Detroit

Wow, this team is good. Let me reiterate that—WOW this team is good.

Detroit was the class of the league last season and in the playoffs as the Wings looked nearly unstoppable en route to the Cup. Unfortunately for the rest of the league, that doesn't look to change, as the Red Wings will ice almost the exact same team this year.

Oh wait, one difference is they signed top free agent Marian Hossa. I'm sure that won't help out an offense that already led the West in goals last season.

Seriously, does anybody else think that Ken Holland might be a witch? There is no way any person should be as good at their job as he is. Mike Babcock, who has been one of the best coaches in the NHL year in and year out, will once again coach a team many believe to the best puck-possession squad since the Soviets.

On top of that, the Wings have an absurd amount of talent. Two of the best all-around players in Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk will lead a forward group that consists of Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula, Tomas Holmstrom, Dan Cleary, Jiri Hudler, and recently Hossa.

On the back end, future hall of famer Nicklas Lidstrom leads an equally-impressive supporting cast featuring Brad Suart, Niklas Kronwall, Brian Rafalski, and Chris "Look ma! I found the fountain of youth" Chelios, among others.

All in all, Detroit has the best GM in the sport, one of the best coaches, and one of the best rosters. How could anyone bet against them?

2. Dallas

I know San Jose is the sexy pick to win the Pacific—as they have been for the past few years—but I like Dallas to come out of the incredibly tough division.

Everyone keeps saying what a tough team Dallas was to play against, and how they play a gritty, in-your-face style. While those are accurate statements, I feel most have failed to assess that Dallas can also put up some points. They finished second in the West last year and there is no reason to expect them to drop from that perch.

With Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow, the Stars have at least two potential 30-goal scorers. Add to that the impressive two way play of Mike Modano and trade-deadline acquisition Brad Richards, along with agitators Steve Ott and Sean Avery—who, as people learned last year, can actually play hockey—and the Stars will be a formidable team up front.

We know the defense is solid led by perennially-underrated Sergei Zubov, and Marty Turco is among the upper echelon of goalies.

Assuming Avery fits in as well as he did in New York, Fabian Bruusntrom produces like he's believed to be able, and Richards fully adapts to the Stars' style, Dallas will compete for the division title.

3. Calgary

This was a tough one. The Northwest is tight conference—though not as good as it was last year.

Although Minnesota and Edmonton will be right with Calgary, I'll give Calgary the slight edge due to the fact that last year they were still adapting to Mike Keenan's system. This year, they should have it down from the get go—and as a result, shouldn't have such a tough time getting going.

Calgary mainstays Jarome Iginla, Dion Phaneuf, and Mikka Kiprusoff are the backbone of this team, and they should all do well in the upcoming season. Kipursoff had an off season last year, but I'm gonna assume it was the exception rather than a new pattern.

I like the Flames' chances of winning the division even more if Mikka is limited to under 70 games, since he seemed tired as the season closed. I think Iginla will once again hit the 100-point mark this season, primarily thanks to the offseason addition of Mike Cammalleri, who I think will thrive in a hockey-mad market like Calgary.

The departures of Kristian Huselius and Alex Tanguay will hurt the offense, but the continuing emergence of Matthew Lombardi, along with the additions of Curtis Glencross and Rene Bourque should be able to plug that hole, if not fix it entirely.

4. San Jose

Will this finally be the year that San Jose lives up to their playoff potential and gets past the second round? Well, if they don't, they won't have Ron Wilson to blame it on.

For a team that has been a Cup favorite for a few years now, the time to get things done is beginning to run out. Luckily for Sharks fans, all the praise this team has received wasn't unmerited.

San Jose is a very good team. They're big, fast, and can play physical or finesse hockey. Joe Thornton is one of the best forwards in the game, and is considered by many to be the premier playmaker in the league. Milan Michalek, Joe Pavelski, and Devin Setoguchi provide good secondary scoring, while players like Mike Grier are great in the corners.

Last season, both Johnathan Cheechoo and Patrick Marleau had subpar years by their standards, and the Sharks will need them to bounce back if they are going to contend in the ultra-competitive Pacific.

On defense, the departure of Brian Campbell and Craig Rivet was met by the arrival of Dan Boyle and Rob Blake. Though I think that's actually a step back, most would disagree—so we'll see how that plays out.

Both Boyle and Blake missed considerable time last year. If that happens again, look for the Sharks hopes to rest on Vezina-nominee Evgeni Nabakov. Nabby played terrifically last year—and that solid play continued into the playoffs in which he made two of the nicest saves of the year against the Stars.

Everything said, expectations are high in San Jose.

5. Anaheim

I almost bumped them down to a further spot due to their lack of offensive production, but I was swayed by their stellar defense. With Scott Niedermayer back for the whole season and the continued presence of Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin, the Ducks sport one of the better blue lines in the game.

However, the departure of Mathieu Schneider—assuming Burke doesn't pull another rabbit out of his hat—will hurt Anaheim more then people seem to think. Schneider was a plus-22 last season, second among defensemen behind Kent Huskins—who predicted that one?—with the three other defensemen already named all ending the season in the minus.

In the crease, J-S Giguere can be expected to be as solid as always—but if he gets injured or needs to take a rest, Ilya Bryzgalov won't be there anymore to step in.

Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Chris Kunitz must continue to develop into the leaders the Ducks need them to be, while Samuel Pahlsson and Rob Niedermayer should continue to stifle opponents' best lines.

If Teemu Selanne returns, Bobby Ryan emerges, and Giguere plays the whole season, the Ducks could be a scary team come playoff time.

6. Edmonton

Well—finally a change from last year's playoffs!

Kevin Lowe did a great job this offseason in bringing in Erik Cole, Lubomir Visnovsky, and Gilbert Brule. Cole can put up the points as well as play responsibly in his own zone. His experience and leadership should be a welcome addition to a young locker room. Visnovsky should help solidify the defense.

But the talent at the forward position is Edmonton's real strength. Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff should both be point-per-game players this season, while the rapid growth of Sam Ganger, Dustin Penner, Robert Nilsson, and Andrew Cogliano will give the Oilers a real shot at winning their division.

The goaltending could be a real concern if Mathieu Garon can't shoulder the load, although Dwayne Roloson should be a good-enough option to at least keep them competitive.

Edmonton ended last season with a sensational stretch. If they can get out of the gate quickly this year, they should be back in the playoffs after years of watching from home.

7. Chicago

Another young, emerging team that didn't miss the playoffs by much last season.

Chicago will be led by youngsters Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, both of whom excelled in their rookie season and should continue to do so in the upcoming year. Patrick Sharp is a solid 30-goal scorer who doesn't seem to merit much press, but that doesn't appear to affect his play.

One of the many interesting subjects in the Windy City this year is whether Martin Havlat can stay healthy. Past experience doesn't bode well, but maybe this year Havlat will finally be able to display his tremendous talent.

The free-agent signings of Cristobal "Hip Hip" Huet and Brian Campbell, while financially questionable, greatly benefit on the ice. Campbell is a great puck moving defensemen who should more than fill the loss of Lang on the PP as well as bring leadership to a blue line as talented as they are young.

How Duncan Keith remains a mystery to some people is beyond me—but noticed or not, he is a defensive stud.

The signing of Huet seemed to set the stage for the Hawks to move underachieving Nikolai Khabibulin, but as things are Chicago will start the season with two No. 1's. Khabibulin may respond to Huet's arrival with great play, but it doesn't make sense to have $12 million locked up in goaltending.

Whatever happens, one thing is for sure—hockey is finally back in Chicago.

8. Minnesota

Okay, this slot was hard for me to fill. When a team nobody is confusing with an offensive powerhouse loses two of its top four point getters in Pavol Demitra and Brian Rolston, it's difficult not to write them off.

Additionally, if franchise player Marian Gaborik isn't re-signed by the time the season gets underway, the situation in the dressing room may take a hit.

Overall though, there is plenty to like with the Wild. Contract or not, Gabby has an absurd amount of talent. Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Mikko Koivu, and Brent Burns—another emerging talent flying under the radar—are quickly advancing in their development, and should ease the pain of losing Rolston.

The additions of Marek Zidlicky and familiar face Andrew Brunette will give a boost to the scoring department, while in the crease, Niklas Backstrom is silently solid and should continue to be pushed by prospect Josh Harding.

Combine all this with Jacques Lemaire's defense-first style of hockey and some of the best fans in the sport, and Minnesota will not be an easy place for opposing teams to come to play.

Possible Bracket Buster: Phoenix

Colorado, in my mind, took lateral steps. Although Joe Sakic coming back is huge, I don't see a combination of Peter Budaj and Andrew Raycroft getting it done.

Vancouver will once again live and die by Roberto Luongo, while Nashville lost one of their best young players in Radulov—though Barry Trotz seems to overachieve every single year.

As for Columbus, assuming their goals against stay about the same, do their offseason acquisitions add up to at least 35 or 40 extra goals? My money is on no.

Phoenix seems the most likely to make a push. A strong goaltender for a whole year and talented youth gives them a big step in the right direction—but lack of offensive depth, along with the loss of key defensemen Keith Ballard, make the playoffs an uphill battle.

Well, those are my predictions. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the season!

NHL Season Predictions: The East

James Sheehy — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:52:52 -0400

I've recently read a few articles discussing who's going to make the playoffs this year and I felt like throwing in my two cents. So here we go, lets start with the East. (RECENTLY EDITED)

1. Philadelphia Flyers

Man I wanted to be different and pick the Flyers to win the East, and now I can thanks to Pittsburgh early season injury woes. The Flyers return nearly unscathed from the off-season, losing R.J. Umberger and Jason Smith. Though Umberger was terrific in the playoffs, his departure shouldn't hurt that much assuming Simon Gagne can stay healthy. The loss of Smith, however, hurts. Jason Smith is one of those players who brings so much more than stats. He is a terrific leader and incredibly sound in his own zone (he was number two in blocked shots). With that said, Philadelphia isn't helpless on defence with players like Braydon Coburn continuing to develop. Martin Biron proved to be a legitimate number one last year and Mike Richards is one of the true emerging two way stars in the league and deserves all the praise Flyer fans bestow upon him. Jeff Carter should continue to develop into a very solid player. Assuming the Flyers aren't bitten by the injury bug again this year, they will compete for the conference lead.

2. Montreal Canadiens

Sticking with the general consensus here. The Habs finished first last season and added on to a very gifted core. Alex Tanguay should rebound from a mediocre season playing along side Saku Koivu. Calgary's defensive minded scheme stifled the playmaker's production, but Tanguay is in a contract year and entering his prime so 70 points isn't out of reach. Robert Lang adds depth to the Habs center position and will most likely get some time on the Power Play. Georges Laraque's presence will free up the rest of the players and gives coach Guy Carbonneau a plethora of choices for the 4th line. A solid defense led by All-Star Andrei Markov and Mike Komisarek (who was amongst the league leaders in both hits and blocked shots) is solid and should be pushed by the emerging talent in Hamilton. Carey Price is leaner and rested and should rebound from a meltdown in last year's playoffs. Jaroslav Halak should continue to develop and push Price for ice time. All in all, Montreal will roll four lines that can score, sport one of the most promising tandems in goal, and has a very reliable defense (though unspectacular) that will be at least in the top half of the league.

3. Washington Capitals

Wow my picks are predictable right now. Seriously though who really thinks the Caps don't win the Southeast? Carolina seemed average last year and just lost two of their best players (Erik Cole to trade and Williams to injury). Tampa's glaring need was defence and goaltending. To address this, they went out and signed Olaf Kolzig who had the worst save percentage of any starting goaltender, traded away three roster defensemen (Dan Boyle, Alexandre Picard, Filip Kuba) for 2 (Andrej Meszaros and Matt Carle), and signed 78 forwards. Florida couldn't score and traded away one of their best forwards (though they have a good defence) and Atlanta... well, just wow Atlanta. Could you imagine them without Ilya Kovalchuck? Yikes. The combination of the weak Southeast along with the continued emergence of Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin, and Mike Green supporting Alex Ovechkin, who has officially reached Superstar status, cement the Caps as the favorite.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins

I had Pitt 1st, but the recent injuries to Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar for AT LEAST 4 months has caused me to slide them down. My reasoning for picking Pittsburgh here is based on the fact that they nearly ended in first last season and that was with considerable injuries to Sidney Crosby and Marc Andre Fleury. Luckily for the Pens, Evgeni Malkin and Ty Conklin stepped up in their absence. I didn't see the Penguins having such bad luck with injuries this year, but I was wrong. As a result, the chances of them staying atop the conference plummets. The Pens are as deep down the middle as any team in the league with Crosby, Malkin, and Jordan Staal. The losses of personnel such as Ryan Malone and Jarko Ruutu hurt, but Miroslav Satan and Ruslav Fedotenko should fill the void well enough that the offense doesn't take a major step back.

5. New York Rangers

This one is kind of a toss up for me. The Rangers didn't really click last year like I thought they would, but they have too much talent to not make the playoffs. The departure of Jaromir Jagr opens the way for Chris Drury and Scott Gomez to take over this team, and that's a plus. Brankdon Dubinsky came out of nowhere to add some nice depth to the Rangers Center position and Henrik Lundqvist is one of the premier goalies in the league. I'm curious to see how the new additions playout. The additions of Markus Naslund and Wade Redden are up in the air (though barring spectacular season both were overpaid), while I think Nikolai Zherdev and Dmitiri Kalinin are good pickups. Assuming the defence doesn't play horribly, the Rangers should be a tough team to play against.

6. New Jersey Devils

Not much to say on this one. Every year people say the Devils don't have enough talent, won't score enough goals, that Marty will finally start to decline... and every year the Devils make the playoffs. The addition of Brian Rolston will help an anemic offense while the addition of Bobby Holik... actually the addition of Holik doesn't really change anything. All changes aside, the New Jersey defensive system has always been effective, if not entertaining. There is no reason to doubt it now.

7. Boston Bruins

I got Boston moving up a spot from last season. A good young core, with standouts like Phil Kessel, Milan Lucic, and David Krejci will develop nicely while Claude Julien's defense first style will keep Boston in most games. The real question is will the return of Patrice Bergeron and the arrival of Michael Ryder give the Bruins an addtional 20-30 goals? Considering Boston was the only playoff team last year with less GF then GA, the season could largely depend on it. The goaltending is another serious issue. Can Tim Thomas continue to play well enough to keep them competitive? Probably. If not, does Manny Fernandez actually regain his form? Probably not. The wild card here is whether the Bruins think Tuukka Rask is ready. If so, it should be an interesting year in Beantown.

8. Ottawa Senators

Ok, the only reason I have Ottawa in the final spot is cause I'm really 50/50 on them. In reality I think if the Sens make the playoffs, it will be in the top 4 of the East; however, if they miss the playoffs, they'll be 10th or 11th. Im not sure if there is a team in the league with bigger questions than Ottawa. Which was the real team, the one that dominated the first half or the one that experienced a catastrophic second half slide before being swept by the Pens in the first round? Can Martin Gerber play a whole season as the undisputed number one? Was emery really the main cause of the lack of unity and chemistry? Well I don't know these things, but what I do know is that the Sens have 3 premier players in Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfreddson, good role support in players like Mike Fisher and Antoine Vermette, and one of the leagues most underrated defenses with Anton Volchenkov (number three in blocked shots), Jason Smith (number two in blocked shots), Christoph Schubert, Chris Phillips, and Filip Kuba.

Possible Prediction Buster: Buffalo Sabres

Alright, pretty boring picking the same teams from last year, but I don't see many teams making a strong push to unseat anybody. The Islanders, Thrashers, Panthers, and Leafs have almost no shot while Tampa and Carolina have an outside shot. If Ottawa proves the slide wasn't an anomaly or Boston can't get their goals up, the Sabres take the final spot.