Bleacher Report - Articles by Reed Kaufman

Is Alexander Frolov Leaving the Los Angeles Kings? If So, Who's Headed West?

Reed Kaufman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:04:18 -0400

A former 35-goal scorer, Alexander Frolov was a healthy scratch for Monday night's game in Dallas. Kings Head Coach Terry Murray said he has been very unhappy with his play this season and has had 10 meetings with him about it, and is not getting any feedback from Frolov.

I have been very critical of Frolov dating back to last season, but this season with the energetic play of nearly all other Kings' forwards, Frolov has stood out as a completely flat presence, contributing nothing defensively and very little offensively.

Granted, he does not have the offensively gifted linemates that he has had in the past, currently skating with Michael Handzus and Wayne Simmonds, but he just does not fit in on that line and seemingly, anywhere else on the team. In my estimation, he is realizing this fact and his effort is a product of that realization.

In addition to the above facts, these comments made by Kings GM Dean Lombardi in another interview with Rich Hammond after the benching of Frolov further implies that a trade is looming: "He’s either going to get on board or we’ll go in another direction with him. It’s as simple as that."

He did say that he thinks the situation is progressing, but what is he going to say? Frolov is useless and he is done with him? He has to say that he should be one of his better players because that is true and he wants to increase his value on the trade market.

Now, which teams could use help at the Wing position from a player like Frolov, that might be in a position to make such a deal? (He has played both RW and LW, right handed shot)

Among those teams, I will address three questions: can they afford him ($2.9 mil cap hit this year), do they have anyone the Kings (or I) would want that would also be a fair trade, and what is actually likelihood of the deal happening?

In my opinion, the Kings could use a gritty, energetic, physical forward who is also offensively capable, or at least not useless with the puck and likes to get into the tough area in front of the opponent's net. Of course, every team could use someone like this, but the Kings would definitely benefit from some secondary scoring as well as a guy that mixes it up.

With that, here is my Alexander Frolov trade situation speculation spectacular:

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are really struggling with their top 6 this year, especially with the loss of Joe Pavelski to a foot injury.

That said, it doesn't matter all that much when the top line of Thornton-Heatley-Setoguchi scores four goals per game.

But realistically, they can't keep up that pace all year. They could use the help of another offensive-minded winger, and I could see Frolov fitting in there.

Can they afford him?

Not unless they give up someone of similar salary.

Do they have anything to offer?

I would love to see Ryan Clowe in a Kings' uniform. He hasn't produced much yet playing on the second line, (one point in nine games) and perhaps he simply doesn't fit with his linemates.

I speculated that he might play on the top line alongside Heatley and Thornton, considering Heatley and Setoguchi are both shoot-first players, but that line is playing as well as any line in the league, and is not likely to be split up any time soon.

Clowe is exactly the type of player that I think the Kings need: he's not afraid to mix it up, goes to the dirty areas, and has a decent scoring touch, notching 22 goals last season. At a $3.625 mil cap hit, the Kings could afford him and he would clear more than enough room for Frolov.

Likelihood?

30 percent. I think Lombardi would prefer to trade him to an Eastern Conference team, and would definitely be weary of trading him within the division.

I also know that despite his slow start, the Sharks organization is pretty fond of Clowe. That said, my gut tells me that this trade would actually help both teams so I wouldn't rule it out completely.

Colorado Avalanche

Oddly enough, the Avs and the Sharks are both among the highest scoring teams in the league, but on paper, their top 6 forwards both seem a little thin.

The Avalanche, unlike the top-heavy Sharks, are getting help from everyone, including defensemen, and their goaltender Craig Anderson.

Because they are currently in contention, I could see them looking to bolster their offensive corps.

That opinion is supported by the fact that they have been included in the Forsberg return rumors. If not, Frolov could possibly be a help to them.

Can they afford him?

Absolutely: Cap space = $6.5 mil.

Do they have anything to offer?

The Avs already traded the Kings the player they wanted most in Ryan Smyth, and so far that is paying off deliciously.

I would say that Darcy Tucker or Cody Mcleod would be the closest thing to the type of player the Kings would want (except Matt Duchene but he's not going anywhere) but I am not in love with either of them and I think the Kings could get something better for Frolov.

Likelihood?

15 percent. Nothing seems to make sense here, but the fact that the teams have completed a deal in recent past cannot be overlooked.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild are among the last in the league in goals scored at 15 in seven games. They could definitely use an offensive boost and I assume they would probably take a chance with any 30+ goal scorer they could get their hands on.

Can they afford him?

Yup: $3.39 million cap space.

Do they have anything to offer?

Eh. Nothing enticing. Former King Eric Belanger is off to a good start this year, but I hate going back to the same well.

Likelihood?

15 percent. Truly I don't see anything the Kings would like in return but the Wild could really use the help.

Vancouver Canucks

Talk about needing help at winger. The Canucks have employed the use of a known agitator in Alex Burrows on their top line. Sure, he scored 31 goals last year but he was playing with the Sedin twins who put up points like there's no tomorrow.

Now, Daniel Sedin is out with a broken foot and Steve Bernier is also playing on the top line. Vancouver is actually one of the few teams I could see using Frolov on the first line.

Can they afford him?

Where they currently stand - Just barely.

Do they have anything to offer?

Depends on how badly they would want Frolov. I am a big Ryan Kesler fan but at the very least the Kings would have to send a pretty juicy draft pick in conjunction with Frolov. Doesn't make too much sense for Vancouver.

Steve Bernier could be a nice addition for the Kings third line, and with a $2 mil cap hit, makes some sense for both teams. I would not be in love with this trade, but it could work.

Likelihood?

40 percent. The Canucks need scoring help and have been known to deal players. I could see Dean being stingy with what he gets in return, however, as the Canucks only have a few intriguing pieces.

Detroit Red Wings

There were a few rumors over the summer involving Frolov to the Wings, and Detroit has been off to a rocky start. Losing Hossa, Hudler, Samuelsson, and Kopecky has been rather detrimental to the scoring in Detroit.

The new young guns are not sufficiently picking up the slack and Johan Franzen is out for an expected four months with a knee injury.

Can they afford him?

Not quite, they'd have to deal some salary.

Do they have anything to offer?

The options here are interesting. Dan Cleary is the type of guy that I think would help the Kings a lot, but he signed a five year deal last year and is probably staying put, especially after a terrific playoff performance last season.

Jason Williams and Todd Bertuzzi are new additions that I could see the Wings parting with, but the question of whether Frolov is a significant enough upgrade would be an issue. I think he is, but there would be a lot of pressure on his shoulders. I am also not in love with either player in return.

Likelihood?

20 percent. The Detroit brass does not easily panic, and there does not seem to be a great fit for either team.

Nashville Predators

Nashville could desperately use some scoring assistance, tallying a league-low 10 goals in seven games. Not going to get it done. I think they would take anything at this point.

Can they afford him?

You bet. Current Total Cap Hit = 45.36, among the league's lowest.

Do they have anything to offer?

They can't really afford to give up much which could be the problem here. I like the play of Joel Ward last year, but he has not proven as much as Frolov in the NHL and would not be enough. I like J.P. Dumont, but I doubt they would part with his services. Maybe Ryan Suter?

Likelihood?

35 percent. They, too, desperately need help, it would just be a matter of putting an attractive package together on Nashville's end good enough to entice Lombardi.

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens are always under much scrutiny in the hockey-crazed city in southern Quebec. They had an active offseason, acquiring some talented forwards including former King Michael Cammalleri.

The Canadiens have been struggling, however, and could use some help at the wing position. The fact that Frolov and Cammalleri have played together in the past could be an enticing option.

Can they afford him?

Actually, no, unless they move someone of equal or more salary. They are right against the cap.

Do they have anything to offer?

A guy like Maxim Lapierre would be intriguing, but wouldn't work financially since he's making under a million this year. Same with Guillaume Latendresse.

Travis Moen could be paired with one of them at $1.5 million and that would be a nice package, but I don't think it would make sense for Montreal to give up that much, especially considering that they need Moen to protect their tiny forwards.

Likelihood?

25 percent. I don't see anything that makes much sense for either team.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils will be playing a defensive minded game all year, under the reigns of Jacques Lemaire once again, but that doesn't mean they couldn't use some scoring assistance.

They are struggling to fill out their top 6, especially with a and Frolov could actually be a viable option.

Can they afford him?

He fits just under their cap, and I'm sure moving someone would create more than enough space.

Do they have anything to offer?

Yes. I really like David Clarkson and he is the type of guy that I think the Kings really need. I doubt they'd be willing to part with him, however. Jamie Langenbrunner would be ideal in return but that is even more of a stretch than Clarkson on New Jersey's part.

Likelihood?

20 percent. I think a deal could be arranged that would actually make sense for both teams, but GM Lou Lamoriello does not make big deals very often, and they certainly aren't panicking.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins are obviously coming off their Stanley Cup victory, and have had some cap issues causing them to not be able to afford to hold onto some players.

The main problem is that they have two franchise players in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and actually three if you count Marc-Andre Fleury.

They have, however, struggled to find players to play along side their star centers, and only recently found some help in Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin.

Still, I think Frolov would fit nicely on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Ruslan Fedotenko. Obviously, not all Russians gel together all the time, but Frolov really is great in the corners and having a guy to do that would help Malkin be able to play more in the middle of the ice where he needs to be.

Can they afford him?

Not really, so they'd have to move someone who already has a contract that would make room for Frolov.

Do they have anything to offer?

Before Jack Johnson signed, I discovered a rumor that involved trading him for Jordan Staal. I love JJ, but that rumor made me salivate. They do need to clear some salary and since Frolov is a free agent next year, this move does make some sense.

I know Pittsburgh fans would not be happy about it, but the fact is that Staal will never be more than a third line center in Pittsburgh, and he deserves a chance for more. Even though the top two lines are pretty much set in LA, I'm sure he would get a shot to at least center the second line.

He is the type of defensive-minded yet offensively capable forward that would fit in very well with Terry Murray's system and the type of personality that Dean Lombardi consistently pursues.

Likelihood

50 percent

This makes sense, but Staal is coveted in Pittsburgh and has been a terrific playoff performer. For the Kings to acquire him for Frolov, they would probably have to send at least a prospect as well. It could happen.

Wish List

This is my list of players who would be an ideal return for Frolov, in that they are the type of player that I think is the missing piece in the Kings' lineup, but are not likely to be going anywhere, yet they would not be a huge stretch in a 1-for-1 deal:

T.J. Oshie : I think this one is obviously, but if you aren't familiar with his play in St. Louis, he is basically the 'Mike Richards' type of player that fans absolutely love: he scores goals, lays people out, and skates every shift like it is his last. So much so, that there was a campagin by fans calling for "T.J. Oshie for mayor of St. Louis."

Milan Lucic : Basically, the same situation as Oshie. He is a fan favorite, and an organization favorite as well. What he lacks in offensive ability in comparison to Oshie, he more than makes up for in size and toughness.

Ryan Callahan : He is a young, high-energy player who also has a nose for the net. He is also a part of the young core in New York and is staying put.

Scott Hartnell : Dean Lombardi has been reported to have been trying to acquire him from the Flyers for about a year now. He does represent the type of player the Kings need and that any player would want on their team: big, aggressive, fast, loyal, and able to bury it.

He is actually the only player on this list that could possibly be moved, mainly do to the team's salary cap issues. I just don't think Frolov fits into the teams high speed/energy style of play.

Brooks Laich : He was an integral part in what success the Capitals have had in the post-season as well as regular season. He is seeing time on the top power play unit and is definitely one of Bruce Boudreau's favorite players. He plays a style that is high energy, likes to hit, and always seems to get the put to the net.

Ryan Malone : He has great size, great, and hands in front of the net. He seems to be fitting well on a line with Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos.

Another long one, thanks for reading if you got through it. As always, please weigh in with your thoughts.

A Plea to Versus & The NHL: Stop Insulting Hockey Fans & TV Viewers

Reed Kaufman — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:27:39 -0400

I wrote part of this article exactly a year ago—after the initial NHL broadcasts on Versus made me angry enough to do so. I never published it, hence making it an exercise in "letting off steam."

From October 2008:

Tonight, after watching the coverage of the first two hockey games of the season on Versus, I decided to pay the $160.00 on DirecTV to NOT have to watch any more games on Versus, in fact, virtually any amount would be worth it.

I'm not even going to touch on the two musical performances that have somehow been far worse than any Super Bowl Halftime show that I have been alive for.

The coverage is just awful. We are lucky to see one replay of a goal. I kept waiting for another angle of the Phil Kessel goal to see how he beat Peter Budaj, but it was never shown.

That goal was then credited to Patrice Bergeron in the lower third graphic immediately after, probably because the director cut to a shot of Bergeron after the goal.

But what really tipped me over the edge was the between period highlights—with a black tail tracking the puck! Are you kidding me? Not only is this a TERRIBLE idea, it looks as though it was created with 1980's technology.

I understand that the NHL wants to be on a national network that will give the NHL priority, but I'm sure Public Access would give the NHL priority as well, that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

Versus is terrible at hockey. I couldn't finish watching the All-Star game last year because the directing was awful. I remember that the replays would just hold on a freeze, if the director even showed the appropriate replay.

One of my favorite events of the year was ruined by sub-par TV coverage. But I was willing to give them another try this year, and that lasted approximately five hours. If you want to make it up to me Versus, send me $160.00.

From October 2009:

After watching the premieres this year from Europe, the same feelings were stirred up and I cannot remain quiet.

In the early game from Helsinki, it seems as though there was no broadcast booth in the arena, and the announcers Dave Strader and Billy Jaffe were watching the game from monitors outside of the arena. This of course, is not Versus' fault.

What is their fault, however, is the lack of communication between the control room and the broadcast booth. Several times during the broadcast, the announcers were confused as to what was being displayed over the air.

My feeling is that the technical crew hired by Versus is inexperienced. The director does not seem to know much about hockey, as the wrong replays are usually shown, as well as isolated shots of players that have no relevance to recent plays or comments by the announcers.

Also it is apparent that the replay or "EVS" operators as well as the audio mixers either don't know what they are doing or don't know how to use their respective equipment.

Toward the end of the first period, we were hearing mic checks from the sideline reporter underneath the live audio. No one could figure it out.

Replays are always caught rewinding or on a freeze, if they are the correct video clip.

The game also cut from live action a minimum of twice to a commercial or some other sort of promo.

I understand that Versus does not have the budget of a major network or even a major cable network.

But one would think after FOUR seasons of showcasing hockey, they would have figured out how to do their jobs by now.

What further fuels my fire is the dispute with Comcast and DirecTV.

According to DirecTV's website, "DirecTV was already paying Comcast [who owns Versus] more than any other non-Comcast distributor to air Versus—and now Comcast is demanding an overall rate hike of 20 percent on top of that."

Granted, NHL TV numbers are on the rise in the U.S., but 20 percent? That is absurd. If this is true, wouldn't it seem logical that they could afford to pay some technical TV professionals that know what they are doing?

Versus is denying that any rate increase is on the table, and DirecTV has been publicly bashing the network even though they make users pay for a more expensive sports tier in order to get it.

I have my own personal issues with DirecTV—they wanted to charge me to come fix their service after over 50 percent of my HD channels stopped working. I am now a happy Verizon FiOS customer.

It is clear I am not a huge fan of Versus. They even had an intermission report during the Detroit-St. Louis game shoving the "NHL economics" report featuring Rick Horrow, down our throats, as he continually praised Gary Bettman. This just stunk of a PR effort to convince people that "anyone doubting the NHL as a product is wrong."

I agree with that statement, but during this national TV provider dispute, this was the wrong tactic. I am not as harsh a critic as most people are of Gary Bettman, but this was appalling.

The NHL is to blame for the dispute lasting this long.

If they are serious about working in a partnership with Versus—they have to make every effort to get Versus to the individuals that actually are (or would be) viewers. American audiences have had enough problems locating Versus on their televisions. Now that most of them have, anyone who subscribes to DirecTV (for some it is the only option) now can't receive it at all.

My point here is simple:

Sub-par sports coverage—OR—financial disputes with cable providers are perhaps tolerable separately, as NHL fans realize that it takes a backseat to football and baseball in the U.S.

Dealing with both of these simultaneously is an insult.

Many mainstream sports supporters in the U.S. consider the NHL a joke; this is an example of why.

Five Burning Questions For The Los Angeles Kings: Version 2009

Reed Kaufman — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:37:27 -0400

1) Are the Kings a legitimate playoff team in the West this year?

Early indications sway toward optimism, as noted here. Much of this has been perpetuated by the front office's excitement to not have to say simply, "It's called rebuilding and it takes time."

Now that rebuilding is almost complete, it seems logical that playoffs are the next step.

But in a stacked Western Conference, do the youthful Los Angeles Kings really measure up?

If I may, I'd like answer this question after addressing the next four.

2) Who will play alongside Anze Kopitar on the top line this year?

The good news is that there are many legitimate options for this predicament. The bad news is that there are many legitimate options for this predicament, but in truth, this is a terrific problem to have.

Last season this was a question that really never got answered. The most productive winger playing with Kopitar and captain Dustin Brown was Patrick O'Sullivan who has since been traded. Justin Williams was acquired in that trade but was hurt for much of the year. He came on slowly at the end of the year and figures to be one of the front-runners this year for the role.

Another newcomer is in the same situation as well. Ryan Smyth was the Kings' main offseason acquisition and figures to line up on the left side.

The Kopitar-Williams-Smyth combination is an interesting blend of skillset chemistry on paper.

Kopitar is a do-it-all centerman who can skate, stick-handle, pass, shoot, and out-muscle with the best of anyone in the league.

Williams is a talented albeit injury plagued winger with good size, hands, and innate offensive ability.

Smyth the epitome of a guy who "has a nose for the net," simply because that's where he goes on every shift—straight to the crease. He is not afraid to pay the price in the dirty areas and stop at nothing to get loose pucks past opposing goaltenders. That said, he actually has decent speed, soft hands, and good vision as well.

Though with Terry Murray, nothing is set in stone and I like that. Let's not award these players the top line status until they earn it this season.

Dustin Brown was there for most of last year and figures to be in the mix for at least part of the year.

Teddy Purcell seems to be making strides and might see some 'P.T.' on the top line as well.

I think Frolov's first line days are over in L.A. and I'd be surprised if the Kings didn't trade him this year.

3) Is this the year for Jonathan Bernier to step in and take the reigns in net?

Last year, the answer was "no" strictly based on the fact that he wasn't ready. He is certainly closer to being ready this year, but not being the Kings' coach or GM I can't say for sure either way.

Regardless, there is certainly less of a need for Bernier this season.

Jonathan Quick stepped into the role of starting netminder last season and became at least reliable and occasionally above average. He is in line to provide the most consistent goaltending the Kings have had in years for at least one more season.

Erik Ersberg figures to serve as the back up.

Since the Kings have a reliable 1-2 in net, they will probably keep Bernier down in Manchester one more year to continue to develop.

4) Who will man the point on the power play?

Currently on the roster for the Kings are the following defensemen:

Andrew Campbell
Drew Doughty
Davis Drewiske
Matt Greene
Peter Harrold
Thomas Hickey
Jack Johnson
Alec Martinez
Sean O'Donnell
Joe Piskula
Rob Scuderi

See any blue-line snipers? Me neither. The trend is that the names from the above list that are capable of playing the point on the PP are all born after Ferris Bueller's Day Off came out. Johnson was born in 1987, Doughty and Hickey were both born in 1989.

At this point we aren't sure that Hickey will make the big squad but I really hope he does. If he does I could actually see him getting some time on the power play—he has great vision and hands.

There are trade rumors in the works to fill this void, but at this point it looks as though Doughty and Johnson would see most of the time on the PP blue-line—unless the Kings employ the use of a forward on the point—which I could actually see happening. Jarret Stoll would fit into this role perfectly by taking the draws and sliding back to the blue line. He has a blast of a shot and is consistently tops in the league in the circle (seventh in percentage last year).

5) Will the offseason moves pay off?

Truthfully, Lombardi didn't gamble all that much this off-season. The biggest would be sending budding young blue-liner Kyle Quincey, who notched the most points among D-men on the Kings last season, along with the useless Tom Preissing to Colorado Ryan Smyth, who comes with his own price tag of near $7 mil/year.

I'd say Smyth has to bury 30 goals and provide more than just a veteran presence, but actually be a role model and mentor to the vast pool of youth on the Kings' roster.

I, for one, think he can pull it off.

Rob Scuderi was a solid free-agent acquisition, and thus he simply has to be a solid top-four defenseman in order to prove his worth. Should not be a problem.

But more than this—t's the notion that some of the high-end wingers were not worth what they eventually received. Lombardi was reportedly in the mix on Hossa, Gaborik, and Havlat, and was simply unwilling to match what they were offered by their current respective clubs. Unfortunately, the length of all their contracts (Hossa-12 years; Havlat-six years; Gaborik-five years) makes it impossible to definitively say whether they will be worth it or not after this season; however, it may be possible to decide if they were not worth it, considering they are all injury prone and at least one (Hossa) will already be missing time early this season with an injury.

At least right now, it leaks like Dean made the right decisions.

Looking back to the first question, many thing still have to be considered. Every other team in the West, regardless of whether they missed the playoffs last year or not, will be looking to improve this season as well. On paper, many have: Chicago brought in the services of Marian Hossa, San Jose won the Heatley sweepstakes, and Calgary now boasts the twin towers of Phaneuf and Bouwmeester.

The question of playoffs has been somewhat taboo in Los Angeles- until this season. So much so that the newest ad campaign for the Kings this year is just that: playoffs. And not in the Jim Mora tone.

I think with all the new found optimism and considerable improvement in lack of holes on the team, the Los Angeles Kings will at worst be fighting for a playoff spot, and realistically should finish somewhere between fifth and ninth in the Western Conference.

NHL Free Market: Evaluating Every Team Two Weeks Into Free Agency

Reed Kaufman — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:53:53 -0400

Since July 1, every day for me has started out the same.

I wake up, I log on to NHL.com.

Then TSN.ca.

Then Sportsnet.ca.

Then Hockeybuzz.com.

This continues throughout the day whenever I get the opportunity.

In today's NHL, with salary cap constraints and perhaps the most parity the league has ever seen, the transactions in the NHL are both abundant and significant.

Of course, with the same teams in the Stanley Cup Finals in consecutive seasons, some might say this parity concept is a myth, but looking at the difference in the rest of the teams that graduated to postseason action between the two seasons supports the argument fully.

That said, let's take a look at which teams have taken the best advantage of the free agency period, and which teams are still left wanting.

Jackpot

Chicago Blackhawks

The 'Golden Goose' this year was Marian Hossa, and as Dale Tallon did last year for D-Man Brian Campbell, he made it rain on the Hos. Wow that was lame but I couldn't resist.

Chicago signed Hossa to a DiPietro-like 12-year deal worth just over $59 million. The reason for these long-term contracts is not just to keep the player in the desired uniform for a lengthy duration; it's to lower the yearly salary cap hit. Hossa's comes in at $5.233 million annually, which many would consider a bargain.

The other two highly sought after free agent wingers this season might be more flashy, but they can't touch Hossa's durability, which also helps explain the decade-plus deal length.

In his 10 year career, Hossa has played 80 games or more six times, and the other four played at least 70.

Marty Havlat, one of the two other free agents and the man Hossa is replacing, hit the 80-game mark for the first time in his seven year NHL career last season.

Marian Gaborik, Hossa's Slovakian International teammate, has also only hit the 80-game plateau once in his eight year NHL career, and last year was his worst showing yet with only 17 appearances.

The Hawks also nabbed another Red Wing in Tomas Kopecky, a grinder who has played a significant role with the trophy rich Detroit.

Chicago also took care of some in-house duties by resigning the second wave of the youth movement in Cam Barker and Kris Versteeg to three-year deals. Both of these players would have been hot commodities on the free agent market, but thankfully for the Hawks, it did not come to that.

Runner-Up

Toronto Maple Leafs

You've gotta give it to him. Brian Burke does what he says he will do.

Brian Burke has started the rebuilding process in Toronto with a fury. As he did in Anaheim, he is strengthening his team from the back out.

Burke locked up coveted defenseman free agent Mike Komisarek from the neighboring province, and then lured former Duck Francios Beauchemin.

Add young Luke Schenn and 29-year-old Jeff Finger to this equation and the Leafs are finally starting to look like they can play some defense.

Burke also stuck to his tough strategy and signed brawler Colton Orr to a four-year deal.

The Leafs somehow managed to lure the Monster, Jonas Gustavsson, from Sweden as a legitimate backup, and perhaps more as he develops, to Vesa Toskala.

It is rumored that he will try to move Tomas Kaberle for a scoring winger, and if he does, the Leafs look like they can make a legitimate run at a playoff spot, something that looked like a far cry just last season.

Made some serious noise

(In no particular order)

New York Rangers:

It should be assumed that the front office in New York learned their lesson after signing Chris Drury and Scott Gomez to a $7 million plus per season multi-year contract, followed by Wade Redden to a $6 million plus per season multi-year deal. None of these three players have lived up to their respective salaries, and I'm sure any Ranger fan has an opinion on which one is doing so the least.

The point here is that in the salary cap era, GMs need to be very concerned about frivolous spending, especially when the return is potentially disappointing.

Enter Marian Gaborik.

Gaborik probably packs the most talent of the 2009 free agent class, but that talent is supplemented by the dreaded injury bug.

As a Kings fan, I was hoping Los Angeles would offer him $7 to 8 million per year in a one- or two-year deal, but was also fearing that some naive GM would offer him more.

Enter the New York Rangers.. Shocker.

To the Rangers' credit, Gaborik claims that his injury problems are behind him, that he was being misdiagnosed in the past and he is free and clear now.

They also were supposedly in on the Heatley saga after somehow moving one of their monstrous three contract issues in Scott Gomez to Montreal. Not sure how that fell apart but credit to New York for not waiting around and making something happen.

The Rangers received Chris Higgins for Gomez, replaced Colton Orr with Donald Brashear, and signed winger Ales Kotalik to a very reasonable three-year contract.

If Gaborik does stay healthy, he could turn into the best decision they have made, outside of locking up Henrik Lundqvist, for the last decade. I'd say he would have to play about two-thirds of four out of five years and average about .5 goals per game within that time for his contract to prove worthy. Seems slightly unlikely, but maybe I'm being cynical.

If Gaborik comes through and provides the scoring Yin to Lundqvist's back-stopping Yang, watch out, Atlantic.

Anaheim Ducks:

The Ducks started off the free agency period by taking care some in-house business. They asked Scott Neidermayer to actually let them know what he wanted to do in a timely fashion this year so they could figure out their financial situation in a reasonable manner.

He opted to return, so the Ducks shipped their other defensive leg in Chris Pronger to Philadelphia, but in return received an offensive arm in former Duck Joffrey Lupul, as well as a leg, a foot, and a kneecap and a set of toes in 2008-2009 18-year-old defensive breakout Luca Sbisa and two first round picks. Holy fright. I thought the Flyers were also trying to shed salary?

They capped this deal off by signing free agent and Montreal living saint Saku Koivu to play with his Finnish pal Teemu Selanne to see what kind of 'flash' they can make together in Anaheim.

The Ducks have also recently signed free agent defenseman Nick Boyton.

The Pacific Division will again be a competitive division and the Ducks again look to be very competitive within it as well as in the rest of the NHL.

Montreal Canadiens:

I wish I had written this article yesterday because I kid you not, I'm either psychic or a genius. Here's why:

The Montreal Canadiens have made it public that they were going to shake things up this year. They started it by firing coach Guy Carbonneau in March, then by telling mainstay forwards Saku Koivu and Alex Kovalev that their services would no longer be needed.

GM Bob Gainey followed this up by acquiring center Scott Gomez from New York, without giving up too much, then by signing perhaps the fourth-rated winger of the free agency class in Mike Cammalleri and then little-engine-that-could, former Devil Brian Gionta.

All three players are very talented and can definitely bring a lot to the Canadiens. Just not a lot of size.

Gomez is listed at 5'11", Cammalleri at 5'9", and Gionta at 5'7", and we know what they say about the official listings.

These three are perhaps the smallest potential first-line forwards in the NHL with the exception of Martin St. Louis and Patrick Kane. Having them all on the same team could be slightly concerning; putting them on the same line would be suicidal.

Now to the prophetic part: I've been saying that the Habs will sign Travis Moen, as he is the most noteable free agent available that combines size with ability. OK so maybe it wasn't quite as genius as it was obvious, but thank goodness they did.

Gainey has also been busy adding on to the back-end, signing Hal Gill to help the Hab height average, as well as Jaorslav Spacek and Paul Mara.

So far the Canadiens have come through on their promise to shake things up, but the question that always remains after new blood comes to Montreal, "Can they handle the pressure?" Only time will tell.

Calgary Flames:

The Calgary Flames have actually been fairly quiet this summer, but spent most of their effort acquiring the rights to and signing the most rumored D-man of the last two seasons, Jay Bouwmeester, to a five-year deal.

The speculation is that Calgary may now try to move Dion Phaneuf who plays a very similar brand of hockey and also comes at a high price tag, but if not, this is the best overall one-two blue line punch in the NHL bar none.

Los Angeles Kings:

I've been waiting for years to be able to include the Kings in a list like this. I know, it's because the Kings have been developing from within and well at that, but it is exciting to see the ownership willing to spend some extra cash as well and bring in some outside help.

The Kings signed shut-down defenseman and shot-blocking specialist Rob Scuderi to a four-year deal.

Then, after missing out on the free agent wingers available, the Kings made a trade for Ryan Smyth from Colorado, for diamond-in-the-rough Detroit castaway Kyle Quincey, and financial (and otherwise) liability Tom Preissing, as well as a fifth round draft pick.

No one has asked him yet, but at some point there has to be a conversation between Smyth and Jack Johnson about the incident that wore out my TiVo last season.

Based on what this cost Dean Lombardi and what one of the 'higher-end' wingers would have cost, this is a pretty solid move and brings in the epitome of a 'character guy' that Lombardi has been talking about all year.

These moves give the Kings a legitimate shot to get into the playoffs for the first time in seven years.

Vancouver Canucks:

The Canucks didn't really have a chance to make a splash in the free agency market because they had to bend over backwards to re-sign the twin redheads that Vancouver fans have come to know and love.

That said, they did actually bring in perhaps the fifth most sought after winger in Mikael Samuelsson to add some legitimate scoring support to the other Swedes. I assume he'll fit in well on the top line with Daniel and Henrik and they could prove to be a formidable trio.

Add that to Captain Roberto Luongo and new backup Andrew Raycroft and the Canucks will again be a tough team to beat by anyone.

Ottawa Senators:

Man alive, the Dany Heatley Saga could easily be re-written for an episode of 'Days of Our Lives.' Heatley has put GM Bryan Murray in a tough spot and to his credit, has not backed down from his claim that he will not give Heatley up for cheap.

It would be hard to imagine that almost every team did not at least inquire as to the price of the repeated 50-goal scorer, but it is reported that only Edmonton has made an acceptable offer. Only problem is that Dany Heatley has a no trade clause and must also agree to his destination. That's where it gets ugly.

Nonetheless, Murray has gone out and signed his neighboring rival's dearly departed Alex Kovalev to a two-year deal, while the Heatley Negotiations are ongoing.

The Sens also re-signed tough guy Chris Neil.

It would be nice if Ottawa can move Heatley for them to be able to spread the wealth off of just one line, as they have three forwards making about $20 million dollars annually.

Edmonton Oilers:

Likewise, the Oliers have made the most noise this offseason just by being the only team to come up with a satisfactory (in Bryan Murray's eyes) offer for Dany Heatley. This is rumored to have included Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner, and Ladislav Smid. Pretty much a blockbuster deal.

If that were not enough, they signed former Blackhawk Nikolai Khabibulin to a significant pay decrease, but a steady job in net for four years. Khabibulin revitalized his career with a sparkling playoff performance for Chicago last year, and might have even found himself in a backup role this year had he not.

Who knows what will become of the Oilers this season, but if they do end up acquiring Heatley they could be a force to be reckoned with.

Works in Progress

Atlanta Thrashers:

It was rumored that due to the ownership issues in Atlanta, there would be little to no free agency involvement. This was not the case.

The Thrashers signed behemoth forward Nik Antropov to a four-year contract and could fit in nicely along side countryman franchise winger Ilya Kovalchuk.

Atlanta also made a move to help their struggling defensive corps by acquiring Pavel Kubina in a trade from Toronto.

Some young forwards showed signs of life last season in Atlanta and if Kari Lehtonen can stay healthy for once, the Thrashers can be competitive next season.

Colorado Avalanche:

The Avs addressed perhaps their biggest issue this offseason by signing goaltender Craig Anderson in what could be a bargain of a contract.

Anderson battled with veteran Tomas Vokoun for the starting job in Florida last season and at times actually edged him out for the job. He should be able to handle the duties as a starter in Colorado.

Colorado also signed enforcer David Koci after losing the services of Ian Laperriere to the Flyers.

Don't forget about moving Ryan Smyth to the Kings, which will hurt on the offensive front but at 23, Kyle Quincey is a responsible puck-moving defenseman that will be a mainstay on the Colorado blue line for years to come.

With Joe Sakic announcing his retirement, however, this could be a long season for Avalanche fans.

Columbus Blue Jackets:

After the franchise's first playoff birth, I doubt they would want to mix it up too much.

Following so many years of bottom feeding, the high draft picks have paid off in spades, with Columbus boasting young gems Steve Mason, who in his rookie year was nominated for the Vezina, and Derrick Brassard, who unfortunately missed most of the year with a shoulder injury.

This offseason, the Blue Jackets added shut-down forward Sami Pahlsson, as well as a veteran backup for Mason in Mathieu Garon.

Coach Ken Hitchcock has his work cut out for him to see playoff life again with so many other Western teams improving as well, but this team definitely has potential.

Minnesota Wild:

Some might argue that the Wild did make some serious noise by signing Martin Havlat to a six-year deal, but he has some big (albeit rickety) skates to fill replacing Marian Gaborik.

The Wild haven't done much outside of that and after not making the playoffs last year, one would assume they'd be looking for more help.

Tampa Bay Lightning:

Last summer, Tampa made the biggest splash in the free agency market, and were somewhat quieter this year, but made some nice moves to fit with the rest of their group.

The Lightning's biggest acquisition was that of Mattias Ohlund to their shaky defensive corps. Not only does Ohlund provide a big immediate boost to their blue line, he also serves as a mentor for future defensive juggernaut Victor Hedman who is also Swedish.

The Lightning also signed an apparent backup to Mike Smith in Antero Nittymaki, another able-bodied defenseman in Lukas Krajicek, and a checker with offensive upside in Stephane Vellieux.

This is one team that seems to have so many pieces, but are struggling to make them all fit. If Tocchet can, this should be a playoff team.

Washington Capitals:

The Capitals actually have been fairly quiet, and for good reason. They have one of the best young core groups of any NHL team, and they are all still under contract through next season.

They have, however, acquired some outside help, by adding gritty veteran Mike Knuble, as well as Brendan Morrison.

If the performance of Simeon Varlamov in the 2009 playoffs was no fluke, I'd say the Capitals are just a top-tier shut-down defenseman away from a serious Stanley Cup run.

No Need to Panic

Boston Bruins:

The Bruins aren't too worried about searching for outside help, and for good reason. Despite a disappointing playoff defeat at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston did finish with the most points in the East in the regular season.

They have signed Dany Sabourin to a one-year deal, though I'm not sure where he will fit in, and brought in Steve Begin on another one-year contract.

They have enough to worry about with Phil Kessel as a restricted free agent, and the fact that he's still around leads me to believe that they are trying to work out a deal. If they can, there's no reason to assume they can't at least repeat last year's performance.

Carolina Hurricanes:

It looks as though the Hurricanes are going with the idea 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Though they came up short in the conference finals vs. Pittsburgh, the Canes did take down the Boston Bruins juggernaut in a nail biting seven game series.

Most of the team is still young and should be improving.

The Canes were able to re-sign playoff performer Jussi Jokinen as well as Eric Cole and Chad LaRose.

Florida Panthers:

It is a shame the Panthers keep acquiring superstar caliber players that they have to get rid of. First there was Roberto Luongo. Then there was Olli Jokinen. Now it’s Jay Bouwmeester.

The important thing to remember is that the success of a hockey team depends on team play more than perhaps any other sport, and one player can definitely not do it on his own. Thus, it is necessary for a team to grow as one.

This fits in with the current philosophy in Florida. The Panthers did receive the likes of Jordan Leopold from Calgary and brought in Scott Clemmensen, perhaps in another tandem situation with Tomas Vokoun.

They also smartly re-signed David Booth, who will likely be a cornerstone of that franchise for many years, as well as Radek Dvorak.

They might be a couple years away from some playoff success, but better hockey in Miami is certainly on its way.

New Jersey Devils:

The Devils were the surprise winner of the Atlantic Division in 2008-2009, but came up short in the playoffs against none other than the Carolina Hurricanes.

Nonetheless, they have a great young core of players and strictly took care of in-house business this offseason by re-signing Andy Greene and Johnny Oduya.

I'm surprised they let Clemmensen go but I'm sure Marty has a few stellar years left in the tank.

Pittsburgh Penguins:

There's no more obvious team that this statement applies to than the Stanley Cup Champions.

Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury are all locked up for many years and they are working on the rest. Management was able to bring back Bill Guerin and Ruslan Fedotenko for another year and newcomer Jay McKee, who unfortunately will probably not be able to replace the departed Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill, but it's a start.

San Jose Sharks:

I know, Sharks fans may disagree, but the fact remains that the Sharks took home the President's Trophy. It is understandable that at this point San Jose locals are tired of regular season success when it is followed by postseason disappointment.

There have been rumors that the Sharks might entertain a big trade involving one of their two big-name centermen, but this has yet to happen. I'd say it's 50/50 at best; I could see it happening, as both of them have been continually outplayed by their opponents in the postseason, and both would still command a lot of value in return.

Either way, the Sharks have smartly re-signed elite utility man Ryan Clowe, who can eye-to-eye with the toughest of NHLers as well as put away 30 goals.

They are also bringing back Rob Blake for what could and should be his final NHL season.

St. Louis Blues:

I know that the Blues didn't necessarily accomplish a lot last year, but some might say they did.

Without three of the highest paid individuals on their roster for most, if not all, of last season, the Blues were able to make a late season push and slip into the very competitive Western Conference Playoffs. This was a feat in itself.

With all of these players returning and a great young group ready to improve even further, the Blues definitely have no reason to panic.

They have, for some reason, brought in two potential backups for Chris Mason in Ty Conklin and the returning Hannu Toivonen. They have also re-signed veteran Keith Tkachuk to another year.

Say It Ain't So

Buffalo Sabres:

The Sabres had a decent '08-'09 campaign, missing a playoff spot by just two points.

They were perhaps one of the most up and down teams of the year, playing well in spurts, looking like they can either beat or lose to anyone.

Buffalo does boast a solid crop of youngsters, but the pieces haven’t quite come together yet.

I can only assume that fans were hoping for some kind of offseason acquisition, but they haven’t seen a significant signing yet. The Sabres have picked up Steve Montador to a two-year contract, but that is nothing to write home about.

Dallas Stars:

The Stars had their most disappointing season of recent memory in 2008-2009, which was mainly due to the injuries of Sergei Zubov and Brendan Morrow.

Zubov’s future is still up in the air, and a stench still looms from the front office from the Sean Avery deal.

Perhaps that and the hefty Brad Richards contract are the main reasons that the Dallas Stars haven’t made any significant offseason moves.

Detroit Red Wings:

First Hossa, then Kopecky, now Jiri Hudler has signed with a team in Russia (though this action has been contested). The Red Wings forwards are dropping like flies. Is this the end of the Dynasty?

Take notice that the front office is not panicking.

Detroit still has a full roster of some very well paid (and deservedly so) players. It is no secret that the Red Wings scouts are considered by many to be the best in the league.

With the emergence of players like Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader, and Jonathon Ericsson, it’s no wonder they aren’t panicking.

Still, it is out of character to not see the Wings make a free agent splash, and I could understand if fans are sad, but they should not be too worried.

Nashville Predators:

Nashville re-signed the re-emergent Steve Sullivan and Joel Ward, who reminds me of Ryan Clowe light.

I can never tell if the Predators are rebuilding or if they are a playoff team. Somehow they seem to be able to take a rag-tag group of nobodies to the playoffs under the leadership of Jason Arnott.

New York Islanders:

Excluding the fact that the Islanders made one of the biggest additions to their team of any this summer by drafting John Tavares, they haven’t done much to improve upon their last place finish except for signing 40 year-old goaltender Dwayne Roloson. What role he takes on will be determined both by his play and the health of Rick DiPietro.

It was hoped that GM Garth Snow would try to bring in some veteran talent to help play with and help mentor Tavares, but it looks like for now, that role will be Doug Weight’s.

The Isles have plenty of cap room and I’m sure fans are hoping that another acquisition will be made before training camp starts.

Philadelphia Flyers:

Most teams are in this section of this article because they haven’t been very active. Perhaps the Flyers jumped the gun a little.

I do like the signings of Brian Boucher, a very reliable back up with the potential upside to even become a solid starter; and Ian Laperriere, a guy that teammates always love for his tenacity and willingness to drop the gloves.

Ray Emery – not so sure. Why is reliable goal-tending so tough for Philadelphia to find?

The Flyers made one of the biggest acquisitions of the summer in trading for Chris Pronger and locking him up until he reaches the defensively prime age of 41. But at what cost?

In return, Anaheim received former Duck Joffrey Lupul, who provided some much needed secondary/tertiary scoring for Philadelphia; 18 year-old defensive standout Luca Sbisa, who may one day be just as reliable defensively as Pronger, if not as offensively talented, and TWO, count them, two first round picks. Essentially it was four first rounders for one.

It should be noted that the Flyers are very close to the salary cap, so perhaps this move was made to shed cap spa—this move cost them $1 million more per year? Holy fright.

Well the only possible explanation is that the Flyers are determined to make a run for the Cup here and now. If they are able to hang on to everyone else, they certainly have the makings for it. It is speculated that they may have to trade one of they’re top six, unfortunately. You can bet it won’t be Richards or Carter, but rumors have it that Briere, Hartnell, or Gagne may be on his way out.

Thus, Pronger might eventually cost Philly five first round picks. Hope he’s worth it.

Phoenix Coyotes:

It’s obvious that the Coyotes couldn’t make too much noise this offseason on the player transaction front, considering they have enough to worry about regarding where the team’s future lies, both financially and geographically.

They made a few moves, signing solid D-man Adrian Aucoin, and re-signing Petr Prucha, notably. Former Predator Vernon Fiddler is also a nice acquisition.

And I love the signing of Jason LaBarbera—as a Kings fan; Coyotes fans have to cringe at that thought.

The immediate future looks fairly bleak for the ‘Yotes, as they really need to get their legal situation figured out quickly. Shane Doan has never expressed any interest in hearing offers from other teams until recently, so you know there’s some turmoil in the desert.

All in all it has been an exciting summer thus far. August is just around the corner and that means training camp is as well. Preseason will begin before we know it. At least, these are things I tell myself every night to help me get to sleep.

Somehow these always end up longer than I originally envision. As always I thank anyone who got through it and look forward to hearing your opinions.

Pittsburgh Penguins-Washington Capitals: My Thoughts on Game Seven

Reed Kaufman — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:34:08 -0400

I know this is very belated, but I wrote it the night of the loss and thought I published it, but apparently I did not.

The Capitals vs. Penguins series was a dream come true for the NHL, hockey fans, and the sports world alike. The series did not disappoint, lasting six exciting contests, and one mercy-killing.

Watching the game seven Capitals 6-2 loss to the Penguins was like watching a puppy get stabbed to death. The more they struggled, the more harm they did to themselves. I don’t even know this puppy personally, but who doesn’t love puppies.

Simeon Varlamov was not to blame for that loss.

The Capitals play a risky style game that is very entertaining to watch, because it provides more opportunities to score—both for them and their opponents. This fact was never more evident than in Wednesday’s game.

Asking a 21-year-old rookie goalie with the AHL affiliate logo still donning half his mask to backstop that type of game against another offense with gifted forwards was boldly ambitious. All things considered, Varlamov was outstanding during these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Nicklas Backstrom is turning into a superstar right before our eyes.

If Alexander Semin and Mike Green both don’t have significant injuries, they have some serious explaining to do.

Green’s responsibility in the defensive zone was questionable at best. It has to be tough for him to be criticized for not putting points on the board, as I’m sure he started to feel the pressure to produce in the offensive zone—either way, this cannot detract from his primary responsibilities as a defenseman, especially with a rookie goaltender.

Either way, Semin still has some work to do to be considered a complete player. I think I counted at least four times he missed the net high from the wing during the game. Instead of giving his teammates a chance at a rebound, he was going for glory and missing, providing the other team with an odd man rush. Brutal.

Marc-Andre Fleury is an elite goaltender in the NHL.

Bill Guerin is finally the winger the Pens needed alongside Crosby. I can’t believe it took them this long to find him.

The Penguins don’t win another game without Sergei Gonchar.

What will become of Jose Theodore?

Kudos to the Capitals fans for both getting on their team, as well as saluting them at the end of the game. Classy. I didn’t even see any debris on the ice afterwards. You wouldn’t be able to say that about most cities after a 6-2 game-seven loss.

My Trip to Boston: Game One Vs Carolina—A Californian's Experience

Reed Kaufman — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:05:06 -0400

Once again, the Los Angeles Kings were unable to make the playoffs. This was not entirely unexpected.

Though I must admit, in February of this year, I thought they could do it. I was wrong.

As the saying goes, there's always next year.

Still, I was salivating for this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs with or without my favorite team. Playoff hockey is something that cannot truly be explained in words. (Let's forget that this creates quite a paradox for me here).

The Anaheim Ducks have been playoff participants for a few years now, and that is certainly an understatement for the team that won The Cup two years ago.

I have had the fortune of attending some of their postseason contests, but this year that felt unsatisfying.

So, I decided to head East where more of the masses are hockey fans and thus, I might find a different atmosphere.

We chose Boston because they have a great team that is enjoyable to watch, and because the Bruins swept their first round opponent so that we could plan the trip somewhat in advance.

Upon entering the TD Banknorth Garden, it became evident that this is a hockey haven; a true Original Six holy land.

The walls are alive with the purest excitement for hockey that I have ever experienced. The chants of "Let's go Bruins!" echoes through the halls every step of the way.

This electricity only increased throughout the course of the game. The crowd not only reacts to the game, but participates in it—they feed off the energy of the team, the game, and the arena itself.

The team also, so clearly feeds off the crowd. I have never seen a more accurate manifestation of the term "Home Court Advantage" in my short life.

I have also never stood in line as long for the bathroom, which is a testament to the fact that no one wanted to leave their seat during the game.

This was also true at the end of the game as very few patrons were eager to "beat the crowd." Everyone there IS the crowd, together, in unison.

If anyone reading this ever has the opportunity to attend a game at the TD Banknorth, don't hesitate.

Oh, and beware the bear.

NHL 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs: First Round Preview

Reed Kaufman — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:19:33 -0400

I was 12 years old. The date was some Friday in late June. I was staring at the clock inside a classroom, watching the seconds tick off. Finally- 3:00. I grabbed my backpack and ran outside to smell the sweet air of freedom.

These are the feelings I can best liken to my recent anticipation of the 2009 NHL Playoffs on their first day.

Tonight the first round match-ups commence, and I couldn't be more excited. My subscription to NHL Center Ice will pay off dividends, not that it hasn't already.

I'm going to try a new take on briefly breaking down the first round matchups:

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Boston Bruins vs. No. 8 Montreal Canadiens

Why this series is interesting:

Anyone who follows East Coast hockey knows about the historic Montreal-Boston rivalry. Up until this year, it has been a landslide to the Canadian residing team. This year has been quite the opposite.

Not only is this year's season series opposite from last year, the situation for either team heading into the postseason is as well.

Last year, the Canadiens were enjoying a No. 1 seed and facing their familiar foes in the first round at No. 8. This year, it's the Bruins with home ice advantage and the Canadiens just sneaking into postseason action.

The Bruins haven't beat the Canadiens in the last three playoff series that they've faced them, with the last series win dating back to 1994. This furthers the myth of the 'ghosts' from the old Montreal Forum living on as a curse to their rival Boston Bruins.

Though the cards seem stacked against the Canadiens this year, the common conception is that somehow, some way, they will again be a factor.

X-Factors:

Boston: Milan Lucic

In their last heated match-up of the regular season, Lucic was in everyone faces and mixing it up with the grittiest of the Habs. Though he is best known for his physical presence, his scoring touch can't be denied either, providing 17 goals in 72 games.

Despite the talented skill players donning the 'B' this season, Lucic is the hometown favorite, and will feed off of the crowd's energy in the Garden, as well as the boo's when they are on the road.

Montreal: Carey Price

I have taken flak on this site for essentially not praising Price as the second coming of Patrick Roy. Yes, he was great at the end of last season and has had success at the World Juniors. Aside from that, he hasn't proven anything.

Last year as the rookie netminder for the heavily favored Habs, he in fact proved that he was not the re-incarnation of Roy, at least not yet. He has a lot to prove in this series, and has to be phenomenal for the Canadiens to have any chance at the upset.

My gut feeling:

The Bruins will come out firing on all cylinders, but may see some adversity during the middle games, as the 'ghosts' rear their heads. But they will regain their composure and Tim Thomas will lead them into the second round.

No. 2 Washington Capitals vs. No. 7 New York Rangers

Why this series is interesting:

The main thing for this series is Alexander Ovechkin's second chance at playoff glory.

The Caps have refueled and reloaded since last year, and now boast the deepest roster of explosive scoring threats the league has to offer.

Nicklas Backstrom has blossomed into one of the leagues premier set-up guys, and Mike Green is the unchallenged blue-line red-light threat. Couple that with the best Alex-es from the former Soviet Union and this team can light the lamp with a fury.

The Rangers have been a roller coaster of a team this year, and have been so desperate for success they even resigned Sean Avery.

They also acquired Nik Antropov and Derrek Morris before the trade deadline, and these additions have been of the more successful from this years trades.

X-Factors:

Washington: Alexander Semin

Everyone knows that Ovechkin is the most prolific goal scorer in the game. The Rangers will take every measure to keep him off the score sheet. Semin will have to prove that the phrase "the 2 Alex-es" is justified by providing a heavy dose of the scoring.

New York: Nikolai Zherdev

Zherdev has the best goal scoring ability of any Ranger in his prime. Naslund was great in his day, and Dubinsky may one day be an elite player. But at 25, Zherdev should be primed to break out. He needs to prove why they took a chance on him this season.

My gut feeling:

The Rangers cannot match the Capitals' firepower. Lundqvist will probably steal a game, maybe even two, but his forwards are simply out-classed. This year we'll get to see at least two rounds of Ovechkin in the playoffs.

No. 3 New Jersey Devils vs. No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes

Why this series is interesting:

We have seen a drastic changing of the guard every year since the lockout; after winning the Cup in 2006, the Hurricanes failed to make the playoffs in '07. The parity in the NHL is unrivaled in any other major sport.

The Hurricanes haven't looked strong since their run to the cup in '06. Heading into the playoffs in 2009, some would say they've never looked stronger. They are one of the hottest teams in the NHL prior to postseason action, and for that reason, many have picked them as one of the few first round upsets.

Enter career win record holding Martin Brodeur. Brodeur missed half of the season with a torn bicep tendon. Upon his return, questions surrounded his ability to bounce back; they were immediately squashed. He posted a shutout in his first game back.

This is important because the Devils didn't miss a beat during the regular season without the Hall of Fame bound netminder, and finished in third in the Eastern Conference. They also finally have consistent goal scoring in Zach Parise, Patrick Elias, and Jaime Langenbrunner.

X-Factors:

New Jersey: Brendan Shanahan

The Devils got Shanahan on the cheap mid-season, hoping he would boost their scoring. Turns out that they wouldn't really even need him, but that doesn't mean he can't help.

If he can help bring some tertiary scoring, as well as that veteran presence in front of Brodeur, we could have wished we were talking more about the Shanahan Sweepstakes more than the Sundin Sweepstakes.

Carolina: Sergei Samsonov

Samsonov has been up and down throughout his career, with the highest of peaks and lowest of valleys. He has world class skill, yet has fallen completely off of the map twice now. This might be Sergei's last chance to prove his NHL worth.

My gut feeling:

With the way their offense has been firing all year, including the resurgence of both Elias and Langenbrunner, and the way Brodeur has been proven he is in top form, combined with the fact that he won't have played 80 games this year, the Devils are the most legitimate non No. 1 or No. 2 seed in either conference.

Even though many people are talking up Carolina's latest hot streak, New Jersey should win this series no problem.

No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers

Why this series is interesting:

In regard to this series, the above question is somewhat insulting to the avid hockey fan. I'll try my best not to be condescending in my response.

The Penguins boast two of the top three scorers in the NHL this season in Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. They are also, not coincidentally, two of the most exciting players in the game.

The Penguins came up just short last year, losing to the Detroit Red Wings. The Stanley Cup hangover affected them more adversely than the victors, and at one point this season, it looked doubtful that the Pens may even seen any postseason action.

This led to the firing of Michel Therrien, and since instituting Dan Bylsma at the helm, the Pens haven't looked back, charging all the way to the No. 4 spot in the East.

The Flyers also have some of the most exciting young talent in the league.

Mike Richards is highly regarded as the second coming of Philly favorite Bobby Clarke. His talent and grit are only surpassed by his heart, and he first made a name for himself in last year's playoffs, taking his team further than anyone would have expected. More on this destination later.

Jeff Carter finished second in the NHL in goals with 46. He and Richards both played with Sidney Crosby on the Gold Medal winning Team Canada at the 2005 World Juniors.

Oh, and these two teams met each other in last year's Easter Conference Finals and it was a doozy.

X-Factors:

Pittsburgh: Midseason winger acquisitions: Bill Guerin & Chris Kunitz

The Penguins have been looking everywhere for wingers that can score along side the two most dominant centers in the game. They did not find them in Satan, Fedotenko, Sykora, or Pascal Dupuis; so when they again tried with Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz I was again skeptical.

But they have proved me wrong and been at least as successful as they are worth, so far. Their post-season influence will ultimately determine the success of their respective trades for Pittsburgh, and perhaps even the team's fate this season.

Philadelphia: Martin Biron

Truly, the goaltender could be considered the X-Factor for every team. Just look at Hasek in last year's playoffs, pulled after his second game in favor of Chris Osgood, who would lead Detroit to their fourth Stanley Cup since 1997.

That been said, Biron has struggled mightily this year, so much so that Nittymaki even took over as the starter for significant portions of the season. Biron ultimately won the job back, and would end up getting a chance to rematch the team that took he and the Flyers out of the playoffs last year.

Biron can be great, and can also be very soft. Which Marty Biron we see this postseason will drastically affect how deep Philadelphia can go in this year's playoffs.

My gut feeling:

I've really liked Philadelphia all year, and I think they can pull this one out, but it's probably going to be a seven-games series, and I think whoever ends up victorious is going to be too beat up to do much damage in the East. The top three are to strong.

Western Conference

No. 1 San Jose Sharks vs. No. 8 Anaheim Ducks

Why this series is interesting:

This is perhaps the best West Coast rivalry. Both of these teams have been among the best in the NHL in the post lockout years. They play exciting hockey and have A+ talent at all positions.

The Ducks are two years removed from the first ever California Stanley Cup. Scott Neidermayer and Teemu Selanne, as opposed to last year, have been playing all season and hope to have the team ready for more playoff glory this year.

The Sharks have been many experts' favorites for two or three years now, and boast the President's Trophy for best record in the NHL this season. The Sharks have one of the strongest sets of top six forwards with all-world playmaker Joe Thornton, followed by Patrick Marleau, Devin Setoguchi, Joe Pavelski, Ryan Clowe, and Milan Michalek.

With Dan Boyle on the point and Evgeni Nabokov in net, it's no wonder they finished with the best record in the NHL.

Add to these facts the battle royal that erupted at the end of the last game these teams played one another and you've got perhaps the most exciting Western Conference series on paper.

X-Factors:

San Jose: Ryan Clowe

Ryan Clowe is truly one of the best young power forwards in the NHL. His physical presence will be a great asset against the rough and tumble Ducks, and his ability to find the back of the net is an added bonus.

There's not too much that could be considered a variable on this team- they are pretty consistent through and through and will be a tough opponent for any team.

Anaheim: Bobby Ryan

He's the only Duck besides Jonas Hiller whose playoff ability is unknown. He exploded onto the scene this year as a genuine Calder candidate and has a nose for the net likened to only a few. He may even have an Art Ross Trophy in his future.

My gut feeling:

Many are saying that this should be a very tight series, and it very well could. But I've been following one of the Sharks' statistic all season that is downright scary: Shots for and against ratio. San Jose has the lowest shots against per game and the third highest shots for.

Their ratio is only surpassed by the Red Wings, and I'm fairly certain this only happened in the last month of the season.

I think the Sharks will walk away from this series victorious, beaten up, but prepared for anything in the road ahead.

No. 2 Detroit Red Wings vs. No. 7 Columbus Blue Jackets

Why this series is interesting:

The Red Wings are the reigning champs. In today's NHL, it would be quite a feat for them to repeat, even though they gained way more than they lost in the offseason, landing the free-agent golden ticket in Marian Hossa.

At the complete other end of the spectrum, this is Columbus's first trip to the postseason in franchise history. Breakout rookie netminder and likely Calder recipient Steve Mason has been nothing less than solid and sporadically spectacular. Add that to active acquisitions that complete the puzzle, this team could actually make some waves in the playoffs.

X-Factors:

Detroit: Chris Osgood

Osgood's performance in last year's playoffs was legendary, mainly because his role was the backup when the postseason began. When his name was called he stepped in with no questions asked, and took the team straight to the Cup, virtually uncontested.

He is perhaps the only Wing to have a Stanley Cup hangover and has been back and forth with Ty Conklin as the go to guy between the pipes in Motor City.

If Hasek's leash last year was any indicator, Osgood better come out flawless against the Blue Jackets. Otherwise, we could see a similar story with a different goalie in Detroit again.

Columbus: R.J. Umberger

Umberger was one of the most surprising playoff performers last year in Philadelphia, posting 10 goals in 17 playoff games after scoring only 13 in the regular season. If he can turn it on again this year, he might be able to spark the team to follow his lead.

My gut feeling:

Before the matchups were determined, I considered the Blue Jackets to be one of the teams capable of pulling off an upset. Seeing that they are slated against the Red Wings certainly deters this sentiment, but I still don't count them out.

The Blue Jackets are finally not the only professional sports franchise to never make the postseason. The monkey is off the back. Anything that happens now is a bonus, and their pressure is literally nothing compared to the that on the shoulders of the Red Wings.

If they can come out guns blazing, not caring what happens tomorrow, they can surprise the defending champs with intensity, speed, and maybe even stellar goaltending.

If they give the Wings too much respect early on and play on their heels, they're done in four.

No. 3 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 6 St. Louis Blues

Why this series is interesting:

What a story this is for the Blues. The first news from the offseason was the worst possible news they could hear. Blue chip defenseman Erik Johnson tore his ACL in a tragic golf-cart incident at a team function. The injury would sideline him for the season.

They would then lose the services of Paul Kariya for most of the season, and starting netminder Manny Legace injured himself tripping on the carpet rolled out for Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

I'm not making any of this up.

What's even harder to believe is that this team steam-rolled their way into the sixth spot in the West, blowing by playoff familiars Nashville, Minnesota, Colorado, and Dallas.

They, just as the Blue Jackets, are in bonus time, and can only make their fans happy at this point.

Unfortunately for them, they are now up against arguably the best goaltender in the world, certainly in the Western Conference, in Roberto Luongo. Where Lundqvist can steal a game or two, Luongo can steal a series or two.

X-Factors:

Vancouver: Alex Burrows

Burrows has been the added scoring this season that Vancouver has desperately needed for some time now.

His role has mainly been that of an agitator, so this is somewhat of a surprise. He is definitely known as one of the hot-heads in the NHL, so his new role has been an incredible turn around.

Which Alex Burrows shows up in the postseason could have a drastic impact on the success of the Canucks.

St. Louis: T.J. Oshie

Oshie is my favorite NHL performer in the month of March. He has been nothing short of sensational in the Blues' push to the playoffs. He is also my new young sleeper to make the U.S. Olympic squad in 2010.

He is the do-it-all Lucic-type player that fans fall in love with, and for good reason.

If Oshie becomes both a physical and a scoring presence against the Canucks, the Blues could see second round action.

My gut feeling:

The Blues don't have enough to beat Luongo. Simple as that.

No. 4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 5 Calgary Flames

Why this series is interesting:

The resurgence in Chi-town is a metaphor for the resurgence of the NHL. Patrick Kane and Jonathon Toews embody the youth movement that hockey fans everywhere are attracted to. Kane is a puck-handling and play-making genius; Toews is a born leader and can be relied on to do anything.

The Flames landed the biggest name at the trade deadline this year in Olli Jokinen, and he seemed to immediately gel and create one of the best top lines in the NHL along side Jarome Iginla and Mike Cammalleri.

But Calgary sat in the third seed for much of this season, and should be disappointed with their finish. The attitude they carry into the postseason will determine how far they can go.

X-Factors:

Chicago: Nikolai Khabibulin

Even with a Cup under his belt, has been doubted since before the start of the season, which is evident with the acquisition of Cristobal Huet. Khabibulin eventually won his job back, but like Osgood will probably be on a short leash.

If he can rekindle the performance that led the charge for the shocking Cup Champion Lightning in 2004, the Hawks have serious Cup potential.

Calgary: Olli Jokinen

The aforementioned Jokinen has been traded twice in the last year, as he has been desperately searching for playoff action.

He's gotten his wish, and now has to prove that the he was worth the trouble. He has the ability to spark the explosive offensive potential in Calgary, and take them deep into the postseason.

My gut feeling:

This is the series I have had the toughest time predicting anything but the length: it's gonna go seven games. The winner is going to be pretty beat up, and will almost assuredly have to face either the Sharks of the Wings. It's going to be a brutal road, but victory is sweetest to he who overcomes the most adversity.

That ended up being far longer than I thought it would be. My kudos and thanks to anyone who got through it all.

As always, please weigh in with your opinions.

NHL Awards: Who Will Take Home the Hardware in 2009?

Reed Kaufman — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:33:56 -0400

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like anyone I know will be going to the NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas now that news of the ticket prices have come out. Let’s take a look at who, in my opinion, are the likely candidates for the various trophies awarded to NHL players at the end of the season:

Hart Memorial Trophy

The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in all NHL cities at the end of the regular season.

I don’t envision a scenario in which any player other than these three would be the finalists for the MVP award. No players have been as integral to the successes of their respective teams, and all three teams are poised for deep playoff runs against one another:

Evgeni Malkin (33G, 72A, 105P, +19)

Alexander Ovechkin (50G, 44A, 94P, +10)

Zach Parise (41G, 47A, 88P, +30)

Of course, I made this same argument against Sidney Crosby in 2007 when he had the support of Malkin and Fleury's great seasons, while Luongo marched into playoff action with the Canucks squarely on his back. Then again, it takes a lot for a goaltender to win this award.

Malkin and Parise have both been truly amazing. But barring a huge shocker, Ovechkin will take this trophy home for the second year in a row. He has been in the middle of it all for his team and the NHL this season, and is really starting to separate himself from the pack in terms of superstardom.

Vezina Trophy

The Vezina Trophy is an annual award given to the goalkeeper judged to be the best at this position as voted by the general managers of all NHL clubs.

This is one of those awards which, depending on what part of the season is in question, the list for candidates could be 10 names long. However, award consideration is based on the entire season. For that reason, the following players can thank Martin Brodeur for tearing a bicep tendon and giving them the opportunity to win this award:

Steve Mason (30W, 2.23 GAA, .919 SV%)

Evgeni Nabokov (37W, 2.39 GAA, .912 SV%)

Tim Thomas (31W, 2.11 GAA, .931 SV%)

Niklas Backstrom was the first half favorite for this award, but his play of late has slipped, as has that of the entire Wild team. Mason edges him out in the second half of the season with his incredible play helping give the Blue Jackets their first taste of playoff action in franchise history.

I think Evgeni Nabokov deserves consideration, as there is no questsion he is a huge part of the Sharks’ success. They actually have struggled late in the season to score, but no one has noticed because Nabby has stepped up when his team needed him to, and stolen no less than a handful of games between the pipes.

Unfortunately for the first two, none of that matters. Tim Thomas has put up staggeringly impressive numbers for the breakthrough juggernaut Bruins in their '08-'09 campaign. He will take home this award.

James Norris Memorial Trophy

The James Norris Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season.

Even though the description clearly says, “greatest all-round ability,” it is historically evident that the finalists are always among the highest point producers at the position. With that in mind, here are my predictions for this years Norris Trophy finalists:

Mike Green (28G, 36A, 64P, +23)

Nicklas Lidstrom (13G, 37A, 50P, +29)

Mark Streit (15G, 38A, 53P, +8)

This is the toughest category this year. It will be a crime that Rafalski and Boyle don’t get nominated, but they may not, considering Boyle’s late season slump and Rafalski is still playing in Lidstrom’s shadow.

Though he had a down year, I just think that Lidstrom is still synonymous with Norris Trophy. He is among the leaders in both points and plus/minus, but not the leader as in years past.

What Mark Streit has done as a member of the last-place Islanders is so remarkable, he may just get a Norris nod for it, and deservedly so. As a team, they are an NHL worst minus-46. The fact that he is on the positive side and probably gets all the power play time is one of the most impressive feats by any player at any position this year.

Mike Green will take home this award. The fact that a defenseman in today’s era can set any kind of scoring record after the proliferation of Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey is astounding, and Mike Green broke the consecutive game goal-scoring record by a defenseman this year with eight. Chalk it up!

Calder Memorial Trophy

The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season.

This is another award in which the favorites have been varying all year. When the season comes to a close, the consensus on the finalists should be as follows:

Steve Mason (30W, 2.23 GAA, .919 SV%)

Pekka Rinne (24W, 2.26 GAA. .922 SV%)

Kris Versteeg (20G, 29A, 49P, +15)

I really thought my boy Drew Doughty had a shot at this, but with the Kings out of the playoff picture and the contributions by the aforementioned rookies, he will miss the boat. Not to worry, he may one day need the room on his mantle for Norris Trophies.

Versteeg has been the only consistent rookie forward, as Stamkos, the preseason favorite to take home the Calder, has been up and down all year.

Bobby Ryan came on strong late, and will only barely be edged by Versteeg.

Don’t forget about Derrick Brassard, who looked to have this locked up before he went down for the season with his shoulder injury.

But the freshmen that ran away with Calder consideration are both netminders. Both have been instrumental in their teams’ push to the playoffs, and they both might even see postseason action in their freshman campaigns.

Since Columbus is more of lock for the playoffs, and because he has been the clear-cut starter for longer, Mason will take home this award.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player judged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season.

This award is notoriously uninteresting, but perhaps necessary in promoting sportsmanship in a sport that is increasingly known for violence. Here are the favorites:

Brian Campbell (7G, 39A, +0, 20 PIM)

Pavel Datsyuk (30G, 59A, +33, 20 PIM)

Patrick Marleau (37G, 33A, +30, 18 PIM)

It took Brian Campbell 22 games to earn his first minor penalty. That is incredible in today’s NHL when all it takes sometimes to get a hooking call is a sneeze.

Through 72 games Marleau has only nine minor penalties received, and no majors.

But this award will most likely go to Datsyuk for the fourth year in a row.

Frank J. Selke Trophy

The Frank J. Selke Trophy is an annual award given to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season.

This one is kind of a toss-up every year; plus/minus is definitely taken into account strongly, as well has how often the player is relied on by his team in a defensive role.

Pavel Datsyuk (30G, 59A, +33)

Jaime Langenbrunner (25G, 38A, +27)

Mike Richards (28G, 46A, +22)

All of these players have been fantastic on the offensive side of the puck this year, but I am hoping that the three of them will be recognized for their defensive efforts by getting the nod for the Selke Trophy as well.

Datsyuk is the favorite as last year’s winner, but I love the way both Richards (leads the league in short-handed points) and Langenbrunner play on both ends of the ice. It is no coincidence that they are both the captains of their respective teams.

Jack Adams Award

The Jack Adams Award is an annual award presented by the National Hockey League Broadcasters' Association to the NHL coach judged to have contributed the most to his team's success. The winner is selected in a poll among members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association at the end of the regular season.

Throughout the season, there have been three teams a cut above the rest of the competition. It’s highly likely that the coaches of these teams will be the three finalists for this award:

Mike Babcock (Detroit's Record: 73GP, 48W 16L 9OTL = 105P)

Claude Julien (Boston's Record: 73GP, 46W 17L 10OTL = 102P)

Todd McLellan (San Jose's Record: 72GP, 48W 10L 10OTL = 106P)

I think whoever's team ends up with the President’s Trophy (team with the most points in the NHL in the Regular Season) will probably take home this award. Each of these teams has appeared to be far and away the best at different points in the season, and I don’t think a huge distinction can be made between the coaches.

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is an annual award under the trusteeship of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and is given to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The winner is selected in a poll of all chapters of the PHWA at the end of the regular season.

The first name that came to mind was Phil Kessel, since he is having such a great season and has battled cancer, but he already won this award for that reason in 2007. I can’t really come up with a viable candidate, which is certainly not to say that there is not anyone deserving. Perhaps Claude Lemieux can come back strong from his current injury?

Lester B. Pearson Award

The Lester B. Pearson Award is presented annually to the "most outstanding player" in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players' Association.

Again, I don’t see how Ovechkin wouldn’t get this award, unless maybe more players than we thought took exception to his 50th goal celebration, they could campaign for Malkin.

Presidents' Trophy

The annual award to the club finishing the regular season with the best overall record.

Among the current top five teams in points, San Jose has the most (106) and most games to play (10). Barring a meltdown, they should take home this award for the first time in franchise history.

Art Ross Trophy

The Art Ross Trophy is an annual award given to the player who leads the League in scoring points at the end of the regular season.

With 105, 10 points more than his teammate Crosby, Evgeni Malkin is running away with this award.

Maurice Richard Trophy

The Maurice Richard Trophy is an annual award given to the National Hockey League’s top goal scorer by the NHL Board of Governors.

Speaking of running away, Ovechkin has this one locked up, and it will be his second of many.

William M. Jennings Trophy

The William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual award given to the goalkeeper(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it.

With only nine games to play, Boston leads the NHL with only 171 goals against. Manny Fernandez needs just one more start to qualify them as a duo. Interestingly he won this with Niklas Backstrom while in Minnesota in 2007, and Backstrom is currently third with Minnesota giving up 180 goals against this season.

Evgeni Nabokov is in second, as San Jose has given up just 176.

Conn Smythe Trophy

The Conn Smythe Trophy is an annual award given to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs. The winner is selected by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the conclusion of the final game in the Stanley Cup finals.

In my opinion, this is the most coveted of these awards among NHL players. It usually signifies that you won the Stanley Cup and if not, you certainly weren’t the reason that your team didn’t.

It is hard to say who will step up in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, mostly because it's somewhat of a crapshoot which teams will make it to the finals.

Certainly whoever wins the Hart Trophy would be the favorite to continue their success, but no one has won both trophies since The Great One in 1985.

Here are my top three likely to receive the award:

1) Marian Hossa

The cliché that has been overused so much this year is as annoying as it is accurate, “The road to Lord Stanley runs through Detroit.”

There was no clear choice for the Conn Smythe last year, as Datsyuk had a great playoffs along with Franzen, and of course Osgood was also stellar. This is by design. Detroit is a very well balanced team; no one is supposed to stand out.

But if they are to repeat again this year, it will be because Hossa pushes them to it. He was so phenomenal last year for the Penguins that his hunger to win a cup was palpable.

2) Marc Savard

I think Marc Savard is the most underrated player in the NHL, and I can’t wait to see what he’ll do in this year’s playoffs. He has finally blossomed into a superstar now that he is on a team that has caught the national spotlight.

I’ve said in an article I wrote earlier this year that if the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup, Marc Savard will take home the Conn Smythe. I stand by that statement.

3) Zach Parise

No Devil has eclipsed 100 points in the regular season. Parise is currently 12 points away with nine games to play. It’s doable.

He has been electrifying this year in New Jersey, and is a huge reason why the Devils remain one of the top teams in the league despite being without the winningest goaltender of all-time for most of the season. His hunger to score is second only to Ovechkin, and his plus-30 is tied for sixth in the NHL, so he is defensively responsible as well.

I wish I could have made it to the Award Show this year, and maybe I'll go hang out in Vegas and try to sneak in. Crazier things have happened.

As always, please weigh in with your opinions.

Let's Speculate Again: Predictions For the 2010 USA Olympic Ice Hockey Team

Reed Kaufman — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:19:12 -0500

This is a follow-up to my initial list predicting who will suit up for the U.S. in Vancouver next February.

Brian Burke, Team U.S.A.’s GM, has recently made comments eluding to what types of players he has in mind to be the next to wear the red, white, and blue.

"I predict that we will be the smallest and youngest team in the tournament," said Burke.

As an American hockey fan, this is terrific news.

Don’t get me wrong; I have a great deal of gratitude to the effort that the U.S. players of the past have put in.

That been said, there is an evolution in the NHL, due in large part to the rule changes made in the new CBA, of young, skilled, speedy players becoming more prominent.

As it should, it appears that international competition will follow suit.

Burke also followed up with, “If we're small in the top six, we're going to have to probably fill out the bottom six with some beef."

With this new information in mind, here is take-two in attempting to predict the 2010 U.S. Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team.

Forwards:

Line 1: Paul Stastny, Zach Parise, Patrick Kane

Line 2: Scott Gomez, Bobby Ryan, Phil Kessel

Line 3: Brandon Dubinsky, Dustin Brown, Blake Wheeler

Line 4: Joe Pavelski, David Booth, David Backes

Burke will have many to consider for what will end up being the top twelve. Below are the top 25 who I predict will be considered:

(Player / Position / Height / Weight / Age in 2010 / Current NHL Team / Hometown)

David Backes RW 6'2" 216, 25 (STL, Minneapolis, MN)
Good hands and even better size and grit. Will make the cut as a prototypical Brian Burke player, barely edging out veteran Mike Knuble.

David Booth LW 6'1" 212, 25 (FLA, Detroit, MI)
Once again, size mixes with finesse. An emerging talent, he should be blossomed enough to make this squad, barely edging out Brian Gionta who is immensely talented.

Dustin Brown RW 6'0" 205, 25 (LA, Itacha, NY)
Brown is one of those players who can play on the top scoring line, or the energy/checking line for almost NHL club, and the same is true for this international squad of the best U.S. born players. I expect Burke and the coach to try utilize his hitting talents more than anything. His scoring touch will be a bonus.

Dustin Byfuglien RW 6'3" 246, 24 (Minneapolis, MN)
Byfuglien Could easily make the cut if Burke wants to really beef up the bottom six. He can skate with the speedy youth in Chicago and could definitely fit in somewhere on this team, but does not quite have the scoring touch that some of the other youngsters do.

Tim Connolly C 6'0" 191, 28 (BUF, Syracuse, NY)
Has been plagued with injuries in his short NHL career, which is probably the only thing stopping him from making a bigger name for himself. This position is tough, I could definitely see him replacing Dubinsky but I think Brandon is a better energy player, and Connolly would not be able to crack the top six.

Brandon Dubinsky C 6'1" 210, 23 (NYR, Anchorage, AK)
Started the season this year looking like he would easily get to 30 goals. Has a quick wrister, can skate like the wind and will drop the gloves, the type of guy Burke loves. His lack of production in the second half of the season is a potential red flag and could easily be replaced by Umberger.

Chris Drury C 5'10" 200, 33 (NYR, Trumbull, CT)
One of the many veterans that may not be returning, Drury is not producing according to what he is being paid in New York, and that his hurting his reputation. However, he is known for being a clutch player, and this fact may get him a spot, but I don't think he can skate with the young guys or throw his weight around well enough.

Brian Gionta RW 5'7" 175, 31 (NJD, Rochester, NY)
My favorite NHL player under 5'10", Gionta has amazing hands and no fear- he will body up anyone, and his foes are surprised how much of a punch he can pack. I honestly hope he makes the cut, but I don't see him skating on either of the top two lines, and Burke is not known for putting smaller guys on the checking line.

Scott Gomez C 5'11" 200, 30 (NYR, Anchorage, AK)
According to the list I have, he could be the choice to captain this squad. He can still skate with the young guys or anyone, for that matter, and still has some of the best vision of anyone in the game. Could certainly be centering the top line, but I think Stastny will be representing the new blood there.

Patrick Kane RW 5'10" 170, 21 (CHI, Buffalo, NY)
Even with the emergence of Parise as perhaps the 2008-09 Hart runner-up, Kane is the face of American hockey. He will see plenty of time on the top line and power-play, and should rack up some points along side Parise.

Ryan Kesler C 6'2" 205, 25 (VAN, Livonia, MI)
One of the other centers that I am on the fence about, but I think Pavelski is producing slightly better. Burke could determine that that is a factor of Joe having more talent surrounding him in San Jose, and Kesler could do some damage with wingers that can skate with him and include him as a fourth line winger.

Phil Kessel RW 6'0" 192, 22 (BOS, Madison, WI)
When I go to Vancouver next February, I'm going to purchase a Team USA jersey. I'm debating between Parise and Phil Kessel. You can be sure there will be a story on Kessel's battle with cancer that airs during the Olympics coverage. Regardless, he is one of the most dangerous goal scorers in the NHL and should be lining up as a second line winger.

Mike Knuble RW 6'3" 230, 37 (PHI, Toronto, ON [Dual Citizen])
I wouldn't be shocked to see him make the cut or be cut. Still brings the finishing touch in Philly, has the size and hands that, as I've said, Burke likes. It's either him or Backes, and David simply wins the age competition.

Ryan Malone LW 6'4" 224, 30 (TB, Pittsburgh, PA)
Another guy who fits into the Burke system. I just don't know who he fits with, but he's another one that Burke could pick out to bring a physical presence on the third or fourth line, and still have scoring ability.

Mike Modano C 6'3" 205, 39 (DAL, Livonia, MI)
Could make it on leadership qualities alone, and if so, will don the 'C'. He has also been one of Dallas's best players this year in their suprising rise from the basement of the competitive Western Conference, and now holding onto a playoff spot. Even though I'm an advocate of going with the youth in 2010, I wouldn't mind seeing Modano representing the country again.

Peter Mueller RW 6'2" 205, 21 (PHO, Bloomington, MN)
Had to really turn it on this year to get more of a consideration, but let's not forget about this young talent. Probably won't see Olympic action until 2014.

Patrick O'Sullivan LW 5'11" 190, 24 (LA, Winston-Salem, NC)
He is slowly becoming what the Kings have hoped for. He has been juggled around all four lines in Los Angeles this year, and really fits in anywhere. I don't think he is quite big enough for Burke to play in the bottom six, and not where he needs to be yet to make the top six.

Kyle Okposo RW 6'1" 203, 21 (NYI, St. Paul, MN)
See Peter Mueller. Either of them could really impress at the camp and maybe make the cut over Wheeler.

Zach Parise LW 5'11" 190, 25 (NJD, Minneapolis, MN).
The only thing that will stop him from skating on the top line in Vancouver would be an injury. He is shocking the hockey world by actually sparking talk of Hart consideration amidst the tear Ovechkin is on.

Joe Pavelski C 5'11" 195, 25 (SJ, Plover, WI)
Pavelski is leading the secondary scoring threat that San Jose is using to punish teams with relentless assaults. This do-it-all player should be able to fit in wherever Burke and to-be-named head coach want to put him, and for that he should make the cut, but could be edged by Connolly or Kesler.

Brian Rolston LW 6'2" 214, 36 (NJD, Flint, MI)
Even though he has size supplementing scoring ability, I just don't see where he fits in on this team. At thirty-six, I think he will miss the unofficial age cut off.

Bobby Ryan RW 6'2" 218, 22 (ANA, Cherry Hill, NJ)
Becoming a legitimate scoring threat in the NHL at the ripe old age of 21, he has the type of speed, creativity, and shooting ability that will not go overlooked, and should earn him a spot on the second scoring line for Team U.S.A.

Paul Stastny C 6'0" 205, 24 (COL, Quebec, PQ [Dual Citizen])
Stastny is comfortably taking over for Joe Sakic in Colorado, who was voted as the 2006 games' most valuable player for Team Canada. He will have to battle Gomez for first line center honors, but should emerge victorious.

R.J. Umberger C 6'2" 215, 27 (CLB, Pittsburgh, PA)
His 2008 playoff performance puts him on the map as one of the few NHL players who can be counted on in pressure situations, and for that gets strongly considered for this squad. Could replace Dubinsky on the third line; whoever wants it more camp between these two will take the spot.

Blake Wheeler RW 6'5" 214, 23 (BOS, Robbinsdale, MN)
Rarely does his kind of size come with such skating or scoring ability, and that will be hard for Burke to overlook. I see him fitting in somewhere in the bottom six and contributing more than his fair share of goals.

Defense:

Line 1: Brian Rafalski, Erik Johnson

Line 2: Ryan Whitney, Jack Johnson

Line 3: John-Michael Liles, Mike Komisarek

This will again be full of tough decisions. I predict these 14 players to be among the considerations for the final 6:

Matt Carle 6'0" 205, 25 (PHI, Anchorage, AK)
Carle is a solid puck mover with great instincts. He is not known for being a tough guy, and could lose points because of it. He could definitely crack the reserve list, but probably won't make the starting squad.

Joe Corvo 6'0" 204, 32 (CAR, Oak Park, IL)
Corvo has a boomer of a shot and could provide a veteran presence, but I predict Burke will want the D-men to skate right along with the forwards, and Corvo could be left behind. Wouldn't be surprised to see him replace Erik if his knee is not yet 100%.

Alex Goligoski 6'0" 187, 24 (PIT, Grand Rapids, MN)
A nice young talent, was looking good early on in the season but has since been re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. Might be someone to watch for 2014.

Matt Green 6'3" 233, 26 (LA, Grand Ledge, MI)
A solid stay at home guy, Green is right there with Komisarek for hard-hitting, defensive minded game play. Might get barely edged out by Komisarek but should be considered right along side him.

Erik Johnson 6'4" 219, 21 (STL, Bloomington, MN)
Really? A golf cart? Unfortunately for Erik, his torn ACL while stepping out of a golf cart injury will stay with him forever. He was starting to mature at a young age for a defensemen, and the 08-09 campaign was supposed to be promising. I would be very surprised if he did not make the final cut for Team U.S.A. in 2010.

Jack Johnson 6'1" 212, 23 (LA, Indianapolis, IN)
Jack is solid in every area defensively, and since his return from a shoulder injury has actually been the Kings' best shootout specialist as well. Another young guy whom I'd be shocked not to see donning the red, white, and blue.

Mike Komisarek 6'5" 240, 28 (MON, West Islip, NY)
Komisarek will be the main physical presence for the U.S. if he makes the cut. He is responsible with the puck, but will not be creating too much offensively. Could be replaced by Corvo if Burke and crew want all D-men to be able to skate with the puck fluently.

Paul Mara 6'4" 219, 30 (NYR, Ridgewood, NJ)
Another defensively responsible guy, probably gets edged by Komisarek in this regard for his sheer strength and intimidation factor.

John-Michael Liles 5'10" 185, 29 (COL, Indianapolis, IN)
A mainstay on the Colorado blue-line, Liles is also one of the best skaters in the NHL on the back end. His numbers have dipped of late, but his skating and puck moving ability should earn him a roster spot for next February.

Brooks Orpik 6'2" 219, 29 (PIT, San Francisco, CA)
Orpik is another guy with Matt Greene that should be considered with Komisarek for that physical presence in the U.S.'s own end zone. He showed up every night in the playoffs last year ready and willing to punish any and all opponents.

Brian Rafalski 5'10" 200, 36 (DET, Dearborn, MI)
Rafalski will headline the U.S.'s blue line in Vancouver. He has surpassed Lidstrom for the title of Detroit's point leading D-man and trails only Paul Coffey re-incarnate Mike Green for the lead among Defensemen in the NHL at this point. He can still skate with anyone and is always sound defensively.

Matthieu Schneider 5'10" 185, 40 (ATL, New York, NY)
Schneider has recently re-emerged as an offensive force after being traded to Montreal. He will be looked at seriously to bring a veteran presence to Vancouver, but I think Rafalski will bring all that is needed so that a young pair of legs can replace Schneider.

Ryan Suter 6'1" 196, 25 (NAS, Madison, WI)
Suter is the guy who I am most on the fence about making the cut. He puts up decent numbers, has OK size, and is responsible defensively. I just don't see him replacing any of the guys I have making it ahead of him.

Ryan Whitney 6-4 219, 26 (PIT, Boston, MA)
Whitney has taken a lot of flak lately, but he is still one of the best young puck moving defensemen in the NHL, and provides a sizable frame that can blast it from the outside. These are qualities that cannot and will not be overlooked by Burke.

Goaltenders:

Rick DiPietro 6'1" 210, 28 (NYI, Winthrop, MA)

Ryan Miller 6'2" 175, 29 (BUF, East Lansing, MI)

Tim Thomas 5'11" 201, 35 (BOS, Flint, MI)

No change here, but there are potential problems:

DiPietro smartly got shut down for the year, so let's hope this most fragile of netminders can get back into playing shape and stay healthy.

Miller just went down with a high ankle sprain. Those are brutal and can linger.

Thomas is no spring chicken, and despite having a sensational year, let in a brutal half-ice OT goal by Alexander Semin the other day, though it did take a funny hop.

If anything happens to the big three, these guys could be ready to step in:

Craig Anderson 6'2" 180, 28 (FLA, Park Ridge, IL)

Brian Boucher 6'2" 200, 33 (SJS, Woonsocket, RI)

Scott Clemmensen 6'3" 205, 32 (NJ, Des Moines, IA)

Ty Conklin 6'0" 184, 33 (DET, Anchorage, AK)

Brent Johnson 6'3" 186, 32 (WAS, Farmington, MI)

Jon Quick 6'1" 206, 24 (LA, Milford, CT)

They have all made a strong impression at the NHL level, but it would require one of the top three to be unavailable for them to make the cut. First off the list would probably be the Winter Classic lucky charm, Ty Conklin.

In closing, I hate to have to make amendments to my initial predictions, but I was under the naive impression that Team USA would again try to hold on to the previous generation of players in the next olympics. I am glad to report that this is not the case, and I am even more excited by this list.

As always, please weigh in with your opinions.

They Botched the All-Star Starters, But the NHL Got the Reserves Right, Mostly

Reed Kaufman — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:52:52 -0500

Since the commencement of fan voting for the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal, there has been non-stop debate about the system in place for fan voting to determine the starting six for each Conference.

And there should be.

Many have speculated that the starters for the "Match des Etoiles" are a result of automated voting systems created by die-hard fans to ensure that the representatives from their team would be lining up for the opening draw this Saturday.

I personally think that because the NHL is determined to have a representative from each team, they shouldn't allow fans to be able to text in and vote for all the nominees from their favorite team with one text message. I don't know for sure if that led to this problem, but it could not have helped.

The starters aside, I'd like to spark discussion about the reserves.

Even though the distribution is spread out amongst all teams, the talent representation is pretty solid.

Based on numbers alone, the only questionable admissions are:

Milan Hedjuk
Keith Tkachuk
Mike Modano
Dustin Brown
Eric Staal

And last but certainly not least,

Stephane Robidas

The main omissions are, of course:

Phil Kessel
Mike Richards
Patrick Elias
Mikko Koivu
Daniel Sedin
Marian Hossa
Mike Green
Dennis Wideman
Brian Rafalski
Chris Pronger

Again, the reason that these individuals were left off was due to having every team represented, and I'm OK with that.

As a Kings fan, I am moderately more interested in the game having Dustin Brown involved.

As an NHL fan, I am disappointed that Phil Kessel, one of the best stories in the NHL this year, won't be given the opportunity to shine.

But moreover, as a man with common sense, I'm angered that a near point-per-game defensemen in Mike Green isn't on the roster.

Petty arguments aside, I do have a piece of constructive criticism for the NHL.

The NHL last year unveiled its answer to the NBA Slam Dunk Competition: The NHL Fan Fav Breakaway Challenge. Last year, I'm fairly certain they didn't explain to anyone what it was about- an opportunity to show of your most fancily creative moves before taking a shot on net. Only Alexander Ovechkin showcased the type of creativity everyone was hoping for, and the NHL is even using it to promote this year's event.

This year, they are doing it right. Either they have informed the players what is to be expected, or the players have simply taken the hand-off from Ovechkin and figured it out for themselves.

Either way, the NHL is pushing it pretty hard.

This is exactly the type of youth-movement directed marketing the NHL is succeeding in.

My only problem with all of this is that they failed to include they only player that I have seen actually pull of something of this magnitude regularly in actual shootout action that decides which team gets the extra point.

Mike Ribiero.

It pains me to write this because one of these that he scored on was against the Kings, in a game which I was in attendance, and the taunted the crowd afterwards. I despise the guy.

Still, he belongs in this event as much, if not more-so, than any of the other competitors.

Need more evidence? Click here.

The only question is how to get him in this thing.

I can't make any logical argument other than the fact that he has eight more points than Mike Modano to say that he deserves to be in the game more than him. Modano is truly one of the legends of a game, and a real class act, which clearly Ribiero is not.

But when the opportunity came to slide in a Western replacement for Pavel Datsyuk, they looked to Patrick Marleau.

Again, I cannot condemn this selection over Ribiero.

But since there are, for some odd reason, only five shooters in this breakaway competition, the NHL should have taken this opportunity to add Ribiero to the roster and have him jump into this event.

Instead, they let Stephane Robidas replace Nicklas Lidstrom (are these Red Wings upset that the Ducks overtook their starting spots or what?) instead of Brian Rafalski who is third among all defensemen in points, or even Chris Pronger.

Does the selection have anything to do with the fact that Robidas is a Quebec native?

The bottom line is that the NHL rightfully is trying to improve their All-Star weekend. It is a showcase of their magnificent athletes, and regularly disappoints from what it could be. Last year's event especially. I pray that relay race is now a thing of the past.

Either way, I look forward to this weekend's events, and will certainly withhold judgement until I see what happens, though I am dreading watching only my third full game of this season on Versus. Ugh. I'll save that for another article.

Five Predictions for the 2009 Portion of the 08-09 NHL Season

Reed Kaufman — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:54:13 -0500

These are bold, but I will try to make arguments for all. Feel free to tell me I'm loony.

5) The Los Angeles Kings will make the playoffs.

As I wrote before the start of this season, this statement sounds like pure lunacy.

However, the Kings have continually surprised me with intelligent decision-making this year. Most recently, shipping former starter Jason LaBarbera to Vancouver for essentially a bundle of left-handed Jr. sticks (A seventh Round Pick).

Whatever. Let's remove the doubt that he might play again. While this seems like it should not be cited as a significant notation in competent decision-making, we are no more than a year removed from having Dan Cloutier actually starting games between the pipes.

Now, the Kings are going with who is hot, and for the first time in a handful of years have a respectable goaltending tandem in Erik Ersberg and Jonathon Quick.

Combining solid goaltending with shut-down defense and some nice young talent at forward, the Kings will knock Phoenix out of a playoff spot and slide in at seven or eight.

4) The Northwest Division will exchange leaders five more times this year.

This division is pure insanity, as I would not seriously count any of them out of the playoff race, and wouldn't bet a nickel on who would win.

The Flames looked shaky out of the gate and now have what should be considered a commanding lead for this division, at a margin of three points.

Vancouver has had its ups and downs, and if anyone had been asked prior to the start of this year how they'd fare without Roberto Luongo for any long stretch, the only likely response would be a hearty chuckle. The fact that they are currently sitting fifth in the West is astoundingly impressive.

Colorado has spent time in the basement this year and now sits in the eighth and final playoff spot, despite losing Joe Sakic to an unfortunate snow-blower incident and Paul Stastny with a broken arm. If they can get Stastny back and some consistent goaltending from Peter Budaj, they have a shot.

Minnesota just lost the services of Marian Gaborik essentially for the remainder of the regular season due to hip surgery. Shocker, but they have played well in his absence, and I feel that Nicklas Backstrom deserves to start opposite Henrik Lundqvist in Montreal.

Many experts picked Edmonton to finish atop this division in pre-season, but the Oilers currently sit at the bottom. They have as much young talent as anyone, as well as skilled puck-moving defensemen, the second hardest shot in the league courtesy of Sheldon Souray, and a competent goaltending trio of all things. They could go on a streak and slide into mid to late April play as well.

3) Marc Savard will surpass Evgeni Malkin in assists and finish with over 100 points.

Fact: Marc Savard is the most underrated player in the NHL.

And when did Evgeni Malkin decide to become a playmaker? Who does he think he is? He can knock on 50 goals one year and then notch 60 assists the following year before the All-Star break?

Malkin, Crosby, and Ovechkin get a ton of press, and rightfully so. They put butts in the seats and almost always provide entertaining hockey games.

As true as that statement is, believe me when I tell you, you need to watch Marc Savard.

If the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup this year, Marc Savard will take home the Conn Smythe.

2) The Philadelphia Flyers will win the Atlantic.

With four very legitimate cup contending teams, the Atlantic Division is the best division in the NHL. I've said for a while that it was the Pacific, with three very strong contenders, but this year, though the Sharks are better and the Kings and Coyotes are improving, the Stars and the Ducks are not what they used to be.

For that reason, it may be nearly impossible to determine who will come out of this division on top, and I will be shocked if all but the Islanders don't make the playoffs.

After a rocky start, the Flyers are only a game behind the division-leading Rangers with two games in hand. They have been getting inconsistent goaltending and defense, but continue to be driven by three explosive scoring lines. However, recently, this number has been dwindled down to two lines due to injuries.

The goaltending should even out, and the defense has looked better with every game. 18-year-old rookie Luca Sbisa has been fantastic. Braydon Coburn does it all in their own end, and I estimate that he will start putting up better numbers on the other end of the ice in the second half of the season.

But the real story in Philly is the play of the team's forwards. Jeff Carter is on pace to score 59 goals. Mike Richards is on pace to put up 85 points. Carter will score 50, and I will be very disappointed if Richards does not surpass 90 points.

The return of Briere and Gagne, as well as some internal competition for the starting netminder spot, will propel Philly, and the Flyers will earn the honors from the Atlantic, probably good enough for a No. 2 seed into the playoffs.

1) The Sharks will not make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Why not? Not because of anything they are doing wrong. I wrote an article entitled What teams are for Real? and touted them as the best team in the NHL, and they are definitely still among the top three.

My prediction is that the Western Conference representative will come out of the Central Division, and being the only two teams from this division that will see post-season action, it will be either the Red Wings or the Blackhawks, who will have to figure out how to solve the Detroit riddle if they want to see any playoff glory.

I don't know what it is, but San Jose just gets the short end of the luck stick in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I think the monkey still resides on the Sharks' backs for another season. Next year, they will start off struggling, but finish strong in 2010 en route to the franchise's first Stanley Cup.

Potential 2010 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team: Let's Speculate

Reed Kaufman — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:36:03 -0500

I just compiled a list of predictions for the U.S. team in 2010, which was a far easier task. The following list is going to be incorrect by a landslide, but it sure would be fun to see this group on the ice together in any format:

Forwards:

(Player / Position / Height / Weight / Age in 2010 / Current NHL Team / Hometown)

Sidney Crosby C 5'11" / 200 / 22 (PIT, Cole Harbour, NS)

Shane Doan RW 6'2" / 216 / 33 (PHO, Halkirk, AB)

Simon Gagne LW 6'0" / 195 / 29 (PHI, Ste-Foy, PQ)

Ryan Getzlaf C 6'4" / 221 / 24 (ANA, Regina, SK)

Dany Heatley LW 6'3" / 200 / 29 (OTT, Freiburg, West Germany [Dual Citizen])

Jarome Iginla RW 6'1" / 205 / 32 (CAL, Edmonton, AB)

Vincent Lecavalier C 6'4" / 219 / 29 (TB, Ile-Bizard, PQ)

Rick Nash LW 6'4" / 218 / 25 (CBJ, Brampton, ON)

Mike Richards C 5'11" / 195 / 24 (PHI, Kenora, ON)

Joe Sakic C 5'11" / 195 / 40 (COL, Burnaby, BC)

Marc Savard C 5'10" / 196 / 32 (BOS, Ottawa, ON)

Jason Spezza C 6'3" / 214 / 26 (OTT, Mississauga, ON)

Eric Staal C 6'4" / 205 / 25 (CAR, Thunder Bay, ON)

Joe Thornton C 6'4" / 235 / 30 (SJ, London, ON)

Reserves:

Jeff Carter C 6'5" / 200 / 25 (PHI, London, ON)

Jonathon Toews C 6'2" / 203 / 21 (CHI, Winnipeg, MB)

Defencemen:

Rob Blake 6'4" / 225 / 40 (SJ, Simcoe, ON)

Dan Boyle 5'11" / 190 / 33 (SJ, Ottawa, ON)

Brian Campbell 6'0" / 191 / 30 (CHI, Strathroy, ON)

Mike Green 6'1" / 200 / 24 (WAS, Calgary, AB)

Scott Niedermayer 6'1" / 198 / 36 (ANA, Edmonton, AB)

Dion Phaneuf 6'3" / 215 / 24 (CAL, Edmonton, AB)

Chris Pronger 6'6" / 213 / 35 (ANA, Dryden, ON)

Reserves:

Jay Bouwmeester 6'4" / 212 / 26 (FLA, Edmonton, AB)

Shea Weber 6'3" / 213 / 24 (NAS, Sicamous, BC)

Goaltenders:

Martin Brodeur 6'2" / 215 / 37 (NJ, Montreal, PQ)

Roberto Luongo 6'3" / 205 / 30 (VAN, Montreal, PQ)

Marty Turco 5'11" / 189 / 34 (DAL, Sault Ste. Marie, ON)

Reserves:

Jean-Sebastian Giguere 6'1" / 201 / 32 (ANA, Montreal, PQ)

Marc-Andre Fleury 6'2" / 180 / 25 (PIT, Sorel, PQ)

Notes:

Obviously this is too many, but I honestly don't know who to take off.

And if Jeff Carter only scores 10 more goals all year, he still finishes with 36 this year. If he reaches 50, which is certainly possible considering we aren't even at the half-way point, I don't see how you keep him off this roster.

Regardless of his numbers, I don't think you could find anyone who wouldn't want Toews on the team either.

The only forwards I wouldn't be absolutely shocked not to see on the roster would be Gagne and Staal.

Blake and Niedermayer are certainly question marks due to their age, but I think that if they want to play, they will not be turned away. Same with Joe Sakic.

The goaltending trio is identical from 2006, and why wouldn't it be. The only controversy is whether or not they will let Luongo take over as the starter. Thank Christ I don't have to make that decision.

Possible Line Combinations:

Heatley-Thornton-Iginla

Lecavalier-Crosby-Getzlaf

Nash-Sakic-Gagne

Richards-Savard-Staal

Pronger-Green

Niedermayer-Campbell

Boyle-Phaneuf

Um, are you kidding me? The only problem with all of this is that anything less than a Gold is a complete and utter disappointment. In fact, if they don't dominate like the U.S. Basketball team in China, it's a let down. This squad is ridiculous.

Speaking of the U.S. hoops team, some might say of this squad that there are no role players, much like the group put together on the hard-court for the U.S in 2008. But players that are good enough and know the game can do anything they are asked.

Dwayne Wade did everything you could think of last year, from taking charges, diving for loose balls, and rebounding like crazy, and I think that any of these talented skaters could do the same—on the ice that is.

Just for fun:

The "Who would shoot the puck?" line:

Savard-Thornton-Sakic

Ok obviously these guys can score, but they are probably also three of the best playmakers to ever take the ice.

The "Who would pass the puck?" line:

Nash-Heatley-Carter

Again, obviously they can pass, but when you can shoot like these three, why would you? Though this is completely a joke, I still guarantee you'd never see the three of them together.

The "Will probably get too fancy for his own good" line:

Nash-Lecavalier-Getzlaf

OK they probably won't at the Olympics, but I hope they do.

And finally:

The "Dear God, I'm not going out there" line:

Iginla-Getzlaf-Richards -backed up by- Phaneuf-Pronger (or Weber)

All of these guys have a mean side that I don't personally want to be introduced to first hand. Though Richards isn't big in stature, he is as gritty as they come. And if he is on the ice with these other guys, you'd let him do what he wants too.

Let's Speculate: Potential 2010 USA Olympic Hockey Team

Reed Kaufman — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:09:20 -0500

Since we are at the forefront of international competition with the World Juniors, I've been inspired to look forward to Vancouver in 2010. So, without further delay, the following is my prediction for the 2010 USA Olympic Hockey Roster:

Forwards:

(Player / Position / Height / Weight / Age in 2010 / Current NHL Team / Hometown)

Dustin Brown RW 6-0 205, 25 (LAK, Itacha, NY)

Chris Drury C 5-10 200, 33 (NYR, Trumbull, CT)

Brian Gionta RW 5-7 175, 31 (NJD, Rochester, NY)

Scott Gomez C 5-11 200, 30 (NYR, Anchorage, AK)

Bill Guerin RW 6-2 220, 39 (NYI, Wilbraham, MA)

Patrick Kane RW, 5-10 170, 21 (CHI, Buffalo, NY)

Mike Knuble RW 6-3 230, 37 (PHI, Toronto, ON [Dual Citizen])

Mike Modano C, 6-3 205 39 (DAL, Livonia, MI)

Zach Parise LW 5-11 190, 25 (NJD, Minneapolis, MN).

Brian Rolston LW 6-2 214, 36 (NJD, Flint, MI)

Paul Stastny C 6-0 205, 24 (COL, Quebec, PQ [Dual Citizen])

Keith Tkachuk LW 6-2 232, 37 (STL, Medford, MA)

Doug Weight C 5-11 196, 39 (NYI, Detroit, MI)

Reserves:

Phil Kessel RW 6-0 192, 22 (BOS, Madison, WI)

Jeremy Roenick C 6-1 205, 40 (SJS, Boston, MA)

Defensemen:

Joe Corvo 6-0 204, 32 (CAR, Oak Park, IL)

Erik Johnson 6-4 219, 21 (STL, Bloomington, MN)

Jack Johnson 6-1 212, 23 (LAK, Indianapolis, IN)

John-Michael Liles 5-10 185, 29 (COL, Indiannapolis, IN)

Brian Rafalski 5-10 200, 36 (DET, Dearborn, MI)

Matthieu Schneider 5-10, 185, 40 (ATL, New York, NY)

Ryan Whitney 6-4 219, 26 (PIT, Boston, MA)

Reserves:

Matt Carle 6-0 205, 25 (PHI, Anchorage, AK)

Alex Goligoski 6-0 187, 24 (PIT, Grand Rapids, MN)

Goalies:

Rick DiPietro 6-1 210, 28 (NYI, Winthrop, MA)

Ryan Miller 6-2, 175, 29 (BUF, East Lansing, MI)

Tim Thomas 5-11, 201, 35 (BOS, Flint, MI)

Reserves:

Criag Anderson 6-2 180, 28 (FLA, Park Ridge, IL)

Brian Boucher 6-2 200, 33 (SJS, Woonsocket, RI)

Notes:

The most talented scorer on this roster is Phil Kessel, but I don't see him being favored over any of the other members. It should be pointed out that a large part of his current success is due to the fact that he is currently skating with possibly the best playmaker in the game right now, Marc Savard.

Either Bill Guerin or Mike Modano will replace Chris Chelios as the team Captain.

I could easily see the team implementing a rotating goaltender system, as there is not a clear cut favorite among the three.

Not Returning from 2006 but still currently active in the NHL are:

Chris Chelios—he'll be 47—I'd say at this point he'll be an alternate reserve, if there is such a thing.

Derian Hatcher. He's technically active, though he's on the IR. Speculation that he'll retire.

Jordan Leopold. Simply does not make this team. Replaced by young talent.

Bret Hedican. See above. Also he is past his prime.

Jason Blake. See Leopold, Jordan.

Eric Cole. Ditto.

Craig Conroy. Wow. The U.S. is finally putting together a more respectable roster.

Mark Parrish. Has already been a healthy scratch a few times this year.

Matt Cullen (R). On the fence, but has not been spectacular in Carolina this year.

Paul Martin (R). Also on the bubble, but is most likely replaced by Jack or Erik Johnson.

Possible Line Combinations:

Parise-Gomez-Kane

Rolston-Drury-Knuble

Gionta-Stastny-Brown

Modano-Guerin-Weight

Rafalski-Whitney

Liles-Schneider

Johnson-Johnson

These lines are actually pretty formidable, especially in comparison to recent U.S. International teams. You can bet your sweet tucas that Parise would bury a few skating with Gomez and Kane.

Look for the next U.S. team to make some waves, whoever ends up on it.

Please weigh in with your opinions!

San Diego Chargers: 13 Games Removed from the AFC Championship, a Dismal 4-8.

Reed Kaufman — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:15:23 -0500

I just wrote an article expressing disbelief that the 2008-2009 NHL season is a quarter of the way through.

What is even harder to stomach is that the 2008 NFL regular season is more than three quarters finished.

This time last year, the San Diego Chargers were 8-4, with notable losses to the undefeated Patriots and to the Vikings, when one Adrian "All Day" Peterson ran for an NFL record 296 yards as a rookie.

They made it to the AFC Championship, losing to the New England Patriots again during their record-setting season.

Heading into the 2008 NFL season, San Diego was the favorite of many experts as the AFC representative in the Super Bowl, if not NFL champs.

They have since accomplished only disappointing everyone.

The Chargers seemed doomed from the get-go after suffering two heart-breaking losses in the first two games of the season.

The first was at home against Carolina, without star receiver Steve Smith, on a touchdown catch by tight end Dante Rosario, as time expired.

The second, was a high scoring shootout against division rival Denver, in which an admitted blown call by referee Ed Hochuli set up a Jay Cutler touchdown pass to rookie Eddie Royal. Unconventional coach Mike Shanahan then chose to try for two points to seal the game instead of kicking the extra point and forcing an overtime. The decision was a successful one.

Despite the 0-2 record, many still believed in the Chargers. And why not? Young Phillip Rivers has been maturing and showing signs of a potential pro bowl quarterback.

Antonio Gates is perhaps the best playmaking tight end in the NFL. Oh, and there's also Ladanian Tomlinson, who is currently second among active running backs in all-time rushing yards, at age 29.

Now we are between weeks 13 and 14, and the Chargers have only won four games, though two have been against potential playoff teams in the New York Jets and the New England Patriots.

It appears as though San Diego will inexcusably miss the playoffs this season. Whether they do or do not, who or what is to blame for their atrocious performance this season?

Many individuals have not performed as expected, for many reasons. Tomlinson and Gates have struggled with foot injuries, and star defensive end Shawne Merriman tried to tough out tears in both his PCL and LCL in his knee. Shockingly, his 2008 campaign did not last long.

Merriman's trip to the disabled list has taken the air out of a once highly-touted San Diego defense. They have been utterly despicable in most outings, and have never been able to intimidate like it did in '07.

With all these factors snowballing out of control, could it really have been possible to hold this team together?

The one piece that supposedly holds this puzzle together is the head coach.

Norv Turner has been criticized by San Diego fans since the day he replaced Marty Schottenheimer, some would say, unjustifiably. Perhaps the initial criticism was more aimed at the appointment, as Turner had only secured one playoff berth in nine NFL seasons.

He was hired under the assumption that he would maintain the offensive strategy that had catapulted the Chargers to a league leading 14-2 regular season record.

Wait, 14-2? Why on Earth would a team bring in a new coach after going 14-2? The mysteriousness of this question is perhaps what led to Chargers' fans' animosity towards Turner.

Since taking over, Turner has tried to take some of the pressure off of the Chargers' running game and use the aerial attack far more than before.

Tomlinson carried the ball 348 times in 2006, and why would they give the ball to anyone else? He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and broke the NFL single-season record with 28 rushing touchdowns, set by Shaun Alexander the previous year.

Five-foot, six-inch bullet Darren Sproles emerged as a potential ying to LT's yang early this year, but at this point, the Chargers have become a pass first team, or at least seems that way with how the running game has struggled.

The benefit of the doubt theory was that Turner was trying to create a more balanced team, but in truth, the identity of the team has been a complete mystery since the hiring of Norv Turner.

They used to be a running team, and the most dominant one at that. In 2007, they were a team that boasted many weapons, regardless of what the identity was. The most dominant weapon, in fact, was the stifling defense.

Now, it seems, that the only identity the San Diego Chargers can assume is a non-playoff team. The saddest part about this fact is that the Chargers play in what is assuredly the worst division in the AFC, and 2nd in the NFL, behind the NFC West.

Should a coach in any sport keep his job after turning a 14-2 team into, at this point best-case scenario, an 8-8 team (chances are, they won't win their four remaining games and most certainly not against the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay in week 16) in just two seasons?

I, for one, think not.

At The Quarter Point In The NHL, What Teams Are For Real?

Reed Kaufman — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:05:52 -0500

We are a quarter of the way through the 2008-2009 NHL season already. I can't believe it.

Some Quick Notes

Ryan Getzlaf was held to one point and a -5 in his first six games. Through 22 games he is now tied for second in the NHL in points with 27 at +4.

Shea Weber has 21 points in just as many games, with 10 goals. Is he this year's Mike Green?

Not exactly, he has been around, some people just forgot about him after an injury-plagued season last year, but he is the current Norris Trophy favorite. He has a cannon of a shot and won't hesitate to knock opposing forwards into Imaginationland.

Regardless of stats, these guys have impressed me the most this year:

Zach Parise—an unstoppable force and will have success through another two decades.

Marc Savard—A monkey with a broom could score 20 goals on this guy's wing.

Mike Richards—It's an absolute treat to watch him compete.

Derick Brassard—is the real deal. Finally, someone to take the pressure off of Rick Nash.

Luca Sbisa and Drew Doughty—They are 18. Human years in age. They have as much patience as veteran defensemen, but make fewer mistakes than most. The Calder Trophy will go to a D-man this year if Brassard finishes under 80 points.

What Teams are For Real?

San Jose Sharks

They have been the trendy team to pundits as a Stanley Cup favorite for about three or four years now, which has been their jinx. But the stats this year don't lie, even though they seem fictitious: The Sharks are out shooting their opponents 37.4 to 25.7 on a per game average. That is a margin of almost 12. The median average shots is 29.8 per game. Based on this, the average team gets 30 shots per game, 10 each period. What this means is that the Sharks are out shooting their opponents on average by an extra period. That is ridiculous.

What is even sillier is that they have won 100 percent of the games in which they have been out shot. What this means is that they are unbeatable. Not really, but this team is for real. Eklund from Hockeybuzz.com said on Nov. 17, "The Sharks will not lose 10 games this season." Anything short of a Stanley Cup Finals appearance is a disappointment for this team.

Washington Capitals

Goaltending is the question. The answer: score more goals. They are 25th in goals against so they must be fifth in goals for in order to have a stranglehold on the top spot in the Southeast. No surprise there, they have an Alexander that lights the lamp with regularity—OK, they have two.

Alexander Semin has been sidelined for a week with a groin injury, but that hasn't dethroned him from leading his team in goals (13) or points (27) in just 16 games played. Ovechkin has answered the call with Semin going down and has scored 15 points in his last eight games.

If they can stay healthy, which they currently are not, through the rest of the season, and can continue to play enough defense to make up for their spotting goaltending, they can do some damage in the East. Look for Brent Johnson to make a strong bid for the starting role by the end of the year. With this much firepower, they are for real.

New York Rangers

In direct contrast to the Capitals, the Rangers are strong from the back out.

Henrik Lundqvist is one of those few goaltenders that come along and carry a team on his back to success. He has been terrific this season and has stolen no less than five games for them. He will continue to do so, backing up a new cast of young skaters that are looking much more like a young group from a playoff hopeful team than the typical high profile Rangers-type of roster.

They now have it all: solid goaltending, hard working, puck moving defensemen, and talent shooters mixed with some gritty grinders, that somehow all play together seamlessly.

Currently, their biggest problem is consistency, with the exception of Lundqvist. They will either win the competitive Atlantic or slip behind Pittsburgh or Philly and still start the post-season with a No. 4 seed.

Chicago Blackhawks

If only someone could bottle the Chicago Blackhawks for mass distribution. They have it all: skill, speed, toughness, size, talented D-men, and, goaltending? (I'm Ron Burgundy?) This is all mixed into the pot decorated in Original Six heritage.

While the Calder Trophy winner and runner-up from 2007-2008 try not to have sophomore slumps, the Blackhawks are getting scoring from everywhere, which will ultimately take the pressure off of Toews and Kane, enabling them to have productive seasons.

Also, a new young gun has come to town by the name of Kris Versteeg, and he is an absolute firecracker of energy and potential. Aaron Johnson joins the already talented young adult duo of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, and the off-season addition of Brian Campbell is worth every penny.

Goaltending? OK, I admit that Cristobal Huet and Nikolai Khabibulin (nailed it) aren't exactly franchise net-minders, but they are playing fairly well despite a somewhat rocky start. I like having two solid net-minders, and it looks like Coach Q is using internal competition as a spark plug, and sticking with who is hot.

I love this strategy, but ultimately a go-to guy must be selected for the playoffs. If Huet can step up into that role, which he was brought into fill, and the young skaters can keep doing what they do best, the Blackhawks are for real.

Overtaking the Wings in the Central is a mammoth challenge, which is why there are eight playoff spots. Look for them to finish somewhere between fourth and sixth in the West.

The Jury is Out on These NHL Franchises

Dallas Stars

Dubbed by many to be Western Conference favorites, the Stars have started the season as anything but contenders.

We finally learned just how important Sergei Zubov was to this team. He missed the first 12 games of the season and the Stars went a dismal 4-6-2. They since are not much better, as the entire team has struggled finding their identity, that of the all-heart, fast-skating, hard-hitting, defensively water-tight, and sound between the pipes team of the 2008 playoffs.

Now, with Brendan Morrow out for six months with a torn right ACL, they may not acquire that identity again this season. To get back over .500 and have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs, they will have to adopt a new one, with the added youth of Fabian Brunnstrom.

Brad Richards will have to take over as the on-ice leader, and Mike Modano will simply have to continue to sip from the fountain of youth. Also, Marty Turco has to become Marty Turco.

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins are tied for third in the NHL in points with 32.

Wait, what?

This rag-tag roster of Bruins has turned into a group of you-name-him-I'll-take-hims from a group of take-him-or-leave-hims. With nine players in double digit points and the rest not far behind, these Boston Bruins are a true example of cohesive team play.

Not only that, they are exciting. Marc Savard has been skating with Phil Kessel on the top line with Milan Lucic on what is one of the most fun lines to watch in the NHL.

Lucic shadows his smaller line-mates, like Chuck Norris on skates. OK, not really, but he will drop the gloves with anyone.

Phil Kessel is as explosive as anyone in the league, and with Savard centering, should easily flirt with 40 goals this season.

Also, remember what was mentioned about internal competition in net? That is what is happening with the return of Manny Fernandez amidst the success of Tim Thomas. Thomas is nutcase, in a good way. He hates to lose and I'm sure that having his No. 1 spot challenged only fuels him to perform. So far, the proof is in the pudding.

I just don't know if this team can hang on. The Northeast Division is not what it used to be, but it is no picnic either.

I am certain they will make the playoffs, I just don't know if they will finish top three in points in the East as they are now. They don't have a lot of playoff experience on the roster, and for some reason they seem to be cursed lately.

I like this team, but for some reason, I don't seem them being able to beat Washington, Pittsburgh, New York, or Philadelphia in a seven-game series.

With this all said, there is not a bad team in the NHL.

Tampa has struggled, but has world-class talent. The Islanders haven't impressed, but with DiPietro can beat anyone on any given night. The Los Angeles Kings are a different team this year, and have had marginal success without Jack Johnson. The Leafs are putting the puck in the net regularly. Atlanta finally has removed the scoring problem off the back of Kovalchuk. Phoenix is a quick, tough team to play against. Florida has inconsistent talent, but consistent goaltending.

In the NHL, anything can and will happen.

New Kings' Alternate Jerseys Unveiled, Cheered, Then Disgraced

Reed Kaufman — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:26:59 -0500

The following is a plea to any visiting fans attending the Colorado Avalanche vs the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, November 22nd at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

There are few things I love more than bringing hockey to Los Angeles.

I live in Los Angeles, and I play hockey. I own the Center Ice package on DirecTV. I participate in fantasy hockey.

I try to encourage casual fans to attend games and bring new fans when I can.

I constantly discuss why hockey is under appreciated in many facets in the United States.

After attending last night's Avalanche vs Kings game I've decided that while bringing hockey to L.A. is great, it's best to keep L.A. out of hockey.

Upon watching the Kings skate out for the final warm-up session just prior to the start of the game, the sell-out crowd at the Staples Center cheered in unanimous approval of the new Kings' "Third Alternate Black Retro-ish Jersey," with few adjectives to spare. This was the first night that these jerseys were available for the public to purchase, and by the end of the game, close to half of the capacity crowd was donning the new threads.

Though it's just a jersey and really does not indicate much else than a look, I had a moment in which I thought that the Kings' management had finally started turning the corner at bringing this franchise back to legitimacy in the eyes of the NHL.

Then, the first period ended, and I witnessed what was about to occur at center ice during the first intermission.

The Kings had given one new jersey each to 20 or so students from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising for them to recreate an original piece of "clothing" to display during the break in action. I remained in my seat for approximately eight seconds before I had to sprint to the drink stand in agony.

Photographs of this atrocity can be found here:

http://kings.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=MediaGalleryBrowser (FIDM to be a King)

but be warned, it is not for those with weak stomachs.

What a way to say to the fans, "Here are our beautiful new alternate jerseys, complete with sleek styling and an homage to the black and silver Gretzky days. Now watch 20 complete Hollywood stereotypes destroy them." One step forward, two steps backward.

I'm not even going to go into detail on the only possible thing that could have been more embarrassing in the second intermission, after a fan was given two chances to shoot a puck into an empty net; once from the blue line, and once from the CREASE. Yes, the crease, the blue painted half-circle that is adjacent to the goal line itself. He hit the post. I'm not kidding.

All I'm saying here is that if there were any fans in attendance that were visiting from other hockey markets, please don't judge all hockey fans in Los Angeles by what was on display last night.

Also, I've found that the most informed hockey fans in the Staples Center usually sit in the 300s (upper sections), as lately I've been fortunate enough to acquire tickets in the lower 100s, and I cringe sometimes at the comments/questions made by nearby fans as I'm desperately trying to convince whomever I'm with that many people in Los Angeles do understand hockey.

But I promise, we do exist.

Terry Murray Is a Perfect Fit for the Los Angeles Kings

Reed Kaufman — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:58:33 -0500

In a break from Kings' tradition, every front-office decision made this year has been a good one.

General Manager Dean Lombardi locked up two very important young stars in Anze Kopitar and Patrick O'Sullivan, for five and three years, respectively. Their contracts were both fair and deserving.

This was well after bringing in new head coach Terry Murray, over several other big-name NHL coaches that had recently become available. This fact led to some skepticism in the choice of helmsman prior to the start of the season, but also because the last two suits did not work out so well.

Thus far, the choice of Terry Murray has been surprisingly perfect.

This is not to say that the Kings have come out undefeated in the 14 games that they've played in the young season—in fact they're flirting with .500 at 6-6-2, so no Kings fan should be elated by this statistic.

The description of Murray being perfect refers to his philosophy as a coach of this young team.

No one reasonably expects Los Angeles to make the playoffs this year. The focus is on the future of the team, and the development of the young talent.

Somehow, Murray may have an outside shot at accomplishing both.

Let's examine three key strategies that Terry Murray is doing correctly:

1. He's letting the goaltenders decide via their performance who will start

Jason LaBarbera was given the starting nod for the first 10 games of the season. He was less than spectacular, going 3-5-1 and posting 3.01 goals-against average and a .884 save percentage. Not awful numbers, but not good by any measure.

Then Ersberg was given the opportunity to take over, or at least vie for getting more time than he was getting as the bailout guy. He has been significantly better in four starts, going 3-0-1 with 1.93 GAA and .904 SP.

It can be argued that the Kings have played better defense in front of Ersberg, including allowing only 15 shots by the Florida Panthers.

In my mind, this argument similar to that of the chicken or the egg. When a team is getting solid goaltending, the players can focus more on what they need to do in front of them, and not worry about what may happen at any time behind them.

Internal competition can be a very effective method to getting the best out of the players on a team, and I think this will indeed be the case for the goaltenders in Los Angeles this season.

2. He's trying out different wingers on the top line with Kopitar and Brown

So far this year, we've seen the following forwards given the opportunity to skate on the top line for more than just a shift—Matt Moulson, Patrick O'Sullivan, Kyle Calder, Derek Armstrong, and Jarret Stoll.

Personally, I love this strategy. Let's throw it all against the wall and see what sticks.

What I mean by this is that it is very difficult to predict who will have chemistry together. Some things that look good on paper do not translate in reality.

Many fans have been screaming to put Alexander Frolov on the top line, but I disagree. He is a legitimate scoring threat who can play with almost anyone, and for this reason he is sorely needed on the second line.

In last night's game against Dallas, Frolov skated with O'Sullivan on the second line, and for the first time the Kings have unleashed two red-light flashing threats. The result—a shootout win against a very hungry Dallas Stars team.

3. The Kings have actually become a hard-working, defensive-minded team

Who would have thought that with their inexperienced defensive roster, the Kings would actually be able to play a defensively-responsible game? Certainly not me. However, they have been doing just that.

Don't believe me? As of today, they are fourth in the NHL on the Penalty Kill, allowing only seven power play tallies in 63 times short a man. This is up from 29th in the league in 2007-2008.

So, can the Kings slide into the top eight in the Western Conference?

At this point, I can't say that I'd recommend betting the farm on it. However, if the two netminders continue to push each other to get better, if Murray finds someone that clicks on the top line while maintaining a capable second line, and if the team continues to work hard defensively and generate opportunities on the forecheck, it is certainly not too ridiculous a possibility. Stranger things have happened.

Oh, and I guess Dean Lombardi knew.

Five Burning Questions for the Los Angeles Kings

Reed Kaufman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:25:31 -0400

I'm an avid listener to XM 204, the NHL channel on XM Satellite Radio called "Home Ice," and probably one of a few dozen regular listeners in the Greater Los Angeles area.

One of my favorite hosts on the channel is James "Boomer" Gordon, who shares insightful opinions on "The Point" and on "Face Off." During the offseason, "The Point" featured a segment for each team in the NHL, called "Five Burning Questions." Each segment had an individual set of questions tailored to the specific team in question.

So, in the wake of my boy Dustin Brown being named the Kings' captain for the 2008-09 season, (please see my July 29 article Crown for the Taking: Who Will Wear the 'C' for the Los Angeles Kings?) I'd like to take this opportunity to share my version of the "Five Burning Questions" for the Los Angeles Kings in their upcoming 2008-09 season.

1) Is this a throw-away season for the Kings?

More specifically, do the Kings have shot at making the playoffs for the first time in seven years?

Most signs are pointing to no. Not just because the Kings lack a veteran presence at virtually all positions, but also because of how competitive the NHL—and specifically the Western Conference—has become.

The Kings have the misfortune of playing in one of the toughest divisions in the league, with San Jose, Dallas, and Anaheim all having some recent playoff success, and the Phoenix Coyotes improving tremendously this year as well.

Thankfully, this year the Kings will only have to play their division foes six times each, as opposed to last year's eight intra-division matchups. This definitely bodes well for the Kings, but the rest of the Western Conference is no walk in the park either.

The easy answer to this question is no, this is not a throw-away season. There is just no point to starting the season counting yourselves out. It is entirely possible that everything could click for the Kings, if they come out with two solid scoring lines and a revamped defensive system, and if their goalies swallow a talent pill.

Just because success is unlikely does not mean the mindset should be that of failure.

2) Is this the year for Jonathan Bernier to step in to the role of franchise netminder?

Jonathan Bernier is a former Team Canada goaltender and was one of the most highly-regarded goaltending prospects of his class. He has the potential to become a top-five NHL goalie—something the Kings haven't had since Rogie Vachon.

So with all the struggles the Kings have had in net lately, why not call him up?

All signs are pointing against this idea. Considering the growing pains the youth of the team should endure this year, it may not be smart to put another player though it as well—and definitely not one who will be relied upon heavily in the very near future.

It will be best for Bernier to develop in the minors for at least another year before taking the reigns between the pipes.

3) Will the Kings' young defensive corps be able to compete at the NHL level?

It has to be somewhat concerning that 21-year-old Jack Johnson is the unquestioned blue chip on the Kings' blue line, right? Not entirely. Johnson showed a lot of maturity last year, though many were quick to criticize his lacking offensive skills.

But Johnson was not brought in to replace Lubomir Visnovsky—or Rob Blake, for that matter. He was drafted to be Jack Johnson, a hard-hitting, smooth-skating defensive presence who can chip in on offense—if not every game.

The same will be true for Drew Doughty, who appears as though he will make the cut on this year's NHL roster. Terry Murray is bringing in a new defensive scheme that will be just that—defensive.

There is enough talent at the forward position to handle the goal scoring, so the defensemen can concentrate on keeping pucks out of the net—the main statistical issue that has kept the Kings below .500 for some time.

4) Who will play the wing on the top line alongside Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown?

Last year, Patrick O'Sullivan stepped up in a big way after Cammilleri struggled with injuries. He fit in well with Brown and Kopitar, and notched 53 points in his first full NHL season. Not too shabby.

But in reality, I don't think that anyone with two arms and the abilitt to skate could not fit in well with Brown and Kopitar. This is not a knock on O'Sullivan by any means, and I couldn't have been more relieved when the Kings reached a verbal agreement with him yesterday.

But Brown strikes fear into the hearts of even the toughest opposing defensemen with his unrelenting forechecking, and Kopitar does the same to opposing goaltenders with his indomitable offensive talents.

Cammilleri scored 10 goals in the first 10 games of the season. He is listed at 5'9"—which is probably while wearing skates. He basically loitered in the slot waiting for Kopitar to dangle past someone, or Brown to level someone and cough up the puck right to him. If someone of his tiny stature can camp out in the slot and roof top-shelfers, than anyone with a quick shot can do the same.

The point is that I'd not like to settle on Patrick O'Sullivan as the top-line winger. I'd like to give 6'7" Brian Boyle a shot at it this year, as well as AHL rookie of the year Teddy Purcell. I think either of these guys could put some pucks away on the top line, and O'Sullivan can contribute more as the second-line center with Alexander Frolov.

5) Will Terry Murray be able to guide this team in the proper direction?

When Terry Murray was first hired in July, and I have to admit that I was skeptical. He had never been a head coach in the NHL, and I was hoping the Kings would hire drill sergeant and charismatic spark plug John Tortorella, who was let go from the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's rare to find someone at his level speak so frankly.

But I have since seen Murray speak in a few interviews about the team and his goals for the season, and I am warming up to him like a stray dog being fed steak scraps outside a rickety burger joint. I know the stuff is good inside, but I'm just not sure about what I've been fed in the past.

Murray has been been saying that the team needs to listen, work hard, and focus on what they need to do to improve. He hopes to bring about a newfound attention to defense, and to help develop the young players. Jim Fox said that he is a patient teacher, and his lack of volume does not mean a lack of direction. Jim, as I've always said—I'll take your word for it.

Crown for the Taking: Who Will Wear the 'C' for the Los Angeles Kings?

Reed Kaufman — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:53:42 -0400

The Los Angeles Kings, admittedly by design, are carrying a very young roster for the upcoming season. As it stands on July 29, there are currently three players over the age of 30—Derek Armstrong (35), Michal Handzus (31), and Denis Gauthier Jr. (31).

One might think, then, that one of these veterans would be the clear candidate to Captain this young team during the 2008-09 season.

This is not the case.

Derek Armstrong has arguably played the biggest role of these names on the Kings in recent years, spending some time on the second power-play unit last season. That, however, is a trend that hopefully will not continue, after Armstrong posted a dismal eight goals in 77 games played.

Michal Handzus, then, surely could sport the stitches on the front of the sweater. After all, he is the highest paid King this season, with a salary of $4 million.

His numbers on the ice, sadly, are less impressive.

The solution, as a fitting symbol for the entire program, lies in the young talent.

Jack Johnson is one potential young candidate. Johnson possesses as much all-around defensive talent as any other D-man in the NHL. He can move the puck, shoot, and line up crushing hits with the best of them.

At age 21, he has not even come close to maximizing his potential. He is sure to be a many time All-Star starting in three years or less.

Alexander Frolov has been one of the most consistent offensive weapons in the Kings arsenal for a few years now.

He is great in the corners, has tremendous vision, and frequently buries big goals. He has put up very respectable numbers, even while playing alongside sub-par offensive performers.

Anze Kopitar, the only player on the roster to ever appear in an All-Star game, is a strong favorite for the captaincy.

Kopitar is one of the brightest young stars in the entire NHL, and has limitless potential.

He has already put the team on his back in numerous performances, including a spectacular OT goal effort against the Dallas Stars, when the Kings came back from a 4-0 deficit in the third period.

Anze is L.A.'s most talented player, and if he was named the new Los Angeles captain, I would be neither surprised or upset. However, there is one player more deserving of sporting the 'C' on his chest:

Dustin Brown.

Dustin has been the Kings' white knight for several years now, and he is only 23. He led the NHL in hits last season in a landslide victory with 311—45 more than the next highest total. The incredible part is that he was also productive offensively, scoring 33 goals and 60 points.

Though these stats are indeed very impressive, what's most important about Brown is his work ethic.

I have personally seen him working out at the Kings' practice facility, The Toyota Center in El Segundo, numerous times when no other Kings were to be found. Most recently, he was at the Kings' prospect camp and took advantage of breaks in between the rookies' sessions to get some extra skating in. Again, he was alone.

I predict that Dustin Brown will again lead the NHL in hits this year, will flirt with 40 goals, and will be wearing the purple 'C' while doing so.

Terry to Los Angeles: Kings Hire Another Murray as Head Coach

Reed Kaufman — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:52:46 -0400

The Los Angeles Kings have hired yet another Murray to head up the bench in L.A. Though he is not related to former Kings coach Andy Murray, he is the brother of former Ducks coach and General Manager Bryan Murray.

Murray has had some success in the NHL, taking the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals and the Capitals to the Eastern Conference Finals.

He has spent his recent years as the assistant coach in Philadelphia.

As a Kings fan, I don't hate this move but I also don't love it. I had my heart set on John Tortorella, the recently-departed Tampa Bay Lighting coach, who lead them to a Stanley Cup championship in 2003-04. Tortorella has always been a shoot-from-the-hip talker, especially to the media, and does not screw around when selecting which goalies are playing.

Terry Murray joins the club in a time of some uncertainty, so perhaps he fits right in.

Oddly, in the press conference announcing his position, Dean Lombardi also said that everyone recognizes that this is going to be a long process, and we will be patient.

Not that this isn't accurate, but it was a little strange hearing it from the horse's mouth. How about a little exaggerated optimism, huh?

The Los Angeles Kings: Past, Present and Future, With Emphasis On The Latter

Reed Kaufman — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:21:29 -0400

Damn you Wayne Gretzky.

Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 in the most historic roster transaction in the NHL to date. It is no secret that Gretzky brought hockey to L.A. In fact, if ever there was an understatement, that is it.

I started playing street hockey at age 8, in 1991, in Orange County, CA, because that's what the neighborhood kids were doing. To my knowledge, at that time, there was not a high prevalence of competitive in-line hockey leagues in the area.

After playing ice hockey in Illinois, I moved back to California in 1997. I was excited to learn that my high school was starting an in-line hockey team. Soon, every high school in the area had teams competing against each other and still do a decade later.

It is impossible to say whether or not The Great One himself was responsible for the booming popularity of hockey in Southern California, but it is also impossible to say that he didn't at least help.

He was definitely the main reason that as my passion for the game was spawning, I became a fan of the Los Angeles Kings. But aren't the Anaheim Ducks in Orange County?

Indeed- starting in 1993, and they didn't have a Wayne Gretzky. In fact, even though I enjoyed the Mighty Ducks movies, I always thought it was a pathetic idea to create a professional sports franchise based on a kids' movie.

This still represents the most prolific exploitation of ancillary marketing the entertainment industry has ever seen.

Enter Henry Samueli, another Orange County resident. Samueli purchased the Ducks in 2004 and as a hockey fan with some money to spend, brought the first Stanley Cup to California just two years later.

What I find interesting is that he was a professor at UCLA while Wayne Gretzky was playing for the Kings. Perhaps The Great One's hype caught the eye of Samueli during his era and sparked his interest in the sport.

If this is the case, Gretzky's hockey contributions to California carry on to this day, even while he coaches the Phoenix Coyotes.

Why then, did I begin the article condemning the Deity of hockey to Hades?

Simply because now I'm stuck with the Gretzky-less Kings, and the 2008-09 season might be the most painful one to date.

Lubomir Visnovsky was one of the few bright spots on a young and developing Kings roster. He has been one of my favorite players on the Kings for years and I think he is one of the most underrated players in the NHL.

His numbers speak for themselves, as he has, with the exception of last season, always been among the top defensemen in point production. Aside from this fact, he has always been a reliable defenseman and might be pound for pound one of the toughest.

I can recall many instances in which he had to leave the ice after a blocked shot but returned every time, and one time I think he had a broken bone in his foot. Upon the signing of his 28 million dollar contract, he went from underrated to over-paid? I think not. At an average of 5.6 million a year, he is well deserving.

As if this weren't enough, the Kings play in arguably best division in the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, and even the Phoenix Coyotes are improving. The worst part of all of this is that since the 2007 trade deadline these teams have been adding mightily to their already stacked line-ups.

San Jose acquired the highly sought after Brian Campbell at last season's trade deadline and went without a loss in regulation in March of 2008. Dallas made an even bigger deal at the end of last season adding former Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards to their roster.

In the free agent market they grabbed former King and cause of a new amendment in the NHL rule book, Sean Avery. Even Phoenix signed franchise center Olli Jokinen. The Ducks had enough trouble keeping their young stars, and were able to resign Corey Perry.

Indeed, the Kings are making headway to being a strong, young, all-around team, boasting some of the best young talent in the league in Dustin Brown, Jack Johnson, and my choice for the potential savior of the team, Anze Kopitar. L.A. also has a strong pool of prospects in defensemen Thomas Hickey, Drew Doughty, Colten Teubert, and goaltender Jonathan Bernier.

None of these facts shine positive light on the outlook for the 2008-09 season. It takes a few years to mold any highly regarded prospects into superstars, and this is especially true of defensemen and goalies.

With the Kings having to play the aforementioned Pacific Division teams no less than 8 teams each this year, it will be a miracle if they win more than 20 games all year.

I'm hoping the Kings achieve the one thing they could have acquired last season; #1 overall pick in the draft. Of course it's a lottery but we all know how that goes down. If Los Angeles starts the 2009-10 season with Jonathan Tavares on the roster, things will start looking up much sooner.