Bleacher Report - Articles by Gradin santana

2009 Division Projections: Northwest Division Pecking Order

Gradin santana — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:07:36 -0400

1st- CALGARY FLAMES

They have one of the Top Five best defensive corps in the league. However, Kipprusoft is aging, and where is the offense gonna' come this upcoming season from players besides Jokinen and Iginla. Also, let's hope they dont run into injury problems like last year were they played only 17 guys into the post season! Other then those things, the Flames dont look bad at all.

2nd-VANCOUVER CANUCKS

The Canucks resigned the Sedins, and they got luongo for one more year. Plus, Kesler and Burrows emerged as top six forwards last season. Mostly, though, it's pretty much the same team from last year that won the division...minus Ohlund, which is actually a big loss. Other then that still a good team.

3rd-EDMONTON OILERS

Hemsky will likely be leading the offence again (unless they can reel in Heatley), and Sourey will lead the defense...the guy scored 20 goals! They also now have the Bulin wall in net, and he can he be nearly as good as last year on a less talented team. Finally, I have a feeling that some young guns are going to come through this year!

4th-MINNESOTA WILD

They lost Gaborik to the Rangers and replaced him with Martin Havlat, who's pretty much a less productive version of Gaborik. Hopefully, Minnesota will opt for a more up-tempo style of offense this season. Without Lemaires' system protecting Backstrom every night, we're probably going to see just how good Backstrom really is. However, this is still a goal starved team, and they need more offense via trade or free agency.

5th-COLORADO AVALANCHE

Clearly rebuilding. In a couple more years the Avs will be dominating the division like the good old days. Until then it looks like the Avs will be drafting high for four or five years.

Best Players In The NHL By Position

Gradin santana — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:18:17 -0400

Here are the top 10 players in each position, in my opinion:

CENTER LEFT WINGER RIGHT WINGERS

1. Sydney Crosby 1. Alexander Ovechkin 1. Jarome Iginla

2. Pavel Datsyuk 2. Ilya Kovalchuk 2. Martin St. Louis

3. Evgeni Malkin 3. Rick Nash 3. Daniel Alfredsson

4. Joe Thornton 4. Henrik Zetterberg 4. Marian Hossa

5. Vincent Lecavalier 5. Dany Heatley 5. Shane Doan

6. Eric Staal 6. Zach Parise 6. Patrick Kane

7. Ryan Getzlaf 7. Daniel Sedin 7. Ales Hemsky

8. Marc Savard 8. Thomas Vanek 8. Jason Pominville

9. Jason Spezza 9. Alexander Semin 9. Brad Boyes

10. Henrik Sedin 10. Simon Gagne 10. Teemu Selanne

DEFENSE GOALTENDERS

1. Nicklas Lidstrom 1. Roberto Luongo

2. Scott Niedermayer 2. Martin Brodeur

3. Mike Green 3. Henrik Lundqvist

4. Zdeno Chara 4. Nicklas Backstrom

5. Chris Pronger 5. Mikka Kiprusoff

6. Andrei Markov 6. Evgeni Nabokov

7. Dion Phaneuf 7. Ryan Miller

8. Shea Weber 8. Mark Andre Fleury

9. Brian Campbell 9. Marty Turco

10. Jay Bouwmeester 10. Tim Thomas

2010 Team Sweden's Roster

Gradin santana — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:48:11 -0400

In 2010 team Sweden will ice a roster that will have to compete with CANADA and RUSSIA. It will probably be the third most powerful team in terms of depth and skill.

First line: LW-Henrik Zetterberg, C-Nicklas Backstrom, RW-Daniel Alfredsson

The top line will consist of Sweden's best players in their respected positions and will be relied upon to score the big and timely goals.

Second line: LW-Daniel Sedin, C-Henrik Sedin, RW-Johan Franzen

The second line will be relied upon just like the top line, but to a lesser extent.

Third line checking: LW-Thomas Holmstrom, C-Samuel Pahlsson, RW-Micael Samuelsson

The checking line will consist of size and grit and will be up against the likes of Crosby and Ovechkin.

Fourth line: LW-Loui Eriksson, C-Patrik Berglund, RW-Fabian Brunnstrom.

The fourth line will consist of skill, speed, and youth...this line will chip in the odd goal or two and maybe slow down the opposition.

DEFENSIVE UNITS

Top pair: Nicklas Lidstrom and Niklas Kronwall

Second unit: Mattias Ohlund and Alexander Edler

Third unit:Tobias Enstrom and Victor Hedman

Sweden's blue line will be second only to Canada's in terms of depth and skill.

GOAL-TENDING

Henrik Lundqvist: top five goaltender in the world

Back-up: Eric Ersberg

Well there you go. These players are Sweden's cream of the crop. I see you noticed I left out the likes Sundin, Forsberg, and Naslund. Well Sundin's too old, Forsberg's always hurt, and there are a dozen players that are better than Naslund. If team Sweden were to put any of these players on the team I think it would only hurt and hamper Sweden's chances at a gold medal. And with other juggernaut teams like Canada and Russia, Sweden is going to need all the speed and skill it can have to beat these teams