NHL 2010-11: New Faces In The Northeast Division

It's a new NHL season.

General Managers of all the teams in league have been desperately trying to improve their rosters.

Whether it's through the draft or trades or by signing free agents new players are being added to teams throughout the league.    

This is a look at the new faces that have been added to the teams of the Northeast division: Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs. 

I have included the two new faces that I believe will be making the biggest contribution to their team during the new season.  

Boston Bruins

Elsa/Getty Images

BOSTON - MAY 14: Fans pass a giant flag before the Boston Bruins take on the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 14, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by

The Bruins were the second lowest scoring team in the NHL last season. A committee of Blake Wheeler, Michael Ryder, Mark Recchi, Marco Sturm and the late addition of Miroslav Satan didn't seem to be able to make up for the loss of Phil Kessel.

Cap problems constrained the Bruins and still effect the moves they can make. They were not willing to stand pat however and have added some key pieces to the puzzle this year.     

1. Nathan Horton

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

UNIONDALE, NY - JANUARY 21: Nathan Horton #16 of the Florida Panthers skates with the puck against Rob Schremp #13 of the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on January 21, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Nathan Horton at 6'2" and 220 lbs was a career Florida Panther. He was their third overall pick in the 2003 NHL entry draft. He made the team in his first year and has managed to score at least 20 goals and 45 points in the last five seasons. He has been one of Florida's more consistent young players but he was expected to be brilliant. 

During the off-season in 2008 Florida traded team leader and center Olli Jokinen to Phoenix for defensive help. They moved Horton to center from the wing and both moves seemed to upset him as he had his worst season in four. 

Boston has more centers than they can use and need scoring wingers. They traded defenseman Dennis Wideman for Nathan Horton and Greg Campbell. If he can stay healthy Horton should get plenty of work on the first line in Boston. He's reasonably fast, has a good shot and size. Teamed with one of the best play makers in the league, Marc Savard, Horton should at the least match his best NHL season 2006-07 when he managed 31 goals and 62 points.

Expect the 25 year old power forward to be healthy, happy and surpass his best season in the league with Boston.Horton has three years left on his contract at 4 million dollars a year. Expect the Bruins to extract quite a bit of value from this player who has underachieved to date.  

2. Tyler Seguin

Harry How/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 25: Tyler Seguin, drafted second overall by the Boston Bruins, poses for a portrait after he was drafted during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at Staples Center on June 25, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Imag

Often said to possess the greatest talent in last years draft second over-all pick Tyler Seguin came to Boston via the Phil Kessel deal. Seguin is 6'1" tall, weighs 186 pounds. He turned 18 in January.

Seguin tied for the scoring lead in the OHL and won the league MVP over the co-scoring leader and first overall pick Taylor Hall. 

Tyler is a quick, talented center who also is also defensively conscientious. He will be asked to play wing at the beginning in Boston because they just have too much depth up the middle. He's skilled and driven enough to make the team and excel.

Seguin has been compared to a young Steve Yzerman and should be an upgrade even on the wing. If a center slot opens up look for him to fill it for them.   

Buffalo Sabres

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 13: Adam Mair #22 of the Buffalo Sabres skates over the center ice emblem during play against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 13, 2008 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres are frugal at the best of times and notorious for not adding expensive off-season acquisitions if they can at all help it. Last years best addition was rookie Tyler Myers and this year it looks like another youngster will be the best new face on the team. 

1. Tyler Ennis

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

BUFFALO, NY - APRIL 23: Matt Hunwick #48 and Tuuka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins defend against Tyler Ennis #63 of the Buffalo Sabres in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at HSBC Arena on April 23

Tiny Tyler Ennis (5'9" 164 lbs) is an absolute streak on skates. He  was the AHL's rookie of the year last year. He then managed to generate 9 points in 10 regular season game and be one of Buffalo's most dangerous offensive threats in their first round loss to Boston. 

Ennis will get a full season to prove he belongs in Buffalo and add some youthful energy to the line up. 

2. Shaone Morrisonn

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MONTREAL- APRIL 19: Shaone Morrisonn #26 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Montreal Canadiens during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on April 19, 2010 in

The Sabres as noted haven't added a lot of players this off-season but Morrison probably beats out Leopold as the best.  

Morrisonn is a good size at 6'4" and 217 lbs and should add some prime physicality to the Buffalo back-end. He was a reasonably priced signing, is 28 years old and should add depth.   

Montreal Canadiens

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MONTREAL- JANUARY 16: A flag bearer carries the flag fore the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game against the Ottawa Senators on January 16, 2010 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Senators defeated the Canadiens 4-2. (Photo by Rich

The Canadiens added all their new faces last year. It will be a smaller group of newcomers making a contribution this year.  

1. PK Subban

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - MAY 24: PK Subban #76 of the Montreal Canadiens handles the puck against Claude Giroux #28 of he Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wachovia Center on May 24, 2010 in

Subban (6' 202 lbs) appeared in only 2 regular season games for Les Habitants last year but managed to play a starring role in their playoff run. 

The speedy defenseman will be called upon to quarterback the power play in Montreal especially until Andrei Markov returns from injury. Subban showed an energy and activity that Montreal's ready for retirement defense couldn't match. 

He likes to take risks to move the puck and seemed to favour taking or passing the puck straight up the ice from behind his own net. If too many of those attempts go awry in the new year look for Subban and the yet to be signed goalie, Carey Price, to bump heads, a lot. 

2. Lars Eller

Al Bello/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 07: Lars Eller #61 of the St. Louis Blues in action against The Philadelphia Flyers during their game on November 7, 2009 at The Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Dane Lars Eller was the primary pickup from St Louis in the Jaroslav Halak deal. He instantly became the Montreal Canadien's #1 offensive prospect. A strong skating youngster with reasonable size (6' 198 lbs) he can be expected to be given every opportunity to make the team.

Hopefully Eller can contribute offensively and not get run out of town for being the return for the beloved Halak.  

Ottawa Senators

Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images

OTTAWA, CANADA- FEBRUARY 21: An Ottawa Senators fan waves a flag as he shows his support during the Senators' NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 21, 2008 at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada. The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated t

Ottawa was forced to move Dany Heatley out of town last year at a discount. They looked to be going through the same process this summer with Jason Spezza. Luckily Spezza hung on and the Senators added a couple of new faces that should help them through the new season.  

1. Sergei Gonchar

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - MAY 2: Sergei Gonchar #55 of the Pittsburgh Penguins shoots the puck against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 2, 2010 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Penns

Sergei Gonchar (6'2" 212 lbs) has been one of the league's best offensive defensemen in the league for at least the last decade. Gonchar won a cup with Pittsburgh in 2008-09 playing through pain and injury with a stoicism that has to be appreciated by any hockey fan.

The 36 year old Gonchar has struggled with injuries throughout his career and the fear has to be that he won't be able to play a full season at full speed in Ottawa.

The free agent has to improve Ottawa's power play. Hopefully he'll help the offense of some of the other top quality talents in Ottawa like Kovalev and Spezza.

The Senator's defense doesn't look more solid after this off season, but it will be more exciting.    

2. Carrie Underwood

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

CONCORD, NC - MAY 28: Country singer Carrie Underwood performs before the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 28, 2006 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR)

After marrying center Mike Fisher in the off-season she became the latest member of the Ottawa Senators family. It has to make it easier for Senator players to get concert tickets. The Senators just didn't add that many new hockey players to the line-up. 

I could find a photo of Carrie singing a national anthem at every sporting event on earth but a hockey game. That's got to change next year. 

Toronto Maple Leafs

Harry How/Getty Images

7 May 2001: Toronto Maple Leafs fans waves flags during game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New Jersey Devils at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Devils won 4-2. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Harry How/ALLSPO

The Leafs are in a constant struggle to improve. Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf were the new faces last year. This year you can expect more player moves right up to the trade deadline.   

1. Brett Lebda

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

DETROIT - MARCH 11: Brett Lebda #22 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Minnesota Wild during their NHL game on March 11, 2010 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Brett Lebda (5'9" 195 lbs) plays smaller than his size. Fortunately Toronto has plenty of bruisers , Phaneuf, Komisarek, Beauchemin, to carry that end of the load.

Lebda is a speedy skating defenseman who should be useful getting the puck out of the Maple Leaf zone. His speed has yet to translate into offensive production in four seasons in Detroit but his salary should help find him a spot in a roster clogged with 3 million dollar plus a year defensemen.

He's still likely to be a third pair guy in Toronto but this is a heck of a player to have in your third pair.     

2. Nazim Kadri

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

OSHAWA, ON - Nazem Kadri #91 of Team Cherry poses for a head shot prior to the 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on wednesday January 14, 2009 at the General Motors Centre in Oshawa, Ontario. Kadri plays for the London Knights (OHL). (Photo

On a roster that still hasn't recovered from the loss of Mats Sundin at center Nazim is the type of player they most need. He's a young offensively talented center. Kadri should get a shot at making the line-up in Toronto.

He's been a standout with the London Knights of the OHL but has played only one NHL game to date. The Leafs organizational depth at center is almost non-existent. Kadri is just about it when it comes to talking about up and coming offensive prospects. 

Look for Kadri to get a long tryout with the big club this year and he should be just good enough to stick.