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Hockey World Blog Season Previews 2010: Detroit Red Wings

Sep 30

Posted by Chris in Season Previews | No Comments

Key Offseason Losses: Brett Lebda, Andreas Lilja,

Key Offseason Additions: Mike Modano, Ruslan Salei, Jiri Hudler

Last Season Ranking: 5th in West

Offense:

Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are the bread and butter of the Red Wings in terms of offensive talent. But after down seasons last year, coach Mike Babcock has decided to reunite the Euro-twins on the top line and hope for bounce back seasons from both players in terms of production. Datsyuk could easily shoot right back up to the 90-point plateau and Zetterberg could see himself back into the 80s. These two players work so well together that it’s difficult to keep them separated for too long.

But the Wings have more star power on the second line in left wing Johan Franzen. If healthy, Franzen is an excellent power forward and a 30+ goal scorer. However, Franzen has never played an entire NHL season and was limited to only 27 regular season games last year after suffering a knee injury. Health will be a huge concern again this season, but if Franzen is in the lineup he is a vital part of the team’s offense.

RED WINGS STARSJoining Franzen on the second line will most likely be center Valtteri Filppula and Todd Bertuzzi. The Wings are hoping that more playing time on one of the team’s top scoring lines will give Filppula the breakout season that they have been waiting for. Like many Wings last year, Filppula was limited to 55 games because of injury, but he could easily post 50 or more points in a healthy season playing with some of the Wings’ top talent.

The offseason addition of Mike Modano and reacquisition of Jiri Hudler make the Red Wings one of the deepest teams in the NHL in terms of offense. Modano will likely start the season centering Hudler and Dan Cleary on the third line. Hudler posted 23 goals during his last stint with the Wings before bolting to Russia and both Modano and Cleary are two years removed from hitting the 20-goal plateau themselves. This line could become a very versatile line for Babcock and could also be very pivotal for long-term success as they will mostly be lining up against the oppositions third-pairing defenseman.

Defense:

The Wings boast a deep blue line as well with players like Brian Rafalski and Nicklas Lidstrom contributing at both ends of the ice. At age 40, Lidstrom is still one of the premier defenseman in the game. Lidstrom notched 49 points last season and posted a plus-23 to show that he is still the main man on the Red Wings’ blue line. However, Rafalski was right there with Lidstrom last season with 42 points and a plus-23 rating.

Both Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart bring a physical dimension to the Wings’ lineup, and the addition of Ruslan Salai should help as well. Kronwall is also capable of contributing offensively but remains an injury risk. If healthy, Kronwall could post 40 or more points this season.

The Red Wing are really hoping for a bounce back season from Jonathan Ericsson. After a poor rookie campaign, Ericsson needs to show that he belongs with the big club – especially with rookie Jakub Kindl right on his heels for a roster spot. Kindl’s presence will create some healthy competition for playing time between himself, Ericsson and Salei.

Goaltending:

In his rookie year, Jimmy Howard not only outplayed former Stanley Cup winner Chris Osgood to win the starting goaltender job, but he ranked near the top in many of the goaltending stat categories and was a huge reason why the Wings stayed in contention last season. The starting job will most likely be Howard’s to lose when the season opens next week, but Osgood is ready and more than able to step in and be the number one guy if that should happen. Many said that Osgood looked to be in mid-season form at training camp two weeks ago and could challenge Howard all year long. It will be interesting to see how the goaltending battle plays out, but both Howard and Osgood seem ready for the challenge and willing to step up should the other falter.

Season Outlook:

Injuries certainly hurt the team for much of the season last year and remain a concern for key players like Franzen and Kronwall. After two long playoff runs, the Wings should certainly benefit from a long summer that not only provides time to heal physically, but it also allows the players to regroup mentally. The Wings have the talent to compete for the top spot in the West and, barring some sort of epic collapse, should easily skate into a playoff spot.

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Hockey World Blog Season Previews 2010: Nashville Predators

Sep 29

Posted by Matt in Season Previews | No Comments

Key Offseason Losses: Dan Hamhuis, Dan Ellis, Jason Arnott

Key Offseason Additions: Matthew Lombardi, Sergei Kostitsyn, Ryan Parent

Last Season Ranking: 7th in West

Offense:

Patric Hornqvist looks to build on the success that he had last season

Patric Hornqvist looks to build on the success that he had last season

Leading the way on offense for the Nashville Predators, after a breakout season last year, will be Patric Hornqvist. The 2005 7th round draft pick hit the 30 goal mark last season, only his 2nd in the NHL, en route to a 51 point campaign. His stellar season tied him for first on the team in points, along with Steve Sullivan. Hornqvist should see continued success this season as his role will be expanded. Sullivan, as mentioned before, was also great last season, his first healthy season since 2002-03. The Predators hope Sullivan has finally put his injuries behind him, and can come out with the same skill and finesse he’s displayed throughout his career.

Martin Erat will provide steady scoring throughout the season for the Predators. He’s likely to pick up about 20 goals and 50 points again this season. Along with Erat, the Preds should expect similar results from newcomer Matthew Lombardi. He will prove to be a valuable free agent signing, especially after losing Jason Arnott. Providing additional depth will be David Legwand. He struggled to produce goals last season, but played outstanding in the teams first round playoff loss to the Blackhawks. The Predators, their fans, and Legwand himself are all hoping he can maintain that touch.

Players such as Joel Ward, Marcel Goc, J.P. Dumont, and newcomer Sergei Kostitsyn, will all be counted on to provide secondary scoring. Their contributions will be important to the club, especially down the stetch. Beyond that, Jordin Tootoo will continue to ruffle some feathers up front by throwing some big hits, creating momentum with his speed and energy, and he will drop the gloves when necessary.

Defense:

Shea Weber will once again be the leading man on the blue line. His blazing shot and great puck movement makes him a threat offensively, especially on the power play, where he picked up 7 goals and 20 points last season. Ryan Suter will also be huge in shutting down the blue line. He’s entering only his sixth season in the league, but has already proven he is very valuable to the Predators on defense.

The loss of Dan Hamhuis is big for Nashville, but the team will be hoping that young defenseman such as Cody Franson and Ryan Parent can step up into a bigger role. Their development, along with that of Kevin Klein, will be huge for the defensive depth of this squad. Regardless, you can still expect Weber and Suter to see a lot of ice time, and will be relied on heavily for their shut down capabilities.

Goaltending:

Pekka Rinne will be back between the pipes this season. He posted great numbers last year as the starter, including 32 wins, a .911 save percentage, 2.53 goals against average, and seven shutouts. Rinne has been a solid goaltender for Nashville, and we should expect to see more of the same this season.

Season Outlook:

While the Nashville Predators have never been the most skilled team, coach Barry Trotz always knows how to rally the troops for a great season. Last year was no exception, as the club finished with 100 points and grabbed the 7th seed in the playoffs. Losing players like Dan Hamhuis and Jason Arnott will be tough to overcome, but the addition of Matthew Lombardi will help tremendously. You won’t see the Predators turning heads this season, but behind the strong play of their defense and goaltender, the Predators could quietly put together another outstanding season. Expect them to battle for, and earn, one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference.

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Hockey World Blog Season Previews 2010: Chicago Blackhawks

Sep 29

Posted by EB in Season Previews | No Comments

Key Offseason Losses: Antti Niemi, Andrew Ladd, John Madden, Brent Sopel, Ben Eager, Dustin Byfuglien, Cristobal Huet

Key Offseason Additions: Ryan Potulny, Marty Turco

Last Season Ranking: 2nd, West. Stanley Cup Champions

Offense: Much is to be desired about the defending Stanley Cup Champions and their offensive power. Young leaders Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane had very good stats last season. Toews was one point shy of his career high posting 68 points in 76 games and a very impressive +22 rating. Kane however did go above and beyond his previous career high of 72 points, only to match his player number at 88 points. That total came from 30 goals and 58 assists, 29 of those points on the powerplay.

The team however has lost a lot of talent, mainly to the Atlanta Thrashers in a 7 man deal, but still looks to compete in this upcoming season and defend their reigning title. Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa need to have another excellent year to help carry the load. Sharp alos had a career high of 66 points last season, while Hossa nearly had a career low with only 51 points. Hossa was battling injuries from his head to his toes last season, but if healthy, could very well reach numbers in the 70 and up range.

Defense: What a great year for Duncan Keith last season. A career high of 69 points, loses almost all his teeth, and a Stanley Cup ring. Keith will be the backbone of the defense and will most likely be the leading time on ice player for the Blackhawks.

The rest of the defending core needs to step up this year. Young Niklas Hjalmarsson looks to improve upon his first career full season, 17 points in 77 games and a +9 rating. Injury plagued Brian Campbell looks to play a full season and returning to his once 50+ point season days. Lastly, Brent Seabrook will be given more time on ice after his 30 point, +20 season last year.

Sure Andrew Ladd may not be with team, as many other players, still you cannot count out the young and talented Chicago Blackhawks for a reapeat.

Sure Andrew Ladd may not be with team, as many other players, still you cannot count out the young and talented Chicago Blackhawks for a repeat.

Goaltending: If there ever was a question of GM Stan Bowman’s decisions, it lies in the goalie fiasco. Cristobal Huet is heading to the Swiss league and Antti Niemi is now on Conference rival the San Jose Sharks. Together, two combined for a 52-21-8 record. That is a whole lot of wins gone out the door.

The Blackhawks instead have decided to sign veteran, on his way out of the league, Marty Turco. Turco has spent all his days in the Dallas Stars organization, so it will be interesting to see how he fares with a new team. In Turco’s career he has a 262-154-37 record, as well as 26 ties in there from the old days, as well as a combined 2.31 goals against average and .911 save percentage.

Since Turco is not quite a young whipper snapper, backup net-minder Corey Crawford will get more playing time this season.  With only 8 game splayed in 3 seasons, it sure will be interesting to see how he does with more time. Crawford is a butterfly goalie excelling at stopping the first initial shot.

Season Outlook: It is tough to say what to expect from the reigning Stanley Cup Champions the Chicago Blackhawks. Indeed the team went all out last season in going for victory or nothing, but the team still does have a talented, young core of players. Many fans have written them off this year, however once they make the playoffs, anything can happen in a 7 game series.

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Hockey World Blog Season Previews 2010: St. Louis Blues

Sep 27

Posted by Matt in Season Previews | 1 Comment

David Perron could have a break out season this year for St. Louis

David Perron could have a break out season this year for St. Louis

Key Offseason Losses: Chris Mason, Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk

Key Offseason Additions: Jaroslav Halak, T.J. Hensick, Vladimir Sobotka

Last Season Ranking: 9th in West

Offense:

The St. Louis Blues will continue forward this season without two of their greatest veteran leaders from the past few years. Keith Tkachuk played his final NHL game last season, and Paul Kariya will sit out the entire season due to post-concussion syndrome (and remains an unrestricted free agent). While the Blues lose a combined 31 goals and 75 points from those two players, this will provide a great opportunity for the young members of the team to finally break out and prove they can carry the load.

A lot of pressure will be put on Brad Boyes to succeed this season. His 76 goals from 2007-09 have become an afterthought as he was only able to bury 14 last season, despite playing a full 82 games. Playing alongside someone like Andy McDonald or Alex Steen should give him the perfect opportunity to rebound this year, as both are skilled playmakers. McDonald lead the Blues in points last season with 57, including 22 points on the power play. He’s had injury trouble in the past but returned to his old form last season, playing in 79 games. Steen, on the other hand, missed 14 games last season, but still managed to post career highs in goals (24), points (47) and plus/minus (+6). He will surely see some pressure to keep up that pace as well.

Youngsters such as T.J. Oshie, David Perron, and Patrik Berglund will all be expected to improve their game this season. Each player is extremely talented, and with Kariya and Tkachuk out of the picture, each will take on a larger role with the squad. While every one of these guys is capable of having a real break out season this year, I expect the quick and hard hitting T.J. Oshie to really make an impact. He’ll be entering only his 3rd season in the NHL, but should now have a good idea of what his role on the young team will be.

Defense:

Leading the way on the blue line will be Erik Johnson and former Calder Trophy winner Barret Jackman. These guys will be relied on heavily to shut down the oppositions top weapons, as well as moving the puck quickly to get it into the hands of their skilled forwards. Johnson will surely see time on the power play, along with guys like Carlo Colaiacovo and Erik Brewer. Roman Polak and Alex Pietrangelo will also battle hard to earn lots of playing time, with Polak looking to increase his offensive production.

Goaltending:

Taking over in net this season for the Blues will be newcomer Jaroslav Halak. After playing a strong season in Montreal, Halak finished even better in the playoffs. Not only did he help knock off the President’s Trophy winning Washington Capitals, but he also played well in defeating the former Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. This was a terrific signing for the Blues, and he should help the team out significantly. If Halak falters at any point, Ty Conklin will be there to provide a steady back up.

Season Outlook:

Things are looking up for the St. Louis Blues. The youngsters are hungry for a return trip to the playoffs, after narrowly missing the mark last year. While they will miss the veteran leadership of Kariya and Tkachuk, Andy McDonald will be there to take the reigns. Health will be a big concern, as it typically is, but a few of these guys should step up and have terrific seasons. The Western Conference is always tough to battle in, but with the addition of Halak in net, I think the Blues could have what it takes to grab an 8th seed in the playoffs.

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Hockey World Blog Season Previews 2010: Columbus Blue Jackets

Sep 27

Posted by Eddie in Season Previews | No Comments

Key Offseason Losses:Manny Malhotra, Michael Peca

Key Offseason Additions:Nate Guenin, Ethan Moreau, Kyle Wilson, Nikita Filatov

Last Season Ranking: 14th, West

Offense:It’s all about Rich Nash for the Blue Jackets. One of the most talented players in the league, he needs some help in order to succeed in Columbus. He had help when they made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history two years ago, but that’s slowly going further out the rear-view mirror. There’s signs of potential offensive talent surrounded around him this time around. Despite struggling last season, Antoine Vermette is coming off his career-best season when he scored 27 goals and 65 points. They have the potential to have a functional top six outside of Nash and Vermette, with R.J. Umberger playing on the right side of the top line and the second line of Kristian Huselius, Derick Brassard, and Jakub Voracek. If Brassard can get atleast 50 points (he had 36 last season), then the Blue Jackets finally will have depth at forward. Also look for additions Nikita Filatov and Ethan Moreau to provide depth in the third-fourth lines. The X-factor will be Chris Clark. Clark was captain of the Capitals when he was traded to the Blue Jackets last season. He helps provide veteran leadership in the locker room despite Nash wearing the C. The big question for him is, was he the benefit of playing on a good team (15 pts in 38 games in Washington, and 5 pts in 36 games with Columbus) or does he have the skill set to contribute on a less talented team with a full season with them?

 Defense:This is a defensive unit that doesn’t move the puck very well. They will get some points from time to time, but just about all of them are stay-at-home defenders. Anton Stralman was the top scoring defenseman with 34 points last season, but the downside to him and just about the rest of the team is the poor +/- rating. Stralman and Brassard had a team-worse -17 rating last season. Only third line defenseman Kris Russell had a plus-rating out of the top six defenseman and he only had a +3 rating in 70 games. Look for the team to make trades during the season to get someone who can possess and move the puck to help in the transition game.

Which Steve Mason will show up this season? If he's more like the one his rookie season, expect Columbus to be better than they were last season.

Which Steve Mason will show up this season? If he's more like the one his rookie season, expect Columbus to be better than they were last season.

Goaltending:There isn’t a player whose stock dropped further and faster last season than Steve Mason. Mason won the Calder Tophy and was a candidate for the Vezina Award in 2009 when he led Columbus to the playoffs. Last season, he was one of the worse goalies in the league. Opponents eventually figured him out and they lit the lamp a lot as he had a 3.04 GAA last season. He can only help the team if he can be half or two-thirds of the goalie he was his rookie season. He will carry majority of the playing load, and if he struggles they have one of the more reliable backups in the league in Mathieu Garon. Expect Mason to enter this season with better conditioning, focus and a sense of humility after falling back to Earth last season. Should he rebound and play better in goal, you heard it here first.

Season Outlook:It’s hard expecting this team to make the playoffs because they play in arguably the hardest division in the league. The division winner has advanced to the Western Conference Finals each of the last four seasons, producing two Stanley Cup champions in the process. With everyone else in the division getting better and the Blue Jackets being one of the lesser-spending teams in the league, the deck is stacked against them to begin with. They have the talent up front and in goal to compete, but the defense is what will doom them. Expect them to finish last in the division and maybe even the conference.

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Hockey World Blog Season Previews 2010: Edmonton Oilers

Sep 25

Posted by Eddie in Season Previews | No Comments

Kep Offseason Losses: Ethan Moreau, Patrick O’Sullivan, Fernando Pisani, Mike Comrie

Key Offseason Additions: Taylor Hall, Kurtis Foster, Alexandre Giroux, Colin Fraser

Last Season Ranking: 15th place, West

Number one draft pick Taylor Hall is projected to play on the second line to begin the season. Only time will tell how soon he will graduate to the top line in Edmonton.

Number one draft pick Taylor Hall is projected to play on the second line to begin the season. Only time will tell how soon he will graduate to the top line in Edmonton.

Offense: If there was any consolation for finishing DFL (if you don’t know what DFL means, see definition #1 here), GM Steve Tambellini was able to start the rebuilding process with number one draft pick Taylor Hall. Hall will be a full-time player in the league this season, expect him to start on the second line with Sam Gagner and Jordan Eberle. Gagner failed to match the production of his 49-point rookie season two years ago. If he ends up playing with Hall full-time, look for both of those players to score a lot of points. The top line is expected to be Dustin Penner, Shawn Horcoff, and Ales Hemsky. If Hall starts out playing well and Penner struggles, don’t be surprised if new head coach Tom Renney will put the rookie on the top line.  The Oilers possess more youth than a college freshman orientation class, and must do better than their 27th ranking of 2.51 goals per game.

Defense: It’s scary for a team going into a season when you had the worse goals-against average the season before. Even more scary is when you lost your primary two-way forwards (Moreau and Pisani) and the top six forwards are more one-dimensional than two. The top four defenseman are Tom Gilbert, Sheldon Souray, Ryan Whitney, and Kurtis Foster. What each of them lack is size and a shutdown mentality. Looks like the Oilers will have to win a lot of high scoring games in order to compete.

Goaltending: Who knows who will be in goal for the Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin signed a four-year, $15 million deal before last season. That turned out to be a mistake then he appeared in 18 games and suffered a back injury. The team allowed him to rehab in Phoenix where he was arrested for DUI. With his legal troubles and back injury lingering over the team’s head, they have to rely on Jeff Deslauriers and Devan Dubnyk. Dubnyk is the goalie of the future in Edmonton. He is young (24 years old), still new to the NHL game (19 games played), and has the size needed to cover the crease (6-foot-5, 200 pounds). Look for Dubnyk and Deslauriers to split time to determine the true No. 1 goalie if Khabibulin can’t play this season.

Season Outlook:Renney must change his style according to his players, which is what former bench boss Pay Quinn failed to do. Quinn tried to use the youth to play an up-tempo style until he realized they weren’t really good at it. He then tried to play a conservative forecheck system until that blew up in his face as well. Depending on how his team begins the season, Renney has to use the players to his advantage and play the style most suitable for his team. Edmonton has what it takes to become a playoff team in the future, but don’t expect them to make the playoffs this season. Look for them to finish anywhere between 11th and 13th in the conference.

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Hockey World Blog Season Previews 2010: Colorado Avalanche

Sep 24

Posted by Chris in Season Previews | No Comments

Key Offseason Losses: Brett Clark, T.J. Hensick, Ruslan Salei

Key Offseason Additions: None

Last Season Ranking: 8th in West

Offense:

At age 24, with only four NHL seasons under his belt, Paul Stastny is one of the “veterans” of this team. He is a gifted playmaker capable of producing nearly 80 points in a solid, healthy season and will be one of the main offensive contributors again this season. But Stastny will have good company in rookie-of-the-year nominee Matt Duchene (pictured). With 24 goals last season, Duchene will be a pivotal player this season as the team looks for him to take a step forward into the 70-80 point range and avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. Duchene has the speed and the skill to excel and, along with Stastny, will be a pivotal part of this offense for seasons to come.

article_28554_2Additional scoring will come from Chris Stewart and Milan Hejduk. Stewart posted a career best 64 points last season, which was also good enough for second on the team in total points. Hejduk, steady as always, provides a real veteran presence and should be back up to 60 points this year if he stays injury-free.

The real X-Factor on this team could be Peter Mueller. After a steady rookie season with Phoenix, Mueller failed to develop and reach his full potential until he was traded last season to Colorado. Upon his arrival, Mueller posted nine goals and 11 assists in only 15 games before getting sidelined with injuries. Will Mueller continue to progress into one of the leading scorers for the Avalanche, or will he again regress into mediocrity as he did with Phoenix?

Defense:

Young talent plowed the path on defense last season and Colorado will hope for more of the same this year. Ryan Wilson led the team with a plus-13 at only 23-years-old while Kyle Quincey was right behind with a plus-9. These two young players could develop into the defenseman of the future for Colorado, especially with veterans like captain Adam Foote and John-Michael Lyles helping guide these youngsters. But with the loss of veteran Brett Clark in the offseason, Colorado will need more players to step up their game defensively.

Goaltending:

Craig Anderson, previously dismissed as a career backup, showed the NHL why he deserves a starting spot last season. With 38 wins last season and a 2.64 goals against average last season, Anderson was a huge reason for the success of the Avalanche. However, Anderson also started 71 games last season which was a big increase in his workload from previous seasons. Fatigue could definitely become a concern if Anderson is called upon to do more of the same this year. While backup netminder Peter Budaj is a capable goaltender, if Anderson regresses this season the team could be in trouble.

Season Outlook:

The Avalanche managed to finish 8th in the Western Conference last season after many critics counted them out for being too young and inexperienced. This season, instead of bringing in million-dollar free agent signings, the Avalanche decided to keep their roster mostly in tact and allow their young up-and-coming stars to thrive and learn first hand what it takes to be successful in the NHL. That being said, Colorado’s success this season depends mostly upon their young core’s ability to improve and continue taking steps forward with their play. If key players like Stewart and Duchene fail to maintain the same high level of play, this team could be in trouble – especially in a tightly contested Western Conference where there are several very good teams fighting for playoff spots. Many of those teams got better in the offseason while Colorado is relying on their youngsters to keep pace. Despite having several very talented young players, the Avalanche could find themselves fighting heavily for a playoff spot at the end of the season.

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Hockey World Blog Season Previews 2010: Minnesota Wild

Sep 23

Posted by EB in Season Previews | 14 Comments

Key Offseason Losses: Derek Boogard, Owen Nolan

Key Offseason Additions: John Madden, Matt Cullen

Last Season Ranking: 13th, West

Captain Mikko Koivu looks to lead a rebuilding Minnesota Wild this year to a less than likely post season appearance.

Captain Mikko Koivu looks to lead a rebuilding Minnesota Wild this year to a less than likely post season appearance.

Offense: The Minnesota Wild have a 1-2-3 punch in captain Mikko Koivu, Martin Havlat and Andrew Brunette. Koivu and Havlat are both balanced players capable of putting the puck in the net while Brunette is a good set up man.

Antti Miettinen, new addition Matt Cullen and winger Guillaume Latendresse are also key roles for the team. Miettinen should reach the 40 point mark if not even more this season. Cullen will be the pivotal tool for the team’s second line, netting only 16 goals last season, but adding 32 assists between both the Carolina Hurricanes and the Ottawa Senators. Latendresse, since coming to Minnesota, has really clicked posting 37 points in 55 games played. Latendresse is really an under rated player and should be considered for depth in any fantasy team.

From there another true player worth watching, partly because of the name, the other part of his physical play style, is Cal Clutterbuck. If Clutterbuck can stay healthy, the team may have a decent three lines that should help the team in close games.

Defense: You can guarantee veteran Marek Zidlicky will post at least 40 points this upcoming season. Brent Burns looks to stay healthy after playing reduced schedules in his last two seasons and Nick Schultz looks to do better than his previous seasons career high of 20 points. The remaining 3 defenseman look to add some talent as well as a lock down defense keeping the shots toa minnimum.

Goaltending: Niklas Backstrom will be the number one goalie again with Josh Harding normally backing him up, however harding has recently torn an ACL and MCL and is expected to be out for a bit leaving either Anton Khudobin or Wade Dubielewicz to see NHL play time.

Backstrom has had trouble fighting with back problems last season, but if healthy, could put up some decent statistics. Those statistics though will come in the likes of save percentage only, as with the lack of depth in the defense, Backstrom will be facing a lot of shots this seasons. If you do happen to pick him up on your fantasy team, play him as your number two goalie, and watch for good match-ups as it is very possible he could rebound from a poor season last year in shutouts. He only had 2 shutouts last season, a career low, but two seasons ago he had 8.

Season Outlook: The Minnesota Wild are still one to two players away from a competitive team, which not only sucks for the fans, but the team itself. Strong minded players will determine if the team is competitive or not on a day to day basis, but it is highly unlikely that the Wild will make the post season this year. Watch them for what it is worth and try not to worry too much, you could be a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. The Wild are developing and should be back in the mix in a few years.

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Hockey World Blog Season Previews 2010: Calgary Flames

Sep 22

Posted by Eddie in Season Previews | 1 Comment

Expect Jarome Iginla and the Calgary Flames to bounce back offensively when they ranked 29th in goal scoring last season.

Expect Jarome Iginla and the Calgary Flames to bounce back offensively when they ranked 29th in goal scoring last season.

Key Offseason Losses: Nigel Dawes, Christopher Higgins, Eric Nystrom, Brett Palin

Key Offseason Additions: Alex Tanguay, Olli Jokinen, Tim Jackman, Henrik Karlsson

Last Season Ranking: Ninth, West

Offense: This is the area where they can’t get any worse. One of the worse scoring teams in the entire league last season, the Flames have to improve. They started the season well, when they had 19 wins and 41 points in 30 games. Then the wheels came off the scoring wagon when they played the other 52 games with 21 wins. GM Darryl Sutter’s main goal for the off season was to add scoring. He couldn’t find a sniper or playmaker, but in adding Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen added players who was good 3-4 years ago but struggled recently. Captain Jarome Iginla should have a bounce-back season just like everyone else with the flaming C on their chest. He failed to score in the last 12 games and barely reached 30 goals. Expect him to score at least 35 goals this season. If the offense can play like thhe top-10 team they were in 2009, they can become a dangerous team in the postseason.

Defense: When coach Brett Sutter took over for Mike Keenan last season, his focus was to make the team better defensively. He accomplished that in his first year. They were fifth in goals against last season, a far improvement from 23rd in 2009 under Keenan. They are also going for a balanced defensive system with their top three defensemen anchoring each of the lines with someone from the bottom three. They return Robyn Regehr who is now fully recovered from a knee injury. The top blue line pairing is likely to be Jay Bouwmeester and Ian White. Both are solid and should see time on special teams. The third defensive pairing of Mark Giordano and Cory Sarich is functional enough to score key goals when necessary.

Goaltending: Similiar to when I wrote last week about Jonas Hiller and Anaheim, Mikka Kiprusoff is a given to play at least 70-plus games for Calgary. What they have tried-and failed- to do in recent season was find a suitable backup to take some of the load off Kiprusoff. The revolving door of backup goalies has fallen to Henrik Karlsson this season. Karlsson is a big goalie at 6-6 and 215 pounds. He was in the San Jose system last season. Top prospect Leland Irving is still a couple years away from being a full-time goalie and still needs to prove he can hold his weight in the AHL instead of bouncing back and forth between the AHL and ECHL.

Season Outlook: This is Darryl Sutter’s time to shine season. He’s been over six years since he guided the Flames to the Stanley Cup finals in his first season as GM. They haven’t won a playoff series since. Fanbases in Canada don’t give their GM’s a lifetime free pass, as you can see teams like Edmonton and Vancouver have gone through multiple GM’s since Sutter have been in charge. You can argue Vancouver is a better team than Calgary, and at least Edmonton has been to a final since 2004 and have changed general managers in recent years. Expect Calgary to be better on offense, and do enough to make the playoffs and hopefully win a series.

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Making the Ice at Bridgestone Arena

Sep 21

Posted by Eddie in Media | No Comments

Interesting video I found on NHL.com. If you have never seen how ice is laid down at an arena prior to the season beginning, check out this video of how the ice is laid down in Nashville.

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