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College Hockey Preview: Part 2

Oct 6

Posted by Eddie in Prospects, Season Previews | 1 Comment

Editor’s Note: Part 1 of the College Hockey Preview can be found here.

Yesterday the “small” three conferences were previewed. Today, the “big” three conferences are previewed.

Hockey East: Terriers Hope to eat Competition Again

Boston University won the National Championship in one of the greatest hockey games you will ever see. With an extra-attacker on the ice and trailing Miami 3-1, the Terriers scored twice in the final minute and took the title 11:47 in the first OT period to win the title for the first time since 1995. In one of the toughest conferences in the nation, the Terriers received six of the 10 first-place votes in the coaches poll. In addition to the Terriers, look for UMass-Lowell and  Boston College attempt to dethrone Boston U with Vermont leading the rest of the teams in the conference.

CCHA: Both Coaches and Media Hail to the Victors in Michigan

Michigan forward Louie Caporusso hopes to lead the Wolverines to the Frozen Four at Ford Field in April.

Michigan forward Louie Caporusso hopes to lead the Wolverines to the Frozen Four at Ford Field in April.

For the first time in four years, both the coaches and media agree on the same team in the preseason poll. The Wolverines are always a favorite in the conference, as they have qualified for the NCAA Tournament 19 years in a row. That is quite an astonishing streak considering the amount of turnover due to graduations and players turning professional. Like Michigan State in basketball, Michigan hockey has the chance to play for a national title in its own backyard as it’s only 44 miles from Yost Ice Arena to Ford Field. Look for Miami and Notre Dame to challenge Michigan at the top of the standings, with Miami taking the tournament championship.

WCHA: Pioneers are Head of the Class

Denver finished last season with a bad taste in its mouth. One of the top teams in the nation, they lost to #5 seed Minnesota- Duluth in the WCHA Championship game. The following weekend they lost in the first round to eventual runners-up Miami. The Pioneers look to bounce back in what was a down year for the league as only three teams qualified for the tournament. A sharp contrast compared to 2005 when five teams qualified and all Frozen Four participants came from the WCHA. There’s several teams that can challenge the Pioneers, including Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Look for the Badgers to take the conference title this season.

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College Hockey Preview: Part 1

Oct 5

Posted by Eddie in Prospects, Season Previews | 2 Comments

The NHL started its season last week. This week, the collegians begin the 2009-10 season as 58 teams will try to achieve the same goal: compete for a National Championship at the 2009 Men’s Frozen Four at Ford Field in Detroit. There are several teams that are always in contention for the title. Teams such as Minnesota, Michigan, Miami University, and defending champion Boston University almost always qualify for the 16-team NCAA Tournament like basketball counterparts Duke, Michigan State, UCLA, Kansas and North Carolina. Here’s a preview of what to expect in each of the three small conferences. Check back tomorrow for previews of the three big conferences: CCHA, WCHA, and Hockey East

ECAC: Bulldogs are Favored in Both Polls

Last season, Yale won both the regular-season and conference championships. They earned a #2 seed in the East Regional before losing in the first round to Vermont. Both the coaches and media are picking the Bulldogs to repeat. They return virtually all of their offense as each of their top-ten scorers return for this season. While Yale is the favorite, don’t sleep on contenders Cornell and Princeton.

Atlantic Hockey: Air Force Looks to Keep Flying High

Air Force has qualified for the NCAA Tournament each of the last three seasons. Last season, they tied for the regular-season championship with RIT, but it was the Falcons who not only won the Atlantic Hockey Tournament, but upset #4 seed Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Falcons are picked to win the conference again this season, but expect the Tigers and Mercyhurst Lakers to take a shot at knocking down the Falcons.

Bemidji State will have to go through Niagra if they want to achieve the same magic as last season.

Bemidji State will have to go through Niagra if they want to achieve the same magic as last season.

College Hockey America: Beavers and Purple Eagles Split Final CHA Preseason Poll

In the final season of College America, Bemidji State and Niagra are head of the class while Robert Morris and Alabama- Huntsville follow behind. With four teams in the conference, it feels like a band going out on tour one last time before disbanding. The Beavers are going to the WCHA next season, while Robert Morris and Niagra are moving to Atlantic Hockey. The Chargers are still looking for a conference after being denied by the CCHA over the summer. The Beavers were the Cinderella team last season, advancing to the Frozen Four in Washington D.C. as a #4 seed. Only one team will come out of this conference, will the Beavers qualify again? Will the Purple Eagles want some of the Cinderella magic the Beavers had this season? Expect Bemidji State to take the conference title again.

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Hockey World Blog picks the winners

Oct 1

Posted by Chris in Round Table, Season Previews | 4 Comments

Throughout the month of September, the members of Hockey World Blog deconstructed the strengths, weaknesses and off-season acquisitions of all 30 NHL teams as they finalize their rosters and prepare for the 2009-10 season. Now we offer our predictions for who will lead the league by seasons end. Who will come out on top in each division? And ultimately, which team will be left standing long enough to hoist the Stanley Cup in June? Here’s what we think:

Chris

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic: This could be the toughest division in the East, but the Flyers have good, young talent and got a whole lot tougher during the off-season. Their blue line looks better with Pronger and Emery could be a surprise in net. The Flyers will take the Atlantic.
  • Northeast: The Bruins are the complete package – good defense, unselfish offense and solid goaltending. The Bruins will skate through the competition without a doubt.
  • Southeast: While the division is slowly improving, nobody can match the scoring power of the Washington Capitals. The Caps could do some serious damage this year.

Who could win the Cup: The Boston Bruins have a great team that has failed to make a significant impact in the post-season in recent years. Attribute it to injuries or lack of toughness or what you will, the Bruins are resilient and play hard and tough every night. Not only can this team put the puck in the net, they all work hard to keep it out of their own net. Last season, 11 players were plus-15 or better. With team scoring leader Marc Savard a potential free agent at season’s end, and with the team tight up against the cap, it’s do or die for the Bruins this season.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: Arguably the best division in hockey, my money is still on Detroit. Experience and great leadership, plus an infusion of young, hungry talent, will propel this team.
  • Northwest: The Sedin twins and Roberto Luongo all signed long-term? With the addition of puck-moving defenseman like Schneider and Ehrhoff, the Vancouver Canucks look better on both ends of the rink. This team could be scary.
  • Pacific: This could be a close one, but San Jose should be able to edge Anaheim for the division title. San Jose has good offensive depth and strong goaltending. If Thornton and Heatley click as linemates, watch out.

Who could win the Cup: Quack…quack…quack…Not only are the Ducks big and physical, they have strong depth at all positions. The loss of Chris Pronger will be offset by the addition of Ryan Whitney and James Wisniewski, who are both offensively-minded and defensively talented. Koivu, Lupol, Selanne and Ryan all provide excellent scoring depth in addition to Perry and Getzlaf on the top line. These guys are big and tough and thrive on physical play. If Giguere falters in net, the Ducks have a stellar back-up in Jonas Hiller. This team has what it takes to win.

Chris’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Anaheim Ducks

As a Wings fan, I want to put the Red Wings’ name in that line, and I hope I’m wrong in my prediction, but the fact of the matter is that the Anaheim Ducks are big, powerful and know how to score goals. Sure, they lost Chris Pronger, but they offset his absence with offensive depth and still boast a solid defensive corps. Add in the one-two punch of Jonas Hiller and J. S. Giguere in net and you have a lot of work on your hands if you want to put the puck in their net. If the Ducks begin to fly together, do other teams in the West have what it takes to break them apart?

Eric

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic: With their already deep depth from the previous year, as well as the additions of big defenseman Chris Pronger and wild card Ray Emery, I am going to have to go with the Philadephia Flyers.
  • Northeast: Come on Ottawa! They have added so much talent during the off season, as well as getting rid of unhappy Dany Heatley, they have an amazing team this year on paper and the ability to live up to those numbers. Plus a healthy Pascal Leclaire should be the answers to their goalie troubles.
  • Southeast: Besides the Washington Capitals, is there anyone really worth watching in this division? No there is not, and that is why I choose the Washington Capitals.

Who could win the Cup: This is a tough one, but I will have to say the Philadelphia Flyers. They have the size, grit and talent of every aspect of the game, it is hard not to choose them. The only potential weakness could be of new goaltender Ray Emery, but I have a feeling he will be a great fit in Philly and will do great.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: Although I do feel the Chicago Blackhawks have added some amazing talent over the off-season, I still feel the Detroit Red Wings are the dominant team. The Wings have lost some big named players, but in previous years they have proven their young players coming up from Grand Rapids are NHL caliber players.
  • Northwest: Having some of the best hockey fans in the NHL, the Calgary Flames look to build upon their 7th guy and go for it all. Captain Jarome Iginla does it all, fighting, point scoring and penalty killing. Big defenseman Dion Phaneuf is already laying on the big hit in the pre-season, what more could you ask for? A solid goaltender in Mikka Kiprusoff will provide the big saves to win the game as well. Calgary will be tough.
  • Pacific: I would love to say the Phoenix Coyotes, but that would be completely wrong. Maybe almost as far fetched, I am going with the Dallas Stars. They have amazing depth and talented players, as well as some very attractive ice girls. I do believe they have a good chance as long as they stay healthy, which has been a problem in previous years.

Who could win the Cup: Despite losing many talented players, the Detroit Red Wings are still a threat in any 7 game series. A team that turns the other cheek and then smirks as they score on the power play, Detroit is a well disciplined and talented team. The team is comprised of some of the best players in the game today, as well as up and coming talent. The only concern as with every team, is the ability to stay healthy throughout the whole season and playoffs.

Eric’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Philadelphia Flyers

The Broad Street Bullies are back and will be the real deal this season. The whole team is tough. Daniel Carcillo lead the league last year in penalty minutes. Big defenseman Chris Pronger will be skating with the team this year and will provide grit and a lock down defensive play style. Goaltender Ray Emery is on a mission from the previous year playing overseas in the KHL.  Veteran players such as Danny Briere, Simon Gagne and Kimmo Timonen will provide leadership in the playoffs. All of them will be lead by one of my favorite players, Captain Mike Richards. The Philadelphia Flyers will also be playing in the Winter Classic this year which would hype any team up. Do not be surprised when they win it because they are built to win the Stanley Cup this year.

Eddie

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic: The defending cup champion Pittsburgh will have the infamous “Stanley Cup Hangover” early on, but will get things together to take the division away from Philadelphia and New Jersey after the Olympic Break. It will be interesting to see how well they play under a full season under Dan Bylsma.
  • Northeast: Boston is simply the best team in this division. They dominated last season and they got better. Montreal and Buffalo will try to make a run but will come up short.
  • Southeast: Similiar to Boston in the Northeast, Washington is the clear favorite. Watch out for Florida and Carolina to make the division race closer than it was last season.

Who could win the Cup: Like how last season was Sidney Crosby’s year to win, this could be the same for Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin has won every other major award but the one that’s most important. A team that only got better with the additions of Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison, I like for the Capitals to get over the Pittsburgh hill and reach the Stanley Cup finals.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: If Chicago wants to be taken seriously by Detroit, they have to win the division this year. If Chicago doesn’t win it this season, who knows if they ever will. The Blackhawks and the Red Wings will be in the two-team race all season, with the younger Blackhawks wanting it more.
  • Northwest: If Mikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla can pickup their game from last season, this can be Calgary’s division. Whats working in Calgary’s favor is the home ice advantage at the Saddledome and Vancouver’s NHL-Record 14-game road trip before and after the Olympic Break.
  • Pacific: San Jose is everyone’s pick to win this division. While the Sharks and Dallas Stars can be in talks to win the division, the big question is can Anaheim play the way they played the second half of last season throughout the 2009-10 season? Expect the Ducks to take the division title.

Who could win the Cup: Like in the Eastern Conference, this could be the year of the young super stars. That is what will keep the Red Wings from advancing to the finals. Anaheim has Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry. Chicago has Jonathan Towes and Patrick Kane. Expect the Blackhawks to lift the Clarence Campbell Bowl for the first time since 1992.

Eddie’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Washington Capitals

When this season is over, the title of Marian Hossa’s autobiography will be “Close But No Cigar: How I Got To Three Consecutive Stanley Cup Finals Without Winning.” Hossa will play in another Stanley Cup final with the Blackhawks, but this time he will see Alexander Ovechkin raise the Cup over his head.

Matt

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic: While the Penguins are defending Stanley Cup Champions, they won’t have what it takes to get it done during the regular season this year. Philadelphia got bigger and stronger during the off-season, and a healthy Daniel Briere will lead them to a division title.
  • Northeast: The loss of Phil Kessel and Aaron Ward won’t do much harm to the Boston Bruins. They return enough experience to claim another division title.
  • Southeast: The Capitals are another year older, another year wiser, and another year hungrier. Alex Ovechkin and his crew will run away with this one.

Who could win the Cup: The past two seasons have ended in disappointment for the Washington Capitals, but that could all change this season. They have one of the hungriest groups of players ever, and with their free agent signings, are a clear choice in the East.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: As everyone expects the Blackhawks to oust the Red Wings and claim a division championship, the Wings find themselves in the exact position they want to be in – the underdog. Chicago and goalie Cristobal Huet falter under pressure and the Detroit takes the division once again.
  • Northwest: Vancouver added some tremendous depth to their team via trade and free agency. They will own the Northwest Division this season.
  • Pacific: Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley will be absolutely lethal in San Jose, but Anaheim will pick up where they left off last season and take the division.

Who could win the Cup: Detroit’s young players have more experience in the playoffs than they do in the regular season. This should benefit them come April, May and June as they march to a third consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearance.

Matt’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are eager to prove last year was a fluke and they are still among the NHL’s most elite, while the Capitals are the hungriest to prove they have what it takes to raise Lord Stanley. It will will be a battle, but the stifling defense of Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski will shut down the most potent scorers in the league and claim their second Stanley Cup in three years.

Detroit Red Wings

Sep 30

Posted by Chris in Season Previews | No Comments

The Detroit Red Wings have arguable been the most successful franchise in the NHL since the lockout and the formation of the “new” salary-cap era. This past summer, however, the once invincible-looking Red Wings seemingly took a huge step back as they lost several players to free agency – including Marian Hossa, who opted to sign with Central division rival the Chicago Blackhawks. Before proclaiming that the age of the Winged Wheel has ended in the Central Division, however, you need to remind yourself of three things about the Wings: They still sport some of the best defensive depth in the NHL, they have an incredible knack for overcoming adversity and they won the Cup in 2007-08 with a roster that looks pretty similar to their current one.80538014GS010_NASHVILLE_PRE

Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg will again be called upon to lead the Red Wings up front this season. After a sluggish regular season, Zetterberg upped the ante in the playoffs and finished with 24 points in 23 games, including 11 goals. Zetterberg should have no problem bumping right back up to 80-90 points this season. Datsyuk, calm and shifty as ever, should be able to leave some nagging injuries from the playoffs behind him and perhaps become the first Red Wing to score 100 points in a single season since Sergei Federov. These are two of the best forwards, and often most overlooked forwards, in the NHL right now.

Budding stars like Valtteri Filppula and Johan Franzen will be called upon to fill help lead the secondary offense and fill the voids left be departed free agents. Franzen, who had 34 goals last season, needs to put in a consistent effort night in and night out. Under those circumstances, Franzen could easily top the 40-goal mark and could be a fantasy hockey sleeper, especially if he gets significant time on the top line with Datsyuk. Filppula, the Finnish center who often shows flashes of brilliance, also needs to show more consistency throughout the entire season.

While the free-agent additions of former Red Wings Todd Bertuzzi and Jason Williams baffled some, others believe they will certainly help establish more offensive depth for the Red Wings. Jason Williams has had a stellar pre-season thus far and looks right at home with his old Red Wings teammates and could be a dangerous threat playing the point on the second power play unit. Todd Bertuzzi came into training camp looking fit and feeling healthy. If he can find his hands near the net, expect big contributions out of him playing the wing alongside Zetterberg. Bertuzzi’s big question mark is health, however. The big man needs to find a way to stay out of the press box and stay on the bench with his teammates.

The Red Wings defense is scary good, but needs to tighten up some if they are to go deep into the playoffs. Defensive lapses hurt this team last year, but an abundance of scoring power propelled the Wings to more wins than they might have had otherwise. Both forwards and defenseman alike need to tighten up their game if they are to stay on top of the Central division. But with veterans like Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski leading the pack, and players like Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson making names for themselves quickly, this defense still looks to be at the top of their game and should be able to contain even the fiercest offenses in the Western Conference.

Goaltending remains somewhat of a question mark for this organization. Chris Osgood had a subpar regular season only to turn up his play to Conn Smyth caliber in the post season last year. Which goalie will show up when the puck drops later this week? Jimmy Howard, the new backup goaltender replacing Ty Conklin, has looked soft in several of his NHL contests in previous seasons. Howard will get plenty of opportunities to show his stuff, however, as he is slated to play around 30 games behind Ozzie. It’s do or die for Howard, who the Red Wings have billed as the goalie of the future for several seasons. The future is now for the Wings.

The future certainly is now when you consider that Darren Helm, Ville Leino and Jonathan Ericsson are all considered rookies this year despite the fact that Helm and Ericsson played through most of the playoffs with the Wings last spring. Their play catapulted them to a new level and now the Wings want to see what these young guys are made of as regulars to the roster. If they play half as good as they did in the playoffs, expect big things.

The Detroit Red Wings may have lost some talent, but they are a team that knows how to win. Even without Hossa, this team is stocked full of potential all-stars. And come next April, the Detroit Red Wings will again be in the postseason as a serious contender for the Stanley Cup.

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Chicago Blackhawks

Sep 29

Posted by EB in Season Previews | 1 Comment

Jonathan Toews looks to lead the Blackhawks to the Stnaley Cup.

Captain Jonathan Toews looks to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup this season.

A young speedy team who finished 2nd in the tough Central Division, and 4th in the Western Conference, looks to improve upon their Cup ending loss to the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals.

During the offseason the Blackhawks received some negative press about ousting general manager Dale Tallon to be replaced by Stan Bowman. Stan, the son of retired NHL coach Scotty Bowman, replaced Tallon due to a filed grievance from the NHL Players Association pertaining to the team missing deadlines for sending qualifying offers to restricted free agents. The team has since moved forward with the off season acquisitions of some pretty big names.

The Blackhawks were unable to resign unrestricted free agent Martin Havlat who eventually signed with the Minnesota Wild. Havlat scored 29 goals with 48 assists to total 77 points. He also posted 15 points in 16 games played in the playoffs last season, which happened to lead the team.

The void is to be replaced by NHL All Star player Marian Hossa who played for the Detroit Red Wings in the previous year. Hossa, who played for the Pittsburg Penguins before the Wings, has made the NHL finals 2 years in a row, yet both times have come up empty handed. Hossa underwent shoulder surgery in the off season and is expected to make his debut you in a Hawk’s jersey in late November. A question of full rehabilitation, game ready physical capability and team chemistry will be answered when he returns to the ice.

Center John Madden joins the mix of the Blackhawks this year. Madden has played for the New Jersey Devils for all his NHL career, posting 297 points in 712 regular season games and 41 points in 112 playoff games.

The Blackhawks have parted ways with goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin in hopes that Cristobal Huet will be able to carry the workload. The two goaltenders split time last year during the regular season, only one game difference. However, come playoff time, Khabibulin played all but 3 games. With the success of last year, one would think the possibility of doing the same two goalie system again, or if having to choose between the one, would have chosen to stay with Khabibulin, but that is not the case.

All hope is not lost though as the 34 year old Cristobal Huet has a respectable record and stats. Last season he had a 20-15-4-3 record in 41 games, with a .909 save percentage and a 2.53 goals against average. This number is down in comparison to the ’07-’08 season where he had a combined 32-14-6-4 record between Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals.

The team is led by young stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Together the duo is nearly impossible to stop, all things considering they are only 21 and 20 years of age. Together the two were able to net 59 goals and 80 assists between their 162 games played.

Defensively the team is led by offensive defenseman Brian Campbell. Campbell was 5th in points last year with 52, the majority of them being 45 assists. Shortly behind in points are defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook who both have better +/- ratings then Campbell. Keith tallied in at + 33 while Seabrook with +23.

The Chicago Blackhawks lack no skill in scoring points, and have a solid defensive core that also are able to contribute offensively. The goaltender position will be a test this year, but should not be a factor as the team is projected to be first within the Central Division as last year’s leader the Detroit Red Wings have suffered a major rebuild of new and young players.

Last year’s playoff’s were a learning experience for the young team. This year with one more year under their belt, and the addition of some veteran playoff performers, the Chicago Blackhawks have their eyes set on the Cup.

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Nashville Predators

Sep 28

Posted by Matt in Season Previews | No Comments

Can Pekka Rinne lead the Predators back to the playoffs?

Can Pekka Rinne lead the Predators back to the playoffs?

Last season, the biggest story for the Nashville Predators was rookie goaltender Pekka Rinne. Despite starting the season in a limited role, Rinne outplayed starter Dan Ellis and earned himself the starting position in late December. Throughout his rookie season, Rinne posted stellar numbers. He finished the year with a 29-15-4 record, .917 save percentage and a 2.38 goals against average. He also posted 7 shutouts in his 49 starts. This season, Rinne will start between the pipes, and should help the Predators get off to a strong start.

Along with the young goalie, Nashville returns their same top line of Martin Erat, JP Dumont, and Jason Arnott. Last season, the trio combined for 66 goals, 106 assists and a total of 172 points. In order for Nashville to improve this season, these guys are going to have to increase their productivity.

After struggling recently with a back injury, the Predators are also hoping for a healthy season for winger Steve Sullivan. His age might soon become a factor in decreased production, but last season Sullivan proved that if healthy, he can still be counted on for some big points. In 41 games last season, he recorded 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points. Not too shabby after missing the entire 2007-08 season, and the first half of last season as well. Sullivan is fresh off a brand new two year contract as well, and can definitely play around a point per game average if he stays healthy.

Defensively, the Predators are in need of a couple stronger players for added depth. The first defensive pair will be relatively strong with Shea Weber and Ryan Suter leading the way. Weber should prove to be quite effective on the power play again this season. Last year he chipped in 10 goals and 9 assists on the power play. Beyond that, the Predators will feature Dan Hamhuis on the second defensive unit, and two rookies, Cody Franson and Alexander Sulzer, on the third unit.

Success this season for the Predators will be largely based on the play of rookie goaltender Pekka Rinne. If he plays as well as last year, Nashville might be able to overcome their defensive and scoring deficiencies to squeeze into a playoff spot during the end of the season.

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Columbus Blue Jackets

Sep 27

Posted by Eddie in Season Previews | No Comments

Both Rick Nash (L) and Steve Mason will need to continue the career seasons each had in 2009 to keep Columbus a playoff contender.

Both Rick Nash (L) and Steve Mason need to continue career seasons each had in 2009 to keep Columbus a playoff contender.

Making progress is what the Blue Jackets did last season, and will be looking forward to do this season. It took them their 10th season in the NHL to make the playoffs. Their playoff run was short-lived as they took on the Detroit Red Wings and got swept in four games.

Columbus also made progress as it re-signed captain and superstar Rick Nash to an eight-year, 62.4 Million contract extension that will keep him in Ohio until 2017-18. It’s considered a major accomplishment as Nash had his pick in where he wanted to go.

Expectations are high from not only the fan base in central Ohio, but within the organization as well. They can only make more progress this season by not only making the playoffs, but winning a couple games and even winning a series.

The Blue Jackets do have the pieces to contend in the difficult Western Conference. The Blue Jackets also enter the season with their top-six forwards set in place. In addition to Nash, they have Kristian Huselius and Derick Brassard on the top line. It’s going to be interesting to see a healthy Brassard as he missed the last 50 games due to injury. The second line will feature R.J. Umberger, Antoine Vermette, and Jakub Voracek. A rookie last season, Voracek had a quiet but respectable season as he recorded 38 points. Look for top prospect Nikita Filatov and new addition Sami Pahlsson to make significant contributions to the third and fourth lines.

On defense, there may not be any big names you have heard before other than Mike Commodore, but management stayed the course during the trade deadline and the off-season. The unit is mostly a stay-at-home unit who isn’t overly aggressive on offense. They are missing a player who is multi-dimensional and with $7 Million of cap space left going into the season, they have the ability to make a move if they are in contention for the playoffs around the deadline. Having someone who can quarterback a power play is crucial for them as they were last in the NHL on the power play at 12.7 percent.

Columbus did find a gem in goal with Steve Mason. A player who didn’t play a full season because of injury, Mason was the reason the team made the playoffs. Winning the Calder Trophy as top rookie, Mason led the league in shutouts with 10 in only 61 games. It will be interesting to see how this season will be for him. Can he continue the hot streak or suffer the sophomore slump? To aid Mason, the team signed veteran Mathieu Garon as backup.

The outlook for Columbus is pretty good. The re-signing of Nash did create a buzz around the city and did sell a few more season tickets, but they need to continue to make progress to have Columbus become a free-agent destination. In the division, they will be more competitive. It won’t be the match ups against Detroit and Chicago that will determine its fate, but it will be how they play against Nashville and St. Louis as both teams got better in the off season while Columbus stayed the course. Will it pay off with a playoff appearance? Only time will tell.

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St. Louis Blues

Sep 26

Posted by Matt in Season Previews | 2 Comments

TJ Oshie will have a big season and help lead the Blues back to the playoffs.

TJ Oshie will have a big season and help lead the Blues back to the playoffs.

The St. Louis Blues made a strong run late last season to capture the sixth seed in the playoffs, all while playing in arguably the best division and having one of the younger rosters in the NHL. The Blues were also missing one of their key veteran leaders, Paul Kariya. Thanks to the youngsters stepping up, and goalie Chris Mason standing on his head, they exceeded all expectations. This season, the Blues look to build on their success and prove last year was no fluke.

Returning to the lineup this season will be Keith Tkachuk, back for his 18th NHL season and 9th with the Blues. He signed a one year deal in the off-season worth $2.15 million. He certainly wont be as productive as he was earlier in his career, but Tkachuk should still be capable of a 25 goal and 50 point campaign. He’ll be an excellent source of leadership for a young Blues squad as well.

The Blues will also be relying on TJ Oshie to provide some scoring depth for the team. At 22 years old, Oshie proved last season he could be an effective NHL player while tallying 14 goals, 25 assists and a plus 16 rating in 57 games played. The summer should have provided ample time to add some strength, which will help Oshie improve production.

Elsewhere on offense, you’ll find Brad Boyes, David Backes and David Perron all proving useful. Andy McDonald will find his way to the top of the point leaders as well, providing he can stay healthy.

Defensively, we’re excited to see the return of highly touted defenseman Erik Johnson. He spent all of last season recovering from a knee injury and surgery, but was excellent in 2007-08 as a rookie. As a 20 year old, in his only NHL season thus far, Johnson contributed 5 goals and 28 assists on a struggling St. Louis Blues team. He might be a little rusty to start the season, but the Blues definitely have high expectations for Johnson.

Back between the pipes, Chris Mason looks to build off of a strong ending to the 2008-09 season. He finished the season with a record of 27-21-7 with a .916 save percentage and 2.41 goals against average, along with 6 shutouts. His stellar play down the stretch was a huge part of the Blues return to the playoffs. If they have any hope of making it back this season, Mason will have to step up his game once again.

Backing up Mason will be a new face to the locker room, Ty Conklin. Conklin was signed as a two-year deal as a free agent after helping lead the Detroit Red Wings to a very successful season. As Chris Osgood struggled in Detroit, Ty really stepped up with a 25-11-2 record, .909 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average. He delivered 6 shutouts for the Red Wings as well. Conklin was an excellent signing for the Blues and you can bet he’s going to fight for a starting spot. He had no problem splitting time with Osgood and certainly outplayed him for much of the regular season.

Playing in one of the best divisions in the NHL isn’t going to have much of an effect on the Blues this season. They should find a way to pound their way back to another low seeded playoff spot.

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Edmonton Oilers

Sep 25

Posted by Eddie in Season Previews | No Comments

Last season, the Edmonton Oilers missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season. And because of that, General Manager Steve Tambellini had to clean house behind the bench. Craig MacTavish was gone and in is Pat Quinn. A future Hall-of-Famer, Quinn is a veteran coach known for getting the most out of his players. In addition, former New York Rangers coach Tom Renney was brought in as the associate head coach.

Quinn’s style of play is designed to open the ice and let the skill players do what they do best: score. This is in contrast to the MacTavish dump-and-chase style. For football fans, this is similar to a new coach employing the spread offense when the team is used to playing a pro-style offense.

The benefit that Quinn has is that he has young talent to work with, and talent that is waiting to blossom into offensive threats. The Oilers starved for goals so bad last season that leading goal scorers Ales Hemsky and Sheldon Souray each had 23 goals. The problem there is that Souray is a defenseman, and blueliners shouldn’t be leading the team in goals. In addition, two of the top four point-getters were defenseman with Tom Gilbert recording 45 points.

Ales Hemsky should benefit from new coaching, but still needs that sniper who can finish in front of the net.

Ales Hemsky should benefit from new coaching, but still needs that sniper who can finish in front of the net.

Hemsky and linemates Mike Comrie and Shawn Horcoff should benefit the most under the new system. A team that struggled in size and grit in the old regime, Dustin Penner is a second-line power-forward that can not only bury loose pucks into the net, but also bury opposing players with his 6′4″ frame. The only negative about the top line is that none is known to be a sniper from close range. If Comrie can return to his 30-goal seasons of 2002 and 2006, the Comrie-Hemsky combination can be lethal. Once you get past the first line, the depth is weaker than most teams in the division. But they have to make the best of what they have, and that bunch includes Penner, Andrew Cogliano, Sam Gagner, Fernando Pisani, and Ethan Moreau.

If there was anyone who benefited from the dump-and-chase system, it was the defensemen. They have a solid top-six who isn’t only good puck movers and carriers, but can shoot and find the net. They accumulated most of the offense last season, and they should improve despite potentially sacrificing goals to the forwards. Look for Lubomir Visnovsky to explode offensively in the new system, and 2006 draft pick Theo Peckham to be the first player called up from Springfield if any injuries occur to the top six.

The department that had the biggest makeover was in goal. Out are veterans Dwayne Roloson and Mathieu Garon, and in is veteran Nikolai Khabibulin and rookie Jeff Deslauriers. The new duo is an upgrade over the old, but “The Bulin Wall” needs to cut down on the inconsistency if he will be the everyday starter. Deslauriers did appear in 10 games last season, recording a 4-3 record. He is more likely to swim vs. sink as he will see more playing time.

Overall, the Oilers are maybe two seasons away from becoming a playoff team. In the brutal Western Conference, every other team in the conference got better while the Oilers didn’t improve much besides the goaltender position. This team will fight for the playoffs with the likes of Calgary, Columbus, Minnesota, Nashville and Dallas, but the Oilers will be on the outside looking in.

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Colorado Avalanche

Sep 24

Posted by Chris in Season Previews | 1 Comment

The Colorado Avalanche are in the middle of unchartered territory coming into this season. With Joe Sakic retiring over the summer, Colorado has lost pretty much every connection to the almost unbeatable franchise that dominated the hockey world in the mid-to-late 90’s. While things may look gloomy in Colorado this season, the team looks to have a promising future.

stastny.paul Milan Hejduk, the 33-year-old right wing who has been with the Avs since 1998, will come into this season and be counted on to help lead this team both on and off the ice. While Hejduk is no pushover on the ice and is capable of producing 50-70 points this season, the real budding stars of this team is 23-year-old Paul Stastny. In three years with the club, Stastny has accumulated 185 points in 193 games, including 63 goals. This kid has talent and can play both sides of the puck, finishing last season with a plus-17 rating. Already sporting the assistant captains “A”, Stastny very well could be next in line for the “C” when veteran Adam Foote retires.

Wojtek Wolski is another up-and-comer making a name for himself in the NHL. In three seasons with the Avs, Wolski has put up 40 or more points in each season and once reached 50. But he needs to be better at both ends as he sported a minus-13 rating last season. He has moves and he likes to show them off during shootouts. It will be interesting to see how he performs this year when there is more pressure on him to produce.

Defense is probably where the Avalanche looks strongest right now. Adam Foote, Ruslan Salei, John-Michael Liles and Tom Preissing are all veteran names setting up shop on the blue line this season. Kyle Quincey, the much-traveled defenseman who is with his third team in two seasons, enjoyed a breakout year when the Detroit Red Wings dealt him to the Los Angeles Kings at the beginning of last season. With the Kings, Quincy put up 38 points in 72 games. Not bad for a rookie. Quincey should enjoy continued success with the Avalanche this season, especially playing with some of the veteran names listed above.

Craig Anderson will definitely be an upgrade in goal over Peter Budaj, who struggles heavily with consistency. A career backup goaltender, Anderson has proven himself worthy of a number one spot and Colorado gave him his chance. The defense in front of him will be better than he dealt with in Florida, where he spent the last three seasons, so expect Anderson to have a pretty decent year in Colorado.

The X-factor coming into this season may very well be Matt Duchene, the 3rd overall draft pick from this past summers NHL draft. At only 18 years of age, Duchene is fighting hard to make the roster and show what he’s capable of. While it might be advantageous to give him a year or two in the minors to improve his skill, Duchene had a great training camp and has played well in the preseason, too. Expect Duchene to stay with the club for the first few games of the regular season. If he shines, he’ll be up for good. If not, he’s a great asset only a few years away from the big time.

Colorado is used to success, but in the midst of the rebuilding process, success might still be a few years away. The foundation is there for this team to succeed, and once management adds a few more key pieces they could be set for deep runs into the post season. This season may not be their season, but they have a bright future that seems to be in good hands.

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