Another season, another bitter failure for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sidney Crosby and company laid the proverbial egg blowing a 3-1 series lead against the rival New York Rangers and now have another long off season of questions ahead.
Unlike other recent playoff debacles where much of the blame was (rightly) dumped squarely on the shoulders of goalie Marc Andre Fleury it was the Penguins high priced forwards who failed to get the job done, all be it against a very solid defensive Rangers team and one of the best goalies in the world in 'King' Henrik Lundqvist.
Sidney Crosby had only one goal in the post season and Evgeni Malkin, aside from his hat-trick early on did very little. Their leading goal scorer was Jussi Jokinen, who, with all due respect, shouldn't be their top forward regardless of how well he played (and was full value for his effort) as last I checked this wasn't a shoot out. Pascal Dupuis's season ending injury months ago through the lines into chaos and forced coach Dan Bylsma to mix and match but with the talent of Pittsburgh's top six and their skilled puck moving D their failure to capitalize on their opportunities was ultimately their undoing.
Comparisons will ultimately be made between dynamic groups of forwards and if you look around the league the like of Chicago's Toews and Kane are proving to be the ultimate clutch tandem. Crosby and Malkin? Say what you want about their effort and how much they controlled the play at times, all of which is true, they never seemed not to care or be giving less than their all, but in the end results are what matter and they couldn't get the job done when it counted most. When called upon to step up, they couldn't find an answer. Now they certainly weren't alone in that category, Chris Kunitz,, Kris Letang and James Neil did little the last few games in terms of production and now this whole group has to be held accountable.
Many will blame the coach but that lets the players off the hook far to easily. Ray Shiero the GM has come under fire as well and rightfully so. The Penguins lack the depth they had when they won it all in 2009 and have failed to make the Finals since. When Crosby is playing with Lee Stempniak, or Brian Gibbons you appreciate that he has a roster in need of a top six forward. Now injuries play a part but again that's an excuse. Your talent either rises to the challenge and repeatedly of late in the Steel City it hasn't. You can bet changes will follow.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Captain Conundrum
With the Ottawa Senators season long since over, they've had ample time to reflect and the trade rumors have begun to gain momentum like Ray Emery cruising down the 417. The most speculated of these is of course their captain Jason Spezza and what the future holds for number 19. The fact that he is captain may be contentious in itself but the fact is when he's healthy he's a point a game player, one of the best face off men and play makers in the league and an elite forwards aren't exactly in the bargain bin. Suitors have emerged such as the San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Anaheim Ducks and the New York Rangers (because that's just what they do) but is there anyone who can give Ottawa a solid return?
Now, I've never been Spezza's biggest supporter and am not totally opposed to trading him, IF the price is right. And that's the problem facing GM Bryan Murray. What is fair value for him, and how do you replace his impact on the team? Who takes those key draws late in games or runs the power play down low? That's not to say his game is without flaw. Countless times I've seen his infamous back pass to...nobody in particular, or watched other top centermen beat him to the net in his own end. However his defensive game has improved and often times this season it was his wingers or Ottawa's young defensive core that were to blame in their own end.
It's funny that he once again finds himself the center, (no pun intended) of controversy as when he came into the league Jacques Martin was afraid to play him because of his defensive inexperience. As he grew other faults were found and he was much maligned for the teams struggles for no particular reason.
The post- Alfredsson era was going to be an adjustment regardless and clearly did not start well in the nations capital but the loss of Sergi Gonchar may have hurt them every bit as much as it was the costly turn overs and mistakes in coverage in their own end that more often than not resulted in the puck going in the wrong net. Their goaltending which stole games last year was very average and their young core just seemed directionless at times. One can certainly hold leadership accountable and as captain Spezza must shoulder his share of the blame but he certainly is the only one at fault.
It wasn't all that long ago that Spezza was setting Dany Heatly up for back to back fifty goal season and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals. I don't recall a lot of people calling for his head during those years. What Spezza needs and may have found with late season addition Ales Hemsky is a top six forward to play with. When Milan Michalek was healthy the other year he certainly fit the bill and both had solid seasons but that hasn't been the case of late and with Michalek's contract up perhaps Ottawa would be wisest to sign his fellow countrymen Hemsky and promote a young winger to form a 1A line after the Turris, MacArthur, Ryan unit.
Spezza's cap hit of 7 million isn't a huge sum and this is a franchise who has lost the like of Havlat, Chara, Redden and Alfredsson its most celebrated hero for next to nothing, they can't afford to let it happen again.
Now, I've never been Spezza's biggest supporter and am not totally opposed to trading him, IF the price is right. And that's the problem facing GM Bryan Murray. What is fair value for him, and how do you replace his impact on the team? Who takes those key draws late in games or runs the power play down low? That's not to say his game is without flaw. Countless times I've seen his infamous back pass to...nobody in particular, or watched other top centermen beat him to the net in his own end. However his defensive game has improved and often times this season it was his wingers or Ottawa's young defensive core that were to blame in their own end.
It's funny that he once again finds himself the center, (no pun intended) of controversy as when he came into the league Jacques Martin was afraid to play him because of his defensive inexperience. As he grew other faults were found and he was much maligned for the teams struggles for no particular reason.
The post- Alfredsson era was going to be an adjustment regardless and clearly did not start well in the nations capital but the loss of Sergi Gonchar may have hurt them every bit as much as it was the costly turn overs and mistakes in coverage in their own end that more often than not resulted in the puck going in the wrong net. Their goaltending which stole games last year was very average and their young core just seemed directionless at times. One can certainly hold leadership accountable and as captain Spezza must shoulder his share of the blame but he certainly is the only one at fault.
It wasn't all that long ago that Spezza was setting Dany Heatly up for back to back fifty goal season and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals. I don't recall a lot of people calling for his head during those years. What Spezza needs and may have found with late season addition Ales Hemsky is a top six forward to play with. When Milan Michalek was healthy the other year he certainly fit the bill and both had solid seasons but that hasn't been the case of late and with Michalek's contract up perhaps Ottawa would be wisest to sign his fellow countrymen Hemsky and promote a young winger to form a 1A line after the Turris, MacArthur, Ryan unit.
Spezza's cap hit of 7 million isn't a huge sum and this is a franchise who has lost the like of Havlat, Chara, Redden and Alfredsson its most celebrated hero for next to nothing, they can't afford to let it happen again.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Canadian Collapse - NHL Season Wrap
With the playoffs beginning a week from today Canadian rinks will be emptier than a Coyotes game, the lone exception being the Montreal Canadiens who will in all likelihood face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs.
The Habs have a decent opportunity to make a run in the east with new addition Tomas Vanek fitting in rather nicely with Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais on their top line. Carey Price has a lot to prove going into the playoffs, despite his spectacular play in the Olympics as he's yet to have any real success come April.
Elsewhere in Canada there's nothing left to do but ask questions. And they abound...
In Vancouver the ax has already fallen on GM Mike Gillis who made several moves with his goaltending that can only be described as bizarre. At this point last year they Canucks had two prove number 1 NHL caliber goalies, now...? The always entertaining John Tortorella is still in place behind the bench, for now, but it will be up to Canucks legend and new President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden to decide his fate. One thing is for sure, we'll get Tort's opinion either way.
In Calgary the Flames continue to rebuild and President of Hockey Operations/Psuedo GM Brian Burke has decision to make on several fronts, aside from whatever that is on his head, including what to do with Mike Cammalleri. He's a proven goal scorer and played reasonably well this season but may command a higher price on the market than the Flames are willing to pay. Rookie Sean Monahan was a nice surprise for the franchise and they have young talent and a solid leader in Mark Giordano so they have pieces in place moving ahead.
In Edmonton, it's a case of deja vu all over again. How many years and high draft picks will it take to turn this organization around? Without a playoff birth since their Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2006 the faithful are getting restless. There is a lot of talent there, more than a lot of other teams, but it seems to fit like a square peg in the round hole. New captain Andrew Ference was brought in to help mold this young group but they seem to have taken a step back. Dallas Eakins had a lot of ups and downs as a first year coach and GM Craig MacTavish will once again have a lottery pick and a number of assets to utilize to improve his roster. Ales Hemsky was already dealt to Ottawa so is this the beginning of (another) rebuild in Oil Country?
The Jets joined the western conference and turned things around, briefly, under new coach Paul Maurice after Claude Noel was fired mid-season, but ultimately came up short of a playoff spot. It will be interesting to see what Maurice can do with the group and what comes of his, seemingly, rocky relationship with star forward Evander Kane. The Jets have some young talent in the likes of Bryan Little and Mark Scheifele but may need to bring in some veteran presence to fit with Maurice's structured style.
In the nation's Capital the 'Pesky Sens' were at worst an annoyance, mostly to their fans, as they showed a consistent lack of consistency all year, especially in their own end. They went from being one of the best defensive teams in the league to one of the worst and while they didn't necessarily get the same level of goaltending they had last season, Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner still covered up a lot of mistakes by a very young defensive core. Erik Karlsson is a dynamic player, often for both teams and this superstar needs to correct his often careless play in his own end. On the plus side Sens fans can see they have a lot of young talent and those young players will continue to improve, ideally, but what is sorely missing is leadership. With the departure of Daniel Alfredsson and Sergi Gonchar Ottawa lost two players who held those young guys accountable and set an example on the ice. GM Bryan Murray may need to add some veteran presence to his locker room to help his young team.
In Toronto there was another collapse of Rob Ford proportions as the Leafs completely faltered down the stretch and will, yet again, miss the post season. They have high end talent and can score goals but this team is as bad in their own any as a pewee squad. They have more turnovers most nights than a bakery and Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer should be given a percentage on their defensemen's contracts for having to do their job as well. This lack of attention to detail has to have driven coach Randy Carlyle nuts especially as a former Norris wining defensman. The had part for the Leafs moving forward however, may be cap issues. With the likes of Kessel, Bozak, Phaneuf and Clarksson signed to hefty long term contracts there won't be a lot to go around when free agency hits so Dave Bolland and others may be on their way out. The improvement in play by young Morgan Reily and Jake Gardiner has to be one bright spot but once again there are more questions than answers in Leaf land.
The Habs have a decent opportunity to make a run in the east with new addition Tomas Vanek fitting in rather nicely with Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais on their top line. Carey Price has a lot to prove going into the playoffs, despite his spectacular play in the Olympics as he's yet to have any real success come April.
Elsewhere in Canada there's nothing left to do but ask questions. And they abound...
In Vancouver the ax has already fallen on GM Mike Gillis who made several moves with his goaltending that can only be described as bizarre. At this point last year they Canucks had two prove number 1 NHL caliber goalies, now...? The always entertaining John Tortorella is still in place behind the bench, for now, but it will be up to Canucks legend and new President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden to decide his fate. One thing is for sure, we'll get Tort's opinion either way.
In Calgary the Flames continue to rebuild and President of Hockey Operations/Psuedo GM Brian Burke has decision to make on several fronts, aside from whatever that is on his head, including what to do with Mike Cammalleri. He's a proven goal scorer and played reasonably well this season but may command a higher price on the market than the Flames are willing to pay. Rookie Sean Monahan was a nice surprise for the franchise and they have young talent and a solid leader in Mark Giordano so they have pieces in place moving ahead.
In Edmonton, it's a case of deja vu all over again. How many years and high draft picks will it take to turn this organization around? Without a playoff birth since their Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2006 the faithful are getting restless. There is a lot of talent there, more than a lot of other teams, but it seems to fit like a square peg in the round hole. New captain Andrew Ference was brought in to help mold this young group but they seem to have taken a step back. Dallas Eakins had a lot of ups and downs as a first year coach and GM Craig MacTavish will once again have a lottery pick and a number of assets to utilize to improve his roster. Ales Hemsky was already dealt to Ottawa so is this the beginning of (another) rebuild in Oil Country?
The Jets joined the western conference and turned things around, briefly, under new coach Paul Maurice after Claude Noel was fired mid-season, but ultimately came up short of a playoff spot. It will be interesting to see what Maurice can do with the group and what comes of his, seemingly, rocky relationship with star forward Evander Kane. The Jets have some young talent in the likes of Bryan Little and Mark Scheifele but may need to bring in some veteran presence to fit with Maurice's structured style.
In the nation's Capital the 'Pesky Sens' were at worst an annoyance, mostly to their fans, as they showed a consistent lack of consistency all year, especially in their own end. They went from being one of the best defensive teams in the league to one of the worst and while they didn't necessarily get the same level of goaltending they had last season, Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner still covered up a lot of mistakes by a very young defensive core. Erik Karlsson is a dynamic player, often for both teams and this superstar needs to correct his often careless play in his own end. On the plus side Sens fans can see they have a lot of young talent and those young players will continue to improve, ideally, but what is sorely missing is leadership. With the departure of Daniel Alfredsson and Sergi Gonchar Ottawa lost two players who held those young guys accountable and set an example on the ice. GM Bryan Murray may need to add some veteran presence to his locker room to help his young team.
In Toronto there was another collapse of Rob Ford proportions as the Leafs completely faltered down the stretch and will, yet again, miss the post season. They have high end talent and can score goals but this team is as bad in their own any as a pewee squad. They have more turnovers most nights than a bakery and Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer should be given a percentage on their defensemen's contracts for having to do their job as well. This lack of attention to detail has to have driven coach Randy Carlyle nuts especially as a former Norris wining defensman. The had part for the Leafs moving forward however, may be cap issues. With the likes of Kessel, Bozak, Phaneuf and Clarksson signed to hefty long term contracts there won't be a lot to go around when free agency hits so Dave Bolland and others may be on their way out. The improvement in play by young Morgan Reily and Jake Gardiner has to be one bright spot but once again there are more questions than answers in Leaf land.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Flying the Coop
The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the longest tenured organizations in the NHL. They have rich history of success and don't sit around waiting when expectations aren't met. Clearly. This lead to the firing of head coach Peter Laviolette a mere three games into the NHL season. The Flyers revamped in the off season bringing in talented veterans Vincent Lecavalier and Mark Streit to help improve upon a very disappointing 2013 season. Well, an 0-3 start, goaltending issues and a complete lack of goal scoring and, you get the idea.
Peter Laviolette is a good head coach. He won a cup in Carolina in 2006 and lead the Flyers to the finals in 2010 where they lost to the Blackhawks. That said, something clearly isn't right with this organization and the writing seemed to be on the wall. A quick look at their roster and even the most casual fan would realize that they should be a much more competitive team. Injuries played a big role in last season's struggles but they are now healthy and have the talent to be a force in the Eastern Conference, or at the very least not the doormat they've become.
The top lines have talent like captain Claude Giroux, a better than point a game player over the last few seasons, Maxim Talbot, Jakob Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Sean Couturier, Scott Hartnell and the aforementioned Lecavalier, so why haven't they been able to generate offense? Through three games they've scored a paltry three goals. Guys living in their grandma's basements have less trouble closing the deal. With their roster and high priced talent something had to give and as is usually the case it's the guy steering the ship.
Assistant coach Craig Berube was given the reins as new bench boss and it will be up to him to get things moving in a more positive direction, quickly I'd imagine. Ed Snyder was prickly with the media when asked about why they didn't go outside the organization, as the Flyers like the Edmonton Oilers have a long history of keeping things in house ie: Ron Hextall, John Paddock, Bobby Clarke, etc. when it comes to staffing positions. Nepotism aside it seems the time had come for chance and as Berube told Hockey Central at Noon they need to start working better together as a team in order to have success. He reiterated that the overall team game wasn't good enough and that's where their biggest problems lie. Time will tell if they are able to correct this or if it will be the roster that is shuffled in order to accomplish this. The press conference with GM Paul Holmgren was that of a frustrated and disappointed group who seemed to be looking for answers they didn't have. The Flyers have been successful and should be with this lineup so it's understandable that management wasn't happy with the way things were going.
Whatever the case, you know the fans in Philly want to see evidence of progress, and soon. For a city know as that of 'Brotherly Love' they seem to have no problem showing people the way out of town.
Peter Laviolette is a good head coach. He won a cup in Carolina in 2006 and lead the Flyers to the finals in 2010 where they lost to the Blackhawks. That said, something clearly isn't right with this organization and the writing seemed to be on the wall. A quick look at their roster and even the most casual fan would realize that they should be a much more competitive team. Injuries played a big role in last season's struggles but they are now healthy and have the talent to be a force in the Eastern Conference, or at the very least not the doormat they've become.
The top lines have talent like captain Claude Giroux, a better than point a game player over the last few seasons, Maxim Talbot, Jakob Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Sean Couturier, Scott Hartnell and the aforementioned Lecavalier, so why haven't they been able to generate offense? Through three games they've scored a paltry three goals. Guys living in their grandma's basements have less trouble closing the deal. With their roster and high priced talent something had to give and as is usually the case it's the guy steering the ship.
Assistant coach Craig Berube was given the reins as new bench boss and it will be up to him to get things moving in a more positive direction, quickly I'd imagine. Ed Snyder was prickly with the media when asked about why they didn't go outside the organization, as the Flyers like the Edmonton Oilers have a long history of keeping things in house ie: Ron Hextall, John Paddock, Bobby Clarke, etc. when it comes to staffing positions. Nepotism aside it seems the time had come for chance and as Berube told Hockey Central at Noon they need to start working better together as a team in order to have success. He reiterated that the overall team game wasn't good enough and that's where their biggest problems lie. Time will tell if they are able to correct this or if it will be the roster that is shuffled in order to accomplish this. The press conference with GM Paul Holmgren was that of a frustrated and disappointed group who seemed to be looking for answers they didn't have. The Flyers have been successful and should be with this lineup so it's understandable that management wasn't happy with the way things were going.
Whatever the case, you know the fans in Philly want to see evidence of progress, and soon. For a city know as that of 'Brotherly Love' they seem to have no problem showing people the way out of town.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Alfred-Gone: The Daniel Alfredsson Saga
For the past many years there were several things you could count on in Ottawa come the winter. Bickering on Parliament Hill, Beaver Tails on the canal and Dainel Alfredsson leading the Sens into another season. He was their steadying presence, the undisputed leader looked to in big moments and high pressure situations to do something special. I'll never forget that afternoon when he beat Ryan Miller with a quick shot and sent Ottawa to the Stanley Cup finals. I remember walking downtown later that afternoon and evening and the whole city seemed to be in a buzz, (and a little buzzed), a constant commotion of victorious shouts and car horns echoing in celebration. The All star game in Ottawa a few years ago seemed almost dedicated to him as fans chanted his name and sang his praises. The eleven minute marks of every period during home games was met with chants of 'Alfie, Alfie, Alfie!' He was always gracious and took it all in. This love affair seemed destined to go on for ever. He was even expected to join the management team once he hung up his skates. After seeing several key players go down with injury last season Alfie lead the charge as the Sens defied the odds and made the playoffs. They even knocked off the Canadiens and though they bowed out to a powerful Pittsburgh team, fans were excited to see this young club on the rise. They felt they were on the cusp of something special and if Alife could just come back for one more year, with a healthy roster, who knows how far they could go?
Then the announcement came. Alfie would be coming back for one more year! Like man family, friends and fans I took to Facebook and Twitter to express my excitement and was glad for the status quo. The team is young and a leader like that doesn't come along everyday. This was great news for the organization and would surely help the development of the franchise moving forward. It was also a foregone conclusion that when he came back, he'd be in a Sens jersey. Right? Then came another day I won't soon forget. I slept in and woke to hear the news that Daniel Alfredsson would indeed be returning to the NHL. For the Detroit Red Wings. Wait. What? How the hell could this have happened? When did this happen? And who let it? To make matters worse, Detroit, in what seems like some sort of karmic joke, was now in the same division which meant he was now a direct enemy. Et Tu Alfie?
Now, as someone chasing his own crazy dream of becoming a screenwriter I can hardly criticize someone for following their heart, (or perhaps their misguided agent), and doing what they feel is best for them. Alfie even said, in a statement it was a selfish decision, one he made for himself to try and win a Stanley Cup. It would seem unfair and irrational to hate someone for this, but then what part of of being a fan is rational? As Alfie had every right to do what is best for him it is a fans right to be angry. To feel spurned and hurt by his actions. His decision was clearly an indication he didn't feel that this team had what it takes to go all the way so he went looking for someone who did. He found it in Detroit, along with many of his Swedish buddies, and time will tell how this will play out. Many seem to forget Detroit also acquire free agent Stephen Weiss from Florida, a solid player in his own right, and probably should have knocked off Chicago before choking up a 3-1 series lead last year, so logic would say this is the better option, at least for this season, as much as it pains me to admit that.
However, this is a double edged sword. True, if not for the play and veteran leadership of Alfredsson and Sergi Gonchar, now with Dallas, the Sens likely would not have made the playoffs last season, but now this young and very hungry group has even more motivation to take that next step. A chip on one's shoulder can serve to distract or to motivate and it's up to new captain Jason Spezza, and his leaders, like Chis Phillips and Chris Neil, along with Coach Paul MacLean and his staff to ensure that they keep focused on the task at hand. However, the loss of Daniel Alfredsson only serves to remind Sens fans of mistakes past.
This is an organization that has lost the like of Zedeno Chara, Wade Redden (say what you like, at the time they could have got a pretty penny in return) and now it's most storied player, all for the grand total of: zero. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Not a draft pick, not a player to be named later, not even so much as a bag of pucks. The pain caused to the young kid left in tears because he doesn't quite grasp the business aspects of the sport, only that his favorite player is gone and seemingly hates the team will eventually heal, but losing this kind of talent for nothing can damage a franchise for years. In life how we go about conducting ourselves is paramount to the reputation we have, and how this went down has, rightfully, left many in Ottawa with a bitter taste in their mouth.
In fairness, Alfredsson expressed that it was only in the few days leading up to his decision that it even crossed his mind to leave. And while I don't doubt this was the case, why all of a sudden? Why now? Many say his agent JP Berry had a lot to do with this, as money clearly didn't seem to be the issue. No one seemed more surprised than Sens GM Bryan Murray who like the rest of us, assumed it would get done. Owner Eugene Melnyk was livid and though many blame him, I don't really understand that as Alfie would have gotten his money regardless. It's the fact that the organization could have got something in return. Anything. Why not ask at the trade deadline or before your contract expired to be moved? This organization was more than fair to you, why bull this stunt now? Yes you played last year for less than your value, because you made all your money up front, AND the Sens were certainly going to make you well paid again this season. Had he been honest and upfront about all this it would have cushioned the blow and people would have been grateful for what he had done. Think Roy Halliday in Toronto.
Perhaps we'll never know what all went on behind closed doors, and it's sad that a man who meant so much to this city hurt his own reputation in this way. I wish I could say I wish him luck, and though I certainly wish him no ill will, that's childish and petty, let's just say karma's a...
Then the announcement came. Alfie would be coming back for one more year! Like man family, friends and fans I took to Facebook and Twitter to express my excitement and was glad for the status quo. The team is young and a leader like that doesn't come along everyday. This was great news for the organization and would surely help the development of the franchise moving forward. It was also a foregone conclusion that when he came back, he'd be in a Sens jersey. Right? Then came another day I won't soon forget. I slept in and woke to hear the news that Daniel Alfredsson would indeed be returning to the NHL. For the Detroit Red Wings. Wait. What? How the hell could this have happened? When did this happen? And who let it? To make matters worse, Detroit, in what seems like some sort of karmic joke, was now in the same division which meant he was now a direct enemy. Et Tu Alfie?
Now, as someone chasing his own crazy dream of becoming a screenwriter I can hardly criticize someone for following their heart, (or perhaps their misguided agent), and doing what they feel is best for them. Alfie even said, in a statement it was a selfish decision, one he made for himself to try and win a Stanley Cup. It would seem unfair and irrational to hate someone for this, but then what part of of being a fan is rational? As Alfie had every right to do what is best for him it is a fans right to be angry. To feel spurned and hurt by his actions. His decision was clearly an indication he didn't feel that this team had what it takes to go all the way so he went looking for someone who did. He found it in Detroit, along with many of his Swedish buddies, and time will tell how this will play out. Many seem to forget Detroit also acquire free agent Stephen Weiss from Florida, a solid player in his own right, and probably should have knocked off Chicago before choking up a 3-1 series lead last year, so logic would say this is the better option, at least for this season, as much as it pains me to admit that.
However, this is a double edged sword. True, if not for the play and veteran leadership of Alfredsson and Sergi Gonchar, now with Dallas, the Sens likely would not have made the playoffs last season, but now this young and very hungry group has even more motivation to take that next step. A chip on one's shoulder can serve to distract or to motivate and it's up to new captain Jason Spezza, and his leaders, like Chis Phillips and Chris Neil, along with Coach Paul MacLean and his staff to ensure that they keep focused on the task at hand. However, the loss of Daniel Alfredsson only serves to remind Sens fans of mistakes past.
This is an organization that has lost the like of Zedeno Chara, Wade Redden (say what you like, at the time they could have got a pretty penny in return) and now it's most storied player, all for the grand total of: zero. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Not a draft pick, not a player to be named later, not even so much as a bag of pucks. The pain caused to the young kid left in tears because he doesn't quite grasp the business aspects of the sport, only that his favorite player is gone and seemingly hates the team will eventually heal, but losing this kind of talent for nothing can damage a franchise for years. In life how we go about conducting ourselves is paramount to the reputation we have, and how this went down has, rightfully, left many in Ottawa with a bitter taste in their mouth.
In fairness, Alfredsson expressed that it was only in the few days leading up to his decision that it even crossed his mind to leave. And while I don't doubt this was the case, why all of a sudden? Why now? Many say his agent JP Berry had a lot to do with this, as money clearly didn't seem to be the issue. No one seemed more surprised than Sens GM Bryan Murray who like the rest of us, assumed it would get done. Owner Eugene Melnyk was livid and though many blame him, I don't really understand that as Alfie would have gotten his money regardless. It's the fact that the organization could have got something in return. Anything. Why not ask at the trade deadline or before your contract expired to be moved? This organization was more than fair to you, why bull this stunt now? Yes you played last year for less than your value, because you made all your money up front, AND the Sens were certainly going to make you well paid again this season. Had he been honest and upfront about all this it would have cushioned the blow and people would have been grateful for what he had done. Think Roy Halliday in Toronto.
Perhaps we'll never know what all went on behind closed doors, and it's sad that a man who meant so much to this city hurt his own reputation in this way. I wish I could say I wish him luck, and though I certainly wish him no ill will, that's childish and petty, let's just say karma's a...
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Predictions and Story Lines NHL 2013-14
The Puck drops on the 2013/14 NHL season tonight so let's take a look into the future and see what to expect, and a few story lines to watch out for.
Where are They Now?: One of the biggest story lines heading into the new season is undoubtedly divisional
realignment. Common sense, finally, prevailed and Detroit and Columbus were
moved to the Eastern Conference. There are now four Divisions, two in each
conference, instead of six and a revamped playoff format to promote divisional
rivalries. On the whole the moves will help fans see their team in a decent time slot
and ensure that teams will visit every city at least once a year. While many note that
there is an imbalance between the East and West, 16 teams vs. 14, this is just
whining for the sake of it. The top teams will still be there in the end.
Capital Pains? : The loss of long time captain Daniel Alfredsson to new division rival Detroit will usher in a
new era in the nations capital. Detroit also added Stephen Weiss from Florida and look to
make a serious run in the East. Ottawa however, should not be taken lightly. They are a
young team with a lot of energy and a lot to prove. Playing with a chip on their shoulder after
being slighted may be a very good motivator.
Have we met? : The Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers pulled off a coach swap, sort of. It wasn't
as if they traded them, but Alain Vinegault is now the boss in New York and John Tortorella
is now, loudly, calling the shots out west. Both teams failed to reach expectations last season
so it will be up to these men to turn them around.
Avalanche Warning: The Colorado Avalanche look to improve upon a dismal season with Patrick Roy now
taking over coaching duties. There should be no problem with players being to what is
expected of them from the fiery coach who looks to parlay his junior success into the
NHL. Helping him will be first overall pick Nathan McKinnon who will be expected to
add some scoring punch right away. The Avalanche have fallen a long way from the
glory days of Sakic and Roy, now these two look to lead them back to playoff glory.
Hybrid Icing: How it's called will be vital, but it's no doubt this will help prevent injuries that occur from what
is one of the most dangerous plays in the game and will help pick up the pace as well.
Stanley Cup: I think the Pittsburgh Penguins will finally get back to the top of the mountain. They have the
depth and skill, all they need is solid goaltending and I believe Marc-Andre Fleury can and will
bounce back from some less than stellar, Ok downright awful, playoff performances.
Who do you see taking home the big prize? What are you looking out for? As always, let me know...
Where are They Now?: One of the biggest story lines heading into the new season is undoubtedly divisional
realignment. Common sense, finally, prevailed and Detroit and Columbus were
moved to the Eastern Conference. There are now four Divisions, two in each
conference, instead of six and a revamped playoff format to promote divisional
rivalries. On the whole the moves will help fans see their team in a decent time slot
and ensure that teams will visit every city at least once a year. While many note that
there is an imbalance between the East and West, 16 teams vs. 14, this is just
whining for the sake of it. The top teams will still be there in the end.
Capital Pains? : The loss of long time captain Daniel Alfredsson to new division rival Detroit will usher in a
new era in the nations capital. Detroit also added Stephen Weiss from Florida and look to
make a serious run in the East. Ottawa however, should not be taken lightly. They are a
young team with a lot of energy and a lot to prove. Playing with a chip on their shoulder after
being slighted may be a very good motivator.
Have we met? : The Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers pulled off a coach swap, sort of. It wasn't
as if they traded them, but Alain Vinegault is now the boss in New York and John Tortorella
is now, loudly, calling the shots out west. Both teams failed to reach expectations last season
so it will be up to these men to turn them around.
Avalanche Warning: The Colorado Avalanche look to improve upon a dismal season with Patrick Roy now
taking over coaching duties. There should be no problem with players being to what is
expected of them from the fiery coach who looks to parlay his junior success into the
NHL. Helping him will be first overall pick Nathan McKinnon who will be expected to
add some scoring punch right away. The Avalanche have fallen a long way from the
glory days of Sakic and Roy, now these two look to lead them back to playoff glory.
Hybrid Icing: How it's called will be vital, but it's no doubt this will help prevent injuries that occur from what
is one of the most dangerous plays in the game and will help pick up the pace as well.
Stanley Cup: I think the Pittsburgh Penguins will finally get back to the top of the mountain. They have the
depth and skill, all they need is solid goaltending and I believe Marc-Andre Fleury can and will
bounce back from some less than stellar, Ok downright awful, playoff performances.
Who do you see taking home the big prize? What are you looking out for? As always, let me know...
Monday, September 30, 2013
NHL 2013-14 Preview Extravaganza!
The leaves are changing colours, the Maple Leafs will soon be falling, and the days are getting shorter than John Tortorella's patience. Yes folks, hockey is back, and with plenty of off season changes, we'll take a look at the season ahead.
Anaheim - The Ducks resigned Cory Perry and Ryan Getzlaf to lucrative contracts and with both looking to
return to Canada's Olympic roster they should earn that money. They also traded Bobby Ryan to
Ottawa but got a talented young player in Jakob Silfverberg in return to add to a roster of other
young players like Nick Bonnio, Cam Fowler, Matt Beleskey, Kyle Palmieri and the seemingly
ageless Teemu Selanne . Look for the Ducks to make a serious push for the post season.
Boston - The defending Eastern Conference champs will be looking to repeat and acquired, finally, free
agent Jerome Iginla to help them. They lost defenceman Andrew Ference to Edmonton but have
young guns Tory Krug and Dougie Hamilton on the back end along with Captain Zedeno Chara.
Goalie Tuuka Raask was locked up to a new deal so the Bruins will once again be a bear to play
against.
Buffalo - The Sabres biggest question, as it was last year, is which Ryan Miller will they get? The one who
was widely considered one of the best in the game a few seasons ago, or the guy they've had
lately? With a potential Team USA spot on the line look for Miller to come out of the gate strong,
though much of his success may depend Tyler Myers and the rest of Buffalo's blue line to bounce
back from a forgettable season.
Calgary - The Flames admitted they had burnt out and are now in full rebuild mode. Gone are Jerome Iginla,
Jay Bowmeester and Miika Kiprussof. They have a number of young players like Shawn
Monahan looking to make an impact and added Joe Colbourn from Toronto for some size up
front. how Kari Ramo does in goal will have a lot to do with their success but it may be a long
season of growing pains for coach Bob Hartley, necessary for this transition.
Carolina - The Hurricanes, in the estimation of many, underperformed last year and much of that can be
attributed to key injuries, mainly to starting goalie Cam Ward. They have talent, and three Stall
brothers, which should put them in the mix in the east for a playoff spot. The chemistry between
Alexander Semin and Eric Stall likely helped get Semin his shiny new contract so he now has to
live up to it.
Chicago - The Champs from the Windy City blew away the competition, only after nearly blowing it against
the rival Red Wings, but have all the makings of a contender. Ray Emery is gone back to Philly
replaced by veteran Nikolai Khabibulin, Dave Bolland is now with the Leafs and Michale Frolik
with the Jets, but the Blackhawks have a ton of depth and experience. Captain Jonathan Toews
leads this dynamic group who will look to be the first repeat champ since the Red Wings in
1997/98.
Colorado - The addition of first overall pick Nathan Mckinnon was huge for the Avalanche, but was
somewhat over shadowed by the return of one of the biggest names in the game, Patrick Roy
who brings his fiery personality behind the bench after a successful stint with the Quebec
Ramparts in the QMJHL where he won a Memorial Cup. It will be up to Colorado's other
young guns in Paul Stastny, Matt Duschene and captain Gabriel Landeskog to lead this group
who will have help from veteran Alex Tanguay who returns to the club as a free agent.
Columbus - The Buckeye state saw their team make a serious push for the post season and relocation to
Eastern Conference should help the fan base get to see more games. The performance of Sergi
Bobrovski, the Vezina winner, and the addition of Marion Gaborik and Nathan Horton should
make this an interesting young club to watch.
Dallas - The Stars realigned after failing to make the post season again last year. Gone are Loui Ericsson
and Jaromir Jagr. In are Shawn Horcoff and Tyler Seguin who look to help return this team to the
post season. The talented Jamie Benn was named captain and new head coach Lindey Ruff will
have veteran addition Sergi Gonchar on the back end to help the power play and mentor the young
defensive core.
Detroit - The Wings didn't spend any time idling this summer as the men from the motor city revved up their
offense with the addition, somehow, of Daniel Alfredsson and Steven Weiss. The Wings almost
knocked off the rival Blackhawks last season and with their move to the Eastern conference they
will be a very serious contender to make another long playoff run. Jimmy Howard has proven he
can shoulder the load in net so it will be up to his defensive core to perform in front of him.
Edmonton - The Oilers are now at that stage where everyone, especially new GM Craig McTavish and
new head coach Dallas Eakins, will be looking for them to take that next step. They acquired
newly named captain Andrew Ference to shore up the blue line and provide leadership now that
Shawn Horcoff is in Dallas, but it will be up to the like of Sam Gagner and Ryan
Nugent-Hopkins (when they return from injury) as well as Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle to
show they can lead. Devin Dubnyk faced more shots than any goalie last season and performed
well but will need to step up for the Oilers to have any chance at the post season.
Florida - The Panthers added veteran presence in Ryan Whitney, Scott Gomez and the mercurial Tim
Thomas, back from his self imposed leave, to a core of young up and comers like Jonathan
Huberdeau and Jakob Markstrom. The Panthers will have a tough time competing in the east if
they aren't able to get their young players who have some experience like Shawn Mathias and
Chris Versteeg to step up. The addition of Brad Boyes gives them some help scoring goals should
he be able to find some chemistry with his new line mates. They have young talent like Erik
Gudbranson and Dmitry Kulikov on the blue line anchored by veteran captain Ed Jovanovski
who will also have to step up.
Los Angeles - The Kings have much of their roster in tact from their cup with two years ago and are looking
to reclaim their crown. The loss of Jonathan Bernier to Toronto means less depth in goal but
if Jonathan Quick can get off to a solid start, and they can stay healthy, their season may have
another Hollywood ending.
Minnesota - The Wild spent a lot of money last off season and it payed early dividends with both Zack
Parise and Ryan Suter stepping up and helping lead them to a playoff spot. They have a new
division rival in nearby Winnipeg and if Josh Harding can continue to perform under his own
difficult personal circumstances, the Wild could make another playoff push. The loss of Devin
Setoguchi to Winnipeg means more production will be expected out of Dany Heatley and
captain Miko Koivu as well as last years deadline addition Jason Pomminville.
Montreal - The Habs added several parts this off season in the flashy Daniel Briere, the rugged Douglas
Murray and scrapper/mustache enthusiast George Parros in order to return to the post season.
The Habs will need a full season of production from Norris Trophy winner PK Subban as well as
a bounce back year from Carey Price, tagged by many to make Canada's Olympic team, in
order to succeed. Their turn around last season was incredible but they will have to show it
wasn't a fluke.
Nashville - The Predators will be, well, the Predators. They likely won't be flashy or high scoring but with
Barry Trotz calling the shots, and a solid blue line anchored by Shea Weber and one of the best
goalies in the game in Pekka Rinne the Preds should be consistent and not a lot of fun to play
against. The addition of Seth Jones will help ensure the blue line will have more depth and with
Ryan Ellis's continued development it is a strong suit.
New Jersey - GM Lou Lamarillo pulled off a deal the Devil himself would be proud of, basically stealing
Corey Schneider from Vancouver for a first round pick. The old question of what the hell will
they do when Brodeur retires seems to have been answered. The addition of Jaromir Jagr will
not replace the loss of Ilya Kovalchuck by any means, but adds a veteran presence who may
occasionally chip in, or at least offer advice on hair care. Ryan Clowe is another new comer
expected to fill the void left by David Clarkson but the Devils will have a Devil of a time if they
can't get more production from their young players.
New York Islanders - The Islanders finally took that leap forward last year and made the post season, lead
by newly appointed captain, and the guy who SHOULD have been MVP, John
Tavares. They have a lot of young talent like Kyle Okposo and Matt Moulson who
will have to continue to produce to repeat this playoff appearance. The loss of Mark
Streit hurts the blue line so their young D-core, including Hamonic, Hickey and Calvin
De Hann will have to step up.
New York Rangers - The Rangers new coach Alain Vineault will undoubtedly bring a calmer demeanor
behind the bench than John Tortorella, as would most Pit Bulls, but it will be up to the
likes of Rick Nash and company to respond. Brad Richards is coming off an abysmal
year and much, much more is going to be expected of him. Henrik Lundqvist is always
solid and Ryan Callahan provides steady leadership so will the Blushirts finally live up
to lofty expectations?
Ottawa - The Alfie era is over in the nation's capital, and it will be up to new captain Jason Spezza to lead
this young team back to the playoffs. Loaded with young talent like Bobby Ryan, Erik Karlsson
and Milan Michalek the Sens will be a contender in the east if they can stay healthy, get the
continued solid goaltending both Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner provided them and get
production from young guys like Mikka Zabanijad and Corey Conacher. Also they can't dwell
on the acrimonious departure of Alfresdsson but a chip on the shoulder may help motivate.
Philadelphia - The Flyers lost one French Canadian star in Daniel Briere and replaced him with another in
Vincent Lecavalier who will look to prove his bests days aren't over just yet. Captain Claude
Giroux will lead a team with a new go to defenseman in Mark Streit and goaltender in Steve
Mason who will be looking to prove he can regain his Calder trophy winning from from a few
seasons ago. The Flyers have some depth and youth but like most teams they need to stay
healthy, especially on defense, to return to the post season.
Phoenix - With the ownership situation settled, somewhat the Coyotes will no longer be dogged by questions
about where they will be playing but rather can they compete in the difficult Western Conference.
Goalie Mike Smith certainly gives them an opportunity every night and coach Dave Tippet has
done a fantastic job with his group and with strong leadership lead by Shane Doan, and up and
coming defenseman Oliver Eckam-Larsson the Coyotes should at least be competitive.
Pittsburgh - The situation in Pittsburgh is simple. They will not be measured on anything before April. This is
an extremely talented team who rightfully have Stanley Cup aspirations and after failing to take
flight the last few post seasons will need to be better this time around. Marc-Andre Fleury is a
big reason why they have struggled and he will need to find his game again if they have any
chance at recapturing Lord Stanley's mug.
San Jose - The Sharks have long been a team on the persipice of making a serious run at the cup but have
come up short time and time again. With a solid mix of veterans and youth the Sharks have the
offensive bite to compete but need solid goaltending from Antti Niemi and improve play from
their defense in order to take that next step. Logan Couture will be the next generation for this
team and will be counted on to show that leadership.
St Louis - EA Sports prediction aside, the Blues will be a threat to whomever stands in their way. They have
a lot of size and skill, epitomized by captain David Backes, a good coach in Ken Hitchcock and
a solid blue line lead by Jackman, Bouwmeester and Pieterangelo. The question is can their
goalteending regain it's form from two seasons ago when both Jaroslav Halak and Brain Elliott
were stellar. If so the Blues may finally take home hockey's ultimate prize.
Tampa Bay - The departure of long time captain Vincent Lecavlaier means a new era for the Lightning and
GM Steve Yzerman. Lead by Steve Stamkos, and Martin St, Louis the Lightning will need a
solid season out of Ben Bishop in his first full year with the team in order to improve. The
health of the fragile Sami Salo and veteran Matias Ohlund on defense will have a big say in
how well this club performs.
Toronto - The Maple Leafs added some grit in David Clarkson who promptly showed them just what they
were getting and will now miss the first ten games of the year for leaving the bench to fight. They
also shrewdly added Jonathan Bernier and Dave Bolland to bolster and resigned Tyler Bozak
Cody Franson and Nazim Kadri to keep most of their core in tact. The Leafs will be in tough in
their newly realigned Atlantic division but should make a push for the playoffs if they can get
solid goaltending and Joffrey Lupul can stay healthy.
Vancouver - The Canucks brought in no nonsense, and all time post game press conference superstar, John
Tortorella to help bring some passion behind the bench. They traded Corey Schneider to New
Jersey and what's old is new again and Roberto Luongo is back starting in net. Many see the
Canucks window as closing and it well may be but if they can stay healthy, they have a lot of
talent and experience, lead by the Sedin brothers, and if the likes of David Booth and Ryan
Kessler stay healthy and perform to their abilities they should make things interesting on the
west coast.
Washington - The Capitals were up and down last seasons under new head coach Adam Oates but finished
strong and almost ousted the Rangers in the playoffs. The Caps will need captain Alex
Ovechkin to start well from the get go as well as Nick Backstrom and Mike Green. Braydon
Holtby has been solid in net and needs to continue improving for them to be a serious threat.
The loss of Mike Roberio and Mathieu Perrault means they have less depth too meaning new
comer Mikhael Grabovski will need to fill in.
Winnipeg - The Jets return to the west and look to improve upon nearly missing the post season last year.
The additions of Michael Frolik from Chicago and Devin Setoguchi from Minnesota will help to
add depth upfront where they often relied on their top guns of Ladd, Kane, Little and Wheeler
far too much last season. They will also be looking for Zack Bogosian to have a bounce back
season after an injury riddle campaign and Ondrej Pavelec to step up in goal if they hope not to
be grounded before the playoffs.
Anaheim - The Ducks resigned Cory Perry and Ryan Getzlaf to lucrative contracts and with both looking to
return to Canada's Olympic roster they should earn that money. They also traded Bobby Ryan to
Ottawa but got a talented young player in Jakob Silfverberg in return to add to a roster of other
young players like Nick Bonnio, Cam Fowler, Matt Beleskey, Kyle Palmieri and the seemingly
ageless Teemu Selanne . Look for the Ducks to make a serious push for the post season.
Boston - The defending Eastern Conference champs will be looking to repeat and acquired, finally, free
agent Jerome Iginla to help them. They lost defenceman Andrew Ference to Edmonton but have
young guns Tory Krug and Dougie Hamilton on the back end along with Captain Zedeno Chara.
Goalie Tuuka Raask was locked up to a new deal so the Bruins will once again be a bear to play
against.
Buffalo - The Sabres biggest question, as it was last year, is which Ryan Miller will they get? The one who
was widely considered one of the best in the game a few seasons ago, or the guy they've had
lately? With a potential Team USA spot on the line look for Miller to come out of the gate strong,
though much of his success may depend Tyler Myers and the rest of Buffalo's blue line to bounce
back from a forgettable season.
Calgary - The Flames admitted they had burnt out and are now in full rebuild mode. Gone are Jerome Iginla,
Jay Bowmeester and Miika Kiprussof. They have a number of young players like Shawn
Monahan looking to make an impact and added Joe Colbourn from Toronto for some size up
front. how Kari Ramo does in goal will have a lot to do with their success but it may be a long
season of growing pains for coach Bob Hartley, necessary for this transition.
Carolina - The Hurricanes, in the estimation of many, underperformed last year and much of that can be
attributed to key injuries, mainly to starting goalie Cam Ward. They have talent, and three Stall
brothers, which should put them in the mix in the east for a playoff spot. The chemistry between
Alexander Semin and Eric Stall likely helped get Semin his shiny new contract so he now has to
live up to it.
Chicago - The Champs from the Windy City blew away the competition, only after nearly blowing it against
the rival Red Wings, but have all the makings of a contender. Ray Emery is gone back to Philly
replaced by veteran Nikolai Khabibulin, Dave Bolland is now with the Leafs and Michale Frolik
with the Jets, but the Blackhawks have a ton of depth and experience. Captain Jonathan Toews
leads this dynamic group who will look to be the first repeat champ since the Red Wings in
1997/98.
Colorado - The addition of first overall pick Nathan Mckinnon was huge for the Avalanche, but was
somewhat over shadowed by the return of one of the biggest names in the game, Patrick Roy
who brings his fiery personality behind the bench after a successful stint with the Quebec
Ramparts in the QMJHL where he won a Memorial Cup. It will be up to Colorado's other
young guns in Paul Stastny, Matt Duschene and captain Gabriel Landeskog to lead this group
who will have help from veteran Alex Tanguay who returns to the club as a free agent.
Columbus - The Buckeye state saw their team make a serious push for the post season and relocation to
Eastern Conference should help the fan base get to see more games. The performance of Sergi
Bobrovski, the Vezina winner, and the addition of Marion Gaborik and Nathan Horton should
make this an interesting young club to watch.
Dallas - The Stars realigned after failing to make the post season again last year. Gone are Loui Ericsson
and Jaromir Jagr. In are Shawn Horcoff and Tyler Seguin who look to help return this team to the
post season. The talented Jamie Benn was named captain and new head coach Lindey Ruff will
have veteran addition Sergi Gonchar on the back end to help the power play and mentor the young
defensive core.
Detroit - The Wings didn't spend any time idling this summer as the men from the motor city revved up their
offense with the addition, somehow, of Daniel Alfredsson and Steven Weiss. The Wings almost
knocked off the rival Blackhawks last season and with their move to the Eastern conference they
will be a very serious contender to make another long playoff run. Jimmy Howard has proven he
can shoulder the load in net so it will be up to his defensive core to perform in front of him.
Edmonton - The Oilers are now at that stage where everyone, especially new GM Craig McTavish and
new head coach Dallas Eakins, will be looking for them to take that next step. They acquired
newly named captain Andrew Ference to shore up the blue line and provide leadership now that
Shawn Horcoff is in Dallas, but it will be up to the like of Sam Gagner and Ryan
Nugent-Hopkins (when they return from injury) as well as Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle to
show they can lead. Devin Dubnyk faced more shots than any goalie last season and performed
well but will need to step up for the Oilers to have any chance at the post season.
Florida - The Panthers added veteran presence in Ryan Whitney, Scott Gomez and the mercurial Tim
Thomas, back from his self imposed leave, to a core of young up and comers like Jonathan
Huberdeau and Jakob Markstrom. The Panthers will have a tough time competing in the east if
they aren't able to get their young players who have some experience like Shawn Mathias and
Chris Versteeg to step up. The addition of Brad Boyes gives them some help scoring goals should
he be able to find some chemistry with his new line mates. They have young talent like Erik
Gudbranson and Dmitry Kulikov on the blue line anchored by veteran captain Ed Jovanovski
who will also have to step up.
Los Angeles - The Kings have much of their roster in tact from their cup with two years ago and are looking
to reclaim their crown. The loss of Jonathan Bernier to Toronto means less depth in goal but
if Jonathan Quick can get off to a solid start, and they can stay healthy, their season may have
another Hollywood ending.
Minnesota - The Wild spent a lot of money last off season and it payed early dividends with both Zack
Parise and Ryan Suter stepping up and helping lead them to a playoff spot. They have a new
division rival in nearby Winnipeg and if Josh Harding can continue to perform under his own
difficult personal circumstances, the Wild could make another playoff push. The loss of Devin
Setoguchi to Winnipeg means more production will be expected out of Dany Heatley and
captain Miko Koivu as well as last years deadline addition Jason Pomminville.
Montreal - The Habs added several parts this off season in the flashy Daniel Briere, the rugged Douglas
Murray and scrapper/mustache enthusiast George Parros in order to return to the post season.
The Habs will need a full season of production from Norris Trophy winner PK Subban as well as
a bounce back year from Carey Price, tagged by many to make Canada's Olympic team, in
order to succeed. Their turn around last season was incredible but they will have to show it
wasn't a fluke.
Nashville - The Predators will be, well, the Predators. They likely won't be flashy or high scoring but with
Barry Trotz calling the shots, and a solid blue line anchored by Shea Weber and one of the best
goalies in the game in Pekka Rinne the Preds should be consistent and not a lot of fun to play
against. The addition of Seth Jones will help ensure the blue line will have more depth and with
Ryan Ellis's continued development it is a strong suit.
New Jersey - GM Lou Lamarillo pulled off a deal the Devil himself would be proud of, basically stealing
Corey Schneider from Vancouver for a first round pick. The old question of what the hell will
they do when Brodeur retires seems to have been answered. The addition of Jaromir Jagr will
not replace the loss of Ilya Kovalchuck by any means, but adds a veteran presence who may
occasionally chip in, or at least offer advice on hair care. Ryan Clowe is another new comer
expected to fill the void left by David Clarkson but the Devils will have a Devil of a time if they
can't get more production from their young players.
New York Islanders - The Islanders finally took that leap forward last year and made the post season, lead
by newly appointed captain, and the guy who SHOULD have been MVP, John
Tavares. They have a lot of young talent like Kyle Okposo and Matt Moulson who
will have to continue to produce to repeat this playoff appearance. The loss of Mark
Streit hurts the blue line so their young D-core, including Hamonic, Hickey and Calvin
De Hann will have to step up.
New York Rangers - The Rangers new coach Alain Vineault will undoubtedly bring a calmer demeanor
behind the bench than John Tortorella, as would most Pit Bulls, but it will be up to the
likes of Rick Nash and company to respond. Brad Richards is coming off an abysmal
year and much, much more is going to be expected of him. Henrik Lundqvist is always
solid and Ryan Callahan provides steady leadership so will the Blushirts finally live up
to lofty expectations?
Ottawa - The Alfie era is over in the nation's capital, and it will be up to new captain Jason Spezza to lead
this young team back to the playoffs. Loaded with young talent like Bobby Ryan, Erik Karlsson
and Milan Michalek the Sens will be a contender in the east if they can stay healthy, get the
continued solid goaltending both Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner provided them and get
production from young guys like Mikka Zabanijad and Corey Conacher. Also they can't dwell
on the acrimonious departure of Alfresdsson but a chip on the shoulder may help motivate.
Philadelphia - The Flyers lost one French Canadian star in Daniel Briere and replaced him with another in
Vincent Lecavalier who will look to prove his bests days aren't over just yet. Captain Claude
Giroux will lead a team with a new go to defenseman in Mark Streit and goaltender in Steve
Mason who will be looking to prove he can regain his Calder trophy winning from from a few
seasons ago. The Flyers have some depth and youth but like most teams they need to stay
healthy, especially on defense, to return to the post season.
Phoenix - With the ownership situation settled, somewhat the Coyotes will no longer be dogged by questions
about where they will be playing but rather can they compete in the difficult Western Conference.
Goalie Mike Smith certainly gives them an opportunity every night and coach Dave Tippet has
done a fantastic job with his group and with strong leadership lead by Shane Doan, and up and
coming defenseman Oliver Eckam-Larsson the Coyotes should at least be competitive.
Pittsburgh - The situation in Pittsburgh is simple. They will not be measured on anything before April. This is
an extremely talented team who rightfully have Stanley Cup aspirations and after failing to take
flight the last few post seasons will need to be better this time around. Marc-Andre Fleury is a
big reason why they have struggled and he will need to find his game again if they have any
chance at recapturing Lord Stanley's mug.
San Jose - The Sharks have long been a team on the persipice of making a serious run at the cup but have
come up short time and time again. With a solid mix of veterans and youth the Sharks have the
offensive bite to compete but need solid goaltending from Antti Niemi and improve play from
their defense in order to take that next step. Logan Couture will be the next generation for this
team and will be counted on to show that leadership.
St Louis - EA Sports prediction aside, the Blues will be a threat to whomever stands in their way. They have
a lot of size and skill, epitomized by captain David Backes, a good coach in Ken Hitchcock and
a solid blue line lead by Jackman, Bouwmeester and Pieterangelo. The question is can their
goalteending regain it's form from two seasons ago when both Jaroslav Halak and Brain Elliott
were stellar. If so the Blues may finally take home hockey's ultimate prize.
Tampa Bay - The departure of long time captain Vincent Lecavlaier means a new era for the Lightning and
GM Steve Yzerman. Lead by Steve Stamkos, and Martin St, Louis the Lightning will need a
solid season out of Ben Bishop in his first full year with the team in order to improve. The
health of the fragile Sami Salo and veteran Matias Ohlund on defense will have a big say in
how well this club performs.
Toronto - The Maple Leafs added some grit in David Clarkson who promptly showed them just what they
were getting and will now miss the first ten games of the year for leaving the bench to fight. They
also shrewdly added Jonathan Bernier and Dave Bolland to bolster and resigned Tyler Bozak
Cody Franson and Nazim Kadri to keep most of their core in tact. The Leafs will be in tough in
their newly realigned Atlantic division but should make a push for the playoffs if they can get
solid goaltending and Joffrey Lupul can stay healthy.
Vancouver - The Canucks brought in no nonsense, and all time post game press conference superstar, John
Tortorella to help bring some passion behind the bench. They traded Corey Schneider to New
Jersey and what's old is new again and Roberto Luongo is back starting in net. Many see the
Canucks window as closing and it well may be but if they can stay healthy, they have a lot of
talent and experience, lead by the Sedin brothers, and if the likes of David Booth and Ryan
Kessler stay healthy and perform to their abilities they should make things interesting on the
west coast.
Washington - The Capitals were up and down last seasons under new head coach Adam Oates but finished
strong and almost ousted the Rangers in the playoffs. The Caps will need captain Alex
Ovechkin to start well from the get go as well as Nick Backstrom and Mike Green. Braydon
Holtby has been solid in net and needs to continue improving for them to be a serious threat.
The loss of Mike Roberio and Mathieu Perrault means they have less depth too meaning new
comer Mikhael Grabovski will need to fill in.
Winnipeg - The Jets return to the west and look to improve upon nearly missing the post season last year.
The additions of Michael Frolik from Chicago and Devin Setoguchi from Minnesota will help to
add depth upfront where they often relied on their top guns of Ladd, Kane, Little and Wheeler
far too much last season. They will also be looking for Zack Bogosian to have a bounce back
season after an injury riddle campaign and Ondrej Pavelec to step up in goal if they hope not to
be grounded before the playoffs.
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