In my last entry, I went over my winners in free agency. However, there are two sides to every story, the winners and the losers. There were several teams that did very little to improve themselves and some teams do not look to be very competitive come next year. Most of these teams will have a very hard time keeping up with the other teams that already have a solid core and those that are improving through player development. The following are my losers of the summer of 2011.
Phoenix Coyotes
Notable Additions: Raffi Torres, F. Boyd Gordon, F. Alex Bolduc, F. Andy Miele, F. Mike Smith, G.
The Coyotes lost their main cog that got them into the playoffs, Ilya Bryzgalov, when they could not come to terms. They shipped his rights off to Philadelphia where Byrzgalov signed a 9-year contract. In comes Mike Smith, a goaltender that has been plagued with injuries throughout his career. He was acquired by Tampa Bay in the Brad Richards trade and never quite hit his stride as a #1 goaltender. He started 20 games last season, and the Coyotes will be relying on him and backup goalie Jason Labarbera, who has a total of 28 starts in the past two seasons, to hold down the fort in net. Aside from the troubles in the crease, the Coyotes have a lack of top-6 capable centers, the most notable being former 3rd overall pick Kyle Turris, two-way forward Martin Hanzal and college standout Andy Miele. None of these players has been a #1 center for an NHL squad, nor are any of them ready for the responsibility yet. With the lack of stable ownership in Phoenix, it is very hard to improve a roster that has very little financial backing. Unless the better than average defense and coach Dave Tippett carry the team, the Desert Dogs will not see the post-season for a third straight year.
Winnipeg Jets
Notable Additions: Tanner Glass, F. Rick Rypien, F. Eric Fehr, F. Randy Jones, D. Brett Festerling, D.
There is a sense of euphoria that has swept fans of the Jets with the news of their return to Winnipeg after a hiatus. The former Thrashers squad that missed out on the playoffs yet again did not improve much through free agency this summer and that euphoria may wear off if the team goes another year without post-season hockey. When the biggest name being brought in is Eric Fehr, a one-time 20-goal scorer in his three full years in the NHL, there is a problem. True North Sports & Entertainment could have flexed their financial muscles and looked to improve the team by adding a scoring center to the fold, but instead the club was only able to sign depth forwards and defensemen that will not have the impact required for a club that so desperately needs to make the playoffs. Evander Kane and Andrew Ladd headline the offensive group for the Jets, and while they are good, young players, they cannot be expected to be the scoring leaders of that squad. Contributions from Nik Antropov and Brian Little would aid in the effort, but even with those two playing at the best of their abilities the Jets' offense is suspect at best. There is a lot of depth on the Jets' blueline and goaltender Ondrej Pavelec is still developing as a #1 netminder, but Jets fans will have to wait until at least 2012-13 to see playoff hockey.
Ottawa Senators
Notable Additions: Nikita Filatov, F. Zenon Konopka, F. Stephane De Costa, F. Alex Auld, G.
The day and age of long rebuilds with young players has come in the past few years, with teams like Pittsburgh and Chicago stockpiling high picks that turn out well to change the fortunes of a franchise. The Senators are hoping to do just that, but they are in for a long, bumpy road for the next few seasons. When a team's second line consists of Nick Foligno, Stephane De Costa and Bobby Butler, one knows that there is a problem. Most teams combine young players with older and experienced veterans to ease the development process on the younger players in the organization, but the best Ottawa did was acquire the enigmatic Filatov and tough guy Konopka to bolster their fourth line of hard grinders with Zach Smith and Chris Neil. Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza lead the way for the Sens, but after that group the scoring falls off. As for the defense, the Sens will be relying on rookies such as Jared Cowen and David Rundblad to make a difference in their rookie seasons. Older players like Filip Kuba and Chris Phillips will show them the ropes, but unless some of these players perform better than expected, both Craig Anderson and Alex Auld are in for a lot of work in the 2011-12 season. The playoffs are a number of years away for this Senators squad.
Colorado Avalanche
Notable Additions: Chuck Kobasew, F. Jan Hejda, D. Shane O'Brien, D. Semyon Varlamov, G. J.S. Giguere, G.
The Avalanche are on this list for me even though I really like the Jan Hejda signing for that young group. This is because Avalanche GM Greg Sherman sent away a 1st and 2nd round pick in exchange for the negotiating rights for Semyon Varlamov, the former Capitals goaltender that has never been a proven starter and has battled both injury and inconsistency. Bringing in Giguere as an insurance policy was not a poor move, but with Tomas Vokoun on the market there were better options for a platoon. What makes this worse is that even though the Avalanche will be a team at the cap floor, Vokoun was signed to possibly the best free agent deal of the summer with a salary almost 1/4th the size of his previous contract at $1.5M. A team consisting mostly of young players learning what it takes to play in the NHL, they lack scoring depth after the likes of Paul Stastny, Matt Duchene and Milan Hejduk. David Jones is a solid goal scorer, but there are not many 2nd and 3rd liners on the team capable of putting up goals. A LWer such as Simon Gagne or Jussi Jokinen would have eased the pressure on the younger players, but they will not get that luxury. The Avalanche are all about being up-and-coming, as their defense features several young players that are looking to break out. Among them is Erik Johnson, the former 1st overall pick that was traded from St. Louis to Colorado this past season. The loss of JM Liles through a trade with Toronto opens up a spot on the PP unit, where one of Johnson or Kyle Cumiskey (currently an RFA) will take over. This team lacks reliable netminding and goal scoring depth to have a shot at one of the lower seeds in 2011-12, especially in the difficult Western Conference.
As I've said, don't expect these teams to make the playoffs. If they do, then there will have to be a vast amount of injuries to division rivals and a stroke of luck in net for most of them. From a lack of a starting goaltender to a lack of scoring depth or just going through the pains of a rebuild without adding some band-aids, these teams are all facing a tough 2011-12 season with the players on the roster.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Post-July 1st: The Winners
We're getting into the grueling summer that hockey fans loathe, but we must make it to next season somehow. Baseball and soccer aren't getting the job done, so why not catch up on the recent news in the hockey world? July 1st and the ensuing days produced a sizable amount of movement and there are a lot of new faces on many different teams. Tonight's entry will detail the teams that improved themselves the most with free agency signings and trades so far this summer.
Washington Capitals
Notable Additions: Troy Brouwer, Forward. Joel Ward, Forward. Roman Hamrlik, Defenseman. Tomas Vokoun, Goaltender.
Washington GM George McPhee has had a very busy summer so far, and the results look good on paper. After questions about having proven goaltending during the playoffs, McPhee signed Tomas Vokoun to a 1-year, $1.5M contract that could prove to be the steal of the summer. Among the league's elite netminders while playing for the teams at the bottom of the barrel, Vokoun has never had a chance to be on a Stanley Cup contender. This came after the Caps performed highway robbery on the Avalanche by shipping off Semyon Varlamov for a 1st and 2nd round pick. That is a hefty price to pay for a goalie who has never been an established starter and who was about to bolt for Russia. If Vokoun does falter, both Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby are future starting goaltenders in the NHL that will step up. The Caps also added power forwards Troy Brouwer and Joel Ward who will help come playoff time, where Ward absolutely dominated with seven goals and six assists in 12 games. If he can produce like this during the regular season, both he and Brouwer (who has had 17 and 22 goals in his last two seasons, respectively) can provide scoring depth to a team that needs it. Hamrlik is a veteran presence on a defense that needs it, and he will slot in and is capable of playing anywhere from 18-22 minutes as needed. Adding him to a group that boasts Mike Green, John Carlson, Karl Alzner and Jeff Schultz makes the Caps that much harder to play against.
Florida Panthers
Notable Additions: Tomas Fleischmann, Forward. Scotty Upshall, Forward. Kris Versteeg, Forward. Tomas Kopecky, Forward. Sean Bergenheim, Forward. Brian Campbell, Defenseman. Ed Jovanovski, Defenseman. Jose Theodore, Goaltender.
Florida is going with an approach based on quantity of players brought in, as they have added a total of eleven new faces to the squad. Making the biggest headlines for the squad are Fleischmann, Campbell and Jovanovski. Fleischmann posted 21 points in 22 games with the Avalanche last season before missing the final 36 games of the year due to a blood clot issue. He is healthy and will provide some scoring punch that the Panthers lacked last year. Campbell and Jovanovski offer two different skill sets that the Panthers desperately need. Campbell is a puck-moving defenseman and a powerplay quarterback and while his contract is expensive ($7.14M cap hit), he will help the Cats' PP unit that was among the worst in the league. Jovanovski has lost a step since the prime of his career in Vancouver and his first year in Phoenix, but he provides veteran leadership, grit and a booming shot to a group that features youngsters Dmitri Kulikov, Keaton Ellerby and potentially Erik Gudbranson. Bergenheim is coming off of an outstanding playoff run for the Tampa Bay Lightning where he scored nine goals in 16 games, and he cashed in with a 4-year deal worth $2.75M a year. It remains to be seen if the Finn who has a career high of 15 goals in a season can replicate the goalscoring success, but at the very least he is a good, yet expensive, checker and penalty killer. Additions like Upshall, Kopecky and Versteeg make the Panthers a tough team to play against, though the question of success for the club will lie in the hands of Jose Theodore. Can he ever retain the success he had with the Canadiens or the Avalanche years ago? Or will he continue to be a 1A goaltender that is not capable of being a true starter for a club. If the answer is the latter, then Scott Clemmensen will see between 35 and 40 starts. The ability for the Panthers to win hinges on how the goaltending is, but at the very least no teams will take playing Florida for granted with their wealth of grit and tenacity.
Buffalo Sabres
Notable Additions: Ville Leino, Forward. Ales Kotalik, Forward. Christian Ehrhoff, Defenseman. Robyn Regehr, Defenseman.
Buffalo chose to approach free agency with the opposite philosophy of the Florida Panthers, with quality over quantity. The Sabres only have four new faces in the room, though Kotalik is making his second tour of duty with the Sabres. Buffalo's main problem in the playoffs was the lack of depth on the blueline, featuring a top-3 of Tyler Myers, Shaone Morrison and Jordan Leopold. Now, while Myers remains, the other two players in that rank are Ehrhoff and Regehr. Ehrhoff has had an eventful summer, to say the least. His rights were first traded to the New York Islanders who unsuccessfully attempted to sign him. After that, the Isles dealt his rights to the Sabres where the team and Ehrhoff agreed to a 10-year, $40M deal. Ehrhoff is a good two-way defenseman that eats minutes and plays in all situations. He can effectively run a powerplay and he can also be counted on to kill penalties. Regehr is more of a one-dimensional defenseman that is very good in his own zone. He is regarded as one of the top shutdown defensemen in the NHL and will help the Sabres contain opposing forwards. Ville Leino cashed in on a 19 goal, 53 point season with the Flyers to the tune of six years and $27M. He will add a creative weapon to the Buffalo arsenal and is capable of playing all three forward positions. He is also a proven playoff performer as well, posting 26 points in 30 playoff games. Kotalik is now with his third team in three years, originally signing his contract with the Rangers and then getting traded to the Flames. While he has a heavy shot that can be utilized on the powerplay, he is a liability defensively and his $3M cap hit is a bit much for a 3rd line powerplay specialist. The only move left to make by GM Darcy Regier is to re-sign RFA goalie Jhonas Enroth to back up Ryan Miller. Enroth played very well in limited action for the Sabres, and is certainly capable of playing 30 games to allow Miller adequate rest. With the added star power on defense, the Sabres are in the conversation as contenders for the top of the eastern conference.
Minnesota Wild
Notable Additions: Dany Heatley, Forward. Devin Setoguchi, Forward. Mike Lundin, Defense.
The Wild land on my list because of the two trades that they made with the San Jose Sharks. First was the Brent Burns trade, where the Wild traded Burns and got Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle and a 1st round pick in return. Setoguchi provides secondary scoring (he has scored at least 20 goals in each of the last three seasons), while Coyle is a blue-chip prospect that currently plays for Boston University. In the second trade where they acquired Dany Heatley, the Wild shipped off playmaker Martin Havlat. Heatley is a fomer 50-goal scorer who has topped 25 goals eight times in his NHL career. He is the best player that Mikko koivu will ever have played with in the NHL, and the two could finally provide the Wild with some offense to compliment their post-Lemaire system. While the defense could use one more addition to solidify the top-6, the Wild are in a much better position to fight for a playoff position if goaltender Niklas Backstrom can perform like he has in years past. Josh Harding attempts to come back after missing all of last season to injury, and he can provide solid goaltending in a backup role. Though in actuality the Wild added very little, the players they added may be enough to propel them back into the conversation of the NHL playoff race.
LA Kings
Notable Additions: Mike Richards, Forward. Simon Gagne, Forward.
The Kings have had a relatively busy off-season, trading Ryan Smyth to the Oilers in return for Colin Fraser (who they planned to buy out), but mostly because of the acquisitions of two former Philadelphia Flyers that solidify the Kings' top-6 forwards. Mike Richards, the now former captain of the Flyers was brought in via the trade route with Wayne Simmonds and top prospect Brayden Schenn going the other way. While Schenn could potentially develop into a good scorer in this league, Mike Richards is much more of a sure thing for a Kings team that is looking to go far into the playoffs and contend for the Stanley Cup. He does a little bit of everything and while his scoring was down last season, he is an effective two-way player that plays with flair and tenacity at the same time. He plays in all situations and will fit perfectly among the gritty two-way forwards that the Kings already have in wingers Dustin Penner and captain Dustin Brown. Bringing in Gagne will ease the loss of Smyth, who became a cap casualty. Gagne and Ricahrds have chemistry from when they were teammates in Philadelphia, and if they can rekindle that then the Kings have a potent second unit that will aid the team where they need it most. The Kings still have a lot of talent in the minors with players like Andrei Loktionov and Thomas Hickey developing, and they can contend for the Cup next season with the additions they have made this summer.
I decided to leave a few teams off of the list, most notably the Rangers, Leafs and Blue Jackets. The exclusion of the Rangers may come as a surprise and while Brad Richards is the most significant acquisition since Jaromir Jagr in my opinion, there are still holes to fill on the top line with a left wing and there are several question marks on defense. The Leafs signed Tim Connolly who could boom or bust depending on his health, and the same goes for trade acquisition Matthew Lombardi. Cody Franson could evolve into a great offensive defenseman in Toronto, but that alone does not make the Leafs winners. The Blue Jackets improved with the addition of top line forward Jeff Carter and blueliner James Wisniewski, but there are several questions among the forward group in Columbus and the Jackets could still use another good defenseman to shore up that group.
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Washington Capitals
Notable Additions: Troy Brouwer, Forward. Joel Ward, Forward. Roman Hamrlik, Defenseman. Tomas Vokoun, Goaltender.
Washington GM George McPhee has had a very busy summer so far, and the results look good on paper. After questions about having proven goaltending during the playoffs, McPhee signed Tomas Vokoun to a 1-year, $1.5M contract that could prove to be the steal of the summer. Among the league's elite netminders while playing for the teams at the bottom of the barrel, Vokoun has never had a chance to be on a Stanley Cup contender. This came after the Caps performed highway robbery on the Avalanche by shipping off Semyon Varlamov for a 1st and 2nd round pick. That is a hefty price to pay for a goalie who has never been an established starter and who was about to bolt for Russia. If Vokoun does falter, both Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby are future starting goaltenders in the NHL that will step up. The Caps also added power forwards Troy Brouwer and Joel Ward who will help come playoff time, where Ward absolutely dominated with seven goals and six assists in 12 games. If he can produce like this during the regular season, both he and Brouwer (who has had 17 and 22 goals in his last two seasons, respectively) can provide scoring depth to a team that needs it. Hamrlik is a veteran presence on a defense that needs it, and he will slot in and is capable of playing anywhere from 18-22 minutes as needed. Adding him to a group that boasts Mike Green, John Carlson, Karl Alzner and Jeff Schultz makes the Caps that much harder to play against.
Florida Panthers
Notable Additions: Tomas Fleischmann, Forward. Scotty Upshall, Forward. Kris Versteeg, Forward. Tomas Kopecky, Forward. Sean Bergenheim, Forward. Brian Campbell, Defenseman. Ed Jovanovski, Defenseman. Jose Theodore, Goaltender.
Florida is going with an approach based on quantity of players brought in, as they have added a total of eleven new faces to the squad. Making the biggest headlines for the squad are Fleischmann, Campbell and Jovanovski. Fleischmann posted 21 points in 22 games with the Avalanche last season before missing the final 36 games of the year due to a blood clot issue. He is healthy and will provide some scoring punch that the Panthers lacked last year. Campbell and Jovanovski offer two different skill sets that the Panthers desperately need. Campbell is a puck-moving defenseman and a powerplay quarterback and while his contract is expensive ($7.14M cap hit), he will help the Cats' PP unit that was among the worst in the league. Jovanovski has lost a step since the prime of his career in Vancouver and his first year in Phoenix, but he provides veteran leadership, grit and a booming shot to a group that features youngsters Dmitri Kulikov, Keaton Ellerby and potentially Erik Gudbranson. Bergenheim is coming off of an outstanding playoff run for the Tampa Bay Lightning where he scored nine goals in 16 games, and he cashed in with a 4-year deal worth $2.75M a year. It remains to be seen if the Finn who has a career high of 15 goals in a season can replicate the goalscoring success, but at the very least he is a good, yet expensive, checker and penalty killer. Additions like Upshall, Kopecky and Versteeg make the Panthers a tough team to play against, though the question of success for the club will lie in the hands of Jose Theodore. Can he ever retain the success he had with the Canadiens or the Avalanche years ago? Or will he continue to be a 1A goaltender that is not capable of being a true starter for a club. If the answer is the latter, then Scott Clemmensen will see between 35 and 40 starts. The ability for the Panthers to win hinges on how the goaltending is, but at the very least no teams will take playing Florida for granted with their wealth of grit and tenacity.
Buffalo Sabres
Notable Additions: Ville Leino, Forward. Ales Kotalik, Forward. Christian Ehrhoff, Defenseman. Robyn Regehr, Defenseman.
Buffalo chose to approach free agency with the opposite philosophy of the Florida Panthers, with quality over quantity. The Sabres only have four new faces in the room, though Kotalik is making his second tour of duty with the Sabres. Buffalo's main problem in the playoffs was the lack of depth on the blueline, featuring a top-3 of Tyler Myers, Shaone Morrison and Jordan Leopold. Now, while Myers remains, the other two players in that rank are Ehrhoff and Regehr. Ehrhoff has had an eventful summer, to say the least. His rights were first traded to the New York Islanders who unsuccessfully attempted to sign him. After that, the Isles dealt his rights to the Sabres where the team and Ehrhoff agreed to a 10-year, $40M deal. Ehrhoff is a good two-way defenseman that eats minutes and plays in all situations. He can effectively run a powerplay and he can also be counted on to kill penalties. Regehr is more of a one-dimensional defenseman that is very good in his own zone. He is regarded as one of the top shutdown defensemen in the NHL and will help the Sabres contain opposing forwards. Ville Leino cashed in on a 19 goal, 53 point season with the Flyers to the tune of six years and $27M. He will add a creative weapon to the Buffalo arsenal and is capable of playing all three forward positions. He is also a proven playoff performer as well, posting 26 points in 30 playoff games. Kotalik is now with his third team in three years, originally signing his contract with the Rangers and then getting traded to the Flames. While he has a heavy shot that can be utilized on the powerplay, he is a liability defensively and his $3M cap hit is a bit much for a 3rd line powerplay specialist. The only move left to make by GM Darcy Regier is to re-sign RFA goalie Jhonas Enroth to back up Ryan Miller. Enroth played very well in limited action for the Sabres, and is certainly capable of playing 30 games to allow Miller adequate rest. With the added star power on defense, the Sabres are in the conversation as contenders for the top of the eastern conference.
Minnesota Wild
Notable Additions: Dany Heatley, Forward. Devin Setoguchi, Forward. Mike Lundin, Defense.
The Wild land on my list because of the two trades that they made with the San Jose Sharks. First was the Brent Burns trade, where the Wild traded Burns and got Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle and a 1st round pick in return. Setoguchi provides secondary scoring (he has scored at least 20 goals in each of the last three seasons), while Coyle is a blue-chip prospect that currently plays for Boston University. In the second trade where they acquired Dany Heatley, the Wild shipped off playmaker Martin Havlat. Heatley is a fomer 50-goal scorer who has topped 25 goals eight times in his NHL career. He is the best player that Mikko koivu will ever have played with in the NHL, and the two could finally provide the Wild with some offense to compliment their post-Lemaire system. While the defense could use one more addition to solidify the top-6, the Wild are in a much better position to fight for a playoff position if goaltender Niklas Backstrom can perform like he has in years past. Josh Harding attempts to come back after missing all of last season to injury, and he can provide solid goaltending in a backup role. Though in actuality the Wild added very little, the players they added may be enough to propel them back into the conversation of the NHL playoff race.
LA Kings
Notable Additions: Mike Richards, Forward. Simon Gagne, Forward.
The Kings have had a relatively busy off-season, trading Ryan Smyth to the Oilers in return for Colin Fraser (who they planned to buy out), but mostly because of the acquisitions of two former Philadelphia Flyers that solidify the Kings' top-6 forwards. Mike Richards, the now former captain of the Flyers was brought in via the trade route with Wayne Simmonds and top prospect Brayden Schenn going the other way. While Schenn could potentially develop into a good scorer in this league, Mike Richards is much more of a sure thing for a Kings team that is looking to go far into the playoffs and contend for the Stanley Cup. He does a little bit of everything and while his scoring was down last season, he is an effective two-way player that plays with flair and tenacity at the same time. He plays in all situations and will fit perfectly among the gritty two-way forwards that the Kings already have in wingers Dustin Penner and captain Dustin Brown. Bringing in Gagne will ease the loss of Smyth, who became a cap casualty. Gagne and Ricahrds have chemistry from when they were teammates in Philadelphia, and if they can rekindle that then the Kings have a potent second unit that will aid the team where they need it most. The Kings still have a lot of talent in the minors with players like Andrei Loktionov and Thomas Hickey developing, and they can contend for the Cup next season with the additions they have made this summer.
I decided to leave a few teams off of the list, most notably the Rangers, Leafs and Blue Jackets. The exclusion of the Rangers may come as a surprise and while Brad Richards is the most significant acquisition since Jaromir Jagr in my opinion, there are still holes to fill on the top line with a left wing and there are several question marks on defense. The Leafs signed Tim Connolly who could boom or bust depending on his health, and the same goes for trade acquisition Matthew Lombardi. Cody Franson could evolve into a great offensive defenseman in Toronto, but that alone does not make the Leafs winners. The Blue Jackets improved with the addition of top line forward Jeff Carter and blueliner James Wisniewski, but there are several questions among the forward group in Columbus and the Jackets could still use another good defenseman to shore up that group.
Follow me on twitter, @Weinstein2319, to see blog updates and also to chat (in 140 characters or less, of course) about anything that I have written.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Reviewing the Rangers' Draft Picks
The New York Rangers only came into the 2011 NHL Entry Draft with four picks, but managed to acquire two additional selections to draft some interesting prospects for the farm system. Selecting at 15th overall, there were several ways the Rangers could have gone and in the end, had a draft that could either boom or bust. There are some question marks, but Gordie Howe and co. made those selections for a reason. Clark is very good at seeing the potential of players and their ability to grow, as the Rangers' fans have gotten used to over the past years.
The Rangers started out on Friday night with a choice. There were several forwards available at the 15th overall pick such as Tyler Biggs, Joel Armia, Mark McNeill and Matt Puempel. Instead, the Rangers chose J.T. Miller out of the US National Team Development Program. Regarded as a two-way player that is strong on both sides of the puck, Miller put in a great performance for the United States at the U-18 tournament with 13 points. He has drawn comparisons to Mason Raymond and Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks, which are strong indications of the two-way play that may be to come. He is the ideal player for John Tortorella's hard fore-check and responsible defensive play as well. Miller has committed to the program at the University of North Dakota next season, where he will face very physical competition. He joins a great program that produced NHL players such as Zach Parise, Jonathan Toews, Travis Zajac, T.J. Oshie, Drew Stafford and Matt Greene.
Without a pick until the fourth round, the Rangers were keeping their eye on one prospect in particular. The staff had pinned Steven Fogarty as a late-1st to 2nd round draft pick, but it caught their eye when he kept falling through the ranks. It is hard to gauge the projection of a high school player, but Fogarty has a very big 6'2" 194lbs frame. The Rangers traded falling prospect Evgeny Grachev to the St. Louis Blues for the 72nd overall selection in the 3rd round in order to select the talented young forward. The 18-year old played for Edina High School last season which is very well regarded for its hockey program, and he plans on playing a year in the USHL before starting his college career at Notre Dame. This could suggest that Fogarty has his eyes set on turning pro after only a one or two seasons of college hockey, which could prove well for his development. His combination of hands, size and speed could turn into a strong player in a John Tortorella system down the road.
With their 4th round pick, the Rangers went to the WHL to draft an outstanding forward prospect. Michael St. Croix was being compared to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins almost a year ago, but due to inconsistencies fell to the fourth round where the Rangers chose him. The shifty Edmonton Oil Kings pivot has good speed and excellent hands, leading him to a great second season in the Western Hockey League where he posted 27 goals, 48 assists and a +28 rating. The +/- rating is the most notable stat for St. Croix because the year before he posted a -21 rating. If the 5'11" forward can add some muscle and some strength, he may be a steal at #106 for the Rangers.
Shane McColgan was a highly regarded prospect that projected to go as early as the first round in the 2011 Entry Draft, but questions about his size and inconsistencies made him drop down to the fifth round. Though that may seem like a steep drop, the speedy forward still has a lot to offer from his 5'8" 165lbs frame. Though his point total dropped from 69 in 2009-10 to 66 in 2010-11, his +/- rating saw an increase of 18 as he went from a -15 to a +3 with the Kelowna Rockets. At 134th overall, McColgan has offensive skills and a bit of a temper that could allow him to make it to the next level.
The Rangers didn't have to wait long for their next pick, as they held the 136th overall pick as well. With the selection they chose imposing defenseman Samuel Noreau out of the QMJHL. The 6'5" defenseman is not known for his offense but for his play on the defensive side of the puck and for his toughness. He scored a grand total of five goals and ten points last season, but racked up 141 PIMs and was a good fighter in the Q. At 18-years old, he will probably play at least two more years in Juniors before turning pro.
The Rangers final selection came in the 6th round at 172nd overall. Glen Sather traded Nashville a 2012 6th round pick for this selection and the team selected Slovakian defenseman Peter Ceresnak. A two-way defenseman with size, the 6'3" 209lbs Ceresnak played for one of the worst teams in the Slovak Junior circuit. Ceresnak is more than likely going to enter himself into the European draft for the CHL and will come over to North America to play the rest of his junior hockey. There, the Rangers can keep a close eye on him and make sure his development goes along as best as it can.
Overall, the Rangers covered all of the bases in this draft. There are several high risk picks in Fogarty and McColgan, while 1st rounder J.T. Miller is all but destined to become a two-way threat in the Rangers top-6. Michael St. Croix has great hands and offensive upside, while the Blueshirts also picked up two defenseman with right handed shots. There was not a lot more that the Rangers brass could do, and they did an excellent job with the picks they had and acquired. With Tim Erixon acquired for two 2nd round picks, the Rangers picked up a possible top-5 draft pick as well. In the next four to five years these players will show if they warranted their selections in the entry draft, but the future looks bright with these young hockey players.
The Rangers started out on Friday night with a choice. There were several forwards available at the 15th overall pick such as Tyler Biggs, Joel Armia, Mark McNeill and Matt Puempel. Instead, the Rangers chose J.T. Miller out of the US National Team Development Program. Regarded as a two-way player that is strong on both sides of the puck, Miller put in a great performance for the United States at the U-18 tournament with 13 points. He has drawn comparisons to Mason Raymond and Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks, which are strong indications of the two-way play that may be to come. He is the ideal player for John Tortorella's hard fore-check and responsible defensive play as well. Miller has committed to the program at the University of North Dakota next season, where he will face very physical competition. He joins a great program that produced NHL players such as Zach Parise, Jonathan Toews, Travis Zajac, T.J. Oshie, Drew Stafford and Matt Greene.
Without a pick until the fourth round, the Rangers were keeping their eye on one prospect in particular. The staff had pinned Steven Fogarty as a late-1st to 2nd round draft pick, but it caught their eye when he kept falling through the ranks. It is hard to gauge the projection of a high school player, but Fogarty has a very big 6'2" 194lbs frame. The Rangers traded falling prospect Evgeny Grachev to the St. Louis Blues for the 72nd overall selection in the 3rd round in order to select the talented young forward. The 18-year old played for Edina High School last season which is very well regarded for its hockey program, and he plans on playing a year in the USHL before starting his college career at Notre Dame. This could suggest that Fogarty has his eyes set on turning pro after only a one or two seasons of college hockey, which could prove well for his development. His combination of hands, size and speed could turn into a strong player in a John Tortorella system down the road.
With their 4th round pick, the Rangers went to the WHL to draft an outstanding forward prospect. Michael St. Croix was being compared to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins almost a year ago, but due to inconsistencies fell to the fourth round where the Rangers chose him. The shifty Edmonton Oil Kings pivot has good speed and excellent hands, leading him to a great second season in the Western Hockey League where he posted 27 goals, 48 assists and a +28 rating. The +/- rating is the most notable stat for St. Croix because the year before he posted a -21 rating. If the 5'11" forward can add some muscle and some strength, he may be a steal at #106 for the Rangers.
Shane McColgan was a highly regarded prospect that projected to go as early as the first round in the 2011 Entry Draft, but questions about his size and inconsistencies made him drop down to the fifth round. Though that may seem like a steep drop, the speedy forward still has a lot to offer from his 5'8" 165lbs frame. Though his point total dropped from 69 in 2009-10 to 66 in 2010-11, his +/- rating saw an increase of 18 as he went from a -15 to a +3 with the Kelowna Rockets. At 134th overall, McColgan has offensive skills and a bit of a temper that could allow him to make it to the next level.
The Rangers didn't have to wait long for their next pick, as they held the 136th overall pick as well. With the selection they chose imposing defenseman Samuel Noreau out of the QMJHL. The 6'5" defenseman is not known for his offense but for his play on the defensive side of the puck and for his toughness. He scored a grand total of five goals and ten points last season, but racked up 141 PIMs and was a good fighter in the Q. At 18-years old, he will probably play at least two more years in Juniors before turning pro.
The Rangers final selection came in the 6th round at 172nd overall. Glen Sather traded Nashville a 2012 6th round pick for this selection and the team selected Slovakian defenseman Peter Ceresnak. A two-way defenseman with size, the 6'3" 209lbs Ceresnak played for one of the worst teams in the Slovak Junior circuit. Ceresnak is more than likely going to enter himself into the European draft for the CHL and will come over to North America to play the rest of his junior hockey. There, the Rangers can keep a close eye on him and make sure his development goes along as best as it can.
Overall, the Rangers covered all of the bases in this draft. There are several high risk picks in Fogarty and McColgan, while 1st rounder J.T. Miller is all but destined to become a two-way threat in the Rangers top-6. Michael St. Croix has great hands and offensive upside, while the Blueshirts also picked up two defenseman with right handed shots. There was not a lot more that the Rangers brass could do, and they did an excellent job with the picks they had and acquired. With Tim Erixon acquired for two 2nd round picks, the Rangers picked up a possible top-5 draft pick as well. In the next four to five years these players will show if they warranted their selections in the entry draft, but the future looks bright with these young hockey players.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Flyers Wheeling and Dealing a Day Before the Draft
The Flyers made headlines the day before the draft, trading two of their top forwards away in order to have salary cap space to make moves and sign Ilya Bryzgalov. On the way out are center/right winger Jeff Carter and their captain, center Mike Richards. Carter was traded to Columbus for young winger Jakub Voracek, the eight overall pick and a third rounder, while Richards was sent to Los Angeles for prospect Brayden Schenn, robust winger Wayne Simmonds and a second round pick. By sending out the two forwards, the Flyers shed $11.023M (www.nhlnumbers.com) off of next year's cap and that, combined with the rise of the salary cap to $64.3M allowed them to sign goaltender Bryzgalov to a 9-year/$51M contract ($5.67M cap hit). All three of these teams made positive strides towards the future, but which ones came out ahead?
Let's start with the Flyers, who received the most assets in these deals. In Voracek, there's the potential for a top-6 winger that now makes Ville Leino expendable. Leino's productive season means that he will probably land a big payday come July 1st and the Flyers could not afford a $3.5M, multi-year contract for the Finnish winger. Voracek is coming off of a season in which his production dipped by four points and he faced a lot of inconsistency. With a fresh start, a new contract and a new coaching staff to work with, Voracek can fill in the top-6 hole that is there. Wayne Simmonds comes from LA and he will instantly be a fan favorite in Philly. The agitating winger plays an aggressive and physical style that will be welcome among the Flyers team. After breaking out with 16 goals, 40 points and a +22 +/- rating in 09-10, Simmonds struggled last season with only 30 points and a -2. He may have been asked to calm his play, as when his production dipped his PIMs did as well. Playing the grinding game that the Flyers do, look for Simmonds to break out in 2011-12. The other forward acquired in the LA deal is Brayden Schenn, who was impressive enough to initially stick with the Kings for the first few games in the season before being sent back to Juniors where he would receive prime playing time. He registered 21 goals and 32 assists for 53 points in only 27 games, showing that he has nothing left to prove in the WHL. The Flyers could very well expect Schenn to step into the lineup as their third line center behind Claude Giroux and Danny Briere next season. In addition to players, the Flyers also ended up with a 1st round pick, a 2nd rounder and a 3rd round draft selection. Before tonight, the Flyers had shipped out their 1st rounder in a trade with Toronto for Kris Versteeg, but now sit with the 8th overall pick. The Flyers do not have a lot of strong offensive prospects, so I feel that they may target a forward such as Ryan Strome or Mika Zibanejad. With all of the extra cap space, GM Paul Holmgren invested a nine-year deal in Ilya Bryzgalov. This is a boom or bust deal for the Russian netminder who has been dominated in the past two post-seasons by the Detroit Red Wings. This move will prove its worth in the next few years while Bryzgalov is still in his prime.
The Columbus Blue Jackets come out of this trade with a very strong scoring forward in Jeff Carter. The Jackets lacked goal scorers last season and Jeff Carter is among the elite in that category, tallying 115 goals over the past three seasons. Columbus has struggled to develop their offensive talents, with players like Nik Zherdev, Nikita Filatov, Stefan Legein and Gilbert Brule failing to succeed after high draft selections. This may have been a smart move because the Jackets get a proven goal scorer who knows how to put the puck in the back of the net. While Jake Voracek is a good, young and talented winger with the upside of a top-6 forward, he more than likely will not be as good as Jeff Carter is. The 8th overall pick was going to land Columbus a good prospect, but this draft is not deep with game-breaking talent and while adding another prospect to the pool is always good for teams, Columbus desperately needs to win now as opposed to in the future, having only been to the playoffs once in their existence.
It was rumored that the Los Angeles Kings were going to pursue Brad Richards because they needed depth with skilled centers. Well, Rangers fans, you can breathe a sigh of relief because the Kings have found their center and it isn't the Richards you want. In what came as somewhat of a surprise, the Flyers shipped out captain Mike Richards to Hollywood. This solves the Kings most glaring need down the middle, as having a platoon of Jarret Stoll and Michal Handzus is not going to solve the need for a second line center. With Richards now in the fold, the Kings have a dangerous and gritty second line with him and Dustin Brown. Factor in Dustin Penner and that is one of the best second lines in the NHL. The Kings payed a heavy price with Schenn and Simmonds on the way out, but LA is poised to make a run at the Stanley Cup as soon as next season with the addition of Richards' skill set. The only repercussions of this trade may be when Ryan Smyth is traded to a team in Alberta, more than likely the Oilers. They simply cannot afford Smyth's $6.25M cap hit, though his actual salary is lower. Trading Smyth to Edmonton may bring back a higher pick than the one they sent to Philadelphia, leaving them in a strong spot to continue to develop talent through the farm.
In the end, every team got what they wanted. Philadelphia got the cap space it needed to sign a reliable starting goaltender, Columbus got the scoring forward that the team so desperately needed and LA got the second line center that they have been coveting. In the end, each GM can be happy with what they did through these trades, as all of these moves will have major effects on the teams in the 2011-12 season.
Let's start with the Flyers, who received the most assets in these deals. In Voracek, there's the potential for a top-6 winger that now makes Ville Leino expendable. Leino's productive season means that he will probably land a big payday come July 1st and the Flyers could not afford a $3.5M, multi-year contract for the Finnish winger. Voracek is coming off of a season in which his production dipped by four points and he faced a lot of inconsistency. With a fresh start, a new contract and a new coaching staff to work with, Voracek can fill in the top-6 hole that is there. Wayne Simmonds comes from LA and he will instantly be a fan favorite in Philly. The agitating winger plays an aggressive and physical style that will be welcome among the Flyers team. After breaking out with 16 goals, 40 points and a +22 +/- rating in 09-10, Simmonds struggled last season with only 30 points and a -2. He may have been asked to calm his play, as when his production dipped his PIMs did as well. Playing the grinding game that the Flyers do, look for Simmonds to break out in 2011-12. The other forward acquired in the LA deal is Brayden Schenn, who was impressive enough to initially stick with the Kings for the first few games in the season before being sent back to Juniors where he would receive prime playing time. He registered 21 goals and 32 assists for 53 points in only 27 games, showing that he has nothing left to prove in the WHL. The Flyers could very well expect Schenn to step into the lineup as their third line center behind Claude Giroux and Danny Briere next season. In addition to players, the Flyers also ended up with a 1st round pick, a 2nd rounder and a 3rd round draft selection. Before tonight, the Flyers had shipped out their 1st rounder in a trade with Toronto for Kris Versteeg, but now sit with the 8th overall pick. The Flyers do not have a lot of strong offensive prospects, so I feel that they may target a forward such as Ryan Strome or Mika Zibanejad. With all of the extra cap space, GM Paul Holmgren invested a nine-year deal in Ilya Bryzgalov. This is a boom or bust deal for the Russian netminder who has been dominated in the past two post-seasons by the Detroit Red Wings. This move will prove its worth in the next few years while Bryzgalov is still in his prime.
The Columbus Blue Jackets come out of this trade with a very strong scoring forward in Jeff Carter. The Jackets lacked goal scorers last season and Jeff Carter is among the elite in that category, tallying 115 goals over the past three seasons. Columbus has struggled to develop their offensive talents, with players like Nik Zherdev, Nikita Filatov, Stefan Legein and Gilbert Brule failing to succeed after high draft selections. This may have been a smart move because the Jackets get a proven goal scorer who knows how to put the puck in the back of the net. While Jake Voracek is a good, young and talented winger with the upside of a top-6 forward, he more than likely will not be as good as Jeff Carter is. The 8th overall pick was going to land Columbus a good prospect, but this draft is not deep with game-breaking talent and while adding another prospect to the pool is always good for teams, Columbus desperately needs to win now as opposed to in the future, having only been to the playoffs once in their existence.
It was rumored that the Los Angeles Kings were going to pursue Brad Richards because they needed depth with skilled centers. Well, Rangers fans, you can breathe a sigh of relief because the Kings have found their center and it isn't the Richards you want. In what came as somewhat of a surprise, the Flyers shipped out captain Mike Richards to Hollywood. This solves the Kings most glaring need down the middle, as having a platoon of Jarret Stoll and Michal Handzus is not going to solve the need for a second line center. With Richards now in the fold, the Kings have a dangerous and gritty second line with him and Dustin Brown. Factor in Dustin Penner and that is one of the best second lines in the NHL. The Kings payed a heavy price with Schenn and Simmonds on the way out, but LA is poised to make a run at the Stanley Cup as soon as next season with the addition of Richards' skill set. The only repercussions of this trade may be when Ryan Smyth is traded to a team in Alberta, more than likely the Oilers. They simply cannot afford Smyth's $6.25M cap hit, though his actual salary is lower. Trading Smyth to Edmonton may bring back a higher pick than the one they sent to Philadelphia, leaving them in a strong spot to continue to develop talent through the farm.
In the end, every team got what they wanted. Philadelphia got the cap space it needed to sign a reliable starting goaltender, Columbus got the scoring forward that the team so desperately needed and LA got the second line center that they have been coveting. In the end, each GM can be happy with what they did through these trades, as all of these moves will have major effects on the teams in the 2011-12 season.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Rangers get Erixon, draft focus gets more interesting
Just earlier today, the Rangers made a deal with the Calgary Flames and acquired defenseman Tim Erixon and a 5th round draft pick in exchange for two 2nd round draft picks and forward prospect Roman Horak. In Erixon, the Rangers get a big (6'2", 190 lbs) defenseman who has excelled in the Swedish Elite League as a 20-year old. The Flames get two picks that they needed, as their early picks had been previously traded away. All of this was made possible when Erixon refused to sign a contract with Calgary, and Glen Sather swooped in and took advantage.
The Rangers now only have four picks in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, the 15th overall, 106th, 134th and finally the 136th. The Rangers need to now focus on drafting promising forward talent and also a goaltender. With the recent acquisition of Erixon, the Rangers now have two puck-moving defensemen (the other being Michael Del Zotto). There are also a staple of young defensive-minded players such Michael Sauer, Ryan McDonagh, Tomas Kundratek and Dylan McIlrath. With only four picks, taking at least three forwards to add to the prospect pool could only help. After losing Horak and Werek to trade and picking up Oscar Lindberg, the Rangers need to shoot for the stars with their 1st round pick. If there is a possibility for a high-scoring forward such as Joel Armia available at #15, then Sather and Co. have to go for it. I believe that the Rangers should draft a goaltender and take the long-term approach to developing him. With Henrik Lundqvist still under contract for three more season and Martin Biron the established backup netminder, there is plenty of time to groom a goalie for the post-Lundqvist era. Recent starters such as Jimmy Howard and Corey Crawford have emerged as legitimate NHL goalies after being groomed in the minors with patience, so there is no reason why the Rangers cannot do the same.
On the Flames end, they acquire both the Rangers' 2nd round draft pick and the Capitals 2nd rounder (acquired in the Bobby Sanguinetti trade). They now have both the 45th and 57th picks, in addition to their first rounder which is 13th overall. This is a change in philosophy for the Flames with new GM Jay Feaster, as the team's core is getting older. Both Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff are in their 30s, and they do not have much up and coming talent to replace them or add to the lineup. This is a new start for a Flames team that will start building from the ground up, replacing their expensive veterans with younger, more viable and cheaper options. An interesting turn of events from this trade is that Roman Horak is now paired with his linemate, Ryan Howse. Howse was a 3rd round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and has scored 98 goals in the past two WHL seasons. Adding a familiar face with him should aid in both of their developments, as the Flames could have a dangerous second or third line down the road that has a lot of chemistry.
This should signal the start of more trades leading up to draft day in late June. There are rumors that Jason Spezza could be moved, as well as the rights to Brad Richards if the Dallas Stars' ownership issues are not sorted out. There is a new team in Winnipeg with a wealthy owner looking to flex his financial muscles, and teams are looking to get a head start to next season. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals starts tonight at 8 PM EST, so don't forget to check that out. My prediction? Canucks in five.
The Rangers now only have four picks in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, the 15th overall, 106th, 134th and finally the 136th. The Rangers need to now focus on drafting promising forward talent and also a goaltender. With the recent acquisition of Erixon, the Rangers now have two puck-moving defensemen (the other being Michael Del Zotto). There are also a staple of young defensive-minded players such Michael Sauer, Ryan McDonagh, Tomas Kundratek and Dylan McIlrath. With only four picks, taking at least three forwards to add to the prospect pool could only help. After losing Horak and Werek to trade and picking up Oscar Lindberg, the Rangers need to shoot for the stars with their 1st round pick. If there is a possibility for a high-scoring forward such as Joel Armia available at #15, then Sather and Co. have to go for it. I believe that the Rangers should draft a goaltender and take the long-term approach to developing him. With Henrik Lundqvist still under contract for three more season and Martin Biron the established backup netminder, there is plenty of time to groom a goalie for the post-Lundqvist era. Recent starters such as Jimmy Howard and Corey Crawford have emerged as legitimate NHL goalies after being groomed in the minors with patience, so there is no reason why the Rangers cannot do the same.
On the Flames end, they acquire both the Rangers' 2nd round draft pick and the Capitals 2nd rounder (acquired in the Bobby Sanguinetti trade). They now have both the 45th and 57th picks, in addition to their first rounder which is 13th overall. This is a change in philosophy for the Flames with new GM Jay Feaster, as the team's core is getting older. Both Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff are in their 30s, and they do not have much up and coming talent to replace them or add to the lineup. This is a new start for a Flames team that will start building from the ground up, replacing their expensive veterans with younger, more viable and cheaper options. An interesting turn of events from this trade is that Roman Horak is now paired with his linemate, Ryan Howse. Howse was a 3rd round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and has scored 98 goals in the past two WHL seasons. Adding a familiar face with him should aid in both of their developments, as the Flames could have a dangerous second or third line down the road that has a lot of chemistry.
This should signal the start of more trades leading up to draft day in late June. There are rumors that Jason Spezza could be moved, as well as the rights to Brad Richards if the Dallas Stars' ownership issues are not sorted out. There is a new team in Winnipeg with a wealthy owner looking to flex his financial muscles, and teams are looking to get a head start to next season. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals starts tonight at 8 PM EST, so don't forget to check that out. My prediction? Canucks in five.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Rest in peace, Derek Boogaard
I just want to extend my condolences to the Boogaard family with the shocking and tragic news of the death of Rangers forward Derek Boogaard. In the Rangers press release (link), they go on to say how much Boogaard was involved in charity work and always tried to help other people.
"While with the Rangers, he created “Boogaard’s Booguardians,” hosting military members and their families at all New York Ranger home games. In addition, he made multiple appearances with partner organizations of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the non-profit charity that works closely with all areas of Madison Square Garden, including the New York Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, MSG Media, MSG Entertainment and Fuse “to make dreams come true for kids facing obstacles”."
Boogaard scored one goal and one assist in 22 games this season for the Rangers, his first in the red, white and blue. He also racked up 45 penalty minutes, and continued to be one of the more imposing enforcers in the league. He had signed a four year contract in the summer of 2010 to play in New York with the Rangers.
To finish it off, I have linked the video of Derek Boogaard's goal that he scored during the year. It is absolutely terrible to hear this news. RIP Derek, you will be missed.
"While with the Rangers, he created “Boogaard’s Booguardians,” hosting military members and their families at all New York Ranger home games. In addition, he made multiple appearances with partner organizations of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the non-profit charity that works closely with all areas of Madison Square Garden, including the New York Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, MSG Media, MSG Entertainment and Fuse “to make dreams come true for kids facing obstacles”."Boogaard scored one goal and one assist in 22 games this season for the Rangers, his first in the red, white and blue. He also racked up 45 penalty minutes, and continued to be one of the more imposing enforcers in the league. He had signed a four year contract in the summer of 2010 to play in New York with the Rangers.
To finish it off, I have linked the video of Derek Boogaard's goal that he scored during the year. It is absolutely terrible to hear this news. RIP Derek, you will be missed.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Looking Back On the First Round Of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft
With the Stanley Cup playoffs heading towards the conference finals and the 2011 NHL Entry Draft inching closer and closer, I thought I would take some time to evaluate the first round draft class from five years ago. There has been ample time since this draft has occurred, as most of these prospects have developed and only five of them have yet to play an NHL game. There are some very recognizable players from this draft, including some of the league's stars. There are also some players that one cannot believe were taken in the first round, and are all but destined to be classified as busts from their drafting teams' fan base. So here's my breakdown of the best, the worst and those still developing.
There are many notable names that came out of the first round of the 2006 NHL draft class. Jonathan Toews, Nicklas Backstrom, Claude Giroux and Phil Kessel are star players for their respective teams. Jordan Staal has proven that he can play even without Crosby or Malkin dealing with the opponent's top defenses. Michael Grabner emerged this year as a goal-scoring threat in all situations. Two players featured in this group, Erik Johnson and Chris Stewart, were traded for each other in a four-player deal during the 2009-10 season. Kyle Okposo has been a consistent scoring threat for the goal-strapped Islanders, while Peter Mueller was having a solid career until a concussion knocked out his entire year. Forward Michael Frolik scored 21 goals in each of his first two seasons. Most of, if not all of these names are recognizable by hockey fans everywhere. They are some of the biggest faces in the game and have had impacts on their respective teams in the five years since they have been drafted. Four of them have already made it to the NHL All-Star festivities. These are the cream of the crop from the 2006 Entry Draft.
There are a fair share of busts and players that one would not believe were drafted in the first round. Mark Mitera was taken 19th overall by the Anaheim Ducks and has not played an NHL game yet. He spent four years at the University of Michigan where he had a good career as a puck moving defenseman, but unfortunately for him that has not translated to the pro game. His lack of ability to stay healthy and lack of an offensive game as a pro has hampered his ability to crack the NHL roster in Anaheim. David Fischer was taken by the Montreal Canadiens one pick after Mitera, and was not signed by the Habs after a four year career at the University of Minnesota. He did not progress as expected by the Montreal brass and did not get offered a contract. He signed with the ECHL's Florida Everblades where he enjoyed a moderately successful first pro season, though he has a lot of work to do to get to the NHL level and even try to justify his first round selection. Defensemen seem to be the theme of this part of the article, as Dennis Persson may not be able to justify his first round selection either. The solid defensive-minded Swede never was a big point producer back in the SEL or their junior leagues, but the Buffalo Sabres were intrigued with his defensive presence when they selected him 24th overall. After three AHL seasons, he has yet to make his NHL debut and he might not earn another contract from the Sabres.
There are a few NHL regulars that have not developed as planned but are still sticking with the NHL teams that selected them. James Sheppard was a scoring dynamo with his Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL, but after his selection at 9th overall in 2006, he has yet to replicate those stats in the pro game. His career highs in the NHL are five goals, 19 assists and 24 points which all came in his second season in 2008-09. His entire 2010-11 season was wiped out by injury, and Sheppard is going into the off-season as a restricted free agent. Jiri Tlusty was taken 13th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs and has actually played 157 NHL games in parts of five professional seasons. He has not been able to stick with either the Leafs or the Hurricanes and though he has found scoring success in the American league, he can not replicate those stats in the NHL. Derick Brassard set career highs this year, his fourth NHL season, with 17 goals and 30 assists for 47 points. The one time 116-point scorer from the QMJHL was once thought to be the solution to Rick Nash's center problem but it is now more likely that Brassard is more suited to the second line center role. While having some success with Nash, he was not scoring consistently to receive the quality ice time in Columbus.
There are still a few players developing their games that can make an NHL impact in the next season or two. Jonathan Bernier has finally gotten his chance as a full-time NHL goaltender this year, though he has not been spectacular this season. It is a learning experience and being the backup behind an established starter is a difficult job to adjust to after being a starter with little competition for years. Down the road LA will have to choose which goaltender will be their starter, as they are too good and will cause a logjam in the crease. Ty Wishart is now with his third NHL team, but he is by no means a bust. He is in his third professional season, was acquired by the New York Islanders in the Dwayne Roloson deal and totaled 20 games, scoring his first NHL goal and registering four assists. There are openings on the blueline on Long Island next season, and Wishart will look to take one and prove his worth as a former first round pick. It is only Chris Summers' first full pro season, yet he has already made his NHL debut with the Phoenix Coyotes, playing two games earlier this year. The big Summers (6'2", 180 pounds) does not have much of an offensive game, but he is responsible enough in his own zone to warrant a spot. Trevor Lewis finally cracked the Kings lineup and took on a checking role this year. In a few years down the road, he has the ability to be a good 15-20 goal scorer on the wing.
There it is folks. Some players panned out nicely, and some didn't. There are the superstars and there are the nobodies, as in every draft. With the 2011 NHL Entry Draft coming up in late June, just remember that not all draft picks work out in the end. Then again, some just take a little bit longer to find their game and apply it at the highest competitive level in the world. Look out for the next Toews, Giroux or Tlusty in the coming draft in St. Paul, Minnesota.
There are many notable names that came out of the first round of the 2006 NHL draft class. Jonathan Toews, Nicklas Backstrom, Claude Giroux and Phil Kessel are star players for their respective teams. Jordan Staal has proven that he can play even without Crosby or Malkin dealing with the opponent's top defenses. Michael Grabner emerged this year as a goal-scoring threat in all situations. Two players featured in this group, Erik Johnson and Chris Stewart, were traded for each other in a four-player deal during the 2009-10 season. Kyle Okposo has been a consistent scoring threat for the goal-strapped Islanders, while Peter Mueller was having a solid career until a concussion knocked out his entire year. Forward Michael Frolik scored 21 goals in each of his first two seasons. Most of, if not all of these names are recognizable by hockey fans everywhere. They are some of the biggest faces in the game and have had impacts on their respective teams in the five years since they have been drafted. Four of them have already made it to the NHL All-Star festivities. These are the cream of the crop from the 2006 Entry Draft.
There are a fair share of busts and players that one would not believe were drafted in the first round. Mark Mitera was taken 19th overall by the Anaheim Ducks and has not played an NHL game yet. He spent four years at the University of Michigan where he had a good career as a puck moving defenseman, but unfortunately for him that has not translated to the pro game. His lack of ability to stay healthy and lack of an offensive game as a pro has hampered his ability to crack the NHL roster in Anaheim. David Fischer was taken by the Montreal Canadiens one pick after Mitera, and was not signed by the Habs after a four year career at the University of Minnesota. He did not progress as expected by the Montreal brass and did not get offered a contract. He signed with the ECHL's Florida Everblades where he enjoyed a moderately successful first pro season, though he has a lot of work to do to get to the NHL level and even try to justify his first round selection. Defensemen seem to be the theme of this part of the article, as Dennis Persson may not be able to justify his first round selection either. The solid defensive-minded Swede never was a big point producer back in the SEL or their junior leagues, but the Buffalo Sabres were intrigued with his defensive presence when they selected him 24th overall. After three AHL seasons, he has yet to make his NHL debut and he might not earn another contract from the Sabres.
There are a few NHL regulars that have not developed as planned but are still sticking with the NHL teams that selected them. James Sheppard was a scoring dynamo with his Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL, but after his selection at 9th overall in 2006, he has yet to replicate those stats in the pro game. His career highs in the NHL are five goals, 19 assists and 24 points which all came in his second season in 2008-09. His entire 2010-11 season was wiped out by injury, and Sheppard is going into the off-season as a restricted free agent. Jiri Tlusty was taken 13th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs and has actually played 157 NHL games in parts of five professional seasons. He has not been able to stick with either the Leafs or the Hurricanes and though he has found scoring success in the American league, he can not replicate those stats in the NHL. Derick Brassard set career highs this year, his fourth NHL season, with 17 goals and 30 assists for 47 points. The one time 116-point scorer from the QMJHL was once thought to be the solution to Rick Nash's center problem but it is now more likely that Brassard is more suited to the second line center role. While having some success with Nash, he was not scoring consistently to receive the quality ice time in Columbus.
There are still a few players developing their games that can make an NHL impact in the next season or two. Jonathan Bernier has finally gotten his chance as a full-time NHL goaltender this year, though he has not been spectacular this season. It is a learning experience and being the backup behind an established starter is a difficult job to adjust to after being a starter with little competition for years. Down the road LA will have to choose which goaltender will be their starter, as they are too good and will cause a logjam in the crease. Ty Wishart is now with his third NHL team, but he is by no means a bust. He is in his third professional season, was acquired by the New York Islanders in the Dwayne Roloson deal and totaled 20 games, scoring his first NHL goal and registering four assists. There are openings on the blueline on Long Island next season, and Wishart will look to take one and prove his worth as a former first round pick. It is only Chris Summers' first full pro season, yet he has already made his NHL debut with the Phoenix Coyotes, playing two games earlier this year. The big Summers (6'2", 180 pounds) does not have much of an offensive game, but he is responsible enough in his own zone to warrant a spot. Trevor Lewis finally cracked the Kings lineup and took on a checking role this year. In a few years down the road, he has the ability to be a good 15-20 goal scorer on the wing.
There it is folks. Some players panned out nicely, and some didn't. There are the superstars and there are the nobodies, as in every draft. With the 2011 NHL Entry Draft coming up in late June, just remember that not all draft picks work out in the end. Then again, some just take a little bit longer to find their game and apply it at the highest competitive level in the world. Look out for the next Toews, Giroux or Tlusty in the coming draft in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Rangers Trade Werek to Phoenix for Lindberg, Showing Change in Philosophy?
The Rangers have traded forward Ethan Werek to the Phoenix Coyotes for Swedish winger Oscar Lindberg. Werek, 19, was drafted in the second round, 47th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and had a good but not spectacular third OHL season with Kingston Frontenacs. He scored 24 goals and added 28 assists for 52 points in 47 games, while sporting a -3 +/- rating and 51 PIMs. Lindberg, 19, was drafted in the second round, 57th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Coyotes. He has played the last two years with Skelleftea of the Swedish Elite League, mostly on the third and fourth lines and posted five goals and nine assists in 41 games. In 18 playoff games he scored three goals and registered four assists for his club.
In the Hockey's Future article about the top-20 prospects of the Phoenix Coyotes (Link), they described Lindberg as having "the potential to be a good offensive player". They continued to say that "He has good instincts with the puck and is a smart playmaker on the perimeter" and that he is also "a very solid defensive player who has seemed to excel in a shutdown role so far in his young career". Acquiring Lindberg identifies that this team lacks top-end skill and while Lindberg does not project to be a first line player, he has the ability to be a skilled second liner that has good hands.
Werek, conversely, is a hard-nosed and gritty center who has dealt with injuries that have hampered his development. From the analysis of Werek from Hockey's Future (Link), he is described as "a solid two-way player" who is willing to "do the little things that help teams win". While his stats are good, they are not overly impressive of a player expected to turn pro next year. With his injury history, it is hard to determine how long it will take for him to develop into an NHL player
I personally think that this trade is the turning point in the philosophy of the New York Rangers. Regarded this year as the blue collar, hustling and hard-working team that will grind their opponents down, the team lacked serious scoring talent and finesse. Marian Gaborik is far and away the most skilled player on this team, and there isn't really a close second on the team or in the system. Trading the rough and tumble Werek for the skilled Lindberg could signify the change in philosophy from grit to skill, especially with the 2011 NHL Entry Draft coming up in late June. There are several intriguing names in the upcoming draft that could fall to the Rangers at pick 15, including Finnish sensation Joel Armia, flashy Russian Vladimir Namestnikov or playmaking center Mark Scheifele.
With the core of the Rangers built around Marian Gaborik, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers have a lot of grit and are lacking in the skill department aside from Gaborik. While some of the prospects taken in the 2011 draft may not make the NHL until after Gaborik is gone, it sets up the Rangers for a really good mix of skill and hard-working grinders that are both essential to be successful in the post-season. Now is the time to take a high risk/high reward first round draft pick with our depth. We already have numerous players developing such as Chris Kreider and Christian Thomas who have the potential to be good second liners and possibly even first line players in the NHL, but we don't have a player in the system that has the possibility of being a superstar.
Oscar Lindberg is just the start to the new philosophy of infusing skill to our lineup of blue collar players. As shown by the teams still in the playoffs such as the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins, a combination of finesse and determined play is necessary to get far. While Werek was a highly regarded prospect as a third line center, he was not going to have much of an impact above that as he fits the mold of Colorado's Kevin Porter with a similar drive and skill set. This draft will start the idea of infusing talent into the roster, and Gordie Clark is sure to pick a good starting point in this June's draft.
In the Hockey's Future article about the top-20 prospects of the Phoenix Coyotes (Link), they described Lindberg as having "the potential to be a good offensive player". They continued to say that "He has good instincts with the puck and is a smart playmaker on the perimeter" and that he is also "a very solid defensive player who has seemed to excel in a shutdown role so far in his young career". Acquiring Lindberg identifies that this team lacks top-end skill and while Lindberg does not project to be a first line player, he has the ability to be a skilled second liner that has good hands.
Werek, conversely, is a hard-nosed and gritty center who has dealt with injuries that have hampered his development. From the analysis of Werek from Hockey's Future (Link), he is described as "a solid two-way player" who is willing to "do the little things that help teams win". While his stats are good, they are not overly impressive of a player expected to turn pro next year. With his injury history, it is hard to determine how long it will take for him to develop into an NHL player
I personally think that this trade is the turning point in the philosophy of the New York Rangers. Regarded this year as the blue collar, hustling and hard-working team that will grind their opponents down, the team lacked serious scoring talent and finesse. Marian Gaborik is far and away the most skilled player on this team, and there isn't really a close second on the team or in the system. Trading the rough and tumble Werek for the skilled Lindberg could signify the change in philosophy from grit to skill, especially with the 2011 NHL Entry Draft coming up in late June. There are several intriguing names in the upcoming draft that could fall to the Rangers at pick 15, including Finnish sensation Joel Armia, flashy Russian Vladimir Namestnikov or playmaking center Mark Scheifele.
With the core of the Rangers built around Marian Gaborik, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers have a lot of grit and are lacking in the skill department aside from Gaborik. While some of the prospects taken in the 2011 draft may not make the NHL until after Gaborik is gone, it sets up the Rangers for a really good mix of skill and hard-working grinders that are both essential to be successful in the post-season. Now is the time to take a high risk/high reward first round draft pick with our depth. We already have numerous players developing such as Chris Kreider and Christian Thomas who have the potential to be good second liners and possibly even first line players in the NHL, but we don't have a player in the system that has the possibility of being a superstar.
Oscar Lindberg is just the start to the new philosophy of infusing skill to our lineup of blue collar players. As shown by the teams still in the playoffs such as the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins, a combination of finesse and determined play is necessary to get far. While Werek was a highly regarded prospect as a third line center, he was not going to have much of an impact above that as he fits the mold of Colorado's Kevin Porter with a similar drive and skill set. This draft will start the idea of infusing talent into the roster, and Gordie Clark is sure to pick a good starting point in this June's draft.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Why Islanders Fans Should Be Looking Forward to 2011-12
I can only imagine the pain that Islanders fans have gone through this season. Only two players have played each of the 77 games that the Isles have competed in, Matt Moulson and Zenon Konopka. At the 74 game mark, the Isles had already lost 512 man games to injury, leading the league by 127 (Colorado had 385 at that point). Tending the crease on Long Island has had injury written all over it, as the Isles have dressed six different goaltenders and I was honestly waiting to get a call from Garth Snow to fill in at some point. Other lows of the year include Trevor Gillies' 19 total games suspended and the concussion he gave to Penguins winger Eric Tangradi. Of course, one could go on and on about the lows this Islanders team has faced. Instead, lets try to stay optimistic about what can happen in the future.
First is the fact that the Islanders have two very successful lines that have meshed well together. John Tavares, Matt Moulson and PA Parenteau have formed a first line that can create scoring chances in every way possible. Parenteau has really benefited from receiving quality ice time with great players, leading to a one-year contract extension worth $1.25 million. He is currently second in team scoring with 18 goals and 31 assists for 49 points, and has shown the skills to be a moderately effective producer at the highest level. Future star John Tavares has improved on his rookie season, scoring 27 goals and 34 assists to lead the team in assists and points. He has shown poise, determination and heart even in the toughest of times with the Isles. Matt Moulson has tied his stats from last season with five games left to go in the year, showing that he was not a flash in the pan. The now two-time 30-goal scorer that seemed to come out of nowhere has certainly warranted his three-year contract extension signed earlier in the season.
The second line has been just as exciting as the first, featuring rookie sensation Michael Grabner, power forward Kyle Okposo and two-way center Frans Nielson. Grabner's season is no surprise after posting 11 points in 20 games with the Vancouver Canucks last year. He was traded at the draft with Steve Bernier to Florida, but did not make the team out of camp. He admitted that he did poorly in his stay in Florida, and was put on waivers to be sent down to the AHL where the Islanders picked him up. Grabner has been one of the hottest players in 2011, scoring 23 of his 31 goals in the new year. He won the fastest skater competition at the NHL All-Star festivities and has truly put that gift to work at even strength and shorthanded. He leads all rookies in shorthanded goals with five, and also leads in overall goals. Okposo missed over half the year after an injury during the pre-season and has only been playing since January 20th. In his 33 games, Okposo has scored five goals and registered 18 points. Frans Nielson has been one of the best Islanders all season, sporting an 'A' as one of the assistant captains. He has eclipsed career highs in goals (13), assists (31) and points (44) this year, providing solid scoring depth from the second line. He is ranked second on the team in shorthanded ice-time per game with an average of 3:01, which is also first among forwards. This unit has shown outstanding chemistry and has meshed together well. An entire season out of them could see all of these players improve upon their impressive seasons.
The injury bug has bitten the Isles hard this year, especially on defense. Twelve different defenders have played for the Islanders this season, and that does not include Marc Streit who has missed the entire year. No defenseman has played more than 62 games this season (Jack Hillen), as they have suffered various injuries throughout the year. If the fortunes turn for the Islanders next year, they will have an impressive defense corps headlined by Streit, Mark Eaton and Andrew MacDonald. Rookie Travis Hamonic had paired well with MacDonald before the latter went down to injury and he will surely make the team next season. The Islanders also have defensemen Milan Jurcina, Mark Katic and Mike Mottau under contract next year. Impressive prospect Ty Wishart is a restricted free agent who has performed well in a limited role and could be in a competition with Katic, Bruno Gervais (RFA) and Jack Hillen (RFA) for ice time. If the Islanders can stay healthy, they have an above average group on the back end looking to defend the crease.
Speaking of goaltending, it has been a disaster for the team in terms of health. At the start of the year, Roloson and DiPietro had managed to stay healthy and provide adequate play for the Isles, keeping them close to the top-8 in the East. Once Roloson was traded to Tampa Bay for Wishart and a draft pick, things started to get dicey. Nathan Lawson was DiPietro's back-up when DiPietro went down to injury (surprising?). Kevin Poulin was then recalled and platooned with Lawson until he was injured. Mikko Koskinen was recalled, yet was forced to become the Isles de facto starter when Poulin dislocated his knee cap. Al Montoya was acquired for a late draft pick from the Phoenix Coyotes and has performed admirably since then, managing to stay healthy. He currently leads the team's goaltenders with nine wins, sporting a 9-4-4 record with a .923 sv% and a GAA around 2.35. If he could keep those stats up for an entire season, he'd rank 6th in sv% and 8th in GAA. Those are lofty expectations for a prospect considered a bust that has been thrust into an NHL starter's role. Montoya signed a one-year extenstion with the Islanders, ensuring that he will be at least the back-up netminder to DiPietro. He will be there if (when is the better term) DiPietro suffers another injury in an unfortunate career for a promising young netminder.
The Islanders have some exciting prospects coming through the pipes that could make the team as soon as next year. Winger Nino Niederreiter almost made the team out of camp, but was sent back to the WHL for more seasoning. In 55 games with the Portland Winterhawks, he has scored 41 goals and 29 assists for 70 points. He can bring another added scoring element to what is becoming a team that is deep at wing. On the blueline, Calvin de Haan has played well in his third year with the Oshawa Generals. The defenseman has posted 42 assists and 48 points and will look to make an impact on a seemingly crowded blueline. If he does not make the team, he will be eligible to play for the team's AHL affiliate next season for some pro seasoning.
There is a lot to look forward to on the Island. There are several good pieces that when put in place and complimented nicely can be dangerous during the season. If the team can manage to stay healthy, not many teams will want to play against them. A combination of skill, grit, hard work and good goaltending will bring the Islanders back to the playoffs, though they are a few years away from contending for a Stanley Cup. Times are looking up in Kansa...New York for the Islanders.
First is the fact that the Islanders have two very successful lines that have meshed well together. John Tavares, Matt Moulson and PA Parenteau have formed a first line that can create scoring chances in every way possible. Parenteau has really benefited from receiving quality ice time with great players, leading to a one-year contract extension worth $1.25 million. He is currently second in team scoring with 18 goals and 31 assists for 49 points, and has shown the skills to be a moderately effective producer at the highest level. Future star John Tavares has improved on his rookie season, scoring 27 goals and 34 assists to lead the team in assists and points. He has shown poise, determination and heart even in the toughest of times with the Isles. Matt Moulson has tied his stats from last season with five games left to go in the year, showing that he was not a flash in the pan. The now two-time 30-goal scorer that seemed to come out of nowhere has certainly warranted his three-year contract extension signed earlier in the season.
The second line has been just as exciting as the first, featuring rookie sensation Michael Grabner, power forward Kyle Okposo and two-way center Frans Nielson. Grabner's season is no surprise after posting 11 points in 20 games with the Vancouver Canucks last year. He was traded at the draft with Steve Bernier to Florida, but did not make the team out of camp. He admitted that he did poorly in his stay in Florida, and was put on waivers to be sent down to the AHL where the Islanders picked him up. Grabner has been one of the hottest players in 2011, scoring 23 of his 31 goals in the new year. He won the fastest skater competition at the NHL All-Star festivities and has truly put that gift to work at even strength and shorthanded. He leads all rookies in shorthanded goals with five, and also leads in overall goals. Okposo missed over half the year after an injury during the pre-season and has only been playing since January 20th. In his 33 games, Okposo has scored five goals and registered 18 points. Frans Nielson has been one of the best Islanders all season, sporting an 'A' as one of the assistant captains. He has eclipsed career highs in goals (13), assists (31) and points (44) this year, providing solid scoring depth from the second line. He is ranked second on the team in shorthanded ice-time per game with an average of 3:01, which is also first among forwards. This unit has shown outstanding chemistry and has meshed together well. An entire season out of them could see all of these players improve upon their impressive seasons.
The injury bug has bitten the Isles hard this year, especially on defense. Twelve different defenders have played for the Islanders this season, and that does not include Marc Streit who has missed the entire year. No defenseman has played more than 62 games this season (Jack Hillen), as they have suffered various injuries throughout the year. If the fortunes turn for the Islanders next year, they will have an impressive defense corps headlined by Streit, Mark Eaton and Andrew MacDonald. Rookie Travis Hamonic had paired well with MacDonald before the latter went down to injury and he will surely make the team next season. The Islanders also have defensemen Milan Jurcina, Mark Katic and Mike Mottau under contract next year. Impressive prospect Ty Wishart is a restricted free agent who has performed well in a limited role and could be in a competition with Katic, Bruno Gervais (RFA) and Jack Hillen (RFA) for ice time. If the Islanders can stay healthy, they have an above average group on the back end looking to defend the crease.
Speaking of goaltending, it has been a disaster for the team in terms of health. At the start of the year, Roloson and DiPietro had managed to stay healthy and provide adequate play for the Isles, keeping them close to the top-8 in the East. Once Roloson was traded to Tampa Bay for Wishart and a draft pick, things started to get dicey. Nathan Lawson was DiPietro's back-up when DiPietro went down to injury (surprising?). Kevin Poulin was then recalled and platooned with Lawson until he was injured. Mikko Koskinen was recalled, yet was forced to become the Isles de facto starter when Poulin dislocated his knee cap. Al Montoya was acquired for a late draft pick from the Phoenix Coyotes and has performed admirably since then, managing to stay healthy. He currently leads the team's goaltenders with nine wins, sporting a 9-4-4 record with a .923 sv% and a GAA around 2.35. If he could keep those stats up for an entire season, he'd rank 6th in sv% and 8th in GAA. Those are lofty expectations for a prospect considered a bust that has been thrust into an NHL starter's role. Montoya signed a one-year extenstion with the Islanders, ensuring that he will be at least the back-up netminder to DiPietro. He will be there if (when is the better term) DiPietro suffers another injury in an unfortunate career for a promising young netminder.
The Islanders have some exciting prospects coming through the pipes that could make the team as soon as next year. Winger Nino Niederreiter almost made the team out of camp, but was sent back to the WHL for more seasoning. In 55 games with the Portland Winterhawks, he has scored 41 goals and 29 assists for 70 points. He can bring another added scoring element to what is becoming a team that is deep at wing. On the blueline, Calvin de Haan has played well in his third year with the Oshawa Generals. The defenseman has posted 42 assists and 48 points and will look to make an impact on a seemingly crowded blueline. If he does not make the team, he will be eligible to play for the team's AHL affiliate next season for some pro seasoning.
There is a lot to look forward to on the Island. There are several good pieces that when put in place and complimented nicely can be dangerous during the season. If the team can manage to stay healthy, not many teams will want to play against them. A combination of skill, grit, hard work and good goaltending will bring the Islanders back to the playoffs, though they are a few years away from contending for a Stanley Cup. Times are looking up in Kansa...New York for the Islanders.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The powerplay is clicking with Bryan McCabe in the fold
The Rangers powerplay has been hot and cold all season, though that is an improvement over year's past. After years of absolute embarrassment and baffling decisions to not get the puck on net, the Rangers' powerplay has been relatively good lately. A difference in philosophy has led to recent improvements, including a wonderful display against the Islanders where the unit converted on three of their five chances. Bryan McCabe has been a major part of the success that the unit has been having, and acquiring him has proven to be yet another smart move by GM Glen Sather.
The Rangers shipped out Tim Kennedy and a 3rd round pick to South Florida in exchange for McCabe, and the dividends have been payed immediately. Manning the point on the powerplay, McCabe has been a dual threat for the Rangers. The first is the most obvious and occurs during almost every man advantage that the Rangers receive. That is McCabe's hard, low shot, which is a welcome addition that has been evidently missing in previous units. His ability to take a shot and get it on net makes Rangers fans thank the Hockey Gods that we don't have Paul Mara anymore. McCabe's shot can get on net and, as he showed last night, can score or in other instances get rebounds in front of the net to create more chances.
McCabe also brings another advantage to the team. Because he is a threat to shoot from the point, some teams have had McCabe covered or shadowed by one of their penalty killers. This gives the Rangers another advantage even though they are losing one of their main weapons. This opens up the ice down low, leaving three penalty killers to defend against four attackers. Between Marian Gaborik, Vinny Prospal, Erik Christensen, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, and so on and so forth, the Rangers have more than enough skill and speed to take advantage of the open space left available down low. The threat of McCabe shooting lets the forwards look for that back-door pass or one-timer that would not have been available when the 5-on-4 was taking place.
The Rangers powerplay has gotten better both in percentage and how they look on the ice. Before acquiring McCabe, the unit was firing at just above 17%. That is an average number, and if a team hopes for playoff success that number must be better. After the deadline, the Rangers powerplay has been converting just over 24% of their chances which is a significant improvement. Even if McCabe doesn't stay after this season, he provides a veteran presence on the youngest blueline in the NHL. He adds a weapon that the team didn't have before and badly needed, while Sather made use of his mastery with trades yet again. Tim Kennedy has recently been called up by the Panthers and has suited up for three games, while a third round pick is a small price to pay for immediate help. If McCabe plays his cards right, he could stay on Broadway past this season to provide that presence until a prospect or younger player is ready to do so. Even if he is not retained, the powerplay issue has been addressed for the year, putting to rest the shouts of "SHOOT!" from the Garden faithful.
Photo Credit: Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports
The Rangers shipped out Tim Kennedy and a 3rd round pick to South Florida in exchange for McCabe, and the dividends have been payed immediately. Manning the point on the powerplay, McCabe has been a dual threat for the Rangers. The first is the most obvious and occurs during almost every man advantage that the Rangers receive. That is McCabe's hard, low shot, which is a welcome addition that has been evidently missing in previous units. His ability to take a shot and get it on net makes Rangers fans thank the Hockey Gods that we don't have Paul Mara anymore. McCabe's shot can get on net and, as he showed last night, can score or in other instances get rebounds in front of the net to create more chances.
McCabe also brings another advantage to the team. Because he is a threat to shoot from the point, some teams have had McCabe covered or shadowed by one of their penalty killers. This gives the Rangers another advantage even though they are losing one of their main weapons. This opens up the ice down low, leaving three penalty killers to defend against four attackers. Between Marian Gaborik, Vinny Prospal, Erik Christensen, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, and so on and so forth, the Rangers have more than enough skill and speed to take advantage of the open space left available down low. The threat of McCabe shooting lets the forwards look for that back-door pass or one-timer that would not have been available when the 5-on-4 was taking place.
The Rangers powerplay has gotten better both in percentage and how they look on the ice. Before acquiring McCabe, the unit was firing at just above 17%. That is an average number, and if a team hopes for playoff success that number must be better. After the deadline, the Rangers powerplay has been converting just over 24% of their chances which is a significant improvement. Even if McCabe doesn't stay after this season, he provides a veteran presence on the youngest blueline in the NHL. He adds a weapon that the team didn't have before and badly needed, while Sather made use of his mastery with trades yet again. Tim Kennedy has recently been called up by the Panthers and has suited up for three games, while a third round pick is a small price to pay for immediate help. If McCabe plays his cards right, he could stay on Broadway past this season to provide that presence until a prospect or younger player is ready to do so. Even if he is not retained, the powerplay issue has been addressed for the year, putting to rest the shouts of "SHOOT!" from the Garden faithful.
Photo Credit: Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports
Monday, March 7, 2011
Zuccarello showing size only matters in heart; Lighting up the Big Apple
The "Norwegian Hobbit" has been quite a surprise for the New York Rangers. The imposing 5'7 174 lb winger has been enjoying recent success since his call-up to New York just before Christmas. He has scored points in bunches, as he currently sits with six goals and 13 assists for 19 points in 33 games for the Rangers. When Derek Stepan failed to mesh with superstar Marian Gaborik, Stepan needed talented wingers to play with. No more than two weeks after Zuccarello was called up, the Rangers announced that they had traded defenseman Michael Rozsival for Phoenix winger Wojtek Wolski. Since the trade, Zuccarello has spent over one third of his ice time on a line with Stepan and Wolski (Dobber Hockey). They have become a cohesive unit, which is very rare with John Tortorella at the helm. The trio has been successful for the most part, creating chances and provided secondary scoring on a team that struggles to consistently score goals.
New York is currently tied for fifth in the East in goals with 193. Of that, Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky account for 59 of those. The Rangers have seven players with goal totals in the double digits and two more are sitting at nine each. Dubinsky, Stepan, Gaborik and Artem Anisimov can challenge for 20 goals at seasons' end, while there are plenty of wingers providing secondary support as well. TSN estimates that Zuccarello is on pace for eight goals and 26 points (TSN), which is excellent for the small forward getting used to the rigors of the physical game in North America. Over an 82 game schedule, MZA's totals average out to 15 goals and 32 assists, placing him in the top-8 in scoring for the squad.
Things did not start well for the 23-year old in the 2010-11 season. During training camp Zuccarello looked lost. He did not perform well and was not adjusting to the style of play that both Coach Tortorella employed and the grind that the NHL required. He was sent down to AHL Connecticut (Connectiford, Harticut?). During his time in the AHL with the Wolf...err, Whale, he had a rocky start followed with a true breakout. In his first 12 games, Mats scored a grand total of two goals, which were his only points. It was the start of November where he started to put things together in the AHL. He put up 23 points in 22 games leading up to his promotion to the NHL, proving that he could be successful at his size in North America and showing that he has adjusted to the professional game here.
In his first ten games in the NHL, Zuccarello was playing well yet not putting up points. He recorded four points, including his first career goal, in that stretch. After that he put up nine points in his next nine games, highlighted by a game in which he recorded an assist on each of the Rangers' three goals in a 4-3 loss to the Panthers. Mats has posted three goals in his past two games, doubling his goal total on the season. In yesterday's 7-0 rout of the Philadelphia Flyers, he scored two goals in two very different ways. The first goal he scored was the result of a two-on-one where Zuccarello received a tape to tape pass from Ruslan Fedetenko and beat goalie Brian Boucher under his right pad. On his second tally of the afternoon, Mats was in front of the net while Wojtek Wolski got to the loose puck in the corner. Once Wolski got control of the puck, he threw it to the crease where Zuccarello shot it past Sergei Bobrovsky (who replaced Boucher early in the second period). Against the Senators, Zuccarello was at it again in front of the net. He was in front of goaltender Craig Anderson, got the puck and made a move to the wide side to net the goal. He has shown flashes of brilliance and he has his niche on the team chiseled out.
Numbers do not tell the entire story with Zuccarello, though I do love considering hockey a numbers game. What the stats sheet does not tell a reader is his attitude and skill set on the ice. Zuccarello has deceptive speed and he can fool an opponent with it. He has a good wrist shot and is an excellent passer. He also has slotted into the left point on the powerplay, using his hockey sense and passing to set up teammates and sometimes even take a shot to create a chance. As exemplified above with his ability to get to the net, he is able to get lost in the fray and use his soft hands to beat the opposing goaltender. Zuccarello has shown to be incredibly tough and adds a little grit to his game, pushing and shoving with players that are almost a foot taller than him after the whistle. He does not hold back, and is more than willing to lay or take a hit to make a play. I guess with all of this being said, if Gaborik is Budweiser then Zuccarello is Bud Select 55. He is not quite the superstar that Marian has proven to be, but Zuccarello can sneak behind the opponent's defense and wreak havoc with an arsenal of weapons.
The creative Norwegian is signed for one more season with an affordable cap hit of $1,750,000 (Capgeek.com). Stepan and Wolski are also signed through next year (Stepan through 2012-13 on an entry-level deal) and are sure to be penciled in as a line together. They have shown chemistry and Stepan has been able to take advantage of that en route to what could be a 20 goal 50 point rookie season. The "Norwegian Hobbit" looks to continue his recent success and prove that the Rangers made the right choice in pursuing him out of the SEL. Mats Zuccarello is showing that size only matters in heart at the NHL level.
Photo Credit: Yahoo! Sports via Getty Images
New York is currently tied for fifth in the East in goals with 193. Of that, Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky account for 59 of those. The Rangers have seven players with goal totals in the double digits and two more are sitting at nine each. Dubinsky, Stepan, Gaborik and Artem Anisimov can challenge for 20 goals at seasons' end, while there are plenty of wingers providing secondary support as well. TSN estimates that Zuccarello is on pace for eight goals and 26 points (TSN), which is excellent for the small forward getting used to the rigors of the physical game in North America. Over an 82 game schedule, MZA's totals average out to 15 goals and 32 assists, placing him in the top-8 in scoring for the squad.
Things did not start well for the 23-year old in the 2010-11 season. During training camp Zuccarello looked lost. He did not perform well and was not adjusting to the style of play that both Coach Tortorella employed and the grind that the NHL required. He was sent down to AHL Connecticut (Connectiford, Harticut?). During his time in the AHL with the Wolf...err, Whale, he had a rocky start followed with a true breakout. In his first 12 games, Mats scored a grand total of two goals, which were his only points. It was the start of November where he started to put things together in the AHL. He put up 23 points in 22 games leading up to his promotion to the NHL, proving that he could be successful at his size in North America and showing that he has adjusted to the professional game here.
In his first ten games in the NHL, Zuccarello was playing well yet not putting up points. He recorded four points, including his first career goal, in that stretch. After that he put up nine points in his next nine games, highlighted by a game in which he recorded an assist on each of the Rangers' three goals in a 4-3 loss to the Panthers. Mats has posted three goals in his past two games, doubling his goal total on the season. In yesterday's 7-0 rout of the Philadelphia Flyers, he scored two goals in two very different ways. The first goal he scored was the result of a two-on-one where Zuccarello received a tape to tape pass from Ruslan Fedetenko and beat goalie Brian Boucher under his right pad. On his second tally of the afternoon, Mats was in front of the net while Wojtek Wolski got to the loose puck in the corner. Once Wolski got control of the puck, he threw it to the crease where Zuccarello shot it past Sergei Bobrovsky (who replaced Boucher early in the second period). Against the Senators, Zuccarello was at it again in front of the net. He was in front of goaltender Craig Anderson, got the puck and made a move to the wide side to net the goal. He has shown flashes of brilliance and he has his niche on the team chiseled out.
Numbers do not tell the entire story with Zuccarello, though I do love considering hockey a numbers game. What the stats sheet does not tell a reader is his attitude and skill set on the ice. Zuccarello has deceptive speed and he can fool an opponent with it. He has a good wrist shot and is an excellent passer. He also has slotted into the left point on the powerplay, using his hockey sense and passing to set up teammates and sometimes even take a shot to create a chance. As exemplified above with his ability to get to the net, he is able to get lost in the fray and use his soft hands to beat the opposing goaltender. Zuccarello has shown to be incredibly tough and adds a little grit to his game, pushing and shoving with players that are almost a foot taller than him after the whistle. He does not hold back, and is more than willing to lay or take a hit to make a play. I guess with all of this being said, if Gaborik is Budweiser then Zuccarello is Bud Select 55. He is not quite the superstar that Marian has proven to be, but Zuccarello can sneak behind the opponent's defense and wreak havoc with an arsenal of weapons.
The creative Norwegian is signed for one more season with an affordable cap hit of $1,750,000 (Capgeek.com). Stepan and Wolski are also signed through next year (Stepan through 2012-13 on an entry-level deal) and are sure to be penciled in as a line together. They have shown chemistry and Stepan has been able to take advantage of that en route to what could be a 20 goal 50 point rookie season. The "Norwegian Hobbit" looks to continue his recent success and prove that the Rangers made the right choice in pursuing him out of the SEL. Mats Zuccarello is showing that size only matters in heart at the NHL level.
Photo Credit: Yahoo! Sports via Getty Images
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Martin Biron's injury proves the weakness of depth in net
Marty Biron is out for the season with a broken collarbone after taking a shot during practice yesterday, but that is just the start of the bad news. Because the trade deadline has passed just yesterday, the Rangers only hope is to pick up a netminder on waivers or deal with their AHL prospects. Biron has been excellent for the most part and is the first reliable backup that the Rangers have had in a decade. Marty posted an 8-6-0 record with a .923 sv% and a 2.13 GAA, which were actually better stats than starter Henrik Lundqvist.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Why the Rangers shouldn't make a major deadline move
There are three options that Glen Sather has at the Trade Deadline come Monday, February 28th. The first is to be a buyer. To send away prospects, picks and even a roster player or two in order to add to this team and make a playoff run for the Stanley Cup. The second option is to be a seller; to send away veteran UFAs and other interesting names in order to build for next year and the future. The third and final option which we saw as recently as last season is to stand pat, hold your ground, make a tiny tinker or two and let your team develop as a cohesive group. The Rangers currently sit in 7th place, their star player is out and the team is struggling to score goals and give a consistent effort. New York has one game against a tough Tampa Bay team before the deadline comes. So what should the Rangers do on Monday afternoon?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Division Analysis: Southeast
Well with less than a week before the deadline, there have already been a plethora of moves made that have and will have impacts on their respective teams. The Southeast division has the potential to send three teams to the playoffs for the first time in a while, and surprisingly Washington is not the head of the pack. The Tampa Bay Lightning, managed by rookie GM Steve Yzerman and led on the ice by Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis are first in the division. Washington is not far behind, only trailing by a single point. Atlanta is fighting Carolina for the 8th and final playoff spot, while Florida is having yet another mediocre season.
Steven Stamkos just seems to improve with every season he has in the league.
Steven Stamkos just seems to improve with every season he has in the league.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Is Marian Gaborik's injury a blessing in disguise for the Rangers?
Yes, I said it. Marian Gaborik is having a down year, we all can tell. The superstar sniper has gone missing at times during the season, though he cannot be entirely blamed for that. A separated shoulder seriously threw off Gaborik's game early in the season and he hasn't looked the same since. That isn't all, as the team has nearly been shut down and unlike last season's trio of Gaborik, Brandon Dubinsky and Vinny Prospal, this year there aren't players that compliment Gaborik (that aren't better on other lines). There are other problems, as Marian is being thrown out of his comfort zone in his second season in the Big Apple. Gaborik is the kind of player that is successful when he has linemates that can carry the puck into the zone. When #10 has to take the puck into the zone, he can't position himself behind the opponents to be in open ice and receive the puck like he did so many times last year. Unless Gaborik can pass to himself, the ice will not open up any more than it has been over the 2010-11 season.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Division Analysis: Atlantic
Hey everybody. I apologize for my extended absence as it's getting to the grind time of the year. A bunch of trades have happened and I will address those in my next post. I'm going to talk about what the teams in the Atlantic Division plan to do. The Flyers and Penguins are almost guaranteed playoff spots and will look to add, while the Rangers are on the border. The Devils have been on an incredible streak that has seem them almost vault themselves back into playoff consideration. The Islanders continue to be a tough team to play against and they may continue to trade players in an effort to acquire picks and prospects.
The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the best teams in the NHL. I've given an entire post to the season they are having, if only because they are quite possibly the most complete team in the league.
The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the best teams in the NHL. I've given an entire post to the season they are having, if only because they are quite possibly the most complete team in the league.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Division Analysis: Northeast
And now I'm back, looking at the divisions of the Eastern conference after finishing up the West last week. I'm going to start with the mediocre Northwest, where only two teams are seriously vying for the playoffs. The Leafs and Senators have already started selling, while Buffalo is still behind the playoff race. Montreal and Boston have both had excellent play from their goaltenders, which has led them to be in the thick of the playoff race.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Deadline deals start early
We have three trades to speak of today, two of which involve former Rangers' first round picks. While in the theme of pairs, two of these deals can be labeled as absolute steals. The Toronto Maple Leafs along with the Chicago Blackhawks look to have made great trades to improve their teams tonight.
Lets start with the trade that has made headlines on every hockey sports outlet around. That deal is between the Anaheim Ducks and the Toronto Maple Leafs, seeing Francois Beauchemin exchanged for Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner and a conditional 4th round draft pick. This is a win-win for both teams, though in my opinion the Ducks got fleeced. The Ducks get an experienced defenseman who won a cup with Anaheim in 2006-07, and he adds to their defensive depth that no longer has Scott Niedermeyer or Chris Pronger. Instead, there are Lubomir Visnovsky, Cam Fowler and Toni Lydman. Beauchemin will be looked at to provide a good defensive presence that can dish out hard hits.
Lets start with the trade that has made headlines on every hockey sports outlet around. That deal is between the Anaheim Ducks and the Toronto Maple Leafs, seeing Francois Beauchemin exchanged for Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner and a conditional 4th round draft pick. This is a win-win for both teams, though in my opinion the Ducks got fleeced. The Ducks get an experienced defenseman who won a cup with Anaheim in 2006-07, and he adds to their defensive depth that no longer has Scott Niedermeyer or Chris Pronger. Instead, there are Lubomir Visnovsky, Cam Fowler and Toni Lydman. Beauchemin will be looked at to provide a good defensive presence that can dish out hard hits.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
What is wrong with the Rangers?
Is it time to hit the panic button on Broadway? Possibly, as the race for the last few playoff spots gets closer and closer with Carolina gaining steam and Atlanta still close. The story of this season in the NHL is the mediocrity among the middle teams in the NHL, as any of them can make the playoffs, but just as easily be on the outside looking in. Few teams have shown they can dominate night in and night out like the old days of San Jose, New Jersey, Washington, and Pittsburgh seemingly automatically in the post-season competition. The Rangers missed the post-season for the first time since the lockout in 2009-10, and are in danger of falling out of the playoffs again with their 0-4-1 record in their past five games. Usually skids like this happen to teams once or twice a season (unless that team is the Islanders or the Oilers), and it could not have come at the most inopportune time.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Division Analysis: Central
Tonight I'm going to finish up the Western Conference by discussing the Central Division. Home to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, perennial threat Detroit Red Wings, always surprising Nashville Predators, along with the young St. Louis Blues and the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Central gives a very varied host of teams from contender to sellers at the deadline. It could be an interesting deadline for those teams in the mid-west.
The Blackhawks are fresh off of their Stanley Cup Champion season and have seen a major roster turnover since the summer months. Out are Antti Niemi, Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, Colin Fraser, Christobal Huet, Kris Versteeg, Brent Sopel, John Madden and Adam Burish and in are several rookies and new players who have made a difference. Jack Skille, Brian Bickell, Jake Dowell, Viktor Stalberg, Fernando Pisani and John Scott have been effective in replacing the lost players, yet the Blackhawks are not a lock to make the playoffs. Patrick Sharp has exploded offensively, while Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have been good but not great. 11 players have seven or more goals this season, which has aided in the loss of certain players. Also, Marian Hossa missed time early on and has 25 points in 32 games. The defense has been lead by Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, being aided by Niklas Hjalmarsson and Brian Campbell. Goaltending has been an interesting topic for the Blackhawks, as neither free agent signing Marty Turco nor rookie Corey Crawford has claimed the starting job. Like last season, the Blackhawks will probably stick with one guy down the stretch as they did with Niemi. Can Crawford evolve into a playoff starter like Niemi did last year? That question will be answered later in the season.
The Blackhawks are not great defensively, and could use a veteran bottom-6 forward or two to help with penalty killing as well as their 5-on-5 play. Chuck Kobasew or Antti Mietinen of the Wild could be good fits, as could Atlanta's Steve Bernier or Rostislav Olesz. They could also make an upgrade to their scorers, possibly dangling Seabrook as trade bait with Nick Leddy, Ivan Vishnevskiy and Dylan Olsen waiting in the wings. Look for Chicago to make a few moves, as they are under high expectations to make the playoffs this year.
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Columbus had a hot start this year, having some believe that this could be the season that Columbus progresses to a good, playoff-bound team. Unfortunately, the wheels have fallen off since, and in their last 13 games are 4-7-2 which includes a five game losing streak. Rick Nash leads the team in scoring (shocking, I know) with 23 goals and 44 points in what shows to be another excellent season in the power forward's career. Young forwards Derick Brassard and Jakub Voracek have 35 and 32 points respectively and have shown flashes of the promising potential these two players have going forward for the rebuilding Blue Jackets. R.J. Umberger and Antoine Vermette have provided secondary scoring, aiding in the attack and on defense as well. Fedor Tyutin, Jan Hejda and Rostislav Klesla are the core defense for the Blue Jackets, and have provided steady yet unspectacular play this season. The Jackets are tied for 13th in the West, yet are only six points out of a playoff spot. Unless they turn their play around, however, they should be sellers at the trade deadline.
That being said, there are several interesting players that the Blue Jackets could send off for promising prospects and draft picks to build towards the future. Veteran Jan Hejda is an excellent defensive-minded defender, and would make a great compliment to a team aspiring for the Stanley Cup. As an added bonus, he is a free agent at the end of the season. Veterans Chris Clark, Ethan Moreau and Andy Murray are also all free agents at season's end, and could greatly improve a team looking for forward depth to make a post-season drive. Samuel Pahlsson is signed through next season, yet provides excellent defensive play and veteran leadership and has won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2006-07. Columbus could get many important picks and prospects in return for their veterans at the trade deadline.
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The Blues are in an interesting spot at this time during the season. Like the Blue Jackets, they got off to an incredibly hot start led by goaltender Jaroslav Halak. Now due to inconsistent play at times the Blues are in the cellar of the West yet are only six points out of a playoff spot. They are tied with Columbus for 13th, and have several options leading up to the deadline. If management deems that they can make the playoffs this season, they can keep their team as is or make a few subtle changes to try and propel into the top eight. If they decide to continue to build towards the future with their young core, they could acquire important building pieces in what is sure to be a sellers market. Veteran Alex Steen leads the team in points with 38, with All-Star power forward David Backes right behind him with 37. Young guns Patrick Berglund and Matt D'Agostini have 30 and 25 points, respectively. Finally able to carve out a spot on the NHL roster, Alex Pietrangelo has 24 points in 47 games. Erik Johnson, Eric Brewer and Barret Jackman lead from a defensive standpoint, providing good two-way play. T.J. Oshie, Andy McDonald and David Perron have all missed significant time with injuries, though Oshie and McDonald have returned to play recently. After a very hot start where he built off of his heroic post-season play, Jaroslav Halak has fallen back to earth with a .910 Sv % and a 2.62 GAA. Veteran Ty Conklin has provided good work in a backup role for the young Blues.
If the Blues take advantage of a sellers market at the trade deadline, they could certainly get away with a few steals to help them into the future. Eric Brewer is a free agent after this season, and is a good top-4 defenseman on most teams. He could determine the market price, as he is a two-way defenseman that could fetch a pick and a prospect. Carlo Colaiacovo is an interesting name, as he can move the puck, work the point on the powerplay and he is also signed through next season. Brad Winchester is a good bottom-6 grinder that can also score goals, and would make an excellent addition to a playoff team. If the Blues were looking to seriously shake things up, they could dangle center Andy McDonald who is signed for two more years with a $4.7million cap hit. McDonald has the ability of a true #1 center with speed, vision and offensive creativity. He could fetch a hefty return for a team looking to boost their young core of Oshie, Berglund, Backes, Perron, Johnson and Pietrangelo.
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Until I looked at his stat line, I didn't realize how good of a season Nashville's Pekka Rinne is having. .930 Sv %, 2.10 GAA, 17 wins in 35 starts. He is ranked second in the league in both save percentage and goals against average, and if it were not for Tim Thomas' monster season he would have more publicity about it. Nashville may not be a traditional hockey market, but they have something going right for once after two former starting goalies have been traded away when they failed to live up to expectations after breaking out. On the offensive side of the puck, the Predators are not gifted with elite level skill or a budget as high as the cap yet are able to remain competitive with coach Barry Trotz at the helm. Shea Weber leads the team with 32 points, and is also the premier defender of the squad. At the skills competition, he showed his blistering shot that was well over 100 MPH. A 30-goal man one year ago, Patrick Hornqvist is one of the better players up front with 28 points. Sergei Kostitsyn has that same total, and has revitalized his career after playing his way out of Montreal. Veteran J.P. Dumont has played in 51 of the Preds' 52 games this season, yet most people would not have noticed. The winger has only 17 points on the season, and has been a non-factor for a team that looks for scoring from anywhere. This team will only go as far as Rinne can carry them. They do not have the firepower to get past the first round of the playoffs, a place Nashville has never been.
Nashville is a low-budget team team that does not have cap flexibility that a team like the New York Rangers or the Toronto Maple Leafs has. They have been able to make moves before (see: Peter Forsberg), but for the most part will have the same roster going forward, with maybe one or two acquisitions in the works. Nashville has a good shot at a playoff spot, but again may not get past the first round. If they want to bring in a veteran, they have excellent prospect depth both in net and on defense, dangling one of Jon Blum, Mark Dekanich or Chet Pickard. They could also send off Dumont or winger Martin Erat with a prospect for one better winger that is available from one of the selling teams.
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Second in the West and tops in the Central Division, the Detroit Red Wings continue to play with a dominating style against their opponents. Pavel Datsyuk was on pace for a great season with 39 points in 33 games, yet has missed a month with a broken hand. In the absence of arguably the league's top two-way threat, the Red Wings continued to play their system under coach Mike Babcock and have again been successful. Johan Franzen leads the team with 26 goals, while Henrik Zetterberg has 40 assists and 56 points.Valtteri Filppula, Todd Bertuzzi, Dan Cleary, Darren Helm, Patrick Eaves and Jiri Hudler have all made contributions to aid in scoring when Datsyuk and other players went down to injury. On the defensive side of the puck, 40-year old Nicklas Lidstrom has played like he is 15 years younger. He has 44 points and is one of the top offensive blueliners in the league again this year. Nicklas Kronwall has provided a steady two-way game, aiding in moving the puck along with dishing out big hits and blocking shots. Brian Rafalski and Brad Stuart have both missed time with injuries during the season, while Jonathan Ericsson, Ruslan Salei and Jakub Kindle have been good defensively as well. In net, Jimmy Howard has been hot and cold, currently sporting a .900 Sv % and 2.85 GAA.
Detroit is primed to make another great post-season run. They have plenty of veteran leadership and also have some youth added into the mix. In Grand Rapids (AHL), the Red Wings have some steady prospects developing to add to their group in the future. If the team makes a move at the deadline, it will be in an attempt to add a veteran backup netminder and possibly a depth defenseman. Detroit has the ability to go deep into the playoffs, led by Datsyuk, Franzen, Zetterberg and Lidstrom. Detroit is an organization that teams will look to copy and mold in attempts to be successful, as they have the recipe for success year in and year out.
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So, the Western Conference is now all covered. 14 of the 15 teams have a legitimate shot at the playoffs, and it will be a seller's market at the deadline. Teams will have to overpay for players as few teams will be willing to give them up. I predict that Detroit, Nashville and Chicago will make the playoffs, while Columbus and St. Louis will miss out. If Halak can get hot for the Blues, he could provide a boost and give St. Louis a much better shot. Again, these are all just my thoughts. I am not an insider with sources, though neither are some more "prestigious" hockey blogs. Let me know what you think in the comments below. AW over an out.
The Blackhawks are fresh off of their Stanley Cup Champion season and have seen a major roster turnover since the summer months. Out are Antti Niemi, Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, Colin Fraser, Christobal Huet, Kris Versteeg, Brent Sopel, John Madden and Adam Burish and in are several rookies and new players who have made a difference. Jack Skille, Brian Bickell, Jake Dowell, Viktor Stalberg, Fernando Pisani and John Scott have been effective in replacing the lost players, yet the Blackhawks are not a lock to make the playoffs. Patrick Sharp has exploded offensively, while Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have been good but not great. 11 players have seven or more goals this season, which has aided in the loss of certain players. Also, Marian Hossa missed time early on and has 25 points in 32 games. The defense has been lead by Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, being aided by Niklas Hjalmarsson and Brian Campbell. Goaltending has been an interesting topic for the Blackhawks, as neither free agent signing Marty Turco nor rookie Corey Crawford has claimed the starting job. Like last season, the Blackhawks will probably stick with one guy down the stretch as they did with Niemi. Can Crawford evolve into a playoff starter like Niemi did last year? That question will be answered later in the season.
The Blackhawks are not great defensively, and could use a veteran bottom-6 forward or two to help with penalty killing as well as their 5-on-5 play. Chuck Kobasew or Antti Mietinen of the Wild could be good fits, as could Atlanta's Steve Bernier or Rostislav Olesz. They could also make an upgrade to their scorers, possibly dangling Seabrook as trade bait with Nick Leddy, Ivan Vishnevskiy and Dylan Olsen waiting in the wings. Look for Chicago to make a few moves, as they are under high expectations to make the playoffs this year.
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Columbus had a hot start this year, having some believe that this could be the season that Columbus progresses to a good, playoff-bound team. Unfortunately, the wheels have fallen off since, and in their last 13 games are 4-7-2 which includes a five game losing streak. Rick Nash leads the team in scoring (shocking, I know) with 23 goals and 44 points in what shows to be another excellent season in the power forward's career. Young forwards Derick Brassard and Jakub Voracek have 35 and 32 points respectively and have shown flashes of the promising potential these two players have going forward for the rebuilding Blue Jackets. R.J. Umberger and Antoine Vermette have provided secondary scoring, aiding in the attack and on defense as well. Fedor Tyutin, Jan Hejda and Rostislav Klesla are the core defense for the Blue Jackets, and have provided steady yet unspectacular play this season. The Jackets are tied for 13th in the West, yet are only six points out of a playoff spot. Unless they turn their play around, however, they should be sellers at the trade deadline.
That being said, there are several interesting players that the Blue Jackets could send off for promising prospects and draft picks to build towards the future. Veteran Jan Hejda is an excellent defensive-minded defender, and would make a great compliment to a team aspiring for the Stanley Cup. As an added bonus, he is a free agent at the end of the season. Veterans Chris Clark, Ethan Moreau and Andy Murray are also all free agents at season's end, and could greatly improve a team looking for forward depth to make a post-season drive. Samuel Pahlsson is signed through next season, yet provides excellent defensive play and veteran leadership and has won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2006-07. Columbus could get many important picks and prospects in return for their veterans at the trade deadline.
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The Blues are in an interesting spot at this time during the season. Like the Blue Jackets, they got off to an incredibly hot start led by goaltender Jaroslav Halak. Now due to inconsistent play at times the Blues are in the cellar of the West yet are only six points out of a playoff spot. They are tied with Columbus for 13th, and have several options leading up to the deadline. If management deems that they can make the playoffs this season, they can keep their team as is or make a few subtle changes to try and propel into the top eight. If they decide to continue to build towards the future with their young core, they could acquire important building pieces in what is sure to be a sellers market. Veteran Alex Steen leads the team in points with 38, with All-Star power forward David Backes right behind him with 37. Young guns Patrick Berglund and Matt D'Agostini have 30 and 25 points, respectively. Finally able to carve out a spot on the NHL roster, Alex Pietrangelo has 24 points in 47 games. Erik Johnson, Eric Brewer and Barret Jackman lead from a defensive standpoint, providing good two-way play. T.J. Oshie, Andy McDonald and David Perron have all missed significant time with injuries, though Oshie and McDonald have returned to play recently. After a very hot start where he built off of his heroic post-season play, Jaroslav Halak has fallen back to earth with a .910 Sv % and a 2.62 GAA. Veteran Ty Conklin has provided good work in a backup role for the young Blues.
If the Blues take advantage of a sellers market at the trade deadline, they could certainly get away with a few steals to help them into the future. Eric Brewer is a free agent after this season, and is a good top-4 defenseman on most teams. He could determine the market price, as he is a two-way defenseman that could fetch a pick and a prospect. Carlo Colaiacovo is an interesting name, as he can move the puck, work the point on the powerplay and he is also signed through next season. Brad Winchester is a good bottom-6 grinder that can also score goals, and would make an excellent addition to a playoff team. If the Blues were looking to seriously shake things up, they could dangle center Andy McDonald who is signed for two more years with a $4.7million cap hit. McDonald has the ability of a true #1 center with speed, vision and offensive creativity. He could fetch a hefty return for a team looking to boost their young core of Oshie, Berglund, Backes, Perron, Johnson and Pietrangelo.
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Until I looked at his stat line, I didn't realize how good of a season Nashville's Pekka Rinne is having. .930 Sv %, 2.10 GAA, 17 wins in 35 starts. He is ranked second in the league in both save percentage and goals against average, and if it were not for Tim Thomas' monster season he would have more publicity about it. Nashville may not be a traditional hockey market, but they have something going right for once after two former starting goalies have been traded away when they failed to live up to expectations after breaking out. On the offensive side of the puck, the Predators are not gifted with elite level skill or a budget as high as the cap yet are able to remain competitive with coach Barry Trotz at the helm. Shea Weber leads the team with 32 points, and is also the premier defender of the squad. At the skills competition, he showed his blistering shot that was well over 100 MPH. A 30-goal man one year ago, Patrick Hornqvist is one of the better players up front with 28 points. Sergei Kostitsyn has that same total, and has revitalized his career after playing his way out of Montreal. Veteran J.P. Dumont has played in 51 of the Preds' 52 games this season, yet most people would not have noticed. The winger has only 17 points on the season, and has been a non-factor for a team that looks for scoring from anywhere. This team will only go as far as Rinne can carry them. They do not have the firepower to get past the first round of the playoffs, a place Nashville has never been.
Nashville is a low-budget team team that does not have cap flexibility that a team like the New York Rangers or the Toronto Maple Leafs has. They have been able to make moves before (see: Peter Forsberg), but for the most part will have the same roster going forward, with maybe one or two acquisitions in the works. Nashville has a good shot at a playoff spot, but again may not get past the first round. If they want to bring in a veteran, they have excellent prospect depth both in net and on defense, dangling one of Jon Blum, Mark Dekanich or Chet Pickard. They could also send off Dumont or winger Martin Erat with a prospect for one better winger that is available from one of the selling teams.
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Second in the West and tops in the Central Division, the Detroit Red Wings continue to play with a dominating style against their opponents. Pavel Datsyuk was on pace for a great season with 39 points in 33 games, yet has missed a month with a broken hand. In the absence of arguably the league's top two-way threat, the Red Wings continued to play their system under coach Mike Babcock and have again been successful. Johan Franzen leads the team with 26 goals, while Henrik Zetterberg has 40 assists and 56 points.Valtteri Filppula, Todd Bertuzzi, Dan Cleary, Darren Helm, Patrick Eaves and Jiri Hudler have all made contributions to aid in scoring when Datsyuk and other players went down to injury. On the defensive side of the puck, 40-year old Nicklas Lidstrom has played like he is 15 years younger. He has 44 points and is one of the top offensive blueliners in the league again this year. Nicklas Kronwall has provided a steady two-way game, aiding in moving the puck along with dishing out big hits and blocking shots. Brian Rafalski and Brad Stuart have both missed time with injuries during the season, while Jonathan Ericsson, Ruslan Salei and Jakub Kindle have been good defensively as well. In net, Jimmy Howard has been hot and cold, currently sporting a .900 Sv % and 2.85 GAA.
Detroit is primed to make another great post-season run. They have plenty of veteran leadership and also have some youth added into the mix. In Grand Rapids (AHL), the Red Wings have some steady prospects developing to add to their group in the future. If the team makes a move at the deadline, it will be in an attempt to add a veteran backup netminder and possibly a depth defenseman. Detroit has the ability to go deep into the playoffs, led by Datsyuk, Franzen, Zetterberg and Lidstrom. Detroit is an organization that teams will look to copy and mold in attempts to be successful, as they have the recipe for success year in and year out.
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So, the Western Conference is now all covered. 14 of the 15 teams have a legitimate shot at the playoffs, and it will be a seller's market at the deadline. Teams will have to overpay for players as few teams will be willing to give them up. I predict that Detroit, Nashville and Chicago will make the playoffs, while Columbus and St. Louis will miss out. If Halak can get hot for the Blues, he could provide a boost and give St. Louis a much better shot. Again, these are all just my thoughts. I am not an insider with sources, though neither are some more "prestigious" hockey blogs. Let me know what you think in the comments below. AW over an out.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Division Analysis: Pacific
I apologize, as my analysis of the Northwest Division was incredibly long. This time I'll try and shorten up the analysis of each team's season. Today's topic is the Pacific Division, home of the surprisingly good Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks, as well as the resurgent San Jose Sharks, hard-working Phoenix Coyotes and skilled LA Kings. Each of these five teams has a chance to make the playoffs, so you can expect moves to be made to add players to each of these teams at the deadline.
Dallas is at the top of the division, led by All-Star and potential Hart Trophy candidate Brad Richards. His 58 points lead the team, as he is their #1 center and powerplay point man. Scorers Loui Eriksson, James Neal and Brendan Morrow all have at least 18 goals on the year, while Mike Ribiero has 36 assists and Jamie Benn has 33 points in 46 games. Stephane Robidas and Trevor Daley headline the back end in Big D, playing good two-way games and making solid passes out of the zone. Matt Niskanen was expected to expand his role as an offensive defenseman, but with only six points in 40 games has not been able to fulfill expectations. Nicklas Grossman, Jeff Woywitka and Marc Fistric (when healthy) are able to provide Dallas with good defensive play. Last season's key acquisition, Kari Lehtonen, has proven that he has what it takes to be a starting goalie in the NHL. Plagued by the injury bug in Atlanta, he got a fresh start with the Stars last season and has performed admirably as the undisputed #1 goalie in Dallas. His .920 Sv % and 2.61 GAA have provided much more consistent goaltending than what Marty Turco had provided in years past.
The Stars are cash-strapped as owner Tom Hicks has defaulted on his loans. The team is being monitored by the NHL, but GM Joe Nieuwendyk has been able to show that his team will continue to push towards a deep Stanley Cup run. While Brad Richards may not re-sign with the Stars, Dallas is not going to move their best player at the deadline. Losing him in free agency as many have speculated is a risk that the Stars have to take if they have any chance to succeed this year. The Stars have plenty of firepower up front, and could use a veteran depth defender to solidify their team for a cup run. Jamie Langenbrunner was brought in to solidify the bottom-6 with veteran experience, and the Stars have a very good group for the post-season. Nieuwendyk could dangle disappointing defenseman Matt Niskanen as a roster player for trade bait, but aside from that do not have many interesting prospects or available players. Dallas may make a move at the deadline, but don't expect it to involve Brad Richards and don't expect it to shakeup the roster significantly. They are poised to go deep into the playoffs this year.
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Anze Kopitar has lead the Kings this season as their key cog in the system, but he has not been as successful as he was last season. After missing out in the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes Los Angeles had to make due with what was available, and with important players staying healthy and being productive, the Kings could make the playoffs for the second straight season. Kopitar has had a successful year scoring 49 points in 52 games, yet has regressed as a weapon on the powerplay. He has five powerplay goals this season, yet scored 14 last year. Drew Doughty has also had an up and down season, but has been heating up lately and looks to contribute as he did last year. Justin Williams has stayed healthy, and has proven that he can be a good scorer in his walk year to free agency. Dustin Brown, Ryan Smyth and Jarret Stoll have also had good seasons to provide the punch for LA's attack. Jack Johnson has had an excellent season and signed an extension earlier to stay with the Kings for the foreseeable future. Jon Quick has provided good performances in net, sporting a 23-14-1 record with a .920 Sv % and an excellent 2.12 GAA. Jonathan Bernier's rookie season has been less than stellar, yet not terrible. He has a 5-8-1 record with a 2.84 GAA and a pedestrian .900 Sv %.
Like most teams, the Kings could use another scorer to help solidify their top-6. In addition, a veteran defenseman could really help in buckling down in front of Quick down the stretch. Dean Lombardi is not afraid to make big moves, and could move a significant piece if a deal can bring in a superstar player. Linked to such superstars as Kovalchuk, Jarome Iginla and Brad Richards, a tier I player could be added at the deadline to push the Kings over the top. Currently tied for eighth in the West, LA will look to make a strong late season push to make it into the post season.
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Jonas Hiller has stood on his head at times this season, bailing the Ducks out of games they had no business of being in. His .920 Sv % and 2.56 GAA are both proof that Ducks' GM Bob Murray made the right decision in trading J-S Giguere to the Leafs last year. Hiller has ran with the starting job, though he has not had much competition from backup Curtis McElhinney. Corey Perry and veteran Teemu Selanne, the ageless wonder, have lead the Ducks up front. Perry is averaging a point per game, while Selanne has 15 goals and 30 assists on the year. Ryan Getzlaf was on pace to have another great year with 37 points in 40 games before he was injured. He is coming back soon, which will be a much needed boost to their offense. Lubomir Visnovsky is having a monster of a season from the back end, having scored eight goals and assisting on 35 others. Rookie surprise Cam Fowler is having a successful first NHL campaign with 27 points on the year. Bobby Ryan continues his goalscoring ways with 23 already on the year, while Joffrey Lupul is healthy again and has 13 points in 25 games.
The Ducks most glaring need is in the top-6, and another winger to aid the cast of Ryan, Getzlaf, Perry and Selanne would be very welcome. Anaheim has also had a very shallow defense this year, having to deal with the loss of Scott Niedermeyer due to retirement. Toni Lydman has played well on the backend, but with poor play from Andy Sutton in a season where he has struggled to stay healthy, acquiring a veteran defenseman would certainly aid in their quest to make the playoffs and go deep this year.
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Aside from the twitter sensation that is BizNasty2point0, the Coyotes have had some very good surprises so far this season. A team that finished with 107 points last season, the Desert Dogs are not on pace for as good of a season but are still poised to make the playoffs; their second time in two seasons under coach Dave Tippett. Defenseman Keith Yandle got an All-Star bid as a replacement this season, and leads the team in points with 45. That total also currently leads all NHL defenseman in points, having a higher total than more expected candidates like Nicklas Lidstrom and Dustin Byfuglien. Veterans Ray Whitney and Shane Doan have also had good seasons in the desert, providing leadership and scoring on a younger team that needs it. Kyle Turris' first full NHL season since his rookie year has had its ups and downs, as he currently has 17 points on the year. Rookie defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has provided another weapon on the back end, with one goal and ten assists on the year in 37 games. Ilya Bryzgalov has continued to be a rock in net, sporting a .910 Sv % and 2.74 GAA. He continues to bring excellent play to Phoenix game in and game out, which is something that was lacking before he was claimed off of waivers.
I do not expect the Coyotes to make many moves at the trade deadline, as they have a young team that is going to get better with experience. The Coyotes have lots of younger players who are still developing with the team or in the minors, and the best days are yet to come. In an effort to continue to build for the coming years, Phoenix could offer veteran players such as Ed Jovanovski, Adrian Aucoin, Taylor Pyatt, Vernon Fiddler and Scotty Upshall. I do not think that the Coyotes will be sellers at the deadline, however I do not expect them to move young and important pieces for veteran help this year. Times are looking bright for the Coyotes on the ice, even if their off-ice situation is less than ideal.
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The Sharks are not used to having to fight for a playoff position, as they are usually more worried about match-ups in the playoffs instead. Unfortunately due to the inconsistencies of the team as a whole, the Sharks have had a roller coaster season. Staple netminder Evgeni Nabokov left for greener pastures in the KHL (or so he thought), and the team turned to two free agent goalies at the start of the season. Both Antero Niittymaki and Antti Niemi have had their struggles this year, and neither has grabbed the starting job outright. Niemi has started in 31 games, and Niittymaki has started in 21. The tandem has not been spectacular, becoming a major part of the issues of this Sharks team. What also doesn't help is that Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley have combined for a -30 rating. Jumbo Joe is on pace for his worst statistical season since 2001-02, while Marleau has also taken a step back from the 38 and 44 goals he has scored in the last two years. Following the trend, Dany Heatley may not score more than 35 goals, as he has surpassed 38 in each of the last five seasons. It has not been all bad for the Sharks this year as the man featured in the picture above, rookie Logan Couture, leads the team in goal scoring with 22 on the year. In addition, Ryan Clowe has played above expectations to post 41 points in 48 games. Dan Boyle leads a shallow defense on both offense and defense, as only he and Jason Demers have more than 15 points on the year from the blueline.
That leads me to what the Sharks must address at the coming trade deadline. The Sharks must acquire a veteran defenseman, as the loss of Rob Blake has been felt badly this year. If the Sharks decide that this is their year, they could dangle one of their skilled forwards, say Ryan Clowe or Devin Setoguchi. These two players could be very good base pieces to a larger deal that brings in a veteran defenseman that can help stabilize the group. If the Sharks don't act fast, they will be on the outside looking in for the first time since 2002-03.
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There it is folks; my thoughts on the Pacific division. There will be lots of movement in this division, as each team attempts to gear up for the playoffs and make a statement that they are there to win. I feel that more players will be brought in to the Pacific than sent out, so the balance of power in the West could shift to the state of California. It should prove to be an exciting time in the coming weeks. AW, over and out.
Dallas is at the top of the division, led by All-Star and potential Hart Trophy candidate Brad Richards. His 58 points lead the team, as he is their #1 center and powerplay point man. Scorers Loui Eriksson, James Neal and Brendan Morrow all have at least 18 goals on the year, while Mike Ribiero has 36 assists and Jamie Benn has 33 points in 46 games. Stephane Robidas and Trevor Daley headline the back end in Big D, playing good two-way games and making solid passes out of the zone. Matt Niskanen was expected to expand his role as an offensive defenseman, but with only six points in 40 games has not been able to fulfill expectations. Nicklas Grossman, Jeff Woywitka and Marc Fistric (when healthy) are able to provide Dallas with good defensive play. Last season's key acquisition, Kari Lehtonen, has proven that he has what it takes to be a starting goalie in the NHL. Plagued by the injury bug in Atlanta, he got a fresh start with the Stars last season and has performed admirably as the undisputed #1 goalie in Dallas. His .920 Sv % and 2.61 GAA have provided much more consistent goaltending than what Marty Turco had provided in years past.
The Stars are cash-strapped as owner Tom Hicks has defaulted on his loans. The team is being monitored by the NHL, but GM Joe Nieuwendyk has been able to show that his team will continue to push towards a deep Stanley Cup run. While Brad Richards may not re-sign with the Stars, Dallas is not going to move their best player at the deadline. Losing him in free agency as many have speculated is a risk that the Stars have to take if they have any chance to succeed this year. The Stars have plenty of firepower up front, and could use a veteran depth defender to solidify their team for a cup run. Jamie Langenbrunner was brought in to solidify the bottom-6 with veteran experience, and the Stars have a very good group for the post-season. Nieuwendyk could dangle disappointing defenseman Matt Niskanen as a roster player for trade bait, but aside from that do not have many interesting prospects or available players. Dallas may make a move at the deadline, but don't expect it to involve Brad Richards and don't expect it to shakeup the roster significantly. They are poised to go deep into the playoffs this year.
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Anze Kopitar has lead the Kings this season as their key cog in the system, but he has not been as successful as he was last season. After missing out in the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes Los Angeles had to make due with what was available, and with important players staying healthy and being productive, the Kings could make the playoffs for the second straight season. Kopitar has had a successful year scoring 49 points in 52 games, yet has regressed as a weapon on the powerplay. He has five powerplay goals this season, yet scored 14 last year. Drew Doughty has also had an up and down season, but has been heating up lately and looks to contribute as he did last year. Justin Williams has stayed healthy, and has proven that he can be a good scorer in his walk year to free agency. Dustin Brown, Ryan Smyth and Jarret Stoll have also had good seasons to provide the punch for LA's attack. Jack Johnson has had an excellent season and signed an extension earlier to stay with the Kings for the foreseeable future. Jon Quick has provided good performances in net, sporting a 23-14-1 record with a .920 Sv % and an excellent 2.12 GAA. Jonathan Bernier's rookie season has been less than stellar, yet not terrible. He has a 5-8-1 record with a 2.84 GAA and a pedestrian .900 Sv %.
Like most teams, the Kings could use another scorer to help solidify their top-6. In addition, a veteran defenseman could really help in buckling down in front of Quick down the stretch. Dean Lombardi is not afraid to make big moves, and could move a significant piece if a deal can bring in a superstar player. Linked to such superstars as Kovalchuk, Jarome Iginla and Brad Richards, a tier I player could be added at the deadline to push the Kings over the top. Currently tied for eighth in the West, LA will look to make a strong late season push to make it into the post season.
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Jonas Hiller has stood on his head at times this season, bailing the Ducks out of games they had no business of being in. His .920 Sv % and 2.56 GAA are both proof that Ducks' GM Bob Murray made the right decision in trading J-S Giguere to the Leafs last year. Hiller has ran with the starting job, though he has not had much competition from backup Curtis McElhinney. Corey Perry and veteran Teemu Selanne, the ageless wonder, have lead the Ducks up front. Perry is averaging a point per game, while Selanne has 15 goals and 30 assists on the year. Ryan Getzlaf was on pace to have another great year with 37 points in 40 games before he was injured. He is coming back soon, which will be a much needed boost to their offense. Lubomir Visnovsky is having a monster of a season from the back end, having scored eight goals and assisting on 35 others. Rookie surprise Cam Fowler is having a successful first NHL campaign with 27 points on the year. Bobby Ryan continues his goalscoring ways with 23 already on the year, while Joffrey Lupul is healthy again and has 13 points in 25 games.
The Ducks most glaring need is in the top-6, and another winger to aid the cast of Ryan, Getzlaf, Perry and Selanne would be very welcome. Anaheim has also had a very shallow defense this year, having to deal with the loss of Scott Niedermeyer due to retirement. Toni Lydman has played well on the backend, but with poor play from Andy Sutton in a season where he has struggled to stay healthy, acquiring a veteran defenseman would certainly aid in their quest to make the playoffs and go deep this year.
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Aside from the twitter sensation that is BizNasty2point0, the Coyotes have had some very good surprises so far this season. A team that finished with 107 points last season, the Desert Dogs are not on pace for as good of a season but are still poised to make the playoffs; their second time in two seasons under coach Dave Tippett. Defenseman Keith Yandle got an All-Star bid as a replacement this season, and leads the team in points with 45. That total also currently leads all NHL defenseman in points, having a higher total than more expected candidates like Nicklas Lidstrom and Dustin Byfuglien. Veterans Ray Whitney and Shane Doan have also had good seasons in the desert, providing leadership and scoring on a younger team that needs it. Kyle Turris' first full NHL season since his rookie year has had its ups and downs, as he currently has 17 points on the year. Rookie defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has provided another weapon on the back end, with one goal and ten assists on the year in 37 games. Ilya Bryzgalov has continued to be a rock in net, sporting a .910 Sv % and 2.74 GAA. He continues to bring excellent play to Phoenix game in and game out, which is something that was lacking before he was claimed off of waivers.
I do not expect the Coyotes to make many moves at the trade deadline, as they have a young team that is going to get better with experience. The Coyotes have lots of younger players who are still developing with the team or in the minors, and the best days are yet to come. In an effort to continue to build for the coming years, Phoenix could offer veteran players such as Ed Jovanovski, Adrian Aucoin, Taylor Pyatt, Vernon Fiddler and Scotty Upshall. I do not think that the Coyotes will be sellers at the deadline, however I do not expect them to move young and important pieces for veteran help this year. Times are looking bright for the Coyotes on the ice, even if their off-ice situation is less than ideal.
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The Sharks are not used to having to fight for a playoff position, as they are usually more worried about match-ups in the playoffs instead. Unfortunately due to the inconsistencies of the team as a whole, the Sharks have had a roller coaster season. Staple netminder Evgeni Nabokov left for greener pastures in the KHL (or so he thought), and the team turned to two free agent goalies at the start of the season. Both Antero Niittymaki and Antti Niemi have had their struggles this year, and neither has grabbed the starting job outright. Niemi has started in 31 games, and Niittymaki has started in 21. The tandem has not been spectacular, becoming a major part of the issues of this Sharks team. What also doesn't help is that Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley have combined for a -30 rating. Jumbo Joe is on pace for his worst statistical season since 2001-02, while Marleau has also taken a step back from the 38 and 44 goals he has scored in the last two years. Following the trend, Dany Heatley may not score more than 35 goals, as he has surpassed 38 in each of the last five seasons. It has not been all bad for the Sharks this year as the man featured in the picture above, rookie Logan Couture, leads the team in goal scoring with 22 on the year. In addition, Ryan Clowe has played above expectations to post 41 points in 48 games. Dan Boyle leads a shallow defense on both offense and defense, as only he and Jason Demers have more than 15 points on the year from the blueline.
That leads me to what the Sharks must address at the coming trade deadline. The Sharks must acquire a veteran defenseman, as the loss of Rob Blake has been felt badly this year. If the Sharks decide that this is their year, they could dangle one of their skilled forwards, say Ryan Clowe or Devin Setoguchi. These two players could be very good base pieces to a larger deal that brings in a veteran defenseman that can help stabilize the group. If the Sharks don't act fast, they will be on the outside looking in for the first time since 2002-03.
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There it is folks; my thoughts on the Pacific division. There will be lots of movement in this division, as each team attempts to gear up for the playoffs and make a statement that they are there to win. I feel that more players will be brought in to the Pacific than sent out, so the balance of power in the West could shift to the state of California. It should prove to be an exciting time in the coming weeks. AW, over and out.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Division Analysis: Northwest
Let's talk about the teams of the Northwest division. There are teams at the top of the West, as well as the bottom, and several of these teams can be challenging for a playoff as this season wraps up. I'm going to talk about each team and also what they might do at the trade deadline.
Let's start with the Edmonton Oilers. A rebuilding squad, this season has been all about the young players. Overall, there have been seven rookies in the Oiler's lineup this season, and there have been three in particular that are creating buzz for Edmonton fans. First overall pick Taylor Hall has had a good but not spectacular rookie season. He currently sits second on the team with 31 points, including 16 goals. Hall is actually on pace to score around the same point total that All World player Steven Stamkos had three short years ago, so there should not be concern among the Edmonton faithful. Jordan Eberle also made his NHL debut this season and has suffered through some injuries, playing in 37 games while scoring 23 points. Those include some highlight reel goals, including his first NHL goal which was a beauty shorthanded against Calgary in the season opener. The third Edmonton rookie that the Oilers look to get contributions from in the future is Magnus Paajarvi. He sits with six goals and 19 points this season, which are not bad totals for the young Swedish forward, as he will mature and progress with more NHL experience. Ales Hemsky is currently tied for third on the team in scoring, yet has only played in 32 games this season. His most recent injury was a concussion that has kept him out of the lineup, and this has been the story for the past two years. The talent is there, but he has not been able to stay healthy on a consistent basis. When healthy, Hemsky is a top talent. After a revelation season, Dustin Penner is back to his frustrating ways with 16 goals and 32 points in 49 games this year. Some thought Penner finally realized his potential as a power forward last season when he scored 32 goals and 63 points, but he has regressed. Sam Gagner has also had yet another disappointing season, with 11 goals and 29 points on the year. It can be argued that the young forward was rushed to the NHL, but Gagner's best season was his rookie year in 2007-08, as every year since his totals have gotten worse.
It is a rebuilding season for the Oilers, and I cannot imagine any players not named Hall, Eberle or Paajarvi that are not on the block. Hemsky and Penner can be valuable assets to any team looking for a scorer, while forwards Gagner and Cogliano are also rumored to be on the trading block. Cogliano was supposedly part of the deal that would have brought Dany Heatley to Edmonton, but Heatley refused the deal with his no-trade clause. Veteran defensemen Kurtis Foster and Jim Vandermeer are solid players that can add depth to any team looking to make a deep playoff run, with Vandermeer a UFA at the end of the season and Foster signed through next year. Sheldon Souray is also an interesting case, playing for the Hershey Bears of the AHL. Edmonton may expose him to re-entry waivers, but might also explore trade options once again. It will be a selling season for the Oilers come the trade deadline in a few weeks.
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The Calgary Flames have had an interesting year, having an excellent home record (14-9-1) yet a less than desirable record on the road (11-12-5). It could be lucky for the Flames, but more than half of their remaining games are at home which could propel them into the playoff spot that they are in the hunt for. The Flames currently sit in twelfth place in the West, yet are only two points out of eighth place. That is truly evident of how close the Western Conference is, as at any moment a team can propel up or down the standings with a win. After a dreadful start to the season, Jarome Iginla leads the Flames with 22 goals and 47 points. Right behind him in scoring is Alex Tanguay, who is in his second tour with Calgary. He leads the team with 26 assists, and has 38 points on the year. Olli Jokinen has come back on a much more reasonable contract, but the enigmatic forward has only scored 30 points on the year. Signed in training camp, Brendan Morrison has 28 points and has been a pleasant surprise for a team lacking depth at the center position. Rene Bourque is on pace to continue his streak of over 20 goals, having 15 on the year already. Rookie center Michael Backlund has 11 points in 44 games, adjusting to the rigors of the NHL game. Mark Giordano and Robyn Regehr have led the team on defense, Giordano on the offensive side of the game and Regehr the defensive end. Giordano leads all defensemen on the team with four goals and 21 assists, while Regehr has 115 hits and 85 blocked shots. Miikka Kiprusoff has had a lackluster and forgettable season, going 21-18-2 with a 2.73 goals against average and a dismal .900 save percentage.
It remains to be seen as to what will happen at the trade deadline for the Flames. GM Jay Feaster is not afraid about making moves, and many have speculated that to be successful Calgary needs to blow up their roster. What makes matters more confusing is the fact that the team is 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, propelling them back into the thick of the playoff race. If Calgary believes that they can make the playoffs, then roster players and/or picks must be moved, as Calgary has one of the shallowest prospect pools in the NHL. If the team decides to sell, there are many pieces that could be moved to teams looking for help in the playoffs. Jarome Iginla has been informed by the team that he will not be traded, and I do believe that he won't be moved at the deadline. Robyn Regehr's future is not as certain. There have been rumors circulating all season that Regehr could be a major piece moved to start the Calgary rebuild. One rumor has Regehr being sent to Buffalo along with pending UFAs Curtis Glencross and Alex Tanguay in exchange for Drew Stafford and UFAs Tim Connolly and Craig Rivet. While I do not see that deal materializing, Regehr could fetch a good young player such as Stafford, and that is exactly what Calgary needs. Other players that could be moved by the time the deadline comes include center Brendan Morrison, utility forward Glencross as well as defenders Steve Staios and Anton Babchuk. We may not know if the Flames are buying or selling right up until the day of the deadline, but it will be an exciting and active period either way.
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A young squad that surprised many last year by making the playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche are in the think of the playoff race, sitting tenth overall in the West while only two points out of a playoff spot. Like many other teams, the Avalanche have not been consistent enough to separate their talented team from the pack. The goaltending has been part of the problem, as last year's surprise in net Craig Anderson has a 3.12 GAA and a .900 Sv % to go along with his record of 13-12-3. Backup netminder Peter Budaj has not fared any better, going 12-7-3 with a 3.17 GAA and a .890 Sv %. Luckily, the forwards have been able to bail out the goalies with All-Star seasons from Paul Stastny and Matt Duchene as well as excellent production from key role players. Duchene's sophomore season has seen him improve, as he is currently leading the team in goals and points with 20 and 45 respectively. Stastny sits second with 43 points on the year. Veteran sniper Milan Hejduk is on pace for his best year since 2003-04, having registered 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points in 43 games. Defenseman John-Michael Liles exploded early in the season, and has kept his production up with 35 points in 50 games to lead the blueline. David Jones has been able to stay healthy and has 16 goals on the year, while Tomas Fleischmann had 21 points in 22 games after being acquired from Washington in exchange for Scott Hannan, before ending the season with blood clots in his lungs. Chris Stewart injured himself in a fight earlier in the year, and he was deeply missed from the lineup. In the 29 games he has played this year, Stewart has 11 goals and 27 points. Rookie and New Rochelle native Kevin Shattenkirk excelled early on when he was called up from AHL Lake Erie, and has settled in nicely as an offensive compliment to support Liles. The Avalanche have the potential to make the playoffs, and one or two moves to help the team may give them enough firepower to do some damage in the post-season.
Colorado has had two problems this years. The first is goaltending, as explained above. The second is health on the blueline, as there are several key contributors missing on the back end. Acquiring a veteran defenseman could really aid in shutting down opposing forwards which could in turn aid in improving the goaltending performances of Anderson and Budaj. A veteran scorer could also aid the team going forward, as a team can never have too many contributors offensively. A top-6 of Stastny, Hejduk, Duchene, Stewart, Jones and Galiardi is good, but improving that sixth slot could be crucial. Fleischmann was brought in to fulfill that, and he did until his season was ended. The Avalanche have lots of prospect depth on defense and in net, and could spare some of their prospects along with draft picks to make a move at the trade deadline.
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Minnesota currently sits at ninth in the West with 57 points so far this year. They are one point out of eighth and only four points behind fourth place Nashville. The Wild have only scored 131 goals on the year so far which would rank them twelfth overall in the West, yet it is their defense that has kept them in the hunt for the post-season. Only three Western Conference teams have better defenses than the Wild, who have yielded 134 goals against. Four players are tied for the team lead in goals, which exemplifies how the Wild have had to score by committee instead of being able to rely on certain players. Mikko Koivu, Martin Havlat, Brent Burns and Cal Clutterbuck all hold a claim to the lead in goals for Minnesota, and the team could not be happier with the aid in production. Havlat leads the team in points overall with 44 on the year as this is a reclamation season after a disappointing year in 2009-10. The captain of the Wild, Koivu, is only one point behind Havlat's pace and is one of the key cogs in Minnesota's overall game. Cal Clutterbuck, arguably the best name in hockey, has added an offensive part to his overall game. Known as a tenacious forechecker that works hard, Clutterbuck has 227 hits on the year. No, that is not a typo. 227 hits in 49 games. The closest teammate to that total is Eric Nystrom who currently has 122. Matt Cullen has provided a veteran presence and additional scoring with 10 goals and 31 points. He is a versatile forward that can play any position and can line up at the point on the powerplay. Veteran Andrew Brunette continues to contribute as a secondary scorer, as do Antti Miettinen, P-M Bouchard and Chuck Kobasew. Brent Burns, as mentioned above, has 14 goals as well to lead the defense for the Wild. He has a heavy point shot and has been good in both ends of the ice this season. Marek Zidlicky has been injured this year, and Cam Barker has been an utter disappointment with only five points in 41 games. Dependable blueliner Nick Shultz has 13 points and 85 blocked shots on the year. The goaltending has been superb for Minnesota as Niklas Backstrom has a .920 Sv % and a 2.43 GAA while backup Jose Theodore has a .910 Sv % and a 2.66 GAA.
As you might have guessed, the problem for the Wild is offense. They are one of the lowest scoring teams in the NHL, and the next few weeks will determine if they will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. This is the case with most of the teams in the West. If they are buyers, then they could use a top winger to aid in scoring goals or setting them up. Toronto's Kris Versteeg could be a target, as could Carolina's Jussi Jokinen, Ottawa's Milan Michalek or NJ's Brian Rolston. If they decide to sell and build for the future, Chuck Kobasew, Andrew Brunette and Antti Miettinen are all UFA's after this year and can provide forward depth. It is highly doubtful that the Wild will shop a defenseman, but Greg Zanon is an excellent defensive defenseman who would be a great compliment to a playoff team. Jose Theodore could be traded to provide goaltending depth, as prospect Anton Khubodin has played well in limited NHL ice time.
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I definitely chose a difficult division to start with, as this team is the only sure thing of the bunch. The cream of the crop in the west, the Vancouver Canucks have set the pace for the rest of their rivals. Having only lost ten times in regulation, The Canucks have both the best offense and best defense (tied with Nashville) in the west, with 169 goals scored and 122 goals against. Leading the way are the Sedin twins as always, ranking one and two for points on the team. Daniel leads the team with 66 points, having scored 27 goals and 39 assists. Brother Henrik has been an assist machine this year, registering 51 to go along with 11 goals on the season. Ryan Kesler has truly emerged as one of the best, if not the best two-way talent in the NHL, having scored 28 goals to lead the team along with 20 assists, a +19, 78 hits and 51 blocked shots. The depth continues with contributions from Alex Burrows, Mikael Samuelsson, Mason Raymond and Raffi Torres. Each of those four players has between 21 and 29 points on the season, aiding in the Canucks' offensive dominance. The defense has been just as good at scoring points, as Alex Edler has 31 points and Christian Ehrhoff has 30. Unfortunately for Vancouver, Edler was injured and is out for the remainder of the season. He may be able to return come playoff time, and he will be a welcome addition to the lineup. With Edler out, the Canucks will count on Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis to contribute more and lessen the blow. Manny Malhotra is justifying his three-year contract signed over the summer, as he has provided a good defensive presence up front. The goaltending of Vancouver is a tremendous story for this season, as both Roberto Luongo and rookie Cory Schneider have been outstanding. Luongo owns a 23-8-7 record with a .920 Sv % and a 2.27 GAA. Even more impressive is the stats line of Schneider, who is 9-2-2 with a .930 Sv % and a 2.25 GAA in 15 games overall.
With that in mind, Vancouver has two excellent trade chips to add pieces at the deadline. Cory Schneider deserves the starting job somewhere, and my guess is that New Jersey could make a bid for him to be their goaltender of the future after Brodeur retires. If not New Jersey, then I could see Washington or Tampa Bay making a play for him during the off-season as he will be a star in the NHL. Mikael Samuelsson is another trade piece that can intrigue many teams. He is a proven post-season veteran who can contribute to any team seeking scoring depth, and will fetch a good return for the Canucks with either a good roster player, prospect or draft pick. The Vancouver Canucks are positioned to make a deep playoff run carried by the Sedins, Kesler and Luongo.
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There it is, folks; my thoughts on the Northwest division. Vancouver is the only lock to make the playoffs, as the other four teams are currently on the outside looking in. Of course, anything can happen between now and the last game of the season. My prediction is that the Canucks and the Avalanche make the season, while Minnesota barely misses out and Calgary sinks to the bottom of the conference. Edmonton, not surprisingly, will get another lottery pick to continue building a young core. The next analysis will be on the surprisingly good Pacific Division. AW over and out.
Let's start with the Edmonton Oilers. A rebuilding squad, this season has been all about the young players. Overall, there have been seven rookies in the Oiler's lineup this season, and there have been three in particular that are creating buzz for Edmonton fans. First overall pick Taylor Hall has had a good but not spectacular rookie season. He currently sits second on the team with 31 points, including 16 goals. Hall is actually on pace to score around the same point total that All World player Steven Stamkos had three short years ago, so there should not be concern among the Edmonton faithful. Jordan Eberle also made his NHL debut this season and has suffered through some injuries, playing in 37 games while scoring 23 points. Those include some highlight reel goals, including his first NHL goal which was a beauty shorthanded against Calgary in the season opener. The third Edmonton rookie that the Oilers look to get contributions from in the future is Magnus Paajarvi. He sits with six goals and 19 points this season, which are not bad totals for the young Swedish forward, as he will mature and progress with more NHL experience. Ales Hemsky is currently tied for third on the team in scoring, yet has only played in 32 games this season. His most recent injury was a concussion that has kept him out of the lineup, and this has been the story for the past two years. The talent is there, but he has not been able to stay healthy on a consistent basis. When healthy, Hemsky is a top talent. After a revelation season, Dustin Penner is back to his frustrating ways with 16 goals and 32 points in 49 games this year. Some thought Penner finally realized his potential as a power forward last season when he scored 32 goals and 63 points, but he has regressed. Sam Gagner has also had yet another disappointing season, with 11 goals and 29 points on the year. It can be argued that the young forward was rushed to the NHL, but Gagner's best season was his rookie year in 2007-08, as every year since his totals have gotten worse.
It is a rebuilding season for the Oilers, and I cannot imagine any players not named Hall, Eberle or Paajarvi that are not on the block. Hemsky and Penner can be valuable assets to any team looking for a scorer, while forwards Gagner and Cogliano are also rumored to be on the trading block. Cogliano was supposedly part of the deal that would have brought Dany Heatley to Edmonton, but Heatley refused the deal with his no-trade clause. Veteran defensemen Kurtis Foster and Jim Vandermeer are solid players that can add depth to any team looking to make a deep playoff run, with Vandermeer a UFA at the end of the season and Foster signed through next year. Sheldon Souray is also an interesting case, playing for the Hershey Bears of the AHL. Edmonton may expose him to re-entry waivers, but might also explore trade options once again. It will be a selling season for the Oilers come the trade deadline in a few weeks.
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The Calgary Flames have had an interesting year, having an excellent home record (14-9-1) yet a less than desirable record on the road (11-12-5). It could be lucky for the Flames, but more than half of their remaining games are at home which could propel them into the playoff spot that they are in the hunt for. The Flames currently sit in twelfth place in the West, yet are only two points out of eighth place. That is truly evident of how close the Western Conference is, as at any moment a team can propel up or down the standings with a win. After a dreadful start to the season, Jarome Iginla leads the Flames with 22 goals and 47 points. Right behind him in scoring is Alex Tanguay, who is in his second tour with Calgary. He leads the team with 26 assists, and has 38 points on the year. Olli Jokinen has come back on a much more reasonable contract, but the enigmatic forward has only scored 30 points on the year. Signed in training camp, Brendan Morrison has 28 points and has been a pleasant surprise for a team lacking depth at the center position. Rene Bourque is on pace to continue his streak of over 20 goals, having 15 on the year already. Rookie center Michael Backlund has 11 points in 44 games, adjusting to the rigors of the NHL game. Mark Giordano and Robyn Regehr have led the team on defense, Giordano on the offensive side of the game and Regehr the defensive end. Giordano leads all defensemen on the team with four goals and 21 assists, while Regehr has 115 hits and 85 blocked shots. Miikka Kiprusoff has had a lackluster and forgettable season, going 21-18-2 with a 2.73 goals against average and a dismal .900 save percentage.
It remains to be seen as to what will happen at the trade deadline for the Flames. GM Jay Feaster is not afraid about making moves, and many have speculated that to be successful Calgary needs to blow up their roster. What makes matters more confusing is the fact that the team is 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, propelling them back into the thick of the playoff race. If Calgary believes that they can make the playoffs, then roster players and/or picks must be moved, as Calgary has one of the shallowest prospect pools in the NHL. If the team decides to sell, there are many pieces that could be moved to teams looking for help in the playoffs. Jarome Iginla has been informed by the team that he will not be traded, and I do believe that he won't be moved at the deadline. Robyn Regehr's future is not as certain. There have been rumors circulating all season that Regehr could be a major piece moved to start the Calgary rebuild. One rumor has Regehr being sent to Buffalo along with pending UFAs Curtis Glencross and Alex Tanguay in exchange for Drew Stafford and UFAs Tim Connolly and Craig Rivet. While I do not see that deal materializing, Regehr could fetch a good young player such as Stafford, and that is exactly what Calgary needs. Other players that could be moved by the time the deadline comes include center Brendan Morrison, utility forward Glencross as well as defenders Steve Staios and Anton Babchuk. We may not know if the Flames are buying or selling right up until the day of the deadline, but it will be an exciting and active period either way.
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A young squad that surprised many last year by making the playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche are in the think of the playoff race, sitting tenth overall in the West while only two points out of a playoff spot. Like many other teams, the Avalanche have not been consistent enough to separate their talented team from the pack. The goaltending has been part of the problem, as last year's surprise in net Craig Anderson has a 3.12 GAA and a .900 Sv % to go along with his record of 13-12-3. Backup netminder Peter Budaj has not fared any better, going 12-7-3 with a 3.17 GAA and a .890 Sv %. Luckily, the forwards have been able to bail out the goalies with All-Star seasons from Paul Stastny and Matt Duchene as well as excellent production from key role players. Duchene's sophomore season has seen him improve, as he is currently leading the team in goals and points with 20 and 45 respectively. Stastny sits second with 43 points on the year. Veteran sniper Milan Hejduk is on pace for his best year since 2003-04, having registered 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points in 43 games. Defenseman John-Michael Liles exploded early in the season, and has kept his production up with 35 points in 50 games to lead the blueline. David Jones has been able to stay healthy and has 16 goals on the year, while Tomas Fleischmann had 21 points in 22 games after being acquired from Washington in exchange for Scott Hannan, before ending the season with blood clots in his lungs. Chris Stewart injured himself in a fight earlier in the year, and he was deeply missed from the lineup. In the 29 games he has played this year, Stewart has 11 goals and 27 points. Rookie and New Rochelle native Kevin Shattenkirk excelled early on when he was called up from AHL Lake Erie, and has settled in nicely as an offensive compliment to support Liles. The Avalanche have the potential to make the playoffs, and one or two moves to help the team may give them enough firepower to do some damage in the post-season.
Colorado has had two problems this years. The first is goaltending, as explained above. The second is health on the blueline, as there are several key contributors missing on the back end. Acquiring a veteran defenseman could really aid in shutting down opposing forwards which could in turn aid in improving the goaltending performances of Anderson and Budaj. A veteran scorer could also aid the team going forward, as a team can never have too many contributors offensively. A top-6 of Stastny, Hejduk, Duchene, Stewart, Jones and Galiardi is good, but improving that sixth slot could be crucial. Fleischmann was brought in to fulfill that, and he did until his season was ended. The Avalanche have lots of prospect depth on defense and in net, and could spare some of their prospects along with draft picks to make a move at the trade deadline.
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Minnesota currently sits at ninth in the West with 57 points so far this year. They are one point out of eighth and only four points behind fourth place Nashville. The Wild have only scored 131 goals on the year so far which would rank them twelfth overall in the West, yet it is their defense that has kept them in the hunt for the post-season. Only three Western Conference teams have better defenses than the Wild, who have yielded 134 goals against. Four players are tied for the team lead in goals, which exemplifies how the Wild have had to score by committee instead of being able to rely on certain players. Mikko Koivu, Martin Havlat, Brent Burns and Cal Clutterbuck all hold a claim to the lead in goals for Minnesota, and the team could not be happier with the aid in production. Havlat leads the team in points overall with 44 on the year as this is a reclamation season after a disappointing year in 2009-10. The captain of the Wild, Koivu, is only one point behind Havlat's pace and is one of the key cogs in Minnesota's overall game. Cal Clutterbuck, arguably the best name in hockey, has added an offensive part to his overall game. Known as a tenacious forechecker that works hard, Clutterbuck has 227 hits on the year. No, that is not a typo. 227 hits in 49 games. The closest teammate to that total is Eric Nystrom who currently has 122. Matt Cullen has provided a veteran presence and additional scoring with 10 goals and 31 points. He is a versatile forward that can play any position and can line up at the point on the powerplay. Veteran Andrew Brunette continues to contribute as a secondary scorer, as do Antti Miettinen, P-M Bouchard and Chuck Kobasew. Brent Burns, as mentioned above, has 14 goals as well to lead the defense for the Wild. He has a heavy point shot and has been good in both ends of the ice this season. Marek Zidlicky has been injured this year, and Cam Barker has been an utter disappointment with only five points in 41 games. Dependable blueliner Nick Shultz has 13 points and 85 blocked shots on the year. The goaltending has been superb for Minnesota as Niklas Backstrom has a .920 Sv % and a 2.43 GAA while backup Jose Theodore has a .910 Sv % and a 2.66 GAA.
As you might have guessed, the problem for the Wild is offense. They are one of the lowest scoring teams in the NHL, and the next few weeks will determine if they will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. This is the case with most of the teams in the West. If they are buyers, then they could use a top winger to aid in scoring goals or setting them up. Toronto's Kris Versteeg could be a target, as could Carolina's Jussi Jokinen, Ottawa's Milan Michalek or NJ's Brian Rolston. If they decide to sell and build for the future, Chuck Kobasew, Andrew Brunette and Antti Miettinen are all UFA's after this year and can provide forward depth. It is highly doubtful that the Wild will shop a defenseman, but Greg Zanon is an excellent defensive defenseman who would be a great compliment to a playoff team. Jose Theodore could be traded to provide goaltending depth, as prospect Anton Khubodin has played well in limited NHL ice time.
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I definitely chose a difficult division to start with, as this team is the only sure thing of the bunch. The cream of the crop in the west, the Vancouver Canucks have set the pace for the rest of their rivals. Having only lost ten times in regulation, The Canucks have both the best offense and best defense (tied with Nashville) in the west, with 169 goals scored and 122 goals against. Leading the way are the Sedin twins as always, ranking one and two for points on the team. Daniel leads the team with 66 points, having scored 27 goals and 39 assists. Brother Henrik has been an assist machine this year, registering 51 to go along with 11 goals on the season. Ryan Kesler has truly emerged as one of the best, if not the best two-way talent in the NHL, having scored 28 goals to lead the team along with 20 assists, a +19, 78 hits and 51 blocked shots. The depth continues with contributions from Alex Burrows, Mikael Samuelsson, Mason Raymond and Raffi Torres. Each of those four players has between 21 and 29 points on the season, aiding in the Canucks' offensive dominance. The defense has been just as good at scoring points, as Alex Edler has 31 points and Christian Ehrhoff has 30. Unfortunately for Vancouver, Edler was injured and is out for the remainder of the season. He may be able to return come playoff time, and he will be a welcome addition to the lineup. With Edler out, the Canucks will count on Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis to contribute more and lessen the blow. Manny Malhotra is justifying his three-year contract signed over the summer, as he has provided a good defensive presence up front. The goaltending of Vancouver is a tremendous story for this season, as both Roberto Luongo and rookie Cory Schneider have been outstanding. Luongo owns a 23-8-7 record with a .920 Sv % and a 2.27 GAA. Even more impressive is the stats line of Schneider, who is 9-2-2 with a .930 Sv % and a 2.25 GAA in 15 games overall.
With that in mind, Vancouver has two excellent trade chips to add pieces at the deadline. Cory Schneider deserves the starting job somewhere, and my guess is that New Jersey could make a bid for him to be their goaltender of the future after Brodeur retires. If not New Jersey, then I could see Washington or Tampa Bay making a play for him during the off-season as he will be a star in the NHL. Mikael Samuelsson is another trade piece that can intrigue many teams. He is a proven post-season veteran who can contribute to any team seeking scoring depth, and will fetch a good return for the Canucks with either a good roster player, prospect or draft pick. The Vancouver Canucks are positioned to make a deep playoff run carried by the Sedins, Kesler and Luongo.
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There it is, folks; my thoughts on the Northwest division. Vancouver is the only lock to make the playoffs, as the other four teams are currently on the outside looking in. Of course, anything can happen between now and the last game of the season. My prediction is that the Canucks and the Avalanche make the season, while Minnesota barely misses out and Calgary sinks to the bottom of the conference. Edmonton, not surprisingly, will get another lottery pick to continue building a young core. The next analysis will be on the surprisingly good Pacific Division. AW over and out.
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