Last season: 46-30-6, 98 points. 7th in Conference (4th in Div.) Lost in Conference Quarterfinal to SJS
Key gains: Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, Ethan Moreau
Key losses: Alexei Ponikarovsky, Michal Handzus, Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, Ryan Smyth
Coach: Terry Murray
Forward Lines: 1. Dustin Penner, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown
2. Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, Justin Williams
3. Ethan Moreau, Jarrett Stoll, Kyle Clifford
4. Scott Parse, Trevor Lewis, Brad Richardson
Defensive Pairs: 1. Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson
2. Willie Mitchell, Matt Greene
3. Rob Scuderi, Alec Martinez
Goalie Tandem: Jonathan Quick, Jonathan Bernier
Analysis: After coming in 4th place in their log-jammed division last year, the Kings had to face the eventual Conference finalists and division rival San Jose without Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. Since then, they have made a few subtractions but a few even greater additions. There first three lines are riddled with 20-40 goal talent. A healthy Kopitar could be severely dangerous between Captain Dustin Brown and underachieving Dustin Penner. Penner struggles when he arrived in Los Angeles late last season, but he could flourish now that he's used to his new talent-filled environment and return to his 40-goal form. The acquisitions of former Flyers Simon Gagne and Mike Richards should provide a huge offensive spark as well. Gagne, though often injured, is another 40-goal talent when healthy and on his game, while Richards, last season's captain in Philadelphia, brings leadership, grit and offensive ability to the table. Justin Williams and Jarrett Stoll also have 20-30 goal capabilities. Mix all that offensive talent with a perpetually maturing defense with stars Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson in front of stonewall netminder Jonathan Quick and you get a team that is very hard to beat.
2. SAN JOSE SHARKS
Last season: 48-25-9, 105 points. 2nd in Conference (1st in Div.) Lost in Conference Final to VAN
Key gains: Michal Handzus, Jim Vandermeer, Brent Burns, Martin Havlat, Colin White, James Sheppard
Key losses: Ben Eager, Jamal Mayers, Ian White, Kent Huskins, Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle, Dany Heatley, Kyle Wellwood
Coach: Todd McLellan
Forward Lines: 1.Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Martin Havlat
2. Ryane Clowe, Joe Pavelski, Michal Handzus
3. Torey Mitchell, James Sheppard, Benn Ferriero
4. Jamie McGinn, Andrew Murray, Andrew Desjardins
Defensive Pairs: 1. Dan Boyle, Brent Burns
2. Douglas Murray, Marc-Edouard Vlasic
3. Colin White, Jason Demers
Goalie Tandem: Antti Niemi, Antero Niittymaki
Analysis: The Sharks have the same highly competitive team they always do, which is impressive considering the turnover the team made during this offseason. With a speedier system desired, Dany Heatley was shipped off to Minnesota in exchange for speedy scorer Martin Havlat. He may not be a 50-goal threat like Heatley, but he is still a game-changer who could see his 30-goal capabilities go above and beyond that playing with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Dan Boyle will not have to hold the back end load by himself this year, as the Sharks brought in another All-Star caliber offensive defenseman in Brent Burns. In the bottom two pairs, the Sharks have a good mix of offensive ability with Demers and Vlasic and defensive prowess with Douglas Murray and former Devil Colin White. In fact, the Sharks may be a little overloaded at D, with newcomer Jim Vandermeer as a seventh defenseman, which is never a bad problem to have.
3. ANAHEIM DUCKS
Last season: 47-30-5, 99 points. 4th in Conference (2nd in Div.) Lost in Conference Quarterfinal to NSH
Key gains: Andrew Cogliano, Kurtis Foster
Key losses: Andy Sutton, Kyle Chipchura
Coach: Randy Carlyle
Forward Lines: 1. Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry
2. Jason Blake, Saku Koivu, Teemu Selanne
3. Matt Beleskey, Andrew Cogliano, Dan Sexton
4. Jean-Francois Jacques, Brandon McMillan, George Parros
Defensive Pairs: 1. Toni Lydman, Lubomir Visnovsky
2. Kurtis Foster, Francois Beauchemin
3. Cam Folwer, Luca Sbisa
Goalie Tandem: Jonas Hiller, Dan Ellis
Analysis: After Corey Perry's MVP finish propelled the Ducks from almost missing the playoffs to receiving home-ice advantage, the Ducks were dealt a 6-game defeat to the Nashville Predators in the first round. Since then, they have made little change. They replaced Andy Sutton on D with Kurtis Foster and also brought in talented but underachieving young center Andrew Cogliano. With the reigning MVP on the wing with Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan, it is hard to imagine having a more dangerous top line. Behind that, Teemu Selanne is back for another go after a 30-goal, 80-point season at the age of 40. Outside of shutdown guy Francois Beauchemin, the Ducks have mainly offensive defenseman, which will be their Achilles heel should Jonas Hiller have a recurrence of his vertigo problems that cut his All-Star season so short last year. One thing is sure with this team, they shouldn't have any trouble scoring goals.
4. DALLAS STARS
Last season: 42-29-11, 95 points. 9th in Conference (5th in Div.) Did not qualify for the playoffs.
Key gains: Vernon Fiddler, Radek Dvorak, Michael Ryder, Sheldon Souray, Jake Dowell
Key losses: Brad Richards, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jason Williams, Jeff Woywitka
Coach: Glen Gulutzan
Forward Lines: 1. Loui Eriksson, Mike Ribeiro, Michael Ryder
2. Jamie Benn, Jake Dowell, Brenden Morrow
3. Steve Ott, Vernon Fiddler, Adam Burish
4. Tom Wandell, Toby Petersen, Scott Glennie
Defensive Pairs: 1. Treor Daley, Stephan Robidas
2. Alex Goligoski, Sheldon Souray
3. Mark Fistric, Nicklas Grossman
Goalie Tandem: Kari Lehtonen, Andrew Raycroft
Analysis: After a loss on the last day of the season which cost them a playoff berth, the Stars decided to make some changes. After failing to retain stud center Brad Richards, they attempted to fill an offensive void by signing streaky wing Michael Ryder, fresh off a solid championship run with the Boston Bruins. They also took a chance in signing Sheldon Souray, once one of the most feared offensive defenseman in the league who has fallen to the bottom of the bin these last few seasons. Pair these acquisitions with a developing young group of forwards and defenseman, the Stars should be able to put together a solid season.
5. PHOENIX COYOTES
Last season: 43-26-13, 99 points. 6th in Conference (3rd in Div.) Lost in Conference Quarterfinal to DET
Key gains: Alex Bolduc, Boyd Gordon, Mike Smith, Raffi Torres, Curtis McElhinney, Kyle Chipchura, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Patrick O'Sullivan, Daymond Langkow
Key losses:Eric Belanger, Ed Jovanovski, Andrew Ebbett, Vernon Fiddler, Ilya Bryzgalov, Lee Stempniak
Coach: Dave Tippett
Forward Lines: 1. Ray Whitney, Daymond Langkow, Shane Doan
2. Raffi Torres, Martin Hanzal, Radim Vrbata
3. Lauri Korpkikosi, Kyle Turris, Taylor Pyatt
4. Mikael Boedker, Boyd Gordon, Patrick O'Sullivan
4. Mikael Boedker, Boyd Gordon, Patrick O'Sullivan
Defensive Pairs: 1. Keith Yandle, Adrian Aucoin
2. Derek Morris, Rostislav Klesla
3. Michal Rozsival, David Schlemko
Goalie Tandem: Mike Smith, Jason LaBarbera
Analysis: Expect this to be the end of the Coyotes surprising playoff streak. They have plenty of defensive talent, led by the impressive Keith Yandle, but the impressiveness ends there. The scoring-by-committee team did not add any major offensive pieces and even worse, they traded away the only reason that they have made the playoffs these last few seasons: Ilya Bryzgalov. Bryzgalov was shipped off to Philadelphia and replaced with Lightning goalie Mike Smith, who is streaky and nowhere near as talented as Bryzgalov. Bryz consistently puts together Vezina-caliber seasons, while Smith struggles to string together consecutive starts. Don't be surprised to see the Coyotes with a top 5 pick in the 2012 draft.
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