Two weeks remain, and still only five teams have clinched playoff spot, 4 in the East, 1 in the West. I only have an hour elft to write this post, so I'm not going to get as in depth as my last standings analysis, but will give a brief rundown of the playoff race and team news. I will consider teams that are more than 7 points out of 8th place to be out of the playoff race.
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
1. Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 45-20-10, 100 pts
Games Left: 7
Last 10: 5-1-4
Streak: Lost 2
Playoff Status: clinched
Still going strong, but not as strong as they had been. Last night they were booed off the ice by the Philly fans after losing a close 2-1 game to Boston. Need a spark for a playoff boost.
2. Washington Capitals
Record: 44-22-10, 98 pts
Games Left: 6
Last 10: 8-2-0
Streak: Won 1
Playoff Status: clinched
On a serious hot streak. Alex Ovechkin and Jason Arnott close to returning, and Mike Green is recovering as well. Could be very dangerous in the playoffs.
3. Boston Bruins
Record: 42-23-10, 94 pts
Games Left: 7
Last 10: 4-4-2
Streak: Won 1
Playoff Status: clinched
Starting to play better after a recent slide. Need to keep up strong play and get hot going into playoffs.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 45-23-8, 98 pts
Games Left: 6
Last 10: 8-2-0
Streak: Won 4
Playoff Status: clinched
Continue to play surprisingly well in the absence of Sid and Geno. Crosby is practicing again, but still no timetable for return. Extremely hot right now, but 4 straight wins have all been in shootouts. Might not be so dangerous in playoffs, where OT is continuous.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 40-24-11, 91 pts
Games Left: 7
Last 10: 3-3-4
Streak: Won 1
Playoff Status: in the hunt, in good shape
Thanks to their hot start, the Lightning are still in 5th despite recent struggles. Need to seriously turn their game around soon or will face an early exit in the postseason. The turnaround begins with Steven Stamkos, who is in the middle of his worst dry spell of the season, and just dropped to second in the league in goals for the first time since Sidney Crosby was still in the lineup for Pittsburgh. He is a game-changer. If he is scoring, the Lightning are winning. They are 11 points ahead of 9th place Carolina.
6. Montreal Canadiens
Record: 40-29-7, 87 pts
Games Left: 6
Last 10: 4-6-0
Streak: Lost 3
Playoff status: in the hunt, in good shape
After enduring injury struggles all season, the Canadiens continued to shock the hockey world by winning games. But after a crushing 7-0 defeat to the Bruins, the Canadiens seem to have lost their game. They have plenty of talent and the tools to make a run, but they need to improve their play drastically with the playoffs so close. They are 7 points ahead of 9th place Carolina.
7. New York Rangers
Record: 41-30-5, 87 pts
Games Left: 6
Last 10: 8-1-1
Streak: Won 1
Playoff Status: in the hunt, in good shape
Riding a recent hot streak, the Rangers have put some more distance between themselves and Carolina. With strong defensive play and the brick wall that is King Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers are poised to rocket further up the standings. They are also 7 points ahead of Carolina.
8. Buffalo Sabres
Record: 39-28-9, 85 pts
Games Left: 7
Last 10: 6-3-1
Streak: Won 3
Playoff Status: in the hunt, in good shape
If the Sabres keep playing strong hockey, the will have the eighth position locked up. They have a 5 point lead on Carolina with 7 games left apiece, so they should be in if they don't stumble
9. Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 35-30-10, 80 pts
Games Left: 7
Last 10: 4-5-1
Streak: Lost 1
Playoff Status: in the hunt, not looking good
With mediocre play of late coupled with the recent Sabres and Rangers surges, the Canes playoff chances are getting slimmer. They have 7 games left and are 5 points out of the playoffs.
10. Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 34-32-10, 78 pts
Games Left: 6
Last 10: 5-4-1
Streak: Lost 1
Had a surprising run recently, but have since cooled off and with 6 games left and a 7 point deficit, they are all but eliminated.
The rest of the East:
11. Atlanta Thrashers. 9 points out with 7 games left. Nearly insurmountable.
12. New Jersey Devils. 12 points out with 7 games remaining. Basically impossible.
13. New York Islanders. 15 points out with 6 games remaining. Mathematically impossible.
14. Florida Panthers. 16 points out with 6 games remaining. Mathematically impossible.
15. Ottawa Senators. 17 points out with 6 games remaining. Mathematically impossible.
West coming soon.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Better Late Than Never
I haven't posted in a week, and with the season winding down and my latest analyses of the standings so recent, I need something to talk about. Somehow I managed to refrain from this subject when it happened, but I just can't stay silent anymore. Chara. Pacioretty. I am doing a project on the Montreal vs. Boston coverage of this event, and after reading so much aggravating discussion of the hit, I am severley frustrated.
Generally, I try my absolute best to stay impartial, and I am trying to approach this the same way. You may say being a Bruins fan makes me unfit to make an ubiased comment on this event, and may argue with anything I say for that reason. But I consider myself very open to consider all the angles no matter who the players or teams are that I am talking about. I agreed with suspensions to Bruins this years, Brad Marchand and Danile Paille. I can step aside and realize a bad hit, or a good hit, when I see one, no matter who the culprit or the victim. I have taken the brunt of some flack for my opinions on this hit from a lot of my friends. But I sincerely stand by my opinion and hope that my readers can take a minute to actually consider the angles of what I am saying, instead of immediately judging my words based on your existing position.
I believe this was a very unfortunate hit. But I do not consider this a dirty hit on the part of Chara. Both players carry some of the responsibility for this event, but judging by the existing rules, Chara's hit was legal. Everyone is calling for Chara's head, but two heads for one does not help Pacioretty. Pacioretty claimed he was disgusted that the league took no action, citing the fact that the players need to take notice and not do this.
Meanwhile, the league HAS taken notice and has taken appropriate action, discussing the dimensional changes that need to be made to NHL arenas in order to eliminate the dangers of the stanchion between the benches. Had the hit taken place anywhere else on the ice, Pacioretty is fine. One can argue that this is no excuse: Chara is a veteran and should use better judgment at that area of the ice. At that speed, however, it's tough to be so aware of your surroundings.
Speaking of awareness, many believe this was Chara's retaliation for a previous incident between the two players. Was Chara annoyed with Pacioretty still? Probably, but I doubt so much to the point that he would intentionally try to injure a player. Aside from some fights in the moment, Chara is not a dirty player. If he wants to get someone back, he will do it with a big, clean hit.
And speaking of intention, some argue that Chara used his hand to guide Pacioretty's head into the stanchion, and he showed no remorse because he didn't even look back to see if he was okay. To this I say the following:
In terms of the hand, no foul on Chara. He was pushing off on Pacioretty for some leverage, pretty much everyone does that a bit. You can say no that's not always the case, but when you're riding someone along the boards and intend to keep going without losing speed, you're going to push off. Leaning into a guy without your hand in that situation costs you balance, and therefore speed. Then you might say, yeah, but players pushing off don't push off on someone's head. To this, I give two numbers. 6'9" and 6'2". Chara has seven inches on Pacioretty, natrually, if he extends his arm, it's going to be at level with Pacioretty's head. I see no intent in this extension. Chara wasn't even looking at Pacioretty, and probably had no idea where exactly his arm was extending into. Likewise, Chara didn't look back to see the damage of his hit because he didn't realize what had happened; he was not looking.
I also mentioned that both players carry some responsibility. Some may wonder how I could think this is Pacioretty's fault, but watch the replay. on the slow motion, run it a few times over and watch closely. Right before contact, Pacioretty jumps. He tries to squeeze by between Chara and the boards and avoid the hit. Now off balance, his upperbody is easily pushed back by Chara, and over the boards, into the stanchion. Had Pacioretty leaned into the hit, he would still be in the lineup.
Additionally, I'd like to point out that to the Canadiens fans who think Bruins fans are defending Chara because of the Savard and Bergeron incidents that we did not throw beers at Brent Johnson or Antero Niittymaki on the bench. But maybe we're just not passionate enough.
My opinion on the legality aside, this was a very unfortunate event and I wish Max Pacioretty a speedy and successful recovery.
Generally, I try my absolute best to stay impartial, and I am trying to approach this the same way. You may say being a Bruins fan makes me unfit to make an ubiased comment on this event, and may argue with anything I say for that reason. But I consider myself very open to consider all the angles no matter who the players or teams are that I am talking about. I agreed with suspensions to Bruins this years, Brad Marchand and Danile Paille. I can step aside and realize a bad hit, or a good hit, when I see one, no matter who the culprit or the victim. I have taken the brunt of some flack for my opinions on this hit from a lot of my friends. But I sincerely stand by my opinion and hope that my readers can take a minute to actually consider the angles of what I am saying, instead of immediately judging my words based on your existing position.
I believe this was a very unfortunate hit. But I do not consider this a dirty hit on the part of Chara. Both players carry some of the responsibility for this event, but judging by the existing rules, Chara's hit was legal. Everyone is calling for Chara's head, but two heads for one does not help Pacioretty. Pacioretty claimed he was disgusted that the league took no action, citing the fact that the players need to take notice and not do this.
Meanwhile, the league HAS taken notice and has taken appropriate action, discussing the dimensional changes that need to be made to NHL arenas in order to eliminate the dangers of the stanchion between the benches. Had the hit taken place anywhere else on the ice, Pacioretty is fine. One can argue that this is no excuse: Chara is a veteran and should use better judgment at that area of the ice. At that speed, however, it's tough to be so aware of your surroundings.
Speaking of awareness, many believe this was Chara's retaliation for a previous incident between the two players. Was Chara annoyed with Pacioretty still? Probably, but I doubt so much to the point that he would intentionally try to injure a player. Aside from some fights in the moment, Chara is not a dirty player. If he wants to get someone back, he will do it with a big, clean hit.
And speaking of intention, some argue that Chara used his hand to guide Pacioretty's head into the stanchion, and he showed no remorse because he didn't even look back to see if he was okay. To this I say the following:
In terms of the hand, no foul on Chara. He was pushing off on Pacioretty for some leverage, pretty much everyone does that a bit. You can say no that's not always the case, but when you're riding someone along the boards and intend to keep going without losing speed, you're going to push off. Leaning into a guy without your hand in that situation costs you balance, and therefore speed. Then you might say, yeah, but players pushing off don't push off on someone's head. To this, I give two numbers. 6'9" and 6'2". Chara has seven inches on Pacioretty, natrually, if he extends his arm, it's going to be at level with Pacioretty's head. I see no intent in this extension. Chara wasn't even looking at Pacioretty, and probably had no idea where exactly his arm was extending into. Likewise, Chara didn't look back to see the damage of his hit because he didn't realize what had happened; he was not looking.
I also mentioned that both players carry some responsibility. Some may wonder how I could think this is Pacioretty's fault, but watch the replay. on the slow motion, run it a few times over and watch closely. Right before contact, Pacioretty jumps. He tries to squeeze by between Chara and the boards and avoid the hit. Now off balance, his upperbody is easily pushed back by Chara, and over the boards, into the stanchion. Had Pacioretty leaned into the hit, he would still be in the lineup.
Additionally, I'd like to point out that to the Canadiens fans who think Bruins fans are defending Chara because of the Savard and Bergeron incidents that we did not throw beers at Brent Johnson or Antero Niittymaki on the bench. But maybe we're just not passionate enough.
My opinion on the legality aside, this was a very unfortunate event and I wish Max Pacioretty a speedy and successful recovery.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Wild West
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
This Conference ain't big enough for the 12 of us. But seriously....
There are 15 teams in each Conference, and of these, only 8 make the playoffs. There are 12 teams that could make the playoffs, same as the East. The difference is how incredibly close the race is here; 3rd place and 11th place or separated by only 9 points. For a while now, this has been a Conference where a team could be in 12th place one night, and then in 4th a night later. Any team not based out of Detroit or Vancouver pretty much needs to play their best hockey of the year from now till season's end to guarantee a playoff berth, and it's quite possible that all 5 teams in the Pacific Division could make the playoffs. Teams will need to play especially well against this division to try to make room for themselves in the postseason.When virtually every game from now until the playoffs is a game-in-hand between two clubs fighting for a playoff spot, you can expect a crazy finish to this season.
1. Vancouver Canucks (Points: 99, Games Left: 12, Streak: Won 5, Record in Last 10 Games: 7-3-0)
playoffs: safe
The Canucks are a not only the clear winners of their division, but they are also the clear leaders of the Conference, and likely the League. They are virtually unstoppable this season, and continue to impress despite a massive hole in their blue line. With full health, the Canucks boast 3 of the league's leading scorers, one of the league's strongest defenses, an elite goaltender, and an outstanding young back-up. The Canucks have all the tools to engineer a Stanley Cup victory, but plenty of number one team's have failed to take home the sports world's greatest chalice. The Canucks have been consistent all year long and show no signs of slowing down. They are pretty much locks for the President's Trophy this year. They are equally deadly at home and on the road, and have 6 games left for each.
2. Detroit Red Wings (90, 13, Won 2, 4-4-2)
playoffs: safe
The Red Wings are one of only two teams in their Conference who I can safely say will make the playoffs, and with 8 points separating them and the Blackhawks, they are also one of only two teams in the league who I can safely say will win their Division (barring a monumental collapse, of course). Year in and year out the Red Wings are impressive, and now that their lineup has returned to health, they are as dangerous as ever. They have plenty of playoff experience and are always a threat to take home the Cup. They have 8 home games and 5 road games still to play. They are good anywhere, but are particularly outstanding on the road.
3. San Jose Sharks (86, 13, NR Loss, 7-1-2)
playoffs: in the hunt
As will be stated several times in this post, the Pacific Divsion is ridiculously close. Pacific teams hold the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th seeds at the moment, and Anaheim is only 2 points out of 8th. Every one of these teams could make the playoffs. Or potentially only 2. Each of these teams needs to play their best hockey of the season from now until the final whistle, as points are sorely needed and the Pacific Division is jam-packed with games-in-hand from now until mid-April. Not even the Sharks are safe. They currently hold the top spot in the division thanks to a recent surge, and if they keep up their strong play, they will keep their spot. But with so many teams breathing down each other's necks, nobody is truly safe until April 11. The Sharks have one of the biggest stockpiles of fearsome scorers in the league, with a top line of Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, and Dany Heatley, as well as strong secondary scorers Joe Pavelski, Ryane Clowe, Devin Setoguchi, and rookie standout Logan Couture. With last year's Cup winner Antti Niemi between the pipes, the Nabakov era is over in San Jose, as they hope to end a decade of playoff disappointment. They have 7 remaining home games and 6 games left away from the Shark Tank. Amazingly, their last 8 games are against Pacific Division team, as well as 9 of these last 13 games. They play each of their divisional rivals twice, plus a third game against Phoenix. If the Sharks go on a tear for the rest of the season, they could put some serious distance between them and their divisonal competition.
Key games: 3/14 @ Chicago, 3/15 @ Dallas, 3/17 vs Minnesota, 3/23 vs Calgary, 3/24 @ Los Angeles, 3/26 @ Phoenix, 3/31 vs Dallas, 4/2 vs Anaheim, 4/4 vs Los Angeles, 4/6 @ Anaheim, 4/8 @ Phoenix, 4/9 vs Phoenix
4. Los Angeles Kings (83, 13, Won 3, 7-2-1)
playoffs: in the hunt
With the trade deadline acquisition of Dustin Penner powering an already potent offense, the Kings have moved into 4th place and look to be in fine shape. Or they would, if not for the 8 teams biting at their tails. In most seasons, a team in fourth this late in the seasons would be very close to clicnhing a playoff berth. But this year, the Western Conference is packed like sardines and the smallest slip could make or break any team's season. If the Kings continue their current tear, they should hold their ground in the standings and may go deep in the playoffs. They have 6 20-goal forwards in Penner, Dustin Brown, Justin Williams, Ryan Smyth, Jarret Stoll, and Anze Kopitar, a solid defense anchored by young blueliners Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson as well as former Stanley Cup-winning Penguin Rob Scuderi, and an outstanding goaltender in Jonathan Quick. A better home team, the Kings play 8 of their final 13 games at the Staples Center, and face divisional rivals 7 more times, including each of their last five games. These last 5 games will be as important to the entire rest of the division as it will be to the Kings. They will face the Ducks 3 more times and the Sharks 2 more times.
Key games: 3/15 @ Nashville, 3/19 vs Anaheim, 3/21 vs Calgary, 3/24 vs San Jose, 3/31 @ Vancouver, 4/2 vs Dallas, 4/4 @ San Jose, 4/6 vs Phoenix, 4/8 @ Anaheim, 4/9 vs Anaheim
5. Phoenix Coyotes (83, 12, Won 2, 4-4-2)
playoffs: in the hunt
Like a lot of teams in the Western race, the Coyotoes recently put together an impressive streak. But they have been average since then and if not for their 8-game winning streak, would be a lot further down the standings. They need something to spark their team. Maybe that lies in the coach; Dave Tippett was last year's coach of the year. Hopefully he can inspire some fire in the Coyotes, or they'll find themselves watching games instead of playing them come April. 7 of their remaining 12 games are at home, including a 6-game home-stand. 5 of their last 6 games are against fellow closely-packed Pacific Division teams, including 3 against current division leader San Jose. That final stretch is going to be crucial for not for every team in that division.
Key games: 3/15 @ Calgary, 3/18 @ Vancouver, 3/20 vs Chicago, 3/24 vs Columbus, 3/26 vs San Jose, 3/29 vs Dallas, 4/6 @ Los Angeles, 4/8 vs San Jose, 4/9 @ San Jose
6. Dallas Stars (82, 13, Lost 1, 6-2-2)
playoffs: in the hunt
After a few down seasons, the Stars found themselves leading their division earlier this season. Brad Richards went down with an injury and the Stars faded fast. Now they seem to have righted the ship and recently moved from a sub-8 position to 4th place, only to drop down to 6th when they were leapfrogged in a loss to the Kings. The best thing the Stars can do is to ignore the standings and keep playing their game. With the proximity of temas in the Conference, positions in the standings are likely to swap several times a night, and the Stars seem to have found their game recently. If they can keep this going, they should have a playoff berth, but the seed could be anywhere from 3rd to 8th. They have 6 remaining home games, and 7 remaining games against divisional opponents, including a road trip that hits each divisional rival city once. This could be a huge factor in who makes the playoffs, and what seeds they get, as each of these five teams jostles for not only a playoff spot, but the division title.
Key games: 3/15 vs San Jose, 3/17 vs Chicago, 3/10 vs Philadelphia, 3/23 vs Anaheim, 3/26 @ Nashville, 3/29 @ Phoenix, 3/31 @ San Jose, 4/2 @ Los Angeles, 4/3 @ Anaheim, 4/5 vs Columbus, 4/10 @ Minnesota
7. Chicago Blackhawks (82, 13, NR Loss, 7-1-2)
playoffs: in the hunt
After a strong run that included and 8-game winning streak and a rise to 4th place, the Blackhawks find themselves back in 7th and only 2 points ahead of 9th place less than a week later. Just goes to show how tight this playoff race is. The Blackhawks have turned it on at the right time, led by young Captain Jonathan Toews. Toews is the hottest player in the league right now; he has 12 goals and 31 points in his last 20 games, and yesterday tied his career high of 69 points with 13 games to go in the season. Corey Crawford has been a surprise in net this year, but the rookie has been worked heavily lately, which could work against the Hawks should they make the playoffs, but that didn't seem to phase Antti Niemi much last year. If the Hawks continue their recent surge, they could have home-ice advatadge in the first round. 6 of their remaining 13 games are at home in front of fans hungry for a Cup repeat. They have 3 games reamining against division-leading rival Detroit.
Key games: 3/14 vs San Jose, 3/17 @ Dallas, 3/20 @ Phoenix, 3/26 vs Anaheim, 3/28 @ Detroit, 3/29 @ Boston, 4/1 @ Columbus, 4/3 vs Tampa Bay, 4/5 @ Montreal, 4/8 @ Detroit, 4/10 vs Detroit
8. Calgary Flames (81, 11, Lost 2, 5-4-1)
playoffs: in the hunt
The Flames crawled out from the depths of the Western Conference with an impressive streak over the past few months, but have cooled off a bit recently and are only in 8th place by 1 point. They will need to keep the fire of the last two months alive if they want to keep their newfound playoff spot. They have strong defense and goaltending as well as a decent offense and have all the tools they need to win games. As long as they don't burn out from their long climb into the top 8, they should make the playoffs, where they could be very dangeous. They still have 5 home games and 6 road games to play. The biggest thing working against them now is that they only have 11 games left in a Conference where you need all the points you can get.
Key games: 3/15 vs Phoenix, 3/20 @ Anaheim, 3/21 @ Los Angeles, 3/23 @ San Jose, 3/30 vs Anaheim, 4/9 vs Vancouver
9. Nashville Predators (80, 13, Won 2, 4-4-2)
playoffs: in the hunt
After slipping a bit, the Predators are starting to string a few wins together and currently sit 1 point out of 8th place. Barry Trotz is a great coach, and always manages to get a solid seasonal performance out of a mediocre roster. There is definitely some talent on the Predators, but there are no huge superstar names that jump out at you, and the Predators will need to keep their team effort strong if they are to make the playoffs. They look to be in good shape, but as is the case with every team it seems right now, they will need to play their best hockey of they year in this final stretch. One huge advantadge lays in favor of the Predators for this final stretch: they are a better home team, and 10 of their remaining 13 games are in Nashville, and the only three road games are against the hot-but-beatable Sabres, the pitiful Avalanche, and the fading Blues. With this good of a schedule remaining, the Predators may have a leg up on their large pack of competition. If they do make the playoffs, don't expect them to go very far.
Key games: 3/15 vs Los Angeles, 3/17 vs Boston, 3/19 vs Detroit, 3/20 @ Buffalo, 3/24 vs Anaheim, 3/26 vs Dallas, 3/29 vs Vancouver, 3/2 vs Detroit, 3/8 vs Columbus
10. Anaheim Ducks (79, 13, Lost 1, 5-4-1)
playoffs: in the hunt
After strong consistent play for a while, the Ducks have cooled off slightly, but are still in good shape with only a 2-point margin between them and the 8th spot. They are currently the only Pacific Division team not in a playoff spot, but just one win would tie them with Clagary for 8th place. The looming question mark that remains is still Jonas Hiller. If he can get healthy, the Ducks have a much better shot at putting together a goodenough run to claim a playoff berth, and perhaps even go deep into the postseason. But with a tandem of notoriously inconsistent goaltenders in Ray Emery and Dan Ellis as well as a blue line that is more skilled offensively than defensively, the Ducks will need to focus on playing good team defense and back-checking if they are to keep winning games. They are a better home team and have 6 of 13 games remaining in Anaheim. 7 remaining games are against divisional opponents: 3 against the Kings, and two apiece against the Sharks and Stars. When all five teams in your division are in contention, this frequency of divisional matchup could make or break the Ducks. If they win enough of these games, they could find themselves not only making the playoffs, but taken home-ice advantadge by stealing the 3rd seed as the Pacific Division champs.
Key games: 3/19 @ Los Angeles, 3/20 vs Calgary, 3/23 @ Dallas, 3/24 @ Nashville, 3/26 @ Chicago, 3/30 @ Calgary, 4/2 @ San Jose, 4/3 vs Dallas, 4/6 vs San Jose, 4/8 vs Los Angeles, 4/9 @ Los Angeles
11. Minnesota Wild (77, 13, Lost 2, 4-5-1)
playoffs: in the hunt
Though in 11th, the Wild are only 4 points out of 8th place right now. As with any team from their spot all the way up to 3rd place, they have a great shot at making the playoffs, but walk, or rather skate, a razor's edge from now until all 1230 games are in the books. They have struggled of late, and need to turn that around immediately if they want to stay alive. There are far too many teams in contention to have even the tiniest slip this late in the game, and the Wild may have already dug themselves into too deep of a hole with their recent skid. They are not a strong scoring team, yet have one of the best power plays in the league. Generally a defensively-minded team, they are strong on the back end and have a solid goaltender in Niklas Backstron. If they can be more dangerous when playing even strength, they could be a formidable opponent for any team. But if they keep losing games, they will miss out on the playoffs. They have 7 games left at the Xcel energy Center and 6 games elsewhere. With 2 games apiece remaining against Edmonton and St. Louis as well as 2 games against Vancouver, the Wild have a very up and down schedule remaining.
Key games: 3/14 @ Vancouver, 3/17 @ San Jose, 3/19 vs Columbus, 3/20 vs Montreal, 3/22 vs Toronto, 4/2 vs Tampa Bay, 4/3 @ Detroit, 4/7 @ Vancouver, 4/10 vs Dallas
12. Columbus Blue Jackets (73, 14, Won 1, 3-4-3)
playoffs: in the hunt, likely won't make it
The Blue Jackets made a great run over the past few months, but try as they might, they just couldn't get much ground on the huge pack of teams vying for a playoff berth. Now they appear burnt out, and they are dropping too many games to keep their playoff dreams alive. If they win out most of their remaining games, they still have a chance, but the odds are not very good. They made some good deadline pickups this season, and if they add one more steady defender and some scoring touch to take the load off of Rick Nash, they should have a good enough team to finally make the playoffs next year. They have 8 home games and 6 road games remaining.
Key games: 3/15 vs Boston, 3/17 vs Detroit, 3/19 @ Minnesota, 3/20 vs New Jersey, 3/24 @ Phoenix, 3/27 vs Vancouver, 3/31 @ Washington, 4/1 vs Chicago, 4/5 @ Dallas, 4/8 @ Nashville, 4/9 vs Buffalo
13. St. Louis Blues (71, 13, Lost 1, 4-6-0)
playoffs: out
A 10-point margin between the Blues and 8th place is not insurmountable, but with only 11 games remaining, poor play of late, and an historic logjam in their Conference (of which only 2 remaining opponents are not a part), I think it's safe to say the Blues will not make the playoffs this year. Still, stranger things have happened. They have a promising organization, that looked like a pretty good team at the start of the year. Unfortunately, injuries took their toll and performance dropped. The lack of some key players exposed a serious hole in secondary scoring as well as team defense. There are many key pieces in place for next season, and Chris Stewart looks to emerge as an elite scoring power forward. However, the loss of minute-eating defensemen Eric Brewer and Erik Johnson puts a straing on their remaining D and goaltending. They should look to add some strong defensmen and a little more scoring punch up front in the off-season. If their lackluster performance continues through their remaining 11 games, they will end up with a top 5 draft pick. If they keep this pick, Colorado will get their 1st-rounder next year. If they don't, Colorado will get 2 top 5 picks this year. A better home team, the Blues have 5 left in St. Louis, and 6 left on the road.
14. Colorado Avalanche (60, 14, Lost 4, 1-8-1)
playoffs: out
The Avalanche are in the midst of one of the most impressively horrible streaks in recent memory. They are 2-18-2 in their last 22 games, and have not won more than one game in a row since their 2 stariaght victories on January 14 and 18. They have enough youthful talent to surprise next season, much like they did last year. But as of now, a season which started with lots of promise has turned into an extreme failure in the past few months. The Avalanche showed they are not afraid to shake up the organization when they traded Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk to the Blues, and will likely to continue with this radical rebuilding route in the offseason. But now, they at least have a top 5 draft choice, potentially a #1, because although Ottawa and Edmonton are still behind them at the moment, their plummeting performance and barely discernable vital signs indicate a definite possibility of finishing dead last this season.
15. Edmonton Oilers (55, 12, Lost 1, 4-5-1)
playoffs: out
The Edmonton Oilers find themselves in familiar territory as this season draws to a close. They will have a top 5 draft pick, potentially a 2nd straight #1. They have many promising young faces coming into the organization and are ready for the rebuilding to continue in the offseason. They have been showing some signs of life lately and may jump out of last place in the league.
This Conference ain't big enough for the 12 of us. But seriously....
There are 15 teams in each Conference, and of these, only 8 make the playoffs. There are 12 teams that could make the playoffs, same as the East. The difference is how incredibly close the race is here; 3rd place and 11th place or separated by only 9 points. For a while now, this has been a Conference where a team could be in 12th place one night, and then in 4th a night later. Any team not based out of Detroit or Vancouver pretty much needs to play their best hockey of the year from now till season's end to guarantee a playoff berth, and it's quite possible that all 5 teams in the Pacific Division could make the playoffs. Teams will need to play especially well against this division to try to make room for themselves in the postseason.When virtually every game from now until the playoffs is a game-in-hand between two clubs fighting for a playoff spot, you can expect a crazy finish to this season.
1. Vancouver Canucks (Points: 99, Games Left: 12, Streak: Won 5, Record in Last 10 Games: 7-3-0)
playoffs: safe
The Canucks are a not only the clear winners of their division, but they are also the clear leaders of the Conference, and likely the League. They are virtually unstoppable this season, and continue to impress despite a massive hole in their blue line. With full health, the Canucks boast 3 of the league's leading scorers, one of the league's strongest defenses, an elite goaltender, and an outstanding young back-up. The Canucks have all the tools to engineer a Stanley Cup victory, but plenty of number one team's have failed to take home the sports world's greatest chalice. The Canucks have been consistent all year long and show no signs of slowing down. They are pretty much locks for the President's Trophy this year. They are equally deadly at home and on the road, and have 6 games left for each.
2. Detroit Red Wings (90, 13, Won 2, 4-4-2)
playoffs: safe
The Red Wings are one of only two teams in their Conference who I can safely say will make the playoffs, and with 8 points separating them and the Blackhawks, they are also one of only two teams in the league who I can safely say will win their Division (barring a monumental collapse, of course). Year in and year out the Red Wings are impressive, and now that their lineup has returned to health, they are as dangerous as ever. They have plenty of playoff experience and are always a threat to take home the Cup. They have 8 home games and 5 road games still to play. They are good anywhere, but are particularly outstanding on the road.
3. San Jose Sharks (86, 13, NR Loss, 7-1-2)
playoffs: in the hunt
As will be stated several times in this post, the Pacific Divsion is ridiculously close. Pacific teams hold the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th seeds at the moment, and Anaheim is only 2 points out of 8th. Every one of these teams could make the playoffs. Or potentially only 2. Each of these teams needs to play their best hockey of the season from now until the final whistle, as points are sorely needed and the Pacific Division is jam-packed with games-in-hand from now until mid-April. Not even the Sharks are safe. They currently hold the top spot in the division thanks to a recent surge, and if they keep up their strong play, they will keep their spot. But with so many teams breathing down each other's necks, nobody is truly safe until April 11. The Sharks have one of the biggest stockpiles of fearsome scorers in the league, with a top line of Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, and Dany Heatley, as well as strong secondary scorers Joe Pavelski, Ryane Clowe, Devin Setoguchi, and rookie standout Logan Couture. With last year's Cup winner Antti Niemi between the pipes, the Nabakov era is over in San Jose, as they hope to end a decade of playoff disappointment. They have 7 remaining home games and 6 games left away from the Shark Tank. Amazingly, their last 8 games are against Pacific Division team, as well as 9 of these last 13 games. They play each of their divisional rivals twice, plus a third game against Phoenix. If the Sharks go on a tear for the rest of the season, they could put some serious distance between them and their divisonal competition.
Key games: 3/14 @ Chicago, 3/15 @ Dallas, 3/17 vs Minnesota, 3/23 vs Calgary, 3/24 @ Los Angeles, 3/26 @ Phoenix, 3/31 vs Dallas, 4/2 vs Anaheim, 4/4 vs Los Angeles, 4/6 @ Anaheim, 4/8 @ Phoenix, 4/9 vs Phoenix
4. Los Angeles Kings (83, 13, Won 3, 7-2-1)
playoffs: in the hunt
With the trade deadline acquisition of Dustin Penner powering an already potent offense, the Kings have moved into 4th place and look to be in fine shape. Or they would, if not for the 8 teams biting at their tails. In most seasons, a team in fourth this late in the seasons would be very close to clicnhing a playoff berth. But this year, the Western Conference is packed like sardines and the smallest slip could make or break any team's season. If the Kings continue their current tear, they should hold their ground in the standings and may go deep in the playoffs. They have 6 20-goal forwards in Penner, Dustin Brown, Justin Williams, Ryan Smyth, Jarret Stoll, and Anze Kopitar, a solid defense anchored by young blueliners Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson as well as former Stanley Cup-winning Penguin Rob Scuderi, and an outstanding goaltender in Jonathan Quick. A better home team, the Kings play 8 of their final 13 games at the Staples Center, and face divisional rivals 7 more times, including each of their last five games. These last 5 games will be as important to the entire rest of the division as it will be to the Kings. They will face the Ducks 3 more times and the Sharks 2 more times.
Key games: 3/15 @ Nashville, 3/19 vs Anaheim, 3/21 vs Calgary, 3/24 vs San Jose, 3/31 @ Vancouver, 4/2 vs Dallas, 4/4 @ San Jose, 4/6 vs Phoenix, 4/8 @ Anaheim, 4/9 vs Anaheim
5. Phoenix Coyotes (83, 12, Won 2, 4-4-2)
playoffs: in the hunt
Like a lot of teams in the Western race, the Coyotoes recently put together an impressive streak. But they have been average since then and if not for their 8-game winning streak, would be a lot further down the standings. They need something to spark their team. Maybe that lies in the coach; Dave Tippett was last year's coach of the year. Hopefully he can inspire some fire in the Coyotes, or they'll find themselves watching games instead of playing them come April. 7 of their remaining 12 games are at home, including a 6-game home-stand. 5 of their last 6 games are against fellow closely-packed Pacific Division teams, including 3 against current division leader San Jose. That final stretch is going to be crucial for not for every team in that division.
Key games: 3/15 @ Calgary, 3/18 @ Vancouver, 3/20 vs Chicago, 3/24 vs Columbus, 3/26 vs San Jose, 3/29 vs Dallas, 4/6 @ Los Angeles, 4/8 vs San Jose, 4/9 @ San Jose
6. Dallas Stars (82, 13, Lost 1, 6-2-2)
playoffs: in the hunt
After a few down seasons, the Stars found themselves leading their division earlier this season. Brad Richards went down with an injury and the Stars faded fast. Now they seem to have righted the ship and recently moved from a sub-8 position to 4th place, only to drop down to 6th when they were leapfrogged in a loss to the Kings. The best thing the Stars can do is to ignore the standings and keep playing their game. With the proximity of temas in the Conference, positions in the standings are likely to swap several times a night, and the Stars seem to have found their game recently. If they can keep this going, they should have a playoff berth, but the seed could be anywhere from 3rd to 8th. They have 6 remaining home games, and 7 remaining games against divisional opponents, including a road trip that hits each divisional rival city once. This could be a huge factor in who makes the playoffs, and what seeds they get, as each of these five teams jostles for not only a playoff spot, but the division title.
Key games: 3/15 vs San Jose, 3/17 vs Chicago, 3/10 vs Philadelphia, 3/23 vs Anaheim, 3/26 @ Nashville, 3/29 @ Phoenix, 3/31 @ San Jose, 4/2 @ Los Angeles, 4/3 @ Anaheim, 4/5 vs Columbus, 4/10 @ Minnesota
7. Chicago Blackhawks (82, 13, NR Loss, 7-1-2)
playoffs: in the hunt
After a strong run that included and 8-game winning streak and a rise to 4th place, the Blackhawks find themselves back in 7th and only 2 points ahead of 9th place less than a week later. Just goes to show how tight this playoff race is. The Blackhawks have turned it on at the right time, led by young Captain Jonathan Toews. Toews is the hottest player in the league right now; he has 12 goals and 31 points in his last 20 games, and yesterday tied his career high of 69 points with 13 games to go in the season. Corey Crawford has been a surprise in net this year, but the rookie has been worked heavily lately, which could work against the Hawks should they make the playoffs, but that didn't seem to phase Antti Niemi much last year. If the Hawks continue their recent surge, they could have home-ice advatadge in the first round. 6 of their remaining 13 games are at home in front of fans hungry for a Cup repeat. They have 3 games reamining against division-leading rival Detroit.
Key games: 3/14 vs San Jose, 3/17 @ Dallas, 3/20 @ Phoenix, 3/26 vs Anaheim, 3/28 @ Detroit, 3/29 @ Boston, 4/1 @ Columbus, 4/3 vs Tampa Bay, 4/5 @ Montreal, 4/8 @ Detroit, 4/10 vs Detroit
8. Calgary Flames (81, 11, Lost 2, 5-4-1)
playoffs: in the hunt
The Flames crawled out from the depths of the Western Conference with an impressive streak over the past few months, but have cooled off a bit recently and are only in 8th place by 1 point. They will need to keep the fire of the last two months alive if they want to keep their newfound playoff spot. They have strong defense and goaltending as well as a decent offense and have all the tools they need to win games. As long as they don't burn out from their long climb into the top 8, they should make the playoffs, where they could be very dangeous. They still have 5 home games and 6 road games to play. The biggest thing working against them now is that they only have 11 games left in a Conference where you need all the points you can get.
Key games: 3/15 vs Phoenix, 3/20 @ Anaheim, 3/21 @ Los Angeles, 3/23 @ San Jose, 3/30 vs Anaheim, 4/9 vs Vancouver
9. Nashville Predators (80, 13, Won 2, 4-4-2)
playoffs: in the hunt
After slipping a bit, the Predators are starting to string a few wins together and currently sit 1 point out of 8th place. Barry Trotz is a great coach, and always manages to get a solid seasonal performance out of a mediocre roster. There is definitely some talent on the Predators, but there are no huge superstar names that jump out at you, and the Predators will need to keep their team effort strong if they are to make the playoffs. They look to be in good shape, but as is the case with every team it seems right now, they will need to play their best hockey of they year in this final stretch. One huge advantadge lays in favor of the Predators for this final stretch: they are a better home team, and 10 of their remaining 13 games are in Nashville, and the only three road games are against the hot-but-beatable Sabres, the pitiful Avalanche, and the fading Blues. With this good of a schedule remaining, the Predators may have a leg up on their large pack of competition. If they do make the playoffs, don't expect them to go very far.
Key games: 3/15 vs Los Angeles, 3/17 vs Boston, 3/19 vs Detroit, 3/20 @ Buffalo, 3/24 vs Anaheim, 3/26 vs Dallas, 3/29 vs Vancouver, 3/2 vs Detroit, 3/8 vs Columbus
10. Anaheim Ducks (79, 13, Lost 1, 5-4-1)
playoffs: in the hunt
After strong consistent play for a while, the Ducks have cooled off slightly, but are still in good shape with only a 2-point margin between them and the 8th spot. They are currently the only Pacific Division team not in a playoff spot, but just one win would tie them with Clagary for 8th place. The looming question mark that remains is still Jonas Hiller. If he can get healthy, the Ducks have a much better shot at putting together a goodenough run to claim a playoff berth, and perhaps even go deep into the postseason. But with a tandem of notoriously inconsistent goaltenders in Ray Emery and Dan Ellis as well as a blue line that is more skilled offensively than defensively, the Ducks will need to focus on playing good team defense and back-checking if they are to keep winning games. They are a better home team and have 6 of 13 games remaining in Anaheim. 7 remaining games are against divisional opponents: 3 against the Kings, and two apiece against the Sharks and Stars. When all five teams in your division are in contention, this frequency of divisional matchup could make or break the Ducks. If they win enough of these games, they could find themselves not only making the playoffs, but taken home-ice advantadge by stealing the 3rd seed as the Pacific Division champs.
Key games: 3/19 @ Los Angeles, 3/20 vs Calgary, 3/23 @ Dallas, 3/24 @ Nashville, 3/26 @ Chicago, 3/30 @ Calgary, 4/2 @ San Jose, 4/3 vs Dallas, 4/6 vs San Jose, 4/8 vs Los Angeles, 4/9 @ Los Angeles
11. Minnesota Wild (77, 13, Lost 2, 4-5-1)
playoffs: in the hunt
Though in 11th, the Wild are only 4 points out of 8th place right now. As with any team from their spot all the way up to 3rd place, they have a great shot at making the playoffs, but walk, or rather skate, a razor's edge from now until all 1230 games are in the books. They have struggled of late, and need to turn that around immediately if they want to stay alive. There are far too many teams in contention to have even the tiniest slip this late in the game, and the Wild may have already dug themselves into too deep of a hole with their recent skid. They are not a strong scoring team, yet have one of the best power plays in the league. Generally a defensively-minded team, they are strong on the back end and have a solid goaltender in Niklas Backstron. If they can be more dangerous when playing even strength, they could be a formidable opponent for any team. But if they keep losing games, they will miss out on the playoffs. They have 7 games left at the Xcel energy Center and 6 games elsewhere. With 2 games apiece remaining against Edmonton and St. Louis as well as 2 games against Vancouver, the Wild have a very up and down schedule remaining.
Key games: 3/14 @ Vancouver, 3/17 @ San Jose, 3/19 vs Columbus, 3/20 vs Montreal, 3/22 vs Toronto, 4/2 vs Tampa Bay, 4/3 @ Detroit, 4/7 @ Vancouver, 4/10 vs Dallas
12. Columbus Blue Jackets (73, 14, Won 1, 3-4-3)
playoffs: in the hunt, likely won't make it
The Blue Jackets made a great run over the past few months, but try as they might, they just couldn't get much ground on the huge pack of teams vying for a playoff berth. Now they appear burnt out, and they are dropping too many games to keep their playoff dreams alive. If they win out most of their remaining games, they still have a chance, but the odds are not very good. They made some good deadline pickups this season, and if they add one more steady defender and some scoring touch to take the load off of Rick Nash, they should have a good enough team to finally make the playoffs next year. They have 8 home games and 6 road games remaining.
Key games: 3/15 vs Boston, 3/17 vs Detroit, 3/19 @ Minnesota, 3/20 vs New Jersey, 3/24 @ Phoenix, 3/27 vs Vancouver, 3/31 @ Washington, 4/1 vs Chicago, 4/5 @ Dallas, 4/8 @ Nashville, 4/9 vs Buffalo
13. St. Louis Blues (71, 13, Lost 1, 4-6-0)
playoffs: out
A 10-point margin between the Blues and 8th place is not insurmountable, but with only 11 games remaining, poor play of late, and an historic logjam in their Conference (of which only 2 remaining opponents are not a part), I think it's safe to say the Blues will not make the playoffs this year. Still, stranger things have happened. They have a promising organization, that looked like a pretty good team at the start of the year. Unfortunately, injuries took their toll and performance dropped. The lack of some key players exposed a serious hole in secondary scoring as well as team defense. There are many key pieces in place for next season, and Chris Stewart looks to emerge as an elite scoring power forward. However, the loss of minute-eating defensemen Eric Brewer and Erik Johnson puts a straing on their remaining D and goaltending. They should look to add some strong defensmen and a little more scoring punch up front in the off-season. If their lackluster performance continues through their remaining 11 games, they will end up with a top 5 draft pick. If they keep this pick, Colorado will get their 1st-rounder next year. If they don't, Colorado will get 2 top 5 picks this year. A better home team, the Blues have 5 left in St. Louis, and 6 left on the road.
14. Colorado Avalanche (60, 14, Lost 4, 1-8-1)
playoffs: out
The Avalanche are in the midst of one of the most impressively horrible streaks in recent memory. They are 2-18-2 in their last 22 games, and have not won more than one game in a row since their 2 stariaght victories on January 14 and 18. They have enough youthful talent to surprise next season, much like they did last year. But as of now, a season which started with lots of promise has turned into an extreme failure in the past few months. The Avalanche showed they are not afraid to shake up the organization when they traded Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk to the Blues, and will likely to continue with this radical rebuilding route in the offseason. But now, they at least have a top 5 draft choice, potentially a #1, because although Ottawa and Edmonton are still behind them at the moment, their plummeting performance and barely discernable vital signs indicate a definite possibility of finishing dead last this season.
15. Edmonton Oilers (55, 12, Lost 1, 4-5-1)
playoffs: out
The Edmonton Oilers find themselves in familiar territory as this season draws to a close. They will have a top 5 draft pick, potentially a 2nd straight #1. They have many promising young faces coming into the organization and are ready for the rebuilding to continue in the offseason. They have been showing some signs of life lately and may jump out of last place in the league.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Crunch Time
With only a few short weeks remaining in the season, teams are seeing new faces in action in fighting for postseason berths in two of the tightest playoff races in recent years. Teams who are struggling need to up their game or risk missing the playoffs, and teams that are hot need to keep the fire going. It's shaping up to be one hell of a stretch run. Here are my analyses of the Conference races. For each teams, the three numbers after their name shall indicate (points, games remaining, streak, record in last ten games). NR stands for Non-Regulation Loss (shootout, overtime). For now here's the East. The West is coming soon.
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Not quite the crap shoot that the West is, but still, 6 teams are fighting for 7th and 8th in the East. The top 6 teams are probably safe at this point, and the bottom 3 are probably out as they are more than 10 points back from Buffalo. But 7th and 12th are still only separated by 10 points, and the way things are going this year, it could come down to the last game of the year for some of these teams. Just remember, Philadelphia made it to the Stanley Cup Finals last year after their playoff berth rested on winning a shootout in the final contest of the season. Anything can happen.
1. Philadelphia Flyers (86, 17, Lost 4, 4-5-1)
playoffs: safe
The mighty Flyers are beginning to show signs of weakness. Once way ahead of the pack, they now hold the top position in the East by only two points. They have lost 4 in a row, including losses to Toronto and Ottawa, and yesterday got embarassed 7-0 by the Rangers. They obviously have a secure hold on a playoff spot, and even home-ice advantadge in the first round, but if they want to hold onto their Conference title and compete with Vancouver for the President's trophy, they need to turn their game around with strong play against the tough teams, and now even the weaker teams it would seem. The recent stumble certainly cannot be blamed on Deadline moves; they gave up no roster players and added Kris Versteeg, who has been an offensive force for them already. Perhaps the question mark in goal is becoming a more pressing matter, and could have serious implications for them in the postseason. They have 8 home and 9 road games remaining, which shouldn't matter much as their records are about equal, with 20 wins apiece.
Key games: 3/10 @ Toronto, 3/19 @ Dallas, 3/22 vs. Washington, 3/24 vs. Pittsburgh, 3/27 vs. Boston, 3/29 @ Pittsburgh, 4/1 @ New Jersey, 4/3 vs. NY Rangers, 4/8 @ Buffalo
2. Boston Bruins (84, 17, NR Loss, 7-2-1)
playoffs: safe
Despite a weekend setback in overtime against the Penguins, the Bruins are playing some of their best hockey of the season, energized by recent acquisitions Rich Peverley, Chris Kelly, and Tomas Kaberle. Going into their loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday, they had won 7 games in a row, including all 6 games of a road trip, the first time they have done this since their lat Cup season of 1971-72, including wins against Vancouver and Calgary. They now find themselves only two points behind Philly for the top spot in the Eastern Conference and if they keep up this recent tear are just about guaranteed home-ice advantadge through at least the first round of the playoffs.They have been lackluster at best when playing at home this season, but are one of the best road teams in the league. They have 8 road games remaining, including a 4 game trip including Western Conference games against Columbus and Nashville, and 9 games left at home. They are going to need to find their game in front of the home crowd if they want to have greater playoff successes this year. With a fairly tough remaining schedule, the B's will have to stay at the top of their game. They also have 2 games remianing againt the Maple Leafs, whose first round pick they own, and will do their best to push them further down the standings to secure a better draft position.
Key games: 3/8 @ Montreal, 3/10 vs. Buffalo, 3/15 @ Columbus, 3/17 @ Nashville, 3/19 @ Toronto, 3/22 vs. New Jersey, 3/24 vs. Montreal, 3/26 vs. NY Rangers, 3/27 @ Philadelphia, 3/29 vs. Chicago, 3/31 vs. Toronto, 4/4 @ NY Rangers, 4/10 @ New Jersey
3. Washington Capitals (82, 16, Won 4, 7-3-0)
playoffs: safe
The Capitals' offense has been shockingly impotent this year, but Alex Ovechkin is heating up and so is the team. They just passed Tampa Bay to take the lead in the Southeast Division Winners of four straight, they have been playing very strong hockey and have added three strong players to the team in Jason Arnott, Marco Sturm, and Dennis Wideman. While they have two young unproven goaltenders in Semyon Varlamov and Michael Neuvirth, they have a fairly experienced offense now, who are poised to make up for last year's playoff disaster. The Capitals are heating up at the right time and are ready to show the hockey world what they failed to show it last year, a shining chalice with their newly engraved names on it. They need to do more damage away from D.C., however. They are a much better home team, but have 9 of their last 16 games on the road. This includes a 6 game road trip that starts and ends in Montreal and also hits Philadelphia, Detroit, and New Jersey.
Key games: 3/7 @ Tampa Bay, 3/11 vs. Carolina, 3/13 vs. Chicago, 3/15 @ Montreal, 3/16 @ Detroit, 3/18 @ New Jersey, 3/22 @ Philadelphia, 3/26 @ Montreal, 3/29 vs. Carolina, 3/31 vs. Columbus, 4/2 vs. Buffalo, 4/5 @ Toronto
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (84, 15, Won 1, 3-3-4)
playoffs: safe
The big story for two months has been the lack of Sidney Corsby and Evgeni Malkin on the Penguins roster. Malkin is definitely out for the remainder of the season, and Crosby's return looks less and less likely with each passing day. Ray Shero did his best to spark the offense by adding James Neal and Alexei Kovalev, but so far, neither has been able to produce for the Pens. They have somehow managed to stay in 4th place for quite a while, but I have to wonder how. They just haven't been good enough without their two big stars, and as much as a few weeks ago I said otherwise, that is seriously going to hurt them down the stretch. They will make the playoffs, but don't expect them to go to far once they get there. Still, in the meantime, they can work on improving their game and try to figure out how they can make a decent run. With Philly's recent stuble, they are now only 2 points out of both the top spot in their division, and the top spot in the Conference. 8 of their remaining 15 games are at home, where their record is about equal to that of the road.
Key games: 3/8 vs. Buffalo, 3/12 vs. Montreal, 3/20 vs. NY Rangers, 3/21 @ Detroit, 3/24 @ Philadelphia, 3/25 vs. New Jersey, 3/29 vs. Philadelphia, 3/31 @ Tampa Bay, 4/5 vs. New Jersey
5. Tampa Bay Lightning (81, 17, Lost 3, 4-4-2)
playoffs: safe
Armed with one of the most potent offenses in the league as well as a sturdy veteran defense, the Bolts have the firepower they need to bring home their second Stanley Cup in seven seasons. But there's something wrong. They've lost three in a row, and the league's leading scorer, Steven Stamkos, is experiencing a bit of a drought. Some may want to panic, but don't worry; every team has some struggles now and then, and this team is just far too good to keep stumbling. They will fight to retake control of the Southeast Division, and they will turn this dry spell around. The turnaround begins with Steven Stamkos; he had a brief drought earlier in the season, but then exploded once again. He is a game-changer, and when he is scoring, the team is winning. They are a better home team, and have 8 remaining home and 9 remaining away games.
Key games: 3/7 vs. Washington, 3/9 vs. Chicago, 3/14 @ Toronto, 3/17 @ Montreal, 3/25 vs. Carolina, 3/26 @ Carolina, 3/31 vs. Pittsburgh, 4/2 @ Minnesota, 4/3 @ Chicago, 4/5 @ Buffalo, 4/9 @ Carolina
6. Montreal Canadiens (79, 16, Won 4, 6-3-1)
playoffs: safe
Winners of 4 straight, the Canadiens continue to surprise me. Their roster has been devasted by injuries all season long, but they continue to hold sixth place in the East. Whether or not they can catch the Bruins in the Northeast division remains to be seen, but they have been playing extremely well, and have a good chance at a deep run in the postseason. After they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals as the 8th seed last year, and after fighting through all their injuries this year, nobody should count the Habs out until they are actually eliminated. They dominate at home, but 9 of their remaining 16 games are on the road.
Key games: 3/8 vs. Boston, 3/12 @ Pittsburgh, 3/15 vs. Washington, 3/17 vs. Tampa Bay, 3/18 @ NY Rangers, 3/20 @ Minnesota, 3/22 vs. Buffalo, 3/24 @ Boston, 3/26 vs. Washington, 3/30 @ Carolina, 4/2 @ New Jersey, 4/5 vs. Chicago, 4/9 @ Toronto
7. New York Rangers (74, 14, Won 2, 5-3-2)
playoffs: in the hunt, holding on to a spot
Despite a recent upswing, the Rangers 74 points make it impossible to say the Rangers will definitely make the playoffs. However, they have managed to hold onto the 7th spot in the Conference through a down period and now that they are heating up, they have a very, very good chance of keeping their spot in the postseason. With the addition of Bryan McCabe, their defense is much stronger, which will make Henrik Lundqvist's job easier. The entire weight of the team has been put back on his shoulder's with the injury to Martin Biron, but he has gotten more rest this season than he is used to and is still playing as dominantly as ever. The Rangers are a much better road team; they are sub-.500 at Madison Square Garden, and they have 7 games apiece left at home and on the road.
Key games: 3/9 @ Anaheim, 3/12 @ San Jose, 3/18 vs. Montreal, 3/20 @ Pittsburgh, 3/26 @ Boston, 3/30 @ Buffalo, 4/3 @ Philadelphia, 4/4 vs. Boston, 4/9 vs. New Jersey
8. Buffalo Sabres (72, 17, Won 2, 5-3-2)
playoffs: in the hunt, holding on to a spot
After an extremely slow start to the season, tj Sabres have found their game. They have been playing strong hockey of late, and have recently supplanted Carolina for the last playoff position. Since being picked up by Buffalo, Brad Boyes has been paying off, and the only subtraction the Sabres made to their roster was Criag Rivet, who was not playing anyway. The Sabres are starting to come together at the right time. If they remain hot, they could be a dangerous challenger to a higher-seeded team in the postseason, as they have a better record on the road. It's too soon to think about that though; with a tough remaining schedule, right now they are still fighting for survival and 9 of their last 17 contests are at home, where the Sabres have not been particularly sharp this season.
Key games: 3/8 @ Pittsburgh, 3/10 @ Boston, 3/12 @ Toronto, 3/15 vs. Carolina, 3/20 vs. Nashville, 3/22 @ Montreal, 3/26 vs. New Jersey, 3/29 @ Toronto, 3/30 vs. NY Rangers, 4/2 @ Washington, 4/3 @ Carolina, 4/5 vs. Tampa Bay, 4/8 vs. Philadelphia, 4/9 @ Columbus
9. Carolina Hurricanes (71, 16, Lost 1, 5-4-1)
playoffs: in the hunt, could make it
Led by the hockey world's Justin Bieber, rookie scoring sensation Jeff Skinner, the Hurricanes have held on to the 8th spot in the East for a while now. But they have been recently tossed aside by Buffalo and are eager to take their playoff spot back. A team that is historically good in the playoffs, the Hurricanes could be dangerous should they manage to clinch a spot. If they can turn their game up a notch, they will have the 8th spot locked up, but they need a strong finish. They have a solid, decenlty talented, hard-working team who can shock dominant opponents. They have been a very good home team this year, and the fans in Carolina are in a hockey mood after the All-Star game this year. The Canes have the enviable situation of being a strong home team with 10 of their last 16 games at home. Also, 7 of the last 16 games are against familiar divisional opponents. The odds seem to be in Carolina's favor, but they will still need to play excellent hockey to stay alive in this tight race.
Key games: 3/11 @ Washington, 3/12 vs. Columbus, 3/15 @ Buffalo, 3/16 vs. Toronto, 3/25 @ Tampa Bay, 3/26 vs. Tampa Bay, 3/29 @ Washington, 3/30 vs. Montreal, 4/3 vs. Buffalo, 4/6 vs. Detroit, 4/9 vs. Tampa Bay
10. Toronto Maple Leafs (67, 16, Lost 1, 6-1-3)
playoffs: in the hunt, could make it
The Maple Leafs are a team currently in a very good situation. They made a bunch of trades leading up to the Trade Deadline in a season that seemed lost. Their roster isn't particularly impressive. Still, they are somehow only 5 points out of a playoff spot and are playing some great hockey. They are a team with absolutely nothing to lose, and they will go all out to try to clinch a very surprising playoff berth. They have a young team who will gain some experience through winning games, winning enough games will earn them a playoff spot, and the best part is they don't have a draft pick to worry about. Some weak teams would not have a prblem playing poorly, because a bad record yields a high draft pick. But the Leafs pick is owned by Boston, who already took Tyler Seguin with Toronto's pick last year. The position of the pick means nothing to the Leafs and they have nothing holding them back from making a strong playoff push. Even if they don't make the playoffs, they can spoil some teams' records, and they have also shown that the future looks bright for the blue crew.
11. Atlanta Thrashers (65, 16, Won 1, 3-6-1)
playoffs: in the hunt, likely will not make it
Though they are only 7 points out of 8th, it doesn't look good for the Thrashers this season. After a strong start, the Thrashers are fading fast, which is evident when looking at All-Star Dustin Byfuglien's 13-game scoring drought. Still, they cannot totally be counted out of the playoffs yet, unless they keep playing the way they have been lately. They need to win big and win often, and do it now if they want to make the playoffs. The Thrash have an extremely difficult schedule ahead of them and only 6 of their last 16 games are at home. The Thrashers just don't seem to have what it takes to make the playoffs this year. But they have a great wealth of young talent in the system mixed with some decent veterans. They made some good pickups this year that should help them in the very near future. Look for them to be a much better team next year.
Key games: 3/9 @ Carolina, 3/11 vs. New Jersey, 3/12 @ Philadelphia, 3/15 @ New Jersey, 3/17 vs. Philadelphia, 3/19 @ Buffalo, 3/25 vs. Vancouver, 3/29 @ Montreal, 3/31 @ Philadelphia, 4/2 @ Boston, 4/5 @ Nashville, 4/7 vs. NY Rangers, 4/8 vs. Carolina, 4/10 vs. Pittsburgh
12. New Jersey Devils (64, 17, Won 4, 9-1-0)
playoffs: in the hunt, could make it
The Devils continue to shock the hockey world with this unprecented climb from the depths of the standings. At this point, it is both hard to believe that they will make the playoffs, and hard to believe that they won't. Led by a different looking Ilya Kovalchuk, the Devils have been a winning machine for over a month now and have rocketed from last place to within 8 points of 8th place with 17 games to go. Still, they are not gaining ground as quickly as you'd expect of a team that's picked up so many points in such a short amount of time. With the way they have been winning games, it is hard to believe they are not a shoe-in for the playoffs; but one of 6 teams fighting for 2 spots in the eastern playoffs, they still pretty much have to win out the rest of the season to clinch an historic playoff berth. If they can continue this run, they should be all set, but if they tire and burn out, they can kiss their short-lived playoff dreams goodbye.They have 9 home and 8 road games remaining. The odds are against the Devils, but they've been against them every game for the past few months, and so far they've proven everyone wrong.
Key games: 3/18 vs. Washington, 3/20 @ Columbus, 3/22 @ Boston, 3/25 @ Pittsburgh, 3/26 @ Buffalo, 4/1 vs. Philadelphia, 4/2 vs. Montreal, 4/5 @ Pittsburgh, 4/6 vs. Toronto, 4/9 @ NY Rangers, 4/ 10 vs. Boston
13. Florida Panthers (61, 16, NR Loss, 2-6-2)
playoffs: out
Another year, another let-down for the Panthers. 11 points out of a playoff spot with 16 games to go and a 2-6-2 record in their last 10, the Panthers have virtually no chance of making the playoffs. They will continue to develop their young talent in this last month of the season, but will hope to achieve another top 5 draft pick in June. There is not much motivation to win games anymore. There is a wealth young talent in the system, but the team is still a ways off from being competetive and will be conservative with development. Dale Tallon built the Championship Blackhawk team in Chicago, and knows what he is doing in Florida as well. He just needs some time.
14. New York Islanders (60, 15, NR Loss, 4-3-3)
playoffs: out
The Islanders have been playing very well lately. They have a young team who has been on a scoring mission and has been handing out physical punishment in the process. They have no chance of making the palyoffs, but will continue to play as well as they can to get these younger players experience and confidence. They definitely will have another top 10 pick, if not a top 5, so why not score some goals and try to spoil some teams' playoff hopes while they wait for the summer? They are on the brink of being a highly-competitive team, with a very talented young offensive core, and should work on their defense over the summer. But for now, they should just enjoy the ride.
15. Ottawa Senators (53, 17, Lost 1, 5-4-1)
playoffs: out
The Senators have had an absolutely abysmal season which culminated in Bryan Murray's recent firesale. As the smoke clears, very little remains on the once-mighty Ottawa roster and with lots of picks and prospects in the system, Ottawa looks to the draft and free agency to help bring back their winning form. The turn-around begins in Minnesota in late June, and right now, the Senators are pretty much guaranteed a top 5 draft pick. With the lottery, the top pick is not certain, but the team with the worst record certainly has the best chance of geting it. The Senators don't care about winning games anymore. They care about getting that top pick, and getting some of their younger prospects some experience in the last 17 games of this campaign.
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Not quite the crap shoot that the West is, but still, 6 teams are fighting for 7th and 8th in the East. The top 6 teams are probably safe at this point, and the bottom 3 are probably out as they are more than 10 points back from Buffalo. But 7th and 12th are still only separated by 10 points, and the way things are going this year, it could come down to the last game of the year for some of these teams. Just remember, Philadelphia made it to the Stanley Cup Finals last year after their playoff berth rested on winning a shootout in the final contest of the season. Anything can happen.
1. Philadelphia Flyers (86, 17, Lost 4, 4-5-1)
playoffs: safe
The mighty Flyers are beginning to show signs of weakness. Once way ahead of the pack, they now hold the top position in the East by only two points. They have lost 4 in a row, including losses to Toronto and Ottawa, and yesterday got embarassed 7-0 by the Rangers. They obviously have a secure hold on a playoff spot, and even home-ice advantadge in the first round, but if they want to hold onto their Conference title and compete with Vancouver for the President's trophy, they need to turn their game around with strong play against the tough teams, and now even the weaker teams it would seem. The recent stumble certainly cannot be blamed on Deadline moves; they gave up no roster players and added Kris Versteeg, who has been an offensive force for them already. Perhaps the question mark in goal is becoming a more pressing matter, and could have serious implications for them in the postseason. They have 8 home and 9 road games remaining, which shouldn't matter much as their records are about equal, with 20 wins apiece.
Key games: 3/10 @ Toronto, 3/19 @ Dallas, 3/22 vs. Washington, 3/24 vs. Pittsburgh, 3/27 vs. Boston, 3/29 @ Pittsburgh, 4/1 @ New Jersey, 4/3 vs. NY Rangers, 4/8 @ Buffalo
2. Boston Bruins (84, 17, NR Loss, 7-2-1)
playoffs: safe
Despite a weekend setback in overtime against the Penguins, the Bruins are playing some of their best hockey of the season, energized by recent acquisitions Rich Peverley, Chris Kelly, and Tomas Kaberle. Going into their loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday, they had won 7 games in a row, including all 6 games of a road trip, the first time they have done this since their lat Cup season of 1971-72, including wins against Vancouver and Calgary. They now find themselves only two points behind Philly for the top spot in the Eastern Conference and if they keep up this recent tear are just about guaranteed home-ice advantadge through at least the first round of the playoffs.They have been lackluster at best when playing at home this season, but are one of the best road teams in the league. They have 8 road games remaining, including a 4 game trip including Western Conference games against Columbus and Nashville, and 9 games left at home. They are going to need to find their game in front of the home crowd if they want to have greater playoff successes this year. With a fairly tough remaining schedule, the B's will have to stay at the top of their game. They also have 2 games remianing againt the Maple Leafs, whose first round pick they own, and will do their best to push them further down the standings to secure a better draft position.
Key games: 3/8 @ Montreal, 3/10 vs. Buffalo, 3/15 @ Columbus, 3/17 @ Nashville, 3/19 @ Toronto, 3/22 vs. New Jersey, 3/24 vs. Montreal, 3/26 vs. NY Rangers, 3/27 @ Philadelphia, 3/29 vs. Chicago, 3/31 vs. Toronto, 4/4 @ NY Rangers, 4/10 @ New Jersey
3. Washington Capitals (82, 16, Won 4, 7-3-0)
playoffs: safe
The Capitals' offense has been shockingly impotent this year, but Alex Ovechkin is heating up and so is the team. They just passed Tampa Bay to take the lead in the Southeast Division Winners of four straight, they have been playing very strong hockey and have added three strong players to the team in Jason Arnott, Marco Sturm, and Dennis Wideman. While they have two young unproven goaltenders in Semyon Varlamov and Michael Neuvirth, they have a fairly experienced offense now, who are poised to make up for last year's playoff disaster. The Capitals are heating up at the right time and are ready to show the hockey world what they failed to show it last year, a shining chalice with their newly engraved names on it. They need to do more damage away from D.C., however. They are a much better home team, but have 9 of their last 16 games on the road. This includes a 6 game road trip that starts and ends in Montreal and also hits Philadelphia, Detroit, and New Jersey.
Key games: 3/7 @ Tampa Bay, 3/11 vs. Carolina, 3/13 vs. Chicago, 3/15 @ Montreal, 3/16 @ Detroit, 3/18 @ New Jersey, 3/22 @ Philadelphia, 3/26 @ Montreal, 3/29 vs. Carolina, 3/31 vs. Columbus, 4/2 vs. Buffalo, 4/5 @ Toronto
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (84, 15, Won 1, 3-3-4)
playoffs: safe
The big story for two months has been the lack of Sidney Corsby and Evgeni Malkin on the Penguins roster. Malkin is definitely out for the remainder of the season, and Crosby's return looks less and less likely with each passing day. Ray Shero did his best to spark the offense by adding James Neal and Alexei Kovalev, but so far, neither has been able to produce for the Pens. They have somehow managed to stay in 4th place for quite a while, but I have to wonder how. They just haven't been good enough without their two big stars, and as much as a few weeks ago I said otherwise, that is seriously going to hurt them down the stretch. They will make the playoffs, but don't expect them to go to far once they get there. Still, in the meantime, they can work on improving their game and try to figure out how they can make a decent run. With Philly's recent stuble, they are now only 2 points out of both the top spot in their division, and the top spot in the Conference. 8 of their remaining 15 games are at home, where their record is about equal to that of the road.
Key games: 3/8 vs. Buffalo, 3/12 vs. Montreal, 3/20 vs. NY Rangers, 3/21 @ Detroit, 3/24 @ Philadelphia, 3/25 vs. New Jersey, 3/29 vs. Philadelphia, 3/31 @ Tampa Bay, 4/5 vs. New Jersey
5. Tampa Bay Lightning (81, 17, Lost 3, 4-4-2)
playoffs: safe
Armed with one of the most potent offenses in the league as well as a sturdy veteran defense, the Bolts have the firepower they need to bring home their second Stanley Cup in seven seasons. But there's something wrong. They've lost three in a row, and the league's leading scorer, Steven Stamkos, is experiencing a bit of a drought. Some may want to panic, but don't worry; every team has some struggles now and then, and this team is just far too good to keep stumbling. They will fight to retake control of the Southeast Division, and they will turn this dry spell around. The turnaround begins with Steven Stamkos; he had a brief drought earlier in the season, but then exploded once again. He is a game-changer, and when he is scoring, the team is winning. They are a better home team, and have 8 remaining home and 9 remaining away games.
Key games: 3/7 vs. Washington, 3/9 vs. Chicago, 3/14 @ Toronto, 3/17 @ Montreal, 3/25 vs. Carolina, 3/26 @ Carolina, 3/31 vs. Pittsburgh, 4/2 @ Minnesota, 4/3 @ Chicago, 4/5 @ Buffalo, 4/9 @ Carolina
6. Montreal Canadiens (79, 16, Won 4, 6-3-1)
playoffs: safe
Winners of 4 straight, the Canadiens continue to surprise me. Their roster has been devasted by injuries all season long, but they continue to hold sixth place in the East. Whether or not they can catch the Bruins in the Northeast division remains to be seen, but they have been playing extremely well, and have a good chance at a deep run in the postseason. After they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals as the 8th seed last year, and after fighting through all their injuries this year, nobody should count the Habs out until they are actually eliminated. They dominate at home, but 9 of their remaining 16 games are on the road.
Key games: 3/8 vs. Boston, 3/12 @ Pittsburgh, 3/15 vs. Washington, 3/17 vs. Tampa Bay, 3/18 @ NY Rangers, 3/20 @ Minnesota, 3/22 vs. Buffalo, 3/24 @ Boston, 3/26 vs. Washington, 3/30 @ Carolina, 4/2 @ New Jersey, 4/5 vs. Chicago, 4/9 @ Toronto
7. New York Rangers (74, 14, Won 2, 5-3-2)
playoffs: in the hunt, holding on to a spot
Despite a recent upswing, the Rangers 74 points make it impossible to say the Rangers will definitely make the playoffs. However, they have managed to hold onto the 7th spot in the Conference through a down period and now that they are heating up, they have a very, very good chance of keeping their spot in the postseason. With the addition of Bryan McCabe, their defense is much stronger, which will make Henrik Lundqvist's job easier. The entire weight of the team has been put back on his shoulder's with the injury to Martin Biron, but he has gotten more rest this season than he is used to and is still playing as dominantly as ever. The Rangers are a much better road team; they are sub-.500 at Madison Square Garden, and they have 7 games apiece left at home and on the road.
Key games: 3/9 @ Anaheim, 3/12 @ San Jose, 3/18 vs. Montreal, 3/20 @ Pittsburgh, 3/26 @ Boston, 3/30 @ Buffalo, 4/3 @ Philadelphia, 4/4 vs. Boston, 4/9 vs. New Jersey
8. Buffalo Sabres (72, 17, Won 2, 5-3-2)
playoffs: in the hunt, holding on to a spot
After an extremely slow start to the season, tj Sabres have found their game. They have been playing strong hockey of late, and have recently supplanted Carolina for the last playoff position. Since being picked up by Buffalo, Brad Boyes has been paying off, and the only subtraction the Sabres made to their roster was Criag Rivet, who was not playing anyway. The Sabres are starting to come together at the right time. If they remain hot, they could be a dangerous challenger to a higher-seeded team in the postseason, as they have a better record on the road. It's too soon to think about that though; with a tough remaining schedule, right now they are still fighting for survival and 9 of their last 17 contests are at home, where the Sabres have not been particularly sharp this season.
Key games: 3/8 @ Pittsburgh, 3/10 @ Boston, 3/12 @ Toronto, 3/15 vs. Carolina, 3/20 vs. Nashville, 3/22 @ Montreal, 3/26 vs. New Jersey, 3/29 @ Toronto, 3/30 vs. NY Rangers, 4/2 @ Washington, 4/3 @ Carolina, 4/5 vs. Tampa Bay, 4/8 vs. Philadelphia, 4/9 @ Columbus
9. Carolina Hurricanes (71, 16, Lost 1, 5-4-1)
playoffs: in the hunt, could make it
Led by the hockey world's Justin Bieber, rookie scoring sensation Jeff Skinner, the Hurricanes have held on to the 8th spot in the East for a while now. But they have been recently tossed aside by Buffalo and are eager to take their playoff spot back. A team that is historically good in the playoffs, the Hurricanes could be dangerous should they manage to clinch a spot. If they can turn their game up a notch, they will have the 8th spot locked up, but they need a strong finish. They have a solid, decenlty talented, hard-working team who can shock dominant opponents. They have been a very good home team this year, and the fans in Carolina are in a hockey mood after the All-Star game this year. The Canes have the enviable situation of being a strong home team with 10 of their last 16 games at home. Also, 7 of the last 16 games are against familiar divisional opponents. The odds seem to be in Carolina's favor, but they will still need to play excellent hockey to stay alive in this tight race.
Key games: 3/11 @ Washington, 3/12 vs. Columbus, 3/15 @ Buffalo, 3/16 vs. Toronto, 3/25 @ Tampa Bay, 3/26 vs. Tampa Bay, 3/29 @ Washington, 3/30 vs. Montreal, 4/3 vs. Buffalo, 4/6 vs. Detroit, 4/9 vs. Tampa Bay
10. Toronto Maple Leafs (67, 16, Lost 1, 6-1-3)
playoffs: in the hunt, could make it
The Maple Leafs are a team currently in a very good situation. They made a bunch of trades leading up to the Trade Deadline in a season that seemed lost. Their roster isn't particularly impressive. Still, they are somehow only 5 points out of a playoff spot and are playing some great hockey. They are a team with absolutely nothing to lose, and they will go all out to try to clinch a very surprising playoff berth. They have a young team who will gain some experience through winning games, winning enough games will earn them a playoff spot, and the best part is they don't have a draft pick to worry about. Some weak teams would not have a prblem playing poorly, because a bad record yields a high draft pick. But the Leafs pick is owned by Boston, who already took Tyler Seguin with Toronto's pick last year. The position of the pick means nothing to the Leafs and they have nothing holding them back from making a strong playoff push. Even if they don't make the playoffs, they can spoil some teams' records, and they have also shown that the future looks bright for the blue crew.
11. Atlanta Thrashers (65, 16, Won 1, 3-6-1)
playoffs: in the hunt, likely will not make it
Though they are only 7 points out of 8th, it doesn't look good for the Thrashers this season. After a strong start, the Thrashers are fading fast, which is evident when looking at All-Star Dustin Byfuglien's 13-game scoring drought. Still, they cannot totally be counted out of the playoffs yet, unless they keep playing the way they have been lately. They need to win big and win often, and do it now if they want to make the playoffs. The Thrash have an extremely difficult schedule ahead of them and only 6 of their last 16 games are at home. The Thrashers just don't seem to have what it takes to make the playoffs this year. But they have a great wealth of young talent in the system mixed with some decent veterans. They made some good pickups this year that should help them in the very near future. Look for them to be a much better team next year.
Key games: 3/9 @ Carolina, 3/11 vs. New Jersey, 3/12 @ Philadelphia, 3/15 @ New Jersey, 3/17 vs. Philadelphia, 3/19 @ Buffalo, 3/25 vs. Vancouver, 3/29 @ Montreal, 3/31 @ Philadelphia, 4/2 @ Boston, 4/5 @ Nashville, 4/7 vs. NY Rangers, 4/8 vs. Carolina, 4/10 vs. Pittsburgh
12. New Jersey Devils (64, 17, Won 4, 9-1-0)
playoffs: in the hunt, could make it
The Devils continue to shock the hockey world with this unprecented climb from the depths of the standings. At this point, it is both hard to believe that they will make the playoffs, and hard to believe that they won't. Led by a different looking Ilya Kovalchuk, the Devils have been a winning machine for over a month now and have rocketed from last place to within 8 points of 8th place with 17 games to go. Still, they are not gaining ground as quickly as you'd expect of a team that's picked up so many points in such a short amount of time. With the way they have been winning games, it is hard to believe they are not a shoe-in for the playoffs; but one of 6 teams fighting for 2 spots in the eastern playoffs, they still pretty much have to win out the rest of the season to clinch an historic playoff berth. If they can continue this run, they should be all set, but if they tire and burn out, they can kiss their short-lived playoff dreams goodbye.They have 9 home and 8 road games remaining. The odds are against the Devils, but they've been against them every game for the past few months, and so far they've proven everyone wrong.
Key games: 3/18 vs. Washington, 3/20 @ Columbus, 3/22 @ Boston, 3/25 @ Pittsburgh, 3/26 @ Buffalo, 4/1 vs. Philadelphia, 4/2 vs. Montreal, 4/5 @ Pittsburgh, 4/6 vs. Toronto, 4/9 @ NY Rangers, 4/ 10 vs. Boston
13. Florida Panthers (61, 16, NR Loss, 2-6-2)
playoffs: out
Another year, another let-down for the Panthers. 11 points out of a playoff spot with 16 games to go and a 2-6-2 record in their last 10, the Panthers have virtually no chance of making the playoffs. They will continue to develop their young talent in this last month of the season, but will hope to achieve another top 5 draft pick in June. There is not much motivation to win games anymore. There is a wealth young talent in the system, but the team is still a ways off from being competetive and will be conservative with development. Dale Tallon built the Championship Blackhawk team in Chicago, and knows what he is doing in Florida as well. He just needs some time.
14. New York Islanders (60, 15, NR Loss, 4-3-3)
playoffs: out
The Islanders have been playing very well lately. They have a young team who has been on a scoring mission and has been handing out physical punishment in the process. They have no chance of making the palyoffs, but will continue to play as well as they can to get these younger players experience and confidence. They definitely will have another top 10 pick, if not a top 5, so why not score some goals and try to spoil some teams' playoff hopes while they wait for the summer? They are on the brink of being a highly-competitive team, with a very talented young offensive core, and should work on their defense over the summer. But for now, they should just enjoy the ride.
15. Ottawa Senators (53, 17, Lost 1, 5-4-1)
playoffs: out
The Senators have had an absolutely abysmal season which culminated in Bryan Murray's recent firesale. As the smoke clears, very little remains on the once-mighty Ottawa roster and with lots of picks and prospects in the system, Ottawa looks to the draft and free agency to help bring back their winning form. The turn-around begins in Minnesota in late June, and right now, the Senators are pretty much guaranteed a top 5 draft pick. With the lottery, the top pick is not certain, but the team with the worst record certainly has the best chance of geting it. The Senators don't care about winning games anymore. They care about getting that top pick, and getting some of their younger prospects some experience in the last 17 games of this campaign.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Deadline Day
The day is finally here, 3 pm today is the deadline for trading in the NHL. Typically there is a flurry of moves just before the deadline, which gradual becomes know in the hours following 3pm. Whether or not this happens today remains to be seen, but we've seen a few deals, signings, and claims already in the past 24 hours, so hopefully there will be more to follow. I will be posting updates about transactions of the day as I become aware of them, as well as giving my analyses of the deals.
Anaheim receives W Brad Winchester from St. Louis for 2012 3rd-round pick. Winchester is a hard-working winger who will help out Anaheim with his defensive skills much more than his offensive. He will likely be a fourth-line winger.
Calgary receives W Fredrik Modin from Atlanta for 2011 7th-round pick. Kind of hard to lose on this one. Calgary has been on a tear lately and will likely make the playoffs. With the recent surge, Jay Feaster didn't want to touch the team's chemistry. He gave up only a 7th-round pick to take a risk on Modin, who will likely fill a depth role with the Flames, as well as bring some experience for a Cup run. An aging wing, he may have lost something off his booming slapshot, which has contributed to his drop-off in goal production over the last few years. But Modin is still a decent thrid or fourth liner, who has a Cup victory under his belt (AGAINST the Flames).
Washington acquires C Jason Arnott from New Jersey for C David Steckel and 2nd-round pick. After a lot of talk, Washington has finally landed that second line center they so desperately needed. The 36-year-old Arnott is a strong two-way center, who can score goals and help on in his own zone as well. He has a ton of experience which helps a very young and inexperienced Capitals team. He has 30 goals and 66 points in 106 playoff games, which will be valuable to a team who has struggled in the postseason. Steckel is a decent depth centerman who will hope to contribute defensively for an insanely hot New Jersey team.
Montreal receives G Drew MacIntyre from Atlanta for D Brett Festerling. Festerling is still a young defenseman at age 24, but at most will bring some depth to Atlanta's D.
Vancouver receives C Max Lapierre and F MacGregor Sharp from Anaheim for F Joel Perrault and 3rd-round pick.With his third team this season, Lapierre will also fill a depth role for the powerful Canucks. He is a solid fourth-liner, who can put a few pucks in the net and is skilled as a pest as well. Perrault could see some time as a fourth line center in Anaheim.
Vancouver receives W Chris Higgins from Florida for F Evan Oberg and 3rd-round pick. Higgins has just landed with his fifth team in the past 3 seasons, but was a 20-goal scorer for the three seasons before that. In 48 games this year who has 11 goals, and most impressively, was a +5 for one of the weakest defensive teams in the league. He is a solid contributer in the right situation and should be valuable in a depth role for the league-leading Canucks.
New York Rangers receive C John Mitchell and 2012 7th-round pick from Toronto for 7th-round pick. Mitchell has seen limited playing tim this season for the lackluster Maple Leafs. Still, he scored a respectable 12 goals two years ago in his rookie season, and if he doesn't crack the lineup in New York, he should at least be a solid addition to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Los Angeles acquires W Dustin Penner from Edmonton for D Colten Teubert, 2011 1st round pick, and conditional 2012 3rd-round pick. This is likely the biggest catch of the day. The price was huge, but the payoff could prove Cup worthy for the Kings. Part of the tightly-packed and surging Pacific Division, the Kings have been playing well, and are adding a very talented scorer to an already formidable offense. Penner has 21 goals this year, and had 32 last year, with an umipressive supporting cast in Edmonton. He now joins a lineup that boasts Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams, Dustin Brown, and Ryan Smyth, all of whom have exactly 20 goals, plus Jarret Stoll who is not far behind with 17. That means the Kings will likely end the season with six 20-goal scorers. When every player on your top two lines scored twenty goals in a season, opposing goalies need to be at the top of their game to compete. The top two lines would likely be Kopitar centering Penner and Brown, with Stoll centering Smyth and Williams. That's a scary lineup. Meanwhile, Edmonton continues to stockpile young talent. They receive Colten Teubert, a 20-year-old blueliner, who was the 13th overall pick in 2008, plus an additional 1st-round pick in this years draft to add onto their already likely second consecutive 1st overall pick.
Carolina receives D Bryan Allen from Florida for W Sergei Samsonov. With the loss of Ian White, Allen should fill in nicely as a defensive defenseman for Carolina. Once a solid, mid 20's goal-scorer, the now 32-year-old has never quite lived up to his Rookie of the Year potential and has seen his production drop off massively since leaving the Bruins. Now with his 6th team since the lockout, Samsonov will look to bounce back with a young team hungry for goals.
Chicago receives D Chris Campoli and conditional 7th-round pick from Ottawa for F Ryan Potulny and conditional 2011 2nd-round pick. Chicago was looking for a penalty killing, 3rd-pair defenseman. I'm not sure if he fits the role of a penalty killer, but Campoli is definitely a solid 3rd pair D, who can contribute decent offensive numbers as well. Potulny hasn't had much NHL action, but did score 15 goals in 64 games for Edmonton last year. He should see some playing time in Ottawa, who's lineup with the recent fire sale is looking more like the Binghamton Senators every day.
Columbus receives W Scottie Upshall and D Sami Lepisto from Phoenix for D Rostislav Klesla and F Dane Byers. Columbus is on a hot streak, but still might not make the playoffs. They wanted to add some talent, without giving up any overly important cogs. Klesla was the longest-tenured Jacket, and has had a solid season. He will bring some defensive depth the hot Coyotes. The Coyotes, who are not overly offensively talented, gave up a lot offensively. On ateam that's been scoring by committee, Upshall has 16 goals, and should bring solid third-line numbers to Columbus. Lepisto's numbers are similar to Klesla's so the trade-off is about even for Klesla's spot on the roster. I'd say the Blue Jackets are the clear winners on this deal.
Washington receives D Dennis Wideman from Florida for F Jake Hauswirth and 2011 3rd-round pick. Florida continues their fire sale by shipping off Wideman, who was acquired over the summer with picks for Nathan Horton and Greg Campbell, to Washington, who was looking for some stability on the back end. Wideman is a solid offensive defenseman who should couple nicely with scoring machine Mike Green, but Washington still needs a second line center and some defensive talent.
Buffalo receives W Brad Boyes from St. Louis for 2011 2nd-round pick. Buffalo is looking for something to push them over the edge and make them a playoff team. Brad Boyes played all 82 games in the 3 seasons for St. Louis. He scored 43 goals. Then 33. Then 14. The Sabres are hoping a change of scenery will return Boyes to his 40-goal form.
Atlanta receives W Radek Dvorak and 2011 5th-round pick from Florida for W Niclas Bergfors and W Patrick Rissmiller. Save one random offensive explosion where he scored 31 goals for the Rangers in 2000-01, Dvorak had another 20-goal season in his 15 years in the league. Still, he can contribute decent offensive numbers and he brings a veteran presence to a young Thrashers team. Bergfors, 23, has plenty of time to reach his vast offensive potential with the rebuilding Panthers, which he proved last season with a 21-goal rookie campaign between the Devils and Thrashers.
Ottawa claims G Curtis McElhinney from Tampa Bay. McElhinney has had a crazy week. He started off in Anaheim, then had to leave and head South and all the way across the country to go to Tampa Bay. NOW he's headed way north to Ottawa. With newly acquired Craig Anderson playing well so far for the Sens, that puts McElhinney as the backup, as young Robin Lehner was just sent to the AHL.
Atlanta claims W Rob Schremp from New York Islanders. Schremp is a talented young winger, who may see a surge in offense in Atlanta. Extremely gifted with the puck, Schremp showed off his dangling skills a few years back in the AHL Skills Competition. After 3 seasons and only 7 games played with Edmonton, he was picked up by the Islanders last season, where he scored 7 goals and 25 points in 44 games. This season with the Isles, Schremp had 10 goals and 22 points in 45 games, but was a -19 when he was placed on waivers. He has the offensive potential, but with the struggling defensive game of the Thrashers right now, he needs to play better in his own end.
Calgary claims D Brett Carson from Carolina. After playing 54 games last season with Carolina, Carson has only seen action 13 times in this campaign. At age 25, he still has plenty of time to emerge as a decent top-4 defenseman, but for now, he will just fill a depth role with the surging Flames.
Atlanta signs D Mark Stuart to 3-year, $5.1 mil extension. Stuie saw limited playing time with the Bruins this season after getting injured. He joins his old Bruins assistant coach Craig Ramsey in Atlanta, and should thrive under his system. Despite recent injury woes, Stuart should bring some defensive stability to a more offensively talented defensive corps in Atlanta. He is tough as nails, will fight when he has to, and is a good shut-down guy when his game is on.
Detroit signs G Jimmy Howard to 2-year, $4.5 mil extension. Coming off an outstanding rookie season where he went 37-15-10 with a .926 save percentage and a 2.26 GAA in 63 games and was a nominee for the Calder Trophy, Howard has seen his numbers drop off in his sophomore season. But despite his .908 SV% and 2.79 GAA, he is leading the NHL with 30 wins. With a team like the Red WIngs around you, a goalie can get by without stellar numbers, but Howard has the capability of playing much, much better, which makes the Red WIngs a very scary opponent.
Los Angeles signs W Justin Williams to 4-year, $14.6 mil extension. Williams is a former 30-goal scorer and was a key chip in the Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup team a few years back. After having his last few seasons derailed by injury, Williams is having a comeback season, with 20 goals, 49 points, and is a +14 in 62 games with the Kings this season. He has played every game this season, a feat he hasn't come clos to since 2006-07. With his newfound health, the 29-year-old Williams should continue to cintribute offensively for the Kings fro the next few years.
Ottawa signs D Chris Phillips to 3-year, $9.5 mil extension. Considered one of the hottest items on the trade market, Chris Phillips opted to stay in Ottawa to help mentor the young players during the rebuilding process rather than accept a move to a contender. Phillips is a strong shut-down defenseman with great leadership and his presence should be beneficial for those younger players coming into the organization.
Chicago signs D Brent Seabrook to 5-year, $29 mil extension. The Blackhawks have had cap problems and are careful to keep a specific core of players. While the team falls apart around them, the hope is that these players will be a stable foundation for the team to build and rebuild around, and hopefully stay in contention, for the next few years. Seabrook is a talented young defenseman who was a key member of the Cup team last year, and should continue to make a big impact on the Chicago franchise.
Anaheim receives W Brad Winchester from St. Louis for 2012 3rd-round pick. Winchester is a hard-working winger who will help out Anaheim with his defensive skills much more than his offensive. He will likely be a fourth-line winger.
Calgary receives W Fredrik Modin from Atlanta for 2011 7th-round pick. Kind of hard to lose on this one. Calgary has been on a tear lately and will likely make the playoffs. With the recent surge, Jay Feaster didn't want to touch the team's chemistry. He gave up only a 7th-round pick to take a risk on Modin, who will likely fill a depth role with the Flames, as well as bring some experience for a Cup run. An aging wing, he may have lost something off his booming slapshot, which has contributed to his drop-off in goal production over the last few years. But Modin is still a decent thrid or fourth liner, who has a Cup victory under his belt (AGAINST the Flames).
Washington acquires C Jason Arnott from New Jersey for C David Steckel and 2nd-round pick. After a lot of talk, Washington has finally landed that second line center they so desperately needed. The 36-year-old Arnott is a strong two-way center, who can score goals and help on in his own zone as well. He has a ton of experience which helps a very young and inexperienced Capitals team. He has 30 goals and 66 points in 106 playoff games, which will be valuable to a team who has struggled in the postseason. Steckel is a decent depth centerman who will hope to contribute defensively for an insanely hot New Jersey team.
Montreal receives G Drew MacIntyre from Atlanta for D Brett Festerling. Festerling is still a young defenseman at age 24, but at most will bring some depth to Atlanta's D.
Vancouver receives C Max Lapierre and F MacGregor Sharp from Anaheim for F Joel Perrault and 3rd-round pick.With his third team this season, Lapierre will also fill a depth role for the powerful Canucks. He is a solid fourth-liner, who can put a few pucks in the net and is skilled as a pest as well. Perrault could see some time as a fourth line center in Anaheim.
Vancouver receives W Chris Higgins from Florida for F Evan Oberg and 3rd-round pick. Higgins has just landed with his fifth team in the past 3 seasons, but was a 20-goal scorer for the three seasons before that. In 48 games this year who has 11 goals, and most impressively, was a +5 for one of the weakest defensive teams in the league. He is a solid contributer in the right situation and should be valuable in a depth role for the league-leading Canucks.
New York Rangers receive C John Mitchell and 2012 7th-round pick from Toronto for 7th-round pick. Mitchell has seen limited playing tim this season for the lackluster Maple Leafs. Still, he scored a respectable 12 goals two years ago in his rookie season, and if he doesn't crack the lineup in New York, he should at least be a solid addition to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Los Angeles acquires W Dustin Penner from Edmonton for D Colten Teubert, 2011 1st round pick, and conditional 2012 3rd-round pick. This is likely the biggest catch of the day. The price was huge, but the payoff could prove Cup worthy for the Kings. Part of the tightly-packed and surging Pacific Division, the Kings have been playing well, and are adding a very talented scorer to an already formidable offense. Penner has 21 goals this year, and had 32 last year, with an umipressive supporting cast in Edmonton. He now joins a lineup that boasts Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams, Dustin Brown, and Ryan Smyth, all of whom have exactly 20 goals, plus Jarret Stoll who is not far behind with 17. That means the Kings will likely end the season with six 20-goal scorers. When every player on your top two lines scored twenty goals in a season, opposing goalies need to be at the top of their game to compete. The top two lines would likely be Kopitar centering Penner and Brown, with Stoll centering Smyth and Williams. That's a scary lineup. Meanwhile, Edmonton continues to stockpile young talent. They receive Colten Teubert, a 20-year-old blueliner, who was the 13th overall pick in 2008, plus an additional 1st-round pick in this years draft to add onto their already likely second consecutive 1st overall pick.
Carolina receives D Bryan Allen from Florida for W Sergei Samsonov. With the loss of Ian White, Allen should fill in nicely as a defensive defenseman for Carolina. Once a solid, mid 20's goal-scorer, the now 32-year-old has never quite lived up to his Rookie of the Year potential and has seen his production drop off massively since leaving the Bruins. Now with his 6th team since the lockout, Samsonov will look to bounce back with a young team hungry for goals.
Chicago receives D Chris Campoli and conditional 7th-round pick from Ottawa for F Ryan Potulny and conditional 2011 2nd-round pick. Chicago was looking for a penalty killing, 3rd-pair defenseman. I'm not sure if he fits the role of a penalty killer, but Campoli is definitely a solid 3rd pair D, who can contribute decent offensive numbers as well. Potulny hasn't had much NHL action, but did score 15 goals in 64 games for Edmonton last year. He should see some playing time in Ottawa, who's lineup with the recent fire sale is looking more like the Binghamton Senators every day.
Columbus receives W Scottie Upshall and D Sami Lepisto from Phoenix for D Rostislav Klesla and F Dane Byers. Columbus is on a hot streak, but still might not make the playoffs. They wanted to add some talent, without giving up any overly important cogs. Klesla was the longest-tenured Jacket, and has had a solid season. He will bring some defensive depth the hot Coyotes. The Coyotes, who are not overly offensively talented, gave up a lot offensively. On ateam that's been scoring by committee, Upshall has 16 goals, and should bring solid third-line numbers to Columbus. Lepisto's numbers are similar to Klesla's so the trade-off is about even for Klesla's spot on the roster. I'd say the Blue Jackets are the clear winners on this deal.
Washington receives D Dennis Wideman from Florida for F Jake Hauswirth and 2011 3rd-round pick. Florida continues their fire sale by shipping off Wideman, who was acquired over the summer with picks for Nathan Horton and Greg Campbell, to Washington, who was looking for some stability on the back end. Wideman is a solid offensive defenseman who should couple nicely with scoring machine Mike Green, but Washington still needs a second line center and some defensive talent.
Buffalo receives W Brad Boyes from St. Louis for 2011 2nd-round pick. Buffalo is looking for something to push them over the edge and make them a playoff team. Brad Boyes played all 82 games in the 3 seasons for St. Louis. He scored 43 goals. Then 33. Then 14. The Sabres are hoping a change of scenery will return Boyes to his 40-goal form.
Atlanta receives W Radek Dvorak and 2011 5th-round pick from Florida for W Niclas Bergfors and W Patrick Rissmiller. Save one random offensive explosion where he scored 31 goals for the Rangers in 2000-01, Dvorak had another 20-goal season in his 15 years in the league. Still, he can contribute decent offensive numbers and he brings a veteran presence to a young Thrashers team. Bergfors, 23, has plenty of time to reach his vast offensive potential with the rebuilding Panthers, which he proved last season with a 21-goal rookie campaign between the Devils and Thrashers.
Ottawa claims G Curtis McElhinney from Tampa Bay. McElhinney has had a crazy week. He started off in Anaheim, then had to leave and head South and all the way across the country to go to Tampa Bay. NOW he's headed way north to Ottawa. With newly acquired Craig Anderson playing well so far for the Sens, that puts McElhinney as the backup, as young Robin Lehner was just sent to the AHL.
Atlanta claims W Rob Schremp from New York Islanders. Schremp is a talented young winger, who may see a surge in offense in Atlanta. Extremely gifted with the puck, Schremp showed off his dangling skills a few years back in the AHL Skills Competition. After 3 seasons and only 7 games played with Edmonton, he was picked up by the Islanders last season, where he scored 7 goals and 25 points in 44 games. This season with the Isles, Schremp had 10 goals and 22 points in 45 games, but was a -19 when he was placed on waivers. He has the offensive potential, but with the struggling defensive game of the Thrashers right now, he needs to play better in his own end.
Calgary claims D Brett Carson from Carolina. After playing 54 games last season with Carolina, Carson has only seen action 13 times in this campaign. At age 25, he still has plenty of time to emerge as a decent top-4 defenseman, but for now, he will just fill a depth role with the surging Flames.
Atlanta signs D Mark Stuart to 3-year, $5.1 mil extension. Stuie saw limited playing time with the Bruins this season after getting injured. He joins his old Bruins assistant coach Craig Ramsey in Atlanta, and should thrive under his system. Despite recent injury woes, Stuart should bring some defensive stability to a more offensively talented defensive corps in Atlanta. He is tough as nails, will fight when he has to, and is a good shut-down guy when his game is on.
Detroit signs G Jimmy Howard to 2-year, $4.5 mil extension. Coming off an outstanding rookie season where he went 37-15-10 with a .926 save percentage and a 2.26 GAA in 63 games and was a nominee for the Calder Trophy, Howard has seen his numbers drop off in his sophomore season. But despite his .908 SV% and 2.79 GAA, he is leading the NHL with 30 wins. With a team like the Red WIngs around you, a goalie can get by without stellar numbers, but Howard has the capability of playing much, much better, which makes the Red WIngs a very scary opponent.
Los Angeles signs W Justin Williams to 4-year, $14.6 mil extension. Williams is a former 30-goal scorer and was a key chip in the Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup team a few years back. After having his last few seasons derailed by injury, Williams is having a comeback season, with 20 goals, 49 points, and is a +14 in 62 games with the Kings this season. He has played every game this season, a feat he hasn't come clos to since 2006-07. With his newfound health, the 29-year-old Williams should continue to cintribute offensively for the Kings fro the next few years.
Ottawa signs D Chris Phillips to 3-year, $9.5 mil extension. Considered one of the hottest items on the trade market, Chris Phillips opted to stay in Ottawa to help mentor the young players during the rebuilding process rather than accept a move to a contender. Phillips is a strong shut-down defenseman with great leadership and his presence should be beneficial for those younger players coming into the organization.
Chicago signs D Brent Seabrook to 5-year, $29 mil extension. The Blackhawks have had cap problems and are careful to keep a specific core of players. While the team falls apart around them, the hope is that these players will be a stable foundation for the team to build and rebuild around, and hopefully stay in contention, for the next few years. Seabrook is a talented young defenseman who was a key member of the Cup team last year, and should continue to make a big impact on the Chicago franchise.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
So They Claim
With the Trade Deadline now two days away, several teams have been clearing cap space by placing underperforming players on waivers. So far today, three players have been picked up by contending teams. Trades continue here and there as well.
New York Rangers receive D Bryan McCabe from Florida for W Tim Kennedy and 2011 3rd round pick. The Rangers are looking to turn their play around and keep hold of their current playoff position. With a young blue line led by Marc Staal, the Rangers pick up an aging puck-moving defenseman, who should help mentor the younger players. He was Florida's captain and will bring valuable leadership to the Blueshirts. Florida continues their mission of shipping off their veterans for young talent and prospects. Tim Kennedy had 10 goals and 26 points in his rookie season for the Sabres last year, along with 3 points in 6 playoff games. The Sabres declined to pick up his arbitration reward in the offseason and he was picked up for the Rangers, who kept him in the minors. He has some potential and should get a chance to play more in the young Florida system.
Columbus claims D Criag Rivet from Buffalo. This could be a brilliant move for a resurgent Columbus squad. Still pushing for their first playoff appearance ever, the Blue Jackets have been a roll lately, partly thanks to the explosive goal-scorer, including last night's hat trick, of call-up Max Calvert. With an unimpressive and young blue line, Columbus now brings in some great leadership and experience on the back end in the form of a fallen defenseman looking to redeem himself. In a bold move, Lindy Ruff sat his captain when the Sabres weren't playing well, and Rivet has been benched ever since. Rivet will be a solid contributer to the Blue Jackets, but they should still look for additional help.
Washington claims W Marco Sturm from Los Angeles. Still recovering from a devastating injury suffered in the playoffs last year with Boston, Marco Sturm still hasn't really found his game since returning to play with the Kings. If Sturm can return to form, he is a a proven 25-goal scorer, whose speed should fit in well with the Capitals system. They still need a dependable second line center, but Sturm is a gamble that could prove valuable.
Philadelphia claims D Nick Boynton from Chicago. After seeing little playing time for the Cup champs last year, Boynton has gotten more ice time this year, but the Blackhawks haven't been playing so well this year and shedding Boynton clears a small amount of cap space and leaves a spot open for younger developping D-men. The Blackhawks are looking for a shut-down defenseman who can play on the PK and this leaves some space to do that. The Flyers have one of the most solid defensive corps in the game, but with top defender Chris Pronger and seventh man Oskars Bartulis injured, Boynton will likely see some playing time with the remaining group of Braydon Coburn, Kimmo Timonen, Andrej Meszaros, Sean O'Donnell, and Matt Carle, and when Pronger returns, will be solid injury insurance for the playoffs. Boynton's play has been down over the last few years, but reuniting with former Bruins teammate Sean O'Donnell could help him find his game.
New York Rangers receive D Bryan McCabe from Florida for W Tim Kennedy and 2011 3rd round pick. The Rangers are looking to turn their play around and keep hold of their current playoff position. With a young blue line led by Marc Staal, the Rangers pick up an aging puck-moving defenseman, who should help mentor the younger players. He was Florida's captain and will bring valuable leadership to the Blueshirts. Florida continues their mission of shipping off their veterans for young talent and prospects. Tim Kennedy had 10 goals and 26 points in his rookie season for the Sabres last year, along with 3 points in 6 playoff games. The Sabres declined to pick up his arbitration reward in the offseason and he was picked up for the Rangers, who kept him in the minors. He has some potential and should get a chance to play more in the young Florida system.
Columbus claims D Criag Rivet from Buffalo. This could be a brilliant move for a resurgent Columbus squad. Still pushing for their first playoff appearance ever, the Blue Jackets have been a roll lately, partly thanks to the explosive goal-scorer, including last night's hat trick, of call-up Max Calvert. With an unimpressive and young blue line, Columbus now brings in some great leadership and experience on the back end in the form of a fallen defenseman looking to redeem himself. In a bold move, Lindy Ruff sat his captain when the Sabres weren't playing well, and Rivet has been benched ever since. Rivet will be a solid contributer to the Blue Jackets, but they should still look for additional help.
Washington claims W Marco Sturm from Los Angeles. Still recovering from a devastating injury suffered in the playoffs last year with Boston, Marco Sturm still hasn't really found his game since returning to play with the Kings. If Sturm can return to form, he is a a proven 25-goal scorer, whose speed should fit in well with the Capitals system. They still need a dependable second line center, but Sturm is a gamble that could prove valuable.
Philadelphia claims D Nick Boynton from Chicago. After seeing little playing time for the Cup champs last year, Boynton has gotten more ice time this year, but the Blackhawks haven't been playing so well this year and shedding Boynton clears a small amount of cap space and leaves a spot open for younger developping D-men. The Blackhawks are looking for a shut-down defenseman who can play on the PK and this leaves some space to do that. The Flyers have one of the most solid defensive corps in the game, but with top defender Chris Pronger and seventh man Oskars Bartulis injured, Boynton will likely see some playing time with the remaining group of Braydon Coburn, Kimmo Timonen, Andrej Meszaros, Sean O'Donnell, and Matt Carle, and when Pronger returns, will be solid injury insurance for the playoffs. Boynton's play has been down over the last few years, but reuniting with former Bruins teammate Sean O'Donnell could help him find his game.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Update Central
I will be using this post to analyze any trades that occur between now and Monday morning, so keep checking back for the latest updates!
Florida acquires D Alex Sulzer from NSH for 2012 7th-round pick. Neither side can really lose on this deal, Florida gets a still fairly young defenseman, who despite minimal playing time so far in the NHL could contribute to the rebuilding process for the Panthers, and in case he's a flop, they only gave up a 7th-round pick for him. Behind Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, Nashville's blue line isn't particularly impressive, and they will by looking in the next couple days to add a solid D-man for the postseason, which would leave Sulzer with less playing time. At age 26, Sulzer still has some potential, but is probably past the time where playing more in the minors would develop his game, so off he goes to Florida. Nashville got little in return for him, but you never know what surprising talent may be left in the 7th-round, though the chance of finding that in such a late round is very slim. There should be little significance to the acquisition of such a late round pick, but it is always fun to see the surprise finds that were passed up round after round by many teams. Notable 7th-round picks since 2000 include Jason Demers (SJS), Anders Lindback (NSH), Carl Gunnarsson (TOR), Derek Dorsett (CBJ), Benn Ferriero (SJS), Joe Vitale (PIT), Sergei Kostitsyn (MTL), Anton Stralman (TOR), Kyle Cumiskey (COL), Patric Hornqvist (NSH), Troy Brouwer (CHI), Matt Hunwick (BOS), Chris Campoli (NYI), Nathan Paetsch (BUF), Joe Pavelski (SJS), Kyle Brodziak (EDM), Jeremy Williams (TOR), Greg Mauldin (CBJ), Fredrik Norrena (TBL), Derek Meech (DET), Derek Boogaard (MIN), Cristobal Huet (LAK), David Moss (CGY), Johnny Oduya (WSH), Marek Svatos (COL), Henrik Lundqvist (NYR), Matt Lombardi (EDM), Paul Gaustad (BUF), and Antti Miettinen (DAL). Notable draftees since 2000 in rounds LATER than 7th when those rounds existed include Aaron Voros (8-NJD), Martin Gerber (8-ANA), Milan Jurcina (8-BOS), Max Talbot (8-PIT), Petr Prucha (8-NYR),Dennis Wideman (8-BUF), Tobias Enstrom (8-ATL), Dustin Byfiglien (8-CHI), Shane O'Brien (8-ANA), Brandon Yip (8-COL), Pekka Rinne (8-NSH), P.A. Parenteau (9-FLA), Adam Burish (9-CHI), Jonathan Ericsson (9-DET), Matt Moulson (9-PIT), Tanner Glass (9-FLA), Jaroslav Halak (9-MTL), David Jones (9-COL), Brian Elliott (9-OTT), Mark Streit (9-MTL), Daniel Winnik (9-PHX), and Jannik Hansen (9-VAN). Kudos to the Nashville scouts, in recent years in round 7 or later, they've picked up BOTH of the teams current goalies, Pekka Rinne and Anders Lindback, as well as talented goal-scorer Patric Hornqvist. We'll see in a few years if they pull of another pick like those at this year's draft.
Carolina acquires W Cory Stillman from Florida for C Ryan Carter and 2011 5th-round pick. After many years overflowing with veterans galore, the Canes have a fairly young team right now. The bringing back of Croy Stillman brings a familiar veteran presence to help guide the youngsters in their playoff push. He's up there now at 37, and is nowhere near the 25-goal scorer he used to be, but he is a solid player who won a Cup with them back in 2006 and should be welcomed back fondly by the few players still with the team from then. Carter brings little to the rebuilding panthers, but has a minimal cap hit and could be used as more potential trade bait for a team who is till looking to dump a lot of high-priced pending UFAs (like Stillman).
Atlanta acquires C Ben Maxwell and 2011 4th round pick from Montreal for D Brent Sopel and W Nigel Dawes. This should provide a little more oomf for the Habs. Nigel Dawes has played only nine NHL games this season, but has shown in the past that he can contribute a decent third or fourth line calibur offense, and franklly, the Canadiens offense has not been very impressive this season. They still need a big name goal-scorer if they want to make a Cup run, but Dawes provides some depth. Sopel has been tossed around the league for the past few years, but brings a solifd defensive game wherever he goes, and now can contribute some valuable experience, having won a Cup with Chicago last season. He should provide some help for a defense that has been derailed by injury this season, but now the Canadiens have some serious defensive depth adding Sopel to a solid existing group of Roman Hamrlik, Hal Gill, hard-hitting rookie sensation P.K. Subban, midseason acquisition James Wisniewski, Jaroslav Spacek, youngsters Yannick Weber and Alexandre Picard, and recent pickup Paul Mara. With this crew (and the return of Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges next season), the Canadiens have a wealth of defense that they may be able to use as bait to reel in that big scorer they're looking for up front. 22-year old Maxwell has 0 points in 20 NHL games over the past two years, but has solid AHL numbers, and has time to find his potential in the Thrashers organization. Atlanta also gives up very little for a prospect and a pick; Dawes played minimally this season and Sopel became expendable with the acquisition of Mark Stuart from Boston. Still, the Thrashers would like to add a veteran scorer to guide their struggling young team back into the playoffs, and some defensive help as well. Blueliners Johnny Oduya, Freddy Meyer, and Ron Hainsey could all be used as trade bait, as well as Zach Bogosian, whose youth and enormous potential could bring in a massive return.
Pittsburgh acquires W Alex Kovalev from Ottawa for 2011 conditional pick. Kovalev is old, has had a down couple of years since leaving Montreal for Ottawa, and only plays when he feels like it. But a return to his former team could be just what the doctor ordered. Still with some of the best hands in the league, Kovalev is a gifted goal-scorer when he is motivated enough, which he could be now that he leaves the worst team in the East for a potential contender. With their top players out for who knows how long, Kovalev could be a key cog for a rejuvinated offense that has also just added talented young scorer James Neal into the fold. Or he could be just as lazy as he has been in the past and the Penguins will continue to rely on their defense to scrape by. Either way the rissk is big but the price was minimal, and Ray Shero's aged veterans seem to pay off more than his huge scorers around the deadline. Just look how much more Bill Guerin did for them than did Marian Hossa.
Anaheim acquires G Dan Ellis from Tampa Bay for G Curtis McElhinney. Tampa Bay picked up Dan Ellis this offseason to round out a very questionable and streaky goaltending tandem with Mike Smith. Thanks to an extremely potent offense, Ellis's shaky numbers haven't been much of a problem for the Southeast leading Lightning, and with the mid-season steal of Dwayne Roloson, the Lightning seem set for a playoff push. Roloson is questionable himself at this age, but continues to show flashes of brilliance and is a very experienced goaltender. Anaheim has been looking for a solution in net these days, as All-Star Jonas Hiller's health has kept him off the ice. Curtis McElhinney has not played well filling in, prompting Anaheim to swap him for Ellis, to round out another extremely unreliable duo in Anaheim with recent signee/call-up Ray Emery. Still, Dan Ellis could be a huge asset if he can manage to find his once impressive form, the form that helped him go 23-10-3 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.34 goals against average for the Predators as a rookie in 2007-08. But for now, the Ducks should just hope that Hiller overcomes his dizziniess and fatigue, and soon.
Florida acquires D Alex Sulzer from NSH for 2012 7th-round pick. Neither side can really lose on this deal, Florida gets a still fairly young defenseman, who despite minimal playing time so far in the NHL could contribute to the rebuilding process for the Panthers, and in case he's a flop, they only gave up a 7th-round pick for him. Behind Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, Nashville's blue line isn't particularly impressive, and they will by looking in the next couple days to add a solid D-man for the postseason, which would leave Sulzer with less playing time. At age 26, Sulzer still has some potential, but is probably past the time where playing more in the minors would develop his game, so off he goes to Florida. Nashville got little in return for him, but you never know what surprising talent may be left in the 7th-round, though the chance of finding that in such a late round is very slim. There should be little significance to the acquisition of such a late round pick, but it is always fun to see the surprise finds that were passed up round after round by many teams. Notable 7th-round picks since 2000 include Jason Demers (SJS), Anders Lindback (NSH), Carl Gunnarsson (TOR), Derek Dorsett (CBJ), Benn Ferriero (SJS), Joe Vitale (PIT), Sergei Kostitsyn (MTL), Anton Stralman (TOR), Kyle Cumiskey (COL), Patric Hornqvist (NSH), Troy Brouwer (CHI), Matt Hunwick (BOS), Chris Campoli (NYI), Nathan Paetsch (BUF), Joe Pavelski (SJS), Kyle Brodziak (EDM), Jeremy Williams (TOR), Greg Mauldin (CBJ), Fredrik Norrena (TBL), Derek Meech (DET), Derek Boogaard (MIN), Cristobal Huet (LAK), David Moss (CGY), Johnny Oduya (WSH), Marek Svatos (COL), Henrik Lundqvist (NYR), Matt Lombardi (EDM), Paul Gaustad (BUF), and Antti Miettinen (DAL). Notable draftees since 2000 in rounds LATER than 7th when those rounds existed include Aaron Voros (8-NJD), Martin Gerber (8-ANA), Milan Jurcina (8-BOS), Max Talbot (8-PIT), Petr Prucha (8-NYR),Dennis Wideman (8-BUF), Tobias Enstrom (8-ATL), Dustin Byfiglien (8-CHI), Shane O'Brien (8-ANA), Brandon Yip (8-COL), Pekka Rinne (8-NSH), P.A. Parenteau (9-FLA), Adam Burish (9-CHI), Jonathan Ericsson (9-DET), Matt Moulson (9-PIT), Tanner Glass (9-FLA), Jaroslav Halak (9-MTL), David Jones (9-COL), Brian Elliott (9-OTT), Mark Streit (9-MTL), Daniel Winnik (9-PHX), and Jannik Hansen (9-VAN). Kudos to the Nashville scouts, in recent years in round 7 or later, they've picked up BOTH of the teams current goalies, Pekka Rinne and Anders Lindback, as well as talented goal-scorer Patric Hornqvist. We'll see in a few years if they pull of another pick like those at this year's draft.
Carolina acquires W Cory Stillman from Florida for C Ryan Carter and 2011 5th-round pick. After many years overflowing with veterans galore, the Canes have a fairly young team right now. The bringing back of Croy Stillman brings a familiar veteran presence to help guide the youngsters in their playoff push. He's up there now at 37, and is nowhere near the 25-goal scorer he used to be, but he is a solid player who won a Cup with them back in 2006 and should be welcomed back fondly by the few players still with the team from then. Carter brings little to the rebuilding panthers, but has a minimal cap hit and could be used as more potential trade bait for a team who is till looking to dump a lot of high-priced pending UFAs (like Stillman).
Atlanta acquires C Ben Maxwell and 2011 4th round pick from Montreal for D Brent Sopel and W Nigel Dawes. This should provide a little more oomf for the Habs. Nigel Dawes has played only nine NHL games this season, but has shown in the past that he can contribute a decent third or fourth line calibur offense, and franklly, the Canadiens offense has not been very impressive this season. They still need a big name goal-scorer if they want to make a Cup run, but Dawes provides some depth. Sopel has been tossed around the league for the past few years, but brings a solifd defensive game wherever he goes, and now can contribute some valuable experience, having won a Cup with Chicago last season. He should provide some help for a defense that has been derailed by injury this season, but now the Canadiens have some serious defensive depth adding Sopel to a solid existing group of Roman Hamrlik, Hal Gill, hard-hitting rookie sensation P.K. Subban, midseason acquisition James Wisniewski, Jaroslav Spacek, youngsters Yannick Weber and Alexandre Picard, and recent pickup Paul Mara. With this crew (and the return of Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges next season), the Canadiens have a wealth of defense that they may be able to use as bait to reel in that big scorer they're looking for up front. 22-year old Maxwell has 0 points in 20 NHL games over the past two years, but has solid AHL numbers, and has time to find his potential in the Thrashers organization. Atlanta also gives up very little for a prospect and a pick; Dawes played minimally this season and Sopel became expendable with the acquisition of Mark Stuart from Boston. Still, the Thrashers would like to add a veteran scorer to guide their struggling young team back into the playoffs, and some defensive help as well. Blueliners Johnny Oduya, Freddy Meyer, and Ron Hainsey could all be used as trade bait, as well as Zach Bogosian, whose youth and enormous potential could bring in a massive return.
Pittsburgh acquires W Alex Kovalev from Ottawa for 2011 conditional pick. Kovalev is old, has had a down couple of years since leaving Montreal for Ottawa, and only plays when he feels like it. But a return to his former team could be just what the doctor ordered. Still with some of the best hands in the league, Kovalev is a gifted goal-scorer when he is motivated enough, which he could be now that he leaves the worst team in the East for a potential contender. With their top players out for who knows how long, Kovalev could be a key cog for a rejuvinated offense that has also just added talented young scorer James Neal into the fold. Or he could be just as lazy as he has been in the past and the Penguins will continue to rely on their defense to scrape by. Either way the rissk is big but the price was minimal, and Ray Shero's aged veterans seem to pay off more than his huge scorers around the deadline. Just look how much more Bill Guerin did for them than did Marian Hossa.
Anaheim acquires G Dan Ellis from Tampa Bay for G Curtis McElhinney. Tampa Bay picked up Dan Ellis this offseason to round out a very questionable and streaky goaltending tandem with Mike Smith. Thanks to an extremely potent offense, Ellis's shaky numbers haven't been much of a problem for the Southeast leading Lightning, and with the mid-season steal of Dwayne Roloson, the Lightning seem set for a playoff push. Roloson is questionable himself at this age, but continues to show flashes of brilliance and is a very experienced goaltender. Anaheim has been looking for a solution in net these days, as All-Star Jonas Hiller's health has kept him off the ice. Curtis McElhinney has not played well filling in, prompting Anaheim to swap him for Ellis, to round out another extremely unreliable duo in Anaheim with recent signee/call-up Ray Emery. Still, Dan Ellis could be a huge asset if he can manage to find his once impressive form, the form that helped him go 23-10-3 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.34 goals against average for the Predators as a rookie in 2007-08. But for now, the Ducks should just hope that Hiller overcomes his dizziniess and fatigue, and soon.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Five Days
A lot can happen in five days, and a lot has ALREADY happened in the last week. On Monday at 3pm we will learn the final destination for all players this season, excluding waivers of course. Things have slowed down a bit this week after the flurry of moves that happened last week, but as usual, a last-minute transaction explosion can still be expected from Sunday night to Monday afternoon, and I will be giving constant trade updates and analyses starting at 3pm on Monday. With many teams fighting for the last few spots in the East, and a serious logjam in the West (5th and 12th are still separated by only a point), the next three or four days of games could decide whether teams are buyers, sellers, or neither, and any streak could make our break an organizations playoff hopes. GMs of once solid teams, could panic and make a drastic last minute move which could be beneficial or disastrous for a franchise. And this is why late February and early July are the best times of the year.....
Trades since Kaberle:
Carolina receives D Derek Joslin from San Jose for future considerations. At 23 years of age, this former 5th-round pick still has plenty of time to prove himself, but don't expect him to have a huge immediate impact on the Carolina blue line.
San Jose receives D Ian White from Carolina for 2012 2nd-round pick. San Jose was looking for a defenseman, and having just traded a young one to the same team, they got a decent pick-up from the Canes. Ian White should bring solid offensive numbers to the San Jose defense, but as this is now his THIRD team THIS SEASON (and fourth team in the past two seasons), I have to wonder how desirable he actually is. San Jose may have given up a little too much in a 2nd round pick for him, but previous trades may have also driven up the market price. Maybe his constant movement means there is a high demand for him, or maybe it means teams can't wait to get rid of him.
Tampa Bay receives D Eric Brewer from St. Louis for 2011 3rd-round pick and the rights to Brock Beukeboom. Both Eric Brewer and his new team should benefit wildly from this deal. Before the lockout, the St. Louis Blues had the active record for longest consecutive playoff streak in sports. After the lockout, however, the Blues finished their next season at the bottom of the league, and this happened to be Brewer's first year on the team. Over 6 seasons with the hapless Blues, many of which were derailed by injury, the Blues' captain was a collective -75, and became absolutely despised by much of the Blues' fanbase. Despite his number, he is a good defensemna, who will benefit from playing with a better team. He also brings additional leadership for a Cup run to a team that still has guys like Pavel Kubina, Marty St. Louis, and Vinny Lcecavlier left over from the 04 Cup team. He is also leaving a team where he had the burden of carrying most of the defensive load to a team where he can share the load with a solid existing top five in Kubina, Mattias Ohlund, Victor Hedman, Brett Clark, and Randy Jones, with solid defenders Mike Lundin and Marc-Andre Bergeron also on the roster, making Tampa as deep as anyone on the back end. The price also seemed little to get Brewer given the current market, unless Beukeboom, son of former NHL defenseman Jeff Beukeboom ends up developing into a strong player.
St. Louis acquires W Chris Stewart, D Kevin Shattenkirk and 2011 or 2012 2nd-round pick from Colorado for C Jay McClement, D Erik Johnson, and 2011 or 2012 1st-round pick. This is definitely the big one so far. Both teams were fading fast and needed to shake up their teams and they did so in dramatic fashion. The Blues receive a potential 30-goal power forward in you Chris Stewart, who's already scored a few in his short tenure for the Blues. Former Boston University D-man Shattenkirk is a solid young prospect, emerging already in his rookie season as a good offensive defenseman and making the Rookie All-Star team. The only question mark for the Blues is where to look to fill the giant hole in minutes on D now that Johnson and Brewer are both gone. The Avalanche were openly blasted for this deal by Peter Stastny, a Hall of Famer and father of Avs young gun Paul Stastny. Certainlly the Avalanche took the greater risk, but the payout could still be monumental if it works in their favor. Johnson, the first overall pick in 2006, who was followed by an impressive four of 2. Jordan Staal (PIT-won cup in 09), 3. Jonathan Toews (CHI-captain, won cup in 10), 4. Nicklas Backstrom (WSH), and 5. Phil Kessel (BOS), has so far not satisfied the Blues organization. Pegged as a future Chris Pronger, Johnson has put up decent offensive numbers so far in the league with over 30 points in each of his two seasons, despite an ACL injury (playing golf, of all things) costing him the entire 2008-2009 season, but after a promising start to the season, Johnson, who has 20 points in 57 games this season, took a large part of the blame. The Blues needed to make a change and he was the piece that could bring in the biggest haul. The Avalanche receive an underperforming defenseman, but at age 22, Johnson still has the potential to becoming an elite NHL defenseman, and could be an important fixture in the Avs organization for many years to come. They also receive a good penalty-killer in McClement and a valuable first-round pick. The year of the pick iss dependent on whether St. Louis would get a top 10 pick, but at this rate, it looks like BOTH teams will end up with one of those this year.
Dallas receives Alex Goligoski from Pittsburgh for W James Neal and D Matt Niskanen. This is an absolute steal for Ray Shero, and I can only speculate that Joe Nieuwendyk was feeling the pressure of his teams recent collapse. Goligoski is a solid offensive defensman with many good years ahead of him and will help out the offensively challenged Dallas defense, but Neal AND Niskanen? James Neal is in his third season in the league, and has over 20-goals in each of them. He will seriously help out the Penguins who are missing both Crosby and Malkin, and is now probably their most talented goal scorer on the wing. Matt Niskanen is having a down year, but is still only 24 and only two seasons removed from a 35 point season. If he ups his game in Pittsburgh, he could be a third-pair defenseman rounding out a crew which already boasts Kris Letang, Zbynek Michalek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, and many young prospects like Ben Lovejoy and Deryk Engelland. With a wealth of young defensive prospects, Shero could use some of them as trade bait to bring in some more offensive help for the stretch run.
Trades since Kaberle:
Carolina receives D Derek Joslin from San Jose for future considerations. At 23 years of age, this former 5th-round pick still has plenty of time to prove himself, but don't expect him to have a huge immediate impact on the Carolina blue line.
San Jose receives D Ian White from Carolina for 2012 2nd-round pick. San Jose was looking for a defenseman, and having just traded a young one to the same team, they got a decent pick-up from the Canes. Ian White should bring solid offensive numbers to the San Jose defense, but as this is now his THIRD team THIS SEASON (and fourth team in the past two seasons), I have to wonder how desirable he actually is. San Jose may have given up a little too much in a 2nd round pick for him, but previous trades may have also driven up the market price. Maybe his constant movement means there is a high demand for him, or maybe it means teams can't wait to get rid of him.
Tampa Bay receives D Eric Brewer from St. Louis for 2011 3rd-round pick and the rights to Brock Beukeboom. Both Eric Brewer and his new team should benefit wildly from this deal. Before the lockout, the St. Louis Blues had the active record for longest consecutive playoff streak in sports. After the lockout, however, the Blues finished their next season at the bottom of the league, and this happened to be Brewer's first year on the team. Over 6 seasons with the hapless Blues, many of which were derailed by injury, the Blues' captain was a collective -75, and became absolutely despised by much of the Blues' fanbase. Despite his number, he is a good defensemna, who will benefit from playing with a better team. He also brings additional leadership for a Cup run to a team that still has guys like Pavel Kubina, Marty St. Louis, and Vinny Lcecavlier left over from the 04 Cup team. He is also leaving a team where he had the burden of carrying most of the defensive load to a team where he can share the load with a solid existing top five in Kubina, Mattias Ohlund, Victor Hedman, Brett Clark, and Randy Jones, with solid defenders Mike Lundin and Marc-Andre Bergeron also on the roster, making Tampa as deep as anyone on the back end. The price also seemed little to get Brewer given the current market, unless Beukeboom, son of former NHL defenseman Jeff Beukeboom ends up developing into a strong player.
St. Louis acquires W Chris Stewart, D Kevin Shattenkirk and 2011 or 2012 2nd-round pick from Colorado for C Jay McClement, D Erik Johnson, and 2011 or 2012 1st-round pick. This is definitely the big one so far. Both teams were fading fast and needed to shake up their teams and they did so in dramatic fashion. The Blues receive a potential 30-goal power forward in you Chris Stewart, who's already scored a few in his short tenure for the Blues. Former Boston University D-man Shattenkirk is a solid young prospect, emerging already in his rookie season as a good offensive defenseman and making the Rookie All-Star team. The only question mark for the Blues is where to look to fill the giant hole in minutes on D now that Johnson and Brewer are both gone. The Avalanche were openly blasted for this deal by Peter Stastny, a Hall of Famer and father of Avs young gun Paul Stastny. Certainlly the Avalanche took the greater risk, but the payout could still be monumental if it works in their favor. Johnson, the first overall pick in 2006, who was followed by an impressive four of 2. Jordan Staal (PIT-won cup in 09), 3. Jonathan Toews (CHI-captain, won cup in 10), 4. Nicklas Backstrom (WSH), and 5. Phil Kessel (BOS), has so far not satisfied the Blues organization. Pegged as a future Chris Pronger, Johnson has put up decent offensive numbers so far in the league with over 30 points in each of his two seasons, despite an ACL injury (playing golf, of all things) costing him the entire 2008-2009 season, but after a promising start to the season, Johnson, who has 20 points in 57 games this season, took a large part of the blame. The Blues needed to make a change and he was the piece that could bring in the biggest haul. The Avalanche receive an underperforming defenseman, but at age 22, Johnson still has the potential to becoming an elite NHL defenseman, and could be an important fixture in the Avs organization for many years to come. They also receive a good penalty-killer in McClement and a valuable first-round pick. The year of the pick iss dependent on whether St. Louis would get a top 10 pick, but at this rate, it looks like BOTH teams will end up with one of those this year.
Dallas receives Alex Goligoski from Pittsburgh for W James Neal and D Matt Niskanen. This is an absolute steal for Ray Shero, and I can only speculate that Joe Nieuwendyk was feeling the pressure of his teams recent collapse. Goligoski is a solid offensive defensman with many good years ahead of him and will help out the offensively challenged Dallas defense, but Neal AND Niskanen? James Neal is in his third season in the league, and has over 20-goals in each of them. He will seriously help out the Penguins who are missing both Crosby and Malkin, and is now probably their most talented goal scorer on the wing. Matt Niskanen is having a down year, but is still only 24 and only two seasons removed from a 35 point season. If he ups his game in Pittsburgh, he could be a third-pair defenseman rounding out a crew which already boasts Kris Letang, Zbynek Michalek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, and many young prospects like Ben Lovejoy and Deryk Engelland. With a wealth of young defensive prospects, Shero could use some of them as trade bait to bring in some more offensive help for the stretch run.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Trade Talk Continued
Further moves:
Montreal receives D Paul Mara from Anaheim for 2012 5th round pick. Once a high-scoring defenseman, Mara has fallen on hard times lately. In 33 games this season, he has just 2 points. In the past 3 season, he has played for 3 teams: the Rangers, the Canadiens, and the Ducks. After a disappointing season in Montreal last year, With a -16 in 42 games, Mara is headed back to Montreal, in an attempt to solidify the injury-plagued blue line for a playoff-run. When Mara is on, he is a great defenseman; he had two 40-point seasons in Phoenix. But don't look for him to be much of a force for the Habs.
Anaheim receives W Jarkko Ruutu from Ottawa for 2011 6th round pick. After trading away tough guy Aaron Voros earlier this week, the Ducks filled the void with goon Jarkko Ruutu. While Ruutu won't provide much offensive help for the Ducks (the 35-year old has topped 20 points only twice in his career), but he will bring a physical presence and lots of playoff experience for a possible Cup run.
Colorado receives G Brian Elliott from Ottawa for G Craig Anderson. This is a good move for both sides. Each of these teams is struggling massively and need some kind of shake-up to their everyday lineup. Brian Elliott is a young goalie who has lots of upside. The victim of a terrible season for Ottawa, he helped the Senators reach the playoffs last season with surprisingly stellar play. The same can be said for Anderson. After being tossed around the league as a backup, Anderson signed with Colorado and shocked the hockey world when he led the Avalanche back to the post-season. This season, his numbers have been more than disappointing. The Senators will need to find a way to attract Anderson to stay when his contract is up at the end of the season.
Atlanta receives W Blake Wheeler and D Mark Stuart from Boston for C Rich Peverley and D Boris Valabik. Depending on events which soon could go down, this is a good trade for both sides. Boston picks up a good forward (I say forward, not center, because Boston has a severe log-jam down the middle with David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, Tyler Seguin, Brad Marchand, Chris Kelly, Greg Campbell, and now Peverley all able to play center) who has similar numbers to Wheeler. Valabik is not an everyday defenseman, but adds a little depth for a young blue line. Most importantly, this frees up cap space for the Bruins to pick up Tomas Kaberle, which according to a number of reports is now an inevitability. Atlanta probably gets the better pacakage for the moment though. While inconsistent, Wheeler has tons of potential and has been a 20-goal scorer in the past. Also, Mark Stuart, when healthy, is a solid defensive defenseman who will help bolster the Thrashers defensive game. Also, these two have played under Coach Craig Ramsay before, as he was the Bruins' assistant coach just a season ago.
Boston receives D Tomas Kaberle from Toronto for C Joe Colborne, 2011 1st round pick and conditional 2012 second round pick. After moving some salary to Atlanta, Boston finally got their man after several months of on and off rumors. This is a good move for both sides. Kaberle brings outstanding and consistent numbers and with him setting up Zdeno Chara on the point instead of Mark Recchi, the Bruins will have a fearsome powerplay. Kaberle also brings plenty of experience to a fairly young blue line. After losing their own 1st round pick two years ago to Boston in the Phil Kessel trade, Toronto has now picked up 1st round picks from Boston and Philadelphia, and Joel Colbone is a 6-5 young centerman with loads of potential to help the Toronto rebuilding procject.
Southeast Division:
1. Tampa Bay Lightning-34-16-6-74 pts-2nd in East
Late in the season, Tampa Bay is still playing strong hockey. With a good mix of veterans and youngsters, some of the most dynamic scorers in the game, and a sturdy blue-line. There is not much to fix for the surging Bolts. Some may question Dwayne Roloson's ability to compete at age 41, but Rolo is as good as ever, and is only a few years removed from taking the 8th-seeded Edmonton Oilers on a Cinderella Cup run. In fact, if he had not been injured in Game 1 of the Finals, the Carolina Hurricanes likely would not have won the 7-game series. If Dwayne can stay healthy, the Lightning have a dependable veteran between the pipes, who can take them deep into the post-season. If anything, adding a veteran with playoff experience is never a bad move.
2. Washington Capitals-30-19-10-70 pts-5th in East
The Caps have been lackluster of late, and they need something to not only spark the team for a strong finish, but also to ensure they don't suffer the massive collapse they experienced last year as the top sed taking an early exit. Despite having a great season by most people's standards, Alex Ovechkin is not the explosive goal-scoring machine that we expect him to be this season. Alex Semin has been great, but the Caps are in serious need of more depth. Aside from Ovi, Semin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Knuble, and Brooks Laich, there's nobody all that impressive on offense. The Caps would be smart to add another scorer to their second line, and perhaps some extra depth for the third line. They have a young offense and a young defense, and veterans with some playoff experience would also be beneficial. Lastly, a more proven and dependable goaltender could help solve the Caps post-season woes. For a team doing so well and with so much talent, you wouldn't think there would be much to fix, but clearly there are some important pieces missing for the Capitals.
3. Carolina Hurricanes-27-23-8-62 pts-8th in East
After sneaking into the final playoff spot, the Hurricanes may need to make some moves to ensure they not only stay there, but have a fighting chance to move past the first round come April. There is no secret that the Canes trust in Cam Ward, having won them a Cup early in his career and having been an All-Star this season, so they are set between the pipes. With seven players with at least ten goals, including superstar captain Eric Staal and rookie scoring sensation Jeff Skinner, the Canes have plenty of production, but like most teams I've cited, are a youn team who could use some veteran leadership and experience. One more strong defenseman wouldn't hurt either.
4. Atlanta Thrashers-25-24-10-60 pts-10th in East
After a strong showing early in the year, the Thrash have been just plain awful over the last stretch, 2-6-2 in their last 10. Dustin Byfuglien has scored only 3 points in his last 17 games, after scoring 41 in his first 42. His drop is representative of the whole team, who is struggling greatly at this point.. A team that has been stockpiling young talent since they joined the league, the Thrashers have made only one playoff appearance, and they suffered a first round sweep at the hands of the New York Rangers. Not exactly a hockey hotbed, the Thrashers are itching to draw fan interest from the city of Atlanta, and in order to do that, they need to start contending. They have a wealth of prospects, so the time may be now the make some big moves, sacrificing some of those prospects to bring in some big name players. They could use a shut-down defenseman, and some offensive punch up front.
5. Florida Panthers-24-25-7-55 pts-12th in East
The Panthers are doing okay and are not entirealy out of the playoff picture yet, but GM Dave Tallon should continue his rebuilding path. He did a remarkable job in Chicago, bringing in most of their Stanley Cup pieces and is capable of doing the same in Florida. He will continue to add young depth and maybe some streaky veterans. Florida will be sellers, with hardly anyone safe. Tomas Vokoun, Stephen Weiss, and Bryan McCabe could all be wearing different jerseys by 3 pm on the 28th.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division:
1. Detroit Red Wings-35-16-6-76 pts-2nd in West
The Red Wings are as set as they could be. With key players returning to the lineup, they have been unstoppable, making fools of the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. A return to full health is all that is needed for the Wings to prepare for their perennial postseason run.
2. Nashville Predators-31-19-8-70 pts-4th in West
Nashville has been playing decent hockey of late, and now sit in fourth place in the West. With the recent addition of Mike Fisher, the Predators have added some depth down the middle. However, this one move is not enough to ensure a strong post-season campaign for the Preds. They have a solid, but young and inexperienced blue line and should look into adding an experienced shut-down defender to take the load off of hot goalies Pekka Rinne and Anders Lindback. One more experienced scoring winger would also be a huge help.
3. Chicago Blackhawks-29-22-6-64 pts-11th in West
The Hawks have little cap space to make much improvement, but if they don't do something soon, not only will they lose their chance to repeat a Cup run in the postseason, but the defending champs could miss the playoffs altogether. GM Stan Bowman needs to do something drastic. Trading away a high-profile player for another decent player with a smaller cap hit I think would be a great move. Shaking up the team a bit could be enough to improve their play, and if it doesn't then the unloading of salary will give the Hawks some room to make improvements over the off-season. One such player to trade is Brian Campbell. Campbell is one of the most talented defenseman in the NHL, but he is inconsistent, often injured, and carries a cap hit over $7 million. The Hawks should look to trade him either to a contending team that can afford to take on his contract, or to a rebuilding team with lots of cap space and a need for a mentor for their young defensive corps. Outside of trading trading down, the Hawks have few options. The team definitely needs some movement, and the only other option may be swapping players for similar talent and salary, like the move they made earlier this week trading Jack Skille for Michael Frolik. The Hawks were reportedly interested in Bruins D-man Mark Stuart before he went to Atlanta, so they may make a move for a defensive defenseman.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets-28-23-6-62 pts-12th in West
The hungry Blue Jackets are the only team in the league who has never clinched a playoff berth, and they have a choice to make. Do they let this be another rebuilding year and look to next season? Or do they make some noise now and finally show the city of Columbus why hockey is something to cheer about? Poor Rck Nash is one of the best players in the league night in and night out, season after season, and has never tasted playoff action. Now may be the time to finally make a playoff push. Steve Mason is apparently tradeable, and a rebuilding team would love to have him. Perhaps he could be moved to Florida for Vokoun? A team that has been stockpiling high first round picks for the past decade, the Blue Jackets have plenty of talent in the system that could be traded for potential playoff pieces from teams like Ottawa, Edmonton, and Toronto who are looking to start over. They should try to see what they can get from Edmonton,who are shopping around talented wingers Ales Hemsky and Dustin Penner.
5. St. Louis Blues-25-21-9-59 pts-13th in West
After having high hopes to start the season, the Blues have fallen on hard times. Again. With a ton of injuries and disappointing play from their "stars," the Blues find themselves at the bottom of the Central division. WHile they have a decent team, a partial rebuilding might not be a poor choice. They have talent up front, but nobody who is all that dangerous with the puck. They need scoring, plain and simple, and perhaps they can use their blue line to attract that scoring from other teams. 2006 1st overall pick Erik Johnson is apparently expendable and could draw a massive return from teams looking for a young defenseman with tons of potential. The Blues would also love to ship off Captain Eric Brewer, who is absolutely despised by the St. Louis fan base.
Northwest Division:
1. Vancouver Canucks-37-13-9-83 pts-1st in West
The top team in the league, the Canucks continue to lay waste to the entire league despite being without FIVE defenseman. I repeat. Five defenseman. Andrew Alberts, Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler, Dan Hamhuis, and Keith Ballard are all out of the lineup, and veteran Sami Salo just returned from injury. Many may say that the Canucks may need to add to their D in this time of need, but I say stand pat. Despite this massive hole in their lineup, the Canucks continue to dominate, and any help they bring in would be useless when these players return and eat up salary once again. With an explosive offense led by the Sedin twins and Ryan Kesler and stone wall Roberto "Bobby Lu" Luongo backed up by an outstanding young Boston College product in Cory Schneider, the Canucks will be virtually unstoppable once their blue line regains full health, which should be happening just in time for the playoffs.
2. Calgary Flames-30-22-8-68 pts-9th in West
Calgary is on the playoff bubble right now, which is impressive considering it was not too long ago that they were completely out of the playoff pictures. The Flames have been hot of late (no pun intending), which has caused the trade rumors surrounding big name players like Robyn Regehr and Jarome Iginla to cool. The Flames may be looking to add some depth without sacrificing much of their existing lineup. They should see if anyone is interested in picking up the struggling Ales Kotalik, who was recently sent down to the minors and is in need of a serious change of scenery to try and salvage his career.
3. Minnesota Wild-30-20-5-65 pts-10th in West
The Wild have 8 players with over 10 goals, but zero players with over 20, and many players with unimpressive +/- ratings. They are on the playoff bubble and if they are serious about making a run, they need to add a 20 or 30 goal scorer,another decent defenseman, and a two-way forward who can help out the defense. The return of Marek Zidlicky to the blue line should help a bit with both the offense and the defense, but the Wild should still be open to making some trades.
4. Colorado Avalanche-25-26-7-57 pts-14th in West
The Avalanche have been the worst team in hockey lately. After being close to a playoff spot, the Avalanche are now only ahead of the Edmonton Oilers in the West, the Avs haven't won a game in almost a month. This collapse is too much to come back from, especially now that Matt Duchene is out indefinitely. The Avalanche should give up on this season and look to the future. They have a good young team, and should see what kind of depth they can pick up from around the league.
5. Edmonton Oilers-18-32-8-44 pts-15th in West
The Edmonton Oilers have been in rebuilding mode for quite some time, and will continue to do so at the deadline. They are shopping around both Ales Hemsky and Dustin Penner, and are also praying that someone will show some interest in once-valuable defenseman Sheldon Souray. With a young core of talent up front comprised of Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi, Jordan Eberle, and Linus Omark the Oilers should continue to pick up draft picks, and also add to their depth on defense.
Pacific Division:
1. Phoenix Coyotes-31-19-9-71 pts-3rd in West
The Coyotes are very hot right now, having won six games in a row. They like Minnesota, have plenty of 10-goal scorers, and no 20-goal scorers. Also, elder statesman Ray Whitney is leading all forwards in points. The Coyotes have a strong defense, including Keith Yandle who leads all defensemen in the NHL with 50 points, and a strong goaltender in Ilya Bryzgalov. What they need is some more scoring touch. They have been missing that big 20 or 30 goal scorer for the past few years, and that's probably what cost them a decent playoff run last year against the Red Wings.
2. Dallas Stars-31-21-6-68 pts-7th in West
After a surprising first half, the Stars aren't shining so bright anymore in Dallas. After leading the Pacific Dvision, the Stars are 2-7-1 in their last ten and have dropped into 7th place in the West. In a Conference where the playoff race is so tight (4th and 12th are separated by only 8 points), the Stars need to right the ship quickly, or else may miss the playoffs after seeming to have a spot locked up for most of the season. Scoring hasn't been an issue for most of the season, they have 4 players with at least 20 goals, plus All-Star Loui Eriksson, who has 19 and has cooled off dramatically since the All-Star break. With a potent offense and goaltending that they trust despite recent inconsistencies, the Stars should look to shore up their D. They have a fairly you and inexperienced blue line and could use a veteran or two to help for a playoff push, perhaps one defensive D-man plus another who can put up decent offensive offensive numbers. With their season in question, they may see the green light to trade star centerman Brad Richards, assuming he waives his no-trade clause. They have plenty of offensive depth to continue scoring in his absence, but may want to make sure the return includes at least one decent two-way forward.
3. San Jose Sharks-32-21-6-70 pts-5th in West
After having some regular season struggles for the first time in years, the Sharks have rebounded with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 and now sit in 5th place in the Western Conference. The Shars have three 20-goal scorers led by rookie surprise Logan Couture, with 24. The other two, Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton are scoring at decent paces, but have terrible +/- ratings. The Sharks have good depth up front and on the back end, but could use some good defensive forwards and maybe another veteran defenseman. Antti Niemi is no superstar, but he did just win a Cup with Chicago, and the Sharks always underperform come April; it is unlikely the Sharks will try to pick up a goalie, so for now they should look for defense.
4. Anaheim Ducks-32-22-4-68 pts-6th in West
The Ducks are another hot western team, 7-3 in their last 10. The Ducks can score: Corey Perry has 29 goals, Bobby Ryan 28, and Teemu Selanne 18, and on the back end Lubomir Visnovsky has 45 points and rookie Cam Fowler has 29. Defensively they're pretty good too, Toni Lydman leads the NHL with a +27 and they just brought back old friend Francois Beauchemin. If Anaheim needs anything, it might just be some depth forwards, but they should also look for a reliable goaltender for the stretch run in case All-Star Jonas Hiller's health woes persist.
5. Los Angeles Kings-32-22-4-68 pts-8th in West
When the Kings moved into eighth last nght, the continued the tightest division race in the league; all five Pacific Division teams are in a playoff spot. And excluding Dallas, who has seven LOSSES in their last ten games, every team in this division has 7 wins in their last 10. The Kings have had a disappointing season thus far after being highly touted as potential Western Conference champions during the offseason, but are starting to turn things around. The Kings are likely to end the season with five 20-goal scorers in AnzeKopitar, Dustin Brown, Ryan Smyth, Jarret Stoll, and Justin Williams, and have some great young talent on the blue line, plus standout goaltender Jon Quick. If the Kings want to keep their Cup dreams alive, the should think about adding some experience, particularly some veteran leadership on the back-end.
Montreal receives D Paul Mara from Anaheim for 2012 5th round pick. Once a high-scoring defenseman, Mara has fallen on hard times lately. In 33 games this season, he has just 2 points. In the past 3 season, he has played for 3 teams: the Rangers, the Canadiens, and the Ducks. After a disappointing season in Montreal last year, With a -16 in 42 games, Mara is headed back to Montreal, in an attempt to solidify the injury-plagued blue line for a playoff-run. When Mara is on, he is a great defenseman; he had two 40-point seasons in Phoenix. But don't look for him to be much of a force for the Habs.
Anaheim receives W Jarkko Ruutu from Ottawa for 2011 6th round pick. After trading away tough guy Aaron Voros earlier this week, the Ducks filled the void with goon Jarkko Ruutu. While Ruutu won't provide much offensive help for the Ducks (the 35-year old has topped 20 points only twice in his career), but he will bring a physical presence and lots of playoff experience for a possible Cup run.
Colorado receives G Brian Elliott from Ottawa for G Craig Anderson. This is a good move for both sides. Each of these teams is struggling massively and need some kind of shake-up to their everyday lineup. Brian Elliott is a young goalie who has lots of upside. The victim of a terrible season for Ottawa, he helped the Senators reach the playoffs last season with surprisingly stellar play. The same can be said for Anderson. After being tossed around the league as a backup, Anderson signed with Colorado and shocked the hockey world when he led the Avalanche back to the post-season. This season, his numbers have been more than disappointing. The Senators will need to find a way to attract Anderson to stay when his contract is up at the end of the season.
Atlanta receives W Blake Wheeler and D Mark Stuart from Boston for C Rich Peverley and D Boris Valabik. Depending on events which soon could go down, this is a good trade for both sides. Boston picks up a good forward (I say forward, not center, because Boston has a severe log-jam down the middle with David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, Tyler Seguin, Brad Marchand, Chris Kelly, Greg Campbell, and now Peverley all able to play center) who has similar numbers to Wheeler. Valabik is not an everyday defenseman, but adds a little depth for a young blue line. Most importantly, this frees up cap space for the Bruins to pick up Tomas Kaberle, which according to a number of reports is now an inevitability. Atlanta probably gets the better pacakage for the moment though. While inconsistent, Wheeler has tons of potential and has been a 20-goal scorer in the past. Also, Mark Stuart, when healthy, is a solid defensive defenseman who will help bolster the Thrashers defensive game. Also, these two have played under Coach Craig Ramsay before, as he was the Bruins' assistant coach just a season ago.
Boston receives D Tomas Kaberle from Toronto for C Joe Colborne, 2011 1st round pick and conditional 2012 second round pick. After moving some salary to Atlanta, Boston finally got their man after several months of on and off rumors. This is a good move for both sides. Kaberle brings outstanding and consistent numbers and with him setting up Zdeno Chara on the point instead of Mark Recchi, the Bruins will have a fearsome powerplay. Kaberle also brings plenty of experience to a fairly young blue line. After losing their own 1st round pick two years ago to Boston in the Phil Kessel trade, Toronto has now picked up 1st round picks from Boston and Philadelphia, and Joel Colbone is a 6-5 young centerman with loads of potential to help the Toronto rebuilding procject.
Southeast Division:
1. Tampa Bay Lightning-34-16-6-74 pts-2nd in East
Late in the season, Tampa Bay is still playing strong hockey. With a good mix of veterans and youngsters, some of the most dynamic scorers in the game, and a sturdy blue-line. There is not much to fix for the surging Bolts. Some may question Dwayne Roloson's ability to compete at age 41, but Rolo is as good as ever, and is only a few years removed from taking the 8th-seeded Edmonton Oilers on a Cinderella Cup run. In fact, if he had not been injured in Game 1 of the Finals, the Carolina Hurricanes likely would not have won the 7-game series. If Dwayne can stay healthy, the Lightning have a dependable veteran between the pipes, who can take them deep into the post-season. If anything, adding a veteran with playoff experience is never a bad move.
2. Washington Capitals-30-19-10-70 pts-5th in East
The Caps have been lackluster of late, and they need something to not only spark the team for a strong finish, but also to ensure they don't suffer the massive collapse they experienced last year as the top sed taking an early exit. Despite having a great season by most people's standards, Alex Ovechkin is not the explosive goal-scoring machine that we expect him to be this season. Alex Semin has been great, but the Caps are in serious need of more depth. Aside from Ovi, Semin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Knuble, and Brooks Laich, there's nobody all that impressive on offense. The Caps would be smart to add another scorer to their second line, and perhaps some extra depth for the third line. They have a young offense and a young defense, and veterans with some playoff experience would also be beneficial. Lastly, a more proven and dependable goaltender could help solve the Caps post-season woes. For a team doing so well and with so much talent, you wouldn't think there would be much to fix, but clearly there are some important pieces missing for the Capitals.
3. Carolina Hurricanes-27-23-8-62 pts-8th in East
After sneaking into the final playoff spot, the Hurricanes may need to make some moves to ensure they not only stay there, but have a fighting chance to move past the first round come April. There is no secret that the Canes trust in Cam Ward, having won them a Cup early in his career and having been an All-Star this season, so they are set between the pipes. With seven players with at least ten goals, including superstar captain Eric Staal and rookie scoring sensation Jeff Skinner, the Canes have plenty of production, but like most teams I've cited, are a youn team who could use some veteran leadership and experience. One more strong defenseman wouldn't hurt either.
4. Atlanta Thrashers-25-24-10-60 pts-10th in East
After a strong showing early in the year, the Thrash have been just plain awful over the last stretch, 2-6-2 in their last 10. Dustin Byfuglien has scored only 3 points in his last 17 games, after scoring 41 in his first 42. His drop is representative of the whole team, who is struggling greatly at this point.. A team that has been stockpiling young talent since they joined the league, the Thrashers have made only one playoff appearance, and they suffered a first round sweep at the hands of the New York Rangers. Not exactly a hockey hotbed, the Thrashers are itching to draw fan interest from the city of Atlanta, and in order to do that, they need to start contending. They have a wealth of prospects, so the time may be now the make some big moves, sacrificing some of those prospects to bring in some big name players. They could use a shut-down defenseman, and some offensive punch up front.
5. Florida Panthers-24-25-7-55 pts-12th in East
The Panthers are doing okay and are not entirealy out of the playoff picture yet, but GM Dave Tallon should continue his rebuilding path. He did a remarkable job in Chicago, bringing in most of their Stanley Cup pieces and is capable of doing the same in Florida. He will continue to add young depth and maybe some streaky veterans. Florida will be sellers, with hardly anyone safe. Tomas Vokoun, Stephen Weiss, and Bryan McCabe could all be wearing different jerseys by 3 pm on the 28th.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division:
1. Detroit Red Wings-35-16-6-76 pts-2nd in West
The Red Wings are as set as they could be. With key players returning to the lineup, they have been unstoppable, making fools of the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. A return to full health is all that is needed for the Wings to prepare for their perennial postseason run.
2. Nashville Predators-31-19-8-70 pts-4th in West
Nashville has been playing decent hockey of late, and now sit in fourth place in the West. With the recent addition of Mike Fisher, the Predators have added some depth down the middle. However, this one move is not enough to ensure a strong post-season campaign for the Preds. They have a solid, but young and inexperienced blue line and should look into adding an experienced shut-down defender to take the load off of hot goalies Pekka Rinne and Anders Lindback. One more experienced scoring winger would also be a huge help.
3. Chicago Blackhawks-29-22-6-64 pts-11th in West
The Hawks have little cap space to make much improvement, but if they don't do something soon, not only will they lose their chance to repeat a Cup run in the postseason, but the defending champs could miss the playoffs altogether. GM Stan Bowman needs to do something drastic. Trading away a high-profile player for another decent player with a smaller cap hit I think would be a great move. Shaking up the team a bit could be enough to improve their play, and if it doesn't then the unloading of salary will give the Hawks some room to make improvements over the off-season. One such player to trade is Brian Campbell. Campbell is one of the most talented defenseman in the NHL, but he is inconsistent, often injured, and carries a cap hit over $7 million. The Hawks should look to trade him either to a contending team that can afford to take on his contract, or to a rebuilding team with lots of cap space and a need for a mentor for their young defensive corps. Outside of trading trading down, the Hawks have few options. The team definitely needs some movement, and the only other option may be swapping players for similar talent and salary, like the move they made earlier this week trading Jack Skille for Michael Frolik. The Hawks were reportedly interested in Bruins D-man Mark Stuart before he went to Atlanta, so they may make a move for a defensive defenseman.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets-28-23-6-62 pts-12th in West
The hungry Blue Jackets are the only team in the league who has never clinched a playoff berth, and they have a choice to make. Do they let this be another rebuilding year and look to next season? Or do they make some noise now and finally show the city of Columbus why hockey is something to cheer about? Poor Rck Nash is one of the best players in the league night in and night out, season after season, and has never tasted playoff action. Now may be the time to finally make a playoff push. Steve Mason is apparently tradeable, and a rebuilding team would love to have him. Perhaps he could be moved to Florida for Vokoun? A team that has been stockpiling high first round picks for the past decade, the Blue Jackets have plenty of talent in the system that could be traded for potential playoff pieces from teams like Ottawa, Edmonton, and Toronto who are looking to start over. They should try to see what they can get from Edmonton,who are shopping around talented wingers Ales Hemsky and Dustin Penner.
5. St. Louis Blues-25-21-9-59 pts-13th in West
After having high hopes to start the season, the Blues have fallen on hard times. Again. With a ton of injuries and disappointing play from their "stars," the Blues find themselves at the bottom of the Central division. WHile they have a decent team, a partial rebuilding might not be a poor choice. They have talent up front, but nobody who is all that dangerous with the puck. They need scoring, plain and simple, and perhaps they can use their blue line to attract that scoring from other teams. 2006 1st overall pick Erik Johnson is apparently expendable and could draw a massive return from teams looking for a young defenseman with tons of potential. The Blues would also love to ship off Captain Eric Brewer, who is absolutely despised by the St. Louis fan base.
Northwest Division:
1. Vancouver Canucks-37-13-9-83 pts-1st in West
The top team in the league, the Canucks continue to lay waste to the entire league despite being without FIVE defenseman. I repeat. Five defenseman. Andrew Alberts, Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler, Dan Hamhuis, and Keith Ballard are all out of the lineup, and veteran Sami Salo just returned from injury. Many may say that the Canucks may need to add to their D in this time of need, but I say stand pat. Despite this massive hole in their lineup, the Canucks continue to dominate, and any help they bring in would be useless when these players return and eat up salary once again. With an explosive offense led by the Sedin twins and Ryan Kesler and stone wall Roberto "Bobby Lu" Luongo backed up by an outstanding young Boston College product in Cory Schneider, the Canucks will be virtually unstoppable once their blue line regains full health, which should be happening just in time for the playoffs.
2. Calgary Flames-30-22-8-68 pts-9th in West
Calgary is on the playoff bubble right now, which is impressive considering it was not too long ago that they were completely out of the playoff pictures. The Flames have been hot of late (no pun intending), which has caused the trade rumors surrounding big name players like Robyn Regehr and Jarome Iginla to cool. The Flames may be looking to add some depth without sacrificing much of their existing lineup. They should see if anyone is interested in picking up the struggling Ales Kotalik, who was recently sent down to the minors and is in need of a serious change of scenery to try and salvage his career.
3. Minnesota Wild-30-20-5-65 pts-10th in West
The Wild have 8 players with over 10 goals, but zero players with over 20, and many players with unimpressive +/- ratings. They are on the playoff bubble and if they are serious about making a run, they need to add a 20 or 30 goal scorer,another decent defenseman, and a two-way forward who can help out the defense. The return of Marek Zidlicky to the blue line should help a bit with both the offense and the defense, but the Wild should still be open to making some trades.
4. Colorado Avalanche-25-26-7-57 pts-14th in West
The Avalanche have been the worst team in hockey lately. After being close to a playoff spot, the Avalanche are now only ahead of the Edmonton Oilers in the West, the Avs haven't won a game in almost a month. This collapse is too much to come back from, especially now that Matt Duchene is out indefinitely. The Avalanche should give up on this season and look to the future. They have a good young team, and should see what kind of depth they can pick up from around the league.
5. Edmonton Oilers-18-32-8-44 pts-15th in West
The Edmonton Oilers have been in rebuilding mode for quite some time, and will continue to do so at the deadline. They are shopping around both Ales Hemsky and Dustin Penner, and are also praying that someone will show some interest in once-valuable defenseman Sheldon Souray. With a young core of talent up front comprised of Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi, Jordan Eberle, and Linus Omark the Oilers should continue to pick up draft picks, and also add to their depth on defense.
Pacific Division:
1. Phoenix Coyotes-31-19-9-71 pts-3rd in West
The Coyotes are very hot right now, having won six games in a row. They like Minnesota, have plenty of 10-goal scorers, and no 20-goal scorers. Also, elder statesman Ray Whitney is leading all forwards in points. The Coyotes have a strong defense, including Keith Yandle who leads all defensemen in the NHL with 50 points, and a strong goaltender in Ilya Bryzgalov. What they need is some more scoring touch. They have been missing that big 20 or 30 goal scorer for the past few years, and that's probably what cost them a decent playoff run last year against the Red Wings.
2. Dallas Stars-31-21-6-68 pts-7th in West
After a surprising first half, the Stars aren't shining so bright anymore in Dallas. After leading the Pacific Dvision, the Stars are 2-7-1 in their last ten and have dropped into 7th place in the West. In a Conference where the playoff race is so tight (4th and 12th are separated by only 8 points), the Stars need to right the ship quickly, or else may miss the playoffs after seeming to have a spot locked up for most of the season. Scoring hasn't been an issue for most of the season, they have 4 players with at least 20 goals, plus All-Star Loui Eriksson, who has 19 and has cooled off dramatically since the All-Star break. With a potent offense and goaltending that they trust despite recent inconsistencies, the Stars should look to shore up their D. They have a fairly you and inexperienced blue line and could use a veteran or two to help for a playoff push, perhaps one defensive D-man plus another who can put up decent offensive offensive numbers. With their season in question, they may see the green light to trade star centerman Brad Richards, assuming he waives his no-trade clause. They have plenty of offensive depth to continue scoring in his absence, but may want to make sure the return includes at least one decent two-way forward.
3. San Jose Sharks-32-21-6-70 pts-5th in West
After having some regular season struggles for the first time in years, the Sharks have rebounded with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 and now sit in 5th place in the Western Conference. The Shars have three 20-goal scorers led by rookie surprise Logan Couture, with 24. The other two, Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton are scoring at decent paces, but have terrible +/- ratings. The Sharks have good depth up front and on the back end, but could use some good defensive forwards and maybe another veteran defenseman. Antti Niemi is no superstar, but he did just win a Cup with Chicago, and the Sharks always underperform come April; it is unlikely the Sharks will try to pick up a goalie, so for now they should look for defense.
4. Anaheim Ducks-32-22-4-68 pts-6th in West
The Ducks are another hot western team, 7-3 in their last 10. The Ducks can score: Corey Perry has 29 goals, Bobby Ryan 28, and Teemu Selanne 18, and on the back end Lubomir Visnovsky has 45 points and rookie Cam Fowler has 29. Defensively they're pretty good too, Toni Lydman leads the NHL with a +27 and they just brought back old friend Francois Beauchemin. If Anaheim needs anything, it might just be some depth forwards, but they should also look for a reliable goaltender for the stretch run in case All-Star Jonas Hiller's health woes persist.
5. Los Angeles Kings-32-22-4-68 pts-8th in West
When the Kings moved into eighth last nght, the continued the tightest division race in the league; all five Pacific Division teams are in a playoff spot. And excluding Dallas, who has seven LOSSES in their last ten games, every team in this division has 7 wins in their last 10. The Kings have had a disappointing season thus far after being highly touted as potential Western Conference champions during the offseason, but are starting to turn things around. The Kings are likely to end the season with five 20-goal scorers in AnzeKopitar, Dustin Brown, Ryan Smyth, Jarret Stoll, and Justin Williams, and have some great young talent on the blue line, plus standout goaltender Jon Quick. If the Kings want to keep their Cup dreams alive, the should think about adding some experience, particularly some veteran leadership on the back-end.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Checking In
(This post is not complete. I will continue to work on it, but as of now, have only posted analyses of trade needs for the Northeast and Atlantic divisions)
With the deadline now less than two weeks away, there has been a small but significant flurry of moves made during the past week. I figured I'd give my own ake on these deals, as well as throw out a few teams that have some needs to address before 3pm on the 28th.
Anaheim receives D Francois Beauchemin from Toronto for W Joffrey Lupul and D Jake Gardiner. This is a good deal for both sides. The Ducks have been playing well and are now adding a solid veteran defender to solidify their blue line. Beauchemin played the better part of four seasons with te Ducks, emerging as a proven defensive force and helping the Ducks win a Cup in 2007. Lupul has never quite lived up to his potential, but is still a decent forward who can contribute respwectable offensive numbers for the Leafs. Gardiner is a great defnsive prospect. He is having in outstanding Junior season at the Universty of Wisconsin, with 30 points in 30 games.
Chicago receives W Michael Frolik from Florida for W Jack Skille. I think Chicago got the better end of the deal here. Both former top 10 draft picks, Frolik and Skille have tremendous potential. But at just age 22, Frolik has shown more so far in his young career. Despite having a down year goal-wise in his third season this year, Frolik put up 21 goals in each of his first two seasons with a very unimpressive supporting cast.
Nashville receives C Mike Fisher from Ottawa for 2011 1st round pick and 2012 conditional pick. For the rebuilding Senators, the Fisher trade was inevitable. The price was certainly right for Nashville. Just one definite first-round pick, which will definitely be valuable for the Senators come draft day, but they probably could have gotten a little more. Fisher will provide a huge boost for the Predators, who are currently holding on to 6th place in the West, who's major offseason signing, center Matt Lombardi, has been sidelined since just the third game of the season. Fisher has some playoff experience,too, having helped Ottawa advance to the Cup in 2007, before being defeated by Beauchemin's Ducks. The fans should love him pretty quickly, too, he's married to country star Carrie Underwood.
Philadelphia receives W Kris Versteeg from Toronto for 2011 first and 3rd round pick. At age 24, Versteeg is already joining his fourth organization. Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins, he was traded to Chicago before ever suiting up for Boston, for offensive dud Brandon Bochenski. After helping the Blackhawks win a long-awaited Stanley Cup last season, he was dealt to Toronto for Viktor Stalberg by the the salary cap-challenged champs. Now Philadelphia has been the latest team attracted to his talents. This deal is a win for both sides. The already formidable Flyers offense has just added a young scorer with loads of talent and potential, with playoff experience. The Flyers now that well, having lost to his team in the final last year. On the other hand, Brian Burke has gained both a first and a third round pick, doing his best to undo the damage of the Phil Kessel trade. And as a team that needs to rebuild, draft picks are extremely valuable.
Toronto receives W Aaron Voros from Toronto for 2011 conditional pick. In their third move, the Maple Leafs made little noise. Voros will bring a tough style of play to Toronto, but his offensive numbers are nothing to write home about, and his addition should be of little consequence to the struggling Leafs.
Dustin Byfuglien signs 5-year extension with Atlanta. Despite his recent offensive struggles and the Bird's recent nosedive, the Thrashers were right to lock up Big Buff for 5 more years. Another spoil of the Blackhawks salary cap problems, Byfuglien is having an unbelievable season. He was an all-star this year after switching back to his natural position of D. He brings Stanley Cup experience, toughness, offense, defense, leadership, and versatity to a young team on the verge of breaking out in the Southeast division.
Peter Forsberg returns and retires. After much hype, Peter Forsberg once again returned to the Avalanche lineup. But after just two games, he left he hockey world baffled by announcing his retirement. Despite less than stellar numbers in those two games, his teammates were shocked, as he gave little indication that the road was ending for him. This news is unfortunate for the Avalanche, who lost their 8th straight game last night and have fallen to 14th in the West.
Boston receives C Chris Kelly from Ottawa for 2011 2nd round pick. As a Boston fan, I personally am not in love with the move. It's definitely a good move for Ottawa, who is trying to scrap the existing lineup and start over, and a 2nd rounder in addition to the 1st rounder from Nashville shows that they hope to begin the rebuilding process in June at the draft. For Boston, they needed a center to fill the void left by Marc Savard. But to me, Kelly just isn't the answer. With 12 goals on the season, Kelly WILL bring solid offensive numbers and a style of play that fits the mold of a Bruin nicely, but I was hoping for a more high-profile pick-up. What this move indicates to me is that the Bruins are looking to fill a hole that is soon to open. I believe they are insuring they keep a moderately skilled forward so that they can trade away a similar player. Perhaps to Toronto as part of a deal for Tomas Kaberle?
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division:
1.Philadelphia Flyers-36-14-5-77 pts-1st in East
With the addition of Kris Versteeg, the Flyers are virtually unstoppable. Already boasting arguably the best roster in the league before the deal, the Flyers lead the eastern conference and are poised to make another Cup run. They are set at forward, with one of the most impressive offenses and impenetrable defenses in the game, the only question mark that remains for Philly is their goaltending. Rookie Sergei Bobrovsky has had a stellar first seasn between the pipes, and Brian Boucher has been know for Cinderella playoff runs, but neither of them are proven or consistent goaltenders. The Flyers may want to add some more insurance in their crease, but they will likely be staying put at the deadline, and frankly, I don't blame them.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins-35-19-4-74 pts-4th in East
Despite my recent words that the Penguins are fine, they are getting pushed around and beaten bad of late. With Crosby and Malkin down for the count, their scoring ability is severely cut down. They are set on the defensive end, but could use a decent center and a proven goal-scoring on the wing to help boost their offensive game. Look for Ray Shero to deal some of his defensive prospects to add some scoring punch.
3. New York Rangers-30-24-4-64 pts-7th in East
As seems customary at this point, the Rangers are fading fast. They are still in a playoff spot right now, but have only 3 wins in their last 10 games, and superstar goalie Henrik Lundqvist just can't do it all. The Rangers are know for adding high-end scorers with hefty contracts, but coming to New York often destroys their careers it seems. I'd personally like to see the Rangers trade a big name, underperforming scorer and take a chance on a young guy that's got some potential. They should take the lead from that OTHER New York team. The Islanders latest breakout scorer, P.A. Parenteau was picked up from none other than the Rnagers. The Rangers could use a solid forward who can dish the puck to the big guns, and could use one more veteran defenseman.
4. New Jersey Devils-22-30-4-48 pts-13th in East
The Devils have a difficult decision to make. Do they scrap the team and rebuild? Trading veterans for young prospects and picks? Or do they trust that their recent play is enough to salvage a playoff spot out of a season that started as abysmally as they come? Lou Lamouriello isn't know for tying to add a lot of offense to his team, the major exception being the addition of Ilya Kovalchuk a year ago. With the way the Devils have been playing lately, it may actually be best for them to stand pat. They are a young team, who is finally coming together and playing some great hockey. Trading away for prospects and picks could shake up the team toomuh, hurting the good chemistry they seem to have at the moment. And the prospects that are already there seem to have great potential themselves, judging by the way they're playing now. And swapping for bigger names fo a playoff push could ALSO be detrimental to the team. It could shake up the team to much, and also would likely take those budding young prospects away from New Jersey. One thing's for sure, I'm glad I'm not Lamouriello.
5. New York Islanders-20-29-7-47 pts-14th in East
The Islanders are another young team who are playing great, they've won three in a row. I don't expect them to have a chance to make the playoffs however. They have great young players, like superstar-in-the-making John Tavares, and fellow 20-goal scorers Matt Moulson and Michael Grabner. The Islanders have plenty of young talent in the system and no longer have a need to stockpile young talent up front. The biggest holes are on defense. Their blue line could use another proven veteran, to take some of the load off of Mark Streit's shoulders and help the current D-men shut down the oppoistion. Also, a goalie might not be a bad idea. A former Islanders goalie himself, GM Garth Snow knows a great team needs great goaltending. With Rick DiPietro on and off of the disabled list every year, it is time to look elsewhere for answers. Not that he didn;t try, claiming Evgeni Nabakov when the Red Wings tried to sign him, but Nabakov refuses to play for the lackluster Isles. This should send a message to management: high-profile talent does not want to play for an awful team. Adding some extra guys to boost the Isles play late in the season could help bring in some big fish come July 1st.
Northeast Division:
1. Boston Bruins-31-18-7-69 pts-3rd in East
My hometown team is struggling of late. With Marc Savard lost for the season (at the very least), the Bruins are in need of a center. With the stellar play of Patrice Bergeron, the crafty David Krejci, and the ability of Greg Campbell, Tyler Seguin, and the surprising force that is Brad Marchand all able to play both center and wing, the Bruins are more in ned of a veteran guy who can center any line, providing experience, leadership, solid play, and maybe even a little offense. Two guys the Bruins should seriously look into to fill this void are Jason Arnott of the New Jersey Devils and John Madden of the Minnesota Wild. Both are proven veteran centers, with Stanley Cup experience and the ability to play several different roles. Madden is also a face-off wizard. However, as of last night, the Bruins seem to have already filled this void, acquiring Chirs Kelly. The B's could also use another point-producing veteran defenseman. The hot rumor is Tomas Kaberle to Boston. This rumor has come up countless times over the years, but now may finally be the time to pull the trigger.
2. Montreal Canadiens-31-20-6-68 pts-5th in East
The Habs are playing solid hockey and are one point behind the Bruins for the Northeast Division lead. They have a good mix of veterans and youngsters, a decent offense, decent defense, and a hot goaltender in Carey Price. Thanks to some blue line injuries, the Canadiens would love to add a veteran defenseman, and with a decent but not outsanding offense, they should also look to add a high-scoring winger, perhaps Dustin Penner?
3. Buffalo Sabres-26-22-6-58 pts-10th in East
The Sabres are on a roll lately, led by the outstanding play of Drew Stafford, and are 7-2-1 in their last ten. After a disappointing postseason last year, they may look to add a veteran or two with some playoff experience to help keep them on track towards a good playoff run.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs-23-27-6-52 pts-12th in East
It seems the Maple Leafs have been on the rebuilding path for an eternity, but the time for them to break out of their shell is drawing near. I do not see much hope for a late-season, playoff-berth-clinching turnaround, so Brian Burke should continue his current strategy. So far the busiest team, involved in 3 trades in the past week aquiring Aaron Voros, Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner, and Philadelphia's first and 3rd round picks, look to the Leafs to continue to offer up some hefty-contracted veterans to further the current youth movement. Even if they do trade Tomas Kaberle, they have a sturdy D including Dion Phaneuf, Mike Komisarek, Carl Gunnarsson, and Luke Schenn, plus an experienced goalie in Jean-Sebastien Giguere. The defensive play of late of these players has been disappointing, but a spark in offense would sefinitely take the load off of the weary blue-line. The Leafs will continue to trade for draft picks to make up for the ones they gave to Boston, but they should also look to continue adding young scorers with loaads of potential. It certainly paid off when they dealt for Montreal's Mikhail Grabovski back in 2008.
5. Ottawa Senators-18-30-8-44 pts-15th in East
The Senators have fallen hard after their 2007 Stanley Cup defeat. After some average seasons, they have now fallen to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Their big off-season catches from the last two years, Sergei Gonchar and Alex Kovalev have done nothing but disappoint for the Sens. Now is a good a time as any to start over, and they have already begun the process, trading away Mike Fisher and Chris Kelly for a 1st and a 2nd rounder. Look for Ottawa to continue shopping around their big name players, like Gonchar, Kovalev, and Chris Phillips. Jason Spezza seems to be safe in Ottawa at the moment, but other than that, just about anyone could go outside of Daniel Alfredsson. Filip Kuba, Chris Campoli, Chris Neil, and Jarkko Ruutu are all also expendable. Ottawa will keep looking for draft picks, as well as prospects. A more reliable solution in net might not hurt either.
Southeast Division:
1. Tampa Bay Lightning-34-17-5-73 pts-2nd in East
2. Washington Capitals-29-18-10-68 pts-6th in East
3. Carolina Hurricanes-27-22-8-62 pts-8th in East
4. Atlanta Thrashers-25-23-10-60 pts-9th in East
5. Florida Panthers-24-24-7-55 pts-11th in East
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division:
1. Detroit Red Wings-34-16-6-74 pts-2nd in West
2. Nashville Predators-30-19-7-67 pts-6th in West
3. Chicago Blackhawks-28-22-6-62 pts-11th in West
4. Columbus Blue Jackets-28-23-5-61 pts-12th in West
5. St. Louis Blues-25-21-9-59 pts-13th in West
Northwest Division:
1. Vancouver Canucks-36-12-9-81 pts-1st in West
2. Calgary Flames-29-22-8-66 pts-8th in West
3. Minnesota Wild-30-20-5-65 pts-9th in West
4. Colorado Avalanche-25-26-6-56 pts-14th in West
5. Edmonton Oilers-16-32-8-40 pts-15th in West
Pacific Division:
1. Phoenix Coyotes-30-19-9-69 pts-3rd in West
2. Dallas Stars-31-19-6-68 pts-4th in West
3. Anaheim Ducks-32-21-4-66 pts-5th in West
4. San Jose Sharks-30-21-6-66 pts-7th in West
5. Los Angeles Kings-31-22-3-65 pts-10th in West
With the deadline now less than two weeks away, there has been a small but significant flurry of moves made during the past week. I figured I'd give my own ake on these deals, as well as throw out a few teams that have some needs to address before 3pm on the 28th.
Anaheim receives D Francois Beauchemin from Toronto for W Joffrey Lupul and D Jake Gardiner. This is a good deal for both sides. The Ducks have been playing well and are now adding a solid veteran defender to solidify their blue line. Beauchemin played the better part of four seasons with te Ducks, emerging as a proven defensive force and helping the Ducks win a Cup in 2007. Lupul has never quite lived up to his potential, but is still a decent forward who can contribute respwectable offensive numbers for the Leafs. Gardiner is a great defnsive prospect. He is having in outstanding Junior season at the Universty of Wisconsin, with 30 points in 30 games.
Chicago receives W Michael Frolik from Florida for W Jack Skille. I think Chicago got the better end of the deal here. Both former top 10 draft picks, Frolik and Skille have tremendous potential. But at just age 22, Frolik has shown more so far in his young career. Despite having a down year goal-wise in his third season this year, Frolik put up 21 goals in each of his first two seasons with a very unimpressive supporting cast.
Nashville receives C Mike Fisher from Ottawa for 2011 1st round pick and 2012 conditional pick. For the rebuilding Senators, the Fisher trade was inevitable. The price was certainly right for Nashville. Just one definite first-round pick, which will definitely be valuable for the Senators come draft day, but they probably could have gotten a little more. Fisher will provide a huge boost for the Predators, who are currently holding on to 6th place in the West, who's major offseason signing, center Matt Lombardi, has been sidelined since just the third game of the season. Fisher has some playoff experience,too, having helped Ottawa advance to the Cup in 2007, before being defeated by Beauchemin's Ducks. The fans should love him pretty quickly, too, he's married to country star Carrie Underwood.
Philadelphia receives W Kris Versteeg from Toronto for 2011 first and 3rd round pick. At age 24, Versteeg is already joining his fourth organization. Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins, he was traded to Chicago before ever suiting up for Boston, for offensive dud Brandon Bochenski. After helping the Blackhawks win a long-awaited Stanley Cup last season, he was dealt to Toronto for Viktor Stalberg by the the salary cap-challenged champs. Now Philadelphia has been the latest team attracted to his talents. This deal is a win for both sides. The already formidable Flyers offense has just added a young scorer with loads of talent and potential, with playoff experience. The Flyers now that well, having lost to his team in the final last year. On the other hand, Brian Burke has gained both a first and a third round pick, doing his best to undo the damage of the Phil Kessel trade. And as a team that needs to rebuild, draft picks are extremely valuable.
Toronto receives W Aaron Voros from Toronto for 2011 conditional pick. In their third move, the Maple Leafs made little noise. Voros will bring a tough style of play to Toronto, but his offensive numbers are nothing to write home about, and his addition should be of little consequence to the struggling Leafs.
Dustin Byfuglien signs 5-year extension with Atlanta. Despite his recent offensive struggles and the Bird's recent nosedive, the Thrashers were right to lock up Big Buff for 5 more years. Another spoil of the Blackhawks salary cap problems, Byfuglien is having an unbelievable season. He was an all-star this year after switching back to his natural position of D. He brings Stanley Cup experience, toughness, offense, defense, leadership, and versatity to a young team on the verge of breaking out in the Southeast division.
Peter Forsberg returns and retires. After much hype, Peter Forsberg once again returned to the Avalanche lineup. But after just two games, he left he hockey world baffled by announcing his retirement. Despite less than stellar numbers in those two games, his teammates were shocked, as he gave little indication that the road was ending for him. This news is unfortunate for the Avalanche, who lost their 8th straight game last night and have fallen to 14th in the West.
Boston receives C Chris Kelly from Ottawa for 2011 2nd round pick. As a Boston fan, I personally am not in love with the move. It's definitely a good move for Ottawa, who is trying to scrap the existing lineup and start over, and a 2nd rounder in addition to the 1st rounder from Nashville shows that they hope to begin the rebuilding process in June at the draft. For Boston, they needed a center to fill the void left by Marc Savard. But to me, Kelly just isn't the answer. With 12 goals on the season, Kelly WILL bring solid offensive numbers and a style of play that fits the mold of a Bruin nicely, but I was hoping for a more high-profile pick-up. What this move indicates to me is that the Bruins are looking to fill a hole that is soon to open. I believe they are insuring they keep a moderately skilled forward so that they can trade away a similar player. Perhaps to Toronto as part of a deal for Tomas Kaberle?
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division:
1.Philadelphia Flyers-36-14-5-77 pts-1st in East
With the addition of Kris Versteeg, the Flyers are virtually unstoppable. Already boasting arguably the best roster in the league before the deal, the Flyers lead the eastern conference and are poised to make another Cup run. They are set at forward, with one of the most impressive offenses and impenetrable defenses in the game, the only question mark that remains for Philly is their goaltending. Rookie Sergei Bobrovsky has had a stellar first seasn between the pipes, and Brian Boucher has been know for Cinderella playoff runs, but neither of them are proven or consistent goaltenders. The Flyers may want to add some more insurance in their crease, but they will likely be staying put at the deadline, and frankly, I don't blame them.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins-35-19-4-74 pts-4th in East
Despite my recent words that the Penguins are fine, they are getting pushed around and beaten bad of late. With Crosby and Malkin down for the count, their scoring ability is severely cut down. They are set on the defensive end, but could use a decent center and a proven goal-scoring on the wing to help boost their offensive game. Look for Ray Shero to deal some of his defensive prospects to add some scoring punch.
3. New York Rangers-30-24-4-64 pts-7th in East
As seems customary at this point, the Rangers are fading fast. They are still in a playoff spot right now, but have only 3 wins in their last 10 games, and superstar goalie Henrik Lundqvist just can't do it all. The Rangers are know for adding high-end scorers with hefty contracts, but coming to New York often destroys their careers it seems. I'd personally like to see the Rangers trade a big name, underperforming scorer and take a chance on a young guy that's got some potential. They should take the lead from that OTHER New York team. The Islanders latest breakout scorer, P.A. Parenteau was picked up from none other than the Rnagers. The Rangers could use a solid forward who can dish the puck to the big guns, and could use one more veteran defenseman.
4. New Jersey Devils-22-30-4-48 pts-13th in East
The Devils have a difficult decision to make. Do they scrap the team and rebuild? Trading veterans for young prospects and picks? Or do they trust that their recent play is enough to salvage a playoff spot out of a season that started as abysmally as they come? Lou Lamouriello isn't know for tying to add a lot of offense to his team, the major exception being the addition of Ilya Kovalchuk a year ago. With the way the Devils have been playing lately, it may actually be best for them to stand pat. They are a young team, who is finally coming together and playing some great hockey. Trading away for prospects and picks could shake up the team toomuh, hurting the good chemistry they seem to have at the moment. And the prospects that are already there seem to have great potential themselves, judging by the way they're playing now. And swapping for bigger names fo a playoff push could ALSO be detrimental to the team. It could shake up the team to much, and also would likely take those budding young prospects away from New Jersey. One thing's for sure, I'm glad I'm not Lamouriello.
5. New York Islanders-20-29-7-47 pts-14th in East
The Islanders are another young team who are playing great, they've won three in a row. I don't expect them to have a chance to make the playoffs however. They have great young players, like superstar-in-the-making John Tavares, and fellow 20-goal scorers Matt Moulson and Michael Grabner. The Islanders have plenty of young talent in the system and no longer have a need to stockpile young talent up front. The biggest holes are on defense. Their blue line could use another proven veteran, to take some of the load off of Mark Streit's shoulders and help the current D-men shut down the oppoistion. Also, a goalie might not be a bad idea. A former Islanders goalie himself, GM Garth Snow knows a great team needs great goaltending. With Rick DiPietro on and off of the disabled list every year, it is time to look elsewhere for answers. Not that he didn;t try, claiming Evgeni Nabakov when the Red Wings tried to sign him, but Nabakov refuses to play for the lackluster Isles. This should send a message to management: high-profile talent does not want to play for an awful team. Adding some extra guys to boost the Isles play late in the season could help bring in some big fish come July 1st.
Northeast Division:
1. Boston Bruins-31-18-7-69 pts-3rd in East
My hometown team is struggling of late. With Marc Savard lost for the season (at the very least), the Bruins are in need of a center. With the stellar play of Patrice Bergeron, the crafty David Krejci, and the ability of Greg Campbell, Tyler Seguin, and the surprising force that is Brad Marchand all able to play both center and wing, the Bruins are more in ned of a veteran guy who can center any line, providing experience, leadership, solid play, and maybe even a little offense. Two guys the Bruins should seriously look into to fill this void are Jason Arnott of the New Jersey Devils and John Madden of the Minnesota Wild. Both are proven veteran centers, with Stanley Cup experience and the ability to play several different roles. Madden is also a face-off wizard. However, as of last night, the Bruins seem to have already filled this void, acquiring Chirs Kelly. The B's could also use another point-producing veteran defenseman. The hot rumor is Tomas Kaberle to Boston. This rumor has come up countless times over the years, but now may finally be the time to pull the trigger.
2. Montreal Canadiens-31-20-6-68 pts-5th in East
The Habs are playing solid hockey and are one point behind the Bruins for the Northeast Division lead. They have a good mix of veterans and youngsters, a decent offense, decent defense, and a hot goaltender in Carey Price. Thanks to some blue line injuries, the Canadiens would love to add a veteran defenseman, and with a decent but not outsanding offense, they should also look to add a high-scoring winger, perhaps Dustin Penner?
3. Buffalo Sabres-26-22-6-58 pts-10th in East
The Sabres are on a roll lately, led by the outstanding play of Drew Stafford, and are 7-2-1 in their last ten. After a disappointing postseason last year, they may look to add a veteran or two with some playoff experience to help keep them on track towards a good playoff run.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs-23-27-6-52 pts-12th in East
It seems the Maple Leafs have been on the rebuilding path for an eternity, but the time for them to break out of their shell is drawing near. I do not see much hope for a late-season, playoff-berth-clinching turnaround, so Brian Burke should continue his current strategy. So far the busiest team, involved in 3 trades in the past week aquiring Aaron Voros, Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner, and Philadelphia's first and 3rd round picks, look to the Leafs to continue to offer up some hefty-contracted veterans to further the current youth movement. Even if they do trade Tomas Kaberle, they have a sturdy D including Dion Phaneuf, Mike Komisarek, Carl Gunnarsson, and Luke Schenn, plus an experienced goalie in Jean-Sebastien Giguere. The defensive play of late of these players has been disappointing, but a spark in offense would sefinitely take the load off of the weary blue-line. The Leafs will continue to trade for draft picks to make up for the ones they gave to Boston, but they should also look to continue adding young scorers with loaads of potential. It certainly paid off when they dealt for Montreal's Mikhail Grabovski back in 2008.
5. Ottawa Senators-18-30-8-44 pts-15th in East
The Senators have fallen hard after their 2007 Stanley Cup defeat. After some average seasons, they have now fallen to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Their big off-season catches from the last two years, Sergei Gonchar and Alex Kovalev have done nothing but disappoint for the Sens. Now is a good a time as any to start over, and they have already begun the process, trading away Mike Fisher and Chris Kelly for a 1st and a 2nd rounder. Look for Ottawa to continue shopping around their big name players, like Gonchar, Kovalev, and Chris Phillips. Jason Spezza seems to be safe in Ottawa at the moment, but other than that, just about anyone could go outside of Daniel Alfredsson. Filip Kuba, Chris Campoli, Chris Neil, and Jarkko Ruutu are all also expendable. Ottawa will keep looking for draft picks, as well as prospects. A more reliable solution in net might not hurt either.
Southeast Division:
1. Tampa Bay Lightning-34-17-5-73 pts-2nd in East
2. Washington Capitals-29-18-10-68 pts-6th in East
3. Carolina Hurricanes-27-22-8-62 pts-8th in East
4. Atlanta Thrashers-25-23-10-60 pts-9th in East
5. Florida Panthers-24-24-7-55 pts-11th in East
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division:
1. Detroit Red Wings-34-16-6-74 pts-2nd in West
2. Nashville Predators-30-19-7-67 pts-6th in West
3. Chicago Blackhawks-28-22-6-62 pts-11th in West
4. Columbus Blue Jackets-28-23-5-61 pts-12th in West
5. St. Louis Blues-25-21-9-59 pts-13th in West
Northwest Division:
1. Vancouver Canucks-36-12-9-81 pts-1st in West
2. Calgary Flames-29-22-8-66 pts-8th in West
3. Minnesota Wild-30-20-5-65 pts-9th in West
4. Colorado Avalanche-25-26-6-56 pts-14th in West
5. Edmonton Oilers-16-32-8-40 pts-15th in West
Pacific Division:
1. Phoenix Coyotes-30-19-9-69 pts-3rd in West
2. Dallas Stars-31-19-6-68 pts-4th in West
3. Anaheim Ducks-32-21-4-66 pts-5th in West
4. San Jose Sharks-30-21-6-66 pts-7th in West
5. Los Angeles Kings-31-22-3-65 pts-10th in West
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