Season Review: Nashville Predators

Well, as we're advancing toward the semi-finals of the playoffs, I will be reviewing the seasons of teams as they're eliminated from the playoffs. Obviously, the last team reviewed will be the one that wins the Cup.

Now the third team to be eliminated from the Western Conference Quarterfinals: The Nashville Predators.

Season expectations: The team failed to qualify for the postseason after four straight playoff appearances (which were also four-straight first round eliminations). The team was determined to embrace their defensive style and looked to develop and promote players from within as opposed to signing any big names during the off-season. Not many people figured it would pan out in such a tough division but Barry Trotz was determined to make it happen.

My prediction: I figured the team would finish last in the Central Division and fourteenth overall in the Western Conference.

The truth: The team finished third in the division and seventh in the conference. They were eliminated by the second-seed Chicago Blackhawks in six games.

What went right?: Goaltending was solid on this team, as Pekka Rinne put up a 32-16-5 with 7 shutouts, a 2.53 goals against average, and a .911 save percentage in 58 games while Dan Ellis posted a 15-13-1 record with a 2.69 GAA and .909 save percentage in 31 games. Patric Hornqvist scored 30 goals and Steve Sullivan tied him for a team best 51 points. There were 4 other players who scored better than 40 points, 4 other players who scored better than 30 points, and 4 other players who scored better than 20 points. Cody Franson was solid defensively during his rookie season and most of the team paid strong attention to defensive detail. Toughness was there thanks to Shea Weber, Jordin Tootoo, and Wade Belak, but the Predators used that sparingly, as they were third-from-last in fighting majors. David Legwand may not have had the regular season has he hoped, but he was the only Nashville player who averaged more than a point-per-game during the playoffs.

What went wrong?: Well, the move to get Denis Grebeshkov from the Edmonton Oilers blew up in Nashville's face as he was out for the season four games after the trade with a "lower body injury" which most likely is related to his MCL. Add the fact that Hornqvist went down after Game 2 with an upper-body injury and the battle to defeat the Blackhawks became unexpectedly steeper uphill. All and all, the team performed admirably against Chicago; they were just outmuscled and Chicago's offense was able to offset their deficit in the crease long enough to advance further along in the post-season.

So what's next?: The team's going to need to qualify Hornqvist, acquire a second goaltender should Ellis take off, and should look to add a few second-pairing/depth defensemen should Francis Boullion and Dan Hamhuis decide to take off. After that, they may care to add one more top-end forward to compliment Hornqvist and Martin Erat but don't need to break the bank to do so (would be nice if Alexander Radulov came back.) They just need to worry about competing in a tight division next season.

Season Review: Buffalo Sabres

Well, as we're advancing toward the semi-finals of the playoffs, I will be reviewing the seasons of teams as they're eliminated from the playoffs. Obviously, the last team reviewed will be the one that wins the Cup.

Now the third team to be eliminated from the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: The Buffalo Sabres.

Season expectations: After two consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances, the team missed two successive postseasons. Because of their status of a small market team, the Sabres didn't acquire a huge player during the offseason. Instead, they let guys like Ryan Miller, Derek Roy, Tomas Vanek, and Hendrik Tallinder guide the team while giving rookie Tyler Myers a job out of camp. Lindy Ruff wasn't going to have a superstar to work with (well, save their goaltender) but he had a group of solid hockey players who could play two-way hockey.

My prediction: I figured they would be third in the Northeast Division and ninth overall in the Eastern Conference.

The truth: The team finished atop of the division and third overall in the conference. They were eliminated in six games to the sixth-seeded Boston Bruins.

What went right?: Ryan Miller had a Vezina-nominating season, posting a 41-18-8 record with 5 shutouts, a 2.22 goals against average, and a .929 save percentage. The team had three players score better than 60 points (Roy nearly amassed 70) while three others acquired between 42-53 each. Speaking of scoring forwards, Raffi Torres went on a scoring streak for the remainder of the regular season when he was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tyler Myers had a Calder-nominating season, putting up 48 points with a +13 rating in his first season in the NHL. Grit wasn't abundant but was there in the lineup thanks to Craig Rivet, Patrick Kaleta, and Paul Gaustad and the team demonstrated a strong commitment to sound two-way hockey, with the majority of the team being plus players and only two players who broke -10, with Chris Butler being the only one they didn't acquire midseason (Torres was the other.)

What went wrong?: You can't fault the goaltending because even in the postseason, Miller still put up a 2.35 GAA and .926 save percentage. In the end, the offense dried up (Vanek was the only player who averaged a point-per-game during the series against Boston; he was also limited to 3 games due to injuries) and the team's defense couldn't contain the scoring-by-committee style of play Boston's adapted to. When that all happens, you're playing golf.

So what's next?: The team has some decisions to make in regards to a few top-four defenders and a few depth forwards, but overall they need not blow everything up to be competitive. They should have enough cap space available to acquire the components they need (likely another scoring winger, a couple depth forwards, and a few top-four defenders) to have them keep up the pace for next season. Jonas Ehroth will likely be promoted to backup Miller.

Season Review: Los Angeles Kings

Well, as we're advancing toward the semi-finals of the playoffs, I will be reviewing the seasons of teams as they're eliminated from the playoffs. Obviously, the last team reviewed will be the one that wins the Cup.

Now the second team to be eliminated from the Western Conference Quarterfinals: The Los Angeles Kings.

Season expectations: The team hadn't made the playoffs since 2002 and people were starting to wonder if the Kings would ever leave rebuild mode. However, there were plenty of reasons to suspect things were heading in a better direction. Anze Kopitar was showing great strides in his development and the team brought in Ryan Smyth to provide grit, leadership, and playmaking ability. Jon Quick looked impressive during his 2008-09 audition and looked poised to take over the starting role, even if for the time being considering Jonathan Bernier is waiting in the minors. Would the team be able to play better than the other talented teams in their division?

My prediction: I predicted the team would have ended up last in the Pacific Division and thirteenth overall in the Western Conference. In hindsight, I think my jealousy as a Coyotes fan blinded my better decision making as far as my assessment of them.

The truth: The team finished third in the division and sixth in the conference. They were eliminated in six games to the third-seed Vancouver Canucks.

What went right?: Scoring was the team's forte, as Kopitar acquired 81 points and seven players total acquired better than 40 points. While there were many impressive campaigns amongst LA forwards this season, Wayne Simmonds stood out by scoring 40 points, defending to a team best +22, and acquiring 116 penalty minutes along the way (though he may do better to acquire more fighting majors than minor penalties.) Drew Doughty had an outstanding season on the blueline; one which has rightfully earned him a Norris Trophy nomination for best defenseman while Jack Johnson became a stud power play quarterback to help propel the team's offense fromt he blueline. Quick did establish himself as the goaltending workhorse, appearing in 72 games and posting a 39-24-7 record along the way. Erik Ersberg went off to a shakey start but was able to right the ship, finishing the season with a 2.40 goals against and a respectable .906 save percentage.

What went wrong?: Quick's workload during the regular season was too much for him to deal with come playoff time, where he posted a 3.50 GAA and a .884 save percentage for the series against Vancouver. L.A.'s offense was stifled, as the leading scorers of the series were Doughty and Johnson... two defensemen. L.A.'s defense couldn't keep the Canucks contained as Simmonds was the only plus player in the series with a +1. In the end, Vancouver used their overall completeness to defeat the Kings in six games.

So what's next?: The team has just under $45M toward the cap for next season without a whole lot of players to acquire. They may try to enter the Kovalchuk sweepstakes but might just be better off signing complementary parts to what's emerging to be a solid and competitive squad. The big question for next season is what's going to happen when Bernier comes to camp and whether the results will be a boom or a bust to the team.

Season Review: Colorado Avalanche

Well, as we're advancing toward the semi-finals of the playoffs, I will be reviewing the seasons of teams as they're eliminated from the playoffs. Obviously, the last team reviewed will be the one that wins the Cup.

Now the first team to be eliminated from the Western Conference Quarterfinals: The Colorado Avalanche.

Season expectations: The team finished in the basement of the Western Conference last season and acquired Matt Duchene with the third overall pick. Coach Joe Sacco was brought on to instill a new system while Craig Anderson was brought on for $1.5 million a season to support Peter Budaj, who seems to have found more comfort in a backup role.

My prediction: I predicted the team would finish last in the Northwest Division and last overall in the Western Conference. In hindsight, I was way, way off.

The truth: The team was second in the division and clinched the eighth spot in the playoffs. They were eliminated by the first-seed San Jose Sharks in six games.

What went right?: Craig Anderson turned out to be the bargain of the off-season, appearing in 71 games and posting a 38-25-7 record along the way. Come to think of it, both he and Budaj posted an identical .917 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average during the regular season (during the postseason though, that would be a little different.) Coach Sacco had the forward producing points and the defenders patroling the blueline (save Jon-Michael Liles, who was used in a more offensive role, producing 31 points.) Paul Stastny and sophomore Chris Stewart had career seasons with 79 points while Matt Duchene stepped in and contributed 55 points in his rookie season. T.J. Galiardi nearly hit 40 points during his first full season in the NHL while newly acquired Peter Mueller was looking dangerous before suffering a concussion. The team embraced it's youth and was generously rewarded with a quick return to the playoffs.

What went wrong?: The team couldn't generate enough offense nor properly contain the Sharks during their playoff series, which lead to their demise. No player was able to generate a point-per-game basis (Stasnty came close with 5 points) While Scott Hannan and Kyle Quincey were the only plus players for the entire series. San Jose's one of the teams you have to play a complete game against and in the end, the Avalanche were just a shade too young to get over the more experienced Sharks squad.

So what's next?: The future's remarkably bright. These guys have a significant amount of cap room for next season, so they have plenty of options as to where they want to go with the team. As it stands, they'll be going into the off-season needing depth forwards and a few top-four and third pairing defenders. They'll probably do well to get reinforcements as opposed to signing a "big fish in the pond" because if the youth on the team keeps playing the way they are, the team's going to the cap space for contract extensions in the future.

Season Review: Ottawa Senators

Well, as we're advancing toward the semi-finals of the playoffs, I will be reviewing the seasons of teams as they're eliminated from the playoffs. Obviously, the last team reviewed will be the one that wins the Cup.

Now the second team to be eliminated from the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: The Ottawa Senators.

Season expectations: The team missed the playoffs last season and Dany Heatley came public with a trade demand. Alex Kovalev was signed to provide some offense that the departing Heatley would have provided while Heatley was moved for Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo (the former worked out great; the latter not so much.) Pascal Leclaire was signed to be the team's starter and provide some stability to the goaltending position in Ottawa. Cory Clouston would have his first full season with the team and the team is looking to get back to the form they had when they made the Stanley Cup Finals back in 2007.

My prediction: I predicted the team would finish last in the Northeast Division and 13th overall in the Eastern Conference. In hindsight, I think I overestimated the effect of the Dany Heatley drama on the team's overall morale.

The truth: The team finished second in the division and fifth in the conference. They were eliminated in six games against the fourth-seeded (and defending Stanley Cup champion) Pittsburgh Penguins.

What went right?: While the team didn't have any extensive dominant scorers, they did have enough production from everyone on the team to make themselves successful. The team had a legit amount of toughness to be successful, having Jarkko Ruutu, Chris Neil, and newcomer Matt Carkner to enforce, agitate, and intimidate. The goaltending was a little shaky at times, but there was a healthy enough competition between LeClaire and Elliott to where at the end of the day, they were a successful platoon. Matt Cullen was acquired at the trade deadline and was hot come playoff time while rookie defenseman Erik Karlsson had a breakout year and looks like he's going to be the point-producing defenseman of Ottawa's future.

What went wrong?: For the season the team could have stood to have more consistency defensively and in the crease. For their series against Pittsburgh, it was the inability of anyone other than the fourth line to defend against the Penguins (the fourth line, along with defenseman Chris Campoli, were the only plus players in the series.) It's great to generate offense but when you're playing a team like Pittsburgh, you have to significantly commit to defensive hockey; otherwise they will beat your team like they did here. Of course, it didn't help that two of their top six forwards (Michalek and Kovalev) missed the series due to season-ending injuries.

So what's next?: The Senators won't have much cap space to acquire a significant amount of free agents but they don't need to do a whole lot either. The big question is whether or not they can retain Anton Volchenkov and/or Matt Cullen before July 1st. And if they do, will they be able to qualify their RFAs? Should be interesting.

Random Thoughts On The Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinals: Day Twelve

By Mike

Well, there's two more series (and days) left in the quarterfinals. Boston and Chicago advance while Montreal denies Washington with an outstanding effort by their gutsy goalie...

Montreal: 4; Washington: 1
Series is tied 3-3
Jaroslav Halak made 53 saves and Mike Cammalleri had two goals and an assist to propel themselves into Game Seven versus Washington. Joe Corvo rocketed 10 shots on Halak while Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin, and Mike Green each registered 6 or more shots. Eric Fehr scored Washington's lone goal. Simeyon Varlamov was not as impressive at his end, allowing 3 goals on 21 shots. Game 7 goes back to Washington but if Montreal keeps it up they could pull a serious upset for the heavily-favored Capitals.

Boston: 4; Buffalo: 3
Boston wins the series 4-2
Man, this was a battle of whomever could be good enough and in the end, Boston mustered an upset to the Sabres despite missing their main setup man Marc Savard. David Krejci put up 2 goals and an assist while both old man Mark Recchi and Miro Satan had a goal and an assist each. Give credit to Buffalo for an outstanding season but those few games without Vanek was apparently too much for them to overcome. Boston's opponent will need to be figured out once the Washington-Montreal series concludes.

Chicago: 5; Nashville: 3
Chicago wins the series 4-2
It sucks for Nashville that they can't seem to escape from the first round. But when you're facing an excellent Blackhawks team, that's kinda expected to happen. Now, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp put forth a valiant effort with a goal and two assists each, but one wonders how the game would have turned out if Marian Hossa, who had three assists, would have been suspended for his hit on Dan Hamhuis Kinda stings. Chicago now goes on to face Vancouver in the Western Conference Semifinals while San Jose awaits the winner of the Phoenix-Detroit series.

Random Thoughts On The Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinals: Day Eleven

by Mike

Today was do or die for the Phoenix Coyotes and the L.A. Kings. In the end, Phoenix sees a Game 7 while Los Angeles has concluded what was their most successful season in 8 years.

Phoenix: 5; Detroit: 2
Series is tied 3-3
Phoenix responded without Shane Doan in the lineup and managed to muster two power play goals and a shorthanded tally too. In fairness though, Doan was in the dressing room monitoring the game and talking to the team about what they needed to do for the forthcoming period. To me, that's a true leader considering he could have sat in the press box watching the game from above. There was never a reason to suspect anything less than what we've seen from both teams this entire series and it's been probably the most exciting series to date. Tensions boiled over in the third period though; as Justin Abdelkader fought...

... Twice...

... And the Wings scrambled to score a scrappy goal at the end. However, they were unable to convert on three successive Coyotes penalties and now the series goes back to Phoenix. This can be anyone's series now and Game 7 will be the game to watch.

Vancouver: 4; Los Angeles: 2
Vancouver wins the series 4-2
L.A. had a 2-1 lead going into the third period but much like at other times during the series, they weren't able to hang on and now the Canucks are advancing to the second round. Daniel Sedin put the Canucks up with less than 3 minutes to play in the game and Alexandre Burrows scored his only goal the series (an empty-netter, at that) to seal the deal. L.A. made it interesting but the Canucks were able to get them to play their game too many times for the Kings to be successful. The L.A. crowd was supportive and Dustin Brown said this was a good learning experience for the Kings. I wholeheartedly agree and now the team just need to be better built as opposed to rebuilt; and that's a whole lot farther along than they've been recently.