Season Preview: Detroit Red Wings

We're about halfway done with our season preview and are a little ahead of schedule. Hopefully we can get this kicked out well before September ends and the teams start their travel season in lovely Europe. Pre-season hockey rules so go check it out in a town near you!

And now, the Detroit Red Wings.

Team M.O.: Perennial winners, the Detroit Red Wings are the envy of other sports franchises, let alone hockey teams. With great ownership and a smart blend of development, trades, and free agents; GM Ken Holland has managed to put together a team which is a Number 5 playoff seed at worst and a Stanley Cup Champion at best. People in Toronto and Edmonton wish this was their hockey club.

Last Season: Fifth overall in the Western Conference and eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Semifinals. To some in Northern California, it was the passing of the torch as the student (Sharks coach/former Red Wings assistant coach Todd McLellan) beat the master (Red Wings coach/Best Hair In Hockey Mike Babcock). To the rest of the hockey world, the Red Wings were in a "rebuild" year of sorts and had to wait for a few extra pieces to be made available...

Offense: Babcock has said he's going to reunite the ZDH Line and I can't wait to see it. Pavel Datsyuk remains one of the league's best one-on-one forwards and though a little behind on the offense last season, he still remained Selke-worthy to the point where they may as well just name it the Datsyuk award. Hendrik Zetterberg remains and elite forward with an astounding sense of intelligence. Tomas Holmstrom's starting to be in the infirmary more often than not nowadays, but when healthy he's still one of the best shot-deflecting crease-crashers with a sense of nastiness that 29 other teams would love to have on their club. This means that Valteri Filppula will center a line with power forward/goal scorer Johan Franzan and the all-offensive big man Todd Bertuzzi. Filppula's battled injuries throughout his young career so the Wings did what you'd expect them to: They signed his older brother Ilari for forward depth (though Ilari will go to Grand Rapids; he won't be subject to re-entry waivers and they play the same type of game.) Former Dallas Star and Livonia-native Mike Modano has come home and will center a line with the always versatile Dan Cleary (who's versatility makes him the best Number 7 forward in the league) and the small yet skilled Jiri Hudler (who comes back after spending a year in the Kontinental Hockey League.) Darren Helm and Kris Draper will alternate as the team's speedy defensive centerman while Patrick Eaves will take over as the jack-of-all trades forward that endears him to the Red Wings staff. The team needed toughness; so Justin Abdelkader took matters into his own hands and learned how to fight in the off-season.

There's one more forward spot left on the team. Though the team is looking to either have the defensively sound Drew Miller (who was the Red Wings first waiver claim in over a decade) or the offensively-minded Mattias Riolta round out the forward corps. Aaron Downey will receive a professional tryout after spending last season in semi-retirement (he took the autumn off after being cut from the Phoenix Coyotes and spend the winter in Phoenix playing Senior A hockey with other former professional hockey players) but looks more likely for Grand Rapids than Detroit, which is somewhat unfortunate.

With that said; this team needs an enforcer and that's it. There's plenty of sandpaper in the lineup they just need the icing on the cake. If Downey can have an excellent camp then he'll be golden. If another fighter is available on waivers during the preseason and the Wings can make a claim, I'd love to see that too.

Defense: Nicklas Lidstrom remains one of the best defensemen in hockey and while he's over 40, he's still capable of playing a supreme game. Brian Rafalski doesn't look like he's going anywhere soon so he gives the Wings a second defenseman who'll likely break 40 points. Niklas Kronwall could do that do with his offensive prowess and big-hitting ability but he very seldom, if ever, plays in a full season. Brad Stuart's settled down into the role of the shutdown defender for the Red Wings yet it's one that he's grown confident and comfortable with; and with the right team. Ruslan Salei was signed as a free agent from the Colorado Avalanche and will give the team a defender who was capable of what Andreas Lilja provided but with a bit more nastiness. Hopefully this wears off on Jonathan Ericcson, who can do a little bit of everything but needs a little more aggression and confidence to ascend the depth chart. Jakub Kindl will get his shot as the team's Number 7 defender; he can also provide defense of the tough, physical variety when he finds his groove. Derek Meech has cleared waivers and currently serves as the team's eighth defender. Holland will likely move him as soon as he finds a taker.

Otherwise, their depth's legit so moving on...

Goaltending: Jimmy Howard was able to gain the majority of the starts by season's end and gave the team more confidence in his abilities by season's end. It wasn't easy for Chris Osgood to watch, but he still provided a calming influence and will likely have a better season thanks in part to not having to save the team twice. If this is the end of the road for him, I hope he has a magnificent swan song. Regardless, Babcock would be wise to have them split playing time as opposed to having a Number 1/2 type system. In the minors, Joey MacDonald returns to the organization to mentor and be that Number 3 goaltender while Thomas McCollum will be groomed to be the Red Wings' goalie of the future.

Management: Holland was the G.M. for three championship teams and has continued the Red Wings winning ways. Babcock's stubbornness gets the best of him from time-to-time, but he's a great coach overall and a great leader for the team. Everyone buys into what they're doing there so why change a thing?

Prediction: First in the Central Division and having a nice run in the playoffs.

How far they go in the playoffs depends on their commitment to an enforcer. The only other team in the West who I think is better are the Vancouver Canucks because they have Darcy Hordichuk. If they can snag a guy who can honestly enforce and still appear in 41 games or better, this could be 2008 revisited. Nevertheless, most of the components managed to come from within this season and they're going into the season with one of the best teams possible.

Season Preview: Dallas Stars

September's finally here. And given how slowly teams are coming together, we decided to put off the previews until September this time. We go in alphabetical order because hey, why not? We'll be doing this until September ends. With that said here we go.

And now, the Dallas Stars.

Team M.O.: Plain and simple these guys are in the midst of a rebuild (or seriously need to hit that button soon.) Dave Tippett brought a defense-first mantra to the team which made it to the Western Conference Finals in 2008. After the 2009-09 season, Tippett was fired after the Stars failed to make the playoffs. The team installed Marc Crawford as coach and went from being a defense-first team to a group that relied on a "west coast offense" style of game.

Last Season: Twelfth in the Western Conference and out of the playoffs. They had the same rank the season prior yet went from third in the Pacific Division to last. There were a few moves made in the off-season but were they the right ones to make the team competitive?

Offense: Loui Eriksson continues to thrive in an offensive role while newcomers Jamie Benn and James Neal (still an RFA) provided enough secondary scoring in their rookie seasons to warrant playing time on the top-two lines. Brad Richards amassed 90 points last season and while a stellar on offense, he needs to commit more to defense if the team's going to push themselves past the other teams in the division, let alone the conference. Mike Riberio wasn't as productive as in season's past, but he's still a legitimate playmaker and solid pivot for Dallas' young wingers. Brenden Morrow will return in his role as the team captain and top-six power forward; providing the team with solid two-way play and toughness when he's healthy. Fabian Brunnstrom rounds out the scoring forward and though his production is inconsistent, you have to expect that from a guy who a signed based entirely on YouTube videos. Jonathan Cheechoo will get the opportunity to make the team on a professional tryout contract.

Looking at the bottom-half of the depth chart, Steve Ott brings a versatile game to go with his nastiness but needs to avoid the dirty stuff if he doesn't want someone to end his career early for him. Toby Petersen managed to serve the Stars in a checking capacity last season and will likely shore up on either the third or fourth units. Tom Wandell had a breakout season last year and will provide the team with a solid two-way forward who's capable of playing on their third unit. Though Adam Burish comes over from the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, he was limited to 16 games last season and wound up being a healthy scratch during the Finals, so there's no telling how effective he'll be for the Stars. Brandon Segal was claimed off waivers from the L.A. Kings and provided more for the Stars during his audition for them than he did for the Kings; that performance will look secure him a depth role coming into camp. Krys Barch will enforce for the team while Brian Sutherby will likely round out the defensive forwards for the team.

All and all, not bad. However, there will be a lot of pressure on the young guys to meet or exceed what they provided the team through last season.

Defense: Stephane Robidas managed to give the Stars some decent point production through last season yet somewhat suffered with the defensive aspects of the game. Trevor Daley will be useful in producing 20-30 points from the blue line for the Stars. Karlis Skrastins and Niklas Grossman will give the team two solid defensive-minded defenders; though their play without the puck is better than their play with it. Mark Fistric may not have the tools to be an offensive star in the league, but the +27 he earned on a non-playoff team goes to show that this guy's a defensive stud in the NHL. Matt Niskanen regressed in his point production last season; which is not good for a guy who's relied on to provide their blueline with offense. Philip Larsen, Jeff Woywitka, and Brad Lukowich will battle for the remaining spot at camp.

While the defense isn't overwhelming, you have to wonder if the team will make a move. They seem to have some young guys in decent roles who could gain the experience, but that "breakout" defender seems absent among the group. The free agent pool has a lot of depth defenders left if they wanted to give someone like Fistric more playing time. They could also make a trade or watch the waiver wire because they definitely have the salary cap space to make a move.

Goaltending: Kari Lehtonen has long been considered to have the talent to be extraordinary in the league, but is constantly dogged by health issues to the point where no one knows if he's really that much better of an upgrade over the departed Marty Turco. Andrew Raycroft put up some decent numbers last season as Roberto Luongo's backup for the Vancouver Canucks, but given his record on "rebuilding" teams I have no optimism he'll do anything special for the team. Brent Krahn and Richard Bachman will be serving on the farm, rounding out the goaltending depth for the team.

Management: GM Joe Nieuwendyk hasn't exactly made the moves to make the Stars competitive while Crawford hasn't led any of his teams to the playoffs since 2004. No, Brett Hull's move to get Sean Avery on the team wasn't a great one, but these guys aren't necessarily getting the team back to where they were at the end of the 2007-08 season.

Prediction: Fifth in the Pacific Division and out of the playoffs.

While the group of forwards is above-average, the defense is average and both the goaltending and management leave something to be desired. In another division these guys would have a shot. Yet considering the fact that they'll be spending a quarter of their season facing up against the LA Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks, I got a feeling that the "rebuild" button will be pushed, the team will tank, and the team will look to have an early draft pick next season who can step in ASAP and help them out.

Season Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets

September's finally here. And given how slowly teams are coming together, we decided to put off the previews until September this time. We go in alphabetical order because hey, why not? We'll be doing this until September ends. With that said here we go.

And now, the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Team M.O.: Historically regarded as a defense-first team, these guys look like they're opting to go with a "run and gun" type game built around a good young goalie, some astounding prospects at forward, and an excellent captain in Rick Nash. What they lack is consistency in winning, and while that was understandable during the pre-lockout era of Detroit Red Wings dominance, the expectations are higher in the salary cap era, especially after finally making the playoffs in 2008-09.

Last Season: Fourteenth in the Western Conference and out of the playoffs. The team was teetering around the .500 mark until a disastrous slide in December. In the end it cost Ken Hitchcock his job but didn't necessarily lead to GM Scott Howson blowing up the team. A good season will make the coaching changes look brilliant; a losing season could mean the ax for another GM (or maybe not considering how long Doug MacLean managed to stick around since getting canned in favor of Howson.)

Offense: Rick Nash is relied on heavily for just about everything; it would be nice if he could be relied on purely for goal scoring considering that's what he's best at (and he's one of the best goal-scorers, too.) Antoine Vermette had a career season and while playing with Rick Nash helps, he's definitely taking steps forward to become a more complete two-way player. RJ Umberger has the tools to effectively compliment a scoring line but he'll want to tighten up his attention to defense to raise his game to an elite level. Jakub Voracek took some significant steps forward last season and looks poised to become a first-line forward at the ripe old age of 21. Derick Brassard definitely experienced a sophomore slump last season but it was his first full NHL season after missing the second half of 2008-09 with injuries; he should improve this forthcoming season. Kristian Huselius provides the team with an effective scoring winger that should provide leadership for the blossoming crop of young talent. Nikita Filatov will be returning to the team this year and should get a better look-see under Ariel than he did with Hitchcock.

Getting to the grinders and muckers, Chris Clark was acquired halfway through the season and while he isn't shy about dropping the mitts, the team has other guys on the roster capable of doing that so it would be best to stick to being a solid checker and great leader. Sammy Pahlsson struggled at first with the team, but became his usual self as the season went on and should give the team a high-end defensive forward capable of winning faceoffs. Ethan Moreau was acquired over the waiver wire and will be expected to thrive in a checking and penalty killing role for the team. As has been the case for the past couple season, Jared Boll and Derek Dorsett will exist to rile up and bruise the competition while keeping their star players protected. Michael Blunden appears ready to challenge for a checking role while Ben Guite will hope to round out the group of forwards and get back to having a regular NHL job.

There's nothing more the team can do at forward that they haven't done already; their components will now be responsible to take the steps necessary or risk playing elsewhere next season.

Defense: Fedor Tyutin managed to appear in more games than anyone else (he was the only defender to appear in more than 75 games) and was only two points off from his career season; he'll definitely be counted on to start the action up the ice. Jan Hejda had a disappointing season but to his credit, he battled injuries and played on a not-so-great squad; when healthy he's a great defensive/shutdown defenseman. Marc Methot is developing in a role similar to Hejda's while Kris Russell is coming along similar to Tyutin and give the team some solid young players to use in either in a second or third-pairing role. While Mike Commodore is a solid defensive player and leader for the youth in the dressing room, his salary doesn't justify what he's providing the team and could be a hindrance to them acquiring better players. Anton Stralman had a breakout year for the Blue Jackets, notching 34 points, but he'll need to tighten up his defensive play if he's wishes to become more than a power-play specialist. The team might wish to use Rostislav Klesla enough to justify his salary but given the fact that he's only appeared in 60 games through the past two seasons, you can't help but wonder if starting him off in a depth role could be better for both his health and the betterment of the team. Grant Clitsome and Nate Guenin will likely be the guys coming up from the minors for fill in duty when needed.

I would love to see this team trade for another veteran defender who can play top-four minutes but it I don't see it happening before camp. In fairness, if everyone can stay healthy, this season could be an improvement.

Goaltending: It kinda sucks when the expectations of a franchise fall on the shoulders of a young guy who's 22 and went from junior to NHL with no stop between, but unfortunately these things occur when you're a starting goaltender in the NHL. The team is going to wholly expect Steve Mason to have a bounce back year while detractors are going to hope that they didn't rush his development by having him play too early too soon. Though Mathieu Garon appeared in 35 games, he only started in 27 of them; frankly I think he can and should handle a higher work load and split start duties with Mason. The team has no depth issues in net.

Management: I'm not a fan of how Howson put this team together but if Ariel manages to make it work; then great on them. Still, what they've paid certain players since he's taken over has boggled my mind and I never though I'd see the day where the team's potential checking line is making an average of over $2M a player.

Prediction: Fourth in the Central Division and out of the playoffs.

I think they're a better team than the Nashville Predators this season but I have absolutely no confidence the coaching change will help the franchise start winning; not until I see how it works. They had plenty of guys take steps forward but an equal number of guys who may face a sophomore slump or injury issues. Setbacks can always occur to other teams and guys can have breakout seasons, but a lot will have to go right for these guys for them to even be a bubble team.

Season Preview: Colorado Avalanche

September's finally here. And given how slowly teams are coming together, we decided to put off the previews until September this time. We go in alphabetical order because hey, why not? We'll be doing this until September ends. With that said here we go.

And now, the Colorado Avalanche.

Team M.O.: Last season at this time, I thought the team lacked identity. The truth: They were silently rebuilding after having up-and-down success in the post-lockout NHL. No more are the Avalanche now a two-way team that effectively used the trap as they did in the old NHL; they were now an offensively brilliant run-and-gun team that used offense over defense as a means to win. GM Greg Sherman was able to get goalie Craig Anderson to an affordable contract with the promise of playing time and after that, things kinda fell into place from there.

Last Season: The team finished eighth in the Western Conference and were eliminated by the San Jose Sharks during the Conference Quarterfinals in six games. This was a stark improvement from 2009, when the team finished last in the Conference and selected third overall at the draft (oh, and that worked out for them by the way.)

Offense: Matt Duchene went from being the third-overall pick going to a moribund team to being one of the spark plugs that got the team back up and running; no doubt he'll be expected to do great things this season. Paul Stastny just keeps getting better and while he would probably like to net more than 20 goals this upcoming season, he's still going to be close or at a point-per-game basis this season. Power forward Chris Stewart just re-signed with the team after putting up a career season with 64 points; no doubt will he be expected to play a top-six forward role for the team. The usually-healthy Milan Hejduk missed some time with the club last season but still broke the 40 point barrier in 56 appearances and gives the kids on the team a reliable veteran leader who can both guide them and play to their abilities. Peter Mueller came over from the Phoenix Coyotes and made a splash until he was injured with a concussion; he has the talent and ability to be an effective scoring forward in the league but has suffered from issues relating to concussions and immaturity to the point where he could be the next Krys Kolanos. T.J. Galiardi took a significant step forward with his offensive production last season and shown he could be relied on to provide offense for the team. Brandon Yip will likely round out the offensive forwards for the team; he'll get a better chance to showcase his skills if he can avoid the injury bug.

Going further down the depth chart, Ryan O'Reilly managed to have a nice rookie year himself and makes for a solid third-line center who might be able to muster enough offense to produce 40 points. Dan Winnik comes over from the Phoenix Coyotes and while he won't score a slew of goals, he'll be spectacular in a defensive role for the team that needs it. Cody McLeod provides the crashing-and-banging along with agitation while David Koci enforces for the team when called upon. Kevin Porter (the third player formerly from the Phoenix Coyotes so far) will likely have a better shot than ever of getting to audition for an NHL gig. Though he's a versatile forward who's primarily used in a defensive role, he could have a breakout year in terms of scoring under the right conditions. David Jones suffered an ACL tear and missed most of the season last year and given his injury concerns, might be limited to part time status despite his potential. Philippe Dupuis, Ben Walter, Greg Mauldin, and David Van Der Gulik will likely be battling for jobs in camp.

In my opinion, they could stand to add another veteran checking forward. Maybe a training camp invite for one would do well to ensure the best guy gets the job.

Defense: Scott Hannan and Adam Foote are both excellent leaders and defense-first style of players; that's something that's significant to have with the type of system the team plays in. Kyle Cumiskey is another player who had a breakout season last year and will likely be assigned top-pairing minutes in an offensive role this season. Kyle Quincey continues to thrive at all aspects of the game, which makes Detroit Red Wings fans wonder why he was waived instead of Derek Meech. John-Michael Liles wasn't a regular for the team last season but he still managed to put up 31 points in 59 games. Ryan Wilson got his audition last season and looks poised to fulfill the "nasty defensive role" that's wonderful to have at Number 6.

As much as I would love to see a "Shattenkirk" jersey, the team would do better to get a legitimate depth defender like Andreas Lilja as opposed to having one of their current prospect/minor league players playing that role. The team isn't necessarily injury free and depth could be a significant factor for them this season.

Goaltending: Craig Anderson made well on his change of scenery, going from minor-league assignments to starting in the NHL. He thrives with the more shots he faces which affords the opportunity for the team to play the type of game they do. Peter Budaj was used largely in a backup role last season but still put up excellent individual numbers; it would be nice to see him challenge Anderson for more playing time. The team has John Grahame and Jason Bacashihua in the minors to round out the depth.

Management: Though Sherman inherited a good team, he still made the right moves to ensure they'll remain competitive in the league. Joe Sacco's first year in the NHL was so successful that he probably would have won the Jack Adams Trophy if it weren't for Dave Tippett's Phoenix Coyotes. I trust that these guys know what their doing even if I'm not overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the team on paper.

Prediction: Third in the Northwest Division and on the playoff bubble.

These guys are better equipped than the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild. While the Vancouver Canucks will likely win the division again this season, the Calgary Flames's success will ultimately depend on how well they can work with injuries (they're damned if they do because they miss people, they're damned if they don't because of the salary cap.) On paper, I think the Flames have more experience and that the Avalanche could be prone to a few sophomore slumps. If the management can make the right moves and/or if the players can take the right steps forward then the team could conceivably overtake the Flames in the division.

Season Preview: Chicago Blackhawks

September's finally here. And given how slowly teams are coming together, we decided to put off the previews until September this time. We go in alphabetical order because hey, why not? We'll be doing this until September ends. With that said here we go.

And now, the Chicago Blackhawks.

Team M.O.: An Original Six team with a loyal fan base, it's only been as of recently that Chicago has had a team they've been able to not only root for but to be proud of as well. Once Bill Wirtz had passed and his son, Rocky, took over the team, the group of players transformed from the underachieving, uncompetitive team that looked like it was playing in a small market to a team that was suitable for Chicago. The team grew fast and rose to meteoric heights faster than many realized. And now, their descent to earth might start this season...

Last Season: Second in the Western Conference and Stanley Cup Champions. Winning the championship came at a significant cost as the team was forced to dismantle many key components from the championship team in order to comply with next season's salary cap. However, many knew that they were going to have to make the most of this season after the Dale Tallon RFA "blunder", so it's good the team seized the opportunity with the team they had and made the most of it.

Side note: Due to the salary issues of the Blackhawks, the team I'm presenting will be the team they'll be going into battle with so I don't have to make any "suggestions" per se because they're not realistically going to happen.

Offense: Jonathan Toews may have cost the team some cap space with winning the Conn Smythe trophy last season, but he's absolutely worth it and will continue to be one of the premiere forwards in the league for many years to come. Patrick Kane has blossomed like many believed he would; a 90-100 point campaign is no longer out of the question as to what he can contribute for the team this year. Marian Hossa, who has appeared in three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances, provides the team with an elite two-way forward who should effectively round out the team's top line. While the team's first line has two of the best two-way players on a line with a great playmaker, the second line will likely feature two solid two-way players in Dave Bolland and Troy Brouwer working with Patrick Sharp to give the team a solid secondary scoring line. Viktor Stalberg will be looked at to provide offense in a scoring role but could ride the pine if he doesn't pick up the defensive part of his game. While Tomas Kopecky doesn't necessarily stand out in any one area, he now has two Stanley Cup rings, so it's evident that he does know how to win. Fernando Pisani comes over from the Edmonton Oilers and while he provides the team with a solid checking winger, injuries and health are a serious concern for him and he ain't getting younger. Jack Skille will likely skate with the team this season as an energy winger while Bryan Bickell will play the "grinding" forward type until he gets the chance to show off his offensive skills. The remaining spots will be battled for by Kyle Beach, Hugh Jessiman, Igor Makarov, and Jeff Taffe.

Defense: Duncan Keith won the Norris last season as the league's best defenseman, I can't think of anything else to say beyond that. Brent Seabrook just keeps getting better as a two-way defenseman and often looks as good as Keith does or better at times; he might be gone after this season because he will definitely be the target of a few offer sheets if he isn't traded first. Niklas Hjalmarsson was re-signed after being signed to an offer sheet by the San Jose Sharks, many argue that he has the skills necessary to be a Top-Three defender in the league. The Brian Campbell signing looks more silly as time goes by but he (they already had the first three defenders in the system when he was acquired) but he no doubt gives the team with a solid offensive presence on the back end. Jordan Hendry, Nick Boynton, and John Scott will likely round out the defensive corps and will rely on Jassen Cullimore, Ivan Vishnevskiy, and Brian Connelly to make the drive up from Rockford if things get tough.

Goaltending: Marty Turco will make the team as the starting goaltender after Cristobal Huet and his $5.25M salary were loaned to a Swiss team. Corey Crawford will make the team as their backup after Antti Niemi was let go after salary arbitration. Hannu Toivonen will be the Number 3 goalie because he decided to come back to North America.

Management: GM Stan Bowman took over after the Tallon RFA blunder and oversaw who was sent out and who was kept; the success of the team this season will determine how highly regarded he will be as a G.M. Coach Joel Quennville's teams make the playoffs and his most recent one won the championship, so he's definitely doing well as one of the better coaches in the league.

Prediction: Third in the Central Division and on the playoff bubble.

As it stands, the Blackhawks have 21 players on roster and $1.5M to spare on adding two more bodies before the start of the regular season. While I'd like to say these guys remind me of the 2005-06 Detroit Red Wings (in that they had to dismantle their team thanks to the economic realities of the league and kept their decent players on their top lines while giving a slew of new players the chance to have "role player" spots in hopes of ascending the depth chart in the future), I have to say they rather remind me of the 2009-10 Calgary Flames, in which it looks like a Jenga match that could topple over at any moment. While neither the Columbus Blue Jackets or Nashville Predators looked to have added anything that would make them significantly more competitive than last season, the Red Wings are still very much an excellent team and the St. Louis Blues should go into the season with the depth and experience necessary for them to succeed with a "scoring by committee" type of team. Should they avoid the injury bug then they'd be second only to the Red Wings. The Blues will likely leapfrog them if one of their top-end players get injured. Nashville and Columbus could catch up if several important players of theirs go down; but that would have to rely on a lot going wrong.

Season Preview: Carolina Hurricanes

September's finally here. And given how slowly teams are coming together, we decided to put off the previews until September this time. We go in alphabetical order because hey, why not? We'll be doing this until September ends. With that said here we go.

And now, the Carolina Hurricanes.

Team M.O.: The team, owned by Detroit's Peter Karmanos and run by GM (and former Red Wings goaltender) Jim Rutherford, is one that constantly and consistently relies on shrewd moves over assembling blockbuster teams in order to get by. The result of this is maddening inconsistency, with the team being able to follow up deep runs into the playoffs (winning a Stanley Cup in 2006) with teams that completely miss the playoffs the following season. While not typically mentioned in the same breath as "failing" expansion market, they generally are "just getting by" when it comes to their hockey operations.

Last Season: 11th in the Eastern Conference and out of the playoffs. The team had made the Conference Finals the year prior, so it's needless to say that things didn't necessarily go as expected for the team, even if they were in the weakest division in the league. Injuries played a significant part in that last season and there's no guarantee that won't be an issue again this year.

Offense: Eric Staal has developed into one of the elite centers in the league and will no doubt have another point-per-game season for the Hurricanes. Jussi Jokinen has thrived since coming over off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning, putting up a career season with the Hurricanes through amassing 65 points; the team will do well if he can keep it consistent through this season too. Brandon Sutter did significantly better in his sophomore season (in terms of point production and avoiding injuries) and looks poised to handle second-line center duties for the upcoming campaign. Both Tuomo Ruutu and Erik Cole provide solid offense and grit when they can remain healthy, but it's the health concerns that ultimately cut into their effectiveness with the team; they're a little too high on the depth chart to miss the kind of time they do. Sergei Samsonov is terribly inconsistent when it comes to production yet this is a contract year for him; he's either going to produce and get a one-year deal next season in the NHL or poo the bed and retreat to Russia. Chad LaRose missed some time due to injury, but looks to be improving on his point production and could have the opportunity to crack the top-two lines should injuries or inconsistency hamper anyone above him. Tom Kostopoulos plays an energy role for the team and would be excellent if he could win more fights than he loses. Patrick Dwyer managed to spend most of last season with the Hurricanes and looks like he can secure a checking role for the team if he has a good camp.

Going further down the depth chart you see a lot of promise but a significant lack of experience. Both Zach Boychuk and Jiri Tlusty are talented and promising prospects yet you can't help but wonder if they'd be better served by starting the season in the minors as opposed to potentially having spots on the roster (the latter of which is likely given the lack of depth on the team.) Jerome Samson might be out of waiver options and looks suitable for an energy role; he can secure more ice time if he can improve the defensive aspects of his game. Beyond them, the remaining players on their depth chart are young prospects who, by and large, lack NHL experience (Drayson Bowman appeared in 9 games last season while Oskar Osala appeared in one.) This should be a significant concern for the Hurricanes, who had plenty of injury issues last season and may not want to rely entirely on prospects to carry the load if it should happen again.

The team would do well to go out to sign a few veteran forwards. One of the scoring variety would be nice to push LaRose and Samsonov for the Number 6 forward spot. The team could also use another checking forward to improve special teams and a depth forward to either hold down the fort or report to their new minor league affiliate Charlotte Checkers and help the kids on the farm. Considering that they're in the Eastern Conference, they should definitely grab an available enforcer as well.

Defense: Joni Pitkanen has given the team a solid offensive presence on the blueline and will rightfully come into the season as the team's top defender. Anton Babchuk will be returning to the team from Russia this season, should he play as well as he did during the 2009-09 season then he will definitely be one of the team's top-pairing defenders. Joe Corvo's coming back as well after the trade to the Washington Capitals didn't quite work out as planned. Tim Gleason's quietly making a name for himself around the hockey community with his superior ability as a shutdown defenseman.

After them the team's going to have something of a competition out of camp to figure out who will get the third-pairing and reserve spots. Brett Carson looks like he'll be their Number 5 pivot, after putting up an impressive campaign last season that shows he can keep it simple while even contributing a few points. Jay Harrison got a better look in Carolina than he did as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but there are still some concerns that linger over his ability to defend properly at the NHL level. Jamie McBain, Bryan Rodney, and Bobby Sanguinetti will likely battle over the role as the puck-moving offensive defenseman and while Rodney lacks waiver options, McBain was more impressive than the other two during his call-up with the farm club last season and may be their better option.

No extra depth should be necessary here; the team has the ingredients necessary to have a successful defensive corp, even if injuries arise.

Goaltending: Cam Ward faced a freak injury and was limited to 47 games, but he still put up some good individual numbers on a non-playoff team; he will no doubt be the "starter" for the team. After him in the goaltending pecking order is Justin Peters (who appeared in 9 NHL games last season) and Justin Pogge (who spent all of last season in the minors.) Though the competition for the backup may be good, the overall depth may not be good enough and the team would certainly benefit from seeing what options remain in the goaltending free agent market.

Management: Rutherford obviously has vision but an "internal salary cap" has somewhat forced his hands into making additional moves; he needs to hit up Karmanos and be like "Hey, I know the recession's bad but it ain't that bad!" Coach Paul Maurice is set to return and has had maddingly inconsistent results with the team himself going back to when the team still played as the Hartford Whalers (the team's had about a .500 shot at making the playoffs with him, and the years they lose it's downright awful.) If he wants to have any chance at sticking around for this season or beyond, he'll need to get the team off to a fiery start and fast.

Prediction: Fifth in the Southeast Division, out of the playoffs, and picking within the first three picks of the 2011 draft.

The forwards lack veteran depth, the goaltending situation looks like it will have a Number 2b/3 goaltender backing up someone who shouldn't start more than 65 games, the team as a whole looks prone to injury, and the management seems unmotivated to change. In short, success in Carolina relies on up-seasons and down-seasons and this appears to be one of the latter. If the team tanks this season it might not be all bad; some salaries will be off the books at the end of the season and some of the young guys who compete hard might prove why they should stick around next season. I think that the other teams in their division will ultimately do better (yes, even the Florida Panthers) and there aren't many other teams in the Eastern Conference (save perhaps the New York Islanders) that they'll look to have a competitive advantage on.

Season Preview: Calgary Flames

September's finally here. And given how slowly teams are coming together, we decided to put off the previews until September this time. We go in alphabetical order because hey, why not? We'll be doing this until September ends. With that said here we go.

And now, the Calgary Flames.

Team M.O.: The team has always been known as one of the toughest teams in the Western Conference. Though the team was more of a "run-and-gun" type of team in the past, the team will likely start putting more focus on defense to keep in line with what's happening in the league. Nevertheless, teams will know when they're playing the Flames because they have a balanced group of forwards and defenders; not to mention one of the best goaltenders in the league.

Last Season: Tenth in the Western Conference and out of the playoffs. The team had some chemistry issues throughout the season and had to change directions midway through through a series of trades involving the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers. However, they're going into this season with not only pieces they acquired before the trade deadline, but even a few they've given up along the way too.

Offense: If there were ever two people who ever needed to find each other to salvage their hockey careers, it was Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay. Jokinen was taking heat for not being able to do what was needed of him, but many teams overlooked the fact that he was a goal-scoring centerman, not one of the playmaking variety. Tanguay, meanwhile, hasn't done as well since leaving Calgary (going from an 80 point season when he left to a sub-40 point season last year) and would stand to benefit from dishing passes to two guys who can score goals. Put them on a line with Jarome Iginla (who can do everything right) and you have a unit that could conceivably get 80 points or better. What's more is when you look at the next three scoring forwards (Rene Bourque, Matt Stajan, and Nikas Hagman) you see a second scoring unit that should generate an additional 50-60 points. Daymond Langkow would be a better option, but he's still recovering from his freak injury that shattered a vertebrae. Due to his injury, his salary, and the Flames' own salary cap concerns, it would be better for everyone for him to start off the season on the IR while they ensure his complete recovery/figure out who to move to make the salary cap work. Alex Kosalik is one of the people suggested to move, so he'll have to make the most of whatever ice time is given to remain with the Flames in a Top-9 forward role. If he stuck around, I could see him being on a line with Curtis Glencross and either Stajan or Langkow, with that unit being good for around 30-40 points.

With the Flames being able to roll seemingly three scoring lines, they're free to figure out how they'll want to use their last five forwards. No doubt will Tim Jackman and Raitias Ivanans hold two of those spots; Jackman's a nasty checking winger while Ivanans is a pure enforcer. David Moss will be in that group of forwards but doesn't seem as effective at defense as he is at offense. Michael Backlund will get a good look at camp, yet Craig Conroy could reasonably steal the job from him; it should be a good competition. If the team has room for another forward, Ryan Stone will likely get the nod.

There's really nothing more the team can do at this point in terms of addition; they're solid as is.

Defense: So Jay Bouwmeester wanted to play in a market where "hockey mattered" and he got his wish by going from the Florida Panthers to the Flames. He apparently got more than he bargained for, as he put up his lowest point totals since the lockout ended. If he can get stronger between the ears, he'll dominate for the Flames like he was able to for the Panthers. Robyn Regehr may not have had the highest plus/minus in recent history (he's usually double digits in that department) but he was still a plus player on a non-playoff team and can still provide the team with a premier level of defense. Mark Giordano managed to thrive on the team last season, putting up 30 points while Ian White remained productive after being traded from Toronto; both should play an effective role as good puck-moving defensemen on a team that has such a deep corps of forwards. Cory Sarich may have tumbled down the depth chart due to injuries but still provides the team with a solid defender who drops the mitts when he has to. One has to wonder why the team decided to take on Steve Staios's contract from the Edmonton Oilers; though a solid defender, he seems redundant and his contract was one of the last things the team needed. Adam Pardy might not be a house hold name in the NHL, but he's definitely a solid depth option and will figure to make the team.

Calgary's best bet would be addition through subtraction. Though Staios would be the most ideal to move, other teams would be more likely to take on either White or Sarich (Giordano won't be moved because the Flames are getting excellent value out of him.) If one of those guys could be sent off to a team that needs defensive help (hello Anaheim) then they could either take a depth defender back in trade or give Matt Pelech the opportunity to make the team.

Goaltending: While Miikka Kiprusoff is the undisputed starter for this team, he's appeared in over 70 games for each season since the lockout; and each of those seasons ended in either a Conference Quarterfinals exit or a non-playoff berth. While Henrik Karlsson is making the team for no other reason than his salary cap hit ($500,000), he has been excellent for the past two seasons that he's played in the Swedish Elitserien. If he can seamlessly adjust to the North American-sized rinks, the Flames may have the luxury of not having to play Kiprusoff so much and extend his effectiveness deeper into the post-season than they have in the recent past.

Management: A lot of people give Darryl Sutter hell for the moves he's made but I think he's put together a fine squad this year and will do well once he gets his salary cap issues figured out. If anything, the heat's now on coach/younger brother Brent Sutter to get a high-caliber team to perform the way on the ice as they should on paper. Might Darryl have to fire his own brother? Flames fans should hope it doesn't have to come down to that.

Prediction: Second in the Northwest Division and in the playoffs.

It's hard to be the best when you're in the same division as the Vancouver Canucks but it's hard to be the worst when you're in the same division as the Edmonton Oilers. I don't think the Minnesota Wild have improved significantly enough to be better than the Flames while the Colorado Avalanche may have devolved since last season (they traded a great scoring forward for a kid with concussion and attitude problems.) Put it together and while they may not crack the top-four teams in the conference, they should at least break one of the 5-8 spots and make the playoffs. How deep they can go relies on how much they're forced to lean on Kiprusoff during the regular season.