Season Preview: Nashville Predators

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 Nashville Predators.

Team M.O.: On the ice, the team is one of the defensive variety that uses a sound system (not a soundsystem) to achieve victories over their opponents. Off the ice, they have a management group that has to focus on shrewd moves and building from within instead of going after high-priced free agents; they don't seem to have the money available to do that. Out of their expansion brethren, however, the Predators among the most successful and while they've yet to win a series in the playoffs, they've still had more post-season appearances and victories than either the Atlanta Thrashers or Columbus Blue Jackets.

Last Season: Seventh in the Western Conference, where they were eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in six games during the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Not bad for a team that constantly has faced ownership issues and a lineup that always seems somehow incomplete.

Offense: Steve Sullivan has been an efficient point-producer for the Predators and while he'll hold down a scoring role for the team, age and injuries are increasingly becoming a concern for him. Speedy forward Matthew Lombardi comes over from the Phoenix Coyotes and will give the team a solid pivot who has solid playmaking abilities. Patric Hornqvist signed an extension to remain with the team; he will be counted on for a variety of ways as he was the only player on the team to break the 30 goal mark. David Legwand's production has been on the decline since his career season in 2007-08 and while he's defensively reliable, his salary is a hindrance given his production rate. Martin Erat, however, seems pretty consistent in his production and gives the team a winger who can produce 50-60 points a season. Jean-Pierre Dumont's got the talent to give the Predators some solid scoring but seems to lack a certain level of consistency or intensity for the team; he's been shuttled up and down the lines in an effort to get him going, per se. Colin Wilson might get a solid shot at making the roster this season but you can't help but wonder if additional time in the minors would be better for him; his numbers in the pro game aren't exactly dominant at any level despite his age and skill set. Sergei Kostitsyn will get the opportunity to crack the team's scoring lines; he has the talent but his attitude (or rather the problems with it) saw him packing his bags in Montreal and being sent to a "non-traditional" hockey market.

Entering the checking territories of the depth chart, Joel Ward has emerged from the system to give the squad a solid third-liner who can generate roughly 35 points a season while Marcel Goc was signed as an unqualified free agent to give the team a similar level of production. Jerred Smithson gives the team with a solid grinder who can kill penalties and provide versatility in the checking roles. Though Jordin Tootoo and Wade Belak are around to provide the toughness and agitation, Tootoo failed to amass more than 40 PIM while the Predators were second-to-last in the NHL last season in fighting majors (there was a particular team that beat them and here's a hint, they're from Detroit). Forwards Cal O'Reilly, Nick Spaling, and Matt Halischuk are all young players who will compete for depth spots at camp; a solid camp by any of them will get them out of the minors and into the league on a permanent basis. Jonas Andersson returns to the team after spending his post-lockout career in Europe while Jamie Lundmark was brought on to provide forward depth.

All and all, the team looks alright for a group that scores-by-committee but any injuries or offensive slumps will be taken a lot harder by these guys than they would on other team where the scoring is more robust. They don't seem to have the financial flexibility to make moves (despite the cap space to do so) so this is likely what they're handed with.

Defense: Shea Weber is entering a contract year and while he is going to be a restricted free agent, there's no doubt that another team would gladly give up the draft picks required for his demanded salary in order to have him on the team; he's an all-world defenseman and only a disastrous season will all but assure him remaining a Predator even as an RFA. Ryan Suter was also proficient for the Predators during the regular season; he'll have to increase his intensity come playoff time though because he was held pointless during their series against Chicago. Cody Franson was excellent during his first season with the Predators and could silently break out on the team the way Keith Yandle did for the Phoenix Coyotes. Kevin Klein's got the speed to be a playmaking defenseman but needs to tighten up on the defensive aspects of the game if he wants to be considered an above-average defender. The gutsy Francis Bouillon joined the team on a PTO and parlayed that into three years of NHL employment; he may be small but he attacks like a bulldog. Ryan Parent comes back from the Philadelphia Flyers and will give the team a solid Number 6 or 7 defender to employ judiciously. Alexander Sulzer and Aaron Johnson will likely compete for the last spot as the "offensive specialist" of the bunch.

Their defense isn't necessarily overwhelming but with Weber and Suter as a tandem (not to mention Franson's breakout season last year) they could be good enough to stifle the attacking opposition on a regular basis.

Goaltending: Pekka Rinne managed to do what every other Predators goaltender did before him; steal the job away from the incumbent. He doesn't necessarily have to worry about that this season but that's because the goaltending depth takes a steep drop after him. Chet Pickard was only recently drafted while Mark Dekanich and Anders Lindback have no call-up duty to speak of (and Lindback has yet to play in North America.) There's an abundance of goalies still available or looking to be shipped out via trades. They should make a move to grab one.

Management: Give GM David Poile and coach Barry Trotz credit; if they were leading a team like the N.Y. Rangers or the Philadelphia Flyers they'd have won at least one championship at this point if not more. However, they have to work within their means and when they're handed lemons, they do their best to make lemonade.

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

A likely story considering I predicted this fate for them last season and they wound up back in the playoffs. I like Trotz's style and I think he's a great coach; but unless injuries happen to other teams, they're going to find it hard to be better than their divisional rivals on a regular basis to break the Top 8 of the conference by season's end.

Season Preview: Montreal Canadiens

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 Montreal Canadiens.

Team M.O.: The oldest hockey club in the league, Les Glorieux went from an offensive powerhouse in their heyday to being a defense-oriented club since St. Patrick tended goal for them. The team is sticking to that system with a small yet speedy group of forwards, some big defensemen, and a young goaltender with the hopes they can satiate the desires of hockey fans in Montreal by bringing the Stanley Cup back there for the first time since 1993.

Last Season: They finished Eighth in the Eastern Conference and had two spectacular series against the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, respectively, before bowing out to the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals. This was made possible by spectacular goaltending from Jaroslav Halak; who was rewarded for his hard work by being traded to the St. Louis Blues while their immature, pain-in-the-ass "backup" was given a multi-million dollar extension. No joke.

Offense: Tomas Plekanec put up 70 points in a contract year and while that landed him a nice extension, he's going to be continually pressed to put up those kinds of numbers from hereon-in. Scott Gomez managed to stay relatively healthy last season but wasn't nearly as effective when he wasn't able to set up Mike Cammelieri or Brian Gionta. Speaking of those two, they were both productive for the Canadiens in scoring roles but missed roughly a quarter of the season, each, with injury concerns. Given their size and the toughness of the league, this is something that's going to remain a continual concern for the club. Andrei Kostitsyn is gifted enough to give the team scoring but, like a lot of other Russian players, is considered "enigmatic", which is not the level of consistency the Canadiens are going to need to push for a playoff spot. However, Benoit Pouliot managed to pick up his production after being acquired from the Minnesota Wild and might actually thrive in a stupendous hockey market (or at least one where the people speak French!) Lars Eller comes over from the Halak deal and will compete for a spot on one of the scoring lines in camp.

Going further down the depth chart, Jeff Halpern was acquired through free agency to give the team a veteran presence on their checking units. Maxim Lapierre and Travis Moen provide the team with some "crash-and-bangers" who should do well to disrupt the opposition. Tom Pyatt broke into the league last season and given the fact that he was a constant come playoff time, it appears that he'll be on one of the checking units at the start of the season. Dustin Boyd was acquired from the Nashville Predators and is capable of giving the team 20-30 points, even while doing checking duties. Mathieu Darche has split time between the NHL and the AHL but will likely end up with the big club barring an extraordinary camp from one of their prospects.

The team may opt to use 8 defenders if they don't give guys like Ben Maxwell and Ryan White an opportunity. This team is sorely lacking an enforcer and would be wise to make a move for one but given their cap space concerns, they'd probably have to give up an NHL player in return. They have the players who can serve their roles but injuries, inconsistency, and immaturity remain concerns with the players in charge of producing points.

Defense: Andrei Markov suffered through a lot of injuries last season and that sucked for the Canadiens; he's a solid Number One defender who manages to do a little bit of everything right. P.K. Subban came to life during the playoffs last season and it would have to take something drastic for the team to send him back to their AHL affiliate in Hamilton prior to the start of the season. Jaroslav Spacek and Roman Hamrlik provide the team with solid veteran defenders who can log important ice time and still generate 20-30 points. Hal Gill provides the team with a mountain of a man who should do well in a shutdown/defensive role for the club. Josh Gorges and Ryan O'Byrne gives the team some solid options for their third pairing while Alexandre R. Picard could give the team a solid utility player if he remains with the big club.

The defense doesn't appear to need any tweaks; they have enough depth to counter injuries should they run into them. Out of all the areas on the team the defense seems the most solid.

Goaltending: Carey Price has a lot of upside and many of the tools teams would crave for their starting goaltender position. However, he hasn't been the same caliber player since giving the Habs fans the mock cheer and when he has been called upon to play, either the team in front of him lost or the team suffered because of his immaturity (see: shot the puck at the Washington Capitals players after getting scored upon and therefore put his team back in the penalty box.) While not having Halak around might be better for his mental makeup, the next two guys pushing him, Alex Auld and Curtis Sanford, don't necessarily strike fear into the hearts of the shooters they face (Auld's been a backup with pedestrian numbers while Sanford's spent time in the minors for the past few seasons.) If Price goes down or is horribly inconsistent, the team will not have the option to turn to a goalie with the tools to snag the starting job or even start for stretches at a time. It's too bad Karri Ramo won't be coming back to North America this season; he could be an upgrade over the other two backup options they have.

Management: Pierre Gauthier was named the team's GM after Gainey stepped down and in completed fairness, his hands are tied thanks to Gainey's moves. Martin may have a lot of NHL experience but his Florida Panthers squads were unimpressive while last years Habs managed to barely make the playoffs thanks to the overall weakness of the conference. They won't have it so easy this forthcoming season.

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

Yes, I actually believe that the Toronto Maple Leafs are a better team. With an inconsistent/oft-injured group of forwards, a solid yet aging defensive squad, and an unreliable goaltending platoon, the team will be lucky to even sniff the postseason given everything their up against. All and all, the Montreal brass knows where they play and because the fans will show up come hell or high water, they simply need to absorb salaries without ever having to worry how to apply them.

Season Preview: Minnesota Wild

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 Minnesota Wild.

Team M.O.: The team utilized a solid defensive style throughout the beginning of their existence. However, following seasons of inconsistency and the incident of Marian Gaborik leaving the team through free agency, former GM Doug Risebrough was replaced with Chuck Fletcher while former coach Jacques Lemaire stepped down for newcomber Todd Richards to come on board. Richards boasted a new type of game than the previous organization did; lets just say it didn't go over entire too well that first year...

Last Season: Thirteenth in the Western Conference and out of the playoffs. Frankly, it doesn't look much better this season.

Offense: Mikko Koivu just signed a seven-year extension and while he might not have the offensive numbers of an idea Number 1 center, he still has an excellent work-rate and is a solid option for a team's top line. Martin Havlat managed to avoid injuries (for the most part) but saw his production come back to the 50 point range (after posting 77 points the season prior) and suffered through his first minus-rated season since 2002. Guillaume Latendresse appears to be doing better in Minnesota than he was playing for the Montreal Canadiens; he'll need to put up some consistency in order to erase any doubts. Matt Cullen was signed through the off-season and provides the team with a versatile forward who can be used judiciously on the second-unit and special teams. Antti Miettinen is also finding a legitimate level of offensive consistency with his game and should supply the team with 40-50 points this season. Andrew Brunette's production actually improved by 10 points from the previous season; though he's getting older he can still be a significant factor for the team's scoring.

It's unfortunate I can't mention Pierre-Marc Bouchard in the same light as those guys but he's still suffering through a concussion he sustained at the start of last season and there isn't a time table for a return. Though the team could try and make a move for an offensive player, they might be just as well-off if they give Casey Wellman a shot at being that offensive forward who splits time between either the press box and the ice or between the minors and the NHL.

Kyle Brodziak put up a career best of 33 points last season and appears to be a sound option for any team's third unit. Chuck Kobasew's production fell off a cliff between two seasons ago (42 points) in comparison to last season's totals (15). Knee injuries were a factor, though, so a healthy Kobasew should be capable of boosting the offensive production on a depth line. Cal Clutterbuck is a solid grinder but you can't help but feel that he needs to produce more to warrant more ice time. John Madden brings his Stanley Cup championship over from the Chicago Blackhawks and will give the team a solid faceoff man and penalty killer. Eric Nystrom was acquired during the off-season from the Calgary Flames to give the team a versatile forward in a defensive mold. The departure of Derek Boogaard created an opening for Brad Staubitz to come over and play the role of enforcer. James Sheppard has been woefully inconsistent and you can't help but wonder if he was asked to do too much too soon; he might have to require a complete change of scenery to realize his potential. Robbie Earl performed well enough in call-up duty to warrant a right to challenge for a depth spot on the NHL club.

Their defensive forwards seem to be lacking too and could stand to be fortified with someone in the mold of Darcy Tucker, IMO. In fact, he's still free if they should be interested in signing him.

Defense: Marek Zidlicky has been wonderfully productive for the team but could stand to still do the defensive things right to help a club get out of their losing ways. After having a breakout season in 2007-08, Brent Burns has seen his production and role regress due to a large part of all the injuries he's suffered in the past few seasons. Cam Barker was acquired mid-season from the Chicago Blackhawks and managed to increase his production-rate with more ice time; he should give the team a solid Number 3 defender going into the season. Defensive defender Greg Zanon saw his numbers suffer on a team notorious for bad defense last season but is the kinda guy who will still provide maximum effort even when the poo hits the fan. Nick Schultz managed to increase his production and could ascend the depth chart if he manages to keep it up.

For their Number 6 and 7 spots, the team has Clayton Stoner, Nate Prosser, Maxim Noreau, and Justin Falk all looking to battle for spots. While I couldn't necessarily object to going with one of them (Stoner in particular and no, not because of the last name), injuries are too much of a concern on this team for them to go into the season with what they have now and should look to grab at least another NHL defender, perhaps two, if they deem that their prospects aren't quite ready for "the jump."

Goaltending: Niklas Backstrom was considered unspectacular last season yet considering his Olympic numbers and the numbers he put up the previous season, it's not entirely impossible he suffered because the team in front of him was lacking in defense; he'll get his chance to prove this season that this was an aberration. Josh Harding is touted to have the gifts of a starting netminder yet hasn't played more than 29 games in a single NHL season, which leaves you to wonder if the team's utilizing him properly. Anton Khudobin has been unspectacular in the minors but was completely dominant in two appearances with the Wild last season; if he can put together a complete season down in Houston he could very well ascend the depth chart in front of both Backstrom and Harding. Minnesota will likely have Dennis Endras as the team's depth option in Houston while their remaining prospects play for their current teams.

Management: IMO, Fletcher received a decent team which he's put a little bit of work into but hasn't managed to put together a group that's complete enough to compete for 82 games a season. If Fletcher is committed to the type of game Richards is trying to execute, a full-rebuild might be necessary for the club.

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

When you factor in the potential for injuries and inconsistency, there isn't a whole lot of faith one can put in Minnesota's current level of depth to bail them out over the course of an entire season. As I alluded to earlier, the organization has this season to return to the playoffs. Otherwise, they're going to have to hit that "rebuild" button and the resolve of the Minnesota hockey market will be tested for the next few seasons to come.

Season Preview: Los Angeles Kings

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 Los Angeles Kings.

Team M.O.: The L.A. Kings have been around since 1967 but didn't become synonymous with hockey until Wayne Gretzky was traded there prior to the 1988-89 season. From there the team started to flirt with success while introducing hockey to California, which spawned two other teams within the next decade. Since 2002, the Kings (along with their divisional rivals, the Phoenix Coyotes) have been synonymous with the term "rebuilding", having missed the playoffs since then prior to the start of the season. Many analysts predicted the Kings would be astounding last season, and to tell you the truth they weren't far off.

Last Season: Sixth overall in the Western Conference, where they were eliminated by the Vancouver Canucks in 6 games during the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Considering that this was their first playoff berth since 2002 while riding a relatively inexperienced goalie for 70+ games into the playoffs, they performed admirably.

Offense: This team looks like they're gonna roll three scoring lines and here's what they've got: Anze Kopitar gives the team a genuine Number-1 centerman who can make his teammates around them better. Dustin Brown works undoubtedly hard and can provide solid leadership while being good for 50-60 points. Newcomer Alexei Ponikarovsky gives the team a two-way winger who should be more mature than the departed Alexander Frolov and should be able to play top-six minutes without issue. Ryan Smyth is able to provide an excellent work-rate and gives the team something of playmaking power forward. Both Jarret Stoll and Michal Hanzus have shown consistent improvement since coming over to the Kings and give the team two solid pivots who can play on the second or third units and special teams. Wayne Simmonds has taken a significant step forward this past season and looks like he could be like fellow Scarborough, Ontario native Rick Tocchet and amass points like he does penalty minutes (and Simmonds isn't a bad defensive player, either.) Justin Williams is a more-than-capable point producer; it's the injuries that cut into his overall effectiveness. Scott Parse was given an audition last season and managed to have a solid work-rate for someone who'd be tabbed as the team's Number 9 forward.

On the fourth unit lies a mix of energy and toughness. Oscar Moller is energetic enough to put on a fourth unit, but he will be expected to take advantage of his scoring prowess if he gets called to play on a higher unit. Brad Richardson has managed to provide the Kings with a solid face-off man who can check and be good for 20+ points with limited ice time. Richard Clune should provide the team with a solid grinder who isn't afraid to drop the gloves from time to time. Since Raitis Ivanans has taken off to the Calgary Flames, the Kings would be wise to promote Kevin Westgarth to the role of the team's enforcer.

The Kings have their guys where they need them and they're set. Brayden Schenn did sign a contract with the Kings in the off-season but they might go with another depth option, front-office move (trade, waiver, or signing), or simply go with 14 forwards should they opt to keep three goalies.

Defense:

We interrupt this regularly scheduled broadcast to bring you this message from Ron Burgandy:

If you want to throw down fisticuffs, fine. I've got Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty waiting for ya, right here.

Drew Doughty was simply stunning last season and will look to be a perrenial Norris Trophy candidate at the ripe age of 20! Jack Johnson was sluggish until GM Dean Lombardi called him out in the press. After that, his production took off and he managed to be better than a point-per-game throughout the playoffs; hopefully he doesn't need a constant kick-in-the-pants to keep it up. Willie Mitchell was signed as an unrestricted free agent and will give the team a solid compliment to give Rob Scuderi in forming an effective second-pairing shutdown unit that will be hell for the opposition. Good thing too because Matt Greene is unfortunately going to start the season on the shelf, when he comes back he'll be back to his tough, defensive ways. Davis Drewiske appears to give the team a solid number six defender while Peter Harrold gives the team a solid utility player and 23rd man.

That lineup would be good enough if Greene were healthy. If I were the Kings, I'd still look at a veteran free agent defenseman. If they wanna a point-producer they could go with someone like Marc-Andre Bergeron or could get a sound defender like Andreas Lilja (I keep throwing him around because I still can't believe he doesn't have a job yet.) Their youth and depth defenders look like they need to stay in the oven, per se, and come up on injury assignments only.

Goaltending: Crowded creases are never considered fun but the guys who play for the Kings will win if they're willing to be a team about it. Jon Quick was far better than expected last season, but he should appear in roughly half of the games he appeared in last season (72) in order to keep him fresh and effective for just more than the 82 game regular season. On top of theat Jonathan Bernier has done a sensational job in both the minors and in call-up duty to warrant serious consideration for playing time. With them it's going to be a Number 1/1A battle.

So where does that leave Erik Ersberg? The Kings could work with a team who needs another goaltender with NHL experience (definitely the Nashville Predators but the Carolina Hurricanes could benefit as well) in exchange for a goaltending prospect who'd play in the minors. However, they could also keep him as the third goaltender on the roster and take advantage of the rules regarding conditioning assignments to Manchester so he can still have some playing time throughout the regular season. The former would be better if they wanted to have a solid goaltending tandem in the minors; the latter would be better if they had two guys already in mind for that position and have Ersberg split duties between the two clubs. Ersberg may opt to be waived instead though, which if that happens, the former would have to occur.

Management: G.M. Lombardi committed to rebuilding the team and he's done an outstanding job. It's on coach Terry Murray now to ensure that this team not only makes the playoffs, but manages to escape from the conference quarterfinals as well.

Prediction: First in the Pacific Division and in the playoffs.

Many analysts will still like the San Jose Sharks and Phoenix Coyotes loyalists will point to how well the team's leadership is, but the Kings appear to have the overall tools necessary (barring a few slight adjustments) to not only compete but to dominate as well. Their rise to prominence should all but assure that playoff hockey will be back another season in the Greater Los Angeles market.

Season Preview: Florida Panthers

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 Florida Panthers.

Team M.O.: These guys haven't had a whole lot of success in recent history. They broke into the league in 1993, managed to contend for the Stanley Cup in 1996, but made their last playoff appearance in 1999. Despite having some decent teams and players since then, the organization hasn't been able to put it together but hopefully some new blood changes things.

Last Season: Fourteenth in the Eastern Conference and out of the playoffs. Simply stated, the team wasn't good enough with the roster they started off with and once injuries started to occur to good players (see: David Booth) then miscues began to occur and the team suffered overall. Things are looking up this season though as a few new faces should provide some assistance to the burgeoning young squad.

Offense: Stephen Weiss wasn't dishing out passes to his regular wing-man last season but was still good for 60 points; he could be an elite centerman if he can learn to deal with the tough stuff better. Booth is an amazing scoring forward and a benefit to any team he'd play for, but he's had a bad tendency of keeping his head down; which lead to two concussions in parts to a hit from Mike Richards (which was dirty) and a hit from Jaroslav Spacek (which was clean.) He'll need that to have a nice life, let alone a solid career in hockey. Michael Frolik has provided some consistent complimentary scoring for the team and is due for a breakout season soon. Cory Stillman still gives the team some solid scoring but injuries are becoming more commonplace as he's getting older. Steven Reinprecht was kept under 40 points for the first time in 3 seasons and may find himself used more in a checking capacity if he can't better his offensive production. Shawn Matthias is finally started to receive regular ice time at the NHL level and will receive more ice time the more he can produce. Radek Dvorak might not break 40 points this season but he still has the speed teams need for that "Number 7" forward. Christopher Higgins and Steve Bernier were brought on during the off-season to provide some complimentary scoring that will hopefully realize their potential. Meanwhile, the team hopes Rostislav Olesz will flat out realize his potential in order for the team to succeed. The newly-acquired Marty Reasoner gives the team a solid checking forward who can play in a variety of defensive situations while providing leadership to the young Panther players. Byron Bitz will give the team a solid grinding forward. Michael Grabner will likely be sought to give the team complimentary scoring while Andrew Peters and Triston Grant will likely battle for the enforcer role out of camp and the better player will win.

The group of forwards doesn't seem overly-spectacular but a lot of that could be due to underachievement. Hopefuly coach Peter DeBoer will instill a system they can believe in and the younger guys on the team demonstrate the maturity necessary to blossom at the NHL level. If they can find any worth free agents willing to accept a tryout, especially of the Brendan Morrisonn or Bill Guerin variety, it definitely push them over the edge from "playoff pretender" to "playoff contender."

Defense: Bryan McCabe has done a solid job leading the team and proving some legitimate defensive scoring for the team. Dennis Wideman was brought over from the Boston Bruins and will look to give the team some offensive production; he'll give the team 30 points on a bad season and 50 or better on a good one. Jason Garrison was re-signed in the off-season and could give the team a reliable second-unit playmaking defender if he can get his minors numbers to match his majors numbers. Bryan Allen was able to step in after missing most of the previous season with injury to give the team a tough solid defensive player; there's no reason to think he won't do it again or do it better. Dmitry Kulikov made the team last season and despite a knee injury early on in the year, did fairly well in his first NHL season and should give the team someone who will generate offense on the power play. Mike Weaver came over from the St. Louis Blues as a free agent and will provide the team with a defending defender who can be used effectively in a third-pairing setting. Nathan Paetsch is a pure utility player who will do whatever's asked of him whenever (you can bet he came to Florida with a guarantee for more ice time, though) and will likely round out the defensive pairing.

These guys have Erik Gudbranson waiting in the wings (he'll be NHL ready when he can break 220 lbs) and have solid prospects such as Keaton Ellerby developing in their system. They should be sent as far as defense goes.

Goaltending: Tomas Vokoun is entering a contract year and while he would no doubt love to play of a high-caliber team, the team in front of him might be able to build off his performances long enough to finally get some games in mid-to-late April. If anything, the team could stand to use Scott Clemmensen more often, who proved to be a solid goaltender for the New Jersey Devils and put up respectable numbers as a backup last season. Jacob Markstrom's been signed during the off-season and though he will likely start the season off in the minors, he could start making noise should injuries occur.

With that said, the Panthers have their goaltending needs met and are good to go.

Management: DeBoer's been somewhat inconsistent during his two years as a coach and will have to get the team to get off to a hot start in order to ensure his job security. GM Dale Tallon comes over from the Chicago Blackhawks and is looking to apply the forumla that made the Blackhawks successful to the Panthers (just without the offer sheet drama that came with it.) He's made some shrewd moves in the off-season and could make this team the next Phoenix Coyotes.

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

Call me crazy but I like them. Their defense and goaltending is solid so it's really up to the forwards to perform their roles well enough so they can get into the playoffs (and increase the arena back to it's original capacity.) If the young guys can elevate their game and the veterans can do what's expected of them, they could be the surprise story of the season.

Season Preview: Edmonton Oilers

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 Edmonton Oilers.

Team M.O.: The Edmonton Oilers are very similar to the New York Islanders in many ways. After being dominant through the 80's, the teams became competitive but not elite and then descended into rebuild territory. The talent they currently have is either very young, average, or largely overpaid for what they provide. They'll probably start being regarded as a defensive, score-by-committee type of team

Last Season: Last in the National Hockey League. Injuries took a serious toll on the team but on the bright side, they drafted first this time around and wound up with a very exciting prospect who has the potential to change the team in a dynamic way.

Offense: The team looks like they're going roll 3 lines of guys who can score and it ain't all bad. Taylor Hall was selected first overall in June and should step in immediately for the Oilers by providing some solid point production for the team. Dustin Penner managed to have a career season in Edmonton despite all of their troubles yet he'll have to keep the production up to meet the expectations of the team and the city. Ales Hemsky went down after 22 games and was sorely missed; a healthy return this season should reverse the fortune of the Oilers. While Shawn Horcoff wasn't necessarily dishing passes to the same level of talent consistently all season, his 36 points leave something to be desired given his salary and position on the team. Sam Gagner, meanwhile, is performing admirably as the team's young, second-line playmaking center and could very well move up the depth chart. Andrew Cogliano just re-signed with the team for a year and will need to reverse his own fortunes if he wants to secure a better contract next year (his point production has been in decline since setting a career best 45 points in 2007-08. Gilbert Brule had a career season last year and if he would have stayed healthy, he could have broken the 40-point mark for the first time in his career. Youngsters Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi will get a solid opportunity to round out the scoring wingers category (and Linus Omark might trump them both.)

For the checking unit, it appears as if newly-signed Colin Fraser will center waiver claim Ryan Jones and Jean-Francois Jacques. Zach Stortini will make the 23-man roster as the team's resident fighter while Steve MacIntyre will be the reserve enforcer; though both are heavy no one's really scared of their fighting ability or lackthereof.) Ben Ondrus and Ryan O'Marra will likely battle for the last remaining spot on the team.

If this team's committing to rebuilding this season (which they should) they should just forgo signing anyone else and let the new guys play their game. In other circumstances I'd say "make some moves" but they've made the ones necessary to allow their draft picks to grow.

Defense: Though Sheldon Souray is on the team, he might just be there in name only; I expect the team to assign him to the minors and then expose him to re-entry waivers after he went public with his decision to not want to play in Edmonton anymore. Ryan Whitney was traded to the team last season from the Anaheim Ducks and has enjoyed better success in Edmonton in an offensive role. Tom Gilbert wasn't as prolific as he was last season but still looks to be a solid blue-liner capable of putting up numbers in the 30-40 range. Ladislav Smid's starting to excel in a shutdown role but will he be able to avoid injuries and have a larger role on the team? Kurtis Foster comes over from the Tampa Bay Lightning this season and while he won't factor much into 5-on-5 hockey, he should be a boost for the Edmonton power play. Jim Vandermeer came over from the Phoenix Coyotes and will give the team a solid stay-at-home defender who can also play wing if asked. Jason Strudwick provides a lot of the same qualities as Vandermeer (though is a little older) so it should be interesting to see if they'll keep him around or deal him before the season starts. Depending on how the Souray situation plays our (or depending on whomever else may be injuried or moved), Theo Peckham and Taylor Chorney will either battle for depth spots or be assigned to the minors outright after the pre-season.

All and all though, the Edmonton defense corps doesn't look too shabby (even for a non-rebuilding playoff team) and shouldn't need further improvement.

Goaltending: Well, Nikolai Khabibulin is a Stanley Cup Champion who's recovering from back injuries and battling legal issues outside of hockey that could prohibit him from being as effective as everyone would hope. Martin Gerber is a Stanley Cup Champion who spent last season in the KHL and was riding the waiver wire the season prior. Jeff Deslauriers was decent but not consistent enough to fill the team's starting position. Devan Dubnyk appeared in 10 games before getting his first NHL win. There's a lot of guys as possible options in the crease but two of them need to have a spectacular camp and prove to the team why they should be on roster.

Management: While we'll need to see how coach Tom Renney runs the team, GM Steve Tambellini has done what's expected for a GM who's rebuilding a team. No the team's not a powerhouse on paper; but the defense is solid, the forwards will mature, and hopefully two guys emerge from the four-headed monster on a consistent enough basis to give the team some decent goaltending.

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

Its not that this is a bad team as so much as so much as there's a lot of guys who simply need more NHL experience. I think that they'll be better than last season, probably fight for a playoff spot next season, and be better than expected the season after that. If they don't get there after that then the team will likely change directions in GM again and could potentially face the prospect of leaving Edmonton for Oklahoma City.

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.