This hiatus has taken an absurd amount of time. Still, now that the season is winding down (as well as all my real-life obligations) I am determined to find the time to write. So here is a look at recent happenings around the league and a season recap for each team as the Stanley Cup Finals are becoming rapidly upon us.
Anaheim-After a mediocre showing against the Stars, the future seems hazy for the Ducks. Call it the Stanley Cup hangover if that's what you want, but this team never came together in the way management, the fans, and the media expected. The "retirements" of Niedermayer and Selanne confirmed fears that the 2007 champs wouldn't be able to defend their title. As these two superstars returned, so did the hopes of a repeat. The Ducks climbed the standings to the postseason but the curse of the hangover struck as Anaheim was deftly eliminated by a surprisingly stellar Turco and Dallas offense. Since the elimination, the Pond has stayed calm. Neither Niedermayer nor Selanne have put tons of thought towards their futures. Brian Burke has announced he will remain with the team. Ryan Carter, a promising young offensive talent who put up eight points in 34 regular season games (zero in six playoff), has been inked to a three-year deal nearly insuring a slot on the roster in the fall. Three more players (Beleskey, Bailey, and De Gray) have signed entry-level contracts. Bailey, a winger, and De Gray, defenseman, are reported to be able to bolster the Ducks physical presence. Beleskey, another winger, will be looked upon to provide secondary scoring as he posted 90 points as a 19-year-old in Belleville.
Atlanta-This has been a season of change in Atlanta. Bob Hartley was fired as coach after a less than mediocre opening two weeks (0-6). The trade deadline loss of Hossa, although the Thrashers gained a proven consistent player in Colby Armstrong, prompted team management to email a letter to fans (read: essentially anyone who bought a home ticket, as I received one because I bought a ticket to see the Avs play in Atlanta) explaining why the deal had to be made. I still have yet to see the advantage for the Thrashers but I'm sure Hossa's happier where he is now. In true continuation of the regular season, no outstanding news has leaked from Atlanta since the playoffs began.
Boston-I'm not going to lie. Boston is probably the team that gets the least recognition around here. No coverage and it's rare for me to hear much about anyone besides Zdeno Chara. Marco Sturm was a highlight for this incessantly rebuilding team. Still, I have to get the Bruins credit for making Montreal sweat it out seven games in the first round. I had pegged that series as a sweep before the first puck drop. Tim Thomas is a phenomenal young goalie and may make an impact on this team in the near future. The resigning of Aaron Ward and Chuck Kobasew is another step forward for this team that is struggling to become contenders again.
Buffalo-It was a trying season for the Sabres without a doubt. The team that barely missed the big show last year fell out of the playoffs this season. Still, Ryan Miller maintained decent stability in the net and the team recorded three 50 point scorers with another (Hecht) falling one point short. The signing of Nate Gerbe out of Boston College is a definite plus for Buffalo. I got the chance to see this kid in Denver and he can skate like the wind. He might be the spark that helps this team recover from a throwaway season. Chris Butler (whom I've also seen at University of Denver) will also add another dimension to this team as he is an excellent two-way player. Finally, I wish Teppo Numminen the best of luck in deciding his future and hope his health remains with him. And as for Jason Pominville choosing to play for the States I applaud his decision in seizing opportunity but I regret the fact that the Canadian team would have carried him farther.
Calgary-Calgary is another team deserving props for taking its series seven games. Matched up with San Jose, it was a tough physical series, perfect for the play of Dion Phaneuf. The defenseman trailed only captain Jerome Iginla in Calgary's postseason points. A 9-7-1 record through March and April sealed the Flames a lower-half seed but a seed nonetheless in the tightly packed Western Conference. The competitive season of the Flames is standard for the club but look to see them take it up a notch after adding draftee Mikael Backlund, an offensive threat who may very well find an NHL niche in Calgary. Curtis Joseph stole the show from Mikka Kiprusoff at the end of the season so he might stay on in Cow Town. Darryl Sutter has stood behind Mike Keenan and has assured the Sea of Red that the coach will be around next season. With doubt surrounding Keenan's ability and a tension with key players (read: Tanguay), this might have huge effects on team dynamics in the fall.
Carolina-Two points is an awful slim margin to miss the playoffs. One more win could have made all the difference. Still, the Hurricanes found themselves taking an early golfing trip and still feeling the adverse effect of their Stanley Cup hangover. Never-ending, I swear. Eric Staal had another outstanding season in Raleigh and is the lifeblood of his team. Desperate to find a winning combination again, Carolina has been busy planning the use of their draft picks, scouting, and agreeing to terms with minor leaguers, draftees, and soon-to-be free agents. I, for one, am glad to see Sergei Samsonov stay with the club. The man has earned every roster slot he's filled in his career and can only help this team return to winning form.
Chicago-It was the season of the rookies in the Windy City. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews took the league by storm, each scoring over 50 points (Kane led the team), and now are the forerunners for the Calder Trophy. Still, the Blackhawks would fall into a three-way tie one slot and three points out of the playoffs. Despite all this, this team has turned itself around and may once again challenge Detroit in the Central Division. All it takes are a few baby steps and (apparently) two very aptly used draft picks.
Colorado-What can't I say about this team? The Avs were injury ridden all season and still managed to, in the eyes of many, upset Minnesota in the first round. They had the misfortune of drawing the hottest team in the League by facing Detroit in the second round and paid the price with a sweep. Still, this was a productive year for Colorado. Jose Theodore proved himself to still be worthwhile, and although his future is up in the air with this club, he has shown he can be a starter again. Look for him to consider all the offers thrown his way in free agency this summer. The return of Adam Foote and Peter Forsberg felt like a reunion tour but gave the team an added life. Foote is expected to remain but the League may have seen the last of Forsberg. But of course we said that at the beginning of this season. The acquisition of Ruslan Salei boosted an ailing but overall tough blueline. Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth, and Paul Stastny all fell to the injury bug but the team held themselves together and remained in playoff contention. The free agency season will be interesting as many players, veterans and newbloods alike, are eligible. A coaching change will mean a new system and most likely the moving of players. Still, Quenneville's leaving will be a positive for the Avalanche. Tony Granato, named to the position today, should be able to improve upon the past season's performance. Look for Joe Sakic to make his announcement before or on July 1. I expect him to play again next season as a figure of stability in this changing team.
Columbus-Did the Blue Jackets play this season? Stalking consistently near the bottom of the Western Conference, and the League, hurt this team's confidence. Superstar Rick Nash posted 38 goals, his highest tally since 2004, but the team couldn't find enough defense to back up a lead. Pascal Leclaire held his ground throughout the majority of the season but then couldn't find the scoring up front to help him win a game. Still, this team is young and shows potential. Draft picks and the signing of prospects could help this team climb the standings but I think it will be a few years before Columbus is considered a playoff threat. Resigning Jan Hejda was a huge step in the right direction as he was, in my opinion, the best Blue Jackets defenseman on the blueline most nights, setting career highs in multiple categories.
Dallas-Can anyone find something wrong with a team who can go down 3-0 to Detroit and force game six? The Conference Finals series wasn't the best showing by any member of the Stars, especially Turco who maintained his reputation as a playoff choke after proving skeptics wrong in the earlier rounds. Still, if you're going to lose, you might as well lose to the best. Dallas never actually gave up the fight against Detroit but it was clear from the get go who was going to win this series. It'll be quiet in Stars Country for a while. Expect the core team to remain together and Robidas' contract to be extended as soon as necessary. He was the shining Star in Dallas this season.
Detroit-I flat out refuse to do a season recap on a team whose season has yet to end. The best team in hockey during the regular season enters the finals facing an offensive explosion in Pittsburgh. But if anyone's defense can shut down the secondary, and deeper, scoring of the Pens, it would be Detroit. This will be a long hard series. I don't think the League could have asked for a better match up, and an as evenly matched one. The key for Detroit will be keeping up with Pittsburgh's speed and using what little home ice advantage exists in the finals during games one and two.
Edmonton-The Oilers pestered the Northwest Division and the rest of the Western Conference until the very end. They didn't win the big games early on and were written off only to scare Calgary and Nashville during the final weeks of the season. This mish-mash of veterans and unproven players were stealing positional points right and left. Even when eliminated from the playoff run this team refused to go down without a fight. Fortunately for the Oilers, the team only needs a few tweaks, mostly along the blueline, to threaten the tops of the Conference again. However, they have free agency to attend to. Adding someone to play alongside Marty Reasoner would do the club good as would adding another big defenseman. Few players are up for unrestricted free agency, reducing the cap pressure on the team. Expect the team to sign prospects but I don't foresee a blockbuster move this off season. Talk to me in a year.
Florida-Allow my homerisms to seep through a little bit but I have got to say Brett McLean was a great pick up for the Panthers last year. He added a nice scoring touch to the team, despite missing 15 games with a broken hand/wrist, and was strong on the faceoffs. Olli Jokinen continued to dominate Florida's scoring and likely be a franchise player. His next contract will probably be big and long. The team missed the playoffs by a fairly large margin but that didn't stop them from putting together a few runs this season that made people take another look. Goal scoring wouldn't hurt this team and defense can always be improved in Florida. Vokoun was a terrific acquisition but he can't win hockey games by himself. 30-29-and-8 does not a playoff run make. With the right combination, now that goaltending has been resolved, this team could sneak into the bottom of the bracket next season. Multiple players, including Keaton Ellerby and Brady Calla, have been signed so the club is already looking to improve their roster options for next year. The resigning of Belak assures the team won't miss his two-way play he displayed after his trade deadline move.
Los Angeles-For a team at the bottom of the League ladder, the Kings have a future in Anze Kopitar. It's just finding a team to put around and behind this skilled player. The Kings are another team stuck in the continual rebuilding phase. Every time what seems like a good move is made, it never really works out the way it was supposed to. Rob Blake's future is sketchy at best. He wanted to be traded to a playoff contender at trade deadline but remained in Los Angeles with the Kings. It's unclear to me whether he really changed his mind or management refused to let him go. Point is that the veterans are bailing on this team. It's in need of a radical overhaul and an active rebuilding process rather than the throw something together and do this slowly approach the team is taking now. Prospects are being signed actively but I'm not sure what all it's going to take to fix this very broken team.
Minnesota-Did Gaborik fall apart this season? He's always been injury prone but stayed fairly healthy this season. His recent hip surgery shouldn't affect him come training camp. He bagged 42 goals and nearly as many assists. This wasn't a season to sneeze at by any stretch of the imagination but the talented winger still has his skeptics. As for the rest of this team, the core is extremely strong. Despite being shut down by Colorado in the first round, there is no player on the Wild that doesn't pull his weight. The sale of the team shouldn't have any adverse effects as management is very likely to remain the same from general manager down to the coaching staff. This isn't a team that needs to be making many moves and signings during the off season. Expect them to keep the core team together, making very minor adjustments from within the system, and focusing on bettering the small inconsistencies found this past year. Jacques Lemaire is an outstanding coach and more than capable of leading this team to greatness. This was the team that won the very competitive Northwest Division after all.
Montreal-Montreal is slowly returning to Cup contender form, aided by the play of the Kostitsyn brothers, Alex Kovalev, and the ever dependable Saku Koivu. Pieces will need to fall together at the right time for this team to travel deep into the playoffs but, like Minnesota, this is a team whose core is very solid. Don't expect many moves here. There are a few free agents that need to be tied up but that shouldn't be a problem for the Habs. Michael Ryder and Brian Smolinski should take priority followed by Brisebois (should he wish to play next season) and the restricted free agents, Halak, Andrei Kostitsyn, and Lapierre. This is a team whose core needs to remain basically the same for it to be effective next season.
Nashville-That series against Detroit was incredible! This team probably shouldn't have made the playoffs and ended up giving the almighty Red Wings a bit of a scare. Erat has already signed a huge seven year deal, locking him up to be the center of the Predators organization for seasons to come. Apparently Nashville's been secretly doing something right all season. This is a team that is just starting to really click. To break them up now would be a dire mistake. I see players being added for roster depth but few players leaving the organization. A few prospects have already been added as the Predators quietly build a better team. These guys could be the surprises of next season.
New Jersey-Some say Marty Brodeur has fallen off his game. Maybe he has, maybe he hasn't but the Devils are stuck with him so let's move on. By some stroke of luck, the trap still works for this team and I don't see that changing any time soon. You stick with what works. And that means sticking with the players that work too. I'm sure the Devils wish they had Brian Rafalski back right about now and probably Scott Gomez too. But you live and learn. Offensive prospects or free agents need to be added because this team is lacking firepower. Scoring god-send, Zach Parise, scored 65 points. In a league where Anze Kopitar nabbed 77 for the bottom-feeding Kings and Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis bagged 92 and 83 for lowest of the East Lightning, a team as highly ranked as New Jersey should be led by a player with more than 65 points. True the kid's still developing but the team needs to be developing around him. Move away from the trap and into the "new" NHL where goal scoring gets you everywhere. This is the biggest fault in Jersey. With more scoring, and from more than one line, this team could be in prime position to take the cup in the next few years or sooner.
New York Islanders-Show DiPietro some love. Never have I seen a goaltender remain so calm when his team has no player score over 50 points. He's pretty much the only reason they won any game. Considering he was 26-28-7, there's no wonder the Islanders couldn't come close to the playoff cut. I'm going to play doctor and tell the Islanders to take two great offensive players in the draft, sign them, and call me in the morning. I will then reevaluate DiP's hip and grant him a season full of good health and no injuries. This is the only way the Islanders can be revived anytime soon. They've added a gritty gritty prospect but where's the goal potential? Get some scoring, guys, and fast!
New York Rangers-I'm utterly ignoring Avery. He's good at what he does, I suppose, but I wholly dislike what it is that he does. Overall, this team is slowly falling into place. Marc Staal has been a surprise on the blueline, throwing in the important goal here and there. Jagr needs to stick around and regain a bit of the confidence in himself we saw during playoffs but missed during the regular season. Stay the course! This is a team that doesn't need much to move up a few slots in the Conference.
Ottawa- A first round sweep. What a way to come off of last year's Finals. This team got shaky, at best, goaltending from Ray Emery who soon lost the number one job to Gerber. Gerber held it together, getting a defensively lacking team into the playoffs. The scoring was there, but there was no support in the back. The top three players all suffered through injuries and still managed well over a point per game. Other than the collapse of Emery, this is a team similar enough to last season that it should not have had a problem running with the big teams in the Conference. However, it just wasn't there this season. The playoffs were excessively painful. The scoring completely disappeared. Two players scored a mere two points to lead the team. Contribute some of that to the defense of the Penguins but a team with Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, and Dany Heatley should have been able to manage more than a grand total of five goals in four games. There's a mystery illness stalking this team and management and coaching will have to solve that riddle to return to last year's, and this regular season's, form. There is no surprise the Senators are looking to deal Emery somewhere, anywhere, far away from Ottawa.
Philadelphia- Knocking of the Capitals and the Canadiens was certainly the highlight of a crazy season. This team went through a tumultuous regular season. Often times, the offense floundered. Other times, the blueline and net might as well have been empty. A five game loss in an intrastate battle for the Conference title (and more importantly the chance to play for the Cup) wasn't the way Philly intended on ending their season but it wasn't all bad. Up until that final series, every player was showing up to the game and playing to win. The loss of Kimmo Timonen certainly hurt the Flyers for the Conference Finals. Still, the team remained confident...until the blowout that was game five. This is a team that needs to focus on improving the strengths they have now and working around the current weaknesses rather than trying to find the answer in their system or on the free agency market.
Phoenix- Wayne Gretzky is finally making a name for himself as a coach. The Coyotes have steadily improved under his tenure and this season made a fairly decent run at the final playoff slot. The team started to fall off near the end of the season, being forced to play against playoff giants San Jose, Dallas, and Anaheim. Still this team has gotten a winning mentality. Shane Doan is near definitely a franchise player, which is exactly what a team who has to struggle as Phoenix does needs. He is a first class leader for his team on and off the ice. Peter Mueller was an accomplished rookie in an extremely talented rookie class. This is a team who should look to their system to develop for next year. Phoenix has already made huge moves in signing young players to entry level contracts, including Hobey Baker winner Kevin Porter out of Michigan. Many of the newly inked deals involve first round draft picks. Last year's number one pick, Kyle Turris, has already had a few decent games under his belt for the Coyotes and is more than certain to make the team out of camp next year.
Pittsburgh-This is a team that deserves to be in the finals, plain and simple. Hell, they deserve to win it all. No team has turned around from an undisciplined bunch swept in the first round to Stanley Cup finalists in such fashion as the Penguins. Scoring can come from anywhere as third liners and defenseman have already posted big goals. The key to beating Detroit will be getting past the defense, which hasn't been much of a problem for the Pens at all this season. I say Pens in six or seven.
San Jose- Jeremy Roenick is the man who arose from the mist of mediocrity to have a successful season on the oft successful Sharks. It's not a surprise to man that he has chosen to stay with the team next year. I believe Roenick will finish a Shark. Evgeni Nabokov has come into his own and is a talented acrobatic goaltender, who just nabbed a gold medal with Russia at World's. This team had some scoring issues throughout the season but the top offensive players always seemed to come up with a goal at just the right time. Big Joe Thornton's season was stellar and although star player Jonathan Cheechoo was absent from the scoresheet too often than he would have liked, he still managed to help lead the team. Patrick Marleau regained his proper place as captain of the squad and was a quiet but effective leader. Brian Campbell was the best move the Sharks could have made at trade deadline. Joe Thornton says he is working on Campbell to get him to stay in San Jose. Rookies Devin Setoguchi and Torrey Mitchell will do great things for the club in the years to come, as will Matt Carle. The biggest change for this team this off season will come behind the bench. Coach Ron Wilson was dismissed after another second round disappointment for the Sharks. This team needs a playoff coach. They can take care of their own through the regular season but needs a coach who can guide them to hockey's biggest stage.
St. Louis- Before I begin on the mediocre Blues, I want to let my inner puckbunny out and lament the marriage of winger Danny Hinote to Amy McCarthy. The two will wed June 25 in Keystone, Colorado. I wish him all the happiness in the world but am scorned that I did not receive an invitation and hope it rains on the outdoor wedding and is very windy the whole time. Now for the Blues. Getting rid of Mike Kitchen was the best thing that's happened to this time in about the last eight years. Manny Legacy is a great goaltender who happened not to have the best season in his career. They've started building a team from within, signing Oshie and Eller already this offseason. The offense, as with many teams around the league, needs to be stepped up in St. Louis in order for this team to better itself. Slowly, with the coaching changes and signings, the Blues are starting this process.
Tampa Bay- How can a team with Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis fail so miserably? Easy, one word; goaltending. This team has failed to land on a sufficient goaltender since winning the Cup. Mike Smith was the closest thing this season and may very well hold the number one spot this next season. Despite a losing record, he posted a save percentage over .900. This has to make a statement over the nonexistent defense. Obviously the scoring is there, so what is this team missing (besides a strong guy in net)? A big physical defenseman wouldn't hurt this club and multiple might make all the difference. The question of John Tortorella has been raised. He's faced off with his players on multiple occasions and might not be right guy for the job. But, his contract isn't up and the Lightning aren't in a strong position to fire him. He'll be around next season. Here's a team that will play the free agency market strongly and look to make as many big moves as they can within the cap. Having the first overall pick (Steve Stamkos, anyone? He may not be taken by this club solely because of their need for defense. The number two pick might turn out to be very lucky) isn't going to hurt this team. Look for the pick to sign an entry level contract and play next season. A few signings have been made. A forward was signed from within the system and a local goaltender has joined the organization. Tampa's trying, but will it work? Only time will tell here.
Toronto- It might be time for Mats Sundin to move or retire. Despite leading the team, he hasn't provided stability this season. I feel strange saying that about a guy who averaged more than a point per game. Good on Jason Blake for playing every game this season. He's found a spot with this team and will probably be around for quite a while. Andrew Raycroft has amounted to nothing but a flop this past season but Vesa Toskala has more than handled the job efficiently. This team barely missed the playoffs, spurned by a few bad games at the end of the season. The impending coaching change may give the Leafs the spark they need to recover from being the laughing stock of Canada. A strong goaltender is waiting in the wings in Pogge who has been highly touted since the Leafs acquired him. He may take Raycroft's backup position next season. The trade deadline didn't help Toronto as much as they would have liked but offseason and end-of-season prospect signings show a commitment to rebuilding this team yet again. I can't wait to see how the coaching trade off will pan out. The right coach who can handle the pressure of the Toronto media can make this team prosper.
Vancouver- Luongo had what was deemed a mediocre season in spite of his 35 wins. He is the backbone of this team. Alain Vigneault has signed a new contract showing that management is faithful to him, whereas the fans are wondering about his capacity. Both assistant coaches will be changed out, a minor move but one that will change the team's chemistry nonetheless. The new general manager surprised me only because Vigneault stayed. I thought for sure it would be a coaching and management overhaul for the Canucks this year. As good as the Sedins and Naslund are, scoring needs to come from more than one line. Any move that will provide secondary scoring will do wonders for this team. Expect players to come and go on the free agency market and a trade might surprise everyone. Scott Mellanby was hired as a consultant. I'd love to see him grab an assistant coaching position. When he retired I pegged him as the next player to make the jump to coaching.
Washington-Enter Alex Ovechkin. This guy is crazy good. He nearly doubled the next highest Cap's points (Nick Backstrom scored 69, Ovechkin 112) He made a decent mark in the playoffs in spite of a game seven loss to the Flyers. Huet was a fantastic pick up and might be the answer in net now that Olie the Goalie has pretty much confirmed he will not be a Capital next season. This team won't make many moves outside of finding a back up for Huet. This team won the (fairly) horrid Southeast Division but has proven they can skate alongside the biggest names in hockey. This team isn't going away anytime soon. They're going to be a powerhouse next season and will continue to be so for years to come.
Now, I will move on to Kyle Turris. The New Westminster, BC native was drafted 3rd overall in last year's draft, and has 4 points for the Coyotes this season. Did I mention that he's only 19?
For the grand finale, we have Shane Doan! He has slightly more experience than the guys above, and has played for the Coyotes since the '96-'97 season. He has racked up a total of 554 total career points, and is on track for many more.
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