Year In Review: 2011

2011 was highlighted by triumph and underscored by tragedy. By any measure, 2011 was a newsworthy year for hockey all around. Let's get to the highlights:

-The year started with tragedy as Sidney Crosby suffered a concussion on the first day of 2011 in the Winter Classic. Crosby would miss eleven months, return for eight games, then find himself shelved again with concussion symptoms. Unfortunately for Crosby and the NHL, concussions highlighted hockey in 2011. To name a few, Chris Pronger, Jeff Skinner, Shea Weber, Mike Richards, Kris Letang, Claude Giroux, Milan Michalek, Marc Staal, Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Miller, and James Reimer all joined Crosby on the IR with concussions. Scary stuff that the NHL must take steps in addressing in 2011.

-2011 also got off to a flying start at the international level with the Russian junior team coming from a seemingly insurmountable deficit to upend the favored Canadian squad days after the calendar turned. Down 3-0 heading into the third, the Russians exploded for five goals in the final frame to stun the Canadians. Lead by Yevgeni Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko, who are both likely NHL bound in the near future, the happy-go-lucky Russians made their mark, winning their first gold at the WJHC since 2003.

-The Stanley Cup playoffs were a spectacle as usual. 465-year-old Dwayne Roloson carried the Lightning to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bruins rallied from 2-0 series deficits against Montreal and Vancouver en route to their first Stanley Cup in four decades. It took seven games, but the Canucks finally beat the Blackhawks in the playoffs. Oh, and the playoffs produced this Bobby Ryan goal:

-The Stanley Cup Finals produced the best and the worst in two different  cities. The Bruins employed a team concept and won their first Cup since 1972. The Vancouver Canucks failed to claim their first championship, and fans responded by burning down the city, causing millions of dollars of damage and tarnishing the reputation of a well-respected city (Dave Bolland may disagree). But hey, it did give birth to this wonderful photograph, courtesy of Rich Lam:

-The summer came and went and saw all sorts of news. Taking the forefront was the NHL's return to Winnipeg after the Atlanta Spirit sold, and sold out, the Atlanta Thrashers. Jets season tickets sold out in minutes and Thrashers fans were left to grieve. It was a hyperbolic moment for two NHL cities; Winnipeg got the Jets back after a 15 year hiatus and Atlanta was left wondering, again, if NHL hockey would ever return to the deep south.

-The summer was also riddled by tragedy and controversy. The NHL fell under scrutiny and fighting in hockey was called into question when enforcers Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak were all found dead, their deaths linked to problems stemming from living rough-and-tumble lives as NHL enforcers. As if the hockey world wasn't already in mourning, Lokomotiv of the KHL saw their team jet crash and burn, killing 43 people including former NHLers Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, Josef Vasicek, and Brad McCrimmon to name a few. It was a difficult summer for hockey fans, capping a 2011 that was filled with hockey tragedy that went far beyond the rink.

-The beginning of the 2011-2012 season has been a magnificent one. The Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets are all relevant again. HBO's 24/7 is again a smash hit, chronicling the Flyers and Rangers en route to the Winter Classic. The NHL signed a $2 billion TV contract. Things are looking up for hockey without a doubt, and hopefully it can carry it's positive gains in 2011 over to 2012.

GOH

Mailbag: 12/20/11

So, as you devoted readers know, normally I release the Mailbag on Saturdays. I drank way too much beer this weekend, and as you know, beer comes before crappy hockey blogging, so the Mailbag is a little late this week. But without further adieu, here goes:

Do you see the Caps actually trading Alexander Semin or is simply too risky?


Michael
Newton, Massachusetts

Semin will likely be a Capital for the duration of 2011-2012.

I can't see it happening for a few reasons. Semin is an unrestricted free agent after this season and has a $6.7 million cap hit which would be pro-rated throughout the rest of the season. Semin is an all-world talent but only has 6 goals and 6 assists in 28 games this season. The asking price would be pretty steep for a player of Semin's merit and there's a pretty high risk that he'll leave for Russia, or the Capitals, after the season. He could bolster a contender, but the reality is he's not exactly your typical trade deadline piece, the way Ilya Kovalchuk wasn't what the Devils needed in 2010. Contenders are looking to add pieces, not superstars, and Semin doesn't fit the bill.

Do you think Darryl Sutter is a good fix as coach of the Kings?


Dale
Sacramento, California


No. Shall I elaborate? First, the Kings haven't responded to the firing of Terry Murray. As abrasive as Sutter can be, he hasn't coached since 2006. Other than driving the Flames to the Finals in 2004, Sutter has been past the second round once since his coaching career began in 1993. His teams have historically under-achieved and have never been able to score, which is the Kings biggest problem at the moment (they are last in goal scoring in the entire league). Defense is nice, but the Kings need to score. Sutter will not help alleviate that.

Can the Hurricanes build on their big win over Vancouver last week?


Kevin
Stratham, New Hampshire


Absolutely. They played a hard-fought overtime game against Florida that ended in defeat (Carolina is 0-6 in OT this year) but beyond the Vancouver game the Canes are playing very well under Kirk Muller. The results haven't been there but the team has played a much better team game and you can feel a breakout coming. Phoenix at home will be a big test on Wednesday and losing Jeff Skinner and Joni Pitkanen to concussions indefinitely will obviously hurt. But the Canes have enough firepower, coupled with Cam Ward playing better, to try and make a second-half push. Despite being wretched they only sit 9 points out of the 8th playoff spot with 48 games remaining.

The NHL and NBA both had their lockouts. What do you think the NHL did to make itself more successful that the NBA didn't?


Kyle
Washington, New Jersey


The lockout was really a rebirth for the NHL. It made the product far more fan-friendly by adding rules that open up scoring. The hard salary cap was also incredibly important despite its inflation over the past few seasons. By leveling the playing field, hockey has grown in markets like Nashville, Carolina, and Dallas where all teams have been able to compete with big spenders like Detroit and Montreal. The NBA doesn't have a hard salary cap the way the NHL does and subsequently many teams have been out of playoff contention for years. Having more scoring, a faster game, more TV relevance with events like the Winter Classic and a $2 billion TV deal, the NHL has made huge strides in progressing what was a once stagnant game that other major sports leagues such as the NBA haven't made. The NHL is undoubtedly gaining popularity while the NBA is treading water.

Pegging the Top 5 Cup Contenders

The hot-button topic around the NHL today has been concussions, with Chris Pronger's career in jeopardy, Jeff Skinner and Joni Pitkanen sidelined in Carolina, Sidney Crosby missing action yet again, and Claude Giroux out in jeopardy. So, we're going to take this opportunity to talk about something completely different. It's only December, but who are the top five contenders to snag Lord Stanley's hardware come June?

The Bet 365 odds for the Stanley Cup pegs the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, and Philadelphia Flyers at 13/2 favorites to win the Cup. But who are the real contenders?

1. Boston Bruins

The Bruins appear poised for another run, recovering from
a slow start to go 17-2-1 in their last 20.

After a slow start, the Bruins are on a tear. They're 17-2-1 since losing back-to-back games against Montreal at the end of October and appear to have cured their Cup hangover. The Bruins are sound in all facets of the game and can roll four solid lines. The Bruins penalty kill is third in the NHL at 87.9%, they win the most face-offs at 55.5%, they've given up the fewest goals at 2.00 goals allowed per game, are 10-2-0 when they score first, and have the most 5-on-5 goals in the NHL at 75. They're complete all the way through and are anchored by Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask's tandem, who have given up the fewest goals per game in the league despite the Bruins allowing the fifth-most shots per game. The Bruins are loaded for another Cup run. At this point the only question is whether or not they'll be able to maintain their stellar play all the way through June.

2. Philadelphia Flyers


With or without Chris Pronger and Claude Giroux, both of whom are out with concussions, the Flyers are deep and ready for a run. They finally have their goaltender in Ilya Bryzgalov, who is 10-1-1 since a 4-4-1 October. Rookie Matt Read has been exceptional, Scott Hartnell is on a career pace, and they've scored far and away the most goals in the league at 3.67 per game (110 total to Vancouver's 100). The Flyers don't appear to miss Mike Richards or Jeff Carter, both of whom are having their own struggles in their new towns. Wayne Simmonds is on pace for 25 goals which would top his career high of 16. Philly, finally backed by a goaltender, is in position to bring home its first Cup since 1975.

3. Vancouver Canucks


The Canucks, like their 2011 Stanley Cup Final opponents, started 2011-2012 slow. But the Canucks have turned a corner, save setbacks in Columbus and Carolina over the past few days. Vancouver doesn't appear to miss offensive defenseman Christian Erhoff; the 'Nucks power play is clicking at a league-best 25.4% and the Canucks have put up the 2nd-most goals in the NHL. Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo have played admirably, especially as of late. Since getting embarrassed to the rival Blackhawks on November 16th, the Canucks have played 9-2-1 hockey. In the 9 wins, they gave up 9 goals. Vancouver is a very talented hockey team with something to prove. Talent, combined with a chip on its shoulder, can be a very dangerous thing.

4. Chicago Blackhawks


The 'Hawks are back after narrowly slipping into the playoffs in 2011. The Blackhawks are sitting in second-place in the Western Conference behind the pace-setting Minnesota Wild with a game in hand. Most importantly, the Hawks are 10-2-4 in one-goal games, showing they have some grit to match their talent. Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp all have 30+ points and are all in the top-20 in NHL scoring. The biggest question for Chicago will be goaltending. Corey Crawford has a 3.00 GAA an a sub-.900 save percentage. The Hawks are deep enough both on offense and on the back end to make up for it, and Crawford is certainly capable; he notched a 2.30 GAA to accompany a .917 SV% in 57 games last season. Once Crawford steadies himself, the Blackhawks will round out into a President's Trophy contender and eventually a Stanley Cup front-runner.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins


Logic would indicate that Sidney Crosby will be healthy by April. Even if he's not, the Penguins are good enough to make a run without him. How a team can be pegged a Cup favorite without arguable the best player in the world in the line-up speaks to the Penguins depth. But keep in mind they still have Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes, Evgeni Malkin and James Neal tied for the lead in team scoring with 29 points apiece, and have the NHL's 4th-best penalty kill at 87.5% (92.5% at home). The Penguins are a talent-laden, extremely deep hockey club and adding Crosby to a mix of Malkin, Neal, Jordan Staal, and Chris Kunitz is even scarier. When you can score goals like Pittsburgh, coupled with a goalie that can stop pucks like Fleury, the Penguins will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.

BEST OF THE REST


The Rangers have outside hopes of making a Cup run and will benefit of the addition of Marc Staal should be back by playoff time. Detroit will be in the mix as usual, but their core is aging and they haven't made a ton of noise since losing to Pittsburgh in the Finals in 2009. Florida and Minnesota are having nice starts but are still a year or two away from being legitimate Cup contenders.

Who is your Cup favorite through the first 30 games? Post your comments below. Don't forget to submit a question at glovesoffhockey@gmail.com or on Twitter @glovesoffhockey for tomorrow's mailbag!

Snapshots: 12/13/11

How goes it? Crazy couple of days in the NHL with a few quick topics to get to on your Tuesday afternoon. Let's jump right into it:

-The Kings fired coach Terry Murray, joining Bruce Boudreau, Randy Carlyle, Paul Maurice, and Davis Payne has NHL coaches to be axed this season. That's 17% of NHL teams that have made a coaching change in the first two months of the season.

-The Kings head to Boston tonight to take on the Bruins. The Kings are scoring 2.21 goals per game and have the league's 21st ranked power play. Those Simon Gagne and Mike Richards additions haven't been paying off as planned.

Andy Sutton has forfeited over $260,000 in salary as a result
of suspensions in 2011-2012.

-Andy Sutton is griping  that the NHL needs a better appeals process for suspensions. Or hey, Andy, you could try keeping your elbows   down a little bit.

-Sad news from Pittsburgh as Sidney Crosby is experiencing concussion syndromes after an intense battle with Boston last week. Here's to hoping The Kid will be back soon for the good of the game.

-Some trades have begun, starting with this deal  with the Ducks and Devils. The Devils receive defenseman Kurtis Foster and goaltender Timo Pielmeier and the Ducks snag Rod Pelley, Mark Fraser, and the ever-valuable seventh-round pick. Foster has a rocket of a shot and Pelley is a quality grinder. Pretty low-key tweaks for both teams that should benefit all parties.

-Lightning forward Steve Downie was fined $2500 for leaving the bench during the Artem Anisimov Modern Warfare spoof. I'm actually surprised he didn't get a game or two, as leaving the bench is typically frowned upon.

-In other concussion news, Claude Giroux of the Flyers is out indefinitely with concussion symptoms. Giroux leads the NHL in scoring with 39 points (16 G, 23) through his first 28 games.

-The Jets have claimed Antii Miettinen off waivers. Because they needed more 9th-line forwards.

That's all for today. A full slate of 12 NHL games tonight, including Vancouver travelling to Columbus and the Flyers heading to Washington. More from around the NHL tomorrow at Gloves Off Hockey!

Pretenders & Contenders...Who's For Real?

We're a little over two months into the NHL's regular season and the standings are starting to align and give us an idea of what the playoff races might start to shape up as. And while it's too early to tell (you may recall the Atlanta Thrashers lead the Southeast Division on December 18th last year before failing to make the playoffs) it's time to start determining what teams are playoff contenders and who's hot starts are merely a mirage.

FLORIDA PANTHERS


Why they're a contender: Kevin Dineen, Gloves Off Hockey's pre-season Jack Adams award winner (I like to toot my horn horn wherever possible, should he win) has the completely overhauled Panthers playing like champions. Leading the Southeast and coming off wins over Boston, Washington, and San Jose, the Panthers have proven they can play with anyone. Jose Theodore has been solid and the power play is clicking at 19.2%, good for 8th in the NHL. Brian Campbell is enjoying a renaissance and is second among NHL defensemen in points and assists, which is huge considering the size and length of his contract. This is not your older brother's Panthers who have not made the playoffs in over a decade.
Why they're a pretender: Let's face it. Jose Theodore, Scott Clemmensen, and Jacob Markstrom are not exactly top-flight goaltenders. It makes you wonder when one is going to give out. Theodore has carried the bulk of the load and is 11-6-3 with a 2.39 GAA and a .920 SV%. But since 2002, Theodore has been a pedestrian goaltender and it makes one wonder when he's going to give out. The Panthers also give up the 7th-most shots per game in the league at 31.4 per game, leaving way too much work on the goaltenders. The biggest question in Sunrise is if the keepers will keep stopping pucks.
VERDICT: CONTENDER


MINNESOTA WILD

The Wild are off to a torrid start, sitting at 20-7-3,
good for best in the NHL.

Why they're a contender: The Wild are the best team in the NHL right now, which is remarkable to think about. They've won seven in a row and show no signs of slowing down. But how have they done it? A rebirth in their commitment to defense has gone a long way. The Wild are giving up just 2.10 goals per game, 3rd-best in the NHL. They win tight games (11-2-3 in one-goal games) and are shutting opponents down. They're scoring at the same rate as last year (up from 2.48 to 2.50 this year) but their GAA is down from 2.78, over a half a goal per game. When the Wild are playing tight defense, they're impossible to stop.
Why they're a pretender: In the high-flying Western Conference, you need to be able to score some goals. They have the third-most goals in their own division behind Vancouver and Edmonton. Dany Heatley has been very meh in his first season in Minnesota, posting 9 goals and 11 assists in his first 30 games, putting him on pace for 25 G and 30 A...a far cry from his 100+ point seasons in Ottawa a few years back. The Wild need to put a few pucks in the net because not every game, especially come playoff time, is going to be a 2-1 snooze-fest.
VERDICT: CONTENDER


ST. LOUIS BLUES


Why they're a contender: Man, oh man. Ken Hitchcock still has a little magic left in the wand, eh? 9-2-3 since Hitchcock took over as Blues coach, St. Louis has catapulted up the standings and finds themselves in playoff position. David Perron is back and doesn't appear hindered by a concussion that kept him out 97 games dating back to last season, posting 3 points in his first 4 games back. The Blues have balanced scoring and what may be most impressive is their team defense, though not surprising under a defensive mastermind such as Hitchcock. They have the best team defense in the NHL at 2.03 GAA, a marked improvement from last season when they yielded 2.78 goals against per game. Defense wins, and the Blues are playing some excellent D under Hitch.
Why they're a pretender: The team defense is stunning, yes, but at the backbone of it all is Brian Elliot. Elliot is a superhuman 12-2-0 with a 1.45 GAA and a .947 SV% on the year. These are stunning numbers, but can Elliot keep it up? Likely not. This is a guy who, while having a great year, had a GAA well over 3 last season and before that had never had a save percentage above .909. While Elliot's run is impressive and he will benefit from a tight defensive system, something has to give somewhere. His Jacques Plante-esque numbers can't continue, and when they go so will the Blues.
VERDICT: PRETENDER


TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Can Phil Kessel maintain his 50-goal pace?

Why they're a contender: Well, there's that Phil Kessel guy everyone has been talking about. Finally getting the scorer they thought they had when the Leafs gave up a pair of first rounders to the Bruins a few years back, Kessel has dazzled all season. He is a notably streaky scorer, but he hasn't shown many signs of cooling this season, posting 5 points in his last 5 games. Kessel, on pace for 50 goals, is getting help from Joffrey Lupul (13 G, 20 A) and the Leafs are getting solid defense out of Dion Phaneuf and Luke Schenn, who leads NHL defenseman in hits with 87. It's been an exciting start for the Leafs, who have not made the playoffs since before the lockout and with Kessel, Lupul, and Phaneuf leading the charge there's no reason to think it slows.
Why they're a pretender: Of course, there are a few reasons it could slow. As is a common denominator with many of these contender/pretender teams, you have to look between the pipes. James Reimer has a 2.96 GAA and a .896 SV% in 9 games. Ben Scrivens has a 2.96 and a .904 SV% in 8 games. And Jonas Gustavsson has a 3.13 GAA and a .901 SV% in 15 games. Those are all ugly numbers. Compound that with the Leafs second-worst penalty kill (74.3%) and the Leafs simply do not play enough defense to contend. Scoring goals is one thing, but you have to be able to play some sort of defense and the Leafs have shown no capacity to do so.
VERDICT: PRETENDER


DALLAS STARS


Why they're a contender: The Stars have turned everyone else trash into their treasure. Spending wisely in the off-season, the Stars added guys like Michael Ryder (9 G, 8 A), Sheldon Souray (4 G, 9 A, +7), and Radek Dvorak (3 G, 10 A) to a young, budding team. The results have been encouraging. Sitting atop the Pacific in a tie with Phoenix, the Stars have come out flying largely in part to Kari Lehtenon's resurgence. The Finnish netminder has been other-worldly, posting a 13-4-1 record to accompany a 2.34 GAA and a .926 SV%. Unfortunately for Lehtenon, his noodle groin has let him down again and he's shelved until after Christmas. The Stars will have to find a way to stay afloat in his absence.
Why they're a pretender: The Stars are very average. Their power play is 22nd, penalty kill 12th, they score the 19th most goals and they are 17th in GA. Since November 8th, when the Stars beat the Caps and moved to 11-3-0, they are 5-8-1 including losses to the Islanders, Maple Leafs, and Avalanche. In fact, in their 8 regulation losses since November 8th, they've been outscored 34-10, scoring one goal or less five times. The Stars are a very average team and their shortcomings are starting to show as the season wears on. They're a good story early on but do not have the firepower to hang in the Western Conference.
VERDICT: PRETENDER


GOH

Mailbag: 12/10/11

Hello all. Thanks for submitting questions for this week's mailbag. It was an interesting week around hockey, so let's get to it:

What are your thoughts on the Tyler Seguin benching?


Kevin 
Stratham, New Hampshire


I like the message it sends. Accidental or not, leading scorer or not, Seguin missed a team breakfast and was subsequently benched for it. Not the biggest offense in the world, of course, but it sends a message to Seguin and to the rest of the Bruins that they're in it together and everyone plays by the same rules. Claude Julien is a rigid, yet well-liked, coach and this should get the ear of his players once again. Even with the Bruins playing as well as they are there is always room for improvement and always accountability, something the Bruins preach while playing their team-first concept that lead them to the Stanley Cup in 2011.

Do you think Anaheim should make a drastic move to save their season or will the addition of new coach Bruce Boudreau be enough?


Mike
Newton, Massachusetts


It's obvious the Ducks have a talent-laden roster. But sitting a point out of last in the Western Conference is certainly uncharted territory for the Ducks, who have been incredibly successful under coach Randy Carlyle since winning the Stanley Cup in 2007. But this Ducks roster should be able to win as is. The Bobby Ryan trade has been called off since the addition of Boudreau and rightfully so. It will take a few weeks for the team to completely gel under Boudreau, but the reality is they have a good young core and don't need to blow up the roster. The reality is the Ducks have in-house problems to clean up; they're currently 26th in the NHL in team defense at 3.21 goals against per game. The Ducks have been giving up 31.8 shots per game and have only won 22.2% of the games when they've actually out-shot their opponents. The Ducks don't need a big move to turn things around; they need to start playing better hockey from the crease out, something that Bruce Boudreau can hopefully facilitate.

Outside of Quebec City, Las Vegas, and Kansas City, which markets do you think could support an NHL franchise?


Brett
Chesire, Connecticut

Is it time for the NHL to return to Kansas City? 

Well, for one, I don't think Las Vegas could support one. There is too much population turnover to build a fan base. I think some of the markets the NHL has to take a look at in the future are Seattle, Washington and possibly Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There is plenty of hockey support out in Seattle for their WHL team, the Seattle Thunderbirds, and an NHL team could come calling at some point. While it's one thing to sell out WHL games and another to sell out NHL games, it would be an interesting venture for the league. Milwaukee would be another interesting pick; University of Wisconsin hockey plays to sell out crowds and there is a deep love of the game in the northwest. The only concern would be Milwaukee's proximity to Minnesota. Kansas City is an interesting option that the NHL will probably explore some day, but for now, I'm not sold. The first place I'd put a new team is Quebec City, then give Seattle a shot.

How did the Hurricanes manage to get ANYTHING for Tomas Kaberle, let alone a reliable veteran defenseman?


Jesse
Raleigh, North Carolina


I'm not particularly sure here. Montreal is certainly paying for what has been and not what is when it comes to Kaberle (though he currently has two assists on two goals in his first game as a Hab). But the fact is this: since leaving Toronto, Kaberle has been wretched both in Boston and in Carolina. Jarsolav Spacek is a nice pick-up for the Canes and with his deal expiring after this season gives the Canes flexibility moving forward should defenseman Brian Dumoulin (Boston College) or Ryan Murphy (Kitchener Rangers) be able to crack the NHL squad. To answer the question, I'm not totally sure how Canes GM Jim Rutheford sold Kaberle to Montreal as "someone who will help the power play" but he did and Carolina fans should be grateful.

Thanks again for another exciting Mailbag!

Check back soon for more Gloves Off Hockey.
   

Quick Thoughts on Realignment; Other Tidbits

The NHL has drastically realigned their conferences as a result of the Atlanta Thrashers flying north to Winnipeg. It was a massive overhaul, approved for next season, and sees the conferences shake out as such:

CONFERENCE A:    
Anaheim Ducks
Calgary Flames
Colorado Avalanche
Edmonton Oilers
Los Angeles Kings
Phoenix Coyotes
San Jose Sharks
Vancouver Canucks

CONFERENCE B:
Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets

CONFERENCE C:
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Florida Panthers
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs

CONFERENCE D:
Carolina Hurricanes
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Washington Capitals

My initials thoughts are this: I like it overall. Travel is reduced for everyone but the Florida teams, but the financial impact will be great on the Panthers and the Lightning. Playing three home games a year against Ottawa, Buffalo, Boston, Montreal, and Toronto will help an attendance spike due to the high number of transplants down South. I'm also a huge backer of a balanced schedule, and now everyone will play a home-and-home with everyone. The top teams and stars will be in every building every year, something great for growing the game.

My only qualm: the single home-and-home games between teams like Philadelphia/Boston or Colorado/Detroit will help squelch some of the regional rivalries that have developed over time. But as a whole, realignment works well. No, Detroit, Columbus and Nashville didn't move east, but their travel will be greatly reduced by not having to make California trips on a weekly basis.

Otherwise, the Pacific time zone teams keep to themselves for the most part and the old Patrick Division is restored, with the addition of the Hurricanes. The NHL got this one right, withholding how they decided to do the final four after conference champions are decided. A re-seeding would be annoying in some senses; should Conference A & B be in a West region an Conferences C & D be in an Eastern region with the winner of the A vs. B semifinal and C vs. D semifinal play for the Cup? All that will be hammered out as this all takes shape, but as far as the actual realignment...I'm a fan.

OTHER HEADLINES...


-Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford is growing tired of Tomas Kaberle. From thefourthperiod.com: "He got off to a slow start," said Rutherford. "Now he has to figure out how to get out of it or he won't be playing for the Hurricanes for long." Yikes.

-Following up last night's blog, Jordin Tootoo received two games for running Ryan Miller this weekend. Sounds about right.

-Can we put to rest this whole "Alex Ovechkin is a steroidaholic" thing?

-For my Maine readers, Patrick O'Sullivan will be reporting to the Portland Pirates after clearing waivers. The Pirates are next home against the Manchester Monarchs on December 14th.

More to come tomorrow!

GOH

On Running Goaltenders...

After another incident with Ryan Miller, this time with Jordin Tootoo barreling through his crease, leaping and taking Miller out. The Sabres, under heavy scrutiny for not coming to Miller's defense last month when Milan Lucic ran him over and subsequently concussed him, the Sabres wasted no time in pouncing on a defenseless Tootoo.

The video:

Pretty nasty stuff. The point isn't whether or not Tootoo could have avoided the hit, but the more pressing issue at hand: how far is too far when it comes to crashing the crease and taking out goaltenders?

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is hoping the NHL reacts with a heavy hand:

"I hope to see a strong message," Ruff said following practice. "Really, it’s just time. I just hope they do the right thing with it.

"I understand with a phone hearing the max you’re going to get is [a five-game suspension]. In my eyes, is that a big message? It’s OK. I look at the NFL and I look at the Detroit Lion [Ndamukong Suh] that got two games for a 6-inch kick. He got kicked out of the game, and then that amounted to one-eighth of our season. That’s a 10-game suspension. I think they do it right. The message there is we’re not putting up with this stuff. I think we need a strong message. Is five strong enough? I don’t know."

But what can be done? Goaltenders are in a unique position. It's an unwritten rule that goaltenders don't get touched, even when they vacate the crease. Because of this it puts them in a vulnerable position. It's one thing for a defenseman to get smoked in front of the net; they are expecting contact. But when a goaltender is focused on playing the puck and gets bowled over; well, that's another story.

What should the NHL do? Is it even a problem, or just an overreaction to a star goaltender getting smoked in consecutive starts (that were a month apart)? I don't believe major rule changes are in order, however there needs to be a clear understanding of what is acceptable and off-limits when it comes to playing a goaltender, especially where they are susceptible to injury.

In Tootoo's case, I don't think a huge suspension is warranted. But the NHL should send some sort of a message--a few games or so--to make it clear that it is not indeed open season on goaltenders. Goaltenders are such a valuable part of a team and to have one injured with a careless play would be unfortunate.

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault chimed in on the issue  in The Province, echoing those sentiments:

"You want your players to go to those areas and be a good net presence and it's a hard league to score goals in," the Vancouver Canucks coach said Sunday. "But obviously, you want your goaltenders to be protected - I want all 30 to be protected. It's a position that's important, but it's a fine line there and some obviously cross the line and that makes it very challenging for referees and everybody else in the game."

The timing in Tootoo's hit is poor and hopefully that doesn't weigh into the decision making on a suspension. Whether or not the play is clean, plays like it need to be avoided in the future to keep goalies on the ice and out of the press box.

GOH

Mailbag: 12/3/11

A few tidbits of stuff to get to from this weeks mailbag. Thanks for all your submissions. I had a tough time narrowing down the best questions, so here goes nothing:

Despite Kyle Turris' lack of NHL success, which NHL teams do you think could benefit from his addition?


Mike
Newton, Massachusetts


Kyle Turris is still a bit of a project with the Coyotes and despite GM Don Maloney's public statements it's feasible to see him traded after a lengthy holdout that was just resolved last week. He does have some scoring touch and saw raw potential and you wonder if he could be an asset despite the off-ice issues. I would say a team like Columbus would take a flyer on him, given they have some pieces that could be moved. If Turris did get moved, I could see it being out east to the Islanders or to the Dallas Stars, even though they're in Phoenix's division. Dallas has built itself a great season with other reclamation projects like Turris.

How do you  feel about Roberto Luongo's slow start and subsequent benching? Do you see Cory Schneider taking on a bigger role?


Kevin
Stratham, New Hampshire


I definitely see Schneider taking on more of a platoon role in the Vancouver pipes; at least for now. Luongo is coming back from injury and is being eased in, and with fantastic play from Schneider there's no need to over-saturate him. However, in almost equal playing time Schneider has amassed a save percentage 40 points higher (.930 to Luongos .890) and a GAA of 2.12 to Luongos 3.05. Be it injury or confidence, Luongo is struggling out of the gates and while he's doing to Cory Schneider is a fantastic back-up plan.

Do you think Tomas Kaberle will play out his full contract (3 y/$12.75 million) in Carolina?


Keith
Augusta, Maine


Keith, it's hard to see Kaberle playing out too much of that contract. He's been ineffective in Carolina, totaling no goals and 5 assists in his first 26 games, including being a healthy scratch for Paul Maurice's last game as coach. He's -13, has a total of 3 power play points, and has looked lost on both sides of the puck. All that said, he's built an incredible career and at 33 somebody will take a flyer on him. If GM Jim Rutherford can flip him for a top-6 forward I'd consider it done, but the Canes will have to unload picks or prospects to make it happen in a salary dump kind of move. So the short of it: no, I don't think he'll play out the entire thing, or much more of it.

What NHL coaches could you see being fired next?


Kyle
Washington, New Jersey


Well, after the carousel of this past week it leaves you wondering who could be next. My three guesses are Jacques Martin in Montreal, Brent Sutter in Calgary, and Scott Arneil in Columbus. Lindy Ruff may be out after the season if the Sabres fail to make some noise in the post-season after spending all the money in the off-season. But the reality is this: the Canadiens and Flames are both in big-time hockey markets and are struggling mightily. The Canadiens look flat and the Flames just need to go through and clean house, coaches and players included. Scott Arneil appears to have saved his job for now, but the reality is the Blue Jackets are 7-16-3 despite adding big pieces in the off-season. I could easily see Martin being replaced in the next two weeks, especially if the Canadiens struggle in their upcoming run of Western Conferences games against Los Angeles, Columbus, and Vancouver.

That's all for this week! Remember to submit your questions for next week's Mailbag!

GOH

Snapshots: 12/2/11

Lots to get to in the NHL today, so let's get it going:

-Bruce Boudreau will coach his first game with the Ducks tonight. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Boudreau's short unemployment was the shortest in NHL history at four days. Boudreau will coach against a team he's familiar with tonight as the Philadelphia Flyers head to Anaheim.

-With Boudreau hired, it appears Bobby Ryan will be off the trading block for now. The Rangers, Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes were all kicking the tires on Ryan and while he may be moved at some point, it appears a trade is no longer imminent.

-Cool story here from Yahoo!  about Erik Cole flying Louis Leblanc's parents out to his first NHL game.

Doan (above) was booed mercilessly in his first game in
Winnipeg since playing for the Jets 15 years ago. (Getty)

-The Winnipeg Jets version 2.0 beat the Winnipeg Jets version 1.0 last night at the MTS Centre, with the Coyotes failing to register a goal in a 1-0 defeat. Jets fans welcomed back Shane Doan by booing him relentlessly, a pretty classless act towards a pretty classy guy.

-Allan Walsh, agent for players like Ilya Kovalchuk and Martin Havlat, has decided he's seen enough of his client, Derick Brassard's, coach in Columbus. For those too lazy to click the link, Walsh had this to say about Scott Arniel, who has scratched Brassard seven times in the last ten games:

"While I have tremendous respect for (general manager) Scott Howson and the rest of Columbus' management team, the situation regarding Derick Brassard has become untenable. The coach has a history of burying players and using them as scapegoats to mask his own lack of success on the ice. Derick has been singled out, almost from the very beginning of the season, to be the fall guy in case things don't go well. The Columbus organization cares about Derick and has been good to him, but at some point, one has to say, enough is enough."

Here's an idea, Allan: make sure your client knows he's on an 8-goal pace after posting 2 goals in 18 games this season.

-We touched on it last blog, but Derek Joslin was not suspended for his hit on Kris Versteeg in Tuesday's Panthers/Hurricanes game.

-Some great news out of St. Louis with David Perron set to come back  after missing 97 games with a concussion.

-What to do in the Vancouver crease? Cory Schneider gave up 3 goals on 5 shots last night against Nashville, and was relieved by Roberto Luongo who gave up 3 more on 15 shots, including the game-winner with 1:16 left. The Canucks, buoyed by Schneider, had won five in a row coming in, outscoring opponents 17-4.


Make sure you get your mailbag questions in for tomorrow's new blog!

GOH

Snapshots: 11/30/2011

It's been an interesting week in the NHL for sure. Two coaches fired, Bobby Ryan trade rumors, and a handful of other exciting goodies. To touch on them:

-Bobby Ryan says he "wouldn't be shocked by a trade". There have been a lot of rumblings about it, mostly in Toronto and with the New York Rangers. Toronto would be a logical fit as he is Brian Burke's draftee and the Rangers could use a 30-goal scorer. The package that the Ducks will want in return will be substantial; likely a first round pick, a young top-6 winger and a top prospect. Not sure if Toronto can conjure that up without denting their already depleted farm system, nor can they afford to move any more first rounders.

-There were scouts from the Leafs, Stars, Kings, Blackhawks, Canucks, and Avalanche at last night's Hurricanes/Panthers game. Not sure who they were looking at, but it's safe to say Tomas Kaberle may be on the block in Carolina. Kaberle has no goals and five assists in 25 games this season and is a -12, worst among Carolina defenseman and third worst among NHL defenseman. For a guy averaging 19:21 a game and getting paid over $4 million, those numbers don't cut it and I wouldn't be surprised to see someone take a flyer on him.

-Bruce Boudreau is taking the high road in his firing, saying that he never once considered stripping Alex Ovechkin of his captaincy and saying the two "got along famously". Not even sure what that means, but it makes you wonder how much, if anything, Boudreau is holding back.

-The NHL is looking at this Derek Joslin hit on Kris Versteeg. I'd say he sits two.

-In other exciting news, the Blue Jackets are almost out of the basement. It's tough to be a Ducks fan at the moment.

-Former Lewiston Maineiac Kevin Marshall was recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers this season. He's pointless in two NHL games and a -2 this season.

-Finally, I'll leave you with this thought provoking question: your team is going to trade for Bobby Ryan. What do you give up for him? Post your comments below.

GOH

Coaching Overhaul In Southeast Division

Two Southeast Division teams, both with evident expectations, have fired their head coaches within a few hours on Monday morning. Paul Maurice was let go by the Carolina Hurricanes and the HBO star Bruce Boudreau was terminated by the Washington Capitals. Two different coaches, two different histories, but one common underpinning: their teams were underachieving.

The Capitals sit in 8th in the Eastern Conference, 3 points out of first place in the Southeast Division. They are off to a 12-9-1 start that has been marred by a 3-6-1 record in their last ten games and are burdened by superstar Alex Ovechkin's sub-par play; he has just 17 points through 22 games. A perceived rift between Boudreau and Ovechkin may have sealed Boudreau's fate; it's much easier to get rid of the coach than your $121 million superstar.

Boudreau went 201-88-40 in the regular season, leading the talent-laden Caps to four consecutive division titles in his four-plus seasons. He won the Jack Adams in 2007-2008 in his rookie season after taking over Glen Hanlon's Capitals and never looked back. But the players seemed to have tuned Boudreau out and his brash style may have run it's course in Washington. From an Associated Press excerpt, Capitals GM George McPhee weighed in on Boudreau's firing:

"This was simply a case of the players were no longer responding to Bruce. When you see that, as much as you don't want to make a change, you have to make a change," general manager George McPhee said.

"Bruce came in here and emptied the tank. He gave it everything he could and did a really good job, but the tank was empty," McPhee added. "When that happens, you get a new coach, where the tank is full and see if it makes a difference."

The Capitals are simply too loaded to be mired in another November swoon, similar to a stretch last season where the Caps dropped nine in a row in December. When your superstar has tuned you out, a change has to be made. Boudreau likely won't be unemployed for long. But in DC, the time to win is now, and Boudreau simply wasn't producing the results in a "what have you done for me lately?" league.

Dale Hunter will take over the reigns in the nation's capitol after coaching the London Knights from 2001-2002 on, winning the 2005 Memorial Cup. Hunter will demand accountability the way Boudreau failed to over the Caps listless stretch, something that was needed to shake up a stagnant locker room.

In Carolina, the situation is much different. The Caps were at least holding a playoff spot and they had a coach with a .611 winning percentage. Paul Maurice and his Hurricanes are stuck in dead last in the Southeast, four points ahead of the Islanders for last in the East and the Isles have played four fewer games. Realistically, the Canes have been the worst team in the Eastern Conference.

Maurice posted a .417 winning percentage in two stints
with the Carolina organization.

It was Maurice's second failed stint in Carolina, who went 384-391-99-46 overall in both his stints with Carolina, garnering just four playoff appearances in ten full seasons with a trip to the Finals in 2002. But, like in Washington, Maurice seemed to have lost his team with a rock-bottom effort in Montreal a week and a half ago. The Canes power play sits at 12.2%, good for 29th in the league. This came to the forefront yesterday in a 4-3 loss at Ottawa where the Canes went 1-for-8 on the power play. For a team that has been on the power play a league-best 115 times, the Canes simply weren't getting results under Maurice and a change was imminent.

The Canes bring in Kirk Muller, a long-respect assistant coach who had just two months of coaching the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL (10-6-1), was brought in to replace Maurice. Muller, who was nicknamed "Kirk is Work", will expect his players to work hard in all facets of the game will hold his team accountable. He is versatile, something that is essential for a team like Carolina who is in transition. From Muller in the Montreal Gazette:

 
“You have to be good defensively, you have to be good without the puck,” he added. “But since the lockout and no red line, you’ve got to be able to score and you’ve got to be able to score at the right time. So I really stress for the guys to be a very aggressive forechecking team, and I tell my forwards that if they want to play here they gotta work … they’ve got to be workers and do a lot of skating and tracking down and heavy forecheck.”

The time was right in both Carolina and Washington. Maurice and Boudreau arenot bad coaches but they had overstayed their welcomes in their respective cities. In a results-driven league, it's simply business that is pushing these two out the door. Hunter and Muller will face different challenges respectively, but the overhauls for both squads was essential if they want to right the ship for a playoff drive.

GOH

Mail Bag for 11/26/11

Hello all. Life got in the way of this blog and I haven't been able to write much in the last few months but I'm going to give this thing another crack. The first blog of the stint is going to be the mail bag, where I field questions through Twitter (@GlovesOffHockey) or e-mail at glovesoffhockey@gmail.com. Feel free to submit your questions for next Saturdays blog! Without further adieu, your questions:

Do you think coach Kevin Dineen and the Panthers can continue their play and make the playoffs or will the fizzle out come crunch time?


Matt
Westbrook, Maine

New additions Fleischmann, Versteeg and
Campbell have powered the upstart Panthers.

The Panthers have been off to a torrid start and there's no reason to think they'll slow down. While I think Washington may still be the eventual Southeast Division champion, the Panthers are still sitting pretty with a three point lead over the Caps just after Black Friday. The Panthers have been the benefactors of a big summer that saw the acquisitions of Tomas Fleischmann, Brian Campbell, and Kris Versteeg to name a few. The biggest improvement under Kevin Dineen (who I said would win the Jack Adams back in August) has been special teams. The power play (19.1%) is ninth, up from 13.1% last season which was good for last in the NHL. The penalty kill, 6th last year, is 15th this year but is still an efficient 82.3%. The next five games will give us a better picture of where the Cats really stand with match-ups against Tampa Bay tonight, followed by tilts with Carolina, Los Angeles, San Jose, and Washington. When the dust settles I think the Panthers will steal one of the bottom three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and Dineen will win the Jack Adams.

Who is your pick for Vezina Trophy?


Blake
Limington, Maine


There's been some stellar goaltending play in the NHL this season and through two months my pick would have to be Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild. Backstrom is 7-4-2 with a 1.97 GAA and a .935 S%, backstopping the Wild to the top spot in a tightly contested Western Conference. Tim Thomas will likely be in the discussion at season's end as well, as the two-time Vezina Trophy winner is off to a white-hot start, posting a 10-4-0 record, a 1.85 GAA and a .936 S% to accompany his three shutouts. Nikolai Khabibulin is off to an impressive start in Edmonton as well, helping the the young Oilers to 6th in the West, just three points out of the top spot. Former second overall pick Kari Lehtenon has also shocked many, helping Dallas to 5th in the West with a 13-4-1 record, a 2.35 GAA and a .926 S%. My early pick, however, has to go to Backstrom, who is playing his best hockey since his rookie campaign in 2006-2007.

What's been the reason for the Bruins successful November?


Tom 
Portland, Maine


As I said in August, I expected the Bruins to start slow. But the Bruins have put up points in every game in November, their only blemish a shootout loss on Black Friday against Detroit. The Bruins success can be largely tied to Tim Thomas, who has gone 7-0 with a 1.55 GAA and a .943 S% in November. The emergence of Tyler Seguin has been monumental as well, with Seguin showing why he was a second overall pick in 2010. Seguin is on pace for 88 points after scoring just 22 in his rookie campaign. During the Bruins incredible November run, Seguin has notched 13 points (8 G, 5 A) in 11 games and has been carrying the team on his back. The biggest thing for the Bruins has been their commitment to what made them successful in their Cup-winning 2010-2011 season--playing a gritty, physical game. The Bruins, mostly void of pure goal scorers outside of Seguin and Nathan Horton, have simplified the game, gotten pucks to the net, and have had their power play clicking much more efficiently in November. When the Bruins stick to what makes them effective they are as dangerous as they come in the NHL.

Do you expect the Hurricanes will have any problems re-signing Jeff Skinner and other key pieces in a few seasons?


Mike
Brookline, Massachusetts

The Canes biggest priority in the next few seasons:
lock up Jeff Skinner long-term.

The Canes are a particularly frugal team in today's NHL under Peter Karmanos, but that doesn't mean they can't spend money. The top priority after Jeff Skinner's entry level deal expires after the 2012-2013 season will be locking the phenom up long-term. Skinner could likely fetch a Jonathan Toews-esque deal, somewhere in the 5 year/$30 million range. The Canes are well under the cap but do have some restraints. That said, Tuomo Ruutu's $3.8 million cap hit comes off the books after 2012 which will open up space for the Canes to sign Skinner and Pat Dwyer. Tomas Kaberle's $4.25 million cap hit comes off after 2014, but Kaberle will likely be moved by then and the Canes will have some extra spending money. Bryan Allen and Tim Gleason's contracts are up after the season and logic would indicate both won't be brought back to make way for young guns Justin Faulk and, in the wings, Boston College stud Brian Dumoulin on the back end. The Canes have a good, young core in place and I don't think they'll have any issues keeping it in tact.

Do you think the Canucks can make some noise again in the post-season?


Ethan
Litchfield, Maine


I do and I don't. The Canucks have proven lethal on the power play this season, clicking at an NHL-best 24.5%, which goes a long way come April. But the Canucks have been plagued by inconsistent play and are in the middle of their longest winning streak of the season--three games. But, as it has been for a while now, the Canucks success rests on one man's shoulders--Roberto Luongo. Luongo has been hampered a little by injuries this season and Cory Schneider has filled in admirably. But if this team is going to make another Cup run, Luongo will need to be the man in the pipes. Luongo has put up pedestrian numbers this season with a 2.97 GAA and a .896 S% and has many Vancouver fans calling for the relinquishing of his starting role. Schneider has been remarkable, posting a 2.02 GAA and a .927 S% to go with his two shutouts, both of which have come in the last two games while a healthy Roberto Luongo watched from the bench. The bottom line is this: despite all the offensive firepower and star-studded line-up, as Roberto Luongo goes, so go the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks will rally to make the playoffs, but I don't anticipate consecutive Finals appearances for the British Columbia boys.

That's all for this week. Hit me up with your questions and check back next week for another Mail Bag!

GOH

Team Preview: Minnesota Wild

2010-2011: 86 points, 12th in Western Conference
Key additions: RW Devin Setoguchi, LW Dany Heatley, C Darroll Powe, D Mike Lundin
Key departures: RW Martin Havlat, D Brent Burns, G Jose Theodore, LW Andrew Brunette

Backstrom must have a huge season in Minnesota.

Why they'll contend: The Wild completed a revamping over the summer after finishing 26th in team scoring in 2010-2011. In two separate trades with San Jose, Minnesota brought in top-line talents in Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley, who six times in his nine year career has eclipsed 39 goals, including hitting 50 twice. Setoguchi is coming off his third consecutive 20+ goal season and figures to chip in prominently in Minnesota. New head coach Mike Yeo is coming off just one season in the AHL, where he lead Houston to the Calder Cup Final. The Wild figure to have a balanced attack under Yeo after an attempt at stingy defense under Todd Richards. The Wild have re-branded themselves this off-season to a more offense-first attack. It should prove successful for a team that has been more concerned with trapping and playing safe hockey in the past in a league where "safe" is death. An up-tempo attack could pay huge dividends in Minnesota as a change of thinking has finally been brought about.

Why they'll falter: The Wild will need improved play from Niklas Backstrom between the pipes this year after finishing 18th in save percentage (.916) and 29th in GAA (2.66) in 2011. The Wild lost a quality defenseman in Brent Burns and management is hoping that by scoring more goals it can overcome that loss. It's quite feasible that by adding Heatley and Setoguchi the Wild could have added 60-70 goals, while losing Havlat will subtract 22 goals from last season's offense. The Wild will need big minutes from Marek Zidlicky and Greg Zanon on defense and will need Mike Lundin and Clayton Stoner to step up and produce in huge ways; maybe more than they're capable of. Heatley will have to prove he is indeed a team player, something that has escaped him in the past as he's wiggled his way out of Atlanta and Ottawa and refused to be dealt to Edmonton. Heatley is an all-world talent, but his sway in the locker room is yet to be seen in Minnesota. Without a big year from Backstrom, quality contributions from their youth, and improved play defensively, the Wild could find themselves on the outside looking in again.

2012 PREDICTION: 8th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Dany Heatley, 35 G & 82 points
Bold prediction: Darroll Powe hits 10 goals for the first time in his career.

NEXT PREVIEW: MONTREAL CANADIENS

Team Preview: Los Angeles Kings

2010-2011: 98 points, 7th in Western Conference
Key additions: C Mike Richards, LW Simon Gagne
Key departures: W Alexei Ponikarovsky, W Wayne Simmonds, C Brayden Schenn, LW Ryan Smyth, C Michal Handzus

Anze Kopitar will need a big season in LA in 2012.

Why they'll contend: The Kings are loaded top-to-bottom and figure to compete for the top spot in the Western Conference. GM Dean Lombardi got aggressive in the off-season, trading away budding young talent in Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn to bolster his team up the middle, adding Mike Richards in the deal for the aforementioned prospects and adding Simon Gagne through free agency. The Kings figure to score more than the 2.55 goals per game they scored in 2010-2011 (ranked 25th in the league) and their defense looks to be just as reliable. Jonathan Quick will have to take another step forward as he enters his fourth NHL season in the crease. The Kings have patiently stuck to the blueprints of their rebuild plan and it is finally set to pay dividends after a first round exit in 2011. The Kings haven't won a playoff series since 2001 when they beat Detroit in the first round in stunning fashion; since then the Kings have been meddling in mediocrity. But with Richards and Gagne bolstering the offense, Anze Kopitar returning from injury, Dustin Brown leading the way as captain, and when the contract talks settle down Drew Doughty will be back to anchor the blue line in Los Angeles. From the outset the Kings look poised to make a deep run come the spring of 2012.

Why they'll falter: Losing Ryan Smyth could be costly, especially being the great leader he is. Couple that with the fact that Mike Richards hasn't always been the greatest one and it could be a hindrance to the Kings, especially with the L.A. nightlife. But the reality is that Richards and company should be fine as the Kings gear up. The bigger questions lie on the ice: will Jonathan Quick be able to carry the load for the Kings, and will they be able to score? The Kings defense was stifling last season, ranked 7th in the NHL in goals allowed. But offensively the Kings will need to score more, especially with the added firepower, if the want to compete in a run-and-gun Western Conference. If Richards and Gagne can make the contributions they were brought in for, the Kings should have a deadly squad come October.

2012 prediction: 2nd in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Anze Kopitar, 33 goals & 80 points
Bold prediction: Jack Johnson will bring his +/- from -21 to +10, up +31.

NEXT PREVIEW: MINNESOTA WILD

Team Preview: Florida Panthers

2010-2011: 72 points, 15th in Eastern Conference
Key additions: F Tomas Fleischmann, D Brian Campbell, RW Tomas Kopecky, LW Kris Versteeg, RW Scottie Upshall, G Jose Theodore, LW Tim Kennedy, RW Jack Skille
Key departures: G Tomas Vokoun, F Marty Reasoner, LW Niclas Bergfors

Kevin Dineen will shoulder a lot of pressure in FLA.

Why they'll contend: GM Dale Tallon dragged the Panthers through a complete makeover throughout the summer, adding several key pieces while he brought the Panthers over the salary cap floor. The addition of Brian Campbell on defense immediately gave the Panthers credibility. Thereafter Tallon added a handful of forwards which immediately turn the Panthers from cellar-dwellers to playoff contenders. The Panthers will score far more goals than in the past and will play an up-tempo style under new coach Kevin Dineen. Dineen was successful in the AHL for the Portland Pirates since the 2005-2006 season and developed a handful of top-notch prospects, including Sabres forward Nathan Gerbe and Ducks forwards Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry. The Panthers are a completely different team than last season, and after missing the playoffs for over a decade it couldn't come at a better time. At the very least the Panthers have conjured up some relevance, something they have been lacking since Pavel Bure departed in the early 2000s. It will be an interesting season in Sunrise this year, but undoubtedly a more successful one than in years past.

Why they'll falter: The Panthers new faces could mean problems with chemistry from the outset. Kevin Dineen will likely take a few bumps and bruises as he adjusts to coaching in the NHL, though it shouldn't be much of a problem. A good start is key to the Panthers as they adjust to playing with each other over the first month or two. Goaltending could be a major problem as well. Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmensen are excellent back-ups, but the fact is one of them needs to step up and be a starter this year. Clemmensen, save a two month span where he played in Marty Brodeur's absence, has never been a starter, and Theodore is nothing of his 2002 Vezina-winning form. Defensively the Panthers are improved, but it may not be enough in what looks to be a competitive Southeast Division. When the dust settles, all eyes will be on the crease as the Panthers look to return to the post-season.

2012 prediction: 9th in the Eastern Conference
Leading scorer: Kris Versteeg, 23 goals & 60 points
Bold prediction: Kevin Dineen will win the Jack Adams award.

NEXT PREVIEW: LOS ANGELES KINGS

Team Preview: Edmonton Oilers

2010-2011: 62 points, 15th in Western Conference
Key additions: C Ryan Smyth, W Eric Belanger, LW Ben Eager, D Cam Barker, D Andy Sutton
Key departures: D Kurtis Foster, D Jim Vandermeer, C Colin Fraser

Eberle (above) is helping leading a youth movement in EDM.

Why they'll contend: The Oilers have finished last in the NHL in consecutive seasons, but there's finally reason for optimism. The team has an excellent mix of young superstars, including forwards Taylor Hall, Linus Omark, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi, and newly-minted first rounder Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The team will be exciting, fast-paced, and fun to watch and have solidified things defensively. The additions of Cam Barker and Andy Sutton on the back end will help cut down the shots against (21st in the NHL) and improve the penalty kill (29th in the NHL) from last season. Ryan Smyth's return will go a long way in the locker room. Smyth is a great leader at 35 and spent 12 seasons in Edmonton before being traded in 2007. Smyth's return will help guide the wealth of young talent. If Nikolai Khabibulin can stay healthy, the Oilers will be in good position to climb out of the basement for the first time since the 2008-2009 season.

Why they'll falter: Youth is a wonderful thing, but the Oilers are relying too heavily on it too soon. The majority of the team still can't drink in the United States, and the guys that are old enough to are too old. Smyth & Khabibulin can just as easily be on the IR all year as they could be on the ice, and while Hall, Eberle, and the rest of the group project to be fantastic players and part of what could be a dynasty in the making, they are still a year or two away. Ben Eager was a waste of money to fill their third line and as much as Smyth will make positive contributions in the locker room, Eager will detract. The Oilers will contend some day, and that day will be soon. But 2012 looks to be another year on the outside looking in.

2012 prediction: 14th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Taylor Hall, 27 goals & 57 points
Bold prediction: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will win the 2012 Calder Trophy.

NEXT PREVIEW: FLORIDA PANTHERS

Team Preview: Detroit Red Wings

2010-2011: 104 points, 3rd in Western Conference, Central Division champions
Key additions: D Mike Commodore, D Ian White, G Ty Conklin
Key departures: D Brian Rafalski, D Ruslan Salei, C Mike Modano, G Chris Osgood

Why they'll contend: Let's face it: they're the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings are mighty every year and 2011-2012 figures to be no different. Nicklas Lidstrom is back for one more season, solidifying a back end that is slightly thinned with the loss of Brian Rafalski. Mike Commodore and Ian White are nice pieces, but Rafalski is a top-four defenseman whose skill set is a little more difficult to replace. The Wings are still loaded from top-to-bottom and even as they age there's no reason to think they won't be there at the end of the season. With Pavel Datsyk, Henrik Zetterburg, Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom--you get the picture--leading the way, there's no reason to doubt Detroit yet again. While they may not be the odds-on favorite to take home Lord Stanley's chalice next June, they will certainly be hanging around when the weather turns warm again next spring.

Why they'll falter: Jimmy Howard was fantastic last year between the pipes, but he has to be even more so to push the team to the next level in 2012. Wings management does not appear sold on the University of Maine alum and Howard will need to prove the job is his for the taking or else Ty Conklin may find himself starting more frequently. Age is a concern in Detroit as well. Their core is not getting any younger and may find itself slowing as the season wears on. It hasn't been too much of an issue in seasons past, but it can't go on that way forever. Chicago and Nashville will be tough to play against within their own division, as well as Columbus, meaning it may not be the cake walk it has been traditionally for Detroit in the Central. Losing Rafalski will be a step backwards on the power play, but all-in-all the Wings should secure home ice for the first round in the 2012 playoffs.

2012 prediction: 4th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Pavel Datsyuk, 33 goals & 84 points
Bold prediction: No Red Wing will win an individual award (Norris Trophy, Selke, etc.) in 2012.

NEXT PREVIEW: EDMONTON OILERS

Team Preview: Dallas Stars

2010-2011: 95 points, 9th in Western Conference
Key additions: RW Michael Ryder, C Vernon Fiddler, D Sheldon Souray, RW Radek Dvorak, C Jake Dowell
Key departures: C Brad Richards, D Karlis Skrastins, RW Jamie Langenbrunner

Why they'll contend: The Stars added a lot of depth in the off-season after finishing just two points out of the playoffs in 2011. The Stars will look to improve on their near miss last season by plugging the gaps. Vernon Fiddler is an excellent face-off guy, Radek Dvorak and Jake Dowell will be boosts to the penalty killing unit, and Michael Ryder and Sheldon Souray, if effective, could help the power play. If Kari Lehtenon is healthy he is a top goaltender at the NHL level, but the question is whether or not he can be on the ice enough to make a substantial impact. Since being drafted in 2002 he has played just two full NHL seasons. The Stars lack just that--stars--but looking at their roster top-to-bottom its easy to see why they could be hanging around at the end of the year. They have a nice mix of guys throughout their line-up that can do the little things, like block shots or kill penalties, that could catapult Dallas over the top.

Why they'll falter: Realistically speaking, a team in Dallas' position will not be able to overcome the loss of Brad Richards. They do not have the financial strength or the depth in the farm system to overcome the loss of a player such as Richards. The Stars took a lot of gambles in the off-season, namely that of the inconsistent Michael Ryder, the oft-injured and now minor league defenseman in Sheldon Souray, and the declining Radek Dvorak. If these pieces work out, Dallas can contend. But the reality is that they all won't work out and they are low-risk, high-reward signings. Even if the risk is low, the reality is that Dallas did not do a ton to improve its roster. The Western Conference will tight as always, and the odds of Dallas keeping pace are slim in 2012.

2012 prediction: 11th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Loui Eriksson, 23 G & 64 points
Bold prediction: Loui Eriksson will eclipse 10 penalty minutes. Not many bold things in Dallas this year.

NEXT PREVIEW: DETROIT RED WINGS

Team Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets

2010-2011: 81 points, 13th in Western Conference
Key additions: C Jeff Carter, D James Wisniewski, LW Vinny Prospal, D Radek Martinek
Key departures: RW Jakub Voracek, G Mathieu Garon, D Jan Hejda, LW Scottie Upshall

With a talented C to play with, Nash (above) could post huge numbers.

Why they'll contend: The only NHL team without a playoff win, save the Winnipeg Jets franchise, the Jackets were in desperate need of relevance entering the summer. They added Jeff Carter in a blockbuster trade with Philadelphia, finally getting Rick Nash someone to play with. Nash & Carter could form a lethal combination and the possibilities are exciting for Columbus; so exciting that James Wisniewski committed to Columbus over the summer as a free agent. The Jackets immediately made themselves relevant again by making a splash in the trade market, something they've never really done. The Jackets have improved defensively through free agency, but losing Jan Hejda to Colorado could be a bigger hole than anticipated. Columbus will benefit from an improved power play that finished 29th in the NHL last year at 14%. The Jackets are deeper than last season and will make a move up the standings. While they may not be Cup contenders, the additions of Carter and Wisniewski are a step in the right direction and the Jackets should find themselves in the mix in a very tight Western Conference.

Why they'll falter: Despite making headlines over the summer, the Jackets are only so deep. There is too little secondary scoring and while they may have had one of the better summers in the Western Conference they are still a step behind. Goaltending is still an issue with Steve Mason being inconsistent, and the penalty kill was only slightly improved after finishing 22nd in the NHL last year. They'll score more than last season, but will they score enough? After Nash and Carter the talent pool drops off considerably and secondary scoring will be tough to come by. The Western Conference is simply too good, even with the improvements. While the Jackets definitely plugged some holes, there are still many more to be plugged before the team will win it's first playoff game in franchise history.

2012 prediction: 10th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Rick Nash, 42 goals & 71 points
Bold prediction: Under the right circumstances, Rick Nash will eclipse 50 goals.

NEXT PREVIEW: DALLAS STARS

Team Preview: Colorado Avalanche

2010-2011: 68 points, 14th in Western Conference
Key additions: G Semyon Varlamov, G Jean-Sebastien Giguere, D Jan Hejda, D Sean O'Brien, LW Chuck Kobasew
Key departures: D Adam Foote, D Jean-Michael Liles, RW Tomas Fleischmann

The Avs expected big things from Landeskog (above) in 2012.

Why they'll contend: The big story in Colorado over the summer was their improved goaltending and the team will look to ride it back into the post-season in 2012. Varlamov will benefit from a fresh beginning as a number one, after the 23-year-old was acquired from Washington early in the summer. Giguere will be a reliable back-up and the two will likely come closer to splitting time than one carrying the bulk over the other. Matt Duchene is poised for a breakout season and the addition of Chuck Kobasew will give the Avalanche some much-needed penalty killing help. The Avs penalty kill finished last in the NHL last year at 76.1%, something that will undoubtedly be improved with better goaltending and the addition of Hejda, who averaged 2:50 in shorthanded ice time last year in Columbus. The Avs will be exciting and young to watch and if, in an absolute best-case scenario, the pieces fall into place they could be looking at snagging the 8th seed. Gabriel Landeskog, the team's 2nd overall draft choice in 2011, could crack the roster and add dynamic play-making abilities as well as a committed two-way game. The Avs may be a step away, but they are certainly taking the right steps forward.

Why they'll falter: The Avs are still a young team, perhaps a year or two from competing. There were a lot of probems in Colorado last year that saw them finish 29 points out of the playoffs; problems that cannot be rectified over night or through free agency. The goaltending was addressed, as were parts of the defense, but losing Liles and Foote will be difficult to overcome regardless of how well O'Brien and Hejda play. But for a team with defensive woes that Colorado had last season, including the worst penalty kill and allowing the most goals in the NHL--25 more than the next closest team in Atlanta--the Avalanche will have their work cut out for them in 2012. While there are enough individual pieces to make Colorado an intriguing team to watch in 2012, they are still a few steps away from being the contender they envision.

2012 prediction: 12th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Paul Stastny, 25 G & 70 points
Bold prediction: Gabriel Landeskog wins the Calder Memorial Trophy.

NEXT PREVIEW: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Team Preview: Chicago Blackhawks

2010-2011: 97 points, 8th in Western Conference
Key additions: LW Andrew Brunette, LW Daniel Carcillo, D Steve Montador, D Sean O'Donnell, F Rostislav Olsez, G Ray Emery
Key departures: D Brian Campbell, RW Troy Brouwer, G Marty Turco, D Chris Campoli, C Jake Dowell, RW Fernando Pisani, RW Tomas Kopecky

Corey Crawford's success is key in Chicago.

Why they'll contend: The Hawks are still, at the core, the same team that won the 2010 Stanley Cup minus a few spare parts. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Marian Hossa still form an elite trio of forwards that are lethal on the power play that was 4th in the NHL last season. Andrew Brunette is a brilliant addition, adding some secondary scoring and solid two-way forward. Defensively the Hawks got tougher, trading softy Brian Campbell and his not-so-soft contract to Florida and opting to go with Steve Montador and Sean O'Donnell instead. This should bode well for the Hawks who at times were pushed around too easily. In goal the Hawks get an upgrade in Ray Emery over the aging Marty Turco which should be an upgrade behind Corey Crawford, who's ready to take another step forward in carrying the reigns. The Hawks had an evident Stanley Cup hangover in 2011, but in 2012 the Hawks should be more focused and ready to return to Cup-contender status. The Hawks have one of the best leaders in the game in Toews, the ability to score goals in bunches, an improved D corps and reliable goaltending; a lethal mix in a tight division which should lead the Hawks back to the top of the Western Conference.

Why they'll falter: After losing Kopecky, Brouwer, and Pisani, the Hawks lost a lot of secondary scoring. By relying on Toews, Kane, and Hossa too heavily, even being the dynamic players that they are, could be costly if the Hawks put all their eggs in one basket. The Hawks can definitely play a run-and-gun style but need to tighten up defensively if they want to compete in the West. Despite getting tougher on D and shedding his massive contract, Brian Campbell did put up 117 points over 3 seasons in Chicago which is not easily replaced from the back end. Corey Crawford excelled in 2011, but will he be able to continue to put up stellar numbers (33-18-6, 2.30 GAA, .917 SVP) in his sophomore campaign? The Hawks definitely have questions, as do most teams in the West, but are more fit to overcome them than many others. There is a lot of turnover in the locker room, some of which makes sense; but how much will Danny Carcillo cost them? How many extra penalties will the Hawks have to kill? Carcillo could be more of a clubhouse cancer than the Hawks needed, even if they want to get gritty; and frankly, the signing makes no sense. The Hawks are deep enough to make the run, the question is whether or not they'll be hungry and cohesive enough.

2012 prediction: 3rd in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Jonathan Toews, 33 G & 80 points
Bold prediction: Jeremy Morin will lead all Hawks in rookie scoring.

NEXT PREVIEW: COLORADO AVALANCHE

Team Preview: Carolina Hurricanes

2010-2011: 91 points, 9th in Eastern Conference
Key additions: D Tomas Kaberle, G Brian Boucher, C Tim Brent, W Anthony Stewart, LW Alexei Ponikarovsky
Key departures: F Erik Cole, D Joe Corvo

Why they'll contend: The Hurricanes slightly upgraded their roster in the off-season, adding defenseman Tomas Kaberle to replace Joe Corvo who had asked for a trade over the summer. Goaltender Cam Ward is one of the game's elite and the Hurricanes have a dynamic mix of young forwards in Eric Staal, Jeff Skinner, and Brandon Sutter. The Canes made slight tweaks to their bottom two lines, adding Anthony Stewart from Winnipeg who was coming off a career-high 14 goal season and Tim Brent from Toronto who adds penalty killing depth. The addition of Kaberle could provide a huge boost to the back end. Despite sub-par play in Boston after the trade deadline, Kaberle is still a dynamic defenseman who could fit into Carolina's power play nicely. The Canes missed the playoffs by the equivalent of one win last season, losing in their final game. With a successful summer for the ever-shrewd GM Jim Rutherford, which included re-signing Jussi Jokinken and Joni Pitkanen and bringing in back-up goaltending help in Brian Boucher, minor adjustments may pay off big. If Alexei Ponikarovsky can contribute in Carolina the way he did in Toronto two years ago, the Canes will be in excellent shape to return to the playoffs.

Skinner will need to avoid a sophomore slump in 2012.

Why they'll falter: While the Canes made some nice acquisitions over the summer, most of them are anything from a sure bet. Ponikarovsky has struggled since leaving Toronto, as has Tomas Kaberle, and Anthony Stewart didn't even play in the NHL in 2009-2010 after being demoted in Florida. Calder Trophy winner Jeff Skinner will enjoy a more expanded role, but will he be a victim of a sophomore slump? Skinner was dynamic as a rookie but leaning to much on a 19-year-old kid is never Plan A, regardless of his skill and maturity levels. The Canes could use a stay-at-home defenseman and may struggle keeping pucks out of their own net and their penalty kill needs work, finishing in the bottom third in 2010-2011. Having Brian Boucher as a reliable back-up to Cam Ward will take the workload off of the netminder who lead the NHL in minutes last year with 4,318. But if Boucher falters the load will be back on Ward which may not be something the Canes can handle. Playing in a loaded Southeast Division, Carolina may not be deep enough for a playoff run in 2012.

2012 prediction: 10th in Eastern Conference
Leading scorer: Eric Staal, 32 & 65
Bold prediction: Coach Paul Maurice is fired before Christmas.

NEXT PREVIEW: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS