Your 2009-2010 Washington Capitals Preview

So as you’ve probably noticed from our Season Preview looking at all the other teams, everybody has questions hanging over them heading into the season. Reading previews for the Caps heading into 2009-2010, most question the Caps goaltending and defense. The Caps are starting off the season with a 3-headed monster in net; Jose "Alvin, Simon," Theodore, Semyon "the Saviour" Varlamov, and Michal "Bebe" Neuvirth. Unless something downright crazy happens, Theodore won’t be here next year and could be gone at some point this season for a variety of reasons. That would leave two rookies to carry the load and stop acting like a rookie has never ever in the history of the NHL backstopped a team to the Stanley Cup. While it has been awhile since the Caps have not had a settled #1 goaltender heading into the season, there is simply too much talent in net right for this position to be a total failure, though there will be those who will quickly point to it if things don't work out.

The defense on the other hand is better than advertised. No, they’re not a shutdown defense, but they get the job done. We admit, we never thought a team that had Pavel Kubina as a shutdown defender could win the Cup, yet that’s exactly what happened in 2004. As much as we rag on John "Coach's Pet" Erskine Bowles, the Caps really don’t have better options at this position and must make do with it. General Manager George McPhee tried to get Chris Pronger from Anaheim but properly balked at the high asking price. Remember he tried to land Zdeno Chara too but he wasn’t interested at the time. Though you have to wonder if that would still be the case today.

The thing however that everybody needs to remember is that there were questions about the goaltending and defense heading into last year and yet in spite of them the Caps; cruised on into another division title, racked up 108 points in the standings, and despite facing a bad and obvious hose job, got to Game 7 in the Second Round and should have advanced further in the playoffs. For all the yelling and screaming about this team, from the fans McPhee must be doing something right considering just two years ago the Caps had their second consecutive 70 point season and are now considered serious contender for the Stanley Cup.

Don't get us wrong, there is some legitimate concern on the back end, but that isn’t what we see dogging the Caps heading into this season.

First of all, do the Caps have enough maturity to win? We happen to think that the biggest problem the Caps had in the First Round against the Rangers was a lack of maturity which is why they fell behind 3-1 and needed seven games to advance. While there are fewer rookies and second year players in critical positions this year, this team is still very young in its core. Alexander "Slappy" Semin, is the oldest of the bunch and he’s going to be 25 in March. The players need to stop worrying about their goal celebrations, hair styles, automobiles, and partying and need to concentrate on winning. Yes, part of what makes this team so much fun to watch is their youthful enthusiasm. We happen to think that they can keep a good bit of it but still bear down enough to win it all. The Caps could really use serious veteran leadership to help this come along. While having Sergei (#3) Fedorov around was nice, it was clear that his effect on the younger players had waned as last season wore on. People also forget he too was rather flamboyant in his youth, though not to the extent of some of our guys.

Secondly, to the Caps have the desire to win? You might think that is the same as maturity but it isn’t. Those of us in the D.C. area know very well what you get when you have a team that talks about winning more than actually doing it. And the best example we can come up with in terms of desire is an NFL Greatest Games we sometimes come across. It chronicles the 1983 NFC Championship game between the Washington Redskins and the San Francisco 49ers. The Redskins won that game 24-21 after blowing a 21 point lead in the fourth quarter to earn a trip to Super Bowl XVIII. The 25 yard game winning field goal with 40 seconds left was set up by two controversial penalties on the Redskins final drive of the game. In the special that runs on ESPN and NFL Network from time to time, members of the 49ers state that their anger over losing that game the way they did spurred them to an 18-1 record and a Super Bowl XIX win the following season. We’ve all heard about the angry text messages that Bruce Boudreau received after the Penguin Scum were handed the Cup back in June, do the 2009-2010 Caps have the same anger that the 1984 49ers did? If they do, this could be a very special season in D.C. But make no mistake, desire will have to be just as a big part of this as maturity and luck because unlike some teams in the NHL, the Stanley Cup will not be handed to the Caps on a silver platter. The Caps are going to have to earn every bit of it should they end up winning the Cup this season.

So how do the Caps get there? Well first they’ll need a strong start out of the gate which won’t be easy with their early schedule. Four of the first five and six of the first ten opponents made the playoffs last year and are expected to be in the playoffs again this year. Non-playoff teams Toronto and Nashville won’t be easy games either, at least at the start of the season. While we don’t expect anybody to take the Caps lightly, the Caps need to lay out early this year that they are serious about winning this year. The Caps will also need continued focus all season long which also won’t be easy with key players heading off to the Olympics in February and others wanting to join them, how much of a distraction will that be? And while the Caps can’t backslide down the stretch like they did last year, though a tougher schedule at the end of this season should prevent that, they also can’t play lackadaisically like they did against teams like Tampa and the New York Islanders all too often a year ago. Furthermore, the Caps have to stay healthy, too many injuries started to pile up late in the season and in the playoffs last year. With the salary cap and waiver process, the team’s depth will eventually take a hit. Though we will admit, there’s not much the Caps can do about injuries other than wish for good luck and fast healing.

The NHL likes to run a marketing slogan, is this the year? After spending the first three years on this pathetic excuse for a blog downplaying the Caps chances and expectations, this year, we aren’t. Folks, there’s no hiding it, this team is good, very good. It isn’t perfect, no team in this league is, but the 2009-2010 Washington Capitals have the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup since the Caps teams of the mid-1980’s. And while the offense is as good as it has ever been, this is not a team that is going to blow opponents out 12-2 every night. And we guarantee you a stretch of poor play at some point this season with some mind boggling losses thrown in for good measure. We might even have to pull a Houdini act in one round of the playoffs to get by. But folks, there’s no reason not to expect the Caps in the Stanley Finals this season nor should we be laughed at for having dreams of a Stanley Cup parade down Pennsylvania Avenue in June 2010.

2009-2010 NHL Season Preview Part II: The Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division:



New Jersey Devils: (51-1; 106 points; 1st Atlantic Division, 3rd Eastern Conference, 5th Overall; Lost in the First Round):
Joisey has proven that they can win in the regular season with just about anybody in their lineup so we give them credit by recognizing that. The playoffs however are a completely different story. How much more does Martin Brodeur have left in the tank?


Pittsburgh Penguin Scum: (45-37; 99 points; 2nd Atlantic Division, 4th Eastern Conference, 8th Overall; Awarded Stanley Cup):
Make no mistake folks, this is still a joke of a hockey team that will only get as far as slanted officiating will take them. How will the Penguin Scum respond when the officiating evens out? Better yet, how long before Canadian Diving Team Captain, Lowblow Secondary Assist Cindy Crosby torpedoes another coach?


Philadelphia Flyers: (44-38; 99 points; 3rd Atlantic Division, 5th Eastern Conference, 9th Overall; Hosed out of the First Round):
We give Ed Snider's boys credit, they're going to fit that square peg into that round hole one day. The talent bleed continues in a vain attempt to recapture magic that last occurred in Philadelphia 36 years ago. Can they stay out of the Penalty Box long enough to win games?


New York Rangers: (43-39; 95 points; 4th Atlantic Division, 7th Eastern Conference, 12th Overall; Lost in the First Round):
All full season of Tortorella should not be boring to watch on Broadway with Sean Avery and Donald Brashear on his bench. How long before Tortorella turns Henrik Lunquvist into a head case?


New York Islanders: (26-56; 61 points; 5th Atlantic Division, 15th Eastern Conference, 30th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs):
Another year on the rebuild as the John Tavares hype machine gets going. Does this franchise have enough leadership in the front office to ever turn things around?




Northeast Division:




Boston Bruins: (53-39; 116 points; 1st Northeast Division; 1st Eastern Conference, 2nd Overall; Lost in the Second Round):
Still the best team in their division by far but it is a very weak division. Can they replace the offense lost by Phil Kessel's departure?



Buffaslugs: (41-41; 91 points; 3rd Northeast Division, 10th Eastern Conference, 18th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs):
They stopped the talent bleeding this year which is a good thing. No we don't consider Maxim Afinogenov talented. Will they have enough to get back into the playoffs?


Ottawa Senators: (36-46; 83 points; 4th Northeast Division, 11th Eastern Conference, 22nd Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs):
After a horrific start to last season, the Senators started to turn things around before the season ended. Now that Dany Heatley is gone, how much further will the Senators go?


Montreal Canadiens: (41-41; 93 points; 2nd Northeast Division, 8th Eastern Conference, 13th Overall; Lost in the First Round):
After failing in many different pursuits last year and over the summer, the Canadiens have put together an overhauled roster. Can it gel quickly enough to compete in a compact Eastern Conference?


Toronto Maple Thug Leafs: (34-48; 81 points, 5th Northeast Division, 12th Eastern Conference, 24th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs):
Clearly unable to beat teams on the ice, they've opted for the "beat them in the alley" approach this season. Will this circus be bad enough to end the Ultimate Fighting on Ice sideshow in the NHL?


Southeast Division

Washington Capitals: (50-32; 108 points; 1st Southeast Division, 2nd Eastern Conference, 4th Overall; Hosed out of the Second Round):
When will you guys learn?

Carolina Hurricanes: (45-37; 97 points; 2nd Southeast Division, 6th Eastern Conference, 11th Overall; Hosed out of the Conference Finals):
The closest thing the Caps have to a rival in their division. Don't be fooled however by their deep playoff run last year, they should have been eliminated in the First Round. Has Cam Ward become merely ordinary?

Atlanta Thrashers: (35-47; 76 points; 4th Southeast Division, 13th Eastern Conference, 27th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs):
We don't put them here because we like what they did over the summer and we think they're an improved team. We think that Florida regressed that badly. What will the Thrashers get in exchange for Ilya Kovalchuk on March 3rd, 2010?

Florida Panthers: (41-41; 93 points; 3rd Southeast Division, 9th Eastern Conference, 14th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs):
Tie broken out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, they would have made it out West, the Panthers were forced into a roster overhaul with a departing GM and Free Agents. Will they ever find a way forward?

Tampa Bay Lightning: (24-58; 66 points; 5th Southeast Division, 14th Eastern Conference, 29th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs):
They can't possibly continue to be this bad can they? Yes, they can.

2009-2010 NHL Season Preview Part I: The Western Conference

Well Ladies and Gentlemen, ready or not, the NHL Season is almost upon us and we have to admit, we're not ready for it because after the summer we've had, we're just going to have to start drinking...

But we digress so let's get this started in the usual predicted order of finish....

Central Division:

Detroit Red Wings: (51-31; 112 points; 1st Central Division, 2nd Western Conference, 3rd Overall; Hosed in the Stanley Cup Finals):
In what has to be the best division, top to bottom, in the NHL, somebody is going to have to prove that they can knock Detroit off before we go with anybody else here. Can they get through the Western Conference again though?

Chicago Blackhawks: (46-36; 104 points; 2nd Central Division, 4th Western Conference, 6th Overall; Lost in the Conference Finals):
A young up and coming team about to be derailed by serial salary cap mismanagement. The rehabilitation project over; can they not only meet lofty expectations but pay off the "all in" bet made by management this year?

Columbus Blue Jackets: (41-41; 92 points; 4th Central Division, 7th Western Conference, 16th Overall; Lost in the First Round):
Give Ken Hitchcock credit for getting this franchise headed in the right direction after years of floating around. They deserved a better fate in the playoffs last year but should learn from the experience. Can Steve Mason keep it going?

St. Louis Blues: (41-41; 92 points; 3rd Central Division, 6th Western Conference, 15th Overall; Lost in the First Round):
Came seemingly out of nowhere to make the playoffs after being considered also rans before the season started and a disastrous start once it did. While there's plenty of veteran leadership, that's just another way to say that the team relies on too many old players past their prime. They should contend for a playoff spot but will they actually grab one again?

Nashville Predators: (40-42; 88 points; 5th Central Division, 10th Western Conference, 20th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs)
Missing by three points, the Predators saw all of their division rivals make the playoffs leaving them the only team out. They're hoping that better health will be the difference this season but their division has improved making the sledding tougher. Will Trotz and Poile survive another non-playoff season?


Northwest Division:


Calgary Flames: (46-36; 98 points; 2nd Northwest Division, 5th Western Conference, 10th Overall; Lost in the First Round):
So much for the Mad Mike Keenan experiment. That lasted only one year. In spite of Keenan, the Flames almost won their division despite increasingly shaky goaltending and a disappearing offense. Luckily they have a blueline that is strong enough to carry the team. What were they thinking getting Olli Jokinen though?

Vancouver Canucks: (45-37; 100 points; 1st Northwest Division, 3rd Western Conference, 7th Overall; Lost in the 2nd Round):
Well, there's no hiding it anymore, Roberto Luongo is not a playoff goaltender. Though, like Calgary their blueline is rather solid, but can they score enough goals to seriously contend?

Edmonton Oilers: (38-44; 85 points; 4th Northwest Division, 11th Western Conference, 21st Overall: Did not qualify for the playoffs):
In comes Pat Quinn but, players still don't want to go out there if they have a choice. That should provide Quinn enough motivation to get the players going but is it enough to make the playoffs?

Minnesota Wild: (40-42; 89 points; 3rd Northwest Division, 9th Western Conference, 19th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):
Gone is Jacques Lemaire and the neutral zone trap in spite of falling two points shy of the playoffs. Gone will be Minnesota being that close to the playoffs because is the offense minus Marion Gaborik really good enough to open things up in the Western Conference?

Colorado Avalanche: (32-50; 69 points; 5th Northwest Division, 15th Western Conference, 28th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):
Finally Joe Sakic retires and the Avalanche can pay full attention to rebuilding, provided they can drive a stake through the Forsberg rumors. Though, where exactly is this team going? Is Joe Sacco the Head Coach going forward or just a placeholder?


Pacific Division:


San Jose Sharks: (53-29; 117 points; 1st Pacific Division, 1st Western Conference, 1st Overall; Lost in the First Round):
After the least surprising first round upset of the 2009 Playoffs, gone is Jeremy Roenick which immediately improves San Jose's chances. In comes Dan Heatley which offsets removing the Roenick albatross. When will San Jose learn?

Dallas Stars: (36-46; 83 points; 3rd Pacific Division, 12th Western Conference, 23rd Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):
We happen to think there's too much talent in Dallas for the Stars to miss the playoffs again. Sean Avery is gone as are many of the veterans who couldn't stay healthy enough last season to help the team out. How much damage did Brett Hull's turn in the GM's chair do?

Anaheim Ducks: (42-40; 91 points; 2nd Pacific Division, 8th Western Conference, 17th Overall, Lost in the 2nd Round):
Good news Ducks fans, the rebuilding project has started with the departure of Sean Pronger, the bad news is that the goaltending is up in the air and next season is going to be painful. Did the Flyers overpay enough for Pronger to shorten the transition?

Los Angeles Kings: (34-48; 79 points; 5th Pacific Division, 14th Western Conference, 26th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):
Simply put, do the Kings have enough to come out of a wild Western Conference to contend for one of the last two playoff spots?

Phoenix Coyotes: (36-46; 79 points; 4th Pacific Division, 13th Western Conference, 25th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):
The Coyotes have a real coach behind the bench now, but still lack real ownership or direction. There isn't much to work with here but how much will the off-ice distractions effect the team's play on the ice?

At some point tomorrow, the Eastern Conference...

Your 2008-2009 Washington Capitals Preview

Reasonable people may differ, but it is pretty safe to say that this is the most highly anticipated season of Washington Capitals Hockey in the history of the franchise. The expectations are as high as they were when the 2001-2002 season started and the Caps were introducing Jaromir Jagr into their lineup. But please forgive us if we see some disturbing parallels to the 1998-1999 Washington Capitals.

The 1997-1998 Washington Capitals surprisingly ended up in the Stanley Cup Finals, a place where nobody had expected them to be, after missing the playoffs in the previous season. The town had fallen in love with the team again and despite the disappointing finish, there was a universal belief that the team had finally arrived. A few cosmetic changes were made to the lineup with most of the playoff rentals being allowed to walk away and the season quickly turned into a disaster. The promise of the previous Spring didn't carry over, the team traded away fan favorites, and even Dishonest Abe got out as he sold the team to Ted Leonsis.

While the 2008-2009 Washington Capitals are significantly younger than the 1998-1999 team, there are things people need to remember. While the Caps improbably made the playoffs after getting off to a dreadfully slow start that cost Glen Hanlon his job, the Caps still needed a 7 game winning streak at the end of the season just to make it into the playoffs. The Caps beat 5 teams in that streak that missed the playoffs. One of those wins was in a gimmick, another was in OT to the worst team in the NHL last year, and another required an improbable third period comeback on the road. Yes, the Caps woke up in time to force a Game 7 but still didn't have enough to get the job done when it counted most.

Even more troubling to us is that the needs of this franchise have not been addressed. We give credit to General Manager George McPhee for keeping together a young and exciting team under the constraints of a salary cap. But who is the stay-at-home, shutdown defenseman that will cause opposing teams to worry about venturing into our zone? Who is the right side scoring compliment to A.O. and Alexander Semin? The Caps are hoping that a healthy Captain Chris Clark and Eric Fehr can get the job done up front but even when Clark was healthy, the Caps were looking for a scorer opposite of A.O. and Fehr has yet to prove himself at the NHL level. There are no new answers at least on the backline and the constant attempts to make a silk purse out of the sows ear that is John "Coach's Pet" Erskine Bowles continues to frustrate us.

The bad news does not stop there, vital cogs Mike "BEAM ME UP" Green and Semin start new lucrative contracts this season. Will they have the same motivation that they did a year ago? Jose "Alvin, Simon," Theodore takes over in net, but how long will his adjustment period be? Better yet, will he provide at least average goaltending? What will the sophomore slump of Nicklas Backstrom look like?

There are some reasons for optimism of course. A.O. of course is the reigning MVP and scoring champion. Michael Nylander is healthy and Sergei Fedorov provides the kind of leadership and depth that a young team like the Caps desperately need.

The biggest challenge however for the Caps are the high expectations and the pressure they will bring. Now generally considered one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, gone are the nights when teams will take the Caps for granted. If Caps get off to another slow start, will they disintegrate like they did last season?

The one thing we will learn about the Caps this season is whether or not Bruce Boudreau can live up to his coach of the year title. Opposing teams have had a full summer to look at almost a full season's worth of tape on him and his systems. Will Boudreau be able to adjust to other team's attempts to stop him or are the Caps talented enough that it doesn't matter what other teams do, the Caps will run their systems to success?

For the Caps to be successful, the Power Play MUST improve over last seasons inconsistent squad. The Penalty Killing was ok but improvement there is not nearly as important on the Power Play. Eric Fehr and Tomas Fleischmann need to show that they belong at the NHL level. Jeff Schultz and Milan Jurcina need to have Mike Green like breakout years and Erskine Bowles needs to stay in the press box as much as possible. Theodore needs to regain his Vezina and Hart trophy winning form.

Last year we said that the Caps would miss the playoffs and while we were happy to be wrong, we still think that the Caps remain a playoff caliber team. But as we indicated last night, we aren't sold on the Caps becoming one of the NHL's elite teams overnight. The lack of salary cap space will make it hard to make the deadline deals that energized the Caps last season, so what you see now is largely what you'll see come April In other words,the pieces that are missing now, will remain missing all season, especially the piece on the blueline. At the very least, it should be fun and very well could end up breaking every body's hearts again in the Spring.

2008-2009 NHL Season Preveiw Part II: The Eastern Conference:

And we march on...

Atlantic Division:

Pittsburgh Penguin Scum: (47-35; 102 points; 1st Atlantic Division, 2nd Eastern Conference, 4th Overall; Lost in Stanley Cup Finals to Detroit): Clearly they feel that it doesn't matter who they put around their star players, but that theory will not be tested much in overrated Atlantic Division even without Sergei Gonchar and that Scumbag Ryan Whitney

New York Rangers: (42-42; 97 points; 3rd Atlantic Division, 5th Eastern Conference, 9th Overall; Lost to Pittsburgh in the Second Round): Gone are old guys Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan. In are old guys Markus Naslund and Wade Redden. Some things never change though the Rangers identity becoming a little more clear.

New Jersey Devils: (46-36; 99 points; 2nd Atlantic Division, 4th Eastern Conference, 6th Overall; Lost to New York Rangers in First Round): One of these days Genius Manager Lou Lamoriello will realize that just Martin Broduer is not enough. Another team "putting the band back together," only Joisey can get away with it in the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division.

Philadelphia Flyers: (42-42; 95 points; 4th Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference, 11th Overall; Lost to Pittsburgh in Eastern Conference Finals): Back with a vengeance last season but will have trouble repeating the performance again with just Steve Eminger new on the blueline. Unless of course the officials intervene...

New York Islanders: (35-47; 79 points; 5th Atlantic Division, 13th Overall, 26th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): Out is Ted Nolan and in is a youth movement. The only good news is that there isn't too far for them to fall.


Northeast Division:


Montreal Canadiens: (47-35; 104 points; 1st Northeast Division, 1st Eastern Conference, 3rd Overall; Lost in Second Round to Philadelphia): Should have lost in the first round to Boston but pulled it out. Carey Price is good but he isn't Patrick Roy, so will he last in Montreal because Patrick Roy didn't.

Buffaslugs: (39-43; 4th Northeast Division, 10th Eastern Conference, 18th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): Still bleeding talent but the upside is that everybody else in their division save for Montreal is worse than they are.

Ottawa Senators: (43-39; 2nd Northeast Division, 7th Eastern Conference, 13th Overall; Lost in the First Round to Pittsburgh): Ray Emery is gone but the downward spiral continues as they try to recover from one of the more spectacular collapses ever seen. Bryan Murray still doesn't have a clue.

Boston Bruins: (41-41; 3rd Northeast Division, 8th Eastern Conference, 15th Overall; Lost to Montreal in the First Round): Enigmatic franchise made the playoffs last year despite what were considered devastating injuries. Expected to seriously contend but aren't built to handle the pressure.

Toronto Maple Leafs: (36-46; 5th Northeast Division, 12th Eastern Conference, 24th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): Yes we took a shot at Coach Ron Wilson a short while ago, but you have to recognize that he'll improve this team enough to the point where they will contend for a playoff spot but not make it which will continue to hamper their rebuilding efforts.


Southeast Division:


Carolina Hurricanes: (43-39; 92 points; 2nd Southeast Division, 9th Eastern Conference, 16th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): Barely missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. You have to think they'll be focused for the entire season and some good health couldn't hurt either.

Washington Capitals: (43-39; 94 points; 1st Southeast Division, 3rd Eastern Conference, 12th Overall; Lost in the First Round to Philadelphia): We'll explain this more tomorrow.

Tampa Bay Lightning: (31-51; 71 points; 5th Southeast Division, 15th Eastern Conference, 30th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): New owners claim they'll win the Southeast Division this year but a more realistic goal will be finishing first in the state of Florida.

Florida Panthers: (38-44; 3rd Southeast Division, 11th Eastern Conference, 22nd Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): If anybody can figure out what this team is trying to do, please let us know. Thanks!

Atlanta Thrashers: (34-48; 76 points; 4th Southeast Division, 14th Eastern Conference, 28th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): How bad are things in Atlanta? They really are trying spend confederate $$$$$ for players. Not because nobody wants to play there despite having Ilya Kovalchuk and Kari Lehtonen but because they have no other source of funds... But seriously, nobody is going to be mistaking John Anderson for Bruce Boudreau.

2008-2009 NHL Season Preview Part I: The Western Conference

Sorry boys and girls, all we have this year is pith.

In predicted order of finish:

Central Division:

Detroit Red Wings: (54-28; 115 points; 1st Central Division, 1st Western Conference, 1st Overall; Won Stanley Cup): Back in the old "not rebuilding but reloading mode" is Hossa enough to cover for an aging backline and goaltending and fewer games against Central Division cupcakes?

Nashville Predators: (41-41; 91 points: 2nd Central Division, 8th Western Conference, 17th Overall; Lost to Detroit in the First Round): As if things couldn't get anymore chaotic for Nashville with their ownership situation the good news is that it doesn't seem to be a distraction. For now...

Chicago Blackhawks: (40-42: 88 points; 3rd Central Division, 10th Western Conference, 20th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): "New" ownership has revitalized interest and the team. However they're still a work in progress and continuing to overspend on unrestricted free agent goaltending won't help matters.

St. Louis Blues: (33-49: 79 points; 5th Central Division, 14th Western Conference, 27th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): A young team looking for a spark from underperforming and past their prime vets is not a recipe for success in the loaded Western Conference.

Columbus Blue Jackets: (34-48; 80 points; 4th Central Division, 13th Western Conference, 25th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): A franchise in dire need of a playoff appearance heads back to the drawing board with another infusion of youth and cast off talent from other teams. Will probably make it once the power shifts back to the Eastern Conference which means, not any time soon.


Northwest Division:

Minnesota Wild: (44-38; 98 points; 1st Northwest Division, 3rd Western Conference, 7th Overall; Lost to Colorado in First Round): They seem to have the regular season figured out but can't get over the hump in the playoffs. May have problems with roster turnover this season.

Calgary Flames: (42-40; 94 points; 3rd Northwest Division, 7th Western Conference, 14th Overall; Lost to San Jose in the First Round): We don't have much respect for Mike Keenan as a coach but we do know this, in the first few years with a team he does great things with the talent he has. A ton of new players to incorporate this year, let's hope they can give Kiprusoff some help.

Edmonton Oilers: (41-41; 88 points; 4th Northwest Division, 9th Western Conference, 19th Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): Still singing the small market blues but should have a shot at sneaking back into the playoffs with the drop off of some of the teams ahead of them.

Vancouver Canucks: (39-43; 88 points; 5th Northwest Division, 11th Western Conference, 21st Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): Roberto Luongo has to be wondering why the teams he plays for refuse to provide him with the goal scoring they need to win. There's only so much one man can do.

Colorado Avalanche: (44-38; 95 points; 2nd Northwest Division, 6th Western Conference, 10th Overall; Lost to Detroit in the Second Round): They bring back an impressive lineup that includes Joe Sakic and Adam Foote. Problem is, this is 2008 not 1998 and Patrick Roy is still retired.


Pacific Division:

Dallas Stars: (45-37; 97 points; 3rd Pacific Division, 5th Western Conference, 8th Overall; Lost to Detroit in Western Conference Finals): Larry Brooks' crush Sean Avery joins a team that is trying to emerge from the heavyweights in the Western Conference. Could be enough of a pest to get them over the top.

Anaheim Ducks: (47-35; 102 points; 2nd Pacific Division, 4th Western Conference, 5th Overall; Lost to Dallas in the First Round): It is now or never for Anaheim who faces a huge cap problem in the coming off season. Should have fewer distractions but the fear is gone.

San Jose Sharks: (49-33; 108 points; 1st Pacific Division, 2nd Western Conference, 2nd Overall: Lost to Dallas in the Second Round): We're not the biggest fans of Ron Wilson you'll ever find, but we don't believe for one second he was the problem here. Why is Roenick still hanging around?

Phoenix Coyotes: (38-44; 83 points; 4th Pacific Division, 12th Western Conference, 23rd Overall; Did not qualify for the Playoffs): Slowly but surely getting better and very, very glad that Los Angeles is in their division.

Los Angeles Kings: (32-50; 71 points; 5th Pacific Division, 15th Western Conference, 29th Overall): So inept, they couldn't even finish dead last overall with the worst roster in the NHL and could repeat that feat again.

Eastern Conference Coming up...

Your 2007-2008 Washington Capitals Preview Part III

So let's cut to the chase here, you already know I'm picking the Caps to finish fourth in the Southeast Division. Last year I said that the Caps were two years away from making the playoffs and nothing the Caps have done since then has made feel any differently.

The CW UFA shopping list included two top line centers (Michael Nylander and Nicklas Backstrom) a top line right wing (Viktor Kozlov), and a shutdown #1 defenseman which was not acquired but who in the NHL isn't looking for one of those? Tom Poti is another nice addition but it will take time for all these new parts to gel. There were some interesting moments in preseason with some nice skill demonstrations but, it was only the preseaon and all of it should be taken with a grain of salt. It should be noted that only 2 of the 6 forwards on the top two lines (A.O. and Alexander Semin) played in the season opener last season. While the overhaul of the top lines was needed, the changes will take some time to set before we really can get a sense of if they will or will not work in the long run.

However, two glaring deficiencies last year were not addressed in the offseason. Though to be fair to George McPhee and Glen Hanlon, there isn't anything you can do to give inexperienced blueliners experience short of playing them and letting them take their lumps. Furthermore, I don't know how you can blame the management when the players play better in front of Olie Kolzig than they do in front of Brent Johnson.

The other problem I have is that the Caps seem to be everbody's "darkhorse" and "sleeper" team. If that is the case, just how in the world are the Caps a "darkhorse" and "sleeper" if everybody is expecting it? Could the Caps win the Southeast Division? Well, I like their chances in the Southeast better than their chances of winning the Central Division simply because they play in the Southeast Division. The Caps also luck out in playing in a weak Eastern Conference. The Caps only need about 92 points to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs instead of 95 to make it in the Western Conference. That's about two less wins though the Caps only rang up 28 last year. They'll need at least 40 wins and 12 is a large jump to ask of a team with a two new top lines, a young blueline, and aging goaltender.

Yes, next year the goaltender will be even older, but with any luck, Michal Neuvirth and/or Simeon Varlamov will be ready to challenge for the #1 goaltending position. But the blueline will finally have more experience and that can save an aging goaltender. Just ask Dominek Hasek. But for this season, I think it will be another futile chase.

Finally, last season was derailed by the lack of depth on defense as injury and illness started a tailspin that was never recovered from. The injury to Olie Kolzig simply sealed the Caps fate. The Caps have improved their depth on the blueline so a rash of injury and illness there can be weathered better. Kolzig is still the key to the season, if he goes down or regresses, any hope of making the playoffs takes a huge hit. But the Caps are very vulnerable in terms of depth on their top two lines. Right now the Caps have exactly six forwards for top two lines. Jakub "and Sons" Klepis could be called upon in a pinch to step in but Eric Fehr is injured for the time being. But outside of them, the Caps will be forced to use one of their grinders to fill in on the top two lines. If Captain Chris Clark, Matt "Omar" Bradley, or Matt "Princess" Pettinger spend a considerable amount of time skating with the top two lines, the Caps are in for another long season.

The Caps will have some tough decisions coming up in the next off season but they are heading in the right direction for the most part. I would like to be wrong, but I think this team is still one year away from making the playoffs.

Your 2007-2008 Washington Capitals Preview Part II

Yesterday we got the backend today we look at the front end...

The top line heading into the season looks to be A.O. centered by Viktor Kozlov with Tomas Fleischmann on the right wing. Just like his rookie season, A.O. has to spend the start of the season developing chemistry between himself and new linemates. A.O. has some history with Kozlov but has never skated a regular shift with Flash. This is a purely European line so the wingers and center should all be on the same page. It is also the most skilled top line we've had since the end of the lockout. Nicklas Backstrom should eventually take over as center before the season is over. It would more than likely move Kozlov to the right wing and Flash down a line. It largely depends upon Backstroms ability to handle being a center in the NHL because while Kozlov is a natural center, he's horrible on faceoffs. That definciency could ultimately hurt the production of this line because they'll be spending time trying to get the puck back instead of creating plays. Should Flash not keep his preseason performance going, he could be replaced by Captain Chris Clark who has shown an ability to keep up with a top line.

The second line features the other Alex, Alexander Semin centered by Michael Nylander with Backstrom making his NHL debut on the right wing. Here's another totally European line that will have to develop chemistry. Nylander too could pop up in important offensive zone draws late in the game and having two distributors with a noted puck hog could yield high dividends. Look for Matt "Princess" Pettinger to fill in here should injuries or other issues require a replacement. Eric Fehr might also pop in on this line should a need arise after he passes his training camp physical.

These players will also form the base of the forwards on the Power Play units. The Caps will need better Power Play production if they want to seriously challenge for the playoff spot. The sooner these units can come together, the better they will be.

The third line to open the season looks to be Boyd Gordon centered by rookie David Steckel with Captain Chris Clark on the right wing. Clark is coming of a 30 goal season but isn't very likely to repeat that simply because he won't be skating with Dainus Zubrus and A.O. anymore. This will be a checking line with two good defensive forwards and two centers who can win defensive zone draws late in the game. Steckel is getting his chance to show he belongs but the Caps still have plenty of talent to take his place should he falter. These guys will also form the base of the forwards for the penalty killing unit.

The only entrenched player on the fourth line is Mr. Donald Brashear. Right now it looks as if Brooks Laich will be his center and the right winger will be chosen among Brian Sutherby, Matt "Omar" Bradley and Pettinger. Sutherby and Pettinger should get the majority of the time and Brashear will also be a healthy scratch from time-to-time. All three of these guys in addition to Laich can also play on the third line if needed and aren't too shabby on the Penalty Kill. You know Glen Hanlon isn't happy with the Power Play unit when he sends Brashear out to camp out in front of the crease.

In the past the Caps have shown that they had the market cornered when it came to grinding forwards. They now have more skill for the top two lines which means that some of the grinders have to go. This is why Ben Clymer is in Hershey and Sutherby, Bradley, and Princess will be healthy scratches this year. However, that top line skill is still rather thin as the Caps don't have anybody (save for Eric Fehr who is injured) who is being asked to play out of position on a 3rd or 4th line. At least now we don't have somebody playing out of position on the 1st or 2nd lines.

It is in this area that the Caps are improved but the chemistry of the top two lines will make some time to form.

Later today, I'll explain what all of this adds up to...

Your 2007-2008 Washington Capitals Preview Part I

Great hockey teams are built from the goal on out so that's where we'll start, the goaltending and defense of the Washington Capitals.

Goaltending: The Caps are bringing back Olie Kolzig for his 16th NHL season, his 10th as the undisputed starter. There should be no doubt that Kolzig will remain in the starter's role again this season and therein lies the problem. Kolzig is now 37 years old and will turn 38 right before the playoffs should the Caps make it that far. Last year I correctly pointed out that should Kolzig get hurt, the Caps would be in trouble and the same holds true again this year. It isn't so much that backup Brent Johnson is a bad goaltender but that the team plays infinitely better with Kolzig between the pipes instead of Johnson. Johnson is capable backup and might one day show the consistency he needs in order to become a #1 goaltender. However, Johnson got married this offseason and before anybody accuses me of being a misogynist, I'll quote Mickey Goldmill who said "women weaken knees." Therefore, I don't expect Johnson to have a good season. Beyond Kolzig and Johnson is technically Frederic Cassivi down in Hershey. But the future in goal will be either Michal Neuvirth or Simeon Varlamov. Which one and how soon they can get to the NHL will go a long way in deciding this franchise's long term future.

Defense: The top pairing of Milan "Jerky" Jurcina and Shaone Morrrissonnn returns with a second paring of Brian Pothier and newcomer Tom Poti. Pothier was a little bit of a disappointment last season as he showed why he wasn't capable of skating on a top defensive pairing. He improved as the season went on and Jurcina and Morrrissonnn developed into a serviceable top pairing for the Caps. Pothier will see his ice time decline even further with the acquisition of Poti. However now it is Poti's turn to underwhelm coming off a career year and signing a big UFA contract. Poti will be asked to quarterback the Power Play in addition to eating up minutes of ice time. But expecting another 48 point season out of Poti this year might be a bit of a stretch.

Jurcina and Morrrissonnn will be looking to build upon last season's strong finish. However if either one of them falters or is injured for a lengthy period of time, the rest of the team will suffer. It is also helpful to note that both players are currently 24 years old. For them to be the "shutdown" pair at this stage in their careers is a good sign for their long-term potential. However, there will be some growing pains as they gain experience.

The third pairing looks to be Mike "BEAM ME UP" Green and Jeff "Sergeant" Schultz though they could be paired with Poti and Pothier respectively depending upon the situation. Green has had a strong preseason but MUST carry it over into the regular season. He was rather inconsistent last year showing some flashes of greatness but mostly looked like an out of place rookie. Schultz was less than impressive in Hershey last year but turned it on when injuries forced his call up to the big squad. Schultz has a long way to go and will never be a fan favorite because he isn't a big hitter despite his big size. However, he uses his size rather well and if he can stay healthy (he got injured towards the end of last season) he can be a real asset for a long time to come. But don't expect either player to be anchors this season. Both are still very much learning the game at the NHL level.

Steve Eminger starts the season on injured reserve. What his injury is and how long he stays there are both mysteries. Once he makes it back from the IR he more than Green will have to have a breakout year or he could find himself being traded somewhere else. However, I'm beginning to think that Eminger really does need a change of scenery in order to fulfill his potential.

John Erskine Bowles and Josef Boumedienne are depth players with Boumedienne being parked in Hershey and Erskine Bowles in the Press Box (hopefully). First round draft pick Karl Alzner turned some heads in training camp but is probably at least two years away from being a regular contributor and won't be seen in Washington this season.

Tomorrow, the forwards and my overall outlook for the season.

2007-2008 NHL Season Preview Part II: The Eastern Conference

Once again by projected order of finish... The West was earlier...


Atlantic Division:


New Jersey Devils (49-33; 107 points; 1st Atlantic Division, 2nd Eastern Conference, 7th Overall; Lost in the Second Round of the playoffs):

One of these days, the New Jersey Devils will collapse. However, if the past couple of seasons have proven anything, it is more likely to come with the departure of Martin Brodeur from the Joisey swamps. The Devils are nowhere near as good as they were when they won three Cups in nine seasons. But they remain respectable and dangerous in spite of the mass exodus brought on through the various means of Genius Manager Lou Lamoriello because of Brodeur. However, Brodeur isn't getting any younger and the Genius Manager has finally figured out that he needs to employ a backup who can actually play at the NHL level on a consistent basis. Rangers cast-off Kevin Weekes may or may not be exactly what the Genius Manager was after but he brings more promise than the collection of stiffs who backed up Brodeur previously. The Devils open a shiny new arena and unless the crowds improve it won't mean a thing. Bottom line though for the Devils, they're still the Atlantic Division Champions and until somebody knocks them off, that is where they are going to stay. The division overall is rather weak so they should be ok. Just hope the Genius Manager doesn't decide to fire new head coach Brent Sutter two weeks before the playoffs start.


Pittsburgh Penguin Scum (47-35; 105 points; 2nd Atlantic Division, 5th Eastern Conference, 10th Overall; Lost in the First Round of the playoffs):

Coming out of nowhere and beating up on a weak division, the Penguin Scum surged into the playoffs and promptly flamed out in five games. Now comes Act II and can the Penguin Scum go further this year? Well, a more favorable first round match up is a distinct possibility simply because the Atlantic Division is so weak. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Penguin Scum win the Atlantic Division. However, the Penguin Scum did little to address their no showing in last year's playoffs. They got career backup Dany Sabourin to backup career choker Marc-Andre Fleury. Peter Sykora was brought in from Edmonton to provide more scoring punch and Darryl Sydor looks to shore up an inexperienced and somewhat ineffective blueline. The Penguin Scum however have to be concerned that Sydor holds up and that Evgeni Malkin-Lindros' flame out was only fatigue from a long season. While the NHL brass would love nothing more than to see the Canadian Diving Team Captain, Secondary Assist Cindy Crosby, skate with the Cup, it isn't going to happen anytime soon and another second place finish could end up leading to another quick first round exit.


New York Rangers (42-40; 94 points; 3rd Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference, 15th Overall; Lost in the Second Round of the playoffs):

So let me get this straight, one of your best players is a temperamental player who only plays well when he's happy and surrounded by friends. You decide to let a friend go and replace him with the "free agent flavor of the month" and think you've improved your hockey team? Well, if Jagr takes a quick shine to Chris Drury or Scott Gomez the Rangers have. But his comments after the departure of Michael Nylander leads one to believe it is pouting time again for Jagr, at least for the first month or so of the season. The Rangers returned to their old ways of spending without thinking this summer and instead of trying to keep certain pieces in place, they sought to purchase the most expensive ones out there. We've seen this before and we all know how it turns out. Sure the Rangers could win this division because it is so weak but if Jagr isn't happy, pouts all year, and doesn't play well and Lundqvist blows up, they could easily become this year's Philadelphia Flyers. The worst part for the Rangers is that they've capped themselves out and have some contracts that will make any reclamation project a big chore. Win or lose, it will be an interesting year to watch on Broadway as the Rangers foolishly thought they were on the verge of something big.


Philadelphia Flyers (22-60; 56 points; 5th Atlantic Division, 15th Eastern Conference, 30th Overall; nowhere near making the playoffs):

In a Gary Bettman era of point inflation along with 82 game schedules, one has to admire the Flyers accomplishment of setting a new franchise record low for standings points. The 22 wins were the fewest since 17 wins in 1969-1970 which set the previous point low of 58. Getting Martin Biron out of Loserville...er...Buffalo was a good start on the long road back to respectability. But leaving Derrian Hatcher on your roster as your #1 defenseman along with viciously overpaying Kimmo Timonen, Scott Hartnell, and that scumbag Danielle Briere doesn't improve upon that at start at all. The Flyers should score more goals but you have to hope that pride and maybe a couple of clothespins for Biron will allow the Flyers to move out of the cellar. They should only because there's actually a worse run organization than themselves in their division.


New York Islanders (40-42; 92 points; 4th Atlantic Division, 8th Eastern Conference, 17th Overall; Lost in the First Round of the playoffs):

Remember all the predictions of impending doom for the Islanders last season? Well, they were a year early. Making the playoffs on the final day, Head Coach Ted Nolan made the most of his return to the NHL coaching ranks. Now say what you want about Nolan and his techniques, but he does get the most out his players that he can. However, as the late-great-first ever Caps beat writer for the Washington (Com)Post Bob Fachet used to say "you can't make chicken salad out of chicken feathers." Or maybe I should invoke former Caps Head Coach Jim Schoenfeld who after saying "having another donut you fat pig!" said "you can't open a can of beans with a banana." The point to all this filler is that while you can expect the Islanders to give you everything they've got, there just isn't for them to give. The truly goofball management has led to a lack of talent on Long Island that will make for a long season for the Islanders. Adding insult to injury are truly ugly uniforms that will make them larger laughing stocks.


Northeast Division:


Buffaslugs (53-29; 113 points; 1st Northeast Division, 1st Eastern Conference, 1st Overall; Lost in the Eastern Conference Finals):

Once again after a strong regular season where they ran away with their division and won the President's Trophy, the Buffalsugs turned in a disappointing playoff performance. The Buffaslug's performance in the Eastern Conference Finals was so bad that Loserville...er... Buffalo fans were actually rooting for Ottawa in Game 4 to put them out of their misery. The Buffaslugs followed that up by letting that Scumbag Danielle Briere and Chris Drury jump ship. They got tied into salary cap knots by Kevin Lowe through Thomas Vanek. In spite of the disheartening loss, the rising questions about goaltender Ryan Miller, and the continuing bleeding of talent, the Buffaslugs still have the best chance of winning this division simply because who else in the Northeast improved as much as the Buffaslugs regressed? They're still a team to be reckoned with, but they're a long way away from being the juggernaut they appeared to be in the early months of last season.


Ottawa Senators (48-34; 105 points; 2nd Northeast Division, 4th Eastern Conference, 9th Overall; Lost in the Stanley Cup Finals):

You'll have to forgive me, but for some reason when I look at the 2006-2007 Ottawa Senators, I think about the 1997-1998 Washington Capitals. Here's a team that had a reputation of being a playoff disappointment surprisingly getting the breaks they never got and landing in the Stanley Cup Finals before being totally outmatched. And after getting further than they ever have before, they do nothing to improve the roster. They even let go of players that they brought in for the playoff run. While Bryan Murray moves from behind the bench to the Press Box, he's still involved with the organization. However the biggest mistake is standing pat. That move hardly ever works out for anybody and the odds that the Senators are going to change that are slim. Especially with goaltender Ray Emery still nursing a bad wrist.


Toronto Maple Leafs (40-42; 91 points; 3rd Northeast Division, 9th Eastern Conference, 18th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

One point. Just one more point is all the Maple Leafs needed to make the playoffs last season. One more gimmick win, one more OT goal, one more last second game tying goal. Yet the Leafs couldn't pull it off and the Leafs are once again looking to rebuild everything with quick fixes and patches. Criminey, they're counting on a guy who was a regular healthy scratch in Washington (Bryan Muir) to solidify their blueline. Vesa Toskala could help them out in goal but he'll have to stand up much better to the pressure on the ice and off than Andrew Raycroft did. It also would not hurt if the Leafs found somebody younger than Mats Sundin to lead their offense. But that could be asking too much of the Leafs who I could easily see being passed by the Bruins if they aren't careful.


Boston Bruins (35-47; 5th Northeast Division, 13th Eastern Conference, 23rd Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

Once again the Bruins search for a new goaltender after another disappointing season. This year's contestant is Manny Fernandez who lost out in Minnesota to Nichlas Backstrom. Fernandez is without a doubt a good goaltender but is he good enough to get the Bruins back into the playoffs? Not unless he can score goals too because like most teams that did not make the playoffs, the Bruins had a hard time putting the puck into the net. While their 289 goals allowed was alarmingly high, they did nothing to address their goal scoring problems. But I guess you try to solve your problems one at a time. Boston better hope that Phil Kessel and Brandon Bochenski have breakout seasons, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Fernandez wouldn't mind further improvement from the blueline too and Andrew Alberts will need to accelerate his learning curve.


Montreal Canadiens (42-40; 90 points; 4th Northeast Division, 10th Eastern Conference, 19th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

Saku Koivu said that the Canadiens were not going to win the Cup and he was almost crucified as a heretic by Habs fans. Saku was only speaking the truth as the Canadiens let their Power Play quarterback depart and picked up a bunch of journeymen spare parts in turn. The first order of business for Montreal is to figure out how all these new parts will fit. While the names are certainly familiar, Roman Hamrlik, Bryan Smolinski, and Patrice Brisebois, they have been around the block a few times and their usefulness is deteriorating. While Saku publicly retracted his statement, there's no doubt that he was right the first time. How far out of the running Montreal will end up remains to be seen but I don't like their chances if they can't sort out who will be in charge in goal.


Southeast Division:


Tampa Bay Lightning (44-38; 93 points; 2nd Southeast Division, 7th Eastern Conference, 16th Overall; Lost in the First Round of the Playoffs):

In a division as fluky as the Southeast, it is tough to call just who is going to win it and who is going to lose in it. Last year I didn't think Ning Head Coach John Tortorella would last the season but he somehow did. Will he get through this year? Well, that still remains to be seen. The Ning are undergoing an ownership change and once Doug MacLean takes over, how long will Tortorella last? One thing you can't fault Tortorella for is that Tampa is still trying to figure out how to work the salary cap. Their Big Three still occupy too much space and the blueline and goaltending suffers as a result. I happen to think that a coaching change could help stabilize the goaltending situation but until the Ning can figure out a way to balance the salary sheet, they're going to have a tough time contending for the Cup again. However, that doesn't mean they can't win the Southeast Division.


Carolina Hurricanes (40-42; 88 points; 3rd Southeast Division, 11th Eastern Conference, 20th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):


So which Carolina Hurricanes team will show up this year? The one that landed in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002 and 2006 (winning it in 2006)? Or the one that couldn't make the playoffs in 2003, 2004, and 2005? The Canes once again return the nucleus that won the Cup and made a few changes on the edges. Obviously they believe that they still have the talent to continue to be a contender and I happen to agree. Their biggest obstacle however seems to be themselves. Sure they could use some better stability in goal but Ward is only 23. It does raise the question is he a flash in the pan, but the rest of the Canes had a Cup hangover too so you can't blame him for the bad season. However something tells me that if he gets off to another slow start, he'll be the fall guy rightly or wrongly. Who the Canes get to take his place is anybody's guess but I can't see them missing the playoffs by very much this year.


Atlanta Thrashers (43-39; 97 points; 1st Southeast Division, 3rd Eastern Conference, 12th Overall; Lost in the First Round of the playoffs):

Actually, that should read, "Flamed out spectacularly in the first round of the playoffs." Or maybe "didn't bother to show up in the first round of the playoffs." Last year the Thrashers went "all in" just to make the playoffs. Well, they also got a Division Title out of it but that's it. The Thrashers got smoked, badly, in the playoffs last year and to add insult to injury, just about everybody they brought in for the playoff push is gone. The Thrashers were left to shore things up with guys like Ken Klee and Joel Kwiatkowski because of their cap situation. Atlanta will have a hard time repeating last year's run and the only hope that they will is goaltender Kari Lehtonen. They'll need Bobby Holik and Steve Rucchin to play like they are in contract years (which they are BTW) as well. But except for Ilya Kovachuk, Pascal Dupuis, and Marian Hossa, all of their top forwards are over 30. Their blueline is old as well. This is a team that needs to miss the playoffs and make the lottery in order to restock their system.


Washington Capitals (28-54; 70 points; 5th Southeast Division, 14th Eastern Conference, 27th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

You don't honestly think I'm just going to write some pithy paragraph for main subject of this blog do you? Feel lucky I even included them in this post.


Florida Panthers (35-47; 86 points; 4th Southeast Division, 12th Eastern Conference, 21st Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

A team reeling from the (mis)management of Mike Keenan, the Panther took a step in the right direction by getting Tomas Vokun out of Nashville via a trade. However, I don't understand the rest of the moves. Richard Zednik? Radek Dvorak? While Vokun is an upgrade in net, there hasn't been enough improvement of the rest of the team to warrant any kind of optimism that the Panthers will be better this season than last. Make no mistake, Vokun is NOT Roberto Luongo and Luongo was unable to get the Panthers into the playoffs by himself. Vokun will be in the same boat here. There is some good young talent on this team but it is going to take some more time before things are put together. If there is a team in the Southeast that the Caps can pass this year, it is Florida.

Tomorrow and Thursday I'll tell you about the Caps...

2007-2008 NHL Season Preview Part I: The Western Conference

Well boys and girls, (yeah I know L.A. and Anaheim have already "opened the season" but they did that on the other side of the Atlantic. The rest of the league doesn't get underway until tomorrow) it's that time of year again where we try to look into the crystal ball and figure out what will happen over the next six months.

So without further ado and in predicted order of finish:


Central Division:


Detroit Red Wings (50-32; 113 points; 1st Central Division, 1st Western Conference, 2nd Overall; Lost in the Conference Finals):

The Wings once again beat up on a weak division (only New Jersey had more wins in their own division) only this time they were able to get to the Conference Finals before getting blitzed by the Thug Ducks. The Wings who live by the motto "old age and treachery will overcome youth and strength" did secure a part of their future by locking up 28 year old Pavel Datsyuk before the off season even began. But their two big additions (Brian Rafalski and Dallas Drake) are both over 30 and one (Drake) is pushing 40. What makes this so sad is that even with the geriatric lineup; the Wings are STILL favored to win their division and could even pull off another #1 seed in the Western Conference. However any idea that they are the team to beat in the Western Conference is simply laughable. If you're looking for this year's version of last year's Philadelphia Flyers, here's a good candidate. But I wouldn't bet anything on it. Next year when they have 8 fewer games against their dysfunctional division is when the collapse is likely to hit.


Nashville Predators (51-31; 110 points; 2nd Central Division, 4th Western Conference; 3rd Overall; Lost in the First Round of the playoffs):

You have to feel somewhat sorry for the Nashville players. Last year was supposed to be the year that everything came together. They even went out and rented Peter Forsberg to push them over the top and once again, the curse of David "Bud" Poile left them wondering what happened. Now throw in a salary purge and an embarrassing ownership saga and you wonder just how much worse things can get for them. The good news is that save for the Red Wings, the rest of their division is so bad; they should still be able to land safely in second place. The bad news is, the rest of the conference is so strong you can't like their chances of making playoffs. Their only hope is that the other divisions beat up on each other so much that the Preds can sneak into the 7th or 8th spot. But any ideas of bringing the Cup to the Grand Ol Opry are on indefinite hold until this ownership issue gets worked out.


St. Louis Blues (34-48; 81 points; 3rd Central Division, 10th Western Conference, 22nd Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

Give St. Louis credit, they were not nearly as bad as they were supposed to be last year and actually held up pretty well considering their division and conference. While they were still miles away from a playoff berth, they did exceed expectations. They made some moves in the offseason to shore things up but still have an unsettled situation in goal. The Blues aren't likely to threaten the playoffs again only because the rest of their conference is so strong, but they look to be on the right track. At least for now. We'll see how the greybeards hold up this season and if they can get anything in return for them at the deadline.


Columbus Blue Jackets (33-49; 73 points; 3rd Central Division, 11th Western Conference, 24th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

If Columbus wants to make the playoffs, it looks like they'll have to petition to be realigned into the Eastern Conference. I don't blame them for getting rid of Doug MacLean and if they decided to take on Michael Peca in the hope that he'll be healthy enough to auction off at the trading deadline, then the Blue Jackets are heading in the right direction. Otherwise they're bringing a paring knife to a bazooka battle. How else would you explain the additions of Kris Beech and Jiri Novotny, two guys the Caps cut loose? The biggest concern for Columbus fans has to be the status of Rick Nash. He'll be 26 when his current contract is up and will he want to stick around if there isn't any hope of progress?


Chicago Blackhawks (31-51; 71 points; 5th Central Division, 13th Western Conference, 26th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

The good news for the Chicago Blackhawks and their fans is that longtime owner and noted penny pincher Bill Wertz died. The bad news is that Bill Wertz died and now the ownership situation heads into flux. The other bit of good news for the Blackhawks is that they won the draft lottery last year and took Patrick Kane. While the Blackhawks seem bent on throwing him and Jonathan Towes to the wolves right now, there is reason for hope in the Windy City when it comes to hockey. However, better days are a ways off and the Blackhawks aren't going to bother anybody this season or next.


Northwest Division:


Calgary Flames (43-39; 96 points; 2nd Northwest Division, 8th Western Conference, 13th Overall; Lost in the First Round of the playoffs):

Say what you want about Mike Keenan (and I certainly have) but when he arrives, he usually gets results. Calgary's biggest undoing last year was a dismal record on the road and Iron Mike will not tolerate that (even though he won't ever practice the Power Play). Whether or not the Flames can survive the loaded Western Conference remains to be seen, but it will depend largely again upon goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff. It wouldn't be a bad idea to get Iginla some help but Iron Mike has always preferred tough defensemen over goal scoring forwards Iginla is going to have to do it by himself once again.


Vancouver Canucks (49-33; 105 points; 1st Northwest Division, 3rd Western Conference, 8th Overall; Lost in the Second Round of the Playoffs):

Vancouver is the type of team you (well at least I) want to like. But they keep going out and doing something that really makes you wonder about them. The Nucks got into the second round on the back of Roberto Luongo and couldn't get over the hump against the Thug Ducks. So Vancouver goes out and not only comes up with ugly uniforms they also kind of tinker around the edges. But with cap pressures starting to mount, the Canucks have a very small window of opportunity to strike before things become very hairy for them. Luongo has proved just how good he is, but the Canucks will need more if they expect to get beyond the second round in a cutthroat Western Conference.


Minnesota Wild (48-34; 104 points; 3rd Northwest Division, 7th Western Conference, 11th Overall; Lost in the First Round of the playoffs):

The up and down Wild were mostly up last year and were able to find enough offense to make it back into the playoffs. However, they couldn't even get started against the Thug Ducks in first round and were gone rather quickly. Over the past two seasons, the Wild have discovered how to score goals and they'll need to do more of it if they want to get beyond the first round. If Minnesota were in the Eastern Conference, their path to the playoffs would be easier, but that isn't the case. The trading of Manny Fernandez to Boston gives some cap space to make a move to strengthen up. But any kind of regression will mean no playoffs for Wild.


Colorado Avalanche (44-38; 95 points; 4th Northwest Division, 9th Western Conference, 14th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

Colorado's 95 points last season was exactly the same as 2005-2006 and better than three teams that made the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Their frantic finish almost made them a playoff team in the West but they're trying to find their way in a rough Western Conference and in a new salary cap system. With Joe Sakic being 37, the big question is how much does he have in the tank? Furthermore, can 24 Peter Budaj build upon his strong finish and carry it throughout the year. The Avs added Ryan Smith who is now 31 and starting to break down because of his physical nature and hasn't played as full NHL season in three years but it will be the play of Sakic and Budaj that makes or breaks Colorado this season.


Edmonton Oilers (32-50; 71 points; 5th Northwest Division, 12th Western Conference, 25th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

One year removed from an emotional run to the Cup Finals, the Oilers found themselves spending Confederate money in the Unrestricted Free Agent market. So in attempt to cover up their problems, GM Kevin Lowe filed a laughable grievance and threw around wild offer sheets. His second stab at an offer sheet yielded him 24 year old Dustin Penner and some GM's who will be looking to poach back next summer. In the meantime however, the Oilers regressed on their blueline (at least when it comes to playing actual defense) and will have to rely upon the days when Wayne Gretzky skated in Edmonton to win games by simply outscoring everybody. While the "new NHL" rewards teams that can score goals, you still have to be able to prevent and stop goals from being scored upon you in order to win. I can't see how Edmonton gets under 226 goals allowed (the most of any Western Conference playoff team which was Calgary) with Dick Tarnstrom and Sheldon Souray being brought in to shore up the defense.


Pacific Division:


San Jose Sharks (51-31; 107 points; 2nd Pacific Division, 5th Western Conference, 5th Overall; Lost in the Second Round of the playoffs):

While I'm still trying to figure out their collapse last spring, I still think the Sharks could end up winning their division. San Jose settled the fight in goal choosing Evgeni Nabokov over Vesa Toskala. However their oddest move and what could become their biggest drawback is their signing of Jeremy Roenick, the introduction of that cancer into the locker room is what will eventually do them in. Otherwise, the Sharks mostly stood pat which is another sign of danger for a team that comes up short. Losing Guerin and Toskala won't hurt as much as seeing Scott Hannan leave. The most interesting thing to watch in San Jose though will be the interaction of Roenick with head coach Ron Wilson. Otherwise, this is another team that will disappoint come playoff time.

Dallas Stars (50-32; 107 points; 3rd Pacific Division, 6th Western Conference, 6th Overall; Lost in the First Round of the Playoffs):

After finally getting Marty Turco to show up in the playoffs, the Stars got bounced by one or two teams in the playoffs who scored fewer goals than they did (New Jersey had the worst offense of all the playoff teams). Of course, Vancouver had Roberto Luongo in goal and that made it tougher on the Stars. Dallas needs more offense if they're to advance but the pressing question is who is going to provide it? Mike Modano is 37 and Sergi Zubov is 36. The Stars have few options to improve their goal scoring production. Jusi Jokinen appears in many a highlight reel, but that's only in the gimmick. He's only scored 31 goals in the NHL in his first two seasons. Dallas has already shown that they can make the playoffs with their lineup, it is winning the playoffs that will continue to elude them unless somebody starts scoring like crazy.


Anaheim Thug Ducks (48-34; 110 points; 1st Pacific Division, 2nd Western Conference, 4th Overall; Won the Stanley Cup):

As if Cup hangover wasn't hard enough to overcome, the Thug Ducks must also contend with a soap opera surrounding their Captain (will he or won't he return), his "replacement" getting injured before the season even started, their top forward not deciding either if he wants to return or just retire; add in the questionable acquisition of Todd Bertuzzi along with a salary cap nightmare and you have a recipe for disaster. And the worse news for Thug Duck fans is that Ryan Carter, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry are RFA's next year with salaries that will force GM Brian Burke to get really, really creative or blow up his team. Better yet, with 14 UFA's in the 2009 off season, the Thug Ducks have seen their window of opportunity slam shut. The only good news for Anaheim fans is that it won't take long to get through that new season ticket waiting list.


Los Angeles Kings (27-55; 68 points; 4th Pacific Division, 14th Western Conference, 28th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

The Kings are in the middle of a rebuilding mode and will need some time to get their reworked roster into shape. The best thing that the Kings can do is try to stockpile prospects and draft picks. While they went for a quick fix, none of the contracts will hamstring them when they return to respectability. Getting Rob Blake back will help them at the box office but that's about it. The Kings will continue to reside around the bottom of the NHL.


Phoenix Coyotes (31-51; 67 points; 5th Pacific Division, 15th Western Conference, 29th Overall; Did not qualify for the playoffs):

If Wayne Gretzky had not assembled the 2002 Canadian Olympic Hockey team, winning the first Canadian Olympic Gold in Men's hockey in 50 years, there would be serious questions about his ability as an executive. Make no mistake, this is his hockey team and it looks to be the worst in the NHL going into the season. Phoenix cleaned out the front office but they still have a long way to go. The novelty of seeing Wayne Gretzky on the bench as a coach has worn off and a shiny new arena won't draw fans by itself. The Coyotes are now entering a rebuilding mode and the onus is now on Gretzky to prove that the 2002 Olympic team was not fluke and he really can build a hockey team from the ground up.

Up next, the Eastern Conference...