The calendar is coming very close to September which means NHL training camps are coming soon, and in just over a month the regular season will begin. In this preview of this year, Ozelsports will go over new additions, young guns to watch and where Ozelsports thinks this team will end up in the standings. I will go through 7-8 teams at a time, every 5 days. The projections of where each team will finish, will be posted after all the previews have been posted. I hope you enjoy.
Anaheim Ducks:
Whose in: Brendan Morrison, Brian Sutherby,
Whose out: Todd Bertuzzi, Mathieu Schneider
The Ducks have definitely taken a step back from their Stanley Cup triumphed, no longer are they the team to beat or emulate around the NHL. Schneider as of this writing is still a Duck, but that will not continue. He will be traded in order to resign Selanne. Their an extremely strong back end team but they need their young guys to take the bull by the horns this year in order for them to be considered strong Cup favorites. They are nonetheless one of handful of teams I can see winning the Stanley Cup. At the same time the defensive pairing of Niedermeyer and Pronger are a year older. The young gun to watch on this team is Bobby Ryan. He lit it up in junior and needs to make the jump this year to solidify his high draft spot. I expect him to bring out this year, with about 50 points or more.
Atlanta Thrashers:
Whose in: Jason Williams, Ron Hainsey
Whose out: Alexei Zhitnik
Enjoy the Thrashers in Atlanta while you can, because this team will be gone from there within the next 5 years. Ilya Kovalchuk will be gone within the next 2 years and the franchise will not be able to survive a rebuilding time period, considering they have never been able to generate momentum with any solid play. It’s also a case of the team being in a terrible sports town, which is what Atlanta is. They have a terrible time picking up free agents, who don’t see Atlanta as a destination of choice. Because of this they over spend on free agents, and because of this, they need to hit home runs with their draft picks. They haven’t for the most part, and because of this, they have done nothing of importance since joining the league. The two signings they made this year I actually like. Jason Williams will be a steal if he can come back from injury, and because he’s on a one year deal, it’s low risk, high reward. Ron Hainsey turned his game around in Columbus after a dreadful start in Montreal, look for him to continue his rise on a weak defensive core. Look for them to be bottom feeders this year, and one year closer to possibly coming to Winnipeg. Not sure if he’s still considered a young gun, but look for Colby Armstrong to have a big year.
Boston Bruins:
Whose in: Michael Ryder,
Whose out: Glen Murray
Oh the Boston Bruins, a team that has never scared anybody since the early 90’s when a guy named Ray Bourque was manning the blue line. There a team that more often than not competes, makes the playoffs, but they don’t scare you. They are kind of just in the way, and it will take you time to get around them, but you will get around them. Anyways, this team is right up that alley. Great pieces they have, but not enough to make them more than a fringe playoff team, and even if they do finish in the top 4 in the east, they won’t go far in the playoffs. I think Ryder will make a comeback and have a strong season. Having him on a line with Marc Savard should easily get him to the 30 goal plateau. The young gun to watch will be Phil Kessel, who I think will have a breakout year and solidify himself as an NHL superstar.
Buffalo Sabres:
Whose in: Craig Rivet, Teppo Numminen, Patrick Lalime
Whose out: Steve Bernier
A year after being 3 games from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, the Buffalo Sabres took a huge step back last year, missing the playoffs and trading their big star, Brian Campbell, at the trade deadline. Although they have solidified their back end with Rivet and Numminen coming back and signing reliable back up Patrick Lalime. On the offensive end they are young and very fast, but lack that solid offensive presence that they had when Chris Drury was here. The Sabres have taken a step back, and this step back has largely been blamed on General Manager Darcy Regier. But when you have a penny pinching owner like Tom Golisano you have no chance to succeed. He did not allow Regier the chance to make a competitive offer to Briere, Drury and Campbell. He finally opened up his wallet for goaltender Ryan Miller, but it’s a case of too little too late. Look for the Sabres to compete for a playoff spot, but I see them finishing on the outside looking in. The young gun to watch here Is Ales Kotalik, I see him taking a more predominant role in the offense.
Calgary Flames:
Whose in: Todd Bertuzzi, Mike Cammalleri
Whose Out: Alex Tanguay
The Calgary Flames are a team that has lost it’s mojo since being one win away from winning the Cup in 2004. For a few years after they were picked as a team to beat in the west, but flamed out (no pun intended) in the playoffs. They played like a team with no motivation, and until they get it back and play with the flair and desperation they had that year, they will continue to make the playoffs and be knocked out by the second round. They added Mike Cammalleri and subtracted Alex Tanguay. A great move for Calgary and I think he will have a good year in Calgary, as he’s excited to be playing back in Canada, in front of fans that care. The Todd Bertuzzi signing is puzzling. He’s hated in Calgary and that won’t help. I don’t see him doing, which is pretty much what he’s been doing since the 2002-2003 season, oh yeah, other than end a guy’s career and blame everybody but himself for it. Look for the Flames to make the playoffs and if they get hot, could surprise and make a cup run. Look for Mikael Backlund to join the squad for parts of this season and show us some flair that will turn into big seasons a couple years down the road.
Carolina Hurricanes:
Whose in: Patrick Eaves, Joni Pitkanen
Whose out: Erik Cole
The Hurricanes are again one of those middle of the pack teams. The additions of Patrick Eaves and Joni PItkanen are strong. But at the same time, Pitkanen has been on 3 teams in 3 years and still hasn’t lived up to his potential. When he was playing at the World Juniors 6 odd years ago the ohh and ahh for him was unbelievable. People were saying he was going to be the next best defensemen in the NHL. Well, 6 years later, we are still waiting for him to cash in on this potential. Time is running out and many people, including myself, find Pitkanen to be a bust. This is a make or break year from him, where he either becomes an elite defensemen or a journeymen for his NHL career. Bringing Eaves into the mix could prove huge dividends if he can stay healthy and mesh with his new teammates. Look for the Hurricanes to fight for a playoff spot like the Sabres and possibly steal the weak Southeast division from the Washington Capitals. Although he’s been in the NHL for a few years, the young gun to watch is Patrick Eaves, this could be a huge year for him if he can blend in with this offense.
Chicago Blackhawks:
Whose in: Christobal Huet, Brian Campbell,
Whose out:
The Chicago Blackhawks are a team on the rise and this is the year they begin their path to perennial Stanley Cup contenders. The Chicago Blackhawks will make the playoffs this year for the first time since 2002. They are hockey’s Tampa Bay Rays. They will surprise people not on doing well with the young talent they have, but will surprise on how well they do, at least in the regular season. With both Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp with an extra year under their belts and the additions of Brian Campbell and Huet makes the back end much stronger. Campbell is an offensive defenseman and this is an offensive team coached by a former offensive player (Denis “Marlboro” Savard), this team will score lots of goals. Look for them to pick something up for Nikolai Khabibulin, who will get traded most likely to the LA Kings. The young guy to watch, for this team it’s hard to pick, but going on what I heard from my sources and coming from a friend, who loves Tony Danza, look for Jack Skille to make the team and have a big year.
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