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Yearbook 2011-12

The Hockey News - Yearbook 2011

<div class="byline">BY MIKE LOFTUS</div>Northeast Division, Eastern Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0070-0255/9543065-1-eng-US/f0070-022.jpg" title="f0070-02" width="280" height="276"></div>NEVER MIND THE record three Game 7 victories, the Bruins&rsquo; Stanley Cup hopes for 2010-11 were in jeopardy long before the playoffs.Boston hadn&rsquo;t even hit the ice for a training camp that would take them to Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic when they learned three-time scoring leader Marc Savard would be absent because of post-concussion syndrome. He came back Dec. 2, but just 25 games later his second significant concussion in just more than 10 months ended Savard&rsquo;s season &ndash; and perhaps his career.Fortunately, Milan Lucic enjoyed a breakout year, Nathan Horton thrived a hockey market, rookie Brad Marchand surprised, the Zdeno Chara-led team defense was as good as ever and, most importantly, Tim Thomas put together an astonishing comeback season. Those factors, combined with Claude Julien&rsquo;s coaching, shrewd trades by GM Peter Chiarelli and the determination of carryovers from the previous year&rsquo;s team to erase the bitter memory of a historic playoff collapse to Philadelphia, resulted in Boston&rsquo;s first Cup since 1972. And there&rsquo;s potential for another: Only three of last season&rsquo;s regulars won&rsquo;t be back.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0070-0328/9543058-1-eng-US/f0070-032.jpg" title="f0070-03" width="482" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PIC: DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>OFFENSE The Bruins rose from last in the NHL in goals in 2009-10 (196) to fifth, with 244. The reason was depth and it ran all the way down.Despite losing wingers Mark Recchi and Michael Ryder, Boston can maintain last year&rsquo;s production. A full year in Boston should benefit speedy Rich Peverley and there will be increased opportunity for Tyler Seguin, who had 11 goals and 22 points in a limited role after Boston drafted him No. 2 overall in 2010.DEFENSE Their bread and butter during the Julien Era, the B&rsquo;s &lsquo;D&rsquo; is a whole-team concept backed by outstanding goaltending. The Bruins, No. 1 or 2 in goals-against for three straight years, have a defensive presence on each line and Julien matches extensively.Patrice Bergeron, a bona fide Selke Trophy candidate, centers the line that faces an opponent&rsquo;s top trio and his line scores, too. The trade deadline acquisition of Chris Kelly gave Boston a solid No. 3 center whose specialty is his play away from the puck.Julien struck gold in the playoffs by pairing Dennis Seidenberg with Chara. Andrew Ference and Johnny Boychuk emerged as a solid No. 2 set and Boston traded for proven blueline help in Joe Corvo, adding more experience.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0070-0416/9543051-1-eng-US/f0070-042.jpg" title="f0070-04" width="1002" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">33 | D ZDENO CHARA (CHARA: BRIAN BABINEAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING To think Thomas had permission to work out a trade in the summer of 2010. Thomas (helped by a repaired hip) re-established himself as a dominant goalie, winning his second Vezina Trophy in three years and adding the Conn Smythe Trophy.He enters as No. 1, but Rask will get his share of playing time &ndash; and with his talent (remember, he had a 1.97 goals-against average and five shutouts as a rookie in &rsquo;09-10) he could earn more than last year. Since Thomas will be 38 by the next time the NHL playoffs roll around, the B&rsquo;s definitely want Rask (24 years old and entering the final year of his contract) to stay involved.SPECIAL TEAMS Given its team defense and goaltending, Boston&rsquo;s so-so regular season rank on the penalty kill (16th, 82.6 percent) was a surprise, but it improved in the post-season.The power play, a year-long thorn (20th, 16.2 percent), worsened in the post-season (11.4) and nearly killed the team by going 0-for-21 in a seven-game first round against Montreal. Making matters worse, Recchi (six goals, 17 points) and Ryder (eight goals, 14 points) were Boston&rsquo;s two highest-scoring forwards with the man advantage. The B&rsquo;s hope Corvo will help at the point and that Krejci (12 power play points) will improve.All-time record: 2,807&ndash;2,178&ndash;893<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0071-0249/9543044-1-eng-US/f0071-022.jpg" title="f0071-02" width="329" height="358"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0071-0330/9543037-1-eng-US/f0071-032.jpg" title="f0071-03" width="2069" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Boston Bruins ended 39 years of pain with a Stanley Cup victory in 2009-10. (HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES There are the usual concerns about a Cup hangover and Recchi&rsquo;s championship experience will be missed. But there&rsquo;s no shortage of leadership or character. The Bruins found a way to function without Savard, pressed on through the trade of two popular teammates (Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart) and twice came back from 0-2 deficits in series. They&rsquo;re not likely to forget what it takes to win.ROOKIES Jordan Caron, who made last year&rsquo;s team out of training camp, figures to stick this time. He has 23 games under his belt, plays the two-way game Julien likes and uses his size (6-foot-2, 202 pounds) in the offensive zone.First round pick Dougie Hamilton is expected to play for another year in the Ontario League. It&rsquo;s a critical year for center Zach Hamill, who has played only four NHL games since Boston selected him at No. 8 overall in 2007.CAP CRUNCH After years of being pushed tight to the ceiling, Boston is expected to have approximately $6 million in cap space after re-signing free agents. Some could be devoted to obtaining a veteran blueliner at some point, but with 10 players entering the final year of their contracts and Chiarelli wary of the cap ceiling going down, he may be a bit more conservative than in the past.THE BRASS Chiarelli and Julien earned overdue respect for building and leading a championship team, but the presence of first-year president Cam Neely can&rsquo;t be overlooked. As intense and determined as he was during a Hall of Fame playing career, Neely was involved in every major hockey decision and perfectly walked the line between participating in the hockey end of the business while letting his GM and coach do their jobs.X-FACTOR How Boston reacts to targets on their backs and high expectations will be key. They&rsquo;ll be playing in a more competitive division, as Buffalo made major off-season moves.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>3rdBoston still needs Tim Thomas to excel to win its division, but its depth and talent gives the Bruins a shot to go back-to-back.<h2>13</h2>Seasons since a team last repeated as champions. The Red Wings pulled the trick 1997 and &rsquo;98. The Bruins have never gone back-to-back<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0070-058/9543030-1-eng-US/f0070-052.jpg" title="f0070-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0071-0418/9543002-1-eng-US/f0071-042.jpg" title="f0071-04" width="567" height="415"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record46-25-11 (103 pts)Conference3rdNHL Overall7thOffense2.98 GPG (5th)Defense2.30 GAA (2nd)Power Play16.2% (20th)Penalty Kill82.6% (16th)1-Goal Games16-7-112-Goal Games10-113+ Goal Games20-7Winning Streak7-0-0Winless Streak0-2-2Ice Time (F)Krejci 18:51Ice Time (D)Chara 25:26GMPeter ChiarelliCoachClaude JulienArenaTD GardenCapacity17,5652010-11 Attendance17,565 (16th)AffiliateProvidence (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)33&ndash;28<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0072-0248/9542995-1-eng-US/f0072-022.jpg" title="f0072-02" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>TYLER SEGUINAfter showing flashes last year, the 19-year-old will take a big offensive step forward.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;48<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0072-0331/9542981-1-eng-US/f0072-032.jpg" title="f0072-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>CHRIS KELLYDespite a strong playoffs, Kelly will get grinder numbers on a deep B&rsquo;s team.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;25<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0072-0415/9542967-1-eng-US/f0072-042.jpg" title="f0072-04" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>JORDAN CARONWill be counted on to replace some of the scoring Michael Ryder took to Dallas.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;24<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0072-059/9542953-1-eng-US/f0072-052.jpg" title="f0072-05" width="362" height="506"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;DOUGIE HAMILTOND, 18, NIAGARA (OHL)A physical defensemen who can deliver punishing hits, Hamilton also has the potential to be solid offensively at the next level. He thinks the game at a high degree and has the makeup to be a captain some day.GP 67 G 12 A 46 PTS 58 PIM 772. JORDAN CARON RW, 20, PROVIDENCE (AHL)Net-driving winner who is strong at both ends.3. RYAN SPOONER C, 19, KINGSTON (OHL)Creative offensively, but needs to improve his physical game.4. MATT BARTKOWSKI D, 23, PROVIDENCE (AHL)Reads the play well, defensive-zone play is improving.5. ZACH HAMILL C, 23, PROVIDENCE (AHL)Pushes the pace of the game and creates space.6. JARED KNIGHT RW, 19, LONDON (OHL)Goal-scoring winger with good hands gets to the dirty areas.7. ALEXANDER KHOKHLACHEV LW, 18, WINDSOR (OHL)Good competitive nature and strong character traits.8. JAMIE ARNIEL C, 21, PROVIDENCE (AHL)Will be a strong energy player and penalty-killer in the NHL.9. MAX SAUVE C, 21, PROVIDENCE (AHL)Tremendous speed and goal-scoring ability.10. RYAN BUTTON D, 20, SEATTLE (WHL)A great skater, he needs to improve on the defensive end.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0072-0610/9542946-1-eng-US/f0072-062.jpg" title="f0072-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0073-0259/9542939-1-eng-US/f0073-022.jpg" title="f0073-02" width="2270" height="1640"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0073-0334/9542932-1-eng-US/f0073-032.jpg" title="f0073-03" width="1135" height="214"></div> &#9632;

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NHL TEAMS

Repeat After ‘B’?

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-02168/9542421-1-eng-US/f0055-022.jpg" title="f0055-02" width="283" height="279"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-03120/9542414-1-eng-US/f0055-032.jpg" title="f0055-03" width="281" height="277"></div>The Jets are back and both ownership and the league says it&rsquo;s for good this time. To be sure, the numbers suggest the city is in a much better place than it was when the team left 15 years ago.CDN DOLLAR VS US DOLLAR1996 73.5 cents 2011 1.02WINNIPEG METRO POP.1996 684,100 2011 764,200UNEMPLOYMENT RATE1996 7.9% 2011 5.4%DISPOSABLE INCOME1995 $18,192 2009 $29,302CAPACITYWINNIPEG ARENA 15,393MTS CENTRE 15,015NHL AVERAGE SALARY1996 $750K 2011 $2.2MWINNIPEG AVG. TICKET PRICE1996 $23 2011 $82 &#9632;

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FEATURES

WINNIPEG JETS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0050-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-02262/9542293-1-eng-US/f0050-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">(DILIP VISHWANAT/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. LUKE SCHENNTOR&nbsp;2512. MATT GREENELA&nbsp;2433. BRENT SEABROOKCHI&nbsp;2274. STEPHANE ROBIDASDAL&nbsp;2165. TIM GLEASONCAR&nbsp;2156. SHEA WEBERNSH&nbsp;2117. DOUGLAS MURRAYSJ&nbsp;2038. THEO PECKHAMEDM&nbsp;1969. DAN GIRARDINYR&nbsp;19510. BROOKS ORPIKPIT&nbsp;194 &#9632;

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HITS

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021655/9541340-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jeff Skinner, the 2011 Calder winner, is one of many youngsters producing right away. (JEFF GROSS/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-012268/9541333-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="672" height="739"><figcaption class="caption-body">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>WHEN CAROLINA&rsquo;S JEFF SKINNER walked away with the Calder Trophy in June, he did so as the youngest player on the ballot, just a month into his 19th year.With the awards being in Las Vegas he famously had to skirt large swaths of the casinos and stick to shows with his parents.But talk to those who know Skinner best and they&rsquo;ll tell you it&rsquo;s no surprise he had such success as an NHL freshman. &ldquo;He came with all his credentials from the draft and then on top of that he worked in the off-season with Gary Roberts and he was very well-prepared,&rdquo; said Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford. &ldquo;He was as strong as guys who were 24, 25 years old and that&rsquo;s why he was capable of playing 82 games at a high level. I think that&rsquo;s the key point here for guys coming out of the draft.&rdquo;The recent trend has been for top picks to go straight from the podium to the big show. In fact, the last No. 1 choice not to go straight to the NHL was U.S. national team development program defenseman Erik Johnson in 2006 &ndash; and he played just one season at the University of Minnesota before catching on with the St. Louis Blues. What&rsquo;s more, these top players aren&rsquo;t taking their ranking lightly.The hard work that goes into being a pro is doubled for a teen, since the years in the gym or the rigors of an NHL schedule simply aren&rsquo;t there. But if the hours are put in, the league is at a place where teenagers can not only contribute, but excel. &ldquo;A lot of it has to do with how the game is changing,&rdquo; said Anaheim defenseman Cam Fowler, who went straight from the draft to the Ducks last year. &ldquo;Ten, 20 years ago, it was big, mean guys who could overpower you. Now it&rsquo;s more about speed and young guys.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-012214/9541326-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="972" height="1175"><figcaption class="caption-body">4 | D CAM FOWLER (FOWLER: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Fowler speaks from experience. He&rsquo;s not the toughest out there and his perceived lack of fire saw him slip to 12th overall in the 2010 draft. Anaheim was more than happy to snap him up and the smooth-skating blueliner rewarded the Ducks with more than 22 minutes of ice time (third among NHL rookies) and 40 points in 76 appearances.Another young blueliner making a difference is Tampa Bay&rsquo;s Victor Hedman. Drafted right after John Tavares and before Matt Duchene (two other great rising NHLers) in 2009, the 6-foot-6 Swede had a bumpy intro to the NHL on a disjointed Lightning squad, but he flourished on last year&rsquo;s edition under new management and ownership. &ldquo;I saw a kid that became a man,&rdquo; said Bolts rookie coach Guy Boucher. &ldquo;Those guys that are drafted so high, they always feel they need to put up offensive numbers to back up their ranking. I think he understood this year that&rsquo;s not what he has to do. By Christmas time he realized that whenever he played a stable game he looked so good out there.&rdquo;The fact Hedman wasn&rsquo;t alone also helped. The blueliner cited a kinship with fellow youngster Steven Stamkos as a source of comfort, while the ability to play off Tampa&rsquo;s stable group of veterans worked to his advantage. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re still young,&rdquo; Hedman said. &ldquo;We look up to the Martin St-Louises and Vincent Lecavaliers. We try to focus on contributing to the team.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021737/9541319-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="972" height="1175"><figcaption class="caption-body">It hasn&rsquo;t taken long for Victor Hedman to become a crucial component in Tampa. (HEDMAN: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>That&rsquo;s something Hedman has done in quick order. He really came into his own as the Lightning made a shocking run to the Eastern Conference final last season, falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champs from Boston in a brutally close 1-0 loss in Game 7 of the series. Hedman said the taste of that defeat still lingers in his mouth and drives him for this year.That drive, plus a dose of smarts, is what has elevated more teenagers to star levels of late. &ldquo;For a long time &ndash; and even now &ndash; there are great players in college or junior hockey that are star players and they don&rsquo;t realize what big a jump it is to get to the NHL,&rdquo; Rutherford said. &ldquo;They think they&rsquo;re just going to come in and get by on their skill level and you can&rsquo;t do that.&rdquo;But for players such as Skinner, Fowler and Hedman &ndash; not to mention Tavares, Duchene and Montreal&rsquo;s P.K. Subban &ndash; the lessons are being learned early enough that success is coming before their entry level contracts have even burned off. &#9632;

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THE NEXT GENERATION

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-012152/9541119-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">(JIM ROGASH/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

OPENING FACEOFF

<div class="byline">WITH JASON KAY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-012180/9541157-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="769" height="509"></div>THE NHL FACES two massive headaches as it lunges, with a head of steam as it were, into the 2011-12 season.The first is a literal melon malady: concussions. Inch by inch, brain cell by brain cell, hockey&rsquo;s foremost league is enacting measures to combat head injuries. Ultimately, it has the power to drastically reduce them if it is prepared to take giant strides.Our Adam Proteau analyzes and ruminates on the issue in a feature beginning on pg. 36.The second tete offensive is the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement next summer. Sadly, we&rsquo;ve become so used to lockouts, so accepting/indifferent to the rhetoric, that many in the hockey community are already talking as if a work stoppage next season is an inevitability. Here, too, the NHL in concert with the Players&rsquo; Association, has the ability to subdue the pain.THN&rsquo;s Ryan Kennedy peeks at the key labor talking points in a story on pg. 59.If you&rsquo;re cynical about either crisis being turned into an opportunity &ndash; and you&rsquo;d hardly be alone &ndash; at least you can take comfort in expectations and anticipation of another NHL campaign, one we know will hold its share of &ldquo;wow&rdquo; moments and crazy surprises. In the ensuing pages, we&rsquo;ve done our best to prepare you for the journey by assessing talent, identifying trends, predicting results and peeling back the curtain on some of the game&rsquo;s most compelling characters. Included are:&bull; The returns of Sid and Alex. Will they be triumphant? &bull; The rookie crop of 2011-12. And the Calder goes to&hellip; &bull; Zdeno Chara&rsquo;s hunger. It takes a lot to satiate the appetite of the 6-foot-9 giant. Apparently one Stanley Cup isn&rsquo;t enough. &bull; Up-close-and-personal portraits of some of the game&rsquo;s best blueliners such as Kevin Bieksa, Douglas Murray, Marc Staal and P. K. Subban. &bull; The ballyhooed return of the Winnipeg Jets &bull; And, of course, our annual predictions and Stanley Cup pick.For what it&rsquo;s worth, our past two Cup projections &ndash; Philly and Vancouver &ndash; lost in the final. We&rsquo;re due this time to nail it squarely on the head.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021851/9541150-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="204" height="109"></div> &#9632;

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Making Headway

<div class="byline">BY ADAM PROTEAU</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0006-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012407/9541233-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">(CROSBY & OVECHKIN: JENNIFER POTTHEISER/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021633/9541226-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="2176" height="339"></div>ALTHOUGH A DECENT PORTION of the rivalry between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin has been created by the media, there are many reasons they match up as natural rivals.Since they entered the league together in 2005-06, it&rsquo;s been Ovie&rsquo;s PSP (Power/Speed/Personality) Attack vs. Sid&rsquo;s Humble Doggedness. It&rsquo;s been No. 8&rsquo;s flash-and-crash vs. No. 87&rsquo;s calculated careening. And after a 2010-11 season hugely disappointing to both for drastically different reasons, Crosby and Ovechkin are on opposite sides of another issue &ndash; one that could change the way the superstars play.First, let&rsquo;s recap the problems encountered by the league&rsquo;s marquee duo. Crosby was on his way to his most dominant NHL campaign yet (66 points in 41 games) when a pair of head shots (from now ex-Capital David Steckel and Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman) sidelined him for the entire second half of the season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-012141/9541219-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="972" height="1258"><figcaption class="caption-body">(CROSBY: GREGORY SHAMUS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Ovechkin, meanwhile, struggled on offense and ultimately failed to match his prodigious scoring history, finishing with just 32 goals (14 below his previous low) and 85 points. More importantly, he and his Washington teammates endured another crushing playoff let-down, this time at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round.Crosby had resumed twice-a-day workouts in summer and both the Penguins and his management team expected him to be ready for this season. However, as the hockey world has learned when it comes to head injuries, a player&rsquo;s future can become more precarious with every collision. And that leads to a couple key questions: (a) can Crosby be the same dynamo he was before? And (b) will he have to employ a different on-ice style?The respective answers, according to his agent, are yes and no. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t foresee Sidney changing his game,&rdquo; said Pat Brisson, who has educated himself greatly on the concussion issue since his star client was hurt. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s gone through the right steps and followed (recovery) direction religiously. He took his time to understand what goes on with a concussion and I know he&rsquo;s learned a lot. And when he&rsquo;s back, he wants to be back the way he&rsquo;s always been. He still sees himself improving from where he was before he was injured.&rdquo;Ovechkin will be out to improve his personal fortunes and the fate of his Capitals, but he also has the potential to be affected by the NHL&rsquo;s head injury problem, although much differently than Crosby. The league&rsquo;s rule banning head shots was altered after the 2010-11 season to include all &ldquo;targeted hits to the head.&rdquo; Although Ovechkin has never been known as a head-hunter, he does employ a bull-in-a-China-shop style and has been suspended twice for aggressive play, including a two-game suspension for a hit on Brian Campbell that broke the defenseman&rsquo;s clavicle and rib. &ldquo;It always concerns you because initially when a rule comes into effect the referees are looking at it a lot more closely and anything close they&rsquo;ll call,&rdquo; said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. &ldquo;But in the years I&rsquo;ve coached Alex, he&rsquo;s never targeted the head. He wants to hit you hard, but he sees that as competitive hockey. But I don&rsquo;t think he&rsquo;s going to alter his game and I don&rsquo;t want him to.&rdquo;<blockquote class="pullQuote">Since they entered the league together in 2005-06, it&rsquo;s been No. 8&rsquo;s flash-and-crash vs. No. 87&rsquo;s calculated careening</blockquote><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-021452/9541212-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="983" height="1267"><figcaption class="caption-body">Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin each had a career low in points in 2010-11. (OVECHKIN: ABELIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Boudreau was a big-time point producer during his playing days in the American League, but had a couple of seasons where his offensive numbers sagged significantly. He believes there&rsquo;s a lesson for Ovechkin to learn from his coach&rsquo;s history. &ldquo;When I played in Halifax and my points dropped off we had become a four-line team,&rdquo; Boudreau said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what we were last year. Alex&rsquo;s bar is always set so high it&rsquo;s almost impossible for him to keep surpassing it. But I thought he became a more complete player last year. He hits everybody, he&rsquo;s passionate and he plays good defense. As long as he keeps doing that, the offense will take care of itself. His shot is too good. His drive to the net is too strong. He&rsquo;s going to have success.&rdquo;The same can be said of Ovechkin&rsquo;s rival in Pittsburgh. Both superstars may have had down seasons, but there&rsquo;s no reason to suspect that will continue. &#9632;

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Sid vs. Ovie

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-012297/9541264-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="971" height="1426"><figcaption class="caption-body">2 | D JARED COWEN (CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>EVERY BASEMENT HAS a staircase. Things were hopeless in Ottawa last year, but the Senators have a bevy of youngsters who can help the franchise this season and win some hardware of their own. The Calder Trophy is a tough one to predict, since rookies themselves often surprise in both positive and negative lights, but two Ottawa blueline prospects are good bets.Swedish sensation David Rundblad was drafted by St. Louis, then traded for Ottawa&rsquo;s first round pick in 2010 (which the Blues used to pick Vladimir Tarasenko). Since then, Rundblad helped his Skelleftea team to the Swedish Elite League final and garnered himself defenseman-of-the-year honors. &ldquo;David has tremendous hockey sense and skill,&rdquo; said Ottawa director of player personnel Pierre Dorion. &ldquo;We feel his poise, his ability to transition the puck, to give us an offensive dimension, really will give us a 1-2-3 punch with Sergei Gonchar and Erik Karlsson.&rdquo;Dorion knows there will be an adjustment period in Rundblad&rsquo;s first North American season, but says the youngster can be more than just a rusher from the back end thanks to his length and range when playing in his own zone.Defensive play is the calling card of Ottawa&rsquo;s second super-rookie, 6-foot-5 blueliner Jared Cowen. After a big season with the Western League&rsquo;s Spokane Chiefs, Cowen helped Binghamton win the American League&rsquo;s Calder Cup title. That&rsquo;s precious experience. &ldquo;Being such a big part of our Calder Cup run,&rdquo; Dorion said, &ldquo;playing on the top pairing, matching up against the other team&rsquo;s best line and the way he played from the world juniors on to the end of the season in Spokane, we feel Jared has a very good chance of being a player who can help us.&rdquo;There&rsquo;s even an outside chance 2011 first-rounder Mika Zibanejad could join the Senators. His bullish game at center would be a boon.For all three rookies, the franchise has mentors. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got Daniel Alfredsson, whose great with Swedes, and then you have Chris Phillips,&rdquo; Dorion said. &ldquo;Chris and Jared are both western guys and he&rsquo;d be a role model. Chris is the ultimate pro.&rdquo;But the Senators aren&rsquo;t the only team with young guns. Here are a few more Calder front-runners:Erik Gudbranson, D, Florida The acquisition of Brian Campbell helps the Cats defense corps and will also take some pressure off Gudbranson in his first season. Big, nasty and mobile, &lsquo;Guddy&rsquo; may not put up a ton of points his first year, but will make his presence felt in front of Florida&rsquo;s net. Florida goaltender Jacob Markstrom is a candidate, too.Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado The Avs are thin on the left side and Landeskog will see some quality minutes, getting a chance to showcase his all-around game in Denver. Expect hits, shot-blocking and points from the tough Swede.Nino Niederreiter, RW, Islanders Things are looking up on Long Island and &lsquo;El Nino&rsquo; can only help the situation. His combination of size and skill will work well alongside weapons such as John Tavares, Michael Grabner and Frans Nielsen. &#9632;

f0008-01

ROOKIE WATCH

Nail Yakupov &ndash; Major junior&rsquo;s rookie of the year plays game with passion and a ton of offensive skill.Mikhail Grigorenko &ndash; Big prototypical Russian forward has an excellent playmaker&rsquo;s touch.Ryan Murray &ndash; All-around defenseman can man the PP and shut down the enemy&rsquo;s big guns.Filip Forsberg &ndash; Dynamic, dominating and smart with the puck, Forsberg has elite vision.Jacob Trouba &ndash; Big blueliner moves very well and has a tremendous shot.Nick Ebert &ndash; Took on a large load with the Spits, but has great upside from blueline.Griffin Reinhart &ndash; The middle Reinhart brother is the most imposing and can rack up points from back end.Olli Maata &ndash; Tall Finnish defender plays well beyond his years and demonstrates a great two-way game.Alex Galchenyuk &ndash; Slick hands and a great hockey mind, he could play for either U.S. or Russia internationally.Matt Dumba &ndash; The Dub&rsquo;s rookie of the year plays a flashy physical game that owes a lot to Dion Phaneuf. &#9632;

EYE ON 2012

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-031117/9541371-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="340" height="402"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SEGUIN: BRIAN BABINEAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>With three goals and seven points in 13 playoff games, rookie Tyler Seguin did his part in helping the Bruins win the 2011 Stanley Cup. But he also did it in style, becoming a rarity even in these youth-oriented days: Seguin hoisted hockey&rsquo;s greatest chalice as a teenager.Sure, youngsters such as Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Ryan Getzlaf and Cam Ward won titles in their first couple seasons, but Seguin was younger than any of them. The last player to earn the Cup before turning 20 was Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh, 1991). Martin Gelinas (Edmonton, 1990) and Stephane Richer (Montreal, 1986) also recently pulled the trick.The youngest player ever to win the Cup was Detroit&rsquo;s Larry Hillman, who was 18 years, two months when the Red Wings ruled in 1955. Toronto&rsquo;s Gaye Stewart was the previous record holder at 18 years, nine months thanks to the Leafs&rsquo; triumph in 1942. &#9632;

f0012-03

TEEN DREAMS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-012187/9541570-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="426" height="570"></div><h2>AGE MATTERS</h2>Penguins star Sidney Crosby was the best of the kids &ndash; and everyone else, too &ndash; when it came to points-per-game last year.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-13138/9541563-1-eng-US/f0014-132.jpg" title="f0014-13" width="680" height="1079"></div><h2>DRAFT DEMOGRAPHICS</h2>A total of 210 players from 14 countries were selected at the 2011 draft at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Canada&rsquo;s still No.1, but only 37.6 percent of picks were from the Great White North &ndash; the least ever.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-031109/9541556-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="341" height="252"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-021641/9541549-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="339" height="619"></div>68,111 Number of fans who attended the 2001 NHL Winter Classic in Pittsburgh21,112,139 Total attendance for all 2010-11 NHL hockey games<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-12160/9541542-1-eng-US/f0014-122.jpg" title="f0014-12" width="207" height="312"><figcaption class="caption-body">(CROSBY & FAN: DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; DRAFT: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><h2>GOAL-FEST</h2>Want scoring? Go see those rambunctious teenagers do their thing. Junior hockey is so entertaining because the kids still make mistakes, which leads to more goals-pergame than in any other high-level league.<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04758/9541535-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="74" height="46"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>CHL 6.91<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-05519/9541528-1-eng-US/f0014-052.jpg" title="f0014-05" width="74" height="47"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>CWHL 6.86<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-06403/9541521-1-eng-US/f0014-062.jpg" title="f0014-06" width="74" height="47"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>CIS 6.67<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-07313/9541514-1-eng-US/f0014-072.jpg" title="f0014-07" width="74" height="47"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>NCAA 6.65<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-08257/9541507-1-eng-US/f0014-082.jpg" title="f0014-08" width="74" height="46"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>ECHL 6.25<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-09223/9541500-1-eng-US/f0014-092.jpg" title="f0014-09" width="74" height="47"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>AHL 5.78<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-10200/9541493-1-eng-US/f0014-102.jpg" title="f0014-10" width="74" height="47"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>KHL 5.57<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-11174/9541486-1-eng-US/f0014-112.jpg" title="f0014-11" width="74" height="47"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>NHL 5.46<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-011916/9541479-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="1502" height="1255"><figcaption class="caption-body">Steve MacIntyre and Colton Orr helped increase the NHL&rsquo;s fight total in 2010-11.</figcaption></div><h2>FIGHT FANS</h2>What did George Parros learn at Princeton? Apparently how to drop the gloves, something the Red Wings don&rsquo;t worry about.<h3>TOP 5 FIGHTERS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-09253/9541472-1-eng-US/f0015-092.jpg" title="f0015-09" width="514" height="281"></div>37.24 Pct. of games with fights (458/1230)78 Total fights (most)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-04704/9541465-1-eng-US/f0015-042.jpg" title="f0015-04" width="218" height="138"></div>13 Total fights (least)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-06394/9541458-1-eng-US/f0015-062.jpg" title="f0015-06" width="218" height="138"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-021355/9541451-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="681" height="422"></div><h2>90%</h2>Jarret Stoll was King of the shootout last year, while Craig Anderson kept shooters cursing<h3>HIGHEST SHOOTOUT PCT.</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-11199/9541444-1-eng-US/f0015-112.jpg" title="f0015-11" width="685" height="209"></div><h3>HIGHEST SAVE PCT.</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-13145/9541437-1-eng-US/f0015-132.jpg" title="f0015-13" width="664" height="190"></div>891 Players in the NHL in 2010-11<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-03945/9541430-1-eng-US/f0015-032.jpg" title="f0015-03" width="218" height="138"></div><h3>SHOOTOUTS</h3>OVERTIME GAMES24% 297/1230SHOOTOUT GAMES12% 149/1230WINNING PCT. OF HOME TEAM.389 58-91WINNING PCT. OF TEAM THAT SHOOTS FIRST.450 67-8237 Players used by the Canucks (most)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-05493/9541423-1-eng-US/f0015-052.jpg" title="f0015-05" width="218" height="138"></div><h3>MOST SHOOTOUT GOALS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-10224/9541416-1-eng-US/f0015-102.jpg" title="f0015-10" width="648" height="190"></div>WINNING PCT. OF TEAM THAT SCORES FIRST IN SHOOTOUT.819 122-27<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-07332/9541409-1-eng-US/f0015-072.jpg" title="f0015-07" width="453" height="247"><figcaption class="caption-body">(FIGHT: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; STOLL: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>83 Games played by Brad Boyes and Alex Goligoski, the most in the NHL regular season in 2010-1125 Players used by the Red Wings (least)<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-08287/9541402-1-eng-US/f0015-082.jpg" title="f0015-08" width="218" height="138"></div> &#9632;

f0014-01

FOR THE RECORD

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011957/9541629-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="972" height="1426"></div>WHEN YOU&rsquo;RE ENTERING your 20th season and have won seven Norris Trophies &ndash; second most all-time &ndash; you should be racking up records. And make no mistake, Nick Lidstom is doing just that, largely at the expense of Phil Housley. But Lidstrom isn&rsquo;t the only player nearing milestones this season and a few coaches are set to win some big games as well. The following is a rundown of some of the more notable numbers to be reached.<h2>1,500 GAMES</h2>Lidstrom is six games from 1,500, passing Housley for fifth all-time among defensemen<h2>895 ASSISTS</h2>Lidstrom is 40 assists away from 895 and Housley&rsquo;s No. 5 spot all-time<h2>130 PP GOALS</h2>Lidstrom is two power play goals from 130 and Housley&rsquo;s No. 5 spot all-time<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-021501/9541622-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="148" height="179"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>1,000 POINTS</h2>Ray Whitney (926)<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-031096/9541615-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="148" height="173"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>500 GOALS</h2>Jarome Iginla (484)<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04820/9541608-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="148" height="175"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>650 WINS</h2>Martin Brodeur (625)<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05588/9541601-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="148" height="171"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>2,000 PIM</h2>Ian Laperriere (1,956)<h2>600 WINS</h2>Joel Quenneville (579)<h2>500 WINS</h2>Terry Murray (486)Barry Trotz (455)Paul Maurice (452)<h2>1,500 PIM</h2>Jody Shelley (1,474)Ed Jovanovski (1,421)Zdeno Chara (1,385)Todd Bertuzzi (1,372)<h2>1,000 GAMES</h2>Joe Thornton (995); Wade Redden and Hal Gill (994); Dainius Zubrus (983); Vinny Prospal (978); Mike Knuble (968); Patrik Elias (961); Olli Jokinen (960); Matt Cullen (958); Tomas Holmstrom (952); Derek Morris (946); Chris Phillips (945); Saku Koivu (938); Steve Staios (936); Vinny Lecavalier (934); Zdeno Chara (928); Craig Rivet (923) &#9632;

f0016-01

MILESTONE MEN

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-06482/9541660-1-eng-US/f0016-062.jpg" title="f0016-06" width="628" height="621"><figcaption class="caption-body">(BOTH: HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><h2>75 POINTS</h2>Away from 1,415, passing Doug Gilmour for 17th all-time (Selanne had 80 points in 2010-11)<h2>32 GOALS</h2>Away from 668, passing Luc Robitaille for 10th all-time (Selanne had 31 goals in 2010-11)<h2>12 PP GOALS</h2>Away from 248, passing Robitaille for third all-time (Selanne had 16 power play goals in 2010-11)<h2>9 GAME-WINNERS</h2>Away from 111, passing Brett Hull for second all-time (Selanne had five GWG in 2010-11) &#9632;

f0016-06

TOTAL TEEMU

IT&rsquo;S A FEAT first accomplished by Maurice Richard in 1944-45 and 89 players have since joined &lsquo;The Rocket&rsquo; in the 50-goal club. Sounds like a lot, but when you consider more than 700 play in the NHL each season, 90 is a rather small sampling.Below you&rsquo;ll find a list of every NHLer to score 50 times in a single season. Totals of 30, 40 or 50 and more are color coded to offer a better glimpse of year-over-year consistency (and in some cases, inconsistency). End-of-season ages are also listed and any blank years reflect either retirement, a work stoppage or time spent in other leagues.Thanks to Los Angeles Kings fan &lsquo;Quisp&rsquo; for the data. To find more on this and other topics, go to Quisp&rsquo;s blog <a href="http://JewelsFromTheCrown.com">JewelsFromTheCrown.com</a><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011836/9541712-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="718" height="977"><figcaption class="caption-body">22 | RW MIKE BOSSY 50 in 50 1981 (BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03991/9541705-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="253" height="370"></div>&#9654; Players ranked according to career regular season goals.&#9654; RETIRED PLAYER<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-021374/9541698-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="2340" height="2039"><figcaption class="caption-body">(BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-011623/9541691-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="2136" height="2887"><figcaption class="caption-body">(BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>CHART INFO: QUISP AT <a href="http://WWW.JEWELSFROMTHECROWN.COM">WWW.JEWELSFROMTHECROWN.COM</a> &#9632;

f0018-01

50-GOAL CLUB

<div class="byline">BY RYAN DIXON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-011588/9541743-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dominic Moore signed late in 2010 and &rsquo;11 and was key for two conference finalists. (JIM ROGASH/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Late-summer signings fly under the radar, but they can often pay off come spring.To a degree, Dominic Moore spent consecutive off-seasons twisting in the wind, only to wind up competing for an Eastern Conference title in each following campaign. In 2009, Moore didn&rsquo;t sign on to play for the Florida Panthers until mere days before their first game of the year. He proved his worth on a bad team, was traded to Montreal before the deadline and made it to the final four.Last summer, after again becoming a UFA, Moore was on the open market almost a full month before Tampa signed him to a two-year deal in late July. Then, in mid-August, the Bolts signed Sean Bergenheim after his 23-point season with the New York Islanders. Fast-forward a few months and Bergenheim was a key to Tampa&rsquo;s run to Game 7 of the East final, scoring nine goals in 16 playoff games, all of which helped him cash in during the summer of 2011 with a lucrative deal from Florida. Moore was no slouch either, contributing 11 points in 18 post-season contests.After being released from a tryout with his former team, the Vancouver Canucks, last fall, Brendan Morrison signed on with the Flames and despite missing 16 games at the end of the season with a knee injury, finished tied for fifth in team scoring with 43 points in 66 games, prompting Calgary to bring him back for another year.The point is, just because a player isn&rsquo;t snapped up during the initial free agent frenzy doesn&rsquo;t mean he can&rsquo;t be a contributor. Sometimes players are left to linger because GMs are trying to get other aspects of their economic house in order, but the waiting game isn&rsquo;t one-sided. &ldquo;It works both ways,&rdquo; said one player agent. &ldquo;GMs might tell players to wait, but players will wait too, because they might think a better offer is coming along.&rdquo;Then there&rsquo;s arbitration and teams walking away from decisions. It happened in 2010 with Clarke MacArthur when Atlanta balked at a $2.4-million decision, making him a UFA. He signed with Toronto and scored 62 points. This year, Chicago let blueliner Chris Campoli go.Players also know demand could spike once training camp starts and that cheap rookie the team hoped was ready proves to be a fish on land. Or maybe a key body goes into a corner and doesn&rsquo;t come out. &ldquo;You never know what&rsquo;s going to happen in training camp,&rdquo; the agent said. &ldquo;A guy gets hurt and all of a sudden that opens the door.&rdquo;That opportunity can also present itself midseason. Kyle Wellwood and Ray Emery both joined teams well into 2010-11 and managed to make positive impacts. Interestingly, both were again UFAs this summer and made our list of free agents who were unsigned as of late July, but still had the ability to help somebody out. &#9632;

f0020-01

Delicious Leftovers

RAY EMERYG, 29PASCAL LECLAIREG, 28MARTY TURCOG, 36CHRIS CAMPOLID, 27STEVE EMINGERD, 27SCOTT HANNAND, 32JACK HILLEND, 25BRENT SOPELD, 34PAUL MARAD, 32BRYAN MCCABED, 36CHRIS DRURYC, 35JOHN MADDENC, 38VINNY PROSPALC, 36KYLE WELLWOODC, 28ALEX FROLOVLW, 29ETHAN MOREAULW, 36SERGEI SAMSONOVLW, 32CORY STILLMANLW, 37JARKKO RUUTULW, 36STEVE BERNIERRW, 26CHRIS CLARKRW, 35MIKE GRIERRW, 36ALEX KOVALEVRW, 38 &#9632;

LATE SUMMER UFAs

<div class="byline">BY ERIC STEPHENS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0022-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011477/9541812-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Corey Perry hits the mark with a suave swagger both on and off the ice. (JEFF GROSS/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-011282/9541805-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="250" height="237"></div>April 6 is a night permanently etched into the mind of the Anaheim Ducks&rsquo; 26-year-old star right winger, an evening that shot him into the NHL&rsquo;s stratosphere.Perry finished his third hat trick of the season by tucking a pass from Selanne underneath the pad of veteran San Jose Sharks goaltender Antero Niittymaki to touch off a wild scene in front of an adoring Anaheim crowd at Honda Center. Perry joined 87 others who have scored 50 goals in one of the NHL&rsquo;s 94 seasons. Just two others were members of the Ducks at the time &ndash; Selanne and Paul Kariya.&ldquo;I remember when I got my first 50,&rdquo; Selanne said. &ldquo;I was so happy. Fifty is the number that&rsquo;s really an elite number. Extraordinary people have done that before. And the way he did it with the hat trick and stuff&hellip;this guy has been unbelievable.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-011420/9541798-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="1162" height="1141"><figcaption class="caption-body">Perry bettered his previous career high of 32 goals (2008-09) by 18 last campaign.(DEBORA ROBINSON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES;)</figcaption></div>What makes Perry&rsquo;s feat all the more impressive is that he did it during an era when improved defensive systems and goaltending have made it tougher to score. This isn&rsquo;t the free-wheeling 1980s or early 1990s where run-and-gun hockey was the norm.Consider that a record 14 players scored 50 or more goals in 1992-93. Perry was the only player in 2010-11 to score that many, earning him his first Rocket Richard Trophy. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know if it&rsquo;s really sunk in, being the only 50-goal scorer and what 50 goals really means,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s hard to really put it into words and hard to really appreciate it at this point in time. It&rsquo;s only been two months since the season ended.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know if I can look back at the season and say that was the season to remember because I don&rsquo;t really know what&rsquo;s next. It&rsquo;s hard to realize what really happened.&rdquo;Perry is happening. He&rsquo;s been on an upward arc since entering the NHL six years ago with center and linemate Ryan Getzlaf after the two were taken by the Ducks in the first round of the celebrated 2003 draft. The pair has been linked throughout, playing off each other like Simon and Garfunkel. Perry showed steady progress as Getzlaf&rsquo;s wingman &ndash; his point totals have been 25, 44, 54, 72, 76 &ndash; before taking off like a rocket with a career-best 98 last season.Perry said it was time to answer the bell after Selanne and then Getzlaf were sidelined due to injuries. &ldquo;Different guys have to step up at different times,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Maybe when you look back, you can say it was my time to step up at that point. It went on to be a successful season. Different factors always add to it.&rdquo;Anaheim GM Bob Murray has watched Perry&rsquo;s ascent to stardom and he points to his increasing dedication to fitness two summers ago where &ldquo;it was very evident that he&rsquo;d done a lot of work.&rdquo; But it was Perry&rsquo;s play for gold medal-winning Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics that made the executive and former NHL defenseman really take notice. &ldquo;As I&rsquo;ve said many times, I think it was at the Olympics where he went there and realized, &lsquo;Hey, I can play with these guys,&rsquo; &rdquo; Murray said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s probably always been told that he doesn&rsquo;t skate well or he doesn&rsquo;t do this or he doesn&rsquo;t do that.&ldquo;He came back and played well after the Olympics. He trained hard last summer. He figured those parts of hockey out. And I think he&rsquo;s very committed in that he wants to be a great player.&rdquo;To do that, Perry has had to will himself through summers where working out in the gym was one of the last things he wanted to do. But the routine is no longer the chore it once was. Back in his native Ontario, the Ducks&rsquo; newest star gets together with his brother, Adam, defenseman Danny Syvret and his younger brother, also Corey, along with center Rob Schremp, who finished last season with the Atlanta Thrashers.All played with the Ontario League&rsquo;s London Knights, with the Perrys, the elder Syvret and Schremp part of the record-breaking 2005 Memorial Cup champs. Together, they work out with a personal trainer who always keeps them guessing.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s different things,&rdquo; Perry said. &ldquo;You work your upper body. You work your lower body. Then you do core days. But the way we do it, it&rsquo;s just unique. It&rsquo;s just something different every day.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s fun going in because you never know what to expect. Especially when you work out with guys you played with and you&rsquo;re friends with. You have little competitions during the day and each week. It&rsquo;s just makes it fun that way.&rdquo;Once a consistent scorer who could be counted on for around 30 goals and 70 points each season, Perry has now entered the top right winger district with players such as Martin St-Louis and Jarome Iginla.With 168 goals already on his resume, the Ducks&rsquo; feisty sniper is intent on taking his game to an even higher level. &ldquo;He has a burning desire to win,&rdquo; Murray said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a sore loser. He&rsquo;s a bad loser and he wants to be great. There are other players in this world with more talent and more this or more God-given that but don&rsquo;t have that burning desire to be great. He does.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s some pretty good players out there. He&rsquo;s obviously climbed the board. He&rsquo;s had a great year and he puts another couple together, then he&rsquo;ll be right there.&rdquo;Some argue Perry has 50 reasons he&rsquo;s already there. &#9632;

f0022-01

Scorey Perry

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-021019/9541843-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="626" height="785"><figcaption class="caption-body">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>COREY PERRY2010-11 &ndash;&nbsp;50SIDNEY CROSBY2009-10 &ndash;&nbsp;51STEVEN STAMKOS2009-10 &ndash;&nbsp;51ALEX OVECHKIN2009-10 &ndash;&nbsp;512008-09 &ndash;&nbsp;562007-08 &ndash;&nbsp;652005-06 &ndash;&nbsp;52ILYA KOVALCHUK2007-08 &ndash;&nbsp;522005-06 &ndash;&nbsp;52JAROME IGINLA2007-08 &ndash;&nbsp;50VINCENT LECAVALIER2006-07 &ndash;&nbsp;52DANY HEATLEY2006-07 &ndash;&nbsp;502005-06 &ndash;&nbsp;50JONATHAN CHEECHOO2005-06 &ndash;&nbsp;56JAROMIR JAGR2005-06 &ndash;&nbsp;54 &#9632;

f0024-02

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0027-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-011334/9541888-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Zdeno Chara hoisted his first Stanley Cup in June and couldn&rsquo;t hide his emotions. (BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-011433/9541895-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="206" height="205"></div>For months at a time, the book would just sit there untouched. Then Zdeno Chara would pick it up, hunker down and take another run at plowing through it. Maybe I missed something, he would think to himself. Maybe I need to be refreshed. Let&rsquo;s read it again and maybe it will be more interesting.He would invariably get about 100 pages in, lose interest and bail out again. But in the end, the book would not defeat him. Something inside him willed him to finish and after countless attempts that stretched over more than a year, Chara could say he finally conquered Where Men Win Glory &ndash; The Odyssey of Pat Tillman.The Odyssey of Zdeno Chara, one would hope, will have a much happier ending. To be sure, it&rsquo;s getting really good in the middle. When Chara became the first Bruin to hoist the Stanley Cup in 39 years, it closed a phase chronicling years of playoff failures, both for Chara and for Boston. Perhaps it could become a movie featuring Chara and fellow Bruins defenseman and intellectual soulmate Andrew Ference. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s kind of like Twins,&rdquo; Ference said. &ldquo;And I think we know which one of us is Danny DeVito.&rdquo;All right, we get it. Chara is a really big man. Twelve feet tall on skates, blah, blah, blah. Perhaps you&rsquo;ve heard once or twice that he is the tallest freestanding structure ever to play the game. So we got that out of the way, eh?<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-011412/9541881-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="1449" height="1050"><figcaption class="caption-body">Chara led the NHL in plus-minus in both the 2010-11 regular season and playoffs.(DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; ALL OTHERS: GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>But he also might be the most disciplined, determined and stubborn. And when it comes to NHL players, that&rsquo;s saying something. The same focus and sense of purpose that has made him one of the best shutdown defensemen in the game also sometimes makes him do far too much and accomplish too little. That aspect of his personality is a work in progress, but don&rsquo;t expect his hard-wiring to ever change dramatically. Just the results, if Chara has his way. And he often does.At 34, Chara remains one of the NHL&rsquo;s fittest and hardest-working players. With one Norris Trophy to his credit &ndash; he finished third in voting in 2010-11 &ndash; it is worth noting that four of Nicklas Lidstrom&rsquo;s seven Norris Trophies came when he was older than Chara is now. A fire burns in the big Slovak to be even better than last season when he led all players in plus-minus in both the regular season and the playoffs. &ldquo;I want to be known as the best shutdown defenseman and probably the best defenseman in the game,&rdquo; Chara said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a goal and I know there is a ways to go, but for sure it&rsquo;s out there and all I can do is work extremely hard and try to go for it.&rdquo;There&rsquo;s no doubt he&rsquo;ll go for it right to the end. Take the book, for example. Tillman&rsquo;s real-life story, which was chronicled by best-selling author Jon Krakauer, is nothing short of compelling. Tillman was a defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals who turned his back on millions of dollars in 2002 to fight for the American Special Forces in Afghanistan. The book outlines how, after Tillman&rsquo;s death in 2004 due to friendly fire, the American government deceived the public into thinking he died a hero in an enemy ambush to distract everyone from the bad news coming out of Afghanistan and Iraq.For whatever reason, however, Chara found it a little turgid and it failed to capture his imagination. But there is something in his DNA that wouldn&rsquo;t allow him to leave that tome sitting without being completed. It&rsquo;s the same sense of discipline that prompted him to learn Swedish when he played for Farjestad during the lockout. It&rsquo;s what motivates him to spend summers on soul-crushing bicycling treks. And it&rsquo;s what drives him to start digging on his massive tract of land in Slovakia, even though he has already hired landscapers to do the work. &ldquo;When I decide to do something, I&rsquo;m very committed and disciplined,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;My family always taught me you never quit. It doesn&rsquo;t matter if it&rsquo;s training or reading, you don&rsquo;t just put the book down halfway through. You have to finish the whole story because at the end it might be really interesting.&rdquo;And if you ignore the cynics who keep scoffing at your skating and suggest you play basketball, you might just become one of the best and highest-paid defensemen in the NHL. And if you stop trying so bloody hard to be the greatest captain ever in the history of the world, you might lift your first Cup as one who feels comfortable in his own skin and is a respected leader of men.That wasn&rsquo;t the case when Chara arrived in Boston five years ago. The Bruins stitched the &lsquo;C&rsquo; on his sweater shortly after signing him to a five-year, $37.5-million contract and the results were, well, a little disastrous. As Chara is wont to do, the perfectionist inside compelled him to try desperately to live up to the contract and assert himself as the leader of a completely foreign group of teammates. Then there was the matter, of course, of him thinking success on the ice was equated to how hard he drove himself, how many times he was the hardest-working player on the ice and how many optional workouts he showed up for.&ldquo;Once he just started being himself, that&rsquo;s when he became a great captain,&rdquo; Ference said. &ldquo;When he was trying to be a captain, he wasn&rsquo;t being natural. He&rsquo;s a leader just by his nature and that&rsquo;s all he&rsquo;s done the past couple of years. You complicate it or start thinking about how to be a leader, that&rsquo;s when it gets muddy.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-011422/9541874-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="1063" height="1301"><figcaption class="caption-body">The B&rsquo;s Cup run gave Chara plenty of time to grow an impressive playoff beard. (DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>When Chara agreed to travel to Mozambique with Robyn Regehr three summers ago to take part in an initiative for the international Right to Play charitable organization, he suggested the group go to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro afterward (Regehr declined the invitation). Former THN feature writer Mark Brender, who organized the trip for Right to Play, recalls Chara leading the group in runs up and down the stairs in the hotel lobby in Mozambique to prepare for the trek. (Chara made it to the lower summit of Kilimanjaro, Gilman&rsquo;s Point, but was too fatigued and starting to feel the effects of altitude sickness to carry on another 700 vertical feet to the very top, Uhuru Peak.)When the NHL Network&rsquo;s $90,000 camera was confiscated before the climb and there were fears they wouldn&rsquo;t get it back, Chara quietly told the group at the airport to keep quiet and let him handle it. After handing the security guard several hundred dollars, the group picked up its camera and was on its way.It&rsquo;s that kind of leadership that GM Peter Chiarelli wanted when he signed Chara from Ottawa. In the Bruins dressing room, Chara sits in a corner under a placard of Hall of Famer Dit Clapper so he can see everyone without having to turn his head. A knowing glance or a word, Chara has learned, is just as effective as leading by example. It has taken some time, but the blueliner is grasping the concept that he doesn&rsquo;t always have to be everything to everyone when it comes to leadership. &ldquo;Sometimes you&rsquo;ll have to tell him, &lsquo;Hey, you played 28 minutes last night, you don&rsquo;t need to practice today,&rsquo; and he&rsquo;ll say, &lsquo;Yeah, but I feel better if I skate,&rsquo; &rdquo; said B&rsquo;s coach Claude Julien. &ldquo;My first year (2007-08), I really had to convince him &ndash; not convince him, I had to tell him &ndash; to take a day off, and eventually he realized it wasn&rsquo;t hurting his game. Now he&rsquo;s a lot better and a lot calmer and he&rsquo;s a better captain and a better player because of it. Sometimes less is more.&rdquo;Or not. When Chara played for the Ottawa Senators, he studied online and in the off-season to get a college degree in financial planning. Then there&rsquo;s the training. Oh, the training. Chara is known around the league for his legendary workouts and feels most at home on a bike travelling up and down the Pyrenees and French Alps. The day prior to a stage of the Tour de France, he&rsquo;ll replicate the climb and wait to watch the riders come by the next day. Most of the treks are known as Category 1 climbs, meaning they last about 12 miles with an average grade of six percent. It might not sound that difficult, but just try it. Chara reasons that if you watch the Tour at the time trials or flats, you don&rsquo;t see any of the riders because they just fly by. During the climbs, he can watch them go through the same agony he did the previous day.During the lockout, Chara played in Karlstad and found he had too much downtime without his wife there. So he enlisted the services of a professional skier who was rehabbing an ankle injury to teach him Swedish. Chara learned simply by reading books and magazines and having his tutor explain and translate words. He learned Russian because it was still mandatory in school when he was young. He can fluently speak Czech, Slovak, Russian and English and is pretty good in German. &ldquo;All those other Slavic languages like Polish, Croatian and Serbian, I can get by,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t count them. I only count those other ones.&rdquo;This is clearly a man who doesn&rsquo;t believe in half measures. Another example: he&rsquo;s building a home on a golf course in the High Tatras mountains in Slovakia and had crates of western cedar shipped from British Columbia. He did all the hardwood floors in the home on his own and insists work only be done on the house when he is there so the efforts of the builder match his vision.When Chara says he&rsquo;s &ldquo;always willing to get dirty and do stuff,&rdquo; he really means it. Landscaping is something in which he takes an enormous amount of pride and isn&rsquo;t the least bit reticent about being at the business end of a shovel. Chara feels a need to set the tone for the effort, whether he&rsquo;s on the ice or working with patio stones. &ldquo;I always try to get the best person for the job,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but when we&rsquo;re shovelling and I&rsquo;m the first one digging, they&rsquo;re like &lsquo;Oh, uh, we&rsquo;d better get digging.&rsquo; You want to set an example for the level of work ethic so they know, &lsquo;OK, we can&rsquo;t just be sitting there.&rsquo;Those who need that level of command over their surroundings have difficulties when things spiral out of control. That was certainly the case in March when Chara touched off a national frenzy in Canada when he hit Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens into a stanchion at the Bell Centre, ending the right winger&rsquo;s season. The scene of Pacioretty, lying seemingly lifeless on the ice, was horrifying. Debate raged over whether or not Chara should have been suspended and what his level of intent was. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper had his say on the matter and high level Canadian companies threatened to pull their NHL sponsorship money. The Montreal police even launched an investigation. &ldquo;I was like, &lsquo;Oh my God, this is way worse than I ever imagined it would be,&rsquo; &rdquo; Chara said.He and Pacioretty have talked about the incident and Chara is satisfied it has been put in the past between them. When the two spoke, Chara made sure to tell Pacioretty how much he felt for his family. &ldquo;I said, &lsquo;Look, I know your mom and dad for sure must have been scared and really worried,&rsquo; &rdquo; Chara said. &ldquo; &lsquo;Please tell them that&rsquo;s not what I meant. It just happened.&rsquo;With a Stanley Cup victory to his credit, the big captain now embarks on another chapter in his career. How this one plays out will go a long way to determining how his book ends. He is entering a seven-year contract extension with the Bruins that will take him past his 41st birthday and will result in total career earnings of more than $94 million. That&rsquo;s unimaginable to a man who came from a communist country and had one pair of non-descript jeans (because wearing Levis made it clear you were supporting a capitalist regime). This season, his actual salary will be $8.5 million, second-highest among defenseman in the NHL to Buffalo&rsquo;s Christian Ehrhoff. But that won&rsquo;t stop Chara from working as hard as he can to earn every penny of it. &#9632;

f0027-01

Never Satisfied

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03744/9541954-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="254" height="503"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02994/9541961-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="191" height="474"></div>PETER CROUCHEPL 6-7ZDENO CHARANHL 6-9<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-04541/9541947-1-eng-US/f0028-042.jpg" title="f0028-04" width="268" height="490"></div>IVO KARLOVICATP 6-10<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-05425/9541940-1-eng-US/f0028-052.jpg" title="f0028-05" width="178" height="515"></div>JON RAUCHMLB 6-11<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-06370/9541933-1-eng-US/f0028-062.jpg" title="f0028-06" width="197" height="522"></div>THE GREAT KHALIWWE 7-3<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-07310/9541926-1-eng-US/f0028-072.jpg" title="f0028-07" width="210" height="532"></div>YAO MINGNBA 7-6 &#9632;

f0028-03

TALL

<div class="byline">BY DAMIAN CRISTODERO</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0032-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-011399/9542006-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">STEVEN STAMKOSMARTIN ST-LOUIS (ABELIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02944/9541999-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="223" height="224"></div>While running some errands a few days after his team was eliminated from the Eastern Conference final, Lightning coach Guy Boucher, admittedly still emotional over the loss to the Bruins in seven games, got a pick-me-up.&ldquo;I heard it on the street and I kind of liked it,&rdquo; Boucher recalled. &ldquo;He said, &lsquo;Don&rsquo;t be disappointed. The team is on track and we&rsquo;re on the map now&ldquo;I liked the fact that we&rsquo;re on the map now and I think that&rsquo;s exactly what it is. The positive thing is we have created a culture and now we have to build on that culture.&rdquo;Indeed, there is much building left to do for a team that has completed just the first year of what GM Steve Yzerman has called a long-term plan. But there is no doubt that initial campaign &ndash; in which Tampa Bay went from a doormat to a Stanley Cup contender &ndash; was one of last season&rsquo;s most compelling stories.The Lightning not only reached the playoffs for the first time in four years, it turned itself into a model franchise that not only is re-tooling on the ice but has committed to the Tampa Bay community by pouring $35 million into the St. Pete Times Forum.All this after two previous years under former owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie and GM Brian Lawton, in which the team seriously lost its way. How did such a lightning-quick turnaround happen? It began at the top.The arrival of owner Jeff Vinik: Buying the team outright in March 2010 for what is believed to be $110 million allowed Vinik to avoid the crushing debt that plagued Koules and Barrie.Vinik, 52, a hedge fund manager and resident of Weston, Mass., hired GM Steve Yzerman, a hockey legend, and CEO Tod Leiweke, one of the biggest names in sports business, to run the franchise and got out of the way.But Vinik also became part of the community, buying two homes at a combined price of more than $9 million in Tampa and, with wife Penny, pledging $10 million from their family foundation to local charities over five years. It was all part of rebuilding the bridges so badly burned by the previous ownership group. &ldquo;Owning a team allows Penny and I the visibility to give back,&rdquo; Vinik said. &ldquo;It allows us to participate actively in the community and inspire others, hopefully, to do the same.&rdquo;The arrival of Yzerman: The hiring in May 2010 immediately restored credibility to hockey operations and Yzerman&rsquo;s moves gave the lineup the depth it hadn&rsquo;t had in some time. Free agents Sean Bergenheim, Brett Clark and Dominic Moore were signed. Simon Gagne was acquired from the Flyers.Most importantly, goaltender Dwayne Roloson and defenseman Eric Brewer were acquired before the deadline. &ldquo;The most important thing Steve has done is put the Lightning hockey program on a strong foundation for years to come,&rdquo; Vinik said. &ldquo;Everybody on the hockey side deserves credit for that, but Steve definitely had a big impact there.&rdquo;The arrival of Guy Boucher: The building blocks were there for the Lightning with stars such as Steven Stamkos, Marty St-Louis and Vinny Lecavalier, but it took Boucher, part coach and part psychologist, to bring it all together.It wasn&rsquo;t so much that the players instantly bought into Boucher&rsquo;s now famous 1-3-1 system, it was how Boucher, as he said, coached the individuals who made the team work. &ldquo;Managing people comes first on my list before coaching groups (and) systems,&rdquo; said the 40-year-old bench boss. &ldquo;If I have 24 players on my team, I need 24 ways to coach.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-011246/9541992-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="1291" height="1213"><figcaption class="caption-body">Coach Guy Boucher&rsquo;s motivation style and 1-3-1 system led to a surprising playoff run. (STEVE BABINEAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>The result was a close team, without cliques that thrived on effort and special teams.On offense the team was a great amalgam of stars and role players such as Bergenheim, Moore, Adam Hall, Steve Downie and Teddy Purcell who were invaluable during the playoffs.On defense, the addition of Brewer, the emergence of Victor Hedman and the rejuvenation of Mattias Ohlund were energizers. And we know what Roloson did in net.Yzerman already has said Vinik will allow him to increase payroll from last season&rsquo;s $50 million salary cap hit. That is important if Yzerman is to improve the team, especially with Stamkos&rsquo; new contract worth an average of $7.5 million a season.The players noticed the dedication. &ldquo;They want to make this team better and want to win and are committed,&rdquo; captain Vinny Lecavalier said. &ldquo;You can tell how passionate Steve and Mr. Vinik are about this team and that is going to make our team go to the next level.&rdquo;Like we said, it starts at the top. &#9632;

f0032-01

Bright Skies

<div class="byline">BY STEVE ZIPAY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0034-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011416/9542037-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Marc Staal&rsquo;s numbers have increased each season since he debuted in 2007. (ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Sometimes, in unexpected moments, we are awarded a glimpse into the future, a sense of the possible. For Marc Staal and Rangers fans, that moment came this past Nov. 15 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.The Blueshirts had fallen behind 2-1 after surrendering two goals in the third period and were shorthanded with less than two minutes to play. The Consol Energy Center was rocking. But the rangy Staal, considered one of the better shutdown defensemen in the league, cradled the puck behind his net, weaved end-to-end and scored to tie the game with 1:26 left. Ryan Callahan completed the comeback in overtime. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;ll be doing that every night,&rdquo; the low-key Staal said sheepishly afterward.But why not?Since 2007, when the only blueliner in the forward-dominated Thunder Bay clan of Staals broke into the NHL, the expectations have been taller than his 6-foot-4 frame. Sure, he could be relied on to shadow and hammer elite forwards such as Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and even his brother, Eric. However, the question lingered: Where was the latent offense, the missing dimension that would vault him into Norris Trophy consideration?To be sure, Staal had an eventful 2010-11 on and off the ice. He anchored a Rangers defense that included two rookies by logging 25:44 a game, fourth highest in the league. He wore an &lsquo;A&rsquo; for the first time, was selected to the All-Star Game and proposed to his high school sweetheart at Christmas. Four of his seven goals came on the power play. The significance? In his first three seasons, Staal did not record a single goal on special teams. His confidence, and coach John Tortorella&rsquo;s, was increasing.On the downside, his ironman string of 247 games was broken Feb. 25 courtesy an aching left knee, an injury that forced him to sit for a handful of games and slowed him the rest of the season. His hits dropped from 178 to 140. The wear and tear was particularly costly in Game 1 of the playoffs against the Capitals.After grinding for an incredible 33:48, Staal&rsquo;s clearing attempt in overtime was knocked down by Jason Arnott, who fed Alex Semin for the winning one-timer.The season, which had been a huge step forward, hit a sour note. The Rangers were eliminated in five games and the demanding Tortorella&rsquo;s assessment of the 24-year-old was accurate &ndash; and honest: Staal had a good season that ended with a good run in the playoffs despite being injured. But he must progress. &ldquo;Hopefully some of the bite in his game will improve as we go along,&rdquo; Tortorella said. &ldquo;He is a big part of our club. But there&rsquo;s always more and it&rsquo;s our job as coaches to make sure they understand it. He&rsquo;s played a lot, but he&rsquo;s still just a young man.&ldquo;He has an &lsquo;A&rsquo; on his shirt now. He needs to assume more responsibility &ndash; and this isn&rsquo;t negative, this is part of the process for him. He is going to be better and the most important thing is he knows there&rsquo;s more there.&rdquo;If Tortorella were a banker, he&rsquo;d declare Staal is a growth investment that needs to pay some more dividends.Staal, who signed a five-year, $19.9 million deal in 2010 said he&rsquo;s aware of the challenge ahead on Broadway. His teammates understand that as well. &ldquo;We have some older guys to help us along the way, to help guys like myself, &lsquo;Staalsie,&rsquo; &lsquo;Cally,&rsquo; &lsquo;Dubi&rsquo; (Brandon Dubinsky), to start taking on some of that leadership role,&rdquo; said Dan Girardi. &ldquo;As a core group, we&rsquo;ve got to take responsibility and play well to help the team win and not just keep relying on that we&rsquo;re still really young and still growing.&rdquo;<h2>2,4</h2>Shorthanded goals and points by Marc Staal in 2010-11, both of which led the NHL among defensemen. Six of his seven goals last season were on special teams. &#9632;

f0034-01

Great Expectations

<div class="byline">BY ADAM PROTEAU</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0036-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-011317/9542082-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg"></div>In June, the Pittsburgh Penguins sent out an email promoting their youth summer camps. And the advertising for it was at once unsettling and reassuring.The Pens were advertising &ldquo;free baseline concussion testing&rdquo; for all participants in their camps &ndash; underscoring just how prominent the issue of head injuries in hockey has become. And it shouldn&rsquo;t be a surprise as to why. When the face of the game (otherwise known as Mr. Sidney P. Crosby, captain of the aforementioned Pens) has his playing career jeopardized as it was last season, people leap up and take notice.However, the problem of head injuries was around long before Crosby was sidelined for the second half of the 2010-11 season. From stars such as Pat LaFontaine to journeymen such as David Tanabe, NHLers have been dealing with the issue for more than a decade. That&rsquo;s why, in a way, the Penguins&rsquo; summer camp advertisement was a sign of progress in addition to a harbinger of darker days ahead.The NHL and the game itself have made significant strides in the way concussions are diagnosed and treated. But now that the spotlight is firmly on what some medical professionals have been calling an epidemic, there remains a degree of confusion as to what the truths and myths are about brain injuries.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-011277/9542075-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="1320" height="1383"><figcaption class="caption-body">A concussion put David Perron on the shelf for the final 72 games last season. (MARK BUCKNER/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Arguably the biggest head shot myth that still exists is the notion that players at any level can &ldquo;play through&rdquo; a brain injury. &ldquo;You hear that all the time, that real men always suck it up and keep playing,&rdquo; said Dr. Michael Cusimano, neurosurgeon at St. Michael&rsquo;s hospital in Toronto and one of the leading experts on concussions in hockey. &ldquo;And that is just about the absolute worst thing you can do. Your brain is your most precious resource and any injury to it is one that should be taken extremely seriously.&rdquo;On the other hand, the rise in awareness has also made the issue a sort of all-encompassing boogeyman that can scare affected athletes into making rash decisions. For example, although CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is a degenerative condition discovered in the brains of athletes (including late NHL enforcers Bob Probert and Reggie Fleming and numerous deceased NFL players), it has not been conclusively established as the direct cause of many symptoms associated with brain injuries (including early-onset dementia and depression).Even the most learned experts admit the world of science and medicine is just scratching the surface in terms of its understanding of brain injuries. Meaning that any player, coach, manager or parent who professes to have a grip on the problem is not telling you the truth. &ldquo;You think you know what a brain injury is before you have one, but nobody really knows what it&rsquo;s like until you sustain one and they&rsquo;re all different for different people,&rdquo; said Cusimano, who has conducted clinical studies of concussions suffered by amateur Canadian youth and is a major proponent of banning bodychecking at all levels of the amateur game.<blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT A BRAIN INJURY IS BEFORE YOU HAVE ONE, BUT NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHAT IT&rsquo;S LIKE.&rdquo; - Dr. Michael Cusimano</blockquote>The variance of impact is why the changes the NHL has made to address head injuries &ndash; including clearer concussion diagnosis guidelines and the extension of Rule 48&rsquo;s ban on head shots to include all targeted hits to the head &ndash; will not be enough to completely rid the sport of the problem.Any contact sport will have ramifications on the bodies of those who play it and the reaction of individuals inevitably will vary.St. Louis Blues left winger David Perron, was sidelined for the majority of 2010-11 after being hit by San Jose Sharks star center Joe Thornton in November. &ldquo;I can tell you that after (he) hit me, the new rules wouldn&rsquo;t have made a difference in what happened with me,&rdquo; the 23-year-old Perron said. &ldquo;I came back after the hit and continued to play because I wasn&rsquo;t showing any symptoms right then at the time. My symptoms didn&rsquo;t show up until later on. So it&rsquo;s not like there&rsquo;s a perfect system that can catch all concussions right away.&rdquo;Another myth that has been slowly growing in NHL circles is the sense that, once a player has suffered a concussion, it&rsquo;s only going to be a short period of time before he gets hit again and has his career shut down for good. Carolina Hurricanes winger Chad LaRose suffered a serious head injury during the 2004-05 lockout season when he was playing in the American League, but has not suffered another head injury since. &ldquo;I was stuck in my hotel room in total darkness for a couple of days &ndash; no TV and no bright lights the whole time &ndash; and the concussion was pretty bad,&rdquo; said LaRose, who took a slap shot by his own defenseman directly off his nose. &ldquo;But since then, I&rsquo;ve been free and clear of any of the symptoms.&rdquo;One undeniable truth about concussions is the link cutting-edge hockey equipment has to the issue, not only as far as the injuries that can be caused by nearly-bulletproof elbow and shoulder pads, but also in terms of the sense of fearlessness they instill in players. That is the polar opposite of how it used to be in the NHL. A quarter-century ago, players had to weigh the benefits of drilling an opponent into the boards against the negative effect that thundering hit would have on their own body.But a smaller player such as 5-foot-11 Minnesota Wild right winger Cal Clutterbuck can now strap on hard-shell equipment and feel as big and bold as a bear like Ducks enforcer George Parros. Many feel that needs to change &ndash; and change faster than it has, considering people have urged the softening of equipment since prior to 2004-05. &ldquo;You want to protect the players adequately, but you do not want to give the players armor,&rdquo; said former Calgary Flames GM and current TSN analyst Craig Button. &ldquo;And changing the equipment is something that will help to manage the speed of the game. You&rsquo;re going to be more careful on the ice if you know that your equipment isn&rsquo;t going to shield you from the effects of all contact.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-011170/9542068-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="1320" height="1050"><figcaption class="caption-body">There are concerns Marc Savard will never play again due to concussion issues. (BILL WIPPERT/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve opened up the game to more speed, now how do we get more speed bumps back into the game? I think one of the ways has to be protective equipment.&rdquo;As important as any aforementioned truth or myth is the fact players have to take responsibility for their actions on the ice. The speed of the game results in actions and reactions in mere milliseconds and, as such, players sometimes falsely appear to be acting maliciously. But current and former players agree that more care and consideration must be given to the common well-being of the players as a larger group.And they say that care and consideration can only come from the players themselves. &ldquo;As a player, you know a guy isn&rsquo;t paying attention when you go to blow him out,&rdquo; LaRose said. &ldquo;So it&rsquo;s definitely on the player making the hit as well. Players see those hits and we&rsquo;ll say to our teammates in the hotel room, &lsquo;Why wouldn&rsquo;t you just let up a little there? You could have just knocked him down just as easily.&rsquo; &rdquo;The final truth about concussions is that attitudes are changing.The Ontario Hockey Federation recently followed Cusimano&rsquo;s advice and implemented a full bodychecking ban for all young players aged six to 21 playing house league hockey (they remain acceptable at the &ldquo;select&rdquo; level). As well, multiple sources close to the NHL Players&rsquo; Association believe the union will take a much more aggressive and progressive stance on player safety for the 2011-12 campaign. In particular, the PA will be accepting of longer suspensions and increased fines for repeat offenders.The game has passed the point where Scott Stevens-like bodychecks are to be savored like a fine wine. We gasp at them as much out of fear for the victim as out of awe for the demolition job. We know now what those types of hits can do to players in the short term. And we&rsquo;re only learning what ills they will bring in the long haul. When one of Stevens&rsquo; most famous victims, Paul Kariya, retired in June, he spoke out harshly against the NHL for not moving quickly and effectively enough to curb the number of head shots.And when we look at the Pittsburgh Penguins&rsquo; summer camps touting free cognitive baseline testing (which is a bargain, considering families can expect to pay $100 or more to have their child tested), we can both take comfort that people are moving to address the problem yet, at the same time, see a sober reminder of how what happens at the NHL level affects kids in junior and the amateur ranks.&ldquo;What we&rsquo;re starting to see here is a groundswell,&rdquo; Button said of the changing mindset. &ldquo;NHL owners are bright people, but are you going to hang on to the current rules for another year or two and have another Marc Savard on your hands? Is that what we want? No, so let&rsquo;s get past this and evolve already.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0036-01

Truths & Myths

<div class="byline">BY RYAN DIXON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0040-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-01871/9542134-1-eng-US/f0040-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">P.K. Subban and Hal Gill are a D-pair made in a blender: brash kid-muted vet (SUBBAN: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-02485/9542127-1-eng-US/f0041-022.jpg" title="f0041-02" width="249" height="244"></div>Hal Gill was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2011, but long before the open market loomed, the big guy signed on to spend another year with the Montreal Canadiens. Then he put the pen down and used his fingers to type out a little message to his blueline buddy. &ldquo;He actually sent me a text and said, &lsquo;It looks like I&rsquo;m going to be back, so make sure you get yourself in shape so you don&rsquo;t make me look bad,&rsquo; &rdquo; Subban said. &ldquo;I had a pretty good chuckle out of that.&rdquo;The back-and-forth between Gill and Subban is pretty well entrenched at this point and it&rsquo;s one of the reasons the two were able to form Montreal&rsquo;s top shutdown pair for a good portion of last season. &ldquo;The biggest reason we work well is our ability to communicate and I think that&rsquo;s something that&rsquo;s underrated at that level,&rdquo; Subban said. &ldquo;Hal can come off the ice and say, &lsquo;P.K., you&rsquo;ve got to take that guy who just went to the net, you can&rsquo;t let him get in front of the net, you have to box him out.&rsquo;&ldquo;I can say the exact same thing to Hal and even though I&rsquo;m a young guy, he doesn&rsquo;t take it that way. We have a great working relationship.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-01797/9542120-1-eng-US/f0042-012.jpg" title="f0042-01" width="2062" height="1050"><figcaption class="caption-body">Subban and Gill effectively became Montreal&rsquo;s go-to shutdown pairing. (GILL: FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>The chemistry became crucial when, on Boxing Day 2010, stay-at-home defenseman Josh Gorges played his final game of the season for the Habs before undergoing surgery on his right knee. The Canadiens already knew they would be without two-way standout Andrei Markov the rest of the year thanks to a knee injury of his own, so the state of the blueline was looking pretty bleak. Contributing to that was the fact Subban didn&rsquo;t even dress for Gorges&rsquo; final game; the roaming rookie was sat down as a healthy scratch for the fifth time in a month. It was obviously a bit of a tough time for Subban, but his head was cleared over the holidays when a visit to Montreal General Hospital to hand out presents to sick kids helped put his own plight in perspective. From that point on, he became a fixture on Montreal&rsquo;s back end, playing in all situations and essentially performing the role of a No. 1 D-man en route to being named to the NHL&rsquo;s all-rookie team alongside Washington&rsquo;s John Carlson on the blueline.At first blush, Gill and Subban may seem like an odd couple because they&rsquo;re at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of both personality and playing style. Subban&rsquo;s story is pretty well known at this point; whether on or off the ice, the volume is usually set to 10. As for Gill, if he was a character from a book, he&rsquo;d be one of those talking trees from Lord of the Rings, taking lumbering strides and occasionally dispensing the wisdom of a man who has seen a bit of everything over the years. &ldquo;Hal has a personality where, he&rsquo;s not going to be berating you and yelling and screaming at you,&rdquo; said former NHL defenseman and current Hockey Night in Canada analyst Garry Galley. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a very soft personality, he&rsquo;ll get his message across, he&rsquo;ll keep P.K. in line and P.K. respects him enough (to listen).&rdquo;Whether Subban and Gill line up together again when Montreal has a full regiment of blueliners remains to be seen, but Galley stressed the fact their success wasn&rsquo;t about Subban roaming and Gill covering up his mistakes.The days of pairing D-men by sticking a fence post with a Ferrari have long past; every blueliner &ndash; especially one playing on a shutdown pair &ndash; is expected to hold the fort and Subban is no exception. While Galley noted Subban certainly makes his share of what he deemed &ldquo;energetic errors,&rdquo; he said that&rsquo;s all part of the process when you&rsquo;re dealing with a 22-year-old who most definitely has a go-for-it mentality. &ldquo;This isn&rsquo;t a cross-country skier,&rdquo; Galley said. &ldquo;This is a downhill skier.&rdquo;And that energy is infectious. It&rsquo;s easy to see how Gill, a 36-year-old Stanley Cup champion who is six games shy of 1,000 for his NHL career, would be a positive influence on Subban, but it&rsquo;s not as if the young buck has nothing to offer the old bull. Galley said when he was a veteran defenseman skating with the Philadelphia Flyers, the club teamed him up with a young Dmitry Yushkevich so he could impart some of what he&rsquo;d learned over his career. For all the knowledge Galley could pass on, Yush-kevich returned the favor by displaying the kind of youthful enthusiasm that helps remind a vet what makes the game fun. It&rsquo;s no different with Subban and Gill. &ldquo;I try to take as much as I can from Hal and he tries to take some of the energy from me to bring it to his game,&rdquo; Subban said.There were reports last year in Montreal that perhaps Subban&rsquo;s energy had resulted in an argument between the vet and the rook in the Habs dressing room. Subban flatly denied any conflict, noting the rampant Montreal media can often reflect a different reality than what the players know. That, of course, wasn&rsquo;t the only time Subban found himself answering less-than-favorable questions from the press.While some celebrated what they called charisma, others &ndash; including some fellow players &ndash; derided a brash newbie they felt wasn&rsquo;t showing acceptable amounts of respect. Subban says one of the best things about hockey is it provides an opportunity to forge close relationships with people. He believes those who know him best never question his character. &ldquo;I know a lot of guys around the league and I&rsquo;m sure a lot of players who&rsquo;ve played with me and know me, they know I&rsquo;m not like that, they know I&rsquo;m not a cocky guy,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m confident and I&rsquo;ll never back down from anybody and I&rsquo;m going to speak my mind&hellip;But I respect the game, I respect my teammates, I respect my opponents.&rdquo;When he reflects back, Subban calls his first full NHL season an overwhelmingly positive experience, noting the down times weren&rsquo;t when people questioned his approach, but with his first-half trips to the press box. As for those who wonder where he gets off sometimes, Subban says what commentary he does pay attention to is only fuel for the fire. &ldquo;As a player, you don&rsquo;t want to be complacent at this level, you want people to keep you on your toes and keep you on edge,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;And a lot of these people who don&rsquo;t want to see me do well or don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;m good for the game, I think a lot of those people don&rsquo;t understand they&rsquo;re only making P.K. Subban better every day.&rdquo;That would be great news for the Canadiens. Alongside goalie Carey Price, Subban figures to be a prominent piece of a club that will be trying to ascend to the status of true contender the next few years. Galley said, as with many great young talents, the challenge for Subban is avoiding a swollen head and learning sometimes, less is more. &ldquo;He is their guy back there,&rdquo; Galley said. &ldquo;You build a defense corps around a guy like P.K. and I think (coach Jacques Martin) and the management there know that and it&rsquo;s just a matter of handling it properly so you develop him and I think they&rsquo;ve done a good job of that.&rdquo;Subban pointed out that an element of his development is often overlooked, possibly because the prominence his personality affords him obscures the fact he wasn&rsquo;t a high draft pick, but rather No. 43 in 2007, someone with a lot to prove at the junior level and in the American League after being drafted. &ldquo;What a lot of people don&rsquo;t talk about is the fact I went to Hamilton and I rode the bus for a year and I paid my dues,&rdquo; he said.Subban made his NHL debut in February of 2010, skating beside Gill during a game in Philadelphia. Injuries on Montreal&rsquo;s blueline have since afforded him an opportunity he otherwise might not have had to prove his worth. It seems reasonable to expect that if he can augment his skill with some lessons learned from guys like Gill, he&rsquo;ll leave observers focusing on his play. &ldquo;For me to even be considered as a building block for this franchise long-term, it&rsquo;s a huge honor,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Obviously I relish that opportunity and that&rsquo;s why I go to the gym twice a day to work out, so that I can be a part of this team&rsquo;s future.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-01779/9542113-1-eng-US/f0043-012.jpg" title="f0043-01" width="1061" height="1167"><figcaption class="caption-body">(FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><h2>16</h2>Defensemen taken ahead of P.K. Subban in the 2007 draft. Of those, only one has played more NHL games (Karl Alzner) and only one has more NHL points (Kevin Shattenkirk) &#9632;

f0040-01

The Odd Couple

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0044-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-01677/9542186-1-eng-US/f0044-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Kevin Bieksa took a big step towards becoming one of the NHL&rsquo;s top blueliners.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-02424/9542179-1-eng-US/f0044-022.jpg" title="f0044-02" width="247" height="240"></div>But Big Al still has the stories. He&rsquo;ll always have the stories. Like the time in 1981 when he went on strike two months after his son was born. He headed to Alberta to find work and hustled pool along the way, getting into a bar fight with a couple of lads who refused to pay up. Ended up finding work on an oil rig after that thanks to a couple of other guys in the bar who saw what had happened. Or the time he was called to diffuse some tension on the picket line the first night of a strike, only to see a well-lubricated guy there with a stripper on each arm and a gun in his hand.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-01590/9542172-1-eng-US/f0046-012.jpg" title="f0046-01" width="1561" height="999"><figcaption class="caption-body">Canucks fans &ndash; and the media &ndash; can&rsquo;t get enough of Bieska and his witty ways.</figcaption></div>Little Kevin Bieksa could sit at his father&rsquo;s knee and hear stories like that all day long. Al Bieksa was a millwright at the Stelco steel plant in Hamilton, Ont., and was on the executive of the United Steelworkers of America Local 1005. When the workers went on strike, the battles were confrontational. Think of it as NHL arbitration with both sides being allowed to throw punches. &ldquo;He used to tell me about the picket line and the flying squad he created with 12 guys, the biggest and the baddest around,&rdquo; Kevin said. &ldquo;Their job was to deter the truck drivers from coming in and dropping off the steel at the yard.&rdquo;Actually, Al said, there were 21 of them and 19 of them had black belts. They were chosen because guys in martial arts know discipline. The flying squad was charged with the task of monitoring sites where the union suspected the company had stockpiled steel for its big customers such as General Motors. More often than not, Al said, he would use finesse rather than force, speaking to the truck driver as one working man to another. Most times, unless they were professional strike-breakers, they would turn their empty rigs around.But nothing should get in the way of a good story and still, a man&rsquo;s got to do what a man&rsquo;s got to do. Al played hockey in industrial leagues in Hamilton and often, with his sons watching, would get involved in his share of on-ice mayhem. So we know that Kevin comes by his toughness honestly. But the cutting of the cloth did go in a somewhat different direction beyond that. Kevin, who was an honors student in high school, eschewed the Ontario League where he could have fought whenever he wanted and graduated on the Dean&rsquo;s List from Bowling Green State University. He&rsquo;s one of the most well-spoken players in the game today. &ldquo;Hey, we can&rsquo;t all be meatheads, right?&rdquo; Kevin said. &ldquo;Live and learn.&rdquo;One story that has made the rounds, and probably been a little embellished, occurred just after Kevin had finished up at Bowling Green and was playing the last four games of the 2003-04 season for the Manitoba Moose in the American League.At a post-game gathering in a bar, Bieksa accidentally spilled a drink on teammate Kirill Koltsov. After apologizing profusely, oh, about 10 times, he got tired of Fedor Fedorov challenging him to a fight and decided to oblige him, one-punching him in the parking lot.Legend has it that Brian Burke, in his last day as Canucks GM, ordered Bieksa to be signed immediately, cementing his future with the Canucks. Chances are, Bieksa impressed the Canucks a lot more by scoring 39 points and earning 192 penalty minutes the next season than he ever did with one punch on a lightweight, but, hey, you know a good story. &ldquo;And what people never knew,&rdquo; Al said, &ldquo;is that Kevin became really good friends with Koltsov after that.&rdquo;Bieksa has indeed come a long, long way since then. Back in the day, Bieksa could be accused of being a little too eager, chasing the game and everyone in it without letting it come to him. He has tempered that tendency, something that came with natural maturity, the tutoring of former Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell and the need to change his game after sustaining two separate serious lacerations.Bieksa&rsquo;s fervor is still a work in progress at times even now, but he has learned to tame his ways quite nicely, to the tune of $4.6 million (the average of what he&rsquo;ll receive from the Canucks each of the next five seasons after Vancouver chose to invest in him over fellow defenseman Christian Ehrhoff). &ldquo;At the beginning of your career, much like most people, you rely on your physical ability &ndash; your skill, your speed, your strength,&rdquo; Bieksa said. &ldquo;Now I&rsquo;m thinking and I&rsquo;m looking around more than I&rsquo;m just reacting on instinct. When you&rsquo;re young, you&rsquo;re just playing the game like you did when you were a kid.&rdquo;At 30 years old, Bieksa certainly is not a kid anymore and enters this season as the Canucks&rsquo; highest-paid defenseman. The pain of failing to close the deal in the Stanley Cup final will take some time to wear off, but in many ways the 2011 playoffs was a coming-out party for him.Not only was he very good at times &ndash; scoring in overtime in Game 6 to send the Canucks to the Cup final and making a perfect miss shot, bank pass to Maxim Lapierre to win Game 5 of the final &ndash; he became a go-to guy in the dressing room for his sharp wit.Some of his great lines during the final included:&#9654; On rookie defenseman Chris Tanev stepping in and playing well in Game 5: &ldquo;He could have played the game with a cigarette in his mouth. So calm and cool out there. It&rsquo;s almost like he&rsquo;s clueless.&rdquo; &#9654; On the Boston Bruins awarding a jacket to their player of the game: &ldquo;You mean like peewee teams do? NHL teams, hardest worker?&rdquo; &#9654; On the contribution made by the injured Manny Malhotra: &ldquo;He tells us about the highlights that are on TV. The French Open, who won the quarterfinal matches. If there&rsquo;s a big poker game on TV, he tells us who&rsquo;s the chip leader.&rdquo; &#9654; On the Bruins style of play: &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got a lot of real good&nbsp;pushers on their team over there after the whistles. They must have had an expert come in and show them how to push a guy after the whistle.&rdquo; &#9654; On Boston&rsquo;s mammoth defenseman Zdeno Chara: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s very tall. I think you know that.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-01536/9542165-1-eng-US/f0047-012.jpg" title="f0047-01" width="1230" height="834"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bieksa wears his battle scars with pride, but a new maturity means less of them. (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>We could go on forever, but Bieksa will be here all week. After all, storytelling kind of runs in his blood. &#9632;

f0044-01

Live & Learn

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-02378/9542217-1-eng-US/f0046-022.jpg" title="f0046-02" width="726" height="847"><figcaption class="caption-body">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. ZDENO CHARABOS&nbsp;+332. KEVIN BIEKSAVAN&nbsp;+323. TONI LYDMANANA&nbsp;+324. ANDREJ MESZAROSPHI&nbsp;+305. MATT CARLEPHI&nbsp;+306. ADAM MCQUAIDBOS&nbsp;+307. DAN HAMHUISVAN&nbsp;+298. BRIAN CAMPBELLCHI&nbsp;+289. ANDREW FERENCEBOS&nbsp;+2210. JOHN CARLSONWSH&nbsp;+21 &#9632;

f0046-02

+/–

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0048-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-01413/9542262-1-eng-US/f0048-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Douglas Murray is one of the NHL&rsquo;s more prolific hitters &ndash; just look at the numbers. (MITCHELL LAYTON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-01379/9542255-1-eng-US/f0049-012.jpg" title="f0049-01" width="252" height="248"></div>Here&rsquo;s the back story: at the 1960 winter olympics in Squaw valley, calif., 20 years before his grandson douglas Murray was born, Lasse Bjorn was a standout defenseman for the Swedish Olympic team. In the first game of the tournament, Floyd &lsquo;Butch&rsquo; Martin of canada, via the kitchener-waterloo dutchmen, knocked him clean over the boards and Bjorn ended up with broken ribs.The story goes that Bjorn has been plotting his revenge against Martin ever since. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d tell him that was a real cheap shot,&rdquo; Bjorn said if he ever met up with Martin today, &ldquo;and then I&rsquo;d swallow him whole. I would have done so when it happened if I didn&rsquo;t lose the blade of my skate, so I was slower than usual.&rdquo;There&rsquo;s only one problem. The year after the olympics, Martin was playing for the chatham Maroons, who toured through Sweden and the former Soviet union. one of their games was against Bjorn&rsquo;s djurgarden squad and while the two played up the incident, even posing together on the front page of the newspaper, they had a good laugh about it. and Martin happily reports he was not swallowed up by one of the greatest defensemen ever to play for Tre kronor. &ldquo;actually,&rdquo; Martin recalled, &ldquo;he was a hell of a nice guy.&rdquo;But you get the idea here. Bjorn was a take-no-prisoners type of competitor who liked to hit first and ask questions later. a member of the international ice Hockey Federation&rsquo;s Hall of Fame, he won nine Swedish League championships with Djurgarden between 1950 and 1963. He played in nine world championships for Sweden, winning two gold and three bronze medals in addition to one bronze in three Winter Olympics. He and defense partner Roland Stoltz are Swedish legends who would take young Douglas to Djurgarden games and, almost like Statler and Waldorf, those two old guys from The Muppets, comment on everything they saw that they didn&rsquo;t like. &ldquo;My grandpa was pointing out every time a guy could hit somebody,&rdquo; Murray said, &ldquo;and Rollie Stoltz was pointing out how to play the puck.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-01363/9542248-1-eng-US/f0050-012.jpg" title="f0050-01" width="1164" height="1213"><figcaption class="caption-body">Hitting is in the genes for Murray. Grandpa Lasse Bjorn was also a well-known bruiser. (THEARON W. HENDERSON/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Murray is probably a lot more Lasse Bjorn than Roland Stoltz these days as a defenseman with the San Jose Sharks. After all, he has recorded 200-plus hits each of the past two seasons and has led the Sharks in that category each of the past three. He will never be confused with Paul Coffey in terms of skating and has developed into a shutdown defenseman, but he likes to think all the advice from Stoltz didn&rsquo;t go unheeded. The will to compete and the willingness to hit, though, were passed down directly from his grandfather.Former NHL star and long-time scout Anders Hedberg was on his way up in Sweden when Bjorn&rsquo;s career was ending and recalls watching him as a boy. He remembered Bjorn being the biggest player in Swedish hockey and one who could have played in an expanded NHL. &ldquo;When he stepped into somebody, it was very effective,&rdquo; Hedberg said. &ldquo;You could hear the sound of the body crunch and he could play. In today&rsquo;s world he would have played in the NHL and he would have been a better player than Douglas Murray. You can quote me on that one.&rdquo;That means Bjorn, circa 2011-12, would have been better than one of the league&rsquo;s most physical and effective shutdown players and he would have made in excess of $2.5 million. He would have been better than a player who was the best defenseman in the Eastern College Athletic Conference in 2003, a two-time ECAC all-American and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. And finally, Lasse Bjorn would have even been better than the guy who shared the Rubbermaid Player of the Year Award (we&rsquo;re not kidding about that, by the way) as a member of the American League&rsquo;s Cleveland Barons in 2005.Murray&rsquo;s route to the NHL has been an interesting one to be sure. Instead of honing his game at home, Murray came to North America at 17 to play two years of Jr. A before enrolling at Cornell University. It was there that his game blossomed and where he was noticed by NHL scouts. Not only did Murray get a degree in hotel administration, he also displayed an entrepreneurial acumen, much like his grandfather.During his playing days and after retiring, Bjorn was the owner and operator of Lasse Bjorn Akeri (trucking). His company logo was a hockey stick with wheels underneath. His father, Thomas, heads a family-owned textile company and runs Lee and Wrangler in Sweden. And when Murray was at Cornell, he and several friends invented and marketed the Uber-Tap, a hands-free, three-spout keg tap. You know what they say about necessity&hellip;Although he gave up control of the company early in his career to focus on hockey, he anticipates being a captain of industry after he&rsquo;s finished being an alternate captain for the Sharks. &ldquo;I always loved business in general,&rdquo; Murray said. &ldquo;When I&rsquo;m done playing hockey, I&rsquo;m much more likely to do something in business &ndash; whether it&rsquo;s restaurants or hotels or venture capitalism &ndash; than hockey. I love the game, but I would think I would tackle something new when I&rsquo;m done.&rdquo;That likely won&rsquo;t be anytime too soon. Murray has two years left on his deal with the Sharks, which will take him to the age of 33. He&rsquo;ll likely have at least one more multi-year deal left in him by that stage of his career.And Bjorn? He turns 80 in December and still never misses a Djurgarden game. He played oldtimers hockey and ran his trucking company well into his 70s. He continues to hike and walk with gusto and still occasionally laces up the skates.&ldquo;My wife, Jack Daniel&rsquo;s and exercise,&rdquo; Bjorn said when asked what keeps him young. &ldquo;These days mostly power walks and skating on the frozen lake. My last hockey tournament was in Lake Placid in 2001. I played for the Minnesota oldtimers and we won. I was only 70 years old at the time, so it was really a piece of cake.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0048-01

Swedish Hammer

<div class="byline">INTERVIEW BY RYAN DIXON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0052-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-01302/9542338-1-eng-US/f0052-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SCOTT CUNNINGHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-01281/9542331-1-eng-US/f0053-012.jpg" title="f0053-01" width="277" height="278"></div>Bruce Boudreau continues to try to find the right buttons to push to take his Washington Capitals beyond the second round, a place they&rsquo;ve yet to be since his tenure began in November of 2007. We chatted with the 56-year-old coach about his style behind the bench, bounce-back years for Alex Ovechkin and his stars and what it would mean to finally scale the championship mountain.THE HOCKEY NEWS&nbsp;If Bruce Boudreau the coach had Bruce Boudreau the player for a stretch of time, what would the coach&rsquo;s advice for the player have been?BRUCE BOUDREAU I would have taught him to be responsible in his own zone, there&rsquo;s no doubt in my mind. When you&rsquo;re a scorer for the most part, especially in the minors or junior, you have a tendency to look at the numbers first and the responsibilities of your own zone second.It&rsquo;s like anything else, when you get older and you get more experience you realize the game is played on 200 feet and to be a complete player you have to do that.THN&nbsp;The Capitals changed their style to be more defensive last year. It may not have resulted in significant playoff success, but was it still an important transition year?BB It made you believe we can do both things; we have done both things in the past two years. Now it&rsquo;s just a question of putting both things together.I think the goal for this year is to continue to play really good defensive hockey and at the same time be a little more opportunistic scoring-wise. We had a little bit of a down year scoring goals, but it was a pretty high bar we had set from the previous year.THN&nbsp;You mentioned some of the Caps&rsquo; offensive capabilities we&rsquo;ve witnessed in the past. Are you optimistic the goals will come back?BB Very few people have Mike Bossy careers where they score 50-plus goals every year. You look at the greatest goal-scorers, sometimes they get 60, sometimes they get 35. I don&rsquo;t think Alex (Ovechkin) will have a year where he scores 32 again. Mike Green was hurt a lot and only had eight goals. Nick Backstrom was really snake-bitten. He only had 18. He&rsquo;ll jump back.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-02188/9542324-1-eng-US/f0053-022.jpg" title="f0053-02" width="772" height="1121"><figcaption class="caption-body">(DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>THN&nbsp;Some people have given you the tab of &ldquo;player friendly&rdquo; coach and suggested that sometimes a group of players need someone who will give them a kick in the pants.BB I would rather think of it as a &ldquo;communicator&rdquo; than anything else. The people who say that usually see me in (one context), they don&rsquo;t see me behind the bench, they don&rsquo;t see me behind closed doors, they see me in a positive environment and they think that.It&rsquo;s very much like parenting, sometimes you give a kick in the butt and sometimes you give a pat on the back. I don&rsquo;t really want to come across as anything other than somebody who does what he has to do to get them going.THN&nbsp;Nobody questions how bad Ovechkin wants to win, but does he need to change anything in his approach to get better results team-wise?BB I think better results will come. I think every player grows every year, learns a little bit more every year, adjusts a little bit more every year and the great ones see this and adjust accordingly. There&rsquo;s no need to panic with Alex Ovechkin, he&rsquo;s going to be there and he&rsquo;s going to be ready.THN&nbsp;Because the Caps haven&rsquo;t gone all the way yet, some guys like Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom have come under fire at times. What gives you faith in your core?BB That&rsquo;s easy: (a) we know they&rsquo;re very good and they&rsquo;ve been very good and (b) they care. You put those components together and you know people won&rsquo;t have too many sub-par years.THN&nbsp;Given all the time you&rsquo;ve spent in the game in a number of leagues as a player and coach, and with the setting in Washington where they&rsquo;re really screaming for a championship after some shortcomings, would it make it all the sweeter to win the Cup now?BB I don&rsquo;t know how much sweeter it would be, I&rsquo;ve wanted to win the Cup since I was five years old. As long as I&rsquo;m in the game, it&rsquo;s the ultimate goal. It&rsquo;s the ultimate goal for everybody and there are an awful lot of people who play and coach and are all vying for the same thing.If and when it does happen, it will be as good a moment as I&rsquo;ll have in this sport. &#9632;

f0052-01

BRUCE BOUDREAU

<div class="byline">BY TIM CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-01292/9542383-1-eng-US/f0054-012.jpg" title="f0054-01" width="763" height="973"><figcaption class="caption-body">8 | D RANDY CARLYLE 1993 (STEVE BABINEAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-02171/9542376-1-eng-US/f0054-022.jpg" title="f0054-02" width="279" height="276"></div>It&rsquo;s a tale of two cities &ndash; one a seller in 1995 and the other a buyer in 2011.They are both Winnipeg.The announcement of the NHL&rsquo;s return to the Manitoba capital, giving Canada a seventh franchise for the 2011-12 season, came 5,510 dark days after the Winnipeg Jets were punted from the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1996. The hit to civic pride and to community confidence was no small thing when the team, sold to American businessmen Richard Burke and Steven Gluckstern, packed up and moved to Phoenix 15 years ago.The second-guessers still have a field day with it, but that outcome was unavoidable despite the groundswell of everyman support in the critical hours that preceded the lame-duck season of 1995-96. Kids and families broke open their piggybanks. Good ol&rsquo; Manitoba socials collected up the coins and bills. An estimated 35,000 fans rallied one day at The Forks. Pass-the-hat schemes of all sorts came up with an excess of $10 million to save the team. But the ominous forces were much larger and more powerful than that.Player salary escalation had begun in the early &rsquo;90s. A U.S. dollar then cost more than $1.35 Canadian. The 1950s-era Winnipeg Arena was an outdated facility with no bona fide luxury boxes or revenue upside. Plus, the city-owned rink was run by an organization of bureaucratic middlemen who only served to split revenue and impede any solution.Under a now-infamous 1991 agreement, city and provincial politicians agreed to cover the team&rsquo;s losses in return for time to study building a new arena. (The 1991 cost of that arena would have been less than $70 million.) While they kicked the problem down the road, losses soared to near $20 million per season by 1996 and there was simply no public or political will to stomach it any longer.When two local bids to buy the team fell through &ndash; a new building was promised too late by politicians and projected short-term losses were oppressive &ndash; there was no Winnipeg entity or individual who stepped up to own the Jets and the team&rsquo;s largest private partner, Barry Shenkarow, was left with no other option but to sell to outsiders for $64 million.The genesis of the May 31, 2011 purchase of the Atlanta Thrashers by True North Sports & Entertainment partners Mark Chipman and David Thomson came only three years or so after Phoenix welcomed the Coyotes.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-01257/9542369-1-eng-US/f0055-012.jpg" title="f0055-01" width="972" height="1175"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mark Scheifele, taken seventh overall, was the first pick of the Jets Version 2.0. (ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Chipman, one of the dozen or so Winnipeg young-turk businessmen who tried in vain to save the Jets, had acquired the International League&rsquo;s Minnesota Moose and moved them to Winnipeg to help fill the hockey hole left by the Jets.After three years of running the Manitoba Moose, Chipman met with then provincial premier and now Canada&rsquo;s ambassador to the U.S. Gary Doer to probe a course for a much-needed new arena. It took two more years of haggling and rounding up partners and a plan &ndash; all of it well below radar &ndash; before Chipman rolled out the vision and the deal for what would become the MTS Centre, a $133-million sports and entertainment facility.Three levels of government contributed just more than $40 million to the downtown project and have long since recouped their investment via taxation on materials, labor and events. The 15,015-seat arena opened in the fall of 2004 and has been a money-maker and top-ranked venue ever since.Chipman&rsquo;s deal-making had another important phase, also key to the return-of-the-NHL-story.In early 2001, behind-the-scenes negotiations to merge the American League and IHL reached a fever and it was during that process that Chipman first engaged NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Chipman worked regularly but subtly on that line of communication. He was careful not to make any mistakes with the MTS Centre&rsquo;s construction that would preclude him from an NHL shot.The arena&rsquo;s early success and True North&rsquo;s and Chipman&rsquo;s style of measured business practice earned an invitation from the NHL&rsquo;s executive committee to make the case for Winnipeg in January of 2007, along with Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Seattle. True North&rsquo;s eye on the NHL went from wishful to practical after the NHL&rsquo;s 2005 collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players&rsquo; Association, one that featured a salary cap system. Combined with a far healthier Canadian dollar, the organization turned its energy to homework and preparation, a strategy that paid off when the Coyotes went into bankruptcy in 2009.Winnipeg&rsquo;s legitimacy as a market was revealed in a Bettman affidavit in the Coyotes case and when that team was on the precipice of relocation in the spring of 2010, Chipman and True North quietly served as Bettman&rsquo;s backup plan and leverage.Engaging that process without so much as a press conference, True North earned the NHL&rsquo;s trust, familiarized itself with franchise deal-making and learned much about converting the hunger for big-league hockey in its own market.When the Thrashers&rsquo; owners could find no local buyer in early 2011, Winnipeg&rsquo;s True North was more than ready. So were the city&rsquo;s fans, who gobbled up 13,000 season tickets and 8,000 spots on a waiting list in less than 72 hours. There&rsquo;s also a wait list for the arena&rsquo;s 55 suites.Euphoria always subsides, however, and it&rsquo;s the long run that will validate the NHL&rsquo;s first relocation in 14 years.Game tickets are virtually all sold for the first three seasons and most are for five, so the final piece to the puzzle will be the depth of corporate support in Winnipeg. It has been questioned far and wide, but True North president and CEO and Jim Ludlow believes it&rsquo;s a too-easy, lazy criticism of a city that&rsquo;s in far better shape than 15 years ago.Ludlow cited major changes in Winnipeg in the past seven years, about the span that has seen a stable-yet-vigorous economy stimulate a doubling in long-stagnant real estate prices. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve concentrated on understanding both the macro issues of the NHL and the micro issues of Winnipeg,&rdquo; Ludlow said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve spent a lot of time looking at those. Irrespective of what some non-Winnipeg-based experts might speculate, our local experience tells us to be cautiously optimistic and reasonably confident that the community is going to support NHL hockey.&ldquo;Our ticket commitments are long-term; our suite commitments are long-term and our corporate sponsorships are long-term. This is no plunge. It&rsquo;s a well-executed, well-trained-for and calculated move. We&rsquo;re not jumping off the dock, holding our breath and closing our eyes.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0054-01

Return of the Jets

<div class="byline">BY RYAN DIXON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0056-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-01229/9542466-1-eng-US/f0056-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-01212/9542459-1-eng-US/f0057-012.jpg" title="f0057-01" width="122" height="122"></div>Reimer is the kind of guy who shrugs most things off with a smile. Not surprisingly, he didn&rsquo;t protest too hard when Mark, three-and-a-half years his senior, took a few good-natured shots at him over the Leafs&rsquo; faint playoff hopes while the two were standing around the kitchen in the Reimer family home in tiny Morweena, Man.But as the conversation wore on, talk turned to exactly how many games Toronto had remaining and just how many points the team would likely need to challenge for a spot. It was at that point Marlene Reimer, the boys&rsquo; mother, saw that competitive instinct her youngest child had displayed so many times before begin to surface once again. &ldquo;He did the math and he got this gleam in his eye and he said, &lsquo;We can do it,&rsquo; &rdquo; Marlene recalled. &ldquo;I kind of knew he was going after it at that point.&rdquo;The Leafs&rsquo; strong finish over the final two-and-a-half months of the season may not have resulted in a playoff berth, but it did restore hope to a long-suffering fan base that maybe, just maybe, the young team was finally on the right track. At the center of that optimism is a technically sound goalie who, when he&rsquo;s not wearing sweat-soaked pads, doesn&rsquo;t exactly carry himself with the swagger you would expect from a pro athlete. &ldquo;You would never know it&rsquo;s James Reimer, the goalie of the Toronto Maple Leafs just by meeting the guy,&rdquo; said teammate Luke Schenn.For a deeper understanding of what sets Reimer apart from many of his fellow players, consider the 23-year-old has already been married to wife April for more than a year. He&rsquo;s the kind of young man who calls people &ldquo;Mister&rdquo; or &ldquo;Miss&rdquo; until it becomes clear first names fit the occasion. His rise to prominence, depending on how you look at it, could appropriately be described as out of the blue or inevitable. Either way, his 20-10-5 record, .921 save percentage and 2.60 goals-against average with a shaky Leafs team was enough to earn him a three-year contract worth $1.8 million annually. &ldquo;Those are weird numbers to see,&rdquo; Reimer said when asked about his new deal. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t even feel like it&rsquo;s my name (on the contract). I feel like it&rsquo;s my family members&rsquo; names and my wife&rsquo;s and my agent&rsquo;s and my friends&rsquo;. I feel like it&rsquo;s ours, I don&rsquo;t feel like it&rsquo;s mine.&rdquo;The short version of Reimer&rsquo;s long road to the NHL goes something like this. For a number of reasons, he actually didn&rsquo;t play organized hockey until he was 12. At 13, he played in a church tournament for adults where teammate-for-a-day Ray Petkau saw his raw talent and told his parents it might be something worth exploring. Petkau had spent some time as a scout in the Western League, but at that point was a couple years into his new existence as a player agent. He&rsquo;s still Reimer&rsquo;s agent today.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-02151/9542452-1-eng-US/f0057-022.jpg" title="f0057-02" width="1416" height="1626"><figcaption class="caption-body">The big question in Toronto is if last season&rsquo;s hero, James Reimer, can keep it up. (ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Reimer had a sturdy career with the WHL&rsquo;s Red Deer Rebels, the team he was playing for when former Leafs GM John Ferguson selected him 99th overall in 2006. After winning the 2009 ECHL championship with the South Carolina Stingrays &ndash; Reimer was playoff MVP &ndash; he paid his American League dues with the Toronto Marlies before getting his first start with the Leafs on New Year&rsquo;s Day, 2011.Reimer is very open about the role his Christian faith has played in his life, but don&rsquo;t for one second think his easy manner and courteous approach come at the expense of intensity. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing I hate more than losing,&rdquo; he said.That sentiment extends beyond the ice, where, as a high school student, Reimer racked up an average of about 93 percent. &ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t because he was so exceptionally brilliant, it&rsquo;s because it irked him to have mistakes,&rdquo; Marlene said. &ldquo;If he had a mistake, he had to figure it out &ndash; especially if he had only one mistake. If he had half-a-dozen, he&rsquo;d say, &lsquo;You know what, I didn&rsquo;t quite get the material. But if I have one mistake, there&rsquo;s something wrong.&rsquo; He&rsquo;s a perfectionist in that sense.&rdquo;It took some time, but the world is now well aware of the talent in Reimer&rsquo;s 6-foot-2, 208-pound frame. Petkau sensed it from the start, noting Reimer always displayed that innate ability to track the puck. Petkau also saw ingrained personal traits that suggest things like a sophomore jinx or the intense spotlight in Toronto won&rsquo;t an issue for Reimer. &ldquo;He just has the makeup, he just has the right demeanor and work ethic and he doesn&rsquo;t get too high or too low,&rdquo; Petkau said. &ldquo;He just always seemed like the type to be able to handle the pressure and I don&rsquo;t think the market he plays in is ever going to affect him in any way.&rdquo;<h2>.921</h2>Career NHL save percentage by James Reimer, best among all Maple Leafs goalies (since 1982 when the NHL began tracking the statistic). &#9632;

f0056-01

Optimus Reim

<div class="byline">BY RANDY SPORTAK</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0058-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-01228/9542497-1-eng-US/f0058-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">It was Jay Feaster in the GM seat when the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Cup in 2004. (BRIAN BAHR/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>You bet there were days Jay Feaster figured he wouldn&rsquo;t return to the NHL management fraternity.When your route to becoming a GM in the NHL is as unique as his was, you bet Feaster wondered whether a door would open again &ndash; even with the 2004 Stanley Cup championship on his resume. &ldquo;I had started to look at things outside of the game,&rdquo; Feaster said of his two years between NHL jobs. &ldquo;I really didn&rsquo;t want to get back into law, but looked at things on a business front.&ldquo;When you don&rsquo;t have that traditional background of having been a former player or a former coach, don&rsquo;t have that pedigree in a game, it&rsquo;s clearly something, when you&rsquo;re out, you wonder, &lsquo;Am I gonna get another opportunity?&rsquo; &rdquo;Eventually that call came when the Calgary Flames hired Feaster to be assistant GM under Darryl Sutter. Some six months later, Feaster was named acting GM when Sutter was asked to resign and the full-time gig became his in May.At first glance, you&rsquo;d think Feaster had beaten incredible odds yet again, but he didn&rsquo;t get the job by fluke. Though, he&rsquo;ll admit he still has trouble believing how lucky he is.Feaster had finished law school in the late 1980s and his firm&rsquo;s chief client was Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, which had the Americans League&rsquo;s Hershey Bears under its vast umbrella. Feaster never played the game, but loved hockey and wanted to be involved with the Bears. Soon, he left the law firm to join HERCO and was running the rink and the team.At the time, the players were supplied by the parent team &ndash; the Philadelphia Flyers &ndash; but filling the roster became part of his job description when the Flyers didn&rsquo;t have enough talent. &ldquo;When I went to law school, it certainly wasn&rsquo;t the path I had set out,&ldquo; Feaster said. &ldquo;It was a series of right-place, right-time things and people willing to give me the chance. For Bruce McKinney, the chairman of the board at the time, to step up and say, &lsquo;This lawyer is the guy to run our hockey team&rsquo; took a great leap of faith on his part.&rdquo;Feaster was on the fast track. The Bears realigned their affiliation to the Avalanche and with Bob Hartley as coach, won the Calder Cup in 1996-97. A few years later, with Avalanche GM Pierre Lacroix and Hartley spreading the word about Feaster&rsquo;s desire to try his hand at the NHL level, Jacques Demers called.Demers, Tampa&rsquo;s GM at the time, needed an assistant and gave Feaster his break in 1998. He spent four years with Demers and Rick Dudley before he was handed the reins of and up-and-coming Lightning squad. Tampa Bay, coincidentally, beat the Flames in the 2004 final.But hockey is a cruel game.Feaster resigned a few months after Oren Koules and Len Barrie purchased the franchise in the spring of 2008, leaving behind the gong show that played out.For two years, he kept a hand in the game &ndash; such as writing for <a href="http://ESPN.com">ESPN.com</a> and The Hockey News and analyst work for TSN &ndash; until another chance came. &ldquo;The good part was being able to do more things with the kids,&rdquo; said the father of five. &ldquo;I was able to take the kids to and from school and see their sporting events.&rdquo;Now he has the best of all worlds. Feaster is a firm believer his time on the outside allows him to look at the GM job with a different perspective needed for the post-lockout NHL. But he has that burning desire to win another Stanley Cup title. &ldquo;I enjoy managing,&ldquo; he said. &ldquo;I enjoy the people. I enjoy the process we go through. I hate the losing, that still is difficult and devastating, but I do enjoy trying to fit the pieces together to produce a winner.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no question I enjoy what I do.&rdquo;<h2>.532</h2>Points percentage of AHL (283-267-84-6) and NHL (232-179-29-41) teams under which Jay Feaster was the GM. Feaster&rsquo;s clubs have a .523 winning percentage in the playoffs. &#9632;

f0058-01

From Law Via Luck

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0059-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-01191/9542528-1-eng-US/f0059-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">That Wade Redden&rsquo;s contract sat in the AHL didn&rsquo;t sit well with some NHL owners. (CHRIS RUTSCH)</figcaption></div>It&rsquo;s the final year for the collective bargaining agreement that ended the lockout of 2004-05 and brought in a new era of salary-capped NHL hockey. So everything&rsquo;s great now, right, no changes? Not so fast.Even though the salary cap rose every year of the deal &ndash; thanks to ever-increasing hockey-related revenue and a five percent in-flator the union had the option of adding on &ndash; many owners were grumbling behind the scenes that the system was costing them too much money. One prominent player agent estimated the CBA was not working for about the middle two-thirds of the league.From the NHL&rsquo;s perspective, one item that needs to be re-examined is what can be referred to as &ldquo;leakage,&rdquo; when it comes to expenses. The best example involves New York Rangers defenseman Wade Redden. The veteran&rsquo;s one-way contract paid him $6.5 million last season, even though he spent it in the American League with Connecticut. That figure therefore didn&rsquo;t count towards New York&rsquo;s cap, but the team still had to pay the money out. That the Blueshirts can afford to make such a personnel mistake gives them an advantage over teams that cannot.Leakage also gives the players more revenue than they are entitled to under the letter of the CBA: Redden got paid, but so did his NHL replacement &ndash; let&rsquo;s say Mike Sauer ($500,000) for the sake of argument.The players&rsquo; share of league revenues will be a sticky issue. With many of the owners believing spending is an out-of-control problem, giving the players as much as 57 per cent of the pie is seen as untenable. The agent believes the NHL will attempt to cut that number down to 48 to 50 percent in the next negotiation.And with so many long-term contracts already on the books, a decrease in their share of the revenue would result in a rollback of current salaries &ndash; similar to the 24 percent hit they took in the last agreement. If you think the players hate the portion of their pay that&rsquo;s held in escrow until season&rsquo;s end to ensure the correct split, just wait until another rollback is proposed.Not that the public will be sympathetic. Anaheim goalie Dan Ellis, then a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, was harangued all the way off Twitter when he expressed his distaste for escrow last summer.With labor unrest in the NBA, hockey could be given a much bigger stage this year. It would not benefit either side to engage in a lot of public collective bargaining talk when highlights from the ice are the only game in town.But at the same time, there is a lot to discuss if a new agreement is to be signed before it&rsquo;s 2004 all over again.When defenseman Brian Campbell was traded from Chicago to Florida, it was a watershed moment in CBA history. Campbell was thought to have been untradeable thanks to a contract that is, let&rsquo;s say, a little intimidating. The offense-savvy blueliner has five more years on his deal with a cap hit north of $7.1 million. Fortunately for the Blackhawks, Florida needed some big contracts on the books to reach the ever-escalating salary cap floor, but deals of Campbell&rsquo;s ilk will be a target for owners in the next rounds of negotiating. Among the tenets that will be scrutinized are no-trade/no-movement clauses (Campbell had to waive his), the length of term being doled out on deals and the front-loaded mega-contracts that border on cap circumvention. So while the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk and Brad Richards are living high now, don&rsquo;t expect the owners to accept those type of pacts in the next CBA. &#9632;

f0059-01

Money Matters

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0060-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-02112/9542580-1-eng-US/f0060-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">2012 will be the year Alex Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals mates get the job done&hellip;we think. (CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Caps Will Take&nbsp;Cup&hellip;Really<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-01185/9542587-1-eng-US/f0060-012.jpg" title="f0060-01" width="112" height="83"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-01175/9542573-1-eng-US/f0061-012.jpg" title="f0061-01" width="154" height="116"></div>THE OLD SAYING goes something like this: &ldquo;Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.&rdquo; Or, if you&rsquo;re George W. Bush, something like this: &ldquo;Fool me once, shame on&hellip;shame on you&hellip;you fool me, can&rsquo;t get fooled again!&rdquo;Which brings us, quite fittingly, to the Washington Capitals. Even though they&rsquo;ve fooled us three times, we&rsquo;re picking them to win the Stanley Cup. But we&rsquo;re also putting them on notice after coming up disappointingly short in three straight playoffs.We&rsquo;re willing to bet Tomas Vokoun is angry enough after essentially being rebuffed during an insane free agency period that he&rsquo;ll lead the Capitals to a championship just out of spite. To be sure, he has an enormous amount to prove after signing with the Capitals for one year at just $1.5 million. And what better way to earn a rich, long-term deal than to lead a band of classic underachievers to the Promised Land?But there&rsquo;s more to it than that. The Capitals had the most productive signing season of any team in the league. They didn&rsquo;t pick up any star talent, but they didn&rsquo;t need any. In Joel Ward and Troy Brouwer up front, Washington got exactly what it was lacking up front, guys who go to the net without fear and play with an edge. In defenseman Roman Hamrlik, they picked up a steady veteran who will provide a calming influence. Not only will he slide onto the second pairing, he&rsquo;ll be there to offer sage advice to the best young tandem in the NHL in Karl Alzner and John Carlson.Do the Caps have holes? Heck, yeah. Alex Ovechkin still tries to do way too much when he hits adversity and Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom have to show far more jam and determination. And their coach, Bruce Boudreau, has to supply less emotion and more structure to a team that still freelances too much.We&rsquo;re counting on the Capitals doing those things. And if they flame out again, well, in the words of George W., &ldquo;you fool me, can&rsquo;t get fooled again!&rdquo; And we really, really mean it this time.<h2>The Hockey News Predictions</h2>FORECASTS FOR THE 2011-12 SEASON<h3>EASTERN</h3>1. WASHINGTON PG. 622. PITTSBURGH PG. 663. BOSTON PG. 704. PHILADELPHIA PG. 745. BUFFALO PG. 786. TAMPA BAY PG. 827. NY RANGERS PG. 868. MONTREAL PG. 909. CAROLINA PG. 9410. TORONTO PG. 9811. NEW JERSEY PG. 10212. NY ISLANDERS PG. 10613. WINNIPEG PG. 11014. FLORIDA PG. 11415. OTTAWA PG. 118<h3>ATLANTIC</h3>1. PITTSBURGH2. PHILADELPHIA3. NY RANGERS4. NEW JERSEY5. NY ISLANDERS<h3>NORTHEAST</h3>1. BOSTON2. BUFFALO3. MONTREAL4. TORONTO5. OTTAWAStanley Cup ChampionsWASHINGTON CAPITALS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-02119/9542566-1-eng-US/f0061-022.jpg" title="f0061-02" width="218" height="166"></div><h2>.459</h2>Winning percentage by the Capitals in the playoffs over the past four seasons. They&rsquo;ve won two series in that span<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-0377/9542559-1-eng-US/f0060-032.jpg" title="f0060-03" width="243" height="60"></div>Need a daily fix of all things ice and puck? <a href="http://THN.com">THN.com</a> is more than just news with exclusive columns, analysis and features from our stable of experts. &#9632;

f0060-02

Eastern Conference

<div class="byline">BY BRIAN MCNALLY</div>Southeast Division, Eastern Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-01184/9542744-1-eng-US/f0062-012.jpg" title="f0062-01" width="284" height="284"></div>CALL IT ANOTHER disappointing spring in Washington. After shaking off an eight-game losing streak in December, the Capitals still topped the Eastern Conference. But the results were only marginally better in the playoffs after a second-round sweep by Tampa Bay.With so many unrestricted free agents dotting the roster, it was time for a retooling. And while the core players remain in place, GM George McPhee set about fixing the supporting cast.So out went Jason Arnott, Marco Sturm and Scott Hannan. Out went Matt Bradley and Boyd Gordon. The newcomers feature a common thread: solid two-way play. McPhee inked right winger Joel Ward, a tough customer along the boards coming off a fine post-season, and center Jeff Halpern, a former team captain from nearby Potomac, Md. Washington also traded its first round draft pick to Chicago for hit machine Troy Brouwer.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-0364/9542737-1-eng-US/f0062-032.jpg" title="f0062-03" width="482" height="342"></div>Of course, the big move was signing goalie Tomas Vokoun to a one-year, $1.5-million contract. McPhee took advantage when the goalie market evaporated and added one of the NHL&rsquo;s best for cheap. So the expectations for 2011-12 are no different: Stanley Cup or bust.OFFENSE A down year by Alex Ovechkin&rsquo;s lofty standards &ndash; 32 goals, 85 points &ndash; set the tone for an offense that dropped from the NHL&rsquo;s best in 2009-10 to a 19th overall ranking. The emphasis on neutral-zone play was a factor as well as the mediocre power play. Washington saw dramatic drops in production from Ovechkin, Mike Green (who only played 49 games due to injury), Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Semin. The addition of Brouwer (39 goals the past two seasons) will help.&ldquo;He had the fifth-most hits in the league,&rdquo; said coach Bruce Boudreau. &ldquo;We have a lot of skill, but we weren&rsquo;t leading the league in hits. He&rsquo;s going to be a big asset there.&rdquo;DEFENSE John Carlson, 21, and Karl Alzner, 23, grew comfortable with each other playing for the American League&rsquo;s Hershey Bears in 2009-10 and that carried over to the NHL. Carlson showed good offensive instincts; Alzner excelled in his positioning. The duo logged heavy minutes against tough competition and by the end of the season was the obvious No. 1 pair. Two head injuries limited Green and his return as an offensive force is crucial. He and Dennis Wideman give Washington two skilled puck-moving defensemen. Veteran Roman Hamrlik is the lone addition to a group that cut its goals against per game by .44.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-0448/9542730-1-eng-US/f0062-042.jpg" title="f0062-04" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">8 | LW ALEX OVECHKIN (BOTH: ABELIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING Even McPhee was stunned when Vokoun, 35, dropped into his lap for just $1.5 million. No goalie has a better save percentage since the lockout (.922). He and fellow Czech Republic native Michal Neuvirth &ndash; who had a nice rookie season and started in the playoffs &ndash; will compete for playing time. The Caps couldn&rsquo;t work out a deal with restricted free agent Semyon Varlamov. Instead, McPhee turned the 23-year-old Russian into first and second round picks in a deep 2012 draft.SPECIAL TEAMS The power play disappeared in the 2010 playoffs against Montreal and save for the first two months of last season has gone missing since. A team that led the NHL at 25.2 percent in 2009-10 came in at 16th overall last season (17.5 percent). Fixing the man advantage is the No. 1 priority. The PK improved from 25th (78.8 percent) in 2009-10 to second (85.6 percent) in 2010-11 with an approach that emphasized quick shifts.All-time record: 1,263&ndash;1,237&ndash;386<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0063-0291/9542723-1-eng-US/f0063-022.jpg" title="f0063-02" width="1666" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">Nicklas Backstrom finished 2010-11 with 36 fewer points than two seasons ago. (ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES Every year the Caps bring in a veteran to provide guidance and leadership: Sergei Fedorov (2008), Mike Knuble (2009) and Jason Arnott (2011). Arnott was explicitly told to be a vocal presence when acquired at the deadline last year. But too often his message fell on deaf ears. Halpern&rsquo;s experience as a captain will help this season. &ldquo;I think this year there&rsquo;s got to be a lot more accountability among our players to each other, to the coaches,&rdquo; said center Brooks Laich.ROOKIES There are no clear-cut candidates for this season. Top prospects such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, Braden Holtby, Dmitri Orlov, Cody Eakin and Mattias Sjogren are probably a year away. Sjogren is 23 with experience as a two-way forward in Sweden and has the best chance of making a dent this season.CAP CRUNCH Even with trading Eric Fehr and his $2.2 million cap hit, Washington had no wiggle room heading into camp. McPhee has called Tom Poti&rsquo;s groin injury &ldquo;career threatening&rdquo; so that $2.8 million may go on long-term injury reserve. If the team wants to make any additions, something has to give.THE BRASS Hard to find a GM who garnered more praise this summer than McPhee. He and owner Ted Leonsis are known for their patience and proved it sticking with Boudreau after another playoff disappointment. Boudreau received kudos for making his club more responsible defensively in the middle of last season, but it&rsquo;s time for a deep playoff run or management&rsquo;s patience &ndash; and those of Washington fans &ndash; will run out.X-FACTOR Hard to exceed expectations after earning the conference&rsquo;s No. 1 seed for two straight seasons. But combine Vokoun with last year&rsquo;s improved blueline and a strong penalty-kill and scoring goals against the Caps will be a rough task for opponents. But if the power play doesn&rsquo;t improve, it&rsquo;s hard to see the offense keeping pace. That would mean another season of tight, low-scoring games with little margin for error. Green can affect both ends of the ice and a rebound from him could push Washington closer to its 2009-10 total of 121 points.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>1stThe Caps are perennial contenders. But some impressive off-season retooling makes them the best bet to win the Stanley Cup.<h2>4</h2>Consecutive Southeast Division titles. The Capitals have won them by an average cushion of 14 points<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-0529/9542716-1-eng-US/f0062-052.jpg" title="f0062-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0063-0359/9542688-1-eng-US/f0063-032.jpg" title="f0063-03" width="1130" height="874"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record48-23-11 (107 pts)Conference1stNHL Overall2ndOffense2.67 GPG (19th)Defense2.33 GAA (4th)Power Play17.5% (16th)Penalty Kill85.6% (2nd)1-Goal Games26-9-112-Goal Games8-63+ Goal Games14-8Winning Streak9-0-0Winless Streak0-6-2Ice Time (F)Ovechkin 21:21Ice Time (D)Green 25:11GMGeorge McPheeCoachBruce BoudreauArenaVerizon CenterCapacity18,2772010-11 Attendance18,397 (10th)AffiliateHershey (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)17&ndash;23<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0064-0294/9542681-1-eng-US/f0064-022.jpg" title="f0064-02" width="204" height="258"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>ALEX OVECHKIN&lsquo;Ovie&rsquo; won&rsquo;t have two off years in a row; he&rsquo;ll be back at the top of the goal race.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;98<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0064-0350/9542667-1-eng-US/f0064-032.jpg" title="f0064-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>MIKE KNUBLEAn influx of gritty players will surely cut into the playing time of the 39-year-old.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;35<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0064-0436/9542653-1-eng-US/f0064-042.jpg" title="f0064-04" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>TROY BROUWERHas the credentials to take off as a key power forward on an offensive powerhouse.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;40<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0064-0522/9542639-1-eng-US/f0064-052.jpg" title="f0064-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(NOAH GRAHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. EVGENY KUZNETSOVLW, 19, CHELYABINSK (RUS.)Playing against men in the KHL has helped his development greatly. It showed at the WJC when he assisted on three Russian goals to help overcome a 3-0 deficit against Canada. Has to stop taking ill-advised penalties, however.GP 44 G 17 A 15 PTS 32 PIM 302. CODY EAKIN C, 20, KOOTENAY (WHL)Coaches love his forechecking, savvy and grinding nature.3. BRADEN HOLTBY G, 22, HERSHEY (AHL)Made a name for himself in his brief NHL stint.4. DMITRI ORLOV D, 20, HERSHEY (AHL)Good point shot and likes to jump into the play.5. MATTIAS SJOGREN C, 23, FARJESTAD (SWE.)Played well for Sweden at the 2011 World Championship.6. PHILIPP GRUBAUER G, 19, KINGSTON (OHL)Impressive technique and offers a quick glove hand.7. DMITRI KUGRYSHEV RW, 21, HERSHEY (AHL)Skilled winger who is adjusting to North American game.8. PATRICK WEY D, 20, BOSTON COLLEGE (HE)Getting used to the speed of the game after some injuries.9. STANISLAV GALIEV RW, 19, SAINT JOHN (QMJHL)A creative player with great vision and acceleration.10. BRETT FLEMMING D, 20, MISSISSAUGA (OHL)Does the little things well and doesn&rsquo;t back down.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0064-0618/9542632-1-eng-US/f0064-062.jpg" title="f0064-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-02116/9542625-1-eng-US/f0065-022.jpg" title="f0065-02" width="2270" height="1640"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-0384/9542618-1-eng-US/f0065-032.jpg" title="f0065-03" width="2298" height="450"></div> &#9632;

f0062-01

Happy Medium

<div class="byline">BY ROB ROSSI</div>Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0066-0292/9542901-1-eng-US/f0066-022.jpg" title="f0066-02" width="264" height="264"></div>PERHAPS NO TEAM has more to look forward to in 2011-12 than the Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished tied for third overall in the league standings despite playing just two games with their 1-2-3 pivot punch of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal.All three enter camp healthy, something that wasn&rsquo;t the case last year because Staal was still recovering from three right-foot procedures. Of course, the Penguins&rsquo; Stanley Cup hopes were dashed not long after Staal returned for the Winter Classic, because the next game was Crosby&rsquo;s last. His concussion kept him from playing the final 41 games of a spectacular season in which he was headed towards scoring and MVP titles. The loss of Malkin to a torn right-knee ligament in early February essentially dismantled the Penguins&rsquo; offense and suddenly the 2-1 games that coach Dan Bylsma had asked them to win became the only kind they could win.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0066-0338/9542894-1-eng-US/f0066-032.jpg" title="f0066-03" width="480" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Good health permitting, things should be different this season.OFFENSE Though the offense struggled without Crosby and Malkin, their returns and the anticipated impact of winger James Neal (acquired near the deadline from Dallas) will make scoring goals no problem. Tyler Kennedy took a step up with a career-best 21 goals and Chris Kunitz&rsquo;s 22 goals were tops for his two-plus seasons with the Penguins.The team anticipates more production from defensemen Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek and for Kris Letang to finish off this season what looked like a Norris-candidate campaign until February.DEFENSE Team &lsquo;D&rsquo; is a huge strength. Crosby and Staal are two of the best defensive forwards in the NHL and the Penguins defense corps is filled with puck-moving players who help keep opposing teams from generating a consistent attack. If anything, the lack of change to the defense corps will only bolster the team&rsquo;s own-zone play; and if Matt Cooke can stay out of trouble, the Penguins again can count on a top-five penalty kill.GOALTENDING Marc-Andre Fleury was the club&rsquo;s salvation last season, earning team MVP honors and Hart Trophy talk for his standout play after a patchy start. It was his best regular season and he was solid in a seven-game, first round playoff loss. At 27, he&rsquo;s in his prime. The Penguins are comfortable with backup Brent Johnson playing 20-to-25 games if needed.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0066-0426/9542887-1-eng-US/f0066-042.jpg" title="f0066-04" width="1001" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">29 | G MARC-ANDRE FLEURY (FLEURY: FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>SPECIAL TEAMS There&rsquo;s not much concern about the penalty kill &ndash; the Penguins had the NHL&rsquo;s best PK for the first time in franchise history and all the key pieces return &ndash; but the unit&rsquo;s success got overshadowed by a frustrating power play. Missing Crosby and Malkin didn&rsquo;t help, but the power play was inconsistent before their injuries and trading Alex Goligoski for Neal left it impotent near season&rsquo;s end and in the playoffs. Bylsma has pledged multiple looks, including one that would see Crosby near the net with Malkin at the point, and they&rsquo;re hoping veteran Steve Sullivan, acquired in the off-season via free agency, is the answer at the half-wall. If not, they&rsquo;ll look to bring someone in at the trade deadline.INTANGIBLES Credit the Penguins for not being an easy out last season and finding strength amid the distractions of injuries and controversy. The team was on both ends of the head-shot debate, with GM Ray Shero wanting them banned completely and Cooke delivering them. Also, the Pens did well to overcome the distractions of opening a new building and having HBO&rsquo;s cameras follow everybody through December, not to mention hosting the Winter Classic. This season should be normal by comparison. If anything, the Penguins should enjoy an under-the-radar status, their first since 2006-07.All-time record: 1,456&ndash;1,505&ndash;463<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0067-0257/9542880-1-eng-US/f0067-022.jpg" title="f0067-02" width="1667" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">Evgeni Malkin is aiming to rebound from last season&rsquo;s knee injury. (FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>ROOKIES Unless top prospect Simon Despres, a defenseman, makes a shocking leap from junior to the NHL, there might not be an impact rookie. However, forward Dustin Jeffrey showed signs of progress last season before he, like Malkin, blew out his right knee. Bylsma sees him as a possible fit on the power play. Also, unheralded prospect Joe Vitale might contend for a fourth-line spot. As has been the case in recent years, the Penguins&rsquo; best young players are in the NHL and they&rsquo;re hardly old &ndash; though certainly Crosby, Malkin, Staal and Letang are now veteran enough to be considered somewhat grizzled.CAP CRUNCH Under Shero the Penguins have always ended the season at the cap, but they will enter it with around $1.5 million &ndash; maybe more pending camp developments &ndash; to make moves at the deadline. That&rsquo;s the plan. After this season, new deals can be discussed with Crosby and Staal, which will be the priority in the summer of 2012.THE BRASS Shero has shown he isn&rsquo;t infallible &ndash; his deadline-period moves the past two seasons didn&rsquo;t pan out for deep playoff runs &ndash; but he has his nucleus locked up and the Penguins&rsquo; own players have generally taken less money to stay. The new arena is extremely player friendly and ownership is hands-off but family-driven. Players say they like Pittsburgh. Even Jaromir Jagr did, but he just liked Philadelphia&rsquo;s free agent money more.X-FACTOR The Penguins have been searching long and hard for a top-tier winger to play with their best centers &ndash; and they believed they had one in the 6-foot-2, 208-pound Neal, who had 27 goals for the Stars in 2009-10. However, Neal was disappointing after coming over from Dallas. He posted just a single goal and six points in 20 games as a Pen and will be looked to for much better production this season.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>2ndWith Crosby and Malkin back and healthy, the Pens will be among the East&rsquo;s top teams. Even without the duo, they&rsquo;re still very good.<h2>14.0</h2>Percent efficiency on the power play at CONSOL Energy Center, the second worst home performance among NHL teams last season<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0066-0515/9542873-1-eng-US/f0066-052.jpg" title="f0066-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0067-0342/9542845-1-eng-US/f0067-032.jpg" title="f0067-03" width="570" height="438"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record49-25-8 (106 pts)Conference4thNHL Overall4thOffense2.78 GPG (13th)Defense2.39 GAA (6th)Power Play15.8% (25th)Penalty Kill86.1% (1st)1-Goal Games24-8-82-Goal Games7-63+ Goal Games18-11Winning Streak12-0-0Winless Streak0-2-2Ice Time (F)Crosby 21:55Ice Time (D)Letang 24:02GMRay SheroCoachDan BylsmaArenaConsol Energy CenterCapacity18,0872010-11 Attendance18,240 (12th)AffiliateWilkes-Barre (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)41&ndash;28<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0068-0260/9542838-1-eng-US/f0068-022.jpg" title="f0068-02" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>SIDNEY CROSBYThe Pens&rsquo; leading scorer despite playing only 41 games. The NHL MVP if he&rsquo;s healthy.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;117<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0068-0335/9542824-1-eng-US/f0068-032.jpg" title="f0068-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>TYLER KENNEDYHe still will produce, but his opportunities will decrease because of players returning.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;35<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0068-0420/9542810-1-eng-US/f0068-042.jpg" title="f0068-04" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>JAMES NEALHis output in Pittsburgh was disappointing, but he never played with Crosby or Malkin.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;47<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0068-0510/9542796-1-eng-US/f0068-052.jpg" title="f0068-05" width="364" height="505"><figcaption class="caption-body">(NOAH GRAHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. BEAU BENNETTRW, 19, DENVER (WCHA)Bennett continues to work on adding muscle and speed to his game. He possesses the skill and hockey sense to be a top-six forward in the NHL at some point. He has a good compete level and wins a lot of puck battles.GP 37 G 9 A 16 PTS 25 PIM 182. SIMON DESPRES D, 20, SAINT JOHN (QMJHL)Smooth-skating big man can eat up quality minutes.3. JOE MORROW D, 18, PORTLAND (WHL)Physical defenseman moves the puck efficiently.4. ERIC TANGRADI LW, 22, WILKES-BARRE (AHL)Power forward is tough along the boards and near the net.5. PHILIP SAMUELSSON D, 20, BOSTON COL. (HE)Defensive defenseman can make a strong outlet pass.6. TOM KUEHNHACKL LW, 19, WINDSOR (OHL)Shown he has great hands, but needs to bulk up.7. BRIAN STRAIT D, 23, WILKES-BARRE (AHL)Making strides, but needs to add physical element.8. ROBERT BORTUZZO D, 22, WILKES-BARRE (AHL)Rangy defender with a good stick. Plays with a mean streak.9. BRAD THIESSEN G, 25, WILKES-BARRE (AHL)Undersized goalie, but his puckhandling is very strong.10. NICK D&rsquo;AGOSTINO D, 21, CORNELL (ECAC)Offensive skills are there, but defensive game needs work.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0068-067/9542789-1-eng-US/f0068-062.jpg" title="f0068-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0069-0264/9542782-1-eng-US/f0069-022.jpg" title="f0069-02" width="2270" height="1642"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0069-0339/9542775-1-eng-US/f0069-032.jpg" title="f0069-03" width="2270" height="424"></div> &#9632;

f0066-02

Happy Returns

<div class="byline">BY WAYNE FISH</div>Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0074-0242/9543222-1-eng-US/f0074-022.jpg" title="f0074-02" width="275" height="277"></div>MOST NHL TEAMS that make it to the Stanley Cup final one year and the second round the next figure to stay intact. But that wasn&rsquo;t enough to appease management, which re-arranged its nucleus just weeks after the season concluded.While the trade of Jeff Carter to Columbus to make salary cap space to sign goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov was headline grabbing, the biggest move was sending captain Mike Richards to Los Angeles for a less obvious, but more significant, reason.The Flyers weren&rsquo;t happy with the leadership situation and wanted to go in a different direction. GM Paul Holmgren also wanted to make his team bigger, younger and more salary cap flexible, hence the acquisitions of youngsters Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds from L.A. and Jakub Voracek from Columbus.Toss in the signings of Jaromir Jagr, Max Talbot and Andreas Lilja and you have a much different looking team.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0074-0321/9543215-1-eng-US/f0074-032.jpg" title="f0074-03" width="481" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">WAYNE SIMMONDS (SMALL PHOTO: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>&ldquo;When you trade players at the level of Jeff and Mike, you could easily say you&rsquo;re taking a step back,&rdquo; Holmgren said. &ldquo;I guess the proof is in the pudding. I think we&rsquo;re bigger now and we&rsquo;ve filled a few holes.&rdquo;OFFENSE The Flyers believe with the continued maturation of Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk (a 40-goal scorer in 2011-12?), the additions of Jagr, Voracek and Talbot, and with Daniel Briere still producing at a strong level, the offense will hold its own. &ldquo;I think (scoring) has been questioned the last few years,&rdquo; Holmgren said. &ldquo;But somehow we always seem to find a way to keep up with the conference in goals.&rdquo;The Flyers have taken well to coach Peter Laviolette&rsquo;s puck-pressure system. Last year, the Flyers had seven 20-goal scorers, so balance is not an issue.DEFENSE While Chris Pronger is considered one of the best shutdown defensemen in the league, the pairing of Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn is the top prevent pair on the team. In tight situations, such as protecting leads, the Flyers tend to trap, but most of the time Laviolette likes an aggressive forecheck. In Briere, Giroux and now Talbot, the coach has the tools to institute that kind of puck pursuit.Aside from 36-year-old backliners Pronger and Timonen, youth is on the Flyers&rsquo; side with Coburn, Carle and Andrej Meszaros.The Flyers were a collective plus-40 last season, second in the conference behind Boston (plus-55). If anything, the Flyers&rsquo; chief weakness is a tendency to give up goals late in games. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know where people rank our defense, but I like it,&rdquo; Holmgren said. &ldquo;We have size and mobility&hellip;some meanness back there.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0074-0412/9543208-1-eng-US/f0074-042.jpg" title="f0074-04" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">28 | C CLAUDE GIROUX (GIROUX: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING The signing of Bryzgalov (nine years, $51 million) ushers in a new era, ending years of Flyers uncertainty at hockey&rsquo;s most integral position. Bryzgalov, who backed up J-S Giguere in Anaheim&rsquo;s 2007 Stanley Cup run and was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2010 with Phoenix, is the most ballyhooed netminder to arrive in Philadelphia since Ron Hextall in the late 1980s.Although Bryzgalov&rsquo;s all-time playoff record is below .500, much of that has to do with Phoenix running into Detroit the past two seasons. Holmgren calls him one of the NHL&rsquo;s top-10 at the very least. &ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s one of the best and he&rsquo;s happy to be here,&rdquo; Holmgren said. &ldquo;He wants to help us try to achieve what we&rsquo;re after.&rdquo;All-time record: 1,709&ndash;1,176&ndash;539<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0075-0242/9543201-1-eng-US/f0075-022.jpg" title="f0075-02" width="1666" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">Kimmo Timonen is part of a Philly D-corp that&rsquo;s a good mix of experience and youth. (ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>SPECIAL TEAMS The departure of Richards leaves big skates to fill on the penalty kill and the power play. The hope is Giroux will inherit the title as top special teams player.Giroux tied Carter for the team lead in power play goals with eight and Richards for the lead in shorthanded goals with three.Look for the Flyers to get Pronger more shots from the point on the power play. On the kill, the Flyers need to find some shot blockers to replace Ian Laperriere and Darroll Powe.The Flyers&rsquo; 15th-place ranking on the PK and 19th-place on the PP were too low for a team with this much talent.INTANGIBLES Simply getting all the players back on the same page will be an improvement. If Pronger is named captain, Laviolette will have a bigger advocate of his system in the room.In the toughness department, Daniel Carcillo and Sean O&rsquo;Donnell were allowed to leave, but Simmonds will add some grit.ROOKIES All eyes are on newcomer Brayden Schenn. He played briefly for Los Angeles last year and Holmgren calls him the best player not playing in the NHL. &ldquo;He has similar qualities to Mike,&rdquo; Holmgren said. &ldquo;Leadership. Offensive. Defensive. He&rsquo;s tough, competitive. There are a lot of similarities.&rdquo;CAP CRUNCH The Flyers almost always spend to the max, but this year could be different. The Flyers will have some money to work with and that will come in handy during the season given their history of untimely injuries.THE BRASS Holmgren didn&rsquo;t waste time changing the direction of his team, trading two franchise players, in part to accommodate Laviolette. And the GM was willing to spend big bucks for a big-name goalie, a move perhaps spurred by owner Ed Snider, who expressed a desire for stability in goal even before the Flyers were ousted by the Bruins in the conference semifinal.X-FACTOR Giroux, Pronger and Bryzgalov must stay healthy and play to their potential for this team to seriously challenge. Holmgren is gambling Voracek, Simmonds, Schenn and Lilja can quickly fit into the system&hellip;depth will be a key issue if they fall short.It&rsquo;s Pronger&rsquo;s team now, for better or worse. If history counts for anything, the Flyers should be OK.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>4thNo team made bolder off-season moves than Philly. They&rsquo;ll take a step back in the regular season, but be better in the long haul.<h2>&ndash;31</h2>2010-11 NHL goal differential between Mike Richards (23) and Jeff Carter (36) versus Jakub Voracek (14) and Wayne Simmonds (14)<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0074-058/9543194-1-eng-US/f0074-052.jpg" title="f0074-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0075-0324/9543166-1-eng-US/f0075-032.jpg" title="f0075-03" width="1136" height="874"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record47-23-12 (106 pts)Conference2ndNHL Overall3rdOffense3.12 GPG (3rd)Defense2.63 GAA (11th)Power Play16.6% (19th)Penalty Kill82.8% (15th)1-Goal Games20-9-122-Goal Games7-43+ Goal Games20-10Winning Streak6-0-0Winless Streak0-3-2Ice Time (F)Giroux 19:23Ice Time (D)Pronger 22:29GMPaul HolmgrenCoachPeter LavioletteArenaWells Fargo CenterCapacity19,5372010-11 Attendance19,715 (3rd)AffiliateAdirondack (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)31&ndash;32<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0076-0241/9543159-1-eng-US/f0076-022.jpg" title="f0076-02" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>JAMES VAN RIEMSDYKThe end of 2010-11 was his coming-out party. Now he&rsquo;ll get a chance to really shine.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;62<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0076-0326/9543145-1-eng-US/f0076-032.jpg" title="f0076-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>CHRIS PRONGERInjury problems at 36 signal the end of his time as an offensive kingpin.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;35<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0076-0412/9543131-1-eng-US/f0076-042.jpg" title="f0076-04" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>JAROMIR JAGROne of the NHL&rsquo;s most enigmatic stars returns after a three-year stint in Russia.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;66<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0076-0511/9543117-1-eng-US/f0076-052.jpg" title="f0076-05" width="361" height="506"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;BRAYDEN SCHENNC, 20, SASKATOON (WHL)With Mike Richards and Jeff Carter gone, Schenn&rsquo;s acquisition from L.A. puts him in a good position to play a bigger role sooner. There&rsquo;s no doubt the kid can generate offense, now it&rsquo;s just a matter of keying in on defensive play.GP 29 G 22 A 35 PTS 57 PIM 232. SEAN COUTURIER C, 18, DRUMMONDVILLE (QMJHL)Tough to get puck off. Good hockey sense and instincts.3. ERIK GUSTAFSSON D, 22, ADIRONDACK (AHL)Has good speed and makes plays by moving puck smartly.4. MATT READ RW, 25, BEMIDJI STATE (WCHA)Point per game last season between college and the AHL.5. ERIC WELLWOOD LW, 21, ADIRONDACK (AHL)Has a quick first step, can score and is a solid forechecker.6. BEN HOLMSTROM C, 24, ADIRONDACK (AHL)Third or fourth line guy who can chew up minutes.7. NICK COUSINS C, 18, SAULT STE. MARIE (OHL)Point-per-game pivot for the Greyhounds.8. KEVIN MARSHALL D, 22, ADIRONDACK (AHL)Plays with intensity, but needs to get better moving the puck.9. TYE MCGINN LW, 21, GATINEAU (QMJHL)Big body with good hands. Needs to improve skating.10. BRENDAN RANFORD LW, 19, KAMLOOPS (WHL)Smart playmaker has some scoring touch as well.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0076-067/9543110-1-eng-US/f0076-062.jpg" title="f0076-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0077-0246/9543103-1-eng-US/f0077-022.jpg" title="f0077-02" width="2276" height="1648"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0077-0333/9543096-1-eng-US/f0077-032.jpg" title="f0077-03" width="1135" height="214"></div> &#9632;

f0074-02

Orange Overhaul

<div class="byline">BY JOHN VOGL</div>Northeast Division, Eastern Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0078-0234/9543386-1-eng-US/f0078-022.jpg" title="f0078-02" width="272" height="272"></div>TERRY PEGULA DIDN&rsquo;T leave any wiggle room when he purchased the Sabres in February. &ldquo;Starting today,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;the Buffalo Sabres&rsquo; reason for existence is to win the Stanley Cup.&rdquo;Though it takes a certain amount of chutzpah to utter that statement just hours after taking over, words are still just words. Actions matter more.Pegula&rsquo;s actions have been bolder than his words.Pegula, who made billions in the oil and gas industry, opened his wallet at the trade deadline to get Brad Boyes. Following a first-round loss to Philadelphia, the owner brought out the sledgehammers to remodel the Sabres&rsquo; dressing room into one the NHL&rsquo;s best. Buffalo really made its splash in late June and early July, adding Robyn Regehr, Christian Ehrhoff, Ville Leino and their combined $12.5 million per year cap hit. Pegula also bought Rochester of the American League, reuniting Buffalo with its long-time affiliate and Western New York neighbor.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0078-0316/9543379-1-eng-US/f0078-032.jpg" title="f0078-03" width="482" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">VILLE LEINO (SMALL PHOTO: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re all happy,&rdquo; coach Lindy Ruff said. &ldquo;We feel that we&rsquo;ve added to the positions we feel will make us a Stanley Cup contender. We feel those pieces should make us a better team and that&rsquo;s with everybody coming together real quick.&rdquo;OFFENSE The Sabres needed help in the middle last season and they&rsquo;ve essentially added two centers. They signed Leino, who played left wing with Philadelphia, to return to his natural spot. Derek Roy, the perennial scoring leader, is back after missing the second half because of quad surgery.One of them will feed the scoring duo of left winger Thomas Vanek and right winger Drew Stafford. Vanek led the Sabres in goals for the fifth straight season and he also filled the playmaking void left by Roy, tying a career-high 41 assists. Stafford, a first-round pick, finally lived up to the hype with 31 goals in just 62 games.Ehrhoff, Tyler Myers and Jordan Leopold rev the engine from the back end. The Sabres thrive when their &lsquo;D&rsquo; joins the rush and the smooth-skating trio won&rsquo;t hesitate to create a four-man attack.DEFENSE The Sabres were simply too young in the back to contend last season. Four of their regular blueliners were under 25 and the inexperience showed. The additions of Regehr, Ehrhoff and their 18 years of NHL play changed that in a hurry.Regehr also brings the physicality and meanness Buffalo has lacked. No one was scared to enter the Sabres zone, but Regehr will increase the fear factor. He&rsquo;ll likely line up alongside minute-hogging Myers, the 2010 Calder Trophy winner, forming a shutdown pair the Sabres lacked during the playoffs. Myers, in particular, will benefit from the additions. His early sophomore jinx can be attributed to having no one to lean on, but his late surge showed he still has the potential to be a franchise D-man. In the final 54 games, he had five goals, 29 points and a plus-10 rating.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0078-049/9543372-1-eng-US/f0078-042.jpg" title="f0078-04" width="1002" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">57 | D TYLER MYERS (MYERS: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING Ryan Miller, hindered by injuries to his knee, hip and head, found it impossible to match his prior season, which featured a Vezina Trophy and Olympic stardom. The Sabres again rode him too hard in the middle of the season and he wore down physically and mentally during a stretch of 31 straight starts.Still, there&rsquo;s no one the organization would rather have in net. He&rsquo;s in the middle of his prime at age 31. He&rsquo;s the conscience of the dressing room and the face of the franchise.All-time record: 1,530&ndash;1,187&ndash;481<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0079-0233/9543365-1-eng-US/f0079-022.jpg" title="f0079-02" width="2066" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">Forget the additions, the Sabres&rsquo; key is still between the pipes in Ryan Miller. (FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Jhonas Enroth, who won nine games in Miller&rsquo;s absence, takes over for Patrick Lalime in an upgrade at backup.SPECIAL TEAMS The Sabres ranked ninth in power play and 13th in penalty kill, but it was an up-and-down season for both. Vanek and Stafford led with 11 power play goals, while Leopold and Myers worked the point. Ehrhoff will take over one unit.The hallmark for Ruff&rsquo;s power play is aggression. It costs them at times, with 13 short-handed goals allowed, third most in the NHL. The penalty killers preach safety first. They scored only two short-handed goals, but are content to clear rather than create.INTANGIBLES The Sabres think they&rsquo;ve found the right mix of speed and physicality up front, with slickness and toughness in the back. Regehr&rsquo;s leadership combined with the increased maturity of the longtime core &ndash; Miller, Vanek, Roy, Jason Pominville and Paul Gaustad &ndash; gives them a better dynamic off the ice.ROOKIES Enroth will be the youngster with the biggest role. The 23-year-old, a 2006 second-round pick, proved he could win during his limited showing last season.Defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani finally got a look in the playoffs after four years in the minors and he opened eyes. Right winger Zack Kassian has the physical tools, but needs to mature.CAP CRUNCH After the July 1 frenzy, the &ldquo;small market&rdquo; Sabres had the NHL&rsquo;s highest payroll. Moves are no longer based on the bottom line, but the Sabres need to create room if they want to improve the top line at the deadline.THE BRASS Ruff and GM Darcy Regier feel like they&rsquo;re in the midst of a dream. They have a win-at-any-cost owner and president Ted Black capably handles everything off the ice, leaving the NHL&rsquo;s longest-tenured duo to focus solely on the ice.Regier has done his part in creating the team. Ruff needs to mold it. &ldquo;Terry didn&rsquo;t hedge his bet at all when he bought the team,&rdquo; Regier said. &ldquo;He said our goal is to win multiple Stanley Cups.&rdquo;X-FACTOR Expectations are back to where they were in the Danny Briere-Chris Drury era. Miller specifically has made known his desire to bring the first championship to Buffalo. If he returns to trophy-winning form, they have a chance.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>5thA full season of new ownership and a pair of veteran additions adds up to the Sabres rising through the Eastern rankings again.<h2>$78M</h2>Total dollars committed to four players (Ehrhoff, Leino, Regehr, Kotalik) brought in via free agency or trade during the off-season<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0078-056/9543358-1-eng-US/f0078-052.jpg" title="f0078-05" width="2271" height="131"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0079-0321/9543330-1-eng-US/f0079-032.jpg" title="f0079-03" width="1130" height="874"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record43-29-10 (96 pts)Conference7thNHL Overall15thOffense2.93 GPG (9th)Defense2.78 GAA (18th)Power Play19.4% (9th)Penalty Kill83.0% (13th)1-Goal Games21-13-102-Goal Games12-63+ Goal Games10-10Winning Streak4-0-0Winless Streak0-4-1Ice Time (F)Roy 19:32Ice Time (D)Leopold 23:19GMDarcy RegierCoachLindy RuffArenaHSBC ArenaCapacity18,6902010-11 Attendance18,452 (9th)AffiliatePortland (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)25&ndash;22<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0080-0233/9543323-1-eng-US/f0080-022.jpg" title="f0080-02" width="205" height="257"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>TYLER ENNISAn NHL year under his belt and better linemates will help Ennis take the next step.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;58<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0080-0318/9543309-1-eng-US/f0080-032.jpg" title="f0080-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>JORDAN LEOPOLDWith his injury history and Ehrhoff&rsquo;s arrival, don&rsquo;t expect a production increase.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;30<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0080-046/9543295-1-eng-US/f0080-042.jpg" title="f0080-04" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>BRAD BOYESThe one-time 40-goal scorer could have his career rejuvenated in Buffalo.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;48<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0080-054/9543281-1-eng-US/f0080-052.jpg" title="f0080-05" width="364" height="505"></div>1.&nbsp;ZACK KASSIANRW, 20, WINDSOR (OHL)Big, physical player known as a hard hitter (sometimes too much so) in junior. More recently, Kassian has found his scoring touch which has Sabres brass anxious to see what he can do at the NHL level.GP 56 G 26 A 51 PTS 77 PIM 672. LUKE ADAM LW, 21, PORTLAND (AHL)Physical and offensive threat. Adapting quickly to pro game.3. MARCUS FOLIGNO LW, 20, SUDBURY (OHL)Hard hitter who can score. Has improved his overall game.4. JOEL ARMIA RW, 18, ASSAT (FIN.)Lethal on the power play, not afraid to shoot the puck.5. MARK PYSYK D, 19, EDMONTON (WHL)Passing is an asset, but needs to be more assertive.6. BRAYDEN MCNABB D, 20, KOOTENAY (WHL)Stay-at-home physical defenseman. Must limit mistakes.7. JHONAS ENROTH G, 23, PORTLAND (AHL)Posted .907 save percentage in 14 games with Buffalo.8. MARC-ANDRE GRAGNANI D, 24, PORTLAND (AHL)Point-per-game average with the Sabres in the playoffs.9. DREW SCHIESTEL D, 22, PORTLAND (AHL)AHL all-star selection, improved his game across the board.10. JEROME GAUTHIER-LEDUC D, 19, RIMOUSKI (QMJHL)Agile puck-moving defenseman, must ramp up intensity.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0080-064/9543274-1-eng-US/f0080-062.jpg" title="f0080-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0081-0250/9543267-1-eng-US/f0081-022.jpg" title="f0081-02" width="2276" height="1648"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0081-0416/9543260-1-eng-US/f0081-042.jpg" title="f0081-04" width="374" height="668"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0081-0336/9543253-1-eng-US/f0081-032.jpg" title="f0081-03" width="1313" height="1212"><figcaption class="caption-body">26 | LW THOMAS VANEK (GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0078-02

Mighty Swords

<div class="byline">BY DAMIAN CRISTODERO</div>Southeast Division, Eastern Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0082-0231/9543550-1-eng-US/f0082-022.jpg" title="f0082-02" width="278" height="272"></div>IT&rsquo;S A GOOD BET no one going into the 2010-11 season saw the Lightning coming. Heck, coach Guy Boucher said he didn&rsquo;t really recognize he had something special until around Christmas.But the close-knit team got terrific seasons from role players such as Sean Bergenheim, Dominic Moore, Adam Hall and Nate Thompson. Captain Vinny Lecavalier was rejuvenated in the second half of the year and Martin St-Louis and Steven Stamkos led the offense.First-year GM Steve Yzerman chipped in with two timely moves (getting goaltender Dwayne Roloson and defenseman Eric Brewer) and Boucher brought together the disparate parts with a 1-3-1 system that was both a variation of the neutral-zone trap and a way to spark a dangerous transition game.The result: The team reached the East final, where it lost 1-0 in Game 7 to the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Bruins. &ldquo;I guess I&rsquo;m not surprised where we are,&rdquo; Yzerman said. &ldquo;The players that played, we watched them throughout the course of the year. You have an understanding of what their strengths are and what they can do. I don&rsquo;t know if we exceeded expectations or under-performed.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0082-0315/9543543-1-eng-US/f0082-032.jpg" title="f0082-03" width="480" height="329"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>OFFENSE The Lightning offense with Stamkos, St-Louis and Lecavalier will be the same quick-strike mechanism it was in 2010-11 when its 241 goals were third in the East. The offense will be better from the blueline as Brewer will get a full training camp to absorb the system and play a full season on the point during the power play.DEFENSE Boucher took some heat (especially in the playoffs) for a 1-3-1 system that looked a lot like the old neutral-zone traps employed by Jacques Lemaire with the Devils. The key is convergence on opponents in the neutral zone and in the defensive zone, where it is not unusual to see both defensemen go after puck carriers in the corners. That means forwards must get to the spaces vacated by the blueliners.Tampa Bay wants to create turnovers, of course, and it has the personnel &ndash; even without Bergenheim who went to the Panthers &ndash; to initiate a quick transition when they happen.GOALTENDING Roloson returns with a new one-year, $3-million contract that includes bonuses of up to $500,000 depending on how deep the Lightning go in the post-season.The key will be keeping the veteran goaltender fresh. Roloson turns 42 on Oct. 12, so the acquisition of Mathieu Garon, who will play 30 to 35 games, is considerable.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0082-0411/9543536-1-eng-US/f0082-042.jpg" title="f0082-04" width="1002" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">26 | RW MARTIN ST-LOUIS (ST-LOUIS: GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Garon, 33, has some game. He is especially good in shootouts in which he is 19-10 in his career with a .748 save percentage. He also isn&rsquo;t ready to concede playing time. &ldquo;I know my role, but the better you play the more you&rsquo;re going to push that No. 1 guy and he&rsquo;s going to be better,&rdquo; said Garon, who partnered with Roloson from 2007 to 2009 with the Edmonton Oilers.SPECIAL TEAMS They were the Lightning&rsquo;s strength last season as the team finished sixth in the league and best in the East with a 20.5 power play percentage and eighth in the league on the penalty kill at 83.8 percent. Firepower and creativity were key on the power play and tenacious defense was vital on the penalty kill. But there were some glitches.Tampa Bay allowed a league-worst 16 shorthanded goals, though things got better when Brewer took over a point position. And despite moving Stamkos to several spots on the power play, the center could not shake a slump in which he scored five goals in his final 28 games.All-time record: 550&ndash;696&ndash;200<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0083-0235/9543529-1-eng-US/f0083-022.jpg" title="f0083-02" width="2071" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">Consistency will be the name of the game for the sharp-shooting Steven Stamkos. (ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES Character, Yzerman said, is a priority when putting together a team. That was evident last season as Tampa Bay&rsquo;s dressing room was close-knit and players credited that bond with propelling them to a place not many expected them to reach.With Yzerman&rsquo;s blueprint and Boucher&rsquo;s ability to adapt coaching techniques to individual players, the Lightning gets everything it can out of its roster.ROOKIES The best bet for a rookie to make the Lightning out of training camp is Carter Ashton. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder had a solid 2010-11 for Tri-City and Regina of the Western League with 33 goals, 71 points and 106 penalty minutes in 62 games.Ashton plays the kind of game Boucher likes. That is, physical and with the ability to get to the net. Just what the team needs to fill a bottom-six slot that was open in the summer.CAP CRUNCH One of the nice aspects of having Jeff Vinik as an owner is he has some money to spend, unlike the previous ownership group. Word is Yzerman had permission from Vinik to match any offer sheet that may have come Stamkos&rsquo; way, before the sniper put his name on a five-year, $37.5-million deal with the Bolts.That said, expect the Lightning to come in under the cap in order to add a piece or two if need be.THE BRASS Yzerman&rsquo;s best attribute is his patience, though he&rsquo;s certainly not afraid to make bold moves when required. Boucher is as much a psychologist as a coach. The 40-year-old bench boss has a degree in sports psychology and has said he doesn&rsquo;t so much coach a team as 23 individuals, finding each one&rsquo;s buttons to push.X-FACTOR The Lightning overcame Stamkos&rsquo; slump last season because Lecavalier and Simon Gagne were resurgent in the second half and St-Louis was, well, St-Louis. But Gagne is gone and St-Louis (as much as he wants to deny it) is 36.That makes it even more important for Stamkos to find the form that had some believing he would score 50 goals in 50 games.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>6thSome sneered to think Tampa Bay could be a playoff team last season, but nobody&rsquo;s sneering anymore. The Lightning are for real.<h2>&ndash;13</h2>2010-11 even-strength goal differential for the Lightning, 20th in the league and the worst among playoffs teams<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0082-055/9543522-1-eng-US/f0082-052.jpg" title="f0082-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0083-0327/9543494-1-eng-US/f0083-032.jpg" title="f0083-03" width="1134" height="872"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record46-25-11 (103 pts)Conference5thNHL Overall8thOffense2.94 GPG (8th)Defense2.85 GAA (21th)Power Play20.5% (6th)Penalty Kill83.8% (8th)1-Goal Games23-7-112-Goal Games11-43+ Goal Games12-14Winning Streak6-0-0Winless Streak0-3-1Ice Time (F)St-Louis 20:58Ice Time (D)Brewer 21:24GMSteve YzermanCoachGuy BoucherArenaSt. Pete Times ForumCapacity19,7582010-11 Attendance17,268 (18th)AffiliateNorfolk (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)14&ndash;15<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0084-0227/9543487-1-eng-US/f0084-022.jpg" title="f0084-02" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>STEVEN STAMKOSAt just 21, he&rsquo;s in the top tier of NHL talent and a candidate for 50 goals every year.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;93<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0084-0315/9543473-1-eng-US/f0084-032.jpg" title="f0084-03" width="205" height="257"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>VINCENT LECAVALIERHas morphed into a solid two-way player and doesn&rsquo;t put up the huge numbers he used to.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;68<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0084-044/9543459-1-eng-US/f0084-042.jpg" title="f0084-04" width="205" height="276"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>TEDDY PURCELLHe outscored Stamkos during the 2011 playoffs and looks to be coming into his own.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;45<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0084-053/9543445-1-eng-US/f0084-052.jpg" title="f0084-05" width="364" height="506"><figcaption class="caption-body">(NOAH GRAHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;BRETT CONNOLLYRW, 19, PRINCE GEORGE (WHL)After missing most of 2009-10 to injury, Connolly is starting to regain form. He had an impressive showing at the Lightning&rsquo;s summer prospect camp; Tampa feels his hockey sense and skill will translate well to NHL ice.GP 59 G 46 A 27 PTS 73 PIM 262. CARTER ASHTON RW, 20, TRI-CITY (WHL)Gritty skater goes to the net. Big and powerful player.3. VLADISLAV NAMESTNIKOV C, 18, LONDON (OHL)Point-per-game guy full of high-end skill and creativity.4. RICHARD PANIK RW, 20, GUELPH (OHL)Big, strong goal-scorer needs to iron out consistency issues.5. RADKO GUDAS D, 21, NORFOLK (AHL)Swift skater, good puck-mover and a mean streak, to boot.6. JAMES WRIGHT C, 21, NORFOLK (AHL)Proved he can play in the NHL, but conditioning an issue.7. GEOFFREY SCHEMITSCH D, 19, OWEN SOUND (OHL)Incredibly intelligent player, but needs to improve strength.8. DUSTIN TOKARSKI G, 22, NORFOLK (AHL)Very sound positionally and hard to knock off his game.9. NIKITA KUCHEROV RW, 18, CSKA JR. (RUS.)Creative stickhandler has nice quick release.10. JAROSLAV JANUS G, 22, FLORIDA (ECHL)A flopper who needs to improve his technical positioning.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0084-065/9543438-1-eng-US/f0084-062.jpg" title="f0084-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0085-0233/9543431-1-eng-US/f0085-022.jpg" title="f0085-02" width="2270" height="1642"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0085-0412/9543424-1-eng-US/f0085-042.jpg" title="f0085-04" width="374" height="668"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0085-0322/9543417-1-eng-US/f0085-032.jpg" title="f0085-03" width="1317" height="1217"><figcaption class="caption-body">4 | C VINCENT LECAVALIER (GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0082-02

Bolts Strike Back

<div class="byline">BY STEVE ZIPAY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0086-0315/9543707-1-eng-US/f0086-032.jpg" title="f0086-03" width="482" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRYAN McCABE (SMALL: DEBORA ROBINSON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0086-0229/9543714-1-eng-US/f0086-022.jpg" title="f0086-02" width="111" height="110"></div>AFTER THE RANGERS were eliminated in five games by Washington in the first round of the playoffs, there were several distinct sentiments, from the dressing room to the front office.The main emotion was frustration at the quick exit after a 44-win season. But the maturation of some core players &ndash; Marc Staal, Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky &ndash; and an infusion of impact rookies such as Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh and Michael Sauer was a promising sign.There was little doubt, however, the Rangers were missing a legit No. 1 center and a power play quarterback. The Blueshirts hoped to have filled both holes with one move: A nine-year, $60-million contract to Brad Richards, the prize of the free agent crop. The buzz is back on Broadway. &ldquo;I think he pushes us to the next step,&rdquo; said president and GM Glen Sather. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s been a winner, he&rsquo;s been a leader, he&rsquo;s been a great player his entire career.&rdquo;</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>The re-signing of veteran Ruslan Fedotenko and the addition of rugged free agent Mike Rupp solidify the third and fourth lines.OFFENSE Incredibly, no Ranger scored 55 points last season. With Marian Gaborik and Vinny Prospal injured, Dubinsky, 25, finished as the team&rsquo;s high scorer with 54 in 77 games and led all forwards in average ice time with 20:13. Callahan, 26, had 48 points, but that was in just 60 games, and led the team with 10 power play markers. He averaged 19:54 in ice time.Coach John Tortorella&rsquo;s aggressive style &ndash; relying on work ethic and defensemen joining the rush &ndash; promotes offense, but the team finished 16th in goals. Richards will raise the bar.DEFENSE Marc Staal wore an &lsquo;A&rsquo; for the first time and responded. He logged 25:44 a game, the fourth highest in the league, and was selected to the All-Star Game. He and Dan Girardi, who led the league with 236 blocked shots, return as the shutdown pair. Rookies McDonagh and Sauer emerged as a surprise second pair on a young defense that had Steve Eminger, 26, as the elder statesman.They wore down as the season progressed, but will be stronger this time out thanks to accrued experience. The critical questions: Will Michael Del Zotto, the club&rsquo;s No. 1 pick in 2008, rebound from a dismal sophomore season that ended in the American League? Can Tim Erixon, acquired from Calgary in an early summer coup, step in and be effective?<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0086-048/9543700-1-eng-US/f0086-042.jpg" title="f0086-04" width="1002" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">18 | D MARC STAAL (STAAL: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING For yet another season, Henrik Lundqvist, 29, was the team MVP. Although Tortorella&rsquo;s plan was to trim his workload to fewer than 65 games to keep him fresh for April and May, that strategy imploded on Feb. 28 when capable backup Martin Biron broke his collarbone. With only rookie Chad Johnson available, Lundqvist started the final 26 games.He finished with a NHL-high 11 shutouts and a 2.28 GAA and .923 save percentage, both slightly higher than his career average.SPECIAL TEAMS Richards will fill the void as the quarterback after everyone from the bought-out Chris Drury to Del Zotto to Mats Zuccarello to Bryan McCabe tried and sputtered. Staal (four power play goals) will see more time on the point.The penalty kill (ranked 10th) kept the Rangers in the hunt during close games and scored 11 shorthanded goals, five from Brandon Prust. Callahan, Dubinsky and Boyle are the key forwards, with Fedotenko and Artem Anisimov chipping in. Expect McDonagh to spell warhorses Staal and Girardi more this season.All-time record: 2,484&ndash;2,440&ndash;288<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0087-0227/9543693-1-eng-US/f0087-022.jpg" title="f0087-02" width="2071" height="1134"><figcaption class="caption-body">Henrik Lundqvist was one of only six goalies to play 4,000 minutes last season. (FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES Even with a 6-3-1 finish, the Rangers won just 20 games at home, the fewest of any playoff team. That must improve. With the first stage of a remodeling of MSG underway, the Rangers will play half of their exhibition season and their two opening games in Europe. They return briefly to play on Long Island, then set off on a four-city, eight-day Western Canadian swing before the home opener Oct. 27.Tortorella reminded writers the past three Cup champions began their seasons in Europe. No one added 11 other clubs did, too.ROOKIES Carl Hagelin, just out of the University of Michigan, has the best shot at forward to see playing time. On defense, the 20-year-old Erixon, son of former Ranger Jan Erixon, has size and speed and scored 24 points in 28 games in Sweden&rsquo;s top circuit. He is expected to make the jump. Top left wing prospect Chris Kreider opted to stay at Boston College another year.CAP CRUNCH With deep pockets from parent Cablevision, the Rangers always spend close to the cap. A few million should be available at the trade deadline and with Erik Christensen and Sean Avery due to be UFAs, there will be some added wiggle room.THE BRASS Sather erased the second part of the ill-fated Scott Gomez-Chris Drury purchase with the buyout of the final year of Drury&rsquo;s contract. Last year, another costly free agent acquisition, Wade Redden, was buried in the minors. The only change is the departure of assistant GM and CBA expert Cam Hope. Jeff Gorton, a former Bruins assistant GM who has been the assistant director of player personnel for three years in New York, was promoted.X-FACTOR Gaborik&rsquo;s track record shows that a productive season is followed by a disappointing one, followed by a rebound. If the trend continues, a 40-plus goal campaign is on tap, especially with elite playmaker Richards in the mix. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the kind of player that should be getting in and out of holes, with somebody giving him the puck at the right time,&rdquo; Sather said. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s sort of a sixth sense that players like this have and if you watch Brad play, he possesses this&hellip;I just think this is going to make him much better.&rdquo;<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>7thThe addition of Brad Richards will improve the Rangers&rsquo; offense, but the Blueshirts&rsquo; defense will remain their calling card.<h2>7</h2>Consecutive road games to start the 2011-12 campaign, including a two-tilt kickoff in Stockholm, Sweden against the Kings and Ducks<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0086-055/9543686-1-eng-US/f0086-052.jpg" title="f0086-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0087-0321/9543658-1-eng-US/f0087-032.jpg" title="f0087-03" width="1130" height="834"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record44-33-5 (93 pts)Conference8thNHL Overall18thOffense2.73 GPG (16th)Defense2.38 GAA (5th)Power Play16.9% (18th)Penalty Kill83.7% (10th)1-Goal Games21-13-52-Goal Games7-123+ Goal Games16-8Winning Streak5-0-0Winless Streak0-5-1Ice Time (F)Dubinsky 20:13Ice Time (D)Staal 25:44GMGlen SatherCoachJohn TortorellaArenaMadison Square GardenCapacity18,2002010-11 Attendance18,108 (13th)AffiliateConnecticut (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)15&ndash;21<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0088-0226/9543651-1-eng-US/f0088-022.jpg" title="f0088-02" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>MARIAN GABORIKWith Richards&rsquo; arrival, he will play next to an elite center for the first time in his career.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;82<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0088-0314/9543637-1-eng-US/f0088-032.jpg" title="f0088-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>BRANDON DUBINSKYDespite a breakout season, it is unclear where he fits in the top six and the power play.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;52<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0088-045/9543623-1-eng-US/f0088-042.jpg" title="f0088-04" width="203" height="256"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>MICHAEL DEL ZOTTOAfter a rough second season, Del Zotto could be running the power play before long.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;26<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0088-053/9543609-1-eng-US/f0088-052.jpg" title="f0088-05" width="364" height="506"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;TIM ERIXOND, 20, SKELLEFTEA (SWE.)Snatched up in a deal from Calgary after the Flames failed to sign him, Erixon is rounding into a complete defenseman. He has the skating ability to join the rush and uses his good instincts to avoid being out of position.GP 48 G 5 A 19 PTS 24 PIM 402. CHRIS KREIDER LW, 20, BOSTON COL. (HE)Speedster is projecting as a top-line player in NHL.3. DYLAN MCILRATH D, 19, MOOSE JAW (WHL)Physical player with a good point shot. Skating needs work.4. CHRISTIAN THOMAS RW, 19, OSHAWA (OHL)Good hands and quick release. Needs to improve strength.5. J.T. MILLER C, 18, U.S. NTDP (USHL)Good work ethic, goes to the net on a consistent basis.6. STEVEN FOGARTY C, 18, EDINA (USHS)Big kid with skill heading to Notre Dame.7. MICHAEL ST. CROIX C, 18, EDMONTON (WHL)Can score, but defensive play and strength are issues.8. DALE WEISE RW, 23, CONNECTICUT (AHL)Feisty grinder destined for fourth line in NHL.9. JESPER FASTH RW, 19, HV 71 (SWE.)Two-way player with speed goes to the tough areas.10. RYAN BOURQUE C, 20, QUEBEC (QMJHL)He&rsquo;s undersized, but quick and not afraid to shoot.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0088-064/9543602-1-eng-US/f0088-062.jpg" title="f0088-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0089-0233/9543595-1-eng-US/f0089-022.jpg" title="f0089-02" width="1135" height="820"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0089-0411/9543588-1-eng-US/f0089-042.jpg" title="f0089-04" width="374" height="668"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0089-0323/9543581-1-eng-US/f0089-032.jpg" title="f0089-03" width="1318" height="1217"><figcaption class="caption-body">10 | RW MARIAN GABORIK (PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0086-03

Bull Market

<div class="byline">BY HERB ZURKOWSKY</div>Northeast Division, Eastern Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0090-0228/9543871-1-eng-US/f0090-022.jpg" title="f0090-02" width="270" height="269"></div>THE HABS are bullish entering 2011-12, but need a lot to go right to join the East&rsquo;s elite.Although the Canadiens failed to make it out of the playoffs&rsquo; opening round after reaching the Eastern final in 2010, Montreal took Boston, the eventual Stanley Cup champion, to overtime of the seventh game. Montreal also captured the series&rsquo; opening two games on the road &ndash; without defenseman Andrei Markov and left winger Max Pacioretty.GM Pierre Gauthier kept the core of last season&rsquo;s team together, while addressing one of his most urgent needs. The Canadiens for years have needed a top-six power forward to add both offense and a physical presence to one of the NHL&rsquo;s smaller teams. The signing of Erik Cole, a free agent from Carolina, to a four-year, $18-million contract fits the bill. Cole, 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, played in all 82 games for the Hurricanes last season, scoring 26 goals and 52 points. That included nine game-winning goals. He&rsquo;ll bring size, speed, a nose for the net and veteran leadership. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always enjoyed playing in Montreal,&rdquo; Cole said. &ldquo;As soon as you set foot in the city you can feel the excitement.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0090-0312/9543864-1-eng-US/f0090-032.jpg" title="f0090-03" width="480" height="341"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>OFFENSE The Habs have a tough time scoring even strength goals. Cole&rsquo;s added offense could prove to be the catalyst they require.Center Scott Gomez is coming off a career-worst season. The Alaska native, who scored only seven goals and 38 points in 80 games, was embarrassed by that output and has vowed to vastly improve those totals. Now he must actually do it. When Gomez played on a line with Brian Gionta and Pacioretty, the trio worked well. And Cole should fit in nicely on a second line with Tomas Plekanec and Mike Cammalleri. That also means Andrei Kostitsyn can provide some much-needed offense to the third line.DEFENSE A city will hold its collective breath when Russian rearguard Andrei Markov returns to the fold. The team&rsquo;s most-talented defender was limited to only seven games after tearing his ACL for the second time in six months. He&rsquo;s played just 52 games during the past two seasons.If Markov, who the Canadiens retained with a three-year, $17.25-million contract, can remain healthy, the team&rsquo;s blueline will improve exponentially. Teaming with 22-year-old P.K. Subban, Markov provides Montreal with a solid push from the back end. Hall Gill returns to offer leadership and a calming influence, while Josh Gorges is dependable and vet Jaroslav Spacek is hanging in.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0090-047/9543857-1-eng-US/f0090-042.jpg" title="f0090-04" width="1002" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">31 | G CAREY PRICE (PRICE: FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Montreal said goodbye to Roman Hamrlik and James Wisniewski and while the latter&rsquo;s offense is replaceable, the Habs will miss Hamrlik&rsquo;s size and savvy. Yannick Weber is available to be the sixth defenseman, but watch for that role to be filled by either Alexei Yemelin or Raphael Diaz, a pair of rookies. The Canadiens will probably use Weber at forward.GOALTENDING What more can be said about Carey Price? After telling fans to &ldquo;chill out&rdquo; following a mediocre exhibition game performance, Price backed his words up on the ice. He knew he was going to play more games than ever and held up nicely despite a 72-game grind, displaying no outward signs of fatigue. The 6-foot-3, 219-pounder had a 38-28-6 record, 2.35 goals-against average and .923 save percentage while producing a career-high eight shut-outs. Still only 24, Price figures to get better with experience. New backup Peter Budaj is there as insurance and, in case of injury, has been a starting goaltender. But he&rsquo;ll be used sporadically.All-time record: 3,104&ndash;2,107&ndash;917<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0091-0226/9543850-1-eng-US/f0091-022.jpg" title="f0091-02" width="2064" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">Hard-charging P.K. Subban will be counted on heavily as a sophomore. (PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>SPECIAL TEAMS With the return of Markov, Montreal must decide how to utilize Subban. Both like to play on the left point during the power play. When Subban is on the right side, he&rsquo;s not as productive. The penalty-killing unit took a hit with the defection of center Jeff Halpern and his faceoff skills. But, they still have Plekanec, Gill and Gorges to keep the puck out of the net.INTANGIBLES The Canadiens have plenty of players with Cup rings and added another in Cole. He was credited with 225 hits last season &ndash; 10th among forwards. While coach Jacques Martin is often criticized for his lack of flair and emotion, his even-keel approach is effective. However, he lost assistant Kirk Muller, who took a head coaching job in the AHL. Muller was popular with the players and provided a buffer between the athletes and management.ROOKIES It has been seven years since the Habs nabbed Yemelin 84th overall in 2004. He might be worth the wait. Yemelin, at 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, is a physical player. In Russia, he was castigated for being dirty, reminding some of Darius Kasparaitis. If Yemelin doesn&rsquo;t nail down the final spot on the blueline, Diaz, a slick Swiss puck-mover, should.CAP CRUNCH Montreal is a team that spends money, but still has a few million in cap space to make moves on the go.THE BRASS This marks the first season as Habs president for Geoff Molson, who takes over from Pierre Boivin. It&rsquo;s not clear what effect this will have on the franchise, but following the broken vertebra and concussion suffered by Pacioretty &ndash; and the lack of suspension to Zdeno Chara &ndash; Molson issued a public statement criticizing the NHL&rsquo;s decision. It&rsquo;s not something Boivin would have done, but this doesn&rsquo;t make Molson a loose cannon. If anything, he provides a breath of fresh air.X-FACTOR Gomez doesn&rsquo;t have to be the comeback player of the year, but he must improve on horrible totals. On the other hand, if Markov goes into the corner and doesn&rsquo;t come out, this team will have a blueline crisis to address. Again.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>8thMontreal has nice young pieces in Price and Subban, but still lacks punch overall and will be in a death match to nail a playoff spot.<h2>3</h2>Games over .500 in 2011-12 will put the Canadiens exactly 1,000 games over the break-even mark all-time<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0090-053/9543843-1-eng-US/f0090-052.jpg" title="f0090-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0091-0319/9543815-1-eng-US/f0091-032.jpg" title="f0091-03" width="1136" height="874"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record44-30-8 (96 pts)Conference6thNHL Overall14thOffense2.60 GPG (23rd)Defense2.51 GAA (8th)Power Play19.7% (7th)Penalty Kill84.4% (7th)1-Goal Games19-5-82-Goal Games12-83+ Goal Games13-17Winning Streak5-0-0Winless Streak0-3-0Ice Time (F)Plekanec 20:14Ice Time (D)Wisniewski 22:42GMPierre GauthierCoachJacques MartinArenaBell CentreCapacity21,2732010-11 Attendance21,273 (2nd)AffiliateHamilton (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)19&ndash;29<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0092-0226/9543808-1-eng-US/f0092-022.jpg" title="f0092-02" width="201" height="253"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>MIKE CAMMALLERIThe last time he scored 19 goals in a season, he bounced back with 39.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;67<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0092-0315/9543794-1-eng-US/f0092-032.jpg" title="f0092-03" width="208" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>SCOTT GOMEZSeven goals last season shows how much he has declined since his 84-point season.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;50<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0092-043/9543780-1-eng-US/f0092-042.jpg" title="f0092-04" width="207" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>ANDREI MARKOVHas played only 52 games total the past two seasons so he&rsquo;s due for a big rebound.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;53<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0092-0161/9543766-1-eng-US/f0092-012.jpg" title="f0092-01" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;LOUIS LEBLANCC, 20, MONTREAL (QMJHL)A skilled player who is an above-average skater, Leblanc&rsquo;s versatility will make him a solid pro someday. He has good vision to go along with an accurate shot and is strong defensively. He just needs to add strength and durability.2. NATHAN BEAULIEU D, 18, SAINT JOHN (QMJHL)Heated up in the playoffs with 17 points in 19 games.3. JARRED TINORDI D, 19, LONDON (OHL)Physical player with impressive mobility for his size.4. DANNY KRISTO RW, 21, N. DAKOTA (WCHA)Speedy player with a non-stop motor and a hard wrist shot.5. ALEXANDER AVTSIN RW, 20, HAMILTON (AHL)Good hockey sense and great shot. Protects the puck well.6. MICHAEL BOURNIVAL LW, 19, SHAWINIGAN (QMJHL)Speedy and smart. Best suited to be an efficient checker.7. AARON PALUSHAJ RW, 22, HAMILTON (AHL)Competitive player, but has consistency issues.8. JOONAS NATTINEN C, 20, HAMEENLINNA (FIN.)Two-way player can take critical faceoffs.9. MARK MACMILLAN C, 19, PENTICTON (BCHL)Slick puckhandler needs to add weight to fight off checks.10. BRENDAN GALLAGHER RW, 19, VANCOUVER (WHL)Fearless sniper plays with a ton of energy.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0092-05/9543759-1-eng-US/f0092-052.jpg" title="f0092-05" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0093-0228/9543752-1-eng-US/f0093-022.jpg" title="f0093-02" width="1135" height="821"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0093-0314/9543745-1-eng-US/f0093-032.jpg" title="f0093-03" width="1136" height="216"></div> &#9632;

f0090-02

Cole For The Fire

<div class="byline">BY LUKE DECOCK</div>Southeast Division, Eastern Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0094-0310/9544035-1-eng-US/f0094-032.jpg" title="f0094-03" width="289" height="282"></div>IT ALL CAME DOWN to one game last season, No. 82, at home, with everything on the line. It did not end well. A 6-2 loss to Tampa Bay kept the Canes out of the playoffs for the fourth time in five years since winning the Stanley Cup.As disappointing as the finish was, the team prefers to look at last season as a building block, breaking in young players such as Jeff Skinner and Jamie McBain.The bar is higher this year, with the next step into the 95-point range, enough to be comfortably in the playoff picture. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re kind of in a transition, rebuilding, however you want to say, until we&rsquo;re a team that can get back to the conference final, at least,&rdquo; said GM Jim Rutherford.With basically the same group back, minus franchise stalwart Erik Cole, Tomas Kaberle replacing Joe Corvo and the addition of much-needed role players, there&rsquo;s going to have to be development across the board to get there.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0094-044/9544028-1-eng-US/f0094-042.jpg" title="f0094-04" width="521" height="367"><figcaption class="caption-body">ZACH BOYCHUK (SMALL PHOTO: JANA CHYTILOVA/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>OFFENSE The Hurricanes would like Eric Staal to get back to the 100-point level he was at when they won the Cup. Some new linemates might provide the shake-up he needs.The Hurricanes added some size in free agents Alex Ponikarovsky and Anthony Stewart, looking to bulk up a forward group that leans heavily toward small and skilled. Tim Brent, another free agent, fills a need at fourth line center.There&rsquo;s some skill in the top six, with Staal, Jussi Jokinen, Tuomo Ruutu and Calder Trophy winner Skinner, but the rest of Carolina&rsquo;s forwards are limited offensively.DEFENSE After seeing the contracts handed out to Kevin Bieksa and Christian Ehrhoff, the Hurricanes saw the futility in trying to find a replacement for Joni Pitkanen and moved quickly to re-sign the Finn, who at one point was all but gone. Pitkanen has the tools to be a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL, but his lapses in concentration can be infuriating at times. New assistant coach Dave Lewis will be tasked with getting the most out of Pitkanen.Kaberle will be expected to help out the power play and McBain is primed to take a step forward in his second full NHL season. Tim Gleason and Bryan Allen bring some muscle and Jay Harrison and Derek Joslin are useful depth players.GOALTENDING There are no questions about Cam Ward, who put his back problems behind him to play a career-high 74 games in the best start-to-finish season of his career. He&rsquo;s Carolina&rsquo;s goalie of the present and foreseeable future, in the second year of a contract that averages $6.3 million per season through 2016.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0094-0152/9544021-1-eng-US/f0094-012.jpg" title="f0094-01" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">12 | C ERIC STAAL (STAAL: CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>The Hurricanes signed Brian Boucher, a veteran with experience in a No. 2 role. Justin Peters, 25, played in only 12 games last season and the team would prefer he spend this season in the American League, where he can play more regularly.SPECIAL TEAMS The Hurricanes would point out that only two teams in the Eastern Conference scored more power play goals than Carolina&rsquo;s 55 last season; others might note that a power play that converted at better than 15.9 percent, 24th in the NHL, might have gotten the team into the playoffs.Ron Francis has left the bench to return to the front office, so the man advantage unit will function under someone else&rsquo;s guidance. To shore up their penalty-killing units, the Hurricanes brought in Brent, who single-handedly killed a five-on-three against them for Toronto last year and is strong on faceoffs.All-time record: 1,016&ndash;1,137&ndash;333<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0095-0316/9544014-1-eng-US/f0095-032.jpg" title="f0095-03" width="2070" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Hurricanes will need even more from Jeff Skinner in order to make a playoff push. (JANA CHYTILOVA/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES Staal is the captain, but there has been a supplementary leadership void in the dressing room since the retirement of Rod Brind&rsquo;Amour and the departure of the Cup veterans of 2006. Staal needs better lieutenants to emerge on a night-to-night basis.Gleason brings some snarl on the blueline, but there&rsquo;s very little sandpaper up front. Carolina hopes Stewart can help address that.ROOKIES Zac Dalpe has the best shot to make the squad. An Ohio State product who can play center or wing, Dalpe has the skill. It&rsquo;s just a question of whether he&rsquo;s physically and mentally ready.Newly signed D-man Justin Faulk may need some minor league seasoning as well, but hopes are high for the Minnesota-Duluth product. Blueliner Ryan Murphy is a year or two away, but you never know &ndash; the team has a history of giving first-rounders a chance.CAP CRUNCH The Hurricanes ended up 24th in payroll last season with a cap number of $49.9 million and figure to end up in the same neighborhood this season, just above the floor. The team was able to re-sign all of its free agents except Cole, who upon his arrival in Montreal observed Carolina&rsquo;s &ldquo;self-imposed budget&rdquo; had held the team back in recent years.THE BRASS Few franchises in the history of hockey can boast the kind of management consistency the Hurricanes have had the past two decades: Rutherford has been GM since 1994, while only two men have coached the team since 1995 &ndash; Peter Laviolette, from 2003 to 2009, and Paul Maurice before and after.Maurice&rsquo;s job is secure, but that could change if the team struggles in the first half. He hasn&rsquo;t taken an NHL team he has coached for a full season to the playoffs since 2002. His assistant coaches were reshuffled, with Brind&rsquo;Amour and Lewis going behind the bench and Francis and Tom Rowe going to the front office.X-FACTOR One off-the-ice issue that affects the franchise&rsquo;s future is owner Peter Karmanos&rsquo; search for local investors, which has been going on for more than a year. While Karmanos appears capable of carrying the franchise along without help, an influx of new investment might allow the team to increase its payroll.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>9thThe Canes have star power, but little depth, especially on the blueline. They&rsquo;re a playoff bubble team at best. At worst? Don&rsquo;t ask.<h2>9.44</h2>Hours (or 566:57 in minutes and seconds) the Hurricanes spent on the power play last season, tops in the NHL and 20 minutes more than No. 2<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0094-052/9544007-1-eng-US/f0094-052.jpg" title="f0094-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0095-0220/9543979-1-eng-US/f0095-022.jpg" title="f0095-02" width="565" height="429"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record40-31-11 (91 pts)Conference9thNHL Overall19thOffense2.82 GPG (12th)Defense2.85 GAA (22nd)Power Play15.9% (24th)Penalty Kill81.2% (20th)1-Goal Games22-15-112-Goal Games6-23+ Goal Games12-14Winning Streak4-0-0Winless Streak0-3-1Ice Time (F)Staal 21:56Ice Time (D)Pitkanen 25:01GMJim RutherfordCoachPaul MauriceArenaRBC CenterCapacity18,6802010-11 Attendance16,415(20th)AffiliateCharlotte (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)24&ndash;19<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0096-0229/9543972-1-eng-US/f0096-022.jpg" title="f0096-02" width="208" height="257"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>JAMIE MCBAINA solid rookie campaign despite only eight power play points. That number will rise.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;40<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0096-0318/9543958-1-eng-US/f0096-032.jpg" title="f0096-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>ANTHONY STEWARTWill revert to his norm following his breakthrough 39-point season.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;21<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0096-044/9543944-1-eng-US/f0096-042.jpg" title="f0096-04" width="207" height="253"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>ALEXEI PONIKAROVSKYFour time 20-goal man stumbled last season. May play on a line with Eric Staal.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;33<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0096-06/9543930-1-eng-US/f0096-062.jpg" title="f0096-06" width="340" height="467"></div>1.&nbsp;ZAC DALPEC, 21, CHARLOTTE (AHL)The Hurricanes think Dalpe&rsquo;s versatility will make him a center on a checking unit with upside mobility to a second scoring line. He potted three goals in 15 games with Carolina in limited ice time.GP 61 G 23 A 34 PTS 57 PIM 212. RYAN MURPHY D, 18, KITCHENER (OHL)Fabulous skater who is solid with the puck at top speed.3. JUSTIN FAULK D, 19, MINNESOTA-DULUTH (WCHA)NHL-caliber shot that can be an asset on the power play.4. BRIAN DUMOULIN D, 20, BOSTON COLLEGE (HE)Helped lead Boston College to a national title as a freshman.5. RILEY NASH C, 22, CHARLOTTE (AHL)Picked up scoring pace, but still requires experience.6. BOBBY SANGUINETTI D, 23, CHARLOTTE (AHL)Injury-plagued season limited his production.7. MARK ALT D, 19, MINNESOTA (WCHA)Highly touted football prospect fully committed to hockey.8. DANNY BIEGA D, 20, HARVARD (ECAC)Put up big numbers as an Ivy League sophomore.9. VICTOR RASK C, 18, LEKSAND (SWE.)Has size and skill scouts say will translate well to the NHL.10. RASMUS RISSANEN D, 20, EVERETT (WHL)Defensive stalwart played for Finland at 2011 WJC.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0096-054/9543923-1-eng-US/f0096-052.jpg" title="f0096-05" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0097-0238/9543916-1-eng-US/f0097-022.jpg" title="f0097-02" width="1135" height="805"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0097-0324/9543909-1-eng-US/f0097-032.jpg" title="f0097-03" width="374" height="668"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0097-045/9543902-1-eng-US/f0097-042.jpg" title="f0097-04" width="718" height="666"><figcaption class="caption-body">4 | D JAMIE MCBAIN (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0094-03

All Together Now

<div class="byline">BY MICHAEL TRAIKOS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0098-0317/9544185-1-eng-US/f0098-032.jpg" title="f0098-03" width="261" height="184"></div>Northeast Division, Eastern Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0098-0232/9544192-1-eng-US/f0098-022.jpg" title="f0098-02" width="142" height="145"></div>THE STORY GOES something like this.The team starts out the season slowly and steadily falls behind the pack. Only when it looks like all is lost and the playoffs are out of reach is a late-season push made. But by then, of course, it is too late. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of only two teams to have not qualified for the playoffs since the lockout (the Florida Panthers are the other) that has basically been the pattern for the past few years.Through January, Toronto was 19-25-5. But when rookie goaltender James Reimer was permanently called up, the Leafs completed the final two-plus months with an 18-9-6 record. And yet, they still fell short and finished 10th in the East. The challenge of ending that trend ultimately begins with Reimer, who with J-S Giguere gone, leads a very promising young team &ndash; the average age is 26 &ndash; that is expected to experience its share of growing pains.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>Toronto bolstered the back end this summer with puck-moving John-Michael Liles and big-bodied Cody Franson and added depth down the middle with centers Tim Connolly and Matthew Lombardi. &ldquo;We feel we&rsquo;ve dramatically altered the look of the team for the better,&rdquo; said GM Brian Burke.Yes, but it is enough to change the plot?OFFENSE The offense centers around leading point-getter Phil Kessel, but the streaky sniper is definitely not alone anymore.When Toronto came up short in the Brad Richards bidding war, the team signed what it hopes will be a comparable in Connolly. The former Sabre has battled almost every type of injury the past few years, but when healthy he is nearly a point-per-game player and will be an upgrade over Tyler Bozak.Still, Connolly might not even be centering what is considered the top line. That designation belongs to Mikhail Grabovski, who along with wingers Clarke MacArthur and Nikolai Kulemin combined for 80 goals and 177 points. More will also be expected out of sophomore Nazem Kadri, who showed flashes of offensive skill in 29 games.DEFENSE Of the seven D-men who figure to see the most ice time, Liles is the only one under 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. The obvious question is whether bigger will be better? Toronto did not have a plus player among defensemen who took a regular shift last season. And while spotty goaltending early on didn&rsquo;t help, only 11 teams allowed more shots than the Leafs.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0098-048/9544178-1-eng-US/f0098-042.jpg" title="f0098-04" width="547" height="792"><figcaption class="caption-body">41 | RW NIKOLAI KULEMIN (BOTH: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Aside from keeping the puck out of their own net, the team will be looking for more offense from a back end that combined for just 26 goals &ndash; six more than Dustin Byfuglien scored. That falls on former 20-goal scorer Dion Phaneuf, who had just eight goals last season &ndash; and one in the first four months. Adding the offense-minded Franson (eight goals) and Liles (six goals) will help create scoring opportunities.GOALTENDING Ever since the lockout, this has been a position of deficiency for the Leafs. Reimer enters the season as the starter, but no one is quite sure if he can handle the workload. He certainly looked ready after starting 28 of the team&rsquo;s final 33 games, where he went 16-7-5 and finished the season with a .921 save percentage. Now, he just has to replicate those numbers over a full season.All-time record: 2,636&ndash;2,533&ndash;869<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0099-0150/9544171-1-eng-US/f0099-012.jpg" title="f0099-01" width="910" height="617"><figcaption class="caption-body">James Reimer blew away the competition to claim Toronto&rsquo;s top job in the crease. (GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>If he cannot, goaltending duties will fall to Jonas Gustavsson, who has not exactly lived up to his &lsquo;Monster&rsquo; nickname his first two years in the league.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to start with this group,&rdquo; Burke said. &ldquo;If that doesn&rsquo;t work, we&rsquo;ll go to Plan B. I don&rsquo;t know what Plan B is.&rdquo;SPECIAL TEAMS Toronto replaced assistants Tim Hunter and Keith Acton with Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin to shake up an ineffective penalty-killing unit. &ldquo;We got stale,&rdquo; Burke said.The additions of power play specialists Liles and Connolly, who combined for 37 points on the man advantage last season, will also improve an area where Toronto was ranked 22nd.INTANGIBLES When Burke arrived in Toronto almost three years ago, the forwards were small and the defense was getting pushed around. But with a fourth line that includes Colton Orr and Mike Brown and a blueline where four players are 6-foot-3 or taller, the team has plenty of sandpaper. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s more grit than most teams have,&rdquo; Burke said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s far less of a worry than it was.&rdquo;What might now be a concern is staying out of the penalty box.ROOKIES The Leafs have a number of prospects knocking on the door and Burke expects at least one of them to grab a roster spot. Leading the charge is 6-foot-5 center Joe Colborne and right winger Matt Frattin, who was a Hobey Baker finalist.CAP CRUNCH Toronto has a lot of room under the cap and more money can be freed up if Lombardi, who missed the final 80 games of last season with a concussion, is kept on long-term injury.THE BRASS After missing the playoffs each of his three seasons on the job, the heat is on coach Ron Wilson in the final year of his contract. &ldquo;I can look in the mirror and say I&rsquo;ve stood by Ron Wilson,&rdquo; Burke said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe that loyalty requires me to extend his contract. I told him if we have a good start that&rsquo;s something we&rsquo;ll address very early on.&rdquo;X-FACTOR Realistically, this team&rsquo;s playoff hopes rest on whether or not the 23-year-old Reimer can reprise his stellar play from last spring. &ldquo;There are a lot of goalies that come in with brief, spectacular bursts in the NHL and don&rsquo;t sustain that,&rdquo; Burke said. &ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s got the temperament to build on what he did.&rdquo;<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>10thToronto&rsquo;s bumpy rebuild has gotten it close to the playoffs without actually making it. Expect that pattern to continue this year.<h2>102</h2>Combined NHL games in the crease for James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson, the Maple Leafs&rsquo; green goaltending tandem<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0098-052/9544164-1-eng-US/f0098-052.jpg" title="f0098-05" width="2267" height="110"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0099-0221/9544136-1-eng-US/f0099-022.jpg" title="f0099-02" width="565" height="441"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record37-34-11 (85 pts)Conference10thNHL Overall22ndOffense2.60 GPG (21st)Defense2.99 GAA (24th)Power Play16.0% (22nd)Penalty Kill77.4% (28th)1-Goal Games20-6-112-Goal Games7-103+ Goal Games10-18Winning Streak4-0-0Winless Streak0-6-2Ice Time (F)Kessel 19:38Ice Time (D)Phaneuf 25:18GMBrian BurkeCoachRon WilsonArenaAir Canada CentreCapacity18,8192010-11 Attendance19,354 (5th)AffiliateToronto (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)0&ndash;0<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0100-0226/9544129-1-eng-US/f0100-022.jpg" title="f0100-02" width="203" height="253"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>NAZEM KADRIWas playing much better hockey in March and April than he was in December.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;43<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0100-0313/9544115-1-eng-US/f0100-032.jpg" title="f0100-03" width="205" height="256"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>COLBY ARMSTRONGScored 22 goals two years ago, but won&rsquo;t get the plum ice time to duplicate.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;31<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0100-044/9544101-1-eng-US/f0100-042.jpg" title="f0100-04" width="203" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>MATTHEW LOMBARDIIf he returns from a serious concussion, he can be a good second-line contributor.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;45<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0100-06/9544087-1-eng-US/f0100-062.jpg" title="f0100-06" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;NAZEM KADRIC, 20, TORONTO (AHL)The Leafs are banking on Kadri being a top-six forward sooner rather than later. One way for him to get there is to quit turning over the puck and put on a little muscle. He has the puck skills to match up against anyone.GP 44 G 17 A 24 PTS 41 PIM 622. JOE COLBORNE C, 20, TORONTO (AHL)Big, strong pivot who can score has the Leafs salivating.3. TYLER BIGGS RW, 18, U.S. NTDP (USHL)Tough, loves to throw his weight around. Can score, too.4. JAKE GARDINER D, 21, WISCONSIN (WCHA)Smart with the puck and has an effective wrist shot.5. BRAD ROSS LW, 19, PORTLAND (WHL)Pesky player who is tough to play against. Needs to bulk up.6. GREG MCKEGG C, 19, ERIE (OHL)Plays a puck-possesion game and is a streaky scorer.7. STUART PERCY D, 18, MISS.-ST. MICHAEL&rsquo;S (OHL)Smart and mobile, but needs to develop a mean streak.8. LUCA CAPUTI LW, 23, TORONTO (AHL)Sports hernia sidelined him for much of 2010-11.9. JERRY D&rsquo;AMIGO LW, 20, KITCHENER (OHL)Struggled in the AHL so was farmed out to junior.10. MARCEL MUELLER C, 23, TORONTO (AHL)German is still adjusting, but has power forward skills.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0100-05/9544080-1-eng-US/f0100-052.jpg" title="f0100-05" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0101-0152/9544073-1-eng-US/f0101-012.jpg" title="f0101-01" width="2072" height="1464"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0101-0229/9544066-1-eng-US/f0101-022.jpg" title="f0101-02" width="2056" height="392"></div> &#9632;

f0098-03

Goal-Line Stand

<div class="byline">BY RICH CHERE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0102-0220/9544349-1-eng-US/f0102-022.jpg" title="f0102-02" width="481" height="341"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0102-0314/9544356-1-eng-US/f0102-032.jpg" title="f0102-03" width="145" height="141"></div>AS THE CORNERSTONE of the franchise for more than a decade and a half, goalie Martin Brodeur held out hope the Devils would keep their streak of playoff appearances alive even when he knew the odds were stacked against them.So when the Devils missed for the first time since 1996, Brodeur was uncharacteristically dejected. &ldquo;We tried,&rdquo; he said of their valiant second-half run. &ldquo;It tells you how important a whole year is.&rdquo;The same can be said for this season. Not since the Devils turned a corner as a franchise in 1988 have they reached such a crossroads. Brodeur, who&rsquo;ll turn 40 in May, is in the last year of his contract. GM Lou Lamoriello is still in charge, but owner Jeff Vanderbeek is getting anxious about the club&rsquo;s recent lack of playoff success. And the Devils have yet another new coach with Pete DeBoer.OFFENSE No team in the NHL scored fewer goals (171) than Jersey last season and it was their lowest full-season total in franchise history. It was even tougher to swallow after the $100-million signing of Ilya Kovalchuk and a more offensive philosophy from rookie coach John MacLean, who was gone by Christmas.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>Of course, Zach Parise missed all but 13 games because of knee surgery. His return will take some of the pressure off Kovalchuk.Most of the optimism for additional offensive pop lies with Mattias Tedenby, the 21-year-old Swede who could be a consistent scorer if he gets focused.DEFENSE Historically the Devils have been at their best playing the style everyone hates &ndash; a neutral zone trap and shutting down the top opposing line with checkers and a dominant pair of defensemen. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a system,&rdquo; Brodeur explained. &ldquo;I need the support from other players, a steady system. People may not like it, but it&rsquo;s been proven to work for us.&rdquo;That&rsquo;s all well and good, but there are questions about the capability of the team&rsquo;s defensemen until a promising group of young blueline prospects comes of age.GOALTENDING Will this be the end of an era? The final season of Brodeur&rsquo;s Hall of Fame career? Brodeur, with 625 career wins, is in the final year of his contract with a few questions of his own as the current CBA is set to expire, too. &ldquo;The way I&rsquo;m feeling, I think (I&rsquo;ll play) one more season,&rdquo; Brodeur said heading into the sum-mer. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll make my decision after. I don&rsquo;t want to get myself wound up and the next thing I know they want to shut down the league.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0102-0150/9544342-1-eng-US/f0102-012.jpg" title="f0102-01" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">26 | C PATRIK ELIAS (ELIAS: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Brodeur, who played only 56 games because of a bruised elbow, has told the Devils to line up &ldquo;some young guys&rdquo; who could be his successor, but the team re-signed 38-year-old Johan Hedberg as backup. Together, they form a solid tandem that shouts, &ldquo;Win now! This may be our last hurrah.&rdquo;SPECIAL TEAMS You&rsquo;d think the presence of Kovalchuk would guarantee a formidable power play. In fact, only Florida &ndash; DeBoer&rsquo;s old team &ndash; and Columbus were worse than New Jersey and Kovalchuk&rsquo;s nine man-advantage goals did not rank among the league leaders. Too often, Kovalchuk was a one-man show on the power play, carrying the puck up ice, circling for a shot and then firing away. The lack of a capable puck-moving defenseman and quarterback indicates the Devils&rsquo; struggles are far from over.All-time record: 1,212&ndash;1,285&ndash;389<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0103-0147/9544335-1-eng-US/f0103-012.jpg" title="f0103-01" width="2070" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">Martin Brodeur, a future Hall of Famer, is nearing the end of a brilliant career. (ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Elias leads a capable penalty-killing unit that would be even better if they won more faceoffs.INTANGIBLES Leadership has been an issue for the Devils, who haven&rsquo;t advanced past the second round of the playoffs since Scott Stevens wore the &lsquo;C&rsquo; in the Cup-winning year of 2003. Jersey went without a captain after Jamie Langenbrunner was traded to Dallas last January. Although management and some players claim you don&rsquo;t have to wear a letter to be a leader, it makes a difference.ROOKIES The silver lining to the misery of 2010-11 was using the fourth overall selection to nab Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson, whose maturity and two-way ability make him a serious contender to earn a spot with the club this season and anchor the defense for years.Center Adam Henrique, 21, scored 25 goals in the American League and will be given a shot at sticking with the NHL club.CAP CRUNCH After spending almost $110 million to sign Kovalchuk, Anton Volchenkov, Henrik Tallinder and Hedberg last summer, the Devils have very little room to maneuver.Added to the financial concerns was the ongoing process of partner Mike Gilfillan selling his share of the team.With a number of big earners in the final year of their deals, the Devils could clear in excess of $16 million in space come July.THE BRASS DeBoer taking over the bench makes it nine changes, including Lamoriello and Jacques Lemaire twice each, since the team last won the Cup in 2003. If his newest hire doesn&rsquo;t work out and the Devils miss the playoffs for a second straight season, this could be Lamoriello&rsquo;s last as GM.Vanderbeek has come through with the cash, but he&rsquo;s trying to solidify his majority ownership of the club and needs a playoff run and the money that brings along with it.X-FACTOR Stability. Coaches have left Jersey for a variety of reasons &ndash; some of which have been out of the team&rsquo;s hands &ndash; but the shuffle must end with DeBoer.Equally important to finally having some sustained predictability behind the bend is the long-term happiness of Kovalchuk and Parise on and off the ice.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>11thWith a lack of top-notch talent &ndash; and with Martin Brodeur another year older &ndash; the Devils don&rsquo;t have enough to contend.<h2>4th</h2>Draft slot the Devils nabbed Adam Larsson this summer. It was their highest draft choice since selecting Scott Niedermayer 3rd in &rsquo;91<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0102-05/9544328-1-eng-US/f0102-052.jpg" title="f0102-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0103-0222/9544300-1-eng-US/f0103-022.jpg" title="f0103-02" width="565" height="410"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record38-39-5 (81 pts)Conference11thNHL Overall23rdOffense2.08 GPG (30th)Defense2.52 GAA (9th)Power Play14.4% (28th)Penalty Kill83.4% (11th)1-Goal Games21-8-52-Goal Games7-143+ Goal Games10-17Winning Streak8-0-0Winless Streak0-6-0Ice Time (F)Kovalchuk 22:33Ice Time (D)Tallinder 22:32GMLou LamorielloCoachPete DeBoerArenaPrudential CenterCapacity17,6252010-11 Attendance14,775 (25th)AffiliateAlbany (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)15&ndash;22<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0104-0154/9544293-1-eng-US/f0104-012.jpg" title="f0104-01" width="193" height="238"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>ZACH PARISEKnee problems are a concern, but he is a four-time 30-goal scorer on a defensive team.PROJECTED POINTS 81<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0104-0228/9544279-1-eng-US/f0104-022.jpg" title="f0104-02" width="181" height="235"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>BRIAN ROLSTONThe 38-year-old is a far cry from his best days and was waived three times last year.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;30<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0104-0312/9544265-1-eng-US/f0104-032.jpg" title="f0104-03" width="189" height="236"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>ADAM LARSSONHe&rsquo;ll have every chance to walk on to a team with no star defensemen on the roster.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;25<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0104-05/9544251-1-eng-US/f0104-052.jpg" title="f0104-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(NICK LAHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;ADAM LARSSOND, 18, SKELLEFTEA (SWE.)The Devils pulled off a coup nabbing Larsson with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft. Many scouts have compared him to Nicklas Lidstrom for his tremendous passing ability and overall smart game.GP 37 G 1 A 8 PTS 9 PIM 412.&nbsp;JON MERRILL D, 19, MICHIGAN (CCHA)Intelligent passer knows when to jump into the play.3. ADAM HENRIQUE C, 21, ALBANY (AHL)Consistent offensively and a good faceoff man.4. ALEXANDER URBOM D, 20, ALBANY (AHL)Big D-man started last season in NHL, but wasn&rsquo;t ready.5. MIKE HOEFFEL LW, 22, MINNESOTA (WCHA)Big and strong. Developing into a power forward.6. JEFF FRAZEE G, 24, ALBANY (AHL)A strong prospect, but injuries have been holding him back.7. ALEXANDER VASYUNOV LW, 23, ALBANY (AHL)Must improve defensive game to become an NHLer.8. ERIC GELINAS D, 20, SAINT JOHN (QMJHL)Rangy blueliner who displays solid leadership traits.9. BLAKE COLEMAN C, 18, INDIANA (USHL)Prolific scorer in junior bound for Miami RedHawks.10. SCOTT WEDGEWOOD G, 19, PLYMOUTH (OHL)Mechanically sound. Bound for increased playing time.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0104-042/9544244-1-eng-US/f0104-042.jpg" title="f0104-04" width="904" height="2812"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0105-0146/9544237-1-eng-US/f0105-012.jpg" title="f0105-01" width="2072" height="1475"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0105-0228/9544230-1-eng-US/f0105-022.jpg" title="f0105-02" width="688" height="1230"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0105-0316/9544223-1-eng-US/f0105-032.jpg" title="f0105-03" width="1313" height="1208"><figcaption class="caption-body">17 | LW ILYA KOVALCHUK (GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0102-02

Jersey’s Chore

<div class="byline">BY PETER BOTTE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0106-0149/9544513-1-eng-US/f0106-012.jpg" title="f0106-01" width="481" height="341"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0106-0314/9544520-1-eng-US/f0106-032.jpg" title="f0106-03" width="140" height="139"></div>THE ISLANDERS HAVE sung this tune before, but finally believe they have assembled the right of voices to carry it out through the final bars.Qualifying for post-season play has been the goal for the past few summers for New York, only to have injuries, inexperience or just plain ineptitude thwart the attempt. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s time for us to put it together for 82 games and find a way to get into the playoffs,&rdquo; John Tavares said. &ldquo;We want to get there and be there consistently. Obviously, that&rsquo;s our next step.&rdquo;GM Garth Snow patiently &ndash; and sometimes, painfully &ndash; constructed and maintained his rising roster with sustained success the objective. He locked up emerging scorers Michael Grabner and Matt Moulson despite the ongoing uncertainty over a new arena and the team&rsquo;s future on Long Island.The most tangible sign of on-ice progress would be for coach Jack Capuano&rsquo;s squad to build on an improved second-half last spring and work its way back into the top-eight in the Eastern Conference.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>OFFENSE Capuano replaced the more-regimented Scott Gordon in November and immediately encouraged creativity from his young core.Tavares had a respectable 29 goals on the season. Had he popped one more, he would have joined Grabner (34) and Moulson (31) at 30-plus.Regaining veteran point man Mark Streit, who missed all last season following shoulder surgery, and a healthy campaign from 2006 first-rounder Kyle Okposo, will provide a significant offensive boost.DEFENSE It&rsquo;s no wonder the Isles coughed up the fourth-most goals in the league last year; they dressed 15 different defensemen. There was a silver lining to the glut of injuries, however. Young defenseman Andrew MacDonald and rookie Travis Hamonic surprisingly emerged as a reliable first pair, although MacDonald underwent hip surgery in April.Veterans Mark Eaton and Mike Mottau are expected to rebound from season-ending procedures and contribute steadying hands.The Isles don&rsquo;t employ a shutdown forward line, but Frans Nielsen is an underrated two-way center, posting a plus-13 rating for a team that finished 27th overall.GOALTENDING The Isles wound up using a franchise-record six netminders in 2010-11. Uncertainty, as always, is built around the never-ending questions surrounding Rick DiPietro&rsquo;s health. He did appear in 26 games last season, doubling his total from the previous two years combined, but DiPietro&rsquo;s most memorable moment was being one-punched by Pittsburgh goalie Brent Johnson.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0106-0220/9544506-1-eng-US/f0106-022.jpg" title="f0106-02" width="1002" height="1455"><figcaption class="caption-body">91 | C JOHN TAVARES (TAVARES: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Prospect Kevin Poulin, 21, looked like a keeper until dislocating a kneecap late, but desperation pickup Al Montoya earned a contract extension and the right to open this season as DiPietro&rsquo;s insurance policy.SPECIAL TEAMS Capuano encouraged taking chances up top on the penalty kill, resulting in an NHL-best seven shorthanded goals by Nielsen and six more from Grabner.Unsung skill winger P-A Parenteau tied linemates Tavares and Moulson for the team lead with nine man-advantage goals among his career-best 20.It can&rsquo;t hurt to reinsert Streit on an already decent PP unit.All-time record: 1,313&ndash;1,308&ndash;421<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0107-0146/9544499-1-eng-US/f0107-012.jpg" title="f0107-01" width="2060" height="1122"><figcaption class="caption-body">Michael Grabner&rsquo;s 34 goals last year was a very pleasant surprise for the Islanders. (ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES Captain Doug Weight&rsquo;s retirement and move into coaching/front office duties signal a shift in leadership to the team&rsquo;s younger players. Alternate captains Streit and Trent Hunter are returning from injuries, but don&rsquo;t be surprised to see Okposo emerge as the new captain. McDonald and Nielsen will continue to lead by example and gain increased responsibilities.Versatile vet Marty Reasoner was signed to replace Zenon Konopka as faceoff specialist. The Isles will miss the toughness the latter provided from the fourth line.ROOKIES Nineteen-year-old Nino Niederreiter, the No. 5 overall pick in 2010, will be given a chance to crack the lineup after posting big numbers (41 goals and 70 points in 55 games) for the Western League&rsquo;s Portland Winterhawks.Puck-moving defenseman Calvin de Haan, 20, will add skill to the Isles blueline. He averaged nearly a point per game for the Ontario League&rsquo;s Oshawa Generals.CAP CRUNCH Owner Charles Wang was awaiting a late-summer public referendum for approval of a bond to fund the construction of a new $350-million arena to replace the antiquated Nassau Coliseum.Despite the signings of Moulson and Grabner, the Isles will continue to operate much closer to the salary cap floor than the maximum until their arena issues are resolved.THE BRASS There are financial restraints limiting his options, but say this for Snow: he has stuck to his guns in giving young players the chance to prove themselves. And he&rsquo;s hit a few home runs (Moulson, Grabner) with his bargain-basement shopping.Capuano quickly got the team to believe it could compete after he was promoted from the American League. The Isles posted one of the league&rsquo;s best records between December and March until they finally couldn&rsquo;t withstand the injury avalanche.X-FACTOR We might as well retire this category in honor of DiPietro, who has 10 years remaining on his strangling 15-year $67.5 million whopper of a contract. The 2000 No. 1 overall pick has played just 39 games the past three seasons. That&rsquo;s hardly the stabilizing force the Isles thought they were getting.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>12thYou see where GM Garth Snow is going with this young group. But do you see them being better than any divisional rival? Us neither.<h2>586</h2>Man-games lost for the Islanders last season, most in the NHL. The worst injury was to top D-man Mark Streit, who missed all 82 games<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0106-055/9544492-1-eng-US/f0106-052.jpg" title="f0106-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0107-0222/9544464-1-eng-US/f0107-022.jpg" title="f0107-02" width="1027" height="773"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record30-39-13 (73 pts)Conference14thNHL Overall27thOffense2.74 GPG (15th)Defense3.15 GAA (27th)Power Play17.2% (17th)Penalty Kill83.2% (12th)1-Goal Games12-15-132-Goal Games5-93+ Goal Games13-15Winning Streak4-0-0Winless Streak0-11-3Ice Time (F)Tavares 19:15Ice Time (D)MacDonald 23:24GMGarth SnowCoachJack CapuanoArenaNassau ColiseumCapacity16,2342010-11 Attendance11,059 (30th)AffiliateBridgeport (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)1&ndash;4<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0108-0153/9544457-1-eng-US/f0108-012.jpg" title="f0108-01" width="179" height="234"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>MARK STREITThe Isles&rsquo; top defenseman is back after missing 2010-11 with a shoulder ailment.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;56<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0108-0225/9544443-1-eng-US/f0108-022.jpg" title="f0108-02" width="191" height="237"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>P-A PARENTEAUAs top guys return from injury, Parenteau gets pushed down the depth chart.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;36<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0108-0313/9544429-1-eng-US/f0108-032.jpg" title="f0108-03" width="182" height="238"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>NINO NIEDERREITERAfter a taste of the bigs last season, he will know what to expect this time around.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;32<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0108-05/9544415-1-eng-US/f0108-052.jpg" title="f0108-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(NOAH GRAHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. NINO NIEDERREITERRW, 19, PORTLAND (WHL)The Swiss star rose to fame at the 2010 WJC and that moved him up the draft charts last summer. He has great balance and is not hesitant to use his size. He&rsquo;ll find a home on the wing playing with John Tavares for years to come.GP 55 G 41 A 29 PTS 70 PIM 672.&nbsp;RYAN STROME C, 18, NIAGARA (OHL)Finished third in OHL scoring, moving him up draft boards.3. CALVIN DE HAAN D, 20, OSHAWA (OHL)Smooth skater can quarterback a power play with aplomb.4. SCOTT MAYFIELD D, 18, YOUNGSTOWN (USHL)Brilliant skater possesses sharp offensive instincts.5. KEVIN POULIN G, 21, BRIDGEPORT (AHL)Was sharp in spot duty with Isles, but needs refining.6. DAVID ULLSTROM LW, 22, BRIDGEPORT (AHL)Big forward has a strong two-way game. Needs to bulk up.7. RHETT RAHKSHANI RW, 23, BRIDGEPORT (AHL)Quick Californian played in AHL All-Star Game as a rookie.8. MARK KATIC D, 22, BRIDGEPORT (AHL)Slowed offensively in transition from junior to pro.9. MATT DONOVAN D, 21, DENVER (WCHA)Point producer went to Bridgeport after sophomore season.10. MIKKO KOSKINEN G, 23, BRIDGEPORT (AHL)Huge goalie has struggled since hip surgery in 2009-10.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0108-043/9544408-1-eng-US/f0108-042.jpg" title="f0108-04" width="904" height="2809"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0109-0151/9544401-1-eng-US/f0109-012.jpg" title="f0109-01" width="2072" height="1477"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0109-0228/9544394-1-eng-US/f0109-022.jpg" title="f0109-02" width="688" height="1226"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0109-0317/9544387-1-eng-US/f0109-032.jpg" title="f0109-03" width="1318" height="1217"><figcaption class="caption-body">2 | D MARK STREIT (ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0106-01

Wins On Horizon

<div class="byline">BY GUY CURTRIGHT</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0110-0150/9544670-1-eng-US/f0110-012.jpg" title="f0110-01" width="481" height="341"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SAMLL PHOTO: CHRIS MCGRATH/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Southeast Division, Eastern Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0110-0310/9544677-1-eng-US/f0110-032.jpg" title="f0110-03" width="129" height="128"></div>HAVING EXPERIENCED ONE trip to the playoffs, the dwindling fan base in Atlanta had lost its patience. The folks in Winnipeg, overjoyed to get the NHL back, are sure to give their new team with the popular old name a honeymoon period. That&rsquo;s a good thing.The Thrashers turned reborn Jets won&rsquo;t become an instant playoff lock. Holes remain and the franchise didn&rsquo;t try for a quick fix with its arena assured of being full for each game the next few years. &ldquo;In our situation here, we want to build from within,&rdquo; said new GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. &ldquo;We have a good group of guys we&rsquo;re going to grow together with.&rdquo;That core includes Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien, who won the Stanley Cup with Chicago two years ago, and Evander Kane.OFFENSE The team was 20th in NHL scoring a season ago and looks hard pressed to rank that high this time around. There aren&rsquo;t enough proven scorers and Winnipeg is woefully weak at center. No one reached 30 goals or 60 points a year ago, with Ladd the best at 29 goals and 59 points. Byfuglien, who moved back to defense, was second with 20 goals. He and blueline partner Tobias Enstrom ranked second and first on the team in assists.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>The offense badly needs a jump-start from 20-year-old Evander Kane, who had 19 goals in his second season. It&rsquo;s also time for Bryan Little to realize his potential after bouncing back some last season with 48 points. Veteran Nik Antropov appears to be on his last legs.DEFENSE The team allowed the second-most goals in the NHL last season, but the Jets blueline isn&rsquo;t that bad. It was a lack of possession time by the forwards that too often contributed to breakdowns and opposing goals.Byfuglien and Enstrom, who combined for 104 points, were one of the most productive pairings in the NHL last season, especially during the first half. It has taken a while, but Enstrom is also finally beginning to get his due.The Jets need a bounce back from Zach Bogosian, the third overall pick in 2008. He was a team-worst minus-27 while registering just 17 points and not playing with the edge he once possessed.GOALTENDING Ondrej Pavelec has the talent to be a top-flight NHL goalie and he&rsquo;s displayed flashes of brilliance. But the 23-year-old has to be more consistent and the key to that is improved conditioning. That point was made clear to him at the end of the season and he promised to rededicate himself over the summer.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0110-0224/9544663-1-eng-US/f0110-022.jpg" title="f0110-02" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">16 | LW ANDREW LADD (LADD: CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Chris Mason was brought in a year ago to give the team a veteran to go with Pavelec and didn&rsquo;t play as well as expected. He will be counted on for more, although the backup won&rsquo;t be needed as much if Pavelec stays healthy.SPECIAL TEAMS The power play had its moments last season and ended up ranked 12th. But it never really got back in synch after Enstrom was sidelined in the middle of the season. The trade of Rich Peverley didn&rsquo;t help. Ladd had nine goals and no other forward had more than Byfuglien&rsquo;s eight and Enstrom&rsquo;s six.The penalty kill was a much bigger concern. That was where the team really struggled, ranking 27th. For the Jets to have a chance to contend for a playoff spot, a much greater commitment is needed. Everything can&rsquo;t be put on the goalie.All-time record: 342&ndash;437&ndash;123<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0111-0148/9544656-1-eng-US/f0111-012.jpg" title="f0111-01" width="1640" height="1106"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ondrej Pavelec will again have to be excellent to give the Jets a chance to win. (RICHARD WOLOWICZ/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES With a new coaching staff, it will be the task of Ladd as captain to help bring the team together. Although just 25, he is up to the challenge after being awarded the &lsquo;C&rsquo; in Atlanta last season. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re very fortunate to be inheriting such a good leader,&rdquo; Cheveldayoff said.At least the Jets won&rsquo;t be taking to the ice for warm-ups before an empty building. &ldquo;Anytime you have a full barn behind you, it&rsquo;s like having another player on the ice,&rdquo; Byfuglien said.Added Ladd: &ldquo;Not having the NHL for 15 years, it&rsquo;s kind of built up and built up to the point in Winnipeg where I&rsquo;m sure they&rsquo;re ready to blow the doors off the hinges and get this thing going.&rdquo;ROOKIES Patrice Cormier, a key part of the Ilya Kovalchuk trade in 2010, will be counted on to step up and play a significant role.Unlike the past three seasons with Bogosian, Kane and Alex Burmistrov, first round draft choice Mark Scheifele won&rsquo;t step directly into the NHL. The center needs more seasoning.CAP CRUNCH Cash strapped in Atlanta, the team will be on solid footing in Winnipeg, although not in a position to be big spenders. The Thrashers were barely over the cap floor the past few seasons with the team on the trade block. Jets ownership indicated after buying the franchise that the team will be a mid-cap spender.THE BRASS Cheveldayoff, 41, is familiar with many of the former Thrashers players from his days as GM of the American League&rsquo;s Chicago Wolves before joining the Blackhawks as an assistant. He has minimal NHL experience and the same is true with 55-year-old Claude Noel, Cheveldayoff&rsquo;s choice as coach after leading the Manitoba Moose to a 43-30-7 record in 2010-11.Noel&rsquo;s only previous time leading a NHL team came two years ago, when he finished the season as interim coach in Columbus. He has a reputation as a teacher and his players will have to be fast learners. Most will be playing for their third coach in three years. Craig Ramsay replaced John Anderson in Atlanta in 2010.X-FACTOR The Jets better play well at home. Road trips will be a challenge to say the least with the team stuck in the Southeast Division for this season. That means earning some of the most air miles of any team in the NHL, with some long and tiring trips.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>13thThe Jets will benefit from playing before an energized full house, but that won&rsquo;t be enough to make up for serious roster holes.<h2>902</h2>Regular season games in franchise history without a post-season win. They made the playoffs once, in 2006-07, but were swept in Round 1<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0110-052/9544649-1-eng-US/f0110-052.jpg" title="f0110-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0111-0224/9544621-1-eng-US/f0111-022.jpg" title="f0111-02" width="1026" height="764"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record34-36-12 (80 pts)Conference12thNHL Overall25thOffense2.66 GPG (20th)Defense3.20 GAA (29th)Power Play18.3% (12th)Penalty Kill77.5% (27th)1-Goal Games22-6-122-Goal Games4-143+ Goal Games8-16Winning Streak6-0-0Losing Streak0-4-1Ice Time (F)Ladd 20:04Ice Time (D)Enstrom 23:41GMKevin CheveldayoffCoachClaude NoelArenaMTS CentreCapacity15,0152010-11 Attendance13,469 (28th)AffiliateSt. John&rsquo;s (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)0&ndash;4<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0112-0155/9544614-1-eng-US/f0112-012.jpg" title="f0112-01" width="192" height="235"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>EVANDER KANE2009&rsquo;s fourth overall pick will grow into the role of franchise player for the Jets.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;59<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0112-0226/9544600-1-eng-US/f0112-022.jpg" title="f0112-02" width="183" height="240"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>RON HAINSEYHe was a good power play scorer early in his career, but doesn&rsquo;t fit the role anymore.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;23<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0112-0311/9544586-1-eng-US/f0112-032.jpg" title="f0112-03" width="192" height="233"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>ALEX BURMISTROVGave glimpses of his skill level as a rookie. His numbers are bound to go up this season.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;35<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0112-052/9544572-1-eng-US/f0112-052.jpg" title="f0112-05" width="339" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;PATRICE CORMIERC, 21, CHICAGO (AHL)Cormier was the key piece in the Ilya Kovalchuk trade with the Devils. The Jets are hoping that with the legal issues stemming from a hit to the head in junior behind him, Cormier will be a building block for the franchise.GP 11 G 2 A 3 PTS 5 PIM 142. MARK SCHEIFELE C, 18, BARRIE (OHL)Put up great numbers on a dismal Barrie Colts squad.3. CARL KLINGBERG LW, 20, TIMRA (SWE.)Not a huge point producer, but game translates well to NHL.4. PAUL POSTMA D, 22, CHICAGO (AHL)Defensive play finally matching his offensive skill.5. IVAN TELEGIN C, 19, SAGINAW (OHL)Playmaker more than doubled his assist total from 2009-10.6. ADAM LOWRY LW, 18, SWIFT CURRENT (WHL)Big and mobile with soft hands. Defensive game needs work.7. ARTURS KULDA D, 23, CHICAGO (AHL)NHL-ready, but not a lot of openings on depth chart.8. JULIAN MELCHIORI D, 19, KITCHENER (OHL)Tremendous skater developing a two-way game.9. BEN CHIAROT D, 20, SAGINAW (OHL)Tough customer made great improvements in his skating.10. BRENNAN SERVILLE D, 18, STOUFFVILLE (OJHL)Playmaking D-man facing tough test at Michigan.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0112-044/9544565-1-eng-US/f0112-042.jpg" title="f0112-04" width="898" height="2806"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0113-0149/9544558-1-eng-US/f0113-012.jpg" title="f0113-01" width="2072" height="1473"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0113-0230/9544551-1-eng-US/f0113-022.jpg" title="f0113-02" width="2072" height="396"></div> &#9632;

f0110-01

Takeoff Delay

<div class="byline">BY GEORGE RICHARDS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0114-0155/9544834-1-eng-US/f0114-012.jpg" title="f0114-01" width="481" height="341"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: BRIAN BAHR/ALLSPORT)</figcaption></div>Southeast Division, Eastern Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0114-0311/9544841-1-eng-US/f0114-032.jpg" title="f0114-03" width="138" height="137"></div>WHEN GM DALE TALLON decided the Panthers were done last season, they really were done.Tallon carved up the Florida roster at the trade deadline, dumping cash with the future in mind. What Tallon left was a shell of a team, an American League lineup in NHL clothing.The Panthers crawled to the finish, losing 16 of their final 20 games to finish last in the East for the first time in history. Tallon fired coach Peter DeBoer hours after the season ended with a rare victory. With $30 million to spend just to get to the salary cap floor, The Panthers then went to work and rebuilt the roster almost as quickly as he tore it apart.Tallon, whose fingerprints were all over Chicago&rsquo;s 2010 Stanley Cup, went back to the Hawks by trading for Brian Campbell and Tomas Kopecky. On July 1, he signed four players within two hours of the market opening and seven in all before the day was out.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>By nightfall, Florida basically had a new team. For the first time in a while, the Panthers were the talk of South Florida.OFFENSE The Cats were one of the worst offensive teams in the league last season, wasting quality starts from Tomas Vokoun and Scott Clemmensen as they were shut out six times and scored two goals or fewer in 48 games &ndash; with victories in just five of those contests.In the final 23 games, Florida was held to two goals or less 18 times. The club won just two of those contests. The Panthers power play set a franchise record for fewest goals in a full season. Any wonder the GM went looking for offense?Newbies Kris Versteeg, Scottie Upshall, Tomas Fleischmann and Marcel Goc will help out holdovers Stephen Weiss, David Booth and Mike Santorelli.Expect Florida to roll four lines and move the puck better.DEFENSE The Panthers loaded up on defensemen through recent drafts, a strategy that&rsquo;s starting to pay off.Dmitry Kulikov and Keaton Ellerby, both first round picks, continued to get better last season and look like a good pairing. Jason Garrison was an undrafted free agent who is strong and does his job well. Erik Gudbranson, the third overall pick in 2010, figures to be a fixture for a long time. Tallon was able to strengthen the blueline even more by trading for Campbell and signing Ed Jovanovski, who played the first three-plus seasons of his career in Florida after the team picked him first overall in 1994.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0114-0221/9544827-1-eng-US/f0114-022.jpg" title="f0114-02" width="1002" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">10 | LW DAVID BOOTH (BOOTH: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING Florida inked Jose Theodore to team with Clemmensen after Vokoun left as a free agent.The Panthers aren&rsquo;t as strong as they were with Vokoun, but both Theodore and Clemmensen will be well prepared and they form a competent veteran duo. An improved &lsquo;D&rsquo; corps means life might actually be a little easier on these two than it was for Vokoun, who constantly faced second-chance opportunities.SPECIAL TEAMS Florida had one of the most improved penalty kills in the NHL last season as assistant coach Gord Murphy guided a squad that finished sixth in the league.On the flip side was Florida&rsquo;s putrid power play, which has been awful for two years. A number of off-season acquisitions were made with improving the man advantage in mind.INTANGIBLES When Tallon dealt Bryan McCabe to the Rangers at the trade deadline, he didn&rsquo;t just ship off a veteran defenseman, he traded away a true team captain many looked up to for the way he played the game every day. McCabe, for instance, broke his jaw in the first period of a meaningless game last season but returned after missing just one shift.All-time record: 535&ndash;579&ndash;248<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0115-0146/9544820-1-eng-US/f0115-012.jpg" title="f0115-01" width="1651" height="1114"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dmitry Kulikov is part of a blueline that features quality young players. (GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Florida needs to find that kind of leadership again and has some candidates to fill the role. Tallon has stressed he is committed to bringing in character players who want to help the Panthers become contenders.ROOKIES Despite all the new bodies, the team has made it clear there&rsquo;s room for the kids. Go ahead and pencil Gudbranson in for a spot. At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, he&rsquo;ll be able to handle himself.Center Jonathan Huberdeau was the third overall pick at the draft in June and with a strong showing in camp, the Memorial Cup MVP could make the team, as well. Quinton Howden, taken with the 25th overall selection in 2010, had 40 goals for Moose Jaw last year. The Panthers are going to give him a long, serious look.CAP CRUNCH Even after its shopping spree, Florida will be among the bottom-third of teams in terms of spending.THE BRASS For the first time in a decade, it seems like the Panthers have not only a strong front office, but one that is on the same page with the coach. DeBoer extracted all he could from the Panthers the past two seasons, but as 2010-11 worked its way into the gutter, it was apparent Tallon was going to make a change.Kevin Dineen drew high praise for his work in the American League with Portland and the Panthers are excited to work with the former NHL standout. There will be no more excuses around the franchise anymore, be it from management or from the players. The house has been cleaned from top to bottom.X-FACTOR The problem with the Panthers making so many changes is one never knows how soon things will come together.Tallon brought in a number of players who had been teammates in the past, so that will help ease some of the culture shock.Unlike past seasons, the Panthers are spending training camp at home in South Florida. With so many new faces, this might have been a good year to take one of those patented around-the-world pre-season trips, for bonding purposes if nothing else.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>14thDale Tallon&rsquo;s rebuild of the franchise is in full swing. The influx of veterans will help the Cats, but not enough to secure a playoff spot.<h2>13</h2>Playoff games won by Florida in Ed Jovanovski&rsquo;s first stint with the team, between 1995 and 1999. They haven&rsquo;t won one since<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0114-05/9544813-1-eng-US/f0114-052.jpg" title="f0114-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0115-0226/9544785-1-eng-US/f0115-022.jpg" title="f0115-02" width="1029" height="767"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record30-40-12 (72 pts)Conference15thNHL Overall28thOffense2.33 GPG (28th)Defense2.71 GAA (14th)Power Play13.1% (30th)Penalty Kill84.6% (6th)1-Goal Games19-18-122-Goal Games1-93+ Goal Games10-13Winning Streak3-0-0Winless Streak0-7-3Ice Time (F)Weiss 20:05Ice Time (D)Garrison 22:17GMDale TallonCoachKevin DineenArenaBankAtlantic CenterCapacity19,2502010-11 Attendance15,685 (22nd)AffiliateRochester (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)0&ndash;0<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0116-0151/9544778-1-eng-US/f0116-012.jpg" title="f0116-01" width="192" height="238"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>TOMAS FLEISCHMANNHealth is the only thing holding him back from being a consistent producer.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;57<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0116-0228/9544764-1-eng-US/f0116-022.jpg" title="f0116-02" width="184" height="236"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>ED JOVANOVSKIA 35-year-old blueliner whose time as a power play quarterback has passed.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;26<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0116-0314/9544750-1-eng-US/f0116-032.jpg" title="f0116-03" width="183" height="235"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>JONATHAN HUBERDEAUThe Memorial Cup MVP has the tools to be a star, but may be returned to junior.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;35<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0116-054/9544736-1-eng-US/f0116-052.jpg" title="f0116-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(NOAH GRAHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. ERIK GUDBRANSOND, 19, KINGSTON (OHL)Two suspensions last season didn&rsquo;t take away from a solid year and a good WJC tournament for Canada. A strong training camp will land the elite youngster in Florida&rsquo;s top four D-men. There&rsquo;s no chance he&rsquo;ll be returned to junior.GP 44 G 12 A 22 PTS 34 PIM 1052. JONATHAN HUBERDEAU C, 18, SAINT JOHN (QMJHL)Won a Memorial Cup and posted 105 points last season.3. JACOB MARKSTROM G, 21, ROCHESTER (AHL)Goalie of the future has been growing on the farm.4. NICK BJUGSTAD C, 19, MINNESOTA (WCHA)A strong WJC tournament made Panthers brass take notice.5. QUINTON HOWDEN LW, 19, MOOSE JAW (WHL)Strong skater establishing himself as a power forward.6. COLBY ROBAK D, 21, ROCHESTER (AHL)Big D-man needs to get stronger in defensive zone.7. ROCCO GRIMALDI C, 18, U.S. NTDP (USHL)Small in stature, but produces everywhere he goes.8. DREW SHORE C, 20, DENVER (WCHA)More than doubled his point total from a year ago.9. MARC CHEVERIE G, 24, CINCINNATI (ECHL)Numbers will have to improve to move up the depth chart.10. JOHN MCFARLAND C, 19, SAGINAW (OHL)Point production took a hit as he changed OHL addresses.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0116-047/9544729-1-eng-US/f0116-042.jpg" title="f0116-04" width="900" height="2810"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0117-0149/9544722-1-eng-US/f0117-012.jpg" title="f0117-01" width="2071" height="1473"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0117-0232/9544715-1-eng-US/f0117-022.jpg" title="f0117-02" width="688" height="1224"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0117-0321/9544708-1-eng-US/f0117-032.jpg" title="f0117-03" width="1318" height="1217"><figcaption class="caption-body">9 | C STEPHEN WEISS (FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0114-01

New Cast Of Cats

<div class="byline">BY BRUCE GARRIOCH</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0118-0149/9544991-1-eng-US/f0118-012.jpg" title="f0118-01" width="481" height="341"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Northeast Division, Eastern Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0118-0311/9544998-1-eng-US/f0118-032.jpg" title="f0118-03" width="127" height="128"></div>THE OTTAWA SENATORS started their rebuild in February with their season going nowhere and the team falling fast.Acting on the advice of GM Bryan Murray and his staff, owner Eugene Melnyk made the choice to unload veteran players in the hopes of landing prospects who can build a bright future. One-by-one, players &ndash; mostly with expiring contracts &ndash; were waltzed out of the dressing room. They were tough decisions, but the Senators hope it will pay dividends in the end. The road back to respectability is going to take patience and will include some long nights, but this is the route they&rsquo;ve decided on and the fans have accepted it.This season will be a huge challenge for new bench boss Paul MacLean and goalie Craig Anderson.OFFENSE The Senators were the NHL&rsquo;s second-lowest scoring team last season. Nobody is sure that&rsquo;s going to change.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>While Jason Spezza was one of the club&rsquo;s most productive players at both ends of the ice, they&rsquo;re going to need more out of him. He&rsquo;s not alone.Milan Michalek has to stay healthy to contribute and so does captain Daniel Alfredsson. Returning from off-season back surgery, Alfredsson, 38, is in the twilight of his career, but can still be the club&rsquo;s best player. He is going to have to lead the charge with what is going to be a very young group.Nikita Filatov, acquired from Columbus for a third round pick in the 2011 draft, is going to get a top-six shot. If he can do it, the club needs him to fill the net along with Bobby Butler.DEFENSE This is an area of intrigue. Acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the club&rsquo;s No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, defenseman David Rundblad is expected to provide sizable offense from the back end, as fellow Swede Erik Karlsson already does. The Sens need more out of veteran Sergei Gonchar, who is back to fulfill the second year of his three-year, $16.5 million deal. His 2010-11 season was a disaster and ended when he sustained a concussion.Ottawa also hopes to find a spot for highly regarded prospect Jared Cowen. He finished the year with the club&rsquo;s American League affiliate in Binghamton and his 6-foot-5 frame would look good on the blueline, but he might get caught in the numbers game. Don&rsquo;t be surprised if the Senators try to move Filip Kuba and Brian Lee at the end of camp.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0118-0223/9544984-1-eng-US/f0118-022.jpg" title="f0118-02" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">41 | G CRAIG ANDERSON (ANDERSON: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING This is Anderson&rsquo;s job. Signed to a four-year extension after being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Brian Elliott, Anderson is going to get a bulk of the playing time. The club signed Alex Auld to be a backup in every sense of the word.Anderson was outstanding last year during his short stint with the Senators. He finished with an 11-5-1 record in 18 games with Ottawa playing mostly behind call-ups from Binghamton. But he is about to find out what pressure is really like playing in a Canadian market. The Senators aren&rsquo;t expected to win, but the nation&rsquo;s capital has been hard on goalies in the past.If Anderson gets hurt, Robin Lehner will be called up from Binghamton to start. He won a Calder Cup as a 19-year-old last spring and the Senators plan to keep him in the minors to give him the chance to play.All-time record: 638&ndash;620&ndash;188<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0119-0145/9544977-1-eng-US/f0119-012.jpg" title="f0119-01" width="1652" height="1119"><figcaption class="caption-body">One of Ottawa&rsquo;s few bona fide superstars, Jason Spezza will have little help this season. (ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>SPECIAL TEAMS This is where Gonchar is going to have to make a difference. He was supposed to do that last year with Alex Kovalev, but it never happened and, as a result, Ottawa was one of the NHL&rsquo;s worst teams. But their penalty killing has been surprisingly strong. Spezza has taken on more of a role in this area. Having a goalie who can stop the puck in Anderson will help, big time.INTANGIBLES The decision to fire coach Cory Clouston was just part of the rebuilding program. His inability to communicate was considered a major issue and that&rsquo;s why the change was made.McLean has a good sense of humor and the players will like what he brings to the table. The big job is making sure they all buy into the program. He wants the team to have speed and toughness.ROOKIES The Senators are going to be young. Butler, Colin Greening and Erik Condra got plenty of experience during the club&rsquo;s late-season shift to youth and then they went down to the minors and won an AHL Calder Cup championship with Binghamton. Can they learn from that experience?If Ottawa is going to have any rookie-of-the-year candidates it&rsquo;s going to be either Rundblad or Cowen. Blueliner Patrick Wiercioch will also make a valiant push in camp for a permanent spot.There is an opening on the second line and 2011 sixth-overall pick Mika Zibanejad from Sweden has a chance. If he impresses at camp, he will earn a spot on the roster.CAP CRUNCH With so many kids, the Sens are a million miles from the cap. If they&rsquo;re going to use some of that space, it would be best spent on scoring.THE BRASS Melnyk hates to lose. He&rsquo;d like this turnaround to come quickly. The Senators want to see where they stand after the next CBA negotiation. Murray is armed with a three-year contract and MacLean is on solid ground. All should make for an interesting year in Ottawa.X-FACTOR It would take a Herculean effort from Anderson for this team to sniff a post-season berth. They aren&rsquo;t going to fall short of any expectations because there aren&rsquo;t any. Fans are being sold on a rebuilding process and it will be interesting to see if they buy tickets.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>15thThe Senators have stars in Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza, but beyond them is a team at the start of a slow, painful rebuild.<h2>14</h2>Seasons since the Senators missed the playoffs in back-to-back years, a streak in serious jeopardy this time out<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0118-05/9544970-1-eng-US/f0118-052.jpg" title="f0118-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0119-0223/9544942-1-eng-US/f0119-022.jpg" title="f0119-02" width="1027" height="760"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record32-40-10 (74 pts)Conference13thNHL Overall26thOffense2.32 GPG (29th)Defense2.99 GAA (25th)Power Play17.5% (15th)Penalty Kill83.7% (9th)1-Goal Games13-10-102-Goal Games11-103+ Goal Games8-20Winning Streak4-0-0Winless Streak0-9-2Ice Time (F)Spezza 20:11Ice Time (D)Karlsson 23:30GMBryan MurrayCoachPaul MacLeanArenaScotiabank PlaceCapacity19,1532010-11 Attendance18,378 (11th)AffiliateBinghamton (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)20&ndash;20<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0120-0149/9544935-1-eng-US/f0120-012.jpg" title="f0120-01" width="182" height="235"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>BOBBY BUTLERHe was one of the few bright spots in Ottawa last season and will get top-six time.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;45<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0120-0224/9544921-1-eng-US/f0120-022.jpg" title="f0120-02" width="183" height="231"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>SERGEI GONCHARHad a bad Sens debut and will slip down the list with an influx of young defensemen.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;40<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0120-0315/9544907-1-eng-US/f0120-032.jpg" title="f0120-03" width="184" height="228"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>NIKITA FILATOVWent from sixth overall to being traded for a third round pick in a span of three years.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;32<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0120-052/9544893-1-eng-US/f0120-052.jpg" title="f0120-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;1. DAVID RUNDBLADD, 20, SKELLEFTEA (SWE.)Rundblad is not overly flashy, but uses great technique to make plays. He has the ability to transition well out of his own zone by moving the puck or using his skating. He&rsquo;s rock solid to make the Sens on opening night.GP 55 G 11 A 39 PTS 50 PIM 142.&nbsp;2. MIKA ZIBANEJAD C, 18, DJURGARDEN (SWE.)Big forward finishes his checks and has a strong shot.3. NIKITA FILATOV LW, 21, SPRINGFIELD (AHL)Disappointed in Columbus. Fresh start will serve him well.4. JARED COWEN D, 20, SPOKANE (WHL)Big, physical defender controls the front of the net.5. ROBIN LEHNER G, 20, BINGHAMTON (AHL)Main reason why Binghamton captured the Calder Cup.6. JAKOB SILFVERBERG RW, 20, BRYNAS (SWE.)Skilled offensively and a creative two-way player.7. PATRICK WIERCIOCH D, 21, BINGHAMTON (AHL)Struggled in first pro year after leaving college early.8. STEFAN NOESEN RW, 18, PLYMOUTH (OHL)Can make plays at full speed, but consistency an issue.9. COLIN GREENING C, 25, BINGHAMTON (AHL)A scorer who&rsquo;s not afraid to mix it up and fight as well.10. MATT PUEMPEL LW, 18, PETERBOROUGH (OHL)Can score consistently. Hip injury cost him a month last year.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0120-046/9544886-1-eng-US/f0120-042.jpg" title="f0120-04" width="904" height="2814"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0121-0149/9544879-1-eng-US/f0121-012.jpg" title="f0121-01" width="2072" height="1475"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0121-0230/9544872-1-eng-US/f0121-022.jpg" title="f0121-02" width="2072" height="404"></div> &#9632;

f0118-01

Sensing Danger

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0123-0142/9545050-1-eng-US/f0123-012.jpg" title="f0123-01" width="280" height="210"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0122-0151/9545043-1-eng-US/f0122-012.jpg" title="f0122-01" width="2399" height="3308"><figcaption class="caption-body">How much will the excitement of last season&rsquo;s run take out of the Canucks&rsquo; Cup hopes in 2011-12? (HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>THE CANUCKS had their chance to win the Stanley Cup and they failed. But that doesn&rsquo;t mean they won&rsquo;t tease their fans with another outstanding regular season. In fact, we think they&rsquo;re good enough to be the best team in the Western Conference from October to early-April. It&rsquo;s about mid-May that we have our concerns.We like the Chicago Blackhawks &ndash; in what has to be a Chelsea Dagger to the hearts of Canuck fans everywhere &ndash; to come out of the West and advance to the Stanley Cup final slightly more than we like the Canucks or even the San Jose Sharks. But we also think the Canucks, as presently constituted, are more suited to success in the regular season than in the playoffs.The Canucks will continue to pile up points and finish first in the Western Conference because of their plethora of elite talent at virtually every position.There&rsquo;s no reason to believe that, if healthy, the Sedin twins will falter and stop producing at a prodigious rate during the regular season. When they don&rsquo;t have to face the same hulking defensemen every other night and the standard of officiating doesn&rsquo;t go down the toilet, the Sedins remain an incredibly productive duo.Despite the fact some people think the Sedins need a power forward to play with them, they actually need someone who can make plays on their level and Alex Burrows is the perfect linemate.The depth of talent at forward and on defense leaves Vancouver in good stead. In goal, the Canucks have Roberto Luongo. Read this 10 years from now and we&rsquo;ll probably be saying the same thing. The guy was not a Vezina Trophy finalist by accident. He can be lights-out for long stretches of time.It&rsquo;s just, well, during the playoffs, the Canucks are found wanting. It&rsquo;s not their depth that does them in. It&rsquo;s the fact that, for reasons that seem almost unexplainable, their best players cannot galvanize with any sort of consistency. Until they do, we remain unconvinced of their ability to win when it matters most.<h2>1</h2>Position Canucks finished in 2010-11 for wins, goals-for, goals-against & power play. They were No. 3 on the PK<h2>The Hockey News Predictions</h2>FORECASTS FOR THE 2011-12 SEASON<h3>WESTERN</h3>1. VANCOUVER PG. 1242. SAN JOSE PG. 1283. CHICAGO PG. 1324. LOS ANGELES PG. 1365. DETROIT PG. 1406. ANAHEIM PG. 1447. ST. LOUIS PG. 1488. NASHVILLE PG. 1529. COLORADO PG. 15610. CALGARY PG. 16011. MINNESOTA PG. 16412. COLUMBUS PG. 16813. DALLAS PG. 17214. PHOENIX PG. 17615. EDMONTON PG. 180<h3>CENTRAL</h3>1. CHICAGO2. DETROIT3. ST. LOUIS4. NASHVILLE5. COLUMBUS<h3>NORTHWEST</h3>1. VANCOUVER2. COLORADO3. CALGARY4. MINNESOTA5. EDMONTON<h3>PACIFIC</h3>1. SAN JOSE2. LOS ANGELES3. ANAHEIM4. DALLAS5. PHOENIXStanley Cup FinalistCHICAGO BLACKHAWKS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0123-049/9545036-1-eng-US/f0123-042.jpg" title="f0123-04" width="199" height="147"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0122-0223/9545029-1-eng-US/f0122-022.jpg" title="f0122-02" width="243" height="60"></div>Find stats, schedules, game summaries, depth charts, player news, fantasy tools, Power Rankings and plenty more at <a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">TheHockeyNews.com</a>. &#9632;

f0123-01

Big Whale, Little Splash

<div class="byline">BY KEVIN WOODLEY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0124-0152/9545207-1-eng-US/f0124-012.jpg" title="f0124-01" width="480" height="341"><figcaption class="caption-body">ALEX BURROWS (SMALL PHOTO: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Pacific Division, Western Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0124-0315/9545214-1-eng-US/f0124-032.jpg" title="f0124-03" width="127" height="129"></div>COMING OFF THEIR best regular season in franchise history and one win short of their first Stanley Cup, the Canucks face the question of not whether they took a step back over the summer, but how far they fell from those heights.The loss of top-scoring defenseman Christian Ehrhoff doesn&rsquo;t help, but even with other teams in the West improving, will it really be enough to derail a team that was best in the NHL in both goals for and against? Like a lot of things about a team that seems to polarize popular opinion like no other, the potential for how much it hurts depends on your point of view.GM Mike Gillis made it clear he isn&rsquo;t going to make changes based on outside perceptions, nor would he rebuild based on just one series. &ldquo;To say we need to do 50 different things, I don&rsquo;t feel we do,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This is a competitive Stanley Cup team.&rdquo;History may judge Gillis wise for avoiding the folly of the free agency binge. Even if Marco Sturm proves he&rsquo;s past his knee injuries, his addition won&rsquo;t be a pivotal factor in whether or not they get back to the final. And fair or not, that is the benchmark upon which this year&rsquo;s Canucks will be judged.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>OFFENSE Daniel and Henrik Sedin lead the attack and given they each won a scoring title the past two seasons, that&rsquo;s a good place to start. The question is whether that&rsquo;s where the offense will end once the playoffs arrive and the top line is targeted by top pairings and shutdown centers.It was good enough to get to the final despite a couple of droughts by the twins, but dried up against the Bruins. It led some to wonder whether more ugly-goal grit is needed in the top-six forward corps.With Mikael Samuelsson coming off abdominal surgery and Mason Raymond out until November after breaking his back, it&rsquo;s not a question that will be answered early in the season. Of course, early in the season isn&rsquo;t the problem &ndash; if there really is one.DEFENSE The Canucks allowed the fewest goals last season, but the defense corps contributed just as much at the other end. Mobile enough to get out of their end cleanly and start the breakout, the blueliners are encouraged to join the attack and provide extra offensive options off the rush and cycle.Losing Ehrhoff hurts that style, but they kept Kevin Bieksa, another potential free-agent evacuee, ensuring a top pairing along-side Dan Hamhuis. Will they be able to make up for the missing offense? The rest falls on increasing contributions from Alex Edler, the hope Sami Salo can stay healthy and Keith Ballard going from healthy scratch back to a contributor. Without a dominant, minute-munching guy, the Canucks will once again rely on depth.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0124-0226/9545200-1-eng-US/f0124-022.jpg" title="f0124-02" width="1003" height="1455"><figcaption class="caption-body">22 | LW DANIEL SEDIN (SEDIN: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING Just a few days after losing Game 7 and a few before accepting the Jennings Trophy for lowest goals-against average, Roberto Luongo was answering questions about his future in Vancouver. Could the team and fans continue to survive the drama that forever seems to surround its No. 1? They&rsquo;ll have to because Luongo isn&rsquo;t asking out. &ldquo;I want a chance to win and I feel like the Canucks give me the best chance,&rdquo; he said.Luongo, who has a no-trade clause for six of the next 11 years he is under contract, is dedicated to last year&rsquo;s style changes and should avoid the early struggles that accompanied them.All-time record: 1,302&ndash;1,432&ndash;384<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0125-0147/9545193-1-eng-US/f0125-012.jpg" title="f0125-01" width="1653" height="1122"><figcaption class="caption-body">The numbers are there for Roberto Luongo, but questions still remain. (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>The team is committed to giving backup Cory Schneider his fair share in the hopes it helps Luongo get that last win.SPECIAL TEAMS Ehrhoff helped improve the power play, so losing his presence at the point may end their reign as the NHL&rsquo;s best team with the man advantage, even if the quarterback has always been Henrik Sedin off the half boards.The Canucks ability to stay near the top on the penalty kill will depend on the health of Manny Malhotra&rsquo;s surgically repaired eye, which still required another procedure over the summer.INTANGIBLES Getting over the price paid to get within one win of the big party won&rsquo;t be easy. If motivation isn&rsquo;t a problem, injuries might be. This was the shortest summer of training for all but Samuelsson, who got an early start due to injury, on a team that prides itself on being the league&rsquo;s fittest, often dominating third periods as a result.ROOKIES With an abundance of top-six capable forwards spilling over to the third line and the need for grit on the bottom end, there&rsquo;s not a lot of room for rookies (Cody Hodgson included) outside of defenseman Chris Tanev, whose status makes him more likely to provide depth out of the American League.CAP CRUNCH After bumping up against the salary cap last season and benefitting from timely injuries to keep the defense intact, the Canucks have more wiggle room.But short of moving Ballard &ndash; and the team insists he can bounce back after hip surgery and ensuing injuries that slowed his adjustment &ndash; it&rsquo;s probably not enough to add an impact player.THE BRASS The stay-the-course mentality from Gillis and coach Alain Vigneault has served the Canucks well, but patience will be tested if too many players open the season waiting for the playoffs. With the Sedins leading the way, don&rsquo;t count on it.X-FACTOR They don&rsquo;t need pleasant surprises (though a winger who can regularly finish with Ryan Kesler would be nice) so much as they need their best players to maintain the status quo. Any significant drop-off for the Sedins, Kesler or Bieksa will mean a slip, though it&rsquo;s hard to imagine it being far enough to not win the easy Northwest Division in the Western Conference.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>1stAll the key parts remain in tact for the league&rsquo;s best regular season club in 2010-11. No reason to think otherwise this campaign.<h2>2.32</h2>Goals-per-game average for the Canucks during the 2011 playoffs, far off their league-leading 3.15 pace in the regular season<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0124-052/9545186-1-eng-US/f0124-052.jpg" title="f0124-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0125-0228/9545158-1-eng-US/f0125-022.jpg" title="f0125-02" width="1023" height="766"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record54-19-9 (117 pts)Conference1stNHL Overall1stOffense3.15 GPG (1st)Defense2.20 GAA (1st)Power Play24.3% (1st)Penalty Kill85.6% (3rd)1-Goal Games19-7-92-Goal Games15-63+ Goal Games20-6Winning Streak8-0-0Winless Streak0-3-1Ice Time (F)Kesler 20:29Ice Time (D)Edler 24:17GMMike GillisCoachAlain VigneaultArenaRogers ArenaCapacity18,6302010-11 Attendance18,860 (8th)AffiliateChicago (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)32&ndash;23<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0126-0149/9545151-1-eng-US/f0126-012.jpg" title="f0126-01" width="185" height="232"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>ALEXANDER EDLERWith the departure of Ehrhoff, Edler is now the top offensive defenseman in Vancouver.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;45<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0126-0217/9545137-1-eng-US/f0126-022.jpg" title="f0126-02" width="184" height="240"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>MIKAEL SAMUELSSONA capable player who has difficulty staying healthy for long periods of time.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;42<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0126-0310/9545123-1-eng-US/f0126-032.jpg" title="f0126-03" width="186" height="234"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>MARCO STURMA consistent 20-goal scorer coming off an injury-riddled 2010-11 season.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;32<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0126-05/9545109-1-eng-US/f0126-052.jpg" title="f0126-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;CODY HODGSONC, 21, MANITOBA (AHL)Hodgson got a taste of NHL life last season and even appeared in 12 playoff games. His strong hockey sense will make up for a lack of foot speed as long as he is able to stay healthy overall.GP 52 G 17 A 13 PTS 30 PIM 142. JORDAN SCHROEDER C, 21, MANITOBA (AHL)Slow start and ankle injury stalled development.3. CHRIS TANEV D, 21, MANITOBA (AHL)Poise, patience and outlet passing are his strengths.4. NICKLAS JENSEN RW, 18, OSHAWA (OHL)Has all the skills. Just needs to develop toughness.5. ANTON RODIN RW, 20, BRYNAS (SWE.)Heavier minutes and power play time have helped game.6. EDDIE LACK G, 23, MANITOBA (AHL)Technique is good and uses great reflexes to balance it out.7. KEVIN CONNAUTON D, 21, MANITOBA (AHL)Mobile and can move the puck, but defensively needs work.8. YANN SAUVE D, 21, MANITOBA (AHL)Missed half the season after being struck by a car.9. BILL SWEATT LW, 22, MANITOBA (AHL)Great speed and good hands. Needs to get to the tough areas.10. MIKE DUCO RW, 24, ROCHESTER (AHL)Feisty winger who fights acquired from Florida.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0126-044/9545102-1-eng-US/f0126-042.jpg" title="f0126-04" width="904" height="2812"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0127-0147/9545095-1-eng-US/f0127-012.jpg" title="f0127-01" width="2068" height="1477"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0127-0226/9545088-1-eng-US/f0127-022.jpg" title="f0127-02" width="688" height="1227"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0127-0320/9545081-1-eng-US/f0127-032.jpg" title="f0127-03" width="1294" height="1204"><figcaption class="caption-body">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0124-01

Killer Instinct?

<div class="byline">BY DAVID POLLAK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0128-0149/9545371-1-eng-US/f0128-012.jpg" title="f0128-01" width="483" height="343"><figcaption class="caption-body">LOGAN COUTURE (SMALL PHOTO: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Pacific Division, Western Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0128-0315/9545378-1-eng-US/f0128-032.jpg" title="f0128-03" width="127" height="128"></div>ANOTHER SEASON, another search for the correct path to a just-out-of-reach trophy. GM Doug Wilson acknowledged he waited too long to make last January&rsquo;s trades that kick-started his slumbering Sharks, because their steep climb to the No. 2 seed in the West may have left his team vulnerable during the post-season.So even though the Sharks are the only NHL team to reach the final four each of the past two years, Wilson didn&rsquo;t hesitate to address perceived problems &ndash; the blueline and the penalty kill &ndash; with a pair of blockbuster trades early in the off-season.On draft night, Devin Setoguchi was sent to the Minnesota Wild as the centerpiece in a trade for star defenseman Brent Burns. Nine days later, the two teams were at it again as Wilson swapped Dany Heatley for Martin Havlat. Other moves followed. Will they work? Next June, check which city has closed its streets for a parade.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>OFFENSE The Big Three forwards are now the Big Two with Heatley&rsquo;s departure &ndash; and both Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are looking to rebound from seasons that saw their production dip a combined 29 points. Luckily, rookie Logan Couture&rsquo;s 32 goals and 56 points helped offset that drop.Officially, the two trades with Minnesota weren&rsquo;t tied together, but there is a connection. Losing Setoguchi made the Sharks slower and that need for speed prompted the trade for Havlat, who may start the season alongside Couture and Ryane Clowe.San Jose&rsquo;s blueline scored 10 goals fewer year over year, one reason Burns is now a Shark.DEFENSE Though his point production took a hit, Thornton played the best two-way hockey of his career and was the NHL leader in takeaways with 114. And it was a team-wide defensive effort that triggered San Jose&rsquo;s second-half tear that saw them go 27-6-4 starting in mid-January. Still, the lack of an effective checking line and the inability of the blueline to contain Vancouver&rsquo;s Sedin twins cost the Sharks in the post-season, prompting changes.Free agent center Michal Handzus was signed to anchor the third line. And with Douglas Murray the only San Jose defenseman who registered more than 100 hits last season with 203, Wilson added Burns (133 in Minnesota) and signed Jim Vandermeer (122 in Edmonton) to get more bang for his bucks.GOALTENDING Antti Niemi now has the job security that elud-ed him in Chicago. Last season started with Niemi and Antero Niittymaki forming a tandem, and early on it was Niittymaki carrying the Sharks. But Niemi survived an extended adjustment period &ndash; in mid-January, he was 9-13-2 &ndash; to go on a 26-5-4 tear and earn a four-year, $15.2-million contract extension in March.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0128-0227/9545364-1-eng-US/f0128-022.jpg" title="f0128-02" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">8 | C JOE PAVELSKI (PAVELSKI: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>SPECIAL TEAMS The Sharks found their customary success on the power play last season, finishing second in the NHL, but they&rsquo;ll need to replace the 15 goals Heatley and Setoguchi provided with the man advantage. Burns is seen as a huge help for more than just his booming shot. His arrival will allow coach Todd McLellan to switch Joe Pavelski from the point to a net-front presence.The penalty kill is in the shop for repairs, however, having fallen to 24th in the NHL. Handzus will help in that regard.INTANGIBLES There were outside doubts when the Sharks named the genial Thornton as their captain a year ago, but his strong performance and on-ice intensity in the post-season won over his harshest critics. As for future leaders, look no further than Couture. The 2011 Calder runner-up already is an insightful voice in the room as well as a leader based on his performance. &ldquo;Our best player without the puck was Logan Couture,&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;I could still play defense if Logan Couture was on the ice.&rdquo;All-time record: 678&ndash;643&ndash;205<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0129-0232/9545357-1-eng-US/f0129-022.jpg" title="f0129-02" width="2070" height="1134"><figcaption class="caption-body">Joe Thornton&rsquo;s Sharks will once again be the scourge of the Pacific Division. (HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>ROOKIES No obvious Calder candidate on the horizon as San Jose&rsquo;s most highly touted prospect &ndash; defenseman Justin Braun &ndash; played in 28 NHL games last season. That number could easily double this year for the second-year pro.Up front, a few familiar faces get a second chance to lock down a lineup spot. Benn Ferriero and Tommy Wingels will compete for a third-line slot. On the fourth line, Andrew Desjardins impressed at center during the playoffs while either Frazer McLaren or Brandon Mashinter are poised to replace departed tough guy Ben Eager.CAP CRUNCH Between the salary cap&rsquo;s jump to $64.3 million and the absence of Dany Heatley&rsquo;s $7.5 million hit, the Sharks have even more flexibility than usual when it comes to mid-season roster changes. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got young players that want to compete for certain spots and if they can take those spots, good for them,&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;And if not, I&rsquo;ve got room to add other pieces.&rdquo;THE BRASS The Sharks functioned last year without a CEO after the surprise resignation of Greg Jamison. It looks as if the status quo will continue with Wilson running the hockey side, executive vice-president Malcolm Bordelon handling the business side and two members of the ownership group, Kevin Compton and Stratton Sclavos, monitoring things.X-FACTOR With successive trips through Detroit to the Western Conference final, the Sharks have replaced their reputation as playoff underachievers with a new one that casts them simply as one of the NHL&rsquo;s four or five best teams &ndash; no more, no less.Only a trip to the Stanley Cup will improve on that. So what will it take? A multitude of things, of course, but consider one statistical comparison from that second Minnesota trade: In 32 post-season games with the Sharks, Heatley had five goals. In 26 games during Havlat&rsquo;s past two playoff runs, he scored 12.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>2ndHavlat and Burns give the Sharks a different look. They&rsquo;ll still dominate the West and wait for another shot to win an elusive Cup.<h2>8</h2>Game-winning goals for rookie Logan Couture, one behind teammate Patrick Marleau and seventh overall in the NHL<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0128-048/9545350-1-eng-US/f0128-042.jpg" title="f0128-04" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0129-0146/9545322-1-eng-US/f0129-012.jpg" title="f0129-01" width="1027" height="761"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record48-25-9 (105 pts)Conference2ndNHL Overall5thOffense2.96 GPG (6th)Defense2.54 GAA (10th)Power Play23.5% (2nd)Penalty Kill79.6% (24th)1-Goal Games21-9-92-Goal Games11-63+ Goal Games16-10Winning Streak8-0-0Winless Streak0-6-0Ice Time (F)Marleau 20:47Ice Time (D)Boyle 26:14GMDoug WilsonCoachTodd McLellanArenaHP PavilionCapacity17,4962010-11 Attendance17,562 (17th)AffiliateWorcester (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)37&ndash;34<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0130-0148/9545315-1-eng-US/f0130-012.jpg" title="f0130-01" width="184" height="238"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>MARTIN HAVLATThe Sharks&rsquo; star-studded offense will do him some good after two years with the Wild.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;71<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0130-0223/9545301-1-eng-US/f0130-022.jpg" title="f0130-02" width="184" height="240"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>JOE THORNTONStill an elite player, but his salad days as an Art Ross contender are in the past.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;85<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0130-0316/9545287-1-eng-US/f0130-032.jpg" title="f0130-03" width="189" height="236"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>JASON DEMERSPlayed well last season and will get better matchups thanks to new additions.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;29<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0130-054/9545273-1-eng-US/f0130-052.jpg" title="f0130-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(GREGORY SHAMUS/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;NICK PETRECKID, 22, WORCESTER (AHL)The Sharks are finally confident Petrecki has blended his strong physical play with good positional hockey. He has been going up against opponents&rsquo; top lines consistently and is on the cusp of being ready for NHL action.GP 67 G 3 A 11 PTS 14 PIM 1292. MATT NIETO LW, 18, BOSTON UNIVERSITY (HE)Fast skater with small frame has good offensive instincts.3. TAYLOR DOHERTY D, 20, KINGSTON (OHL)Big D-man with size and reach has offensive upside.4. HARRI SATERI G, 21, WORCESTER (AHL)Good shot stopper, but puckhandling needs to be better.5. TOMMY WINGELS C, 23, WORCESTER (AHL)His first year as a pro illuminated his versatility.6. ALEX STALOCK G, 24, WORCESTER (AHL)Steadily working his way up the stopper depth chart.7. BRANDON MASHINTER C, 23, WORCESTER (AHL)Tough player, but skills need to sharpen to be NHL-ready.8. FRAZER MCLAREN LW, 23, WORCESTER (AHL)Huge forward has had progress slowed by injuries.9. JUSTIN BRAUN D, 24, WORCESTER (AHL)Provided offense in 28-game NHL trial last season.10. KONRAD ABELTSHAUSER D, 19, HALIFAX (QMJHL)Big, strong skater needs to find a mean streak.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0130-047/9545266-1-eng-US/f0130-042.jpg" title="f0130-04" width="900" height="2814"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0131-0145/9545259-1-eng-US/f0131-012.jpg" title="f0131-01" width="2071" height="1464"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0131-0228/9545252-1-eng-US/f0131-022.jpg" title="f0131-02" width="688" height="1228"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0131-0325/9545245-1-eng-US/f0131-032.jpg" title="f0131-03" width="1290" height="1205"><figcaption class="caption-body">22 | D DAN BOYLE (ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0128-01

Smelling Blood

<div class="byline">BY TIM SASSONE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0132-0147/9545535-1-eng-US/f0132-012.jpg" title="f0132-01" width="476" height="338"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Central Division, Western Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0132-0310/9545542-1-eng-US/f0132-032.jpg" title="f0132-03" width="129" height="129"></div>THE 2010-11 SEASON was memorable for the Hawks for all the wrong reasons. Even before beginning defense of their Stanley Cup, nearly half the roster was turned over because of salary cap issues. Once the puck dropped, they discovered the Stanley Cup hangover is indeed very real.Defenseman Duncan Keith admitted late in the year he found it difficult to find the proper motivation during the course of the season and he wasn&rsquo;t alone among Hawks who had sub-par years. &ldquo;All year we had to answer the questions about the trades and losing half your team and the short off-season and the last thing you want to do is agree with that and say it is taking a toll on our team,&rdquo; Jonathan Toews said. &ldquo;But at the same time those things are realities. All year we had to battle through adversity.&rdquo;The Hawks are rested and refreshed after a long off-season and have addressed their biggest need of more size and toughness. It would be a huge disappointment for them and their fans if they aren&rsquo;t playing into June for a second Cup in three years.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>OFFENSE Led by Toews, Patrick Sharp, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa, the Hawks still are one of the more explosive teams in the league. Kane scored 27 goals, but confessed he could have been better. &ldquo;I want to take the next step and become one of the top players in the league,&rdquo; he said.The Hawks need an improvement from Hossa, too. He scored 25 goals, but battled injuries much of the time and became a streaky scorer because of it.Free agent veteran Andrew Brunette will step onto the first or second line.DEFENSE Brian Campbell&rsquo;s speed and ability to carry the puck will be missed, but second-year pro Nick Leddy will be given an even larger role to help fill the void. The Hawks also feel Niklas Hjalmarsson has untapped offensive potential that needs to come out on a team that lives and dies with back-end puck possession.The defense is considered one of the best as long as Keith and Brent Seabrook are around to anchor it. They are coach Joel Quenneville&rsquo;s shutdown pair. Cutting back on Keith&rsquo;s minutes is something Quenneville tried to do last season and it must continue to happen to bring out the best of the Norris Trophy winner again.Bowman addressed a need for more physical play on the blueline by signing free agents Steve Montador and Sean O&rsquo;Donnell.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0132-0225/9545528-1-eng-US/f0132-022.jpg" title="f0132-02" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">88 | RW PATRICK KANE (KANE: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING The Hawks are convinced Corey Crawford is the real deal after a rookie season in which he won 33 games and nearly stole a first-round playoff series from the Canucks. Crawford, who was rewarded with a three-year, $8-million contract after paying his dues for five seasons in the minors, is big, quick and technically sound. Alexander Salak enters training camp as Crawford&rsquo;s backup after being the top goalie in the Swedish Elite League.SPECIAL TEAMS Penalty killing was a real problem last season when the Hawks ranked 29th at home and 25th overall.Bowman made it a priority during the off-season to get players who could help fix the problem such as Montador, O&rsquo;Donnell and Jamal Mayers. Shot blockers Montador and O&rsquo;Donnell will take a lot of pressure off Keith and Seabrook to be used in those situations. &ldquo;We burned out some of our top defensemen using them in that role,&rdquo; Bowman said.All-time record: 2,415&ndash;2,502&ndash;895<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0133-0233/9545521-1-eng-US/f0133-022.jpg" title="f0133-02" width="2070" height="1134"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jonathan Toews remains the leader and prime mover-and-shaker on the Hawks. (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>The power play was a bright spot and should be a strength again. The Hawks don&rsquo;t have a true power play quarterback, but Sharp did nicely when used there. Keith and hard-shooting Seabrook are more than dependable at the points.INTANGIBLES If Toews isn&rsquo;t the best captain in the NHL, he&rsquo;s in a small group of three or four. And he&rsquo;s only 23. Toews delivers on and off the ice and challenges teammates to match his intensity. &ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s a special guy,&rdquo; said O&rsquo;Donnell. &ldquo;When you can get a guy who is your best player and is also your hardest working guy, that&rsquo;s exactly what you want from your captain.&rdquo;ROOKIES With Bowman bringing in five free agents, it closed a lot of doors for rookies hoping to make the team.Nevertheless, wingers Ben Smith and Jeremy Morin and center Marcus Kruger will be given every opportunity at training camp to show they belong. The gritty Smith figures to have the best shot after his impressive finish to last season that included scoring three goals in seven playoff games against Vancouver.CAP CRUNCH Bowman is in much better shape now than prior to 2010-11 when he was right up against the cap and had to shed top players. Unloading Campbell&rsquo;s $7.1 million cap hit in the trade with Florida opened a lot of options. Bowman expected to start the new season with anywhere from $3 million to $4 million in space.THE BRASS The positive changes made by chairman Rocky Wirtz and president John McDonough are well-documented.Bowman has quietly become a strong GM, maneuvering through the team&rsquo;s sticky salary cap situation as best he could, making shrewd trades (Leddy and Kim Johnsson for Cam Barker) and stockpiling prospects.X-FACTOR The Hawks were way too small, soft and easy to play against in the season following their Cup win, but that will change with the additions of Mayers, Dan Carcillo, Montador and O&rsquo;Donnell. &ldquo;We wanted to have some very clear roles for players so that when you come to line up against the Blackhawks you know what you&rsquo;re going to get,&rdquo; Bowman said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to come to play, we&rsquo;re going to be difficult to play against, but we&rsquo;re also going to play hockey.&rdquo;<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>3rdWith the goaltending sorted and talent up and down the lineup, it&rsquo;ll be hard to keep the Hawks down in the Central.<h2>1,743</h2>Even strength time on ice last season for defenseman Duncan Keith, 115 more minutes than any other NHLer<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0132-05/9545514-1-eng-US/f0132-052.jpg" title="f0132-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0133-0148/9545486-1-eng-US/f0133-012.jpg" title="f0133-01" width="1024" height="774"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record44-29-9 (97 pts)Conference8thNHL Overall13thOffense3.07 GPG (4th)Defense2.68 GAA (12th)Power Play23.1% (4th)Penalty Kill79.2% (25th)1-Goal Games16-13-92-Goal Games11-93+ Goal Games17-7Winning Streak8-0-0Winless Streak0-3-0Ice Time (F)Toews 20:45Ice Time (D)Keith 26:53GMStan BowmanCoachJoel QuennevilleArenaUnited CenterCapacity20,5002010-11 Attendance21,423 (1st)AffiliateRockford (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)28&ndash;17<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0134-0150/9545479-1-eng-US/f0134-012.jpg" title="f0134-01" width="184" height="236"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>DAVE BOLLANDThe feisty center will try to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2010-11.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;57<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0134-0226/9545465-1-eng-US/f0134-022.jpg" title="f0134-02" width="184" height="241"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>BRENT SEABROOKLast season&rsquo;s 48 points will surely go down as his career high. Expect 30-something.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;38<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0134-0315/9545451-1-eng-US/f0134-032.jpg" title="f0134-03" width="189" height="233"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>BRYAN BICKELLHas 20 goals in his sights as Hawks fill power forward role vacated by Troy Brouwer.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;48<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0134-05/9545437-1-eng-US/f0134-052.jpg" title="f0134-05" width="340" height="467"></div>1.&nbsp;JEREMY MORINLW, 20, ROCKFORD (AHL)Acquired in the Dustin Byfuglien trade, Morin was impressive in nine games as a call-up last season. He potted two goals and three points while playing a physical style. He has the skills and touch to play among the top six forwards.GP 22 G 8 A 4 PTS 12 PIM 342.&nbsp;KYLE BEACH LW, 21, ROCKFORD (AHL)Scrappy winger who can fight and has scoring ability.3. DYLAN OLSEN D, 20, ROCKFORD (AHL)Good size and mobility. Needs to refine positioning.4. MARCUS KRUGER C, 21, DJURGARDEN (SWE.)Playmaking center does all the little things well.5. MARK MCNEILL C, 18, PRINCE ALBERT (WHL)A smart player with good hockey sense and composure.6. IVAN VISHNEVSKIY D, 23, ROCKFORD (AHL)Smooth skater, but has issues with consistency.7. SHAWN LALONDE D, 21, ROCKFORD (AHL)Skates well and has sound instincts. Poor defensive habits.8. BRANDON PIRRI C, 20, ROCKFORD (AHL)A playmaker with good vision. Needs to get stronger.9. KEVIN HAYES LW, 19, BOSTON COLLEGE (HE)Can play the wing or center. Good skater with soft hands.10. IGOR MAKAROV RW, 24, ROCKFORD (AHL)Hard-nosed energy player with a solid skill set.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0134-048/9545430-1-eng-US/f0134-042.jpg" title="f0134-04" width="904" height="2812"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0135-0147/9545423-1-eng-US/f0135-012.jpg" title="f0135-01" width="2072" height="1477"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0135-0227/9545416-1-eng-US/f0135-022.jpg" title="f0135-02" width="680" height="1230"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0135-0323/9545409-1-eng-US/f0135-032.jpg" title="f0135-03" width="1306" height="1192"><figcaption class="caption-body">2 | D DUNCAN KEITH</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0132-01

Hangover Cure

<div class="byline">BY JONATHAN DAVIS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0136-0151/9545699-1-eng-US/f0136-012.jpg" title="f0136-01" width="482" height="343"><figcaption class="caption-body">FELIX POTVIN (SMALL: ANDREW D. BERSTEIN/GETTY IMAGES/NHLI)</figcaption></div>Pacific Division, Western Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0136-0316/9545706-1-eng-US/f0136-032.jpg" title="f0136-03" width="126" height="131"></div>AFTER BACK-TO-BACK years of first round playoff exits, Kings GM Dean Lombardi decided the future is now and pulled off a blockbuster. Just days before the NHL draft, he acquired two-way star and team captain Mike Richards from the Philadelphia Flyers for 2009 first round pick (eighth overall) Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds.The deal vaults the Kings from playoff contender to a Stanley Cup challenger. &ldquo;The acquisition of Richards along with Anze Kopitar gives us strength down the middle that matches up with any team in the West,&rdquo; Lombardi said.The wheeling and dealing didn&rsquo;t stop there. After coming up short in his attempt to lure prized free agent Brad Richards, Lombardi signed former Mike Richards teammate Simon Gagne to help fill a void on left wing, then dealt Ryan Smyth to Edmonton.OFFENSE The Kings had six players in 2010-11 with 20 or more goals and were led by Kopitar&rsquo;s 73 points. But his season was cut short by a devastating ankle injury just as he was proving to be one of the league&rsquo;s top two-way centers. Look for Kopitar to again center Justin Williams, who cracked the 20-goal plateau for the first time in four years, and Dustin Penner.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>Richards gives the Kings one of the NHL&rsquo;s best 1-2 punches down the middle. He&rsquo;ll likely play between captain Dustin Brown, who finished last year with 28 goals and as a plus-player for the first time in his career, and Gagne. Jarret Stoll will drop to the third line.DEFENSE Lombardi has always constructed his teams from the goaltender out, so it should come as no surprise the Kings are one of the stingiest outfits. Their 198 goals against in 2010-11 was tied for sixth in the NHL. Kopitar and Brown excel in both ends and help support a defensive unit anchored by young studs Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson and the crease-clearing wile of Rob Scuderi.GOALTENDING There is no question Jonathan Quick is the man between the pipes. Quick came into training camp last season having to fend off Jonathan Bernier for the No. 1 job and he more than answered the call, winning 12 of his first 15 games, then finishing the season in the top five in goals against.One year removed from being the American League goaltender of the year, Bernier struggled early in his role as a rookie backup, but dramatically improved his numbers in the second half.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0136-0230/9545692-1-eng-US/f0136-022.jpg" title="f0136-02" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">32 | G JONATHAN QUICK (QUICK: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>With Quick&rsquo;s stellar play and depth in the minors, moving Bernier to add scoring punch isn&rsquo;t out of the question.SPECIAL TEAMS As good as L.A.&rsquo;s penalty killing was last year, its power play was atrocious. Without a dynamic scorer, opposing teams simply collapsed on the points. It got so bad fans could be heard yelling, &ldquo;Decline the penalty!&rdquo;The addition of Richards to Kopitar, Doughty, Johnson, Williams and Penner will make the Kings a more dangerous squad.Expect the penalty kill to again flourish, led by Kopitar up front and Scuderi on the blueline.INTANGIBLES Brown&rsquo;s leadership skills came to the forefront when Kopitar was lost in late March. Brown&rsquo;s seven goals and 12 points in the final 14 games was one of the few bright lights in an offense that struggled to score goals with the loss of its leading scorer. Inside the dressing room, the Kings rely on the veteran leadership of Scuderi and the light-hearted Matt Greene. L.A. will miss the presence of the rugged Simmonds.All-time record: 1,388&ndash;1,534&ndash;502<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0137-0230/9545685-1-eng-US/f0137-022.jpg" title="f0137-02" width="2069" height="1134"><figcaption class="caption-body">Is Anze Kopitar ready for the pressure of leading a contender? He better be. (RICH LAM/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>ROOKIES All eyes will be focused on Andrei Loktionov. The 21-year-old Russian, who shuttled between Manchester and Los Angeles last season, played 19 games for the Kings at both wing and center and tallied four goals and seven points.He worked hard in the off-season to add some bulk to his 5-foot-10, 180-pound frame and there is no question his skills are suited for the center position, but he may find himself flanking Stoll.The likelihood of a second rookie cracking the lineup is slim.CAP CRUNCH The Kings have the Cup in sight and aren&rsquo;t afraid to spend to the top to get there. That said, Lombardi has left himself with a few million to play with heading into the campaign. That should be enough for lineup tweaks at the trade deadline.THE BRASS The 2011-12 season will mark Dean Lombardi&rsquo;s sixth as GM. In the past he was criticized for being the guy that could build a playoff contender, but not a Stanley Cup challenger. He pushed aside his critics by acquiring Richards and with the team poised to join the elite, look for Lombardi to stay aggressive. &ldquo;When you&rsquo;re building, it&rsquo;s a process,&rdquo; Lombardi said. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a time and place for everything and that time is now.&rdquo;Coach Terry Murray&rsquo;s calm and disciplined approach has carried over to his players. Going into last season both the coach and GM said L.A. needed to get better 5-on-5. The teams&rsquo; jump from 145 to 148 goals did not meet expectations. Murray&rsquo;s biggest task is to find a way to make marked improvement in this area.X-FACTOR There&rsquo;s no question it&rsquo;s Penner. At 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, he has the size to dominate, but his work ethic and lack of conditioning have factored into falling short of expectations.When the team acquired Penner at the trade deadline they were looking for the player who scored a career-best 32 goals in 2009-10, not the one who went pointless in L.A.&rsquo;s final 12 regular season games and almost found himself a healthy scratch in the playoffs.With Penner now in the final year of his contract, the Kings are hoping his desire to earn another one will propel him to some eye-popping offensive numbers.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>4thBringing Mike Richards and Simon Gagne into the fold makes it clear: The Kings want to win now. They&rsquo;ve got the tools to do so.<h2>2002</h2>Year the Kings last won a playoff round. Since then they&rsquo;ve made the post-season only twice &ndash; in 2009 and 2010<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0136-053/9545678-1-eng-US/f0136-052.jpg" title="f0136-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0137-0146/9545650-1-eng-US/f0137-012.jpg" title="f0137-01" width="1018" height="744"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record46-30-6 (98 pts)Conference7thNHL Overall12thOffense2.55 GPG (25th)Defense2.39 GAA (7th)Power Play16.1% (21st)Penalty Kill85.5% (4th)1-Goal Games22-9-62-Goal Games12-123+ Goal Games12-9Winning Streak6-0-0Winless Streak0-5-0Ice Time (F)Kopitar 21:35Ice Time (D)Doughty 25:38GMDean LombardiCoachTerry MurrayArenaStaples CenterCapacity18,1182010-11 Attendance18,083 (14th)AffiliateManchester (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)4&ndash;8<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0138-0144/9545643-1-eng-US/f0138-012.jpg" title="f0138-01" width="187" height="238"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>ANZE KOPITARArrival of Mike Richards will free up Kopitar to produce even bigger numbers.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;85<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0138-0225/9545629-1-eng-US/f0138-022.jpg" title="f0138-02" width="184" height="241"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>SIMON GAGNEHe hasn&rsquo;t broken the 20-goal barrier since 2008-09 because of injuries.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;45<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0138-0311/9545615-1-eng-US/f0138-032.jpg" title="f0138-03" width="184" height="232"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>DUSTIN PENNERPenner enters his contract year with a lot to prove after a difficult stretch run in L.A.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;49<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0138-05/9545601-1-eng-US/f0138-052.jpg" title="f0138-05" width="337" height="467"></div>1.&nbsp;ANDREI LOKTIONOVC, 21, MANCHESTER (AHL)A skilled playmaker with a high hockey IQ. Loktionov had seven points in 19 games with the Kings last season and with the departure of top prospect Brayden Schenn could find himself in Los Angeles permanently next year.GP 34 G 8 A 23 PTS 31 PIM 62.&nbsp;DEREK FORBORT D, 19, NORTH DAKOTA (WCHA)Two-way D man with good range, but still raw in many ways.3.&nbsp;TYLER TOFFOLI RW, 19, OTTAWA (OHL)Great hands, great shot, but skating needs to improve.4. VIATCHESLAV VOYNOV D, 21, MANCHESTER (AHL)Possesses great offensive instincts and a good shot.5. JAKE MUZZIN D, 22, MANCHESTER (AHL)Physical defenseman who can also help on the power play.6. CHRISTOPHER GIBSON G, 18, CHICOUTIMI (QMJHL)A kid with size and impressive athletic ability.7. THOMAS HICKEY D, 22, MANCHESTER (AHL)Much improved in his own zone. Finished the year plus-9.8. MAXIM KITSYN LW, 19, MISSISSAUGA (OHL)Strong WJC and a great playoffs for the Majors last season.9. MARTIN JONES G, 21, MANCHESTER (AHL)Put up great stats as a first-year starter in the AHL.10. NICK SHORE RW, 19, DENVER (WCHA)Not huge offensive stats, but plays a good two-way game.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0138-044/9545594-1-eng-US/f0138-042.jpg" title="f0138-04" width="904" height="2811"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0139-0135/9545587-1-eng-US/f0139-012.jpg" title="f0139-01" width="2072" height="1478"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0139-0223/9545580-1-eng-US/f0139-022.jpg" title="f0139-02" width="688" height="1228"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0139-0317/9545573-1-eng-US/f0139-032.jpg" title="f0139-03" width="1318" height="1217"><figcaption class="caption-body">8 | D DREW DOUGHTY (HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0136-01

Now Showing

<div class="byline">BY ANSAR KHAN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0140-0142/9545856-1-eng-US/f0140-012.jpg" title="f0140-01" width="481" height="341"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Central Division, Western Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0140-047/9545863-1-eng-US/f0140-042.jpg" title="f0140-04" width="172" height="170"></div>IT MIGHT APPEAR as though the Detroit Red Wings are spinning their winged wheels in mud after consecutive second round losses to the San Jose Sharks. It might seem like opportunity has passed them by after an amazing run of 20 consecutive playoff appearances.But the Red Wings feel the window has not closed and they are not ready to relinquish their status as a Stanley Cup contender.That&rsquo;s why they opted to retool, not overhaul. The Wings had a load of cap space, but opted to not overspend in a mediocre free-agent market. They bolstered their defense by adding lower-priced options Ian White and Mike Commodore. And they have the financial flexibility for mid-season moves.The most important transaction was getting 41-year-old Nicklas Lidstrom to put off retirement for at least another year. Coming off his seventh Norris Trophy, he would have been irreplaceable had he not returned, especially after Brian Rafalski retired unexpectedly due to health issues.Offense is not a concern. They have a core of forwards still in their prime, led by Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, two of the best two-way players in the league.The Wings, however, must return to the tight-checking, defensive hockey that has made them successful.OFFENSE The Wings scored one fewer goal than league leader Vancouver and will continue to have plenty of weapons, plus room to improve.Datsyuk missed one-third of the season with injuries. Power forward Johan Franzen scored only two goals in his final 27 games. Jiri Hudler struggled after returning from a one-year stint in Russia. Valtteri Filppula still has not reached the next level.On the plus side, Zetterberg flourished, Danny Cleary had a career-best 26 goals and veterans Tomas Holmstrom and Todd Bertuzzi still are good for 15-plus goals each. Patrick Eaves, Drew Miller and Darren Helm have reached double-digit goal totals each of the past two seasons.The Wings generated an attack with strong puck movement from the defense and rely on the blueline to contribute. Lidstrom was second in the NHL in points among D-men. Niklas Kronwall is a reliable producer, but they will miss Rafalski&rsquo;s offense.DEFENSE After finishing 23rd in goals against, the Red Wings must return to form by limiting shots and scoring chances.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0140-0223/9545849-1-eng-US/f0140-022.jpg" title="f0140-02" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">40 | C HENRIK ZETTERBERG (ZETTERBERG: GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Despite being a minus player for the first time in his career, Lidstrom remains a top shutdown defender with his smart positioning, tremendous stick work and lateral movement. Brad Stuart does the dirty work, blocking shots and providing a physical presence. Jonathan Ericsson was rewarded with a hefty contract and now must take the next step.GOALTENDING Jimmy Howard experienced a roller-coaster season after taking over the No. 1 job. Aside from his record, his numbers were not as good as they were in his rookie season. Signing an extension in late-February was a huge relief. The playoffs may have been a turning point in his career; he played with consistency and poise in the post-season. Howard is backed up by journeyman Ty Conklin, who returns for a second stint in Detroit.SPECIAL TEAMS The potent power play will miss Rafalski at the point opposite Lidstrom. Kronwall likely will be bumped to the top unit, with White replacing him on the second crew. They have all the ingredients for a strong power play, with puck-controllers in Datsyuk and Zetterberg, a sniper in Franzen and a relentless net-front mainstay in Holmstrom.All-time record: 2,663&ndash;2,256&ndash;893<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0141-0137/9545842-1-eng-US/f0141-012.jpg" title="f0141-01" width="1656" height="1117"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jimmy Howard is likely to see just as much, if not more action in Detroit&rsquo;s net this year. (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Commodore, with his long reach, will be a penalty-killing asset. Eaves and Miller are good shot-blockers and Helm creates shorthanded opportunities with his speed.INTANGIBLES The Wings have had the fewest fighting majors for the past several seasons and still lack a true enforcer. They don&rsquo;t like to use a roster spot on a one-dimensional player.Justin Abdelkader has taken it upon himself to help fill the void. He&rsquo;ll have some help with the addition of Commodore. The Wings figure to be a little tougher and more abrasive.ROOKIES The Wings prefer prospects to be &ldquo;over-ready.&rdquo; So while highly skilled puck-moving defenseman Brendan Smith appears ready, he is destined to start the season in Grand Rapids.Forwards Jan Mursak and Cory Emmerton will be integrated into the lineup. Mursak has terrific speed and likes to get his nose dirty. Emmerton, who must earn a spot or risk being waived, may need to re-invent himself as a bottom-six forward.CAP CRUNCH The Wings have roughly $6 million in cap space. This gives them flexibility to pursue virtually anyone who&rsquo;s available at the trade deadline, if they&rsquo;re willing to part with assets.THE BRASS Ken Holland has been GM since 1997, Jim Nill the assistant GM since &rsquo;98 and Mike Babcock the coach since 2005. Stability will continue to be the hallmark of the front office as all three are entering the first years of multi-year contracts.They prefer building through the draft and free agency rather than trades and patiently search for value in the cap world. Babcock sought fresh voices with new ideas by hiring assistant coaches with no NHL experience in Jeff Blashill and Bill Peters.X-FACTOR Never in hockey has a player over 40 had as great an impact on a team&rsquo;s fortunes as Lidstrom. If he has another Norris-caliber season, the Wings will be Cup contenders. Remarkably durable, Lidstrom has played 82 games each of the past two seasons and has missed only two of 260 playoff games since 1992.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>5thThe Wings are a little bit older and greyer this year, but still have more than enough talent to vie for a home-ice playoff berth.<h2>16</h2>Players on the Red Wings roster with a Stanley Cup ring. Detroit has won two NHL championships in the past 10 years (2002, 2008)<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0140-054/9545835-1-eng-US/f0140-052.jpg" title="f0140-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011?12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0141-0223/9545807-1-eng-US/f0141-022.jpg" title="f0141-02" width="1024" height="754"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record47-25-10 (104 pts)Conference3rdNHL Overall6thOffense3.13 GPG (2nd)Defense2.89 GAA (23rd)Power Play22.3% (5th)Penalty Kill82.3% (17th)1-Goal Games21-7-102-Goal Games14-53+ Goal Games12-13Winning Streak5-0-0Winless Streak0-2-2Ice Time (F)Zetterberg 19:35Ice Time (D)Lidstrom 23:28GMKen HollandCoachMike BabcockArenaJoe Louis ArenaCapacity20,0662010-11 Attendance19,680 (4th)AffiliateGrand Rapids (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)55&ndash;37<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0142-0136/9545800-1-eng-US/f0142-012.jpg" title="f0142-01" width="187" height="234"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>NIKLAS KRONWALLAs the Red Wings prepare for life after Lidstrom, Kronwall will get more chances.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;47<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0142-0218/9545786-1-eng-US/f0142-022.jpg" title="f0142-02" width="186" height="236"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>TODD BERTUZZIAt 36, he&rsquo;s slowing down. Sustained a concussion in Detroit&rsquo;s final playoff game.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;43<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0142-039/9545772-1-eng-US/f0142-032.jpg" title="f0142-03" width="184" height="236"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>BRENDAN SMITHAfter three years at Wisconsin and one in Grand Rapids, he&rsquo;s ready to make the big club.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;21<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0142-052/9545758-1-eng-US/f0142-052.jpg" title="f0142-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(GREGORY SHAMUS/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;BRENDAN SMITHD, 22, GRAND RAPIDS (AHL)Smith is a big, physical defenseman who can move the puck well, but needs to avoid critical mistakes. Once he gets to Detroit, he&rsquo;ll be surrounded by a veteran team that will provide the perfect example of how to grow into a pro.GP 63 G 12 A 20 PTS 32 PIM 1242.&nbsp;2. TOMAS TATAR C, 20, GRAND RAPIDS (AHL)Thinks the game well and plays with passion.3. CALLE JARNKROK C, 20, BRYNAS (SWE.)Highly skilled player who plays hard at both ends.4. RILEY SHEAHAN C, 19, NOTRE DAME (CCHA)Big-bodied forward has been compared to Johan Franzen.5. GUSTAV NYQUIST C, 22, MAINE (HE)Plays a solid two-way game, but needs to improve strength.6. JAN MURSAK LW, 23, GRAND RAPIDS (AHL)Strong skater who went from scorer to checking role.7. CORY EMMERTON C, 23, GRAND RAPIDS (AHL)Smart player who knows how to play without the puck.8. TEEMU PULKKINEN LW, 19, JOKERIT (FIN.)Excellent skill set, but needs to improve defensive game.9. THOMAS MCCOLLUM G, 21, GRAND RAPIDS (AHL)Has size and physical tools to be dominant.10. TOMAS JURCO RW, 18, SAINT JOHN (QMJHL)Fancy stickhandler who can go on big scoring streaks.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0142-044/9545751-1-eng-US/f0142-042.jpg" title="f0142-04" width="904" height="2812"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0143-0137/9545744-1-eng-US/f0143-012.jpg" title="f0143-01" width="2068" height="1511"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0143-0221/9545737-1-eng-US/f0143-022.jpg" title="f0143-02" width="2072" height="398"></div> &#9632;

f0140-01

Keep On Rolling

<div class="byline">BY ERIC STEPHENS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0144-0139/9546020-1-eng-US/f0144-012.jpg" title="f0144-01" width="477" height="341"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: ABELIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Pacific Division, Western Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0144-0312/9546027-1-eng-US/f0144-032.jpg" title="f0144-03" width="127" height="129"></div>ALL SORTS OF storylines revolved around the Ducks in 2010-11, which made for an entertaining season that didn&rsquo;t wholly satisfy in the end.Corey Perry led the NHL with 50 goals and his furious finish in the final six weeks helped lift the Ducks to the playoffs and got him the Hart Trophy as the league&rsquo;s MVP. Teemu Selanne had an 80-point season at age 40. Bobby Ryan has now topped 30 goals in each of his three full seasons. Ray Emery had a remarkable comeback from a serious hip injury, replacing Jonas Hiller in net.But while there were many terrific individual performances, the Ducks quickly learned they were a flawed group that was exposed by a deeper and more determined Nashville squad in a six-game playoff loss. True to form, the Ducks rode another big second half into the post-season, but they have to address some glaring issues on a top-heavy team of stars that&rsquo;s low on quality support players.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>OFFENSE With apologies to Martin St-Louis and Jarome Iginla, Perry is the best right winger in the game after his monstrous 98-point breakout season. The playmaking Ryan Getzlaf is always willing to feed his teammate and Ryan completes the league&rsquo;s most dangerous top line.Saku Koivu and Jason Blake continue to slide in terms of their offensive production.Beyond that, the Ducks don&rsquo;t have much of an attack. Versatile rookie Brandon McMillan showed he&rsquo;s capable of 15 to 20 goals, but wingers Matt Beleskey and Dan Sexton regressed. The Ducks were middling at even strength and the lack of depth showed.Coach Randy Carlyle has always shown a willingness to activate his defensemen and he will get plenty of offense from Lubomir Visnovsky, Cam Fowler and the newly-acquired Kurtis Foster.DEFENSE By season&rsquo;s end, the Ducks managed to cobble together a respectable corps after looking like one of the worst units in recent memory early on. Visnovsky and Toni Lydman were a surprisingly productive top pair with Visnovsky setting a careerhigh with 68 points and earning Norris Trophy mention. Lydman was an impressive plus-32 on a team full of minus players.Though he has to improve in his own end, Fowler showed his immense promise and the Ducks are betting Luca Sbisa continues to tap into his vast potential after signing him to a four-year contract extension. Veteran Francois Beauchemin is back for a full sea-son while the Ducks hope Foster, who can help the power play, is a better fit than the departed Andy Sutton.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0144-0222/9546013-1-eng-US/f0144-022.jpg" title="f0144-02" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">9 | LW BOBBY RYAN (RYAN: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING The biggest question concerning the Ducks resides in the head of Hiller. Vertigo symptoms that surfaced before a Feb. 2 game against San Jose wrecked a career season in the making. The Ducks have Dan Ellis signed and the veteran has shown he can carry the load for stretches, but they&rsquo;ve already put their eggs into Hiller, owing him $13.5 million over the next three seasons.Will Hiller ever be the same goalie? It is a pertinent question as the symptoms have yet to fully abate, extending his recovery well beyond what he or anyone with the club ever imagined.SPECIAL TEAMS With or without Selanne (he was unsure about returning through mid-summer), the Ducks have the pieces in place for another strong power play. Visnovsky and Fowler can move the puck with the best of them, Getzlaf makes the set-up pass and Perry is a first-rate finisher. Ryan has the talent to move into the top unit, but doesn&rsquo;t have the finishing skills of Selanne. Koivu is an underrated playmaker on the second unit.All-time record: 604&ndash;539&ndash;189<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0145-0137/9546006-1-eng-US/f0145-012.jpg" title="f0145-01" width="1657" height="1118"><figcaption class="caption-body">Corey Perry&rsquo;s sizzling finish resulted in his first Hart and Rocket Richard Trophies. (BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>The penalty kill needs to improve and will be revamped as two key shot-blockers in Sutton and Andreas Lilja are now gone and puck-pursuer Todd Marchant has retired.INTANGIBLES Getzlaf served his first season as captain and acknowledged that filling the shoes of the retired Scott Niedermayer is a process. Getzlaf admitted he should have leaned on the future Hall of Famer a bit more. Koivu, Selanne and Perry helped smooth the transition. The Ducks have been a tremendous second-half team since the lockout and leadership has played a big part.There is a need to improve on details such as winning faceoffs, where Anaheim was 26th overall at 47.7 percent.ROOKIES The Ducks began to usher in their youth movement with Fowler and McMillan last season.Emerson Etem, Devante Smith-Pelly and Kyle Palmieri could push the movement into overtime. The club appears to be clearing space after letting Kyle Chipchura, Jarkko Ruutu and Brad Winchester walk as free agents.CAP CRUNCH After spending to the cap when GM Brian Burke was running the Ducks after the 2007 Stanley Cup win, the team under Bob Murray has been more fiscally responsible.Ownership has set out a payroll of $56 million, about the midpoint in terms of the cap. Murray will focus on dollar-for-dollar deals and keep some space in reserve for the 2012 trade deadline.THE BRASS Owner Henry Samueli signed Murray to a fouryear contract extension thanks to a competitive team with a reduced payroll. Murray often saves his big moves for around the trade deadline and is quick to fix his own mistakes.Carlyle enters his seventh season and did one of his better jobs navigating a team with injuries to key personnel to the playoffs.X-FACTOR Hiller is the tipping point. When healthy, the Swiss goalie showed he has the talent to put the Ducks on his back and steal games. But the vertigo is a major issue and they&rsquo;re a different team if he isn&rsquo;t able to return to form.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>6thThe Ducks have three world-class forwards who will push them into the post-season no matter who&rsquo;s between the pipes.<h2>52.8</h2>Faceoff percentage for center Saku Koivu, making him the only regular Duck to win more draws than he lost last season<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0144-053/9545999-1-eng-US/f0144-052.jpg" title="f0144-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011?12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0145-0226/9545971-1-eng-US/f0145-022.jpg" title="f0145-02" width="1028" height="768"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record47-30-5 (99 pts)Conference4thNHL Overall9thOffense2.87 GPG (11th)Defense2.84 GAA (20th)Power Play23.5% (3rd)Penalty Kill81.3% (19th)1-Goal Games29-10-52-Goal Games7-43+ Goal Games11-16Winning Streak6-0-0Winless Streak0-4-2Ice Time (F)Perry 22:18Ice Time (D)Visnovsky 24:17GMBob MurrayCoachRandy CarlyleArenaHonda CenterCapacity17,1742010-11 Attendance14,738 (26th)AffiliateSyracuse (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)36&ndash;26<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0146-0138/9545964-1-eng-US/f0146-012.jpg" title="f0146-01" width="187" height="238"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>KYLE PALMIERIA great skater who will get a chance to play after a 10-game stint last season.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;22<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0146-0218/9545950-1-eng-US/f0146-022.jpg" title="f0146-02" width="182" height="233"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>LUBOMIR VISNOVSKYAt 35, and with Fowler getting more PP time, he&rsquo;s unlikely to top D-men in scoring again.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;58<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0146-039/9545936-1-eng-US/f0146-032.jpg" title="f0146-03" width="186" height="236"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>PETER HOLLANDA big power forward prospect who could make the team out of camp.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;25<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0146-052/9545922-1-eng-US/f0146-052.jpg" title="f0146-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1.&nbsp;KYLE PALMIERIC, 20, SYRACUSE (AHL)At 5-foot-11, Palmieri isn&rsquo;t huge, but he is a tremendous competitor. He&rsquo;s not afraid to use his potent shot and good speed gives him a strong offensive upside.GP 62 G 29 A 22 PTS 51 PIM 562.&nbsp;EMERSON ETEM RW, 19, MEDICINE HAT (WHL)Terrific speed and puck-handling ability. Good on the PK.3. JUSTIN SCHULTZ D, 21, WISCONSIN (WCHA)Loves to handle the puck. Dangerous on the power play.4. PETER HOLLAND C, 20, GUELPH (OHL)Displayed a level of consistency that wasn&rsquo;t there in the past.5. DEVANTE SMITHFPELLY RW, 19, MISSISSAUGA (OHL)A strong skater with a quick first stride.6. RICKARD RAKELL LW, 18, PLYMOUTH (OHL)Agile and evasive, Rakell needs to work on his speed.7. JOHN GIBSON G, 18, U.S. NTDP (USHL)Scouts are impressed with his size and competitiveness.8. SAMI VATANEN D, 20, JYP JYVASKYLA (FIN.)Exuded leadership qualities in the Finnish League.9. IGOR BOBKOV G, 20, LONDON (OHL)Helped Russia win WJC gold, but transition has been rough.10. NICOLAS DESCHAMPS LW, 21, SYRACUSE (AHL)Shows nice skill and offensive acumen. Inconsistent though.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0146-042/9545915-1-eng-US/f0146-042.jpg" title="f0146-04" width="904" height="2814"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0147-0134/9545908-1-eng-US/f0147-012.jpg" title="f0147-01" width="2072" height="1473"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0147-0216/9545901-1-eng-US/f0147-022.jpg" title="f0147-02" width="688" height="1223"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0147-0311/9545894-1-eng-US/f0147-032.jpg" title="f0147-03" width="1304" height="1196"><figcaption class="caption-body">15 | C RYAN GETZLAF (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0144-01

Ducks Dazed

<div class="byline">BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0148-0136/9546184-1-eng-US/f0148-012.jpg" title="f0148-01" width="481" height="341"><figcaption class="caption-body">BARRET JACKMAN (SMALL: MIKE STOBE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Central Division, Western Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0148-0311/9546191-1-eng-US/f0148-032.jpg" title="f0148-03" width="129" height="128"></div>A FAN BASE that watched the Blues open 2010-11 with a franchise-best 9-1-2 start thought the club might have finally turned the corner. As it turned out, it was only a tease in what became one of the most injury-riddled seasons in team history.The Blues lost top players David Perron, T.J. Oshie, Roman Polak and Andy McDonald for lengthy stretches and eventually finished 10 points out of a playoff spot. &ldquo;We should be better,&rdquo; said Blues president John Davidson. &ldquo;Last year was, I hope, just a real strange set of circumstances that we can put behind us.&rdquo;Inconsistency was another problem. The Blues had a winning streak of seven games, but also had three five-game losing streaks.GM Doug Armstrong sensed a need for experienced players to help guide the young nucleus through the ups and downs of an 82-game schedule, so he signed veterans Jamie Langenbrunner, 35, and Jason Arnott, 36, as unrestricted free agents. Langenbrunner has two Stanley Cup rings and Arnott one, and both have been team captains. &ldquo;Veteran presence is important on our team,&rdquo; Armstrong said. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have a lot of players that have that &lsquo;been there, done that&rsquo; experience. But now I think we&rsquo;ve got a good mix.&rdquo;</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>OFFENSE The Blues&rsquo; goal-scoring saw a drastic increase after trading Erik Johnson and Jay McClement to Colorado for Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk. The offense was averaging 2.68 goals through 56 games, but after the deal the Blues averaged 3.31 GPG in the final 26 games. The club may not maintain that pace, but after finishing 10th (2.88 GPG), it believes it is on track.David Backes, who had a team-high 31 goals, and Stewart, who had 15 goals in 26 games with St. Louis, combine to provide a dynamic power-forward duo. Shattenkirk, who led all rookie defenseman with 43 points, and Alex Pietrangelo, also 43 points, give the Blues two top young offense-minded blueliners.DEFENSE The backline helped the Blues limit opponents to 17 goals through the first 12 games last season. After that, however, extended injuries to Polak and Barret Jackman left the team scrambling without its top shutdown pair. The aftermath was positive, however, as the growth of Pietrangelo was accelerated. He was given top-pair duty, led the club with 22 minutes of ice time per game and had the best plus-minus rating (plus-18) of any defense-man on the roster. Armstrong was impressed with &ldquo;how quickly he adapted to the NHL and how quickly he adapted to being a large piece of the puzzle.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0148-0220/9546177-1-eng-US/f0148-022.jpg" title="f0148-02" width="1002" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">42 | C DAVID BACKES (BACKES: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING In his first season with the Blues, Jaroslav Halak had decent numbers for a non-playoff team, finishing with a record of 27-21-7, 2.48 goals-against average and .910 save-percentage. But the numbers don&rsquo;t tell the whole story. Halak, who was heavily hyped after his trade from Montreal to St. Louis, struggled to handle the mental grind of being a No. 1 netminder for a full season. &ldquo;Everybody has ups and downs&hellip;I had mine,&rdquo; Halak said. &ldquo;The main thing is to stay mentally fresh every game, every day of the season.&rdquo;Ty Conklin is gone as the backup and will be replaced by the winner of a head-to-head competition between 2005 draft pick Ben Bishop and free-agent addition Brian Elliott.All-time record: 1,495&ndash;1,407&ndash;522<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0149-0135/9546170-1-eng-US/f0149-012.jpg" title="f0149-01" width="1658" height="1122"><figcaption class="caption-body">Alex Steen was sixth on the Blues in games played despite missing 10 with a bum ankle. (GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>SPECIAL TEAMS The Blues&rsquo; power play and penalty kill flip-flopped in 2010-11. A PP unit that was 20th in 2009-10 finished 10th last season, but a PK unit that had been No. 1 two years ago slipped to No. 18. Patrik Berglund, who had a team-high eight power play goals last season, will be counted on to keep the unit trending upward, as will Stewart, who had seven goals on the man advantage. The penalty kill will get a jolt from center Scott Nichol.INTANGIBLES One concern is toughness, after Cam Janssen left via free agency. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a believer in team toughness,&rdquo; Armstrong said. &ldquo;You have to have it from your top players and then it bleeds down to the rest of your organization. If we&rsquo;re going to have team toughness, it&rsquo;s going to be led by Stewart and Backes.&rdquo;ROOKIES The Blues admit that in a perfect world their roster will be rookie-free in 2011-12. A franchise that has rebuilt through the draft since 2006 has finally reached a point where it&rsquo;s supplementing its young core through trades and free agency, limiting the need for rookies. The Blues&rsquo; top candidate is center Philip McRae, who had one goal in 15 games last season.CAP CRUNCH With the team for sale, the Blues&rsquo; payroll plans for 2011-12 was a concern for fans. But while the club won&rsquo;t be anywhere near the salary cap, its payroll figure after free agency, including bonuses, was approximately $53 million, an $8 million increase from 2010-11.THE BRASS The Blues inked Davidson to a four-year extension and he Armstrong have forged a strong relationship in the front of-fice. They won&rsquo;t watch the Blues slip without making a bold move. &ldquo;Doug&rsquo;s got the intestinal fortitude to make a big deal, to go out and find a way to make us better,&rdquo; Davidson said. &ldquo;You can see with the majority of the deals we&rsquo;ve made, they&rsquo;ve worked out pretty good.&rdquo;X-FACTOR The Blues must improve their away record and that will be tested by a road-heavy October. St. Louis will play eight of its first 11 games away from the Scottrade Center.After having the sixth-best road record in 2009-10 (22 wins), the Blues had the sixth-worst road record (15 wins) last year. Halak could be the difference-maker. He was 17-10-5 at home with a 2.10 GAA last season and 10-11-2 with a 2.50 GAA on the road.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>7thAdding veterans Arnott and Langenbrunner gives the Blues needed depth and experience. They&rsquo;ve got speed to spare and will improve.<h2>24.7</h2>Average age of the Blues&rsquo; top seven defenseman based on time on ice in 2010-11. The oldest is Jackman (30); the youngest is Pietrangelo (21)<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0148-052/9546163-1-eng-US/f0148-052.jpg" title="f0148-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011?12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0149-0223/9546135-1-eng-US/f0149-022.jpg" title="f0149-02" width="1026" height="748"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record38-33-11 (87 pts)Conference11thNHL Overall20thOffense2.88 GPG (10th)Defense2.78 GAA (18th)Power Play18.6% (10th)Penalty Kill81.7% (18th)1-Goal Games14-13-112-Goal Games11-93+ Goal Games13-11Winning Streak7-0-0Winless Streak0-4-1Ice Time (F)McDonald 20:02Ice Time (D)Pietrangelo 22:00GMDoug ArmstrongCoachDavis PayneArenaScottrade CenterCapacity19,1502010-11 Attendance19,150 (7th)AffiliatePeoria (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)0&ndash;4<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0150-0134/9546128-1-eng-US/f0150-012.jpg" title="f0150-01" width="180" height="238"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>ALEX PIETRANGELOWill continue to blossom into one of the league&rsquo;s top offensive defensemen.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;51<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0150-0214/9546114-1-eng-US/f0150-022.jpg" title="f0150-02" width="192" height="233"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>JAMIE LANGENBRUNNERNearing the end of his career and cannot be relied upon for offense at this point.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;28<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0150-037/9546100-1-eng-US/f0150-032.jpg" title="f0150-03" width="187" height="235"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>DAVID PERRONConcussion issues make him an iffy proposition, but when he plays he produces.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;40<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0150-052/9546086-1-eng-US/f0150-052.jpg" title="f0150-05" width="340" height="467"></div>1.&nbsp;VLADIMIR TARASENKORW, 19, NOVOSIBIRSK (RUS.)Tarasenko captained the Russian squad at the WJC and led the way with a goal and an assist against Canada in the gold-medal game victory. His power and speed are soon to be on display with the Blues &ndash; perhaps within a season.GP 42 G 9 A 10 PTS 19 PIM 82.&nbsp;JADEN SCHWARTZ C, 19, COLORADO COLLEGE (WCHA)Great at finding the open man in the offensive zone.3. JAKE ALLEN G, 21, PEORIA (AHL)Nice first pro season led to an AHL All-Star Game selection.4. IAN COLE D, 22, PEORIA (AHL)Earning some power play time with his big point shot.5. PHIL MCRAE C, 21, PEORIA (AHL)Great puckhandling makes him good third-line candidate.6. TY RATTIE RW, 18, PORTLAND (WHL)Slick skills; makes things happen in tight areas.7. BEN BISHOP G, 24, PEORIA (AHL)Raised his level of play after being challenged by Jake Allen.8. BRETT PONICH D, 20, PORTLAND (WHL)Torn knee ligament cut a promising season short.9. SEBASTIAN WANNSTROM C, 20, BRYNAS (SWE.)Posted five points in six games for Sweden at WJC.10. DMITRIJ JASKIN RW, 18, SLAVIA (CZE.)Skating needs work. With his size, he&rsquo;s at his best in traffic.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0150-043/9546079-1-eng-US/f0150-042.jpg" title="f0150-04" width="903" height="2809"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0151-0218/9546072-1-eng-US/f0151-022.jpg" title="f0151-02" width="2072" height="1492"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0151-0315/9546065-1-eng-US/f0151-032.jpg" title="f0151-03" width="688" height="1224"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0151-047/9546058-1-eng-US/f0151-042.jpg" title="f0151-04" width="1299" height="1203"><figcaption class="caption-body">41 | G JAROSLAV HALAK (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0148-01

Healthy Outlook

<div class="byline">BY DAVID BOCLAIR</div>Central Division, Western Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0152-0221/9546355-1-eng-US/f0152-022.jpg" title="f0152-02" width="274" height="273"></div>BARRY TROTZ LIKED much of what he saw from his team last season. He also liked what he saw from Boston and Vancouver in the Stanley Cup final. &ldquo;The two teams playing in the final were the No. 1 and No. 2 defensive teams in the National Hockey League,&rdquo; Trotz said. &ldquo;We were third. So we don&rsquo;t want to get away from that idea.&rdquo;The Predators have built their reputation and consistency (six playoff appearances in seven seasons) with sound defense, good goaltending and opportunistic offense. That defense-first approach is more deeply rooted than ever with a 2011 Vezina finalist in Pekka Rinne, a Norris finalist and first-team all-star in Shea Weber and his defense partner, the underrated yet invaluable Ryan Suter. It&rsquo;s a trio the Preds hope remains together for years.OFFENSE It&rsquo;s scoring-by-committee, particularly 5-on-5 where Nashville was plus-21 (fifth-best in the league) last season. Nine different players scored 10 goals or more, but none had more than 23. Sergei Kostitsyn, Patric Hornqvist, David Legwand, Martin Erat and Colin Wilson, among others, all have shown flashes, but failed to sustain them. The hope is that in his first full season with the team, Mike Fisher can anchor the No. 1 line and help develop players around him.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0152-0312/9546348-1-eng-US/f0152-032.jpg" title="f0152-03" width="521" height="365"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Kostitsyn, 24, was a revelation last season, but vanished in the playoffs. Hornqvist, 24, is the first Nashville draft pick ever to have at least 20 goals and 20 assists in back-to-back seasons for the team. GM David Poile predicts a breakout season for Wilson, 21.DEFENSE Weber and Suter are individually gifted, but even more potent when combined as the top pair. &ldquo;Together, I think they make the perfect defenseman,&rdquo; said Trotz, who has predicted both will win Norris Trophies.Kevin Klein and Jonathon Blum have established themselves and a quartet of prospects &ndash; Teemu Laakso, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm &ndash; are in line for the final few spots unless 5-foot-9 Brett Lebda, acquired in a trade with Toronto, shows he belongs.GOALTENDING Nowhere are the Predators more unique than in the pairing of 6-foot-5 starter Pekka Rinne and 6-foot-6 backup Anders Lindback. Together they form the tallest goalie tandem in league history. However, by netminder standards Rinne is profoundly normal in that he has no eccentricities and accepts blame for goals allowed, almost to a fault. His accountability, easy-going nature and competitiveness make guys want to play in front of him, and his ability to wipe away their mistakes inspires confidence. At 28, he is just entering his prime.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0152-046/9546341-1-eng-US/f0152-042.jpg" title="f0152-04" width="1094" height="1591"><figcaption class="caption-body">20 | D RYAN SUTER (SUTER: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>SPECIAL TEAMS The penalty kill ranked fifth in the NHL last season, the fourth time in six years it has been among the top five. Expect Weber and Suter to do more with that unit, particularly early in the season, given the lack of experience at the bottom of the depth chart.The company line is that the power play does not need to score a lot of goals, just timely ones. The reality is that it has finished in the bottom-third of the league each of the past four seasons and there&rsquo;s little reason to believe it&rsquo;ll see an upwards spike in 2011-12.INTANGIBLES The big question is what will be the carryover from the team&rsquo;s first victory in a playoff series. Nashville won postseason road games against both Anaheim and Vancouver when it trailed with fewer than two minutes to play. That resolve was evident throughout the regular season as well. The Preds had the league&rsquo;s best winning percentage (.273) when trailing after two periods. This team might not have the firepower to pull away on the scoreboard, but it does not shy away from critical moments.All-time record: 455&ndash;398&ndash;131<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0153-0315/9546334-1-eng-US/f0153-032.jpg" title="f0153-03" width="2070" height="1134"><figcaption class="caption-body">Pekka Rinne is the latest in a long line of goalies who&rsquo;ve thrived in Nashville&rsquo;s system. (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>ROOKIES Ellis will be by far the most watched and discussed rookie during camp, if not in franchise history. There is little doubt he will be in the NHL at some point this year. The question is when? Predators officials want all prospects to spend some time in the American League, but given Ellis&rsquo; ability to impact the power play and his undeniable hockey sense, he could be the exception.One potential factor in the approach with Ellis is how quickly Mattias Ekholm, the 2011 Swedish Elite League rookie of the year, adapts to the North American game. Ekholm was drafted the same year as Ellis (2009), but is bigger and, therefore, potentially better prepared for the physical demands of the NHL.CAP CRUNCH Everything hinges on potential long-term contracts for Weber, Suter and Rinne. The latter two could be unrestricted free agents next summer and, naturally, the club wants to lock them up. How those talks play out, combined with a new deal for Weber, will dictate how other contract dominoes fall.THE BRASS The coaching staff has undergone a rare overhaul due to associate coach Brent Peterson&rsquo;s health concerns. Peterson was moved to the newly created and as-yet undefined role of hockey operations advisor. As a result, Peter Horachek was promoted to associate coach and Lane Lambert was elevated from head coach at Milwaukee to a Predators assistant.X-FACTOR If the Predators can find or develop a point-per-game forward, they&rsquo;ll be dangerous just because their defense and goaltending is sound. The best chance for that, though, seems to be a year from now, the earliest that Alexander Radulov will return from Russia. Optimism is as high as it&rsquo;s been in some time in that regard and Radulov will be a bargain given that he has one year remaining on his entry-level contract. Until then, Nashville must continue to thrive in one-goal games, where it is 108-43-42 over the past five seasons.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>8thThe Predators will be in a battle for the playoffs once again, but their young talent will progress enough to return.<h2>1,007</h2>Blocked shots by Predators players in 2010-11, third-fewest in the NHL. Kevin Klein led the way with 173<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0152-052/9546327-1-eng-US/f0152-052.jpg" title="f0152-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0153-0223/9546299-1-eng-US/f0153-022.jpg" title="f0153-02" width="1135" height="861"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record44-27-11 (99 pts)Conference5thNHL Overall10thOffense2.60 GPG (22nd)Defense2.32 GAA (3rd)Power Play15.2% (26th)Penalty Kill84.9% (5th)1-Goal Games18-10-112-Goal Games7-73+ Goal Games19-10Winning Streak6-0-0Winless Streak0-5-0Ice Time (F)Legwand 18:48Ice Time (D)Weber 25:19GMDavid PoileCoachBarry TrotzArenaBridgestone ArenaCapacity17,1132010-11 Attendance16,142 (21st)AffiliateMilwaukee (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)12&ndash;22<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0154-0215/9546292-1-eng-US/f0154-022.jpg" title="f0154-02" width="205" height="251"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>COLIN WILSONCounting on third-year pro to play a more prominent role on the top two lines.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;47<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0154-038/9546278-1-eng-US/f0154-032.jpg" title="f0154-03" width="199" height="235"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>NICLAS BERGFORSThree seasons and four teams later, he has yet to perform at a consistent level.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;35<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0154-044/9546264-1-eng-US/f0154-042.jpg" title="f0154-04" width="198" height="237"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>RYAN ELLISEarmarked to jump immediately to NHL after a stellar junior career with Windsor.PROJECTED POINTS 33<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0154-053/9546250-1-eng-US/f0154-052.jpg" title="f0154-05" width="333" height="458"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. RYAN ELLISD, 20, WINDSOR (OHL)Tremendous offensive ability, as 100 points from a defenseman in 58 games indicates. Ellis was captain of the Spitfires as well as Canada at the WJC. Despite his small frame, he&rsquo;s making an effort to get stronger and is very mobile.GP 58 G 24 A 76 PTS 100 PIM 612. JONATHON BLUM D, 22, MILWAUKEE (AHL)Good skater and puck-mover. Strong positional player.3. ROMAN JOSI D, 21, MILWAUKEE (AHL)Big body who skates well and moves the puck efficiently.4. AUSTIN WATSON C, 19, PETERBOROUGH (OHL)Power forward who must commit to conditioning.5. TAYLOR BECK RW, 20, GUELPH (OHL)Playmaker and finisher can play in all situations.6. ZACH BUDISH RW, 20, MINNESOTA (WCHA)Off-ice accident resulted in season-ending knee surgery.7. BLAKE GEOFFRION LW, 23, MILWAUKEE (AHL)Improved enough that Preds used him in 12 playoff games.8. MAGNUS HELLBERG G, 18, ALMTUNA (SWE.2)Big, athletic goalie moving to Swedish Elite League this year.9. GABRIEL BOURQUE LW, 21, MILWAUKEE (AHL)Impressed the organization with his drive and effort.10. CHET PICKARD G, 21, CINCINNATI (ECHL)Needs to return to basics after tough season in ECHL.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0154-065/9546243-1-eng-US/f0154-062.jpg" title="f0154-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0155-0218/9546236-1-eng-US/f0155-022.jpg" title="f0155-02" width="2072" height="1490"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0155-0312/9546229-1-eng-US/f0155-032.jpg" title="f0155-03" width="688" height="1216"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0155-046/9546222-1-eng-US/f0155-042.jpg" title="f0155-04" width="1308" height="1208"><figcaption class="caption-body">6 | D SHEA WEBER (RICH LAM/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0152-02

Always ‘D’ Day

<div class="byline">BY ADRIAN DATER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0156-0310/9546512-1-eng-US/f0156-032.jpg" title="f0156-03" width="261" height="184"></div>Northwest Division, Western Conference<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0156-0219/9546519-1-eng-US/f0156-022.jpg" title="f0156-02" width="141" height="138"></div>THE COLORADO AVALANCHE, a team that used to sneer at anything other than a final-four finish, has finished among the bottom three teams two of the past three seasons. The year they didn&rsquo;t, 2009-10, the Avs rode to the playoffs with the help of a third overall draft pick (Matt Duchene) and a new goalie (Craig Anderson).The Avs enter 2011-12 with a second overall pick in left winger Gabriel Landeskog and former Washington netminder Semyon Varlamov. Fans in the Mile High City are seeing positive new additions to the roster, but it doesn&rsquo;t mean the playoffs are on the horizon. Despite the much-needed changes in net &ndash; the young, talented, but injury-prone Varlamov and 2003 Conn Smythe winner J-S Giguere &ndash; there are still questions throughout the lineup.The tough Landeskog will add size and skill to the front lines, but he&rsquo;s still just a kid and Colorado has issues with woeful special teams. No team allowed more goals than Colorado last season (287) and even though there have been changes at goalie and defense, this team has a ways to go before making plans in May.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>OFFENSE On paper, things don&rsquo;t look too bad. Forwards such as Duchene, Paul Stastny, David Jones, Milan Hejduk and Landeskog are all talented with the puck. Add in the expected return of winger Peter Mueller from a lost season due to concussion, plus depth forwards Ryan O&rsquo;Reilly, T.J. Galiardi and others, and you can start talking yourself into believing this team will be fast and exciting.The key for the Avs is to stay healthy. Injuries have hit the forwards hard in Denver, in part because of a lack of size and strength. As the NHL trends bigger again, Colorado remains a smaller team up front and that&rsquo;s a problem in the rugged West.DEFENSE &ldquo;Nobody can accuse us of being too small anymore on D,&rdquo; said retired great Joe Sakic, now in the Colorado front office as an executive advisor. Indeed, there is a new philosophy toward the blueline: bigger is better. After the lockout, the Avs fell in love with smaller, quicker, puck-moving defensemen. Problem was, they got out-muscled too often in their own end. But with 2006 No. 1 pick Erik Johnson entering his first full year with Colorado, Kyle Quincey returning from shoulder surgery and the addition of 6-foot-3, 230-pound Jan Hejda as a free agent, the Avs cast bigger shadows on the ice from the back end.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0156-045/9546505-1-eng-US/f0156-042.jpg" title="f0156-04" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">9 | C MATT DUCHENE (BOTH: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>There is hope for incoming WHL prospects Stefan Elliott and Tyson Barrie as well. The Avs believe both have two-way upside and will help offset the loss of offense-minded John-Michael Liles.GOALTENDING The Avs were a disaster between the pipes last year, with Anderson, Peter Budaj and Brian Elliott all now with different clubs. In steps 23-year-old Varlamov, who put up good numbers in parts of three seasons with the Caps.GM Greg Sherman put his neck on the line by giving up a first round and conditional second pick for Varlamov &ndash; a trade many proclaimed was a steal for Washington GM George McPhee. But Sherman is convinced Varlamov is a star-in-the-making. &ldquo;Our entire staff believes we&rsquo;ve addressed the goalie position for many years,&rdquo; Sherman said. Varlamov has yet to prove himself for a full season, battling groin and knee injuries. Giguere, 34, had off-season sports hernia surgery and said he&rsquo;s feeling the best he has in years.All-time record: 1,133&ndash;1,026&ndash;327<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0157-0223/9546498-1-eng-US/f0157-022.jpg" title="f0157-02" width="2070" height="1134"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Avalanche are counting on Paul Stastny to have a bounce-back season. (BRAD WATSON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>SPECIAL TEAMS This is still a big problem. Colorado has not been good on the power play and penalty kill in many years and it&rsquo;s not clear they&rsquo;ll be better this year. Unless Landeskog is able to step in and be the kind of power forward necessary for a good PP, the Avs still look dainty up front. The loss of Liles took away the power play quarterback of what was already a suspect bunch. The PK could be helped by the addition of Swedish utility forward Joakim Lindstrom, and bigger bodies to clear the front of the net. Otherwise, there is plenty to fear when play isn&rsquo;t at even strength.INTANGIBLES By the final third of last season, the Avs were devoid of spirit on and off the ice. A meltdown on the ice produced a moribund atmosphere around the dressing room. Losing seemed to be an accepted result, though in fairness the Avs were staggered by injuries in the second half. The loss of captain Adam Foote leaves a void in the room and it&rsquo;s unclear who will step up to lead.ROOKIES In Landeskog, 18, hockey people are unanimous in the opinion Colorado will have a tough, talented winger for years. The Avs showed two years ago they aren&rsquo;t afraid to put faith in players so young &ndash; with Duchene and O&rsquo;Reilly &ndash; and Landeskog is even more advanced than they were physically at 6-foot-1, 204 pounds. Elliott showed he can score at the junior level, breaking the all-time Saskatoon Blades record for points among defensemen.CAP CRUNCH What cap crunch? There&rsquo;s none to be found in Colorado, where the Avs figure to remain among the bottom five payrolls entering 2011-12. It used to be money was no object in Denver, but times have changed. The philosophy of management now is to keep salaries lean and remain flexible with the payroll.THE BRASS Sherman and coach Joe Sacco enter their third years at the helm and the pressure is on both to get the team on a successful track. Sacco is a tough, no-favorites coach while Sherman has a more relaxed demeanor. Above both men remains president Pierre Lacroix, who wields major influence.X-FACTOR It&rsquo;s not all up to Varlamov, but he clearly is the man who will make the biggest difference. That can be said of many goalies, but the Avs placed a huge wager on the young Russian, so the pressure is greater.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>9thThe Avs are a young team that has made serious changes, but there are serious questions as to how effective they&rsquo;ll be.<h2>22.7</h2>Percent of Colorado&rsquo;s games in the calendar year 2011 were Avalanche victories. That&rsquo;s just 10 of 44 games, worst total in the NHL<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0156-052/9546491-1-eng-US/f0156-052.jpg" title="f0156-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0157-0315/9546463-1-eng-US/f0157-032.jpg" title="f0157-03" width="559" height="413"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record30-44-8 (68 pts)Conference14thNHL Overall29thOffense2.70 GPG (18th)Defense3.50 GAA (30th)Power Play18.5% (11th)Penalty Kill76.1% (30th)1-Goal Games20-13-82-Goal Games3-153+ Goal Games7-16Winning Streak6-0-0Winless Streak0-9-1Ice Time (F)Stastny 19:44Ice Time (D)Johnson 24:33GMGreg ShermanCoachJoe SaccoArenaPepsi CenterCapacity18,0072010-11 Attendance14,820 (24th)AffiliateLake Erie (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)10&ndash;15<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0158-0130/9546456-1-eng-US/f0158-012.jpg" title="f0158-01" width="192" height="238"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>MATT DUCHENEHe is on the cusp of stardom heading into his third season and is ready to dominate.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;86<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0158-0213/9546442-1-eng-US/f0158-022.jpg" title="f0158-02" width="192" height="246"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>KYLE QUINCEYHas the offensive talent, but is coming off concussion and shoulder problems.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;22<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0158-037/9546428-1-eng-US/f0158-032.jpg" title="f0158-03" width="186" height="232"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>GABRIEL LANDESKOGHe will have every chance to make the Avs after being drafted second overall.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;44<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0158-043/9546414-1-eng-US/f0158-042.jpg" title="f0158-04" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. GABRIEL LANDESKOGLW, 18, KITCHENER (OHL)The second overall pick in 2011 was a 17-year-old import captain for Kitchener. Even with missing 15 games due to an ankle injury, he still tallied 36 goals last season. Landeskog plays a 200-foot game and excels in all areas.GP 53 G 36 A 30 PTS 66 PIM 612. DUNCAN SIEMENS D, 18, SASKATOON (WHL)Reliable at both ends of the ice and plays a physical game.3. JOEY HISHON C, 19, OWEN SOUND (OHL)Small in stature but makes up for it with tremendous skill.4. CALVIN PICKARD G, 19, SEATTLE (WHL)A workhorse who played 68 games for Seattle in 2010-11.5. TYSON BARRIE D, 20, KELOWNA (WHL?Was impressive at WJC. Good skill and leadership traits.6. STEFAN ELLIOTT D, 20, SASKATOON (WHL)Great numbers in Saskatoon, but toughness is a concern.7. CAMERON GAUNCE D, 21, LAKE ERIE (AHL)Productive in junior, but slowly adjusting to pro game.8. BRAD MALONE C, 22, NORTH DAKOTA (WCHA)Rugged center who is good on faceoffs. Lacks speed.9. CEDRICK DESJARDINS G, 26, NORFOLK (AHL)Plays with poise. Gaining a reputation as a big-game goalie.10. MARK OLVER C, 23, LAKE ERIE (AHL)Undersized, hard worker also has a nose for the net.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0158-052/9546407-1-eng-US/f0158-052.jpg" title="f0158-05" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0159-0128/9546400-1-eng-US/f0159-012.jpg" title="f0159-01" width="2072" height="1489"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0159-0312/9546393-1-eng-US/f0159-032.jpg" title="f0159-03" width="688" height="1216"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0159-048/9546386-1-eng-US/f0159-042.jpg" title="f0159-04" width="1305" height="1210"><figcaption class="caption-body">37 | C RYAN O&rsquo;REILLY (GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0156-03

Crease Is The Word

<div class="byline">BY RANDY SPORTAK</div>Northwest Division, Western Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0160-0218/9546683-1-eng-US/f0160-022.jpg" title="f0160-02" width="265" height="265"></div>MAKE NO MISTAKE, missing out on the playoffs burns all the Calgary Flames.It&rsquo;s especially the case after they went from barely staying out of the Western Conference basement in mid-December &ndash; a spell that cost GM Darryl Sutter his job &ndash; to going on a torrid pace that had them looking like a playoff team.The Flames posted a 27-11-9 mark to end the season and the belief is that performance is indicative of what happened when the players &ldquo;bought in&rdquo; to what coach Brent Sutter was selling.To think this year&rsquo;s team will simply pick up from that point as soon as the puck drops is foolhardy, however. Losing Robyn Regehr puts a big hole in the team&rsquo;s top-four on the blueline.OFFENSE The false perception remains the Flames are a low-scoring squad. The Flames finished 2010-11 seventh in offense, a huge improvement from the previous season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0160-0311/9546676-1-eng-US/f0160-032.jpg" title="f0160-03" width="481" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>The timing of that offense was a big issue during the costly November-though-mid-December swoon that saw them plummet, but once Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay heated up together, the team scored plenty of goals. That&rsquo;s not to say there aren&rsquo;t problems. For a team that wants to activate the defensemen into the attack, the production from the blueliners, especially veteran Jay Bouwmeester, is too low.Other issues are the lack of up-and-comers and players such as Matt Stajan, who go cold for extended periods. The club needs Mikael Backlund to take a step forward and a bounce-back from others.DEFENSE Regehr was a key component to the Flames defensive posture for a decade. The trade that sent him to Buffalo will force somebody to make the most of the big minutes Regehr spent keeping opposition teams in check.Bouwmeester&rsquo;s offensive play hasn&rsquo;t reached expectations, but he has a strong defensive game. It&rsquo;s up to Mark Giordano, Chris Butler and even Anton Babchuk to elevate their play.The Flames must improve on keeping the puck out of their net. Two seasons ago, they were fifth in the league in goals against. Last season, they were 19th.GOALTENDING Miikka Kiprusoff had an OK 2010-11. The Flames need better. Kiprusoff, with three seasons remaining on his contract, is still one of the NHL&rsquo;s best, but the Flames must be worried his downward trend will continue seeing as he&rsquo;s 35 in October.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0160-044/9546669-1-eng-US/f0160-042.jpg" title="f0160-04" width="1002" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">12 | C JAROME IGINLA (IGINLA: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Backup Henrik Karlsson was rewarded for a decent season with a two-year contract and now must push for more starts to give Kiprusoff rest. The onus is also on Karlsson to pull out more victories when given that chance.SPECIAL TEAMS The Flames had a great power play at home. Otherwise, their special teams were a disappointment. Calgary scored with a 25.6 percent success rate on home ice, but was a putrid 13.3 percent on the road &ndash; second worst in the loop &ndash; and that was a big factor in the poor road record.A full season of Anton Babchuk&rsquo;s point shot will help, especially since it took a while to make him a bigger part of a team that often used Tanguay on one of the points. The penalty kill surprisingly was also underwhelming (81.2 percent) and the play of Kiprusoff contributed significantly to that. Regehr&rsquo;s departure will put a bigger strain on the PK.All-time record: 1,400&ndash;1,185&ndash;457<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0161-0225/9546662-1-eng-US/f0161-022.jpg" title="f0161-02" width="1667" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">Calgary badly needs Miikka Kiprusoff to return to form between the pipes. (BRAD WATSON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES The Flames are not a speedy team, but have enough quickness in the likes of wingers Curtis Glencross and Rene Bourque to play an up-tempo game. Since arriving, coach Sutter has tried to get his team to play more assertively. He also wants the defensemen to be part of the rush as much as possible, within reason. In turn, the forwards are pushed to provide more of a forecheck.ROOKIES The perception existed among Flames prospects that they weren&rsquo;t given a legitimate chance to make the NHL roster. Tim Erixon, the defenseman drafted in 2009 who was expected to make a push for a big league spot, cited the lack of opportunity as a reason he wouldn&rsquo;t sign a contract and forced a trade.On the flipside, not many prospects have made a hard push to make the team. This year, though, it&rsquo;s expected to change. Defenseman T.J. Brodie made the team out of camp last year, but was sent down to the minors after three games. Young forwards Greg Nemisz, Lance Bouma and Paul Byron are others who have a shot to take an open spot.CAP CRUNCH The Flames have spent to the ceiling since the lockout. The issue has been they&rsquo;ve spent that money poorly at times, causing headaches. Combined with a lack of top prospects, the team has had problems filling specific needs.THE BRASS As soon as Jay Feaster took over as GM, the fortunes turned around. It&rsquo;s likely more coincidence than anything, even if Feaster has a more jovial personality than Darryl Sutter. For his part, Feaster has a few more messes to clean up before he&rsquo;ll be able to put his true stamp on the team.This is the third year Brent Sutter has been coach, so the time has come to prove he can guide this team into the playoffs. He did make some bold changes to the coaching staff, bringing in a new associate in Craig Hartsburg, new goalie coach in Clint Malarchuk and new video coach in Jamie Pringle.X-FACTOR Iginla has enough to be a star for a few more seasons, but needs help from Olli Jokinen, Bourque, Glencross and David Moss. The biggest question mark is on the blueline. Bouwmeester is being paid to be an elite player, but hasn&rsquo;t come close.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>10thThough they had a great second half last season, the Flames and their thin depth can&rsquo;t be expected to pick up where they left off.<h2>3.42</h2>Goals-per-game average after Jay Feaster became acting-GM (47 games). Pro-rated, that would&rsquo;ve been No. 1 in the NHL<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0160-052/9546655-1-eng-US/f0160-052.jpg" title="f0160-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0161-0315/9546627-1-eng-US/f0161-032.jpg" title="f0161-03" width="1031" height="791"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record41-29-12 (94 pts)Conference10thNHL Overall17thOffense2.94 GPG (7th)Defense2.80 GAA (19th)Power Play19.5% (8th)Penalty Kill81.2% (21st)1-Goal Games19-9-122-Goal Games8-103+ Goal Games14-10Winning Streak6-0-0Winless Streak0-4-0Ice Time (F)Iginla 20:56Ice Time (D)Bouwmeester 25:59GMJay FeasterCoachBrent SutterArenaScotiabankSaddledomeCapacity19,2892010-11 Attendance19,289 (6th)AffiliateAbbotsford (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)10&ndash;16<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0162-0215/9546620-1-eng-US/f0162-022.jpg" title="f0162-02" width="204" height="258"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>MIKAEL BACKLUNDThe 22-year-old is slated to start the season as Jarome Iginla&rsquo;s center.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;53<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0162-038/9546606-1-eng-US/f0162-032.jpg" title="f0162-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>NIKLAS HAGMANIs now a fringe player at 31 after three consecutive 20-goal seasons.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;27<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0162-043/9546592-1-eng-US/f0162-042.jpg" title="f0162-04" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>DAYMOND LANGKOWPlayed in only four games last season after sustaining a neck injury in 2009-10.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;35<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0162-052/9546578-1-eng-US/f0162-052.jpg" title="f0162-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(NICK LAHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. SVEN BAERTSCHILW, 18, PORTLAND (WHL)High-end offensive skills and also plays with a dogged determination. Coming over to play in North America from Switzerland paid off as he posted fabulous statistics with an offensive team in the Western League.GP 66 G 34 A 51 PTS 85 PIM 742. T.J. BRODIE D, 21, ABBOTSFORD (AHL)Smooth-skating blueliner. Strong puck-moving potential.3. GREG NEMISZ C, 21, ABBOTSFORD (AHL)Responsible two-way forward suited for NHL third-line duty.4. RYAN HOWSE LW, 20, CHILLIWACK (WHL)Premiere sniper who has improved his defensive game.5. LELAND IRVING G, 23, ABBOTSFORD (AHL)A workhorse in net. Has become No. 1 goalie in Abbotsford.6. LANCE BOUMA C, 21, ABBOTSFORD (AHL)Energy-line guy with speed, grit and scoring ability.7. JOHN RAMAGE D, 20, WISCONSIN (WCHA)Defensive defenseman plays with an edge.8. JONI ORTIO G, 20, TURKU (FIN.)Had strong showing at WJC, but also conceded late goals.9. ROMAN HORAK C, 20, CHILLIWACK (WHL)Czech playmaker came over in Tim Erixon forced deal.10. PAUL BYRON C, 22, PORTLAND (AHL)Small, skilled pivot a project from Robyn Regehr trade.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0162-064/9546571-1-eng-US/f0162-062.jpg" title="f0162-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0163-0214/9546564-1-eng-US/f0163-022.jpg" title="f0163-02" width="2072" height="1489"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0163-0312/9546557-1-eng-US/f0163-032.jpg" title="f0163-03" width="688" height="1216"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0163-045/9546550-1-eng-US/f0163-042.jpg" title="f0163-04" width="1309" height="1202"><figcaption class="caption-body">17 | LW RENE BOURQUE (GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0160-02

Playing With Fire

<div class="byline">BY MICHAEL RUSSO</div>Northwest Division, Western Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-0223/9546847-1-eng-US/f0164-022.jpg" title="f0164-02" width="265" height="265"></div>THERE COMES A point when you must admit, &ldquo;This is unacceptable.&rdquo; The Wild have missed the playoffs three years in a row. Twelve hours after the second straight failed season under GM Chuck Fletcher, Todd Richards, the first coach hired by Fletcher, was fired.That started a dramatic off-season in which the Wild stockpiled young talent, hired the youngest coach in the NHL, 38-year-old Mike Yeo, and overhauled its roster. Minnesota executed two deals with San Jose within 10 days. The first saw blueliner Brent Burns flipped for three assets, including young Devin Setoguchi, while the second was a two-player exchange that saw the Wild part ways with playmaker Martin Havlat for sniper Dany Heatley.The Wild also cut loose six free agents and traded for fast, hard-hitting Philadelphia grinder Darroll Powe. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not sure we had the right combination of players to be successful,&rdquo; Fletcher said.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-0310/9546840-1-eng-US/f0164-032.jpg" title="f0164-03" width="481" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">NICK SCHULTZ</figcaption></div>The much-maligned Heatley, 30, has seen declining production since consecutive 50-goal seasons from 2005 to 2007. He bottomed out at 26 goals and 64 points last season, but both totals would have led the Wild.Setoguchi, 24, scored a career-high 31 goals in 2008-09 before slipping the past two seasons. In Minnesota, both will see a greater role with premium ice time.OFFENSE The Wild ranked 26th in goals (2.48 per game average) and last in shots (26.2 per game), which is why Fletcher is changing the mindset of his pass-happy forwards. Heatley and Setoguchi are bound to bury some of Pierre-Marc Bouchard&rsquo;s pretty setups.Mikko Koivu&rsquo;s value goes beyond stats, but with his monster 7-year, $47.25 million contract starting, the captain will build upon his career-high 71 points. Minnesota desperately needs a healthy Guillaume Latendresse. After scoring 25 goals in 55 games in 2009-10, he arrived in camp last season out of shape, got hurt and was limited to 11 games. The Wild also need more from Matt Cullen, who at $3.5 million tied for 388th with 14 even-strength points.DEFENSE Yeo&rsquo;s mentality is: Get the puck out, get the puck up and get the puck in quickly, then suffocate with a buzzing forecheck. That system allowed the Houston Aeros to keep the goals and shots against down en route to an American League final appearance.Three veteran D-men return with Marek Zidlicky, Nick Schultz and Greg Zanon, but with Burns traded and Cam Barker bought out, those were the only three with more than 65 games NHL experience. The Wild signed Minnesotan Mike Lundin, who averaged 20 minutes a game for Tampa Bay. Poised and mobile Jared Spurgeon, 21, and hard-hitting Clayton Stoner, 26, will have bigger roles.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-046/9546833-1-eng-US/f0164-042.jpg" title="f0164-04" width="1001" height="1455"><figcaption class="caption-body">9 | C MIKKO KOIVU (BOTH: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING Goalie Niklas Backstrom was able to see the puck better and his game looked to be back to where it was in 2008-09 when he was a Vezina candidate. When on, Backstrom is a quiet goalie who plays his angles perfectly. The Wild needs him to rediscover that consistency. He&rsquo;ll be rejoined in net by Josh Harding, who missed all of 2010-11 with a torn ACL and MCL.SPECIAL TEAMS Havlat barely played on the No. 1 power play unit, while Heatley is a specialist with the man advantage, scoring 128 power-play goals since 2001 (most in the NHL). But will the loss of Burns hurt? He was adept at getting the puck up ice. A lot will depend on Zidlicky, who missed 36 games last season.All-time record: 370&ndash;326&ndash;124<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0165-0220/9546826-1-eng-US/f0165-022.jpg" title="f0165-02" width="2069" height="1134"><figcaption class="caption-body">Cal Clutterbuck has become one of the league&rsquo;s most notorious agitators. (DALE MACMILLAN/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES Two concerns heading into the year are a lack of veterans and toughness. Gone are Andrew Brunette and John Madden, although Heatley, Setoguchi, Powe and Lundin, have combined for 172 playoff games have all gone on long playoff runs.Nobody can accuse the Wild of lacking grit, but toughness is an issue. Brad Staubitz fought 15 times last season, but isn&rsquo;t the &ldquo;protector&rdquo; the late Derek Boogaard was and Eric Nystrom avoided fighting after breaking his cheekbone in December.ROOKIES During the next two to three seasons, the Wild will be infusing youngsters into the lineup. Crafty forward Mikael Granlund would have been ready this season, but will stay in Sweden for another year. Marco Scandella, a 2008 second-rounder, will make the big step this year on the blueline, as well as checking center Cody Almond and UMass free-agent signee Casey Wellman, who&rsquo;s fast with a big shot.CAP CRUNCH After two years of being at the salary cap ceiling, the Wild will be closer to the $56.3 million midpoint this season. That&rsquo;ll give Minnesota options as the trade deadline approaches.Fletcher says he wants cap flexibility heading into next summer because he&rsquo;ll need it for his own prospects, a better free-agent class and the uncertainty with the CBA&rsquo;s expiration.THE BRASS Nobody could ever accuse Fletcher of not having guts. Look at his summer: After hiring Richards over Dave Tippett and Peter Laviolette, he hired Yeo over Craig MacTavish and Ken Hitchcock. He had the guts to trade Burns, a fan favorite, in front of the hometown fans at the draft. He had the guts to buy out Barker even though it showed all the provincial Minnesotans he swung and missed by trading local boy Nick Leddy. And he had the guts to trade Havlat for Heatley. This is a bold GM.X-FACTOR All eyes are on Heatley. Wild fans are ecstatic to finally have a potential game-breaking sniper again after two years of no Marian Gaborik. Heatley is an elite scorer and will be expected to fill the net.This is the first time he&rsquo;s been traded where he hasn&rsquo;t initiated it, so the Wild are hoping that will be motivation enough to prove all his naysayers wrong.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>11thTwo new guns will help, but there are still holes throughout the lineup that will hurt Minnesota in the long run.<h2>26.2</h2>Shots per game in 2010-11, 30th in the NHL. It&rsquo;s the third consecutive season the Wild ranked dead last in that department<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-055/9546819-1-eng-US/f0164-052.jpg" title="f0164-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0165-0312/9546791-1-eng-US/f0165-032.jpg" title="f0165-03" width="1033" height="763"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record39-35-8 (86 pts)Conference12thNHL Overall21stOffense2.48 GPG (26th)Defense2.78 GAA (16th)Power Play18.2% (13th)Penalty Kill82.8% (14th)1-Goal Games16-6-82-Goal Games12-93+ Goal Games11-20Winning Streak4-0-0Winless Streak0-7-1Ice Time (F)Koivu 19:29Ice Time (D)Burns 25:02GMChuck FletcherCoachMike YeoArenaXcel Energy CenterCapacity18,0642010-11 Attendance18,012 (15th)AffiliateHouston (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)3&ndash;8<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0166-0213/9546784-1-eng-US/f0166-022.jpg" title="f0166-02" width="205" height="257"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>DANY HEATLEYHeatley is now the go-to guy in Minnesota and will surpass 30 goals once again.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;67<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0166-037/9546770-1-eng-US/f0166-032.jpg" title="f0166-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>MAREK ZIDLICKYAt 34, no longer a consistent offensive threat after battling injuries in 2010-11.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;39<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0166-045/9546756-1-eng-US/f0166-042.jpg" title="f0166-04" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>G. LATENDRESSEHe didn&rsquo;t arrive in the best of shape last season so he&rsquo;s eager to make amends.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;32<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0166-055/9546742-1-eng-US/f0166-052.jpg" title="f0166-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(NOAH GRAHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. MIKAEL GRANLUNDC, 19, HIFK HELSINKI (FIN.)Before a concussion derailed a solid first half of the season, Granlund was putting up points with ease against grown men in the Finnish Elite League. The previous season as an 18-year-old, he won SMliiga rookie of the year honors.GP 39 G 8 A 28 PTS 36 PIM 142. JONAS BRODIN D, 18, FARJESTAD (SWE.)Steady defenseman is comfortable handling the puck.3. MARCO SCANDELLA D, 21, HOUSTON (AHL)Poised and mobile, has the potential to be a big-minute guy.4. MATT HACKETT G, 21, HOUSTON (AHL)A technically sound, athletic and competitive stopper.5. CASEY WELLMAN C, 23, HOUSTON (AHL)Goal-scorer in college. Needs to translate that to pro game.6. BRETT BULMER RW, 19, KELOWNA (WHL)Good hockey sense and hands. Plays with an edge.7. JASON ZUCKER LW, 19, DENVER (WCHA)Intelligent player with speed and a great shot.8. ZACK PHILLIPS C, 18, SAINT JOHN (QMJHL)Huge point producer who needs to improve his skating.9. TYLER CUMA D, 21, HOUSTON (AHL)Injury issues aside, has potential to be a shutdown guy.10. JOHAN LARSSON LW, 19, BRYNAS (SWE.)Terrific skill and an ultra-competitive player.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0166-062/9546735-1-eng-US/f0166-062.jpg" title="f0166-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0167-0214/9546728-1-eng-US/f0167-022.jpg" title="f0167-02" width="2072" height="1488"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0167-0312/9546721-1-eng-US/f0167-032.jpg" title="f0167-03" width="688" height="1216"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0167-045/9546714-1-eng-US/f0167-042.jpg" title="f0167-04" width="1308" height="1244"><figcaption class="caption-body">32 | G NIKLAS BACKSTROM (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0164-02

Offense Heats Up

<div class="byline">BY AARON PORTZLINE</div>Central Division, Western Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0168-047/9547011-1-eng-US/f0168-042.jpg" title="f0168-04" width="256" height="266"></div>THE BLUE JACKETS&rsquo; ultra-patient approach under GM Scott Howson &ndash; sign a group of young players to long-term contracts and wait for them to blossom &ndash; was quickly becoming an utter failure. All of the players who were entrusted with the future had taken modest steps forward, stagnated, or severely backpedaled in the previous two seasons and the results were not pretty.With a warming seat beneath him and the number of empty seats in Nationwide Arena growing at an alarming rate, Howson had to scrap his wait-it-out plan and infuse the roster with winnow talent. The blockbuster trade to acquire center Jeff Carter from Philadelphia has the Jackets believing they finally have a No. 1 center who can play with captain Rick Nash. To acquire Carter, Howson gave up one of his building blocks &ndash; right winger Jakub Voracek &ndash; and the No. 8 overall pick. That was followed by the bold acquisition and signing of defenseman James Wiesniewski to a six-year, $33-million deal.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0168-0213/9547004-1-eng-US/f0168-022.jpg" title="f0168-02" width="476" height="341"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>A new approach has arrived in Columbus. Will different results follow?OFFENSE The arrival of Carter gives the franchise its first-ever legitimate 1-2 punch. In the past four seasons, only Alex Ovechkin (203), Ilya Kovalchuk (167), Jarome Iginla (160) and Dany Heatley (145) have scored more goals than Carter (144) and Nash (143). The early plan is for Carter to center Nash on the No. 1 line, but Carter could switch to right wing or anchor a separate line altogether. With R.J. Umberger, Antoine Vermette, Derick Brassard and Vinny Prospal in the mix, there are lots of options on how to construct the top six.The Jackets will have some wild cards in their bottom six, too. Matt Calvert impressed late last season and rookie center Ryan Johansen &ndash; the No. 4 overall pick in 2010 &ndash; has a good chance to make the club in training camp.DEFENSE By adding free agents Wisniewski and Radek Martinek, the Jackets have finally transitioned from a pack of plow horses to a group that should be smoother and more gifted with the puck. Wisniewski never has been regarded as a great defender and Martinek never has been able to stay healthy, so it&rsquo;s not a corps without question marks.GOALTENDING Red flags abound in the crease for the Blue Jackets. First, many were surprised Steve Mason, coming off a second straight poor season, was handed the No. 1 job again. Further, the Jackets decided against signing a proven backup who could grab the reins if necessary. Instead, Mark Dekanich, who has only 50 minutes of NHL experience, was signed to a one-way contract to be Mason&rsquo;s backup. The Jackets think Dekanich is ready for NHL duty and believe Mason will thrive under new goalie coach Ian Clark. They had better be right with at least one of those beliefs.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0168-0311/9546997-1-eng-US/f0168-032.jpg" title="f0168-03" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">7 | C JEFF CARTER21 | D JAMES WISNIEWSKI (CARTER: JOHN GRIESHOP/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>SPECIAL TEAMS The additions of Carter and Wisniewski will be most felt on the power play. Carter has a killer release and is a right-shot center, the perfect complement down low to the left-handed Nash. Wisniewski, meanwhile, has a right-shot cannon that will finally make opponents respect Columbus&rsquo; PP point man, a sore spot in recent years.Since 2007-08, the penalty kill has ranked ninth, 13th, 17th and 22nd. That&rsquo;s a trend that must be reversed.All-time record: 313&ndash;395&ndash;112<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0169-0213/9546990-1-eng-US/f0169-022.jpg" title="f0169-02" width="2071" height="1134"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rick Nash will have Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski this year to help boost his game. (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES One would hope Howson&rsquo;s bold moves in the front office would spark a new approach in the dressing room, too.Early signs are good. Nash, always a quiet captain, played a pivotal role in smoothing over Carter&rsquo;s hurt feelings after the trade and helped recruit Wisniewski through free agency. It can&rsquo;t stop there. The decade-long voids on the roster have been filled. They no longer can be used as a crutch to explain chronic losing.ROOKIES A swell of talent has finally reached the surface. The Jackets hope to ease Johansen, a big, shifty playmaking center, into the lineup much like Boston did with Tyler Seguin last season.The Blue Jackets also think Cam Atkinson, a diminutive, dynamic scorer at Boston College, will be a spark in the near future. Meanwhile, three defensemen &ndash; John Moore, David Savard and Nick Holden &ndash; will join veteran Kris Russell and journeyman Aaron Johnson in a pitched battle for the No. 6 and 7 spots.CAP CRUNCH One season after claiming $25 million in losses, the Blue Jackets pressed higher with their payroll. It will likely creep above $58 million, a franchise record. With the exception of heart-and-soul leader R.J. Umberger, who is seeking an extension, the entire Jackets core is under long-term contract.THE BRASS Right after 2010-11 ended, owner John P. McConnell began an exhaustive look at all levels of the organization.McConnell&rsquo;s father brought the franchise to Columbus, but his son wants to deliver a winner. That pressed Howson to take a different tack: &ldquo;It (was) out of my comfort zone, for sure,&rdquo; he allowed. It&rsquo;s now up to second-year coach Scott Arniel to put it all together and form a winner.X-FACTOR This sentence has never been typed before &ndash; &ldquo;The Blue Jackets won&rsquo;t struggle to score goals this season&rdquo; &ndash; but it should be true. The concerns are at the other end of the ice.Mason will have more margin for error than the past two seasons (the Jackets have scored more than three goals in just 23 percent of their games in that stretch) but he has to be better, especially in big moments. The defense will be more adept with the puck, but will they, along with the third and fourth lines, be able to physically shut down anybody?<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>12thDespite major additions to the roster, much of the Jackets&rsquo; hopes rest on Steve Mason. If he struggles as he did last year, forget it.<h2>2</h2>Power play goals scored by Grant Clitsome in 31 games last season, the highest total among Jackets blueliners<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0168-054/9546983-1-eng-US/f0168-052.jpg" title="f0168-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0169-0310/9546955-1-eng-US/f0169-032.jpg" title="f0169-03" width="1026" height="791"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record34-35-13 (81 pts)Conference13thNHL Overall24thOffense2.56 GPG (24th)Defense3.05 GAA (26th)Power Play14.0% (29th)Penalty Kill80.2% (22nd)1-Goal Games19-10-132-Goal Games7-63+ Goal Games8-19Winning Streak5-0-0Winless Streak0-4-3Ice Time (F)Umberger 19:12Ice Time (D)Tyutin 22:41GMScott HowsonCoachScott ArnielArenaNationwide ArenaCapacity18,1442010-11 Attendance13,658 (27th)AffiliateSpringfield (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)0&ndash;4<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0170-0217/9546948-1-eng-US/f0170-022.jpg" title="f0170-02" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>DERICK BRASSARDJeff Carter&rsquo;s acquisition relieves some pressure, gives Brassard room to grow.PROJECTED POINTS 53<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0170-038/9546934-1-eng-US/f0170-032.jpg" title="f0170-03" width="204" height="257"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>KRIS RUSSELLPower play time will be hard to come by with the presence of Wisniewski.PROJECTED POINTS 18<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0170-045/9546920-1-eng-US/f0170-042.jpg" title="f0170-04" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>RYAN JOHANSENPoised to make the show and has the credentials to eventually be a top-line performer.PROJECTED POINTS 45<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0170-054/9546906-1-eng-US/f0170-052.jpg" title="f0170-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(NOAH GRAHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. RYAN JOHANSENC, 19, PORTLAND (WHL)After a strong performance at the WJC, Johansen will land in Columbus with great expectations. With his outstanding vision and playmaking ability and the acquisition of Jeff Carter, the Blue Jackets are set down the middle for years.GP 63 G 40 A 52 PTS 92 PIM 642. JOHN MOORE D, 20, SPRINGFIELD (AHL)Strong skating and puck-moving skills are valuable assets.3. BOONE JENNER C, 18, OSHAWA (OHL)Good faceoff man who is solid in all areas.4. DAVID SAVARD D, 20, SPRINGFIELD (AHL)Great on the power play with his booming slapshot.5. WILL WEBER D, 22, MIAMI (CCHA)At 6-foot-4, he has robust size and plays a rugged game.6. CODY GOLOUBEF D, 21, SPRINGFIELD (AHL)Greatly improved his skating as well as puck skills.MICHAEL CHAPUT C, 19, LEWISTON (QMJHL)Good faceoff man and penalty killer. Already has NHL size.7. CAM ATKINSON RW, 22, BOSTON COLLEGE (HE)Goal-scorer with speed and skill to burn.8. TOMAS KUBALIK RW, 21, SPRINGFIELD (AHL)Will take a hit to make a play. Strong first season in AHL.9. SETH AMBROZ RW, 18, OMAHA (USHL)Big, strong power forward must improve his skating.10. RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0170-06/9546899-1-eng-US/f0170-062.jpg" title="f0170-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0171-0125/9546892-1-eng-US/f0171-012.jpg" title="f0171-01" width="2072" height="1508"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0171-038/9546885-1-eng-US/f0171-032.jpg" title="f0171-03" width="688" height="1216"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0171-046/9546878-1-eng-US/f0171-042.jpg" title="f0171-04" width="1300" height="1208"><figcaption class="caption-body">1 | G STEVE MASON (ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0168-04

Tired Of Waiting

<div class="byline">BY MIKE HEIKA</div>Pacific Division, Western Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0172-0213/9547175-1-eng-US/f0172-022.jpg" title="f0172-02" width="257" height="252"></div>DURING A SPORTS YEAR where the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA title and the Texas Rangers made it to the World Series, the Dallas Stars have never been less relevant.The team has missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, ranked 23rd in league attendance and has been seeking a new owner since a group of faceless lenders took over for Hicks Sports Group in 2009. But Joe Nieuwendyk believes in this team&rsquo;s future and that he can still shape positivity out of the dark place where the Stars sit. &ldquo;It has been a challenge, but the one thing I&rsquo;ll say is we never used it as an excuse,&rdquo; said the third-year GM. &ldquo;I think we feel that the 20 guys we put on the ice can win any night and we believe in each other.&rdquo;Nieuwendyk decided to shake things up after last season, firing coach Marc Crawford and giving 40-year-old Glen Gulutzan his first NHL job. He then went out and signed six free agents on July 1, further putting his thumbprint on this team. The Stars are a younger, hungrier squad now. &ldquo;I went to Game 5 of the NBA playoffs and just sat there all night and thought about the day when we could have that kind of atmosphere in that building,&rdquo; Nieuwendyk said. &ldquo;I know it&rsquo;s been there before, but that&rsquo;s the challenge and I think we&rsquo;re moving in the right direction.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0172-038/9547168-1-eng-US/f0172-032.jpg" title="f0172-03" width="481" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>OFFENSE After losing Brad Richards to free agency and James Neal in a trade, offense is the biggest question mark. The Stars will refocus with a top line of Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow. Incoming free agent Michael Ryder, fresh off a Stanley Cup with Boston, reunites with Ribeiro, a teammate in Montreal. Dallas also expects star left winger Loui Eriksson to recover from the loss of Richards and Neal by putting him with 22-year-old triggerman Jamie Benn.Alex Goligoski finished the season with 15 points in 23 games while averaging 22 minutes in ice time after a February trade. That&rsquo;s a 53-point pace and would put him among the top-scoring defensemen in the league. In addition, Sheldon Souray was added as a UFA in the hopes his big shot can still be effective.DEFENSE This is where Nieuwendyk has worked hardest. He has tried to improve the puck movement with the acquisition of Goligoski and Souray. In free agency, he added D-man Adam Pardy and forwards Vernon Fiddler, Radek Dvorak and Jake Dowell in hopes of giving Gulutzan the tools to run a better defensive system.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0172-044/9547161-1-eng-US/f0172-042.jpg" title="f0172-04" width="1002" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">21 | RW LOUI ERIKSSON (ERIKSSON: PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Expect Dallas to make a concerted effort to improve on a 2.76 goals-against average that ranked it 15th in the NHL.GOALTENDING Kari Lehtonen proved last season that he can stay healthy. He lost 20 pounds, reworked his body (and appears in the best shape of his life at age 27) and ranked fourth in games played at 69. Now he must prove he can be one of the best goalies in the NHL. While his 34-24-11 record was impressive, his 2.55 GAA ranked him 19th and his .914 save percentage had him 24th. Lehtonen needs to take the next step up.Andrew Raycroft is expected to get more work as the backup this season and youngsters Richard Bachman and Tyler Beskorowany are pushing hard from the American League.SPECIAL TEAMS Richards was second only to Sidney Crosby in average power play ice time at 5:20 a game, so his absence will be significant. The Stars will hand the point positions that Richards often manned to Goligoski and Souray. They will also get more ice time in front of the net from Benn and Steve Ott, which will be a problem for opposing penalty-killers. Expect Ribeiro to get a boost in minutes too, running the power play from behind the net.All-time record: 1,518&ndash;1,422&ndash;534<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0173-0125/9547154-1-eng-US/f0173-012.jpg" title="f0173-01" width="2071" height="1134"><figcaption class="caption-body">Kari Lehtonen will be counted on heavily to keep the Stars in playoff contention. (DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Morrow and Ribeiro will see reduced shorthanded time with the addition of Fiddler and Dvorak, both solid two-way players.INTANGIBLES Gulutzan is a very high energy player&rsquo;s coach and it will be interesting to see how the team reacts. Crawford was a bit distant in player relations, so Nieuwendyk is hoping this change will be for the better. With Richards gone, there is a need for players such as Eriksson and Benn to step up and take some of the leadership duties, but that won&rsquo;t happen in one season.ROOKIES It may sound strange with the team trending younger, but there might not be a rookie on the Stars this year. Tomas Vincour played 24 games last season, but he could start out in the AHL again. Top prospects such as Scott Glennie, Philip Larsen and Brenden Dillon are also knocking on the door, but the roster is full of one-way contracts, so a kid will have to force his way up.CAP CRUNCH The lenders, the NHL and interim president Tony Tavares gave the Stars a budget of $52 million, which is an increase over the $47 million that was spent last season. Dallas will likely be in the bottom 10 in spending again, but still has wiggle room right now to spend or make a trade. A new owner would change that.THE BRASS While he still has some critics, most feel Nieuwendyk is the best thing about this organization right now. He made very difficult decisions to move forward without Mike Modano or Marty Turco and he fired his own choice for coach after just two years. That&rsquo;s bold decision-making. The question is whether a new owner will give him much time to see results. On paper, this is a middle-of-the-pack team.X-FACTOR The new owner can&rsquo;t come soon enough. With the Stars&rsquo; financial picture in turmoil since 2009, the team has become an increasingly unattractive destination for free agents and coaches. The juggernaut teams of the late &rsquo;90s were characterized by their star power. For Dallas to return to those glory days, it will need someone to sign the checks.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>13thOwnership issues have affected the Stars&rsquo; ability to retain and attract talent. They just don&rsquo;t have the big horses to run in the West.<h2>69</h2>Appearances for Kari Lehtonen in 2010-11, his most ever in an NHL season and only the second time he has eclipsed 50 games<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0172-05/9547147-1-eng-US/f0172-052.jpg" title="f0172-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0173-037/9547119-1-eng-US/f0173-032.jpg" title="f0173-03" width="1031" height="788"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record42-29-11 (95 pts)Conference9thNHL Overall16thOffense2.71 GPG (17th)Defense2.76 GAA (15th)Power Play18.0% (14th)Penalty Kill80.1% (23rd)1-Goal Games23-6-112-Goal Games6-83+ Goal Games13-15Winning Streak6-0-0Winless Streak0-3-3Ice Time (F)Richards 21:43Ice Time (D)Goligoski 26:04GMJoe NieuwendykCoachGlen GulutzanArenaAmerican AirlinesCenterCapacity18,5322010-11 Attendance15,073 (23rd)AffiliateTexas (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)14&ndash;16<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0174-0211/9547112-1-eng-US/f0174-022.jpg" title="f0174-02" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>ALEX GOLIGOSKIThe Stars&rsquo; top man on the power play put up numbers after trade from Pittsburgh.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;56<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0174-033/9547098-1-eng-US/f0174-032.jpg" title="f0174-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>MICHAEL RYDERHe&rsquo;ll score 20 goals, but won&rsquo;t have the same quality line-mates around him.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;40<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0174-04/9547084-1-eng-US/f0174-042.jpg" title="f0174-04" width="204" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>SHELDON SOURAYHe had a so-so season in the AHL, but still packs that big shot from the point.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;31<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0174-05/9547070-1-eng-US/f0174-052.jpg" title="f0174-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(NOAH GRAHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. JACK CAMPBELLG, 19, WINDSOR (OHL)Not a great first season with Windsor, but being named top goalie at the WJC while leading the U.S. to a bronze medal proves he can handle pressure. Quick reflexes and great size will translate well at the next level.W-L-OTL 24-14-4 GAA 3.80 SP .8842. JAMIE OLEKSIAK D, 18, NORTHEASTERN (HE)At 6-foot-7, he has good hands and moves well.3. ALEX CHIASSON RW, 21, BOSTON U. (HE)Good hands and vision, but skating needs to improve.4. SCOTT GLENNIE RW, 20, BRANDON (WHL)An excellent skater and puckhandler who puts up points.5. PHILIP LARSEN D, 21, TEXAS (AHL)Confident and calm on the ice with a great hockey IQ.6. REILLY SMITH RW, 20, MIAMI (CCHA)Good speed and a great scorer. Needs to put on muscle.7. PATRIK NEMETH D, 19, AIK (SWE.)Improved his stock at the WJC. Big defensive defenseman.8. BRETT RITCHIE RW, 18, SARNIA (OHL)Can be dominating in the corners and has good hands.9. JOHN KLINGBERG D, 19, FROLUNDA (SWE.)Skilled defenseman who had a solid WJC for Sweden.10. TYLER BESKOROWANY G, 21, TEXAS (AHL)Posted good numbers in both AHL and ECHL last season.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0174-06/9547063-1-eng-US/f0174-062.jpg" title="f0174-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0175-028/9547056-1-eng-US/f0175-022.jpg" title="f0175-02" width="2069" height="1493"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0175-035/9547049-1-eng-US/f0175-032.jpg" title="f0175-03" width="688" height="1216"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0175-043/9547042-1-eng-US/f0175-042.jpg" title="f0175-04" width="1287" height="1202"><figcaption class="caption-body">10 | LW BRENDEN MORROW (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0172-02

Lonely Star State

<div class="byline">BY JIM GINTONIO</div>Pacific Division, Western Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0176-04/9547339-1-eng-US/f0176-042.jpg" title="f0176-04" width="266" height="265"></div>THERE WAS NO way the Coyotes could sneak up on teams last season, not after shocking the hockey world the season before by getting into the post-season for the first time in eight years with a coach who took over a week before the campaign started. No, in 2010-11, everyone was ready for them. And again, fused together by the coaching of Dave Tippett and the leadership of Shane Doan, they fought their way back to the playoffs. Reason for optimism, but overall no one was satisfied, losing for the second consecutive year in the first round.It will be even tougher this season. The team lost important players in goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, who won 78 games the past two seasons; center Vernon Fiddler, who defined the team&rsquo;s grit; veteran center Eric Belanger, whose experience helped the team weather some storms; and defenseman Ed Jovanovski, the face of the blueline the past several years.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0176-0210/9547332-1-eng-US/f0176-022.jpg" title="f0176-02" width="481" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">(SMALL PHOTO: RICHARD WOLOWICZ/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GM Don Maloney, for the third year in a row operating under a budget worked out with the NHL, brought in goaltender Mike Smith and faceoff expert Boyd Gordon to compensate for some of his losses. There is a buzz about a team that has confounded experts the past two seasons, but in Arizona it&rsquo;s mostly about the team&rsquo;s departure if the ownership saga is not resolved.OFFENSE The mistake would be to look at the Phoenix roster &ndash; as observers have done the past two seasons &ndash; shake your head and say, &ldquo;Here&rsquo;s a team that has no chance.&rdquo;Tippett&rsquo;s &ldquo;pack mentality&rdquo; mantra has become much more than a catch phrase. The end result is a collection of contributors, usually different ones each night, who somehow find ways to score. The approach will be much the same this year, as that high-powered center did not materialize. The whole, however, is much stronger than the individual parts: Doan was the only 20-goal scorer last season, with nine others scoring 11 or more. An emerging offensive threat is defenseman Keith Yandle, who compiled 59 points, third among NHL blueliners.DEFENSE Yandle is the anchor of the defense and recently resigned for five more years. He is evolving into a solid two-way performer: In addition to his offensive help, he blocked 103 shots. The defensive backbone is solid, with a mix of old and young. Shutdown blueliners Adrian Aucoin, who was a team-high plus-18, and Ros-tislav Klesla present a formidable duo. Another key cog is center Martin Hanzal, who usually draws the toughest assignments and has displayed an eagerness to do so since his rookie season.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0176-033/9547325-1-eng-US/f0176-032.jpg" title="f0176-03" width="1002" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">3 | D KEITH YANDLE (YANDLE: DALE MACMILLAN/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING The Coyotes thought they were set in goal for the next several years with Bryzgalov and Jason LaBarbera, a quality backup who won key games for the franchise the past two seasons. Bryzgalov&rsquo;s exit, however, opened the door for Smith and the former Tampa Bay backup is determined to have a good year. Smith, who was 13-6-1 with the Lightning last season, welcomes the challenge, saying he looks forward to working with Tippett, his former bench boss in Dallas, and goaltending coach Sean Burke. &ldquo;The main thing was I was going to get the opportunity to become a starter,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and that&rsquo;s the ultimate goal.&rdquo;SPECIAL TEAMS This has been the bane of the Coyotes&rsquo; existence for several years, although improvement is coming incrementally. Fiddler, their top penalty-killer, is gone, putting a lot of the onus on newcomer Gordon. The Phoenix power play has been inconsistent, but has its most success when Ray Whitney gets involved. Yandle has a wicked shot from the point.All-time record: 1,021&ndash;1,131&ndash;334<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0177-0117/9547318-1-eng-US/f0177-012.jpg" title="f0177-01" width="2071" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">Big Czech pivot Martin Hanzal isn&rsquo;t afraid to line up against the best in the West. (DALE MACMILLAN/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES This is a category that once again will be subtitled &ldquo;Shane Doan.&rdquo; The Coyotes captain has always led by example, giving an all-out effort that in the past has included playing a month with a broken hand. It&rsquo;s that mental toughness, to go along with a physical aspect spread among several players, that keeps the Coyotes focused. Doan is the main reason the team has been able to keep off-ice issues out of the dressing room.ROOKIES The Coyotes decided two seasons ago not to rush anyone into the NHL and that line of thinking is on the verge of reaping benefits. Left winger Brett MacLean will compete for a regular spot, while Hobey Baker winner Andy Miele brings intelligence and playmaking ability down the middle.CAP CRUNCH Money? What money? Well, it&rsquo;s not quite that dire for the Coyotes, but Maloney is limited. He could not, for example, dive head-first into the Brad Richards sweepstakes. That has been the team&rsquo;s predicament the past two seasons. The flip side: Maloney will have money available at the trade deadline, where he has made some of his shrewdest moves.THE BRASS Tippett likes to keep things simple and he stresses one basic tenet: Play hard and smart and the ice time will be there. He appreciates the player who may have limited ability, but buys into the concept that any one shift could be the difference in the game. His patience can run thin with someone who repeats mistakes or drifts from the system. Maloney, for the third straight season operating on a budget negotiated with the NHL, devises ways to make the team competitive.X-FACTOR Call it what you will &ndash; chip on the shoulder, an us-against-the-world attitude &ndash; the Coyotes have embraced a spirit amid their volatile ownership situation and it resulted in two playoff berths. That can only go so far, of course, but the team without a superstar must continue to use that for impetus. Straying from the team concept will ensure this is not a playoff squad.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>14thGoalie Ilya Bryzgalov made up for the Coyotes&rsquo; mild offense. Now he&rsquo;s in Philly and the team he left behind will be much worse for it.<h2>14</h2>Wins for goalie Mike Smith in 2008-09, a career high. The former Star and Bolt has averaged just more than 32 appearances in his five years<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0176-05/9547311-1-eng-US/f0176-052.jpg" title="f0176-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0177-03/9547283-1-eng-US/f0177-032.jpg" title="f0177-03" width="1017" height="786"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record43-26-13 (99 pts)Conference6thNHL Overall11thOffense2.76 GPG (14th)Defense2.68 GAA (13th)Power Play15.9% (23rd)Penalty Kill78.4% (26th)1-Goal Games21-8-132-Goal Games10-63+ Goal Games12-12Winning Streak8-0-0Winless Streak0-4-1Ice Time (F)Hanzal 19:30Ice Time (D)Yandle 24:22GMDon MaloneyCoachDave TippettArena<a href="http://Jobing.com">Jobing.com</a>Capacity17,1252010-11 Attendance12,188 (29th)AffiliatePortland (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)3&ndash;8<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0178-026/9547276-1-eng-US/f0178-022.jpg" title="f0178-02" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>KYLE TURRISAfter years of waiting for Turris to break out, this season is going to be the one.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;52<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0178-034/9547262-1-eng-US/f0178-032.jpg" title="f0178-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>RAY WHITNEYAt 39, consistency and injuries have to be a concern despite good numbers.PROJECTED POINTS 56<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0178-04/9547248-1-eng-US/f0178-042.jpg" title="f0178-04" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>MARTIN HANZALThe big, talented center is poised to see his offensive numbers improve.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;48<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0178-05/9547234-1-eng-US/f0178-052.jpg" title="f0178-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(NOAH GRAHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. BRANDON GORMLEYD, 19, MONCTON (QMJHL)Gormley is a shutdown defender who holds up well in pressure situations. He will still need another year or two to develop and cut his teeth against tougher, man-sized competition. A knee injury shortened his third major junior season.GP 47 G 13 A 35 PTS 48 PIM 422. MARK VISENTIN G, 19, NIAGARA (OHL)Big frame and flexibility can take away a lot of the net.3. CONNOR MURPHY D, 18, U.S. NTDP (USHL)Skates well for a big man. Good in the defensive zone.4. BRETT MACLEAN LW, 22, SAN ANTONIO (AHL)Goes to the tough areas and knows how to finish.5. VIKTOR TIKHONOV RW, 23, SAN ANTONIO (AHL)Has good awareness in all zones. Gets into the corners.6. MAX GONCHAROV D, 22, SAN ANTONIO (AHL)Strong with a hard shot. Still adjusting to smaller ice surface.7. ETHAN WEREK C, 20, KINGSTON (OHL)Hard-nosed pivot developing into a good playmaker.8. CHRIS SUMMERS D, 23, SAN ANTONIO (AHL)Great skater who is developing into a match-up player.9. MICHAEL STONE D, 21, SAN ANTONIO (AHL)Skating has improved. His heavy shot is a big asset.10. CHRIS BROWN C, 20, MICHIGAN (CCHA)Plays a physical game, but needs more production.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0178-06/9547227-1-eng-US/f0178-062.jpg" title="f0178-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0179-025/9547220-1-eng-US/f0179-022.jpg" title="f0179-02" width="2072" height="1489"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0179-034/9547213-1-eng-US/f0179-032.jpg" title="f0179-03" width="688" height="1216"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0179-042/9547206-1-eng-US/f0179-042.jpg" title="f0179-04" width="1306" height="1198"><figcaption class="caption-body">91 | C KYLE TURRIS (PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0176-04

Desert Dogfight

<div class="byline">BY ROBERT TYCHKOWSKI</div>Northwest Division, Western Conference<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0180-025/9547496-1-eng-US/f0180-022.jpg" title="f0180-02" width="265" height="265"></div>SHORTLY AFTER ADDING Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to a crop of youngsters that includes Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi, the Oilers added the past to the present when they welcomed Ryan Smyth back to the fold, hoping his work ethic and willingness to go to the tough areas will rub off on everyone else.Not long after that, on the busiest July 1 of GM Steve Tambellini&rsquo;s tenure, the 30th-place Oilers raided the free agent market in an effort to plug some gaping holes. They brought in Ben Eager and Darcy Hordichuk to address a lack of toughness, Eric Belanger to help the worst faceoff team in the league and Andy Sutton for size on defense. And if Cam Barker can rediscover the form that made him a third overall pick in 2004, he&rsquo;ll help a blueline that needs it.&ldquo;With the free agents and another crop of young guys coming in, we&rsquo;ve never had this kind of depth before,&rdquo; said right winger Ales Hemsky. &ldquo;It will be fun to see how the team will end up.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0180-03/9547489-1-eng-US/f0180-032.jpg" title="f0180-03" width="481" height="337"><figcaption class="caption-body">SHAWN HORCOFF (SMALL PHOTO: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>OFFENSE Smyth will be able to give Edmonton the kind of second-line production they couldn&rsquo;t find last season and if Hall picks up where he left off, he&rsquo;s good for at least 30. That&rsquo;s good news for a team that finished 27th in goals last year, but is it enough?Dustin Penner, who led the Oilers in points in 2009-10, was dealt to the Kings at the trade deadline in February. If Nugent-Hopkins can&rsquo;t step in and be a first-line center (which is an awful lot to ask), the Oilers don&rsquo;t have one. Other than Ryan Whitney, they&rsquo;re short on defensemen who can set up their breakouts with a crisp first pass. They&rsquo;re hoping Barker can help.DEFENSE The blueline turned out to be Edmonton&rsquo;s soft spot in 2010-11, especially after losing Whitney in late December. The Oilers lacked a tough, reliable shutdown pair as well as a puck-mover to help the offense. They&rsquo;ve since added Barker and Sutton, but to what degree they help remains to be seen. Sutton has had respectable plus-minus numbers on bad teams, so there&rsquo;s promise there. Barker will be the wild card in the equation. If he&rsquo;s the same guy Minnesota paid to leave town, the Oilers will struggle. If anything happens to Whitney, they&rsquo;re doomed. Before he got injured last year, Whitney led the team in minutes, points, plus-minus and had the Oilers hovering close to .500. When he got hurt, they dove for 30th like the Titanic, losing 14 of their next 17 contests.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0180-04/9547482-1-eng-US/f0180-042.jpg" title="f0180-04" width="1003" height="1454"><figcaption class="caption-body">4 | LW TAYLOR HALL (HALL: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>GOALTENDING Goaltending remains the biggest question mark, with 38-year-old Nikolai Khabibulin coming off a back injury and the worst season of his career (10-32-4 with an .890 save percentage and 3.40 GAA). He still has two years left on his $3.75 million per year contract. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Devan Dubnyk is coming off his first full season in the NHL. He looked good at times last year, but he&rsquo;s never been the main man. There are fears that Khabibulin is finished and Dubnyk isn&rsquo;t ready. If at least one of them doesn&rsquo;t prove the critics wrong, it&rsquo;ll be a long season.SPECIAL TEAMS One word sums up both the power play and penalty kill in 2010-11: Awful. Special teams were an absolute disaster, with a power play ranked 27th and the penalty kill 29th.Having to start every shift chasing the puck hurts (Oilers were 30th in faceoff percentage), so adding Belanger helps. The fundamental issue on the PP is Edmonton&rsquo;s desire to pass the puck around the perimeter without ever taking a shot or getting within 15 feet of the net for a screen, deflection or rebound. Smyth will teach some lessons thereAll-time record: 1,144&ndash;996&ndash;346<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0181-024/9547475-1-eng-US/f0181-022.jpg" title="f0181-02" width="2071" height="1133"><figcaption class="caption-body">Magnus Paajarvi is a key component of Edmonton&rsquo;s long-term rebuilding plans. (ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>INTANGIBLES This is where Edmonton bolstered its lineup the most. Adding Smyth, Sutton, Eager and Hordichuk changes the look and attitude of a team that was always somewhat easy to play against. Smyth&rsquo;s courage and relentlessness will be an example for Edmonton&rsquo;s young players and the other guys represent a significant upgrade in toughness. &ldquo;They give us a dimension that we didn&rsquo;t have on a consistent basis,&rdquo; Tambellini said.ROOKIES With five rookie skaters added last year and four free agents added July 1, there aren&rsquo;t many job openings for freshmen. The one spot that&rsquo;s up for grabs is first or second line center, and the only applicant is Nugent-Hopkins. The biggest question in camp is whether the first pick overall can step right in, possibly between sophomores Hall and Eberle, or whether he needs another season in junior. If he can&rsquo;t, the Oilers will be left wanting at center.CAP CRUNCH No problems here. The Oilers have plenty of room under the cap and a billionaire owner who&rsquo;s willing and able to spend to it if necessary. A financial crunch is absolutely on the horizon when all these kids start negotiating their second contracts, but right now money is no object.THE BRASS Tom Renney is a patient coach well-suited for a young team &ndash; and having worked in New York, he&rsquo;s strong enough to deal with a demanding market. Management understands this is a lengthy process and is committed to rebuilding through drafting and development. Everyone, including the fans, knows this won&rsquo;t happen overnight. It helps when everyone is on the same page.X-FACTOR It&rsquo;s not hard to improve when you&rsquo;ve been at the bottom of the league two years in a row. The Oilers are ready to begin the climb back. With the kids a year older and some holes plugged through free agency, they&rsquo;ll be better, but how much better is anyone&rsquo;s guess. Whitney has to stay healthy, Hall and Eberle have to be even better, Smyth, Horcoff and Hemsky have to play like they&rsquo;re in their prime, Barker needs a re-birth and somebody has to be a No.1 goalie. If all that happens, ninth in the West is within reach.<h2>Where They&rsquo;ll Finish</h2>15thBlue-chippers abound, but too many questions at all positions make the Oilers owners, not renters of the NHL&rsquo;s basement.<h2>44.2</h2>Winning percentage on faceoffs. Edmonton&rsquo;s yearend total was the NHL&rsquo;s worst since Tampa Bay won 44.1 percent in 1997-98<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0180-05/9547468-1-eng-US/f0180-052.jpg" title="f0180-05" width="2271" height="127"></div>TRENDING:<img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41">UP<img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41">DOWN<img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41">FLAT<h2>Depth Chart 2011-12</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0181-034/9547440-1-eng-US/f0181-032.jpg" title="f0181-03" width="1021" height="784"></div><h2>Fast Facts</h2>Record25-45-12 (62 pts)Conference15thNHL Overall30thOffense2.33 GPG (27th)Defense3.17 GAA (28th)Power Play14.5% (27th)Penalty Kill77.0% (29th)1-Goal Games9-10-122-Goal Games4-163+ Goal Games12-19Winning Streak4-0-0Winless Streak0-8-3Ice Time (F)Horcoff 18:41Ice Time (D)Whitney 25:20GMSteve TambelliniCoachTom RenneyArenaRexall PlaceCapacity16,8392010-11 Attendance16,839 (19th)AffiliateOklahoma (AHL)Playoff Record (since &rsquo;06)15&ndash;9<h2>Fantasy Look</h2>PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THN&rsquo;S ULTIMATE POOL GUIDE<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0182-028/9547433-1-eng-US/f0182-022.jpg" title="f0182-02" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="40" height="41"><h3>RISING</h3>TAYLOR HALLThe sky is the limit for Hall and he&rsquo;ll take another step upwards this season.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;69<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0182-036/9547419-1-eng-US/f0182-032.jpg" title="f0182-03" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="41" height="41"><h3>FALLING</h3>RYAN SMYTHHis production has steadily declined since he was a point-per-game Oiler in 2006-07.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;44<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0182-042/9547405-1-eng-US/f0182-042.jpg" title="f0182-04" width="205" height="258"></div><img src="mon032.jpg" title="common03" width="40" height="41"><h3>DARK HORSE</h3>RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINSThe Oilers won&rsquo;t rush him to the big club, but he could play his way on board in camp.PROJECTED POINTS&nbsp;55<h2>Future Watch Zone</h2>TOP 10 PROSPECTS<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0182-05/9547391-1-eng-US/f0182-052.jpg" title="f0182-05" width="340" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>1. RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINSC, 18, RED DEER (WHL)Nugent-Hopkins may find himself in junior for one more season based on his size and frame. His vision, skating and playmaking ability are NHL-ready however, as his 100-plus point season with Red Deer suggests.GP 69 G 31 A 75 PTS 106 PIM 512. OSCAR KLEFBOM D, 18, FARJESTAD (SWE.)Not flashy, but effective. Already has NHL size.3. TYLER PITLICK C, 19, MEDICINE HAT (WHL)Competitor has the speed and skill to make a difference.4. ANTON LANDER C, 20, TIMRA (SWE.)Good in the faceoff circle and a well-respected leader.5. MARTIN MARINCIN D, 19, PRINCE GEORGE (WHL)The 6-foot-5 defenseman has become a big point producer.6. CURTIS HAMILTON LW, 19, SASKATOON (WHL)Big body who can generate offense and is hard on the puck.7. TEEMU HARTIKAINEN LW, 21, OKLAHOMA CITY (AHL)Feisty Finn adjusting well to the North American game.8. RYAN MARTINDALE C, 19, OTTAWA (OHL)Smooth-skating center becoming an excellent playmaker.9. ALEX PLANTE D, 22, OKLAHOMA CITY (AHL)Big stay-at-home defenseman. Must improve his footwork.10. OLIVIER ROY G, 20, A-BATHURST (QMJHL)Given starting job for WJC, but lost it at the tournament.RED NUMBER INDICATES 2011 DRAFT PICK<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0182-06/9547384-1-eng-US/f0182-062.jpg" title="f0182-06" width="986" height="3082"></div><h2>2010-11 Extended Stats</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0183-026/9547377-1-eng-US/f0183-022.jpg" title="f0183-02" width="2072" height="1493"></div><h2>2011-12 Schedule</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0183-035/9547370-1-eng-US/f0183-032.jpg" title="f0183-03" width="2056" height="392"></div> &#9632;

f0180-02

Baby Faces, Steps

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0184-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0184-0117/9547583-1-eng-US/f0184-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0185-0117/9547576-1-eng-US/f0185-012.jpg" title="f0185-01" width="2200" height="2824"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0186-0115/9547569-1-eng-US/f0186-012.jpg" title="f0186-01" width="2192" height="2800"><figcaption class="caption-body">Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider were the best goalie tandem in the league, capturing the Jennings Trophy. (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0187-014/9547562-1-eng-US/f0187-012.jpg" title="f0187-01" width="2192" height="2800"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0188-016/9547555-1-eng-US/f0188-012.jpg" title="f0188-01" width="2184" height="1599"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Gabriel Landeskog and Jonathan Huberdeau went 1-2-3. (ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0188-02/9547548-1-eng-US/f0188-022.jpg" title="f0188-02" width="2192" height="1057"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0189-015/9547541-1-eng-US/f0189-012.jpg" title="f0189-01" width="2198" height="2876"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0190-016/9547534-1-eng-US/f0190-012.jpg" title="f0190-01" width="2184" height="2833"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0191-015/9547527-1-eng-US/f0191-012.jpg" title="f0191-01" width="2168" height="2838"></div><h2>AWARD WINNERS & ALL-STARS</h2><h3>NHL AWARDS</h3>Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player)Corey Perry, AnaheimTed Lindsay Award (MVP voted by players)Daniel Sedin, VancouverArt Ross Trophy (Top scorer)Daniel Sedin, VancouverMaurice Richard Trophy (Top goal-scorer)Corey Perry, AnaheimCalder Trophy (Rookie of the year)Jeff Skinner, CarolinaNorris Trophy (Outstanding defenseman)Nicklas Lidstrom, DetroitVezina Trophy (Outstanding goaltender)Tim Thomas, BostonLady Byng Trophy (Most sportsmanlike)Martin St-Louis, Tampa BaySelke Trophy (Best defensive forward)Ryan Kesler, VancouverJack Adams Award (Coach of the year)Dan Bylsma, PittsburghGeneral Manager of the YearMike Gillis, VancouverJennings Trophy (Lowest GAA)Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, VancouverConn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP)Tim Thomas, BostonMasterton Trophy (Perseverance)Ian Laperriere, PhiladelphiaKing Clancy Trophy (Humanitarian)Doug Weight, NY Islanders<h3>FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS</h3>C Henrik Sedin, VancouverLW Daniel Sedin, VancouverRW Corey Perry, AnaheimD Nicklas Lidstrom, DetroitD Shea Weber, NashvilleG Tim Thomas, Boston<h3>SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS</h3>C Steven Stamkos, Tampa BayLW Alex Ovechkin, WashingtonRW Martin St-Louis, Tampa BayD Zdeno Chara, BostonD Lubomir Visnovsky, AnaheimG Pekka Rinne, Nashville<h3>THN AWARDS</h3>Most Valuable PlayerDaniel Sedin, VancouverBest PlayerDaniel Sedin, VancouverComeback PlayerCarey Price, MontrealDefenseman of the YearNicklas Lidstrom, DetroitBest GoalieTim Thomas, BostonBest First-Year PlayerJeff Skinner, CarolinaToughest PlayerMilan Lucic, BostonBreakout PlayerKeith Yandle, PhoenixTop Penalty KillerZbynek Michalek, PittsburghPlayoff MVPTim Thomas, BostonCoach of the YearGuy Boucher, Tampa BayExecutive of the YearPeter Chiarelli, Boston<h2>AWARDS & ALL-STAR VOTING</h2><h3>NHL AWARDS VOTING</h3>HART TROPHY 1. Corey Perry, Ana 1,043 (67-47-8-1-1) 2. Daniel Sedin, Van 960 (51-56-9-4-1) 3. Martin St-Louis, TB 332 (1-6-36-28-16) 4. Pekka Rinne, Nsh 175 (1-2-17-17-15) 5. Tim Thomas, Bos 171 (1-5-15-12-15) 6. Jonathan Toews, Chi 107 (0-2-7-15-13) 7. Carey Price, Mtl 90 (2-0-10-4-8) 8. Ryan Kesler, Van 69 (1-3-4-5-3) 9. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pit 58 (1-3-1-6-4) 10. Henrik Sedin, Van 57 (0-1-3-8-11).NORRIS TROPHY 1. Nicklas Lidstrom, Det 736 (35-23-34-15-10) 2. Shea Weber, Nsh 727 (32-41-14-14-8) 3. Zdeno Chara, Bos 688 (33-24-24-20-10) 4. Lubomir Visnovsky, Ana 573 (20-20-26-28-19) 5. Keith Yandle, Phx 312 (5-10-17-25-32) 6. Kris Letang, Pit 144 (2-3-9-12-22) 7. Dustin Byfuglien, Atl 33 (0-2-1-3-5) 8. Christian Ehrhoff, Van 28 (0-0-1-6-5) 9. Duncan Keith, Chi 24 (0-1-1-3-3) 10. Matt Carle, Phi 8 (0-1-0-0-1) Drew Doughty, LA 8 (0-1-0-0-1) Chris Pronger, Phi 8 (0-1-0-0-1).VEZINA TROPHY 1. Tim Thomas, Bos 104 (17-5-4) 2. Pekka Rinne, Nsh 84 (6-17-3) 3. Roberto Luongo, Van 33 (3-4-6) 4. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR 23 (3-1-5) 5. Carey Price, Mtl 10 (1-0-5) 6. Ilya Bryzgalov, Phx 9 (0-2-3) 7. Cam Ward, Car 4 (0-1-1) 8. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pit 1 (0-0-1) Antti Niemi, SJ 1 (0-0-1) Jonathan Quick, LA 1 (0-0-1).CALDER TROPHY 1. Jeff Skinner, Car 1,055 (71-39-12-4-0) 2. Logan Couture, SJ 908 (41-46-29-10-1) 3. Michael Grabner, NYI 497 (6-19-37-35-14) 4. Corey Crawford, Chi 336 (6-9-22-28-19) 5. John Carlson, Wsh 188 (3-3-16-12-21) 6. P.K. Subban, Mtl 155 (0-6-9-16-20) 7. Sergei Bobrovsky, Phi 51 (0-4-1-4-6) 8. Cam Fowler, Ana 27 (0-0-0-7-6) 9. Taylor Hall, Edm 22 (0-0-1-4-5) 10. Kevin Shattenkirk, StL 18 (0-0-0-3-9).JACK ADAMS AWARD 1. Dan Bylsma, Pit 196 (29-13-12) 2. Alain Vigneault, Van 169 (19-23-5) 3. Barry Trotz, Nsh 80 (8-9-13) 4. Guy Boucher, TB 54 (6-6-6) 5. Jacques Lemaire, N.J. 27 (3-2-6) 6. Bruce Boudreau, Wsh 26 (2-3-7) 7. Dave Tippett, Phx 24 (1-4-7) 8. Mike Babcock, Det 14 (1-2-3) 9. John Tortorella, NYR 9 (1-1-1) 10. Claude Julien, Bos 6 (0-2-0).SELKE TROPHY 1. Ryan Kesler, Van 1,179 (105-14-5-2-0) 2. Jonathan Toews, Chi 476 (5-36-24-15-9) 3. Pavel Datsyuk, Det 348 (4-22-22-12-8) 4. Patrice Bergeron, Bos 296 (3-18-21-9-8) 5. Manny Malhotra, Van 229 (6-10-10-14-7) 6. Frans Nielsen, NYI 97 (0-4-8-6-11) 7. David Backes, StL 88 (1-2-6-9-7) 8. Mike Richards, Phi 83 (1-2-4-11-6) 9. Anze Kopitar, LA 55 (0-2-4-5-6) 10. Ryan Callahan, NYR 51 (0-1-5-5-4)LADY BYNG TROPHY 1. Martin St-Louis, TB 994 (70-33-10-4-1) 2. Nicklas Lidstrom, Det 464 (22-15-20-10-9) 3. Loui Eriksson, Dal 347 (9-14-18-18-15) 4. Patrick Marleau, SJ 241 (2-11-17-16-11) 5. Jonathan Toews, Chi 233 (4-11-12-17-5) 6. Teemu Selanne, Ana 163 (9-6-3-3-7) 7. Brad Richards, Dal 148 (0-6-13-10-11) 8. Daniel Sedin, Van 141 (3-6-11-4-2) 9. Pavel Datsyuk, Det 112 (1-8-5-5-6) 10. Anze Kopitar, LA 57 (1-2-0-9-6).<h3>NHL ALL-STAR VOTING</h3>CENTER 1. Henrik Sedin, Van 532 (92-23-3) 2. Steven Stamkos, TB 294 (18-58-30) 3. Jonathan Toews, Chi 170 (7-29-48) 4. Ryan Kesler, Van 71 (6-9-14) 5. Sidney Crosby, Pit 26 (3-2-5) 6. Brad Richards, Dal 22 (0-4-10) 7. Ryan Getzlaf, Ana 15 (1-1-7) 8. Anze Kopitar, LA 6 (0-1-3) 9. Eric Staal, Car 4 (0-0-4) 10. Jeff Carter, Phi 2 (0-0-2).RIGHT WING 1. Corey Perry, Ana 598 (111-14-1) 2. Martin St-Louis, TB 363 (15-91-15) 3. Jarome Iginla, Cgy 132 (0-17-81) 4. Teemu Selanne, Ana 24 (0-1-21) 5. Claude Giroux, Phi 16 (1-1-8) 6. Ryan Kesler, Van 3 (0-1-0) Steven Stamkos, TB 3 (0-1-0) Chris Stewart, StL 3 (0-1-0) 9. Patrick Kane, Chi 1 (0-0-1).LEFT WING 1. Daniel Sedin, Van 629 (124-3-0) 2. Alex Ovechkin, Wsh 309 (1-92-28) 3. Henrik Zetterberg, Det 126 (2-21-53) 4. Patrick Marleau, SJ 23 (0-4-11) 5. Patrick Sharp, Chi 20 (0-3-11) 6. Thomas Vanek, Buf 19 (0-1-16) 7. Loui Eriksson, Dal 4 (0-0-4) 8. Martin St-Louis, TB 3 (0-1-0) Henrik Sedin, Van 3 (0-1-0) Steven Stamkos, TB 3 (0-1-0).DEFENSE 1. Nicklas Lidstrom, Det 464 (60-51-11) 2. Shea Weber, Nsh 445 (67-32-14) 3. Zdeno Chara, Bos 413 (54-40-23) 4. Lubomir Visnovsky, Ana 406 (47-48-27) 5. Keith Yandle, Phx 253 (16-41-50) 6. Kris Letang, Pit 150 (6-22-54) 7. Christian Ehrhoff, Van 40 (0-6-22) 8. Dustin Byfuglien, Atl 38 (1-5-18) 9. Duncan Keith, Chi 23 (1-4-6) 10. Ryan Suter, Nsh 11 (0-2-5) 11. Dan Boyle, SJ 8 (0-0-8) 12. Drew Doughty, LA 7 (1-0-2) 13. Marc Staal, NYR 7 (0-1-4) 14. Matt Carle, Phi 6 (1-0-1) 15. Toni Lydman, Ana 3 (0-1-0) Brent Seabrook, Chi 3 (0-1-0).GOALTENDER 1. Tim Thomas, Bos 536 (92-23-7) 2. Pekka Rinne, Nsh 270 (15-57-24) 3. Roberto Luongo, Van 118 (7-15-38) 4. Carey Price, Mtl 82 (5-13-18) 5. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR 77 (4-12-21) 6. Ilya Bryzgalov, Phx 19 (1-3-5) 7. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pit 16 (1-1-8) 8. Ryan Miller, Buf 3 (0-1-0) 9. Cam Ward, Car 3 (0-0-3) 10. Antti Niemi, SJ 1 (0-0-1).The National Hockey League&rsquo;s entry draft was held June 24-25 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. Listed on these pages is the complete order of selection. Skaters are listed with final Central Scouting Service ranking (CSS), games played (GP), goals (G), assists (A), points (P) and penalty minutes (PIM). Goaltenders are listed with CSS goaltender ranking, games played (GP), minutes (MIN), goals-against average (GAA) and save percentage (SP). CSS abbreviations are (E) European skater, (G) goaltender, (EG) European goaltender, (RE) Re-entry draft and (NR) not ranked.LEAGUE AND COUNTRY ABBREVIATIONS: AJHL- Alberta Junior Hockey League; BCHL- British Columbia Hockey League; CCHA- Central Collegiate Hockey Association; CJHL- Central Junior A Hockey League; Cze- Czech Republic; ECAC- Eastern College Athletic Conference; Fin- Finland; HE- Hockey East; High- U.S. High School; KHL- Kontinental Hockey League; MJHL- Manitoba Junior Hockey League; Nor- Norway; OHL- Ontario Hockey League; OJHL- Ontario Junior A Hockey League; QMJHL- Quebec Major Junior Hockey League; Rus- Russia; Svk- Slovakia; Swe- Sweden; Swi- Switzerland; USHL- United States Hockey League; WCHA- Western Collegiate Hockey Association; WHL- Western Hockey League. &#9632;

f0184-01

STATS NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0192-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0192-016/9547628-1-eng-US/f0192-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ottawa&rsquo;s Tyler Toffoli, an L.A. Kings pick, led the OHL in goals last season. (AARON BELL/OHL IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0193-015/9547621-1-eng-US/f0193-012.jpg" title="f0193-01" width="2192" height="2824"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0194-014/9547614-1-eng-US/f0194-012.jpg" title="f0194-01" width="2240" height="2824"><figcaption class="caption-body">Scoring on Ak Bars Kazan&rsquo;s Petri Vehanen was one tough task in the KHL last year. (IGOR KRITSKIY, JANSONS MEDIA)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0192-01

STATS SCOREBOARD

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0196-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0196-014/9547680-1-eng-US/f0196-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Hawks captain Jonathan Toews will be looking to win his second Stanley Cup. (JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0197-013/9547673-1-eng-US/f0197-012.jpg" title="f0197-01" width="2096" height="2848"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0198-016/9547666-1-eng-US/f0198-012.jpg" title="f0198-01" width="2104" height="2848"><figcaption class="caption-body">Carey Price&rsquo;s Canadiens and Jason Pominville&rsquo;s Sabres will battle for Northeast supremacy. (FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0200-014/9547659-1-eng-US/f0200-012.jpg" title="f0200-01" width="2096" height="2848"></div> &#9632;

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