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Yearbook 2012-13
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
COOL CATS ON PROWL
10TH Where They’ll Finish Stanley Cup Odds 36-1 The Panthers reclaimed their spot in South Florida last season as the old line “winning cures all” sure does apply. It doesn’t hurt that Florida has some characters fans can relate to, from GM Dale Tallon to coach Kevin Dineen and the likes of Stephen Weiss, Kris Versteeg, Jose Theodore, Ed Jovanovski and Erik Gudbranson. Florida jumped out to a great start last year and grabbed headlines while the NBA’s Miami Heat were locked out. Fans stuck around to the end when Florida won its first division title. It’s cool to be a Panthers fan again and Tallon and his bunch want to keep it that way. OFFENSE The trio of Tomas Fleischmann, Versteeg and Weiss led the Panthers in scoring. Now the big question coming into 2012-13…
TREADING WATER
15TH Where They’ll Finish Stanley Cup Odds 55-1 It’s been five years since the New York Islanders made the playoffs. The infamous rebuild by owner Charles Wang and GM Garth Snow continues to be long and painful, with that 2007 post-season appearance – the team’s fourth in a five-season span – feeling like a mirage now. Sure, an unmistakable passel of young talent has been assembled, led by burgeoning star center John Tavares, against stringent budgetary constraints due to their still-shaky arena situation. But the Islanders finished a disappointing 14th in the Eastern Conference and in the bottom five in the standings for the fifth time in as many seasons in 2011-12. OFFENSE Playing with Tavares, who posted a three-year high with 81 points, has been a boon to the careers of three-time 30-goal scorer Matt…
RUFFLED FEATHERS
4TH Where They’ll Finish Stanley Cup Odds 14-1 After two straight first-round playoff exits, there’s pressure on everyone in Chicago to get things turned around. GM Stan Bowman is on the hot seat to show he can build a team like the 2010 Blackhawks club that won the Stanley Cup. And coach Joel Quenneville is on the spot to prove his message hasn’t worn thin and that he’s not the reason for the two first-round flops. The Hawks tried to improve through free agency, but failed in their attempts to land Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Martin Brodeur. “Our goal is not to make a splash in free agency,” Bowman said. “Our goal is to put the best team on the ice in order to win the Stanley Cup this season.” OFFENSE The only thing wrong…
KARLSSON KOMPARISSON
The Senators’ Erik Karlsson posted rareified numbers for a defenseman in 2011-12, but how does it stack up against the greatest offensive D-men of all-time? Pretty darn well, actually. Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey had better goals- and points-per-game averages in their third seasons, but looking at numbers – via hockey-reference.com – adjusted to a league average of six goals per game and 1.67 assists per goal, Karlsson comes out ahead of both in PPG and Orr in GPG. Can the 22-year-old continue to better the Hall of Famers? In Year 4 Orr’s adjusted PPG was 1.51 while Coffey’s was 1.22. Here’s how all three fared in their first three seasons. ADJUSTED PPG ACTUAL GPG ACTUAL PPG ADJUSTED GPG…
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