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Season Preview 2014-15
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.
ARIZONA COYOTES
BOOM The Coyotes officially divorced themselves from their checkered past when they rebranded themselves as the Arizona Coyotes for this season. No longer are they an orphan ward of the state with a perilous future. Their defense corps, led by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle, is as high in offensive skill as any in the NHL. All of which makes their power play a difficult beast to handle, which is why it finished fourth in the NHL last season. Overall, the Coyotes’ forte lies behind their forwards, with a defense corps that has a solid mix of mobility and defensive presence, and in their goaltending with Mike Smith. The coach-GM tandem of Dave Tippett and Don Maloney is among the strongest in the league. Maloney has an ability to identify under-the-radar talent…
PLUS MINUS
+PLUS SILVER LINING Nicklas Backstrom gets his Olympic silver medal, half a year after being held out of the final. - MINUS BYTOWN BLUNDER News agency QMI erroneously reports Sidney Crosby is arrested in Ottawa; retracts the “scoop.” + PLUS CLOSURE, OF SORTS More than 10 years after he was attacked, Steve Moore reaches a settlement with Todd Bertuzzi. - MINUS COLLEGE CONTROVERSY UNH goalie Casey DeSmith is charged with assault and resisting arrest for allegedly punching and spitting on a woman.…
LOS ANGELES KINGS
BOOM If L.A.’s offensive orgasm in the playoffs carries over into 2014-15, the team has a real chance at winning the Western Conference. After averaging just 2.42 goals per game last season, the Kings went nuts during the post-season, humming along at a 3.38 clip. Backed by Jonathan Quick, they already own the league’s No. 1 defense, and their playoff explosion shows they have the weapons to run with the West’s big guns during the regular season, if they only use them. Should they do so, the Presidents’ Trophy is well within reach, especially if freshly minted Marian Gaborik scores like he did in the playoffs. The Kings will ice the same Stanley Cup-winning team almost to a man, with Willie Mitchell being the lone notable omission. A full season from…
OTTAWA SENATORS
BOOM There was a time when the Senators had a handful of point-per-game producers and a team goal differential in the triple digits. These are not those Senators. This version of the Sens is a hard-working group that wills and overachieves its way to success. If you’re looking for The Little Engine That Could, these are your guys. With a collection of good-but-not-great forwards, the Sens will be challenged in the firepower department, but they could quietly surprise. And from the net out, things don’t look too bad. The Senators have managed to get Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner under long-term contract extensions, which gives them some stability and security in goal. Lehner is ready to push for the No. 1 job in Ottawa, but Anderson will be eager to re-establish…
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