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October 3, 2006
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.
Jackets face fan pressure
Columbus Sports fans in Columbus don’t abide losing, or even losses. The masses here have been weaned for generations on Ohio State football, which has been known to fire coaches after too many 9-3 seasons. Even so, the city’s first foray into major league sports, the Blue Jackets, were given a pass for most of their first four seasons in the NHL. As the losses piled up – an NHLhigh 216 since 2000-01 – the fans continued to come in droves, plunk down $200 for a Rick Nash No. 61 jersey and cheer at the smallest successes, even when the Jackets did so little as clear the puck out of harm’s way without an icing call. All of this started to change last season when Columbus emerged from the lockout with a new captain…
The Left Wingers
1. Alexander Ovechkin WASHINGTON You just can’t help but smile when watching him play 2. Rick Nash COLUMBUS Pure scorer will help put Columbus on the map 3. Patrik Elias NEW JERSEY One of the game’s most pure talents would star in any era 4. Ilya Kovalchuk ATLANTA Offensive dynamo needs to learn (or care about) complete game 5. Simon Gagne PHILADELPHIA Injury halted him from hitting 50-goal plateau 6. Ryan Smyth EDMONTON Heart and soul player’s skill is not to be underestimated 7. Markus Naslund VANCOUVER Can he find his game without his pal Bert? 8. Alex Tanguay CALGARY Flames hope solid contributor can ratchet it up a bit 9. Brenden Morrow DALLAS Toughness, points and solid defense rolled into one 10. Erik Cole CAROLINA Was on his way to monster breakout season before injury hit 11. Brendan Shanahan NY RANGERS Too old? Too slow? Ha! Try 40 goals on…
Luongo road to playoffs
Vancouver The Vancouver Canucks buckled under the weight of expectation a year ago, but that won’t be a problem in 2006-07. With a massive personnel turnover, the Canucks aren’t expected to do much this year. Maybe that’s just what they need. GM Dave Nonis tore apart the team’s core through trades and by allowing key veterans to walk as unrestricted free agents. Gone are No. 1 defenseman Ed Jovanovski, No. 1 power forward Todd Bertuzzi, No. 1 goal-scorer Anson Carter, No. 1 goalie Dan Cloutier and No. 1 agitator Jarkko Ruutu. Incoming? Well, after Roberto Luongo, who knows? Luongo solves the goaltending issues, but who is going to skate on the first line with captain Markus Naslund? Who is going to skate on the second line with the Sedin twins? Can defensive defenseman Willie Mitchell…
Firepower fuels Preds
Nashville Hockey fans outside of Nashville might argue that the Predators’ first several years were marked by one memorable event: the inception of the dreaded mustard-gold third jersey. But a team that had been famously anonymous started making a name for itself over the past two seasons, and the Predators should continue carving out their identity as one of the Western Conference’s best teams in 2006-07. They’ve improved by 17 and 15 points, respectively, over the past two seasons, and while such a jump will be hard to repeat again, there’s no reason to think Nashville won’t contend for a Central Division title. The Preds still have a few question marks, though. After all, a team doesn’t just lose eight regulars from last season’s lineup – including three centers and three veteran defensemen – without…
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