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Ultimate Fantasy Pool Guide 2006-07
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.
SENS STILL SEEKING CUP SALVATION
Much like 2003-04, a Canadian NHL team was expected to make it to the Stanley Cup final last year. Both times it was supposed to be the Senators. But it was not meant to be, as Edmonton succeeded Calgary as the lone representative from the Great White North. This time, it was the Buffalo Sabres that proved to be Ottawa’s Achilles’ heel, picking up where the Toronto Maple Leafs left off. Things would have been different if veteran goalie Dominik Hasek had been healthy enough to strap on the pads, but a serious groin issue sustained at the 2006 Winter Olympics felled the future Hall of Famer and finished the Senators. Now the Senators get to start again – again. As always, they can be counted on for plenty of goals – especially…
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST
Our ‘Cristobal’ experts at The Hockey News last season identified nine teams finishing within one spot of their predicted order of finish. We had 20 teams within three spots of their conference finish. But when we missed, boy did we miss. We picked Buffalo and Nashville to finish 13th in their conferences. Each came in third. Worst of all, we had Carolina pegged for 14th. The Hurricanes won the Cup. With that in mind… Jarome Iginla will have a terrific spring and guide the Calgary Flames to a Cup victory. CONN SMYTHE JAROME IGINLA HART ERIC STAAL ART ROSS SIDNEY CROSBY VEZINA MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF NORRIS SCOTT NIEDERMAYER CALDER EVGENI MALKIN CALGARY FLAMES CALGARY FLAMES CALGARY FLAMES vs ANAHEIM DUCKS 1. Anaheim Ducks 2. Calgary Flames 3. San Jose Sharks 4. Nashville Predators 5. Minnesota Wild 6. Detroit Red Wings 7. Dallas Stars 8. Los Angeles Kings 9. Vancouver Canucks 10. Columbus Blue Jackets 11. Phoenix Coyotes 12. Colorado Avalanche 13. Edmonton Oilers 14. Chicago Blackhawks 15.…
DERAILED HAWKS STARTING OVER
This once-proud franchise has little to boast about these days, save for perhaps the best uniform in North American pro sports. The Blackhawks thought they were headed in the right direction last season, after signing Nikolai Khabibulin, Adrian Aucoin, Martin Lapointe, Matthew Barnaby, Curtis Brown and Jassen Cullimore as free agents. They were mistaken – the Hawks wound up with the third-worst record in the NHL. A lack of discipline was Chicago’s biggest obstacle, as only the Washington Capitals were shorthanded more often in ’05-06. Another problem was the injury bug, especially for key forwards Tuomo Ruutu and Eric Daze. No. 1 goalie Khabibulin and captain Aucoin were also out of action for several games, which added to coach Trent Yawney’s misery. On a positive note, several young blueliners emerged for the Blackhawks…
LEAF NATION TURNS TO NEW HEROES
The Maple Leafs faithful are hoping last season’s step back is a prelude to taking two steps forward. Toronto missed the playoffs for the first time since 1997-98 last season, costing coach Pat Quinn his job. The new man to right the ship is former Carolina coach Paul Maurice, who spent 2005-06 teaching the organization’s youngsters with the AHL’s Marlies. Maurice, who guided the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup final in 2002, is a good fit for the free-flowing new NHL. The Leafs have a new starting goalie, too. One-time Calder winner Andrew Raycroft will remain in the Northeast Division, thanks to a draft-day trade that sent goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask – Toronto’s 2005 first-rounder – to Boston. The 26-year-old Raycroft flamed out with the Bruins, but Leafs GM John Ferguson is counting…