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Ultimate Fantasy Pool Guide 2007-08

The Hockey News - Pool Guide 2007

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0050-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-01264/9025132-1-eng-US/f0050-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOE THORNTON</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DON SMITH/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>C</span>oming off their best season in franchise history, the Sharks welcome back nearly all the players who made them so successful in 06-07. However, one major change occurred before the draft, as the team dealt Finnish netminder Vesa Toskala and forward Mark Bell to the Toronto Maple Leafs for draft picks.</p><p>The move was a vote of confidence to veteran tender Evgeni Nabokov, who shared starts with Toskala most of last season. It was this depth at the goaltending position that allowed GM Doug Wilson to make such a move.</p><p>Up front, the Sharks will again be led by perennial all-star Joe Thornton, who the Sharks inked to a three-year contract extension this summer. While veteran winger Bill Guerin exited via free agency, Thornton has plenty of wingers to feed: Jonathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek, Steve Bernier, Ryane Clowe and possibly even captain Patrick Marleau (who played both center and left wing in 2006-07).</p><p>San Jose is backed up by a pair of promising offensive defensemen in sophomore Matt Carle and German Christian Ehrhoff, while 20-year-old Marc-Edouard Vlasic will also take on greater responsibilities in the offensive zone. One of them will emerge as the undisputed power-play quarterback this year.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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DEPARTMENTS

Sharks keep core; focus on Thornton

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0152-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0152-0123/9026139-1-eng-US/f0152-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="105" height="118"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0154-0123/9026132-1-eng-US/f0154-012.jpg" title="f0154-01" width="2400" height="2822"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>2006-07 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS ANAHEIM DUCKS</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0155-0120/9026125-1-eng-US/f0155-012.jpg" title="f0155-01" width="2634" height="1733"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>SIDNEY CROSBY</b></p><p><b>CRISTOBAL HUET</b></p><p><b>EVGENI MALKIN</b></p><span class="photo-credit">(CROSBY: JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES; HUET: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES; MALKIN: GREGORY SHAMUS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0157-0121/9026118-1-eng-US/f0157-012.jpg" title="f0157-01" width="4800" height="3150"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0159-0119/9026111-1-eng-US/f0159-012.jpg" title="f0159-01" width="4800" height="3150"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0161-0121/9026104-1-eng-US/f0161-012.jpg" title="f0161-01" width="4800" height="3150"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MANNY FERNANDEZ</b> <span class="photo-credit">(FERNANDEZ: BRUCE KLUCKHOHN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0163-0119/9026097-1-eng-US/f0163-012.jpg" title="f0163-01" width="2400" height="3150"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>J-S GIGUERE</b> <span class="photo-credit">(GIGUERE: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>POINTS PER GAME</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0166-0118/9026090-1-eng-US/f0166-012.jpg" title="f0166-01" width="2400" height="3150"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0167-0117/9026083-1-eng-US/f0167-012.jpg" title="f0167-01" width="4800" height="3150"></div><h2><b>INCREASE, DECREASE</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>C</span>omparisons are done on points per game of all active players who played at least 20 games in each of the past two seasons. Jarome Iginla had the biggest increase, while Cory Stillman experienced the most dramatic drop.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0169-0117/9026076-1-eng-US/f0169-012.jpg" title="f0169-01" width="2400" height="3150"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>JAROME IGINLA</b></p><p><b>MARTIN ST-LOUIS</b></p><p><b>THOMAS VANEK</b></p><p><b>MILAN MICHALEK</b></p><span class="photo-credit">(IGINLA: DALE MACMILLAN/GETTY IMAGES; ST-LOUIS: DOUG BENC/GETTY IMAGES; VANEK: RICK STEWART/GETTY IMAGES; MICHALEK: DON SMITH/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>GOALIE STATISTICS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0170-0118/9026069-1-eng-US/f0170-012.jpg" title="f0170-01" width="2400" height="3150"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>NIKLAS BACKSTROM</b></p><p><b>DOMINIK HASEK</b></p><p><b>MARTIN BRODEUR</b></p><p><b>MARTY TURCO</b></p><p><b>J-S GIGUERE</b></p><span class="photo-credit">(BACKSTROM: ELSA/GETTY IMAGES; HASEK & BRODEUR: JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES; TURCO: RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES; GIGUERE: JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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STATISTICS 2006-2007

<div class="byline">BY DAMIAN CRISTODERO</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-012056/9024236-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011833/9024229-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="2400" height="942"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ELIOT J. SCHECHTER/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;It was a setback for me,&rdquo; St-Louis said. &ldquo;You had to fight through it.&rdquo;</p><p>The native of Laval, Que., landed a knockout punch last season with career bests of 43 goals and 102 points. His 24:09 average time on ice led all NHL forwards and he was part of the league&rsquo;s most dominant 1-2 punch with linemate and center Vincent Lecavalier.</p><p>St-Louis said he expects the same kind of production in 2007-08. But given his uneven ride the past two seasons, he knows there are those waiting for another dip. The difference, St-Louis said, is he now knows how to prepare.</p><p>He knows how to block out the nonbelievers, the pressure of a six-year, $31.5 million contract that will pay $6 million next season, and even those with good intentions who give advice but only ended up cluttering the star&rsquo;s thought process.</p><p>In other words, he knows how to be himself.</p><p>&ldquo;I know what I did to feel the way I did last season and I&rsquo;m in the process right now of rebuilding so I&rsquo;m ready for training camp,&rdquo; the 5-foot-8, 185-pound sparkplug said. &ldquo;What I take from last year, I guess, is the way I prepared and the reward was there for the hard work.&rdquo;</p><p>The hard work for St-Louis began in the summer of 2006, when for the first time he hired a personal trainer, Ben Prentiss, who has a facility in Greenwich, Conn., where St-Louis lives in the summer.</p><p>St-Louis, 32, always has been a workout fiend. There is a great story of his rehab from a 2002 broken leg in which he hopped one-legged up the stairs at the arena of the University of Vermont, where St-Louis played for the Catamounts.</p><p>But with Prentiss cracking the whip in exhausting 60-minute workouts that pinpointed strength and speed, St-Louis said he lost weight, but added muscle. He reshaped his upper body and his six-pack turned into an eight-pack.</p><p>St-Louis said he hired Prentiss again and said his workout routine is just as vigorous.</p><p>&ldquo;The same setup,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The same idea.&rdquo;</p><p>But shaping his body was only part of St-Louis&rsquo; transformation. He also has trained his mind.</p><p>St-Louis is the first to admit he battled in 2005-06 with the pressure of being the returning MVP. Expectations were huge and like nothing he had ever experienced. Adding exponentially to the pressure was the big contract.</p><p>In one swoop, St-Louis went from a terrific story of how perseverance can carve out a niche in the NHL to one of &ldquo;what have you done for me lately?&rdquo; His game suffered because of it and when he started 2006-07 with zero points in his first four games, there was some concern.</p><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b>He made me better You have no choice with him but to play hard</b><br>&ndash; VINCENT LECAVALIER</blockquote><p>&ldquo;It reminded me so much of (2005-06),&rdquo; St-Louis said. &ldquo;How I got behind and tried to catch up and was never able to.&rdquo;</p><p>St-Louis said he drew from that experience.</p><p>Instead of long talks with coach John Tortorella, St-Louis said he kept his thoughts to himself. Instead of believing he could not control the situation, he said he told himself he had prepared too arduously for that.</p><p>&ldquo;I was worrying too much about the outside and what people were saying instead of just focusing on what I was doing and what I&rsquo;ve done my whole life &ndash; playing and having fun,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;You can always work hard, but sometimes your mind affects your play.&rdquo;</p><p>The solution was simple.</p><p>&ldquo;I tried to keep my mind on positive stuff,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want outside opinions. I didn&rsquo;t want people saying, &lsquo;You&rsquo;re playing well, it&rsquo;s going to happen.&rsquo; I wanted to focus on what I had to do. I felt it was a matter of time. But when it&rsquo;s a matter of time, it&rsquo;s never quick enough.&rdquo;</p><p>St-Louis recovered and after 16 games he had 11 goals and 19 points, well ahead of the four goals and 12 points he had at the same time the previous season. When it was over, St-Louis had eight more points than when he was MVP and was praised as the catalyst for Lecavalier&rsquo;s 52-goal season that earned him the Rocket Richard Trophy.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011712/9024222-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="1533" height="1050"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;He made me better,&rdquo; Lecavalier said. &ldquo;You have no choice with him but to play hard. It&rsquo;s just the way he works out there, the way he skates, the way he&rsquo;s ready every single game.&rdquo;</p><p>St-Louis said that must be his focus again.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s questions every year,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If you do good, can you still do good? You always have to answer questions. It&rsquo;s something you have to earn every day. I know I had a great year and I want to get there again, but it&rsquo;s not just going to happen. You have to prepare and focus and be ready for another big year because people are always going to be looking at you.&rdquo;</p><p>In more ways than one.</p><p>In June, St-Louis and Sharks star Joe Thornton shot three instructional DVDs that in the fall will be distributed in cereal boxes in Canada. In September, training camp will open with even more expectations than were present as the returning MVP.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;m going to have a different focus,&rdquo; St-Louis said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to have the same focus in having my team win and make the playoffs. I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s going to be anything different.&rdquo;</p><p>And that is the key, isn&rsquo;t it?</p><p>Positive instead of negative, self-awareness instead of counting on advice from the outside. Add St-Louis&rsquo; natural talent (his speed, rip-roaring shot and defensive awareness) and that his legs are probably fresher than most veterans his age because of his extreme fitness, and there is every reason to believe St-Louis won&rsquo;t be needing another do-over anytime soon.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m counting on it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I expect it out of myself and I hope people expect it out of me.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>HEAVY LOAD</b></h2><p>Martin St-Louis&rsquo; points-per-game have steadily increased alongside his ice time over the years.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-021426/9024215-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="677" height="2015"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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FEATURES

50,000, watts of will-power

<div class="byline">BY JON WALDMAN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="452" height="303"></div><p>As the summer months rolled through North America, boys and girls of all ages hit the pools across Canada and the U.S.</p><p>Now September, however, a different type of pool is the object of pursuit for thousands of hockey fans, as fantasy drafts are kicking off in cities and towns. Office pool, beer league draft and special challenge invites will pop up, hitting e-mail in-boxes with the frequency of a Nigerian prince&rsquo;s claim of a million dollar inheritance.</p><p>While several of these drafts will involve a meeting between friends or business cohorts in dens or board rooms, countless others will instead happen in chat rooms or on message boards. Indeed, the virtual scene of a heated draft has become just as popular as the face-to-face confrontations.</p><p>One of the advantages of playing in online competitions is that you are truly in control of your destiny. Where an office competition will mix the casual fan with the stat junkie, you can pick the online league best suited to your comfort level. David Geller is the project manager at Yahoo! Sports. The web-based entity runs a variety of fantasy leagues and games, which, as he describes, give players and virtual GMs the ability to play at different competition levels.</p><p>&ldquo;We have fantasy hockey leagues made up of all kinds of players with all different levels of interest,&rdquo; Geller says. &ldquo;Users can opt to play in leagues that are more casual or they can join a more intense league.&rdquo;</p><p>For some pools, however, there is a fairly large x-factor. While some fantasy games, such as the Yahoo! creations, take the office environment where everyone knows each other and move it into a virtual world, others utilize the anonymity of the Internet. In these pools, the element of playing against a cohort&rsquo;s strategy is thrown out the window.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-011474/9024274-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="1341" height="1531"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>KYLE WELLWOOD</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>At this point, your strategy could change. Rather than go with your gut instinct when making selections, the choice can come down to trying to match up your picks to the most popular player available.</p><p>Rav, a poolie from Vancouver, is a veteran of more than eight pools. He sees two ways to go with these later selections.</p><p>&ldquo;In later boxes, there still may be players in a group who stand out and you know everyone will pick,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;but you might want to select a player you think is going to have a breakthrough season or a sleeper pick to set yourself apart. These picks will break or make your pool.&rdquo;</p><p>Another factor one must be wary of is legitimacy. The unfortunate reality is that scam pools can very easily pop up on the Net, so one must be cautious. Rick Smith, a resident of Ocala, Fla., advises people to watch for certain traits of a fantasy draft before going in.</p><p>&ldquo;If all the money is put up front into a secure account like Paypal, and then a &lsquo;treasurer&rsquo; of sort is appointed to dole out the winnings with all parties in full trust, then message board pools could be run smoothly,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I, however would only trust the reputable pools such as TSN, The Hockey News and Yahoo!, or even office pools, because if someone ducks out on paying you your winnings, you&rsquo;ll always know where they are.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-021078/9024267-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="864" height="778"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>SCREEN SHOT</b></p><p>Finding an online pool you can trust is just as important as the NHL players you pick.</p></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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IN THIS ISSUE

Driving to Net for big action

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OPENING FACEOFF

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="452" height="303"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>t&rsquo;s just about time for fantasy league commissioners to dig up the old Wayne Gretzky clause. You know, the one that split his goals and assists into two entities.</p><p>We&rsquo;ll call this the Gretzky clause with a Sidney Crosby addendum. The Great One was such a dominant force 25 years ago, most Iron Age pool operators deemed it too much of an advantage for the fantasy league GM picking first to get both his goals and assists. So Gretzky goals and Gretzky assists became as separate as Bill Root and Eddy Beers. With that as a back-drop, pools will soon be splitting up Crosby goals and Crosby assists.</p><p>It&rsquo;s the only fair thing to do, really. Back in the early 1980s, Gretzky assists would have led the NHL in scoring four times and finished in the top 10 scorers another seven times. So if Gretzky assists wasn&rsquo;t getting drafted first overall in rotisserie leagues, it was surely among the top handful of picks. In 1985-86, Gretzky&rsquo;s 163 assists finished an amazing 22 points ahead of runner-up Mario Lemieux (141 points) in the scoring race.</p><p>Even Gretzky goals was worthy of a top 25 pick in his early years. His 92 goals in 1981-82 would have finished 17th in point scoring.</p><p>Because the game has changed so much in the past 20 years &ndash; better goaltending, special trap defenses, committed two-way team play &ndash; Crosby will never get a chance to truly dominate offensively the way Gretzky did. But I&rsquo;ll still be taking Crosby&rsquo;s assists before I draft Patrick Marleau or Alex Tanguay. How about you?</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-012048/9023820-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="815" height="716"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>WAYNE GRETZKY</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-031420/9023813-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="551" height="132"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021729/9023806-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="360" height="626"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BBS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

The Crosby addendum

<div class="byline">&#x2013; BRIAN COSTELLO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012267/9024001-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="541" height="613"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>L</span>IKE MANY GOOD TEAMS</b> before them, the Ottawa Senators had to learn to lose the big one first before going on to become champions. That&rsquo;s the prediction at Poolbook headquarters going into 2007-08: after losing to Anaheim in the Stanley Cup final last season, the Senators will mature and adjust enough this season to go all the way.</p><p>Detroit will be dominant in the West during the season, but it will be the Calgary Flames who come on strong in the playoffs. Mike Keenan&rsquo;s Flames will lose to Ottawa in an epic seven-game finale. In the East, the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins will make huge surges during the regular season, but like all great contenders they must learn to lose first. Nashville and Buffalo will tail off a bit.</p><h2><b>STANLEY CUP WINNER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021504/9023994-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="324" height="258"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-03871/9023987-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="139" height="98"></div><p>CALGARY</p><p><b>FLAMES VS.</b></p><p>ANAHEIM</p><p><b><del>DUCKS</del></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-04535/9023980-1-eng-US/f0006-042.jpg" title="f0006-04" width="139" height="100"></div><p>OTTAWA</p><p><b>SENATORS VS.</b></p><p>NEW YORK</p><p><b><del>RANGERS</del></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-05413/9023973-1-eng-US/f0006-052.jpg" title="f0006-05" width="678" height="1544"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1423/9023966-1-eng-US/f0006-142.jpg" title="f0006-14" width="139" height="98"></div><p>1. Detroit Red Wings</p><p>2. Anaheim Ducks</p><p>3. San Jose Sharks</p><p>4. Calgary Flames</p><p>5. Vancouver Canucks</p><p>6. Minnesota Wild</p><p>7. Nashville Predators</p><p>8. Dallas Stars</p><p>9. St. Louis Blues</p><p>10. Colorado Avalanche</p><p>11. Los Angeles Kings</p><p>12. Chicago Blackhawks</p><p>13. Edmonton Oilers</p><p>14. Columbus BlueJackets</p><p>15. Phoenix Coyotes</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-06286/9023959-1-eng-US/f0006-062.jpg" title="f0006-06" width="210" height="152"></div><p>1. Detroit Red Wings</p><p>1. Ottawa Senators</p><p>2. New York Rangers</p><p>3. Pittsburgh Penguins</p><p>4. Tampa Bay Lightning</p><p>5. Buffalo Sabres</p><p>6. Atlanta Thrashers</p><p>7. New Jersey Devils</p><p>8. Toronto Maple Leafs</p><p>9. Philadelphia Flyers</p><p>10. Carolina Hurricanes</p><p>11. Montreal Canadiens</p><p>12. Washington Capitals</p><p>13. Florida Panthers</p><p>14. New York Islanders</p><p>15. Boston Bruins</p><h2><b>THN TROPHY PICKS</b></h2><p><b>CONN SMYTHE</b></p><p><b>JASON SPEZZA</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-07169/9023952-1-eng-US/f0006-072.jpg" title="f0006-07" width="165" height="255"></div><p><b>HART</b></p><p><b>SIDNEY CROSBY</b></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-08104/9023945-1-eng-US/f0006-082.jpg" title="f0006-08" width="90" height="268"></div><p><b>ART ROSS</b></p><p><b>SIDNEY OSBY</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-0973/9023938-1-eng-US/f0006-092.jpg" title="f0006-09" width="154" height="233"></div><p><b>VEZINA</b></p><p><b>ROBERTO LUONGO</b></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1053/9023931-1-eng-US/f0006-102.jpg" title="f0006-10" width="139" height="266"></div><p><b>NORRIS</b></p><p><b>CHRIS PRONGER</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1146/9023924-1-eng-US/f0006-112.jpg" title="f0006-11" width="120" height="250"></div><p><b>CALDER</b></p><p><b>NICKLAS BACKSTROM</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1238/9023917-1-eng-US/f0006-122.jpg" title="f0006-12" width="118" height="257"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>2006-07 GAME-WINNING GOALS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-012044/9023910-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="904" height="1258"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(HEATLEY: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1328/9023903-1-eng-US/f0006-132.jpg" title="f0006-13" width="976" height="298"></div><p>&ndash; Teemu Selanne</p><p><b>Goals</b> 48 <b>GWG</b> 10</p><p>&ndash; Henrik Zetterberg</p><p><b>Goals</b> 33 <b>GWG</b> 10</p><p>4. Milan Michalek</p><p><b>Goals</b> 26 <b>GWG</b> 9</p><p>&ndash; Chris Drury</p><p><b>Goals</b> 37 <b>GWG</b> 9</p><p>&ndash; Patrick Marleau</p><p><b>Goals</b> 32 <b>GWG</b> 9</p><p>7. Olli Jokinen</p><p><b>Goals</b> 39 <b>GWG</b> 8</p><p>&ndash; Justin Williams</p><p><b>Goals</b> 33 <b>GWG</b> 8</p><p>&ndash; Alexander Ovechkin</p><p><b>Goals</b> 46 <b>GWG</b> 8</p><p>&ndash; Daniel Sedin</p><p><b>Goals</b> 36 <b>GWG</b> 8</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-021379/9023896-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="1279" height="967"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(KESSEL: SPORTS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY)</span></figcaption></div><h3><b>PHIL KESSEL +25</b></h3><h2>RISERS & DECLINERS</h2><p><b>SOME PLAYERS</b> will increase their production in 2007-08, others drop off. Here&rsquo;s our up and down projections.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-03875/9023889-1-eng-US/f0007-032.jpg" title="f0007-03" width="1272" height="501"></div><h2><b>TOP 10 PENALTY LEADERS</b></h2><p>2. Josh Gratton</p><p><b>Pho PIMs/game</b> 3.6</p><p>3. Derek Boogaard</p><p><b>Min PIMs/game</b> 2.5</p><p>4. Nick Boynton</p><p><b>Pho PIMs/game</b> 2.4</p><p>5. Colton Orr</p><p><b>NYR PIMs/game</b> 2.4</p><p>6. Cam Janssen</p><p><b>NJ PIMs/game</b> 2.4</p><p>7. Andre Roy</p><p><b>TB PIMs/game</b> 2.3</p><p>8. Brian McGrattan</p><p><b>Ott PIMs/game</b> 2.2</p><p>9. Shane O&rsquo;Brien</p><p><b>TB PIMs/game</b> 2.2</p><p>10. Chris Neil</p><p><b>Ott PIMs/game</b> 2.2</p><p>#1 PIMs LEADER</p><p><b>BEN EAGER</b></p><p><b>Phi PIMs/game</b> 3.7</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-04565/9023882-1-eng-US/f0007-042.jpg" title="f0007-04" width="384" height="682"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(EAGER: LEN REDKOLES/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0006-01

Senators bring Cup to Canada

<p class="dropcap"><b><span>K</span>NOWING WHO TO</b> pick is half the battle in every fantasy hockey draft. Knowing who to avoid? Now that&rsquo;s a different story. Below is our guide of which players may pan out next year, but might not be worth the risk in your pool&rsquo;s draft.</p><p><b>ANAHEIM</b></p><p>Todd Bertuzzi &ndash; Injury bug a concern; if healthy, scoring an issue.</p><p><b>ATLANTA</b></p><p>Alexei Zhitnik &ndash; Scoring binge after deadline is surely a mirage.</p><p><b>BOSTON</b></p><p>Brandon Bochenski &ndash; Can he light up the scoreboard in the NHL?</p><p><b>BUFFALO</b></p><p>Tim Connolly &ndash; Missed two of the past three NHL seasons.</p><p><b>CALGARY</b></p><p>Craig Conroy &ndash; OK if he plays with Iginla, otherwise&hellip;</p><p><b>CAROLINA</b></p><p>Frantisek Kaberle &ndash; One good point season, many injury-plagued seasons.</p><p><b>CHICAGO</b></p><p>Sergei Samsonov &ndash; Fresh starts haven&rsquo;t done him any good yet.</p><p><b>COLORADO</b></p><p>Jose Theodore &ndash; Avs won&rsquo;t be patient with goaltending.</p><p><b>COLUMBUS</b></p><p>Nikolai Zherdev &ndash; Big talent, small work ethic equals uncertainty.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-012167/9024053-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="353" height="496"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MIKE MODANO</b> <span class="photo-credit">(MODANO: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>DALLAS</b></p><p>Mike Modano &ndash; Time is gaining on this willing 38-year-old leader.</p><p><b>DETROIT</b></p><p>Dan Cleary &ndash; One good season, many poor ones. Many long dry spells.</p><p><b>EDMONTON</b></p><p>Pick a player. No sure things in Edmonton.</p><p><b>FLORIDA</b></p><p>Richard Zednik &ndash; Has gone downhill without ever getting up that high.</p><p><b>LOS ANGELES</b></p><p>Kyle Calder &ndash; Prone to long, long, long, slumps.</p><p><b>MINNESOTA</b></p><p>Petteri Nummelin &ndash; Provides offense from the defense, but no defense.</p><p><b>MONTREAL</b></p><p>Alex Kovalev &ndash; Only consistent part of game is inconsistency.</p><p><b>NASHVILLE</b></p><p>Steve Sullivan &ndash; Back problems equal reliability problems.</p><p><b>NEW JERSEY</b></p><p>Brian Gionta &ndash; How will he perform without playmaker Gomez?</p><p><b>NY ISLANDERS</b></p><p>Marc-Andre Bergeron &ndash; Won&rsquo;t score at same pace as first go-around.</p><p><b>NY RANGERS</b></p><p>Marcel Hossa &ndash; Lots of signs of scoring potential, no hard evidence.</p><p><b>OTTAWA</b></p><p>Mike Fisher &ndash; One of the league&rsquo;s most injury-prone players.</p><p><b>PHILADELPHIA</b></p><p>R.J. Umberger &ndash; Scoring potential down, same as depth chart position.</p><p><b>PITTSBURGH</b></p><p>Colby Armstrong &ndash; Down the depth chart, off the scoring line.</p><p><b>PHOENIX</b></p><p>Forwards &ndash; Apart from Shane Doan, no sure thing with forwards.</p><p><b>SAN JOSE</b></p><p>Ryane Clowe &ndash; Streaky scorer, have to be careful not to overvalue.</p><p><b>ST. LOUIS</b></p><p>Martin Rucinsky &ndash; Has played 52 games each of the [ast two seasons.</p><p><b>TAMPA BAY</b></p><p>Vaclav Prospal &ndash; Wildly inconsistent scoring.</p><p><b>TORONTO</b></p><p>Andrew Raycroft &ndash; He&rsquo;ll spend more time watching than playing.</p><p><b>VANCOUVER</b></p><p>Taylor Pyatt &ndash; A constant worry that needs to stick with the Sedins.</p><p><b>WASHINGTON</b></p><p>Chris Clark &ndash; The addition of scorers moves him down the depth chart.</p><h2><b>2006-07 MOST SHUTOUTS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021630/9024046-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="1242" height="1190"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BRODEUR: JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-031144/9024039-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="946" height="297"></div><p>2. Dominik Hasek, Det</p><p><b>Games</b> 56 <b>SO</b> 8</p><p>3. Miikka Kiprusoff, Cgy</p><p><b>Games</b> 74 <b>SO</b> 7</p><p>4. Evgeni Nabokov, SJ</p><p><b>Games</b> 50 <b>SO</b> 7</p><p>5. Marty Turco, Dal</p><p><b>Games</b> 67 <b>SO</b> 6</p><p>6. Roberto Luongo, Van</p><p><b>Games</b> 76 <b>SO</b> 5</p><p>7. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pit</p><p><b>Games</b> 67 <b>SO</b> 5</p><p>8. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR</p><p><b>Games</b> 70 <b>SO</b> 5</p><p>9. Ray Emery, Ott</p><p><b>Games</b> 58 <b>SO</b> 5</p><p>10. Rick DiPietro, NYI</p><p><b>Games</b> 62 <b>SO</b> 5</p><p><b><a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">thehockeynews.com</a></b></p><h2><b>WEB POLL</b></h2><p>Who will win the 2007-08 scoring race?</p><p><b>THE WINNER</b></p><p>SIDNEY CROSBY</p><p><b>54%</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-011950/9024032-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="335" height="354"></div><p>Other 12%</p><p>Alex Ovechkin 11%</p><p>Joe Thornton 6%</p><p>Dany Heatley 4%</p><p>Vincent Lecavalier 4%</p><p>Jaromir Jagr 3%</p><p>Jason Spezza 3%</p><p>Marian Hossa 2%</p><p>Martin St-Louis 1%<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-01

Buyer beware: risk management

<p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span>N ANALYZING</b> his projections from last season, pool guru Murray Townsend correctly predicted a decline in scoring from the previous year. However, he didn&rsquo;t anticipate the growing rift between the top scorers and the rest of the pack, expecting more teams to follow in the Buffalo and Carolina four-line attack strategy. Anaheim&rsquo;s successful plan of two scoring lines and a great checking line will elicit copycats. Among Townsend&rsquo;s top projections: Malkin would get 88 as a rookie (he got 85). He didn&rsquo;t anticipate big drops for Kovalchuk, Nash and Eric Staal.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-021349/9024084-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="804" height="1097"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ILYA KOVALCHUK</b> <span class="photo-credit">(SCOTT CUNNINGHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0009-02

Townsend called it

<p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>elcome to the ninth annual Ultimate Guide, dedicated to hockey pool and fantasy league connoisseurs. Our pages are full of statistics and player projections to help you challenge for the championship in your season-long forum. The following legend lists abbreviations for statistics and leagues that are found in player profiles, rosters and stats pages. You&rsquo;ll notice there are some contradictions in player position between our rosters, depth charts and player profiles. Positions listed in the profiles are according to the NHL Official Guide & Record Book, while positions on depth charts and rosters are our designations as to where the player is expected to play this season. Enjoy.</p><p><b>NHL TEAMS</b> Ana-Anaheim, Atl-Atlanta, Bos-Boston, Buf-Buffalo, Cgy-Calgary, Car-Carolina, Chi-Chicago, Col-Colorado, Clb-Columbus, Dal-Dallas, Det-Detroit, Edm-Edmonton, Fla-Florida, LA-Los Angeles, Min-Minnesota, Mtl-Montreal, Nsh-Nashville, NJ-New Jersey, NYI-New York Islanders, NYR-New York Rangers, Ott-Ottawa, Phi-Philadelphia, Pho-Phoenix, Pit-Pittsburgh, StL-St. Louis, SJ-San Jose, TB-Tampa Bay, Tor-Toronto, Van-Vancouver, Wsh-Washington.</p><p><b>MINOR PRO LEAGUES</b>&nbsp;AHL-American League (Albany, Binghamton, Bridgeport, Chicago Grand Rapids, Hamilton, Hartford, Hershey, Houston, Iowa, Lowell, Manchester, Manitoba, Milwaukee, Norfolk, Omaha, Peoria, Philadelphia, Portland, Providence, Rochester, San Antonio, Springfield, Syracuse, Toronto, Utah, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Worcester), ECHL-(formerly known as East Coast League), UHL-United League, CHL-Central League, SPHL-Southern Professional League.</p><p><b>MAJOR JUNIOR</b> OHL-Ontario League, QMJHL-Quebec Major Junior League, WHL-Western League, USHL-United States League (Tier II).</p><p><b>U.S. COLLEGES</b> CCHA-Central Collegiate Hockey Association, ECAC-Eastern College Athletic Conference, HE-Hockey East, WCHA-Western Collegiate Hockey Association.</p><p><b>EUROPE</b> Aus-Austria, Bel-Belarus, Cze or Czech-Czech Republic, Fin-Finland, Ger-Germany, Kaz-Kazakhstan, Pol-Poland, Rus-Russia, Svk-Slovakia, Swe-Sweden, Swi or Switz or Sui-Switzerland, <b>OTHERS</b> WJC-World Junior Championship, USA (under-18) or USNTDP or USNT is the U.S. national team development program.</p><p><b>STATISTICS</b> A-assists, Adv-advantage, Avg-average, BMIbench minors, D-defenseman, C-center, G-goals, GAA-goals-against average, GP-games played, GPG-goals per game, GK-goalkeeper, GT-game-tying, GW-game-winning, Ht-height, H/R-home/road, L-losses, LEA-league, LW-left winger, Min-minutes, Min/Pt-minutes per point, Pct-percentage, PPGA-power play goals against, PIM-penalties in minutes, Pos-position, PP-power play, PPG-power play goals or points per game, Pts-points, RW-right winger, S-shots, SA-shots against, SF-shots for, SH-shorthanded situations, Sh-shots on goal, SL-shootout losses, SO-shutouts, SP-shooting percentage or save percentage, T-ties, Tot-total, W-wins, Wt-weight, Yrs-years, +/- &ndash; plus/minus.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Ultimate Guide to abbreviations

<div class="byline">BY JEREMY SIEMENS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="452" height="303"></div><p>I told you so.</p><p>Few words carry the same sense of vindication. That&rsquo;s why anytime one of our picks is met with a condescending &ldquo;Who?&rdquo; by a fellow poolie, we await the day when our superior hockey insight is revealed. We anticipate the moment when our then-unknown player begins to shine in the NHL, proving our doubter wrong.</p><p>The greatest source of these off-the-board players is the rookie class. Looking back at last season, Evgeni Malkin stole all of the headlines, but it was players such as Paul Stastny, Jordan Staal, and Anze Kopitar, who separated the savvy pool sharks from the fish. Landing a talented, low-profile rookie will prevent you from scraping the bottom of the free agent barrel and keep your team competitive.</p><p>It&rsquo;s important to remember the reason these players slip through the cracks is the same reason fantasy owners must exhibit caution when selecting them: They haven&rsquo;t put up any points in the NHL. While this may seem obvious, it needs to be noted. Rookies are nowhere to be found in the previous year&rsquo;s stats, so they often go unnoticed by amateur poolies. However, the fact they have yet to play at hockey&rsquo;s highest level cannot be overlooked. For every budding young prospect who blooms, there is one who wilts into the relative unknown.</p><p>The following is a list of the top 10 rookies entering 2007-08 based on Murray Townsend&rsquo;s projections. Use it wisely. Knowledge of these lesser-known players will determine which side of the I-told-you-so banter you find yourself on come April.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-012135/9024139-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="1383" height="1134"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>NICKLAS BACKSTROM</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>Top 10 Rookies</b></h2><p><b>1 Nicklas Backstrom, C, 19, Washington</b> In Backstrom, Caps fans have the talented center they have been clamoring for. Backstrom is ready to contribute and will undoubtedly benefit from Alexander Ovechkin&rsquo;s offensive prowess. (70 points)</p><p><b>2 Jonathan Toews. C, 19, Chicago</b> His brilliance in international play has scouts buzzing. Toews is seen as a key to the fast-tracked rebuilding process in Chicago. (70)</p><p><b>3 Patrick Kane, RW, 18, Chicago</b> This is the biggest gamble of the lot so don&rsquo;t pick him too early. Kane will either make the Hawks out of camp &ndash; great for marketing &ndash; or he&rsquo;ll be returned to junior after a handful of NHL games. (59)</p><p><b>4 Peter Mueller, C, 19, Phoenix</b> Mueller played in Everett (WHL), where he put up 78 points in 51 games. Without any top-flight support in the desert, he represents second-line scoring power. (51)</p><p><b>5 Clarke MacArthur, LW, 22, Buffalo</b> A sniper who has spent the past two seasons with Rochester (AHL), MacArthur steps into a situation perfectly suited to his game. (41)</p><p><b>6 Erik Johnson, D, 19, St. Louis</b> There is little doubt Johnson&rsquo;s game is NHL-ready. His offensive potential from the blueline makes him one of the most valuable rookies for pools. (38)</p><p><b>7 Dustin Boyd, C, 21, Calgary</b> While his four points in 14 NHL games doesn&rsquo;t leave fantasy owners salivating, Boyd will put up respectable numbers in his official rookie campaign. (36)</p><p><b>8 Rob Schremp, C, 21, Edmonton</b> Schremp was a dominant junior player who put up decent numbers in the AHL. He will give some life to an Oilers offense that was anemic last season. (36)</p><p><b>9 Martin Hanzal, C, 20, Phoenix</b> His junior numbers were better than Mueller&rsquo;s, but questions about Hanzal&rsquo;s strength and overall game will cost him ice time. If plus/minus is an issue with you, you&rsquo;re best to steer clear. (35)</p><p><b>10 Bobby Ryan, RW, 20, Anaheim</b> Arriving in the NHL two years after some people expected, the second overall pick behind Sidney Crosby in 2005 refined his power forward game in junior and already has 27 AHL games under his belt. (34)<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Fab freshmen you can take to the bank

<div class="byline">BY RUI GOMES</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="452" height="303"></div><p>Soon-to-be free agents always have good seasons, right?</p><p>Toronto defenseman Bryan Mc-Cabe followed up a great 2003-04 &ndash; 53 points &ndash; with a sensational post-lockout season, finishing third in points by defensemen with 68. Set to lose McCabe to unrestricted free agency, GM John Ferguson signed him to a five-year, $28.75-million deal just before July 1. The Leafs had locked up a premier blueliner &ndash; or had they? McCabe produced 54 points last year &ndash; 10th among defensemen &ndash; but was criticized for his defensive game (not that poolies care beyond the plus/minus hit).</p><p>The most common thing poolies look at in selecting players is last year&rsquo;s production. But maybe they should also look at a list of players in their final season before becoming an unrestricted free agent.</p><p>There&rsquo;s a belief out there that many players perform better in the final year of their contracts hoping to earn top dollar in a new deal. For the purpose of this study, 25 prominent UFAs at the end of 2005-06 were selected. Fifteen of the 25 showed a rise in production in 2006-07.</p><p>Ten of the 15 had a minimum of a five-point upgrade, four of those rose at least 10 points and two of them (Tom Poti and Sheldon Souray) had a rise of 20-plus points. In conclusion, the numbers aren&rsquo;t dazzling, but there&rsquo;s evidence for poolies to consider a handful of options heading into the new season. Of course, there&rsquo;s no guarantee they&rsquo;ll continue the torrid pace beyond that (see McCabe, &lsquo;06-07).</p><p>Franchise players such as Dany Heatley and Marian Hossa head the list of UFAs in the summer of 2008. It&rsquo;s hard to imagine Joe Sakic and Nicklas Lidstrom going to new teams, but they too could be on the market. Surely, those big names will get their points again this season, but we&rsquo;re interested in players who will have an increased fantasy impact.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-012078/9024177-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="1401" height="1092"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MARKUS NASLUND</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>1</b> Five years ago, <b>Markus Naslund</b>&rsquo;s 104 points put him in the franchise player category. Since then, his production has plummeted and he&rsquo;s now on the second line. On a defensive-minded team, his production this season will depend upon who he&rsquo;s playing with.</p><p><b>2</b> After a pair of 70-point seasons at 22 and 23, <b>Sergei Samsonov</b> has seen his scoring stats go down and his weight go up. He&rsquo;s still just 28 and ready for a fresh start in Chicago. He&rsquo;ll likely try to make it work this season or return to Russia for good.</p><p><b>3 Wade Redden</b> has all the tools to be one of the top offensive defensemen in the NHL, but injuries have plagued him the past two years. The onus is on him to step up in Ottawa and make it difficult for the Senators to see him walk as a UFA.</p><p><b>4</b> The last time <b>Vaclav Prospal</b> was set to become a free agent, he compiled 79 points with Tampa Bay in 2002-03. But after signing with Anaheim, he wasn&rsquo;t so good (54 points), resulting in an off-season trade back to Tampa Bay, where he again flourished (80 points).</p><p><b>5</b> At 36, <b>Craig Conroy</b> doesn&rsquo;t have the same jump he did when he scored 75 points alongside Jarome Iginla in 2001-02. He&rsquo;s back in a good situation to make the most of his impending UFA status and has the gumption to execute.</p><p><b>6</b> Since January 2006, <b>Pavol Demitra</b>&rsquo;s list of injuries reads aplenty: leg, face, concussion, head, chest and leg again. Can he approach his career-high 93 points with the defense-oriented Minnesota Wild? Can Marian Gaborik stay healthy a full season too?</p><p><b>7</b> After two consistent seasons just shy of the 50-point plateau, 26-year-old <b>John-Michael Liles</b> is a solid candidate for breakout by a defenseman in a contract year. That will make him a major player in next summer&rsquo;s free agent crop, one not dominated by defensemen.</p><p><b>8 Patrick Marleau</b> will produce points with or without Joe Thornton as a teammate. So the fact he&rsquo;s an impending UFA should be viewed as a bonus worth investing upon. You won&rsquo;t find a more productive second-line center.</p><p><b>9</b> The last time <b>Miroslav Satan</b> found himself in the final year of a deal (2003-04 with Buffalo), he celebrated a goal by pretending to receive a phone call from GM Darcy Regier. If he has learned from the past, focus will push him close to his career-high of 75 points.</p><p><b>10</b> We were all used to <b>Brian Rolston</b> as a 50-point man all those years when he went out and posted 79 a couple of seasons ago. After responding with 64 last season, should we be disappointed to see fewer than 60 this season?<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Playing hungry…for a contract

<div class="byline">by Murray Townsend</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03782/9024326-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(NHL: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>One of these days, an NHL team is going to get smart and hire a hockey pool junkie as their GM.</p><p>Don&rsquo;t laugh. Few people know hockey as well. The typical hockey fan knows his own team, often very well, but other teams not so much. The successfully poolie doesn&rsquo;t have a team &ndash; every team is his.</p><p>The poolie spends his time tracking players and their stats, reading team reports, dissecting summaries and watching games from across the NHL, minor leagues, junior and college.</p><p>He knows who&rsquo;s on the power play, he knows who&rsquo;s on which line, he knows if someone is injured, he knows each team&rsquo;s potential future stars and he found out long ago how to manage a salary cap.</p><p>Are these poolies as smart as NHL GMs? Maybe smarter at times. A fantasy GM has to think like an NHL GM.</p><p>OK, they don&rsquo;t have to put people in the seats, they can&rsquo;t get fired, they don&rsquo;t need to explain (or lie about) every move to the press, they don&rsquo;t have to deal with demanding agents and they don&rsquo;t need to look intense during the playoffs when the television cameras continually pan to the press box. They also don&rsquo;t care if a player is good in the dressing room or if he knows his way around his own end of the ice or if he&rsquo;s having some personal issues in his life.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02878/9024319-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="1384" height="884"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>CHOICE PICKS</b></p><p>Sidney Crosby or Jason Spezza? Fantasy GMs pore over the stats that others often overlook.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(CROSBY: PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Otherwise, they know what&rsquo;s going on. You&rsquo;ll never know a player as well as when you have him on your fantasy team. You watch him intently &ndash; you learn his strengths and weaknesses. If he passes up good scoring opportunities to pass the puck, or couldn&rsquo;t hit the broad side of a barn with his shot, you know.</p><p>They have to constantly make judgments on players, same as in the NHL. Why did he have so many points with that team? Who were his linemates? How much power play time did he get? When did he get the bulk of his points?</p><p>And they always have to be conscious that every action has a reaction. If a player gets knocked down the depth chart, another player moves up; if a player is injured, somebody takes his place; if a coach is fired, everybody has to make a new impression with the new guy. And so on.</p><p>One area of superior expertise for fantasy GM&rsquo;s is their knowledge concerning players who are traded during the season, who often make a big initial impact with their new team. Veteran poolies know this is as common as an obstruction penalty in the third period, so they don&rsquo;t get too worked up about it, knowing the player will revert to his correct level. Actual GMs often think they have found gold and sign the player to a multi-year contract.</p><p>Fantasy GMs know to try and get good players when their value is down and trade players when their value is highest. This is where they have an advantage, because unless they&rsquo;re in a salary cap league, they don&rsquo;t have to worry about how much a player is making.</p><p>They also don&rsquo;t have to deal with entire cities criticizing them for taking a guy who looks like he&rsquo;s lost it or trading a player when he on a hot streak. NHL GMs who make those types of moves risk severe scrutiny because in the media world it&rsquo;s all about the now, and what a player has done recently.</p><p>Poolies often use the same trade strategy as an NHL GM. When they want a certain player, it&rsquo;s not wise to come right out and say it &ndash; and if they offer a trade it&rsquo;s a good idea to offer something outlandish that will be rejected. GMs like to think they&rsquo;ve won a deal, so you have to manipulate the opposing GM into thinking he won. By eventually downgrading your initial offer, you&rsquo;re making the opposing GM think he made you compromise and got the better of the deal, even though you get what you wanted all along.</p><p>Good fantasy GMs, same as those in the NHL, keep an eye on other rosters and needs around the league. If another team is weak in a position, a savvy GM might get more for a player that meets that need than he would otherwise. If a team&rsquo;s top goalie gets injured and its GM is desperate, an aware poolie takes advantage. The same thing happens in the NHL.</p><p>They&rsquo;re also in the same boat when it comes to bringing over Europeans. Poolies don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going to happen with the Russian players and neither do the NHL GM&rsquo;s. It&rsquo;s a bit of a gamble and they both have to hope lady luck is on their side.</p><p>One thing fantasy GMs can teach NHL GMs is they&rsquo;ll be more successful if they have a lot of good players at manageable salaries &ndash; kind of like the Buffalo Sabres last year &ndash; rather than a couple superstars surrounded by weaker players. If your one star goes down, so does that team.</p><p>Prospects are yet another case. Players who put up points on junior, college and minor pro teams do so on the first line and on the power play. A forward who comes up to the NHL doesn&rsquo;t get those opportunities right away, unless he&rsquo;s a Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin type. On the other hand, an offensive defenseman might get the opportunity for immediate power play time because that&rsquo;s what he&rsquo;s there for and others probably aren&rsquo;t doing the job.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-011311/9024312-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="1582" height="947"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>SMASH HIT</b></p><p>Alex Ovechkin is a rare example of a rookie who got lots of power play time.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Goaltending is one area that fantasy GMs and NHL GMs often differ. For most poolies, it doesn&rsquo;t matter how good a goaltender is, it matters what team he plays on. All those years that Roberto Luongo was with Florida he wasn&rsquo;t a high value fantasy goalie. Fantasy GMs are usually only concerned with wins and don&rsquo;t care how many fantastic saves a goalie makes if he loses. With Vancouver, a team capable of putting up a good number of Ws, Luongo&rsquo;s fantasy value skyrocketed.</p><p>There are fantasy GMs who spend as much time trying to win their league as an NHL GM. All of this seems to suggest they might be more prepared for an NHL job than, say, a backup goaltender. Maybe someday.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0020-03

Fantasy brain trust ready for prime time

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0025-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02832/9024357-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>n our team section, you get all the information you need on every franchise in the NHL, from point projections to expanded rosters (including recent draft picks) and prospect rankings.</p><h2><b>TEAM LOGO</b></h2><p>Find your team quickly by seeking the familiar logo</p><h2><b>POINT PROJECTION</b></h2><p>Need a projection quickly? Flip through the pages and get the goods in seconds</p><h2><b>PROSPECT RATING</b></h2><p>The top five up-and-comers in the Future Watch system</p><h2><b>WRITE UP</b></h2><p>A recap of how the team fared last season and what the prospects are for this year</p><h2><b>ROSTER</b></h2><p>Position-by-position report of those candidates vying for a spot on the team, listed alphabetically by position</p><h2><b>DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Projected line mixtures and first power play unit<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0025-02

ULTIMATE GUIDE THE TEAMS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0026-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-011325/9024388-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RYAN GETZLAF</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JEFF GROSS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>ronically, the Ducks turned in their mightiest performance in franchise history as soon as they dropped the word &ldquo;Mighty&rdquo; from their nickname. Anaheim hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2006-07, thanks in large part to a style of play that&rsquo;s somewhat unique in today&rsquo;s NHL.</p><p>The Ducks play an in-your-face system that leads to a plethora of fighting majors.</p><p>They also boast the best defensive front four in the league &ndash; Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Mathieu Schneider and Francois Beauchemin &ndash; as well as the best checking line (Travis Moen-Samuel Pahlsson-Rob Niedermayer).</p><p>GM Brian Burke and coach Randy Carlyle were both huge parts of the team&rsquo;s success.</p><p>Anaheim also gets a lot out of goaltenders Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov. The club tied for second in the Western Conference with 258 goals and placed sixth in goals against (208). In the playoffs, the Ducks needed only 21 games to dispose of Minnesota, Vancouver, Detroit and Ottawa.</p><p>The 2007 post-season also served as a coming-out party for Dustin Penner, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. The three were placed on the same line in the playoffs and were very impressive. Look for more of the same.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0026-01

Champs not tired of winning just yet

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0027-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-011264/9024419-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ILYA KOVALCHUK</b> <span class="photo-credit">(SCOTT CUNNINGHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Thrashers went for the gusto in 2006-07, as GM Don Waddell added veterans Keith Tkachuk, Alexei Zhitnik and Pascal Dupuis at the trade deadline with the hope of securing a playoff berth for the first time in franchise history.</p><p>The club did, in fact, make the post-season, but it came at an exorbitant price. To get Tkachuk out of St. Louis cost Waddell his first and third round picks in 2007, a second-rounder in 2008 and journeyman forward Glen Metropolit. It would have also cost a first-rounder in &rsquo;08, but the Thrashers decided not to re-sign Tkachuk.</p><p>To land Zhitnik from Philadelphia, the Thrashers gave up promising blueliner Braydon Coburn, while the price to bring in Dupuis (and a third-rounder in &rsquo;07) from the New York Rangers was gritty prospect Alex Bourret.</p><p>Now that the dust has settled, it&rsquo;s back to the drawing board for both Waddell and coach Bob Hartley. Once again, Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa will lead Atlanta up front, while promising Finnish netminder Kari Lehtonen keys the defense. However, several members of last season&rsquo;s supporting cast are gone and need to be replaced. The most intriguing in-house candidates include AHL left winger Brett Sterling and junior center Bryan Little.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0027-01

Top-heavy squad seeks added depth

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0028-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-011312/9024450-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MARC SAVARD</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he new era in Beantown (new GM Peter Chiarelli; new coach Dave Lewis; new captain Zdeno Chara; new leading scorer Marc Savard) turned into much ado about nothing last year.</p><p>The Bruins finished last in the Northeast Division and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. Chara was anything but dominant in his first season with his new club and drew heavy criticism for not setting the physical tone on most nights.</p><p>Savard actually tied Ranger Jaromir Jagr for eighth in NHL scoring with 96 points, but was neutralized without a sniper on his line when Glen Murray missed time due to injury. Chiarelli also came under fire when he dealt forward Brad Boyes to St. Louis for offensive defenseman Dennis Wideman.</p><p>Lewis was criticized for the team&rsquo;s soft play, which used to be unheard of during the 1970&rsquo;s and 80&rsquo;s. That won&rsquo;t be an issue under new coach Claude Julien.</p><p>The positive news heading into 2007-08 includes sophomore forward Phil Kessel, who showed flashes of brilliance amid a difficult rookie campaign, as well as Finnish goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask.</p><p>The latter, acquired from Toronto in the deal that sent Andrew Raycroft to the Leafs, will challenge for NHL action.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-01

Bruins pin hopes on same blueprint

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0029-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-011162/9024481-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>THOMAS VANEK</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>f the Sabres had won their first Stanley Cup title in franchise history last season, many teams around the NHL would have likely altered their style this year in the mold of Buffalo&rsquo;s &ldquo;Four Lines of Thunder&rdquo; concept.</p><p>That didn&rsquo;t happen, so now it is the Sabres&rsquo; turn to make alterations. The reigning Presidents&rsquo; Trophy winners were the most dominant team in the regular season and the only NHL outfit to eclipse the 300-goal mark.</p><p>However, they were completely neutralized by Ottawa in the Eastern Conference final. That setback raised questions about Buffalo&rsquo;s ability to win low-scoring, tight-checking contests.</p><p>In order to get back to the Cup final for the first time since 1999, the Sabres will need a more effective shutdown tandem to emerge from the blueline.</p><p>Moreover, the off-season roster turnover will force the team to employ a more standard lineup. In the past two seasons, Buffalo did a lot of damage to the opposition by employing four lines that could score goals.</p><p>But with Daniel Briere and Chris Drury moving on as free agent &ndash; and Thomas Vanek almost kidnapped by Edmonton &ndash; Derek Roy and Tim Connolly must pick up the slack. The Sabres may opt to employ a classic checking line, led by hard-hitting Paul Gaustad.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0029-01

Offensive dynamo needs checkers

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0030-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-011318/9024512-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JAROME IGINLA</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DON SMITH/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Flames lost their identity in 2006-07 and are looking to get back to the gritty squad that came within one game of the team&rsquo;s second Stanley Cup in 2003-04.</p><p>That team was arguably the hardest working club in the league; the same could not be said for the &rsquo;06-07 version. Strangely enough, Calgary, which had been notorious for its inability to score, became a high-octane outfit last year. Only Colorado and Nashville scored more goals among Western Conference teams.</p><p>Five Flames scored 20 or more goals, while five also produced at least 50 points last season. Unfortunately, the team slipped dramatically in terms of defense. Often, star goalkeeper Miikka Kiprusoff was left to his own devices.</p><p>This was never more apparent than during the team&rsquo;s first round playoff loss to the Detroit Red Wings, who peppered Kiprusoff into submission.</p><p>As a result, the Flames demoted Jim Playfair to associate coach and replaced him with Mike Keenan, known for his hard&ndash;nosed coaching style. Look for the team to tighten up considerably in their own end, while attempting to keep the offense rolling.</p><p>Keenan has a solid track record with talented teams.</p><p>If successful, Calgary will be a Cup contender once again.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-01

Flames quest? Re-ignite Cup run

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0031-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-011212/9024543-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ERIC STAAL</b> <span class="photo-credit">(PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>t was a rude return to reality for the Canes last season, as they followed up their first Stanley Cup title by missing the playoffs. In doing so, they became the first NHL squad since the 1995-96 New Jersey Devils to miss out on the post-season a year after winning a championship.</p><p>Injuries played a major role in Carolina&rsquo;s demise, but so did the proverbial &ldquo;Stanley Cup hangover.&rdquo; Clearly, the Canes weren&rsquo;t prepared to go to battle last year, but expect them to rebound this season.</p><p>With Carolina, winning starts with goaltender Cam Ward. The 2006 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is coming off a shaky first season as the team&rsquo;s undisputed starter. Nevertheless, he was re-signed in the off-season and will be counted on for 60-plus games.</p><p>On defense, grizzled veterans Glen Wesley and Bret Hedican both return after contemplating retirement in the off-season.</p><p>Up front, a lot more will be expected from franchise center Eric Staal, who went from a 100-point breakthrough performance in &lsquo;05-06 to an uninspiring 70-point campaign last year.</p><p>One problem area in Raleigh is a lack of top-end minor pro players, as GM Jim Rutherford has left the prospect cupboard close to bare in favor of a win-now attitude.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0031-01

Canes recovering from stormy year

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0032-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-011295/9024574-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MARTIN HAVLAT</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JUAN OCAMPO/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he future of Chicago hockey looks bright for the first time since the days of Jeremy Roenick, Chris Chelios, Eddie Belfour and Mike Keenan in the early 1990s.</p><p>Ever since the team lost in the Stanley Cup final to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992, it has been nothing but ugliness: Chicago has missed the playoffs eight times, winning only three series victories over that span.</p><p>While the on-ice results in 2006-07 were much the same as before (last place in the Central Division; 26th overall), things are looking up in the Windy City. After acquiring a franchise winger in Martin Havlat from the Ottawa Senators last off-season and making a shrewd decision in selecting center Jonathan Toews third overall in the 2006 draft, the &lsquo;Hawks got lucky this summer when they won the draft lottery and earned their first ever No. 1 overall selection.</p><p>Therefore, the pieces are slowly starting to come together for Chicago. In goal, they&rsquo;re in the capable hands of former Stanley Cup winner Nikolai Khabibulin, while their defense corps boasts several quality young players.</p><p>If coach Denis Savard can get the most out of Havlat, Toews and Tuomo Ruutu, Chicago will once again be a playoff contender in the near future and a Cup contender a few years down the road.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0032-01

Hawks on long road to regaining respect

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0033-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-011157/9024605-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JOE SAKIC</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span> late-season surge salvaged some semblance of respectability for the Avalanche in 2006-07, but it wasn&rsquo;t enough to prolong Colorado&rsquo;s playoff streak.</p><p>As a result, the franchise missed the post-season dance for the first time since moving to Denver (1995). In fact, the last time the Quebec Nordiques missed the playoffs was the 1993-94 season.</p><p>Injuries played a big role in Colorado&rsquo;s disappointing campaign, especially along the blueline. Newcomer Jordan Leopold was limited to just 15 games, while veteran Patrice Brisebois appeared in only 33 contests. Even leading offensive blueliner John-Michael Liles missed 11 games last year, which left coach Joel Quenneville looking to plug multiple holes on the back end.</p><p>Another major factor in the Avs&rsquo; descent into also-ran status was a lack of consistency at the goaltending position. Former Hart Trophy winner Jose Theodore bombed as the starter and was replaced by Slovak Peter Budaj. Although inconsistent, Budaj&rsquo;s best work came down the stretch as he almost single-handedly led Colorado to the post-season. He will get the nod as the starting goalie to begin next season.</p><p>However, the Avs have 5.5 million reasons to give Theodore another shot at the job.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0033-01

Avs hope late surge will carry forward

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0034-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011309/9024636-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RICK NASH</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Blue Jackets hoped the addition of coach Ken Hitchcock, who was named to the post last November, would help change the losing culture surrounding the Colombus franchise. It has taken a longer than expected.</p><p>This off-season, the Jackets fired the only GM they had ever known in Doug MacLean, but were turned down by the No. 1 replacement candidate &ndash; Anaheim senior vice-president of operations Bob Murray. There were also rumblings from Russian winger Nikolai Zherdev&rsquo;s camp about a trade out of Columbus.</p><p>It appears nothing will change with the Jackets until they start winning more games. Since entering the NHL in 2000, Columbus has registered between 22 and 35 wins over six seasons, with their highest total coming in 2005-06. That&rsquo;s why last year&rsquo;s regression wasn&rsquo;t tolerated by ownership.</p><p>The Jackets do have a few elements in place for an eventual playoff contender, led by franchise winger Rick Nash, defenseman Rostislav Klesla and promising centers Gilbert Brule and Derick Brassard.</p><p>However, goalie issues linger. Pascal Leclaire&rsquo;s knee injury last year opened the door for Finn Fredrik Norrena to get the starting nod. But if Leclaire is healthy, the job will be won by the hot man during the pre-season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-01

Jackets buzzing for playoff finish

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0035-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-011228/9024667-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MIKE MODANO</b> <span class="photo-credit">(RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>nother year, another early playoff exit for the Dallas Stars. This time around they were done in by the Vancouver Canucks in a seven-game thriller in the opening round of the post-season.</p><p>Unlike years past, it wasn&rsquo;t poor goaltending that sent the Stars packing in &lsquo;06-07. Marty Turco finally lived up to his regular -season credentials and turned in a scintillating performance (three shutouts in seven games, 1.30 goals-against average, .952 save percentage).</p><p>The same could not be said for some of the other veterans on Dallas&rsquo; roster, as the team&rsquo;s age caught up with them and will be a problem this season.</p><p>Center Mike Modano and No. 1 defenseman Sergei Zubov are both 37; leading playoff scorer Stu Barnes will join them in December; defensive defenseman Mattias Norstrom, acquired from Los Angeles at the trade deadline last year, is 35. Even winger Jere Lehtinen, who was held pointless in the playoffs, is 34.</p><p>The Stars need an infusion of youth if they want to remain competitive, and Swedes Loui Eriksson, Joel Lundqvist and Nicklas Grossman are part of such a movement.</p><p>Unfortunately, the organization lacks a budding franchise player, something Modano is no longer capable of supplying.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0035-01

Dallas’ aging stars pose problems

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0036-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-011202/9024698-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PAVEL DATSYUK</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JONATHAN DANIEL/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Steady as she goes for the Red Wings franchise as the team earned its sixth consecutive Central Division title in 2006-07.</p><p>Since the divisions were re-named in 1993, Detroit has finished first 10 times and second on three occasions. They also boast three Stanley Cup titles (1997, 1998 and 2002), but haven&rsquo;t been back to the final in the past four seasons. Last spring, they looked primed to make a strong Cup run, but were bounced by the Anaheim Ducks in six games in Round 3.</p><p>Detroit boasts an impressive cast of mobile defensemen, led by five-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom. They are also knee-deep in talent up front, with the slick tandem of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg leading the way.</p><p>That said, the Wings still need to find more size and toughness in order to better compete with the defending Cup champion Ducks. They will also have issues between the pipes if future Hall-of-Famer Dominik Hasek decides to finally call it a career before the summer of 2008.</p><p>Expect forwards Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler to take on a bigger role up front, while Russian rookie Igor Grigorenko will become the latest gem imported from Europe. In the end, Detroit is primed for yet another Central Division crown in 2007-08.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0036-01

Wings still kings of Central skies

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0037-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-011072/9024729-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ALES HEMSKY</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE KLUCKHOHN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Unfortunately for Oilers&rsquo; fans, the team&rsquo;s improbable run to the Stanley Cup final in 2006 was an aberration.</p><p>Last year, the Oil regressed significantly and wound up sporting the sixth-worst record in the NHL. They registered only 71 points, well out of a playoff spot and their lowest total since 1995-96. Virtually every member of the team had a down year, including GM Kevin Lowe and coach Craig MacTavish.</p><p>The 2006-07 season also marked the end of an era, as Lowe dealt popular left winger Ryan Smyth to the New York Islanders at the trade deadline for prospects Robert Nilsson and Ryan O&rsquo;Marra, as well as a first round draft pick in 2007.</p><p>It was an indication Edmonton &ndash; long considered a model franchise for maintaining a standard of excellence &ndash; was in a rebuilding mode. Nilsson and O&rsquo;Marra are two of many young Oilers who could see NHL action this season.</p><p>When the Oilers signed restricted free agent Thomas Vanek to an expensive offer sheet, they didn&rsquo;t expect Buffalo to match. That was another blow to the northern Alberta city.</p><p>The additions of Sheldon Souray and Joni Pitkanen will alter a defense that was terribly overmatched last season. Mathieu Garon is good insurance in net.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0037-01

Oilers tap into well for fresh new start

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0038-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-011156/9024760-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>OLLI JOKINEN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>f the Panthers could have a doover, they probably would take back the 2006 off-season trade that sent franchise goaltender Roberto Luongo to Vancouver.</p><p>The main asset that came back from the Canucks, winger Todd Bertuzzi, appeared in just seven games with the Panthers due to a back problem before being dealt to the Detroit Red Wings. Alex Auld, the goaltender that Florida received as part of the Luongo compensation, lost the starting job to grizzled vet Ed Belfour and eventually went on injured reserve due to a knee injury.</p><p>To add insult to the injuries, Luongo played the best hockey of his career for his new team.</p><p>Luckily for the Cats, there is talent on the current roster for them to work with. Florida is led by star and captain Olli Jokinen, all-around defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, sniper Nathan Horton, two-way center Stephen Weiss and shutdown blueliner Bryan Allen (part of the Luongo deal).</p><p>Also, keep an eye on Czech winger Michael Frolik, who spent 2006-07 with Rimouski of the Quebec League. He might step in as a 19-year-old.</p><p>If the Floridians are to return to the post-season for the first time since 1999-00, they&rsquo;ll need to exorcise their post-Luongo demons in. It&rsquo;s up to coach-GM Jacques Martin to make it happen.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0038-01

Luongo demons need exorcise

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0039-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-011065/9024791-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MIKE CAMMALLERI</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JUAN OCAMPO/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>Y</span>ear 1 of the Dean Lombardi/Marc Crawford era in Tinseltown was anything but rosy. The Kings missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season and finished 28th in the league.</p><p>Goalie Dan Cloutier, brought in from Vancouver to settle the shaky situation in goal, only added more kerosene to the fire.</p><p>To make matters worse, the hockey landscape in Southern California is in flux following Anaheim&rsquo;s Stanley Cup win. Now, the Kings are playing second fiddle to their eternal city rivals.</p><p>However, there is good news on the horizon. The Kings boast one of the most talented core of young players in the league. Center Anze Kopitar was tremendous in his rookie campaign and big things are expected in 2007-08 from potential franchise defenseman Jack Johnson.</p><p>Another bright spot is goaltender Jonathan Bernier, who was sensational in the 2007 Memorial Cup as a member of the QMJHL&rsquo;s Lewiston Maineiacs.</p><p>The free agent signings of Ladislav Nagy, Michal Handzus, Kyle Calder, Brad Stuart and Tom Preissing beef up a young roster led by talented forwards Mike Cammalleri, Alexander Frolov, and Patrick O&rsquo;Sullivan.</p><p>But unless the goaltending picture becomes clearer, expect Crawford&rsquo;s hair to turn greyer.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0039-01

Kings a royal disappointment

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0040-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-01755/9024822-1-eng-US/f0040-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MARIAN GABORIK</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JEFF GROSS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>n 2006-07, the Wild got a little more offensive in their quest to get back to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Slovak veteran Pavol Demitra was brought in to serve as the caddy to countryman and Wild franchise winger Marian Gaborik.</p><p>Mark Parrish was also added to an emerging group of talented forwards that includes Brian Rolston, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Mikko Koivu. But even with these moves, the club couldn&rsquo;t get past the first round of the playoffs.</p><p>The Wild are blessed to own the deepest goaltending reserve in the league, with Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding capable of starting. While one of them will surely be moved in order to fill another hole at some point, these three puck-stoppers represent Minnesota&rsquo;s biggest strength.</p><p>On defense, mobile Kim Johnsson is joined by fast-improving Brent Burns &ndash; who has found a home after playing as a winger earlier in his career.</p><p>In terms of rookies, watch out for former University of Minnesota star Danny Irmen. After three successful years with the Golden Gophers, the 2003 third-rounder was solid in his first professional campaign with Houston (AHL). He&rsquo;ll make the roster, but won&rsquo;t have a big impact offensively this season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0040-01

Wild finally emerge from defensive shell

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0041-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-01643/9024853-1-eng-US/f0041-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SAKU KOIVU</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The NHL&rsquo;s all-time winningest franchise is in the midst of a slump.</p><p>It has been 13 seasons since the Canadiens last won the Stanley Cup, tying their longest stretch without a championship (1931-43). Barring an unforeseen miracle in 2007-08, they will set the franchise mark for futility this year.</p><p>After blowing a 2-0 lead in the opening round of the &lsquo;06 playoffs, the Habs did one better last season: They failed to reach the playoffs by losing in the final game of the regular season against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs.</p><p>To make matters worse, veterans Alex Kovalev and Sergei Samsonov &ndash; who has since been traded to Chicago &ndash; were distractions for all the wrong reasons. Given their recent struggles, it&rsquo;s time for Montreal to start the process of rebuilding a winner.</p><p>In Carey Price, the Habs have an ideal building block between the pipes. Seen as a potential franchise goalie, Price led Canada to WJC gold last year and later helped the AHL&rsquo;s Hamilton Bulldogs win the Calder Cup. He&rsquo;s only 20 and the Habs have a history of taking their time with prospects, but Price may be too good to keep down on the farm.</p><p>Therefore, expect either Cristobal Huet or Jaroslav Halak to be traded at some point this season to clear way for Price.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0041-01

Cup futility streak sure to hit 14 years

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0042-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-01671/9024884-1-eng-US/f0042-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>STEVE SULLIVAN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JOHN A RUSSELL/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>fter nine up-and-down years in the NHL, the Predators are not long for Nashville. Or are they? Check your daily soap opera report for the latest.</p><p>Research In Motion businessman Jim Balsillie was expected to be the potential new owner until he started making overtures about moving the team out of Tennessee and closer to his home in southern Ontario.</p><p>The NHL resisted and before long another potential owner stepped forward. Then a local group said it would buy the team and keep it in Nashville. Then Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman) mentioned a group of buyers in Florida were interested&hellip;</p><p>Well, not really. The last one is a fib, but you get the picture.</p><p>What we do know is the Predators are in Nashville this season for sure. The budget has been cut extensively, but GM David Poile has a wealth of young talent.</p><p>This team is coming off of back-to-back second-place finishes in the Central Division. The Preds rely on Chris Mason in goal after Tomas Vokoun was dealt. An outstanding cast of blueliners in Shea Weber, Dan Hamhuis and Marek Zidlicky all return.</p><p>What the Preds have always lacked is a franchise forward to build around. With no budget room, that quest will wait until the ownership situation stabilizes.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0042-01

On-ice excellence overshadowed

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0043-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-01664/9024915-1-eng-US/f0043-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PATRIK ELIAS</b> <span class="photo-credit">(MIKE STOBE/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Devils were enjoying a typically solid regular season when GM Lou Lamoriello, out of the blue, decided to fire coach Claude Julien and take the reigns himself. That occurred just a week before the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs.</p><p>The situation left many with unanswered questions, especially since New Jersey was bounced in the second round by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Ottawa Senators.</p><p>Since the end of the NHL lockout, the Devils have been in tight with regards to the salary cap. However, several of the club&rsquo;s bad contracts are now off the books, including Alexander Mogilny, Dan McGillis, Grant Marshall and Jason Wiemer. Unfortunately for Devils fans, the contract of Scott Gomez is also a goner.</p><p>After registering 60 points and missing 10 games last season because of a lingering groin injury, the team&rsquo;s first-line center produced 14 points in 11 playoff contests, putting himself out of New Jersey&rsquo;s price range and into the Big Apple.</p><p>Already the lowest scoring team among last year&rsquo;s 16 playoff participants, the Devils must find a way to replace Gomez&rsquo; offense. It won&rsquo;t be easy. With Lamoriello teams, losing talented players usually leads to tightening up even more at the other end.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0043-01

Defense still wins championships

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0044-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-01564/9024946-1-eng-US/f0044-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MIROSLAV SATAN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Despite the fact the Islanders haven&rsquo;t won the Stanley Cup since 1983, they continue to make major headlines throughout the NHL.</p><p>Bumping backup goalkeeper Garth Snow upstairs as the team&rsquo;s new GM. Signing franchise goaltender Rick DiPietro to an unprecedented 15-year, $67.5 million contract extension. Making the trade deadline acquisition of Ryan Smyth from Edmonton. Buying out the remaining four years of captain Alexei Yashin&rsquo;s contract. The Isles do business unlike anyone else in hockey.</p><p>Fortunately, the team now boasts one of the best coaches in Ted Nolan, who quickly made a lasting impression in his first year behind the bench last season.</p><p>The Isles had been notorious underachievers recently, but Nolan changed the culture on Long Island. They were one of the hardest working teams in the NHL, which went a long way in securing a playoff berth on the final day of the regular schedule.</p><p>However, the changes continue. Gone are Smyth, Yashin and leading scorer Jason Blake, so the goal-scoring will have to shift to an all-new top line &ndash; Mike Comrie between Ruslan Fedotenko and Bill Guerin.</p><p>As for DiPietro, he is healthy again following last season&rsquo;s concussion woes.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0044-01

Netminding solid, goals on horizon

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0045-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-01483/9024977-1-eng-US/f0045-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JAROMIR JAGR</b> <span class="photo-credit">(RICK STEWART/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>mong the things hockey fans never expected to see before the lockout was a Rangers team built from within. Nowadays, they have some homegrown talent to supplement their stars.</p><p>Last season, the likes of Dan Girardi and Ryan Callahan became NHL regulars by the time the playoffs rolled around. Both are expected to become integral parts of the equation in 2007-08 and will be joined by a few more youngsters &ndash; defenseman Marc Staal and winger Nigel Dawes.</p><p>Along with goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, defenseman Fedor Tyutin and winger Petr Prucha, they represent the nucleus of the Blueshirts going forward.</p><p>Still, this is the Big Apple so veterans from the outside are always needed and Scott Gomez and Chris Drury are the latest additions as free agents.</p><p>Captain Jaromir Jagr is still a capable scoring star, though he plays a more rounded game under coach Tom Renney. He is supported by Martin Straka and the ageless and productive Brendan Shanahan.</p><p>Adding balance to their top two scoring lines will enable the Rangers to move super pest Sean Avery to anchor Line 3. On defense, Staal joins Girardi, Tyutin, Michal Rozsival, Paul Mara and to form an unheralded corps with something to prove.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0045-01

Star power added to young apples

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0046-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-01469/9025008-1-eng-US/f0046-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DANY HEATLEY</b> <span class="photo-credit">(PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Even when the Senators finally lived up to post-season expectations, they found a way to leave the hockey community wanting more.</p><p>After quickly disposing of the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres in dominating fashion, Ottawa ran into a brick wall in the form of the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup final. The result was a five-game defeat and a return to the drawing board this off-season.</p><p>However, the team enters the new term with confidence. The Sens are built for post-season success and have hard-working players to make a difference when scoring is at a premium.</p><p>They uncovered a starting goalkeeper last season in the form of in Ray Emery, who performed very well under strange circumstances. The Sens paid big money to Martin Gerber, expecting him to fill the hole left by Dominik Hasek. Instead, Emery out-performed the Swiss netminder and ran away with the starting job. He&rsquo;s still prone to occasional lapses in concentration, but Emery has clearly solidified the last line of defense in the Canadian capital.</p><p>Another positive sign heading into 2007-08 is the consistent (and now clutch) play from captain Daniel Alfredsson. Can he get Jason Spezza to follow his lead? It all starts with No. 11 in Ottawa.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0046-01

Cup runners-up no pushovers

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0047-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-01450/9025039-1-eng-US/f0047-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SIMON GAGNE</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>hings are definitely looking up for the Flyers following a productive off-season. Then again, it couldn&rsquo;t possibly be worse than 2006-07&rsquo;s last-place team.</p><p>The club struck early in the summer when it dealt for the rights to two potential unrestricted free-agent members of the Nashville Predators: Defenseman Kimmo Timonen and winger Scott Hartnell. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren promptly signed both veterans to six-year contracts.</p><p>Philly also added a top winger prospect for down the road, when it selected New Jersey native James van Riemsdyk with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft. The latter won&rsquo;t be a factor in Philadelphia for a couple of seasons, but he represents the organization&rsquo;s return to &lsquo;Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; hockey.</p><p>Look for the team to once again become one of the grittiest outfits in the NHL and Hartnell to become a big part of the equation.</p><p>The good news, for a change, is the Flyers are set in goal with former Sabre Martin Biron starting ahead of Antero Niittymaki.</p><p>If the power play improves and injuries don&rsquo;t become a problem, Philly will be a factor again in the Atlantic Division. The more likely scenario is they&rsquo;re one year away from contending for a playoff spot. The Flyers won&rsquo;t be an easy two points for opponents, though.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0047-01

Flyers add grit, seek new respect

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0048-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-01307/9025070-1-eng-US/f0048-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SHANE DOAN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(NOAH GRAHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Coyotes, under the guidance of new GM Don Maloney, know what they need to become a playoff contender in the Western Conference: More goals.</p><p>After years of acquiring players with size and toughness, Phoenix secured future scoring when it chose diminutive center Kyle Turris with the third overall selection in the draft. Turris won&rsquo;t be available for at least one season, since he&rsquo;s attending the University of Wisconsin.</p><p>In the meantime, the Coyotes must find a way to improve their offensive output. In 2006-07, they produced just 216 goals &ndash; which was last in the Pacific Division, fifth-worst in the Western Conference and tied with New Jersey for 25th in the entire NHL.</p><p>Moreover, the leading scorer &ndash; captain Shane Doan &ndash; produced just 27 goals and 55 points. Only three Coyotes scored more than 11 goals and only Doan went over the 40-point plateau. It&rsquo;s no wonder Phoenix placed last in the West and 29th in the NHL.</p><p>The good news is there&rsquo;s help on the way, led by WHL scoring aces Peter Mueller and Martin Hanzal. Russian Alexei Kaigorodov, acquired last season from Ottawa for Mike Comrie, will also help. All three will make an impact this year, but without defensive depth or top-notch goaltending, the wins will be hard to come by.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0048-01

Baptism by fire for Coyote youth

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0049-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-01271/9025101-1-eng-US/f0049-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SIDNEY CROSBY</b> <span class="photo-credit">(PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>hey&rsquo;re not the defending Stanley Cup champions or even the reigning Eastern Conference champions, but fans of the other 29 NHL teams are fearing the Pittsburgh Penguins. That&rsquo;s because GM Ray Shero is building up an impressive stable of young talent.</p><p>Led by NHL scoring champion and league MVP Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh is an offensive juggernaut. Crosby is joined by 2007 Calder trophy winner Evgeni Malkin and fellow impressive sophomore Jordan Staal up front, offensive defensemen Ryan Whitney and Kristopher Letang along the blueline and Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes.</p><p>These five players, all under the 25, represent the Pittsburgh nucleus.</p><p>Sprinkle in veterans Sergei Gonchar, Gary Roberts, Petr Sykora and Mark Recchi and you have a recipe for success.</p><p>Shero will continue to search for experienced role players to add additional support. However, he already has a few in place with bruising two-way winger Colby Armstrong and checking-line center Maxime Talbot. Georges Laraque provides the muscle.</p><p>After finishing third in goals last season (277), behind only the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators, look for Pittsburgh to lead the way in 2007-08.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0049-01

Young Pens strike fear in opponents

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0051-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-01259/9025163-1-eng-US/f0051-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BRAD BOYES</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Blues enter Year 2 under president John Davidson with plenty of optimism. Most of it centers on the team&rsquo;s impressive cast of defensemen.</p><p>The No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, Erik Johnson, will debut along the St. Louis blueline. He joins veteran Eric Brewer, Barret Jackman and Christian Backman to form an outstanding top four. They are joined by shutdown vet Jay McKee, promising Jeff Woywitka and solid role players Bryce Salvador and Matt Walker to form one of the deepest defense corps in the NHL.</p><p>The Blues will need them to perform, since the team&rsquo;s offense and goaltending are issues.</p><p>Brad Boyes, acquired from Boston for defenseman Dennis Wideman last season, is an important piece to the puzzle up front, while European import Martin Kariya &ndash; a top scorer in the Finnish SM-Liiga last season &ndash; will also help, especially with his older brother Paul on the team. Still, most of the Blues&rsquo; top offensive talents are not with the team yet: T.J. Oshie, Carl Soderberg, Patrik Berglund and 2007 first rounders Lars Eller and David Perron.</p><p>For now, St. Louis will make do with veterans, two-way forwards and role players. In goal, Manny Legace and Jason Bacashihua will hold the fort until Czech prospect Marek Schwarz is ready.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0051-01

Plucky blueline leads the Blues

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0052-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-01251/9025194-1-eng-US/f0052-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>VINCENT LECAVALIER</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>nother off-season of Lightning GM Jay Feaster fending off the rumor mongers has come and gone. While virtually the entire hockey community expects Feaster to trade one of his &ldquo;big three&rdquo; star forwards (Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St-Louis and Brad Richards), Feaster is happily sitting tight.</p><p>The three account for more than $20 million of salary cap space, but Lecavalier, St-Louis and Richards are all vital to the success of the Lightning franchise in their own way. Therefore, Feaster continues to tinker on the periphery with the hope of landing quality complements to his three stars.</p><p>This year&rsquo;s new editions include Czech winger Jan Hlavac and third-line center Chris Gratton, who returns to Tampa Bay for a third stint. Hlavac is expected to be an important piece to the puzzle, as he&rsquo;s penciled in to play on the second line with Richards.</p><p>The 31-year-old Hlavac last played in the NHL with the New York Rangers in 2003-04 and his career high in points came in with the Blueshirts in 2000-01 (64 points). Gratton will be an upgrade on Line 3 over hobbling captain Tim Taylor or Swede Andreas Karlsson, but a lack of depth on the wings will limit his production.</p><p>The other offensive key to success is defenseman Dan Boyle.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0052-01

Big three stay put despite rumors

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0053-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-01236/9025225-1-eng-US/f0053-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MATS SUNDIN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Maple Leafs didn&rsquo;t exactly celebrate the 40th anniversary of their last Stanley Cup triumph with style last season. In fact, they missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. Still, embattled GM John Ferguson was retained in the off-season and he immediately went to work on re-tooling his squad.</p><p>To that end, Ferguson dealt three draft picks in order to acquire goalie Vesa Toskala and forward Mark Bell from the San Jose Sharks. Toskala is expected to take over the starting job from Andrew Raycroft, whose first season as the Leafs&rsquo; starting netminder was littered with ups-and-downs. Bell endured a brutal year in San Jose and was in dire need of a fresh start. He could wind up on anywhere in the lineup, but expect the Leafs to give Bell a long look as a top-six forward.</p><p>Another newcomer is Swedish blueliner Anton Stralman, who spent the last two seasons toiling on home soil for Timra IK.</p><p>Heading into 2007-08, the Leafs are a middle-of-the-pack outfit in virtually all areas of the game: Offense, defense, special teams, goaltending, depth, toughness, etc.</p><p>In what could be captain Mats Sundin&rsquo;s last season in Toronto, look for big organizational changes if the Leafs don&rsquo;t get out of the starting blocks quickly.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0053-01

Middle of the pack mentality for Leafs

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0054-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-01241/9025256-1-eng-US/f0054-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DANIEL SEDIN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JOHN A RUSSELL/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>D</span>efense is now the name of the game in Vancouver. After years of near misses and playoff disappointment while playing a run-and-gun style, the Canucks completely transformed themselves into one of the NHL&rsquo;s top defensive squads last year.</p><p>While the team once relied on two outstanding scoring lines featuring names such as Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi, Brendan Morrison and the Sedin twins, Vancouver now is keyed by franchise goaltender Roberto Luongo. Naslund, Morrison and the Sedins are still around to support the 28-year-old netminder, as is one of the NHL&rsquo;s best blueline brigades.</p><p>Still, more offense is required if the Canucks are to return to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1994. Winger Taylor Pyatt and center Ryan Kesler will improve from last season&rsquo;s totals, while the Canucks will also get a fair amount of production out of defensemen Kevin Bieksa, Sami Salo and Mattias Ohlund.</p><p>More is to be expected from both Naslund and Morrison, but the Sedins are cutting into their power play time. The Canucks also need to add one more top-six forward in order to challenge for Western Conference supremacy.</p><p>Yet, Luongo&rsquo;s presence in the crease alone will ensure Vancouver will be competitive for several years to come.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0054-01

Luongo a kingpin of defensive style

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0055-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-01219/9025287-1-eng-US/f0055-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ALEX OVECHKIN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Capitals will introduce their third impact forward in three years in 2007-08. Following Alexander Ovechkin in 2005-06 and Alexander Semin last season, Swedish center Nicklas Backstrom will debut on one of the team&rsquo;s scoring lines.</p><p>Backstrom is one of the missing pieces to a developing team in D.C. His outstanding playmaking skills will instantly propel him to significant power play time as a rookie.</p><p>Backstrom will either be Ovechkin&rsquo;s main setup man or leading the charge in terms of second-line production. He&rsquo;s the best assist man from the center position to play for the Caps since countryman Michael Nylander was traded in 2004.</p><p>There is a big drop-off in offensive talent beyond Washington&rsquo;s three rising stars and the blueline still lacks a bona fide power play quarterback. Still, the Caps are taking baby steps on their way to respectability in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>The veteran leadership and quality netminding of Olaf Kolzig helps matters, while the club also boasts several gritty, hard-working foot soldiers &ndash; led by team captain Chris Clark and versatile winger Matt Pettinger.</p><p>The Caps aren&rsquo;t contenders yet, but they&rsquo;ll get there with the help of a few bluechippers on the way.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0055-01

Backstrom fills Caps’ biggest hole

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0056-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-01182/9025878-1-eng-US/f0056-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JAROME IGINLA</b> <span class="photo-credit">(NOAH GRAHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Hockey News provides 388 detailed statistical profiles of NHL forwards and defensemen projected to score 23 or more points. That&rsquo;s an average of 13 skaters per team. Scoring in the NHL fell five per cent from 6.05 goals-per-game in 2005-06 to 5.76 in 2006-07, not including shootout goals, which don&rsquo;t count in a player&rsquo;s stats.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-01168/9025871-1-eng-US/f0057-012.jpg" title="f0057-01" width="2132" height="1468"></div><h2><b>THREE-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE</b></h2><p>Detailed three-year statistics from the NHL, minor pros, major juniors, college and Europe. Bold denotes NHL season and career totals. Lea, league; GP, games played; G, goals; A, assists; P, points; Min., average minutes played per game; PIM, penalties in minutes; PPG. points per game; +/-, plus-mius; ES/PP, even strength/power play points</p><h2><b>CAREER STATS</b></h2><p>NHL career totals in games, goals, assists, points, penalty minutes and points per game</p><h2><b>LOGO</b></h2><p>NHL shield denotes unrestricted free agent as of mid-July</p><h2><b>VITAL STATS</b></h2><p>Age as of Oct. 1, 2007</p><h2><b>DURABILITY</b></h2><p>Games not played due to injury/illness or being a healthy scratch</p><h2><b>SALARY</b></h2><p>Pay packet or contract status for 2007-08</p><h2><b>KINNY</b></h2><p>Inside word on performance and potential for 2007-08</p><h2><b>2007-08 PROJECTION</b></h2><p>Projected games played, goals, assists and points</p><h2><b>AFINOGENOV&ndash;ARMSTRONG</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-01179/9025864-1-eng-US/f0058-012.jpg" title="f0058-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>ARNASON&ndash;AVERY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-01159/9025857-1-eng-US/f0059-012.jpg" title="f0059-01" width="2132" height="2252"></div><h2><b>AXELSSON&ndash;BARKER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-01149/9025850-1-eng-US/f0060-012.jpg" title="f0060-01" width="2132" height="2828"></div><h2><b>BATES&ndash;BEECH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-01146/9025843-1-eng-US/f0061-012.jpg" title="f0061-01" width="2140" height="2260"></div><h2><b>BELANGER&ndash;BERNIER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-01148/9025836-1-eng-US/f0062-012.jpg" title="f0062-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>BERTUZZI&ndash;BLAKE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0063-01124/9025829-1-eng-US/f0063-012.jpg" title="f0063-01" width="2132" height="2252"></div><h2><b>BOCHENSKI&ndash;BOUWMEESTER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0064-01127/9025822-1-eng-US/f0064-012.jpg" title="f0064-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>BOYD&ndash;BREWER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-01137/9025815-1-eng-US/f0065-012.jpg" title="f0065-01" width="2132" height="2252"></div><h2><b>BRIERE&ndash;BRUNETTE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0066-01123/9025808-1-eng-US/f0066-012.jpg" title="f0066-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>BRYLIN&ndash;CALDER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0067-0196/9025801-1-eng-US/f0067-012.jpg" title="f0067-01" width="2132" height="2252"></div><h2><b>CALLAHAN&ndash;CARLE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0068-0194/9025794-1-eng-US/f0068-012.jpg" title="f0068-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>CARTER&ndash;CHEECHOO</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0069-0186/9025787-1-eng-US/f0069-012.jpg" title="f0069-01" width="2132" height="2252"></div><h2><b>CHIMERA&ndash;CLARK</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0070-0179/9025780-1-eng-US/f0070-012.jpg" title="f0070-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>CLEARY&ndash;COLE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0071-0184/9025773-1-eng-US/f0071-012.jpg" title="f0071-01" width="2132" height="2252"></div><h2><b>COMMODORE&ndash;COOKE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0072-0180/9025766-1-eng-US/f0072-012.jpg" title="f0072-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>CORVO&ndash;DATSYUK</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0073-0185/9025759-1-eng-US/f0073-012.jpg" title="f0073-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>DEMITRA&ndash;DRURY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0074-0173/9025752-1-eng-US/f0074-012.jpg" title="f0074-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>DUMONT&ndash;EHRHOFF</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0075-0164/9025745-1-eng-US/f0075-012.jpg" title="f0075-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>EKMAN&ndash;FEDOROV</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0076-0165/9025738-1-eng-US/f0076-012.jpg" title="f0076-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>FEDOTENKO&ndash;FOSTER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0077-0173/9025731-1-eng-US/f0077-012.jpg" title="f0077-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>FRANZEN&ndash;GABORIK</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0078-0161/9025724-1-eng-US/f0078-012.jpg" title="f0078-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>GAGNE&ndash;GIONTA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0079-0162/9025717-1-eng-US/f0079-012.jpg" title="f0079-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>GIORDANO&ndash;GRATTON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0080-0150/9025710-1-eng-US/f0080-012.jpg" title="f0080-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>GRIER&ndash;HAINSEY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0081-0167/9025703-1-eng-US/f0081-012.jpg" title="f0081-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>HALPERN&ndash;HANDZUS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0082-0148/9025696-1-eng-US/f0082-012.jpg" title="f0082-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>HANZAL&ndash;HEATLEY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0083-0153/9025689-1-eng-US/f0083-012.jpg" title="f0083-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>HECHT&ndash;HIGGINS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0084-0144/9025682-1-eng-US/f0084-012.jpg" title="f0084-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>HILBERT&ndash;HOLMSTROM</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0085-0147/9025675-1-eng-US/f0085-012.jpg" title="f0085-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>HORCOFF&ndash;HUDLER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0086-0145/9025668-1-eng-US/f0086-012.jpg" title="f0086-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>HUNTER&ndash;JOHNSON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0087-0148/9025661-1-eng-US/f0087-012.jpg" title="f0087-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>JOHNSON&ndash;JOKINEN</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0088-0153/9025654-1-eng-US/f0088-012.jpg" title="f0088-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>JOVANOVSKI&ndash;KALININ</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0089-0150/9025647-1-eng-US/f0089-012.jpg" title="f0089-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>KALUS&ndash;KARIYA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0090-0146/9025640-1-eng-US/f0090-012.jpg" title="f0090-01" width="2152" height="2840"></div><h2><b>KELLY&ndash;KLESLA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0091-0140/9025633-1-eng-US/f0091-012.jpg" title="f0091-01" width="2128" height="2825"></div><h2><b>KNUBLE&ndash;KOLNIK</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0092-0146/9025626-1-eng-US/f0092-012.jpg" title="f0092-01" width="2128" height="2824"></div><h2><b>KOPTAR&ndash;KOVALEV</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0093-0144/9025619-1-eng-US/f0093-012.jpg" title="f0093-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>KOZLOV&ndash;KUBINA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0094-0139/9025612-1-eng-US/f0094-012.jpg" title="f0094-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>KUNITZ&ndash;LANGKOW</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0095-0143/9025605-1-eng-US/f0095-012.jpg" title="f0095-01" width="2122" height="2808"></div><h2><b>LAPOINTE&ndash;LEGWAND</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0096-0150/9025598-1-eng-US/f0096-012.jpg" title="f0096-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>LEHTINEN&ndash;LINDROS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0097-0156/9025591-1-eng-US/f0097-012.jpg" title="f0097-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>LOMBARDI&ndash;MALHOTRA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0098-0161/9025584-1-eng-US/f0098-012.jpg" title="f0098-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>MALIK&ndash;MARCHANT</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0099-0139/9025577-1-eng-US/f0099-012.jpg" title="f0099-01" width="2132" height="2829"></div><h2><b>MARKOV&ndash;McCABE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0100-0138/9025570-1-eng-US/f0100-012.jpg" title="f0100-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>McCLEMENT&ndash;MICHALEK</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0101-0141/9025563-1-eng-US/f0101-012.jpg" title="f0101-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>MICHALEK&ndash;MOEN</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0102-0136/9025556-1-eng-US/f0102-012.jpg" title="f0102-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>MOREAU&ndash;MOSS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0103-0137/9025549-1-eng-US/f0103-012.jpg" title="f0103-01" width="2132" height="2825"></div><h2><b>MUELLER&ndash;NASLUND</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0104-0139/9025542-1-eng-US/f0104-012.jpg" title="f0104-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>NEIL&ndash;NOVOTNY</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0105-0135/9025535-1-eng-US/f0105-012.jpg" title="f0105-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>NYLANDER&ndash;O&rsquo;SULLIVAN</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0106-0135/9025528-1-eng-US/f0106-012.jpg" title="f0106-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>OUELLET&ndash;PAHLSSON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0107-0136/9025521-1-eng-US/f0107-012.jpg" title="f0107-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>PANDOLFO&ndash;PECA</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0108-0140/9025514-1-eng-US/f0108-012.jpg" title="f0108-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>PELTONEN&ndash;PETTINGER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0109-0138/9025507-1-eng-US/f0109-012.jpg" title="f0109-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>PHANEUF&ndash;PLEKANEC</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0110-0136/9025500-1-eng-US/f0110-012.jpg" title="f0110-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>POHL&ndash;POTI</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0111-0136/9025493-1-eng-US/f0111-012.jpg" title="f0111-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>POTULNY&ndash;PROSPAL</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0112-0140/9025486-1-eng-US/f0112-012.jpg" title="f0112-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>PRUCHA&ndash;RANGER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0113-0136/9025479-1-eng-US/f0113-012.jpg" title="f0113-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>RECCHI&ndash;RICHARDS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0114-0141/9025472-1-eng-US/f0114-012.jpg" title="f0114-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>RICHARDS&ndash;ROZSIVAL</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0115-0134/9025465-1-eng-US/f0115-012.jpg" title="f0115-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>RUCCHIN&ndash;RYDER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0116-0137/9025458-1-eng-US/f0116-012.jpg" title="f0116-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>SAKIC&ndash;SANDERSON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0117-0136/9025451-1-eng-US/f0117-012.jpg" title="f0117-01" width="2112" height="2800"></div><h2><b>SAPRYKIN&ndash;SCHNEIDER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0118-0135/9025444-1-eng-US/f0118-012.jpg" title="f0118-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>SCHUBERT&ndash;SELANNE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0119-0135/9025437-1-eng-US/f0119-012.jpg" title="f0119-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>SEMIN&ndash;SILLINGER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0120-0135/9025430-1-eng-US/f0120-012.jpg" title="f0120-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>SIM&ndash;SMYTH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0121-0137/9025423-1-eng-US/f0121-012.jpg" title="f0121-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>SOPEL&ndash;ST-LOUIS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0122-0137/9025416-1-eng-US/f0122-012.jpg" title="f0122-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>STAAL&ndash;STAIOS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0123-0134/9025409-1-eng-US/f0123-012.jpg" title="f0123-01" width="2112" height="2800"></div><h2><b>STASTNY&ndash;STERLING</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0124-0139/9025402-1-eng-US/f0124-012.jpg" title="f0124-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>STILLMAN&ndash;STUART</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0125-0137/9025395-1-eng-US/f0125-012.jpg" title="f0125-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>STUMPEL&ndash;SUTER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0126-0137/9025388-1-eng-US/f0126-012.jpg" title="f0126-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>SUTTON&ndash;TAMBELLINI</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0127-0137/9025381-1-eng-US/f0127-012.jpg" title="f0127-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>TANGUAY&ndash;TIMONEN</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0128-0136/9025374-1-eng-US/f0128-012.jpg" title="f0128-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>TJARNQVIST&ndash;TUCKER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0129-0136/9025367-1-eng-US/f0129-012.jpg" title="f0129-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>UMBERGER&ndash;VERMETTE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0130-0136/9025360-1-eng-US/f0130-012.jpg" title="f0130-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>VISNOVSKY&ndash;WALKER</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0131-0136/9025353-1-eng-US/f0131-012.jpg" title="f0131-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>WARD&ndash;WELLWOOD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0132-0135/9025346-1-eng-US/f0132-012.jpg" title="f0132-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>WHITE&ndash;WIDEMAN</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0133-0136/9025339-1-eng-US/f0133-012.jpg" title="f0133-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>WILLIAMS&ndash;YASHIN</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0134-0138/9025332-1-eng-US/f0134-012.jpg" title="f0134-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>YORK&ndash;ZHERDEV</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0135-0136/9025325-1-eng-US/f0135-012.jpg" title="f0135-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>ZHITNIK&ndash;ZUBRUS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0136-0138/9025318-1-eng-US/f0136-012.jpg" title="f0136-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0056-01

ULTIMATE GUIDE SKATERS

<div class="byline">BY GRAHAM PERKINS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0137-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0137-0134/9025923-1-eng-US/f0137-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ERIC LINDROS</b> <span class="photo-credit">(RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>A salary cap jump of more than $6 million saw player values soar to pre-lockout figures this off-season.</p><p>GMs paid top dollar for elite players, snapping up the top UFAs to long-term deals on the first day of free agency. The Rangers, Flyers and Avalanche made the biggest upgrades, while the Islanders, Sabres and Oilers lagged. By July 3, nearly all the big names were wearing a different sweater.</p><p>Front-loaded contracts emerged as a way to skirt the salary cap (the cap hit is still an average over the term of the deal.) Heading the charge were Daniel Briere and Scott Gomez, who each signed long-term deals that pay $10 million in Year 1 with the amount getting smaller down the line.</p><p>One of the more unexpected factors was how big a role geography played in players&rsquo; decisions. Edmonton, a hockey mecca with a storied history, was given the cold shoulder by some UFAs because of its frigid climate and distance from Europe. After failing to land any big names to a diminished roster, Oilers GM Kevin Lowe tendered an offer sheet to Buffalo RFA Tomas Vanek. The Sabres said they have no choice but to match the outrageous $50 million offer.</p><h2><b>2007-08 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0137-0218/9025916-1-eng-US/f0137-022.jpg" title="f0137-02" width="830" height="2388"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0138-0132/9025909-1-eng-US/f0138-012.jpg" title="f0138-01" width="2108" height="2975"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>J-S GIGUERE</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0137-01

Proven NHL talent looking for a home

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0139-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0139-0126/9026038-1-eng-US/f0139-012.jpg"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>ith 85 goalies playing in the NHL last season, that&rsquo;s an average of almost three per team. Only 30 of them are truly the money men, but we&rsquo;ll give you our expectations and projections on 30 backups as well for a total of 60. Note, some are either unsigned free agents or include projections based on being moved to another team.</p><h2><b>THREE-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE</b></h2><p>Detailed three-year statistics from the NHL, minor pros, major juniors, college and Europe. Bold denotes NHL season and career totals. Lea, league; GP, games played; W, wins; L, losses; T, ties; SO, shutouts; SP, save percentage; GAA, goals-against average; SO/Appearance, shutouts per appearance.</p><h2><b>CAREER STATS</b></h2><p>NHL career totals in games, wins, losses, ties, shutouts, save percentage and goals-against average</p><h2><b>LOGO</b></h2><p>NHL shield denotes unrestricted free agent as of mid-July</p><h2><b>VITAL STATS</b></h2><p>Age as of Oct. 1, 2007</p><h2><b>DURABILITY</b></h2><p>Games not played due to injury/illness or being a healthy scratch</p><h2><b>SALARY</b></h2><p>Pay packet or contract status for 2007-08</p><h2><b>SKINNY</b></h2><p>Inside word on goalie performance and potential for 2007-08</p><h2><b>2007-08 PROJECTION</b></h2><p>Projected wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts</p><h2><b>AEBISCHER&ndash;BIRON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0140-0129/9026031-1-eng-US/f0140-012.jpg" title="f0140-01" width="2128" height="2824"></div><h2><b>BRODEUR&ndash;DENIS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0141-0127/9026024-1-eng-US/f0141-012.jpg" title="f0141-01" width="2126" height="2820"></div><h2><b>DIPIETRO&ndash;FERNANDEZ</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0142-0125/9026017-1-eng-US/f0142-012.jpg" title="f0142-01" width="2124" height="2820"></div><h2><b>FLEURY&ndash;GRAHAME</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0143-0124/9026010-1-eng-US/f0143-012.jpg" title="f0143-01" width="2128" height="2825"></div><h2><b>HALAK&ndash;HOLMQVIST</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0144-0127/9026003-1-eng-US/f0144-012.jpg" title="f0144-01" width="2124" height="2816"></div><h2><b>HUET&ndash;KIPRUSOFF</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0145-0126/9025996-1-eng-US/f0145-012.jpg" title="f0145-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>KOLZIG&ndash;LEGACE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0146-0126/9025989-1-eng-US/f0146-012.jpg" title="f0146-01" width="2132" height="2825"></div><h2><b>LEHTONEN&ndash;MASON</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0147-0123/9025982-1-eng-US/f0147-012.jpg" title="f0147-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>MILLER&ndash;OSGOOD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0148-0125/9025975-1-eng-US/f0148-012.jpg" title="f0148-01" width="2132" height="2825"></div><h2><b>RAYCROFT&ndash;SANFORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0149-0124/9025968-1-eng-US/f0149-012.jpg" title="f0149-01" width="2132" height="2820"></div><h2><b>SMITH&ndash;THOMAS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0150-0123/9025961-1-eng-US/f0150-012.jpg" title="f0150-01" width="2132" height="2821"></div><h2><b>TOSKALA&ndash;WEEKES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0151-0123/9025954-1-eng-US/f0151-012.jpg" title="f0151-01" width="2126" height="2821"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0139-01

ULTIMATE GUIDE GOALIES

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0164-04" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-043/9026233-1-eng-US/f0164-042.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-0215/9026240-1-eng-US/f0164-022.jpg" title="f0164-02" width="165" height="149"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-034/9026226-1-eng-US/f0164-032.jpg" title="f0164-03" width="67" height="141"></div><p><b>1ST STAR</b></p><p>DANIEL ALFREDSSON</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-052/9026219-1-eng-US/f0164-052.jpg" title="f0164-05" width="110" height="170"></div><p><b>2ND STAR</b></p><p>ANDY MCDONALD</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-062/9026212-1-eng-US/f0164-062.jpg" title="f0164-06" width="103" height="168"></div><p><b>3RD STAR</b></p><p>SCOTT NIEDERMAYER</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-072/9026205-1-eng-US/f0164-072.jpg" title="f0164-07" width="101" height="167"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>PLAYOFFS</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-09/9026198-1-eng-US/f0164-092.jpg" title="f0164-09" width="120" height="87"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h3><b>EASTERN CONFERENCE CONFERENCE FINAL</b></h3><p><b>OTTAWA 4 BUFFALO 1 - May 10</b> Ottawa 5 Buffalo 2. <b>May 12</b> Ottawa 4 Buffalo 3 (2OT). <b>May 14</b> Ottawa 1 Buffalo 0. <b>May 16</b> Buffalo 3 Ottawa 2. May 19 Ottawa 3 Buffalo 2 (OT).</p><h3><b>CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS</b></h3><p><b>BUFFALO 4 NY RANGERS 2 - April 25</b> Buffalo 5 NY Rangers 2. <b>April 27</b> Buffalo 3 NY Rangers 2. <b>April 29</b> NY Rangers 2 Buffalo 1 (2OT). <b>May 1</b> NY Rangers 2 Buffalo 1. <b>May 4</b> Buffalo 2 NY Rangers 1 (OT). <b>May 6</b> Buffalo 5 NY Rangers 4.</p><p><b>OTTAWA 4 NEW JERSEY 1 - April 26</b> Ottawa 5 New Jersey 4. <b>April 28</b> New Jersey 3 Ottawa 2 (2OT). <b>April 30</b> Ottawa 2 New Jersey 0. <b>May 2</b> Ottawa 3 New Jersey 2. <b>May 5</b> Ottawa 3 New Jersey 2.</p><h3><b>CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS</b></h3><p><b>BUFFALO 4 NY ISLANDERS 1 - April 12</b> Buffalo 4 NY Islanders 1. April 14 NY Islanders 3 Buffalo 2. <b>April 16</b> Buffalo 3 NY Islanders 2. <b>April 18</b> Buffalo 4 NY Islanders 2. <b>April 20</b> Buffalo 4 NY Islanders 3.</p><p><b>NEW JERSEY 4 TAMPA BAY 2 - April 12</b> New Jersey 5 Tampa Bay 3. <b>April 14</b> Tampa Bay 3 New Jersey 2. <b>April 16</b> Tampa Bay 3 New Jersey 2. <b>April 18</b> New Jersey 4 Tampa Bay 3 (OT). <b>April 20</b> New Jersey 3 Tampa Bay 0. <b>April 22</b> New Jersey 3 Tampa Bay 2.</p><p><b>NY RANGERS 4 ATLANTA 0 - April 12</b> NY Rangers 4 Atlanta 3. <b>April 14</b> NY Rangers 2 Atlanta 1. <b>April 17</b> NY Rangers 7 Atlanta 0. <b>April 18</b> NY Rangers 4 Atlanta 2.</p><p><b>OTTAWA 4 PITTSBURGH 1 - April 11</b> Ottawa 6 Pittsburgh 3. <b>April 14</b> Pittsburgh 4 Ottawa 3. <b>April 15</b> Ottawa 4 Pittsburgh 2. April 17 Ottawa 2 Pittsburgh 1. <b>April 19</b> Ottawa 3 Pittsburgh 0.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-11/9026191-1-eng-US/f0164-112.jpg" title="f0164-11" width="114" height="81"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h3><b>WESTERN CONFERENCE CONFERENCE FINAL</b></h3><p><b>ANAHEIM 4 DETROIT 2 - May 11</b> Detroit 2 Anaheim 1. <b>May 13</b> Anaheim 4 Detroit 3 (OT). <b>May 15</b> Detroit 5 Anaheim 0. <b>May 17</b> Anaheim 5 Detroit 3. <b>May 20</b> Anaheim 2 Detroit 1 (OT). <b>May 22</b> Anaheim 4 Detroit 3.</p><h3><b>CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS</b></h3><p><b>DETROIT 4 SAN JOSE 2 - April 26</b> San Jose 2 Detroit 0. <b>April 28</b> Detroit 3 San Jose 2. <b>April 30</b> San Jose 2 Detroit 1. <b>May 2</b> Detroit 3 San Jose 2 (OT). <b>May 5</b> Detroit 4 San Jose 1. <b>May 7</b> Detroit 2 San Jose 0.</p><p><b>ANAHEIM 4 VANCOUVER 1 - April 25</b> Anaheim 5 Vancouver 1. <b>April 27</b> Vancouver 2 Anaheim 1 (2OT). <b>April 29</b> Anaheim 3 Vancouver 2. <b>May 1</b> Anaheim 3 Vancouver 2 (OT). <b>May 3</b> Anaheim 2 Vancouver 1 (2OT)</p><h3><b>CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS</b></h3><p><b>DETROIT 4 CALGARY 2 - April 12</b> Detroit 4 Calgary 1. <b>April 15</b> Detroit 3 Calgary 1. <b>April 17</b> Calgary 3 Detroit 2. <b>April 19</b> Calgary 3 Detroit 2. <b>April 21</b> Detroit 5 Calgary 1. <b>April 22</b> Detroit 2 Calgary 1 (2OT)</p><p><b>ANAHEIM 4 MINNESOTA 1 - April 11</b> Anaheim 2 Minnesota 1. <b>April 13</b> Anaheim 3 Minnesota 2. <b>April 15</b> Anaheim 2 Minnesota 1. April 17 Minnesota 4 Anaheim 1. <b>April 19</b> Anaheim 4 Minnesota 1.</p><p><b>VANCOUVER 4 DALLAS 3 - April 11</b> Vancouver 5 Dallas 4 (4OT). <b>April 13</b> Dallas 2 Vancouver 0. <b>April 15</b> Vancouver 2 Dallas 1 (OT). <b>April 17</b> Vancouver 2 Dallas 1. April 19 Dallas 1 Vancouver 0 (OT). April 21 Dallas 2 Vancouver 0. <b>April 23</b> Vancouver 4 Dallas 1.</p><p><b>SAN JOSE 4 NASHVILLE 1 - April 11</b> San Jose 5 Nashville 4 (2OT). <b>April 13</b> Nashville 5 San Jose 2. <b>April 16</b> San Jose 3 Nashville 1. <b>April 18</b> San Jose 3 Nashville 2. <b>April 20</b> San Jose 3 Nashville 2.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-082/9026184-1-eng-US/f0164-082.jpg" title="f0164-08" width="496" height="2160"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0164-102/9026177-1-eng-US/f0164-102.jpg" title="f0164-10" width="640" height="797"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SIDNEY CROSBY</b> <span class="photo-credit">(CROSBY: GRAIG ABEL/GETTY IMAGES FOR NHL)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>NHL AWARDS AND ALL-STARS</b></h2><h3><b>AWARDS VOTING</b></h3><p><b>HART TROPHY</b> 1. Sidney Crosby, Pit 1225 (91-34-14-2-1) 2. Roberto Luongo, Van 801 (25-46-35-16-6) 3. Martin Brodeur, NJ 763 (21-45-39-12-7) 4. Vincent Lecavalier, TB 362 (5-6-22-48-16) 5. Joe Thornton, SJ 230 (0-8-11-27-38) 6. Nicklas Lidstrom, Det 53 (1-1-3-4-9) 7. Scott Niedermayer, Ana 45 (0-1-3-4-11) 8. Joe Sakic, Col 44 (0-0-4-5-9) 9. Teemu Selanne, Ana 36 (0-0-2-6-8) 10. Marian Hossa, Atl 35 (0-0-3-4-8)</p><p><b>NORRIS TROPHY</b> 1. Nicklas Lidstrom, Det 1217 (87-44-5-4-2) 2. Scott Niedermayer, Ana 1024 (46-62-22-6-2) 3. Chris Pronger, Ana 608 (6-25-55-28-14) 4. Dan Boyle, TB 219 (1-5-21-19-12) 5. Kimmo Timonen, Nsh 144 (0-2-9-24-13) 6. Dion Phaneuf, Cgy 98 (0-1-6-17-10) 7. Sergei Gonchar, Pit 85 (1-1-6-8-14) 8. Sheldon Souray, Mtl 67 (1-0-5-7-11) 9. Sergei Zubov, Dal 42 (0-0-4-5-7) 10. Brian Campbell, Buf 42 (0-0-3-4-15)</p><p><b>VEZINA TROPHY</b> 1. Martin Brodeur, NJ 122 (16-14-0) 2. Roberto Luongo, Van 116 (14-15-1) 3. Miikka Kiprusoff, Cgy 7 (0-0-7) Henrik Lundqvist, NYR 7 (0-0-7) 5. Dominik Hasek, Det 5 (0-0-5) 6. Niklas Backstrom, Min 4 (0-1-1) 7. Ryan Miller, Buf 4 (0-0-4) 8. Rick DiPietro, NYI 2 (0-0-2) J-S Giguere, Ana 2 (0-0-2) 10. Chris Mason, Nsh 1 (0-0-1)</p><p><b>CALDER TROPHY</b> 1. Evgeni Malkin, Pit 1357 (120-21-2-0-0) 2. Paul Stastny, Col 965 (16-95-25-5-0) 3. Jordan Staal, Pit 565 (6-14-52-45-12) 4. Anze Kopitar, LA 417 (0-8-40-45-26) 5. Dustin Penner, Ana 107 (0-2-6-11-30) 6. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SJ 96 (1-0-8-11-13) 7. Matt Carle, SJ 95 (0-0-5-13-31) 8. Wojtek Wolski, Col 30 (0-0-1-5-10) 9. Alexander Radulov, Nsh 23 (0-1-1-2-5) 10. Travis Zajac, NJ 13 (0-0-0-2-7)</p><p><b>JACK ADAMS AWARD</b> 1. Alain Vigneault, Van 134 (18-12-8) 2. Lindy Ruff, Buf 126 (11-18-17) 3. Michel Therrien, Pit 91 (11-10-6) 4. Barry Trotz, Nsh 89 (11-7-13) 5. Ted Nolan, NYI 47 (5-5-7) 6. Mike Babcock, Det 40 (4-6-2) 7. Jacques Lemaire, Min 32 (2-7-1) 8. Randy Carlyle, Ana 20 (3-1-2) 9. Dave Tippett, Dal 17 (1-3-3) 10. Bryan Murray, Ott 15 (3-0-0)</p><p><b>FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY</b> 1. Rod Brind&rsquo;Amour, Car 420 (16-21-7-23-9) 2. Samuel Pahlsson, Ana 405 (24-8-18-4-7) 3. Jay Pandolfo, NJ 311 (16-10-10-7-10) 4. Chris Drury, Buf 300 (18-6-9-10-3) 5. Mike Fisher, Ott 272 (12-10-12-4-10) 6. Jere Lehtinen, Dal 211 (2-13-13-8-11) 7. Henrik Zetterberg, Det 200 (9-9-5-6-4) 8. Kris Draper, Det 183 (2-11-10-10-6) 9. Daymond Langkow, Cgy 170 (6-7-9-3-7) 10. John Madden, NJ 166 (5-9-4-8-9)</p><p><b>LADY BYNG TROPHY</b> 1. Pavel Datsyuk, Det 705 (38-26-18-15-8) 2. Martin St-Louis, TB 513 (26-19-19-6-7) 3. Joe Sakic, Col 354 (17-17-7-9-3) 4. Jay Pandolfo, NJ 243 (16-5-7-4-1) 5. Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Min 167 (6-3-13-4-9) 6. Nicklas Lidstrom, Det 147 (5-8-4-6-3) 7. Kristian Huselius, Cgy 135 (4-6-6-6-5) 8. Tomas Kaberle, Tor 122 (1-9-6-5-4) 9. Teemu Selanne, Ana 107 (6-4-1-4-2) 10. Brad Richards, TB 107 (3-4-5-6-6)</p><h3><b>ALL-STAR VOTING</b></h3><p><b>CENTER</b> 1. Sidney Crosby, Pit 683 (130-10-3) 2. Vincent Lecavalier, TB 292 (8-63-63) 3. Joe Thornton, SJ 263 (2-63-64) 4. Joe Sakic, Col 36 (3-5-6) 5. Daniel Briere, Buf 5 (0-1-2) 6. Evgeni Malkin, Pit 3 (0-1-0) 7. Chris Drury, Buf 2 (0-0-2) 8. Pavel Datsyuk, Det 1 (0-0-1) Olli Jokinen, Fla 1 (0-0-1) Jason Spezza, Ott 1 (0-0-1)</p><p><b>RIGHT WING</b> 1. Dany Heatley, Ott 461 (75-27-5) 2. Martin St-Louis, TB 251 (19-42-30) 3. Marian Hossa, Atl 221 (20-26-43) 4. Teemu Selanne, Ana 166 (13-25-26) 5. Jarome Iginla, Cgy 82 (8-9-15) 6. Jaromir Jagr, NYR 59 (2-10-19) 7. Daniel Alfredsson, Ott 10 (2-0-0) 8. Marian Gaborik, Min 6 (1-0-1) 9. Alex Ovechkin, Wsh 5 (1-0-0) 10. Brian Gionta, NJ 3 (0-1-0)</p><p><b>LEFT WING</b> 1. Alex Ovechkin, Wsh 479 (75-29-17) 2. Thomas Vanek, Buf 306 (26-47-35) 3. Daniel Sedin, Van 178 (5-39-36) 4. Dany Heatley, Ott 127 (24-2-1) 5. Henrik Zetterberg, Det 30 (2-4-8) 6. Ilya Kovalchuk, Atl 27 (2-4-5) 7. Paul Kariya, Nsh 24 (0-6-6) 8. Simon Gagne, Phi 21 (1-4-4) 9. Ray Whitney, Car 21 (1-3-7) 10. Evgeni Malkin, Pit 17 (1-4-0)</p><p><b>DEFENSE</b> 1. Nicklas Lidstrom, Det 678 (130-8-4) 2. Scott Niedermayer, Ana 622 (107-28-3) 3. Chris Pronger, Ana 407 (31-79-15) 4. Dan Boyle, TB 198 (6-46-30) 5. Kimmo Timonen, Nsh 117 (1-27-31) 6. Dion Phaneuf, Cgy 100 (3-20-25) 7. Sergei Gonchar, Pit 82 (2-16-24) 8. Sheldon Souray, Mtl 67 (1-12-26) 9. Brian Campbell, Buf 47 (0-10-17) 10. Sergei Zubov, Dal 46 (0-10-16) 11. Jay Bouwmeester, Fla 28 (0-6-10) 12. Ryan Whitney, Pit 25 (0-5-10) 13. Tomas Kaberle, Tor 23 (0-4-11) 14. Philippe Boucher, Dal 21 (2-1-8) 15. Brian Rafalski, NJ 17 (0-1-14)</p><p><b>GOALTENDER</b> 1. Martin Brodeur, NJ 607 (91-50-2) 2. Roberto Luongo, Van 521 (52-86-3) 3. Dominik Hasek, Det 58 (0-3-49) 4. Miikka Kiprusoff, Cgy 25 (0-2-19) 5. Niklas Backstrom, Min 23 (0-0-23) 6. Ryan Miller, Buf 17 (0-0-17) 7. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR 13 (0-0-13) 8. Marty Turco, Dal 10 (0-1-7) 9. J.S. Giguere, Ana 7 (0-1-4) 10. Rick DiPietro, NYI 4 (0-0-4) 11. Ed Belfour, Fla 1 (0-0-1) Cristobal Huet, Mtl 1 (0-0-1)</p><h3><b>NHL AWARDS</b></h3><p><b>HART TROPHY</b> (most valuable player) Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins</p><p><b>ART ROSS TROPHY</b> (top scorer) Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins</p><p><b>MAURICE RICHARD TROPHY</b> (top goal-scorer) Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning</p><p><b>CALDER TROPHY</b> (top rookie) Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins</p><p><b>NORRIS TROPHY</b> (outstanding defenseman) Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings</p><p><b>VEZINA TROPHY</b> (outstanding goaltender) Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils</p><p><b>LADY BYNG TROPHY</b> (most sportsmanlike) Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings</p><p><b>SELKE TROPHY</b> (best defensive forward) Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina Hurricanes</p><p><b>JACK ADAMS AWARD</b> (coach of the year) Alain Vigneault, Vancouver Canucks</p><p><b>JENNINGS TROPHY</b> (lowest goals-against average) Niklas Backstrom & Manny Fernandez, Minnesota Wild</p><p><b>CONN SMYTHE TROPHY</b> (playoff most valuable player) Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks</p><p><b>MASTERTON TROPHY</b> (perseverance, dedication) Phil Kessel, Boston Bruins</p><p><b>KING CLANCY TROPHY</b> (humanitarian) Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens</p><p><b>FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS</b> C, Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh; LW, Alex Ovechkin, Washington; RW, Dany Heatley, Ottawa; D, Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit; D, Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim; G, Martin Brodeur, New Jersey.</p><p><b>SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS</b> C, Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay; LW, Thomas Vanek, Buffalo; RW, Martin St-Louis, Tampa Bay; D, Chris Pronger, Anaheim; D, Dan Boyle, Tampa Bay; G, Roberto Luongo, Vancouver.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0164-04

NHL PLAYOFFS 2006-07

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0165-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0165-0212/9026271-1-eng-US/f0165-022.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0165-0116/9026278-1-eng-US/f0165-012.jpg" title="f0165-01" width="183" height="123"></div><h2><b>NHL ENTRY DRAFT</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he 2007 entry draft was held June 22-23 in Columbus. Listed below are each team&rsquo;s picks. Information provided includes selection number, name, position, 2006-07 team and league.</p><h2><b>ANAHEIM DUCKS</b></h2><p>19. Logan MacMillan, C, Halifax (QMJHL); 42. Eric Tangradi, C, Belleville (OHL); 63. Maxime Macenauer, C, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL); 92. Justin Vaive, LW, USDP (U18); 93. Steven Kampfer, D, Michigan (CCHA); 98. Sebastian Stefaniszin, G, Eisbaren Berlin (Ger Jr.); 121. Mattias Modig, G, Lulea HF (Swe); 151. Brett Morrison, C, PEI (QMJHL).</p><h2><b>ATLANTA THRASHERS</b></h2><p>67. Spencer Machacek, RW, Vancouver (WHL); 115. Niklas Lucenius, C, Tappara Tampere (Fin Jr.); 175. John Albert, C, USDP (U18); 205. Paul Postma, D, Swift Current (WHL).</p><h2><b>BOSTON BRUINS</b></h2><p>8. Zach Hamill, C, Everett (WHL); 35. Tommy Cross, D, Westminster (HS); 130. Denis Reul, D, Mannheim (Ger Jr.); 159. Alain Goulet, D, Aurora (OPJRA); 169. Radim Ostrcil, D, HC Vsetin (Cze); 189. Jordan Knackstedt, RW, Moose Jaw (WHL).</p><h2><b>BUFFALO SABRES</b></h2><p>31. T.J. Brennan, D, St. John&rsquo;s (QMJHL); 59. Drew Schiestel, D, Mississauga (OHL); 89. Corey Tropp, RW, Sioux Falls (USHL); 139. Bradley Eidsness, G, Okotoks (AJHL); 147. Jean-Simon Allard, C, St. John&rsquo;s (QMJHL); 179. Paul Byron, C, Gatineau (QMJHL); 187. Nick Eno, G, Green Mountain (EJHL); 209. Drew Mackenzie, D, Taft (HS).</p><h2><b>CALGARY FLAMES</b></h2><p>24. Mikael Backlund, C, Vasteras HK (Swe2); 70. John Negrin, D, Kootenay (WHL); 116. Keith Aulie, D, Brandon (WHL); 143. Mickey Renaud, C, Windsor (OHL); 186. C.J. Severyn, LW, USDP (U18).</p><h2><b>CAROLINA HURRICANES</b></h2><p>11. Brandon Sutter, C/RW, Red Deer (WHL); 72. Drayson Bowman, C/LW, Spokane (WHL); 102. Justin McCrae, C, Saskatoon (WHL); 132. Chris Terry, LW, Plymouth (OHL); 162. Brett Bellemore, D, Plymouth (OHL).</p><h2><b>CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS</b></h2><p>1. Patrick Kane, RW, London (OHL); 38. William Sweatt, LW, Colorado College (WCHA); 56. Akim Aliu, C/RW, Sudbury (OHL); 69. Maxime Tanguay, C, Rimouski (QMJHL); 86. Josh Unice, G, USDP (U18); 126. Joseph Lavin, D, USDP (U18); 156. Richard Greenop, C, Windsor (OHL).</p><h2><b>COLORADO AVALANCHE</b></h2><p>14. Kevin Shattenkirk, D, USDP (U18); 45. Colby Cohen, D, Lincoln (USHL); 49. Trevor Cann, G, Peterborough (OHL); 55. T.J. Galiardi, W, Dartmouth (ECAC); 105. Brad Malone, C/LW, Sioux Falls (USHL); 113. Kent Patterson, G, Cedar Rapids (USHL); 135. Paul Carey, C, Salisbury (HS); 155. Jens Hellgren, D, Frolunda (Swe Jr.); 195. Johan Alcen, W, Brynas IF (Swe Jr.).</p><h2><b>COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS</b></h2><p>7. Jakub Voracek, RW, Halifax (QMJHL); 37. Stefan Legein, RW, Mississauga (OHL); 53. Will Weber, D, Gaylord (HS); 68. Jake Hansen, W, Sioux Falls (USHL); 94. Maxim Mayorov, W, Neftyanik Leninogorsk (Rus2); 158. Allen York, G, Camrose (AJHL); 211. Trent Vogelhuber, RW, St. Louis (NAHL).</p><h2><b>DALLAS STARS</b></h2><p>50. Nico Sacchetti, C, Virginia (HS); 64. Sergei Korostin, RW, Dynamo Moscow (Rus); 112. Colton Sceviour, C/RW, Portland (WHL); 128. Austin Smith, RW, Gunnery (HS); 129. Jamie Benn, LW, Victoria (BCHL); 136. Ondrej Roman, C, Spokane (WHL); 149. Michael Neal, LW, Belleville (OHL); 172. Luke Gazdic, LW, Erie (OHL).</p><h2><b>DETROIT RED WINGS</b></h2><p>27. Brendan Smith, D, St. Michael&rsquo;s (OPJRA); 88. Joakim Andersson, C, Frolunda (Swe Jr.); 148. Randy Cameron, C, Moncton (QMJHL); 178. Zack Torquato, C, Erie (OHL); 208. Bryan Rufenach, D, Lindsay (OPJRA).</p><h2><b>EDMONTON OILERS</b></h2><p>6. Sam Gagner, C/W, London (OHL); 15. Alex Plante, D, Calgary (WHL); 21. Riley Nash, C, Salmon Arm (BCHL); 97. Linus Omark, W, Lulea HF (Swe); 127. Milan Kytnar, C, Topolcany (Svk2); 157. William Quist, W, Tingsryd (Swe Jr.).</p><h2><b>FLORIDA PANTHERS</b></h2><p>10. Keaton Ellerby, D, Kamloops (WHL); 40. Michal Repik, RW, Vancouver (WHL); 71. Evgeni Dadonov, RW, Traktor Chelyabinsk (Rus); 101. Matt Rust, C, USDP (U18); 131. John Lee, D, Moorhead (HS); 181. Corey Syvret, D, Guelph (OHL); 191. Ryan Watson, LW, Cambridge (MWJRB); 202. Sergei Gayduchenko, G, Yaroslavl (Rus3).</p><h2><b>LOS ANGELES KINGS</b></h2><p>4. Thomas Hickey, D, Seattle (WHL); 52. Oscar Moller, C, Chiliwack (WHL); 61. Wayne Simmonds, RW, Owen Sound (OHL); 82. Bryan Cameron, C/RW, Belleville (OHL); 95. Alec Martinez, D, Miami (Ohio) (CCHA); 109. Dwight King, C/LW, Lethbridge (WHL); 124. Linden Rowat, G, Regina (WHL); 137. Joshua Turnbull, C, Waterloo (USHL); 184. Josh Kidd, D, Erie (OHL); 188. Matt Fillier, C/LW, St. John&rsquo;s (QMJHL).</p><h2><b>MINNESOTA WILD</b></h2><p>16. Colton Gillies, C, Saskatoon (WHL); 110. Justin Falk, D, Spokane (WHL); 140. Cody Almond, C, Kelowna (WHL); 170. Harri Ilvonen, D, Tappara Tampere (Fin Jr.); 200. Carson McMillan, RW, Calgary (WHL).</p><h2><b>MONTREAL CANADIENS</b></h2><p>12. Ryan McDonagh, D, Cretin-Derham (HS); 22. Max Pacioretty, LW, Sioux City (USHL); 43. P.K. Subban, D, Belleville (OHL); 65. Olivier Fortier, C, Rimouski (QMJHL); 73. Yannick Weber, D, Kitchener (OHL); 133. Joe Stejskal, D, Grand Rapids (HS); 142. Andrew Conboy, LW, Omaha (USHL); 163. Nichlas Torp, D, HV 71 (Swe Jr.); 192. Scott Kishel, D, Virginia (USHSW).</p><h2><b>NASHVILLE PREDATORS</b></h2><p>23. Jonathon Blum, D, Vancouver (WHL); 54. Jeremy Smith, G, Plymouth (OHL); 58. Nick Spaling, C, Kitchener (OHL); 81. Ryan Thang, LW, Notre Dame (CCHA); 114. Ben Ryan, C, Des Moines (USHL); 119. Mark Santorelli, C, Chiliwack (WHL); 144. Andreas Thuresson, W, Malmo (Swe); 174. Robert Dietrich, D, Dusseldorf (Ger); 204. Atte Engren, G, Lukko (Fin Jr.).</p><h2><b>NEW JERSEY DEVILS</b></h2><p>57. Mike Hoeffel, W, USDP (U18); 79. Nick Palmieri, RW, Erie (OHL); 87. Corbin McPherson, D, Cowichan Valley (BCHL); 117. Matt Halischuk, RW, Kitchener (OHL); 177. Vili Sopanen, W, Pelicans Lahti (Fin Jr.); 207. Ryan Molle, D, Swift Current (WHL).</p><h2><b>NEW YORK ISLANDERS</b></h2><p>62. Mark Katic, D, Sarnia (OHL); 76. Jason Gregoire, LW, Lincoln (USHL); 106. Maxim Gratchev, LW, Rimouski (QMJHL); 166. Blake Kessel, D, Waterloo (USHL); 196. Simon Lacroix, D, Shawinigan (QMJHL).</p><h2><b>NEW YORK RANGERS</b></h2><p>17. Alexei Cherepanov, RW, Avangard Omsk (Rus); 48. Antoine Lafleur, G, P.E.I. (QMJHL); 138. Max Campbell, C, Strathroy (WJRB); 168. Carl Hagelin, LW, Sodertalje (Swe Jr.); 193. David Skokan, C, Rimouski (QMJHL); 198. Danny Hobbs, C/RW, Ohio (USHL).</p><h2><b>OTTAWA SENATORS</b></h2><p>29. James O&rsquo;Brien, C, Minnesota (WCHA); 60. Ruslan Bashkirov, LW, Quebec (QMJHL); 90. Louie Caporusso, C/LW, St. Michael&rsquo;s (OPJRA); 120. Ben Blood, D, Shattuck St. Mary&rsquo;s (HS).</p><h2><b>PHILADELPHIA FLYERS</b></h2><p>2. James van Riemsdyk, LW, USDP (U18); 41. Kevin Marshall, D, Lewiston (QMJHL); 66. Garrett Klotz, LW, Saskatoon (WHL); 122. Mario Kempe, RW, St. John&rsquo;s (QMJHL); 152. Jonathon Kalinski, LW, Minnesota State (WCHA); 161. Patrick Maroon, LW, St. Louis (NAHL); 182. Brad Phillips, G, USDP (U18).</p><h2><b>PHOENIX COYOTES</b></h2><p>3. Kyle Turris, C, Burnaby (BCHL); 30. Nick Ross, D, Regina (WHL); 32. Brett Maclean, LW, Oshawa (OHL); 36. Joel Gistedt, G, Frolunda (Swe); 103. Vladimir Ruzicka, C, Slavia Praha (Cze Jr.); 123. Maxim Goncharov, D, CSKA Moscow (Rus); 153. Scott Darling, G, Capital District (EJHL).</p><h2><b>PITTSBURGH PENGUINS</b></h2><p>20. Angelo Esposito, C, Quebec (QMJHL); 51. Keven Veilleux, C, Victoriaville (QMJHL); 78. Robert Bortuzzo, D, Kitchener (OHL); 80. Casey Pierro-Zabotel, C, Merritt (BCHL); 111. Luca Caputi, LW, Mississauga (OHL); 118. Alex Grant, D, Saint John (QMJHL); 141. Jake Muzzin, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL); 171. Dustin Jeffrey, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL).</p><h2><b>ST. LOUIS BLUES</b></h2><p>13. Lars Eller, C/W, Frolunda (Swe Jr.); 18. Ian Cole, D, USDP (U18); 26. David Perron, LW, Lewiston (QMJHL); 39. Simon Hjalmarsson, RW, Frolunda (Swe Jr.); 44. Aaron Palushaj, RW, Des Moines (USHL); 85. Brett Sonne, C/LW, Calgary (WHL); 96. Cade Fairchild, D, USDP (U18); 100. Travis Erstad, C/RW, Stevens Point (HS); 160. Anthony Peluso, D, Erie (OHL); 190. Trevor Nill, C, Compuware (MWEHL).</p><h2><b>SAN JOSE SHARKS</b></h2><p>9. Logan Couture, C, Ottawa (OHL); 28. Nicholas Petrecki, D, Omaha (USHL); 83. Timo Pielmeier, G, Kolner (Ger Jr.); 91. Tyson Sexsmith, G, Vancouver (WHL); 165. Patrik Zackrisson, W, Rogle (Swe2); 173. Nick Bonino, C, Avon Old Farms (HS); 201. Justin Braun, D, Massachusetts (HE); 203. Frazer McLaren, LW, Portland (WHL).</p><h2><b>TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING</b></h2><p>47. Dana Tyrell, C/RW, Prince George (WHL); 75. Luca Cunti, C/LW, Dubendorf (Swi3); 77. Alexander Killorn, C, Deerfield (HS); 107. Mitch Fadden, C, Lethbridge (WHL); 150. Matt Marshall, C/RW, Nobles (HS); 167. Johan Harju, LW, Lulea (Swe); 183. Torrie Jung, G, Kelowna (WHL); 197. Michael Ward, D, Lewiston (QMJHL); 210. Justin Courtnall, LW, Burnaby (BCHL).</p><h2><b>TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS</b></h2><p>74. Dale Mitchell, RW, Oshawa (OHL); 99. Matt Frattin, RW, Fort Saskatchewan (AJHL); 104. Ben Winnett, LW, Salmon Arm (BCHL); 134. Juraj Mikus, D, Dukla Trencin (Svk Jr.); 164. Christopher Didomenico, C, Saint John (QMJHL); 194. Carl Gunnarsson, D, Linkopings (Swe).</p><h2><b>VANCOUVER CANUCKS</b></h2><p>25. Patrick White, C, Tri-City (USHL); 33. Taylor Ellington, D, Everett (WHL); 145. Charles-Antoine Messier, C, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL); 146. Ilya Kablukov, W, CSKA Moscow (Rus); 176. Taylor Matson, C, Holy Angels (HS); 206. Dan Gendur, RW, Everett (WHL).</p><h2><b>WASHINGTON CAPITALS</b></h2><p>5. Karl Alzner, D, Calgary (WHL); 34. Josh Godfrey, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL); 46. Ted Ruth, D, USDP (U18); 84. Phil Desimone, C, Sioux City (USHL); 108. Brett Bruneteau, C, Omaha (USHL); 125. Brett Leffler, RW, Regina (WHL); 154. Dan Dunn, G, Wellington (OPJRA); 180. Justin Taylor, C, London (OHL); 185. Nick Larson, C, Hill-Murray (HS); 199. Andrew Glass, LW, Nobles (HS).<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0165-02

NHL ENTRY DRAFT 2006-07

f0171-01

MINORS & JUNIORS 2006-07

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0172-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0172-0119/9026340-1-eng-US/f0172-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(VICTOR DECOLONGON/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="105" height="118"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p> * Indicates notables<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0172-01

THE SPECIALISTS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0173-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0173-0119/9026378-1-eng-US/f0173-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ELSA/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="105" height="118"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p> * Indicates notables<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0173-01

QUICK DRAWS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0174-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0174-0119/9026416-1-eng-US/f0174-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(RICK STEWART/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="105" height="118"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p> * Indicates notables<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0174-01

DEADLY MARKSMEN

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0175-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0175-0118/9026454-1-eng-US/f0175-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SCOTT CUNNINGHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="105" height="118"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p> * Indicates notables<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0175-01

THE LAST LINE

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0176-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0176-0119/9026492-1-eng-US/f0176-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="105" height="118"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p> * Indicates notables<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0176-01

LITTLE BATTLES

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0177-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0177-0114/9026537-1-eng-US/f0177-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>SIDNEY CROSBY</b></p><p><b>MARTIN HAVLAT</b></p><p><b>MICHAEL RYDER</b></p><p><b>ALEXANDER STEEN</b></p><p><b>RYANE CLOWE</b></p><p><b>JAY McCLEMENT</b></p><span class="photo-credit">(CROSBY: PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES; HAVLAT: JONATHAN DANIEL/GETTY IMAGES; RYDER: JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES, STEEN: RICK STEWART/GETTY IMAGES; CLOWE: DON SMITH/GETTY IMAGES; McCLEMENT: JOHN A RUSSELL/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0179-0115/9026530-1-eng-US/f0179-012.jpg" title="f0179-01" width="4800" height="3150"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0177-01

NHL CHECKLIST

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0182-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0182-0112/9026575-1-eng-US/f0182-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ANAHEIM DUCKS vs. LOS ANGELES KINGS Saturday, September 29th</b> <span class="photo-credit">(NOAH GRAHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0184-0112/9026568-1-eng-US/f0184-012.jpg" title="f0184-01" width="4800" height="3150"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CALGARY FLAMES vs. EDMONTON OILERS Sunday, January 13th</b> <span class="photo-credit">(NOAH GRAHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0182-01

2007-08 NHL SCHEDULE

<div class="byline">BY DARRYL DOBBS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="452" height="303"></div><p>Every draft has a few of them. Somebody makes a selection that makes you do a double take, scrunch up your face and exclaim &ndash; &ldquo;Huh?&rdquo;</p><p>A player&rsquo;s career is clearly on the decline, or he is not the right fit for a certain team, or for some reason there is just no way the player warrants such an early selection (if at all), yet somebody at the draft eagerly scoops him up, shocking everyone else.</p><p>After the lockout, in most leagues, somebody drafted Teemu Selanne. His production had been steadily declining the past five seasons &ndash; from 107 in 1998-99 to 85 to 72 to 54 to 64 to a 32-point season in Colorado.</p><p>Admit it, you laughed. Let someone else take his 30-something points.</p><p>Two seasons and 184 points later, who&rsquo;s laughing now?</p><p>A perfect example is Marc Savard. We all thought he&rsquo;d tumble from his 97-point total after leaving Ilya Kovalchuk in Atlanta. The contrarian drafting him looked brilliant when he got 96 points in Boston.</p><p>Here are selections for this October that will make your fellow poolies look at you funny&hellip;but may just pan out.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0186-026/9026606-1-eng-US/f0186-022.jpg" title="f0186-02" width="1219" height="1425"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MANNY LEGACE</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DILIP VISHWANAT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>TOP 12 PICKS</b></h2><p>1 <b>Manny Legace, STL</b> &ndash; Was on an 18-5-3 run before injury. With an improving defense corps in front of him, watch out. He could surpass 35 wins.</p><p>2 <b>Sergei Samsonov, CHI &ndash;</b> Too young to be finished. He was finally healthy all season. Chicago&rsquo;s a better fit. He could surpass 70 points.</p><p>3 <b>Alexei Zhitnik, ATL &ndash;</b> Thrashers have him running the power play every possible second. Career high (13 years ago) is 52 points. He could match it.</p><p>4 <b>Joffrey Lupul, PHI &ndash;</b> Horrible season has poolies bailing, but he&rsquo;s entering his fourth year &ndash; traditionally a break-out time. He could surpass 65 points.</p><p>5 <b>Ryan Malone, PIT &ndash;</b> Broken arm early in the season derailed his offense. Now healthy, he&rsquo;ll play with Crosby or Malkin. He could surpass 65 points.</p><p>6 <b>Mike Modano, DAL &ndash;</b> The last time he produced so little, he bounced back with 77 points. The 37-year-old has another gear. He could surpass 75 points.</p><p>7 <b>Stephen Weiss, FLA &ndash;</b> Injuries have stunted his development, but he showed signs of breaking through. He could surpass 65 points.</p><p>8 <b>Marek Zidlicky, NSH &ndash;</b> The arrival of Shea Weber killed his production. The departure of Kimmo Timonen will bring it back. He could surpass 50 points.</p><p>9 <b>Jonathan Cheechoo, SJ &ndash;</b> He&rsquo;s not a 69-point player, he&rsquo;s a 90-point player. Treat him as such. Finished year with 35 in 30. He could surpass 95 points.</p><p>10 <b>Nikolai Zherdev, CLB &ndash;</b> Responded poorly to new contract and new coach. Keep in mind he&rsquo;s still just 22. He could surpass 65 points.</p><p>11 <b>Kyle Calder, LA &ndash;</b> Weak start and weak post-season, but he looked good in the Motor City during final 19 regular season games. He could surpass 55 points.</p><p>12 <b>John Pohl, TOR -</b> Numbers don&rsquo;t impress, but he ended the year with 26 points in 42 games and saw some time on the PP. He could surpass 50 points.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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Ultimate Fantasy Pool Guide 2007-08

Sharks keep core; focus on Thornton

STATISTICS 2006-2007

50,000, watts of will-power

Driving to Net for big action