The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.

September 30, 2008

The Hockey News - Sep-30-08

<div class="byline">&#x2013; Ryan Kennedy</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-0536/9170206-1-eng-US/f0065-052.jpg" title="f0065-05" width="744" height="684"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p>ELMIRA JACKALS</p><p><b>CURRENT</b></p></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-0455/9170213-1-eng-US/f0065-042.jpg" title="f0065-04" width="142" height="142"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>s was demonstrated during <a href="http://THN.com">THN.com</a>&rsquo;s logo ranking spectacular, there&rsquo;s a wide gulf of good taste when it comes to minor pro hockey crests.</p><p>But when the Elmira Jackals made the leap to the ECHL from the United League for the 2007-08 season, they rightly updated their logo and jersey, bringing us a real tough jackal that was much more modern and pro-looking than their original UHL mascot.</p><p>The overall jersey benefitted from this, too &ndash; the front is very clean, reserving all striping for the sleeves, while the chest number acts as nice contrast.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></div>

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IN THIS ISSUE

JERSEY HOUND

<div class="byline">WITH JAMES SHEPPARD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012303/9167419-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="519" height="484"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SHEPPARD: BRUCE KLUCKHOHN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021538/9167426-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="99" height="87"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p><i>BRENDAN CRUZ FROM NEPEAN, ONT., ASKS</i> What do you do to work on your stickhandling?</p><p>When I&rsquo;m warming up for practice, I stickhandle really wide in a figure-eight and see how far I can go on my forehand, then again on my backhand.</p><p><i>SHAMUS MACDOUGALL FROM SYDNEY, N.S., ASKS</i> What was your favorite part of playing junior in Cape Breton?</p><p>I&rsquo;d say the team itself. We had a great bunch of guys, close as a family. I still talk to almost everyone from that team.</p><p><i>NEAL MACDONALD FROM GLACE BAY, N.S., ASKS</i> Is there anyone in particular who helped you in junior and the NHL?</p><p>In junior, my first captain was Guillaume Demers and my second captain was Philippe Bertrand. I learned a lot about being a leader from them. Some things they taught me I didn&rsquo;t realize until I got here (to the NHL). With Minnesota, there was my billet, Darby Hendrickson. Sean Hill and Keith Carney made it easy for me in the dressing room and Mikko Koivu was always giving me tips.</p><p><i>MARK PERRY FROM SYDNEY MINES, N.S., ASKS</i> What is your pre-game routine?</p><p>I usually eat, nap, hang around in sweatpants all day and relax, then mentally prepare for the game.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="77" height="77"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>Visit <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a> to ask your questions of NHL stars!<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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THE STANDARDS

FAN SHOOTOUT

<div class="byline">BY LARRY BROOKS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0052-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-02166/9169677-1-eng-US/f0052-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Drury <span class="photo-credit">(SCOTT PILLING/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-01266/9169684-1-eng-US/f0052-012.jpg" title="f0052-01" width="213" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>O</span>NE YEAR AFTER committing $85 million to sign free agents Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, the Rangers have committed to making their blue-chip centers the center of the Blueshirts&rsquo; universe. This time it only cost Jaromir Jagr.</p><p>Because the choice was between finding a first-line center to play with the notoriously idiosyncratic Jagr, who could not or would not adapt his game to fit with either of the incoming pivots after the departure of the simpatico Michael Nylander, or to pivot in a different direction and build around Gomez and Drury. GM Glen Sather made the decision to chart a new course. Jagr, the Rangers&rsquo; post-lockout signature player whose presence dominated the franchise, left to sign an enormous free agent deal with Omsk of the KHL. In an instant, the baton had been passed.</p><p>&ldquo;We wanted to get younger and we want a team that can move the puck,&rdquo; Sather said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to still have a sound defensive structure, but these days, defensemen have to be able to hit guys in the open, you have to be able to make plays. We&rsquo;re going to use Drury and Gomez in an offensive way we think will utilize their abilities.&rdquo;</p><p>The Rangers traded for Columbus right winger Nikolai Zherdev. They signed Vancouver left winger Markus Naslund. They expect one or both to capitalize on Gomez&rsquo;s speed and open-ice, give-and-go game to give the team an attacking, puck-pressure first unit. They expect Gomez to dominate and establish the tempo the way he did as a Devil when he skated between Patrik Elias and Brian Gionta.</p><p>They expect Drury &ndash; who actually wound up as a $7-million, third-line center behind Gomez and freshman Brandon Dubinsky, who played the final quarter of the year and the playoffs with Jagr &ndash; to assume the kind of leadership role on and off the ice that he had in Buffalo.</p><p>Indeed, if the Blueshirts appoint a captain to replace Jagr rather than go with a triumvirate of alternates, it will be Drury who wears the &lsquo;C.&rsquo;</p><p>There is going to be an enormous burden on Henrik Lundqvist, a Vezina nominee in each of his first three NHL seasons, to have his best year yet. Wade Redden, the Ottawa free agent defenseman whom the Rangers signed to a six-year, $39-million pact, will be under serious scrutiny.</p><p>The young forwards who played support roles last year will be expected to be primary contributors in the absence of not only Jagr, but of veteran linchpins Brendan Shanahan, Sean Avery and Martin Straka, as well.</p><p>But the greatest burden will fall on Gomez and Drury, who both came to New York to lead and now will be given the opportunity to do so. If it is an exaggeration to suggest the Rangers will be &ldquo;their&rdquo; team, it is no exaggeration to suggest that one year later, the Rangers have turned over their program to Gomez and Drury while Jagr skates in Siberia.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>The Rangers&rsquo; depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. H. Lundqvist</p><p>2. S. Valiquette</p><p>3. M. Wiikman</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. M. Rozsival</p><p>2. W. Redden</p><p>3. M. Staal</p><p>4. D. Girardi</p><p>5. D. Kalinin</p><p>6. P. Mara</p><p>7. T. Pock</p><p>8. C. Potter</p><p>9. B. Sanguinetti</p><p>10. M. Sauer</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. Naslund</p><p>2. N. Dawes</p><p>3. P. Rissmiller</p><p>4. A. Voros</p><p>5. F. Sjostrom</p><p>6. L. Korpikoski</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. S. Gomez</p><p>2. C. Drury</p><p>3. B. Dubinsky</p><p>4. B. Betts</p><p>5. D. Fritsche</p><p>6. A. Anisimov</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. N. Zherdev</p><p>2. R. Callahan</p><p>3. P. Prucha</p><p>4. C. Orr</p><p>5. A. Jamtin</p><p>6. H. Jessiman</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. A. Anisimov, C, 20</p><p>2. B. Sanguinetti, D, 20</p><p>3. L. Korpikoski, LW, 22</p><p>4. A. Jamtin, RW, 25</p><p>5. C. Potter, D, 24<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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JAGR DEFICIENCY

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-012089/9167264-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Showcase Showdown Kings Derek Armstrong, Denis Gauthier, Kyle Calder and Dustin Brown joined host Drew Carey on <i>The Price Is Right</i>.<span class="photo-credit">(OVER: PRICE: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; CROSBY: GREGORY SHAMUS/GETTY IMAGES CONTENTS: MICHAEL BUCKNER/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="77" height="77"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>Check out <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a> to see photos of the week.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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THE BIG PICTURE

<div class="byline">with Jason Kay</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-012081/9167302-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="713" height="604"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(MARK WILSON)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>HE MONTREAL CANADIENS are poised to be <i>the</i> story of 2008-09, celebrating their 100th anniversary, hosting the NHL All-Star Game and entry draft and, their faithful hope, building on last year&rsquo;s success with a trip to the Stanley Cup.</p><p>Senior writer Mike Brophy (more on him later) lays out what could be an exceptional year for the Habs and their GM, Bob Gainey, in our anchor story on pg. 32.</p><p>Of course, there are 29 other teams and hundreds of other players and storylines that could grab the mantle of &ldquo;Year of&hellip;&rdquo;, and we&rsquo;ve highlighted a good handful of them in this special season opener edition. Here are a few smoldering embers that I&rsquo;m going to monitor for flammability.</p><p>&bull; <b>Brian Burke:</b> With Ducks owner Henry Samueli sliding deeper into legal trouble, what are the ramifications for his much-vaunted GM? Is Burke, in the final year of a contract, a couple steps closer to Toronto?</p><p>&bull; <b>Martin Brodeur:</b> The Devils superstar begins the campaign just 13 wins shy of Patrick Roy as the league&rsquo;s all-time winningest goalie. The debates over best-ever netminder are sure to ensue.</p><p>&bull; <b>The Chicago Blackhawks:</b> The Habs aren&rsquo;t the only sweet Original Six storyline. The young and exciting Hawks are inching their way back into the hearts of Windy City fans and will be hosting the big outdoor game this year at Wrigley Field. It&rsquo;s a feel-good script waiting to be written.</p><p>&bull; <b>Mats Sundin:</b> Sorry, I had to.</p><p>&bull; <b>The Tampa Bay Lightning:</b> The new regime is big on bang and shock value. Can&rsquo;t wait to see what they do next.</p><p>&bull; <b>Goal-scoring:</b> If it remains sparse, expect the chatter about opening up the game &ndash; possibly with bigger nets &ndash; to intensify.</p><p>&bull; <b>The Canadian dollar:</b> The loonie isn&rsquo;t swooning, but it has retreated from par. If it continues to fall, say, back to around 80 cents on the U.S. dollar by season&rsquo;s end, the ramifications on league revenue, and the salary cap/franchise stability, could be enormous.</p><p>GOODBYE, BROPH The Hockey News bids a sad but warm farewell to Mike Brophy in this issue. After 16 years at THN, &lsquo;Broph&rsquo; is leaving to join Rogers Sportsnet full-time. We&rsquo;ll miss him on many levels &ndash; his writing contributions; his appeal to our audience; his vast network in the industry; his leadership among our group; and, his sense of humor and storytelling. On a personal level, I&rsquo;ll miss the everyday sounding board a great friend supplies. We wish him well as he moves forward.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021760/9167295-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="408" height="218"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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BURKE, BOLTS, BUCK ON ‘YEAR OF’ RADAR

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-012077/9167381-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="952" height="1069"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Is the Northwest becoming the North-worst? When looking at the Northwest Division, one has to wonder what happened.</p><p>Just two years ago I&rsquo;d put any team in the whole division up against any other team in the league. Now it appears what was once the grittiest, tightest division in the NHL has devolved into mediocrity.</p><p>Calgary? Matador defense. Vancouver? Forget &rsquo;em. The Oil? Still too young. The Avs? Too old. The Wild? No scoring. Makes a guy almost think about cheering for an Eastern Conference team&hellip;OK, its not that bad, but it&rsquo;s getting there.</p><p>PATRICK MORLEY, ST. PAUL, MINN.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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SPAGHETTI WESTERN

<h2><b>BROPH&rsquo;S FINALE</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>hank you, Mike Brophy, for some quality articles. You&rsquo;re a true idol for me &ndash; a 13-year-old kid who dreams to, one day, become a sportswriter. Thanks again for the good times and your Overtime columns.</p><p>LOUIS-EMMANUEL WARNOCK, OTTAWA</p><h2><b>EURO-BROPH</b></h2><p>On behalf of a longtime reader of in faraway Europe, I would like to thank Mike Brophy for all his years writing for the magazine.</p><p>As for a replacement, I&rsquo;m not too familiar with many people around the league. What I do know and what I think is very important for your magazine, is to keep writing about each and every part of the hockey scene.</p><p>You have done an excellent job of writing about all the levels of play and stories off the ice, too.</p><p>B.J. KROL, ASSEN, THE NETHERLANDS</p><h2><b>FOR LOVE OF THE GAME</b></h2><p>In regards to the &lsquo;Raising Kane&rsquo; story (Sept. 2): The cost of playing the game is stunting its growth, at least in the U.S.</p><p>The problem is many people, including yourselves and even USA Hockey&rsquo;s magazine, always contradict yourselves. On one page you will say the game should be played for fun and then on the next you are glorifying some lunatics who have a travel mite team and play an 80-game schedule with seven-year-olds.</p><p>You can&rsquo;t say it&rsquo;s for fun and then go on and on about people who treat it as a career opportunity. My son played travel hockey for years and I never counted up the cost because it probably would have floored me. Having said that, it was worth every penny.</p><p>No matter where your child ends up if he turns out to be a decent kid and good person, then all the travel and money was worth it. The time we spent together, even though he was asleep most of the time, was priceless.</p><p>MIKE KAVANAGH, LITTLE NECK, N.Y.</p><h2><b>STATISTICAL ANOMALY</b></h2><p>Regarding your commentary on Martin Gerber in the Sept. 16 issue: You say his winning percentage &ldquo;isn&rsquo;t surprising considering who he plays for,&rdquo; and then note that his other numbers were &ldquo;pedestrian.&rdquo; I&rsquo;m sorry, who did Gerber play for last year? The team I saw in front of him certainly didn&rsquo;t deserve a top-15 finish in points.</p><p>In the playoffs, as well, Gerber was spectacular, keeping the sweep from being even <i>more</i> embarrassing (if you can believe it).</p><p>Gerber is by no means a top-tier goaltender, but he deserves better than what you gave him. Please try to look beyond the numbers.</p><p>MICHAEL SARTY, OTTAWA</p><h2><b>CALDER CHALLENGER</b></h2><p>Reading up on Steven Stamkos being the &ldquo;clear Calder Trophy choice&rdquo; is pretty laughable. Claude Giroux is one of hockey&rsquo;s most underrated prospects and will be playing for my favorite team this year, the Philadelphia Flyers.</p><p>Three 100-plus point seasons in junior &ndash; not to mention, 51 points in 19 playoff games &ndash; proves Giroux is a better player than Stamkos statistically. There will be a Calder champion in Philadelphia this year and a new French connection: Daniel Briere, Simon Gagne and Giroux.</p><p>NICK DELARONDE, PARIS, ONT.</p><h2><b>RESPECT IS DUE</b></h2><p>I am writing in response to Jason Kay&rsquo;s editorial &ldquo;Let &lsquo;er rip, but have respect&rdquo; (Sept. 2).</p><p>As a Grade 5 educator, I teach my students character, education and the value of respect every day. To function mutually in a society, not only on and off the ice and in and out of the classroom, respect is paramount.</p><p>I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone who makes your wonderful magazine possible. Just one thing though &ndash; how about updated goalie stats every week?</p><p>JONATHAN TOMASZEWSKI, RALEIGH, N.C.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

CROWD SHOTS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-05430/9167464-1-eng-US/f0006-052.jpg" title="f0006-05" width="571" height="435"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BADGERS: DAVID STLUKA/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-03897/9167471-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="158" height="158"></div><p>THN,</p><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>hat would you consider as a higher level of hockey? Division 1 college like the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers or an ECHL skill level?</p><p>Shannon Tipcke, River Falls, Wis.</p><p>Shannon, The disparate ages of the players makes this a tricky one. If the Badgers were to play, say, the Florida Everblades, the fully grown Blades would likely win. If you want to prorate things based on potential, then Wisconsin is the better team; the Badgers have at least seven players on their roster who might play in the NHL one day, while Florida would be lucky to have one every couple seasons.</p><p>THN,</p><p>Is there a loophole where a team could sign another club&rsquo;s restricted free agent to a lesser amount and just load the deal up with bonuses to get around having to surrender more substantial picks?</p><p>Steven Brasier, Ottawa</p><p>Steven,</p><p>Afraid not. Performance bonuses can only be given to players on entry-level contracts, veterans aged 35 or over or players with more than 400 NHL games who were injured for 100 days or more the previous year. Plus, the team could still match that deal.</p><p>SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS TO <a href="mailto:experts@thehockeynews.com">experts@thehockeynews.com</a></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="77" height="77"></div><p>Need more of your questions answered?</p><p>Read Proteau&rsquo;s &lsquo;Ask Adam&rsquo; column every Tuesday and Friday at <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

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ASK THE EXPERTS

<p><a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a></p><p><i>Who should start the majority of games in Chicago this season?</i></p><p>Cristobal Huet 72%</p><p>Nikolai Khabibulin 28%</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-04555/9167509-1-eng-US/f0006-042.jpg" title="f0006-04" width="459" height="640"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(HUET: DAVID BOILY/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>SPIT IT OUT!</b></h2><p>GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST</p><p><i>SEND US AN E-MAIL</i></p><p><a href="mailto:letters@thehockeynews.com">LETTERS@THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a></p><p><i>OR LOG ON</i></p><p><a href="http://www.thehockeynews.com">WWW.THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a></p><p><i>SEND US SNAIL MAIL</i></p><p>Letters, The Hockey News</p><p>25 Sheppard Ave. W., Suite 100</p><p>Toronto, ON., M2N 6S7, Canada</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="77" height="77"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>BONUS!</b></h2><p>All subscribers get exclusive content on <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a> with an ALL-ACCESS PASS!<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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POLL RESULTS

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ADAM PROTEAU</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0007-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-021401/9167547-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Stanley <span class="photo-credit">(MITCHELL LAYTON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="mon022.jpg" title="common02" width="164" height="186"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>F HOCKEY INDUSTRY experts are to be believed, the Detroit Red Wings are the favorite to repeat as Stanley Cup champions this season. In a pre-season poll of The Hockey News&rsquo; NHL team correspondents, hockey journalists and THN staff, half of the 40 respondents selected the Wings to win it all again. Pittsburgh finished second in the voting with eight votes.</p><p>Pittsburgh received the most votes (17) to win the Eastern Conference playoff title, beating out Montreal (eight votes) and Philadelphia (five); Detroit received 25 votes to repeat as Western Conference champs, followed by Dallas (five votes) and San Jose and Anaheim (four).</p><p>When it came to individual player honors, 23 journalists tabbed Pittsburgh superstar Sidney Crosby to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Washington&rsquo;s Alex Ovechkin, the 2007-08 Hart winner, received 13 votes to finish second.</p><p>It was a closer race in the Vezina voting, with Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist securing 13 votes to finish first. He narrowly edged out San Jose stopper Evgeni Nabokov (10 votes) and Devils legend Martin Brodeur (seven votes).</p><p>The closest vote of all came for the Norris Trophy, where Nicklas Lidstrom, last season&rsquo;s winner, finished with 16 votes, one ahead of up-and-coming Calgary blueliner Dion Phaneuf.</p><p>In other categories, Tampa Bay rookie Steven Stamkos was the consensus choice (26 votes) to win the Calder Trophy; Blues coach Andy Murray was the (un)popular pick to be the first coach to be fired (11 votes); John Tortorella garnered 19 votes to win the &ldquo;first coach hired&rdquo; prediction; and, Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (seven votes) was the favorite to be the NHL&rsquo;s comeback player of the year in 2008-09.</p><p>For a list of &ldquo;wacky&rdquo; predictions for the upcoming season, got to <a href="http://THN.com">THN.com</a> and check out the special features section.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-03887/9167540-1-eng-US/f0007-032.jpg" title="f0007-03" width="456" height="336"></div><p>STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS 20/40</p><p>2ND PENGUINS 8/40</p><p>T-3RD SHARKS, STARS 3/40<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0007-02

THE VOTE IS IN: WINGS WILL WIN

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-012203/9167690-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="169" height="279"></div><h2><b>HART TROPHY</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021663/9167683-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="136" height="98"></div><p>SIDNEY</p><p>CROSBY</p><p>23/40</p><p>2ND: OVECHKIN, WSH 13/40</p><p>3RD: DATSYUK, DET 2/40</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-031168/9167676-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="169" height="288"></div><h2><b>RICHARD TROPHY</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-04646/9167669-1-eng-US/f0008-042.jpg" title="f0008-04" width="136" height="97"></div><p>ALEX</p><p>OVECHKIN</p><p>37/40</p><p>2ND: KOVALCHUK, ATL 2/40</p><p>3RD: MALKIN, PIT 1/40</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-05460/9167662-1-eng-US/f0008-052.jpg" title="f0008-05" width="169" height="276"></div><h2><b>VEZINA TROPHY</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-06350/9167655-1-eng-US/f0008-062.jpg" title="f0008-06" width="136" height="97"></div><p>HENRIK</p><p>LUNDQVIST</p><p>13/40</p><p>2ND: NABOKOV, SJ 10/40</p><p>3RD: BRODEUR, NJ 7/40</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-07258/9167648-1-eng-US/f0008-072.jpg" title="f0008-07" width="169" height="279"></div><h2><b>ART ROSS TROPHY</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-08208/9167641-1-eng-US/f0008-082.jpg" title="f0008-08" width="136" height="97"></div><p>SIDNEY</p><p>CROSBY</p><p>30/40</p><p>2ND: OVECHKIN, WSH 7/40</p><p>3RD: MALKIN, PIT 2/40</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-09169/9167634-1-eng-US/f0008-092.jpg" title="f0008-09" width="169" height="276"></div><h2><b>NORRIS TROPHY</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-10145/9167627-1-eng-US/f0008-102.jpg" title="f0008-10" width="136" height="98"></div><p>NICKLAS</p><p>LIDSTROM</p><p>16/40</p><p>2ND: PHANEUF, CGY 15/40</p><p>3RD: PRONGER, ANA 3/40</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-11130/9167620-1-eng-US/f0008-112.jpg" title="f0008-11" width="169" height="280"></div><h2><b>COMEBACK PLAYER</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-12105/9167613-1-eng-US/f0008-122.jpg" title="f0008-12" width="137" height="97"></div><p>PATRICE</p><p>BERGERON</p><p>7/40</p><p>2ND: GAGNE, PHI 6/40</p><p>3RD: HAVLAT, CHI 4/40</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-1390/9167606-1-eng-US/f0008-132.jpg" title="f0008-13" width="169" height="289"></div><h2><b>CALDER TROPHY</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-1467/9167599-1-eng-US/f0008-142.jpg" title="f0008-14" width="136" height="97"></div><p>STEVEN</p><p>STAMKOS</p><p>26/40</p><p>2ND: TURRIS, PHX 4/40</p><p>3RD: BRUNNSTROM, DAL 2/40</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-1540/9167592-1-eng-US/f0008-152.jpg" title="f0008-15" width="169" height="275"></div><h2><b>COACHING MOVES</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-1621/9167585-1-eng-US/f0008-162.jpg" title="f0008-16" width="130" height="97"></div><p>FIRST COACH FIRED</p><p>ANDY MURRAY</p><p>11/40</p><p>FIRST COACH HIRED</p><p>&lt;&lt; JOHN TORTORELLA</p><p>19/40<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0008-01

PREDICTIONS ‘08-09

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-2014/9167735-1-eng-US/f0008-202.jpg" title="f0008-20" width="281" height="249"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-1718/9167728-1-eng-US/f0008-172.jpg" title="f0008-17" width="407" height="408"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(RADULOV: JOHN RUSSELL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>DANGEROUS YOUTH No. 1 pick Steven Stamkos set to join a league already dominated by young stars such as Ovechkin, Crosby, Phaneuf and Kane.</p><p>NEW BEGINNINGS Can&rsquo;t wait to see how familiar faces fare in new places after off-season trades and signings.</p><p>GAME ON! Goodbye summer, hello hockey! Let&rsquo;s get that puck dropped.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-1816/9167721-1-eng-US/f0008-182.jpg" title="f0008-18" width="407" height="408"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(PHANEUF: BRAD WATSON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>WORK IT OUT Nothing good can come from the NHL and Russia&rsquo;s new KHL continuing to feud. Right, Alex Radulov?</p><p>BOARDROOM PROBLEMS Ownership issues in Nashville and Anaheim detract from league&rsquo;s good on-ice vibes.</p><p>GET IT TOGETHER Columbus, Florida in real danger of missing the playoffs for eighth straight season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-20

PLUS/MINUS

<p>10 RYAN JONES could be a straight-outta-college success with the Preds.</p><p>9 Atlanta may not win a lot, but BORIS VALABIK can lay a beating on taunting rivals.</p><p>8 Ottawa needs a next generation; CODY BASS is a good start.</p><p>7 PER LEDIN is Colorado&rsquo;s second straight tabbing of a Euro vet out of nowhere.</p><p>6 VLADIMIR SOBOTKA wants to build on his solid postseason with Boston.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-1915/9167766-1-eng-US/f0008-192.jpg" title="f0008-19" width="533" height="422"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LEDIN: MARKKU ULANDER/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>5 ANTON STRALMAN had some tantalizing moments in 50 games with the Leafs.</p><p>4 After an excursion to Russia, MARK GIORDANO is back in a Flames sweater.</p><p>3 Washington&rsquo;s prospect parade also includes defenders such as SAMI LEPISTO.</p><p>2 Carey Price will need breaks and JAROSLAV HALAK can do the job.</p><p>1 Even before Radulov&rsquo;s exit, PATRIC HORNQVIST was set in Nashville&rsquo;s top six.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-19

Starting from 10

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-011981/9167797-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="180" height="180"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>T LEAST THREE RETIRED NHLers will be honored by former teams this season. Vancouver is planning to raise Trevor Linden&rsquo;s No. 16 to the rafters, the Capitals will hoist No. 11 up for Mike Gartner and Montreal will pay tribute to Patrick Roy by lifting No. 33 high above the Bell Centre ice. Roy has already had his number retired by the Avalanche and there&rsquo;s bound to be a lot of talk about the way he left Montreal leading up to his return for the ceremony.</p><p>THERE&rsquo;S ALWAYS plenty of uncertainty when predicting how an NHL season will play out, but two teams in particular have maddening boom-bust possibilities this year. Calgary has major trophy nominees at every position, but has been barely average since the lockout. Ottawa is still stacked with talent, but seems to be getting further away from the Cup.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0009-01

SNAPSHOTS

<p class="dropcap"><span>F</span>or our annual season-opening predictions, 35 NHL correspondents and five THN staffers were asked to predict which coaches would be fired first. The two winners &ndash; if they can be called that &ndash; were St. Louis&rsquo; Andy Murray and Vancouver&rsquo;s Alain Vigneault.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-021376/9167828-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="946" height="1257"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BOTH: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0009-02

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-012171/9167859-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Lightning and Rangers kick off the season in Prague. <span class="photo-credit">(LECAVALIER: SCOTT AUDETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>A SEASON FULL OF GLORIOUS PROMISE officially gets rolling on Oct. 4 when four teams christen the NHL&rsquo;s 2008-09 campaign in Europe.</p><p>The re-armed Tampa Bay Lightning take on the New York Rangers in the first of two games in Prague, Czech Republic, while Sidney Crosby&rsquo;s Pittsburgh Penguins do battle with the Ottawa Senators in Stockholm, Sweden.</p><p>The North American season begins in earnest on Oct. 9, when the Detroit Red Wings will hoist another Stanley Cup banner while entertaining the Toronto Maple Leafs. Other games of note include Sean Avery making what promises to be a jeer-filled return to New York against the Rangers Oct. 20, when the NHL&rsquo;s most hated man takes to the ice in Dallas&rsquo; green and black; and, a rough reception is also anticipated when the Wings and their prized off -season acquisition, Marian Hossa, travel to Pittsburgh, the city the scoring star spurned this summer, on Feb. 8.</p><p>The NHL will also get some major exposure when the Wings travel to Chicago for an outdoor game at Wrigley Field on New Year&rsquo;s Day against the Blackhawks and their new goaltender, Cristobal Huet.</p><p>Back by popular demand is a schedule that sees every team playing each other at least once this season, but that&rsquo;s not the only change.</p><p>The first faceoff of a power play will now always be in the defensive zone of the penalized team; faceoffs that result from a shot going off the goalpost or crossbar will stay in the end of the goal from which it rang off; and, players racing for a potentially iced puck can only make contact for the purposes of playing the puck, not for eliminating their opponent from playing the puck (call it the Kurtis Foster rule).</p><p>An ongoing vigilance regarding goalie equipment is also on the league&rsquo;s radar. Immediate and long-term recommendations have been made by the Goaltender Equipment Working Group (and approved by the Competition Committee) to ensure goalie equipment is only as big as is necessary for adequate protection and that the gear should be proportionate to the size of the netminder.</p><p>The 2008-09 NHL season will also hold special significance for a lot of fans, since it will feature many events tied into the 100th birthday of the league&rsquo;s most successful franchise, the Montreal Canadiens. Along with hosting the annual entry draft June 26-27, Montreal will welcome the world for the 2009 All-Star Game, scheduled for Jan. 25.</p><p>If the season goes really well for them, the Habs will be busy long after April 15, when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin. If they need some extra help along the way to get there, the vaunted trade deadline comes on March 3.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-01

LET’S GET IT ON

<p>THIS WEEK WE ASKED TWO NHL COACHES: How do you send a message when you are unhappy with your team?</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021574/9167897-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="468" height="500"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(KEENAN: SCOTT CUNNINGHAM/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2>MIKE KEENAN</h2><h3>CALGARY FLAMES</h3><p>Communicate. You identify what you don&rsquo;t like and address it; usually it&rsquo;s an evaluation. Like any teaching situation, most important is that it&rsquo;s clear and they understand it.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-03991/9167890-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="464" height="500"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(TIPPET: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2>DAVE TIPPETT</h2><h3>DALLAS STARS</h3><p>It has to vary to be effective. Sometimes it&rsquo;s the silent treatment or harsh words, maybe you use practice, but you have vary the approach to keep their attention.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-02

MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY

<div class="byline">with Erik Johnson</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-09150/9167928-1-eng-US/f0010-092.jpg" title="f0010-09" width="956" height="381"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-04687/9167963-1-eng-US/f0010-042.jpg" title="f0010-04" width="208" height="258"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-05501/9167956-1-eng-US/f0010-052.jpg" title="f0010-05" width="179" height="179"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-06379/9167949-1-eng-US/f0010-062.jpg" title="f0010-06" width="216" height="189"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-07267/9167942-1-eng-US/f0010-072.jpg" title="f0010-07" width="217" height="189"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-08197/9167935-1-eng-US/f0010-082.jpg" title="f0010-08" width="218" height="189"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0010-09

ROCKIN’ OUT

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RYAN DIXON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0011-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-011879/9167994-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Marian Gaborik <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE KLUCKHOHN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>NEXT SUMMER&rsquo;S &ldquo;SILLY SEASON&rdquo; is shaping up to be very similar to the one we just had.</p><p>When July 1, 2009, rolls around, there&rsquo;ll be many more upper-echelon forwards available compared to the number of blueliners and goalies on the market.</p><p>This past summer&rsquo;s most prominent unrestricted free agent, Marian Hossa, signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings in July and figures to once again be a hot commodity next summer. Depending on whether any contract extensions get handed out during the season, Hossa could be joined by an intriguing cast of UFA forwards, including super-skilled Marian Gaborik of Minnesota, Vancouver&rsquo;s Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Calgary&rsquo;s Mike Cammalleri, as well as Alex Kovalev and Saku Koivu of Montreal.</p><p>Conn Smythe winner Henrik Zetterberg is eligible to become a UFA following this season, but don&rsquo;t bet on the Wings letting things get that far. Detroit also has to think about extending left winger Johan Franzen, who might be a 6-foot-3, 40-goal scorer by the end of the 2008-09 campaign.</p><p>Plenty of forwards are looking for bounce-back seasons in the final year of their contracts. The Devils&rsquo; Brian Gionta would love to mimic his 48-goal season of 2005-06 as he heads into free agency, while the likes of Buffalo&rsquo;s Maxim Afinogenov, the Blues&rsquo; Andy McDonald and Chicago&rsquo;s Martin Havlat will all be trying to convince GMs around the league their best seasons haven&rsquo;t already happened.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0011-01

2009 UFA MARKET: LOOKING FORWARD

<div class="byline">with Ken Campbell</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-012115/9168039-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">This could be Jay Bouwmeester&rsquo;s final season as a Florida Panther. <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE REGINEK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021651/9168046-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="187" height="222"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>ITH THE START of training camps pushed back a week in order to placate U.S. franchises where nobody watches hockey anyway, things were getting awfully quiet here at THN by the time mid-September rolled around. Luckily for us, the Slovakian women&rsquo;s team edged Bulgaria 82-0 in Olympic qualifying, thereby assuring the Los Angeles Kings they won&rsquo;t be the worst hockey team on the planet this season&hellip;maybe.</p><p>In any event, we are raring to go for another season both on and off the ice. Here are a few issues that bear watching as the 2008-09 season unfurls:</p><p><b>1. How will the NHL respond to the Kontinental League?</b></p><p>Right about now, the NHL would love nothing more than to tell the KHL where to stick its Traktor Chelyabinsk, but the reality is the KHL poses a very real challenge for the NHL and somehow Gary Bettman <i>et al.</i> must find a way to co-exist with the Russian league. The NHL doesn&rsquo;t have to play footsies with the KHL, but it&rsquo;s clear there must be some kind of system that forces both sides to respect the other&rsquo;s contracts.</p><p>Here&rsquo;s what I propose: Forget about coming to some sort of monetary agreement with the KHL or the Russian Federation for the transfer of players. Treat the KHL as an equal entity and as a competitor for the same players. But both sides must learn to play by some sort of rules of engagement. Nothing can be left to interpretation or good intentions, so here goes:</p><p>How about the NHL and KHL set up a central registry office for contracts? All contracts for both leagues would have to go through that office and all would have to be approved by the central registry before a player could be activated. Only when the central registry office declares a player in either league free and clear of all his contractual obligations would the other league be able to even speak with the player.</p><p>In addition, Russian KHL players signed by NHL teams would be subject to no more than two demotions to the minors per season with neither of them lasting more than two weeks. Upon the third demotion, the player would be able to choose whether to report to the minor pro team or return to the KHL for the rest of that season. If he does return to the KHL, he&rsquo;s free to negotiate his own deal with the KHL team.</p><p>But for Russian players with 20 or more games of NHL experience from the previous season, those going to the KHL would have their NHL salaries count against the salary cap. That would prevent NHL teams from signing Russians to long-term, big-money deals, then simply sending them to the KHL to avoid the salary cap hit if it doesn&rsquo;t work out, much the way the New Jersey Devils have done with Vitaly Vishnevski this season.</p><p><b>2. Can the NHL maintain its vigilance on obstruction?</b></p><p>The league has, for the most part, been able to continue to enforce its hooking-and-holding edict since the lockout ended. That is three years, which is an awfully long shelf life in an NHL full of guys who prefer old-time hockey.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011889/9168032-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="1443" height="1437"><figcaption class="caption-body">Alexander Radulov&rsquo;s decision to play in Russia raised the NHL-KHL stakes. <span class="photo-credit">(IHA)</span></figcaption></div><blockquote class="pullQuote">The NHL would love to tell the KHL where to stick its Traktor Chelyabinsk</blockquote><p>In fact, there are those involved in the inner workings of the game who will tell you there are a number of executives who would love nothing better than for the NHL to allow the players to &ldquo;battle&rdquo; more, which is code for dragging each other down in the neutral zone and beheading them if they come anywhere near the net.</p><p>The league must remain vigilant on this one.</p><p><b>3. Whither Jay Bouwmeester and John Tavares?</b></p><p>Bouwmeester and Tavares might be the most coveted players in the world this season, even if some people think both of them are overrated (I&rsquo;m with them on Bouwmeester, but Tavares is indeed something special).</p><p>Bouwmeester has made it quite clear to the Florida Panthers he doesn&rsquo;t like the direction the franchise is taking, even though he has been part of the problem. He has refused to sign a long-term extension and is giving every indication he&rsquo;ll bolt for unrestricted free agency next summer. The Panthers, for their part, seem ready to move on after acquiring Bryan McCabe and signing Keith Ballard to a six-year contract extension.</p><p>Bouwmeester could very well be the jewel of the trade deadline, but the guessing here is the Panthers will deal him before that if all is lost between the two parties.</p><p>Tavares, meanwhile, if he doesn&rsquo;t expire from boredom in his fourth major junior season, is another player who is primed to be moved before the end of the season. His Oshawa Generals are going nowhere in the OHL and, facing the prospect of not having him next season, they&rsquo;ll likely move him to a Memorial Cup contender in exchange for a boatload of prospects and draft picks.</p><p><b>4. What is the future of the draft lottery?</b></p><p>The Kings had the fourth overall pick in 2007, second overall in 2008 and may very well get No. 1 in 2009. And they&rsquo;ll ultimately build themselves a powerhouse on the strength of being bad for a long time.</p><p>It&rsquo;s not fair and there is a minor movement among GMs to do something about it. There are some who favor the NHL adopting the draft lottery it employed in 2005 after the previous season was cancelled by the lockout.</p><p>The premise of that lottery was that all 30 NHL teams had a shot at the No. 1 overall pick. Each team started with three balls in the lottery and one ball was taken away for every playoff appearance in each of the previous three seasons and each No. 1 overall pick over the previous four seasons, but each team was guaranteed at least one ball. That year, only the Pittsburgh Penguins, who ended up with the No. 1 pick, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, who selected sixth, had three balls. The Montreal Canadiens, on the other hand, had just one ball in the lottery, but moved up into the fifth spot and took goalie Carey Price.</p><p>Moving to that type of lottery would undoubtedly bring some equity, not to mention excitement, to the whole process. Teams would still have an edge for being bad, but wouldn&rsquo;t be inequitably rewarded.</p><p>Don&rsquo;t look for the staid NHL to move on this one, but a guy can dream, can&rsquo;t he?</p><p><b>5. Which way for the NHLPA?</b></p><p>The NHL Players&rsquo; Association will decide this season whether or not to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement. The prediction here is every player in the league will hold up his Jeff Finger when it comes to voting nay on that one.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="77" height="77"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>For Ken&rsquo;s web-exclusive Campbell&rsquo;s Cuts column, visit <a href="http://THN.com">thn.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-01

SUMMER THOUGHTS, SOME ARE DREAMS

<div class="byline">ROB TYCHKOWSKI</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-021570/9168077-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p>Hemsky</p><p>IT&rsquo;S TIME FOR HEMSKY TO TAKE THE LEAP FROM GOOD TO GREAT</p> <span class="photo-credit">(HEMSKY: JAMIE SABAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-012091/9168084-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="182" height="217"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>LMOST SINCE THE day he arrived in the city, Ales Hemsky has been like a treasured piece of artwork that Edmontonians could gaze at for hours on end.</p><p>The connoisseurs at Rexall Place love admiring his brilliant shades and discussing his imaginative strokes, but in the backs of their minds they can&rsquo;t help wondering when the 25-year-old Czech will finally blossom into a masterpiece.</p><p>Not to diminish his current value; Edmonton&rsquo;s best player and leading scorer is still worth plenty to the Oilers &ndash; they&rsquo;d be in serious trouble without him.</p><p>But he hasn&rsquo;t quite appreciated like they&rsquo;d hoped.</p><p>In terms of global admiration, Hemsky isn&rsquo;t ready for his own stall in the Louvre just yet.</p><p>So, here we are, with another season upon us, asking what seems to be an annual question: Is this the year? Is this the year that Hemsky goes from very good to great? Is this the year he evolves into a full-fledged superstar?</p><p>&ldquo;His full potential is limitless, there&rsquo;s not many people who have that collection of skill,&rsquo;&rsquo; coach Craig MacTavish once said of the gifted playmaker. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a special player. He could be one of the best players in the game very easily.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>He sure could. But he isn&rsquo;t there right now.</p><p>Hemsky has teased and titillated, given brief flashes of the dynamic top-10 player he can be. He can separate a defenseman from his jockstrap and bring a building full of fans out of their seats all at the same time.</p><p>And he always seems just on the verge of that major breakthrough the Oilers expect of him&hellip;but never quite gets there.</p><p>At least not if you judge him by the numbers.</p><p>His career high for points is 77, not quite a point a game. His career high for goals is a pedestrian 20.</p><p>He has never finished in the top 10 in NHL scoring. Never been an all-star. Never been able to hit full stride for an entire year.</p><p>Last year he was 37th in league scoring; in 2005-06, he was 34th.</p><p>Always very good, never really great.</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">You want the team to count on you.</blockquote><p>In fairness to Hemsky, he&rsquo;s a gifted set-up man who has watched too many assists get away because there&rsquo;s never been a natural goal-scorer on the other end to finish them off. And for the past two injury-plagued years he&rsquo;s been without an enforcer to supply the time, space and respect players of his ilk deserve.</p><p>&ldquo;He plays a fearless game,&rdquo; said Oilers president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s not the type of guy who gets intimidated out there.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Sometimes he&rsquo;s too tough for his own good: getting roughed up in high traffic areas led to concussion and shoulder troubles two seasons ago (limiting him to 53 points in 64 games); and, last year he played a big chunk of the schedule with an injured wrist, taking off his removable cast just long enough to play the games. He didn&rsquo;t offer up any complaints or excuses, just 71 points in 74 games.</p><p>That&rsquo;s part of the reason MacTavish acknowledged Hemsky&rsquo;s evolution as a leader by making him an alternate captain last season.</p><p>Now, perhaps, the long-awaited step in his evolution as an elite player.</p><p>Is this the year?</p><p>The planets are as aligned as they&rsquo;ve ever been for Hemsky. His center, Shawn Horcoff, has developed into a second-tier star and newly acquired left winger Erik Cole, if he delivers what the Oilers expect of him, could supply the additional finish Hemsky needs to maximize his yield.</p><p>He has a couple of offensive defensemen in Sheldon Souray and Lubomir Visnovsky to start rushes and quarterback power plays, and the &lsquo;Kid Line&rsquo; of Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano and Robert Nilsson, if they&rsquo;re anywhere close to last year&rsquo;s form, can provide some much-needed secondary scoring.</p><p>It&rsquo;s as good a supporting cast as he&rsquo;s had since Edmonton&rsquo;s Stanley Cup run three years ago.</p><p>And the better the Oilers are, the better chance Hemsky has to become the Art Ross contender they all believe he can be.</p><p>&ldquo;You want the team to count on you, you want to make a difference,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But I would be happy with 70 points if we made the playoffs. You get 100 points and don&rsquo;t make them, it&rsquo;s not fun.&rdquo;</p><p>That&rsquo;s Hemsky. He&rsquo;s never been about the glory (he dodges the spotlight like he dodges checkers) and he&rsquo;s never been about the money (he signed a six-year contract extension when he was three years away from unrestricted free agency).</p><p>He&rsquo;s just about the hockey.</p><p>&ldquo;I like the city, I like the fans, I like the hockey,&rdquo; he said of his decision to commit to Edmonton. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great dressing room and a great coaching staff.</p><p>&ldquo;And they gave me a chance to play in the NHL&hellip;I want to pay them back.&rsquo;&rsquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-02

IT’S ALL COMING TOGETHER

<div class="byline">BY MIKE BROPHY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0016-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011869/9168115-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p>Dion Phaneuf</p><p>TOP 20 BY POSITION</p><p>Our annual ranking of the Top 20 NHL players by position is done in consultation with pro scouts and GMs. Players are ranked by their projected performance in &rsquo;08-09.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(PHANEUF: DEBORA ROBINSON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>D</span>ION PHANEUF WAS TICKLED PINK to be included among the finalists for the Norris Trophy last season. For the third-year pro, it represented confirmation he is indeed one of the top players at his position.</p><p>But with apologies to the other finalists &ndash; Detroit&rsquo;s Nicklas Lidstrom, who won the Norris for the 74th year in a row (actually, for the sixth time in seven seasons) and Boston&rsquo;s Zdeno Chara &ndash; Phaneuf has a tremendous shot to get his hands on the trophy this year.</p><p>The reason? Just consider what he has accomplished in three seasons &ndash; 54 goals and 159 points in 243 games, along with numerous bone-crunching bodychecks. It&rsquo;s no stretch to suggest he&rsquo;s got the inside track to glory.</p><p>&ldquo;It was a huge honor to be nominated and to be mentioned with that group of guys,&rdquo; Phaneuf said. &ldquo;You definitely want to keep getting better and keep improving.</p><p>&ldquo;First and foremost, my goal is to win a championship with our team and they say individual success comes from team success. When teams have success, individuals on those teams also have success.&rdquo;</p><p>That next step is helping Calgary establish some consistency throughout the regular season and leading the Flames deep into the playoffs. On a team that includes superstar Jarome Iginla and top-notch goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, there is still enough room for Phaneuf to be a significant force. He understands that and knows expectations will be high this season.</p><p>&ldquo;You want to keep improving,&rdquo; Phaneuf said. &ldquo;Even the older guys know there is room in their game for improvement. That has been a huge goal of mine since Day 1 of my first training camp when I was 18 &ndash; to learn as much as I could from the older guys and to keep getting better every day. That hasn&rsquo;t changed.&rdquo;</p><p>And if his ability alone doesn&rsquo;t keep him in the headlines, his personal life will. He is dating actress Elisha Cuthbert and if that&rsquo;s not enough, he is the poster boy for the EA Sports video game NHL09.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s pretty cool to say the least,&rdquo; Phaneuf said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great honor. You grow up playing the game year after year and now to be on the cover is a huge honor and something I&rsquo;m excited to be a part of.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0016-01

SPOTLIGHT

FIRE STARTER

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-011648/9168146-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="694" height="830"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LIDSTROM: JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>1 NICKLAS LIDSTROM RED WINGS</b></h2><p>OK, so Dion Phaneuf has his eyes on the Norris Trophy. Just don&rsquo;t expect the old guys to bow down and let him walk off with the award.</p><p>Chris Pronger, for one, has been putting himself through three-a-days in preparation for what he expects to be his best NHL season yet.</p><p>Nicklas Lidstrom is, well, Nicklas Lidstrom. He&rsquo;ll be right in the thick of things when it comes time to vote for the NHL&rsquo;s best defender.</p><p>And we probably haven&rsquo;t seen the best Andrei Markov has to offer. If, as many expect, the Canadiens do well this season, you can bet the Russian blueliner will play a big role.</p><p>As well, let us not forget Brian Campbell. The Blackhawks will be expected to build on last season&rsquo;s improvement and Campbell certainly will be counted on for his share of offense.</p><p>2. CHRIS PRONGER, Ducks</p><p>3. ZDENO CHARA, Bruins</p><p>4. DION PHANEUF, Flames</p><p>5. SCOTT NIEDERMAYER, Ducks</p><p>6. BRIAN RAFALSKI, Red Wings</p><p>7. SERGEI GONCHAR, Penguins</p><p>8. ANDREI MARKOV, Canadiens</p><p>9. JAY BOUWMEESTER, Panthers</p><p>10. BRIAN CAMPBELL, Blackhawks</p><p>11. TOMAS KABERLE, Maple Leafs</p><p>12. MIKE KOMISAREK, Canadiens</p><p>13. CHRIS PHILLIPS, Senators</p><p>14. MATHIEU SCHNEIDER, Ducks</p><p>15. TOBIAS ENSTROM, Thrashers</p><p>16. DUNCAN KEITH, Blackhawks</p><p>17. MICHAL ROSZIVAL, Rangers</p><p>18. KIMMO TIMONEN, Flyers</p><p>19. ED JOVANOVSKI, Coyotes</p><p>20. SERGEI ZUBOV, Stars<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0017-01

DEFENSEMEN

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-021275/9168177-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="695" height="815"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LUONGO: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>1 ROBERTO LUONGO CANUCKS</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>L</span>ast season was one which Roberto Luongo would likely rather forget. Come to think of it, he&rsquo;s had a few of those in an eight-year NHL career in which he has been the last line of defense on some sub-standard teams.</p><p>The problem last season? His Vancouver Canucks couldn&rsquo;t provide nearly enough firepower and consequently, one year after his breakout season, he slumped. OK, slumped might be a bit of an exaggeration, but when you dip to 35 wins from a career-best 47&hellip;you get the idea.</p><p>The Canucks are apt to have trouble scoring again this season since new GM Mike Gillis failed to attract any bona fide scorers. So it&rsquo;s imperative, if Vancouver hopes to make it into the playoffs, that Luongo steals some games. Given his track record, we&rsquo;re certain he will.</p><p>2. HENRIK LUNDQVIST, Rangers</p><p>3. EVGENI NABOKOV, Sharks</p><p>4. MARTIN BRODEUR, Devils</p><p>5. JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE, Ducks</p><p>6. MARTY TURCO, Stars</p><p>7. VESA TOSKALA, Maple Leafs</p><p>8. RYAN MILLER, Sabres</p><p>9. MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF, Flames</p><p>10. MARC-ANDRE FLEURY, Penguins</p><p>11. TOMAS VOKOUN, Panthers</p><p>12. CHRIS OSGOOD, Red Wings</p><p>13. MARTIN BIRON, Flyers</p><p>14. CRISTOBAL HUET, Blackhawks</p><p>15. RICK DIPIETRO, Islanders</p><p>16. CAREY PRICE, Canadiens</p><p>17. CAM WARD, Hurricanes</p><p>18. DAN ELLIS, Predators</p><p>19. MARTIN GERBER, Senators</p><p>20. TIM THOMAS, Bruins<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0017-02

GOALIES

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011744/9168208-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="693" height="835"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(OVECHKIN: SCOTT AUDETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>1 ALEX OVECHKIN CAPITALS</b></h2><p>A strong case can be made that Alex Ovechkin is the most electrifying left winger the NHL has seen since Bobby Hull ruled the rink.</p><p>The league&rsquo;s top goal-scorer &ndash; Ovechkin&rsquo;s 65 tallies last season were the most since Mario Lemieux fired 69 in 1995-96 &ndash; and most valuable player appears primed to get his team, the Washington Capitals, back into the playoffs. If his supporting cast proves capable, there&rsquo;s no telling how far the Caps can go.</p><p>As has been the case the past three seasons, the NHL&rsquo;s most intriguing subplot will be: Who is better, Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby? Meanwhile, the left side, once bereft of top-end talent, has become home to some of the NHL&rsquo;s most skilled performers.</p><p>2. DANY HEATLEY, Senators</p><p>3. BRENDEN MORROW, Stars</p><p>4. ILYA KOVALCHUK, Thrashers</p><p>5. RICK NASH, Blue Jackets</p><p>6. DANIEL SEDIN, Canucks</p><p>7. SHANE DOAN, Coyotes</p><p>8. THOMAS VANEK, Sabres</p><p>9. JOHAN FRANZEN, Red Wings</p><p>10. ANDREI KOSTITSYN, Canadiens</p><p>11. PATRICK SHARP, Blackhawks</p><p>12. RYAN SMYTH, Avalanche</p><p>13. RAY WHITNEY, Hurricanes</p><p>14. ZACH PARISE, Devils</p><p>15. MILAN MICHALEK, Sharks</p><p>16. PETER MUELLER, Coyotes</p><p>17. DUSTIN PENNER, Oilers</p><p>18. SEAN AVERY, Stars</p><p>19. MARTIN ERAT, Predators</p><p>20. KEITH TKACHUK, Blues<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0018-01

LEFT WINGERS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-021326/9168239-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="695" height="833"></div><h2><b>1 SIDNEY CROSBY PENGUINS</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>hat do you think is more desirable: having the Nos. 1- and 5-ranked centers in the NHL, or the Nos. 2- and 3-ranked centers? Well, given the fact the Detroit Red Wings have No. 2 in Henrik Zetterberg and No. 3 in Pavel Datsyuk, and they&rsquo;re the reigning Stanley Cup champions, you probably have your answer.</p><p>Or do you? Don&rsquo;t forget that the No. 1 pivot, Sidney Crosby, sustained a high ankle sprain last season and wasn&rsquo;t at 100 percent in the playoffs. Or that No. 5, Evgeni Malkin, ran out of gas in the Stanley Cup final after carrying the offensive load for the Pens in Crosby&rsquo;s absence.</p><p>It will be an interesting, exciting battle to see which pair emerges as the best 1-2 punch.</p><p>2. HENRIK ZETTERBERG, Red Wings</p><p>3. PAVEL DATSYUK, Red Wings</p><p>4. VINCENT LECAVALIER, Lightning</p><p>5. EVGENI MALKIN, Penguins</p><p>6. ERIC STAAL, Hurricanes</p><p>7. JOE THORNTON, Sharks</p><p>8. RYAN GETZLAF, Ducks</p><p>9. JASON SPEZZA, Senators</p><p>10. JOE SAKIC, Avalanche</p><p>11. SCOTT GOMEZ, Rangers</p><p>12. JONATHAN TOEWS, Blackhawks</p><p>13. DANIEL BRIERE, Flyers</p><p>14. ANZE KOPITAR, Kings</p><p>15. PAUL STASTNY, Avalanche</p><p>16. DEREK ROY, Sabres</p><p>17. MARC SAVARD, Bruins</p><p>18. MIKE RICHARDS, Flyers</p><p>19. BRAD RICHARDS, Stars</p><p>20. HENRIK SEDIN, Canucks<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0018-02

CENTERS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03961/9168270-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="695" height="841"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(IGINLA: DALE MACMILLAN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>1 JAROME IGINLA FLAMES</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>here is no doubt Jarome Iginla remains the best right winger in hockey, although on any given night, Ottawa&rsquo;s Daniel Alfredsson can give him a run for his money. Iginla&rsquo;s power forward persona, highlighted by his consistent scoring and relentless physical play, is the standard by which other right wingers are judged.</p><p>But there are others who bear watching closely this season. Can Marian Gaborik finally fulfill his destiny and become a scoring star despite Minnesota&rsquo;s defense-first system? Can Buffalo&rsquo;s underrated Jason Pom-inville continue his climb up the ladder? Can St. Louis&rsquo; Brad Boyes surpass (or duplicate) last season&rsquo;s surprising 43-goal output? How much does Habs veteran Alex Kovalev have left in the tank?</p><p>2. DANIEL ALFREDSSON, Senators</p><p>3. MARIAN GABORIK, Wild</p><p>4. MARIAN HOSSA, Red Wings</p><p>5. MARTIN ST-LOUIS, Lightning</p><p>6. ALES HEMSKY, Oilers</p><p>7. ALEX KOVALEV, Canadiens</p><p>8. JASON POMINVILLE, Sabres</p><p>9. DUSTIN BROWN, Kings</p><p>10. TOMAS HOLMSTROM, Red Wings</p><p>11. JONATHAN CHEECHOO, Sharks</p><p>12. BRAD BOYES, Blues</p><p>13. PATRICK KANE, Blackhawks</p><p>14. MILAN HEJDUK, Avalanche</p><p>15. KRISTIAN HUSELIUS, Blue Jackets</p><p>16. JERE LEHTINEN, Stars</p><p>17. PIERRE-MARC BOUCHARD, Wild</p><p>18. MIKE KNUBLE, Flyers</p><p>19. BRIAN GIONTA, Devils</p><p>20. NATHAN HORTON, Panthers<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0018-03

RIGHT WINGERS

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-011505/9168315-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Pittsburgh&rsquo;s Evgeni Malkin looks ahead to more big games in 2008-09. <span class="photo-credit">(MALKIN: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>IF YOU&rsquo;RE LOOKING for change in the Eastern Conference this season, don&rsquo;t look for it in the standings.</p><p>The way we see it, the playoff picture in the East will look remarkably similar this spring as it did last spring.</p><p>In fact, the biggest change in the East will be behind the benches. Seven teams &ndash; almost half the conference &ndash; have different coaches this season than when the puck dropped to open the 2007-08 campaign. Here&rsquo;s how things look in the East, with teams listed by division and in order of their projected conference finish according to the THN 2008-09 Yearbook.</p><h2><b>NORTHEAST DIVISION</b></h2><h3><b>1. MONTREAL CANADIENS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> G. Laraque, LW; A. Tanguay, LW.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> M. Grabovski, C; M. Ryder, RW; B. Smolinski, C; M. Streit, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Addressing a need for a big man down the middle, the Habs went hard after free agent Mats Sundin.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Can Alexei Kovalev continue to be an elite offensive player and leader one season after being named THN&rsquo;s comeback player of the year?</p><h3><b>2. OTTAWA SENATORS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> A. Auld, G; F. Kuba, D; A. Picard, D; J. Ruutu, LW; J. Smith, D.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> M. Commodore, D; R. Emery, G; B. McGrattan, RW; A. Meszaros, D; W. Redden, D; R. Robitaille; C. Stillman, LW.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The Senators are counting on addition by subtraction and have deliberately gone about changing the team&rsquo;s identity.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> After several years of being an elite team, there is real concern the window of opportunity for winning the Cup may have closed.</p><h3><b>3. BOSTON BRUINS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrival</i> M. Ryder, RW.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> B. Allen, D; A. Auld, G; G. Metropolit, C; G. Murray, RW.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Michael Ryder was the only addition and the Bruins are praying he responds to coach Claude Julien the way he has in the past.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Much of the Bruins&rsquo; success will depend on how Patrice Bergeron responds after missing almost all last season with a concussion.</p><h3><b>4. BUFFALO SABRES</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> Patrick Lalime, G; Craig Rivet, D.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> S. Bernier, RW; D. Kalinin, D; J. Thibault, G.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The most important move the Sabres made over the summer was signing goalie Ryan Miller to a long-term deal.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> The Sabres can score goals, but will need a bounce-back season from Miller if they want to return to the playoffs.</p><h3><b>5. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> J. Finger, D; J. Frogren, D; M. Grabovski, C; N. Hagman, LW; R. Hollweg, C; C. Joseph, G; N. Kulemin, LW, J. Mayers, RW; M. Van Ryn.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> B. McCabe, D; J. Pohl, C; A. Raycroft, G M. Sundin, C; D. Tucker, RW; K. Wellwood, C.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Cliff Fletcher was supposed to be the interim GM, but he blew up the roster in a concerted rebuilding effort.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Maple Leaf fans tired of wondering about Sundin all summer are anxious to see if all the new faces who replaced several long-tenured Leafs offer some legitimate hope for the future in Toronto.</p><h2><b>ATLANTIC DIVISION</b></h2><h3><b>1. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> M. Cooke, LW; R. Fedotenko, LW; M. Satan, RW.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-1621/9168308-1-eng-US/f0021-162.jpg" title="f0021-16" width="1250" height="998"><figcaption class="caption-body">Scoring machine Ilya Kovalchuk is a superstar unto himself in Atlanta. <span class="photo-credit">(KOVALCHUK: JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><i>Key departures</i> T. Conklin, G; A. Hall, RW; M. Hossa, RW; G. Laraque, RW; R. Malone, LW; G. Roberts, LW; J. Ruutu, LW.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The Penguins lost 117 points in Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone and replaced them with Ruslan Fedotenko and Miroslav Satan, who combined for 77 last year.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> The loser of the Cup final has won a total of one playoff series in the past 11 seasons and the Pens did nothing to upgrade their lineup.</p><h3><b>2. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> A. Asham, RW; S. Eminger, D; G. Metropolit, C; O. Vaananen, D.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> S. Kapanen, RW; J. Modry, D; V. Prospal, LW; J. Smith, D; R.J. Umberger, LW.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The Flyers went berserk in free agency in 2007 and now need their biggest improvements to come from within.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Two years ago, the Flyers endured the biggest points decline in NHL history (45 points), then improved by 39 points last season. What can we expect this time?</p><h3><b>3. NEW YORK RANGERS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> D. Fristche, C; D. Kalinin, D; M. Naslund, LW; W. Redden, D; P. Rissmiller, LW; N. Zherdev, RW.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> S. Avery, LW; C. Backman, D; R. Hollweg, LW; J. Jagr, RW; M. Malik, D; B. Shanahan, RW; M. Straka, LW; F. Tyutin, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The Rangers jettisoned a number of established, high-end veterans in return for high-risk/potentially high-reward replacements.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Their only true star is Henrik Lundqvist in goal and relying on scoring by a very uncertain committee might be their undoing.</p><h3><b>4. NEW JERSEY DEVILS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> B. Holik, C; B. Rolston, C.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> A. Asham, RW; S. Brylin, LW; K. Rachunek, D; V. Vishnevski, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Brian Rolston is a much better player than he was the last time he was a Devil and will be counted on to supply top-level twoway play.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Martin Brodeur has won four of the past five Vezinas, but can he continue to be superhuman behind an atypically weak defense corps?</p><h3><b>5. NEW YORK ISLANDERS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> K. Okposo, RW; M. Streit, D; D. Weight, C.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> S. Bates, C; W. Dubielewicz, G; R. Fedotenko, LW; M. Satan, RW; J. Vasicek, C.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> For all his warts, coach Ted Nolan got more out of the Islanders than anyone could have hoped &ndash; and he was rewarded by getting fired.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Will the Isles select John Tavares or Victor Hedman in the 2009 entry draft? Decisions, decisions.</p><h2><b>SOUTHEAST DIVISION</b></h2><h3><b>1. WASHINGTON CAPITALS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrival</i> J. Theodore, G.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> M. Cooke, LW; S. Eminger, D; C. Huet, G; O. Kolzig, G.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The Caps overhauled their goaltending corps, going with Jose Theodore, the 2002 Vezina winner who fell on hard times and then rebounded, as their No. 1.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> The Capitals have some of the most impressive young talent in the NHL, but will their goaltending be good enough?</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011391/9168301-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="2183" height="1801"><figcaption class="caption-body">Martin Biron gave the Flyers stellar netminding in his first playoff action. <span class="photo-credit">(BIRON: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h3><b>2. CAROLINA HURRICANES</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> J. Melichar, D; J. Pitkanen, D.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> E. Cole, RW; J. Grahame, G; B. Hedican, D; T. Letowski, C; D. Tanabe, D; G. Wesley, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The most drastic change was an injection of youth to an aging defense corps, which will now be led by the offensive, but mistake-prone Joni Pitkanen.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Cam Ward had a comeback season in 2007-08, but he&rsquo;ll even have to be better for the Hurricanes to contend.</p><h3><b>3. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> M. Carle, D; O. Kolzig, G; R. Malone, LW; A. Meszaros, D; V. Prospal, LW; M. Recchi, RW; G. Roberts, LW; R. Vrbata, RW.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> D. Boyle, D; D. Janik, D; A. Karlsson, C; B. Lukowich, D; A. Roy, LW; T. Taylor, C; F. Kuba, D; A. Picard, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> What isn&rsquo;t with this team? A revamped front office, coaching staff and roster will at least make the Bolts interesting to watch.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Are owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie misunderstood geniuses or a couple of crazy rich men?</p><h3><b>4. FLORIDA PANTHERS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> K. Ballard, D; N. Boynton, D; B. McCabe, D; C. Stillman, LW.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> J. Cullimore, D; M. Johansson, D; O. Jokinen, C; B. Mezei, D; S. Montador, D; J. Stumpel, C; M. Van Ryn, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The Panthers have traded away Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen in the past three summers, but might be better off than they were with the two franchise stars.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> All eyes will be on Jay Bouwmeester, a pending UFA who could turn out to be the crown jewel of the trade deadline.</p><h3><b>5. ATLANTA THRASHERS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> Z. Bogosian, D; R. Hainsey, D; J. Lessard, RW; M. Reasoner, LW; J. Williams, C.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> B. Holik, C; S. McCarthy, D; M. Recchi, RW; A. Zhitnik, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The Thrashers&rsquo; most significant change was behind the bench, where John Anderson takes over the reins.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> There&rsquo;s every indication Ilya Kovalchuk&rsquo;s patience with this organization is running out and this could be his last full season in Atlanta.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0020-01

NHL SEASON PREVIEW

EASTERN ELITE: PENS, CAPS AND HABS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-1718/9168451-1-eng-US/f0021-172.jpg" title="f0021-17" width="379" height="273"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-011229/9168444-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="105" height="105"></div><p>1. MONTREAL</p><p>CANADIENS</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/f0021-02803/9168437-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="105" height="105"></div><p>2. PITTSBURGH</p><p>PENGUINS</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/f0021-03525/9168430-1-eng-US/f0021-032.jpg" title="f0021-03" width="105" height="105"></div><p>3. WASHINGTON</p><p>CAPITALS</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/f0021-04403/9168423-1-eng-US/f0021-042.jpg" title="f0021-04" width="105" height="105"></div><p>4. PHILADELPHIA</p><p>FLYERS</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/f0021-05283/9168416-1-eng-US/f0021-052.jpg" title="f0021-05" width="105" height="105"></div><p>5. OTTAWA</p><p>SENATORS</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/f0021-06216/9168409-1-eng-US/f0021-062.jpg" title="f0021-06" width="105" height="105"></div><p>6. NEW YORK</p><p>RANGERS</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/f0021-07177/9168402-1-eng-US/f0021-072.jpg" title="f0021-07" width="105" height="105"></div><p>7. NEW JERSEY</p><p>DEVILS</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/f0021-08137/9168395-1-eng-US/f0021-082.jpg" title="f0021-08" width="105" height="105"></div><p>8. CAROLINA</p><p>HURRICANES</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/f0021-09106/9168388-1-eng-US/f0021-092.jpg" title="f0021-09" width="105" height="105"></div><p>9. TAMPA BAY</p><p>LIGHTNING</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/f0021-1082/9168381-1-eng-US/f0021-102.jpg" title="f0021-10" width="105" height="105"></div><p>10. BOSTON</p><p>BRUINS</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/f0021-1161/9168374-1-eng-US/f0021-112.jpg" title="f0021-11" width="105" height="105"></div><p>11. BUFFALO</p><p>SABRES</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/f0021-1244/9168367-1-eng-US/f0021-122.jpg" title="f0021-12" width="105" height="105"></div><p>12. FLORIDA</p><p>PANTHERS</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/f0021-1337/9168360-1-eng-US/f0021-132.jpg" title="f0021-13" width="105" height="105"></div><p>13. ATLANTA</p><p>THRASHERS</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/f0021-1430/9168353-1-eng-US/f0021-142.jpg" title="f0021-14" width="105" height="105"></div><p>14. TORONTO</p><p>MAPLE LEAFS</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/f0021-1524/9168346-1-eng-US/f0021-152.jpg" title="f0021-15" width="105" height="105"></div><p>15. NEW YORK</p><p>ISLANDERS<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0021-17

PROJECTED STANDINGS

<div class="byline">BY RANDY SPORTAK</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0024-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-011340/9168496-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Detroit is back with virtually the same lineup, plus sniper Marian Hossa. <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>AFTER STEAMROLLING to the Stanley Cup, the Red Wings promptly went out and got better.</p><p>The only major change in Detroit was replacing the retired Dallas Drake with Marian Hossa. Think the rest of the conference was happy to see the rich get richer?</p><p>Still, there will be a chase.</p><p>San Jose retooled after another playoff run that went short, while Anaheim and Dallas also are legitimate contenders. The real thrill will be watching some newcomers make noise. Edmonton, Chicago and Phoenix all are poised to knock down the playoff door.</p><h2><b>CENTRAL DIVISION</b></h2><h3><b>1. DETROIT RED WINGS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> T. Conklin, G; M. Hossa, RW.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> D. Drake, RW; D. Hasek, G.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Marian Hossa took less money than he could have received elsewhere for a shot at the Stanley Cup.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Will the Wings suffer a Cup hangover? That&rsquo;s the best shot for the rest of the league.</p><h3><b>2. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> B. Campbell, D; C. Huet, G.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> R. Bourque, LW; P. Lalime, G; J. Williams, C.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane enter their second season with the expectation they&rsquo;ll be the top-line cornerstones.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Cristobal Huet was brought in to take the goalie job from Nikolai Khabibulin, giving the Hawks a very expensive backup and potential goalie controversy.</p><h3><b>3. NASHVILLE PREDATORS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> J. Gratton; LW; P. Hornqvist, RW; R. Jones, RW; P. Rinne, G.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> D. Hordichuk, LW; C. Mason, G; A. Radulov, RW; M. Zidlicky, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The Preds made the playoffs last season despite big losses from the year before. Can they withstand more big hits, especially the highly talented Alexander Radulov?</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> How long before the Preds have to deal one of their excellent young defensemen for help up front?</p><h3><b>4. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> C. Backman, D; M. Commodore, D; K. Huselius, RW; S. Kelly, C; R. Torres, LW; F. Tyutin, D; R.J. Umberger, C; M. York, LW.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> D. Fristche, C; R. Hainsey, D; G. Brule, C; D. Vyborny, RW; D. Westcott, D; N. Zherdev, RW.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> In Kristian Huselius and R.J. Umberger, Rick Nash finally has skilled linemates.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Will the big changes actually mean a playoff spot or more of the same in Ohio?</p><h3><b>5. ST. LOUIS BLUES</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> C. Mason, G; M. Weaver, D.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> R. Johnson, C; J. Mayers, RW; M. Walker, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Not a whole lot for a team that finished well out of the playoffs, which isn&rsquo;t good.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Is St. Louis the team that won 15 of its first 25 games last season or the club that won only five of its final 23? Coach Andy Murray will be in the crosshairs if it&rsquo;s the latter.</p><h2><b>NORTHWEST DIVISION</b></h2><h3><b>1. MINNESOTA WILD</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> M-A. Bergeron, D; A. Brunette, LW; A. Miettinen, RW; O. Nolan, RW; C. Weller, RW; M. Zidlicky, D.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> P. Demitra, C; T. Fedoruk, RW; B. Radivojevic, RW; B. Rolston, C; C. Simon, LW; A. Voros, LW.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Brian Rolston is one of the most under-appreciated players in the game. His departure will be a tough hole to fill.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Marian Gaborik is due to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. The negotiations will be closely watched from all corners of the NHL.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-1735/9168489-1-eng-US/f0025-172.jpg" title="f0025-17" width="1259" height="958"><figcaption class="caption-body">Sublime playmaker Joe Thornton leads a deep and talented team in San Jose. <span class="photo-credit">(THORNTON: CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h3><b>2. EDMONTON OILERS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> G. Brule, C; E. Cole, RW; L. Visnovsky, D.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> C. Glencross, LW; M. Greene, D; J. Pitkanen, D; M. Reasoner, LW; J. Stoll, C; R. Torres, LW.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Erik Cole gives Edmonton some of that good old Ryan Smyth grit in front of the net.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Three questions: 1. Is goalie Mathieu Garon for real? 2. Can the Oilers &ndash; especially Sheldon Souray and Shawn Horcoff &ndash; avoid injuries? 3. Can kids Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano and Robert Nilsson be even better than last season?</p><h3><b>3. CALGARY FLAMES</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> T. Bertuzzi, RW; R. Bourque, LW; M. Cammalleri, C; M. Giordano, D; C. Glencross, LW; A. Roy, LW.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> D. Hale, D; K. Huselius, LW; C. Joseph, G; O. Nolan, RW; A. Tanguay, LW; S. Yelle, C.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Mike Cammalleri, Todd Bertuzzi and Rene Bourque must make up for the lost skill &ndash; notably Kristian Huselius and Alex Tanguay &ndash; with their grit.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Miikka Kiprusoff &rsquo;s perch among the top goaltenders in the league is being questioned. It&rsquo;s up to him to show he&rsquo;s still a Vezina-caliber goalie.</p><h3><b>4. VANCOUVER CANUCKS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> S. Bernier, RW; Rob Davison, D; P. Demitra, C; D. Hordichuk, LW; R. Johnson, C; K. Wellwood, C.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> T. Linden, C; B. Morrison, C; M. Naslund, LW; M. Weaver, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The changing of the guard in Vancouver is complete with Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison having moved on and the retirement of Trevor Linden.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Who will have the joy of skating with the Sedins &ndash; Pavol Demitra or Steve Bernier?</p><h3><b>5. COLORADO AVALANCHE</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> A. Raycroft, G; D. Tucker, RW; B. Willsie, RW.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> A. Brunette, LW; J. Finger, D; B. Richardson, C; K. Sauer, D; W. Smith, C; J. Theodore, G.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> The Avs&rsquo; netminding was a big question with Jose Theodore, yet he had a solid season. Is Andrew Raycroft also capable of a rejuvenation?</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> The great Joe Sakic&rsquo;s career is winding down. Is Paul Stastny ready to take the torch?</p><h2><b>PACIFIC DIVISION</b></h2><h3><b>1. SAN JOSE SHARKS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> R. Blake, D; D. Boyle, D; B. Lukowich, D.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> B. Campbell, D; M. Carle, D; P. Rissmiller, LW; C. Rivet, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> A retooled blueline brigade and rookie coach Todd McLellan to get the Sharks over the hump.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Expectations abound year after year in San Jose and deservedly so. Will Joe Thornton ever shed the label of underachiever in the playoffs?</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-011351/9168482-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="1444" height="1422"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dallas captain Brenden Morrow revs up the Stars with goals and grit. <span class="photo-credit">(MORROW: TOM TURRILL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h3><b>2. DALLAS STARS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> S. Avery, LW; F. Brunnstrom, C.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> N. Hagman, LW; A. Miettinen, RW; M. Norstrom, D.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Credit. The Stars were a surprise during the regular season &ndash; and then earned full marks by advancing to the Western Conference final.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> Steve Ott was public enemy No. 1 when Dallas squared off with anybody. Now, opposing teams will also have to deal with Sean Avery, too.</p><h3><b>3. ANAHEIM DUCKS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> B. Morrison, C; S. Montador, D; E. Boguniecki, RW.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> M-A. Bergeron, D; T. Bertuzzi, RW; J. DiPenta, D; D. Weight, C.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Brendan Morrison, a 50-point producer since the lockout, is the key to giving Anaheim a second-line threat. At 33, can he rebound to the 70-point plateau?</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> The Ducks now belong to a pair of 23-year-olds, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, up front. Are they ready to be the go-to guys all season?</p><h3><b>4. PHOENIX COYOTES</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> T. Fedoruk, RW; D. Hale, D; O. Jokinen, C; B. McGrattan, RW; K. Sauer, D.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> K. Ballard, D; N. Boynton, D; N. Kapanen, C; R. Vrbata, RW; C. Weller, RW; M. York, LW.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> Olli Jokinen has skated in 723 regular season games, but not one playoff contest. Is he the key to getting the Coyotes back in the post-season?</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> This may be the sleeper pick of the West to go from outsider to playoff candidate, especially with a full year of Ilya Bryzgalov in net.</p><h3><b>5. LOS ANGELES KINGS</b></h3><p><i>Key arrivals</i> D. Gauthier, D; M. Greene, D; B. Richardson, C; J. Stoll, C.</p><p><i>Key departures</i> R. Blake, D; M. Cammalleri, C; L. Visnovsky, D; B. Willsie, RW.</p><p><i>What&rsquo;s New?</i> More youth for an already young team that is going through a long-term building process.</p><p><i>Hot Topic</i> With Anze Kopitar, Alexander Frolov and Patrick O&rsquo;Sullivan, the Kings have good young scorers to beat teams 5-4 if opponents aren&rsquo;t ready.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0024-01

WINGS BEST IN THE WEST

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-011199/9168632-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="380" height="268"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02850/9168625-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="105" height="105"></div><p>1. DETROIT</p><p>RED WINGS</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/f0025-03599/9168618-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg" title="f0025-03" width="105" height="105"></div><p>2. SAN JOSE</p><p>SHARKS</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/f0025-04411/9168611-1-eng-US/f0025-042.jpg" title="f0025-04" width="105" height="105"></div><p>3. MINNESOTA</p><p>WILD</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/f0025-05303/9168604-1-eng-US/f0025-052.jpg" title="f0025-05" width="105" height="105"></div><p>4. DALLAS</p><p>STARS</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/f0025-06243/9168597-1-eng-US/f0025-062.jpg" title="f0025-06" width="105" height="105"></div><p>5. ANAHEIM</p><p>DUCKS</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/f0025-07202/9168590-1-eng-US/f0025-072.jpg" title="f0025-07" width="105" height="105"></div><p>6. EDMONTON</p><p>OILERS</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/f0025-08168/9168583-1-eng-US/f0025-082.jpg" title="f0025-08" width="105" height="105"></div><p>7. CHICAGO</p><p>BLACKHAWKS</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/f0025-09139/9168576-1-eng-US/f0025-092.jpg" title="f0025-09" width="105" height="105"></div><p>8. CALGARY</p><p>FLAMES</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/f0025-10111/9168569-1-eng-US/f0025-102.jpg" title="f0025-10" width="105" height="105"></div><p>9. NASHVILLE</p><p>PREDATORS</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/f0025-1185/9168562-1-eng-US/f0025-112.jpg" title="f0025-11" width="105" height="105"></div><p>10. PHOENIX</p><p>COYOTES</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/f0025-1268/9168555-1-eng-US/f0025-122.jpg" title="f0025-12" width="105" height="105"></div><p>11. VANCOUVER</p><p>CANUCKS</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/f0025-1356/9168548-1-eng-US/f0025-132.jpg" title="f0025-13" width="105" height="105"></div><p>12. COLUMBUS</p><p>BLUE JACKETS</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/f0025-1452/9168541-1-eng-US/f0025-142.jpg" title="f0025-14" width="105" height="105"></div><p>13. LOS ANGELES</p><p>KINGS</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/f0025-1546/9168534-1-eng-US/f0025-152.jpg" title="f0025-15" width="105" height="105"></div><p>14. COLORADO</p><p>AVALANCHE</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/f0025-1640/9168527-1-eng-US/f0025-162.jpg" title="f0025-16" width="105" height="105"></div><p>15. ST. LOUIS</p><p>BLUES<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0025-01

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0028-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-011337/9168677-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DOUGHTY: ANDRE RINGUETTE/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>WO YEARS AFTER <b>the Stanley Cup made its first-ever appearance in Southern California, perhaps the Calder Trophy is poised to make its second.</b></p><p><b>Or not.</b></p><p><b>If there were ever a mug&rsquo;s game in this industry, it&rsquo;s projecting which player will be named the NHL&rsquo;s top rookie on a yearly basis.</b></p><p><b>All right, post-lockout has been a bit of a breeze. Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Patrick Kane could have been pre-selected by Maggie the Monkey or Maggie Gyl-lenhaal or even Maggie May. Time to shake things up, we figure, and what better place to do that than in the tremor capital of the world?</b></p><p><b>The Los Angeles Kings could have as many as five rookies in their lineup this season, so it stands to reason that a couple of them might figure into</b>&nbsp;the Calder race. Except there&rsquo;s a little problem with that theory.</p><p>And that is, 19-year-old defensemen such as Drew Doughty and undrafted free agents such as Teddy Purcell win the Calder with about the same frequency as a solar eclipse. Of course, who would have thought in 1987 that a ninth-round pick named Luc Robitaille would have won the first and only Calder in Kings history?</p><p>Down the freeway in Anaheim, the Ducks have 21-year-old winger Bobby Ryan, who might be the most NHL-ready player of all the rookies in the league this season. Between Ryan, Doughty and Purcell, the Calder winner could certainly emerge if things fall into place. After all, having the NHL&rsquo;s best rookie season is as much about opportunity as it is about talent.</p><p>And that&rsquo;s where both Doughty and Purcell come into the picture. The Kings aren&rsquo;t even pretending to be a contender this season and seem intent on testing their young talent at the NHL level right away. In fact, the Kings could conceivably have four rookies on the blueline this season in Doughty, Thomas Hickey, Alec Martinez and Colton Teubert.</p><p>All of which is bad for the goals-against average and the win column, but potentially good for players such as Doughty. The Guelph Storm (OHL) graduate has a definite offensive bent to his game and he&rsquo;ll likely get a chance to exploit that on the power play, something that is key to putting up the kinds of numbers that make rookies attractive and sexy choices for the rookie of the year title.</p><p>&ldquo;Doughty might be a guy who goes minus-50, but he might also get 50 or 60 points and the Calder is almost always based on numbers,&rdquo; said one pro scout. &ldquo;He&rsquo;ll be playing for a bad team that will have trouble scoring, but they still have (Anze) Kopitar and (Patrick) O&rsquo;Sullivan and (Dustin) Brown and somebody will have to get them the puck on the power play.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-011185/9168670-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="880" height="1067"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Ryan isn&rsquo;t the only West Coast rookie looking to make waves. <span class="photo-credit">(RYAN: DEBORA ROBINSON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Undoubtedly, Doughty will take his lumps playing on such a bad team. At times, he&rsquo;ll feel under siege. Even though his stats in Guelph dipped (in fewer games) last season, he remains an elite offensive defenseman with the speed and hockey sense to become a reliable two-way NHLer. Working against Doughty is the fact that only four teenage defensemen &ndash; Bryan Berard, Ray Bourque, Denis Potvin and Bobby Orr &ndash; have ever won the Calder.</p><p>A lot of 23-year-old players have won it, but none of them have been undrafted free agents from St. John&rsquo;s Nfld., two years removed from the USHL. But such has been the meteoric rise for Purcell, who could add the Calder to an array of rookie-of-the-year honors he has picked up in the past three years. In 2004-05, he was named rookie of the year in the USHL; two years later he was the top rookie in Hockey East while playing for Maine; and, last year he was the AHL&rsquo;s best freshman when he debuted with Manchester.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-011344/9168663-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="949" height="646"><figcaption class="caption-body">Teddy Purcell must get everything out of his lanky frame this season. <span class="photo-credit">(PURCELL: JUAN OCAMPO/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Purcell came out of nowhere to score 25 goals and 83 points last season to lead all AHL rookies and finish third in league scoring. In 10 games with the Kings, Purcell had just a goal and three points and looked a little out of his element at the NHL level.</p><p>&ldquo;That was probably just a matter of not being ready,&rdquo; one pro scout said. &ldquo;But in my opinion, he certainly has the size and offensive skills to be a Calder candidate.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s an interesting prospect for sure. He&rsquo;s one of these tall, lanky kids who lacked a little co-ordination, but things have really fallen into place for him.&rdquo;</p><p>Purcell will get a chance to replace Mike Cammalleri among the Kings&rsquo; top six forwards, which would mean some quality minutes at even strength and on the power play.</p><p>And we haven&rsquo;t even touched on Ryan yet. The second overall pick in the 2005 entry draft behind Sidney Crosby, Ryan could end up winning the Calder that eluded Sid the Kid. There is little doubt Ryan has proved himself at the professional level, playing 116 regular season and playoff games in the NHL and AHL and scoring at close to a point-per-game pace (38 goals, 96 points). Last season, he had 21 goals and 49 points in 48 AHL-NHL games, but was even better in the playoffs with eight goals and 20 points in 16 games for Portland.</p><p>And for Ryan, it might also come down to opportunity. One thing working against him is the Ducks are one of the NHL&rsquo;s best lock-down teams, but have a devil of a time scoring goals. Their first line is set with Ryan Getzlaf between Chris Kunitz and Corey Perry and the imminent return of Teemu Selanne will either move Ryan a peg down the depth chart at right wing or to left wing on the second line.</p><p>There is little doubt about his potential, but he might be a little slower in showing it.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a classic Brian Burke, Anaheim Duck player,&rdquo; a pro scout said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a big strong, guy, but his skating is not great. Sometimes those guys take a little longer to develop.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-01

Royal Rookie Treatment

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02914/9168813-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="233" height="295"></div><p>STEVEN STAMKOS, C</p><p>Age: 18</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03667/9168806-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg" title="f0030-03" width="148" height="148"></div><p>It remains to be seen whether putting him with Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi will slow Stamkos down or help him, but the opportunity will be there for the No. 1 overall pick.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-04492/9168799-1-eng-US/f0030-042.jpg" title="f0030-04" width="233" height="286"></div><p>FABIAN BRUNNSTROM, LW</p><p>Age: 23</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-05376/9168792-1-eng-US/f0030-052.jpg" title="f0030-05" width="148" height="148"></div><p>He&rsquo;s bound to play with one of the three top centers &ndash; Brad Richards, Mike Ribiero, Mike Modano &ndash; so he&rsquo;ll get his chances. But it will all depend on how well he adjusts to the NHL.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-06310/9168785-1-eng-US/f0030-062.jpg" title="f0030-06" width="233" height="282"></div><p>PATRIC HORNQVIST, RW</p><p>Age: 21</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-07249/9168778-1-eng-US/f0030-072.jpg" title="f0030-07" width="148" height="148"></div><p>He&rsquo;s slotted to start the season on the second line with David Legwand and J-P Dumont. He&rsquo;s not a great skater, but scored 18 goals in the Swedish Elite League last season.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-09171/9168771-1-eng-US/f0030-092.jpg" title="f0030-09" width="233" height="288"></div><p>BLAKE WHEELER, RW</p><p>Age: 22</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-08205/9168764-1-eng-US/f0030-082.jpg" title="f0030-08" width="148" height="148"></div><p>A real dark horse who will have a legitimate shot if he starts well and gets power play time with uber-playmaker Marc Savard. He may have to move to the left wing in Boston.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-10148/9168757-1-eng-US/f0030-102.jpg" title="f0030-10" width="233" height="289"></div><p>KYLE OKPOSO, RW</p><p>Age: 20</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-11123/9168750-1-eng-US/f0030-112.jpg" title="f0030-11" width="147" height="147"></div><p>He&rsquo;s NHL-ready after getting a quick taste last season. The only problem for Okposo is that the Islanders might be the lowest-scoring team in the league.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-12112/9168743-1-eng-US/f0030-122.jpg" title="f0030-12" width="233" height="286"></div><p>JAKUB VORACEK, RW</p><p>Age: 19</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-13102/9168736-1-eng-US/f0030-132.jpg" title="f0030-13" width="144" height="136"></div><p>Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock is going to love Voracek, which means he&rsquo;ll get added responsibility and ice time as the season goes on. He combines skill, skating and grit.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-1491/9168729-1-eng-US/f0030-142.jpg" title="f0030-14" width="233" height="292"></div><p>ZACH BOGOSIAN, D</p><p>Age: 18</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-1584/9168722-1-eng-US/f0030-152.jpg" title="f0030-15" width="148" height="148"></div><p>Like Stamkos, he&rsquo;s bound to receive a lot of minutes as an 18-year-old. He could find himself on the depth chart behind only Tobias Enstrom and Ron Hainsey.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-1667/9168715-1-eng-US/f0030-162.jpg" title="f0030-16" width="233" height="288"></div><p>KYLE TURRIS, C</p><p>Age: 19</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-1758/9168708-1-eng-US/f0030-172.jpg" title="f0030-17" width="148" height="148"></div><p>There&rsquo;s no doubting his skill, but does he have the size to be able to produce against grinding Pacific teams such as the Sharks, Stars and Ducks? He&rsquo;ll get the chance to prove he can.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0030-02

Calder Watch

<div class="byline">BY MIKE BROPHY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-011178/9168865-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="880" height="1320"></div><h2><b>YOU THINK YOU KNOW BOB GAINEY?</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>J</span>ust a quiet guy who leads by example, you say. A man who assigns responsibility, offers support and then expects results? A serious, straight-laced authoritarian figure who hasn&rsquo;t cracked a smile since a kid sitting behind him in school accidentally tooted in class?</p><p>Then you don&rsquo;t know Bob.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;d have organization meetings with the hockey and business departments a couple of times each year when we were with the Dallas Stars and we&rsquo;d usually start the meeting by having everyone admit to the dumbest thing we did in the past six months and what did we learned from it,&rdquo; recalled former Calgary Flames GM Craig Button, one of Gainey&rsquo;s closest friends.</p><p>&ldquo;So this one meeting I was sitting to Bob&rsquo;s left and he said, &lsquo;All of us have something about ourselves, maybe even two or three things, that we would like to change. Why don&rsquo;t we go around the table and talk about the one thing we&rsquo;d like to change about ourselves. If somebody has already said something you were going to say, you have to say pick different. I&rsquo;ll start. If there is one thing I&rsquo;d like to change about myself, it&rsquo;s my nose. OK, it&rsquo;s your turn, Craig.&rsquo; The whole room cracked up.&rdquo;</p><p>In case you don&rsquo;t know it, Button&rsquo;s nose is one of his most prominent features.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011332/9168858-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="1258" height="1801"><figcaption class="caption-body">Goalie Carey Price, just 21, is a key to Bob Gainey&rsquo;s 2008-09 Habs squad. <span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;Bob would never intentionally put somebody in an uncomfortable position through sense of humor or criticism,&rdquo; Button said. &ldquo;In this case Bob knew me well enough that I wouldn&rsquo;t be bothered by it. He gets to know people.&rdquo;</p><p>So there is a lighter side to Gainey; he just doesn&rsquo;t flaunt it.</p><p>And sometimes you have to be paying close attention or you just might miss the punch line.</p><p>Once, when asked why a particularly soft player was scratched from the lineup, Gainey deadpanned, &ldquo;Yeast infection.&rdquo;</p><p>Then there was the time, when he was GM of the Stars, he told his scouts of his plan to draft Petr Buzek in the third round. Buzek likely would have been a first round pick, but was in an horrific car accident and sustained many injuries. As promised, Gainey chose Buzek in the third round. A short while later, the injured player arrived at the Stars&rsquo; table in a wheelchair and bandaged from head to toe. He feebly shook hands with Gainey and the Stars scouts before departing.</p><p>Soon after, the Stars made another pick and the player leaped from the stands and rushed down to the arena floor to meet his new employers. A few firm handshakes later, the player was on his way.</p><p>&ldquo;Looks like we got a good one,&rdquo; Gainey said. &ldquo;And all his limbs appear to be in working order.&rdquo;</p><p>Remarkably, Gainey has maintained his subtle humor when others, folks with lesser mettle, would have withered away. Through triumph and tragedy, Bob Gainey has remained consistent &ndash; a remarkable leader others look to for direction as they pursue their goals and dreams. He is universally liked and more importantly, respected.</p><p>There is so much Gainey has to celebrate about his professional life, including five Stanley Cups as a player with the Montreal Canadiens to go with four Selke Trophies as the NHL&rsquo;s best defensive forward. He won a sixth Cup as GM of Dallas and is a member of the Hall of Fame.</p><p>And then there are the horrible personal tragedies he has endured.</p><p>His wife, Cathy, passed away in 1995 after a long bout with cancer, leaving him with four children to raise. Then on Dec. 8, 2006, his daughter Laura, 25, downed after being swept overboard from a tall ship in the Atlantic Ocean. There is no recovering from such a tragedy, yet Gainey has shown no visible signs of defeat.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-011248/9168851-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="2184" height="1258"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gainey helped bring back the good times when he rejoined the Habs. <span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;He soldiers on because he has affection and love for people,&rdquo; Button said. &ldquo;Bob is a leader. A lot of people think leading is from the front. Bob is unique in that he&rsquo;ll lead from the front and pull you along, he&rsquo;ll lead from the side and help you along and he&rsquo;ll lead from behind and push you along.&rdquo;</p><p>People depend on him and he won&rsquo;t let them down.</p><p>BOB GAINEY STROLLS into the Bell Centre, home to the most successful franchise in NHL history, and those that have arrived before him are instantly put at ease.</p><p>Daddy&rsquo;s home.</p><p>How many bosses have that kind of effect on their employees?</p><p>&ldquo;Bob is extremely respectful of what people have to do,&rdquo; said Donald Beauchamp, the Canadiens&rsquo; longtime director of communications. &ldquo;Bob is so respectful of the job everyone has to do. He is probably in the most difficult market in the NHL for the job he has, dealing with two languages, two cultures, yet he never seems affected by it all.&rdquo;</p><p>Adds Habs assistant coach Doug Jarvis: &ldquo;In terms of making everybody feel important &ndash; and I think that has been a part of his leadership method and success &ndash; he realizes the strengths and the values of everybody in the organization whether it be the scouting department, the training staff, the coaches or the players. I think he appreciates the strengths each person has and what each person can bring to the success of the whole group.&rdquo;</p><p>When Gainey rejoined the Canadiens in 2003, the franchise was in disarray. The most successful team in NHL history with 24 Stanley Cups had suddenly become a small market team, unable to compete with the league&rsquo;s big spenders. High-end free agents had no interest in playing in Montreal and the team had not been successful in building from within.</p><p>Gainey knew what he had to do to turn things around. He also knew it wasn&rsquo;t going to happen over night, nor would it be an easy sell. Of course, having played junior for Roger Neilson and then having Sam Pollock and Scotty Bowman as your first GM and coach, respectively, gives a man a wealth of knowledge to draw upon.</p><p>&ldquo;I felt when I had success in other times in my career in the NHL as a player or other capacities, I really felt we had a strong hockey department,&rdquo; Gainey said. &ldquo;But when I started here, if I said, &lsquo;I want to build a strong hockey department,&rsquo; I don&rsquo;t think that would have gone over very well. You have to be more specific or at least give the people or the journalists more specific information.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-011227/9168844-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="2120" height="2750"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><blockquote class="pullQuote">&lsquo;Your goal is to create an expectation&rsquo;</blockquote><p>Montreal hockey fans are not known for their patience. Neither is the media. Yet with Gainey at the helm, many felt some of the organization&rsquo;s lost credibility had been immediately restored.</p><p>&ldquo;I think the thing I remember from his days as captain, is he was a quiet man, but when he spoke he had everybody&rsquo;s attention and everybody listened,&rdquo; said Jarvis, who played junior with Gainey in Peterborough, pro with him in Montreal and has worked for him in numerous capacities in his post-playing career. &ldquo;I think a lot of that had to do with the fact his analysis of the situation was correct and there was a great deal of respect because of that.&rdquo;</p><p>In five seasons, Gainey has improved the Canadiens to the point where they finished atop the Eastern Conference standings last season and are once again in a position to contend for the Stanley Cup. Electing to build from within, Gainey has patiently allowed prospects to grow as professionals in the AHL before promoting them to the NHL and has assembled a coaching staff players cannot help but follow.</p><p>&ldquo;Bob is someone who won in Montreal and knows what it takes,&rdquo; said defenseman Mike Komisarek. &ldquo;He has rubbed offon the players, along with (coaches) Guy Carbonneau, Doug Jarvis and Kirk Muller. They know what it takes to be a winner. Montreal has always had tradition and a rich tradition, but we haven&rsquo;t won a Cup since 1993 and with Bob coming in, he knows what it takes. He is a steady, calm figure who doesn&rsquo;t say much, but when he speaks, everybody listens. He&rsquo;s articulate and well thought-out. He doesn&rsquo;t just say things to hear himself speak.&rdquo;</p><p>Gainey has built a solid defense that features the underrated Andrei Markov and Komisarek, a physical force who continues to develop into one of the game&rsquo;s better shut-down players. The Canadiens have a number of emerging scorers up front to go with veteran Alex Kovalev as well as the newly acquired Alex Tanguay, who is looking to revive a career that stalled in Calgary.</p><p>The wild card is goaltender Carey Price, handed the starting job at age 21. Nobody doubts he&rsquo;ll one day be a star, it&rsquo;s just a matter of how long will it take.</p><p>&ldquo;I believe we are improved,&rdquo; Gainey said.</p><p>&ldquo;A year ago I thought we were a better team, but we didn&rsquo;t have any evidence &ndash; really hardcore evidence &ndash; to support that. Even though the evidence has been short-term, half a season of well above-average production, I can say we&rsquo;re a better team and we&rsquo;ll be a better competitor and a harder team to play against.&rdquo;</p><p>With this being the 100th anniversary season of the Canadiens, there is even more pressure on the team to do well.</p><p>&ldquo;It is a celebration of not only this season, but the past 99 seasons,&rdquo; Gainey said. &ldquo;I think we want to participate in it and enjoy it and there is no better way for us to do that than to be a good, strong team playing to our potential, winning more games than we lose and participating in the playoffs.&rdquo;</p><p>Gainey insists pressure is overrated. Those who are successful should embrace it.</p><p>&ldquo;When you start in a job it is often because a team has had difficulties and there are opportunities for new personnel,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Your goal is to create an expectation. It gets pretty dismal year after year if your fans can&rsquo;t look at your team and feel you are getting better and are going to be a good team to watch. And then at some point you want to say, &lsquo;You know this team can be a contender.&rsquo; I wouldn&rsquo;t call it pressure; I&rsquo;d call it expectations. I think when expectations and potential match, you&rsquo;ve got a good combination.&rdquo;</p><p>And when the Canadiens win Cup No. 25, expect Bob Gainey&rsquo;s fingerprints to be all over it.</p><p>&ldquo;Bob is the captain of this ship and he&rsquo;s slowly building us into a Stanley Cup contender,&rdquo; Komisarek said.</p><p>In Montreal, there is no higher praise.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0033-01

You don’t know Bob.

<div class="byline">with Adam Proteau</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0038-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02800/9168917-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">After a long wait, former Leaf John Anderson has his first NHL coaching gig in Atlanta. <span class="photo-credit">(ANDERSON: BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-011183/9168924-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="187" height="222"></div><p>&ldquo;ONE MAN PRACTISING sportsmanship is far better than 50 preaching it,&rdquo; said legendary football coach Knute Rockne &ndash; and for evidence &lsquo;The Gipper&rsquo; wasn&rsquo;t some overblown wisecracker, look no further than the example set by Bruce Boudreau and John Anderson, two of the newest, nicest members of the NHL coaching fraternity.</p><p>They also happen to be best friends, with eerily similar life paths that will cross at least six times this season when Boudreau&rsquo;s 2007-08 Southeast Division-champion Washington Capitals take on Anderson&rsquo;s Atlanta Thrashers, a division rival that regressed terribly last season and finished second-last in the East.</p><p>Both of them were hometown teammates with the Ontario Hockey Association&rsquo;s Toronto Marlboros in the early 1970s, and both amassed more than 100 points in their final season of junior.</p><p>After that, both were drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs and, occasionally, both were NHL teammates with the blue-and-white. Both also were well-traveled players who finished out their careers with stints in the American and International Leagues. And that sense of sameness continued as each man&rsquo;s coaching career developed, as both won multiple championships at the minor pro level.</p><p>However, here&rsquo;s the most appropriate shared symbol for the driving force behind Boudreau&rsquo;s and Anderson&rsquo;s similar successes: Both are past winners of the AHL&rsquo;s Fred T. Hunt Award, presented annually to the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship, determination, and dedication to hockey.</p><p>Two men practising sportsmanship: there&rsquo;s no better label for Anderson and Boudreau. Never mind the systems and drills and politics of the business &ndash; the reason why each has convinced guys to play hard for them year after year, the reason why both have worked with dog&rsquo;s breakfasts of lineups in lesser leagues and wrenched every available drop of value from them, is because of who they are.</p><p>Indeed, those who know Boudreau and Anderson will tell you their determination to gut it out as minor league bench bosses (while less qualified candidates got their shot at the big-time) has never carried with it the sourness known to infect the perennially passed over.</p><p>In return for that grace, the hockey gods have handsomely rewarded each man in the past year. Boudreau&rsquo;s bounty came in the form of an underachieving-but-undeniably-talented Capitals team he took over from Glen Hanlon in late November and turned into a juggernaut that pushed by Carolina in their 82nd game of the season to become the Southeast&rsquo;s lone playoff participant.</p><p>For such a dramatic turnaround, Boudreau was honored with the Jack Adams Award as the NHL&rsquo;s best coach. And with the expected blossoming of young Russian talents Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin, Boudreau and the Caps are aiming for a deep post-season run this time around.</p><p>Like Boudreau, the 51-year-old Anderson also has a major Russian star in Ilya Kovalchuk. And although he is taking the reins of a franchise that disappointed its fan base deeply in &rsquo;07-08 and lost a major component in Marian Hossa, he expects the Thrashers to be back in the playoff mix right away.</p><p>&ldquo;You might&rsquo;ve said to Bruce when he took the (Capitals) job, &lsquo;Do you honestly think you can make the playoffs in the position you&rsquo;re in?&rsquo; and look what happened,&rdquo; said Anderson, hired by Atlanta in June after guiding the AHL&rsquo;s Chicago Wolves to a Calder Cup title.</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">We&rsquo;re great friends, but we&rsquo;re going to be the most competitive against each other</blockquote><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-011090/9168910-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="1380" height="953"><figcaption class="caption-body">By turning the Caps loose, Boudreau was able to turn Washington&rsquo;s season around. <span class="photo-credit">(BOUDREAU: MITCHELL LAYTON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;I think this team has underachieved, so I&rsquo;m very confident we can make some noise this year. I&rsquo;ve got one of the best players in the world in Kovalchuk and one of the best goalies in the world in (Kari) Lehtonen. When you start with that in your back pocket, you&rsquo;re pretty optimistic.&rdquo;</p><p>Were both men to make the playoffs in their first full season as NHL coaches, they would add another shared experience to a list that appears endless.</p><p>&ldquo;When John was playing Jr. B and I was playing Jr. A, he got called up and I assisted on his first goal,&rdquo; said Boudreau, 53. &ldquo;When he was playing in the AHL, I was playing in the NHL and he got called up and I assisted on his first NHL goal. When he got drafted and went to (the Central League&rsquo;s) Dallas (Black Hawks), I assisted on his first goal there. So from all of those things, it&rsquo;s really cool how we became such good friends.&rdquo;</p><p>Good enough friends that Boudreau named Anderson the godfather of his youngest son, Brady. But he harbors no illusions about the lines that will have to be drawn now that he and his good pal are once again in direct competition.</p><p>&ldquo;Unfortunately, this year, as much as we&rsquo;re great friends, we&rsquo;re probably going to be the most competitive against each other, because you want to beat your best friend,&rdquo; Boudreau said. &ldquo;I remember when I was coaching in Fort Wayne and he was playing in San Diego, and we lost 5-1 to them, we went out for dinner after the game and he couldn&rsquo;t understand why I was so upset&hellip;but he phoned me up a year later when he became a coach and he said, &lsquo;I finally understand what you mean.&rsquo; &rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-02706/9168903-1-eng-US/f0039-022.jpg" title="f0039-02" width="564" height="801"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>With only 61 NHL games under his coaching belt, the affable, humble Boudreau wouldn&rsquo;t presume to give Anderson any tips on adapting to his new surroundings. Rather, he sees &ndash; surprise, surprise &ndash; similar conditions Anderson will have in Atlanta that helped him succeed as Washington&rsquo;s coach.</p><p>&ldquo;I thought it was a great advantage for me to coach in (Washington&rsquo;s) American League affiliate and then come up to deal with the NHL people on that team who you&rsquo;ve already worked with,&rdquo; Boudreau said. &ldquo;When I made it to the NHL in Washington, I had eight players in the room who could tell the other guys what I was like, and also, eight guys who could see that I was still the same coach at that level as I was at an AHL level.</p><p>&ldquo;That was important, and I think John is fortunate in that he&rsquo;s got some players in that dressing room who know him before camp starts.&rdquo;</p><p>Regardless of each coach&rsquo;s performance this season, there&rsquo;s no doubt Boudreau&rsquo;s and Anderson&rsquo;s friendship will persevere.</p><p>The only thing that&rsquo;s more of a certainty is Boudreau&rsquo;s signature sense of humor, on full display when he was asked if he was grateful the NHL had slowed down its recycling of well-traveled coaches and finally presented guys such as himself and Anderson with an opportunity.</p><p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; Boudreau answered, &ldquo;from now on, we want them to start recycling again.&rdquo;</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="77" height="77"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>For Adam&rsquo;s web-exclusive Screen Shots column, visit <a href="http://THN.com">thn.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0038-02

BEST FRIENDS, BENCH ENEMIES

<div class="byline">BY DAN WOOD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-02470/9168955-1-eng-US/f0040-022.jpg" title="f0040-02" width="333" height="489"><figcaption class="caption-body">Getzlaf <span class="photo-credit">(GETZLAF: GLENN JAMES/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-01780/9168962-1-eng-US/f0040-012.jpg" title="f0040-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>HEY PLAYED large roles on a Stanley Cup-winning team in just their second NHL season; finished 1-2 in team scoring in their third year; and enter 2008-09 each armed with a five-year, $26.6-million contract.</p><p>It is no stretch to say forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, linemates since the first day of training camp in their rookie season, represent the biggest piece of Anaheim&rsquo;s future. They also are a huge component in the present for a squad aiming to return to championship form.</p><p>With all due respect to 2007 Cup heroes Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger and J-S Giguere, who remain the team&rsquo;s leaders, Anaheim won&rsquo;t get anywhere this year unless Getzlaf and Perry continue their ascent toward NHL superstardom.</p><p>&ldquo;The normal progression for young players is they continue to improve statistically,&rdquo; said Ducks GM Brian Burke. &ldquo;They get more feature minutes. They&rsquo;re going to see other teams&rsquo; top checking lines all the time now. They&rsquo;re going to have to adjust to more pressure, but they should continue to improve. With that kind of paycheck, they need to take on more of a leadership role.&rdquo;</p><p>Though each is only 23, Perry and especially Getzlaf have performed beyond their years since breaking into the NHL in 2005. During Anaheim&rsquo;s Stanley Cup run, Getzlaf led the team with 17 playoff points, while Perry tied Teemu Selanne for second with 15 points.</p><p>Last season, Getzlaf put up a team-high 82 points, including 24 goals. Perry notched a team-leading 29 goals and 54 points despite missing 12 games because of a right-quadricep surgery.</p><p>&ldquo;The fact they were 1-2 in scoring the year we won the Cup was really their coming-out party,&rdquo; Burke said. &ldquo;Last year, they backed it up.&rdquo;</p><p>In order to contend for a Cup, the Ducks need a lot of things to go right this season. Pronger and Niedermayer must play at the dominant level they couldn&rsquo;t quite reach last year; Giguere must cement his reputation as a money goalie.</p><p>No one, though, figures to be any more important than Getzlaf and Perry. The Ducks are becoming their team.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Anaheim&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. J-S Giguere</p><p>2. J. Hiller</p><p>3. D. LeNeveu</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. S. Niedermayer</p><p>2. C. Pronger</p><p>3. M. Schneider</p><p>4. F. Beauchemin</p><p>5. S. O&rsquo;Donnell</p><p>6. K. Huskins</p><p>7. S. Montador</p><p>8. B. Mikkelson</p><p>9. B. Salcido</p><p>10. B. Festerling</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. C. Kunitz</p><p>2. T. Marchant</p><p>3. T. Moen</p><p>4. B. May</p><p>5. J. Lindstrom</p><p>6. J. Green</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. R. Getzlaf</p><p>2. B. Morrison</p><p>3. S. Pahlsson</p><p>4. R. Carter</p><p>5. B. Sutherby</p><p>6. A. Ebbett</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. C. Perry</p><p>2. B. Ryan</p><p>3. R. Niedermayer</p><p>4. G. Parros</p><p>5. E. Boguniecki</p><p>6. E. Tangradi</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. B. Ryan, RW, 21</p><p>2. B. Mikkelson, D, 21</p><p>3. B. Salcido, D, 23</p><p>4. B. Festerling, D, 22</p><p>5. A. Ebbett, C, 25<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0040-02

LEARNING TO FLY

<div class="byline">BY MIKE KNOBLER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-04292/9168993-1-eng-US/f0040-042.jpg" title="f0040-04" width="334" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Christensen <span class="photo-credit">(CHRISTENSEN: GREG FIUME/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-03361/9169000-1-eng-US/f0040-032.jpg" title="f0040-03" width="214" height="214"></div><p>EVERY TIME Erik Christensen answers the question, he sees the same look of disbelief.</p><p>After all, could he really be happy to have been sent from Pittsburgh to a team destined to finish at the opposite end of the standings?</p><p>Ecstatic, it turns out.</p><p>With the Thrashers, Christensen has what he never had with the Penguins: the opportunity to be a top-line center. Atlanta plans to start 2008-09 with Christensen centering for high-scoring Ilya Kovalchuk on the left wing and free agent acquisition Jason Williams on the right side.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re certainly going to give him the opportunity,&rdquo; said GM Don Waddell. &ldquo;He has the skill level and the skill set to play with guys like that.&rdquo;</p><p>In Pittsburgh, Christensen was stuck behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, two of the league&rsquo;s best centers. The result was 12 minutes of ice time per game and roles that never gave him a chance to thrive.</p><p>&ldquo;I was all over the place,&rdquo; Christensen said. &ldquo;I was third-line center, fourth-line center, fourthline winger, third-line winger&hellip;I was bouncing around constantly. It was tough to get in a groove, tough to know what the team wanted.&rdquo;</p><p>The Thrashers want goals. Kovalchuk scored 52, but no other returning player scored more than 17. Marian Hossa had 26 before heading to Pittsburgh in the trade that brought Christensen. Now, it&rsquo;s up to Christensen to complement Kovalchuk and form what the Thrashers hope can become one of the league&rsquo;s best lines.</p><p>That&rsquo;s a lot to expect from a 24-year-old in his second full NHL season. But it&rsquo;s not the first time Christensen has been thrust into a starring role. Six years ago at Kamloops he almost doubled his previous year&rsquo;s totals by producing a 54-goal, 108-point season to win the WHL scoring title.</p><p>&ldquo;Junior is way different than pro,&rdquo; said coach John Anderson, adding that while Christensen has the skills, he still has to prove he can handle the job. &ldquo;Having to deal with the pressure of being that No. 1 guy, a lot of guys don&rsquo;t want it&hellip;(Wayne) Gretzky thrived on it. So did (Mark) Messier. That&rsquo;s what we want him to learn.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Atlanta&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. K. Lehtonen</p><p>2. J. Hedberg</p><p>3. O. Pavelec</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. T. Enstrom</p><p>2. N. Havelid</p><p>3. R. Hainsey</p><p>4. K. Klee</p><p>5. G. Exelby</p><p>6. Z. Bogosian</p><p>7. B. Valabik</p><p>8. N. Oystrick</p><p>9. A. Kulda</p><p>10. C. Denny</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. I. Kovalchuk</p><p>2. V. Kozlov</p><p>3. E. Perrin</p><p>4. J. Slater</p><p>5. C. Stuart</p><p>6. B. Sterling</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. E. Christensen</p><p>2. T. White</p><p>3. B. Little</p><p>4. M. Reasoner</p><p>5. A. Esposito</p><p>6. R. Holzapfel</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. Jason Williams</p><p>2. C. Armstrong</p><p>3. C. Thorburn</p><p>4. E. Boulton</p><p>5. B. Larsen</p><p>6. J. Lessard</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. Z. Bogosian, D, 18</p><p>2. B. Valabik, D, 22</p><p>3. O. Pavelec, G, 21</p><p>4. B. Sterling, LW, 24</p><p>5. R. Holzapfel, C, 20<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0040-04

UNTESTED, BUT READY

<div class="byline">BY MIKE LOFTUS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-02412/9169031-1-eng-US/f0041-022.jpg" title="f0041-02" width="334" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bergeron <span class="photo-credit">(BERGERON: PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-01668/9169038-1-eng-US/f0041-012.jpg" title="f0041-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>O THE PESSIMISTS who complained Boston did nothing over the summer except flip one high-priced, underachieving right winger (Glen Murray) for another (Michael Ryder), GM Peter Chiarelli has a simple explanation: Maybe the Bruins didn&rsquo;t need much outside help to get better.</p><p>&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t forget Patrice Bergeron is coming back,&rdquo; Chiarelli said. &ldquo;If this is the team we go into training camp with, I&rsquo;d be happy.&rdquo;</p><p>That&rsquo;s pretty much how things worked out.</p><p>Bergeron&rsquo;s anticipated return from the concussion that killed his 2007-08 season after 10 games raises hopes for a second straight playoff berth &ndash; and a longer stay, once there.</p><p>Bergeron &ndash; still only 23 years old &ndash; was undoubtedly Boston&rsquo;s most complete forward before he was hurt. He had developed into a playmaking center who kills penalties, takes big faceoffs and plays the point during power plays.</p><p>Slotted as the No. 2 center behind set-up artist Marc Savard, Bergeron &ndash; who said during his onice stint in the Bruins&rsquo; July development camp &ldquo;there&rsquo;s no doubt&rdquo; in his mind he has completely recovered &ndash; gives coach Claude Julien a guy who can go head-to-head against an opponent&rsquo;s top line and maintain his unit&rsquo;s offensive capabilities.</p><p>While Boston can&rsquo;t claim an offense that will threaten Eastern Conference rivals Montreal, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia or Ottawa, it is home to more wingers with 25-to 30-goal capabilities than it showed last season, when it scored the fewest goals (212) of any post-season qualifier. Only Marco Sturm (27) and Chuck Kobasew (22) surpassed 20 goals in 2007-08, but with Bergeron back in the mix, Ryder (14 goals in Montreal) and the emerging Phil Kessel (19), in particular, should be in position to play with a center who suits their talents.</p><p>Boston had to force rookies David Krejci, Petteri Nokelainen and Vladimir Sobotka into jobs last year. All acquitted themselves well; now all must compete hard to earn ice time.</p><p>The mark of a top player is that he makes those around him better. Bergeron&rsquo;s return offers another opportunity for that theory to be proven.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Boston&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. T. Thomas</p><p>2. M. Fernandez</p><p>3. T. Rask</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. Z. Chara</p><p>2. D. Wideman</p><p>3. A. Ward</p><p>4. A. Ference</p><p>5. M. Stuart</p><p>6. S. Hnidy</p><p>7. A. Alberts</p><p>8. M. Lashoff</p><p>9. M. Hunwick</p><p>10. J. Boychuk</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. Sturm</p><p>2. P-J Axelsson</p><p>3. M. Lucic</p><p>4. P. Scheafer</p><p>5. J. Reich</p><p>6. M. Karsums</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. M. Savard</p><p>2. P. Bergeron</p><p>3. D. Krejci</p><p>4. S. Yelle</p><p>5. V. Sobotka</p><p>6. Z. Hamill</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. Ryder</p><p>2. C. Kobasew</p><p>3. P. Kessel</p><p>4. S. Thornton</p><p>5. P. Nokelainen</p><p>6. B. Wheeler</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. M. Lashoff, D, 22</p><p>2. T. Rask, G, 21</p><p>3. B. Wheeler, RW, 22</p><p>4. M. Hunwick, D, 23</p><p>5. Z. Hamill, C, 20<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0041-02

TOP-DOWN BONUS

<div class="byline">BY JOHN VOGL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-04285/9169069-1-eng-US/f0041-042.jpg" title="f0041-04" width="334" height="489"><figcaption class="caption-body">Miller <span class="photo-credit">(MILLER: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-03331/9169076-1-eng-US/f0041-032.jpg" title="f0041-03" width="214" height="214"></div><p>RYAN MILLER realizes in the grand scheme of things, he and his teammates are just a bunch of big kids playing a little kid&rsquo;s game.</p><p>But the Sabres goalie also realizes how much sports mean to people, especially in Buffalo. The town has been waiting &ndash; and waiting and waiting &ndash; for its first pro championship.</p><p>Miller wants that. He openly talks about creating a legacy in Buffalo and signing a five-year, $31.25-million deal over the summer certainly gives him that opportunity.</p><p>&ldquo;My goals in hockey are to win a championship with a team I feel I&rsquo;m a great part of and to be with an organization that backs me up and respects me,&rdquo; Miller said. &ldquo;I have all that here.&rdquo;</p><p>Miller truly believes the team is bound for glory. The core of the Sabres (Miller, Jason Pominville, Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek) has been together for about six years.</p><p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the essential part of a winning hockey team,&rdquo; Miller said, &ldquo;guys who know each other and care about each other. This is definitely what Buffalo represents. We all care about each other and we all want to win.&rdquo;</p><p>An improved year by Miller will enhance those chances. The goalie tasted defeat 37 times last season (10 times in shootouts) after losing just 39 times combined in the previous two campaigns. A diminished supporting cast and grinding workload were the main culprits. He played a career-high 76 games, including 34 straight down the stretch.</p><p>Buffalo signed Patrick Lalime to lessen Miller&rsquo;s load, which has been a good thing in the past. On those rare occasions Miller got a game off last year, he excelled in his return. In his final four such appearances, he went 3-0-1 with a 1.22 goals-against average and .952 save percentage.</p><p>If Miller keeps the puck out, his teammates have a chance to put it in. The speedy Sabres were fourth in the NHL in goals per game last season. Roy, Vanek and Pominville figure to continue their ascension, and bounce-back seasons by Tim Connolly and Maxim Afinogenov will have the Sabres in the hunt for a playoff spot.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Buffalo&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. R. Miller</p><p>2. P. Lalime</p><p>3. J. Enroth</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. J. Spacek</p><p>2. H. Tallinder</p><p>3. T. Lydman</p><p>4. C. Rivet</p><p>5. A. Sekera</p><p>6. T. Numminen</p><p>7. M. Weber</p><p>8. N. Paetsch</p><p>9. M. Funk</p><p>10. C. Butler</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. T. Vanek</p><p>2. J. Hecht</p><p>3. D. Paille</p><p>4. C. MacArthur</p><p>5. A. Peters</p><p>6. M. Darche</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. D. Roy</p><p>2. T. Connolly</p><p>3. P. Gaustad</p><p>4. A. Mair</p><p>5. N. Gerbe</p><p>6. F. Schutz</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. J. Pominville</p><p>2. A. Kotalik</p><p>3. D. Stafford</p><p>4. M. Afinogenov</p><p>5. P. Kaleta</p><p>6. P. Gogulla</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. M. Weber, D, 20</p><p>2. N. Gerbe, C, 21</p><p>3. M. Funk, D, 22</p><p>4. T. Kennedy, LW, 22</p><p>5. M-A Gragnani, LW, 21<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0041-04

BUFFALO SOLDIER

<div class="byline">BY RANDY SPORTAK</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0042-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-02433/9169107-1-eng-US/f0042-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Kiprusoff <span class="photo-credit">(KIPRUSOFF: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-01701/9169114-1-eng-US/f0042-012.jpg" title="f0042-01" width="213" height="214"></div><p>IT&rsquo;S NOT THAT MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF&rsquo;S play has tumbled from the dizzying heights of a few years ago all the way to the bottom of the pit.</p><p>However, the goaltender&rsquo;s downward slide has been clearly visible.</p><p>Kiprusoff went from a record-setting rising star and Vezina Trophy winner in his first couple of seasons in Calgary to being simply above average the past few years.</p><p>Slow starts to the season have been his calling card, but at least he seemed to pull out of that funk to find his form in time.</p><p>Last season, though, it just never happened. He was close, but never really found that topshelf ability Flames fans have grown accustomed to seeing.</p><p>The lowest point came in the critical seventh game of the team&rsquo;s opening round playoff series loss to San Jose, in which Kiprusoff &rsquo;s game ended before the rest of the squad when coach Mike Keenan gave him the hook.</p><p>Armed with a lucrative new contract extension &ndash; six years, $35 million &ndash; that kicks in this season, the onus is on Kiprusoff to bounce back and prove he is indeed the top-flight netminder for which the franchise is paying big bucks.</p><p>This year&rsquo;s Flames squad still has an enviable list of top-end talent in the likes of Jarome Iginla, Mike Cammalleri, Daymond Langkow, Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr.</p><p>But the supporting cast is loaded with question marks: Can Todd Bertuzzi regain his form of old? Is Matthew Lombardi really a second-line center? Will additions such as Rene Bourque and Curtis Glencross mean enough goals to go with the speed? Is the defense corps as a whole really as good as people say?</p><p>The biggest factor in the team&rsquo;s fortunes, though, will be the play of Kiprusoff.</p><p>When he&rsquo;s on top of his game, he&rsquo;s an all-world netminder, able to steal wins and shut the door to preserve victory.</p><p>Too often last season &ndash; and there were similar situations the year before &ndash; he was simply average. Last season&rsquo;s squad was right in the middle of the NHL in goals-against and though not all that can be pinned on the goalie, it&rsquo;s concrete proof Kiprusoff wasn&rsquo;t at the level expected.</p><p>The Flames braintrust has made changes that will mean a younger squad, especially on the wings, which means a team more likely to make mistakes in the defensive zone.</p><p>Kiprusoff &rsquo;s ability to get off to a quick start and maintain it consistently will make the difference between a winning season or yet another middleof-the-road campaign.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Calgary&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. M. Kiprusoff</p><p>2. C. McElhinney</p><p>3. M. Keetley</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. D. Phaneuf</p><p>2. R. Regehr</p><p>3. A. Aucoin</p><p>4. C. Sarich</p><p>5. M. Giordano</p><p>6. J. Vandermeer</p><p>7. A. Eriksson</p><p>8. R. Warrener</p><p>9. A. Pardy</p><p>10. B. Palin</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. Cammalleri</p><p>2. R. Bourque</p><p>3. C. Glencross</p><p>4. E. Nystrom</p><p>5. A. Roy</p><p>6. K. Greentree</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. D. Langkow</p><p>2. M. Lombardi</p><p>3. C. Conroy</p><p>4. W. Primeau</p><p>5. J. Lundmark</p><p>6. D. Ryder</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. J. Iginla</p><p>2. T. Bertuzzi</p><p>3. D. Moss</p><p>4. D. Boyd</p><p>5. B. Prust</p><p>6. M. Nilson</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. B. Prust, RW, 24</p><p>2. D. Ryder, C, 21</p><p>3. A. Pardy, D, 24</p><p>4. M. Keetley, G, 22</p><p>5. M. Backlund, C, 19<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0042-02

FROM START TO FINNISH

<div class="byline">BY LUKE DECOCK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-02466/9169145-1-eng-US/f0043-022.jpg" title="f0043-02" width="334" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Corvo <span class="photo-credit">(CORVO: ANDY MARLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-01694/9169152-1-eng-US/f0043-012.jpg" title="f0043-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p>THERE WILL BE pressure on Joni Pitkanen. After all, he&rsquo;ll spend his entire Carolina career as Joni &ldquo;Traded for Erik Cole&rdquo; Pitkanen.</p><p>Then again, he&rsquo;ll have company.</p><p>He is likely to be paired with Tim &ldquo;Traded for Jack Johnson&rdquo; Gleason and spend time on the power play with Joe &ldquo;Traded for Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore&rdquo; Corvo.</p><p>The Johnson deal aside, the acquisitions of Pitkanen and Corvo &ndash; the former on July 1, the latter last season &ndash; have a lot in common. Both were designed to alter the average age and overall mobility of a defense that had slid from veteran to elderly. They also were acquired at the price of several popular players &ndash; underlining the priority GM Jim Rutherford placed on the moves.</p><p>At $4 million per season, Pitkanen is the Canes&rsquo; highest-paid defenseman. They&rsquo;re hoping the fourth overall draft pick in 2002 can put up the numbers he posted with the Flyers (averaging 40 points per season) while maturing out of the defensive mistakes he was prone to make in Philadelphia and Edmonton. Pitkanen came into the league billed as a potential Norris Trophy candidate. At 25, he isn&rsquo;t there yet. But the Canes need him to get there, the sooner the better.</p><p>In 2005-06, the Hurricanes got away with a defense-by-committee plan featuring players such as Glen Wesley, Bret Hedican, Aaron Ward, Frantisek Kaberle and Niclas Wallin.</p><p>But the passing of time has taken care of Wesley (retired to front office) and Hedican (not re-signed). Ward left as a free agent. Kaberle and Wallin battled injuries and were asked to do too much. Changes were in order.</p><p>Encouraged by Corvo&rsquo;s impact last year, the Canes went further down the same path this summer in hopes of reversing a two-year playoff drought. The Canes also brought prodigal son Anton Babchuk back from Russia and European veteran Josef Melichar to add depth. While they still may need to dump salary before opening night &ndash; Kaberle is the most likely to go &ndash; there&rsquo;s no question they have gotten younger.</p><p>The question is, have they gotten better?</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Carolina&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. C. Ward</p><p>2. M. Leighton</p><p>3. J. Peters</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. J. Pitkanen</p><p>2. T. Gleason</p><p>3. J. Corvo</p><p>4. N. Wallin</p><p>5. F. Kaberle</p><p>6. J. Melichar</p><p>7. A. Babchuk</p><p>8. D. Seidenberg</p><p>9. C. Borer</p><p>10. B. Carson</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. R. Whitney</p><p>2. S. Samsonov</p><p>3. T. Ruutu</p><p>4. R. Bayda</p><p>5. W. Brookbank</p><p>6. T. Gillies</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. E. Staal</p><p>2. R. Brind&rsquo;Amour</p><p>3. M. Cullen</p><p>4. B. Sutter</p><p>5. J. Jensen</p><p>6. D. Helminen</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. Justin Williams</p><p>2. S. Walker</p><p>3. P. Eaves</p><p>4. C. LaRose</p><p>5. T. Conboy</p><p>6. P. Dwyer</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. B. Sutter, C, 18</p><p>2. C. Borer, D, 23</p><p>3. P. Dwyer, RW, 25</p><p>4. J. Jensen, C, 25</p><p>5. J. Peters, G, 22<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0043-02

BACKLINE MAKEOVER

<div class="byline">BY ADRIAN DATER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-04285/9169183-1-eng-US/f0043-042.jpg" title="f0043-04" width="335" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Budaj <span class="photo-credit">(BUDAJ: DAVE REGINEK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-03385/9169190-1-eng-US/f0043-032.jpg" title="f0043-03" width="214" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>N BUSINESS WORLD terms, Peter Budaj&rsquo;s career appeared to have peaked last year, in middle management. The young kid vaulted past the intern and mailroom stages, for sure, but that step into the executive suite has yet to be taken.</p><p>He has another chance this year. This really is the season Colorado&rsquo;s still-young goalie needs to show he&rsquo;s more than just one of those guys who has his good nights, has his bad nights and, in the end, gets you nowhere.</p><p>A lot of pressure on one player? Yes, a ton. Can the 26-year-old Slovakian with the funny portrait of Ned Flanders on his mask handle it? His teammates say yes. His coach and GM say yes. But, in the end, the results will be the judge. This time last year, Budaj backers said he would make that next step up the ladder of NHL goalies. He had wrested the starting job away from Jose Theodore down the stretch for an Avs team that missed the 2006-07 playoffs by one point.</p><p>He went into training camp last year the unquestioned starter, with Theodore the unpopular, costly backup. But after Jan. 1, with the Avs and Budaj mired in mediocrity, Theodore got another chance. He grabbed it and, by season&rsquo;s end, Avalanche fans were chanting &ldquo;Theo&rdquo; at the Pepsi Center and Budaj was at the end of the bench.</p><p>But Theodore has left for Washington and there are no Ken Drydens in the Avalanche farm system. So it&rsquo;s back to Budaj, whose career save percentage is .903 and goals-against average is 2.70. Those are perfectly respectable results, but they&rsquo;re middle-management numbers.</p><p>And the fact is, the Avs have been a middle-management team the past few years. After setting an NHL record for consecutive division titles, they have not won the Northwest since 2003-04. They have not advanced past the second round since 2002.</p><p>It hasn&rsquo;t been all the fault of Budaj, of course. Chris Osgood has won Stanley Cups with great teams in front of him in Detroit. He was far less successful with the Isles and Blues, but proved his goalie manhood last spring. Budaj doesn&rsquo;t need a Cup this year, but he must take a step up.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Colorado&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. P. Budaj</p><p>2. A. Raycroft</p><p>3. T. Weiman</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. A. Foote</p><p>2. J-M Liles</p><p>3. S. Hannan</p><p>4. J. Leopold</p><p>5. B. Clark</p><p>6. R. Salei</p><p>7. D. Tjarnqvist</p><p>8. K. Cumiskey</p><p>9. N. Williams</p><p>10. R. Macias</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. W. Wolski</p><p>2. R. Smyth</p><p>3. P. Ledin</p><p>4. C. McLeod</p><p>5. T.J. Galiardi</p><p>6. B. Willsie</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. J. Sakic</p><p>2. P. Stastny</p><p>3. T. Arnason</p><p>4. B. Guite</p><p>5. T.J. Hensick</p><p>6. M. Sertich</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. Hejduk</p><p>2. M. Svatos</p><p>3. D. Tucker</p><p>4. I. Laperriere</p><p>5. D. Jones</p><p>6. S. Parker</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. P. Ledin, LW, 30</p><p>2. C. Stewart, RW, 20</p><p>3. N. Williams, D, 20</p><p>4. T. Weiman, G, 24</p><p>5. T.J. Galiardi, LW, 20<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0043-04

AVS BET ON BUDAJ

<div class="byline">BY TIM SASSONE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0044-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-02363/9169221-1-eng-US/f0044-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Havlat <span class="photo-credit">(HAVLAT: JONATHAN DANIEL/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-01594/9169228-1-eng-US/f0044-012.jpg" title="f0044-01" width="213" height="214"></div><p>THE BLACKHAWKS HAD the highest of expectations for Martin Havlat when they traded for him two summers ago.</p><p>While the Hawks have made significant strides in becoming a competitive franchise again the past two years, Havlat has had little to do with it.</p><p>Simply put, Havlat has been a big disappointment and not only because of the three-year, $18-million investment by the club. Havlat hasn&rsquo;t been able to stay healthy, missing 26 games in 2006-07 and 47 more last season.</p><p>The Hawks are ready to give Havlat one more chance, hoping the fact it&rsquo;s a contract year will give the winger incentive to put up big numbers and be a key part of what could be a special season in Chicago.</p><p>&ldquo;That would be an awesome thing for him to be healthy,&rdquo; said coach Denis Savard. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a game-breaker, but for him to be that game-breaking player he needs to be healthy. He needs to really compete like he has in the past when he was healthy.&rdquo;</p><p>It&rsquo;s no secret Havlat and the demanding Savard don&rsquo;t have a warm and fuzzy relationship, but that could change if Havlat manages to stay on the ice and plays as hard as Savard wants him to play.</p><p>The Hawks nearly dealt Havlat last February, and there&rsquo;s a strong chance they will look to move him again sometime this season with unrestricted free agency looming. Unless, that is, Havlat can put a big season together and help get the Hawks to the playoffs.</p><p>So far with Chicago, Havlat has shown only brief glimpses of the dynamic offensive force he has the potential to be.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve tried to do my best when I could,&rdquo; Havlat said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to staying healthy the whole year. I&rsquo;m doing everything I can to be that way. Hopefully everything is going to be right this year because I want to play. I miss that. It&rsquo;s hasn&rsquo;t been fun for me, the team or everyone else. I&rsquo;m confi-dent (the shoulder is fixed), but we&rsquo;ll see when the real games start.&rdquo;</p><p>The Hawks figure to be right in the thick of the playoff chase in the Western Conference and Havlat&rsquo;s health could make or break their chances. Chicago missed the playoffs by only three points last season with Havlat appearing in only 35 games before shoulder surgery ended his year.</p><p>Even when Havlat dressed, he wasn&rsquo;t the same dangerous threat because of his bad shoulder, playing most of the time on the perimeter and rarely driving hard to the net.</p><p>&ldquo;A 60-percent Havlat or a 70-percent Havlat was better sometimes, but it&rsquo;s not what we want,&rdquo; Savard said. &ldquo;With the minutes he plays, it&rsquo;s not good enough. So hopefully he comes healthy and plays like he can when he&rsquo;s healthy. If he does, I&rsquo;ll be a great coach.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Chicago&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. C. Huet</p><p>2. N. Khabibulin</p><p>3. C. Crawford</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. B. Campbell</p><p>2. D. Keith</p><p>3. B. Seabrook</p><p>4. B. Sopel</p><p>5. J. Wisniewski</p><p>6. C. Barker</p><p>7. M. Walker</p><p>8. J. Hendry</p><p>9. N. Hjalmarsson</p><p>10. A. Johnson</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. P. Sharp</p><p>2. D. Byfuglien</p><p>3. A. Ladd</p><p>4. B. Eager</p><p>5. K. Versteeg</p><p>6. K. Beach</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. J. Toews</p><p>2. R. Lang</p><p>3. D. Bolland</p><p>4. A. Burish</p><p>5. P. Kontiola</p><p>6. T. Brent</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. P. Kane</p><p>2. M. Havlat</p><p>3. C. Adams</p><p>4. J. Skille</p><p>5. T. Brouwer</p><p>6. M. Blunden</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. J. Skille, RW, 21</p><p>2. C. Crawford, G, 23</p><p>3. N. Hjarmarsson, D, 21</p><p>4. T. Brouwer, RW, 23</p><p>5. K. Beach, LW, 18<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0044-02

TO HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

<div class="byline">BY AARON PORTZLINE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-02326/9169259-1-eng-US/f0045-022.jpg" title="f0045-02" width="334" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Nash <span class="photo-credit">(NASH: DAVE REGINEK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-01510/9169266-1-eng-US/f0045-012.jpg" title="f0045-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>C</span>OLUMBUS GM Scott Howson was milling about on the floor of Scotiabank Place during the minutes before the June entry draft, chatting it up with even more fellow GMs than usual.</p><p>Howson had lengthy talks with San Jose, Florida and Anaheim, but he kept returning to Philadelphia&rsquo;s table, where GM Paul Holmgren was looking for salary cap relief after signing center Jeff Carter to a long-term deal. The Jackets, in dire need of NHL-ready talent, were willing to part with the No. 19 overall pick &ndash; acquired last February in the Adam Foote trade &ndash; to land center R.J. Umberger, a restricted free agent.</p><p>&ldquo;We gave up a lot for R.J.,&rdquo; Howson said. &ldquo;But he&rsquo;s a player (coach Ken Hitchcock) knows and he&rsquo;s a guy with a lot of potential to get even better. R.J. fits in perfectly with what we&rsquo;re trying to do.&rdquo;</p><p>Umberger landed back in Columbus, where he played hockey at Ohio State from 2000-03. The 26-year-old had a four-year, $15-million contract two weeks later. And chances are good he will land between franchise left winger Rick Nash and point-producing free agent Kristian Huselius, a right winger</p><p>Umberger was lost in the shuffle in Philadelphia. With Daniel Briere, Mike Richards and Carter on the Flyers roster, Umberger was switched to the wing to keep him on the top three lines. He never complained, but&hellip;</p><p>&ldquo;The Flyers had their pecking order,&rdquo; Umberger said. &ldquo;I was looking for more opportunity. I adapted to the wing because I had to. I&rsquo;m excited to see what I can do with a full-time opportunity as a scoring-line center.&rdquo;</p><p>So are the Blue Jackets, who, after a roster overhaul this summer, could see eight new faces in the lineup when the season opens.</p><p>Nobody&rsquo;s more important than Umberger.</p><p>Nash has produced 154 goals in 363 games during five NHL seasons, but he&rsquo;s done so without a classic No. 1 center.</p><p>Umberger is not a true No. 1, but if he is merely competent, it&rsquo;ll be a huge improvement. He better deliver soon, though; Nash&rsquo;s contract expires after the 2009-10 season.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Columbus&rsquo; depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. P. Leclaire</p><p>2. F. Norrena</p><p>3. S. Mason</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. R. Klesla</p><p>2. M. Commodore</p><p>3. F. Tyutin</p><p>4. J. Hejda</p><p>5. C. Backman</p><p>6. O-K Tollefsen</p><p>7. A. Rome</p><p>8. K. Russell</p><p>9. M. Methot</p><p>10. C. Wilson</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. R. Nash</p><p>2. F. Modin</p><p>3. J. Chimera</p><p>4. A. Murray</p><p>5. N. Filatov</p><p>6. M. York</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. R.J. Umberger</p><p>2. D. Brassard</p><p>3. M. Peca</p><p>4. J. Novotny</p><p>5. M. Malhotra</p><p>6. D. MacKenzie</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. K. Huselius</p><p>2. R. Torres</p><p>3. J. Voracek</p><p>4. J. Boll</p><p>5. D. Dorsett</p><p>6. A. Pineault</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. J. Voracek, RW, 19</p><p>2. D. Brassard, C, 21</p><p>3. N. Filatov, LW, 18</p><p>4. S. Mason, G, 20</p><p>5. D. Dorsett, RW, 22<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0045-02

UMBERGER HELPERS

<div class="byline">BY MIKE HEIKA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-04240/9169297-1-eng-US/f0045-042.jpg" title="f0045-04" width="334" height="489"><figcaption class="caption-body">Avery <span class="photo-credit">(AVERY: RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-03272/9169304-1-eng-US/f0045-032.jpg" title="f0045-03" width="214" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>N A WHIRLWIND two-day tour of Dallas this summer, free agent winger Sean Avery talked up his love life on the radio, sent zingers at the Rangers and Isles at his press conference and assessed the fashion sense of key Stars on TV.</p><p>Can you imagine a full season of this guy?</p><p>Avery has proven he is anything but subtle and his assimilation into the Stars is expected to be an interesting chemistry experiment. Will the 28-year-old give Dallas the sandpaper it needs to get back to the top of a tough Pacific Division? Can he be the difference in a playoff series against Detroit? Is he the missing piece for pretty much any team that&rsquo;s smart enough to sign him?</p><p>To this, Avery would say&hellip;hell, yes.</p><p>&ldquo;Watching the playoffs last year and watching the series against Detroit, I think if you throw me in the lineup in that series it is definitely going to make a difference,&rdquo; Avery said. &ldquo;There are a lot of things that I am going to bring to the table that are going to help our chances.&rdquo;</p><p>So, pencil the Stars in for the Western Conference final, at the very least, if you listen to Avery.</p><p>But will his teammates tire of listening? Stars captain Brenden Morrow welcomed Avery by accompanying him to a ballgame with Marty Turco. Morrow said he looks forward to getting to know a guy he has said he hates.</p><p>&ldquo;There are things here that we will talk about,&rdquo; Morrow said. &ldquo;I have no problem with what he does as a player or how he works hard or gets people upset. But some of the stuff that makes the individual more important than the team, that&rsquo;s not something we want to see here.&rdquo;</p><p>Or do they? Co-GM Brett Hull said he&rsquo;s actually interested in seeing Avery make some people stretch outside their comfort zone.</p><p>&ldquo;To me, this team has always been too mechanical, too unemotional,&rdquo; Hull said. &ldquo;I want to get some personality, I want to put some waves in the water &ndash; and he&rsquo;s the perfect guy.&rdquo;</p><p>But the truth of the matter is if you list the impact players on the team, Avery probably falls somewhere behind Stephane Robidas.</p><p>The key is to find the right niche for the guy.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Dallas&rsquo; depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. M. Turco</p><p>2. T. Stephan</p><p>3. M. Climie</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. S. Zubov</p><p>2. S, Robidas</p><p>3. P. Boucher</p><p>4. N. Grossman</p><p>5. T. Daley</p><p>6. M. Niskanen</p><p>7. M. Fistric</p><p>8. D. Jancevski</p><p>9. I. Vushnevskiy</p><p>10. G. Stafford</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. B. Morrow</p><p>2. S. Avery</p><p>3. J. Lundqvist</p><p>4. F. Brunnstrom</p><p>5. J. Neal</p><p>6. C. Conner</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. M. Ribiero</p><p>2. B. Richards</p><p>3. M. Modano</p><p>4. S. Ott</p><p>5. T. Petersen</p><p>6. P. Lindgren</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. J. Lehtinen</p><p>2. L. Eriksson</p><p>3. K. Barch</p><p>4. B.J. Crombeen</p><p>5. R. Sawada</p><p>6. K. Pushkarev</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. F. Brunnstrom, LW, 23</p><p>2. B.J. Crombeen, RW, 23</p><p>3. R. Sawada, RW, 23</p><p>4. J. Neal, LW, 21</p><p>5. I. Vishnevskiy, D, 20<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0045-04

AGITATOR ON BOARD

<div class="byline">BY ANSAR KHAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0046-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-02320/9169335-1-eng-US/f0046-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Hossa <span class="photo-credit">(HOSSA: GREGORY SHAMUS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-01498/9169342-1-eng-US/f0046-012.jpg" title="f0046-01" width="213" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>M</span>ARIAN HOSSA BECAME enamored with the Red Wings&rsquo; puck-possession style long before facing Detroit in the Stanley Cup final last spring. He longed to play in front of a mobile, puck-moving defense like Detroit&rsquo;s, where he would be fed a steady diet of crisp outlet passes from Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall.</p><p>He could have stayed on a championship contender in Pittsburgh. As a free agent, he could&rsquo;ve gotten the security of a long-term contract and more money elsewhere. As such, there was much head-scratching around the league when Hossa signed a one-year deal with Detroit for $7.45 million, less than his market value. But there was no doubt in Hossa&rsquo;s mind it was the right move.</p><p>&ldquo;I feel the team in Detroit is something special,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said. &ldquo;I know I made the right decision.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>It&rsquo;s a no-lose situation for the Wings. Their already strong lineup became much more dominant by adding a winger who skates well, has a terrific shot and is solid defensively.</p><p>As a side benefit, Hossa will also help his teammates maintain their motivation to repeat, which no team has done since the Wings in 1997 and &rsquo;98. Management envisions players rallying around Hossa in the postseason, much like the drive they displayed in wanting to get Dallas Drake his first Cup ring last spring.</p><p>It was a tight squeeze under the salary cap, but the Wings didn&rsquo;t have to sacrifice anybody. The concession was made by Hossa, who assumes all the risk. But the only way this move backfires is if Hossa suffers a career-threatening injury. Otherwise, he&rsquo;s certain to flourish in Detroit, where he is expected to start the season on a line with fellow superstar Pavel Datsyuk, and he&rsquo;ll surely skate alongside Henrik Zetterberg at times, too, and he&rsquo;ll be surrounded by a bevy of talent on the power play.</p><p>The goals will come. He&rsquo;ll pile up the points. And next summer, he&rsquo;ll cash in on the long-term pact he bypassed last July. If all goes right, he&rsquo;ll earn his first championship ring in the process, as a Red Wings club that lost only two players &ndash; the scrappy Drake and goalie Dominik Hasek retired &ndash; appears to have further separated itself from the pack.</p><p>And Hossa is anything but a hired gun. The Wings must sign Zetterberg and Johan Franzen to big-money extensions, and several others are also in the final year of their deals, but Detroit wants Hossa for the long term. And the Wings have a way of keeping players they like, convincing them to take less to remain part of this winning program.</p><p>This was a remarkable coup for a team that didn&rsquo;t even need it. If the Wings had made no moves this summer and returned the same skilled and relatively young roster intact, they still would have been the odds-on favorites in the Cup race. Now, they might have lapped the field.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Detroit&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. C. Osgood</p><p>2. T. Conklin</p><p>3. J. Howard</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. N. Lidstrom</p><p>2. B. Rafalski</p><p>3. N. Kronwall</p><p>4. B. Stuart</p><p>5. B. Lebda</p><p>6. A. Lilja</p><p>7. C. Chelios</p><p>8. D. Meech</p><p>9. K. Quincey</p><p>10. J. Ericsson</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. J. Franzen</p><p>2. D. Cleary</p><p>3. J. Hudler</p><p>4. T. Koppecky</p><p>5. V. Leino</p><p>6. M. Ritola</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. H. Zetterberg</p><p>2. P. Datsyuk</p><p>3. V. Filppula</p><p>4. K. Draper</p><p>5. D. Helm</p><p>6. E. McGrath</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. Hossa</p><p>2. T. Holmstrom</p><p>3. M. Samuelsson</p><p>4. K. Maltby</p><p>5. J. Abdelkader</p><p>6. J. Mursak</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. V. Leino, LW, 25</p><p>2. K. Quincey, D, 23</p><p>3. D. Helm, C, 21</p><p>4. J. Ericsson, D, 24</p><p>5. J. Howard, G, 24<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0046-02

HOSSA’S TIME TO SHINE

<div class="byline">BY ROB TYCHKOWSKI</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0047-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-02315/9169373-1-eng-US/f0047-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(COGLIANO: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-01470/9169380-1-eng-US/f0047-012.jpg" title="f0047-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p>IT WAS LATE FEBRUARY and the NHL had already reserved a spot in its cellar for the beaten and bedraggled Edmonton Oilers.</p><p>And why not? They were in 14th place, a whopping 13 points out of eighth, and playing without their captain, their first-line center, their highest-paid defenseman and a handful of other veterans en route to smashing the franchise record for man-games lost to injury. The last six weeks of the season had the potential to get very ugly and everybody knew it.</p><p>Meanwhile, holding a salt shaker above all the physical and emotional wounds was Anaheim GM Brian Burke, who owned Edmonton&rsquo;s first round pick in the 2008 entry draft. D&rsquo;oh!</p><p>All that stood between those feeble February Oilers and another funeral March were a bunch of rookies and pseudo-rookies who had spent most of the season in the shadows. Well, it turned out dying young wasn&rsquo;t an option.</p><p>A wet-behind-the-ears lineup led by Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Robert Nilsson, Denis Grebeshkov, Kyle Brodziak and Tom Gilbert embarked on a wild and thrilling 14-5-1 stretch drive that lifted the team to within one win of a playoff spot and sent the Oilers into the summer as confident and optimistic as they&rsquo;d been since the early days of Paul Coffey and Glenn Anderson. But one stretch drive does not a dynasty make.</p><p>The kids have to do it again if the Oilers are going to take the next step in an evolution that has been two decades in the making. The injured veterans are back and GM Kevin Lowe strengthened his talent base with the additions of Erik Cole and Lubomir Visnovsky. If Gagner, Cogliano and the other kids are even close to what they were last year, the Oilers will be a playoff team.</p><p>If they all suffer sophomore jinxes, Edmonton is in deep trouble. There&rsquo;s going to be a lot of weight on their young shoulders and, unlike last season, they won&rsquo;t be catching anyone by surprise and they won&rsquo;t be feeding off rookie adrenaline for a 20-game sprint. This time it&rsquo;s an 82-game marathon and their contributions will be expected. That&rsquo;s an entirely different pressure than they had to deal with last season.</p><p>Some of it will be eased with the off-season additions and the return to health of the team&rsquo;s veterans &ndash; the kids will be asked to step back a little and let the leaders take over &ndash; but not much.</p><p>If coach Craig MacTavish is smart, the youngsters will still be seeing major ice time in key situations &ndash; power plays, last minute of games when Edmonton needs a goal &ndash; and they&rsquo;ll need to deliver.</p><p>If Edmonton is going to finally turn that corner, the kids have to prove they&rsquo;re no fluke. Just like the veterans have to prove their return is helping, not hurting.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Edmonton&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. M. Garon</p><p>2. D. Roloson</p><p>3. J. Deslauriers</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. L. Visnovsky</p><p>2. S. Souray</p><p>3. T. Gilbert</p><p>4. S. Staios</p><p>5. D. Grebeshkov</p><p>6. L. Smid</p><p>7. J. Strudwick</p><p>8. M. Roy</p><p>9. T. Peckham</p><p>10. T. Chorney</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. E. Cole</p><p>2. D. Penner</p><p>3. R. Nilsson</p><p>4. E. Moreau</p><p>5. J-F Jacques</p><p>6. L. Reddox</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. S. Horcoff</p><p>2. S. Gagner</p><p>3. K. Brodziak</p><p>4. M-A Pouliot</p><p>5. R. Schremp</p><p>6. R. Potulny</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. A. Hemsky</p><p>2. A. Cogliano</p><p>3. F. Pisani</p><p>4. Z. Stortini</p><p>5. G. Brule</p><p>6. C. McDonald</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. R. Schremp, C, 22</p><p>2. J. Deslauriers, G, 24</p><p>3. T. Chorney, D, 21</p><p>4. T. Peckham, D, 20</p><p>5. L. Reddox, LW, 21<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0047-02

KIDS PROVE OIL-WORTHY

<div class="byline">BY BRIAN BIGGANE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-02213/9169411-1-eng-US/f0048-022.jpg" title="f0048-02" width="334" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Weiss <span class="photo-credit">(WEISS: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-01336/9169418-1-eng-US/f0048-012.jpg" title="f0048-01" width="213" height="203"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>S</span>TEPHEN WEISS and Nathan Horton have been perceived as the future of the Panthers&rsquo; offense since arriving as top-five picks in the 2001 and 2003 NHL drafts, respectively. After last summer&rsquo;s departure of Olli Jokinen, that future has to be now.</p><p>While Horton and Weiss finished second and third behind Jokinen in team scoring last season and their line, which also included David Booth, emerged as the team&rsquo;s best, neither has reached expectations.</p><p>Both have expressed excitement about playing in the attacking, puck-possession system new coach Peter DeBoer plans to implement. Florida ranked 20th in NHL scoring last season and Jacques Martin&rsquo;s defense-first system meant that once the puck was turned over, offensive players would drop back and set up in a trap.</p><p>DeBoer won&rsquo;t play that way. His forwards will attack the opposition in its own zone, hoping to create turnovers that could result in goals.</p><p>Weiss, who played under DeBoer in Plymouth (OHL) and knows the system, figures to benefit as much as anyone as he attempts to dramatically increase his 2007-08 scoring totals of 13 goals and 42 points.</p><p>It was widely perceived as a positive move when Horton grew close to Jokinen over the past couple of years. But the frustration of losing seasons took a mental toll on Jokinen that seemed to spread to Horton. When fans got on the 23-year-old winger for his perceived lack of effort, that attitude only got worse.</p><p>Both players could be in more prominent roles as this season unfolds. Weiss, an alternate captain the past two seasons, is a candidate for the captaincy, left vacant by Jokinen&rsquo;s departure. Horton, meanwhile, could get a look at center; he might be the team&rsquo;s best passer and taking a more prominent role in the offense could help him reach his scoring potential.</p><p>Martin, now the GM, underscored the expectations of both players when he signed them to six-year contracts in 2007. This is their team now, and most particularly, this is their offense.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Florida&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. T. Vokoun</p><p>2. C. Anderson</p><p>3. T. Plante</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. J. Bouwmeester</p><p>2. K. Ballard</p><p>3. B. Allen</p><p>4. B. McCabe</p><p>5. N. Boynton</p><p>6. N. Welch</p><p>7. K. Skrastins</p><p>8. C. Murphy</p><p>9. R. Fitzpatrick</p><p>10. K. Ellerby</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. D. Booth</p><p>2. R. Olesz</p><p>3. R. Zednik</p><p>4. V. Peltonen</p><p>5. M. Frolik</p><p>6. S. Meyer</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. S. Weiss</p><p>2. K. Kreps</p><p>3. B. McLean</p><p>4. G. Campbell</p><p>5. S. Matthias</p><p>6. D. Larman</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. N. Horton</p><p>2. C. Stillman</p><p>3. R. Dvorak</p><p>4. W. Belak</p><p>5. A. Stewart</p><p>6. M. Repik</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. S. Matthias, C 20</p><p>2. M. Frolik, LW, 20</p><p>3. M. repik, RW, 19</p><p>4. K. Ellerby, D, 19</p><p>5. K. McArdle, LW, 24<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0048-02

FUTURE IS NOW

<div class="byline">BY RICH HAMMOND</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-04126/9169449-1-eng-US/f0048-042.jpg" title="f0048-04" width="334" height="489"><figcaption class="caption-body">LaBarbera <span class="photo-credit">(LABARBERA: MARK BUCKNER/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-03152/9169456-1-eng-US/f0048-032.jpg" title="f0048-03" width="214" height="214"></div><p>THE LIST OF Kings goalies over the past 12 years is long and distinguished. OK, it&rsquo;s long.</p><p>Since Kelly Hrudey left town in 1996, the Kings have cycled through Byron Dafoe, Stephane Fiset, Jamie Storr, Felix Potvin and Roman Cechmanek. And those are some of the better names. Steve Passmore, anyone? How about Frederic Chabot?</p><p>The quest to find a strong, unquestioned No. 1 goalie is well into its second decade. The 2008-09 season is unlikely to bring a definitive answer, but it might serve as a process of elimination.</p><p>The Kings, who will ice one of the youngest lineups in franchise history &ndash; their top line consists of Anze Kopitar (21), Dustin Brown (23) and Patrick O&rsquo;Sullivan (23) &ndash; are expected to be dreadful again. The season will be considered a moderate success, though, if young players step forward, hopefully in goal.</p><p>To that end, meet the trio of Jonathan Bernier, Jonathan Quick and Jeff Zatkoff, collectively known as &lsquo;The Hope,&rsquo; even though it&rsquo;s quite possible all three will spend the year in the minors.</p><p>Incumbent starter Jason LaBarbera, 28, is the most experienced of the group. Erik Ersberg, 26, had an uneven 2007-08 season in the minors, but dazzled in a 14-game tryout with the Kings, recording two shutouts and had a 2.48 goals-against average. LaBarbera and Ersberg are considered the favorites to make the roster, but both have flaws. LaBarbera is injury prone and neither he nor Ersberg has come close to proving they can be legit No. 1 NHL goalies.</p><p>So why not hand it over to the young Kings? For two years, Lombardi has watched over Bernier, Quick and Zatkoff like a mother hen. He has coddled them, shielded them and brought them along s-l-o-w-l-y.</p><p>Bernier, 20, got a four-game taste with the Kings to start last season and gave up 16 goals, but earned rave reviews for his composure and maturity. He is considered the future franchise goalie, but AHL seasoning may be needed first.</p><p>Training camp will be an open battle.</p><p>&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s work with each one of them and then let the best one rise to the top,&rdquo; Lombardi said.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Los Angeles&rsquo; depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. J. LaBarbera</p><p>2. E. Ersberg</p><p>3. J. Bernier</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. J. Johnson</p><p>2. M. Greene</p><p>3. T. Preissing</p><p>4. D. Doughty</p><p>5. P. Harrold</p><p>6. D. Gauthier</p><p>7. A. Martinez</p><p>8. T. Hickey</p><p>9. V. Voinov</p><p>10. C. Teubert</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. P. O&rsquo;Sullivan</p><p>2. A. Frolov</p><p>3. K. Calder</p><p>4. R. Ivanans</p><p>5. M. Ellis</p><p>6. G. Gauthier</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. A. Kopitar</p><p>2. J. Stoll</p><p>3. M. Handzus</p><p>4. B. Boyle</p><p>5. D. Armstrong</p><p>6. B. Murray</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. D. Brown</p><p>2. T. Purcell</p><p>3. B. Richardson</p><p>4. M. Moulson</p><p>5. J. Zeiler</p><p>6. S. Parse</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. D. Doughty, D, 18</p><p>2. B. Boyle, C, 23</p><p>3. T. Purcell, RW, 23</p><p>4. J. Bernier, G, 20</p><p>5. A. Martinez, D, 21<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0048-04

CROWNING A KEEPER

<div class="byline">BY HERB ZURKOWSKY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0049-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-02208/9169487-1-eng-US/f0049-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tanguay <span class="photo-credit">(TANGUAY: RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-01296/9169494-1-eng-US/f0049-012.jpg" title="f0049-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p>ALEX TANGUAY HAS seemingly always been right there, knocking on the door, threatening to become a superstar. So close, yet so far.</p><p>How ironic would it be were he to reach that epoch in Montreal, a city known for destroying the careers of Francophone players who don&rsquo;t reach the lofty standards set by its demanding fans and media? But Tanguay, a native of Ste-Justine, Que., doesn&rsquo;t appear to be overwhelmed by the task he&rsquo;s facing. If anything, he seems prepared to embrace the chaos.</p><p>&ldquo;I know there will be some pressure,&rdquo; the 28-year-old said. &ldquo;But it&rsquo;s not like I&rsquo;m Guy Lafleur. I&rsquo;m really looking forward to training camp. This is the most mythical hockey team. I feel like a baseball player just traded to the Yankees.&rdquo;</p><p>The Habs had the 6-foot, 192-pound left winger on their radar for some time, but were unable to work out a deal with Calgary last season. Finally, at the June entry draft, things fell into place.</p><p>Montreal relinquished its first round pick (25th overall), along with a second round pick in 2009 for Tanguay, also acquiring the Flames&rsquo; third round choice (138th overall) this year.</p><p>It&rsquo;s no secret Tanguay had fallen into disfavor with Calgary management, specifically coach Mike Keenan, who cast him in a defensive role. Although Tanguay&rsquo;s contract included a no-trade clause, he waived it twice and let it be known the Canadiens were on his wish list.</p><p>&ldquo;I thought the Flames traded for me&hellip;because I could generate some offense,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It was the first time I was cast into a defensive role and it was tough. I felt out of place in their system.&rdquo;</p><p>Selected 12th overall by Colorado in 1998, Tanguay produced seasons of 26, 25 and 29 goals between 2002-03 and &rsquo;05-06. In his first season with the Flames, in 2006-07, Tanguay had 81 points. But he dipped to 18 goals and 58 points last season &ndash; a year in which he was paid $5.25 million.</p><p>Tanguay will add experience and offensive skill to the Canadiens and has been penciled onto a line with captain Saku Koivu, meaning he&rsquo;ll receive some power play time &ndash; something that was missing last season. He has natural ability, decent size and great speed, although he&rsquo;s not terribly physical. He&rsquo;s also a good passer and puck-handler who sees the ice well. Should he remove the self-doubts that filled his head with the Flames, Tanguay is certain he&rsquo;ll prosper in Montreal.</p><p>And he&rsquo;d better. At $5.375 million this year (the last on his contract), he becomes the Canadiens&rsquo; highest-paid forward and the team&rsquo;s third-highest player, behind blueliners Andrei Markov and Roman Hamrlik.</p><p>&ldquo;I feel comfortable with this,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I fully intend to prove management was right to give away a draft choice. If my season is as good as expected, everything is going to fall into place.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Montreal&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. C. Price</p><p>2. J. Halak</p><p>3. M. Denis</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. A. Markov</p><p>2. M. Komisarek</p><p>3. R. Hamrlik</p><p>4. J. Gorges</p><p>5. F. Bouillon</p><p>6. R. O&rsquo;Byrne</p><p>7. P. Valentenko</p><p>8. M. Carle</p><p>9. A. Henry</p><p>10. S. Belle</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. A. Kostitsyn</p><p>2. A. Tanguay</p><p>3. G. Latendresse</p><p>4. G. Laraque</p><p>5. S. Begin</p><p>6. G. Stewart</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. T. Plekanec</p><p>2. S. Koivu</p><p>3. M. Lapierre</p><p>4. K. Chipchura</p><p>5. B. Trotter</p><p>6. M. Aubin</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. A. Kovalev</p><p>2. C. Higgins</p><p>3. S. Kostitsyn</p><p>4. T. Kostopoulos</p><p>5. M. Dandenault</p><p>6. M. D&rsquo;Agostini</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. P. Valentenko, D, 21</p><p>2. M. Carle, D, 21</p><p>3. M. D&rsquo;Agostini, RW, 21</p><p>4. G. Stewart, LW, 22</p><p>5. M. Aubin, C, 22<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0049-02

WHICH WAY, TANGUAY?

<div class="byline">BY MICHAEL RUSSO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-02193/9169525-1-eng-US/f0050-022.jpg" title="f0050-02" width="334" height="489"><figcaption class="caption-body">Burns <span class="photo-credit">(BURNS: DOUG PENSINGER/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-01284/9169532-1-eng-US/f0050-012.jpg" title="f0050-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p>THE JIG IS UP, the secret out.</p><p>Brent Burns is good. Really good.</p><p>Sure, Wild fans have known this for awhile, witnessing the speedy rise and maturation of the dynamic 6-foot-4 defenseman for two years. But because his team still plays in the shadow of some other U.S. centers, the 23-year-old kept a pretty low profile until his tremendous World Championship for Canada last spring. Being named top defenseman in that event, though, awakened the hockey world to the fact Burns is developing into a bona fide star. He set Wild records for defensemen with 15 goals (second in the West) and 43 points last season.</p><p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t pinpoint exactly when it was where I finally mentally matured and became a guy who didn&rsquo;t wait for someone else to do something,&rdquo; Burns said. &ldquo;I remember always waiting for (Marian Gaborik) to go down and score. Now I want to be one of those guys.&rdquo;</p><p>Burns missed the start of training camp after elbow surgery in early September, but he&rsquo;s expected to anchor a blueline the defending Northwest Division champs believe will be the deepest, and at the very least, most mobile and creative in franchise history. On paper, the top four is solid with Burns, the mobile Kim Johnsson, the steady Nick Schultz and the creative Marek Zidlicky, who was acquired July 1 from Nashville.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to get going and pretty confident in the team we have,&rdquo; Burns said. &ldquo;It depends on how we come together. It changes so much from year to year, and the key will be all these different personalities meshing.&rdquo;</p><p>And the Wild has certainly changed. Gone are eight regulars, including Brian Rolston, Pavol Demitra and Mark Parrish. Besides blueliners Zidlicky and Marc-Andre Bergeron, the Wild added vets Owen Nolan and Andrew Brunette, and Antti Mietinen and Craig Weller up front.</p><p>Minnesota is especially looking for continued improvement from its core &ndash; Burns, Mikko Koivu, James Sheppard and Pierre-Marc Bouchard &ndash; with the hopes of going deep into the playoffs after two straight first round exits.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Minnesota&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. N. Backstrom</p><p>2. J. Harding</p><p>3. N. Schaefer</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. B. Burns</p><p>2. K. Johnsson</p><p>3. N. Schultz</p><p>4. M. Zidlicky</p><p>5. M. Skoula</p><p>6. M-A Bergeron</p><p>7. K. Foster *</p><p>8. E. Reitz</p><p>9. T. Mojzis</p><p>10. C. Stoner</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. A. Brunette</p><p>2. O. Nolan</p><p>3. S. Veilleux</p><p>4. D. Boogaard</p><p>5. C. Gillies</p><p>6. P. Kalus</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. M. Koivu</p><p>2. J. Sheppard</p><p>3. E. Belanger</p><p>4. B. Pouliot</p><p>5. C. Locke</p><p>6. K. Kolanos</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. Gaborik</p><p>2. P-M Bouchard</p><p>3. A. Miettinen</p><p>4. C. Weller</p><p>5. C. Clutterbuck</p><p>6. D. Irmen</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. B. Pouliot, C, 22</p><p>2. C. Gillies, LW, 19</p><p>3. C. Clutterbuck, RW, 20</p><p>4. C. Locke, C, 24</p><p>5. D. Irmen, RW, 24</p><p>*Long-term Injury<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0050-02

ALL-STAR ARRIVAL

<div class="byline">BY JOHN GLENNON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-0497/9169563-1-eng-US/f0050-042.jpg" title="f0050-04" width="334" height="489"><figcaption class="caption-body">Weber <span class="photo-credit">(WEBER: JOHN RUSSELL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-03123/9169570-1-eng-US/f0050-032.jpg" title="f0050-03" width="214" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>HERE ARE TIMES when Predators majority owner David Freeman and his fellow local investors must wonder if all this is a bit more than they bargained for.</p><p>It was stressful enough last season, when Freeman&rsquo;s underdog group spent months raising the necessary millions to purchase the hometown team, then successfully pushed through a series of vital arena lease improvements. Who knew a second series of challenges lay just ahead?</p><p>This summer, Freeman and company found themselves dealing with the bankruptcy of William &lsquo;Boots&rsquo; Del Biaggio III, the second-biggest investor in the ownership group, as well as the defection of talented winger Alexander Radulov to Russia. All of which makes this a pivotal season for Freeman.</p><p>In the months to come, his ownership group must extricate itself from the still-unresolved Del Biaggio mess, ice a competitive team and put at least 14,000 paid fans in the building for every home game &ndash; or else fail to qualify for the complete NHL revenue-sharing plan.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re back to having people from outside the state of Tennessee continue to question this franchise, this city, this hockey team and we thought we had answered all of those questions last year,&rsquo;&rsquo; Freeman said. &ldquo;(But) the bottom line is that while Del Biaggio has embarrassed our club and our ownership group by association, we feel like the franchise will be in a much more stable position at the conclusion of this process.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Freeman will also be doing all he can to boost attendance for the Predators, who have averaged 13,500 paid fans per game the past two seasons.</p><p>To that end, the Preds re-signed a host of players &ndash; including young blueliners Shea Weber and Ryan Suter &ndash; who could&rsquo;ve become free agents last June. Freeman hopes a similar financial commitment toward marketing and advertising will help fill the building regularly this season.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re trying to build a franchise here with long-term stability and long-term prosperity,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said. &ldquo;We know winning is important and we know that having a full house is important.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Nashville&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. D. Ellis</p><p>2. P. Rinne</p><p>3. D. MacIntyre</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. D. Hamhuis</p><p>2. S. Weber</p><p>3. R. Suter</p><p>4. G. de Vries</p><p>5. G. Zanon</p><p>6. V. Koistinen</p><p>7. K. Klein</p><p>8. A. Sulzer</p><p>9. C. Franson</p><p>10. T. Laakso</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. J-P Dumont</p><p>2. V. Fiddler</p><p>3. R. Jones</p><p>4. J. Smithson</p><p>5. J. Gratton</p><p>6. A. Pihlstrom</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. J. Arnott</p><p>2. D. Legwand</p><p>3. S. Nichol</p><p>4. R. Bonk</p><p>5. R. Peverley</p><p>6. C. O&rsquo;Reilly</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. Erat</p><p>2. P. Hornqvist</p><p>3. J. Tootoo</p><p>4. J. Ortmeyer</p><p>5. M. Ryan</p><p>6. S. Sullivan *</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. P. Rinne, G, 25</p><p>2. P. Hornqvist, RW, 21</p><p>3. R. Jones, LW, 24</p><p>4. C. O&rsquo;Reilly, C, 22</p><p>5. A. Sulzer, D, 24</p><p>*Long-term Injury<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0050-04

SEEKING STABILITY

<div class="byline">BY RICH CHERE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-02198/9169601-1-eng-US/f0051-022.jpg" title="f0051-02" width="334" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Rolston <span class="photo-credit">(ROLSTON: JEFF GROSS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-01272/9169608-1-eng-US/f0051-012.jpg" title="f0051-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>J</span>UST BECAUSE Jeff Vanderbeek happens to be the Devils owner doesn&rsquo;t mean he isn&rsquo;t like most fans, who view the July 1 opening of free agency a lot like Christmas morning.</p><p>Vanderbeek was waiting to see what GM Lou Lamoriello would deliver this summer. On many wish lists were a No. 1 center, a top-rate defenseman and anyone who could help the power play.</p><p>Vanderbeek wasn&rsquo;t disappointed. The Devils didn&rsquo;t land a premier defender, but in signing veteran forward Brian Rolston to a four-year, $20-million deal, they acquired the most important piece missing from a team that couldn&rsquo;t get past the first round of the playoffs last spring.</p><p>Free agent center Bobby Holik, another ex-Devil, was a nice pickup. Re-signing left winger Jay Pandolfo and defenseman Bryce Salvador were important moves defensively. But bringing Rolston back to New Jersey wasn&rsquo;t just nostalgia. It showed the Devils recognized a key weakness.</p><p>&ldquo;Ideally, it would be great to play Brian and Patrik (Elias) together,&rdquo; said coach Brent Sutter, who&rsquo;d love to see Rolston help both Elias and Brian Gionta score more. &ldquo;To have a player like that who can play forward at a high standard is huge. And be the quarterback on the power play.&rdquo;</p><p>Rolston, 35, has speed and a powerful shot. He has averaged 32 goals per season the past three years in Minnesota playing a Jacques Lemaire system that&rsquo;s not all that different from New Jersey&rsquo;s.</p><p>&ldquo;Was I happy with our power play? No, I think that was pretty clear,&rdquo; Sutter said. &ldquo;If your power play produces another 15, 20, 25 goals for you, you&rsquo;re in the thick of things and in the top half of the league. Maybe in the top three or four. That&rsquo;s the difference in some games.&rdquo;</p><p>When Sutter signed on, there were predictions the Devils would be a better offensive team. But their power play and overall trouble scoring handcuffed the progressive coach, who prefers to leave leading scorer Zach Parise (32 goals) on the wing.</p><p>Sure, a big-name blueliner would&rsquo;ve been nice, but it is Rolston whose return will breathe life back into a team that tried and failed to win key games without having the ability to score goals.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>New Jersey&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. M. Brodeur</p><p>2. K. Weekes</p><p>3. S. Clemmensen</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. P. Martin</p><p>2. C. White</p><p>3. J. Oduya</p><p>4. B. Salvador</p><p>5. A. Greene</p><p>6. M. Mottau</p><p>7. S. Brookbank</p><p>8. A. Salmela</p><p>9. O. Malmivaara</p><p>10. M. Corrente</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. Z. Parise</p><p>2. P. Elias</p><p>3. J. Pandolfo</p><p>4. M. Rupp</p><p>5. P. Vrana</p><p>6. S. Gionta</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. B. Rolston</p><p>2. J. Madden</p><p>3. B. Holik</p><p>4. T. Zajac</p><p>5. F. Fedorov</p><p>6. R. Pelley</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. B. Gionta</p><p>2. J. Langenbrunner</p><p>3. D. Clarkson</p><p>4. D. Zubrus</p><p>5. B. Tallackson</p><p>6. N. Bergfors</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. A. Salmela, D, 24</p><p>2. M. Corrente, D, 20</p><p>3. B. Tallackson, RW, 25</p><p>4. N. Bergfors, RW, 21</p><p>5. P. Vrana, LW, 23<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0051-02

OLD DEVILS BACK AGAIN

<div class="byline">BY PETER BOTTE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-04109/9169639-1-eng-US/f0051-042.jpg" title="f0051-04" width="334" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Okposo <span class="photo-credit">(OKPOSO: MIKE STOBE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-03138/9169646-1-eng-US/f0051-032.jpg" title="f0051-03" width="214" height="214"></div><p>WHAT IF YOU stage a youth movement and the kids can&rsquo;t play?</p><p>The perennially and painfully mediocre Islanders are confronting that question head-on this season. GM Garth Snow is looking within his system &ndash; and himself &ndash; and turning to young legs, highlighted, of course, by&hellip;his free agent signing of Doug Weight, 37, this summer.</p><p>Several NHL scouts would argue 20-year-old power winger Kyle Okposo is the lone sure thing among a passel of marginal prospects on the Island. The seventh overall pick in 2006 bolted college at mid-season last year and received a taste of pro life, including a promising nine-game stint with the Isles that saw him notch five points.</p><p>&ldquo;A youth movement means they&rsquo;re giving some young guys a chance to see what they can do,&rdquo; Okposo said. &ldquo;But it&rsquo;s no guarantee you&rsquo;re going to play, so I want to go to camp and be the best player I can. It just means I have a shot, it doesn&rsquo;t mean I have to work any less. It makes me want to work harder, actually.</p><p>&ldquo;But it also doesn&rsquo;t mean we can&rsquo;t be really good this year. I think we have a team that people have kind of already written us off, but I think we&rsquo;re going to turn some heads.&rdquo;</p><p>One significant head rolled this summer, of course, that of former coach Ted Nolan. He was replaced by Scott Gordon, the AHL&rsquo;s reigning coach of the year.</p><p>And while Okposo hasn&rsquo;t been around this deserted Island for long, he&rsquo;s dead-on about one thing. Why can&rsquo;t basically the same team from last season compete for a playoff spot again if a few things break right? HealThis a major question, sure, especially with Rick DiPietro coming off hip and knee surgeries this off-season.</p><p>But free agent point man Mark Streit, if not Weight, will boost the NHL&rsquo;s second-worst power play. What if Okposo can approach 20 or 25 goals? What if Blake Comeau can build on a decent rookie season? What if prolific AHL scorer Jeff Tambellini finally puts it all together?</p><p>That&rsquo;s a lot of what-ifs, no doubt. But what if the kids actually can play?</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>The Islanders&rsquo; depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. R. DiPietro</p><p>2. J. MacDonald</p><p>3. Y. Danis</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. B. Witt</p><p>2. M. Streit</p><p>3. R. Martinek</p><p>4. A. Sutton</p><p>5. C. Campoli</p><p>6. F. Meyer</p><p>7. B. Gervais</p><p>8. J. Hillen</p><p>9. B. Skinner</p><p>10. D. Kohn</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. S. Bergenheim</p><p>2. B. Comeau</p><p>3. J. Sim</p><p>4. J. Tambellini</p><p>5. A. Hilbert</p><p>6. J. Joensuu</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. M. Comrie</p><p>2. D. Weight</p><p>3. M. Sillinger</p><p>4. F. Nielsen</p><p>5. B. Walter</p><p>6. J. Colliton</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. B. Guerin</p><p>2. K. Okposo</p><p>3. T. Hunter</p><p>4. R. Park</p><p>5. T. Jackman</p><p>6. M. Iggulden</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. K. Okposo, RW, 20</p><p>2. J. Hillen, D, 20</p><p>3. B. Walter, C, 24</p><p>4. D. Kohn, D, 21</p><p>5. J. Bailey, C, 19<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0051-04

ISLANDERS GO GREEN

<div class="byline">BY BRUCE GARRIOCH</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0053-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-02170/9169715-1-eng-US/f0053-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p>Spezza</p><p>Heatley</p><span class="photo-credit">(SPEZZA AND HEATLEY: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-01252/9169722-1-eng-US/f0053-012.jpg" title="f0053-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p>SO, IS THIS Jason Spezza&rsquo;s time to shine?</p><p>Nobody in Ottawa was a lightning rod for more criticism after the Senators&rsquo; four-game exit from the playoffs against Pittsburgh than the club&rsquo;s No. 1 center and he heard it from everywhere &ndash; including GM Bryan Murray, who took over behind the bench in February.</p><p>Held scoreless against the Penguins during the ugly first round loss, not only did Spezza have to listen to everything he did wrong, he suddenly became the subject of trade rumors as fans and media decided to lay blame everywhere they could for the disappointing finish.</p><p>Signed to a seven-year, $49-million contract extension before the start of the season, Spezza has always wanted to be the guy who is relied on in difficult situations and he&rsquo;s going to get every chance to show he can get it done this season with the Senators undergoing massive changes.</p><p>While goalie Ray Emery, defensemen Wade Redden and Andrej Meszaros and winger Brian McGrattan were amongst those sent packing by Murray in an off-season purge, there is no question all eyes are going to be on Spezza to lead the Senators to the next level this season. Yes, the core group of Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley, Mike Fisher, Chris Neil, Chris Kelly, Antoine Vermette, Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov is still intact, but the Sens are going to be relying on Spezza to take charge.</p><p>Sure, Spezza is only 25 years old with a lot of NHL life ahead of him and a lot to learn, but the Senators want one of their franchise players to accelerate his learning curve and there&rsquo;s a strong sense if it doesn&rsquo;t happen this year, then bigger changes could be made next year.</p><p>There is no question teams called about Spezza during the off-season to see if he was available, but they were dismissed. Murray has resisted making a big-time change because the club made a commitment to its top pick in the 2001 NHL entry draft (No. 2 overall) with a long-term contract.</p><p>Spezza, Heatley and Alfredsson form one of the most dynamic trios in the NHL when they&rsquo;re rolling. At times, they&rsquo;re unstoppable. But the Sens would like to spread the offense around and they were completely shut down by the Penguins in the playoffs.</p><p>Spezza has a &ldquo;no movement&rdquo; clause in his contract that doesn&rsquo;t kick in until the end of the season. If he thought he heard trade rumors this summer, he&rsquo;s going to hear a lot more than San Jose&rsquo;s Patrick Marleau ever did if the Senators get off to a slow start.</p><p>Spezza has the skill. He wants to be the player the Senators rely on. He&rsquo;s not afraid of the challenge. He can certainly take the criticism, but this will be the year he&rsquo;s going to have to live up to expectations for the Senators to have success.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Ottawa&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. M. Gerber</p><p>2. A. Auld</p><p>3. B. Elliott</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. C. Phillips</p><p>2. A. Volchenkov</p><p>3. J. Smith</p><p>4. F. Kuba</p><p>5. C. Schubert</p><p>6. B. Lee</p><p>7. A. Picard</p><p>8. B. Bell</p><p>9. M. Carkner</p><p>10. G. Waugh</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. D. Heatley</p><p>2. A. Vermette</p><p>3. J. Ruutu</p><p>4. S. Donovan</p><p>5. B. Isbister</p><p>6. I. Zubov</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. J. Spezza</p><p>2. M. Fisher</p><p>3. C. Kelly</p><p>4. D. McAmmond</p><p>5. J. Hennessy</p><p>6. C. Bass</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. D. Alfredsson</p><p>2. C. Neil</p><p>3. N. Foligno</p><p>4. R. Shannon</p><p>5. J. Winchester</p><p>6. A. Nikulin</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. B. Lee, D, 21</p><p>2. J. Winchester, RW, 25</p><p>3. C. Bass, C, 21</p><p>4. I. Zubov, LW, 21</p><p>5. A. Nikulin, RW, 23<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0053-02

THE SPEZZA QUESTION

<div class="byline">BY WAYNE FISH</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0054-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-02148/9169753-1-eng-US/f0054-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Richards <span class="photo-credit">(RICHARDS: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-01255/9169760-1-eng-US/f0054-012.jpg" title="f0054-01" width="213" height="214"></div><p>GREAT LEADERS come in all shapes and sizes. And personalities.</p><p>The Flyers have had more than their share of big, talented captains over the past couple decades, including borderline Hall of Famers Eric Lindros, Rick Tocchet and Keith Primeau.</p><p>But one has to go all the way back to the mid-&rsquo;70s and mid-&rsquo;80s to find the real prototypes for success in this organization&rsquo;s tenure.</p><p>That would be two &ldquo;little&rdquo; overachievers: Bob Clarke (two Cup rings) and Dave Poulin (two Cup final appearances). Both men inspired in different but efficient ways and there hasn&rsquo;t been anything like Nos. 16 and 20 since then.</p><p>Until, possibly, now.</p><p>Some believe the Flyers current captain vacancy should be filled by Mike Richards, who seems to be a bit of a Clarke-Poulin hybrid.</p><p>Although the modest Richards would be the first to tell you he&rsquo;s &ldquo;not ready yet,&rdquo; there are those who contend last year&rsquo;s performance was his coming-out party and there&rsquo;s no need to wait. In his third NHL season, Richards did it all, leading the Flyers in scoring and winning the Clarke Trophy as team MVP on a club that followed an NHL-record 45-point collapse with a 39-point improvement.</p><p>What&rsquo;s not to like, his grit? How about this nugget: In 2006, his rookie season, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Richards started more fights than then-teammate Donald Brashear.</p><p>Hockey skills? How about playing point on the power play alongside Kimmo Timonen last season and driving the unit to a shocking No. 2 ranking in the NHL.</p><p>After pushing themselves to a surprising place in hockey&rsquo;s final four last season, the Flyers are entertaining notions of going even deeper this year.</p><p>To do that, naming the 23-year-old Richards captain would be a step in the right direction. At least that&rsquo;s what none other than Clarke, now a senior-vice president with the team, implies. Asked to compare Richards&rsquo; outlook on the game to that of his own, Clarke replied: &ldquo;My guess would be that he hates losing more than he likes winning.</p><p>&ldquo;What I think I had &ndash; and I know he has it &ndash; is a real good feel for his own team during the course of the game. It&rsquo;s what the team needs from him that particular night. That&rsquo;s an ability that very few players have.&rdquo;</p><p>Recognizing that, the Flyers had no problem issuing a 12-year, $69-million contract last season.</p><p>Richards said his work ethic was established early on. &ldquo;I guess that&rsquo;s just how I was brought up,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I was always taught to work for what you want &ndash; if you work, good things will come from it. You bring that tenacity into the games, then you have some success and it sort of comes natural.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Philadelphia&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. M. Biron</p><p>2. A. Niittymaki</p><p>3. S. Munroe</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. K. Timonen</p><p>2. B. Coburn</p><p>3. R. Jones</p><p>4. D. Hatcher</p><p>5. O. Vaananen</p><p>6. R. Parent</p><p>7. S. Eminger</p><p>8. L. Kukkonen</p><p>9. N. Guenin</p><p>10. M. Ratchuk</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. S. Gagne</p><p>2. S. Hartnell</p><p>3. S. Upshall</p><p>4. R. Cote</p><p>5. J. Kalinski</p><p>6. B. Kane</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. D. Briere</p><p>2. M. Richards</p><p>3. J. Carter</p><p>4. G. Metropolit</p><p>5. D. Powe</p><p>6. J. Ross</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. Knuble</p><p>2. J. Lupul</p><p>3. S. Downie</p><p>4. A. Asham</p><p>5. C. Giroux</p><p>6. A. Nodl</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. R. Parent, D, 21</p><p>2. C. Giroux, RW, 20</p><p>3. J. van Riemsdyk, RW, 19</p><p>4. A. Nodl, RW, 21</p><p>5. N. Guenin, D, 25<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0054-02

SEARCHING FOR BOBBY CLARKE

<div class="byline">BY JIM GINTONIO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-02151/9169791-1-eng-US/f0055-022.jpg" title="f0055-02" width="334" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Turris <span class="photo-credit">(TURRIS: GLENN JAMES/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-01228/9169798-1-eng-US/f0055-012.jpg" title="f0055-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p>YELL &ldquo;HEY KID!&rdquo; in the Coyotes&rsquo; dressing room and several faces will turn your way &ndash; each looking younger than the next.</p><p>Center Kyle Turris, 19, is the key new member of the Young Guns Club. He plays with the style, flair and passion that defines the group. Combine that with some hungry veterans aching for a playoff berth and the post-season becomes an attainable goal.</p><p>Forwards Peter Mueller, Daniel Winnik and Martin Hanzal (who had off-season back surgery, but should be ready to go for the season), along with defenseman Keith Yandle, all showed varying degrees of promise during their rookie campaigns.</p><p>Tough guy Daniel Carcillo, 23, earned his stripes &ndash; and a lot of scars &ndash; as a fighter, leading the league in penalty minutes as a rookie. Can he respond to coach Wayne Gretzky&rsquo;s call to play more under control and become a more complete player?</p><p>Looming large is a new face who certainly won&rsquo;t answer to &ldquo;kid.&rdquo; Center Olli Jokinen, who has never played in the post-season since breaking in 10 years ago, is tired of waiting. Obtained in an off-season trade for popular defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton, he could be the impetus to get the Coyotes into the playoffs for the first time since 2002.</p><p>His value is multi-dimensional: He can be a 90-point man, free up captain/left winger Shane Doan to be an even more prominent force and help provide a positive on-ice example to Mueller, expected to be on his line.</p><p>&ldquo;I have very high expectations for me and the team,&rdquo; Mueller said. &ldquo;But I think that&rsquo;s everyone, not just me. We&rsquo;ve got a great group of veterans that obviously carry and lead our team, but we&rsquo;ve also got a lot of young guys &hellip; It&rsquo;s going to make a good match.&rdquo;</p><p>Jokinen said it&rsquo;s a two-way street.</p><p>&ldquo;The younger guys bring good work ethic&hellip; They come here with a good attitude. They want to get better. They make us better the way they work.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Phoenix&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. I. Bryzgalov</p><p>2. M. Tellqvist</p><p>3. J. Tordjman</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. E. Jovanovski</p><p>2. D. Morris</p><p>3. Z. Michalek</p><p>4. K. Sauer</p><p>5. K. Yandle</p><p>6. D. Hale</p><p>7. M. Jones</p><p>8. J. Ahnelov</p><p>9. N. Ross</p><p>10. D. Schlemko</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. S. Doan</p><p>2. M. Boedker</p><p>3. D. Carcillo</p><p>4. B. McGrattan</p><p>5. B. MacLean</p><p>6. A. Bourret</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. O. Jokinen</p><p>2. K. Turris</p><p>3. M. Hanzal</p><p>4. S. Reinprecht</p><p>5. J. Perrault</p><p>6. M. Zigomanis</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. P. Mueller</p><p>2. T. Fedoruk</p><p>3. D. Winnik</p><p>4. E. Lisin</p><p>5. K. Porter</p><p>6. V. Tikhonov</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. K. Turris, C, 19</p><p>2. M. Boedker, LW, 18</p><p>3. E. Lisin, RW, 22</p><p>4. K. Porter. RW, 22</p><p>5. V. Tikhonov, RW, 20<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0055-02

MORE KIDS AND A VET

<div class="byline">BY JOE STARKEY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-0478/9169829-1-eng-US/f0055-042.jpg" title="f0055-04" width="334" height="489"><figcaption class="caption-body">Crosby <span class="photo-credit">(CROSBY: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-03107/9169836-1-eng-US/f0055-032.jpg" title="f0055-03" width="214" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>S</span>IDNEY CROSBY reached legal drinking age in the U.S. on Aug. 7 &ndash; can&rsquo;t call him &lsquo;Sid the Kid&rsquo; anymore &ndash; but this is no time to toast his remarkable accomplishments. Not if he has anything to say about it. Not with so much left undone.</p><p>Sure, Crosby already has a scoring title and a Hart Trophy. Earned both when he was a teenager. Also became the second-youngest captain in NHL history at 19 years and 297 days and led his team to the Stanley Cup final at age 20.</p><p>Crosby, 21, is that rare athlete who consistently delivers on the hype &ndash; no small feat, considering his arrival was the most hyped in NHL history. &lsquo;Sid The Adult&rsquo; has 294 points in his first 213 games. His next goal will be his 100th. His presence was the key to making last year&rsquo;s Winter Classic America&rsquo;s highest-rated regular season game in more than a decade and the Stanley Cup final the highest-rated since 2002.</p><p>When Crosby plays, people watch.</p><p>This year, they&rsquo;ll be watching to see if he can reclaim his place atop the hockey world&rsquo;s pecking order and help his team win two more games than it did last season.</p><p>&ldquo;Being so close and not winning the Cup,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;is still hard to digest.&rdquo;</p><p>Crosby likely wouldn&rsquo;t admit it, but ceding his Hart Trophy and scoring title to the Caps&rsquo; Alex Ovechkin &ndash; the same guy who beat out Crosby for the Calder &ndash; had to be hard to swallow, too.</p><p>When you&rsquo;re wired like Crosby, you&rsquo;re wired to be the best in the world. He was leading the NHL in points per game and had 16 points in his previous nine games in January when he slid feet-first into the boards at Mellon Arena and sustained a high-ankle sprain. He missed nearly two months and never did regain full strength in the ankle. He still finished with 72 points in 53 games and tied Detroit&rsquo;s Henrik Zetterberg for the post-season scoring lead with 27 points.</p><p>Zetterberg scored the Cup-winning goal, though, leaving Crosby and his teammates crushed. Throw all that into the hopper, and you&rsquo;ll have one highly motivated 21-year-old man at Mellon Arena this season.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Pittsburgh&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. M-A Fleury</p><p>2. D. Sabourin</p><p>3. J, Curry</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. S. Gonchar</p><p>2. B. Orpik</p><p>3. K. Letang</p><p>4. R. Scuderi</p><p>5. H. Gill</p><p>6. R. Whitney *</p><p>7. M. Eaton</p><p>8. D. Sydor</p><p>9. A. Goligoski</p><p>10. D. Richmond</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. R. Fedotenko</p><p>2. P. Dupuis</p><p>3. M. Cooke</p><p>4. J. Taffe</p><p>5. J. Pesonen</p><p>6. R. Stone</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. S. Crosby</p><p>2. E. Malkin</p><p>3. J. Staal</p><p>4. M. Talbot</p><p>5. K. Beech</p><p>6. D. Jeffrey</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. Satan</p><p>2. P. Sykora</p><p>3. T. Kennedy</p><p>4. E. Godard</p><p>5. B. Thomas</p><p>6. J. Filewich</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. A. Goligoski, D, 23</p><p>2. J. Pesonen, LW, 26</p><p>3. R. Stone, LW, 21</p><p>4. J. Filewich, RW, 23</p><p>5. L. Caputi, LW, 19</p><p>*Long-term injury<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0055-04

EMPEROR PENGUIN

<div class="byline">BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-02130/9169867-1-eng-US/f0056-022.jpg" title="f0056-02" width="334" height="489"><figcaption class="caption-body">Backes <span class="photo-credit">(BACKES: DALE MACMILLAN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-01194/9169874-1-eng-US/f0056-012.jpg" title="f0056-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p>WHEN BLUES PRESIDENT John Davidson recently implored fans to &ldquo;come and grow with us,&rdquo; he wasn&rsquo;t kidding.</p><p>On opening day, the new core of Blues might consist of four barely 20-somethings and an 18-year-old. Defenseman Erik Johnson (20) and winger David Perron (20) return for their second NHL seasons and they&rsquo;ll be joined by center Patrik Berglund (20), winger T.J. Oshie (21) and perhaps defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (18).</p><p>All five players are first round draft picks, and while they may be a little green now, Davidson said they&rsquo;re ready to be Blues.</p><p>&ldquo;The reality of it is we&rsquo;re going to have some young players mixed in with veteran players,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Our young people are going to play, but we still feel strongly we&rsquo;re going to compete.&rdquo;</p><p>Johnson, the No. 1 overall pick in 2006, is the most heralded after leading all Blues defensemen with 33 points last season. This year, St. Louis drafted another cornerstone blueliner, Pietrangelo, fourth overall.</p><p>&ldquo;We look down the road and we see Erik Johnson paired with Alex and we see the puck coming out of our zone nicely,&rdquo; Davidson said. &ldquo;We see a power play&hellip;we see a lot of good things.&rdquo;</p><p>A surprise to make the team out of camp last year after being drafted No. 26 overall, Perron has all the tools to be a star, but his rookie year was marked by questions of immaturity.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a better prepared NHL player right now by a hundred miles than what he was last year,&rdquo; Davidson said.</p><p>The infusion of Berglund and Oshie this season is also expected to cause a stir. Oshie was a three-year star at the University of North Dakota, while Berglund might be the Blues&rsquo; No. 2 center behind veteran Andy McDonald.</p><p>&ldquo;I want to be that guy for sure,&rdquo; Berglund said. &ldquo;I really want to be that No. 2 center. I&rsquo;m going to go hard and hopefully they give me the shot. I&rsquo;m going to take it. If I make some mistakes, that&rsquo;s how it goes. Sometimes I&rsquo;ll make mistakes, but want to keep going&hellip;learn from my mistakes.&rdquo;</p><p>In other words: &ldquo;Come and grow with us.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>St. Louis&rsquo; depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. M. Legace</p><p>2. C. Mason</p><p>3. B. Bishop</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. E. Brewer</p><p>2. B. Jackman</p><p>3. J. McKee</p><p>4. E. Johnson</p><p>5. S. Wagner</p><p>6. J. Woywitka</p><p>7. R. Polak</p><p>8. M. Weaver</p><p>9. A. Pietrangelo</p><p>10. J. Junland</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. P. Kariya</p><p>2. K. Tkachuk</p><p>3. D. Perron</p><p>4. L. Stempniak</p><p>5. D.J. King</p><p>6. C. Porter</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. A. McDonald</p><p>2. P. Berglund</p><p>3. J. McClement</p><p>4. Y. Stastny</p><p>5. T. Whitfield</p><p>6. J. Talbot</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. B. Boyes</p><p>2. D. Backes</p><p>3. T.J. Oshie</p><p>4. D. Hinote</p><p>5. C. Janssen</p><p>6. M. Foy</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. T.J. Oshie, RW, 21</p><p>2. P. Berglund, C, 21</p><p>3. A. Pietrangelo, D, 18</p><p>4. J. Junland, D, 20</p><p>5. N. Lemtyugov, RW, 22<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0056-02

KIDS RULE ST. LOUIS

<div class="byline">BY DAVID POLLAK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-0462/9169905-1-eng-US/f0056-042.jpg" title="f0056-04" width="334" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Boyle <span class="photo-credit">(BOYLE: ANDY MARLIN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-0379/9169912-1-eng-US/f0056-032.jpg" title="f0056-03" width="214" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>HE DEFENSE didn&rsquo;t appear to be the problem in San Jose last season. After all, only Detroit and Anaheim gave up fewer goals than the Sharks.</p><p>But when it came time to retool the roster to avoid yet another post-season collapse, that&rsquo;s where GM Doug Wilson made significant changes.</p><p>Part of that was dictated by Brian Campbell&rsquo;s decision to bolt for Chicago. Within 72 hours, Craig Rivet and Matt Carle were gone as well, and in their place were Dan Boyle, Rob Blake and Brad Lukowich. It&rsquo;s no coincidence the three new defensemen all own Stanley Cup rings.</p><p>Sure, the forwards have their share of responsibility &ndash; Joe Thornton continues to get singled out, fairly or unfairly &ndash; but as the new season begins, much of the pressure is on the San Jose blueline. Which is fine with Boyle.</p><p>&ldquo;Expectations are high, but I don&rsquo;t mind that&hellip;I love to win and I hate to lose, that&rsquo;s why I chose to come here,&rsquo;&rsquo; said Boyle, the ex-Lightning defender who waived the no-trade clause in his six-year, $40-million contract. &ldquo;This is a team I feel can challenge.&rdquo;</p><p>The Sharks are counting on Boyle to improve the team&rsquo;s transition game and jump-start the offense much in the same way Campbell did back in February. Rookie coach Todd McLellan said he wants his team to play an up-tempo game and the new arrivals know their role.</p><p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;re not asking any of us to change our game and mostly it&rsquo;s all about puck movement,&rdquo; said Blake, a free agent who signed a one-year, $5-million contract. &ldquo;When you play against this team, you&rsquo;d recognize the speed of their forwards. Our job is to get the puck to them breaking out of our own zone. That speed also backs other teams off and allows the &lsquo;D&rsquo; to jump into the play.&rdquo;</p><p>McLellan expects his forwards to be enthusiastic about the blueline changes.</p><p>&ldquo;If I&rsquo;m a forward, I&rsquo;m excited&hellip;I think I&rsquo;m going to get the puck,&rdquo; McLellan said. &ldquo;I really believe the defensemen are going to want to shoot a lot, so that&rsquo;s going to create second and third chances at the net if (players are) prepared to go there.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>San Jose&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. E. Nabokov</p><p>2. B. Boucher</p><p>3. T. Greiss</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. D. Boyle</p><p>2. R. Blake</p><p>3. M-E Vlasic</p><p>4. C. Erhoff</p><p>5. D. Murray</p><p>6. B. Lukowich</p><p>7. K. McLaren</p><p>8. A. Semenov</p><p>9. D. Joslin</p><p>10. N. Petrecki</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. Michalek</p><p>2. P. Marleau</p><p>3. M. Goc</p><p>4. J. Shelley</p><p>5. T. Plihal</p><p>6. L. Kaspar</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. J. Thornton</p><p>2. J. Pavelski</p><p>3. T. Mitchell</p><p>4. J. Roenick</p><p>5. L. Couture</p><p>6. T. Cavanagh</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. J. Cheechoo</p><p>2. R. Clowe</p><p>3. D. Setoguchi</p><p>4. M. Grier</p><p>5. M. Morris</p><p>6. R. Armstrong</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. T. Plihal, LW, 25</p><p>2. L. Kaspar, LW, 23</p><p>3. L. Couture, C, 19</p><p>4. D. Joslin. D. 21</p><p>5. J. McGinn, LW, 20<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0056-04

BLUELINE BOLSTERED

<div class="byline">BY MIKE ZEISBERGER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0057-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-02128/9169943-1-eng-US/f0057-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tlusty <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-01180/9169950-1-eng-US/f0057-012.jpg" title="f0057-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p>THERE WAS A TIME not so long ago when the Maple Leafs&rsquo; definition of a youth movement meant signing a 30-year-old free agent.</p><p>Just one year ago, for example, Toronto&rsquo;s biggest off-season splash came when management inked 30-something left winger Jason Blake to a five-year, $20-million deal, hardly a move that addressed the pressing need for young fresh legs at the forward position.</p><p>Now, entering the 2008-09 season, the philosophy has changed. At least that&rsquo;s the company line being chirped these days by Leafs management, which, under the guidance of Cliff&lsquo;The Silver Fox&rsquo; Fletcher, claims the foundation of the franchise rests with the kids.</p><p>We&rsquo;ll see. The jury is still out on that one.</p><p>If Fletcher does stick to his guns, all eyes should be focused on a pair of gifted young forwards, two guys barely out of their teenage years who need to receive gobs of ice time, whether the Leafs are winning or not.</p><p>One, Nikolai Kulemin, 22, is best known for being Evgeni Malkin&rsquo;s linemate in the Russian League back in 2005-06.</p><p>The other, Jiri Tlusty, 20, already has time in Toronto under his belt.</p><p>For both players, the upcoming season will serve as an audition for a Leafs team we are told is being constructed for the long haul</p><p>The Leafs are set in goal with Vesa Toskala, who stands to play 60-plus games. And there is a logjam on the blueline, with veterans Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, Mike Van Ryn, Carlo Colaiacovo, Jeff Finger, and Ian White being joined by first-year Swede Jonas Frogren, 28, and young wannabes Anton Stralman, Staff an Kronwall and 2008 first round pick Luke Schenn.</p><p>Up front? Different story. As Fletcher stated: &ldquo;We only have one top-six forward and that&rsquo;s Nik Antropov.&rdquo;</p><p>Can Kulemin and Tlusty join that fraternity one day? If they don&rsquo;t receive sufficient playing time, how will the Leafs ever find that out?</p><p>Kulemin, who scored 21 goals in 57 games for Magnitogorsk last season, is a left winger who was one of the Russian national team&rsquo;s final cuts prior to the world championship this past spring. The 44th overall pick in the 2006 draft, Kulemin arrives in Toronto with a lot of hype, much of it courtesy of Malkin, who claims his former linemate will be a good NHL player.</p><p>As for Tlusty, the 13th overall pick in &rsquo;06, his 10 goals in 58 games for the Leafs last season gave management enough fodder to feel he is headed in the right direction.</p><p>If the Leafs are sincere in their youth movement, then giving these two members of the Class of &rsquo;06 only a handful of shifts a game might do more harm than good in the development of both. In simple terms, Kulemin and Tlusty need to play and they need to play a lot this year.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Toronto&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. V. Toskala</p><p>2. C. Joseph</p><p>3. J. Pogge</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. T. Kaberle</p><p>2. P. Kubina</p><p>3. M. Van Ryn</p><p>4. J. Finger</p><p>5. C. Colaiacovo</p><p>6. I. White</p><p>7. A. Stralman</p><p>8. J. Frogren</p><p>9. L. Schenn</p><p>10. S. Kronwall</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. A. Steen</p><p>2. J. Blake</p><p>3. N. Hagman</p><p>4. N. Kulemin</p><p>5. M. Bell</p><p>6. R. Earl</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. N. Antropov</p><p>2. M. Stajan</p><p>3. D. Moore</p><p>4. R. Hollweg</p><p>5. M. Grabovski</p><p>6. K. Newbury</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. A. Ponikarovsky</p><p>2. J. Tlusty</p><p>3. J. Mayers</p><p>4. J. Williams</p><p>5. B. Devereaux</p><p>6. D. Boyce</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. N. Kulemin, LW, 22</p><p>2. M. Grabovski, C, 24</p><p>3. J. Pogge, G, 22</p><p>4. R. Earl, LW, 23</p><p>5. D. Boyce, RW, 24<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0057-02

IMPORT SPECIAL

<div class="byline">BY ELLIOTT PAP</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0058-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-02126/9169981-1-eng-US/f0058-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Sedins <span class="photo-credit">(SEDINS: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-01191/9169988-1-eng-US/f0058-012.jpg" title="f0058-01" width="213" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>D</span>ANIEL AND HENRIK SEDIN have been under intense scrutiny throughout their twin lives, so they claim the 2008-09 hockey season will be no different.</p><p>Fat chance.</p><p>With the free agent departure of mainstays Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison &ndash; and Mats Sundin&rsquo;s non-response to a whopping $10-million-a-season offer &ndash; the rascally redheads from Sweden are Vancouver&rsquo;s undisputed go-to guys up front.</p><p>The twins have led the team in scoring the past two seasons, but the spotlight still shone brightest on Naslund, the team captain and alltime franchise goal leader.</p><p>Now there is no one to deflect attention away from the Sedins. Daniel, the shooter, and Henrik, the passer, are the Canucks&rsquo; first line &ndash; or two-thirds of it &ndash; by default. They have to deliver if the Canucks are to regain a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.</p><p>The twins aren&rsquo;t apple-cheeked kids anymore, either; they&rsquo;ll be 28 when the puck drops for opening night. They have played seven NHL seasons. They are in their prime and also in the final year of identical contracts that pay them $3.575 million apiece.</p><p>They have a new GM, ex-player agent Mike Gillis, who isn&rsquo;t necessarily sold on them as bona fide first-line forwards despite their almost point-per-game production in the past two campaigns.</p><p>So what gives? Well, it seems both sides want to see more of the other. Gillis apparently wants an up-front look at the twins before he starts talking contract extension for major dollars. And the twins apparently want an up-front look at the Gillis regime, its direction and stability, before they think about committing to the organization.</p><p>In their seven years as Canucks, the twins have had only one right winger, Anson Carter, who truly complemented their skills and meshed with their puck-possession game. Both before and since the 2005-06 Carter season, the Sedins have had to endure a revolving door on their right side because management failed to secure the proper fit.</p><p>Gillis thinks he has the right guy in Steve Bernier, a 23-year-old who was drafted in the first round by San Jose in 2003 and acquired from Buffalo (he went there in the Brian Campbell deal) for a pair of draft picks. Bernier is 225 pounds, has touch and can be physical when the occasion arises.</p><p>&ldquo;I think you realize pretty much right away if it works or not,&rdquo; said Daniel, who has been through this experiment more than once.</p><p>If it works, great. But the Canucks will also need a legitimate second line to take some heat off the twins and if Gillis can&rsquo;t provide it, Daniel and Henrik might find themselves fed up with hockey life in Vancouver.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Vancouver&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. R. Luongo</p><p>2. C. Sanford</p><p>3. C. Schneider</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. M. Ohlund</p><p>2. W. Mitchell</p><p>3. S. Salo</p><p>4. K. Bieksa</p><p>5. A. Edler</p><p>6. L. Krajicek</p><p>7. R. Davison</p><p>8. L. Nycholat</p><p>9. N. Baumgartner</p><p>10. N. McIver</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. D. Sedin</p><p>2. M. Raymond</p><p>3. M. Pettinger</p><p>4. D. Hordichuk</p><p>5. J. Cowan</p><p>6. M. Grabner</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. H. Sedin</p><p>2. P. Demitra</p><p>3. R. Kesler</p><p>4. R. Johnson</p><p>5. J. Krog</p><p>6. R. Rypien</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. S. Bernier</p><p>2. T. Pyatt</p><p>3. A. Burrows</p><p>4. K. Wellwood</p><p>5. J. Hansen</p><p>6. M. Brown</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. J. Hansen, RW, 21</p><p>2. C. Hodgson, C, 18</p><p>3. M. Grabner, LW, 21</p><p>4. C. Schneider, G, 22</p><p>5. M. Brown, RW, 23<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0058-02

TWIN THRILLINGS

<div class="byline">BY DAMIAN CRISTODERO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-02110/9170019-1-eng-US/f0059-022.jpg" title="f0059-02" width="334" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Smith <span class="photo-credit">(SMITH: SCOTT AUDETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-01169/9170026-1-eng-US/f0059-012.jpg" title="f0059-01" width="214" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>HE LIGHTNING WENT into the summer with a lot of questions about its blueline. It was too young, too inexperienced. So what did Tampa Bay do? It got younger and less experienced.</p><p>Is that a formula for disaster or one that, after some growing pains, might be the key to a team resurgence?</p><p>The Lightning, under new owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie, shipped Dan Boyle, 32, to the Sharks for Matt Carle, 25, then sent 31-year-old Filip Kuba and 23-year-old Alex Picard to the Senators for Andrej Meszaros, 22.</p><p>The bottom line? The Lightning&rsquo;s top nine defensemen have an average age of 23.7 and Meszaros, with 246 games in three NHL seasons, is the most experienced. What&rsquo;s a hockey operations chief to do? Look at the positives.</p><p>&ldquo;I get excited about our &lsquo;D,&rsquo; &rdquo; said Brian Lawton. &ldquo;We feel good about the character of the kids. We feel good the effort is going to be there and the level of professionalism. The other component is the skill level and, frankly, we feel good about that. So when we add it together, we&rsquo;re very, very confident and optimistic. Does that mean we won&rsquo;t tweak it? No, it doesn&rsquo;t.&rdquo;</p><p>To Lawton&rsquo;s credit, he also acknowledged bumps might occur in the road as they try to develop properly and succeed.</p><p>&ldquo;There will be nights when they don&rsquo;t and we wish we had an older &lsquo;D&rsquo; or this or that,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We understand that and we accept that risk. Ultimately, we feel pretty good about the upgrades we made at forward to help them out and the upgrades we made at our goaltending position to give them the confidence to make a mistake, just to play. We&rsquo;re just trying to balance out the risk.&rdquo;</p><p>To do that, the Lightning upgraded its goaltending by signing Olaf Kolzig as a backup to Mike Smith; it&rsquo;s a no-brainer to believe Kolzig will push for playing time. The team also loaded up at forward, the better to keep the puck in the opponent&rsquo;s end.</p><p>It also is believed new coach Barry Melrose will unveil a more stay-at-home style for his blueliners.</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Tampa Bay&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. M. Smith</p><p>2. O. Kolzig</p><p>3. K. Ramo</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. A. Meszaros</p><p>2. P. Ranger</p><p>3. M. Carle</p><p>4. S. O&rsquo;Brien</p><p>5. A. Hutchinson</p><p>6. M. Lundin</p><p>7. J. Niskala</p><p>8. M. Smaby</p><p>9. T. Wishart</p><p>10. V. Mihalik</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. V. Prospal</p><p>2. R. Malone</p><p>3. G. Roberts</p><p>4. N. Tarnasky</p><p>5. J. Jokinen</p><p>6. D. Koci</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. V. Lecavalier</p><p>2. S. Stamkos</p><p>3. C. Gratton</p><p>4. Ryan Craig</p><p>5. J. Halpern *</p><p>6. Z. Konopka</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. M. St-Louis</p><p>2. R. Vrbata</p><p>3. M. Recchi</p><p>4. E. Artyukhin</p><p>5. A. Hall</p><p>6. M. Ouellet</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. S. Stamkos, C, 18</p><p>2. J. Niskala, D, 27</p><p>3. M. Smaby, D, 24</p><p>4. T. Wishart, D, 20</p><p>5. V. Mihalik, D, 21</p><p>*Long-term injury<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0059-02

BABES ON BLUELINE

<div class="byline">BY PETER KERZEL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-0465/9170057-1-eng-US/f0059-042.jpg" title="f0059-04" width="334" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body">Fedorov <span class="photo-credit">(FEDOROV: BILL WIPPERT/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0059-0380/9170064-1-eng-US/f0059-032.jpg" title="f0059-03" width="214" height="214"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>F WASHINGTON GM George McPhee had any doubts about Sergei Fedorov&rsquo;s impact on a club that returned to the playoffs last spring for the first time since 2003, the parade of players singing the Russian pivot&rsquo;s praises in post-season exit interviews erased any reservations.</p><p>Teammate after teammate mentioned the positive impact Fedorov, a trade deadline acquisition from Columbus, had on the Capitals.</p><p>&ldquo;What (Fedorov) brings to the club extends beyond the rink,&rdquo; said McPhee, who signed the 38-year-old to a one-year, $4-million deal. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a leader and everyone wanted him back.&rdquo;</p><p>Fedorov&rsquo;s return, however, doesn&rsquo;t come without risk. He&rsquo;s not the same offensive force he was when he won the Hart Trophy with the Red Wings in 1994. And his salary, while reasonable for a one-year pact, could have negative implications if McPhee can&rsquo;t clear some salary cap room.</p><p>But the positives clearly outweigh the gamble.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s still good,&rdquo; Ovechkin said. &ldquo;Very good.&rdquo;</p><p>And not just on the ice, where Fedorov contributed two goals and 13 points in 18 regular season games after arriving from the Jackets. Regular shifts, power play, penalty killing, taking a tough draw &ndash; all are within his skill set. Need someone to cover on defense in a pinch? He can do that, too.</p><p>With Michael Nylander coming back from shoulder surgery, Fedorov&rsquo;s return adds critical depth in the middle &ndash; so much so that the Caps might have to put Brooks Laich, who&rsquo;s coming off a career year, on the wing. Plus, Fedorov is a solid old pro, able to anticipate an opponent&rsquo;s strategy. He&rsquo;s like an extra coach, quick to pull a less experienced player aside and explain the whys and wherefores of a game that has become his life.</p><p>That&rsquo;s how Fedorov&rsquo;s relationship with Ovechkin quickly blossomed. Ovechkin gets the glory and accolades; Fedorov is happy to be a supporting player.</p><p>&ldquo;Now is his time,&rdquo; said Fedorov, nodding to a gaggle of reporters surrounding Ovechkin after the Game 7 loss to the Flyers. &ldquo;I just help.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>2008-09 DEPTH CHART</b></h2><p>Washington&rsquo;s depth chart is ranked in terms of value to the organization in &lsquo;08-09.</p><h3><b>Goaltenders</b></h3><p>1. J. Theodore</p><p>2. B. Johnson</p><p>3. D. Machesney</p><h3><b>Defensemen</b></h3><p>1. M. Green</p><p>2. T. Poti</p><p>3. S. Morrisonn</p><p>4. B. Pothier *</p><p>5. J. Schultz</p><p>6. M. Jurcina</p><p>7. J. Schultz</p><p>8. K. Alzner</p><p>9. S. Lepisto</p><p>10. T. Sloan</p><h3><b>Left Wingers</b></h3><p>1. A. Ovechkin</p><p>2. A. Semin</p><p>3. T. Fleischmann</p><p>4. D. Brashear</p><p>5. Q. Laing</p><p>6. O. Osala</p><h3><b>Centers</b></h3><p>1. N. Backstrom</p><p>2. M. Nylander</p><p>3. S. Fedorov</p><p>4. B. Laich</p><p>5. D. Steckel</p><p>6. K. Aucoin</p><h3><b>Right Wingers</b></h3><p>1. V. Kozlov</p><p>2. C. Clark</p><p>3. B. Gordon</p><p>4. M. Bradley</p><p>5. E. Fehr</p><p>6. C. Bourque</p><h3><b>Rookies</b></h3><p>1. K. Alzner, D, 20</p><p>2. S. Lepisto, D, 24</p><p>3. C. Bourque, RW, 21</p><p>4. O. Osala, LW, 21</p><p>5. F. Bouchard, RW, 20</p><p>*Long-term injury<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0059-04

MORE FOR FEDOROV

<div class="byline">by Nicolas Chabot</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0061-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-01155/9170130-1-eng-US/f0061-012.jpg"></div><h2><b>HERE WE GO AGAIN&hellip;</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>O</span>CTOBER 4, 2008, WILL MARK the NHL&rsquo;s 91st opening night. And with it comes another chance at glory for 30 teams, hundreds of players and millions of fans. Jason Arnott, Bill Guerin and Brian Gionta have been the NHL&rsquo;s best opening-night producers the past few years, while Viktor Kozlov has led the way over the past decade. Ray Bourque and Jaromir Jagr are the NHL&rsquo;s all-time leading opening-night producers, while Dino Ciccarelli and Michel Goulet are the league&rsquo;s all-time opening-night snipers. On the other side of the puck, Niklas Backstrom and Dwayne Roloson have led the way in recent opening nights, with Ryan Miller and Martin Biron ruling recent Octobers. Finally, Alex Ovechkin led the NHL in scoring last season, but led the league in quarter-scoring just once and was only sixth in total days spent among the top 10 scorers.</p><p><b>SPOTLIGHT</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-0378/9170123-1-eng-US/f0061-032.jpg" title="f0061-03" width="945" height="1248"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0061-0465/9170116-1-eng-US/f0061-042.jpg" title="f0061-04" width="2231" height="1190"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-01158/9170109-1-eng-US/f0062-012.jpg" title="f0062-01" width="2196" height="2860"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0063-01125/9170102-1-eng-US/f0063-012.jpg" title="f0063-01" width="2197" height="2832"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="mon012.jpg" title="common01" width="77" height="77"></div><p>Can&rsquo;t get enough numbers? Visit our online &lsquo;Stats&rsquo; section every day at <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0061-01

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

<div class="byline">By Larry Humber</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-02103/9170168-1-eng-US/f0065-022.jpg" title="f0065-02" width="913" height="913"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-01141/9170175-1-eng-US/f0065-012.jpg" title="f0065-01" width="142" height="142"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>ACROSS</b></h2><p>1 ___ Trotz has been Nashville&rsquo;s coach since Day 1</p><p>8 Jonathan ___ was the 2006 Rocket Richard Trophy winner</p><p>9 Team that again missed the playoffs in 2008</p><p>10 He was the Hart Trophy winner in 2003</p><p>11 Conn Smythe Trophy winner ___ Smith</p><p>14 A CCM skate (or, adds to, ___ on)</p><p>15 Albany is home of the AHL&rsquo;s ___ Rats</p><p>20 The Red ___ went Cup-less from 1955-96</p><p>21 Detroit&rsquo;s current captain</p><p>22 Undress</p><p>23 Bobby Orr&rsquo;s junior club</p><p>24 A teammate of 11 Across, and a Conn Smythe winner, too</p><h2><b>DOWN</b></h2><p>2 The A in AHL</p><p>3 Brian ___ is 21 Across&rsquo;s defense partner</p><p>4 Rattled, ___ up</p><p>5 Hall of Famer ___ Lalonde</p><p>6 The 1918-19 NHL was made up of just this many teams</p><p>7 Charlie ___ was Vezina Trophy winner in 1964 (edging Glenn Hall)</p><p>12 Rick ___ was drafted first overall in 2000</p><p>13 Team that had first choice in 2003 and again in 2005</p><p>16 Perseveres, ___ away</p><p>17 Boston blueliner ___ Chara, pictured</p><p>18 Marty Turco&rsquo;s team</p><p>19 &lsquo;Gretz&rsquo; got exactly 100 ___ in 1983-84 (including the playoffs)</p><p>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S CROSSWORD SOLUTION ACROSS 1. SMYTH, 8. LAPOINTE, 9. SCORE, 10. CAMPBELL, 11. RAISE, 14. CLOUD, 15. TOROS, 20. HOSSA, 21. KRISTIAN, 22. HAWKS, 23. TROTTIER, 24. COACH. DOWN 2. MICHAELS, 3. TIRES OUT, 4. JAPAN, 5. ROMPS, 6. KNEES, 7. KELLY, 12. COLORADO, 13. JOE SAKIC, 16. SKATE, 17. BIRON, 18. STATE, 19. CAREY.</p><p>Answers available in the next issue and at <a href="http://THN.com/XWORD">THN.com/xword</a></p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0065-0375/9170161-1-eng-US/f0065-032.jpg" title="f0065-03" width="1540" height="766"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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September 30, 2008

JERSEY HOUND

FAN SHOOTOUT

JAGR DEFICIENCY

THE BIG PICTURE