***The Official NHL Thread 2008/2009***

i disagree with the flyers not being division champs because i'm a homer for the local hockey team.

no seriously. we've got a couple rookies who look impressive. (not that i've seen much of them but I've heard some).

I'm fine with playoffs but I want the division.. and the cup.

 

Nice job UT. Ill do my own just so I have something to look back at when the season ends.

Eastern Conference


Atlantic Division
1.) (@) New Jersey Devils
2.) (#) Philly Flyers
3.) (#) New York Rangers
4.) Pittsburgh Penguins
5.) New York Islanders

Atlantic Summary: It hurts me to say that I think the Devils will have a big bounce back year. Its been said that Patrik Elias was hurt by the fact he found out he was stripped of his captaincy through the media last year. Adding Brian Rolston back in the mix will help this team as will bounce back years from Elias and Gionta. Along with the continued development of talented youngsters like Zach Parise, Johnny Oduya, Travis Zajac and Paul Martin this team is on the rise again as long as Broduer is his usual self. The Flyers and Rags will have good years as well with their big name players leading the way. For the flyers, I dont like their defense enough or their goaltending situation enough to consider them a serious threat. For the Rags, I think they will do well to get Brendan Shannahan back in the mix as that team seriously needs some toughness and grit. Pittsburgh may take a step back this year as you pointed out simply because injuries and free agent losses really hurt them. Sid the kid and stalkin malkin (yeah, you got anything better?) may propel them to the playoffs yet over TB for the 8th seed. I expect that my Isles will continue building through the draft though seeing this years first round pick, Josh Bailey, make the team out of camp is a bright spot. If they hope to do anything, the dead last offense from last year will need to improve and they will need a Vezina caliber year from The Rick. One thing I do expect from The Isles is that rookie coach Scott Gordon will have these guys playing an up tempo style that pressures the puck a ton. These guys will be long on hustle and short on talent and experience but they'll be a team no one looks forward to playing.

Northeast Division
1.) (@) Montreal Candiens
2.) (#) Ottawa Senators
3.) (#) Boston Bruins
4.) Buffalo Sabres
5.) Toronto Maple Leafs

Northeast Summary: I really like what the Canadiens have with Carey Price in net and a deep group of talented forwards. I don't know how much the loss of PP Qb Mark Streit will hurt them as they do lack for top line defensemen. I'm not as down on Ottawa as a lot of people are. They still have an extremely talented group of forwards and that will be enough to get 95 points and a top 4 playoff slot. I like Boston, I just feel something is missing there, probably another top pairing caliber D man and I need to see some steady goaltending there. I suspect the sabres will take a step back as the lack of a true 1st line center (unless Connolly finally stays healthy), will hurt, as does the loss of Brian Campbell. They could still ride Miller into a playoff spot though. And bringing up the rear, as they usually do, the Laffs (yes I called them the Laffs), will continue to try and justify spending 14 mill on Jeff Finger.

Southeast Division
1.) (@) Washington Capitals
2.) (#) Tampa Lightning
3.) Florida Panthers
4.) Carolina Hurricanes
5.) Atlanta Thrashers

Southeast Summary: Washington is probably the best of the worst here. I think Florida could surprise some people if their young guys continue to develop. Weiss, Horton, and Jokinen could be enough to guide them to a playoff spot if the supporting cast does enough to help them. Carolina and Atlanta look pretty bad. Tampa has enough offense offense to win a bunch of 5-4, 6-3 games but there are questions abound a they are truly the Eastern wildcard. No one can question their forwards, its a top 5 group in the NHL. But their defense leaves a lot to be desired. How many, if any, of those mistakes will Mike Smith be able to cover up in his first full time gig in the NHL. The talented first time starter will have his hands full. If he rises to the occasion, watch out.

Eastern MVP: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Eastern Best Forward: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Eastern Best D-man: Mike Green, Washington Capitals
Eastern Best Goaltender: Martin Broduer, New Jersey Devils
Eastern Rookie of the Year: Kyle Okposo, New York Islanders


Eastern Conference Champions: New Jersey Devils

Western Conference


Central Division
1.) (@) Detroit Red Wings
2.) (#) Chicago Blackhawks
3.) St. Louis Blues
4.) Columbus Blue Jackets
5.) Nashville Preds

Central Sumamry: Detroit should run away with this fairly easily. Chicago is definitely a team on the rise though with a bunch of young talent. If they get steady goaltending they should be a force in the coming years. St Louis and Columbus also possess some solid youth. Pascal Leclaire could very well carry Columbus into the playoffs.

Northwest Division
1.) (@) Calgary Flames
2.) (#) Colorado Avs
3.) (#) Edmonton Oilers
4.) Minny Wild
5.) Vancouver Canucks

Northwest Summary: I, like many others, expect Kipper to be much better this year. The flames possess an awesome core with Kip, Phanuef, and Iginla, 3 of the most talented players in the game. I suspect Colorado will have a big bounce back year. i cant imagine Sakic going out without a playoff appearance. I dont think hes lost a step as he was close to a PPG last year. He'll need some help and I suspect Wjotek, Svatos, Hjeduk, Stasny are up to the task. Edmonton has some solid youth but I dont really love their goalies or defense situations. The lockdown style of the Wild and Jacques Lemaire will always be effective, but I question whether they have the talent to contend after losing Pavol Demitra. If they start slow, Im praying Gaborik gets dealt to my Isles.


Pacific Division
1.) (@) Anaheim Ducks
2.) (#) Dallas Stars
3.) (#) San Jose Sharks
4.) Pheonix Coyotes
5.) L.A. Kings

Pacific Summary: I agree Anaheim might be the favorite here though i suspect their margin for error to be small. I really like what the Stars are bringing with 3 excellent centers (Richards, Modano, and Ribeiro). They need a healthy year from Lehtinen and some production from their wings though. This team still needs 1 more wing and 1 more D man but I think they could be a team to watch around the deadline. San Jose may be the most talented team in the west but that team desperately need Cheechoo to re-emerge as a dominant goal scorer. He is part of whats missing on that team; that and some grit.

Western MVP: Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings
Western Best Forward: Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
Western Best D-man: Nik Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
Western Best Goaltender: Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
Western Rookie of the Year: Kyle Turris, Coyotes

Western Conference Champion: Detroit Red Wings

Awards:
Hart (MVP) - Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Vezina (Best Goaltender) - Mikka Kipprusoff, Calgary Flames
Norris (Best D-man) - Dion Phanuef, Calgary Flames
Calder (Rookie of the Year) - Kyle Okposo, New York Islanders


Stanley Cup Champions: Detroit Red Wings

 

* Beating the Red Wings at the Joe on opening night when they're raising the banners was certainly unexpected.

* The Leafs were more organized as a group and disciplined than last year.

* We played with one high forward attacking the puck while limiting space and options, which is more sensible then sending two players on the 4check, in light of our speed and lack of size.

* Defensively, we're using the 3-man flexible triangle which means everyone has to be able to switch into instantly to someone else's role. It suits a Jonas Frogren, Luke Schenn, and Pavel Kubina very well, as they're good in tight spaces.

* I really liked the speed and skill on the first line. Tlutsy-Hagman-Grabovski.

My Eastern Conference Outlook

* Uni - The Pens are not making the playoffs. Blake Wheeler as Eastern rookie of the year. Stay off the pipe old friend. (;

* Seriously, I think they'll miss Gonchar. The rest will be forgotten. Hossa is a one trick pony. Roberts is 7654 years old. Cook is a poor man's Malone. I expect Kennedy, Staal and Letang to grow.

* I disagree about the Northeast as well. I think it's as weak as it's ever been. The Atlantic on the other hand...

* Picture Tim Thomas hoisting a Cup or any kind of trophy other than a pack of 6 Molson Dry. I just can't. The B's need Tukka Rask to be their Carey Price this year or next year.

*Ottawa still needs a heart transplant. Ten years after I, and many others, said they needed one. You're not going to change the culture without changing the leaders though, and the same ones - Alfredsson, Spezza, Heatley, Phillips, sieve of the month in nets - are still there.

*No more exciting arena than Buffalo's on a Friday night. Losing Drury and Campbell kills any chance of doing damage though.

* There isn't a lot not to like about the Habs. They're solid all around. I just wonder if they've added enough beef on offense to beat a physical machine like the Flyers in a 7 game series. Adding Laraque is fine, but he won't play more than 4-6 minutes come April.

* Looks to me like the Leafs take it in the Northeast. (;

* I like the Flyers versus the Caps in the Eastern Final.

* Caps win.

My Western Conference Outlook

* This isn't an exciting conference, both Uni and Matt pretty much nailed it.

* That being said, some teams are coming hard. The Coyotes might finish near the bottom, but they've got some young guns. And Kings. I'm just not sure this is the year they pull a Miami Dolphins, but soon enough.

* I think with Erik Johnson healthy, the Blues would've been the Miami Dolphins, without him though, they won't make as much noise.

* The Blackhawks should see the playoffs so I think Savard survives. I even think they might embark on a Pittsburgh type run with Pat Kane, Jonathan Toews, Brian Campbell and Duncan Keith leading them. Martin Havlat and Dustin Byfuglien should providing the fireworks. Some sandpaper from Brent Sopel and Jack Skille. Cam Barker and Brent Seabrook continuing to develop and become the top four defensemen they were slated as prospects.

* I don't think the Red Wings repeat. They had Franzen play over his head last year. I still can't believe they won with Osgood in nets.

* I'm thinking the Stars take it to the Western Final against the Blackhawks.

* A Capitals-Blackhawks final with the Capitals winning the Cup.

*For the Calder, colour me a homer but it wouldn't surprise me the least to see Grabovski or Kulemin take it. The front runners are Okposo, and Turris, but they won't see as much ice as the aforementioned two.

 

Nice write up Pinkie but Okposo will see as much ice time as he wants. Who is going to take it from him? Bill Guerin? Doug Weight? LOL, I think not buddy

 

HAHA, this is hilarious... and sadly, probably true.

 

I'm dying to see him play. Who does he remind you of ? I haven't seen any Frozen Four games in the last few years so I'm just going on hearsay when discussing him. I guess you're right, he should see a lot of ice time, as long as he produces.

 

From your lips (or fingertips) to God's ears! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I needed to hear some Stars love.

Wait. I take it all back.



Just joking around! Thanks UT, Pink, and Boik for your write-ups. Those were awesome to read. The Dolphins sort of have me captivated right now, but it's cool to have the NHL going during the week and the NFL's "dead" times. I'm pumped for tonight! And for the season!!!

GO STARS!

 

If I had to compare Okposo to anyone it would be Jarome Iginla. thats based solely on style of play. In Okposo's late season call up last year he was crashing the net aggressively, crunching the opposition along the boards (or anywhere else), and possesses a potentially elite wrist shot. He skates well, overpowers the opposition when needed. Defensively his positioning could be better but I suspect will be a plus player once the Isles get some talent around him and some of the other kids.

 

The Rangers are 4-0 for the first time since 1983. LET'S GO RANGERS!

 

Rangers top prospect dies at 19.

ESPN - Cherepanov collapses on bench during game, dies of apparent heart attack - NHL

This kid was going to be amazing. Terrible.

 

poor guy.

**** you can have heart attacks at 19? i'm way overdue...

 

Is that you in your avatar? You look exactly like Sean Avery.

 

Ya, i saw that on the news the other day. thats terrible bro, he was definitely going to be a very good player. Sorry for your organizations loss - From an Isles fan

 

me? yeah it's me. . . wow. I do kind of look like him. You should see the pic where I look like george washington. I'll have to dig it up. Oh and...

god the flyers suck.

 

UT, the past few nights have been classic Bruins hockey. No more than 15 seconds after scoring to take a 2-0 lead in Buffalo last night, Mark Stuart takes a boneheaded penalty, which undoubtedly led to a Buffalo score... letting them right back in the game.

And I don't have the numbers, but the Bruins have to be one of the worst teams in the entire league when it comes to the shootouts. They're just flat out awful. They have no one who can put the puck in the net.

It's so frustrating to watch them leave 3 points (@ MTL, PIT, @ BUF) on the table already in the young season after 3 shootout losses. I hope it doesn't come back to bite us during the stretch run for the playoffs.

 

i hope the flyers win tonight. they need one.

 

I'm telling you Uni, Schenn was one of the easiest calls I've EVER made. As soon as I saw him at the World Juniors a few times, and in the playoffs for Kelowna, I thought the team that was going to draft this kid was getting at the very least, the bare minimum, an Adam Foote, a Mark Tinordi, a physical number 2 d-man that could shut down an opposing player. If he went 5th overall, it's only because guys like Pietrangelo, and Doughty are flashier with the puck, and might have more offensive upside than Schenn. He intuitively knows where to go, where to put the puck off the glass, stays composed under pressure, makes the first pass out of the zone, all of which are things that can't be taught, and aren't very flashy, but invaluable. He's a building block, and I'm looking forward to getting his jersey, and watching him for the next few years!

I also think the B's will be alright. Bergeron is predictably rusty around the net after missing last year, but he'll be okay. Kessel has arrived. Lucic will continue growing. Chara will come around. They should put Sobotka in Yelle's place and get fitter as a team, because third periods have been a problem. Once that happens, shootouts won't be needed.

 

There was once another tough defenseman, who started out with the Leafs as an 18 year old defenseman coming off two stellar years with the Petes, chosen 7th overall in '87 by the name of Luke Richardson. Dare we forget the infamous Drake Berehowsky pick, our first rounder in '90. I have to remind myself of those disasters, because every time I see my boy Luke Schenn, I get hot flashes. Came to Matt Stajan's rescue after a knee on knee hit tonight. 59 seconds in asll well, just drops the gloves against Chris Neil. And when the press suggested to him he might be owed a dinner from Stajan, he replied, "He doesn't owe me anything. That's what teammates are for." Played 20+ minutes again and first team duties on the PK. Be still my beatin heart. Be still.

Regarding Tukka, woo. You already know what I think of him. Quickest pads and reflexes I have ever seen at the junior level along with Marc-André Fleury. Looking at the B's preseason save percentages, seems to me he should be the number one keeper. Then again, he's born in 1987, which makes him as young as the Olsen twins. And he wasn't the finished product despite the awesome reflexes. Still, I don't think Manny, Timmy or any other Bruins goalie since Andy Moog in '91, hold a candle to him as far as talent. Good to know that Vlad has been playing, really took a liking to him during the playoffs, as he's active, and can lay the wood in that 3rd or 4th line checking role. Playing David Krejci with Stéphane Yelle is like playing Craig Janney with Ken Hodge Jr. or Dave Poulin. You're wasting the softest hands in hockey, and passing prowess of a Krejci or Janney with third line plumbers who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

Interesting point about ''stupidity'' being a reason they've had difficulty. I'm familiar with Julien as he's coached in my backyard for a few years. Went to see the Hull - now Gatineau - Olympiques play with my dad once or twice every year. And one of the things that impressed me when Chiarelli hired Julien was that he mentioned the '99 edition that fielded 17 rookies and went to the Quebec League final (and lost to Acadie Bathurst backstopped by Roberto Luongo) as something that stuck out. He could've pointed to the '03-04 Habs team that bounced the Bruins out of the playoffs, or the '06-07 Devils club that won the Atlantic Division, or the '97 Hull team that won the Memorial Cup. That showed me a lot about Chiarelli. In those days, Julien had those Hull teams flying. Once he made it to the NHL though, he had to lasso that frame of mind, as the Habs were devoid of talent, and Devils have been using the neutral zone trap since Lemaire. All this to say, I think Julien might be caught between a rock and a hard place, as the current B's edition is probably the most explosive team he's had at the NHL level offensively. Does he try to impose the 1-2-2, or the third man high system ? Does he try to drag down the entertainment quotient from the get go or does he do it only once they've go the lead (am of the opinion you can't consistely - either you do it from the start or don't do it at all) ? Anyway, all the best on that B's-Nucks game. For once, I'll be rooting for the B's (and simultaneously clenching my teeth). (;

 

flyers won!

nodl and sbisa look freakin' awesome

 

UT and Pink, fantastic writeups... I'm loving every one of them.

You two have forgotten more hockey than I'll ever know... I consider myself a very casual fan.

Great win last night, that tip by Lucic for his 2nd goal was a thing of beauty.

 

It did hurt, but I'm willing to let go of my fandom for an old friend (only for a day of course lol).

Yep, Krejci is another kid that played in Hull, and I had a chance to see him in action a few times. I remember when he came over from the Czech Republic, Benoit Groulx made him his pet project, and really pushed him. He responded well, and was probably the best player in the QJMHL playoffs in '05-'06, averaging two points a game. I liked his hockey sense - which translates as to, as you wrote, always in the right area - and soft hands - hence the Craig Janney comparison. He fell on draft day because of (surprise surprise) his small frame, and defensive shortcomings, but all he's done in Saavy's absence last year, or this year in limited action with limited players, is impress me.

Thanks for the kind words FPL.

 

The Rangers are looking so good right now.

 

My Isles blew a 4-1 lead to Montreal Saturday night after playing a very solid first 40 minutes.
Dipietro is out 4-6 weeks after getting his knee scoped.
I get the feeling Yan Danis and Joey MacDonald arent going to be enough to save this crew from last place. Call me crazy, I didnt like their odds even with Dipietro in there.

So the Hedman or Tavares debate can continue. The Isles only challenger looks to be the thrashers and even they may get a few accidental wins when Kovalchuk heats up.

 

unless kovalchuk gets traded

 

How bout them Bruins off to an 8-3-3 start?

Tim Thomas has been outstanding thus far. And I can't say this enough, I love watching this team play. They're such a scrappy group and they fight for each other. Milan Lucic is a beast and Blake Wheeler was a phenomenal pickup (great call on that UT).

I know it's early and they usually fold in the playoffs, but I'm so damn excited about this team.

 

Awesome writeup, UT.

I was glad you got to see Thomas play out of his mind on the back-end of that 2 games in 2 nights stretch through Edmonton and Vancouver.

I really want the f'n Habs in the playoffs again this year. Nothing would thrill me more than to end their season.

 

Brian Burke should be on his way to Toronto any minute. As inevitable as it was, I don't think he's worth the pound of gold he's been given by the media and general fandom around the NHL. I can't help but think Brian Murray built and developed the youth in Anaheim while Burkie brought in the final pieces.

The draft resume is paper thin. All the young colts, Lupul, Getzlaf, Perry and Smid were drafted by Murray. In Van City, he managed very little, drafting Brian Allen, Artem Chubarov, Jarkko Ruutu in '98. The rest of the landscape is littered with the Sedin twins and a few early round ice capades such as Nathan Smith, and Thatcher Bell. He did find a gem in Kevin Bieksa, and Ryan Kesler is a decent player. For a franchise that hasn't drafted well in 20 years though, astute drafting is a must, and the aforementioned names leave me a bit indifferent.

I do give him credit for one thing, and that's in recognizing when to let go of older players. He's flipped Fedorov, Ozolinsh, and Carney, all of whom were on their last legs, for younger players such as Kunitz, Beauchemin, Marchant, May, and O’Donnell (maybe the last three aren't that young). He's also very stubborn refusing to part ways with Bobby Ryan for the last two years, and loves to hold grudges (see the Kevin Lowe feud). I'm thinking that's more of a minus than a plus, but that's strictly based on my personal philosophy.

 

Did anyone else see the Jeff Carter show against the Coyotes?

 

Leafs sign Burke as new GM

ESPN - Brian Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs come to agreement on six-year deal for GM job

 

Wow - Brendan Shanahan in your sig! He looks so much older (but he looks fabulous!) than the 18-year-old draft pick I remember when I was still working for the Devils... how fun to see his face!