While the Pacific seems to be the division that's most rich with youngsters looking to make their initial mark in the NHL (thanks to rebuilding jobs underway in Phoenix and LA),
Boston
Tuuka Rask, G... With Manny Fernandez nursing a sore thumb, Rask may very well start the season in Beantown. The 21-year old Finnish goalie is big (6-3), has displayed poise beyond his years, and seems to just need experience to fulfill his vast potential. The only question is will that experience come at the NHL level? Probably not, as Boston looks to build on their playoff berth last year. Hard to do that with a rookie between the pipes.
Blake Wheeler, RW... The big winger out of the University of Minnesota has played very well in camp with the Bruins. He has size (6-5, 214), hands and poise to make an impact with the B's this season.
Zach Hamill, C... The 20-year old was arleady assigned to Providence in the AHL, but if injuries strike the forwards, he should be one of the first called up. He's creative offensively and already displays defensive ability.
Buffalo
Mike Weber, D... At 6-2, 200, he could be the responsible but punishing defender Buffalo has lacked recently. Finished the year playing with another youngster, Andrej Sekera, in pressure situations. In 16 games, he finished with a +12 rating.
Marek Zagrapan, C... He's 21 and has yet to break out at the AHL level. He's still in camp with the Sabres, and may ahve a chance to stick with the injury to Paul Gaustad. As long as Tim Connolly is healthy, it's hard to imagine him getting time on the top 2 lines.
Nathan Gerbe, C/LW... Again, with Gaustad's injury, Gerbe has a chance to make the squad. He's very small (5-5), but hasn't let that effect his play at the NCAA level. It's almost as if he uses doubts to motivate him. He has rare offensive capabilities.
Montreal
Gregory Stewart, LW... Skates well and is not afraid to get his nose bloody for a teammate. With Georges Laraque in town, Stewart doesn't seem to fit on this team right now. Unless there's an injury, or he suddenly shows offensive abilities that have eluded him thus far, he'll probably be ####ing around the AHL another year.
Max Pacioretti, LW... He's 19, won CCHA Rookie of the Year honors, and should eventually wind up as a punishing second line finisher. He would probably be better served spending a year in the AHL getting accustomed to life as a professional.
Ottawa
Jesse Winchester, RW... Colgate grad averaged nearly a point per game since his sophomore season. Is more of a set-up guy than a finisher. At 24, he's may not need as much time in the AHL. His build is NHL-ready now (6-1, 215).
Cody Bass, W/C... Played 25 games in Ottawa last year, including 4 playoff games. Will be an energy type player that hasn't displayed any extra-ordinary offensive abilities. I'll never forget how fired up he got Gary Roberts in the playoffs last year.
Brian Lee, D... Will be expected to replace some of the minutes lost when Wade Redden was run out of town. Lee has a big point shot, plenty of offensive abilities, and has a good frame. Should be a finalist for the Calder Trophy if he can play up to his talent level.
Brian Elliott, G... Wisconsin alum struggled in his AHL debut, but has rounded into form. Ottawa fans would love to see him catch fire, as the goalie position is one of the biggest perceived weaknesses on the team. There's an opportunity for him to make this team his should Gerber or Alex Auld struggle.
Toronto
Luke Schenn, D... Schenn is being touted by many scouts as a future first-pairing, shut down defenseman whom the Leafs can build around. He's only 18, but has really impressed in this year's camp. At 6-2, 216, he seems physically mature enough to make the jump. Toronto needs an him to pan out.
Mikhail Grabovski, C... Is small (5-9, 172), but has displayed an offensive flair that is missing among the Maple Leaf veterans still around.
Nikolai Kuleman, W... Played with Evgeny Malkin in Russia, and Malkin has stated publicly that Kuleman has what it takes to excel in the NHL. He's a finisher with good size.
Jeremy Williams, RW... He's 24, has put up 142 points in 206 AHL games and will never have a better opportunity to prove he belongs in the NHL now that the Leafs seem committed to rebuilding. To be effective, he needs to win a top-6 spot.
Robbie Earll, LW... 23-year old Chicago native should make his mark with the Leafs this season. He skates like the wind, and has shown offensive potential. Time for that potential to be realized. Probably will debut as an energy player on the 3rd line.
Justin Pogge, G... Curtis Joseph's return to Toronto means Pogge will spend another year in the AHL. With Toskala impressing the Leafs' brass, it will probably take an injury to provide him with his NHL opportunity this season.
Take a quick glance at the leading scorers from last year, and you’ll find that the NHL is getting younger with each passing year. Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeny Malkin, Eric Staal, Derek Roy, Jason Pominville and Ryan Getzlaf all cracked the top 20 in points, and all have been in the NHL for 4 years or less. Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Peter Mueller all topped 20 goals as rookies last year, while Edmonton’s Andrew Cogliano just missed that number as he finished with 18.
As younger players are capitalizing on the opportunities granted to them, I want to take this opportunity to take a look at some youngsters who will look to make their first mark in the NHL this season.
We start out by examining the brightest young stars in the Pacific Division.
Anaheim Bobby Ryan, RW… fans of the Ducks are beginning to become impatient with the 21 year old winger who was drafted second overall behind 2007 NHL MVP Sidney Crosby. Ryan averaged over a point per game in the AHL last season, and with the departure of Todd Bertuzzi, he will be expected to win the second line right wing spot to start the season. At 6-1, 213 pounds, Ryan has the frame and hands to excel as a power forward. His play away from the puck and becoming more effective at the physical aspect of the game are what Anaheim’s brass seems to be looking for him to improve on.
Brian Salcido, D… The 23 year old defenseman only needs to see Mathieu Schneider moved and he should have a spot in Anaheim’s top 6 for this season. Salcido fell one point shy of doubling his point production in his second AHL season. He has good size and the ability to contribute in the offensive zone. As the 6th defenseman, don’t expect him to put up staggering numbers since he’ll only see about 12-15 minutes of ice time per night if he makes the big club.
San Jose
Lukas Kaspar, RW/LW… Kaspar (pronounced like “cash bar”, which puts him onto my “coolest names in hockey” roster) got into 3 games with the Sharks last season. He has plenty of offensive ability, but needs to learn how to make use of his 6-2, 210 frame. Consistency also has been a problem for him. There appears to be a LW spot open in camp, and a strong showing by Kaspar could lead to a full time gig for the 23 year old. Again, with the top 6 forward positions accounted for, don’t expect this winger to set the league on fire statistically. He’ll only see about 10-12 minutes per night.
Logan Couture, C… The Sharks’ first round draft pick in 2007, an opportunity has opened up for Couture with the injury to Torrey Mitchell. He has always been overflowing with offensive skills, but last season was his first that he finished with a positive +/- rating. The 19 year old would benefit from the tutelage of Joe Thornton and Jeremy Roenick. He has been at or over a point per game the past three seasons in major junior, so he doesn’t have much more to prove at this level. Again, like most of the rookies that will be on this list, expect 3rd or 4th line minutes.
Dallas Fabian Brunnstrom, LW/RW… This 23 year old Swede enters the league carry the second most pressure to produce as a rookie (behind Tampa’s Steven Stamkos). He skates like the wind, and has a decent shot. He just has to fire it more often. He has a good frame (6-1, 203). He just has to learn to apply it on the smaller ice surfaces of the NHL. If he makes the team, it will be as a second liner. Expect 45-50 points.
B.J. Crombeen, RW… This physical winger racked up 39 PIM in just 8 games with the Stars last year. With the retirement of Stu Barnes, there is an opening on the 3rd or 4th line in Dallas. Expect Crombeen to fill it, but not have much of an impact in the offensive zone. Is a bundle of energy who makes his presence known on the ice.
Tobias Stephan, G… The backup job in Dallas is Stephan’s to lose. He has a big frame, and experience is the only thing lacking from his game. He should see 20 games backing up Marty Turco.
Perttu Lindgren, C… This 21 year old is certainly blessed with the talent to rack up points. He’ll battle Brunnstrom and James Neal for a spot on the second line. scouts say he plays well in his own zone, and is better at setting up goals than scoring them.
Phoenix Kyle Turris, C… Expected to win the second line center spot for the Coyotes this year, Turris showed glimpses of what he’s capable of in his 3 game stint at the end of last season. His play at both ends is NHL caliber, but you have to question if nhe can hold up physically at 6-1, 170. He’s a top end offensive talent. If the Coyotes are to climb into the playoff picture this season, Turris will play a big role.
Mikkel Boedker, RW/LW… This 18 year old Danish winger made a huge splash in the OHL as a rookie last season. He is one of the fastest skaters in any league, and he can function at top speed. It’s a huge jump from major junior to the NHL, but Boedker wouldn’t surprise many by making it seamlessly. Has an opportunity to win a spot on the second line and could put up number similar to what Peter Meuller posted last season (20 goals).
Kevin Porter, LW/RW… The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner as college hockey’s best player, Porter has the talent to compete with Boedker for a second line spot. More likely, Porter will make his NHL debut in an energy role. He has top end offensive abilities, but those probably won’t show in the NHL until his second or third season.
Al Montoya, G… Montoya will battle Mikael Tellqvist for the backup job to Ilya Brzygalov. Montoya has earned a reputation for letting in bad goals and battling consistency. Tellqvist hasn’t impressed anyone thus far in his career. The opportunity is there for Montoya in camp.
Los Angeles Teddy Purcell, RW… Purcell is playing on the second line in the Kings’ exhibition tilts, and he’s producing. That shouldn’t be a surprise. The 23 year old scored 25 goals and totaled 83 points as an AHL rookie last year, continuing a meteoric rise from playing in the USHL in 2005-06. He’s primarily an offensive guy, but that part of his game should more than compensate for any lapses he has in his own zone. The Kings would love to see 15-20 goals from Purcell this season, and he’s capable of doing it.
Brian Boyle, C… At 6-6, 222, Boyle is a tough for defenders to handle. He should see time in front of the net on the PP, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is the second line center ahead of the disappointing Michal Handzus. A brief conversion to defense helped Boyle with that end of his game. He is a tremendous athlete, with agility and coordination seldom seen in players with his size. Boyle should score 20+ points this season, and it should be the first of many productive NHL seasons for the 23 year old Massachusetts native.
Gabe Gauthier, C/LW… Gauthier is a small (5-9) but sturdy (205 lbs.) forward and is offensively gifted, scoring over 20 goals in the AHL last season. He could win a job on the 3rd line as an energy player who cashes in on timely goals. If he makes the squad, he’ll only get 10-15 minutes per night.
Drew Doughty, D… The second pick in this year’s draft, Doughty seems all but assured a spot in LA this season. He has the tools and mental strength to get PP time. He has rare offensive abilities for a defenseman. The only question is if he’s strong enough in his own end. If he stick with the Kings all season, 5-10 goals and 35-45 points should be a reasonable expectation.
Thomas Hickey, D… Hickey played hurt last season, but still had an impressive season in the WHL. The Kings surprised many by selecting the Calgary native 4th overall last year, but there aren’t many left questioning the move. Unless he completely blows away Doughty in camp, Hickey will probably return to his junior team, but will be one of the first blueliners recalled should injuries or ineffectiveness hit the big club.
Joe Piskula, D… This 24 year old Wisconsin native appears to be the defensive compliment to Hickey and Doughty. While it may not happen this year, Kings brass has to envision Piskula (6-3, 214) evolving into a shut down defender who can eat up minutes. He’ll probably never top 30 points in a season, but his main job will be to prevent goals, not set them up.
Jonathan Bernier, G… There’s no question that Bernier could be just as effective as LaBarbera. The question for the Kings brass is will it stunt his development to stick him behind such a green defensive corps? Bernier has the poise, talent and confidence to be an NHL goalie. A really good one.
With Summer winding down, and training camps still roughly a month away, hockey news has pretty much crawled to a halt. While watching the Summer Olympics, I found myself wondering about the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and the players who may suit up for Team USA.
While scanning the rosters post-free agent-frenzy, I noticed something about the New York Rangers -- they are stacked with good, young American players. By the time the puck drops for their opening game in Tampa on October 4th, the Rangers could have each of their lines centered by Americans: Potential Team USA captains Chris Drury and Scott Gomez, 22-year-old Brandon Dubinsky (who was talented enough as a rookie to mesh as a line-mate of Jaromir Jagr), and 23-year-old Dan Fritsche.
Drury and Gomez may be the best all-around American centers in the game right now. Gomez is a fast skater and is well-versed defensively after years of playing in the Devils conservative system. Drury, who was a co-captain in Buffalo before arriving on Broadway, has earned a reputation as one of the top clutch players in the game. Drury will be 33 when the Olympics start in Vancouver, while Gomez will be 30.
On the wings, the Rangers picked up 6-4, 220 pound energy-liner Patrick Rissmiller from the San Jose Sharks in the off season. 23 year old Ryan Callahan may be poised for a breakout season, as he played well putting up 2 goals and 4 points in 10 games for the Blueshirts in the playoffs last year. Callahan averaged a point per game in the AHL, and if he can find a home on the second line he should put up decent numbers skating with Drury or Gomez. Despite putting up 26 goals and 66 points in the AHL last season, rookie Greg Moore projects as a fourth liner in the NHL who can chip in the occasional goal. His 6-1, 225 pound frame, and his willingness to throw his body around, should help him become an effective penalty killer.
Defenseman Paul Mara is running out of time to realize his once-touted potential. He has the tools to be one of the top defenseman in the game, with impressive offensive abilities and the frame (6-4, 219) to be physical. He scored 15 goals for Phoenix the first year ofter the lockout, but has struggled since. The addition of Wade Redden and the emergence of Marc Staal should take some pressure off him.
Nothing sells a game like national pride. I was sitting at a car dealership waiting for my car to be serviced, and there was a women's soccer match on TV where the Americans beat Brazil to win gold. You should have seen the entire dealership watching this game. Everyone from auto-mechanics to sales people to customers were glued to the TV rooting on the red, white and blue. I hope the NHL, Rangers and NBC executives see the potential for hockey here.
NBC happens to carry the Olympics, and they are the network home for the NHL. What better market to start marketing national pride from than the big apple? Drury, Gomez, and potentially Dubinsky, should play key roles for the Rangers this season. Callahan could exceed expectations and flourish as well. Doing so on Broadway could present an opportunity to market these players as the face of USA Hockey. By promoting the Rangers American born players, it will give casual fans a chance to become familiar with players who could play key roles on the Olympic team.
Familiarity with tthe athletes would give hockey an advantage over sports like bobsledding and luge. If the Americans do well in Vancouver, with recognizable faces leading the charge, hockey could gain back some casual fans lost from the "Dead-PucK Era" and lockout. And, as a huge hockey fan, that's all I can ask for.
As I watched Game One of the series between the Penguins and Senators, several thoughts hit me. Some were completely random and some directly were related to the game...
First, the Penguins just flat-out dominated this game. The score wound up being 4-0, but the Marian Hossa-Sidney Crosby-Pascal Dupuis line failed to convert at least 7 scoring chances. This line is way too talented to come up empty for much longer. this game should have been at least 6-0 Penguins.
During an intermission interview, Gary Roberts was asked about the Penguins "pacing themselves." I loved Roberts' answer. It was to the effect of we have four strong lines, so there's no reason to leave anything in the tank. They actually sell t-shirts with "WWGRD" on them. What would Gary Roberts do? That's awesome. According to what we saw Wednesday night, he'll apparently out-muscle, out-score, and single-handedly attempt to bring revenge on the Senators for what they did to the Penguins last year.
The first of Roberts' 2 goals was impressive. He tossed Wade Redden aside like a rag-doll behind the Sens net, and went to the front of the net. Max Talbot (who quietly had a very impressive game) was being chased by Anton Volchenkov as he raced past the crease. Volchenkov collided with Redden as the latter attempted to recover his pride from being out muscled behind the net, which left Roberts all alone to bury a pass from Georges Laraque. Great playoff goal from an impressive 4th line for the Penguins.
I would love to have the job of Hockey Arena DJ. Some groups that are horribly underplayed (at least at Mellon Arena): Van Halen, early Motley Crue, Beastie Boys, Ozzy (although I did hear "Bark at the Moon" during the 3rd period... great selection), The Clarks (Better off without you when an opposing player gets called for a penalty), Ted Nugent's "Free-for-All" during fights, Thorogood. The primary job of the Hockey Arena DJ should be to keep the crowd going when the team is doing well. It's the playoffs, seats should only be used by old and pregnant people! No one should be sitting!
Is it just me, or does it seem like Evgeni Malkin is on a completely different plane than everyone else on the ice. His hand-eye coordination and anticipation are just completely sick. For someone who gallops when he skates, he always seems to be the smoothest player on the ice. Gary Roberts brings the attitude and focus, but Malkin seems destined to win a Conn Smythe and some money to his next contract.
Hal Gill is like having an oak tree in front of your goalie. As long as he doesn't get caught out of position, he may be the most valuable addition the Pens got at the deadline. No one on this team can clear out the crease like the 6-7, 250 lb. American defenseman.
Consistency is the usual Achille's heel of young teams such as the Penguins. Tonight we'll find out if they can get past that. If they come out like they did Wednesday, Ottawa doesn't have a chance. What would Gary Roberts do? Hopefully, he'll come out swinging, and the kids will follow.
Malkin Can Increase His Payday If he Can Keep Pens Afloat
With Sidney Crosby sidelined for up to 8 weeks with a high ankle sprain, Evgeni Malkin now gets the opportunity to show he is talented enough to take a team on his shoulders. It seems to be the year of the Russian superstar, as Ilya Kovalchuk (Thrashers), Alex Ovechkin (Capitals) and Alexei Kovalev (Canadiens) all have stepped up this year. All are on teams that are performing above expectations this season, thanks in no small part to the offensive production and leadership of their Eastern Bloc Superstars.
Most progosticators are expecting the Penguins to fade away without Crosby, the Penguins captain and leading scorer. If they are to prove the detractors wrong, it'll be because of Malkin. In the 3 games since sid got hurt, "Geno" has 4 goals and 1 assist. There's never been a question as to whether Malkin has the talent to be a top flight producer in the NHL.
As the rookie of the year last season, Malkin scored 33 goals and 52 assists for a total of 85 points. Outside of Alex Ovechkin, no Calder Trophy winner has scored as many goals in his rookie season since Teemu Selanne scored 76 in 1994-95. What has been questioned about Malkin is his leadership.
Most of the leadership questions stem from his inability/unwillingness to learn the English language. That's hogwash. Leadership is more than words. It has long been said the best aspect of Crosby's game is his work ethic. When your best player is your hardest worker, a coach shouldn't have to motivate his team. I don't have to talk to you to outwork you.
Since Crosby has gone down, Malkin is consistently the last person to leave the ice. Not only during games, but after practice as well. He has stepped up his play in his own zone, as well. i have noticed several occasions recently where he has stripped an opposing player from behind while chasing down the play. Thursday, against the Flyers, twice he broke up a play behind his own goal.
Malkin has also improved his ability to speak English, although he is still guarded with this. His teammates constantly talk about his sense of humor, and local reporters have written about how much he's improved both his ability and his willingness to speak to them.
Malkin's entry level contract expires after next season. With his rival, Alex Ovechkin, recently getting the richest contract in NHL history, you can bet Malkin wants to prove he's worthy of top-dog dollars as well. To get them, he has to prove he can be as valuable to his team as Ovechkin is to the Caps. With Crosby around, "Geno" wouldn't have had the opportunity to do so. With Sid out, Malkin gets a two month audition to prove his worth. I know I'm not betting against him.
Zetterberg Worthy of MVP Consideration
There has been plenty of articles written about the award races at the half-way point. I can't understand why Zetterberg's name doesn't come up when discussing the Hart Trophy. The Detroit Red Wings have been dominant this season, and with 28 goals and 61 points, Zetterberg has been their best player.
Goalies Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek get plenty of credit for their stellar play, but the Red Wings give up the fewest shots in the NHL by a wide margin. The Wings play a puck-possession game that limits the opportunities of their competitors, and Zetterberg seems to always be on the ice for the Wings. Only 3 times in 44 games has he skated less than 20 minutes.
Every team in the NHL has gone through a rough patch this season, where they just can't seem to fire on all cylinders and pull out a win. The Red Wings are the exception. Only once (November 11-17) have the Wings dropped 3 straight games, and they lost those games by a total of 4 points. This team doesn't leave many points on the table.
Boyes Breaking Out
Look at the list of goal scoring leaders in the NHL this season, and you may be surprised to see Brad Boyes of the Blues sitting in 6th place. I'm not. I live in Erie, PA, where Boyes played his junior hockey for our local OHL team. Boyes twice won the OHL MVP award, and led the Otters to the OHL championship before turning pro. He has always had the ability to elevate the play of those around him, but because he was the best player by far on his team, he would set up more goals than he scored. Now that he's playing with Paul Kariya, keith Tkachuk and Andy McDonald, he's been able to show off his finishing touch. he has a dynamic wrist shot, and the ability to pin-point it's location in an instant.
Brad Boyes will have his #16 retired by the Erie Otters tonight. What a great honor for a player who captivated a small Pennsylvania town. It's hard to believe that, of all the players on that OHL championship team, none come back to the Erie area as much as Brad Boyes.
St. Louis is blessed to have him now. Boyes' contract is up after this season. Blues President John Davidson would be wise to lock Boyes up with a 6 or 7 year contract. He'll probably score 50 goals this season, and is exactly the type of player the Blues need to build their future around.
Those of you who have frequented this space know I've been harping on this issue since the Pens started 2-2, but until they add a defenseman who is right handed and physical, the likelihood of their rising in the standings remains slim.
Every defenseman on their NHL roster is left-handed, which makes their powerplay very predictable. Yes, they've had success with their power play, but they've struggled in their past 3 games with the man advantage. Anyone who has watched at least one Penguins game can tell you that Crosby or Malkin will set up on the right wing boards, and either try to get Petr Sykora a one-timer from the slot or a back-door pass to Whitney breaking from the left point. With no right-handed shot, opposing penalty killers don't have to fear anything from the right wing side.
Marc-Andre Fluery and Dany Sabourin haven't been able to steal any victories because they are being abused in the crease. The Penguins simply do not have anyone on their defensive corps (other than Brooks Orpik) who is making opponents pay for running thier goalie.
Kris Letang, a right-handed, rookie defenseman, was expected to provide that right handed shot. But he was less than impressive in camp, and started slowly in the AHL. Letang is only 6-0, and body checks are not what has him on the Penguins "Hot Prospect" list.
Darryl Sydor has been a huge disappointment. Mark Eaton is no better than a 5th or 6th Defenseman, and Rob Scuderi is a depth player on most teams. I can't count how many times the Pens have given up a goal while their defensemen are playing the puck instead of taking the body and making opponents pay the price for venturing into the crease. In his handful of starts this season, goalie Dany Sabourin has been run into the goal post by a Toronto player, forcing him to leave the game for stitches. Last night, a player crashed the net and head-butted him while he was laying IN THE GOAL.
Like many who watched the Randy Jones hit on Patrice Bergeron this weekend, my first reaction was that Jones could've pulled up. That it was another hit from behind, Jones was to blame. Later that night, I watched the Canadiens-Penguins game on CBC (I love NHL Center Ice!!!). I was eager to hear what Don Cherry had to say about the play.
Cherry, to my surprise, placed the blame for this squarely on Bergeron. Citing Mark Messier, he stated players have to have their head on a swivel. And that's the problem with many of the hits from behind that are occuring in the game today. Many could be avoided if the players getting hit would be aware of what's going on around them.
Look, these are the world's best hockey players. Skating and puck handling are second nature to them. Cherry kept stressing that today's players need to make sure they don't put themselves in a prone position. I see his point. I can also draw a connection to the fact that a lack of experience plays a role in these situations as well.
When the NHL returned after the lockout, does anyone else recognize that the league is getting younger. Many players we were used to watching in the 1990s have retired, and the 3rd and 4th line muckers and grinders have been, for the most part, phased out of the game. The ones who could skate and contribute more than the occasional hit and fisticuffs (Dallas Drake, Jarkko Ruutu) have found ways to stay active in today's game.
As a result of many players leaving the game, these third and fourth line openings have gone to kids who have limited pro experience. If a GM has an opening on his roster, it makes more sense to go with the upside of a younger skilled player than a slower career AHL grinder. By getting the kids to focus on a defensive role, in the end they will be more complete players when they graduate to the top lines. Case in point: Ryan Kesler. At the young age of 23, Kesler has already played in 170 NHL games. He has only played in 111 AHL games, roughly a season and a half.
The problem is that the younger players are missing out on development time in the AHL, time where they can learn how to deal with the speed and dangers of the pro game. Instead, they are plugged into the NHL where the game is a lot quicker. In juniors or the NCAA, there are plays you can make because the game is a little slower.
Over time, as the young players who've entered the game recently mature into their late 20s and early 30s, I think the hits from behind will happen less and less. They just have to realize what they can and cannot get away with at this level. Some of those lessons will be learned through injuries, unfortunately. But they will be learned.
Look at the instances of hooking. We are now in the 3rd season of the crackdown on hooking. There is no reason to place your stick on another persons torso. Yet, every game you will see someone have a complete mental lapse and hook another player. This amazes me. You have to believe that the players will eventually stop doing this. Same thing with putting themselves in a prone position when chasing a puck in the corner. eventually, the thought process will go from: 1. play puck 2. avoid hit to 1. avoid hit 2. play puck.
As much as it pains me to do so (being a rabid Penguins fan), it’s time I give credit to the Philadelphia Flyers. After finishing last year at the bottom of the NHL totem pole, the Flyers are off to an Atlantic Division-leading 6-1 start. The credit for the worst-to-first turnaround has to start with GM Paul Holmgren.
Last season, Simon Gagne (41) and Mike Knuble (24) were the only Flyers to finish the season with 20 or more goals, and Knuble was the only player within 10 points of averaging a point-per-game. As they were constructed by former GM Bobby Clarke, the Flyers just weren’t ready for the post-lockout NHL. Citing burnout, Clarke resigned his post following a 1-6-1 start to the 2006-2007 season. Coach Ken Hitchcock was fired at the same time.
John Stevens, who had coached many of Philadelphia’s young players in the AHL, took over the team at that point. Holmgren and Stevens then took on the unenviable task of player evaluation during a rough season which saw many Flyer fans don paper bags on their heads at home games.
The first part of the overhaul came when captain Peter Forsberg was traded to the Nashville Predators for power forward Scotty Upshall, touted defense prospect Ryan Parent and Nashville’s 1st and 3rd round picks in the 2007 NHL draft. The Flyers then sent the 1st round pick back to Nashville for the rights to pending UFAs Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen. This series of transactions has to be one of the most lob sided deals in the history of the NHL. In summary, the Flyers traded Peter Forsberg for Hartnell, Parent, Upshall, Timonen and a 3rd round draft pick. Forsberg is still undecided about his future, but there doesn’t seem to be any doubt to the notion that he won’t be returning to Nashville.
Unhappy with the play of Antero Niittymaki, Holmgren then dealt for goalie Martin Biron at last season’s trade deadline for a second round pick. With Ryan Miller locking down the starting job in Buffalo, Biron was sure to leave Buffalo at the end of last season. On March 27, 2007, one month after acquiring him, Holmgren signed Biron to a 2 year contract to be the Flyers starting netminder.
The Flyers then spent big in the offseason, landing sought-after free agent C Daniel Briere. Holmgren also packaged veteran forward Geoff Sanderson and underachieving defenseman Joni Pitkanen in a deal with the Edmonton Oilers for promising young forward Joffrey Lupul and veteran defenseman Jason Smith, who would become the Flyers captain. In a span of five months, the flyers were overhauled into a contending team. The only question that remained: With so many new faces, would they mesh quickly enough to climb the standings in what is sure to be a competitive Eastern Conference playoff race.
Well, the Flyers answered that question by jumping out of the gates like Secretariat. The Flyers opened this season with a West Coast road trip, winning 2 of 3. Daniel Briere didn’t waste any time, impressing his mates with a two goal performance in the opener against Calgary. Briere scored the game winner with 1:48 left in regulation. The top line of Briere-Gagne-Knuble factored in all 3 of the Flyers goals. Briere then followed that up with 2 more points in a loss to Edmonton in a 5-3 loss. The road trip ended with Philadelphia responding to their first loss with an 8-2 white-washing of Vancouver, in which Briere added a goal and 2 assists.
The most promising sign to come out of the win against Vancouver was that Mike Richards, once hailed by Bobby Clarke to be a future captain of the Flyers before he completed his rookie season, registered 2 goals and 2 assists. One of the main reasons for last season’s collapse was that young players such as Richards, Jeff Carter and R.J. Umberger didn’t respond when they were asked to do the heavy lifting. In their sophomore season, Richards sits second in scoring behind Briere. Jeff Carter has 4 goals in seven games, and Umberger has 4 points in 5 games. The kids are stepping up.
The Flyers then came home for four home games. Mike Richards scored 4 points in those four home games, while goalie Biron was named the first star in the final three games (two of which were 4-0 shutouts). The Flyers may be set up to build themselves quite a cushion in their division.
The key to this team is depth, a characteristic that was missing last year. They are getting contributions from their top three lines, while Biron is giving them All-Star caliber play between the pipes. While the top line is more than capable of handling the heavy lifting, key goals from the likes of Richards, Lupul and Sami Kapanen takes that pressure away from the top line. Many of the young players played for coach Stevens in the AHL, and after winning the 2005 Calder Cup championship with him, they believe and are executing his system. It seems that all of the pieces that didn’t fit last year have now come together.
Tonight kicks off an eight-game road trip (Florida, Tampa Bay, Boston, Montreal, Washington, Rangers, Penguins and Devils) which should tell us a little more about the makeup of this team. Of the 8 opponents, only Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and New Jersey were picked ahead of the Flyers by most prognosticators when selecting preseason playoff teams. New Jersey is adjusting to a new system and has yet to click on all cylinders, while Pittsburgh seems to be regaining their swagger.
If the Flyers can return with 10 or more of a possible 16 points from this trip against conference opponents, critics won’t be able to say “it’s early” anymore. The team that helped many Eastern Conference heavyweights pad their season points totals last year will have erased any doubt. This Flyers team looks like the real deal.
Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins Can someone please explain to me why Boston is so motivated to replace Tim Thomas? I'll admit I haven't watched many Bruins games since the lockout, but since I run a website dedicated to us-born hockey players, I have folloed Thomas' stats. Since the lockout, he has a record of 44-43-14, a 2.95 GAA and a save percentage of .911. We all know how the Bruins have struggled the past few years, so the fact that he's put up those numbers on this Bruins team is impressive. This offseason, the B's went out and acquired Manny Fernandez (whose career peaked when he won the NWA tag team belts with Rick Rude in the 1990s) to be their savior in goal. Yet, five games in Thomas has outplayed him in a big way, winning 2 of his 3 starts while posting a ridiculous .957 save percentage. That's not a hasek-like, facing 20 shots per game number. Thomas has averaged 30 saves in his 3 games. Kudos to the Bruins (who I didn't envision sporting a winning record at any time this season), who have won 3 of 5 road games to open the season.
St. Louis Blues, Manny Legace & Lee Stempniak Speaking of under-appreciated goalies, remember when Manny Legace was run out of Detroit? Playing for a Blues team that struggled last year, legace put up a record of 23-15-5. He's 3-1 this year with a 1.77 GAA. The Blues were my sleeper pick this season (along with many other people), and they haven't disappointed. Looking for a sleeper pick for your fantasy team? Try Lee Stempniak, who along with Colorado's Paul Stastny, carried the US team offensively at the World Championships this Spring. After getting excited watching him shine in that tournament, i've been eager to see if he could carry that success over into this NHL season. So far, so good. Stempniak has 1 goal and 5 points through 5 games. The Blues are one point behind the division-leading Red Wings with 2 games in hand.
Minnesota Wild In what was supposed to be one of the closest division races in the NHL this season, the Wild is starting to look like a runaway winner. Criticized in the offseason for a lack of grit that became apparent in their first round loss to eventual cup-winner Anaheim, the Wild have stayed true to their philosophy of good defense leads to offensive opportunities. Unheralded offseason pickup Eric Belanger has fit like a glove on Brian Rolston and P-M Bouchard's line, as those three have six of the team's 14 goals scored. what a goalie tandem. Niklas Backstrom has gone 4-0-1 with 2 shutouts, while backup Josh Harding stepped in to give backstrom a break and recorded a shutout himself making 37 saves in Anaheim Sunday night.
Toronto Maple Leafs Is there a more disappointing team in hockey than the Maple Leafs? I know I'll take a lot of flack for this, but I don't see why every analyst love Paul Maurice. I've watched about 7 Leafs games over the past 2 seasons, and this team is the most undisciplined hockey team I can remember watching in relation to the amount of talent that's on the roster. With Sundin, Blake and Antropov, they have players who can dominate games with their ability and/or size. Yet, each time I watch them it seems they are in penalty trouble, get behind early and then resort to goonery. If I have to watch Bryan McCabe sucker punch another player from behind, or Pavel Kubina trip someone after he's been beaten in open ice I'm going to scream. This team will never be a serious contender as long as Maurice is behind the bench. Discipline is the Leafs' biggest downfall, and that falls on the shoulders of the coach. Another goaltending mystery... What motivated this team to spend big to add Vesa Toskala in the offseason? Raycroft cannot be blamed for the atrocious play of the defensemen in front of him. Toskala has limped out to a 1-3 start, while Raycroft has at least put the team in a position to win in his 3 games (wiining one and losing the other two in overtime).
With the Penguins sitting at 2-2 and not resembling the 107-point joy ride of last season in any way, you have to wonder what's wrong and can it be fixed. While I do not think the Penguins are as bad as they looked in losses to the Hurricanes and Canadiens, this team has some shown some very troubling signs.
Marc-Andre Fleury does not look like a 40-game winner. Evgeni Malkin looks like he has lost his coordination, often turning the puck over when last year he dominated puck possession in the offensive zone. These two situations should work themselves out.
What worries me about this team is the defense, particularly the lack of physicality outside of Brooks Orpik. Orpik and Ryan Whitney are one of the best tandems in the NHL, and that is because they are balanced. Both are willing and able to play a crash and #### style, but because they've played together so long they've assumed specific roles. Whitney jumps into the play offensively, while Orpik sits back and waits to punish players who venture too close to his goalie.
Other than Orpik, no one else punishes opponents. Penguins broadcaster Bob Errey has pointed out on many of the teams' goals against that the Penguins do not make opponents pay for venturing into the crease. Sergei Gonchar appears allergic to physical contact. Darryl Sydor has been a complete bust and appears a step slow (I'm hoping this is just an adjustment period for the veteran). Mark Eaton is a great shot blocker but that's about it. I can't remember ever seeing him rattle an opponents jaw with a hit. Rob Scuderi has shown positional improvement.
I didn't like the Sydor signing when it happened, mainly because he too closely resembles the others in the teams lineup. I still feel they should have signed a more physical defenseman and hope that they pick up one as the season progresses.
When opponents can stand in the crease and take three and four whacks at rebounds and no one levels them, that makes Fleury's job that much tougher.
The other troubling development with the Pens is coach Michel Therrien's juggling of lines. The players say they are used to it, but you can't tell me it hasn't affected their play. Players like Crosby, Malkin and Sykora are gifted and creative. Their creativity relies on anticipation. the more you play with a teammate, the better you become at anticipating where they will be. By shuffling players, Therrien isn't giving them the opportunity to become familiar with each other, and that is one of the reasons what has appeared to be sloppy turnovers in the offensive zone (see Malkin, E.).
Other Observations The Coyotes have been fun to watch thus far. Gretzky has them playing a north-south system where the players push the puck forward at all costs, and they are outworking opponents. Daniel Carcillo is really making the Georges Laraque trade with the Penguins last year look one sided. This kid is physical enough to drop the gloves and skilled enough to earn power play time, which he is seeing with captain Shane Doan... Brad Boyes of the Blues is really making the Bruins look bad for giving him away last year. I watched this kid play junior hockey here in Erie, PA, and he's always been able to elevate the play of those on the ice with him. he's playing on a line with Keith Tkachuk and Paul Kariya, and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them has a career year because of Boyes. This kid is that good... Minnesota looks to be the best team in the league thus far, as they stand as the last undefeated team. Goalies Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding both appear unbeatable, and the players in front of them are doing a good job of limiting opponents opportunities. Biggest impact offseason free agent signing has to be Eric Belanger, who is one of the best faceoff guys in the league. He's centering a line with Brian Rolston and P-M Bouchard. Belanger's ability to win faceoffs, and he's willing to go into the dirty areas to free up pucks for his skilled line-mates... ANY ONE ELSE NOTICE HOW HORRIBLE YAHOO!'S FANTASY HOCKEY IS? THEY STILL HAVE PLAYERS LIKE VINNY PROSPAL (LW), TUOMO RUUTU (LW) AND P-M BOUCHARD LISTED AS CENTERS. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THEM PLAYING CENTER IN THE PAST 2 YEARS?
Steelers look very strong to start the season. I know they've only played Cleveland and Buffalo, but they've destroyed them. They humiliated Cleveland in Cleveland, and then the Browns turn around and hang 50 some points on the Bengals. How embarassing for Bengals fans. power polls have the Steelers ranked in the top five, and I am completely surprised by that. I am one of the few Steeler fans that was never a big fan of Bill Cowher. One of the characteristics of Cowher's Steelers were that they started slow, and were horrible making in game adjustments. I thought this team was short on talent and depth, especially the lines. Mike Tomlin has had this team ready from the start, and the beat 2 teams they should have beaten. You couldn't always say that about Bill Cowher's teams... Bill Belichick got off easy. I'm not down playing the fine, as in the words of ESPN's Eric Young, "$500,000 hurts no matter how much you're making." Here's why i think he got off easy -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell specifically held a meeting with NFL coaches and owners this Summer telling them not to tape opponents on the sidelines. Here it is, week one, and Belichick defies him. it doesn't matter if it somehting everyone does or not, there is no excuse patriots fans can make on this. It is cheating and it attacks the credibility of the game. This team is good enough it doesn't need to cheat. I'm not comparing the two people, just the actions here. If Adam "Pacman" Jones gets a year suspension for actions off the field that have no impact on the credibility of the game, Belichick should have gotten at least a suspension for the next Jets game. I originally thought he'd get 4 games, and was completely surprised that it was just a steep fine...What happened to the Saints? This team was unstoppable last year, and now they can't score or, more importantly, stop anyone from scoring. These games weren't even close, either. Their secondary's a mess, and the strength of the offense is the running game. Hard to run the ball when you are playing catch up... We are 11 days from the start of the NHL season. Here are my preseaon picks (* - playoff team):
Eastern Conference
Northeast Division
1. Ottawa Senators* Returns pretty much the same team that made it last years' finals. 2. Buffalo Sabres* Lost both co-captains, but still return plenty of talent. 3. Toronto Maple Leafs* Adding Jason Blake and Vesa Toskala should get them into the playoffs. 4. Montreal Canadiens I just don't see enough talent to rank them as one of the best 8 teams in the East. They'll contend, but I don't see a playoff team here. 5. Boston Bruins A team lacking talent trades promising youngsters Hannu Toivonen and Brad Boyes and don't get a difference maker in return. Another season buried on Boston sports pages.
Atlantic Division
1. Pittsburgh Penguins* Yes, the Rangers grabbed the offseason headlines, but the Pens still have the most talent up front, and added quality guys Sykora and Sydor. 2. New York Rangers* Plenty of superstars (Jagr, Drury, Gomez), still no dominant defenseman. 3. New Jersey Devils* It's a toss-up between them and the Flyers here, so I'll take Marty Brodeur over Marty Biron and say the reigning Vezina winner will carry them to the 8th and final playoff spot. 4. Philadelphia Flyers They will be a lot better than last year, and even better next year when all the youngsters get a year older/better. 5. New York Islanders I like Ted Nolan, Bill Guerin and Rick DiPietro, and I would love to see them surprise everyone again and make me wrong here. But they gave up too many parts that could have helped them this year to rent Ryan Smyth.
Southeast Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes* I'm chalking last season up to injuries and burnout. This team, on paper, is the best in what has become the league's weakest division. 2. Tampa Bay Lightning* Great forwards, good defense, and the goaltending can't possibly be as bad as it was last year, can it? 3. Washington Capitals I present to you everyone's darkhorse for 2007-08. I'm just not sold yet. 4. Florida Panthers Plenty of talented youth here, and addinf Vokoun gives them one of the division's best goalies. I just don't see him staying healthy, which he hasn't done since the lockout. 5. Atlanta Thrashers The finally break out and make the playoffs, and then lose all the key contributors. If the young guys (Bryan Little, Brett Sterling) are for real and play like it, they could surprise.
Western Conference
Central Division
1. Detroit Red Wings* The most talent+most experience+Hasek = another division crown. 2. St. Louis Blues* John Davidson has quickly built a team deep on talent, youth and experienced guys who are good in the locker room. 3. Nashville Predators They lost a lot in the offseason firesale, but there's still enough here to challenge for a playoff spot. No depth, though. 4. Chicago Blackhawks I wanted to make them my darkhorse pick, but I need to see progress first. The best rookie class in the league in Toews, Kane and Skille. 5. Columbus Blue Jackets It's going to take a few years before they can fix what previous GM broke. Hopefully, there will be enough fans left in that beautiful arena.
Northwest Division
1. Colorado Avalanche* Adding Scott Hannan and Ryan Smyth to a lineup that already includes Sakic, Stastny, Hejduk and Wolski is just not fair. Budaj is underrated in goal, as well. 2. Vancouver Canucks* They have one line that can score consistently. They also have Roberto Luongo, and he's good enough to carry them into the playoffs. 3. Minnesota Wild* The team was 19-2-2 when Marian Gaborik scored a goal last year, and they have the best goaltending tandem in the conference. 4. Calgary Flames Two scoring lines (no depth), 7 NHL caliber defensmen (not bad), Kiprusoff's backup will have exactly 0 NHL minutes played when he makes his first start (not good). 5. Edmonton Oilers is Dustin Penner really worth 4 first round draft picks when they're gonna be this high?
Pacific Division
1. San Jose Sharks* They'll eventually play to their potential, right? 2. Anaheim Ducks* Short offseason+no captain+no Teemu = playoffs, but as a low seed. 3. Dallas Stars* Injuries made this team look worse than it was last season, and it still made the playoffs. 4. Los Angeles Kings If they had solid goaltending, the peices are in place to make a playoff run. 5. Phoenix Coyotes Questions abound as rebuilding stage at least 2 years from fruition.
Buffalo fans have plenty to be upset about. Over a span of 4 hours Saturday, co-captains Daniel Briere (Philadelphia) and Chris Drury (NY Rangers) watched as the Niagara region disappeared in their respective rear view mirrors. After two straight Eastern Conference Final runs, it seems the run is over.
If you listen to the local radio stations, the frustration of fans that have supported the team with ticket and apparel sales continues to grow as the names of free agents who have signed with new teams grows, while Buffalo hasn't been mentioned.
If you've watched this franchise closely the past year and a half, the departures of Briere and Drury can't be too much of a surprise. Briere wanted to resign last year, but Buffalo wouldn't pony up the cash. His agent has stated recently that of the team would have offered the 5 year, $25 million deal Briere recently turned down in January, Briere would've probably signed.
Yet, as the July 1st free agent deadline approached, the franchise sat quietly. "They had time. If they were interested in my services they would have come back in a couple weeks after the season at the latest. All the other teams do that. But when it got to three weeks I thought, ‘Maybe they have other things to do.’ Four weeks? Five weeks? Six weeks? Then I knew they weren’t interested," Briere told the Buffalo News. "“Tell the fans that I was sincere when I said I wanted to stay in Buffalo,” Briere said. “That was my priority when the season was over, but at the same time, with any job or anything you do in life, with any employer, you want to feel wanted." That doesn’t sound like a guy who wanted to test the free agent waters.
Knowing this now, it seems as if the Sabres' management planned to focus on resigning Chris Drury. GM Darcy Regier stated in a press conference July 2 that Chris Drury wanted play in New York, "it was a personal choice, and I respect that choice." In other words, Buffalo wanted to sign him, but Drury did not want to return to western New York.
I guess the surprising aspect of this whole scenario is that Regier and the Buffalo front office didn't see this coming. When Drury stated that he felt some of his teammates didn't play hard in the series loss to Ottawa, he just didn't come across as a guy who wanted to lead this team anymore. He appeared at that time ready to move on. And now, he has. And players who would have made sense as back up options continue to sign elsewhere. It's as if the franchise didn't have a back up plan.
I guess if there is one thing Regier has earned is the benefit of the doubt. The financial restraints of ownership aren't his fault. By making two trips to the conference finals and one to the Stanley Cup finals, he has proven to be adept at building competitive teams. And it isn't like there aren't quality players left to be signed.
Looking at this situation from a devil's advocate point of view, maybe the front office reached a point where they felt this team got as far as it could go, and it was time to start over again. This was the second consecutive year the team reached the conference finals. Injuries were the main culprit cited when they fell short against Carolina. That couldn't be said of this year's edition.
The whole team was healthy for a run that was tested surprisingly against the eighth seeded Islanders, required a miracle finished authored by Drury to overcome the sixth seeded Rangers, and were manhandled by the fourth seeded Senators. Looking at them objectively, maybe three years of building what Regier and the Buffalo faithful thought would be a championship team simply wasn't as good as they had imagined.
As it was constructed last year, this team's shortcoming were exposed in a big way against the Senators. There was a no point man on a powerplay that struggled for consistency all season long. The top six forwards, all possessing more finesse than grit, all resembled each other too closely. Chris Niel could skate with the 2nd or 3rd line for Ottawa, and no one on the Sabres top 2 lines could combat his physicality.
So, what better way to reload than to let your two leaders walk away and start over. It's not like the Sabres don't have plenty of weapons left. Assuming they resign Thomas Vanek (an RFA), Tim Connolly centering Vanek and Max Afinogenov is a pretty impressive top line. Kotalik, Hecht and Roy (another RFA) can match up against most 2nd lines. And Drew Stafford has the talent to fight for one of the top six spots.
The biggest holes on this team are energy line forwards and defense. Craig Rivet, Brent Sopel, Vitaly Vishnevsky and Ken Klee would all add the needed physical edge lacking on the blue line. Rick Jackman, Sheldon Souray or Danny Markov would be an upgrade over the current power play options.
As far as forwards, it would be intriguing to see Michael Peca back in a Sabre uniform. If eh is considered too much of an injury risk at this point, Ruslan Fedotenko, Bill Guerin could add a physical edge to the current crop of forwards. Better yet, how nice would it be to steal Mike Comrie from the nemesis that has become the Ottawa Senators?
The point is, the cupboard isn't exactly bare in Buffalo. And there are still some impressive weapons available. If Buffalo fails to fill the holes this summer, then Regier would lose his benefit of the doubt. And the Sabres will have burned a major bridge with the faithful fans that have supported them through the nightmare that preceded the lockout.
The Phoenix Coyotes waived F Kevyn Adams and D Nick Boynton today. If they claer waivers, they could end up back on the team, but that would be a deep wound to overcome for veteran players.
I want to hear from Penguins fans on this. The playoffs revealed that a physical, right handed defenseman to play alongside Gonchar is their biggest offseason hole needing to be filled. Orpik seems to be the only defenseman we have that can hit with authority. Melichar has been playing with one good shoulder, Gonchar seems allergic to contact, Whitney and Letang are finesse players.
While it is odd that Phoenix couldn't trade him, should anything the woeful Coyotes do be held against a player. They may have been asking too much in a trade and run out of options.
He's been stuck on bad teams in Phoenix and Boston the past few years, and a change of scenery may do him well. He's not a bad skater, he's under 30, he's used to playing top-pairing minutes, and he's already under contract.
By my expectations, any top line, right-shooting defenseman will cost more than the $2.95 million Boynton is earning. As well, any defenseman signed as an UFA will require a longer contract than Boynton is currently signed (through 2008-09).
Unless Scott Hannan can be had for less money, this seems to make sense for GM Ray Shero. If I'm wrong, Boynton will be off the books the same offseason that Malkin & Staal become RFAs. That lowers the financial risk.
The Pittsburgh Penguins' website reported today that restricted free agent Michel Ouellet was not tendered a qualifying offer, making him a free agent on July 1. Six players were issued offers: forwards Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Maxime Talbot and recently acquired Tim Brent as well as defenseman Ryan Whitney and Ryan Lannon.
This move is very strange. For years, Michel Oullet was considered the only true goal scorer in the Penguins' system. Their farm system isn't much different now, with Jonathon Filewich the only player considered to have a chance to someday skate on a line with Sidney Crosby. Why would they give up on him after 123 NHL games?
Ouellet is only 25 years old, and has only played 1 1/2 seasons on the NHL. He finished 6th on the team in points scored. I'd like to believe that GM Ray Shero has gotten the green light to chase players like Paul Kariya or Bill Guerin, and they had to make room for them in the lineup, but that seems to be a pretty big gamble. Gifted goal scorers don't come along very often, and while Ouellet won't be confused with the likes of Daniel Briere any time soon, he did score 30 goals in both of his full AHL seasons. He had 19 goals with the Penguins this season, and 19 goals in an NHL season isn't a small achievement.
Last offseason, Ryan Kesler of Vancouver was offered a contract as a restricted free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers. Signing a RFA from another team will cost a GM 3 draft picks, no small price to pay. If Kesler can draw an offer that comes with consequences, Ouellet will most definitely draw a $1-2 million offer.
Michel Ouellet will blossom into a fine second line scorer in the NHL. Looking at the Penguins roster, that's exactly what they're missing right now.
For the first time in four years, the Pittsburgh Penguins will not be drafting either 1 or 2 this weekend, so that means it is highly unlikely that they'll be drafting an impact player who will be able to step into the lineup next season. As has been widely speculated, the Pens are not very likely to commit big money to long term deals when Crosby & Fluery become RFAs after next season, and then Malkin & Staal after the 2008-09 season.
The reality of the 2006-07 season was that the Penguins' biggest lineup holes were a right handed power forward (specifically a winger who can score consistently to put on Crosby's line) and a right handed, physical defenseman (to compensate for Sergei Gonchar's putrid defensive efforts). Unfortunately, there are no prospects on the farm to fill those two voids.
Here's a look at the current lineup for next season, with Restricted Free Agents still unsigned marked by (R):
LW C RW Ryan Malone Sydney Crosby (TBA) Jordan Staal Evgeny Malkin Michel Ouellet (R) (TBA) Erik Christensen (R) Colby Armstrong (R) Jarkko Ruutu Maxime Talbot (R) Georges Laraque
Defense Pairings Sergei Gonchar -- (TBA) Ryan Whitney (R) -- Brooks Orpik Mark Eaton -- (TBA)
Based on the contracts, these are how the lines appear to shape up to me. he pens have four holes to fill this offseason. The good news is that two of them can be filled by prospects. 23-year-old Johnathan Filewich, 6-2, 205 (30-26-56 in 80 GP with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre of the AHL last season) or 22-year-old Ryan Stone, 6-2, 200 (7-26-33 and 86 PIM in 40 games with the Pens AHL affiliate last season) should fill the third line LW spot that is open.
The last remaining big ticket prospect in the Pens system is 20-year-old defenseman Kristopher Letang, 5-11, 190 (12-19-31 in 40 games with Val-d'or of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League). Letang was captain of the Canadian World Junior Championship team that went undefeated capturing the gold this year. He projects as a power play point man, and w
