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.

I love playoff hockey.  The finality gives each and every minute of each and every period that edge of your seat, don't bug me unless you're handing me a beer focus that no other sport can give you.  This year, we are being treated to some of the most competitive matchups I can remember in the first round. 

Before I get into the matchups, what they heck is up with the scheduling of these games?  The Penguins playing back to back after 2 days rest?  The Red Wings/Flames have 3 games off?  C'mon, NHL.  I know you want Crosby on national TV, but messing with the rhythm of the every-other-day schedule could contribute to knock him out in the first round.  As a result of this idiocy, Pens/Senators will play Saturday in Ottawa and then Sunday in Pittsburgh. 

At least the "Crosby on NBC" theory explains that series schedule, but what's the deal with the Red Wings/Flames series?  While 2 of the other 3 Western Series play game 3 tonight, the Flames and Wings will be playing game 2.  This is stupid.

Now to the Eastern Conference matchups ...

Buffalo vs. Islanders (tied 1-1)
This series is a battle of the 2 best U.S.-born goaltenders.  Either Ryan Miller or Rick DiPietro will carry USA hockey's hopes on his shoulders in Vancouver in 2010.  The 26 year-old Miller has been lights out this year.  To fully appreciate what he has done, you have to understand who he's playing behind.  The Sabres have Brian Campbell, Jaro Spacek, Toni Lydman, Dmitri Kalinin, Henrik Tallinder and Teppo Numminen on defense.  While these guys are built for today's game and all capable of playing the point on the power play, none are a Scott Stevens/Niklas Lidstrom lockdown type of defenseman.  When you consider that this team is built for speed and skill, Miller's .911 save percentage is that much more impressive. 

Rick DiPietro, at this point, is the premier American goalie.  While Wade Dubielewicz carried them over the final four games to put the Isles into the playoffs, DiPietro's stellar play this year got them to that point.  He finished the regular season with a 2.58 GAA and a .919 save percentage.  Slick Rick made his playoff debut in game two of the series, a 3-2 thriller that evened the series.  This Islanders team reminds me a lot of last years Oilers team.  Ryan Smyth aside, this team is full of gritty grinders who will not go away.  This Islanders team boasts a much better goaltender than last year's Oilers.

Penguins vs. Senators (1-1)
My first thought when watching yeasterday's game two:  Didn't the NHL state that only the best officials would qualify to work the playoffs?  If that's the case, what is Michael McGeough doing refereeing this game?  This has been involved in more blown calls this year than any other official.  (Remember the phantom hand pass that cost the OIlers a game earlier in the season and prompted Kevin Lowe calling him a ####?)  I watched this game and then followed it with the Sabres game last night, and I was amazed at the difference in officiating as far as what gets called and what's let go.  This crew is a disgrace.

I will probably eat these words tomorrow, but now that the Pens stole a road game, I don't see Ottawa winning a game in Pittsburgh.  These kids are unbelievable on home ice.  The only way I see them losing this series is if they get too confident, and that has happened plenty of times this year.  There will be no shootouts to save them this time of the year.  Very good sign that Staal has two goals.  Malkin hasn't done much, so Staal stepping up gives the Pens that second line capable of supporting Sid's line.  Colby Armstron is becoming that annoying Darius Kasparaitis type that is necessary to win this time of year.  He better hope Chris Neil finds Georges Laraque before he finds Colby.

New Jersey vs. Lightning (1-1)
Martin Brodeur is enjoying his greatest season ever, and that's saying a lot considering his Hall of Fame career.  He set a career high in shutouts playing behind what is possibly the worst defense corp he's ever played behind.  I do want to qualify that statement ...  all season I have heard analysts blast this defense crew and it isn't fair.  Yes, they don't have Stevens and Neidermayer.  That automatically makes them weaker than Devils teams past.  But compared to other current teams, these guys aren't bad.  Rafalski is a premier player, and Paul Martin is a very good offensive player miscast in this system.

This series will come down to one issue:  can the Lightning fire power consistently outdo Brodeur.  I think they can, but this series will go 7 games and the Lightning just don't have much depth.

Rangers vs. Thrashers (Rangers lead 2-0)
The Rangers took both games in Atlanta, returning home with a 2-0 lead in the series.  The Thrashers are in trouble.  One thought has haunted me since the deadline passed.  Their big veteran addition for the playoff is a guy who has only made it past the first round in 2 of 10 playoff tries.  For his playoff career, he is a -15 and has amassed 3 times the amount of PIMs than points.  Not exactly who I'd want to pin my playoff hopes on. 

Two players have swung this series.  Right now, Sean Avery is the Rangers MVP.  Of all the moves the Rangers made this year, Avery is the one I criticized the most, and I'll admit to eating crow on that one.  I am amazed at the difference he has made on this team.  As for the Thrashers, Ilya Kovalchuk has been quiet all year.  I went to a Thrashers/Lightning game back in February, and I didn't notice Ilya at all.  That needs to change.  He has one of the deadliest shots in the league, and Atlanta's hopes of getting back in this series rets on his shoulders.

Weekly Look Around the League

This is the first of a weekly look around the league. 

Eastern Conference (standings through 3-5-2007):

1.  Buffalo (93 pts.):

What’s going on:

Current 8-1-1 stretch ties them with Vancouver for the hottest team in hockey.  Drew Stafford (4 goals-5 assists-9points) has filled the void caused by Chris Drury’s injury, while Daniel Briere (6-7-13), Jochen Hecht (2-11-13) and Thomas Vanek (8-4-12) have stepped up their production over the past 10 games.

What’s coming up: 

5 of next 7 games against teams currently in playoff position.  First three at home, then four straight (Pittsburgh, Florida, Tampa, Atlanta) on the road.  This stretch could serve as a measuring stick for the injury fill-ins. 

2.  New Jersey (87 pts.):

What’s going on: 

Have lost 3 of last 5 games as offense has sputtered (2.0 goals per game).  Power play has struggled over the same span (4 for 22, 18.2%), continuing a season long trend.  Marty Broduer is good, but he needs help.  Scott Gomez (0-1-1, -3), Zach Parise (1-1-2, -5), and Brian Gionta (0-1-1, -2) need to step it up. 

What’s coming up:

4 of next 5 on the road, the middle of which features at Pittsburgh, at Buffalo, and then at home against Pittbsurgh.  Tonight’s game against Philly should give the team an opportunity break out of their offensive slump.  The Devil’s 3rd ranked penalty kill should get a good test.

3.  Tampa Bay (78 pts.):

What’s going on: 

Have gained 5 points on Atlanta in the past 10 games while taking the lead in the Southeast Division thanks to a higher number of wins.  Even though they made up ground, they’ve still lost 3 of their past 5 games.  The main culprit:  horrible power play production (2 for 19, 10.5%).  They haven’t scored with the man advantage in 3 straight games.

What’s coming up:

Four game road trip starting with 3 out west (Vancouver, Edmonton & Calgary).  This is the team’s first trip this year to the Pacific time zone, and with Atlanta getting hot, they need to at least bring back 4 point on this trip or they could come back out of the playoffs.

4.  Ottawa (81 pts.)

What’s going on: 

While they only have one regulation loss in their past 10 games, the Senators have dropped their past 2 games.  This is another team that should be better than they are with a man advantage.  It could be that they don’t take enough chances offensively in order to draw penalties.  They have had more penalty kills that power plays in 7 of their past 10 games.  Dany Heatley (8-9-17) and Jason Spezza (6-11-17) have been on fire over the past 10 games.

What’s coming up:

A chance to distance themselves from the rest of the pack.  They will play 4 of the next 6 games at home before finishing with a brutal 7 of 10 on the road.  If they can get at least a point in each of the next 6, they will be much more comfortable road warriors to end the season.

5.  Pittsburgh (79 pts):

What’s going on: 

Aside from the whole arena issue, the Penguins have struggled since the trade deadline.  Adding Gary Roberts and Georges Laraque is a plus, but in the short term the lines are having chemistry issues as the players adjust to new line-mates.  Nils Ekman returns tonight against Ottawa, which will shuffle the lines again.  Evgeny Malkin has gone four games without registering a point.  The talent is there, but I’m wondering if it’s a chemistry issue or if they are hitting a wall.  While the team has struggled (2-3-0 last 5), Marc-Andre Fluery (7-2-1 last 10, 4 shootout wins) has been playing well.  Backup Jocelyn Thibault has 2 of their last 3 losses.

What’s coming up:

5 of next 7 games are at home, but in that stretch they play Ottawa and New Jersey twice.  If the team is going to make noise in the playoffs, they have to win their home games against these teams.

6.  Atlanta (78 pts.):

What’s going on: 

Thrashers have won three straight, but current stretch was preceded by a dismal 2-7-2 run.  Luckily, the Hurricanes aren’t lighting the world on fire as they stumble along nipping at Atlanta’s heels.  Marian Hossa (3-2-5) has led the way for the Thrashers the past three games while registering a +6.

What’s coming up: 

Six straight games (four at home) against teams that are either out or falling out of playoff picture.  If Atlanta is going to solidify its playoff position, this is the stretch of games to do it.

7.  NY Islanders (76 pts.)

What’s going on:

Isles are 7-1-2 in their past 10 games, and added the biggest impact player at the deadline (Ryan Smyth).  Jason Blake (6-5-11) and Randy Robitaille (2-8-10, +5) have led the way on offense, while Rick DiPietro continues to be a rock in goal, starting the past 15 games.

What’s coming up:

5 of next 7 are on the road, and five of those are against teams below them in the standings.  Winning, or at least getting a point, in those games could solidify their playoff spot.

8.  Carolina (73 pts.):

What’s going on:

The Hurricanes are limping to the finish, and if they’ll be watching the playoffs from home.  Foxsports.com’s Spector has a good look at what has gone wrong with the ‘Canes this season.  Their penalty kill has been one of the leagues best all season, but their power play is killing them.  They have been held without a power play goal in 6 of their last 7 games (1 for 32, 3%). 

What’s coming up:

4 of their next 6 are against teams below them in the standings.  Even though three of those matchups are on the road, they have to win them.  The other two are against the Devils, who don’t provide much opportunity to correct power play woes.  If they don’t get at least 8 points in their next 6 games, they’ll have a hard time holding onto the last playoff spot.

9.  Montreal (72 pts.):

What’s going on: 

Beginning to assume the  sellers’ role management imposed on them by dealing Craig Rivet, not adding talent to the roster.  It would be hard to focus on winning when your boss basically gives up on you.  Cristobal Huet has missed the past nine games as the Habs have gone 4-6-0 in their past 10.  Good news:  Jaroslav Halak hasn’t looked out place posting a .500 record (3-3-0) while Huet has been out.  Looks like management can save money on a backup goalie next year.

What’s coming up:

More of the same, as Huet will be out for the year.  Aebischer has proven he doesn’t have it in him this season to lead the team into the playeoffs, and you can’t expect a rookie to do it for you, either.

10.  NY Rangers (71 pts.)

What’s going on: 

Have won 3 of their past 4 games.  It should at least be fun to watch the Rangers right now, as since January 27th they’ve only lost one game by more than 1 goal (5-3 loss to Philadelphia February 17th).  After watching Pavel Bure walk away in his prime, I’m beginning to wonder how much longer we’ll get to watch Jagr play.  I think he may be the most taken for granted superstar in any sport.

What’s coming up:

The Rangers are only two points out of a playoff spot, and you can’t count them out.  Henrik Lundvist has proven he can get hot, and they’re playing young defensemen who could grow up real fast.  Paul Mara has played well in his two games on Broadway, getting top pairing minutes and registering a +2.  He was -24 with Boston this year.

11.  Toronto (71 pts.)

What’s going on:

Have gone 2-4-1 in their past seven games.  This team has looked like it was falling apart since losing seven straight around New Year’s.  This team just doesn’t respond well to pressure, putting up a 12-15-5 record at home.  Mats Sundin is running out of time to carry this team into the playoffs, although he is still capable of doing it.  I don’t see them going far if he does.

What’s coming up:

Two games with cellar dweller Washington sandwiched around two with the Senators and one with Tampa.  If the don’t sweep these two with the Capitals, I have a hard time believing they’ll get in.

12.  Boston (69 pts.)

What’s going on:

The early return on the Aaron Ward for Paul Mara trade looks like a success for both sides.  Ward showed he had the moxy to be a leader by calling out Jagr while they were teammates in New York.  He will wear a letter in Boston, as soon as next season.  He has a goal and registered a +3 rating in two games with the Bruins.

What’s coming up:

The team has crept back into the playoff picture.  They’re my upset pick for the eighth seed, as only one of their remaining 9 road games is in another time zone.  This team plays well on the road, going 4-2 on a recent 6 game road trip.

Only two of their next 9 opponents would be in the playoffs if the season ended today, so the schedule is favorable .

13.  Florida (67 pts.)

What’s going on:

Since moving Gary Roberts and Todd Bertuzzi (who, for once, was a distraction for NOT being on the ice, rather than for something he did on it), the team has played well going 3-0.  The power play has clicked, going 3-7 (42.8%) while their penalty kill has been perfect two straight games.

What’s coming up:

Florida is another team who has crept back into it, sitting only 6 points out.  With so many 3 point games now, I wonder if they have enough time left.  Eddie Belfour has played seventeen straight games since Alex Auld was lost for the season.  Hey, if Hasek can do it, why not Eddie “The Eagle?”

14.  Washington (60 pts.)

What’s going on:

One win in their past 10 games pretty much says they’ve mailed it in or Olaf Kolzig (out for the year) really made that much of a difference with this team.

What’s coming up:

Plenty of empty seats.  Crosby’s coming to town on March 27th, and Versus is airing the March 12th game vs. Atlanta.  I’ll bet the folks at Versus are glad that one’s in Atlanta ‘cause nothing says American hockey on television more than empty seats.  Wait…  I’m glad that one’s in Atlanta, too.

1.  Philadelphia (45 pts.)

What’s going on: 

The Flyers are actually playing .500 hockey since the yard sale… er, trade deadline.  Seriously, they picked up some pretty good kids, and Carter and Richards have elevated their games since Forsberg left town.  Looks like those two guys didn’t know how to be followers, which is a good thing for the future of the Flyers.

What’s coming up:

The Draft!!!  The Flyers will have 2 first and third round picks in this year’s entry draft.  This team is going to be REALLY good in four years, or their will be a new GM.

Check back Friday for a look around the Western Conference.

I just saw that the Kings traded Sean Avery to the Rangers today.  As a Penguins fan, I am watching a young team badly in need of an enforcer type who can contribute offensively.  after seeing the Kings give up on him, I'm kinda glad the Pens didn't go after him.

Sean Avery is a ####er.  He's someone who will get in the face of someone on the other team if they take a cheap shot at one of his own.  This year, he added the ability to score to his resume, averaging around 1/2 point per game thus far.  You would think that a young team, loaded with offensive talent (Cammalleri, Kopitar, Frolov) would like to keep a ####er who can carry his own weight offensively. 

The fact that the Kings were willing to give him up for Adam hall and two prospects tells me he never did stop his locker-room cancer antics.  When you have young stars like the Kings, Penguins, Bruins, Thrashers, etc. have, you need to have an enforcer type to keep blood off of the talented kids unis. 

I really thought that Avery had changed his ways, and looked forward to watching this Kings team grow like I have with the current edition of the Penguins.  I now feel bad for Brendan Shanahan, who probably thought he was done with Avery when the Wings dealt him for Mathieu Schnieder back in 2003.  Now they're both on the Rangers. 

Kudos to Brendan Shanahan for finally speaking up about the officiating in the NHL.  While his comments were primarily aimed at the lack of respect given to Jaromir Jagr, hopefully it will wake up the leagues "War Room" and correct the deteriorating crackdown on obstruction.

Jagr has been hooked and slashed since he played in Pittsburgh, and like Lemieux in his prime, Jags became burned out with the mid-to-late nineties NHL.  When you have all world talent, and are not allowed to show it because you are given an uneven playing field to compete on, any athlete would grow frustrated.  I give Jagr a ton of credit for not yapping about this, but add the refs treatment of him to the growing list of reasons why we need a new commissioner.

An excellent example of how the refs treat the superstars the league tries to promote ...  Jason Blake spears Sidney Crosby in the waning moments o####ame, and neither referee calls a penalty.  Yet, the league felt the need to fine him days later.  How is this acceptable.  Shanahan used a great comparison when he said Jordan never had to fight through uncalled fouls when he was the NBA's marquee player.  Yet, Crosby, Jagr and other NHL superstars have had to deal with this for years. 

Only Gary Bettman's NHL could stifle its superstars.  And we wonder why the NHL is slipping into oblivion on the American sports scene.