As was reported by AM 640 today, the Leafs and Blackhawks are talking trade and it could go down today, though I am hearing tomorrow is a more likely day for something to happen. Internet rumours suggest it could be Sopel and a 2nd or 3rd headed to Toronto, with the return to Chicago at this point unknown. The Hawks have been scouting the Marlies this week, and sources tell Hockeyleaks.com that Tlusty is a player Chicago has an eye for. I will tell you this: if Tlusty is involved, the return from Chicago would be better than Sopel and a pick. Do not be surprised to see a guy like Versteeg or Sharp involved, as that is what Brian Burke is really pushing for.
Sounds like Georges Laraque will get between four and six games for his hit. Sources tell Hockeyleaks.com that the league was looking at four games but Bob Gainey himself asked that the league give him an addional two. Thats sending a message.
Things are not good in Minnesota right now, and I'm hearing Josh Harding is being shopped in hopes of bringing back some offensive talent. The Havlat experiment is failing at this point.
We are still looking to recruit more team bloggers, as well as bloggers for a new project that I am about to start. For information on both, please email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com.
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Monday, November 23, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Blackhawks heading for trouble
While Chicago fans will be thrilled that Kane, Toews and Keith are all locked up long-term, the fact of the matter is that these kids are RFA's and were never a real threat to be going anywhere.
What isn't good news for Chicago fans is that they are now officially in cap hell. Toews and Kane are getting $6 million each, while I'm hearing Keith's deal will be between $4 and $5, so lets say $4.5. Total = $16 on three players.
This brings the the Blackhawks' cap number to $58 million on 14 players. The cap, which is going to go down next year (according to just about everyone I talk to) and I just don't see how the Hawks are going to do it.
Brian Campbell makes the most out of any Blackhawk at $7.15 million, and I just don't see that contract being moved. Huet makes $5.6 and the team may be able to get out from that via trade, but it won't be easy, not to mention it will leave the Hawks without a goalie. Niemi is an RFA after this season.
Andrew Ladd will also be an RFA, but if he wants any type of raise you can expect him to be somewhere else, maybe even by this year's deadline. Madden, Eager and Burrish are all UFA's, and if any want more than league min, they'll be going elsewhere next season.
Yes, the Blackhawka are full of star power, but exactly who is left on this roster come 2010-2011, I really couldn't guess. You have to think that a few of Seabrook, Barker, Versteeg, Sharp, Bolland and Byfuglien (and by a few, I think 3-4) may have to be sacrificed in order for this team to squeeze under the cap.
If you were the Hawks, how would you get them under the cap? Stop by the forums and answer that in the "question of the day forum".
We're still looking for more team bloggers so if you want your work exposed, send me an email to cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com
What isn't good news for Chicago fans is that they are now officially in cap hell. Toews and Kane are getting $6 million each, while I'm hearing Keith's deal will be between $4 and $5, so lets say $4.5. Total = $16 on three players.
This brings the the Blackhawks' cap number to $58 million on 14 players. The cap, which is going to go down next year (according to just about everyone I talk to) and I just don't see how the Hawks are going to do it.
Brian Campbell makes the most out of any Blackhawk at $7.15 million, and I just don't see that contract being moved. Huet makes $5.6 and the team may be able to get out from that via trade, but it won't be easy, not to mention it will leave the Hawks without a goalie. Niemi is an RFA after this season.
Andrew Ladd will also be an RFA, but if he wants any type of raise you can expect him to be somewhere else, maybe even by this year's deadline. Madden, Eager and Burrish are all UFA's, and if any want more than league min, they'll be going elsewhere next season.
Yes, the Blackhawka are full of star power, but exactly who is left on this roster come 2010-2011, I really couldn't guess. You have to think that a few of Seabrook, Barker, Versteeg, Sharp, Bolland and Byfuglien (and by a few, I think 3-4) may have to be sacrificed in order for this team to squeeze under the cap.
If you were the Hawks, how would you get them under the cap? Stop by the forums and answer that in the "question of the day forum".
We're still looking for more team bloggers so if you want your work exposed, send me an email to cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com
Monday, November 09, 2009
Rangers could use help down the middle...
The New York Rangers were interested in bringing in another centre already, but today's news that Brandon Dubinsky will miss 3-6 weeks with a broken hand means the search for another centre will likely be turned up. With Dubinsky out and Drury playing like he doesn't belong in the NHL, the Rangers are dangerously thin down the middle. Vinny Prospal is saving this team at this point.
Manny Legace is back in the NHL after signing a one-year, $500,000 deal with the Carolina Hurricanes. This should put an end to the Toskala-to-Carolina rumours we reported yesterday.
You have to think with all the injuries the Red Wings are dealing with that they'll be looking to bring in some help, but Ken Holland continues to tell the media he's not looking at any quick fixes. With that said, Hockeyleaks.com has learned that Holland has made a few calls around the league to see what sort of cheap help is available.
One player apparently on Detroit's roster is Miroslav Satan, who apparently is close to making a decision on returning to the NHL. Satan has two or three offers, and while none of them are from Detroit, I wouldn't be surprised if one is made in the next few days. Two confirmed teams who have made contact with Satan? Minnesota and Atlanta.
Make sure to follow us on twitter @hockeyleaks, and check http://www.hockeyleaks.com for all the latest.
Manny Legace is back in the NHL after signing a one-year, $500,000 deal with the Carolina Hurricanes. This should put an end to the Toskala-to-Carolina rumours we reported yesterday.
You have to think with all the injuries the Red Wings are dealing with that they'll be looking to bring in some help, but Ken Holland continues to tell the media he's not looking at any quick fixes. With that said, Hockeyleaks.com has learned that Holland has made a few calls around the league to see what sort of cheap help is available.
One player apparently on Detroit's roster is Miroslav Satan, who apparently is close to making a decision on returning to the NHL. Satan has two or three offers, and while none of them are from Detroit, I wouldn't be surprised if one is made in the next few days. Two confirmed teams who have made contact with Satan? Minnesota and Atlanta.
Make sure to follow us on twitter @hockeyleaks, and check http://www.hockeyleaks.com for all the latest.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Canes show interest in Toskala?
With Cam Ward still in the hospital, it was announced today that Carolina is looking at adding goaltending depth to their team. I was told by a source today that one player the team has looked at is Vesa Toskala. Toskala is in the final year of a $4 million per year deal, and is one of the few potential starting goaltenders available on the trade market. To offset the cost, the Leafs would take one of three players in return: Walker, Samsonov, or Cullen. While these tlaks are in the very early stages, I wouldn't be shocked to see these two teams, who find themselves in 14th and 15h in the east, make a trade.
The Caps have placed Nylander on waivers. Nobody is going to take him unless he hits re-entry waivers, and even that is unlikely.
Bruce Garrioch suggests the dallas stars are seeking a big forward, and speculates that Dallas and Toronto could be working on a deal. Poni is the name that comes to mind. Garrioch also says the Panthers are shopping Horton and once again, Toronto could be involved.
Forsberg is still talking with KHL and NHL teams. If he does return to the NHL, Vancouver and NYR are the two teams with the most interest, though never say never when it comes to Detroit and Colorado.
The Oilers are shopping for a d-man and Kevin Lowe has been heavily scouting the lightning. Meszaros and Lukas Krajicek are the two players to watch on this front.
Rumours continue to swirl that the Habs have interest in Chris Chelios. He's played really well for the AHL's Chicago Wolves thus far.
For more check Hockeyleaks.com as well as our forum's.
The Caps have placed Nylander on waivers. Nobody is going to take him unless he hits re-entry waivers, and even that is unlikely.
Bruce Garrioch suggests the dallas stars are seeking a big forward, and speculates that Dallas and Toronto could be working on a deal. Poni is the name that comes to mind. Garrioch also says the Panthers are shopping Horton and once again, Toronto could be involved.
Forsberg is still talking with KHL and NHL teams. If he does return to the NHL, Vancouver and NYR are the two teams with the most interest, though never say never when it comes to Detroit and Colorado.
The Oilers are shopping for a d-man and Kevin Lowe has been heavily scouting the lightning. Meszaros and Lukas Krajicek are the two players to watch on this front.
Rumours continue to swirl that the Habs have interest in Chris Chelios. He's played really well for the AHL's Chicago Wolves thus far.
For more check Hockeyleaks.com as well as our forum's.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Nov. 5 Rumours!
We start in Tampa Bay, where a team with so much talent continues to struggle. Alex Tanguay, where are you? Several sources tell me that Vinny could be dealt sometime in the new year, though the trade deadline makes the most sense. The usual (Montreal, NYR) seem to the be teams most rumoured.
The Blackhawks definitely do have interest in Toronto d-man Tomas Kaberle, and Toronto is listening. A package would include some of Barker, Seabrook, Versteeg, Sharp and a draft pick. I'd say two of them would do it, depending on the strength of the draft pick, but Leafs could throw in something else to bring a third piece over. These talks will likely continue, and nothing is expected on this front until February at least.
As you've all heard, Forsberg is making another attempt at a comeback. The Rangers are interested and have told the public so. Detroit, Colorado, Montreal, LA and Colorado are also rumoured to have interest.
Biron to the Sabres is gaining a lot of steam.
We're always looking for new bloggers, if you are interested please email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com
The Blackhawks definitely do have interest in Toronto d-man Tomas Kaberle, and Toronto is listening. A package would include some of Barker, Seabrook, Versteeg, Sharp and a draft pick. I'd say two of them would do it, depending on the strength of the draft pick, but Leafs could throw in something else to bring a third piece over. These talks will likely continue, and nothing is expected on this front until February at least.
As you've all heard, Forsberg is making another attempt at a comeback. The Rangers are interested and have told the public so. Detroit, Colorado, Montreal, LA and Colorado are also rumoured to have interest.
Biron to the Sabres is gaining a lot of steam.
We're always looking for new bloggers, if you are interested please email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Rumour Mill for November 3
We'll start in Montreal, where it's very interesting that Carey Price will be starting tonight against Atlanta. Some rumours continue to swirl that one of Price or Halak are on their way out, possibly to Chicago. Rumours also suggest that Andrei Kostitsyn and Georges Laraque could both end up in the AHL. I think it may be time for the Kostitsyn's to be packaged together and dealt.
Kessel returns to the Leafs tonight, with Tlusty going back to the AHL. If things don't improve over the next five games, changes will come in Toronto. The Monster will get the start tonight, while it's likely both he and Toskala will split the games this weekend. I'm hearing Toskala will go Friday, with Monster going Saturday against Detroit.
Carolina is apparently shopping Ray Whitney, but he's got a NTC, and I don't see him getting a lot of interest from around the league. I also heard a rumour that the team may have some interest in Shanahan.
Whispers around the league have the Oilers shopping Horcoff. He's really struggled thus far, but I still think he could become one of the best centres in the league if given the right opportunity.
Lehtonen is still on Detroit's radar, but two more goalies can be added to that list: NYI's Biron and Ottawa's Elliott.
For the latest, check Hockeyleaks.com and our forums
Kessel returns to the Leafs tonight, with Tlusty going back to the AHL. If things don't improve over the next five games, changes will come in Toronto. The Monster will get the start tonight, while it's likely both he and Toskala will split the games this weekend. I'm hearing Toskala will go Friday, with Monster going Saturday against Detroit.
Carolina is apparently shopping Ray Whitney, but he's got a NTC, and I don't see him getting a lot of interest from around the league. I also heard a rumour that the team may have some interest in Shanahan.
Whispers around the league have the Oilers shopping Horcoff. He's really struggled thus far, but I still think he could become one of the best centres in the league if given the right opportunity.
Lehtonen is still on Detroit's radar, but two more goalies can be added to that list: NYI's Biron and Ottawa's Elliott.
For the latest, check Hockeyleaks.com and our forums
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Early Season Slumps...
A few teams that were expected to have playoff seasons have started off slow, meaning some changes are going to start to happen.
I'll start in Carolina, which is rumoured to be the first team who will get shaken up. Paul Maurice may not be the target, but his job is far from safe. The Hurricanes, expected by everyone but me to the make the playoffs in 5th or 6th place, currently sit 14th in the East, and are only one point ahead of the Leafs. The Leafs also have a game in hand, just saying. Expect something to happen in Carolina tonight or tomorrow, whether it be a trade, signing or coaching change.
Speaking of Toronto, don't expect any changes just yet. The team has played much better as of late, and Kessel's Tuesday return should be enough change to keep the team happy, at least for now. One thing is for sure, Toskala has lost his starting job and will back up the Monster for the forseeable future.
Nashville, Anaheim and St. Louis all sit in the botoom three spots in the West, and all three teams are searching for ways to improve their teams. The Ducks would love to move Giguere, but thus far the market for goalies is pretty dry. The Blue Jackets are also quickly falling back to earth, and some change could come there as well.
If anyone thinks the Red Wings are content with their goaltending, they are very incorrect. The team would love to upgrade their goaltending, but it has to be affordable. Atlanta's Kari Lehtonen could be their man.
The Rangers are trying to move Chris Higgins, with the Ducks and Wild both showing early interest. The Bruins are another team interested in the young forward.
I'll start in Carolina, which is rumoured to be the first team who will get shaken up. Paul Maurice may not be the target, but his job is far from safe. The Hurricanes, expected by everyone but me to the make the playoffs in 5th or 6th place, currently sit 14th in the East, and are only one point ahead of the Leafs. The Leafs also have a game in hand, just saying. Expect something to happen in Carolina tonight or tomorrow, whether it be a trade, signing or coaching change.
Speaking of Toronto, don't expect any changes just yet. The team has played much better as of late, and Kessel's Tuesday return should be enough change to keep the team happy, at least for now. One thing is for sure, Toskala has lost his starting job and will back up the Monster for the forseeable future.
Nashville, Anaheim and St. Louis all sit in the botoom three spots in the West, and all three teams are searching for ways to improve their teams. The Ducks would love to move Giguere, but thus far the market for goalies is pretty dry. The Blue Jackets are also quickly falling back to earth, and some change could come there as well.
If anyone thinks the Red Wings are content with their goaltending, they are very incorrect. The team would love to upgrade their goaltending, but it has to be affordable. Atlanta's Kari Lehtonen could be their man.
The Rangers are trying to move Chris Higgins, with the Ducks and Wild both showing early interest. The Bruins are another team interested in the young forward.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Injuries cause trade winds to pick up
Boston was already without Lucic, Boston had already traded Kessel, Boston was already dealing with Tim Thomas playing like a backup goalie, and now they'll have to play without their best player, Marc Savard, for 4-6 weeks. I don't expect the bruins to rush out and make another deal (they've made two in the last few days), but if things continue to go wrong for them, they will seek out some help down the middle. I read a twitter post by an "insider" who assured twitter readers that Nylander was being looked at by Boston. No way does that happen, as a) Nylander won't help and b) his salary is way too high for the Bruins to possibly even consider.
Gonchar's injury (which will keep him out for 4-6 weeks) could be huge in Pittsburgh, as remember, the Pens with in 10th place when Gonchar returned from injury last season. From what I've been told, the team will not make any trades in the short-term, and will assess how things go over the next 8-10 games.
The Ducks have re-called Justin Pogge, which means a Giguere trade COULD be coming. Toronto has been a rumoured destination for the last six months, but it would be very tricky for the team to fit him under the cap. With that said, sending Toskala to the AHL combined with Mike Van Ryn being out for the season and it's not so far fetched. The question of coarse is, what would the Ducks want for Giguere? I'm thinking not too much, as they'd love to get out from under his $6 million cap hit, which he's on the books for until after 10/11.
The Kings are shopping Frolov, as it's become clear that a change of scenery could beneficial for the young winger. Team's with early interest include Vancouver and Atlanta.
Speaking of Frolov, he's one of several players the Wings are "rumoured" to be going after. Sources tell Hockeyleaks.com that Ken Holland is being patient and has no intention of going out and finding a quick fix. With that said, if the team starts to struggle changes could happen.
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Gonchar's injury (which will keep him out for 4-6 weeks) could be huge in Pittsburgh, as remember, the Pens with in 10th place when Gonchar returned from injury last season. From what I've been told, the team will not make any trades in the short-term, and will assess how things go over the next 8-10 games.
The Ducks have re-called Justin Pogge, which means a Giguere trade COULD be coming. Toronto has been a rumoured destination for the last six months, but it would be very tricky for the team to fit him under the cap. With that said, sending Toskala to the AHL combined with Mike Van Ryn being out for the season and it's not so far fetched. The question of coarse is, what would the Ducks want for Giguere? I'm thinking not too much, as they'd love to get out from under his $6 million cap hit, which he's on the books for until after 10/11.
The Kings are shopping Frolov, as it's become clear that a change of scenery could beneficial for the young winger. Team's with early interest include Vancouver and Atlanta.
Speaking of Frolov, he's one of several players the Wings are "rumoured" to be going after. Sources tell Hockeyleaks.com that Ken Holland is being patient and has no intention of going out and finding a quick fix. With that said, if the team starts to struggle changes could happen.
We're still looking for team bloggers, so if you are interested please email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com.
Remember to follow us on twitter for the latest breaking news and rumours: @Hockeyleaks
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Rumour Mill for Oct. 15
- The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to shake things up, and have two main area's they are focussing on.
#1 - Goaltending, and the big name I'm hearing is J.S. Giguere. The Leafs goaltending injuries could both be worse than we're hearing, and the Ducks are still very willing to move Giggy and his large contract.
#2 - A Centre, and rumour has it that Kaberle could be moved to get one. Kaberle is one of the players who is unhappy under Ron Wilson and may finally be willing to lift his no-trade.
Obviously the Leafs are short on cap space, but if Toskala is put on IR or waived (which is a big possibility at this point), that is all the space the team would need. Jason Blake isn't above being waived as well.
- Look for the Detroit Red Wings to look to make a move shortly. Their goaltending is very questionable at this point, and with no Hudler, Franzen or Hossa up front, this team is not the same offensive weapon it was a year ago. Word out of Detroit today is that Datsyuk will also miss some time with an injury.
- Minnesota's slow start isn't sitting well with management and talk is that Josh Harding could be moved in hopes of getting some more offsensive help.
- Another team to keep an eye on is the Boston Bruins, who have looked pretty awful thus far. Their closeness to the cap will limit what they can do, but changes could be coming their if things don't improve. Their defense appears to be the most likely candidate for an upgrade, as their goaltending really can't be touched.
#1 - Goaltending, and the big name I'm hearing is J.S. Giguere. The Leafs goaltending injuries could both be worse than we're hearing, and the Ducks are still very willing to move Giggy and his large contract.
#2 - A Centre, and rumour has it that Kaberle could be moved to get one. Kaberle is one of the players who is unhappy under Ron Wilson and may finally be willing to lift his no-trade.
Obviously the Leafs are short on cap space, but if Toskala is put on IR or waived (which is a big possibility at this point), that is all the space the team would need. Jason Blake isn't above being waived as well.
- Look for the Detroit Red Wings to look to make a move shortly. Their goaltending is very questionable at this point, and with no Hudler, Franzen or Hossa up front, this team is not the same offensive weapon it was a year ago. Word out of Detroit today is that Datsyuk will also miss some time with an injury.
- Minnesota's slow start isn't sitting well with management and talk is that Josh Harding could be moved in hopes of getting some more offsensive help.
- Another team to keep an eye on is the Boston Bruins, who have looked pretty awful thus far. Their closeness to the cap will limit what they can do, but changes could be coming their if things don't improve. Their defense appears to be the most likely candidate for an upgrade, as their goaltending really can't be touched.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Bozak, Reimer recalled by Toronto
Toskala is out with an undisclosed injury. Reimer will back up Macdonald while Bozak will play tonight. Stahlberg will also return to the lineup.
I've heard Exelby will also be in the lineup. No news on who he, Bozak and Stahlberg will replace in the lineup.
I can tell you this: if Toronto fails to win tonight, Burke has one game in twelve days, and serious changes could be made. Burke understands that the Leafs do not have their top pick in next year's draft, and thus a losing season is unacceptable. I'm not sure how this can be turned around, but Burke will need to find a way.
In other NHL news, how about that Calgary/Chicago game last night? Nothing short of epic. The Flames are back in action tonight against the red-hot Blue Jackets.
Marion Gaborik is really leading the Rangers, and if this guy can stay healthy, just about everyone will be wrong with their pre-season predictions. Just about everyone(including us) had the Rangers missing the playoffs, but with the way they are playing, the Eastern Conference could easily be theres.
How long before teams like Colorado, LA, Phoenix and Tampa Bay fall back down to Earth? Not long for teams like Colorado and Phoenix, but I think LA and Tampa Bay could be the real deal.
Where are all the rumours? It's been slow, but expect the first (and hopefully start of a regular) rumour blog tomorrow or Thursday.
So happy for hockey to be back! Make sure to check out our team bloggers at http://hockey-leaks2.blogspot.com. If you are interested in writing for us, please email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com
I've heard Exelby will also be in the lineup. No news on who he, Bozak and Stahlberg will replace in the lineup.
I can tell you this: if Toronto fails to win tonight, Burke has one game in twelve days, and serious changes could be made. Burke understands that the Leafs do not have their top pick in next year's draft, and thus a losing season is unacceptable. I'm not sure how this can be turned around, but Burke will need to find a way.
In other NHL news, how about that Calgary/Chicago game last night? Nothing short of epic. The Flames are back in action tonight against the red-hot Blue Jackets.
Marion Gaborik is really leading the Rangers, and if this guy can stay healthy, just about everyone will be wrong with their pre-season predictions. Just about everyone(including us) had the Rangers missing the playoffs, but with the way they are playing, the Eastern Conference could easily be theres.
How long before teams like Colorado, LA, Phoenix and Tampa Bay fall back down to Earth? Not long for teams like Colorado and Phoenix, but I think LA and Tampa Bay could be the real deal.
Where are all the rumours? It's been slow, but expect the first (and hopefully start of a regular) rumour blog tomorrow or Thursday.
So happy for hockey to be back! Make sure to check out our team bloggers at http://hockey-leaks2.blogspot.com. If you are interested in writing for us, please email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Weekend Thoughts
I love the NHL because anyone can happen, anyone can win, and anyone can have a big night.
Who would have thought that Detroit would be 0-2 to start the season after a two-game series with the Blues? Who would have thought that Colorado, who just about everyone had picking Taylor Hall in next year's draft, would start the season 2-0 and Craig Anderson would be the league's best goalie after two games? Vancouver and Carolina are 0-2 on the season, with the of the league's best goalies struggling early after both of them signed monster contract extensions in the off-season. Even Montreal starting the season 2-0 is a little surprising, but both of those wins can be directly credited to Carey Price.
Things that are not surprising anyone? Pittsburgh, Washington, and Philly are all 2-0 and have looked great getting there. In the west, Calgary has looked just as good as we knew they would, with that defense being the most scary in the NHL. Nobody is surprised that Ovechkin leads the league in points with six, he's on pace for a MONSTER year. Speaking of Monster's, nobody should be surprised that at this point, it appears Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson will be replacing Toskala already.
My bad thought of the day? Whose idea was it to give us 15 great games yesterday, and give us nothing today? I know by midnight tonight I will be going through some serious hockey withdrawel.
Don't forget you can check Hockeyleaks.com for up-to-date standings and statistics, as well as who is winning the rookie race (James Van Riemsdyk is the early leader).
We are still looking for team bloggers so if you want to write about your favourite team for Hockeyleaks.com please email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com
Have a great rest of your weekend, hockey is back tomorrow!
Who would have thought that Detroit would be 0-2 to start the season after a two-game series with the Blues? Who would have thought that Colorado, who just about everyone had picking Taylor Hall in next year's draft, would start the season 2-0 and Craig Anderson would be the league's best goalie after two games? Vancouver and Carolina are 0-2 on the season, with the of the league's best goalies struggling early after both of them signed monster contract extensions in the off-season. Even Montreal starting the season 2-0 is a little surprising, but both of those wins can be directly credited to Carey Price.
Things that are not surprising anyone? Pittsburgh, Washington, and Philly are all 2-0 and have looked great getting there. In the west, Calgary has looked just as good as we knew they would, with that defense being the most scary in the NHL. Nobody is surprised that Ovechkin leads the league in points with six, he's on pace for a MONSTER year. Speaking of Monster's, nobody should be surprised that at this point, it appears Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson will be replacing Toskala already.
My bad thought of the day? Whose idea was it to give us 15 great games yesterday, and give us nothing today? I know by midnight tonight I will be going through some serious hockey withdrawel.
Don't forget you can check Hockeyleaks.com for up-to-date standings and statistics, as well as who is winning the rookie race (James Van Riemsdyk is the early leader).
We are still looking for team bloggers so if you want to write about your favourite team for Hockeyleaks.com please email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com
Have a great rest of your weekend, hockey is back tomorrow!
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Hockey's Back!
The season is three days old and I couldn't be happier. It's been great being able to watch several games since Thursday, and if you've been missing out on great action, today is the day to catch up. 15 games on today, including Florida and Chicago, which is on right now. Chicago leads 2-0 thanks to goals by Brian Campbell and Patrick Kane, who has four points already in just one and a half games. Apparently the taxi cab incident is doing nothing to his game.
Yesterday's announcement about Shanahan does not sit well with the Devils, who are entering this season without Gionta or Madden, two huge losses for the team. Pair that with Brodeur being another year older, and star-backup Clemmenson gone, and there are major question marks in New Jersey. The team is in the market for a winger and I'm hearing they could get one sooner than you'd think. The Devils kick off their 2009/2010 season tonight against early-season Stanley Cup favourite Philadelphia. How good did Ray Emery look in game one?
Game of the night? Could be St. Louis and Detroit who put on a hell of a show last night. I think St. Louis will make the playoffs this year and will put up a much better season than last year. A healthy Johnson and Kariya make this team A LOT better instantly.
Another great game today should be Carolina and Boston. Both teams started the season off with a loss and will be looking to rebound and get a tick in the win column. I know a lot of people disliked my prediction of Carolina badly missing the playoffs, but really, without Cam Ward, where would this team be?
Andrei Markov, as we told you yesterday, is out up to four months after surgery to repair a torn tendon. This is HUGE for the Habs and their playoff chances are going to be directly impacted by this. The team has shown interest in semi-retired d-man Patrice Brisbois, but in no way is he a replacement for Markov, who was Montreal's best player last season.
The Leaf being shopped the most? Lee Stempniak. Also, looks like Jeff Finger will be in for Toronto tonight, with Ian White likely watching for the press box. I'm sure that will be confirmed in our forums in the next few hours so check back there.
Get in front of your television and watch some hockey, there are going to be some dandy games taking place today.
If you are interested in blogging for us, please send me an email to cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com. We've already had some great people sign up, and we'd love to add you to the team. This is going to be a great year, so get involved!
Yesterday's announcement about Shanahan does not sit well with the Devils, who are entering this season without Gionta or Madden, two huge losses for the team. Pair that with Brodeur being another year older, and star-backup Clemmenson gone, and there are major question marks in New Jersey. The team is in the market for a winger and I'm hearing they could get one sooner than you'd think. The Devils kick off their 2009/2010 season tonight against early-season Stanley Cup favourite Philadelphia. How good did Ray Emery look in game one?
Game of the night? Could be St. Louis and Detroit who put on a hell of a show last night. I think St. Louis will make the playoffs this year and will put up a much better season than last year. A healthy Johnson and Kariya make this team A LOT better instantly.
Another great game today should be Carolina and Boston. Both teams started the season off with a loss and will be looking to rebound and get a tick in the win column. I know a lot of people disliked my prediction of Carolina badly missing the playoffs, but really, without Cam Ward, where would this team be?
Andrei Markov, as we told you yesterday, is out up to four months after surgery to repair a torn tendon. This is HUGE for the Habs and their playoff chances are going to be directly impacted by this. The team has shown interest in semi-retired d-man Patrice Brisbois, but in no way is he a replacement for Markov, who was Montreal's best player last season.
The Leaf being shopped the most? Lee Stempniak. Also, looks like Jeff Finger will be in for Toronto tonight, with Ian White likely watching for the press box. I'm sure that will be confirmed in our forums in the next few hours so check back there.
Get in front of your television and watch some hockey, there are going to be some dandy games taking place today.
If you are interested in blogging for us, please send me an email to cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com. We've already had some great people sign up, and we'd love to add you to the team. This is going to be a great year, so get involved!
Friday, October 02, 2009
Team Blogger Search
With the season beginning, I am looking for 30 people to represent the 30 teams of the NHL. This was really big for us during the end of last season, but died during the off-season. If you blogged for us last season, you have first crack at your spot. Please send me an email at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com with a sample of writing and which team you'd like to write for. First-come, first-serve. You will have free reign to post your blogs on http://hockey-leaks2.blogspot.com.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
2009/2010 Predictions
So here is what I think the standings will look like following the 2009/2010 season. Please leave feedback in our forums!
East
1. Philadelphia Flyers
2. Boston Bruins
3. Washington Capitals
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
5. New Jersey Devils
6. Toronto Maple Leafs
7. Montreal Canadiens
8. Tampa Bay Lightning
9. New York Rangers
10. Ottawa Senators
11. Carolina Hurricanes
12. Buffalo Sabres
13. Atlanta Thrashers
14. Florida Panthers
15. New York Islanders
West
1. San Jose Sharks
2. Calgary Flames
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Detroit Red Wings
5. Vancouver Canucks
6. Edmonton Oilers
7. St. Louis Blues
8. Anaheim Ducks
9. Minnesota Wild
10. LA Kings
11. Columbus Blue Jackets
12. Dallas Stars
13. Phoenix Coyotes
14. Nashville Predators
15. Colorado Avalanche
Thoughts? Head to the forums under the "blogs" forum for your feedback!
East
1. Philadelphia Flyers
2. Boston Bruins
3. Washington Capitals
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
5. New Jersey Devils
6. Toronto Maple Leafs
7. Montreal Canadiens
8. Tampa Bay Lightning
9. New York Rangers
10. Ottawa Senators
11. Carolina Hurricanes
12. Buffalo Sabres
13. Atlanta Thrashers
14. Florida Panthers
15. New York Islanders
West
1. San Jose Sharks
2. Calgary Flames
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Detroit Red Wings
5. Vancouver Canucks
6. Edmonton Oilers
7. St. Louis Blues
8. Anaheim Ducks
9. Minnesota Wild
10. LA Kings
11. Columbus Blue Jackets
12. Dallas Stars
13. Phoenix Coyotes
14. Nashville Predators
15. Colorado Avalanche
Thoughts? Head to the forums under the "blogs" forum for your feedback!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Schremp an Islander
The New York Islanders have claimed forward Rob Schremp off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. I am really happy about this move, as no player needed a change of scenery more than this kid, as I really feel he's NHL ready. Put this kid with JT and he'll score 40-50 points this year.
Christoph Schubert is still in the waiver process, I expect someone to claim him. You can never have enough defensemen. Speaking of d-men, how about Strahlman getting traded again? Poor kid has been on three teams in the last month.
Leaf fans, looks like you'll get to see Tyler Bozak make his NHL debut this week. Sources tell Hockeyleaks.com that one or both of Orr and Mayers will miss the first few games of the season, meaning there will be room for both Bozak and Stralberg on the opening night roster.
Check Hockeyleaks.com tomorrow night as our season preview and predictions blog will be posted sometime tomorrow!
Christoph Schubert is still in the waiver process, I expect someone to claim him. You can never have enough defensemen. Speaking of d-men, how about Strahlman getting traded again? Poor kid has been on three teams in the last month.
Leaf fans, looks like you'll get to see Tyler Bozak make his NHL debut this week. Sources tell Hockeyleaks.com that one or both of Orr and Mayers will miss the first few games of the season, meaning there will be room for both Bozak and Stralberg on the opening night roster.
Check Hockeyleaks.com tomorrow night as our season preview and predictions blog will be posted sometime tomorrow!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Gretzky Steps Down
Wayne Gretzky has stepped down as the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. Check Hockeyleaks.com for all the latest
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Post-Vegas Rumours
So I have returned from my beautifully relaxing trip to Las Vegas, and return to provide you all with the latest rumours.
Let's start in Toronto, where I am hearing a package of Stempniak and one of White/Van Ryn could be on the move for a 2nd Round Pick (2010 or 2011, depending on what the team has available). One team I've heard interested in this sort of package from the Leafs is Nashville.
Both Montreal and Ottawa continue to look for a little bit more help on the blueline. While the Scott Hannan rumours you are hearing appear to be false, I can tell you that both teams do have interest in LA's Jack Johnson.
Speaking of young d-men who could be on the move, one source told me that Chicago's Duncan Keith could be had for the right price, which Chicago is setting at a first round pick + or a couple of quality prospects. Chicago understands their cap situation and is looking to improve it.
Another team looking to make one final move is the New York Rangers, who many are predicting to finish out of the playoffs. This team would love to add an established player down the middle, and Nathan Horton is a name floating around a lot. The Rangers would love to dump one of their overpriced d-men but that isn't going so well.
You don't hear too much about the Carolina Hurricanes, but you are going to start. The Hurricanes have a ton of key UFA's after season's end, including Walker, Cullin, Whitney, Corvo, Ward and Wallin. Add to that, Cam Ward is an RFA following this season. Expect big changes to come in Carolina if this team gets off to a slow start.
Mats Sundin remains a big question mark, and with Vancouver up against the cap it looks like he's played his final game as a Canuck. The Rangers are always an option, while the Leafs could finally give Sundin the winger he deserves in Kessel. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but never say never. I've always believed Sundin could finish his career in Toronto, and this would be the season to do it.
If you want in the Hockeyleaks.com yahoo pool, the draft is tomorrow night at 10 pm. Send me an email at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com if interested.
And yes, my season predictions are coming, I am just waiting a few more days to see what other dominoes will fall before the puck drops on the 2009/2010 season.
Let's start in Toronto, where I am hearing a package of Stempniak and one of White/Van Ryn could be on the move for a 2nd Round Pick (2010 or 2011, depending on what the team has available). One team I've heard interested in this sort of package from the Leafs is Nashville.
Both Montreal and Ottawa continue to look for a little bit more help on the blueline. While the Scott Hannan rumours you are hearing appear to be false, I can tell you that both teams do have interest in LA's Jack Johnson.
Speaking of young d-men who could be on the move, one source told me that Chicago's Duncan Keith could be had for the right price, which Chicago is setting at a first round pick + or a couple of quality prospects. Chicago understands their cap situation and is looking to improve it.
Another team looking to make one final move is the New York Rangers, who many are predicting to finish out of the playoffs. This team would love to add an established player down the middle, and Nathan Horton is a name floating around a lot. The Rangers would love to dump one of their overpriced d-men but that isn't going so well.
You don't hear too much about the Carolina Hurricanes, but you are going to start. The Hurricanes have a ton of key UFA's after season's end, including Walker, Cullin, Whitney, Corvo, Ward and Wallin. Add to that, Cam Ward is an RFA following this season. Expect big changes to come in Carolina if this team gets off to a slow start.
Mats Sundin remains a big question mark, and with Vancouver up against the cap it looks like he's played his final game as a Canuck. The Rangers are always an option, while the Leafs could finally give Sundin the winger he deserves in Kessel. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but never say never. I've always believed Sundin could finish his career in Toronto, and this would be the season to do it.
If you want in the Hockeyleaks.com yahoo pool, the draft is tomorrow night at 10 pm. Send me an email at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com if interested.
And yes, my season predictions are coming, I am just waiting a few more days to see what other dominoes will fall before the puck drops on the 2009/2010 season.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Pre-Season Power Rankings
The following was written by Hockeyleaks.com staff writer Brandon Allin. Look for my regular season predictions late next week. Enjoy!!
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With the 2009-2010 National Hockey League season almost upon us, HockeyLeaks.com takes a look at the league's thirty clubs in the form of our annual power rankings. From top to bottom, and from legitimate contenders to bottom-feeders, here is a look at what's in
1. San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a team built to contend, but whether or not they're ready to compete beyond the conclusion of the regular season remains to be seen. While the Sharks lost a bit of depth with the likes of Jonathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek, and Christian Ehrhoff moving on, the addition of sniper Dany Heatley bolsters an already impressive group of talented forwards. Behind Heatley and company, San Jose boast a respectable defense, and arguably the league's best European goaltender, Evgeni Nabokov. With that said, while the Sharks have earned the top spot for now, a plethora of eager clubs are hot on their heels.
2. Philadelphia Flyers
The Broad Street Bullies are back, and barring any repeat parades to the sin bin, Eastern Conference opponents will be hard pressed to unseat the Flyers from atop the standings this season. The addition of Chris Pronger solidifies a capable defense, and a healthy Daniel Briere is bound to be the cherry on top of an already plentiful group of gifted forwards. With strong campaigns from captain Mike Richards, and the electrifying duo of Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne, the Flyers will have no trouble finding the back of the net yet again this season. However, with disgruntled goaltender Ray Emery back between the pipes after a successful stint in Russia, anything is possible.
3. Boston Bruins
Fresh off their most successful campaign in years, expect no shortage of victories from the Bruins this season. Despite the potential loss of blooming star of Phil Kessel looming in Beantown, the Bruins young core is steadily progressing in all the right ways. In addition to veterans Marc Savard, Zdeno Chara, Marc Recchi, and goaltender Tim Thomas, look for strong crusades from youngsters David Krejci, Blake Wheeler, and the explosive Milan Lucic. With another successful season from reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas, expect the Bruins to make another substantial run at the hardware this year. Is a deeper playoff run in the cards for the Bruins? We'll have to wait and see.
4. Detroit Red Wings
There's no denying that things looked a bit grim in Hockeytown following the eventual losses of Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson, Ty Conklin, and Tomas Kopecky, but the Red Wings have done a respectable job of plugging the holes with reliable depth forwards. Former Red Wings Todd Bertuzzi and Jason Williams are back for another go, while the Wings will look for Ville Leino, Patrick Eaves, and speedster Darren Helm to tap their potential. The only real question mark for Detroit is in goal, with veteran Chris Osgood another year older, and inexperienced prospect Jimmy Howard bound to carry part of the load. If Osgood performs the way he is capable of doing so, look for the Red Wings to secure yet another comfortable playoff birth.
5. Chicago Blackhawks
Hockey is alive and well in Chicago. With a young, talented core, coach Joel Quenneville will look to take the Hawks to the next level. The addition of superstar Marian Hossa provides the Hawks' already potent offense with a little more bite, and forwards John Madden and Tomas Kopecky will plug the holes in the bottom six. With a stronger season from quarterback Brian Campbell, and further development from duo Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, don't be surprised to see Chicago give the powerful Red Wings a run for their money in the Central Division. With that said, the loss of veteran goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin still stings, and it remains to be seen if former backup Cristobal Huet can carry the young Blackhawks as deep into the post-season as his predecessor.
6. Washington Capitals
With reigning Hart Trophy winner Alexander Ovechkin running the show in Washington, the only way left for the Capitals to go is up. With no end in sight for Ovechkin's goal-scoring prowess, the Capitals will rely on strong campaigns from supporting cast Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin, and newly-acquired forward Mike Knuble. Furthermore, look for rising star Simeon Varlamov to steal the number one spot in net over a shaky Jose Theodore. With a re-tooled offense, a capable defense, and any luck between the pipes, the Capitals have certainly earned themselves a one-way to ticket to another playoff berth. Is this the year Ovechkin brings home Lord Stanley? Your guess is as good as mine.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
You might be asking yourself how the defending Stanley Cup Champions have failed to crack our top five, but the answer is quite clear. The young and powerful Penguins are locked in a feisty Atlantic Division, one that is certain to offer even tighter competition this season with the re-tooled Flyers and Rangers hot on their tails. Still, have no fear, coach Dan Bylsma's lively Penguins squad will secure another post-season berth, and thus, another shot at reclaiming the throne. Barring any major injuries to the likes of explosive duo Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and steady goaltender Marc Andre Fleury, the hungry Penguins will look to succeed where Detroit could not.
8. Calgary Flames
The fiery Flames were a steady squad last season, and it appears a change is far from in the cards. While the Flames have regressed slightly up front with the loss of sniper of Mike Cammalleri, the addition of puck-moving defenseman Jay Bouwmeester on the back end is bound to soften the blow. With that said, the Flames will rely heavily on potent seasons from Jarome Iginla, Dion Phaneuf, Rene Bourque, Curtis Glencross, and talented freshman Mikael Backlund. If all goes as planned, the Flames will sit atop the Northwest Division when all is said and done, but any bumps along the road may put a blemish on what could be a tenacious endeavor.
9. Anaheim Ducks
It's no secret that the losses of top-tier defenseman Chris Pronger and steady support blue-liner Francois Beauchimen have crippled the league's best defense, but not in a way the Ducks will be unable to recover from. In fact, Anaheim appear in a very good position going forward. Talented forwards Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and young sniper Bobby Ryan will flourish with another year of experience under their belts, and defensemen Scott Niedermayer and Ryan Whitney are no slouches, either. In goal, the Ducks are fortunate to have two capable netminders. Keep an eye out for goaltenders Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Jonas Hiller battling for position all season long.
10. New Jersey Devils
This time last year, the Devils would have nearly cracked our top five. This year, they barely made the top ten. With the loss of forwards Brian Gionta and John Madden, and Patrik Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Martin Brodeur all another year older, the Devils will rely on Zach Parise more than ever. Fresh off another strong effort, Parise and the Devils will yet again look to trap Eastern Conference opponents, and worm their way into the post-season. Barring an injury to Brodeur in goal, look for New Jersey to make another run at Lord Stanley, but without any worthwhile replacements for Gionta and Madden lured in to soften the blow, a trip beyond the quarterfinal may be out of reach.
11. Vancouver Canucks
As always, the Canucks will once again be a difficult team to predict. With superstar Roberto Luongo between the pipes, the sky is the limit for Vancouver, but a major injury to the masked captain, or a dry spell for Henrik and Daniel Sedin, could spell the end for what has the potential to be a promising season. Beyond that, the Canucks will look for more production from handcuffed winger Steve Bernier, the aging Pavol Demitra, and assistant captain Ryan Kesler. Will the additions of dependable winger Mikael Samuelsson and top prospect Cody Hodgson be enough to Vancouver into the playoffs? While the answer to that remains to be seen, a hearty defense and a top flight goaltender should effectively mask any offensive struggles the Canucks may experience this season.
12. St. Louis Blues
Despite their surprise appearance in the playoffs last year, the Blues still have a lot to prove. The Blues fiery offense, led by Brad Boyes, Andy McDonald, Paul Kariya, and youngsters David Backes and T.J. Oshie will be firing on all cylinders, while a dependable defense corps will be bolstered by the return of injured blueliner Erik Johnson. The only question marks surrounding the Blues remain the same; goaltending and experience. Will Chris Mason and newly-acquired backup Ty Conklin be enough to slip into the post-season, and will the Blues young core be able to compete again in a tough Western Conference? With any luck, the St. Louis Blues will be legitimate contenders by the season's halfway point.
13. New York Rangers
The New York Rangers seem stuck in a neverending cycle. First, they acquire big name free agents with high price tags. Second, they underachieve. Third, they rinse and repeat. Will this be the year the Blueshirts buck the trend? It all boils down to Marian Gaborik. When healthy, Gaborik is among the league's best. Should Marian Gaborik remain in good health, look for the re-tooled Rangers to snap at the Penguins' and Flyers' heals in the Atlantic Divison all season long. With that said, the Rangers will most certainly require more production from the likes of the feisty Brandon Dubinsky and often-ridiculed defenseman Wade Redden. If all goes as planned, the Rangers could very well impress, but unfortunately, that's a big if.
14. Montreal Canadiens
Size is the main concern surrounding the Canadiens this year, but Habs fans have no need to worry. The additions of Mike Cammalleri, Scott Gomez, and Brian Gionta up front will spark a somewhat dry offense, while Jaroslav Spacek and Hall Gill will fit nicely amongst the squad's respectable defense. The only real cause for concern in Montreal is in goal, but should Carey Price falter, backup Jaroslav Halak has shown he can carry the load. The new-look Canadiens, led by former Panthers bench-boss Jacques Martin, will look to improve upon an early exit from last year's playoffs. The question is, will the amount of pieces that must fall into place in Montreal be too much to ask for? You can't color me concerned, but others seem less content.
15. Carolina Hurricanes
What kind of showing does Carolina need to put forth to command a little respect? The often-overlooked Hurricanes, led by the determined Eric Staal and aging captain Rod Brind'Amour, will once again be the dark horse for a deep playoff run this season. With that said, Carolina fans shouldn't hold their breath for another visit to the Conference Final. With no major improvements made to a presentable roster, the Hurricanes may experience hardships the season in a renovated Eastern Conference. While goaltender Cam Ward will likely carry the Hurricanes to another playoff berth, anything more may be out of reach.
16. Columbus Blue Jackets
For once, the Columbus Blue Jackets have put together a respectable team, but with a top-flight sniper like Rick Nash, and a sensational rookie netminder in Steve Mason, what else could you really expect? This season, the Blue Jackets will attempt to use the experience gained in their first playoff berth in franchise history to make another run beyond the regular season. In order to do just that, the Blue Jackets will need help from a trio of youngsters, wingers Nikita Filatov and Jakub Voracek, and center Derick Brassard. Meanwhile, another outstanding season from Steve Mason will be the key to the team's success. There's no denying that Ken Hitchcock and company have put together a formidable squad, but they may not be ready to really compete quite yet. With that said, the Blue Jackets have the potential to surprise.
17. Toronto Maple Leafs
Perhaps the most interesting team to watch, and therefore the hardest to place, the Toronto Maple Leafs will ice a heavily remodeled lineup come October. While the back end has certainly been solidified with the arrivals of newcomers Francois Beauchemin and hard-hitting Mike Komisarek, the Maple Leafs offense will undoubtedly see its struggles. To ensure a return to the playoffs, the Leafs will require more production from youngsters Nikolai Kulemin, Jiri Tlusty, and undrafted free agent signees Tyler Bozak and goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, while depending on strong campaigns from Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Mikhail Grabovski, Jason Blake, and Alexei Ponikarovsky. While it's much more likely the Leafs will struggle than flourish, the rumoured addition of Boston sniper Phil Kessel could elevate Ron Wilson's squad to the post-season plateau.
18. Ottawa Senators
Depth is exactly what the Senators lack up front, and depth is what they're out to get. Ottawa will look to newly-acquired Alexei Kovalev, Jonathan Cheechoo, and Milan Michalek to fill the void left by disgruntled winger Dany Heatley. In goal, the Senators will rely heavily on a fresh start from netminder Pascal Leclaire, who sat the better part of last season due to an ankle injury. While Kovalev, and returning forwards Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson, will have no trouble hitting the scoresheet, all kind of questions surround the Senators lack of secondary scoring. If the new faces mesh well, Ottawa could surprise, but I'm more inclined to believe they'll stumble. Unfortunately for the Senators, there's no room for a mediocre team in the rat-race that is the Eastern Conference.
19. Dallas Stars
If a return to form is in the cards for any team this seaosn, it will be the Stars. For Dallas to compete amongst the West's elite, they will need the now-healthy Brendan Morrow to perform at the torrid pace they saw prior to his injury last season, and a much stronger outing from goaltender Marty Turco. Unfortunately for the Stars, Turco seems to caught in a gradual downward spiral, and without a capable backup to carry the load should Turco falter, Dallas may be in trouble. With that said, the Stars boast an impressive young core including Loui Eriksson, James Neal, and Matt Niskanen, to compliment the likes of Morrow, Mike Modano, Brad Richards, and Stephane Robidas. The Stars will have their chances, but the going will be tough.
20. Buffalo Sabres
Just three years ago, the Sabres sat comfortably atop the Eastern Conference with no place left to for up. Since that time, the almighty Sabres have fallen, and quite simply, fallen hard. After failing to reach the post-season in each of their last two seasons, the Sabres will look to return to the place they once called home. The question now is, will Buffalo's stand-still approach this offseason be enough to claw their way in? With a healthy Ryan Miller and Tim Connolly on board, the potential is there, but like Marian Gaborik in New York, I wouldn't hold my breath. Still, the Sabres will ice a competitive bunch up front, including sniper Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, and Derek Roy so look for Buffalo to at least match the tenth place seed they earned last season.
21. Edmonton Oilers
While there's no denying that an endowed Dany Heatley certainly would have helped, with the seasoned Pat Quinn behind the bench, the Oilers will aim to improve in any way they can. The addition of veteran goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin between the posts will certainly help, but Edmonton will need nearly double the production from youngsters Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano to land anywhere near the playoffs in a tight Western Conference. The Oilers certianly have the tools, it's learning how to use them that has proved this difficult thus far, and unfortunately for their fans, it looks as if the growing pains will continue for at least another year. Fortunately for the Edmonton faithful, the future looks bright, and with any luck, Quinn will be able to shape his squad into a bonafide competitor.
22. Minnesota Wild
Finally rid of the oft-injured Marian Gaborik, the Minnesota Wild will look to recapture the magic they lost last season. To fill the void left by Gaborik, the club recruited former Blackhawks injury bug Martin Havlat. Fortunately for the Wild, Havlat remained healthy all of last season before being knocked silly in the post-season. Will Havlat be enough to elevate the Wild to the next level? To be blunt, no. Don't get me wrong, with Vezina candidate Niklas Backstrom in goal, and former coach Jacques Lemaire's defense-first philosophy out the window, the Wild could surprise. In the meantime, look for continued development from star forward Mikko Koivu and a return to form from defenseman Brent Burns.
23. Nashville Predators
The Predators are a tricky bunch. While Nashville never ice an overly-powerful squad, coach Barry Trotz and company always find a way to keep the team near the playoff picture, assuming they don't claw their way in. With that said, Nashville will once again find themselves on the outside looking in this year. The return of a healthy Steve Sullivan for an entire campaign will certainly help, but beyond captain Jason Arnott and rising stars Shea Weber and goaltender Pekka Rinne, the Predators don't boast enough top-end talent to really compete this season. While the playoffs may be out of reach for the Predators, the team will remain competitive until the final puck drop, a mentatily always evident with Trotz on board.
24. Tampa Bay Lightning
Fortunately for the Lightning, no matter what happens this year, nothing could be worse than the embarassing debacle that was last season. Unfortunately for Tampa, on paper, not much has changed. Plug veteran Mattias Ohlund and highly-touted defensive prospect Victor Hedman into the back end, and you have a much stronger blue line, but up front, the Lightning will see their struggles, and barring any miracles, the Lightning will miss the playoffs yet again. Still, the potential is there. With a return to form by star forward Vincent Lecavlier, another steady season from the speedy Martin St. Louis, and the continued development of former first overall pick Steven Stamkos all but certain, the Lightning have the ability to soar under the radar. On the other hand, much like last year, they also have the ability to crash and burn. Time will tell.
25. Los Angeles Kings
With arguably the deepest core of top-end prospects in the leauge, the future no longer looks grim for the Los Angeles Kings. With that said, the youngsters aren't quit there yet. Sure, much like the Lightning, the Kings have the potential to surprise, it's much more likely that another year of seasoning is exactly what the doctor ordered. In the meantime, the continued development of defensemen Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson will be a pleasure to watch. Up front, the Kings will look to forwards Anze Kopitar, Alexander Frolov, and newly-acquired veteran Ryan Smyth to hit the back of the net. In goal, the Kings are hoping for positive strides by young netminders Jonathan Quick and Erik Ersberg.
26. Florida Panthers
You've got to feel for the Florida Panthers. Just when things are looking up, they lose prized defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to free agency, and thus right back where they started, as a bottom-feeder in the Eastern Conference. While the likes of forwards Nathan Horton, David Booth, and Stephen Weiss are certainly stable building blocks moving forwards, the Panthers seem stuck in an endless moonwalk backwards. Still, with a reliable Tomas Vokoun in goal, and an able-bodied defensive core, Florida will display flashes of brilliance, but when all is said and done, the momentary glimpses of competitive hockey will be far from enough to mask the team's almost certain struggles.
27. Atlanta Thrashers
Is this the year Atlanta bucks the seemingly endless trend of forgettable seasons? No, but fortunately for the young Thrashers, better days are on the horizon. While this certainly won't be a season to write home about, the Thrashers have established a desirable young core, and should general manager Don Waddell manage to retain Russian sniper Ilya Kovalchuk beyond this season, I think it's safe to say the future is bright. In the meantime, keep an eye out for newcomers Nik Antropov and Pavel Kubina, the emergance of highly-touted draft pick Evander Kane, and continued progression from youngsters Bryan Little and Tobias Enstrom.
28. New York Islanders
Much like the Thrashers, the Islanders are finally beginning to glimpse the light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. With top prospect John Tavares in the mix, Long Island seem to have finally found the franchise player they've been longing for. Now it's up to Tavares to tap his potential, and show the Islanders faithful he can compete at the highest level. However, despite what many predict will be an explosive rookie campaign from the junior star, not even Tavares can turn the train wreck that was the New York Islanders around in just one season. Fortunately, Tavares' young supporting cast will lighten the load on his shoulders, with further development from Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo on the horizon. Don't expect to see the Islanders flatline out of the gate, but in the long run, their season is over before it began.
29. Phoenix Coyotes
What began as a season oozing with potential for the Coyotes last year ended up a disaster, and unfortunately, the tide won't change this season. Phoenix, much the rest of the league's bottom-feeders are slowly developing a bright, young core, but a handful of inexperienced prospects can only offer a club so much. Shane Doan's production will remain steady, Peter Mueller will take a step forward, and Danish winger Mikkel Boedker will continue to progress, but beyond that, there isn't much to be excited about in Phoenix this season. With that said, at the very least, the club can count on yet another high draft pick.
30. Colorado Avalanche
What happens when you take the worst team in the Western Conference last season and remove grizzled veterans Joe Sakic and Ryan Smyth from their lineup? You get the worst team in the National Hockey League. While that may sound harsh, the reality remains that this season won't be pretty for the Avalanche. On the plus side, keep a watchful eye out for solid numbers from the likes of forwards Paul Statsny, Milan Hejduk, Wojtek Wolski, and the emergence of former Brampton Battalion forward Matt Duchene. True, Colorado fans have a lot to be excited about with Duchene set to step into the big leagues, but beyond that, there's not much else. Avalanche fans, brace yourself for the eyesore en route.
TWITTER.COM/BRANDONALLIN
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With the 2009-2010 National Hockey League season almost upon us, HockeyLeaks.com takes a look at the league's thirty clubs in the form of our annual power rankings. From top to bottom, and from legitimate contenders to bottom-feeders, here is a look at what's in
1. San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a team built to contend, but whether or not they're ready to compete beyond the conclusion of the regular season remains to be seen. While the Sharks lost a bit of depth with the likes of Jonathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek, and Christian Ehrhoff moving on, the addition of sniper Dany Heatley bolsters an already impressive group of talented forwards. Behind Heatley and company, San Jose boast a respectable defense, and arguably the league's best European goaltender, Evgeni Nabokov. With that said, while the Sharks have earned the top spot for now, a plethora of eager clubs are hot on their heels.
2. Philadelphia Flyers
The Broad Street Bullies are back, and barring any repeat parades to the sin bin, Eastern Conference opponents will be hard pressed to unseat the Flyers from atop the standings this season. The addition of Chris Pronger solidifies a capable defense, and a healthy Daniel Briere is bound to be the cherry on top of an already plentiful group of gifted forwards. With strong campaigns from captain Mike Richards, and the electrifying duo of Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne, the Flyers will have no trouble finding the back of the net yet again this season. However, with disgruntled goaltender Ray Emery back between the pipes after a successful stint in Russia, anything is possible.
3. Boston Bruins
Fresh off their most successful campaign in years, expect no shortage of victories from the Bruins this season. Despite the potential loss of blooming star of Phil Kessel looming in Beantown, the Bruins young core is steadily progressing in all the right ways. In addition to veterans Marc Savard, Zdeno Chara, Marc Recchi, and goaltender Tim Thomas, look for strong crusades from youngsters David Krejci, Blake Wheeler, and the explosive Milan Lucic. With another successful season from reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas, expect the Bruins to make another substantial run at the hardware this year. Is a deeper playoff run in the cards for the Bruins? We'll have to wait and see.
4. Detroit Red Wings
There's no denying that things looked a bit grim in Hockeytown following the eventual losses of Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson, Ty Conklin, and Tomas Kopecky, but the Red Wings have done a respectable job of plugging the holes with reliable depth forwards. Former Red Wings Todd Bertuzzi and Jason Williams are back for another go, while the Wings will look for Ville Leino, Patrick Eaves, and speedster Darren Helm to tap their potential. The only real question mark for Detroit is in goal, with veteran Chris Osgood another year older, and inexperienced prospect Jimmy Howard bound to carry part of the load. If Osgood performs the way he is capable of doing so, look for the Red Wings to secure yet another comfortable playoff birth.
5. Chicago Blackhawks
Hockey is alive and well in Chicago. With a young, talented core, coach Joel Quenneville will look to take the Hawks to the next level. The addition of superstar Marian Hossa provides the Hawks' already potent offense with a little more bite, and forwards John Madden and Tomas Kopecky will plug the holes in the bottom six. With a stronger season from quarterback Brian Campbell, and further development from duo Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, don't be surprised to see Chicago give the powerful Red Wings a run for their money in the Central Division. With that said, the loss of veteran goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin still stings, and it remains to be seen if former backup Cristobal Huet can carry the young Blackhawks as deep into the post-season as his predecessor.
6. Washington Capitals
With reigning Hart Trophy winner Alexander Ovechkin running the show in Washington, the only way left for the Capitals to go is up. With no end in sight for Ovechkin's goal-scoring prowess, the Capitals will rely on strong campaigns from supporting cast Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin, and newly-acquired forward Mike Knuble. Furthermore, look for rising star Simeon Varlamov to steal the number one spot in net over a shaky Jose Theodore. With a re-tooled offense, a capable defense, and any luck between the pipes, the Capitals have certainly earned themselves a one-way to ticket to another playoff berth. Is this the year Ovechkin brings home Lord Stanley? Your guess is as good as mine.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
You might be asking yourself how the defending Stanley Cup Champions have failed to crack our top five, but the answer is quite clear. The young and powerful Penguins are locked in a feisty Atlantic Division, one that is certain to offer even tighter competition this season with the re-tooled Flyers and Rangers hot on their tails. Still, have no fear, coach Dan Bylsma's lively Penguins squad will secure another post-season berth, and thus, another shot at reclaiming the throne. Barring any major injuries to the likes of explosive duo Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and steady goaltender Marc Andre Fleury, the hungry Penguins will look to succeed where Detroit could not.
8. Calgary Flames
The fiery Flames were a steady squad last season, and it appears a change is far from in the cards. While the Flames have regressed slightly up front with the loss of sniper of Mike Cammalleri, the addition of puck-moving defenseman Jay Bouwmeester on the back end is bound to soften the blow. With that said, the Flames will rely heavily on potent seasons from Jarome Iginla, Dion Phaneuf, Rene Bourque, Curtis Glencross, and talented freshman Mikael Backlund. If all goes as planned, the Flames will sit atop the Northwest Division when all is said and done, but any bumps along the road may put a blemish on what could be a tenacious endeavor.
9. Anaheim Ducks
It's no secret that the losses of top-tier defenseman Chris Pronger and steady support blue-liner Francois Beauchimen have crippled the league's best defense, but not in a way the Ducks will be unable to recover from. In fact, Anaheim appear in a very good position going forward. Talented forwards Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and young sniper Bobby Ryan will flourish with another year of experience under their belts, and defensemen Scott Niedermayer and Ryan Whitney are no slouches, either. In goal, the Ducks are fortunate to have two capable netminders. Keep an eye out for goaltenders Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Jonas Hiller battling for position all season long.
10. New Jersey Devils
This time last year, the Devils would have nearly cracked our top five. This year, they barely made the top ten. With the loss of forwards Brian Gionta and John Madden, and Patrik Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Martin Brodeur all another year older, the Devils will rely on Zach Parise more than ever. Fresh off another strong effort, Parise and the Devils will yet again look to trap Eastern Conference opponents, and worm their way into the post-season. Barring an injury to Brodeur in goal, look for New Jersey to make another run at Lord Stanley, but without any worthwhile replacements for Gionta and Madden lured in to soften the blow, a trip beyond the quarterfinal may be out of reach.
11. Vancouver Canucks
As always, the Canucks will once again be a difficult team to predict. With superstar Roberto Luongo between the pipes, the sky is the limit for Vancouver, but a major injury to the masked captain, or a dry spell for Henrik and Daniel Sedin, could spell the end for what has the potential to be a promising season. Beyond that, the Canucks will look for more production from handcuffed winger Steve Bernier, the aging Pavol Demitra, and assistant captain Ryan Kesler. Will the additions of dependable winger Mikael Samuelsson and top prospect Cody Hodgson be enough to Vancouver into the playoffs? While the answer to that remains to be seen, a hearty defense and a top flight goaltender should effectively mask any offensive struggles the Canucks may experience this season.
12. St. Louis Blues
Despite their surprise appearance in the playoffs last year, the Blues still have a lot to prove. The Blues fiery offense, led by Brad Boyes, Andy McDonald, Paul Kariya, and youngsters David Backes and T.J. Oshie will be firing on all cylinders, while a dependable defense corps will be bolstered by the return of injured blueliner Erik Johnson. The only question marks surrounding the Blues remain the same; goaltending and experience. Will Chris Mason and newly-acquired backup Ty Conklin be enough to slip into the post-season, and will the Blues young core be able to compete again in a tough Western Conference? With any luck, the St. Louis Blues will be legitimate contenders by the season's halfway point.
13. New York Rangers
The New York Rangers seem stuck in a neverending cycle. First, they acquire big name free agents with high price tags. Second, they underachieve. Third, they rinse and repeat. Will this be the year the Blueshirts buck the trend? It all boils down to Marian Gaborik. When healthy, Gaborik is among the league's best. Should Marian Gaborik remain in good health, look for the re-tooled Rangers to snap at the Penguins' and Flyers' heals in the Atlantic Divison all season long. With that said, the Rangers will most certainly require more production from the likes of the feisty Brandon Dubinsky and often-ridiculed defenseman Wade Redden. If all goes as planned, the Rangers could very well impress, but unfortunately, that's a big if.
14. Montreal Canadiens
Size is the main concern surrounding the Canadiens this year, but Habs fans have no need to worry. The additions of Mike Cammalleri, Scott Gomez, and Brian Gionta up front will spark a somewhat dry offense, while Jaroslav Spacek and Hall Gill will fit nicely amongst the squad's respectable defense. The only real cause for concern in Montreal is in goal, but should Carey Price falter, backup Jaroslav Halak has shown he can carry the load. The new-look Canadiens, led by former Panthers bench-boss Jacques Martin, will look to improve upon an early exit from last year's playoffs. The question is, will the amount of pieces that must fall into place in Montreal be too much to ask for? You can't color me concerned, but others seem less content.
15. Carolina Hurricanes
What kind of showing does Carolina need to put forth to command a little respect? The often-overlooked Hurricanes, led by the determined Eric Staal and aging captain Rod Brind'Amour, will once again be the dark horse for a deep playoff run this season. With that said, Carolina fans shouldn't hold their breath for another visit to the Conference Final. With no major improvements made to a presentable roster, the Hurricanes may experience hardships the season in a renovated Eastern Conference. While goaltender Cam Ward will likely carry the Hurricanes to another playoff berth, anything more may be out of reach.
16. Columbus Blue Jackets
For once, the Columbus Blue Jackets have put together a respectable team, but with a top-flight sniper like Rick Nash, and a sensational rookie netminder in Steve Mason, what else could you really expect? This season, the Blue Jackets will attempt to use the experience gained in their first playoff berth in franchise history to make another run beyond the regular season. In order to do just that, the Blue Jackets will need help from a trio of youngsters, wingers Nikita Filatov and Jakub Voracek, and center Derick Brassard. Meanwhile, another outstanding season from Steve Mason will be the key to the team's success. There's no denying that Ken Hitchcock and company have put together a formidable squad, but they may not be ready to really compete quite yet. With that said, the Blue Jackets have the potential to surprise.
17. Toronto Maple Leafs
Perhaps the most interesting team to watch, and therefore the hardest to place, the Toronto Maple Leafs will ice a heavily remodeled lineup come October. While the back end has certainly been solidified with the arrivals of newcomers Francois Beauchemin and hard-hitting Mike Komisarek, the Maple Leafs offense will undoubtedly see its struggles. To ensure a return to the playoffs, the Leafs will require more production from youngsters Nikolai Kulemin, Jiri Tlusty, and undrafted free agent signees Tyler Bozak and goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, while depending on strong campaigns from Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Mikhail Grabovski, Jason Blake, and Alexei Ponikarovsky. While it's much more likely the Leafs will struggle than flourish, the rumoured addition of Boston sniper Phil Kessel could elevate Ron Wilson's squad to the post-season plateau.
18. Ottawa Senators
Depth is exactly what the Senators lack up front, and depth is what they're out to get. Ottawa will look to newly-acquired Alexei Kovalev, Jonathan Cheechoo, and Milan Michalek to fill the void left by disgruntled winger Dany Heatley. In goal, the Senators will rely heavily on a fresh start from netminder Pascal Leclaire, who sat the better part of last season due to an ankle injury. While Kovalev, and returning forwards Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson, will have no trouble hitting the scoresheet, all kind of questions surround the Senators lack of secondary scoring. If the new faces mesh well, Ottawa could surprise, but I'm more inclined to believe they'll stumble. Unfortunately for the Senators, there's no room for a mediocre team in the rat-race that is the Eastern Conference.
19. Dallas Stars
If a return to form is in the cards for any team this seaosn, it will be the Stars. For Dallas to compete amongst the West's elite, they will need the now-healthy Brendan Morrow to perform at the torrid pace they saw prior to his injury last season, and a much stronger outing from goaltender Marty Turco. Unfortunately for the Stars, Turco seems to caught in a gradual downward spiral, and without a capable backup to carry the load should Turco falter, Dallas may be in trouble. With that said, the Stars boast an impressive young core including Loui Eriksson, James Neal, and Matt Niskanen, to compliment the likes of Morrow, Mike Modano, Brad Richards, and Stephane Robidas. The Stars will have their chances, but the going will be tough.
20. Buffalo Sabres
Just three years ago, the Sabres sat comfortably atop the Eastern Conference with no place left to for up. Since that time, the almighty Sabres have fallen, and quite simply, fallen hard. After failing to reach the post-season in each of their last two seasons, the Sabres will look to return to the place they once called home. The question now is, will Buffalo's stand-still approach this offseason be enough to claw their way in? With a healthy Ryan Miller and Tim Connolly on board, the potential is there, but like Marian Gaborik in New York, I wouldn't hold my breath. Still, the Sabres will ice a competitive bunch up front, including sniper Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, and Derek Roy so look for Buffalo to at least match the tenth place seed they earned last season.
21. Edmonton Oilers
While there's no denying that an endowed Dany Heatley certainly would have helped, with the seasoned Pat Quinn behind the bench, the Oilers will aim to improve in any way they can. The addition of veteran goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin between the posts will certainly help, but Edmonton will need nearly double the production from youngsters Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano to land anywhere near the playoffs in a tight Western Conference. The Oilers certianly have the tools, it's learning how to use them that has proved this difficult thus far, and unfortunately for their fans, it looks as if the growing pains will continue for at least another year. Fortunately for the Edmonton faithful, the future looks bright, and with any luck, Quinn will be able to shape his squad into a bonafide competitor.
22. Minnesota Wild
Finally rid of the oft-injured Marian Gaborik, the Minnesota Wild will look to recapture the magic they lost last season. To fill the void left by Gaborik, the club recruited former Blackhawks injury bug Martin Havlat. Fortunately for the Wild, Havlat remained healthy all of last season before being knocked silly in the post-season. Will Havlat be enough to elevate the Wild to the next level? To be blunt, no. Don't get me wrong, with Vezina candidate Niklas Backstrom in goal, and former coach Jacques Lemaire's defense-first philosophy out the window, the Wild could surprise. In the meantime, look for continued development from star forward Mikko Koivu and a return to form from defenseman Brent Burns.
23. Nashville Predators
The Predators are a tricky bunch. While Nashville never ice an overly-powerful squad, coach Barry Trotz and company always find a way to keep the team near the playoff picture, assuming they don't claw their way in. With that said, Nashville will once again find themselves on the outside looking in this year. The return of a healthy Steve Sullivan for an entire campaign will certainly help, but beyond captain Jason Arnott and rising stars Shea Weber and goaltender Pekka Rinne, the Predators don't boast enough top-end talent to really compete this season. While the playoffs may be out of reach for the Predators, the team will remain competitive until the final puck drop, a mentatily always evident with Trotz on board.
24. Tampa Bay Lightning
Fortunately for the Lightning, no matter what happens this year, nothing could be worse than the embarassing debacle that was last season. Unfortunately for Tampa, on paper, not much has changed. Plug veteran Mattias Ohlund and highly-touted defensive prospect Victor Hedman into the back end, and you have a much stronger blue line, but up front, the Lightning will see their struggles, and barring any miracles, the Lightning will miss the playoffs yet again. Still, the potential is there. With a return to form by star forward Vincent Lecavlier, another steady season from the speedy Martin St. Louis, and the continued development of former first overall pick Steven Stamkos all but certain, the Lightning have the ability to soar under the radar. On the other hand, much like last year, they also have the ability to crash and burn. Time will tell.
25. Los Angeles Kings
With arguably the deepest core of top-end prospects in the leauge, the future no longer looks grim for the Los Angeles Kings. With that said, the youngsters aren't quit there yet. Sure, much like the Lightning, the Kings have the potential to surprise, it's much more likely that another year of seasoning is exactly what the doctor ordered. In the meantime, the continued development of defensemen Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson will be a pleasure to watch. Up front, the Kings will look to forwards Anze Kopitar, Alexander Frolov, and newly-acquired veteran Ryan Smyth to hit the back of the net. In goal, the Kings are hoping for positive strides by young netminders Jonathan Quick and Erik Ersberg.
26. Florida Panthers
You've got to feel for the Florida Panthers. Just when things are looking up, they lose prized defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to free agency, and thus right back where they started, as a bottom-feeder in the Eastern Conference. While the likes of forwards Nathan Horton, David Booth, and Stephen Weiss are certainly stable building blocks moving forwards, the Panthers seem stuck in an endless moonwalk backwards. Still, with a reliable Tomas Vokoun in goal, and an able-bodied defensive core, Florida will display flashes of brilliance, but when all is said and done, the momentary glimpses of competitive hockey will be far from enough to mask the team's almost certain struggles.
27. Atlanta Thrashers
Is this the year Atlanta bucks the seemingly endless trend of forgettable seasons? No, but fortunately for the young Thrashers, better days are on the horizon. While this certainly won't be a season to write home about, the Thrashers have established a desirable young core, and should general manager Don Waddell manage to retain Russian sniper Ilya Kovalchuk beyond this season, I think it's safe to say the future is bright. In the meantime, keep an eye out for newcomers Nik Antropov and Pavel Kubina, the emergance of highly-touted draft pick Evander Kane, and continued progression from youngsters Bryan Little and Tobias Enstrom.
28. New York Islanders
Much like the Thrashers, the Islanders are finally beginning to glimpse the light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. With top prospect John Tavares in the mix, Long Island seem to have finally found the franchise player they've been longing for. Now it's up to Tavares to tap his potential, and show the Islanders faithful he can compete at the highest level. However, despite what many predict will be an explosive rookie campaign from the junior star, not even Tavares can turn the train wreck that was the New York Islanders around in just one season. Fortunately, Tavares' young supporting cast will lighten the load on his shoulders, with further development from Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo on the horizon. Don't expect to see the Islanders flatline out of the gate, but in the long run, their season is over before it began.
29. Phoenix Coyotes
What began as a season oozing with potential for the Coyotes last year ended up a disaster, and unfortunately, the tide won't change this season. Phoenix, much the rest of the league's bottom-feeders are slowly developing a bright, young core, but a handful of inexperienced prospects can only offer a club so much. Shane Doan's production will remain steady, Peter Mueller will take a step forward, and Danish winger Mikkel Boedker will continue to progress, but beyond that, there isn't much to be excited about in Phoenix this season. With that said, at the very least, the club can count on yet another high draft pick.
30. Colorado Avalanche
What happens when you take the worst team in the Western Conference last season and remove grizzled veterans Joe Sakic and Ryan Smyth from their lineup? You get the worst team in the National Hockey League. While that may sound harsh, the reality remains that this season won't be pretty for the Avalanche. On the plus side, keep a watchful eye out for solid numbers from the likes of forwards Paul Statsny, Milan Hejduk, Wojtek Wolski, and the emergence of former Brampton Battalion forward Matt Duchene. True, Colorado fans have a lot to be excited about with Duchene set to step into the big leagues, but beyond that, there's not much else. Avalanche fans, brace yourself for the eyesore en route.
TWITTER.COM/BRANDONALLIN
Friday, September 11, 2009
My remaining offseason predictions
1. Phil Kessel will be a Maple Leaf. Burke wants him and Kessel wants to wear the blue and white. Burke is trying his hardest to acquire the skilled winger via trade, but if the Bruins decide to deal him elsewhere, the Leafs will immediately put an offer sheet in. This is too good of a fit for the Leafs to miss out on.
2. Heatley will be traded before the season starts. He's too big of a distration to be kept around the team, and he simply doesnt want to be there. I still think he'll end up with the Sharks, but at this point a team like the Rangers or Blues could always jump in.
3. Balsillie will win the Coyotoes. I don't know if the team will go to Hamilton, but I just can't see Balsillie losing this battle. His offer is way better than the NHLs, and at this point I see big Jim willing to let the team play one last year in Phoenix to sort things out.
So ESPN was totally wrong about the Heatley deal, as I had a feeling they were. Usually when information comes out, I post it as my own information because I have confirmed it with several sources. Last night, ESPN was the only source spewing this info, which is why I called the deal a report, and cited ESPN as the source. It was funny to see on twitter all the "insiders" and their posts such as "five of my sources confirm the ESPN stories" and "Heatley deal done as per my best source". I'll be removing a lot of these from my twitter list today, as they're credibility is gone. Twitter is a great tool for Hockey Bloggers, but to those who fit in that category, beware: it's easy to get caught making stuff up.
For all the latest check out Hockeyleaks.com as well as our twitter account and our forums.
2. Heatley will be traded before the season starts. He's too big of a distration to be kept around the team, and he simply doesnt want to be there. I still think he'll end up with the Sharks, but at this point a team like the Rangers or Blues could always jump in.
3. Balsillie will win the Coyotoes. I don't know if the team will go to Hamilton, but I just can't see Balsillie losing this battle. His offer is way better than the NHLs, and at this point I see big Jim willing to let the team play one last year in Phoenix to sort things out.
So ESPN was totally wrong about the Heatley deal, as I had a feeling they were. Usually when information comes out, I post it as my own information because I have confirmed it with several sources. Last night, ESPN was the only source spewing this info, which is why I called the deal a report, and cited ESPN as the source. It was funny to see on twitter all the "insiders" and their posts such as "five of my sources confirm the ESPN stories" and "Heatley deal done as per my best source". I'll be removing a lot of these from my twitter list today, as they're credibility is gone. Twitter is a great tool for Hockey Bloggers, but to those who fit in that category, beware: it's easy to get caught making stuff up.
For all the latest check out Hockeyleaks.com as well as our twitter account and our forums.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Report: Heatley A Shark
According to ESPN, the Sens have traded Heatley in a three team deal. Details
to San Jose: Dany Heatley
to LA Kings: Patrick Marleau
To Ottawa: Alexander Frolov, Jarret Stoll
stay tuned to the Hockeyleaks.com forums for all the latest
to San Jose: Dany Heatley
to LA Kings: Patrick Marleau
To Ottawa: Alexander Frolov, Jarret Stoll
stay tuned to the Hockeyleaks.com forums for all the latest
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