Defending Champs Favorites Again
By Matt Lee
Love of Sports Correspondent
One division that won’t see much change in the standings is the Central Division.
That’s where the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings dominate with a fast puck-possession game.
There are a handful of teams who are borderline playoff teams, but given the fierce competition in the West, only one team might squeak into the playoffs.
Central Division Preview
Detroit Red Wings
Record: 55-19-8
Division: 1st
Conference: 1st
Last season, the Wings finished with 54 wins and dazzled in the playoffs en route to their fourth Stanley Cup in 11 years. Backed by some of the best two-way forwards in Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, and the best defenseman in the league in Nick Lidstrom, Detroit’s re-emerged as a world class hockey team – the NHL’s version of the New England Patriots.
There were a few questions surrounding the previous postseason performances of Pavel Datsyuk, who could score in a pinch in the regular season, but would disappear entirely during April and May. After finishing fourth in playoff scoring in the spring, there’s no doubting him now. Not only did he become one of Detroit’s playoff monsters, he capped off his 97-point season with a Lady Byng and Selke Trophy, awarded to the most sportsmanlike player and best defensive forward, respectively.
Who did the Red Wings lose in the offseason? Nobody, at least no one integral to their championship winning club. What did they do in the offseason? Nothing, except go out and sign the best forward available in the free agent market to a bargain price. Marian Hossa joins Detroit’s hunger for a Stanley Cup and will provide a huge injection of offense to bolster Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg’s totals. Also, Johan Franzen’s playoff performance should carry over into the regular season.
Prediction: The only thing getting in the way of another Stanley Cup is the fear the Red Wings may have a slow start due to the infamous Cup hangover. Besides that, though, everyone’s returned and the team’s improved with the addition of Hossa. Things look great for the champs.
Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 44-30-8
Division: 2nd
Conference: 6th
It’s finally time for the Hawks to make their first playoff appearance since 2002. After years of disappointment and turmoil, the team looks ready to become a contender. The group of forwards are led by a couple 20-year-olds in Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, who are a blend of speed, skill and leadership. Both ooze talent and have the potential to finish in the Top 20 in scoring this season.
General manager Dale Tallon made some of the biggest splashes in the offseason when he nabbed top defenseman Brian Campbell and goaltender Cristobal Huet via free agency. The two players were signed for a combined $58 million, so they certainly didn’t come cheap.
The club may also be forced to clear cap space by dealing talented but injury-prone Martin Havlat, whose chronic shoulder problems have hurt the team severely. Havlat, who makes $6 million a season, may need a change in scenery now that he’s no longer depended on to carry the bulk of the offence. Outside of Toews and Kane, the supporting cast includes Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien and Patrick Sharp, who are all capable of 20-plus goals each.
Perhaps the biggest question surrounding the Blackhawks is whether Cristobal Huet can handle the duties of being a starting netminder. Huet, who was dealt at the trade deadline from Montreal to Washington, has never played more than 42 games a season in his six-year career in the NHL and is expected to play somewhere in the 55-60 range. He’s also never won a playoff series, having gone 0-for-2 to date.
Prediction: Tallon made enough moves which should help his team eke into the playoffs, but after that it’s a question mark. Defenseman Brian Campbell’s flourished as a No. 2 defenseman, but will be in the spotlight in Chi-Town. Huet has experience, but not much in durability. And now that Toews has been named captain at age 20, can he lead his team for a whole year?
Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 37-33-12
Division: 3rd
Conference: 12th
The only team that hasn’t qualified for the playoffs is Columbus, and don’t expect the Blue Jackets to re-write history this season. The pieces are in place for the club to make it to the playoffs, but the club lacks depth both up front and on the blueline. Perhaps in two years or maybe even next season the Jackets will break their playoff virginity.
GM Scott Howson made a few good moves by bringing in Kristian Huselius, R.J. Umberger, Raffi Torres and Mike Commodore, but no one on that list is going to change the face of a game. Last year’s leading scorer, Rick Nash, has the capability to put up 50 goals, but he needs a playmaker in the worst way. Until then, he’ll continue to hover around the 35-40 mark. The downfall of the Blue Jackets will be their lack of scoring. Outside of Huselius, Umberger and Nash, nobody on the club scored 20 goals, and dealing enigmatic winger Nikolai Zherdev to New York didn’t do anyone any favours. The club’s banking on rookie winger Jakub Voracek to chip in and praying for Raffi Torres to return to form.
It was a breakout season for goaltender Pascal Leclaire, who finally put it all together with a 24-17-6 record and a terrific nine shutouts. His numbers would’ve been better with an improved defence and the additions of Fedor Tyutin, Commodore and Kris Russell should give Leclaire a little more help.
Prediction: You can have a good defense and great goaltending, but what the Jackets need more scoring. Playing in a defense-first Western Conference won’t give Columbus any reason to improve on their league-worst offence from last season, which finished with only 193 goals, averaging to 2.35 goals per game. Howson might need to find scoring help through the trade route.
Nashville Predators
Record: 38-36-8
Division: 4th
Conference: 13th
Here’s a sad story: a team in Tennessee who, only two years ago, finished as a Top 5 team in the league is now faced with ownership issues and a star player who has jumped ship and gone back to Russia.
The Predators are respectable in the fact that every year people seem to write them off as a non-playoff club and prove their critics wrong. Last year, they made the playoffs even though they lost three of their best forwards in the offseason. But this season, yet again, the Preds seem destined to come up short. Their Top 6 forwards look decent, but the loss of Alexander Radulov to Russia’s KHL hurts the club on the right side greatly. The club must now hope rookie right winger Patric Hornqvist can pick up the slack. In addition, the club doesn’t know whether or not captain Steve Sullivan can overcome his back issues to play after missing all of last season.
The saving grace for the club is their all-around defence and goaltending. The Predators were deep enough on the blueline to deal long-time teammate Marek Zidlicky to Minnesota. With a defense built around Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Dan Hamhuis and with defensive prospects in the pipeline, Nashville’s a very deep team on the blueline. In net, Dan Ellis wowed the NHL with a 23-win, six-shutout season, dethroning Chris Mason and allowing Nashville to deal him to St. Louis.
Prediction: Radulov’s 26 goals from last year will be tough to replace, especially if Nashville can’t get Sullivan back and Hornqvist busts. The club’s reliance on Jason Arnott, Martin Erat and David Legwand is getting heavier, and unless GM Dave Poile gets some help, it could be a long season in Nashville.
St. Louis Blues
Record: 34-37-11
Division: 5th
Conference: 14th
The Blues are in the secondary stages of their rebuild and have some good young kids in place to contribute for the next five years. But in the meantime, fans will have to endure another couple years of last place finishes. The saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” couldn’t ring truer for this franchise.
Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk, Eric Brewer and Barret Jackman are four of only seven Blues over the age of 30. Everyone else is either in their mid-20s or not 20 at all. Last season, it was Erik Johnson and David Perron making their NHL debuts, and this year it looks like T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund and Alex Pietrangelo will get their feet wet. That means a lot of inexperience on the Blues and thus it’ll be a learning one for many.
In time, Kariya and Tkachuk will hand over the offensive reins to young guys Andy McDonald, David Backes and Brad Boyes. In the meantime, they’ll still be depended on to do most of the scoring, although Boyes’ 43 goals made him the team’s best offensive player.
On the defense, it’s time for Erik Johnson’s breakout season. 2006’s first overall draft pick has Chris Pronger-like potential and we should see signs of that this season. The addition of fourth overall draft pick Alex Pietrangelo this summer gives Blues fans the best defence they’ve had since Pronger and Al MacInnis dominated in the mid-1990s.
Goaltenders Manny Legace and Chris Mason will share time between the pipes and will battle it out for starting minutes, but none of them are outstanding netminders who will steal games for St. Louis anytime soon.
Prediction: It’s a transition year for the Blues, so it figures to be a long one. The fact they play in a talented Central Division doesn’t help, either. It’ll definitely be a tough go for the Blues this year, but fans needn’t fret; they’ll be back in the postseason soon enough.
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