NHL analysis

Major Additions: Jeff Hamilton, Matt Cullen

Major Subtractions: Josef Vasicek, Shane Willis

Analysis

Oh how the mighty have fallen. The Hurricanes stood mostly still over the summer, despite missing the playoffs by a healthy 3 spots (if only 4 points) when far more is expected of the team. Of course, they did very little the summer after winning the Stanley Cup and went almost instantly from elite to ordinary-at-best.

The Hurricanes need three things to happen if they want any success this year: first and most importantly, they need Cam Ward to have a better year (neither John Grahame nor Michael Leighton is a suitable solution should he falter).

Second, Eric Staal needs to regain the form that saw him net 100 points a few years ago. Rod Brind’Amour is best used as a second line centre.

Third, the ‘Canes need a better performance from their blueline. A healthy Frantisek Kaberle will help; however, their deep but stud-less defence either needs an unexpected star to show up (unlikely) or needs to collectively outperform their expectations.

I just don’t see it. Cam Ward to me is the Achilles heel of the team, and I don’t see them improving in that area anytime soon. They have fewer than $5 million in cap space with which to add to the team and have a number of their key players (including three of their top five defencemen) heading for unrestricted free agency next summer. Difficult decisions approach, particularly if the team finds itself on the bubble of the playoff picture nearing the trade deadline. Do they move proven performers like the woefully underpaid Cory Stillman or do they attempt to add to their roster?

The Hurricanes had better start deciding who they wish to keep and who they can afford to lose, because they are likely to be a bubble team for most of the season.

Major Additions: Tomas Vokoun, Brett McLean, Richard Zednik, Radek Dvorak

Major Subtractions: Alex Auld, Martin Gelinas, Gary Roberts, Joe Niewendyk

Analysis

The addition of Vokoun, acquired at the entry draft for nothing but draft picks, rivals the re-signing of restricted free agent Stephen Weiss for the best moves made by the Panthers over the summer.

Florida missed the playoffs by 6 points but played very well down the stretch, even after the trade deadline that saw veteran Gary Roberts moved in what normally signals a team “giving up.”

The bad news is virtually nothing remains of the trade that saw All-Star netminder Roberto Luongo depart town. The good news is that the team retains several young players with superstar potential, notably the aforementioned Weiss but perhaps more importantly defenceman Jay Bouwmeester - expect to see the impending RFA resigned sometime this season, by the way. If the Buffalo Sabres have done nothing else this summer, you can bet they’ve taught the GM’s of the league the danger of leaving top RFA’s unprotected.

I don’t see enough veteran leadership on this team for them to make much noise in the playoffs but I can certainly see them picking up some playoff experience before the hockey year is up. One thing that may scare potential first round opponents: the Panthers currently sit at about $42 million in payroll, giving them ample room to pick up some extra help if they decide to.

Major Additions: Michael Nylander, Tom Poti, Viktor Kozlov

Major Subtractions: Kris Beech, Alexandre Giroux

Analysis

The future of Washington’s franchise is obviously in the capable hands of Alexander Ovechkin, but the Capitals also took some steps to securing success both now and in the future.

For a star like Ovechkin to become the centerpiece of a championship caliber team, several things must happen. First, the star central piece needs to be surrounded by other players of talent. Alexander Semin and the highly heralded young Nicklas Backstrom are the primary pieces of this group.

Another factor is also neccessary, however. Young players like Ovechkin and Semin need to learn how to win at the NHL level - particularly in the playoffs. Bringing in key veterans such as Nylander and Kozlov doesn’t just give stars like Ovechkin someone to play with; it also brings experience and poise to the dressing room.

Enough improvements to make the playoffs? Not likely. Few teams in the Eastern Conference got substantially worse and many got considerably better. However, teams such as Boston and Florida will need to look behind themselves in the standings as well as ahead. Washington will be much more competitive this year. Look for players in their final contract year such as Donald Brashear or Olaf Kolzig to become the topic of trade rumours as we approach the deadlin.

Major Additions: Dallas Drake, Brian Rafalski

Major Subtractions: Robert Lang, Kyle Calder, Matthieu Schneider

Analysis

Detroit didn’t do much in the off-season but they made smart moves. The team is now firmly built around a younger core, with veterans Lang and Schneider making room for the burgeoning contracts of Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Brian Rafalaski.

That being said, the immediate success of this team still rests in the lands of a pair of old-timers. Luckily for Red Wings fans, that pair happens to be Dominic Hasek and Nicklas Lidstrom.

I still don’t agree with or understand the length of contract offered to Datsyuk, and I wonder what the backup plan is should Hasek’s groin give out in the spring. But with the addition of Rafalski and the increased cap space of Lang’s departure, and the commitment they showed last year to resting Hasek’s all-important groin, you have to like the Wings’ chances at least as much as a year ago.

Major Additions: Martin Gelinas, Radek Bonk, Greg De Vries

Major Subtractions: Paul Kariya, Timmo Kimmonen, Scott Hartnell, Tomas Vokoun

Analysis

It’s been a sad year for Predators fans. While they had a great season last year they were bounced from the playoffs earlier than hoped and then had to suffer through the uncertainty of the almost-sale and relocation of the team. While a recent intent to purchase from a group of local investors appears to have offered stability at least for the short term, the specifics of the deal - notably the involvement of one named “Boots” who has made no secret of his desire to move a franchise to Kansas City - should at least make the faithful nervous. Even worse, in a desire to cut payroll and losses, the Predators have parted with virtually the entire core of their recent success. Steve Sullivan remains but will miss several months of the season due to surgery!

Nashville is in real danger of missing the playoffs this year - terrible slide for a team that challenged for the President’s Trophy for much of the past season. Not merely the players they’ve lost but the attitude of their owners will likely result in a massive backwards slide. Sure, they still boast Chris Mason, statistically one of the top 5 goalies in the league last year though dangerously unproven; yes, they have a number of exciting and solid young players like Alexander Radulov. However, they lost their captain, their starting goaltender and their leading scorer in a single summer. The players have to know the future of the team is uncertain at best, and they also have to know they’re no longer expected or supposed to be competing for the Cup. Don’t expect a Peter Forsberg to arrive in town at the trade deadline to bolster a cup run.

Major Additions: Paul Kariya

Major Subtractions: Dallas Drake, Curtis Sanford

Analysis

St. Louis should be a fun team to root for over the next few years. They’ve recovered from a pretty disastrous fall and seem now to be heading in the right direction on all fronts.

Paul Kariya won’t turn the team around overnight, nor is he the kind of player you build a franchise around anymore (though he’s close) but he will add some spark and excitement to a team that’s been lacking in both. Aside from his addition, the Blues will look mostly within for improvement. They will also hope that Jay McKee stays healthy to solidify and anchor their blueline.

Playoffs? I wouldn’t count on it, though it’s not out of the question. To truly compete with the big boys in the division and conference, however, St. Louis would need a truly inspired season from one of their goaltenders - and with Manny Legace the expected starter, I wouldn’t hold my breath on that happening anytime soon.

Major Additions: Michael Peca, Kris Beech

Major Subtractions: Aaron Johnson, Anders Eriksson

Analysis

Columbus is undergoing large changes but they may not bear fruit for several more years. Replacing their very nice but not-so-effective General Manager and bringing in Ken Hitchcock were big, important, intelligent moves, but neither man can change the team’s image overnight.

Hitchcock will have a quick improvement, provided the team’s players subscribe to his philosophy (I wouldn’t be surprised to see a player or two who doesn’t fit this mould shipped out within the first few months of the season). And let’s be honest - he has plenty to work with. Rick Nash is a genuinely explosive, game-breaking talent. Columbus has done a good job holding on to draft picks and has plenty of young players drafted with very high picks.

Michael Peca’s best days are behind him but even if he does not play a single shift for the Blue Jackets, he will help the team. His presence in the locker room, his leadership, his experience will be invaluable to the team’s young core, which hasn’t had much experience in winning thus far. If he can recover from his second major knee surgery, he will also provide the Jackets with a solid second line centre. The downside? Peca plays his best hockey in the playoffs, something he won’t likely see in Columbus.

Major Additions: Jim Fahey, Robert Lang, Yannic Perreault

Major Subtractions: Michael Handzus, Jeff Hamilton

Analysis

And the slow rebuild continues. Barring truly spectacular circumstances, Chicago’s not going to surprise anyone this year. They should be a little more competitive, earn a few more points, but they won’t be anywhere close to a playoff spot when the trading deadline approaches.

The addition of Robert Lang is little more than window dressing; helping to push Chicago’s salary over the floor required by the NHL while giving Martin Havlat a decent centerman to play with. The future of the Blackhawks is not in Robert Lang; it cannot even really be considered to surround Havlat. The crop of young players maturing in the AHL and NHL is the future of this franchise (hopefully the ownership wakes up before they too are ruined).

If Nikolai Khabibulin can prove worth his monstrously large contract, if Havlat stays healthy, if youngsters like Brent Seabrook develop at a faster than expected pace, the ‘Hawks could indeed be surprisingly competitive this year. But fans of the team should look more to the develop of their young stars than in any success the team manages this season for excitement.