Richard Bachman

Loui Eriksson

Coach Gulutzan

On Saturday’s Illegal Curve Hockey Show, play-by-play voice of the Dallas Stars, Ralph Strangis came on to discuss the latest on the Pacific Division leaders.

Dallas Stars broadcast team of Ralph Strangis (right) & Daryl Reaugh (left)

On Dallas Stars head coach and The Pas, Manitoba native Glen Gulutzan:

 “Glen’s always had good success in the minors, in the AHL, ECHL and sort of the MO of his team was overachieving, doing better than anyone had him pegged for, and making a good late season push for the playoffs. Pretty much every year he’s coached, that’s what happened. He’s been talking about it for a long time; he fully expected this team to go on a run.”

On how good Jamie Benn (Drafted 129^th overall by Dallas in 2007) can be :

“Jamie Benn’s really good, really really good, I was here with Mike (Modano) for twenty years, I watched him when he was younger, and watched him develop and watched what Hitchock and Gainey did with him. This kid, Jamie Benn (age 22), I’m not going to call him Mike Modano yet, I’ll never call him Miko Modano, but he is as an exciting as an individual talent as we’ve had since Modano. When he decides to do things, he has another gear that everyone on the ice doesn’t seem to have. When he jumps on a puck, and decides to carve his way through four guys, it makes you sit up in your seat and you watch the game differently when Jamie Benn is on the ice. This kid is an emerging rock star in the league.”

On Loui Eriksson:

“I think Loui benefited greatly by having Jere Lehtinen around for all those years when Loui was just coming into the league. Jere was a Selke trophy winner (3 times), Jere was probably as good of a defensive forward and complete hockey player that we’ve ever had here in Dallas. Loui’s kind of the same guy, you get to watch that. He’s really good on both sides of the puck. Playing with Ribeiro and Ryder, who aren’t the best defensive specialsts in the league, Loui’s the guy who cleans up the messes, is defensively responsible, is never out of position. He doesn’t take penalties (three this season), never commits a foul on the ice, and he’s a guy who can stick 30 goals and lead your team in scoring. He’s a very underrated player.”

On free agent acquisition Michael Ryder:

“In Boston, he wasn’t the guy, he wasn’t a top six all the time guy. One of the things that appealed to him here was that we don’t have a lot of top six guys. Ryder saw an opportunity here, and liked that somebody was actually courting him. I’ve been really impressed by a couple of things, one is that when we’ve had big games against division rivals, Ryder has been among three or four guys who have always been there, not only just scoring, but competing, and competing hard. If there’s anybody who could have an excuse; he won a Stanley Cup last spring, he’s not on as good of a team, and maybe he’s just there to cash a paycheck, that hasn’t been the case at all. He’s been one of our better players. For the money, he’s probably one of the best free agents signed in the off-season.”

On Mike Ribeiro maturing during his tenure in Dallas:

“If this guy was standing next to you when its 50 out and everyone is in their swim trunks, this is the last guy you would think is a professional athlete. He doesn’t look physically ripped, there’s nothing overwhelmingly powerful about him, and he looks almost emaciated. When he gets out there, especially in tough games, you can’t seem to knock the puck off his stick; he’s stronger than he looks, he scores big goals, he doesn’t seem to have a panic point with the puck. He’s really come along here over the last six years, he’s become a very important guy.”

Ralph Strangis is currently the play-by-play voice of the Dallas Stars and has been with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars organization since 1990. Paired with Daryl “Razor” Reaugh, the two are known for their witty antics on air and have become fan favorites in Dallas. Their broadcasts of Stars games are simulcast on television (FSN Southwest) and radio (1310 The Ticket).

The Illegal Curve Hockey Show airs Saturday’s on TSN Radio 1290 from noon to 3pm in Winnipeg.

Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

The following analysis was taken from the show.

Columbus receives: Jack Johnson, a conditional first round pick

Los Angeles Receives: Jeff Carter

Tale of the tape:

Jack Johnson: age 25, under contract until 2017-18 at a cap hit of $4.35 million per season.

Jeff Carter: age 27, under contract until 2021-22 at a cap hit of $5.27 million per season.

This is a trade that must be looked at through two different perspectives. The first is looking at the trade as a single trade. The second view is to look at it on a whole, meaning, Columbus effectively traded Jakub Voracek and the 8^th overall pick (Sean Couturier).

Off the ice, the reasons for trading Carter were about his contract, and his character, says Illegal Curve Hockey Show analyst Richard Pollock:

“I don’t think Columbus did as badly as I thought they would have, because there was no market for Jeff Carter. It was restricted by the fact he has ten years left on his deal, which restricted him to a couple of teams, and other teams were concerned about his character.”

“The market for him was very small, the fact they were able to get the first round pick, and Jack Johnson, who’s game I have concerns about, but does have potential, was fine work by GM Scott Howson on an evaluation of just this trade. If they can nail the draft pick, they can make it look like an all around good deal.”

“Jeff Carter is a good skater, a good stickhandler, he’s got a terrific shot, he can distribute the puck, but he’s not great at it. He’s good defensively, he can play in all situations, he’s an all around really good player.”

Host of the Illegal Curve Hockey Show Drew Mindell added, “he’s a regular 30 goal scorer, which doesn’t ocme easily.”

Pollock continued on Jack Johnson saying, “he’s as good of a skater as Zach Bogosian, good slapshot, good offensive talent, can join the rush. His hockey sense and defensive awareness leave much to be desired.”

In terms of contracts, Johnson’s is more favourable to Carter’s, as it is for less years and money, he is also younger, and defenseman tend to peak at a later age.

Pollock was not in favour of the deal overall, and would not pick a winner. It was a move of desperation for both teams.

Columbus receives: 2^nd round pick in 2012, conditional 5^th in 2013 and Curtis McElhinney

Phoenix receives: Antoine Vermette (age 29, under contract until 2014-15 at a cap hit of $3.75 million per season)

Off the ice: It is interesting to note that this is a salary dump by Columbus, who is assuredly losing money this season, to the NHL owned Phoenix Coyotes.

Antoine Vermette is a limited player offensively, he skates well, and can handle the puck, but is not a point producer (27 points in 62 games this season). Vermette is a player who is better defensively than offensively.

Columbus is shedding a bad contract, at $3.75 million with three years remaining is a lot for a guy who is not a point producer. The value that they are receiving in this deal is in the 2^nd round pick, as well as the removal of his contract on the salary cap. The Blue Jackets can fill the hole left by Vermette with players such as RJ Umberger, Derick Brassard and the return they get for Rick Nash (assuming he is traded before next season).

Curtis McElhinney is a throw in, a back up goalie who’s been injured all year. He is not the answer for Columbus’ goaltending situation.

From a Phoenix perspective, they are getting a player who fits well into their system. Phoenix loads up on veterans who buy into their boring trap style system. Vermette’s speed can create pressure on the opposition and he can play in all situations. He is a “tweener” a 2^nd or 3^rd line player, and on the Coyotes squad he will play a bigger role. He fits the veteran defensively responsible type player that coach Dave Tippett wants.

This is a good move for both teams.

New Jersey Receives: Marek Zidlicky (age 35, cap hit of $4 million until 2012-13)

Minnesota Receives: Kurtis Foster, Nick Palmieri, Stephane Veilleux, a 2^nd round pick In 2012, a conditional 3^rd round pick in 2013 (if New Jersey makes the conference finals this season or next).

New Jersey is filling a need by getting an offensively talented defenseman who can skate and move the puck. From watching New Jersey this season, it is easy to tell they are missing an offensive defenseman. Players such as Anton Volchenkov, Henrik Tallinder and Bryce Salvador are defensive types who can block shots and hit. They did not have a guy with the ability to lead the power play and move the puck out of the defensive zone well enough.

Zidlicky should have no problem fitting into the dressing room with fellow countrymen Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias. He’s signed for next season at $4 million, which is a lot, but offensive defenseman like Zidlicky don’t grow on trees.

Minnesota was in a situation where they were not playing Zidlicky, and he fell out of favor with Coach Mike Yeo.  They receive ex-Wild Kurtis Foster who’s contract comes off the books next season, he is a big body who can chip in with his point shot.

Stephane Veilleux , also an ex-Wild is 13^th forward and his contract expires after the season.

Nick Palmieri has the potential to be a 3^rd or 4^th line player for Minnesota.

Comparing the deal to the Hal Gill deal, the Predators gave up a 2^nd round pick and Blake Geoffrion for Hal Gill. Because the Foster and Veilleux contracts expire at the end of the season, the Devils gave up Nick Palmieri and a 2^nd round pick. If they do reach the conference finals, they will be happy to relinquish the 3^rd round pick.

This is an even trade for both teams.

Colorado receives: Steve Downie

Tampa Bay receives: 1^st round pick from Detroit.

Detroit receives: Kyle Quincey

While this was two separate trades by Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman, it should be looked at as one move.

The trades Yzerman has made leading up to the deadline show that the former Detroit Red Wing is ascending up the ranks as one of the top GMs in the NHL.  He is aware that his team is not a Stanley Cup Contender this season and is selling off assets in order to build for the future. As of February 26, 2012, Tampa Bay now has six picks in the first two rounds of the 2012 draft.  The net result of this trade is that Tampa Bay receives Detroit’s first round pick in exchange for Steve Downie.

Detroit adds depth to their defense in Kyle Quincey. Quincey who was drafted by Detroit in 2003 is a player who skate well, can move the puck, but isn’t the most physical. He is brought in to play the 3^rd defense pairing with Jonathan Ericsson, which should take some pressure off of rookie Jakub Kindl. He  fits into Detroit’s system,  and will be an RFA after this season so they will be able to retain him.

Colorado receives Steve Downie who gives their team some much added toughness. He’s a player who can get in your face, go to the net, hit, and move around in the lineup. While he doesn’t have great hands, he can provide 10-15 goals and 30-35 points. Ideally, he’s a 3^rd line right winger. Downey will be an RFA after this season.

A reasonable deal for all sides.

Philadelphia receives: Pavel Kubina

Tampa Bay receives: Jon Kalinski, 2^nd round pick in 2012 or 2013, 4^th round pick in 2013.

This is a depth acquisition by Philadelphia, which may not have been completely necessary, but he is a big body who fits in well with the Flyers team.

Steve Yzerman is stockpiling picks and building for the future.

The bottom line: An even deal.

Florida receives: Jerrod Smithson (age 33, under contract until 2012-13 for $800,000)

Nashville receives: 6^th round draft pick in 2012

Jerrod Smithson is a 4^th line centre who is better than incumbent John Madden. He is a depth acquisition, whose skill lies in winning draws, playing a defensively responsible and killing penalties. Smithson won’t be counted on to provide offense.

Nashville is a well run club and if hey are giving away players for 6^th round picks, this means they have no use for Smithson. His $800,000 salary will come off the books for next season, making this a quasi-salary dump. The Predators are looking to make a run for the cup this season, the trade also opens up a roster spot for additional moves.

This isn’t a significant move, that shouldn’t be overrated.

Tune in to TSN 1290 all day on trade deadline Monday for round the clock coverage. Drew Mindell and Richard Pollock of the Illegal Curve Hockey Show will be on from 12pm-4pm breaking down all the trades, as well as previewing the Winnipeg Jets contest against the Edmonton Oilers.

We had a chance to get their final thoughts in this Q & A about the game, the crowd and the people of Manitoba.

Q.  What was your day like leading up to the game?

A.  The day was insane.  Nothing like we could have imagined.  One of the HFBoards members, Brent, picked us up and took us to the Kings Head pub.  We had a radio interview with Larry Updike followed by a TV interview at the hotel.  We had a lot of fun with it, but it’s definitely not something that we’re used to.  There were snow angels involved, but that’s all I can say We got to see a bit more of Winnipeg and to enjoy some of your great beers.  Before the game, we met up with a bunch of great boys from HFBoards.com over at the Tavern at MTS Centre. We couldn’t have hand picked a nicer bunch of guys to hang out with.  That was followed up by meeting up with the news crew again to film us walking in to MTS Centre and heading to our seats.  That was a little odd for us too, but it makes for a fun story later.

Q.  What were your initial impressions of the MTS Centre?  The Crowd?  Etc.

A.  Our initial impression was that we couldn’t believe a minor league hockey team played in such a nice facility.  It’s obvious to an outsider that this place was built to host the NHL from the beginning which is great.  The crowd was great.  We were surprised to see a few other Sharks jerseys sitting around us.  It was interesting to hear how some fans had adopted other teams in the absence of the NHL locally.  Most people were great to us and I think we got our fair share of good natured ribbing.  During our last interview at the end of the second period, a Jets fan pulled my toque down over my eyes, but I’m sure he did it with love.  Due to the Jets not scoring, we didn’t get a chance to hear too much of the famous loud building.  The times when the crowd was together though, we could tell that this place was capable of some serious volume!  It’s a little smaller than the Shark Tank (17,562) and the levels look a bit steeper due to squeezing an entire venue on to one city block!

Q.  What were your thoughts on the game?

A.  First off, I have to be happy that our boys took home two points tonight.  We do wish that it was more of a harder-fought closer contest.  My dream was that the Sharks would win it 4-3 in a shootout or something.  Our Sharks looked pretty decent and I thought maybe the Jets came off a little flat.  Is it due to their road trip?  I’m not sure.  You’ve got a handful of key players out injured and I think you could have used them last night.  I do have to say when Pavelec made that diving stick save on our guys, my mouth was hanging open.  Just a beautiful clutch save.  I think in maybe 2-4 years, we’ll have a chance of playing each other in the playoffs, which would be AWESOME.

Q.   How does this experience rank against the other cities you guys have traveled to?  Difference between here and other places?

A.  This ranks near or at the top for different reasons.  Last year will always be a special memory for us because we got to see two Canadian hockey teams in two days.  Calgary and Edmonton.  It was our first time to Canada (I was in Prince Rupert, BC a few years ago as a cruise ship stop, but that didn’t count) and our first time checking some Canadian teams off of our hockey bucket list.  We also got to meet the Sharks after the game in Calgary.  So that was special because it was a sort of first for us.  This trip is tied right at the top I think with last years’ adventure.  The fans here have made the difference.  Just being welcomed like long lost family, meeting the Sharks again and all of the crazy media stuff we fell in to has made this something we’ll never forget.  The energy here is just phenomenal.  Talking to nearly anyone is great.  It was so cool that everyone here treats a hockey game like some huge event.  Everyone is excited, ticket or not.  The biggest difference for me though was the weather.  Last year I thought it was pretty cold in Edmonton.  I was wrong!  I live 30 minutes from the ocean in Hollister, CA so it was a novelty treat for me.  My Cousin loved it…although he seems to be fine with no warm clothes on while I’m bundled up like a Randy from “A Christmas Story” getting sent off to school.

Q.  How does it feel that your journey became quite the story across the city?

A.  We were really surprised.  We ran in to 3 or 4 other Sharks fans that had flown in for the game and they weren’t getting the same craziness that we were. It feels good to know that your community cares that much about a couple of fans from the states and how your local crowd interacts with them.  It just reinforces the reputation of Canadians being a genuinely warm and caring people.

Q.  What is your best Winnipeg memory?

A.  There are a lot of insanely great memories.  From making snow angels with the CBC reporter in front of the Inn at the Forks to just hanging out with the boys after the game.  These are memories that I will hold close to my heart until the day I die.  It’s impossible to pick just one.

Q.  What are your final thoughts?  Do you want to say anything to the people of Winnipeg?

A.  In just a few short days, we’ve come to love your town and your people.  I said this before, but it feels like we’ve finally come home to the place where we belong.  You all have a lot to be proud of. If I could communicate anything to someone wondering what it’s like to have hockey back in Winnipeg, it would be that the energy and enthusiasm here is intoxicating.  Even if we didn’t happen to be given game tickets, rides, food and beer, this would still be up at the top of my list of favorite NHL venues to date.  The Jets are right back where they belong at home.  I’ll be happy to get home to my wife and two baby boys, but I’ll be sad to go.  Thanks for the great trip Winnipeg!!!

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A big thank you should go out to Brad for exemplifying the generosity of Manitobans.

Antti Niemi

Logan Couture

Andrew Murray

Coach McLellan

Frazer McLaren

Andrew Murray

Logan Couture

Coach McLellan

Of course knowing that tickets are a hot commodity, they took to the Winnipeg Jets section of the HF Message Boards to spread the word of their arrival and to inquire with locals as to what is the best means of procuring tickets.  Almost 200 comments and 7000+ views later, Peggers’ were offering advice on everything from hotels to whether to rent a car and where to eat.  Brad, a gracious and quite generous member of the HF Jets community even gave the cousins a pair of seats in the 105 section.  Not only that but he picked them up at the airport and dropped them off at their hotel.  If that doesn’t define ‘Friendly Manitoba’ I don’t know what does.

We had the chance to ask the cousins some questions about why they chose Winnipeg and their preliminary thoughts on our fair city.

Q.  How did you guys start this tradition?

A.  My Cousin and I had lost touch for most of our lives.  When we started talking after years had gone by, we found out that we both LOVED hockey.  This may not sound like a huge deal in Canada, but in California it may as well have been a bonafide miracle.  We started going to games together (Sharks mostly, though Mike also had Fresno Falcons/ECHL season tickets).  We began by driving to the teams closest to us (Anaheim mostly) but it wasn’t really a tradition.  We just decided one year after a “How cool would this be” conversation that it would be awesome to see the Sharks play all of the NHL venues before we died.  Instead of continuing to talk, we just decided to book the trip. So far, we’ve done Winnipeg 2011, Calgary / Edmonton / Los Angeles 2010, Phoenix 2009, Anaheim 2008 and 2005.  I’ve also been to Carolina and Washington DC, but those don’t count against our goal since the Sharks weren’t playing at the time.  It has been one of the best decisions we have ever made and a worthy life-long goal to achieve.  We get to see the world and we’ve made friends in nearly every city we’ve visited.  I’ve had two sons in the last two years and I hope that in a few years, I’ll be able to share this adventure with them.  As far as my wife is concerned, she should be granted sainthood for taking care of our little ones and being OK with me doing this.  Thank you Mary, I Love You!

Q.   Why Winnipeg?

A.  When we committed to doing at least one trip a year, Mike’s first pick this year was Winnipeg.  You only get so many chances to see a new (or reborn) team play in the NHL in their first year.  We almost booked Chicago due to the considerably smaller travel expense, but in the end we came to our senses and booked Winnipeg.  Besides, the Canadian trips are the most fun right?

Q.  What did you think when you got offered everything from free drinks to free lower bowl  tickets on HF Boards?

A.  To be honest, we thought you all were playing a joke on the gullible Americans!  I still to this very moment sitting here in our hotel room cannot believe what has been provided to us, a pair of total strangers.  From the FREE premium tickets OVERNIGHTED to us by Brad (ps241), to having Brad show up at the airport as a surprise to drive us to our hotel, it still all seems too good to be true.  I have to say that this is my fourth trip in to Canada and on every occasion, we have been welcomed with open arms by our Canadian hosts.  The hospitality and generosity of Manitobans has been unparallelled by any other experience in my 32 years.  Even at lunch today a woman gave us a hug and welcomed us to Winnipeg.  We talked with her and her friends all through lunch and they thanked us for coming here.  I have never experienced anything like this.  We couldn’t possibly be more humbled and grateful.  There is no possible way for us to ever fairly repay the favor.  I also think that if I accept all of the free drinks offered, I’m not going to be able to walk very well after the game

Q.  When you heard Winnipeg in January, did you have any idea what to expect?  What have your first impressions been like?

A.  Cold. Cold. More cold.  From the replies on my hfboards.com topic, people couldn’t believe that we would come from sunny California to the frozen tundra of Winnipeg at this time of year.  For us, the icy weather and scenery is a welcome treat.  My very first impression of Winnipeg came on the airplane as we approached YWG.  Looking out the window I could see rink after outdoor rink peppered across the land with kids skating.  That is an alien sight to those of us living in California.  Very cool.  Everything else we’ve seen in our 10 hours here so far has been beautfiul.  The Forks area is beautiful.

Q.  What was it like hanging with the Sharks at Earls Main?

A.  Earlier in the day, we were walking around the Forks area wearing our jerseys.  A group of people walked by us and yelled “Hey Sharks fans!.”  As we braced for our heckling, one of them shouted “My friend here plays for the Sharks…him…the tall one!”  We thought they were just messing with us and kept walking.  After reconsidering though, we felt like we missed a great, and possibly only, chance to meet a Shark player on this trip.  Brad told us to head to Earl’s tonight and that the Sharks might be there.  We had no idea that he would be 100% right.  We took a seat at the bar and noticed after a few double-takes that Logan Couture, Antti Niemi, James Sheppard, Colin White, Benn Ferriero, Douglas Murray were sitting right behind us!  We spent a good 40 minutes trying to find a way to approach them without annoying them too much.  Finally I called their waitress over and asked her to let us buy them a round of drinks and to tell them good luck tomorrow.  They were very cool with us and spent a considerable amount of time talking with us.  When it was time to settle our bill at the end of the night, we had found that they had bought us several rounds without saying anything.  Thanks guys!  They were appreciative that we would travel this distance to see them.  All of them treated us like regular, down-to-Earth guys.  It was an absolute pleasure.

Q.  What has made this trip unique from the other road trips you’ve taken?

A.  I think the main stand-out features of this trip have been the hospitality shown by Jets’ fans and the punch-in-the-face cold outside.  The other difference is that we get to see your Jets in their first year!  We may not get that kind of opportunity again for decades to come, if ever.  Considering many people cannot even get tickets without spending a month’s wage, we can’t believe we’ll be sitting center ice.

Q.  What are your expectations of the MTS Centre crowd?

A.  Last year in Calgary, as we were leaving the game, a lady grabbed us and snuck us back down to the ice.  She had heard that we were in from San Jose.  As it turns out, the Sharks were meeting friends and family after the game and we got to spend time talking and taking pictures with them.  Another supremely nice deed from a Canadian stranger.  Before that, a nice little old lady on the airplane drew us a paper map of how to drive from Calgary to Edmonton.  She spent a lot of time on it,  It must be in your blood!  It’s something for us to try to live up to when we see traveling fans visiting the HP Pavilion in San Jose.  It really sets an example of how to treat guests on your home ice.

I have to say again that we are eternally grateful to the Jets fans from hfboards.com and Brad in particular.  They have taken two totally foreign strangers and made us feel like we hit the hockey lottery!  We’re just two regular hockey fans from the states, but as Mike and I discussed today, we feel like we have finally come home.  The term “Friendly Manitoba” is a gross understatement.

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On Friday, we will get the guys thoughts on the game, the MTS Centre crowd and their overall impression of the trip to Winnipeg.  If you see them tonight, be sure to give Mike and Bryan a ‘Friendly Manitoba’ hello!!

Here is the 2nd part of the Q & A.

To listen to the interview, download part 3 of the podcast. To have the podcast sent to your iPod each and every week, subscribe to the Illegal Curve Hockey Show on iTunes, non iTunes users can subscribe via RSS.

This Saturday’s Illegal Curve Hockey Show will air at a special time from 8am-11am on TSN 1290. The podcast will be available on IllegalCurve.com & on iTunes by Monday morning.

Is this the year for the Sharks?

“Certainly hope so. It’s a different year as every season is different. This one for the Sharks is a work in progress, they haven’t been outstanding, they haven’t been bad, they’ve just kind of been. Over the last couple of weeks they are much more positively trending in an upward direction. They’ve taken over first place in the division by a point over LA, they’re in the three spot in the Western Conference right now.  The other thing, depending on how you look at it, they have to their advantage, they’ve played fewer games than everyone else in the Western Conference, they’ve only played 37 games and for example LA and Phoenix have played four more at 41. They have some games in hand, but you have to win those to make them count.

They’re in a pretty good place right now, they’ve won three in a row and seven of nine. They are trying to work on special teams which has been the biggest obvious problem this year, they are 17^th on the power play and 28^th on penalty kill, second worst in the league. There’s a lot of improvement to be made in those areas in the second half of the season. If they can get those improved and get the problems fixed there then they should be in pretty good heading into the playoffs, and then once the tournament starts…who knows.

They still have the core that got them to the Western Conference final last year, they have the goalie who won the Stanley Cup a couple of years ago with the Chicago Blackhwaks. They have what should be a better blue line with Brent Burns on it now. They have some pieces in place, but as I say, they’ve been average until recently, now they seem to be on the uptick.”

On Brent Burns growth into his role with San Jose

“I think that if you’re going to paint a perfect picture the growth into the role would have been a little more accelerated than it has been for Brent Burns. 6 goals, 10 points, you always think of the offensive side when you bring a defenseman with a big shot into a structure such as the Sharks have with some great offensive players. What you need to take a closer look at is his place defensively. That is the most important transition that the coaching felt he had to make in the first half of this season.

I’m not saying he brought bad habits with him from Minnesota, but he played within a different structure and a different system and had to assimilate here into what Todd McLellan and his staff wanted. I think that’s been the focus on the first half of the year. He is a +10, he is a plus player, we know what a big body he is, and what a great shot he has. I think that as he continues to increase his comfort level within the system and the structure the Sharks coaches bring into play, I think you’ll see a better second half from Brent Burns.”

On the performance of the additions of Michal Handzus and Colin White

“Michal Handzus has come in to a situation where the Sharks were looking to have better third and fourth line play, particularly in his case third line play. They felt that they were outplayed especially by Vancouver in the Conference Final by the 3^rd and 4^th lines. Handzus on the scene is one of the pieces that needed to change the third line. I think he has done that, he’s very good defensively, he’s a penalty killer, he’s very good in face-offs. Handzus numbers aren’t there as far as generating a lot of points. He’s a veteran presence, a guy who’s going to work with the players alongside him to make them better. Players like Jamie McGinn who’s having a breakthrough year for the Sharks, you talk to McGinn he credits a lot of his confidence and development this year from playing with someone like Handzus.”

“Colin White it’s a smaller body of work because of the injury situation he’s been through, he’s on IR and hasn’t consistently been in the lineup that much. What Colin White will bring to the Sharks still needs to be determined once he gets back off IR. He did have a stretch before he got hurt where he settled into a good defensive defensemen role, and of course he brings that experience coming from New Jersey with Stanley Cups.”

On Logan Couture’s ceiling

“I don’t think there is a ceiling for Logan, he can be a star in this league, he might have the potential to be a superstar in this league. If you look at the Sharks organization and the young players at the forward position there’s no one else that even comes close to the top prospect in this organization. He’s already a permanent fixture on the second line at centre, mostly playing with Ryane Clowe on his left wing. He’s a tremendous talent, you always look for that player who makes those around him better and Logan Couture absolutely does that. Does he still need work? Of course, he’s a young player. I don’t think there is a ceiling for Logan, I think he has a chance to be huge in the NHL.”

On the acquisition of Brad Winchester

“Winchester has been a great pickup. He was a pro tryout at training camp and signed to a free agent contract by Doug Wilson. Brad Winchester’s been terrific, in 37 games, he has four goals, seven points, gives you that big physical presence. He’s got a great shot, scored a goal the other night off the post in Anaheim, which was an amazing shot, a great goal. He’s a terrific locker room guy as well, very popular in the dressing room with the guys.”

On areas to upgrade at the deadline

“(GM Doug) Wilson tends to make a deal every year before the deadline. The Sharks will go through some organizational meetings next week, if you look through their history they’ve tended to make those moves after their meetings. I think you’d be looking to bolster their 3^rd and 4^th lines, maybe with a guy that could move up and play a second line role. Right now Benn Ferreiro who’s up from Worcester has been productive, he’s got four goals in only ten games this year. Playing earlier last week with Thornton’s line when Marleau was on the second line, and now Ferrerio’s playing on the second line with Clowe and Couture. He’s been good, but I think Wilson would certainly look to find a way to beef up the third line with a swing kind of player who could step up and play on a top line if needed.”

For the latest updates on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show, follow Illegal Curve on Twitter @IllegalCurve, or stay tuned to IllegalCurve.com

This Saturday’s edition of the Illegal Curve Hockey Show will air from 8-11am on TSN 1290. The podcast will be available on IllegalCurve.com & on iTunes by Monday morning.

Coach Sutter

Jack Johnson

The Teemu love fest didn’t end.  Not by a long shot.  One of the most beloved formerJets 1.0 players gave the media and fans a little more of himself following his team’s 5-3 loss to the Jets.

Teemu Selanne post-game press conference

It was a Teemu Selanne love fest.  Even though they lost, the guys wanted to talk Teemu.  We will gave the Teemu press conference up soon.

Corey Perry

Bobby Ryan

Ryan Getzlaf

Coach Boudreau

Teemu Selanne held a press conference this morning from a Winnipeg hotel, he spoke about his excitement surrounding the return to Winnipeg and memories of his time as a player here.

Listen to the press conference here

Teemu Selanne will make his much awaited return to Winnipeg this Saturday when his Anaheim Ducks take on the Winnipeg Jets.

Selanne held a conference call this afternoon to discuss a number of topics, his time in Winnipeg, the Ducks struggles this season and his upcoming return.

Below are the Winnipeg related questions from the call, scroll to the bottom to hear the call in it’s entirety.

In the relative size of your career, your time in Winnipeg was a minority of that time. Can you tell me why that time mattered so much to you?

“Obviously that was my first NHL team, the fans and the whole city make the players feel so special. It was a dream come true starting in Canada. All of the memories I have there are so awesome.”

What went through your mind when you got the phone call and got traded?

“Well, I was shocked, obviously. What happened two weeks before, the new Winnipeg owners called me on the road. There were some rumors they might trade one of us three, (Alexei) Zhamnov, Keith Tkachuk or myself. The owner called me two weeks before and said, don’t worry about those rumors, just play hockey, you’re going to be a big part of our future down in Phoenix. That’s why I didn’t really expect to be traded, but I remember that phone call. The first trade is always really hard, you almost feel as if you have failed. A couple days later I realized this will be a great new opportunity for myself, it has been a great road down here too.”

How long did  it take you to put it in perspective

“The first couple days I was totally shocked about what happened. When you start learning the business more, and how it works, and how excited the new franchise was to have me here. You want to move on as soon as possible. Coming from Finland, we don’t have the culture there that somebody could get traded. A lot of guys they play their whole career with the same team. It was weird business to realize and face that there’s no feelings, you can get traded any time, there’s no control with that. That was a big adjustment here, when you get older and know the business better, you can accept it better. But when you are young and you get traded, it’s really really tough.”

What will it be like for you coming back on Saturday?

“I’m very excited, right when the season schedule was made public I marked the date in my calendar. Even I didn’t know if I could play still this year. I knew it would be very special, to have a chance to come back and play. I don’t really know what to expect, it’s been a long time since I played there last. With all of the memories I have I’m very excited. I heard the building is rocking and the people, the fans are so excited about their team, and the whole situation. It’s going to be a very special day there, and I can’t wait.”

They booed Shane Doan when he was here

“Hopefully they won’t boo for me.”

People in Winnipeg said they gave up their tickets (for other games) so they could go to this game, it’s been a long time since you played there, there is such a strong connection between the fans and you. Why do you think that is, and do you keep in touch with anybody from Winnipeg?

“Yeah, actually I still have a lot of friends there and keep in touch with them all the time. I think pretty much every place where I played I had special relationships with the fans, and obviously Winnipeg was really really special. There’s a reason why the plates on the cars say “Friendly Manitoba” because it’s really friendly city and has unbelievable fans. I spent a great four and a half years there. When I got traded, I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to the people and the city, the next day I was gone. It’s tough the way you get traded, everything is rushing and you’re gone the next day. That’s why I’m really looking forward to going back there. I know there are still alot of fans there. It’s funny when I go to visitor teams building, there’s a lot of Winnipeg Jets 13 jerseys still, that makes me feel really good.”

This summer when you were still a free agent, how far did talks go with the Jets about possibly returning.

“Winnipeg called my agent and asked if they could make an offer. I told Don Baizley my agent earlier, the biggest question right now is “if I can play” not “where I’m going to play”. Obviously, I have been here for a long time, I’ve been so happy for this franchise and this team. I was very honoured that they called, but it’s too late to move.”

Listen to Teemu Selanne’s Conference Call

Shane Doan

IC’s Ezra asked him what the standing ovation meant to him and he gives quite a heartfelt response.

Following the Coyotes skate, we caught up with some Coyotes players and the coach.

Shane Doan (I had some 1 on 1 time with Shane at about the 6 minute mark of the audio.  He discusses his time in Winnipeg, the last game in Winnipeg and even talks about his favourite Winnipeg Restaurant, which may come as a surprise – can you say soup, salad and breadsticks).

Kyle Turris

Coach Dave Tippett

Central Division

• If this is just Marian Hossa’s adjustment period, it will be scary to see what he can do at full steam, writes Chris Kuc.  “I think we can learn off some of the things he does with and going into puck areas. A lot of good things happen when he’s on the ice,” said coach Joel Quenneville about Hossa’s presence.
• Derick Brassard lacks a bit of confidence so far this season, explains Tom Reed.  One of Derek MacKenzie or Mike Blunden could find themselves going through waivers this week.  Here are the Blue Jackets’ projected lines for tonight’s game.
• Valtteri Filppula had his cast removed on Tuesday and is slated to return later this month.  With many injuries on the team, Justin Abdelkader has been given more responsibility and coach Mike Babcock has been happy with his play.
• Martin Erat recorded a hat trick last night, which prompted Barry Trotz to talk about the value of getting shots on net, as the Predators defeated the visiting Canucks.  Meanwhile, the Predators are hoping Jerred Smithson’s penalty on Alexandre Burrows is rescinded.
• Many Blues have had scoring trouble this season, so coach Andy Murray had his team practice hitting the goalie and going to the net on Tuesday.

Northeast Division

• Playing without Robyn Regehr has been the Flames’ downfall in the past, so Flames fans have to be hoping that his injury isn’t serious.  Colby Armstrong will have many family members in the Saddledome tonight when the Thrashers visit the Flames.
• Joe Sacco was happy enough with his club on Tuesday that he gave them the day off, explains Terry Frei.
• Jim Matheson answers reader’s questions in the Edmonton Journal.  Lubomir Visnovky and Ladislav Smid have developed some nice chemistry on the Oilers’ back-end.  Jeff Deslauriers has played well enough that he’s made people stop asking when Nikolai Khabibulin is returning to the lineup.
• Mikko Koivu was many people’s pick for Wild captain prior to the season and he is sure proving his worth in that position, explains Michael Russo.
• “Right now we have guys who can play a lot better, who have to play a lot better,” said an angry Alain Vigneault after yesterday’s loss to Nashville.  Mikael Samuelsson was so unhappy after the game that he refused to talk to the media.  When is Cody Hodgson going to return from a back injury?

Pacific Division

• Just when you had the Ducks written off, the team stormed back from a three-goal deficit and pulled out an important overtime victory at home against Dallas, writes Eric Stephens.  With Teemu Selanne injured, both Bobby Ryan and Joffrey Lupul will be counted on to carry the load.
• “That can’t happen, it just can’t happen,” said Stars captain Brenden Morrow after the team blew a 3-0 road lead to Anaheim.  Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News likes what he’s seen from youngster Ivan Vishnevskiy.
• Wayne Simmonds has taken advantage of the opportunities that coach Terry Murray has provided for him this season in Los Angeles.
• There are a number of reasons why the Coyotes are surprising the NHL, but strong penalty killing is definitely one of them.
• After some early season struggles, Ryane Clowe has found his game in the Bay Area.

If you are looking for a holiday gift and want to support IllegalCurve, take a look at our touques that can be purchased for only $9.99 plus shipping.  Also, if you want to add IllegalCurve on Twitter, click here.

Every professional sports team in metro Phoenix, along with Arizona State University’s football team and the annual Fiesta Bowl, has had trouble selling tickets this year as growing unemployment and declining wages are keeping fans home.

Teams have been forced to try promotions once considered unthinkable as the drop in attendance cuts deeper into revenue and costs jobs. For example, the Phoenix Suns saw their 153-game streak of sellouts at US Airways Center end Nov. 1, and a few days later the team laid off about 10 percent of its workforce.

Now I’ve discussed the situation in Phoenix quite a bit.  The revelation that the economy is doing poorly and is adversely affecting sports teams isn’t shocking. However, when you see the really established, popular teams like the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and last year’s Super Bowl finalist Cardinals struggling with attendance woe’s it becomes apparent that the Coyotes, a team that isn’t in the top tier of Arizona sports is not going to have the immediate recovery everyone is expecting.  Sure the NHL “saved” the team from moving but when you consider the state of the economy, the location of the arena and the fact that even after 15 years in the desert, the Coyotes haven’t established themselves as a top tier team in this market it just doesn’t appear likely that the recovery time will be a anytime soon.

In that same article a local Phoenix ticket broker summed up the situation in the desert:

It’s always difficult to scalp tickets in this market when a team is playing poorly, but it’s even tougher now.

“The economy is terrible,” Fettman said. “Even if the team is good, people don’t have the money to go out and spend. . . . .”

Now people might say “too bad”, that they have had plenty of time to develop a base that could support this team, given the metro size of the area.  Some have called fans of the Coyotes fair weather and bandwagon hockey fans but with all of the above factors, coupled with a summer from hell, don’t they deserve some time to recover?  Or is it time to cut the losses and move the team somewhere else? 

Put another way, as the Coyotes continue this trek through the desert, which began in 1996, have they finally come to the Oasis which can sustain them or is this simply another Mirage which casts a false illusion?  If you have an opinion on what should happen to the Coyotes, share it here.

Earlier Monday, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Redfield T. Baum approved the Coyotes’ sale to the NHL with the league intending to find a buyer committed to keeping the franchise in Glendale. The conclusion of the team’s bankruptcy proceedings didn’t help the Coyotes avoid a franchise-record low announced crowd of 5,855.

The season opener is starting to look more and more like an anomaly as the crowd size has significantly decreased almost every home game the Yotes have played since that opening night crowd of 17,532.  Since then the crowd’s have fallen off;

vs. St. Louis – 6,899

vs. Boston – 9,162

vs. Detroit – 11,938
vs.  Los Angeles – 7,968
vs. Anaheim – 6,495
vs. Los Angeles – 5,855

So right now the Coyotes are averaging 9,407 at home.  If you remove the opening night crowd from this total, the average nightly crowd to see a Phoenix game is 8,052.  Of course this is the announced crowd, which is generally not reflective of the actual crowds in attendance.

You have to wonder why they aren’t putting on 1001 different promotions every night in the desert.  I have to think that butts in the seats, even if the tickets are dirt cheap, would be better in terms of selling concessions as well as to give the city a bit of a psychological lift from the constant threat of relocation which has been hanging over their heads since the summer.

IC reader Ross laid out some of the problems the Yotes are facing;

Having been to every Phoenix home game, including pre-season, this year I will attest that attendance has been disappointing, but not unexpected. The summer of uncertainty, coupled with the fact that they were not even SELLING season tickets for about two months (from May 5th through late June), has greatly harmed ticket sales.

The best way to increase this, as has been said along, is to win games. It feels like there’s already a bit of a buzz going around the city. The team that everyone had written off is playing well to start the season! If they continue, you will slowly start to see attendance pick up, but it will take time–possibly even most of the season. That’s if they play well… 

However it is time to get past that.  They have a good, young product on the ice which is winning, and it is time that someone actually starts watching the games.  Judge Baum granted the Coyotes to the NHL and Commissioner Bettman will do whatever it takes to ensure they will remain in Phoenix. 

While the fans showing up to support the team doesn’t ensure that they won’t become a lame duck franchise, if they truly appreciate NHL hockey and want it to survive in the desert, they need to at least give it a chance and start attending some games. 

The arena seats 17,799 for hockey.  There were 9,162 in attendance. 

What do you think Shane Doan and Mark Recchi were discussing?

At the end of the day it was a Saturday night, the Bruins were coming to town and perhaps fans stayed away because they knew that Milan Lucic wasn’t going to be playing.  Whatever the reasons the arena looked empty again tonight.

The people showing up are the die-hard fans.  Yes, there are hard core hockey fans in the desert.  There are also the  band wagon jumpers and perhaps with each additional win, more of the latter will show up and begin to develop into the former.  Regardless more fans better start showing up or else it won’t matter if the Yotes win or lose because they will be doing it somewhere else. 

After tonight’s victory this team sits 3rd in the Western Conference and 1st in the Pacific and let’s hope  that for the next home game against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night that the crowd is above 10,000. 

The Coyotes team deserves it the way they are playing.

*photos courtesy of dafoomie

Now many pundits felt the true test would be whether or not the crowds would keep up once the fervor of the home opener died down.  While I’m sure many expected to see a slight drop from the home opener’s sellout crowd of 17,532 the pictures from Game 2 would seem to indicate that there has been a significant drop off.  When I initially saw these pictures, I thought that perhaps fans in Phoenix, like those in other cities (I’m looking at you Toronto), spend half the period out of their seats and that since the pictures were taken a minute into the 2nd period this was the reason that the building looked half empty.

But then you see this picture that was taken from the upper bowl of Jobing.com arena at the 13:47 mark of the second period and you realize that there just wasn’t anyone at the game;

Now I am not sounding the death knell of the Yotes.  Clearly Shane Doan, who is just a tremendous player (and person) thinks a lot of Phoenix;

It’s just a special place here, and these fans really do care,” Doan said. “The whole team is just grateful for the people who do support us so passionately.”

But the question I have after seeing these pictures is, where have they all gone?  The Coyotes are going to have to continue to make major concessions to the people of Arizona to get them to come out.  Still, you would think that the second game of the season would have been a little better attended than what it appeared to be.  It should be interesting to see what the “announced crowd” will be.  Any guesses?

Update:  Announced attendance 6,899.  Dear Mama.

Update #2:  A look at all the Coyotes home games.

*Photos from Bluechipper

Had this preview been written two weeks ago, it would have started with the line: “other than Marleau being stripped of his captaincy, and Christian Ehrhoff being sent to the Canucks, the Sharks really didn’t do anything this off-season to rid themselves of demons from past playoff failures”.  That is until GM Doug Wilson pulled the trigger on a deal to acquire Dany Heatley, and all of his excess baggage.  Unfortunately, Heatley’s playoff track record isn’t exactly glowing, so a lot of questions still remain unanswered.

Forwards:

Upfront, the Sharks boast arguably the best top six forward group in the entire NHL.  Heatley is almost guaranteed to play with Jumbo Joe on the top line and score 50 goals, and form one of the best dynamic duos.  In turn, this will allow San Jose to play Marleau in his natural centre position, on the second line.  The speedy Devin Setoguchi will be the other winger on the top line, once again playing with Thornton, as he did for much of last season.  Setoguchi better make sure to eat his Wheaties, as both Heatley and Thornton aren’t exactly committed to defensive play in their own end.  This could pose problems, as Thornton at times was lazy and relied on the speedy Marleau for his back-checking prowess.  As mentioned, Marleau should centre the second line with Ryane Clowe, and possibly “Little” Joe Pavelski, although Pavelski could also centre a third line if needed.  This top six will likely be the same up front as well on the power play, but look for Clowe to perhaps swap with Setoguchi to wreck havoc in front of the net.  Having Marleau on the second PP unit provides nice balance in scoring.

Did Dany Heatley bring his baggage with him to San Jose? (Image from Flickr).

I can’t talk about the Sharks top forwards, without mentioning the departed Milan Michalek and the Cheechoo Train.  Michalek, who Sens fans I’m sure will come to realize is a lesser version of Marian Hossa, will be missed for his secondary scoring.  His speed was second on the team only to Marleau, and his inspired two-way play was integral in past regular season successes.  Cheechoo’s absence won’t be missed as much, for as the regular season was winding down, Cheechoo was more or less being fed passes by Jody Shelley, instead of receiving them on the top line from Thornton.

Now we get to the muckers and grinders.  Roenick’s speed and dressing room presence will be missed.  Claude Lemieux’s overweight figure will not.  The departure of Mike Grier on the other hand creates a large void in the checking department.  A healthy Torrey Mitchell provides great checking skills as the third line centre, however relative newcomers Brad Staubitz and Jamie McGinn will be relied on more to do the dump and chase thing that third liners do.  Jed Ortmeyer, Scott Nicholl, and fan favourite Jody Shelley round up the bottom forwards.

The big question that still remains unanswered with the Heatley trade, is will the Sharks once again flop in the playoffs?  No one can quite put their finger on it, but it’s almost a collective psyche issue within the team; something the Sens can relate to during their very successful regular seasons.  Obviously the offense lives and dies with Thornton, and now Heatley.  Look for Marleau to once again succeed in this secondary role, much like how he did when Cheechoo was winning the Rocket Richard trophy.  Thornton has been ridiculed for his lackluster playoff performances, after his dominating regular seasons; however, it seems that Thornton just continues his “normal” regular season play in the playoffs, while everyone else steps up their games.  It will be interesting to see how Heatley fairs come April, given a track record similar to that of Thornton.

Defense:

 Canadian Olympic candidate Dan Boyle will relied upon once again to quarterback the power play, and provide a veteran presence when the going gets tough…come April.  Although he isn’t a true shut down rearguard, the Sharks don’t need him to be.

Can Dan Boyle finally lead the Sharks to the promised land? Image from HFboards.com)

That’s the job of fellow blueliner Douglas Murray.  Although his name and style of play indicates that he should be from a farm in Saskatchewan, Murray is as Swedish as they come.  Nonetheless, his aggressive style of play in his own end has made him Evgeni Nabokov’s best friend.  Rob Blake is back for another tour of duty, and will likely see top PP duty with Boyle.  The mature-for-his-age ME Vlasic rounds up the top four, and has everything you want in a young blueliner.  Openings exist for the last two defenseman, with Kent Huskins and Alexei Semenov likely cracking the lineup.  Maybe Sandis Ozolinsh will try once again.  Let’s hope not.  Look for Pavelski to play the point on the second PP unit with Vlasic from time to time.

Goal:

 I still don’t quite get why the Nabby trade rumours persisted all summer.  Nabokov has posted great numbers since being the official number one after Toskala was traded, and there is no reason to think that he will slow down anytime soon.  Sure, he laid an egg in the playoffs, but so did all the Sharks.  The backup job now belongs to Thomas Greiss, with Brian Boucher back for his second tour of duty with Philly.

Evgeni Nabokov will carry the load once again (Image from Sharkspage.com)

Predictions:

Ceiling – If Thortnon can elevate his game, Marleau can shake off the loss of the Captain’s C, and Heatley doesn’t demand a trade to Florida, then the Sharks can take home the President’s trophy and Lord Stanley’s mug.

Floor – If Joe continues his lacksidasical play, Heatley’s past playoff performances continue, and Marleau’s self-confidence gets sucked dry, consider the Sharks to be another first round flop, after a decent regular season campaign finishing third in the West to the Wings, and I don’t know…let’s say the Canucks.

“This was a difficult decision that I’ve thought long and hard about,” Gretzky said in a statement. “We all hoped there would be a resolution earlier this month to the Coyotes ownership situation, but the decision is taking longer than expected.  Since both remaining bidders have made it clear that I don’t fit into their future plans, I approached General Manger Don Maloney and suggested he begin looking for someone to replace me as coach.  Don has worked hard and explored many options.  I think he has made an excellent choice, and so now it’s time for me to step aside.

Read the story here.

That was a pretty clear explanation from Gretzky.  In my opinion, it was really his only option, as there are already enough distractions surrounding this young team, and Gretzky’s presence would have made it an absolute circus.  The Great One has to wonder where it all went wrong in Phoenix, but today he made the right decision to step down.

I’d love to see him coach or manage in the future, but considering his ties to California, I do not know how likely that possibility is.  A consulting role seems like the next step for Gretzky unless he gets the itch and decides to move.

Eric Duhatschek of the Globe & Mail provides his take on today’s news.

If Balsillie wins his bid for the Coyotes, a season of sparse crowds is expected. (Picture courtesy of flickr)

From TSN:

Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie has pledged to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale this season if he wins an auction for the financially troubled club.

His lawyers say the club would play in Glendale this season, which opens Oct. 3, but Balsillie still intends to move the team to Hamilton as part of his US$242.5 million bid.

The revised offer came during an emergency hearing Wednesday before bankruptcy Judge Redfield T. Baum, who called Balsillie’s proposal “a fairly significant change.”

Read the report here.

Well, this really is not a surprise to me.  If Balsillie wanted this team as badly as he has said he does, then keeping the team in Phoenix for the season was a must.  I mean, how on earth was he actually planning on moving the team before/during the season?  That is simply an impossible task. 

With this declaration, and with Judge Baum’s comments in the report, you have to think Balsillie’s chances are gaining steam.  Personally, I thought his chances were low from the outset, but he continues to prove me wrong, so I guess I will just have to stop betting against him.

Courtesy of Pulse2.com

Where to start with the Coyotes? Lost amid all the summer hubbub is the fact that a young team with a great core calls the desert home. Despite a 36-39-7 record last season (79 points) and a 13th place in the West finish, the Coyotes have some pieces in place that should allow them to more forward should the find a home and/or have its’ affairs settled.

One of the bonuses of being a poor team for so long is the draft picks (ask Chicago). Off-ice woes aside, the Desert Dogs have been able to draft fairly well in recent years, with many of these picks finding their way to the NHL already. Kyle Turris, Peter Mueller, Martin Hanzal and Keith Yandle are all regulars on the team and are slowly but surely forming what should be a solid core.

The recent addition of Dave King (seen here reacting to the news that he has been hired by the Coyotes) suggests that current coach and owner Wayne Gretzky (a former player himself) may be done with the team. If King is to take the helm, he will be counted on to use his considerable teaching skills to help along the young squad. Though the team is led capably by Shane Doan and features a host of talented young players, don’t expect the team to set the desert on fire.

Lets break the team down by position, starting with the forwards.

Forwards:

Courtesy of zimbio.com

Led by the seemingly ageless Shane Doan (good thing the Oilers picked Steve Kelly), the Coyotes are blessed with excellent talent amongst their forwards corps. There has been significant off-season movement with the team, as they shipped out Garth Murray, Ryan Lannon, Nigel Dawes, Brian McGratton, Brandon Prust, Steven Reinprecht, and Enver Lisin. Replacing these skaters are Taylor Pyatt, Lauri Korpikoski, Vern Fiddler and Radim Vrbata.

While this provides a lot to talk about, it also makes it difficult to ascertain how the forward lines will shake out and who will mesh with who. Captain Doan (73 points last season) will most likely be a fixture on the first line, and could be centred by Matthew Lombardi. Coach King/Gretzky has a couple of options for the right side, as both Radim Vrbata and Peter Prucha would likely fit. The line provides the Coyotes with some offensive punch, and both Lombardi and Doan are responsible enough to go against other teams’ top lines.

My guess for the second unit would have deadline day acquisition Scottie Upshall on the left side, with youngster Peter Mueller up the middle and either of Vrbata or Prucha on the right. In what is more of a 1A line, Mueller will be counted on to take the next step offensively and be the straw that stirs the drink for this troika. Upshall will be given a larger offensive role with the ‘Yotes and the choices for RW are both capable of putting up points. In addition to taking on the soft minutes role, I would imagine that whoever is behind the bench will have these big bodies doing their fair share of forechecking. Upshall is a load and excels at the power forward game, and Mueller is no stranger to the aggressive cycle game.

So, you might wonder who is going to handle the tough minutes? Reinprecht is gone, and there isn’t an ideal candidate to replace him. Vern Fiddler is likely to get some time with this unit, having experience with the defensive side of the game. Martin Hanzal  is the most likely candidate for the 3rd line centre role. He is a responsible guy who is very aware of what he needs to do in his own zone, and can chip in on offense as well. Capable in the face off circle, watch for him to take draws on the PK as well. Rounding out the unit is more of a mystery. Rookie Mikael Boedkker could get a look, as could Daniel Winnik, who doesn’t produce much but is a grating player to skate against. Taylor Pyatt is also a good bet to get a look here (if not on one of the top two units), as he is another veteran who can play a variety of roles.

The fourth line could see any number of personnel getting a look. Highly touted youngster Kyle Turris was thought to be a good fit on this line, but has been demoted to the AHL. Rookie Brett McLean may get a look here given his offensive acumen, so might the speedy Kevin Porter, who showed very well in limited time last year. Viktor Tikhonov could find himself on the 4th unit too, as he is too talented to spend a lot of time on the farm, but isn’t quite consistent enough to crack the top 6. Also in the mix is Lauri Korpiskoski, whose versatility could be a boon here.

Though this group is a little light on experience, they can certainly all play and should be fun to watch. A tough guy might still be necessary here, and an actual checking line could keep them in a lot more games. I would think that the team will unfortunately play second fiddle to the courtroom for the time-being, so don’t expect any big changes til this is all resolved.

Defense:

The blue-line is a little easier to figure out. Veteran Ed Jovanoski is the big dog for the Coyotes, and will see the lion’s share of ice-time should he stay healthy. Defenseman of the future Zbynek Michalek (pictured) will get every chance to skate with Jovo on the top pairing. He put up a respectable 27 points last season, and despite going -13, is a competent defender who is just getting better. Veterans Adrian Aucoin and Kurt Sauer form the most likely second pairing. Aucoin has lost a step but still possesses the big shot and plays a tough game. Sauer is more of an underrated type who will quietly help the team, who will need all the help they can get defensively.

The third unit will be the tough guy Jim Vandermeer, the resident heavyweight-by-default, paired with Keith Yandle the puckmover. Each player fills a specific role, tough guy and puck mover, and shouldn’t see a ton of ice time 5 on 5. Nevertheless, they should get plenty of action on special teams, as their skills sets are tailored to these niche roles.

Sami Lepisto and Jonas Ahnelov are prospects that may well get a look in top 6, and should fight it out for the 7th spot. Lepisto likely has the insde track, as he is 25 years old and has plenty of pro experience (though mostly in the Finnish league an AHL).

The defense seems to be a stable, if unspectacular unit. A little shy on the skating and puck moving skills so valued in today’s game, this group will be still be unpleasant to play against. I wouldn’t expect a lot of production outside of Michalek and Yandle, but they should get their fair share of PIM’s.

Goaltenders:

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated.CNN.com

There are no real surprises expected between the pipes. Ilya Bryzgalov has cemented his status as the team’s number one goalie, and its very unlikely that he lets that status slip. Jason LaBarbera was brought in to compete for the backup spot with prospect Al Montoya. Fellow prospect Josh Tjordman is also in camp, but is expected to be sent out.

Predictions:

As you can see, Team Turmoil doesn’t have a great deal going for it right now. There is some talent there, but they aren’t likely to put it all together this season, even though the team held a playoff spot til the mid-way point last year.

I envision this team with a ceiling around 11th in the West. Most teams have made at least minor improvements to their team, and the Pacific is a strong division getting stronger as LA improves.

The floor for this team is unfortunately 15th, dead last in the west. Unless Colorado really tanks, these guys might find themselves being the doormat.

courtesy www.legendssportsbar.com

In the NHL, there are many different ways of doing business to re-build, re-tool, and re-organize your franchise. There is a complete overhaul (this year’s Minnesota Wild), you could choose to spend like drunken sailors (last year’s Tampa Bay Lightning), or you can build from within, relying on specific, key, free agent signings and a solid draft record. Undoubtedly, the Los Angeles Kings have chosen method number three. Let’s look at their chances for success for this coming NHL season.

Forwards

The Kings have what can be described as a delightful mix of old and new. Skilled players who are in the primes of their career, buttressed by older players who can certainly contribute but may have seen their very best days passed already. The third component, young players just beginning to make their mark in their league, round out this triumvirate of success up-front for the Kings.

Specifically, the Kings are led up front by one of the most singularly talented players in the NHL, Anze Kopitar. Supplementing him with the point producing responsibilities, will be seasoned and proven players like Alexander Frolov, Justin Williams, Michal Handzus, Jarret Stoll,  and Sean Avery’s good friend Dustin Brown, he of the stuttering problem that Avery in his typical classy manner found worthy of ridicule while both were teammates. Their key off season addition up front was veteran Ryan Smyth coming over in a trade from Colorado that saw Tom Preissing and Kyle Quincey subtracted from the Kings roster.

Grade of Forwards: B

Defensemen

On the blue line, the Kings continue to emulate their strategy up front with a solid mix of veterans and young players with their best days in front of them. Their main off season addition on the blue line was veteran Rob Scuderi, he formerly of the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Scuderi knows his role well, and will provide veteran leadership, and sandpaper tough defense on the blue line. He won’t be relied upon too much offensively, but will be relied upon as a steadying influence on the other young Kings blueliners. Offensively on the back end, the Kings are led by three talented young defensemen in Drew Doughty, Matt Greene, and Jack Johnson. As three young players with very promising careers still in front of them, the Kings are the envy of the league in talented young defensemen (Remember, the Kings also have Thomas Hickey and Colten Teubert, both first round draft picks, chomping at the bit to get their chance in the NHL.) For this year, the Kings round out their blue line with steady solid veteran Sean O’Donnell and Peter Harrold and Dave Drewiske.

Grade of Defensemen: B+

Goalie

Unto everything positive, must fall a little bit of negativity. We have reached the point of the examination of the Kings roster, where the team’s Achilles heel becomes evident—for this year at least. The Kings do not have a proven NHL goalie. End stop. That’s not to say that the future isn’t bright in the nets for the Kings, as Jonathan Bernier will be given every opportunity to prove he is the Kings goalie of the future, but as often occurs with inexperienced players, the growing pains will be awkward, gangly and pockmarked with zits. If the Kings can get average play from the triumvirate of Bernier, Jonathan Quick and Erik Ersberg, they will be pleased as punch. Unfortunately, when the back end is shaky, it affects the rest of the team in a terribly negative fashion. Just ask this year’s Illegal Curve summer hockey team.

Grade of Goaltenders: D

Overall

The future is bright in Los Angeles. The management of Deam Lombardi has done an admirable job of building a roster in Los Angeles that should be a solid NHL franchise for years to come. The question comes down to this year. Will the young defensemen continue to develop positively. Will the question marks in net surprise everyone and turn into an asset? Will the forwards up front continue to blossom, mature, and produce as is expected? Questions abound in tinsel-town, and until those question marks turn into sure things, the bright future of the Kings, will be just that—the future.

Ceiling: 3^rd in Pacific division, 8^th in the Western Conference.

Floor: 4^th in Pacific Division, 13^th in the Western Conference

First off, it was clear last week and is now that the Sharks’ trade of Christian Ehrhoff was made to create cap space for a future deal.  Rumor had it that Heatley was San Jose’s guy and those rumors proved correct.  With Ehrhoff’s salary off the books, San Jose had more financial freedom to make a big trade for the former 50-goal scorer from Ottawa.

Today’s deal can be broken down as follows:

San Jose receives:

Dany Heatley–four years remaining on his contract at a total of a $7.5 million cap hit per season.

Ottawa receives:

Milan Michalek–five years remaining on his contract at a total of $4.3 million cap hit per season.

Jonathan Cheechoo–two years remaining on his contract at a total of $3 million cap hit per season.

Second round pick

Let’s first examine the addition of Heatley to the San Jose roster.  Heatley will almost certainly lineup alongside Joe Thornton to form one of the top offensive duos in the National Hockey League.  Thornton is arguably the best passer in the NHL and prefers to pass at almost every opportunity.  Heatley, in contrast, is a shooter first and foremost.  He has a terrific release and a bullet of a shot–so these two players should complement each other well. 

Last season Heatley posted 39 goals and that was considered a poor season for him.  Most NHLers would kill for a 39 goal total but Heatley has posted 50 goals in two consecutive seasons (2005/06 and 20006/07) and scored 41 times in 71 games in 2007/08.  Needless to say he is one of the top snipers out there.  His addition to the Sharks should give the team a needed (it is hard to say much-needed with their offensive weapons) goal-scorer that has posted point-per-game numbers in the playoffs–where this team will need him most.

Dany Heatley and Joe Thornton will be one scary combination. (Picture courtesy of sportsnet.ca)

With today’s move, the Sharks could very well have assured themselves another first place finish in the Western Conference.  That being said, Sharks fans do not really care about regular season success anymore.  The playoffs are all that matters to Bay Area fans and they must be wondering what this trade does for them in that regard?  Well, as mentioned above, Heatley has posted very respectable offensive totals in the playoffs.  But the question I have is: Will Heatley step up when the games matter most?  Stats are one thing, but anyone who saw Heatley play in the Stanley Cup Final against Anaheim remembers his poor performance in all five games.  Simply, Heatley was virtually invisible when the series was coming away from the Senators, and while a player like Daniel Alfredsson imposed his will on the competition, Heatley was nowhere to be found. 

So, consider me skeptical in terms of whether this move will payoff at crunch time, but it is almost impossible to argue that the move isn’t beneficial to San Jose’s regular season and, maybe even, first round success.

As for Ottawa, GM Bryan Murray was between a rock and a hard place.  Heatley demanded a trade, it became public and then he rejected the trade the Senators made when he was dealt to Edmonton. 

The key to this deal for Ottawa was Michalek–who is a great skater, with good size and pretty good hands.  Michalek skates like the wind and is not afraid of contact.  In fact, he is the type of player Ottawa has been looking for for some time now.  He is only 24 years old, although it feels like he been around for a while.  The last three seasons he has posted 26, 24, and 23 goals respectively and has never been a minus player during any of his four NHL seasons.  The Czech native had 36 even strength points last season (fourth best on the Sharks) and accumulated these totals without playing any significant amount of time with Joe Thornton (the same cannot be said for Marleau/Setoguchi).  There is also a physical element to his game (92 hits last season), which really makes him a solid all-around player.

Milan Michalek is the key to this trade for the Senators. (Picture courtesy of sharkspage.com)

In Cheechoo, the Senators get a player who broke out with a whopping 56 goals in 2005/06 while playing shotgun with Joe Thornton.  That season really did come out of nowhere considering Cheechoo had never even scored 50 goals in the Ontario Hockey League.  In 2006/07 Cheechoo didn’t post 50 goals but he still scored a more than respectable 37.  Unfortunately for Sharks fans, Cheechoo lost his confidence and shooting accuracy and with that he lost ice-time–in the next two seasons, Cheechoo scored 35 goals combined.

So, are the Senators getting a 50 goal scorer or a 12 goal scorer?  I’d say somewhere in between.  Cheechoo needs to gain some confidence back and will probably get a chance to ride shotgun to a player of similar skill level to Joe Thornton in Jason Spezza.  I could see Cheechoo posting a 25 goal season in Ottawa and regaining some of the confidence he lost over his final two seasons in the Bay Area.  All in all, at a $3 million cap hit, Cheechoo is no albatross in terms of finances, so the Senators might as well take a risk on him because of his upside (remember he is only 29).

Can Jonathan Cheechoo regain his old form in Ottawa? (Picture courtesy of espn.com)

Finally, the Senators also received a second round pick in this deal.  If you are looking at the value of a second round pick, I wrote a piece examining draft round value for Puck Prospectus that you can read here.  In today’s day and age of the salary cap, draft picks are important.  Now, I realize this pick will be around number 60 overall but it still carries value, either for Ottawa’s prospect group or in a future trade.

Who won this deal?

You know, it is actually possible for two teams to both be relative winners in a trade and I think that is what happened today.  I don’t think either team hit a homerun today, as I have questions about Heatley’s ability to help a team win the big game, and the Senators still had to trade away a former 50 goal scorer.

That being said, the Sharks added a valuable piece and the Senators received pretty good young value for their disgruntled star. 

I give both GMs a B+ for today’s deal.

Looking forward to this season, expectations have been curbed in Texas.  Out is the the GM combination of Brett Hull and Les Jackson, and in is former Stars center Joe Nieuwendyk.  When Nieuwendyk was hired, he considered his options and then fired coach Dave Tippett and replaced him with the fiery Marc Crawford.  So, the changes off the ice this summer were actually more impactful than the moves that affected the on-ice product.

Without further ado, let’s examine the Stars’ on-ice product and see what is in store for Dallas fans in 2009/10.

Forwards:

While the Stars are not going to be a Cup contender this season, the future looks bright in terms of some of the team’s prospects.  The likes of Jamie Benn, James Neal and Fabian Brunnstrom leave Dallas with potential for some impactful forwards for a long time. 

That said, Stars fans still want to know if this team has a chance to win now.  With Mike Modano (39 years old) and Jere Lehtinen (36 years old) closing in on the end of their respective careers, Nieuwendyk and company will be looking for the two veterans to play a leadership role up front.  While the Stars may seem like a veteran team to some, Modano and Lehtinen are actually the only two forwards on the team’s roster that are over the age of 30.  That bodes well for the future development of the team, as there is a core in place that isn’t necessarily past its prime.

If the Stars are to rebound next season, the team will need another solid offensive season from Mike Ribeiro.  The slender center tallied 78 points in 82 games last season and led the Stars forwards in time-on-ice.  He’s not great at face-offs, or battling in the corners, but few players have the offensive skill and puck awareness of Ribeiro.

Along with Ribiero, Dallas boasts Brad Richards–he of Tampa Bay Lightning fame from the middle of the decade.  Richards’ stock has fallen since his Tampa Bay days, but he still can bring many things to the table.  He had 48 points in 56 games last season and won over 50% of his face-offs (50.6%).  He can skate well and is a tremendous passer.  Now, there are concerns about his defensive ability but the Stars know that.

So, up the middle, the Stars are actually quite strong (Ribeiro, Richards and Modano), let’s take a look at the wings.

The team’s number one winger and captain is Brenden Morrow.  It is really amazing to think that Morrow is already 30 years old–but, alas, he is.  The rugged winger goes to the dirty areas, takes a beating and comes right back for more.  Additionally, he has really turned into a reliable scorer.  After a slow start to last season (only 5 goals in 18 games), Morrow went down for the season with an ACL injury.  This season he’ll have extra incentive to prove himself–playing for Team Canada can do that to you–so, a return to his 2007/08 form (74 points in 82 games) is probably expected by many Dallas fans.

To complement Morrow, Dallas received a surprise breakout season from Loui Eriksson.  The 24 year old Swede came out of (relatively) nowhwere to score 36 goals last season.  His good awareness leaves him in the right position and the right time, but his wicked shot may be his biggest asset.  Eriksson’s emergence in 2008/09 allows the Stars to worry less about adding a top sniper on a team that has a fair amount of passers.

Loui Eriksson was a difference maker for the Stars in 2008/09 (Picture courtesy of hockeycentralen.se)

After Morrow and Eriksson, the Stars throw the likes of super-pest Steve Ott at you.  Ott actually has more “game” than people give him credit for and brings a much-needed physical presence to the table.  His 135 penalty minutes led the Stars by a mile, but management would probably prefer he cutdown on the unnecessary penalties–obviously easier said than done.

Combine the team’s aforementioned up-and-comers with the team’s veteran core and the Stars are a little more dangerous up front than some may think.  The team isn’t in the class of Detroit or Chicago in terms of firepower, but they should not be taken lightly either.

Defense:

After more than a decade on the Stars’ back-end, it will be odd not seeing Sergei Zubov manning the blue line in Dallas this season.  With a cast of youngsters, Dallas fans realize this is where the real rebuilding is going to occur. 

The clear leader of this group is Stephane Robidas, a player underrated by far too many, who plays every single game out there as if it is his last.  He logged 24:32 minutes per game in 2008/09 and will counted on to provide similar production this season.  The fact that he was an All-Star last season and an invitee to the Canadian Olympic orientation camp should not be overlooked.

Stephane Robidas may be the best defenseman you don't know about (Picture courtesy of globeandmail.com)

After Robidas, the Stars possess a number of talented young defensemen.  In Matt Niskanen, the team gets offensive production (35 points in 2008/09) from a skilled 22 year old.  However, his offensive skill is offset by some of his defensive deficiences.  The Minnesota native was -11 on the Stars last season which was worst out of all the team’s defensemen.  Even so, he’s young and has room to improve–both offensively and defensively.

Along with Niskanen, the Stars have 24 year old Swedish defenseman Nicklas Grossman.  Last season Grossman struggled some and took a bit of a step back but Les Jackson (still highly involved with the Stars) and company still fully believe in Grossman’s abilities.  He can play a physical game (2nd on Stars defense in hits) and blocks a lot of shots (3rd in blocked shots) and brings many attributes to the table that will make him a fan favorite for years to come.

Along with Grossman and Niskanen the Stars have youngster Trevor Daley, a player that really came into his own last season.  Daley enters this season at 25 years old, although it feels like he has been around forever.  In 2008/09, Daley was the only other Stars defenseman who played significant minutes (aside from Stephane Robidas) that finished the season as a plus player (+2).  While originally thought of as an offensive defenseman when he came on the scene, Daley was actually the team’s most relied on player last year when on the penalty kill.  Additionally, he plays some on the power play, which is a testament to his two-way ability.

Filling out one of the final defense spots this season with be Mr. Reliable–Karlis Skrastins.  Some know Skastins for his long-time ironman streak, but he is also a very reliable defensive defenseman.  His shot blocking ability will be much appreciated by his teammates, who will grow to love him quite quickly.

The last spot on the Stars’ back-end will be battled for.  Among the contestants will be Jeff Woywitka, a solid cheap signing in my opinion.  Woywitka never turned into the dominant defenseman some thought he would be, but he skates very well, is a big guy and has fairly improved passing skills. 

Joining Woywitka will be Mark Fistric, a solid player who relies on his positioning and awareness to get by.  Unfortunately, I think Fistric’s biggest drawback, his skating, needs to improve if he ever wants to get into the Stars’ top four.

Goaltending:

Last season was simply a disaster for the Stars in net.  Marty Turco posted awful numbers– a .898 save percentage and a 2.81 G.A.A. in a very defense-first system.  It just seemed like Turco also found a way to allow a goal at just the wrong time, so the team is banking on him returning to his 2007/08 form (.909 save percentage and 2.31 G.A.A.).  Considering his past success, you’d have to think Turco returns to somewhere close to old form this season.

Marty Turco cannot possible be as bad as he was last season, can he? (Picture courtesy of Flickr)

Behind Turco, the Stars ran out Tobias Stephan last season.  It is fair to say that Dave Tippett did not exactly trust the young netminder, and the Stars have addressed the need for a backup (Turco needs more rest) by adding NHL veteran journeyman netminder Alex Auld.  Auld is not spectacular, but he’s serviceable.

Prediction

Ceiling: The Stars stay relatively healthy, adjust well to Marc Crawford and see their young defense emerge quickly.  3rd in the Pacific Division and 8th in the Western Conference.

Floor:  The Stars don’t adjust well to an offense-first system, show their youth on a nightly basis and start pressing early in the season.  4th in the Pacific Division and 12th in the Western Conference.

The Anaheim Ducks have had a relatively busy summer, shipping out one of their top 2 defenders and bringing in a host of new faces, including longtime Selanne pal Saku Koivu, and repatriating Joffrey Lupul. After an 8th place finish in the Western Conference last spring (2nd in the Pacific), the Ducks had a successful playoff run, losing in 7 games to the Detroit Red Wings. With a very good first line of Getzlaf-Perry and Ryan, plus an infusion of youth on the blueline, the Ducks will be looking to build on the playoff run by continuing their domination of the Sharks and getting back into serious contention in the West.

From www.nhl.com

Forwards:

The Ducks are led by the aforementioned top line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan. Though Getzlaf is still recovering from off-season surgery, he is expected back sometime in October, early enough to minimize any potential impact to the team. The trio combined for 88 goals last season, and are expected to improve those numbers this season with the added experience. A new look second line should provide the Ducks with some balanced scoring. The newly acquired Saku Koivu and the reacquired Joffrey Lupul will likely line up with veteran Teemu Selanne on the soft minutes unit. Koivu and Selanne are pals, so watch for potential chemistry between the two Finns. Lupul is reportedly very excited to be back out of the spotlight and into the sunshine in Socal, so his numbers might also improve.

The bottom six Ducks are a good mix of up and coming talent plus versatile veterans. Todd Marchant, George Parros, Ryan Carter (awarded a one way contract this year), Petteri Nokelainen, Erik Christensen (still injured) and the newly acquired Evegeny Artytukhin form the nucleus of the bottom lines, with agitators Mike Brown and Troy Bodie also figuring into the mix. Andrew Ebbett (though Ebbett’s 32 points in 48 games all but guarantee him time in the bigs) is still on a two-way contract, but is expected to figure into the Ducks plans sometime this season. Rob Niedermayer is still an unrestricted free-agent, and there has no indication as of press time on what his plans will be for next season.

Now that I have named everyone, let’s discuss the outlook in Anaheim. As mentioned, even with the Getzlaf injury, the first line is solid. Getzlaf and Perry have tremendous chemistry, and Bobby Ryan also fit in nicely. Should Ryan succumb to the sophomore jinx, there are plenty of candidates to fill the void on the top line. Selanne, Lupul or even Christensen (I believe he can play wing) could step in, and the Ducks have a host of talented youngsters waiting in the wings. Despite all the vaunt about the Sharks firepower, the Ducks are no slouches in that department. I would not be completely surprised to see the Ducks claim top prize in the Pacific should the Sharks falter, and former Disney boys have the skaters up front to do it. They have plenty of shooters and set-up men for the PP, and I expect Koivu to enjoy a resurgence with the Ducks.

Offense aside, they have a nice blend of talents beyond goals that all playoff teams need. Marchant has lost a step, but is still a competent checker. Parros is a noted pugilist and the rest of the guys are all willing to play dirty should the need arise. Add in the size factor (Artytukhin and Bodie are 6’5 and 6’4 respectively), grit and mix in some fresh young legs and it would seem that the 2007 Stanley Cup champs are ready for a return to prime time.

From www.nhl.com

Defense:

Naturally, the big story on the Anaheim blue line is the departure of the uber-dirty Chris Pronger (along with Huskins and Beauchemin). While I doubt the Ducks faithful are burning his baby furniture, his presence will definitely be missed as its not often you can replace a perennial all-star and Olympian. That is not to say that the back end is a weak spot for the team. Scott Niedermayer will still be patrolling the point, likely with a little bit more pep in this Olympic year. Nick Boynton has been signed to replace some of Pronger’s grit and meanness, and Lucas Sbisa is a promising addition to a defensive corps that is now pretty young outside of Niedermayer and Boynton.

Puck mover Ryan Whitney and the surprisingly offensive (in a good way) James Wisniewski are the primary offensive weapons once you get past Niedermayer, and all figure to see big minutes on the powerplay. Both skaters will be counted on to replace some of the offense of the departed Pronger. Brett Festerling and Sheldon Brookbank should likely both see more games than last season, and newcomers Lucas Sbisa, Brendan Mikkelson and Brian Salcido should also figure prominently in the Ducks plans this season. Mikkelson is a highly touted prospect that could see an increased role should he learn the position quickly. Watch for Sbisa to get most of that time, however, since he has some pro experience and he is one of the keys to the Pronger deal.

The Ducks have also added journeyman Steve McCarthy to the mix for more of veteran presence. Though not projected in the top 6, McCarthy will provide some insurance to the team. He spent last season in Russia, but has amassed over 300 NHL games and was once thought to possess some offensive upside. If any of the youngsters falter or injuries beset the Ducks, watch for him to get some time.

From www.nhl.com

Goal:

There isn’t too much in the way of news in regards to the Ducks goaltending. True, they did acquire Justin Pogge from Toronto, but it remains unclear if the former World Juniors standout will have an NHL career. The one possible change in the Ducks net involves playing time, where it is rumoured that former backup Jonas Hiller will become the de facto starter this season ahead of J.S. Giguere. Both goaltenders saw action in 46 games last season, with nearly identical minutes played. However, Hiller had a significant advantage in every thing from GAA (2.39 to 3.10), Wins (23 to 19) and Save Percentage (.919 to .900).

With a younger defense, it does seem plausible and likely that the Ducks coaches will go with the steady influence of Hiller between the pipes. That said, Giguere is a fiery competitor and will be pushed by both his down season and the presence of Pogge in camp.

Predictions:

Ceiling- If everything goes right and the new-look defense holds, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a first place finish in the Pacific Division, and the top 3 seed that goes with it. I think the Ducks match up favorably against the Sharks, Stars, Kings and Coyotes, and can skate with any team in the West

Floor- I would be shocked if they fell any further than 8th or 9th in the West. This is a veteran club buoyed by some playoff success. Despite the loss of Pronger, they have added some firepower up front and they are still solid on the back end.

First off, I’m thankful that something hockey–not law–related was actually at the forefront of all hockey webpages around the world.  For the first time in a while, an NHL story can actually be analyzed for its on-ice merits. 

With that said, let’s analyze the Canucks’ recent acquisitions.  Before analyzing each player, let’s set forth their respective contracts. (The figures are courtesy of NHLnumbers.com)

Mathieu Schneider: 1 year on his contract at $1.55 million.

Christian Ehrhoff: 2 years remaining on his contract;  2009/10–$3.15 and 2010/2011–$3.4.

Brad Lukowich: 1 year remaining on his contract at $1.8 million.

It certainly says something about the current free agent market when Brad Lukowich is actually going to make more money than Mathieu Schneider.  That aside, the three acquistions didn’t really cost the Canucks much–aside from money cap room and two lower-tier prospects.

In Schneider, the Canucks get a player who has obviously seen his best days; however, that does not mean that Schneider cannot be a helpful player on the Canucks’ back-end.  Schneider brings tremendous puck-moving skills, specifically an ability to effectively quarterback the power play.  In 23 games with Montreal last season, the veteran American blueliner tallied an impressive 17 points (14 of which were on the power play).  Additionally, he logged over 20 minutes of action per night. 

While he doesn’t possess the defensive ability he once did–nor the mobility–his smarts, along with the number of Canucks’ defensemen ahead of him on the depth chart (Mitchell, Bieksa, Edler) who can eat up the tough minutes against the opposition’s more talented and challenging offensive players, makes this a very astute signing.

In Ehrhoff, the Canucks have added a two-way defenseman who possesses solid offensive skills and sometimes questionable defensive skills.  His 42 points in 77 games was an impressive total for the 27 year old defenseman.  Unfortunately, Ehrhoff was -12 for the Sharks last season, which was 15 +/- points lower than the next worst Sharks defenseman (Alexei Semenov +3).  So while his offense took a step forward last season, his defense took a step back.  In Vancouver he’ll be counted on to help the team’s speed and size on the back-end, but if he continues to struggle in his own zone, his playing time will be limited to less time than he saw in San Jose.  If that is the case, he’ll prove to be overpaid.

As for Lukowich, the Canucks are getting a smooth skating veteran defenseman who knows his role and can adequately fill in if need be.  On the Canucks, Lukowich figures to slot in behind Salo, Bieksa, Edler, Schneider, Mitchell and Ehrhoff on the depth chart.  Additionally, the team has Aaron Rowe and Shane O’Brien on the back-end, so Lukowich should see himself as the 7th/8th defenseman on the team.  Luckily, the 33 year old B.C. native is a profesional player and should be a solid addition to the locker room.  His skating is his biggest asset and his defensive awareness is solid, but he won’t be counted on by the Canucks who boast a deep defense corps.

All in all, the Canucks have done well to shore up the team’s defensive depth.  Clearly GM Mike Gillis figured he could not count on Sami Salo to play a whole season and saw the opportunity to create team competition for defensive playing time, as well as an ability to get younger (Ehrhoff) and more skilled (Ehrhoff and Schneider) on the back-end.  Obviously helping the team’s middle-of-the-road power play (17th in the NHL) was a factor too.

Give Gillis a thumbs-up for these moves; however, something tells me the move for Schneider will be more significant than the move for Ehrhoff and Lukowich.

• Randy Carlyle is happy with his team’s moves this off-season, especially the addition of a couple scoring forwards, but his main focus will still be team defense come the fall.  He should be happy.  The team has one of the best top-six forward units in hockey, some nice talent on defense and a great young netminder.  Obviously the loss of Pronger will hurt, but the extra offense should help ease that pain.  Expect the Ducks to be a force in the ultra-competitive Western Conference next season.
• Fluto Shinzawa talks (in video form) about the progress of Bruins prospect Joe Colborne.  I know he’s big and I know his name is Joe, but people shouldn’t expect him to become Thornton-like.  Thornton’s skills were far ahead Colborne’s when he was in his late teens.  So, don’t expect the Bruins to rush Colborne–especially considering the team’s depth at forward.
• Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch previews the St. Louis Blues heading into 2009/10.  I think the Blues are going to be better than Columbus next season and could even be the fourth best team in the Conference.  John Davidson, Larry Pleau and Doug Armstrong are running the organization as well as any organization in the NHL.  So yeah, I’m pretty high on the Blues moving forward.
• The Habs were impressed enough with Andreas Engqvist at the team’s development camp that they have signed him to a three-year deal.  Needless to say, not many people know much about this kid.  However, he’s young and has good size and experience playing in a tough league, so there is little, if any, downside to a move of this nature.
• With the Jiri Hudler situation currently under review, John Glennon wonders if the IIHF will show any bite this time around by not allowing his move to the KHL to occur?  Not likely.  As Glennon says, what did the IIHF do last season when Alexander Radulov clearly broke the rules?  Why would we expect things to change?
• Rumor has it Jacques Lemaire is heading back to New Jersey to become the team’s head coach.  Well, that retirement lasted long!  This move really isn’t surprising.  Lemaire and Lamoriello are old friends, and both know what they are getting into.  He’s obviously more than a capable replacement for the departed Brent Sutter and the Devils will be a force to be reckon with next season, yet again. 
• The Hershey Bears have named Mark French as their new coach.  He takes over for Bob Woods, who led the team to a Calder Cup Championship last season.   

After spending his entire 13-year career in Montreal, Saku Koivu will be calling Orange County his home. The Anaheim Ducks have signed the free agent centre to a one-year, $3.25 million contract. Koivu, 34, had been the Canadiens’ second-longest serving captain in team history.

Click here to read the full article.

Great move by the Ducks to sign the centre to a reasonable one year deal.  After everyone assumed he would be going to the Wild to join his bro, the Ducks get a veteran centre to team up with fellow fin Teemu Selanne.

The Colorado Avalanche have traded Ryan Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings for defencemen Kyle Quincey, Tom Preissing and a fifth-round pick.

Read the full story here.

After losing out on several big UFA’s this week, the Kings finally make a splash and acquire Captain Canada, who at 33 isn’t getting any younger, but is exactly the type of player this young Kings team needs.  Quincey put up 38 points in his breakout season and was the key piece in this deal for Colorado.

Detroit Red Wings (2) versus Pittsburgh Penguins (4)

• Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart says it is “kind of surreal” to have your season success determined by just one game.  Wings GM Ken Holland says that in this situation, you cannot let your mind wander off.  Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma really doesn’t remember Mike Babcock’s Game 7 speech from 2003.  Drew Sharp says that the Wings have all the pressure tonight.  Speaking of pressure, it does not bother Chris Osgood.  Wings defensemen Brian Rafalski is a favorite in his home state.  Not only is Rafalski the favorite son in Michigan, but he is also very experienced in Game 7s.  The distance in this game tonight is between never and forever, writes Mitch Albom.
• Evgeni Malkin has been dreaming of holding the Cup with Sidney Crosby.  With Game 7 only hours away, the talk does not matter anymore; all both teams have to do is play.  Once the puck is dropped, adrenaline should carry the players through the entire game.  All the numbers in favor of Detroit winning tonight do not mean anything to Pittsburgh.  The Stanley Cup has a special place in Dan Bylsma’s mind.  Mario Lemieux has full confidence in his Pittsburgh players.

Teams that are not in the playoffs

• It appears that long-time Avalanche checker Ian Laperriere has one foot out the door.
• People in Minnesota believe that Todd Richards is still the favorite to be hired as the new coach of the Wild.
• John Gonzalez of the Philadelphia Inquirer wonders if Ray Emery brought his baggage with him back from Russia?
• Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle examines the Sharks’ outlook for next season.
• Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal says Dany Heatley is exactly what the Oilers need.  In other Oilers news, the team has let go Pete Peeters as goaltending coach.
• The province of Quebec is willing to give a loan to any Quebec based groups interested in buying the Canadiens.

The Marc Crawford hiring

• “His biggest asset is the way he holds all his players accountable,” said Stars center Brendan Morrison, who played for Marc Crawford in Vancouver.
• Joe Nieuwendyk went about hiring Crawford the old school way, writes Mike Heika.
• Here is a recap of former Stars coach Dave Tippett’s tenure in Dallas.
• Most people in the game, do not believe Dave Tippett will be out of work for long.

The Coyotes situation

• “If the Buffalo Sabres’ silence means that they are working against Hamilton’s bid, then Hamilton and the surrounding area residents should join in boycotting the Buffalo Sabres along with the Toronto Maple Leafs,” said a Hamilton city councillor.
• Jim Balsillie is convinced that a June 22nd auction is good for his efforts to bring the team to Hamilton.
• Can the city of Hamilton afford an NHL team?
• Stephen Brunt of the Globe & Mail questions the NHL’s due diligence process.

AHL Calder Cup Final

• Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press sets the stage for tonight’s Game 6 of the Calder Cup.  With so many veterans on the roster, the Moose are not panicking.  Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun explains that the Moose organization didn’t set up the team’s homecoming at the airport two days ago, rather, it was the Winnipeg Airport staff.  (Writer’s note: Nice gesture by the airport staff to get behind the local team.)

In a one-sentence notice issued Thursday, Judge Baum said he will make one ruling on all of the issues heard Tuesday.

“The court advised those present that he will not be setting a separate hearing on relocation and fee issue. It will be dealt with in the court’s ruling from the [June 9] hearing,” Judge Baum said.

Read the entire article here.

Judge Baum is trying to speed up this proceess as much as possible…until the appeal process hits and someone else has to deal with this whole situation.

Ted Rechtshaffen was performing due diligence for a client who is looking to sell his share in a current NHL team when he started crunching numbers on such things as ticket prices, attendance and market size to see which NHL markets made sense.

His conclusions? Size of market, unlike the case in most instances concerning the NBA, Major League Baseball and even the NFL, does not have much to do with where it is viable to support NHL hockey. What matters in most instances is geographic location, with the league’s strongest franchises located in places where the game of hockey has a long history and it at least part of the cultural fabric.

Read the entire story here.

This article doesn’t surprise me, but it sure sheds a little bit more light on something that I’ve believed for a while now.  Market size doesn’t matter that much when the people in that market just don’t care about the sport.  Last night, on The Score television in Canada, there was an excellent piece explaining the lack of attention that the entire Jim Balsillie controversy is getting in Arizona.  The sports radio stations hardly talk about it, it isn’t the main story on the Arizona Republic sports page and people just generally don’t care.  I know the Phoenix area is highly populated, but what does highly populated mean when those people couldn’t care less anyways? 

Stanley Cup Final

• Penguins fans are calling this “The Shift 2,” courtesy of Brooks Orpik.  The Penguins’ entire defense corps really is underrated.
• Here are the lines from the Wings’ last practice of the season.  Datsyuk still with Zetterberg.

Everyone else

• Mike Heika has Dave Tippett’s reaction to his dismissal.  I don’t think Tippett will be out of a job for long. 
• Heika also provides us with Marc Crawford’s career coaching record.  Not being saddled with Sakic and Forsberg down the middle sure makes life more difficult doesn’t it?
• The Sabres are expected to put forward a statement regarding the Coyotes situation once a decision in court has been made.  They can’t be in favor of such a move, and who can blame them?  Obviously they will want a lot of money to allow for the move to happen.

It’s official. The Stars have hired Marc Crawford as head coach.

Assistant Mark Lamb has been relieved of his duties and the rest of the coaching staff is being evaluated.

Read more about the hiring and some Crawford background information here.

No surprise here, as reports came out on TSN yesterday that Crawford was going to be the man for this job.  In Crawford, the Stars get a fiery coach, who sometimes loses his cool, that preaches speed and offense first and foremost.  He is certainly a change of style from Tippett, who was very reserved and was extremely focused on defending goals.  As far as I know, Crawford and Nieuwendyk do not have any real extensive history together, so clearly Nieuwendyk likes the type of coaching style Crawford brings to the table.  I’m sure Crawford is eager to prove people wrong after quite an unsuccessful stay in Los Angeles.  Although as I said yesterday, I think this team is going to be undergoing a facelift over the next little while; so the group Crawford is coaching in September and even January, may be very different than the group he currently has.

Detroit Red Wings (2) versus Pittsburgh Penguins (4)

• Writing for USA Today, Jacques Demers likes the Wings in Game 7.  (Writer’s note: Kelly Hrudey also picked the Wings last night on the IllegalCurve.com Radio Show.)  (Second writer’s note: You figure if Demers is submitting a piece to USA Today, they could at least spell his name right!)  If Detroit wins on Friday, Helene St. James thinks Chris Osgood is a shoe-in for the Conn Smythe.  Meantime, Michael Rosenberg disagrees with Wings coach Mike Babcock and says Marian Hossa is indeed pressing.  Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press thinks Friday night will be a showcase of the next great hockey rivalry.  Good thing for Wings fans that home-ice has been a huge advantage in past Game 7s.  That said, in Game 7s, it is just 60 minutes of play, so predictions carry very little weight.  If people are wondering, Chris Chelios has no intention of retiring at season’s end.
• Tomorrow night is Dan Bylsma’s shot at Game 7 redemption.  Look for Petr Sykora to miss tomorrow night’s game.  Penguins fans ask Dave Molinari if the Penguins can win in Detroit?  Many of the players have already played Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in their imagination as little kids.  Sidney Crosby has gone two games without a point, but has never gone three post-season games in a row without getting on the scoreboard.  Winning in Detroit may be hard, but the Penguins are optimistic.

Teams that are not in the playoffs

• This year’s rating for Game 6 of the Final were down from last season, however, last season’s game did not go up against the NBA Finals.
• Ducks goaltending coach Francois Allaire has left the organization to join the Leafs in the same position. 
• Meanwhile, Paul Hunter provides the Toronto perspective of the Francois Allaire hire.
• Brian Burke was not done with the hire of Allaire, as he made some other staff changes yesterday.  Here is more on those changes from Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun.
• The Molson Brothers have bid on the Canadiens.  “We think our offer has all the ingredients to be well received by the potential seller and the National Hockey League,” said the Molson family. 
• One thing is for certain, buying the Habs will not come cheap.
• Apparently Cory Clouston is not Dany Heatley’s only issue with the Senators organization.

Stars fire Tippett

• Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News points out that Tippett’s expected replacement, Marc Crawford, has not had any more recent playoff success than Tippett.
• The truth is, the Stars have not finished higher than third in their division over the past three seasons.

Flyers sign Emery

• Apparently the Flyers brass holds Ray Emery in very high esteem.
• “I don’t view it as a big gamble“, said Flyers GM Paul Holmgren about Emery.

The Coyotes situation

• Former Coyotes executive Jeff Shumway has accused the Glendale City Manager of trying to destroy a document, which would be illegal under Arizona law.
• If the Coyotes were to stay in Arizona and possibly be viable, they’d need concessions from the City of Glendale.
• The NHL may be looking to add an indemnity fee to the requirement for a relocation fee.
• Mary Ormsby of the Toronto Star takes a closer look at Judge Redfield T. Baum.
• Damien Cox wonders if maybe the Leafs should cut a deal with Balsillie now, so the organization doesn’t risk getting low indemnity payments handed down by the Court.
• David Shoalts tells us that a team in Hamilton would be worth at least $300 million, and some think a whole lot more.
• Word out of Phoenix is that if Balsillie’s bid fails, the Coyotes will be put up for auction.
• Jeff Blair of the Globe & Mail tells Balsillie to just cut the cheque and prove to everyone that you are for real.
• Toronto aside, the Buffalo Sabres are worried about the possibility of a Hamilton franchise.

AHL Calder Cup Final

• Scott Arniel does not want his Moose players to feel content about bringing this series back to Winnipeg, he wants their focus strictly on forcing a Game 7.  Paul Friesen wonders why Moose fans were so giddy yesterday, when the team hasn’t won anything yet?  Mark Fistric luckily only lost clear vision in his eye for about ten seconds, after taking a Karl Alzner shot to the face.

After six seasons behind the bench in Dallas, the Stars have fired head coach Dave Tippett.

The move comes on the heels of the team naming former Stars’ player Joe Nieuwendyk general manager earlier in the month.

While no successor has been named, sources say that the Stars have asked for permission to talk to former Los Angeles Kings coach Marc Crawford, who remains under contract to the Kings. It’s not clear at this point whether Crawford has been hired to take Tippet’s place or is merely a candidate.

Read the entire story here.

Well, first off, I have to say that I never fault a new GM for firing the people who were in place before he was hired.  The fact is, if you don’t feel comfortable with the people that are in place, you have to make changes to ensure the team fits your exact mould.  So, Nieuwendyk either didn’t like what he saw with the Stars, or more likely just want his own guy in place.

As for Tippet, I have to be honest, he grew on me.  I thought he had finally turned the corner with the Stars last season when the team lost in six games to the Wings in the Western Conference Final.  This summer was a complete disaster for Dallas (see: Sean Avery) and the team just never seemed to find its way.  In reality, I think more of that responsibility falls on Marty Turco than Tippett.  If Turco had played like his usual self, the Stars probably would have made the playoffs and we may not be having this conversation. 

I really believe this is Nieuwendyk picking his own guy, not Tippett being fired because he hasn’t won a Cup.

In terms of Crawford, if the reports are true, the decision seems a little bit peculiar.  Granted this team is a veteran one, something he is more well suited to coach, but he really lacked success during his time as coach in Los Angeles.  His style is fairly wide-open and that could cause some trouble for the Stars’ defense and Turco.  Especially considering the fact that Turco generally faced a limited amount of shots against.  That said, I’m sure Nieuwendyk will make changes with a certain vision in mind and if hiring Crawford is his first move, expect the Stars to be more high-scoring over the next few seasons.