KHL and ESPN Making An Impact

Five months ago, when the LA Kings hoisted the Stanley Cup, never did I think there would currently be a lockout over the CBA between the NHL and NHLPA. I'm sure most of you didn't either. Also, if asked in the absence of NHL puck, if KHL games were aired at home, would I watch, I would have laughed pretty hard. No shot I would ever watch a rival league of the NHL that tries to steal its players and force Russian players to stay home. This idea for an article came to me about an hour or two ago, when I learned KHL hockey, with players such as Zdeno Chara and Alex Ovechkin in live action, would be aired on ESPN2. I'm writing this article as I sit in front of the television, staring intently at the game while thinking about how I would NEVER watch the Kontinental Hockey League. What I didn't realize five months ago is how much I would be foaming at the mouth for professional hockey right now......as I know you are all too.

Hockey fans are a different breed of fans. We may not include the biggest fan base in the United States with the likes of NFL, NBA, MLB, and NASCAR having such huge impacts. But hockey fans are the most die hard you will find around. We love our sport and we follow our teams with our hearts on our sleeves. That is why I know anybody who is near a television right now or has ESPN3 on their computers that is a hockey fan is tuning into the game. With currently no NHL and no movement with the CBA, hockey fans in the United States will tune into ESPN for these KHL games. It is the closest thing to the NHL we have, with many of the players on our favorite NHL teams playing in the league overseas. 

The one thing that irks me about the whole setup is that ESPN is the network carrying the games. The NHL and ESPN haven't been the best of friends since their split in 2004. I, personally, think the NHL was right in leaving the network because they weren't getting the exposure that was expected. They made a mistake in signing with, at the time, OLN because it was not a channel in every home. However, this led to the agreement we see today with NBC, which has been fantastic for the NHL and its fans as now we can catch a game almost every night of the week on basic cable. I've even boycotted ESPN to a point because I can't catch more than a recap of three seconds for any hockey game. I'd rather watch NBC or NHL Network and get all hockey. 

In the end, ESPN is making a very smart move by airing the KHL. Hockey fans are craving hockey and it's probably the best league behind the NHL. It will bring in extra viewers, people like me, who would normally not tune into ESPN to often. It gives the network viewers and shows its interest by airing the KHL during the lockout in the NHL. It could help ESPN in the long run trying to acquire some type of NHL hockey on the network again. Seven games will air on ESPN2 and 3 during October, with more coming in the further months for sure. It's the NHL's turn to strike back and get their fans back on their league and network.

Other Hockey Markets Exist For Fans

With the continuing absence of the NHL since the lockout between the NHL and the NHLPA began on September 15, hockey fans have been looking for an outlet to dull the pain. Including talks up to just this morning, little progress has been made in the revenue area and cancellation of preseason games have cost the NHL $100 million. It seems as if there will not be NHL hockey for quite some time. In the meantime, I'm going to try and take part in watching other forms of hockey. If you want a hockey fix, here are a few options for the avid hockey fan.

Professional Hockey

American Hockey League: The AHL is the tier of professional hockey right under the NHL in the North American market. Most of these teams are owned or tied in with NHL teams as where their prospects are developed. It has a great mix of young kids on the rise who still need some coaching before the big leagues and veterans who have made careers out of playing in this league. It is very good hockey and gives a chance for the fan of a particular NHL team to see what kinds of players the team has in their system. Who knows, if the NHL returns, some of these players could see some call up time with the big club. Some current NHLers to prevent travel to Europe will stay and play in the AHL as well.

European Leagues: Although tough to find for the non-technology person, Kontinental Hockey League and Swedish Elite League games may be televised over the internet for hockey fans. Many of the players in the NHL, are heading over to these areas to play high level hockey. These are considered the professional leagues of Europe and the best of those players that stay over there will play in these leagues. These leagues also playing on Olympic size sheets, making the ice bigger and more open for players.

College Hockey

This is the most exciting league for me coming into the winter. Without NHL hockey and for me, the Rangers, my main go to hockey will be at the college level. Division I college hockey provides a great atmosphere with the game and fans alike. Stadiums are packed with supporters and bands of each time while the hockey on the ice is fast-paced and exciting. Best part about it is there is plenty of it and can be attended in person. Tickets are cheap and it's a great way to see a great hockey game. Again, these are some of the kids that have been drafted, or will be drafted by NHL clubs, developing under a team not affiliated with the big clubs. A great example of a recent player out of college to make a big splash is Chris Kreider who won a National Championship with Boston College then provided major offense for the Rangers in last years NHL playoffs.

Junior Hockey

United States Hockey League: The USHL is the top junior league in the United States. It has a great mix of home-grown American talent mixed in with some of the best young players in the world. It may not get the recognition that the Canadian Hockey League gets, but it is certainly a great game and provides hockey in some areas that are not normally reached by NHL teams. For fans of these areas who won't have much else, this is a good league to go check out. Games can also be found on the internet for other hockey fans interested in catching a game.

Canadian Hockey League: Made up of three separate leagues that play in their own playoffs and championships before coming together for the Memorial Cup (one of the COOLEST concepts in hockey), this league is the best of the best in terms of junior leagues. Canadian players run the league since it is home-grown, but some of the best talent outside will make their way over in hopes of being seen and drafted by an NHL team. Some big time NHL prospects and undrafted players make their way through this league and put up some major numbers. It is exciting hockey to watch and can be found on the internet as well. Unless your really that desperate and want to move to Canada, where it'll be the top story on ESPN every night!

Hopefully that provides some other options to all you hockey fans out there waiting for the NHL to return. I know we all need hockey fixes, so these will not be as great as the NHL, but something close to it to hopefully provide some closure to hockey depression. Just hope the NHL comes back soon.....

Dont' Feel Bad For Either Side

The NHL Lockout, angering and upsetting every hockey fan that lives for hockey season (which is all of us), is in full effect and doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon. Opinions among team managements, analysts, and fans are starting to swirl about who is right and who is wrong in this whole mess. However, there is one set of people who are not praying for hockey just because they love watching it. These are the people that rely on hockey to give them a job, to provide for their families, and to support themselves. These are the hundreds of team employees that may aren't the presidents and vice presidents. They make $20,000-$50,000 a year and are either having their salaries cut or being laid off from their position due to budget cuts.

The NHL was the first one to announce cutbacks just about a week ago in the wake of the lockout. They announced nobody would be laid off, but certain employees would cut back to four day work weeks and see pay cuts worth 20%. A 20% pay cut may not seem anything to an owner or somebody that makes a few hundred thousand a year, but for those who are working just to make ends meet, 20% is a huge hit for them. NHL teams have also started to announce certain cut backs since money is not coming in and doesn't seem like it will for some time. The Vancouver Canucks are one of them and did just as the NHL did, nobody loses their job, but employees will take a 20% cut and four day work weeks.

That was until the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators announced in the past 48 hours that they will have to let some jobs go. The amount of jobs cut by the Senators was not immediately known, however, St. Louis announced they are cutting just under 20 jobs and the rest of the employees will work four days per week with pay cuts. Some of these jobs are being abolished for good and will not be filled again at any time. Those are just three teams so far that have cut back due to the lockout, with many more on the way. As it goes on and on, money will decline within organizations and they will be forced to take action. 

Don't blame just the owners for the removal of jobs....the players are just as guilty. Remember there is an NHL league minimum player wage of somewhere around $500,000 (it changes). That, plus bonuses that players receive because it does not add onto the salary cap, give the players PLENTY of money to make it through some time off. They are not the ones pulling strings to get by. It's the lower wage employees of the teams and league getting the brunt of the situation. It's not only these people either. Think of all the television workers who rely on hockey to provide them with work. What about the concession stand workers, the security guards, arena staff, etc that are getting pushed out because hockey is on a lockout? Nobody is thinking of them.

So the next time you think about taking a side between the NHL and NHLPA, remember that neither are helping the situation and as it gets worse, jobs and money are being cut by the league and organizations, hurting those such employees. It's really a shame to see these people suffer in something they have zero involvement in. The players are not hurting for money right now, nor are the owners of course. Next time you think about taking a side, think about the hard working individuals for teams cutting pay cuts and lay offs for nothing of their reason. Does that sound fair......?

The Longer We Wait, The Worse It Gets

At first, it was just a small number of NHL players that left to play overseas when the NHL vs NHLPA lockout officially began about ten days ago on September 15. However, recently, more and more names have been signing contracts to play with clubs in other leagues over in Europe. Obviously, this isn't a sign of hope as most players are beginning to prepare for the worst, a full season without the NHL. Many still believe a deal will get done, but as time goes on, I see it as a death sentence for the 2012-2013 season that should have began last week with training camp.

The key hope that has been focused on for weeks is that the last time the NHL had a lockout, the teams were not even close to talking as oppose to this time where there is communication. The problem with that is the communication has resulted in nothing being agreed upon so far and the meetings have dwindled in numbers the past few weeks. In fact, there aren't any meetings between the league and NHLPA on the schedule. Closed door meetings between the bosses of each group continue a few times a week, but obviously without scheduling a legitimate NHLPA/NHL meeting, we can see not much is actually getting done. That is a major cause for concern because the days are ticking away and little by little games on the schedule are being canceled. Without official meetings, there is absolutely zero hope for the fans.

The main issue right now between the two sides is revenue sharing. All sports revolve around money and at the end of the day money is always the issue. This is not good in this case because both sides are driving hard for the deal they want. Both sides are represented by firm individuals that won't settle for much less than what they want, making it a very complicated situation. The players received 57% share of the revenue during the last CBA agreement. After seeing the NFL and NBA restructure their revenue sharing to a near 50/50 split, the NHL now wants to sit the players at 49% to start, with that amount lowering each year. Each percent represents about $30 million dollars. The players are looking more at a deal of around 54% each year, something the owners will not allow to happen. With money being a main focus as it always is, it's hard to expect a spur of the moment deal, further agonizing the pain of the fans waiting for hockey season.

With this, time is on the side of the NHL owners. Their first money-making venture of the season will be the 2014 Winter Classic, the NHL's biggest event of the year. They are in no rush to make a deal as they aren't technically losing much money. The players on the other hand have a pay day coming up midway through the month of October. They will be the aggressors come early October to try and wheel a deal. If they want their first season paycheck, they will have to come up with something by this time. If not, they will be losing money very soon.  However, with Don Fehr running the show, they won't be so quick to jump into an agreement in which they aren't getting what they want.

This battle is just as bloody as the last one and we all know what happened with that season. It's already becoming a struggle everyday to read the headlines of nothing happening on the forefront and nothing in the immediate future. As time goes on, I don't see things getting better in time to save this season. There is probably a month left to get a deal done. If November hits and nothing has been done, I fully expect nothing to get done and the 2012-2013 season to be lost. Pray for the opposite, but don't be confident either.

Who Will Win Each Division

Starting now through September, I will be taking a look at where I feel each team will finish in their respective divisions and conferences, based off their lineups coming into the year. It will end eventually with an article based around three teams I think can make it all the way to the Cup. At this point of the year, it is all a guessing game as nobody knows what will come of the regular season.....if there is a regular season. Anything from injuries to under/over-performing to trades can change the dynamic not only of a team, but a division and conference as they fight for a playoff spot. This article will base around who I think will be the top team in each division. 

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division: The Northeast Division is slowly becoming more competitive. The Bruins have been the head of the class the past few seasons, including a Stanley Cup, and want to do the same this year. The Buffalo Sabres, after a rough first season for new owner Terry Pegula, they are healthy and ready to go and make a run. The Maple Leafs are always destined to make the playoffs and somehow always fall short. They pulled a swap to increase offense with James van Riemsdyk, hoping that'll solve an issue. The Senators and Canadiens are still in the "rebuilding" modes in my mind. Even thought making the playoffs last season, Ottawa was nowhere near ready to win a Cup. The Canadiens are hoping for a better season after being 13th in the conference last season.

Who will win the division? Boston Bruins. The Bruins are still the best in the division. They will not have Tim Thomas but Tukka Rask in net this season, yet to be seen if that's better or worse. However, they still have Zdeno Chara leading the defense and a strong set of offensive talent only helped by the return of Nathan Horton. I expect the Bruins to edge the Sabres by a few points for the division. 

Atlantic Division: The Atlantic Division will once again be the toughest in hockey as all the teams are ready for a new year. The Penguins will look to answer after an early exit in last year's playoffs. They keep the same potent offense but the questions lie on defense and goaltending as Marc Andre Fleury had a rough go of it last spring. The Rangers return with another weapon in Rick Nash and possibly the best defense/goaltender tandem in the league. The Flyers will look to have better goaltending this season from "The Universe" why suring up their defense with Luke Schenn. The Devils don't look as good on paper as last season without Captain Zach Parise, but always find a way to make it into the show. Will they again? The Islanders are talented on paper and should prove to be a closer to the playoff team this season.

Who will win the division? New York Rangers. The Rangers took the division last season after seeing Pittsburgh catch them in the last few weeks of the season as the offense struggled. That eventually led to their defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals where they didn't see much of the red light. Rick Nash will help the cause and push the Rangers to the best team in the Atlantic again this year....even with Sidney Crosby in the lineup for the full season.

Southeast Division: The Southeast Division will be closer this year than in the past few years as multiple teams fight for the crown. The Capitals, who let down last year in the regular season before making a short run in the playoffs, added Mike Ribiero as a playmaker to help the offense. Their question is rookie netminder Braden Holtby. The Lightning have a nice defense after adding Sami Salo and Matt Carle this summer, plus come in with Anders Lindback, who I see as a starter in the NHL long-term. Steven Stamkos defends his Rocket Richard Trophy as well down in Tampa. The Hurricanes are now a threat after adding Jordan Staal and Alex Semin this summer. This offense is quite good. The Jets will be iffy this season as they had their strong moments last year and fizzled. I don't expect a playoff run from them. Then the division winning Florida Panthers come into play. The first line which did most of the work for the Panthers, returns with the same crew. They have good goaltending but no more Jason Garrison.

Who will win the division? Tampa Bay Lightning. I don't think many will agree with me on this one but I have a feeling the Lightning will be very good. Their offense is very good as usual. Last year they scored but always gave up goals leading to defeats. They have a pretty new defense with Matt Carle and Sami Salo. Hedman is getting better and I like the kid Brian Lee who they got from Toronto at the trade deadline last season. Anders Lindback is a copy of Pekka Rinne in terms of size and movement. The question is whether he can stop pucks over the course of 60 games a season. I think he can. We shall see.

There you have it. The divison winners for both conferences in no particular order are:

Vancouver Canucks

St. Louis Blues

Los Angeles Kings

Boston Bruins

New York Rangers

Tampa Bay Lightning

Conference Predictions to be posted after the weekend!

Who Will Win Each Division?

Starting now through September, I will be taking a look at where I feel each team will finish in their respective divisions and conferences, based off their lineups coming into the year. It will end eventually with an article based around three teams I think can make it all the way to the Cup. At this point of the year, it is all a guessing game as nobody knows what will come of the regular season.....if there is a regular season. Anything from injuries to under/over-performing to trades can change the dynamic not only of a team, but a division and conference as they fight for a playoff spot. This article will base around who I think will be the top team in each division. 

Western Conference

Northwest Division: The Northwest Division won't be a pushover this year as many of the teams in the division made changes for the better. The Vancouver Canucks return with a strong lineup like they had last year and a new full-time starting goalie in Cory Schneider. The biggest offseason news came out of Minnesota where Zach Parise and Ryan Suter were lured home in an attempt to make the Wild a contender again. Calgary, again, refuses to rebuild and will instead go in with the same core surrounded by another set of outside players, hoping to do the job this season. The Edmonton Oilers are looking upward as they now have three first overall draft picks on offense joining Jordan Eberle and bolstered the defense with unsigned free agent Justin Schultz. Finally, the Colorado Avalanche come into the season still young and maturing but hoping to make a push as they did two seasons ago into the playoffs.

Who will win the division? Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks are just to strong once again. They have a potent offense led by the Sedin twins, while also trying to lure Shane Doan. The defense led by Alex Edler and Kevin Bieksa will have a few changes as Sammi Salo among others have left. Roberto Luongo, although still on the roster, will probably be traded by opening day and Cory Schneider will lead the Canucks into the season.

Central Division: The Central Division has been the strongest in the West for quite a few years now. The West is getting to be a tougher conference, therefore, it will be interesting to see if four Central Division teams can make the playoffs again. Detroit will sport a defense for the first time in 20 years without Nicklas Lidstrom, who they have yet to replaced. Their offense is getting older with time as well. For the first time in a long time, Detroit looks vulnerable. Chicago will return with goaltending questions, although a strong team around Corey Crawford. They hope to make a push for the division. Nashville, after losing Ryan Suter, locked up Shea Weber, for now at least. They have Vezina Finalist Pekka Rinne in net and it will be interesting to see how Mike Fisher leads the offense. St. Louis was a surpise last year, winning the division. They won't be a surprise this year, however, they will be just as good. With dual-goaltenders and a young team, Ken Hitchcock will lead another charge. Columbus, now Rick Nash-less, will struggle again. Although they pieces they have added will help a rebuild in Ohio.

Who will win the division? St. Louis Blues. The Blues are the most complete team in the Central right now. Goalies Halak and Elliot will return to form after a rough second round playoff exit. The offense returns young and ready with David Backes leading TJ Oshie, David Perron, among others. The defense led by star in the making Alex Pietrangelo will also be ready. I expect the Blues to make a bigger splash this year after a great run last year.

Pacific Division: The Pacific Division is always a close one as last year four teams fought for three playoff spots, including a top three conference spot, on the last day of the season. The Dallas Stars return as a darkhorse with gritty captain Brendan Morrow leading. Goalie Kari Lethonen had a great year last year and looks to continue that. The Phoenix Coyotes will have a new look as Ray Whitney packed up his bags for Dallas and Steve Sullivan came in. Their success could lie on whether captain and star Shane Doan returns for the rest of his career in pursuit of a Stanley Cup. The San Jose Sharks aren't getting any younger and will again rely on Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau to carry to team. Stanley Cup winning Los Angeles Kings come into the season with relatively the same team and a whole bunch more confidence. Meanwhile, Anaheim will look to rebound after a poor year last year that saw slips in production from stars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Their defense has been revamped and they will look come back strong.

Who will win the division? Los Angeles Kings. The Kings are coming into the season with high expectations after raising the Cup in June. Last year, they started poor but were red hot down the stretch and in the playoffs. They will have a target on their backs this year but with confidence running high, the Kings, with relatively the same team as last season, will take the Pacific Division. Jonathon Quick will look to continue his trophy quest in hopes of a Vezina Trophy.

Look for the Eastern Conference Division picks coming within the next few days!

C B A

A Hockey Fans Least Favorite Word

At the end of the 2003-2004 NHL season, nobody thought the Collective Bargaining Agreement would get in the way of the following season. The NHL was on the rise, more money was being spent by the fans within the sport, ESPN and ABC were airing hockey games, and the Tampa Bay Lightning had just won the Stanley Cup over the Calgary Flames. Things were looking up. Instead, the NHLPA and NHL Owners/Administration couldn't agree on a CBA deal, fighting all the way into 2005. On February 16, 2005, the NHL season was officially canceled, marking the first time a North American professional sports league canceled a season due to labor disputes.  It dragged on all the way until the summer until finally on July 22, 2005, both sides ratified a new CBA that would end in September of 2012.

It is now summer of 2012 and the September 15 deadline for a new CBA is just over a month away. Yesterday, Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the owners/administration side has no interest in playing a NHL hockey game without a new CBA, therefore, causing an immediate lockout when September 15 hits. The first proposition sent over by the owners was to say the least, "war" starting as they sent a message they would not back down. This coming week, the NHLPA will send a proposal to the owners, probably one of which will send the message right back. When this happens, the only hope for NHL fans is that both sides realize what insanity another lockout would cause and work in cooperation to make sure a deal gets done. 

Since that lockout, the NHL has been doing very well. The fans who left due to the lockout have come back as well as tons of new fans interested in the game of hockey. The new rules put in place have allowed the superstars of the NHL to show their stuff, wowing everyone a game at a time. The old days of the grab and go has been scrapped and a new, faster NHL game has taken over. Goals per game are up since the lockout and new, exciting game is being brought to the fans every night. Not to mention this years playoffs is probably the best I've ever seen in terms of excitement and it has only gotten better since 2005-2006 season. Revenue has increased as tickets are being purchased and merchandise is being sported by all the fans. 

If the NHL was to go into another lockout, especially a full-season lockout, all these positive things would vanish and the NHL will once again be more than a step behind all the other major sports in North America. The die-hards will never go away. I know this because I am one of them and crave hockey every day it's not on and can't wait for it every day that it is on. However, those taking an interest in the sport, the new fans needed to move up on the totem pole, would once again disappear. It is in the best interest of the NHL and NHLPA to come up with an agreement, and quickly, to benefit both sides and keep a good streak going since the last labor dispute. 

Gary Bettman CANNOT be blamed for this. Everyone looks at the bad when it comes to Bettman and not the good. The long time commissioner has done very well for the NHL since his start in the early 1990's. In terms of expansion, Bettman got the league from 26 to 30, spreading out the NHL all across the United States in order to bring hockey to everyone. He also relocated four struggling teams during the 1990's, allowing them new ownership and a new chance in a new location. Since then he has also taken control of numerous teams, either keeping them stable and finding new ownership or moving them somewhere they can succeed. In terms of television, Bettman has put the NHL in a good position. His recent snub of ESPN was a brilliant move among the fans as they are fed up with the lack of NHL coverage on that network to begin with. Instead, he got hockey on two sister networks run by NBC on a 10 year, two billion dollar contract. XM Satellite radio has it's own NHL channel and NHL Network is a huge hit with all hockey fans.

At the end of the day, we know what has to be done. A Collective Bargaining Agreement needs to be signed within the next few months in order to have hockey before the 2012 year runs out. If not, the NHL will be in trouble once again. The NHL and NHLPA have to get to serious talking instead of continually taking jabs at one another. When this happens, a deal will get worked out and we will see NHL hockey once again this season. The NHL is on the rise and it will only get better, however, that success is currently swaying on the edge as the labor "war" continues. 

Focus of the CBA:

-Hockey related revenues-Players are receiving 57% of hockey related revenue and the owners want that lowered. The owners first proposal was 46%, each percent equals 30 million dollars. Expect that to rest around 50-53%.

-Unrestricted Free Agent Status-Players currently become an UFA after seven seasons. Owners first proposal was 10 seasons. Expect that to rest between 7-10 seasons.

-Contract Limits-Currently there is no contract length maximum. The owners first proposal was set at five years. Expect that to rest between five and eight year contracts.

-Salary Arbitration-Currently allows a RFA to go to arbitration if a contract can't be agreed on. Owners want to get rid of arbitration. Expect arbitration to be abolished.

-Entry-Level Contracts-Currently set at three years for all rookies signing their first NHL deal. Owners want to raise it to five year contract length. Expect that to rest between three and five year deals.

What Each Team Needs Going Into Free Agency

Southeast Division

The Southeast Division had a descent year as two teams out of the five ended up making the playoffs. The Florida Panthers were division winners, but lost to the Devils in seven games in the first round. The Washington Capitals struggled, however, found a way to win under new head coach Dale Hunter late in the season and take the seventh seed. They ended up stunning Boston in overtime of game seven and then taking the Rangers to game seven before losing. The Carolina Hurricanes had a tough year full of injuries while the Tampa Bay Lightning had goaltending problems, eliminating them from playoff contention. The Winnipeg Jets had a better than expected season in their new home. This will be a very interesting division this season as all the teams are capable of being a contender.

Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina had a rough season, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference. They battled plenty of injuries throughout the year and could never put together a full team on the ice. They hope to change that this year as they return to being healthy and complete once again. They already made huge moves at the draft acquiring Jordan Staal, brother of captain Eric. They will either make a great one-two punch at the center position or Eric will move to wing, allowing Jordan to play on the same line with him. Don't forget Jeff Skinner either, who had a concussion, setting him back last season. They have some good offensemen to fill in around those core players. On defense, Tim Gleason will lead as a veteran. Young Justin Faulk is going to be a great player as he develops. Cam Ward has had his ups and downs, but is always up for a good run. The Canes will work on locking up Jordan Staal, as well as bolstering the team with some minor players through free agency.

Florida Panthers

The Panthers surprised this year and played well above expectations, locking up the three seed in the conference as the division winner. However, heading into free agency tomorrow, the Panthers are a very incomplete team. They have a ton of free agents-both restricted and unrestricted-heading into July 1st. Whether or not they retain all these players is yet to be seen. If they want to see the success they had this past season, there is plenty of work to be done. They must improve their offense that at some points scored in bunches, but then disappeared other times. The defense will lose UFA Jason Garrison, leaving a void that needs to be filled. He had 16 powerplay goals for them this past season and will require a hefty raise. Florida is talking with Vancouver about Luongo, however, since Marty Brodeur has made it known he will check out the market, they could be interested in him as well. Still, the biggest issue in Florida is getting an offense and defense good enough to compete.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning under-performed last season as Dwayne Roloson and Mathieu Garon really struggled in net. GM Steve Yzerman has been at work since he knew they would not be in the playoffs. He has acquired some young defenseman that will develop nicely with the team and traded for Nashville backup Anders Lindback. He is sure to be calling Marty Brodeur tomorrow also to see if he'd be willing to take a trip. On offense, they are led by 60 goal scorer Steven Stamkos. They also have some other big names including Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis. Around them are a great mix of players. On defense, veterans Brett Clark and Mike Commodore are headed to free agency. However, the Lightning still show a mix of young and old that should do a descent job on the back end. Look for the Lightning to be adding defense as a top priority in free agency. They also may take a look at some of the goaltenders available to help Lindback.

Washington Capitals

New coach Adam Oates will have his work cut out for him handling star Alex Ovechkin and company. At the draft they added Mike Ribiero who is a great puck-handler and set-up man. Alexander Semin seems to be headed either to another team or the KHL as he is not welcome back in Washington after an inconsistent stint there. The Capitals actually have a very nice cast on the offensive side of the puck. On the back end, Mike Green and John Carlson are RFA's but are surely going nowhere. The mix of veterans and other young defensemen should be enough for the Capitals to contend in the division. Braden Holtby will obviously be the starter headed into the season but as we all know, hot rookie goaltenders do not always produce the following year. It will soon be seen if he can take the reins for an extended period of team. In free agency, the Capitals will probably look for someone to replace Semin, however, there aren't a ton of big scorers and I don't expect any big time deals coming from Washington. 

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets had a very nice season as their first back in Winnipeg, just missing the playoffs by mere points. The crowds were wild for their return and although a heavy travel schedule didn't help the Jets, they contended. They have a lot of players heading for free agency, the biggest being Evander Kane. He is restricted though and will most certainly be back for them next season. If they choose to let the rest walk, the Jets will have to put together an offense around captain Andrew Ladd. Blake Wheeler had a surprisingly good season, one they hope he will build upon this season. Alex Burmistrov is also developing nicely for the Jets. They will need some more help, however, and will look to add offense in free agency. Big Dustin Byfuglien leads the defense that has some real good talent on it. Tobias Enstrom is a great player as well as Ron Hainsey, Mark Stuart, and Zach Bogosian. They will count on these players for a bulk of the defense. In goal, Ondrej Pavelec signed a nice new deal that will keep him in Winnipeg for five years. He is only getting better as time goes on.

The Southeast Division is interesting as last season the teams expected to struggle played well and those expected to excel were not good. This season will be different as they all try and get to the playoffs. The Capitals are the favorite to win the division, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say as of now the Lightning and Jets will contend for the top. Florida is losing a whole lot of players if they don't retain them and I think they will struggle unless doing well during free agency. Carolina could also be a much better team if they stay healthy. All these things are yet to be seen. At this point, I'm not even going to guess as to how it'll play out. It'll sure be one of the more interesting divisions though as they may not be top notch teams, but they will all compete for the division, which guarantees a playoff spot as we all know. 

What Each Team Needs Going Into Free Agency

Central Division

The Central Division was the Western Conferences most competitive division last year, just like the Atlantic in the East. Four of the five teams made the playoffs, while one struggled to finish in the bottom five of the league. The St. Louis Blues were the surprise story as they ran the table, nearly winning the Presidents Trophy. They ended up the division winner, second in the conference. The Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings finished four and five in the conference while the Chicago Blackhawks were right behind them in sixth. The Predators ended up knocking out the Red Wings in the first round before losing in the second round. The Blues lost to the eventual champs in second round as well. The Blackhawks lost in the first round to the Phoenix Coyotes. The Columbus Blue Jackets struggled another year and continue to try and rebuild.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks were a very good sixth seed heading into last seasons playoffs when the Phoenix Coyotes stopped them in their tracks. They did not play up to their potential and therefore saw an early exit from the playoffs. In the offseason, rumors spread about Patrick Kane being on the trading block after another drinking episode which ended up with pictures all over the internet. With that, he is still a Blackhawk and will remain a Blackhawk, for now. Captain John Toewshas made it well known he would love to have Shane Doan in Chicago and he would be a great fit. Therefore, expect the Blackhawks to extend a contract his way. There offense is very stable including snipers like Kane, Toews, and Patrick Sharp. They also have a great supporting cast. Their defense will once again be backboned by Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Again, the bottom four are a great supporting cast. A big question lays in net for the Hawks, as Corey Crawford struggled at times last season. They have been rumored to have been calling on Roberto Luongo, but Luongo has already said he won't accept a trade to Chicago. The Hawks will probably stick with the young Crawford in net. They likely will be quiet during free agency besides making a splash for Doan.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets were dreadful this year, finishing last in the league by a landslide. Unfortunately for them, they then lost out on the first overall pick in the lottery draft to the Oilers, but still got a solid defenseman in Ryan Murray, who may even crack the lineup this season. The biggest question surrounding GM Scott Howsen is when and if he will trade captain Rick Nash. Nash has the power to be a great asset to many teams in the NHL. The asking price is high, but after free agency slows down he is bound to be shipped somewhere for a package. On offense, the Blue Jackets are weak at best, even with Nash. RJ Umberger and Ryan Johansen are their biggest weapons. They will need to try and attract players during free agency, but it is unlikely many will bite. On defense, Jack Johnson was shipped from the Kings in the Jeff Carter deal, giving them their number one. The supporting cast is actually not bad including shutdown man Fedor Tyutin and James Wisniewski. In net, the Blue Jackets will have Steve Mason and newly acquired Sergei Bobrovsky. If they can produce some offense, the Jackets will be a better team than last year, however, still unlikely to make the postseason. The rebuild continues...

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are always a favorite in the Western Conference and no matter where they finish are dangerous in the playoffs. The were ousted by their division rival Predators but look to return strong this year under Coach Mike Babcock. On offense, the already dangerous Red Wings are going to make a huge pitch for Zach Parise, the most prized free agent this summer. Adding that to the likes of magician Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, among others will make a powerhouse up front. The back end will not be the same it has been for the past 20 years as Nicklas Lidstrom retired this year. Even then, Niklas Kronwall will lead a defense that always ends up being stellar. They will also be making a huge pitch for top free agent defenseman Ryan Suter. In net, Jimmy Howard was having a great year until injuries late in the season really set him back. He was not himself in the playoffs, limiting how far the Red Wings could go. If the Wings get Parise and/or Suter, watch out, they will be very dangerous. Even if they don't, they will be strong as they always are. The Red Wings biggest concern is bolstering the defense heading into free agency.

Nashville Predators

Going into last years playoffs, the Predators were my pick to make it to the Cup round in the West. They were skilled right down the line and had all positions covered. However, Mike Smith has something to say about that and the Predators lost out in the second round. This year will be a bit different in Nashville. Up front, Alexander Radulov will not be coming back after a little partying in the playoffs got him in some trouble. Up front, a cast including Mike Fisher, Martin Erat, and Patric Hornqvist lead the Predators. However, with what they will lose to free agency, the Predators definitely could use some help on the front end. The defense will also look possibly quite different as Ryan Suter will hit the open market. Shea Weber is a RFA but will likely only sign a one year deal and be unrestricted next summer. He has already stated he'd like to play with Suter. He may end up in Nashville for one more year, but after that the Predators could be hurting. Hall Gill will return which always helps. The other players on the defensive end are capable as well. In net, the Predators have a world-class goalie in Pekka Rinne and have locked him up for some time. The Predators will look to add offense in free agency while trying to lure Suter and Weber to stay for years to come.

St. Louis Blues

The Blues were the surprise of the Central Division, ending up winning it under Coach Ken Hitchcock. After a bad start, Hitchcock took over and the Blues did not look back. They were fantastic on home ice during the regular season. In the playoffs, they as well as others, ran into a very hot Los Angeles Kings and lost in four games. Their offense is stacked with great young talent like TJ Oshie and David Perron. Captain David Backes is a personal favorite player of mine as he plays an all around great power forward game. On defense, Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Pietrangelo are turning into something special and are surround by some great veterans to help them out. Kris Russell is also a big younger and fits in well in St. Louis. In net, the one-two punch of Brian Elliot and Jaro Halak proved well for the Blues and will return again this season. I expect Halak to be the starter but Elliot to play a good number of games as well. 

Just like the Atlantic Division, the Central is a tough call. All four teams that made the playoffs last year are sure to return just as strong this year. They can all make the playoffs and almost anything can happen between one and four within the division. If I had to make a prediction at this point, I think the Red Wings will win the division as they will add Parise and/or Suter to their roster. The Blues and Blackhawks will fight for second and third while I think the Predators may struggle a bit offensively, ending up fourth. If they lose Suter, they will not be as shut down on the defensive end. These four teams though can all make the playoffs and surprise so I would not be shocked to see different. The Blue Jackets will struggle again. The biggest question for them will be will Rick Nash be with the team in mid-July. If they do trade him, expect the rebuild to start with those picks, players, and prospects acquired.

What Each Team Needs Going Into Free Agency

Atlantic Division

The Atlantic Division, my favorite of course being a Rangers fan, got very interesting near the end of last year. The New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, and New Jersey Devils all made the playoffs. In the end, the Rangers were the division and conference regular season champions. The Flyers and Penguins had a hard fought first round battle which saw the Flyers move on. They were then ousted by the Devils, who then removed the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Championship. This was only to move them on to a tough series in which the Kings got the best of the Devils in six games for the Stanley Cup. The New York Islanders, once again, had a rough season with some ups and downs mixed in. All five teams look to improve heading into next season.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils had a great postseason run which not only proved to their team and fans they are a contender, but also gave them some extra cash to help with the debt they have racked up over the past few years. Right now, the only person on the Devils radar is Zach Parise, their captain and face of the franchise. The problem is, nobody really knows what is going on in New Jersey with their ownership situation, therefore, money as well. Parise will demand some big money going into free agency, some say in the area of seven to nine million per year. Besides Parise, the Devils still have some work to do. Their third and fourth lines are virtually all UFA's July 1st. Plus, some of their defense. The Devils have two good lines up front. They will look to sign Parise long term as well as replace a few defenseman they are losing to free agency. Both goalies are free as well. Johan Hedberg will not be coming back but Martin Brodeur will. The Devils need to get a young backup to not only take some games from Marty, but to possibly develop into a starter as their farm system has not produced a big time goaltender in waiting yet.

New York Islanders

So far this offseason, the Islanders have definitely taken a step forward. They are slowly developing into what could be a competitive team in the coming years. The offense, which has yet to stay healthy for a full season, still includes star John Tavares, Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo, and youngster Nino Niederreiter. The one person the Isles will lose to free agency for bigger money will be PA Parenteau, who played a huge role for the Islanders this season. They will look to replace him by looking for a top nine forward. Matt Martin is a restricted free agent but has been given a qualifying offer by the team. On defense, a healthy Mark Streit will team up with veteran minute muncher and powerplay man Lubomir Visnovsky. They will try and develop some of the younger defenseman. Evgeni Nabakov will be back for another season to alongside the oft-injured Rick DiPietro. Al Montoya will hit the market as a free agent. The Islanders core is mainly intact as they will probably lay low during free agency and pick up some good acquisitions to fit the mold.

New York Rangers

The Rangers looked great all year heading into the playoffs. A few tough matchups left them fatigued as the Devils were able to knock them out of the Eastern Conference Finals. It is the farthest the Rangers have seen playoff-wise in a long time and they will look to build on that this year. Many names swirl at this point around the Rangers as Marian Gaborik will be out of action until November. Rick Nash is on the radar, but so far the price is way to high for GM Glen Sather to even think about making a deal. Then there is Bobby Ryan who may cost a bit less but will attract offers from the Flyers since he is from the area. The other is Justin Schultz, the defenseman from Wisconsin who played with Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh. Otherwise, the Rangers will show a very similar team on paper to last years as they will not lose much. The biggest loss may be Brandon Prust, who will test free agency after not agreeing on a contract number. The Rangers are the only American team on Schultz's list but nobody knows exactly where he will end up. Even then, the Rangers are going to be aggressive this offseason. They will take a look at a number of different options on all sides of the puck.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers made huge moves last summer trading stars Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, who both ended up hoisting the Cup with the Kings at the end of this season. The biggest problem for the Flyers this past season, and in recent years, has been goaltending. Ilya Bryzgalov has not lived up to the 51 million dollar contract he signed as a free agent last summer. With that, the Flyers are handcuffed in terms of goaltending and will have to hope Bryz comes more prepared to play this season. They may make a pitch for Marty Biron if he makes it to July 1st, but he would not be able to handle full time duties by himself. Otherwise, the Flyers have a good offense. They need to get back RFA Jacob Vorachek. They will also look at both Rick Nash and Bobby Ryan to possibly fill in the void for James van Riemsdyk, who they traded to Toronto for Luke Schenn last week. On defense, the biggest concern is getting Matt Carle back under contract, but he is looking for a bigger payday this offseason and may find it elsewhere if the Flyers can't get him soon. 

Pittsburgh Penguins

Then Penguins, heading into the past offseason as a favorite to make a run for the Cup, faltered early as Marc Andre Fleury was awful. The Penguins have already made a huge splash since their exit, trading Jordan Staal for Brandon Sutter and Derrick Pouliot (eighth overall pick) to Carolina. They then traded Zbynek Michalek to Phoenix, where he originally signed from to open up cap space. Today, the Penguins locked up Sidney Crosby to a 12 year deal worth 104 million dollars. With all these moves, the Penguins still have plenty of cap room headed into free agency. They are likely to take big runs at Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to try and lure them. If so, they would easily become the highest ranked team in the NHL heading into September. The likelihood of those players coming is tough to say because Suter would like to stay in the Western Conference and Parise wants to remain in New Jersey. If Parise doesn't, I'd expect him to sign in Detroit or Minnesota. Whatever happens, the Penguins are looking to add offense and defense to an already outstanding core of hockey players. 

The Atlantic, once again, may be the toughest division in the league again with the Central Division in the West. All the teams are either very well off or on their way up. It's really hard to say who will end up where because they all have the capability coming into the season. The Rangers and Penguins, in my mind, will be the top two teams in the division. The Devils and Flyers will also contend and be playoff teams, however, may not be division winning worthy. The Islanders are a tough call but if they stay healthy and have a good run, anything can happen. The Atlantic will sure be an interesting race this season.

What Each Team Needs Going Into Free Agency

Northwest Division

The Northwest Division features one top dog with the other teams making strides to get some youth and make strides in the coming seasons. The Vancouver Canucks have been among the elite in the standing the past two seasons, losing in the Stanley Cup in 2011 and losing this year to future Cup champions, the Los Angeles Kings. The Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames have all struggled as of late. None of them made the playoffs last year but they are slowly building a solid core of players.

Calgary Flames 

The Flames have struggled in recent years to make an impact in the Western Conference. They have been a part of playoff races yet failed to make it the past three seasons dating back to the end of the 08-09 season. They made a big splash today by trading for the rights, then signing defenseman Dennis Wideman to a big five year contract. It is a bit much to give but shows Jay Bouwmeester's time is dwindling in a Flames uniform. They have a good defense heading into the year with plenty of veterans in the lineup mixed among a few kids who they will teach. Mikka Kiprusoff is always up to the task if the Flames defense can help him a bit. Besides Jarome Iginla, the Flames do not feature another big time scorer. They traded for Mike Cammalleri at the end of last season which should help. They could definitely use some secondary scoring though going into free agency.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche have been going through a youth movement the past few seasons as they unexpectedly made the playoffs in 2010-2011. However, hoping to build on that this year a late string of injuries kept them from gaining a playoff berth this past season. With Matt Duchene signed to a new contract for the next two seasons, the Avalanche are taking a step in the right direction. At this point, the Avalanche probably wish they still had Kevin Shattenkirk on the roster. Eric Johnson has not been bad but hasn't lived up to his overall potential as a number one pick overall. They have youth on the back end as well as in goal. JS Giguere is doing a nice job grooming Semyon Varlamov. Up front, the Avalanche show leadership, skill, and grit in a number of different players. I really like the mix they have on the front end. If the defense and goaltending is there, the Avalance look good headed into the season. They may sure up by getting a veteran defenseman in free agency.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers have stock piled number one draft picks and it's finally time to start using them. They have a young, potent offense with names like Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, and  now Nail Yakupov. These names will mesh among some veterans and should produce. It will be up to new head coach Ralph Krueger to come up with the right combinations. The defense is where Edmonton still lacks. They have stable blueliners Nick Schultz and Ryan Whitney with Andy Sutton. That is not enough though to hold down the fort. The Oilers need some youth to step up on defense. They will surely target Justin Schultz heading into free agency this weekend, however, so will 29 other teams. In goal, it is unproven whether Devin Dubnyk can get the job done over the course of a full season. Nikolai Khabibulin is still under contract as well. The Oilers will definitely start to show some upside but they still need help.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild are aiming big heading into free agency. They are going to try and lure Zach Parise and Ryan Suter their way. Parise is from Minnesota and they will try and use that as a bargaining tool, as well as show an upcoming team being built around captain Mikko Koivu. They are also expected to be giving Suter a call. The Wild were first in the Western Conference on December 1st of this past season, but had a horrible second half and didn't even make the playoffs. They have a very well thought out offense that spreads nicely over four lines. Parise would surely be a huge help if they could get him. The defense is a mix of youth and veteran, however, need some help as Tom Gilbert is their best name on the list right now. That's where Suter comes in. They have a very strong one-two punch in net with Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding. The Wild will either go very big and nab a top free agent or two, or completely miss and get nothing this free agency period. 

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks were the Presidents Trophy winners heading into this seasons playoffs but were ousted in five games at the hands of future Cup raisers, the Kings. Strings of injuries didn't help the Canucks, however, nobody saw that early of an exit. They still boast a strong offense that features the Sedin twins and Ryan Kessler. They are deep pretty well throughout the lineup. Their defense is well-off  with Alexander Edler and Kevin Bieksa leading the way. They boast size on the back end pretty well also. Not to mention it's rumored Justin Schultz would like to play near his home in British Columbia. It is yet to be seen who will be the goaltender heading into this season, but it looks as if youngster Cory Schneider will get his chance to be top dog. He is expected to do just as good of a job, if not better, than Roberto Luongo. His contract will be a tough one to move with a no trade clause, however, it's bound to happen if he wants to play.  The Canucks are a strong team heading into this year already.

The Northeast will, my guess, be run again by the Canucks. They are the best team heading into free agency and if the Wild can't get the big names their way, I don't see the Canucks losing the division. The Avalanche, Wild, and Oilers are all getting better and could all finish anywhere between two to four in the division. As for the conference and playoffs, it's a very hard tale to try and predict. I don't see the Flames doing much unless they can make a splash and get some offense to help out. 

What Each Team Needs Going Into Free Agency

Northeast Division

This week, I will preview the six NHL Divisions, all 30 teams in all, and talk about what each team has and what they need in order to contend this upcoming season. With July 1 free agency just over 5 days ahead, teams are gearing up for what will be crazy few days of signing and possible trading in order to prepare for September. The first division I will look at is the Northeast which includes the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadians, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Boston Bruins

After winning the Stanley Cup in 2011, the Bruins looked strong heading into the playoffs this past season. However, the Washington Capitals were able to hang with them in the first round and steal the series in overtime to eliminate the defending champs. The Bruins have done a nice job this offseason so far re-upping Gregory Campbell and Chris Kelly. Kelly's four year deal, which was rejected by the NHL, should become official July 1st when the cap number becomes fixed at around 70 million per team. The Bruins don't have the most cap room in the league but also don't need that much. Tukka Rask will be locked up long term soon. The Bruins could use a solid backup goaltender behind Rask with Thomas sitting out this year. They could use a defenseman to replace Joe Corvo who will get more money on the open market. They could also use one more goal scorer to fill in a spot between the second and third line. Nathan Horton's status is unknown due to his concussion problems. One thing is for certain; the Bruins will heavily try to get rid of Tim Thomas' five million dollar cap hit to a team needing to reach the ceiling to open up some extra space. His time in Boston seems to be over for good.

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres had a very good draft and are therefore starting to stockpile prospects, especially centers. They are in the process of signing center Mikhail Grigorenko, who they were able to steal after defenseman became the hot commodity at the draft. If he deems ready, he will suit up this year in the NHL. After an abysmal start last year that at one point saw star goaltender Ryan Miller go down with a concussion at the hands of Milan Lucic, the Sabres had a strong run to end the season, nearly getting into the playoff picture when it was all said and done. The Sabres want to add even more centers when free agency opens next week. Brad Boyes will be a free agent, as well as Jochen Hecht who is on injured reserve. One hope is Ville Leino will step up and ensure the $27 million they spent on him wasn't a waste. Tyler Ennis is a key priority the Sabres want to resign as he will be an RFA. The Sabres lack at scoring which will be looked at, however, have a very strong defense and goaltending which will lead them into this upcoming season.

Montreal Canadians

The Canadiens had an atrociousness season last year and ended up firing their head coach, interim head coach, and general manager as the year went by. Marc Bergevin, the new GM, has his work cut out for him in the upcoming weeks. Travis Moen is someone the Canadiens are looking to bring back but that isn't as easy as it looks anymore. The grinding type players are becoming a major commodity on NHL rosters and are looking for more and more money each year. RFA'S Raphael Diaz, Lars Eller, Alexie Emelin, Blake Geoffrion, and PK Subban will need to be taken care of or let go. Another key issue is getting goaltender Carey Price locked up long term as Bergevin has already put his faith in Price the moment he took over as GM. Scott Gomez will not be returning after being bought out. The Canadiens have a nice core of players that need some help from the outside. Jaromir Jagr is one name floating around the Canadiens. Look for him to be in their plans come July 1st. Depending upon who they Canadiens resign, that will determine exactly what they are looking for this offseason. One things for sure, they need to take a step forward or that city will torment them once again.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators have already done some work this summer locking up Norris Trophy winning, stud defenseman Erik Karlsson to a seven year deal worth around 45 million dollars. It seems as if they will not be bringing back center Zenon Konopka or defenseman Filip Kuba. They also have some decisions to make on RFA's Nikita Filatov and Nick Foligno. Foligno is a no brainer as he had a very nice year producing points while also playing a physical, aggressive game on the second line. A big question rides in the captain, Daniel Alfredsson, who is contemplating retirement after a glorious NHL career. GM Bryan Murray has been quite active already this offseason. He is throwing offers for Rick Nash, who has stated he won't play for Ottawa, to try and big in some big time offense. In the end, the Senators need some of everything. With only Spezza, Turris, and Michalek on the current roster who can put up points, Ottawa will need some scoring. Also, with the loss of Kuba and possibly Matt Carkner and Matt Gilroy, Chris Philips and Erik Karlsson will need some back end help. Jared Cowen will be back, but rumors are Murray is trying to move Sergei Gonchar's contract. In net, Craig Anderson and Ben Bishop should be a good one-two punch. 

Toronto Maple Leafs

Who knows what is ever going on in Toronto as GM Brian Burke never really shows or tells much. A pure hockey trade brought over James van Riemsdyk from Philadelphia after the draft ended Saturday for defenseman Luke Schenn. The biggest question in Toronto still is goaltending. Upcoming UFA Jonas Gustavsson's rights were traded to Winnipeg over the weekend leaving James Reimer to be the man in Toronto. Down the stretch, he really struggled as Toronto lost all hope for gaining a playoff berth. Roberto Luongo is on the block, but has stated he won't come to the Leafs, nor do we know if Burke will actually make a pitch for him. Burke stays confident in Reimer, but at this point, he may be the only one. The Leafs have a good mix on defense of veterans and youngsters. They may try to add another piece after trading Schenn this weekend. On offense, the Leafs have some real good names like Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, Mikhail Grabovski, and more to add to van Riemsdyk. The Leafs must lock up Nikolai Kulemin and Cody Franson as well. The key for the Leafs will be to see if they add a goaltender. They are also rumored to be out of the Rick Nash sweepstakes, but as we always know, Burke is hunting for something to add. 

The Northeast will be a pretty competitive division this year as Boston once again looks solid. Buffalo is gaining momentum after a good end to the season last year. Ottawa surprised many last year and will look to build upon what they did. Toronto and Montreal are question marks as they try and rebuild and become successful again. If I had to guess at this point what they would look like at the end of the upcoming season, I would say Boston on top, followed closely by Buffalo. Ottawa will trail them followed by Toronto and Montreal as the bottom feeders in the division. Of course that's just a guess and much has to do with how they look after free agency settles down.

What A Weekend It Was

It was quite a week in the NHL as the awards ceremony took place in Las Vegas, the two-day draft was held in Pittsburgh, and the wheeling and dealing before July 1st free agency began. For me, it's the start of the NHL summer where we will have a few fun weeks before it dies down again in mid-July. We will then have a six to seven week break before training camps open in September and it heats up again leading into the season. 

The Draft: 

It's always hard to tell who will be the winners and losers of the draft mainly because most of these players will not be seen for years. Only time will tell what prospects become intricate parts of the team that drafted them. The real work for the prospects begins now as their teams begin to develop them from within their system. Here are the draft winners, at least for now:

Winners:

Pittsburgh Penguins: The Penguins ended up with two first round picks after they traded Jordan Staal to his brother's team, the Carolina Hurricanes. Although it was a great move for the Canes to get back on the map in the Southeast, the Penguins getting pesky center Brandon Sutter is huge. They also were able to get the Canes eighth pick in which they chose blueliner Derrick Pouliot, another solid choice. With their own pick they may have ended up even better off, getting Olli Matta, who slipped from a top ten pick to 22. These two blueliners will be very highly touted for years to come in Pittsburgh. 

Buffalo Sabres: With the 12th overall pick, the Sabres got a real steal. After eight of the first ten picks were defensemen, the Sabres were able to snag Mikhail Grigorenko. He is an unbelievable mix of size and skill that will shine in the NHL for years. The one hanging question is will he shake off some of the inconsistency that has plagued him in years prior? The Sabres were also able to move up to the 14th spot after a trade with Calgary to grab Latvian center Zemgus Girgensons. He is a 200 foot type of player that competes with maximal effort. Meshing him with Cody Hodson as two of the Sabres top centers will be interesting to see.

New York Islanders: The Isles made a great move by picking up Lubomir Visnovsky from the Ducks. Yes, they definitely traded a pick way to high for a guy that's over 35, however, he is a stellar defenseman. For the Isles, he will eat up over 20 minutes a night of solid hockey alongside Captain Mark Streit. He will also be a big powerplay man for them. With the fourth pick, they grabbed Griffin Reinhart. Reinhart is a highly touted defensive prospect who was called possibly the best player at the draft when he matures. After drafting offense the past nine first rounds, the Isles went very right with this pick.

Edmonton Oilers: For the third year in the row the Oilers had the top pick at the draft. However, this year was a little different, as the top player available was not a consensus number one. Ryan Murray, who ended up going number two, was just as highly rated as Nail Yakupov. The Oilers in the end took Yakupov, who will be very good alongside other number one picks Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall. Yes, they still do need to find some defensemen to fit into their future, but for now, the offense looks great in Edmonton.

The Trades: 

It was surely an interesting Friday night as nobody figured Jordan Staal would be moved just a day after he rejected a 10 year, 60 million dollar contract from the Penguins. The Hurricanes, however, were worried they would lose their shot to another team and therefore sent one of their top young guns in Brandon Sutter, as well as the eighth overall pick, to the Penguins in return for Staal. There is no clear cut winner in this trade as both sides got major pieces for their teams. For now, the Hurricanes got a current player who will be great in the NHL for years to come. The Penguins got a pesky center to fill in the void for Staal's departure as well as two high, very well off defensemen to fit into their future. 

The other trade took place on Saturday, after the draft was declared over. The Flyers traded James van Riemsdyk to the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Luke Schenn. Again, no clear cut winner as this pure hockey trade left both teams with what they wanted. The Leafs got JVR, a kid with amazing offensive upside that will fit well into the Canadian-based team. The Flyers got defense, bringing in Luke to play with brother Braydon, who is a center for the team. This move may also clear up some space to bring in other players for both teams as they Flyers continue to chase Bobby Ryan and Rick Nash while the Leafs look at a little bit of everything as we never know what GM Brian Burke is thinking. 

Rick Nash, Bobby Ryan, Justin Schultz, and Roberto Luongo:

As of now, nothing but dead has come out of these three names being on the trade block. Rick Nash and company continue to push for a trade, however, GM Scott Howsen is still on another planet asking for way too much. It's unlikely any team will put out what they are asking for. Still, look for the Rangers, Flyers, Sharks, and Leafs to continue to call and see where Howsen is at. Another dark house to keep an eye on is the Senators, but Nash is unlikely to waive his no trade to go there. As for Bobby Ryan, he has publicly stated that he is not happy with the Ducks shopping him around constantly. He seems to want to be traded at this point and his father wants him to be a Flyer. However, don't count out some of the same teams interested in Nash to take a run at him hoping the price to be cheaper. Justin Schultz will start fielding offers this week as he will choose his team come next week when free agency opens. Nobody really knows but Justin where he will end up. Rumors have swirled from everywhere, including Edmonton where he would make a clear top line defenseman to New York, where he could join Wisconsin teammates Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan. Other landing spots could be Toronto or even back in Anaheim, where he was drafted. The other big name out there is Roberto Luongo. As of this morning though, it seems it will be tough to move him. Using his no trade clause as leverage, he has stated he will not go to Chicago or Toronto. The only place he is willing to go it seems is Florida, who is interested but has Jose Theodore and up and coming Jacob Markstrom in net. Florida is unlikely to trade the major pieces needed to acquire Luongo.

That's all for now. Things will once again heat up this week as free agency opens Sunday at midnight. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens. My thinking is that Zach Parise and Ryan Suter will end up in the Western Conference, most likely Detroit or Minnesota. When that happens, Nash and Ryan will go to the Rangers and Flyers, depending upon who stretches out first to get one or the other. Schultz is a mystery as only he knows where he wants to play. He will get a max rookie offer wherever he goes so that is not the issue. Luongo will not go anywhere for a while, possibly even until training camp when he realizes he won't be starting in Vancouver because Cory Schneider is taking the reins. 

Who Can Afford Rick Nash and Roberto Luongo

At the beginning of the 2011-2012 NHL season, nobody would have ever thought names like Rick Nash and Roberto Luongo would be available for trade during the offseason. Fast forward to today and with just a few days looming before the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, both names are on the hot seat to be moved. With a weaker free agent class this summer besides Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, many teams are interested. The question is how much will teams have to give up to acquire the contracts to these players? Also, can they afford the big money, long term contracts they carry along?

Rick Nash is considered one of the best power forwards in the league. Back in 2002, he was a first overall pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, one of the more recent expansion teams the NHL has put forth. With a struggling Blue Jackets team, Nash has done wonders. In his nine seasons playing there, he has seven 30 goal campaigns, two of them reaching into the 40's. His highest point total has been 79 which took place in the 2008-2009 season. He has had some minor injuries in some seasons which has caused setbacks, yet he is still one of the biggest and best power forward in the league coming in at 6'4" and 218 pounds. He is currently on an eight year, 62 million dollar contract which comes out to a cap hit of 7.8 million per year.

Roberto Luongo has always been an upper echelon goaltender. Drafted fourth overall by the New York Islanders in 1997, he only played 24 games in the Islanders uniform, which took place in  1999-2000 before he was moved to the Florida Panthers. This is where Luongo made a name for himself. On a struggling Panthers team for years, Luongo always put up very good numbers, normally facing more shots than any other goaltender each year. More success came with a trade to the Vancouver Canucks. However, with young backup Cory Schneider ready to take over the starting role, Luongo finds himself on the trading block today with a 12 year, 64 million dollar contract which ends in 2022. His cap hit is 5.3 million per year.

Many teams would enjoy having these two players on their teams. However, with hefty contracts and no movement clauses swirling around both players, only a select few teams can be interested in each. When it comes to Nash, he wants out of Columbus and that's well known. He gave a short list of five teams to GM Scott Howsen on where he would waive his movement clause to go to, which are still somewhat unknown. At this point it seems four teams are interested. 

Those four teams are the New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Carolina Hurricanes. The Maple Leafs have seemed to drop out of the sweepstakes as of yesterday and Boston seems to be having some cap issues, pushing them out of sight. The frontrunner seems to be the New York Rangers who have Brandon Dubinsky on the trading block. They seem to be willing to part with him, as well as their first round pick, and small handful of prospects. They have made it well known future star Chris Kreider is off limits as well as Michael Del Zotto and Derek Stepan. The other team I think has the assets to trade for Nash is Carolina. With a bunch of young stars emerging, they could include a package with their first round pick, Justin Faulk, and even Brandon Sutter. However, they may also be interested in captain Eric Staal's brother, Jordan, from the Penguins. The Flyers, after hearing James Van Riemsdyk is healthy, have thrown his name into the mix. The Sharks, again, are interested but will probably not be able to contend with the other teams interested. 

After Steve Yzerman traded for Anders Lindback this past week, Tampa Bay seems to be out of the mix for a starting goalie. They may try to bring in someone who could split games with Lindback, but are hoping these cheaper options will work. Josh Harding is one of those names who may make their way down to Tampa. The only other team I could see going for Luongo at this point is Toronto. After being a playoff team for most of the season, a rough stretch of goaltending between both netminders sent them packing. Jonas Gustavsson is a free agent and will not be returning. Therefore, it's James Reimer. GM Brian Burke is always looking to change something up. Therefore, I feel he has the most interest in bring Luongo in. If something doesn't change in Toronto soon, Burke may find himself jobless sooner rather than later. The other team who could contend for Luongo is the Blue Jackets, but it's highly unlikely Luongo would waive his no movement clause to go to a team who is not even close to a playoff contender. 

In any case, Friday night marks the 2012 NHL Draft. With picks being used at the time, the likelihood of one of both of these players moving is high. The other name mentioned that has been swirling is Jordan Staal, a third line center for the Penguins but easily a first or second line center elsewhere. It's just three days away from the draft and with a weaker free agency class coming just a week later, who is going to pull the trigger? My guess is that before Friday Rick Nash is out of Columbus. I believe he will end up with the Rangers or Flyers. Luongo, on the other hand, is hard to tell and I don't think he will be traded before Friday. When and/or if he does get traded, I expect him to be a Maple Leaf.