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.  

Parise Signing Not As Easy As It Looks

News today rang out across the land that there is "no way" Zach Parise signs with the New York Rangers. The soon to be unrestricted free agent straight up said today he would never sign with the Devils rival team across the Hudson. Shocker! Even though Parise has also stated that he would like to stay with New Jersey, it doesn't make the deal as easy as it may look. I'm not saying Zach Parise won't sign with New Jersey, as it is always possible. But from the outside, there are many more factors involved in this deal than just what both sides say.

The first issue is, of course, money. Some people around hockey are saying his contract could be somewhere in the 9 million dollar range per year. The Devils, even though having made good money during their lengthy playoff run and possibly having ownership coming soon, still owe money and aren't considered the most stable franchise at this time. Forbes has stated the team owes 80 million dollars to banks this upcoming summer and as of last November had racked up 250 million dollars in debt. Who knows what is going on over there....the main thing is Parise will want plenty of money. Will he be able to get that in New Jersey? That is to be guessed upon in the next few weeks. Parise also has stated it's possible he could be signed before July 1st, but it's not definite. 

Another issue is the other teams interested. By this point, everyone, including Parise and the Devils, know who is interested and willing to fight for him. Not a shocker the Rangers won't have a chance to sign him, however, they have other interests vested at this point anyway. Still, there are 28 other teams besides the Rangers and Devils. What about the Detroit Red Wings. They are a Cup contending team nearly every year with a stable franchise and about $20 million in upcoming cap room. Plus the fact they are also heavy on acquiring Ryan Suter as an unrestricted free agent too. The combination already there plus adding these two stars would sure make a top caliber team for years to come. Michigan is also near Parise's home state of Minnesota. 

Another team willing to go to war over Parise will be the Minnesota Wild. Parise is from Minnesota and still has strong ties back to his home. He hadn't ruled out the possibility of returning home as of earlier in the year. The Wild are also on record of saying they will outbid every other team for Parise, no matter what the cost is.Wild owner Craig Leipold and general manager Chuck Fletcher have made it clear they want Parise and again, are willing to outbid any contender. That sounds like it could be some ridiculous money. If Parise wants to have more money than he can dream of plus live in his hometown, Minnesota will surely be willing to have him. They aren't the greatest team in the league at this point but have some strong names. If Parise was to go there, he would be the centerpiece to build around. 

The last team who could even land Parise is, yes, the team that just beat the Devils for the Stanley Cup. The Los Angeles Kings are always looking for a big gun to add to their roster and with some work, they could fit Parise in. Moving cap space has never been a huge issue for general manager Dean Lombardi. The Kings are full of stars already and with warm weather and sun all year round, Parise could be lured. 

In the end, it's going to be what Parise wants. Yes, there is a strong chance he does stick with the Devils and captain them for years to come. However, there are many more factors than what it seems. The main issue is definitely going to be money. It's unlikely Parise will take a paycut as last year he saw the Devils throw $100 million at Ilya Kovalchuk. At this point, all we really know is that it's going to be an interesting few weeks heading into the June 23rd draft and July 1st free agency period.

Tonight Is More Of A Game Seven Then Ever

Tonight, the Los Angeles Kings will host the New Jersey Devils in game six of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Kings were all but putting a nail in the coffin up 3-0 in the series when the Devils stormed back to take two games. Now, it's a 3-2 series and will come down to the wire to crown this years Stanley Cup Champion. However, I see this game not as game six, but really as game seven. Whoever wins this game tonight, I think, will become the Stanley Cup Champion. 

The Kings, of course, only being one win away, can win it tonight in their own building. If they do, they will become the first eight seeded playoff team to ever win the Stanley Cup. They are already the second eight seed ever to make it this far into the playoffs. Back in 2006, the Chris Pronger led Edmonton Oilers went seven games with the Carolina Hurricanes, losing a close series. They were the only other eight team to make it with the Kings to this point in the playoffs. 

For the Devils, it is do or die. They must come up with another win for a shot at the Stanley Cup. They have played well these past two games controlling the play and getting better chances on Jonathon Quick. They have also capitalized on some plays that Quick that would be considered somewhat "weak." If the Devils can keep up the pressure and force the Kings to turn the puck over, they may just find themselves headed home with a chance to win the Cup on their home ice in game seven. 

In my mind, if the Devils somehow find a way to win tonight, they will go home and win game seven. In that case, I believe the winner comes from this game tonight. If the Kings can come out strong and get an early lead, I think they will beat the Devils and hoist the Cup tonight in Los Angeles. I believe they will come out very strong and ready to play. The Devils will try to counter that. If the Kings come out with some fire, the Devils will just have to outlast the attack. I don't think there is a certain way to stop it besides making sure the defensive zone is covered and making good breakout passes. When in the offensive zone, the Devils have to keep shooting on Quick while getting screens and tips like they have the past two games. 

If the Kings score first, especially in the early going, I think they will take the game. With the crowd on their side and the Devils on the edge of the cliff, scoring first would jolt them. However, the Devils have done a nice job of keeping the Kings off the board in the early going and will counter with some offense of their own. If the Devils score first, I don't expect the game to be over at any point especially with the game in Los Angeles. It is a very interesting matchup and I'm interested to see who is going to bring the offensive attack early and try to get an early lead. 

Either way, buckle up friends. This is going to be a great hockey game. My prediction is the Kings will win a 3-2 game in regulation. It won't be easy by any means for both teams. However, with the crowd buzzing all night and the Kings having so many top-notch names on the roster, I think they will finally get the win they need tonight to win it all. Like I said though, if they Devils do somehow pull another stunning game off tonight, I expect them to win the Cup at home on their ice Wednesday night. Whatever happens, the fans are in for a treat tonight. Enjoy!

Free Agency Looms Upon Us

Yesterday, we heard some rumors of names starting to fly around the NHL. This morning, the first trade and sign took place. It was minor, but marks the start of the madness that will ensue in the next few weeks leading up to draft day and then free agency opening. Pittsburgh acquired Washington unrestricted free agent goaltender Tomas Vokoun for a seventh round draft pick. Shortly thereafter, Vokoun was signed to a two year deal with the Penguins. These next few weeks are going to be really fun as the Stanley Cup is awarded to one of two teams, the trades begin, draft day hits, and then finally, what is known as "Half Christmas" to any big hockey fan, free agency opens up. This will allow all 30 teams to get ready and prepare for the next season by bringing in whoever is out there and free to come to their team.

The other big name being passed around yesterday was Alexander Radulov. Nobody had figured to hear this name until the New York Rangers called and apparently began negotiating for his rights. Currently, the Nashville star, who got himself into some trouble this playoffs after being caught at the bar late the night before Game 3, was in serious negotiations with CSKA of the KHL. It will be known, at the latest, by the end of the week if he will return to Russia or play in the NHL. If he stays in North America, expect the Rangers to be on the forefront to make a trade for his rights and sign him. Without Marian Gaborik, the Rangers leading scorer, until November, expect the Rangers to be swinging some moves to improve the team. 

Some other big names that will garner plenty of interest and big money this off-season will include Zach Parise, Alexander Semin, Dustin Penner, Shane Doan, Ryan Suter, Shea Weber, and Dustin Wideman. Another name who will have to be acquired through trade with be Rick Nash. However, this is just the best of the best and there are plenty of other notable players that will be of great service to teams. For example, Jason Garrison who had a breakthrough year with the Florida Panthers will have plenty of calls to be a third or fourth defenseman on a good team. He may not be in the top tier with some of the names above, however, he will definitely be getting some calls. Another name that brings interest is P.A. Parenteau who had a very good year with the Islanders. 

One other name to keep a close eye on will be Justin Schultz. Not many casual hockey fans will even recognize the name and he has never even played a game in the NHL, but he is a hot commodity. He was a second round choice in the 2008 draft by the Anaheim Ducks and has had a great career so far at Wisconsin. After this season, he left, giving the Ducks one full month to sign him. That period will end right before free agency looms. The problem is he has no intention of signing with the Ducks. Therefore, they will heavily try and trade his rights to get at least something back for him before he becomes and unrestricted free agent at the end of June. The team he is most likely to end up with at this point is the New York Rangers. They have done this move before after acquiring Tim Erixson last year and signing him just hours before he was free from the Calgary Flames. Also, Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh are both former teammates with Schultz. He makes a great fit with the Rangers as they try and bolster up the five and six spot in their defense. 

In an upcoming article, I will break down the top free agents and take a guess as to where they land. One thing is certain, nobody has a clue as to what will happen and that's what makes it that much more fun. Teams and fans will either be jumping for joy when they hear a big name signing with their team or know they may be in for another long year just a few days after July 1st. Draft day will also be interesting as Rick Nash will be back on the table and five teams will be bidding hard for him. It will be an interesting few weeks. Enjoy it hockey fans. 

Kings Winning With Superstars

Yesterday night, after the second game, it occurred to me the difference-maker in the series so far. Both games one and two have went to overtime with a Kings superstar netting the winning goal. Both goals have been very nice individual plays, which have come off the sticks of Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter. The trend I'm starting to see in this series, a big part of why the Kings are winning, are their superstars. Not only are they playing better, especially compared to the Devils big guns, but they have lots of them, which can be a recipe for disaster. Sometimes for the other team, and, of course, sometimes for their own team, which we saw early on this season from the Kings. It just so happens now is the time when they are finally putting it all together. It may just be the perfect time to do so.

The Kings have only scored four goals in the series, three of them coming from the big boys. I mentioned Kopitar and Carter, the overtime heroes thus far, but the other has been Drew Doughty. Doughty not only made most of our jaws drop last night with the move he put on Ryan Carter at the blueline followed by a beautiful shot past Martin Brodeur, but he has done a little bit of everything. He has been very physical, as we saw with two huge hits on the Devils Stephen Gionta and Zach Parise last night along the boards. In his defensive zone, he has been solid, not allowing the Devils much room to work. The Devils forecheck was the key to them getting to this point in the playoffs, however, the Kings have found a way to really shut them down with creative breakouts on the dump ins.

Some of the other Kings superstars beyond Kopitar, Carter, and Doughty are Mike Richards, Dustin Brown, and maybe the most important, Jonathon Quick. So far, these players are getting the job done. Richards has been great on the penalty kill and makes a great line along with Carter. Dustin Brown has been physical while staying out of the box, which is the one thing the Kings have to do. Quick, once again, has been unbelievable. In game one, the Kings controlled most of the game. However, last night, the Devils had a good start and continued to get better as the game went on. They had way more shots than in game one and really peppered Quick at times. However, only the one tip by Carter found the back of the net. 

When comparing the superstars, the Kings have more of them and they are playing better. Zach Parise has been almost silent this series, getting only some whacks in front of the net on loose pucks but nothing significant. Ilya Kovalchuk has had the puck a lot, but unlike last series when he would shoot as much as possible, he hasn't done that in this series. The ones he has let off Quick has found easy to stop, he's missed the net, or it has been blocked by a strong Kings defense. Meanwhile, the Kings stars have scored 75% of their goals and their biggest superstar has been the best player in the series, Jonathon Quick. If they win the Cup, he is easily their Conn Smythe winner.

If the Devils want to win, they need to continue their play from game two. Get shots on net, including more from Kovalchuk and Parise, while finding tips and screens in front of Quick. If he sees the puck, he will stop it. They have to be hard fought goals like some of the ones the fourth line has produced. The Kings must stay out of the box as the Devils powerplay is absolutely lethal. If the series continues to be stars vs. stars, the Kings will win. They just have too many of them to lose if some other Devils players don't step up.