Last week, I examined every team in the NHL's Western Conference. I still believe the West is stronger than the East, but only because the East really beat each other up over the long season.
This week, I examine every team in the NHL's Eastern Conference except the Penguins. I will have an indepth Penguins preview prior to the season's start. I wanted to focus on the other teams in the East so you knew what they did, who they added and what they look like heading into the new season.
This is that piece. Let's begin...
Boston Bruins
Notable Subtractions: D Dougie Hamilton, LW Milan Lucic, C Carl Soderberg, C Gregory Campbell, RW Reily Smith, D Matt Bartkowski, G Niklas Svedberg
Notable Additions: LW Matt Beleskey, RW Jimmy Hayes, LW Zac Rinaldo, D Matt Irwin
PTOs: G Jonus Gustavsson
2014-15 Review:
The 2014-15 Bruins were far from strong. In fact, it was one of the weakest teams in Beantown in a decade. The Bruins suffered injuries to key players, including Zdeno Chara, Brad Marchand and David Krejci and salary cap issues forced them to rely on prospects and trade veteran defenseman Johnny Boychuk to New York. The result was a down year offensively and the loss of a key veteran on the blue line.
While the Bruins still boasted the 8th best goals against average in the NHL, their offense fell to 22nd. Lucic had a down year, and the injuries to Krejci and Marchand hurt deeply. Goaltender Tuukka Rask even had a down year, despite winning 34 of the 70 games he played
The down year, and the missing of the playoffs, almost cost head coach Claude Julien his position. The down year did cause the Bruins to replace GM Peter Chiarelli with Don Sweeney, who hopes to change the style going forward.
2015-15 Outlook
It will likely be another rough year for the Bruins. New GM Don Sweeney decided to turnover a lot of the roster, sending fan favorites like Dougie Hamilton and Milan Lucic to the Western Conference. Salary cap constraints once again handcuffed the Bruins, and the result forced them to trade away not only Hamilton and Lucic but Soderberg and Reily Smith too.
So who came in and what is left in New England? Matt Beleskey, coming off a 22-goal season in Anaheim, was the big offseason acquisition. He should flank a healthy David Krejci on the second line. The top line remains intact, with Marchand and Loui Eriksson flanking Bergeron. The bottom six will rely on the newly acquired Jimmy Hayes, along with veterans Chris Kelly and Max Talbot.
The blue line is thinner than years past as well. While Torey Krug was great, Zdeno Chara began to show his age. His absence was felt in all aspects of the game. A healthy Chara will go a long way. Dennis Seidenberg and Adam McQuaid will make up the rest of the top four, while prospects Joe Morrow and Zach Trotman hope to flank Matt Irwin on the bottom pair.
Julien overused Tuukka Rask last year, playing him in 70 of 82 games. His down year could be attributed to that, in which case more of the same could happen this year. The Bruins enter camp without a veteran backup signed. Jonas Gustavsson will attend on a PTO, but rookie Malcom Subban could find himself in the backup role come opening night.
The Bruins still have some pieces, but they’ve lost a lot of the guys and leadership that took them to the Cup finals three years ago. I see another down year in Boston, ultimately costing Claude Julien his job.
Prediciton: Bruins miss the playoffs.
Projected Line:
- Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – Loui Eriksson
- Matt Beleskey – David Krejci – David Pastrnak
- Chris Kelly – Ryan Spooner – Jimmy Hayes
- Max Talbot – Alex Khokhlachev – Brett Connolly
Projected D-Pairs:
- Zdeno Chara – Torey Krug
- Dennis Seidenberg – Adam McQuaid
- Joe Morrow – Matt Irwin
Projected Starter: Tuukka Rask
Notable Subtractions: D Nikita Zadorov, C Cody Hodgson, C Mikhail Grigorenko, G Anders Lindback, D Andre Benoit
Notable Additions: C Ryan O’Reilly, C Jack Eichel, C David Legwand RW Jamie McGinn, D Cody Franson, D Carlo Colaiacovo, G Robin Lehner
2014-15 Review:
Last season was all about one thing in Buffalo, tanking for Connor McDavid. While the Erie Otters’ star was raking up points, the Sabres were focused on collecting as few as possible. They finished last in offense, second to last in defense and dead last in both special teams categories. This atrocious performance earned them all they needed, a lottery selection and a shot at McDavid.
Sabre fans were already purchasing McDavid Buffalo jerseys when the draft lottery was held. And then the floor collapsed below everyone in Sabres nations…
Edmonton won the lottery, Buffalo would choose second.
The Sabres it seems, can’t even tank right. Regardless, the year was over and they were still drafting in the top two.
2015-16 Outlook:
A lot of changes were made in Buffalo to facilitate the rebuild. First, former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma was brought in to be the head coach. While he struggled in his final years in Pittsburgh, Bylsma did help the Penguins win the Cup in 2009. He should help the likes of their number two pick adjust to the pro game and rebuild the Sabres into something respectable.
The second change was the 2nd overall pick. After being robbed of Connor McDavid, the Sabres had to “settle” for Boston University stud Jack Eichel. While McDavid was considered the next Crosby, Eichel projects almost as high. He truly is a stud. He was taken second overall and will find himself in the top six when the season starts.
Next, big name players were acquired to help facilitate the rebuild. At the deadline last year, the Sabres acquired winger Evander Kane for several of Buffalo’s stagnant pieces in Drew Stafford and Tyler Myers. The deal not only brought in Kane, but number one defenseman Zach Bogosian. On the day of the NHL Draft, the Sabres pulled off a blockbuster to acquire Ryan O’Reilly from Colorado. O’Reilly is an outstanding two-way center and a former Selke winner. He will be paired with Kane and Tyler Ennis. Jack Eichel will center veterans Matt Moulson and Brian Gionta, who still have enough touch to post 50 points a season.
Finally, other pieces were brought in and will get a chance. Cody Franson was signed in August on a two-year deal. He immediately jumps into the top four along with Bogosian, Josh Georges and Rasmus Ristolainen. Prospects Sam Reinhart and Mark Pysyk will also get every opportunity to make the club and contribute.
Finally, in net, GM Tim Murray turned to someone he was familiar with in his Ottawa days, Robin Lehner. The jury is still out on whether Lehner is a true number one, but he will be given the opportunity to be the number one before turning to career back up Chad Johnson.
It is hard to figure out where Buffalo will finish this year. I don’t think they are that far off, but they are not up their with the likes of the Islanders, Penguins or Blue Jackets quite yet. I think they are likely a year or two away from contending for a playoff spot.
Prediction: Miss the playoffs, but will show improvement over the past few seasons.
Projected Lines:
- Evander Kane – Ryan O’Reilly – Tyler Ennis
- Matt Moulson – Jack Eichel – Brian Gionta
- Johan Larsson – Zemgus Girgensons – Sam Reinhart
- Marcus Foligno – David Legwand – Jamie McGinn
Projected D-Pairs:
- Zach Bogosian – Rasmus Ristolainen
- Cody Franson – Josh Georges
- Mike Weber – Mark Pysyk
Projected Starter: Robin Lehner
Carolina Hurricanes
Notable Subtractions: RW Alexander Semin, G Anton Khudobin
Notable Additions: LW Kris Versteeg, F Joakim Nordstrom, D James Wisniewski, D Noah Hanifin, G Eddie Lack
2014-15 Review:
Last season was like a season long hurricane that never ended for Ron Francis. Jordan Staal went down in training camp with a broken leg. His big brother Eric underachieved, as did Alex Semin. Jeff Skinner, Nathan Gerbe missed time with injuries. Cam Ward was mediocre. The defense was a rough affair besides Justin Faulk.
Needless to say, last year was rough on Francis and the Hurricane fan base. But instead of making changes, Francis evaluated and looked toward the offseason to make changes for the better. In the process, they got the 5th overall pick in the draft.
2015-16 Outlook:
The new season doesn’t look much clearer for the Canes either. While Jordan Staal will come into the season healthy and several quality players were added, this team remains fragile and prone to underachieving.
This starts with Eric Staal. He had an atrocious year last year and now he enters the final year of his contract. Will he be back next year? Probably depends on how he plays this year.
Kris Versteeg and Joakim Nordstrom were added just days before camp started from Chicago. Versteeg seems to struggle when he’s not in Chicago and Nordstrom fell out of favor in the Windy City as well. While both are upgrades over the likes of Zach Boychuk and Riley Nash, they’re not game changers.
James Wisniewski will help the defensive corps and the power play, but the defense is still light. Faulk is solid and should benefit from playing alongside Wisniewski. Hainsey isn’t what he once was and Ryan Murphy is a question mark. The one bright spot is number 5 overall pick Noah Hanifan. He should make the team out of camp, but unless partnered correctly, I’m not expecting an “Aaron Ekblad” year out of the rookie.
The addition of Eddie Lack is solid. I think he can be a legitimate number one goalie in the NHL. He also provides a solid backup for when Cam Ward inevitably gets hurt or underachieves.
Until the Canes rid themselves of the horrible Ward contract and decide what direction to go with the Staal brothers, the organization won’t be making many strides forward. While Bill Peters is a solid coach, he will not succeed in Carolina unless Ron Francis can figure out how to fix the mess.
Prediction: Carolina earns another top 5 pick in the NHL Draft next summer.
Projected Lines:
- Jeff Skinner – Eric Staal – Elias Lindholm
- Kris Versteeg – Jordan Staal – Nathan Gerbe
- Andrej Nestrasil – Victor Rask – Chris Terry
- Joakim Nordstrom – Jay McClement – Riley Nash
Projected D-Pairs:
- Justin Faulk – James Wisniewski
- Ron Hainsey – Ryan Murphy
- John-Michael Liles – Noah Hanifan
Projected Starter: Cam Ward
Columbus Blue Jackets
Key Subtractions: C Artem Anisimov, RW Marko Dano, C Mark Letestu, LW Jeremy Morin, RW Corey Tropp
Key Additions: LW Brandon Saad, C Gregory Campbell
PTOs: C James Sheppard
2014-15 Review:
It was a step backwards for Columbus after a playoff appearance in 2013-14. The cause, for the most part, was due to a plethora of injuries. The Blue Jackets lost over 500 man-games due to injury last season. Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky missed time early, as did the likes of Scott Hartnell, Ryan Murray and others.
Despite an injury-plagued year, the Jackets had a lot to be happy about from some of its younger players. Nick Foligno had a breakout year, scoring 31 goals and posting 73 points. Foligno earned an all-star nod and was named captain soon after the season ended. Foligno was centered by up-and-coming center Ryan Johansen, who built off his previous season by scoring 26 goals and posting 71 points. Scott Hartnell had a solid year after a down year in Philly in 13-14 and Cam Atkinson continued his growth as well.
Had injuries not played such a detrimental role, the Jackets likely would have found themselves in the playoff hunt once again.
2015-16 Outlook:
There is a lot of buzz coming out of Columbus, Ohio this fall, and not all of it revolves around the defending college football champions. The city’s hockey team made a huge splash by acquiring two-time Stanley Cup winner Brandon Saad in a multi-player deal with Chicago. Saad followed the trade by signing a long-term extension for six million annually. That was the Jackets splash move, and it greatly improves their team.
Saad will now join Johansen and Foligno on the Jackets top line. Boone Jenner is expected to get better and he should see top six minutes alongside Brandon Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson on the second line. Scott Hartnell will drop to the third line and join Alex Wennberg and hopefully a rejuvenated David Clarkson (acquired at the deadline from Toronto for Nathan Horton). Gregory Campbell will center the fourth line after signing on as a free agent and he will improve the Jackets penalty kill immediately.
The Jackets didn’t add much defensively, but they still have a solid top four. Jack Johnson remains the number one on the squad, and he will once again pair with Fedor Tyutin. David Savard recently signed a long-term extension, after a career year that saw him score 36 points. He will likely pair with Ryan Murray, who is expected to play after missing most of last season to injury. Dalton Prout will anchor the bottom pair while Kevin Cooauton, Justin Falk and Cody Goloubef fight for the final spot. A trade is needed to improve the defense in my opinion, and such a move could push them over the top.
Sergei Bobrovsky will start in net once again with Curtis McElhinney as the backup. Both played well last season, but again, Injury killed this team. If they can remain healthy this year, and Brandon Saad doesn’t miss a beat after the trade, the Jackets will make the playoffs once again.
Prediction: Jackets make the playoffs, but fall in the first round.
Projected Lines:
- Brandon Saad – Ryan Johansen – Nick Foligno
- Boone Jenner – Brandon Dubinsky – Cam Atkinson
- Scott Hartnell – Alex Wennberg – David Clarkson
- Matt Calvert – Gregory Campbell – Rene Bourque
Projected D-Pairs:
- Jack Johnston – Fedor Tyutin
- Ryan Murray – David Savar
- Dalton Prout – Kevin Connauton
Projected Starter: Sergei Bobrovsky
Detroit Red Wings
Playoffs: Eliminated in the first round
Notable Subtractions: C Stephen Weiss, HC Mike Babcock
Notable Additions: C Brad Richards, D Mike Green
2014-15 Review:
In what would be the final year under Mike Babcock, the Red Wings continued their winning ways. The Wings made the playoffs once again, finishing sixth in the East after just squeaking in the previous seasons.
Detroit’s “Old Guard” missed a good portion of the season. Hank Zetterberg continued to have back issues, while Russian dynamo Pavel Datsyuk had wrist issues. Johan Franzen missed the last portion of the year with a concussion and his career remains in limbo.
Meanwhile, a new crop of players emerged as the future core in the Motor City. Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Teemu Pulkkinen and Riley Sheahan all had productive seasons.
Still led by veteran Niklas Kronwall, the Detroit defensive corps remained steady. Danny DeKeyser flourished next Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson had another solid year.
The weakest link in Detroit was between the pipes. Jimmy Howard had an all-star year before a mid-season injury. He was never the same afterwards and Petr Mrazek replaced him down the stretch and in the playoffs.
2015-16 Outlook
The Red Wings lost a world-class coach in Mike Babcock, who was given 50 million reasons to suffer in Toronto, but they gained another quality coach in Jeff Blashill. Blashill has been with the Wings for years, and was essentially bribed to remain the head coach of the Grand Rapids affiliate while Babcock played out his final year. Babs is gone, Blashill is in, though don’t expect much to change play-wise.
The Wings remained rather quiet on the free agency market also. They bought out Stephen Weiss, who was dreadful in his time there. They replace him with two-time Stanley Cup champion Brad Richards, who is coming off a championship season in Chicago. He is expected to center the second line with Tomas Tatar and Teemu Pulkkinen. The Wings added another offensive defensemen in Mike Green, who inked a 3-year, 18 million dollar deal on July 1st. He should pair with the reliable Danny DeKeyser.
The youth movement will be counted on again this season. The good news is, Nyquist, Pulkkinen, Tatar, Sheahan and Jurco all played for Blashill in Grand Rapids. There’s familiarity there, which should go along way.
The hope is that Hank Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Franzen stay healthy, especially the first two. Though they aren’t what they were when they led the Wings to back-to-back Finals appearances, they are both still world-class players.
Finally, a goalie competition will happen in camp once again. Will Jimmy Howard return to first half form and take his job back, or will Mrazek hold the job? Either is a solid choice and ultimately it won’t make a huge difference on the Wings season.
Prediction: Wings reach the playoffs, but lose in the first round.
Projected Lines:
- Henrik Zetterberg – Pavel Datsyuk – Gustav Nyquist
- Tomas Tatar – Brad Richards – Teemu Pulkkinen
- Justin Abdelkader – Riley Sheahan – Tomas Jurco
- Darren Helm – Luke Glendening – Dan Cleary
Projected Pairs:
- Niklas Kronwall – Jonathan Ericsson
- Danny DeKeyser – Mike Green
- Brandon Smith – Kyle Quincey
Projected Starter: Jimmy Howard
Florida Panthers
Notable Subtractions: RW Brad Boyes, RW Jimmy Hayes, G Dan Ellis,
Notable Additions: RW Reilly Smith
PTOs: RW Martin Havlat, LW David Booth
2014-15 Review:
It was quite the year for hockey in Florida… Wow, I really typed that. However crazy, it is indeed true. We will talk Tampa later, but first, the Panthers.
Florida surprised everyone in 2011-12 when they made it into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The two seasons that followed, well, back to normal in South Beach. Then last offseason, GM Dale Tallon made some big moves. He traded for goalie Roberto Luongo at the deadline, followed by signing Dave Bolland, Jussi Jokinen, Shawn Thorton and Willie Mitchell in free agency.
The moves paid off and Florida found themselves as buyers at the deadline. They made a big splash by bringing in veteran forward Jaromir Jagr from New Jersey. After the deal, the Panthers continued their surge up the standings. They would ultimately fall short in the end, missing out on a playoff spot by 5 points.
Former Calder Trophy Jonathan Hubereau returned to form after a down season in 2014-15. He scored 15 goals and 54 points to lead the Panthers in scoring. Jaromir Jagr had 18 points in 20 games and newly signed Jussi Jokinen had 44 points in 81 games. The ultimate surprise was rookie Aaron Ekblad. While the likes of Johnny Hockey in Calgary and Mark Stone in Ottawa stole headlines, Ekblad quietly won the Panthers’ second Calder Trophy in three years. In 81 games, Ekblad had 12 goals and 39 points.
2015-16 Outlook:
The Panthers could surprise again. The offseason moves in 2014 paid off, and this year Dale Tallon remained fairly still. His big move was the trade for Reilly Smith of the Bruins. Smith will slot in on the team’s second line. Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and Jarg, who re-signed for two years, all return for the Panthers’ top line.
The defensive corps is still relatively young, led by the Calder winner Ekblad. Veterans Willie Mitchell and Brian Campbell are the stalwarts, and Dmitry Kulikov, Erik Gudbranson and Dylan Olsen fill out the rest of the blue line.
Roberto Luongo and Al Montoya return as the goaltending tandem.
I have a hard time seeing the Panthers making the playoffs this season. They have several solid young players in Huberdeau, Barkov, Bjugstad, Smith and Ekblad, but they are an aging team in other areas. I’m not convinced they can remain healthy again, and I certainly don’t think they have the scoring to contend among the rest of they high-flying Eastern Conference.
Prediction: Florida misses the playoffs again, less narrowly than 2014-15.
Projected Lines:
- Jon Huberdeau – Aleksander Barkov – Jaromir Jagr
- Brandon Pirri – Nick Bjugstad – Reilly Smith
- Jussi Jokinen – Dave Bolland – Vincent Trocheck
- Shawn Thorton – Derek MacKenzie – Martin Havlat
Projected D-Pairs:
- Aaron Ekblad – Brian Campbell
- Willie Mitchell – Dmitry Kulikov
- Erik Gudbranson – Alex Petrovic
Projected Starter: Roberto Luongo
Montreal Canadiens
Playoffs: Eliminated in the second round
Notable Subtractions: LW Brandon Prust, D Sergei Gonchar, C Manny Malhotra, RW PA Parenteau, D Mike Weaver
Notable Additions: RW Alexander Semin, RW Zack Kassian
PTOs: LW Tomas Fleischmann
2014-15 Review:
The Price was right in 2014-15. The Canadiens, one of the league’s worst offensive teams, was led to the second best record in the East thanks in part to defense and the stellar play of goaltender Carey Price.
Price, 27, paced the league with 44 wins, a 1.96 goals against average and a save percentage of .933. His 9 shutouts were second only to Pittsburgh’s Marc Andre Fleury. Price took home the Vezina and the Hart Trophy for his effort, but it was not enough to bring the Cup back to Montreal.
The Canadiens just could not score. American export Max Pacioretty paced the Habs with 37 goals and 67 points. Tomas Plekanec and PK Subban each pitched in 60. Otherwise, it was a mixed bag and hope that Price would steal the win.
The scoring woes could hide during the regular season, but not in the playoffs. Despite taking down the Ottawa Senators in a heated first-round series, the high-flying offense of Tampa was too much for even the MVP. The Habs were sent packing in the second round.
2015-16 Outlook:
While the defense remains intact and Carey Price is in net, the Habs still have very little in terms of offensive punch. They added Alex Semin in July with the hope he could return to his Washington form, but the rest of the lineup leaves little to be desired in my eyes. Pacioretty, their top scorer from last season, likely won’t be ready for the start of the season. Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher and David Desharnais had solid years, but you expect more than 48 points from your top six skaters.
The defense remains excellent. Subban leads this team at both ends of the ice and the Habs were able to re-sign Jeff Petry. Andrei Markov remains a solid top four defenseman and he will assume the role of mentor with Nathan Beaulieu this season. Alexei Emelin and Tom Gilbert will make out the bottom pair.
The fact of the matter is the Canadiens will go as far as Carey Price can carry them. They don’t have the offensive talent to outscore teams and if their defense struggles or Price does, this team could miss the playoffs easily. Ultimately, Price is solid, but not MVP worthy this season.
Prediction: Habs make the playoffs, but exit in the first round.
Projected Lines:
- Max Pacioretty – David Desharnais – Brendan Gallagher
- Alex Galchenyuk – Tomas Plekanec – Alex Semin
- Jacob De La Rose – Lars Eller – Zack Kassian
- Brian Flynn – Torrey Mitchell – Dale Weise
Projected D-Pairs:
- PK Subban – Jeff Petry
- Andrei Markov – Nathan Beaulieu
- Alexei Emelin – Tom Gilbert
Projected Starter: Carey Price
New Jersey Devils
Notable Subtractions: D Bryce Salvadore, C Scott Gomez, G Scott Clemmensen, D Peter Harrold
Notable Additions: RW Kyle Palmeri, RW Paul Thompson, D John Moore, C Pavel Zacha
PTOs: C Tyler Kennedy, RW Lee Stempniak
2014-15 Review:
It was another rough season East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils, a team renowned for their defense, was only in the middle of the pack by seasons end. Offensively, they were as dead as Jimmy Hoffa. The Devils had zero fire on offense, finishing 28th in the NHL in scoring. The Devils were simply going nowhere.
Despite the horrible season, there were several bright spots. First, Cory Schneider was very good in net. He only won 26 games out of 69 he played, but that number is skewed because of the lackluster offense. Schneider posted a 2.26 goals against average and 5 shutouts. If the Devils could score, Schneider would have won over 30.
The second bright spot was the reemergence of center Adam Henrique. Granted, he only scored 43 points on the season, but he paced the abysmal Devils offense and was at least fun to watch. After breaking on the scene in 2011-12, Henrique struggled the previous few years because of injury. Finally healthy, he enjoyed a decent year.
Finally, the emergence of young defenseman was a bright spot. The Devils are known for their defense and they are on their way to rebuilding the corps after a few down years. Adam Larsson was solid and Damon Severson burst on the scene and had a solid rookie campaign. Eric Gelinas and Jon Merrill struggled, but they are both still under 25 and are expected to move forward in the years to come.
2014-15 may have been a year to forget, but who knows what the future will hold in Jersey.
2015-16 Outlook:
The times are a changing in New Jersey these days. The third consecutive down year saw Peter DeBoer lose his job and GM Lou Lamoriello’s leave after nearly 30 years at the helm. In their places, the Devils hired former Penguins GM Ray Shero to the same post. Shero, who helped build the current Penguins team, will be asked to rebuild things in Jersey. Shero’s first move was to hire a new coach, and again he dipped into his Penguins days by signing Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins coach John Hynes and Alain Nasreddine to man the bench. Known for his defensive system, Hynes should work out well in New Jersey.
Following front office moves, Shero went out and made a couple moves to move this team forward. First, he drafted Pavel Zacha 6th overall in the NHL Draft. Much to the surprise of Pens fans, Shero can indeed draft forwards. Zacha should be a good one in the near future. While selecting players in Florida, Shero also pulled off a deal to acquire winger Kyle Palmeri from Anaheim. Palmeri had 14 goals and 29 points in Anaheim last year, and projects to slot onto the Devils first line now. Former Ranger John Moore was added to the young defensive core as well. Moore, 24, adds both youth and experience to a young group of defensemen.
Besides the new acquisitions, the Devils retained Henrique, Travis Zajac, veteran Patrik Elias, Mike Cammalleri and Tuomo Ruutu. On the defensive side of things, Andy Greene will be the veteran, number one defenseman on a young group that retains Larsson, Severson, Gelinas and Merrill.
The Devils need to make New Jersey a desired destination again. They have several pieces in place to make that happen, but it will be through drafting and development that New Jersey must succeed. Without it, Jersey will just continue to be there and nothing more.
Prediction: Miss the playoffs
Projected Lines:
- Mike Cammalleri – Travis Zajac – Kyle Palmeri
- Patrik Elias – Adam Henrique – Jordin Tootoo
- Tuomo Ruutu – Jacob Josefson – Jiri Tlusty
- Stefan Matteau – Stephen Gionta – Paul Thompson
Projected D-Pairs:
- Andy Greene – Adam Larsson
- Damon Severson – John Moore
- Eric Gelinas – Jon Merrill
Projected Starter: Cory Schneider
New York Islanders
Playoffs: Eliminated in the first round
Notable Subtractions: D Griffin Reinhart, G Michal Neuvirth, RW Colin McDonald, LW Harry Zolnierczyk, D Matt Donovan
Notable Additions: G Thomas Greiss
PTOs: RW Steve Bernier
2014-15 Review:
The Islanders entered the 2014-15 season with a lot of questions surrounding the GM, the head coach and the roster. In 2012-13, the Islanders shocked the league by making the Playoffs in a strike-shortened season. The following year, they completely fell apart and lost their franchise player to a torn MCL at the Olympics.
Many wondered what the Islanders would be last year. Would they be the playoff team or the team the league had seen for much of the past five years? Luckily for head coach Jack Capuano and their fans, the Isles were a playoff team again.
Captain John Tavares led the Isles in points and finished second in the race for the Art Ross Trophy. He scored 86 points. Kyle Okposo had another solid season flanking Tavares, while the Isles had breakout years from the likes of Ryan Strome, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey.
But perhaps the biggest difference for the Isles was on the other end of the ice. Just days before the season started, New York acquired defensemen Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk from Chicago and Boston respectively. Those moves were vital to the Islanders success. They solidified the defensive corps and provided veteran leadership.
The other key was Jaroslav Halak. After a few years of bouncing around the league, Halak had an outstanding season on the island, winning 36 of 59 starts and had a 2.43 goals against average.
The Isles didn’t have enough to get past the high-flying Washington Capitals in the first round, but they are still built for success.
2015-16 Outlook:
If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it. That’s the mentality GM Garth Snow took this offseason. The Islanders will return the entire roster from last season except for their back up goalie. There, Snow turned to former Penguin Thomas Greiss to backup Halak. Other than that move, and selecting center Mathew Barzal 16th overall in the Draft, Snow was silent.
The Islanders look to be a fun team to watch, and the move to the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn should bring the fans through the gates in droves.
The question surrounding this team is do they have enough to make a deep run?
Simply put, I don’t think they do. I don’t know what Halak we will see in net. While Tavares is world-class, the supporting forwards cast is suspect. Okposo has been subject to trade rumors all summer and many wonder if he will remain.
They have enough to make the playoffs, but unless some of their younger forwards become more consistent, it could be one and done again for the Islanders.
Prediction: Make the playoffs, but are eliminated in the first round.
Projected Lines:
- Josh Bailey – John Tavares – Kyle Okposo
- Brock Nelson – Frans Nielsen – Ryan Strome
- Nikolay Kulemin – Mikhail Grabovski – Anders Lee
- Matt Martin – Casey Cizikas – Cal Clutterbuck
Projected D-Pairs:
- Johnny Boychuk – Nick Leddy
- Travis Harmonic – Thomas Hickey
- Calvin de Haan – Brian Strait
Projected Starter: Jaroslav Halak
New York Rangers
Playoffs: Eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals
Notable Subtractions: RW Marty St. Louis, LW Carl Hagelin, G Cam Talbot, D Matt Hunwick
Notable Additions: LW Viktor Stalberg, RW Emerson Etem, LW Luke Adam, RW Brian Gibbons, D Raphael Diaz, G Antti Raanta, C Jayson Megna
2014-15 Review:
Looking over the Rangers roster heading into last season, I didn’t see another Stanley Cup Finals team. I thought they lost several key players and they were bound to suffer from the hangover of playing in the Finals.
Well, the second part was right.
The Rangers, and Henrik Lundqvist, did get off to a slow start. Lundqvist was off and that spelt danger for the defending Eastern Conference champions. Then the ship began to right itself; Rick Nash was hot, Derick Brassard broke out and Lundqvist got out of his funk. All systems were go…
Then Lundqvist went down. His season was in doubt after taking a puck to the neck in February. But backup netminder Cam Talbot performed admirably. He won 21 games on the season and held down the fort until the King returned.
In the end, the Rangers won the Metro. They were beasts in the East and won the President’s Trophy. They sailed through the Penguins in the first round. In the second round, they were taken to the brink by the Caps, but ultimately prevailed in overtime of Game 7. They would fall in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to Tampa, but not for lack of trying.
The season will be remembered for several things. First, the Rick Nash they traded for finally arrived. Nash netted 42 goals and 69 points. Derick Brassard had a breakout year, scoring 19 goals and 60 points. It would be the swan song for veteran Marty St. Louis, who retired at the age of 40. Finally, the acquisition of Keith Yandle from Arizona solidified the blue line down the stretch. The Rangers succeeded, even when it looked like they would falter at the start.
2015-15 Outlook:
This year is a lot like last year when it comes to the Rangers. I look at the roster and don’t think they are better than last year. I’m sure they will prove me wrong once they hit the ice.
Firstly, they return the entire blue line from the playoffs. Henrik Lundqvist will once again be counted on to lead the team in the crease, with former Blackhawk Antti Raanta backing him up this season. The top line remains intact, but the Rangers lost Carl Hagelin in a trade and Marty St. Louis to retirement out of the top six.
Pittsburgh native JT Miller is expected to replace St. Louis on the second line, while Emerson Etem, acquired in the trade for Hagelin, is expected to join Kevin Hayes and newly signed Viktor Stalberg on the third line.
The defense pairs we saw in the playoffs last year should be the same entering the season. Ryan McDonagh paired with Dan Girardi again, while Keith Yandle remains with Marc Staal. Dan Boyle and Kevin Klein make up the bottom pair with Raphael Diaz as the seventh defenseman.
The Rangers may not be better on paper than they were this time last year, but they proved me wrong then. I expect much of the same in New York, success.
Prediction: Make the playoffs, eliminated in the 2nd round.
Projected Lines:
- Rick Nash – Derek Stepan – Mats Zuccarello
- Chris Kreider – Derick Brassard – JT Miller
- Viktor Stalberg – Kevin Hayes – Emerson Etem
- Tanner Glass – Dominic Moore – Jesper Fast
Projected D-Pairs:
- Ryan McDonagh – Dan Girardi
- Marc Staal – Keith Yandle
- Dan Boyle – Kevin Klein
Projected Starter: Henrik Lundqvist
Ottawa Senators
Playoffs: Eliminated in the first round
Key Subtractions: C David Legwand, G Robin Lehner, RW Eric Condra, D Eric Gryba
Key Additions: none
2014-15 Review:
Where did this team come from last year? By all standards, Ottawa was supposed to struggle. Despite having a Norris Trophy winner in Erik Karlsson and several young pieces up front, this team was destined to be a lottery pick again in 2014-15.
The season sure started that way. The Senators were all but out of the running at Christmas time, struggling in the tough Atlantic division among the likes of Tampa, Detroit and Montreal.
Then the miraculous happened. Andrew Hammond was called up from Binghamton and the “Hamburglar” stole the show, and the season for the Sens. Coming down the stretch, Ottawa went 23-4-4 to rally past the likes of Boston and even Pittsburgh to secure the 7th seed in the East.
The strong play continued in the playoffs. A heated series with the Montreal Canadiens ended in elimination, but the Sens showed they have several pieces ready to succeed again down the road.
Among those pieces is Erik Karlsson. The Swedish international paced the Senators in points en route to his second Norris Trophy. Karlsson scored 66 points. Rookie winger Mark Stone also broke out. Playing in 80 games, Stone helped lead the charge down the stretch, finishing the season with 26 goals and 64 points. Veterans Kyle Turris and Bobby Ryan had good years as well on the offensive side of the ice.
While all of those mentioned were important, the key was goaltender Andrew Hammond. Playing in 24 games down the stretch, the “Hambuglar” won 20 of his 24 starts and earned points in 22 of them. He struggled in the playoffs, but he solidified a legend for the season and one of the best nicknames in the game.
2015-16 Outlook:
All signs point to more success in the new year. While other teams in the Atlantic have changed dramatically, the Senators stood pat. They focused on retaining the team they had and spent their money in such a way. While losing some older veterans to free agency, the Sens decided to continue the rebuild by using their own stock from Binghamton. You will see another young, cap-friendly team this season.
So what does this season hold for Ottawa?
Any team with Erik Karlsson will have a leg up. While he is not the defensive stalwart, he is an offensive stud that can score with the likes of the NHL’s best forwards. He is the key to any and all success the Senators have.
The Sens will rely again on a younger forwards unit, led by sophomore Mark Stone. Kyle Turris, Mika Zibanejad, Bobby Ryan and Mike Hoffman will be key offensive figures, as they were the leaders in the Sens 9th place finish in offense last season.
Defensively, the Sens are still solid. Karlsson should pair with Marc Methot again while Cody Ceci and Patrick Wiercloch will fill out the top four.
In net, Craig Anderson and the Hamburglar will fight it out for the number one spot. While Anderson struggled in the regular season, the Hamburglar struggled in the playoffs. The Sens biggest question remains who will be their number one? Either way, they have two solid options.
Prediction: Eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Projected Lines:
- Clarke MacArthur – Kyle Turris – Mark Stone
- Mike Hoffman – Mika Zibanejad – Bobby Ryan
- Milan Michalek – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Alex Chiasson
- Shane Prince – Zach Smith – Curtis Lazar
Projected D-Pairs:
- Erik Karlsson – Marc Methot
- Cody Ceci – Patrick Wiercloch
- Jared Cowen – Chris Phillips
Projected Starter: Craig Anderson
Philadelphia Flyers
Notable Subtractions: D Nicklas Grossman, LW Zac Rinaldo, G Ray Emery, D Carlo Colaiacovo, RW Jason Akeson
Notable Additions: C Sam Gagner, G Michal Neuvirth, G Jason LaBarbera, D Evgeni Medvedev, D Ivan Provorov
2014-15 Review:
It was another disappointing season on Broad Street in 2014-15. The Flyers failed to reach the playoffs once again and it cost coach Craig Berube his job.
On a team that hosts the like of Claude Giroux, Jakob Voracek and Wayne Simmonds, the Flyers were an abysmal scoring team at even strength. They ranked 21st in the NHL in scoring and the same in defense. Special teams were polar opposites, and also were a source of consternation in Philadelphia. While the power play was 3rd in the NHL, the penalty kill was 27th.
Not everything was bad on Broad Street last season however. Jakob Voracek had a breakout season, scoring 81 points en route to a top 5 finish in the league’s scoring race. Claude Giroux got over a slow start to post 73 points of his own. Mark Streit led the blue line corps, posting 52 points in 81 games.
Despite the talent, and yes, there is talent; it was another lost season for the Flyers.
2015-16 Outlook:
Despite another disappointing season, not much has changed roster-wise on Broad Street. The main reason for this is the plethora of horrendous contracts the GM had given out in previous offseasons, especially that of Vinny Lecavalier. The Flyers added several players over the summer, but no real significant moves. Sam Gagner was added to the bottom six after several years of struggle. Michal Neuvirth and Jason LaBarbera join Steve Mason as the goalies.
The biggest offseason addition will be that of defenseman Evgeni Medvedev. The 33-year-old Russian is expected to slot into the Flyers bottom pairing alongside Luke Schenn.
Besides these moves, not much will look different from last season. Giroux is expected to center Voracek and Brayden Schenn once again while Sean Couturier centers the second line with Simmonds and Michael Raffl. The bottom six should remain the same, except for the addition of Gagner.
On the blue line, Mark Streit and Andrew MacDonald will be the top pair once again. Former Ranger Michael Del Zotto returns for his second season and should skate alongside Radko Gudas.
Steve Mason should start in net with Neuvirth slotted to back him up.
Prediction: Make it another year without a cup in Philadelphia.
Projected Lines:
- Brayden Schenn – Claude Giroux – Jakob Voracek
- Michael Raffl – Sean Couturier – Wayne Simmonds
- RJ Umberger – Vinny Lecavalier – Matt Read
- Chris VandeVelde – PE Bellemare – Sam Gagner
Projected D-Pairs:
- Mark Streit – Andrew MacDonald
- Radko Gudas – Michael Del Zotto
- Evgeni Medvedev – Luke Schenn
Projected Starter: Steve Mason
Playoffs: Eastern Conference Champions, Lost in the Finals
Notable Subtractions: LW Brenden Morrow, D Mark Barberio
Notable Additions: RW Erik Condra
PTOs: G Ray Emery
2014-15 Review:
It was an outstanding season in Florida for hockey.
Wow, that just sounds weird. Regardless, it is a fact. Tampa was extraordinary.
So what led to this outstanding season of hockey in a non-hockey area?
Let’s start with the triplets. The line of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov were a revelation. Together, they scored 200 points on the season and Johnson tied superstar Steven Stamkos for the team scoring lead. The trio was even better in the playoffs and key to the Lightning’s run in the spring.
The second reason for success was the additions on the blue line. The offseason saw the additions of veterans Anton Stralman and Jason Garrison to the mix. Both were instrumental in grand scheme of things, as was the deadline acquisition of Braydon Coburn from the Flyers. Together with mainstays Victor Hedman and Matt Carle, along with youngster Andrej Sustr, the Lightning fielded one of the best defensive corps in the entire NHL.
Finally, the success can be attributed to the depth of the entire team. Like the blue line, the forward corps is also incredibly deep. Besides the Triplets and Stamkos, the Lightning forwards group included Alex Kolhorn (38pts), Valtteri Filppula (48pts), Ryan Callahan (54pts) and Jonathan Drouin (30pts).
Goaltender Ben Bishop also had a solid year, winning 40 games in the regular season before winning another 13 in the playoffs. Had the 6 foot, 6 inch goaltender not torn his groin, the Lightning may have taken the Cup away from Chicago.
Regardless, it was an outstanding season for the Lightning in 2014-15, one they hope to repeat this year.
2015-16 Outlook:
This team is just good as last year’s addition of the Lightning. The Triplets are all back, as is superstar Steven Stamkos. Hedman, Stralman, Garrison and Coburn are expected to comprise the top four while Ben Bishop returns to the net.
The forwards are just as deep as last year, especially if former top pick Jonathan Drouin gets a full season on the third line with Brain Boyle and Ryan Callahan. Erik Condra was added in the offseason to the fourth line, and is expected to slot in alongside Cedric Paquette and Vladimir Namestnikov on the fourth line.
If everyone remains healthy, this team should have no problem repeating as Eastern Conference Champions again. Stamkos is key, while a healthy Johnson, Kucherov, Palat, Hedman and Stralman are also of vital importance.
That being said, I do have one reservation about the upcoming season and it revolves around Stamkos. He is slated to become a free agent following the season and many wonder if Tampa will have the funds to sign long-term. The longer the Stamkos extension is dragged out, the more of a distraction it will become. If Steve Yzerman is smart, he will figure out a way to get this done sooner rather than later, otherwise it will become more of a distraction in that room.
Prediction: Stamkos re-signs and the Lightning make another run, but lose in the Conference Finals.
Projected Lines:
- Ondrej Palat – Tyler Johnson – Nikita Kucherov
- Valtteri Filppula – Steven Stamkos – Alex Kilhorn
- Jonathan Drouin – Brian Boyle – Ryan Callahan
- Vlad Namestnikov – Cedric Paquette – Erik Condra
Projected D-Pairs:
- Victor Hedman – Anton Stralman
- Jason Garrison – Braydon Coburn
- Matthew Carle – Andrej Sustr
Projected Starter: Ben Bishop
Toronto Maple LEafs
Notable Subtractions: RW Phil Kessel, D Eric Brewer, LW David Booth, RW Colton Orr, D Tim Erixon, LW Taylor Beck
Notable Additions: RW PA Parenteau, LW Daniel WInnik, C Shawn Matthias, C Nick Spaling, RW Michael Grabner, C Mark Arcobello, D Matt Hunwick, D Scott Harrington, LW Kasperi Kapanen, D Martin Marincin
PTOs: RW Devin Setoguchi, LW Curtis Glencross
2014-15 Review:
Well… It was not a fun time to be in Toronto last season. The Leafs were just atrocious. They had an 11 game winless streak at one point, Randy Carlyle lost his job and the disconnect between stars Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf grew even wider.
Bright spots? Well, they were few and far between last season. Phil Kessel led the Leafs offensively with 61 points. He was a minus-34 on the season, but played in every game. James van Riemsdyk had a solid year, leading the team in goals (27) and finishing second in points behind Kessel. Former 5th overall selection Morgan Rielly had a solid year, leading the defensive corps in offense with 29 points.
But the dark hid the glimpses of light. The majority of the team was a minus. Goaltender James Reimer was 9-16-1 on the season while Jonathan Bernier wasn’t much better. Phaneuf had a horrendous year that led to a lot of speculation of a move.
The Leafs haven’t won the cup in nearly 50 years and a place that has always brought in free agents is starting to look like a black hole in the Great White North.
2015-16 Outlook:
I don’t expect much of a turnaround this season, but the right infrastructure was put into place this summer. Brendan Shanahan brought in Lou Lamoriello from New Jersey to be the Leafs new GM. Lamoriello was responsible for several Stanley Cups during his time in Jersey; many hope he can build something similar in the hockey Mecca.
Shanahan also brought in a new coach, Mike Babcock. Babcock was given fifty million reasons to leave Detroit and try to bring Toronto back to relevance. He has the track record, but none of his former stops were this bleak.
The Leafs have also revamped the roster. Phil Kessel was sent to Pittsburgh on July 1st. Kessel had a down year and had really caught hell from the local media. The time for a move had come and Pittsburgh came knocking. In return, the Leafs acquired NHL forward Nick Spaling, but more importantly prospects Kasperi Kapanen and Scott Harrington. While Kapanen has already had problems with the Toronto media, both figure to be a part of the rebuild in the near future.
Several players were brought in on short-term deals until young prospects are ready. Danniel Winnik returned after a deadline trade to the Penguins. PA Parenteau moved from Quebec to Ontario and Shawn Matthias was brought in for the bottom six. Devin Setoguchi and Curtis Glencross are in camp on PTOs.
Meanwhile, several members from last year return. JVR will once again flank Nazem Kadri while Joffrey Lupul does the same for Tyler Bozak. 2014’s top pick William Nylander is expected to play a full season along with Leo Komarov who played well in 62 games last season.
In the defensive end, the top four of Phaneuf, Rielly, Jake Gardiner and Roman Polak return. Free agent signing Matt Hunwick is expected to be part of the bottom pairing with either Stephane Robidas, Martin Marincin or several other prospects (including Scott Harrington). Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer will once again mind the net.
Prediction: Another sorry year with no playoffs for Toronto.
Projected Lines:
- James van Riemsdyk – Nazem Kadri – PA Parenteau
- Joffrey Lupul – Tyler Bozak – Leo Komorov
- Shawn Mattias – William Nylander – Richard Panik
- Daniel Winnik – Nick Spaling – Petter Holland
Projected D-Pairs:
- Dion Phaneuf – Morgan Rielly
- Jake Gardiner – Roman Polak
- Matt Hunwick – Stephane Robidas
Projected Starter: Jonathan Bernier
Washington Capitals
Playoffs: Eliminated in the 2nd Round
Notable Subtractions: D Mike Green, RW Joel Ward, RW Troy Brouwer, C Eric Fehr, D John Erskine, D Steve Olesky
Notable Additions: RW TJ Oshie, RW Justin Williams, D Taylor Chorney, G Dan Ellis
PTOs: C Derek Roy
2014-15 Review:
If last season was any indication of things to come, Washington will be a dangerous team for the coming years. After several down seasons under the command of Adam Oates, the Caps made sweeping changes by firing GM George McPhee and the entire coaching staff. Brian MacLellan was hired as the new GM and Barry Trotz brought on to coach after 15 years in Nashville. The Trotz system worked well in year one.
The Capitals experienced rejuvenation. Alex Ovechkin scored 53 goals and played solid defense. Nicklas Backstrom had a career year center Ovi, posting a league leading 60 assists. John Carlson emerged as a pure number one defensemen and offensive threat. And the new additions of former Penguins Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen proved to solidify a solid, young defense.
The Capitals even played well in the playoffs. After several appearances of “one-and-done,” Washington missed a trip to the Conference Finals in devastating fashion of Game 7 at the hands of the Rangers. They took care of the Islanders and almost eliminated the reigning Eastern champs, but will hope for retribution in 2015-16.
2015-16 Outlook:
The upcoming year looks just as bright as last year ended. Another year of comfort under the Trotz system should lead to an increased level of success.
Ovechkin is coming off another solid year and both he and Nicky Backstrom should benefit from the addition of US Olympian TJ Oshie on the opposite wing.
Same can be said for the second line. Marcus Johansson returns after a solid season flanking Evgeny Kuznetsov. On the other flank is newly signed “Mr. Game 7,” Justin Williams; who joins Washington after two Cups in Los Angeles. This gives the Caps one of the best top sixes in the East.
The loss of Joel Ward, Eric Fehr and Troy Brouwer will hurt the Caps bottom six, but they will ask more of youngsters Tom Wilson, Andre Burakovsky and Michael Latta, while Jay Beagle, Jason Chimera and Brooks Laich provide veteran stability.
On the back end, the top four returns with Carlson and Orpik as the top pair, with Niskanen and Karl Alzner as the second. Dmitry Orlov will anchor the bottom pair after serving as the team’s seventh defenseman last year and Nate Schmidt, Taylor Chorney or Connor Carrick should join him.
Braden Holtby signed a long-term extension to remain the top netminder in the Nation’s Capital, with Philipp Grubauer and Dan Ellis fighting to back him up.
On the whole, I believe this is a much better team than last year. The loss of Green and Erskine on defense will be felt early, but I expect Orpik and Niskanen to have even better seasons than last year. Offensively, their top six is lethal and their bottom six is solid. If Holtby continues to play at a high level, the Capitals can go incredibly far. They are my top choice in the east for 2015-16.
Prediction: Win the Metro, Win the East, Play Anaheim in the Cup Finals.
Projected Lines:
- Alex Ovechkin – Nicklas Backstrom – TJ Oshie
- Marcus Johansson – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Justin Williams
- Andre Burakovsky – Jay Beagle – Tom Wilson
- Jason Chimera – Michael Latta – Brooks Laich
Projected D-Pairs:
- John Carlson – Brooks Orpik
- Matt Niskanen – Karl Alzner
- Dmitry Orlov – Nate Schmidt
Projected Starter: Braden Holtby