NHL training camps will be opening up across North America this week in preparation of another NHL season. Are you excited? I know I sure am.
With camps opening, it is time once again to take a look at all the teams around the NHL. So, here we are with my Western Conference preview.
You will get an in-depth look at every team in the Western Conference. That includes roster moves, a review of last year, this years outlook, a prediction and projected lines. I hope you enjoy!
Anaheim Ducks
Playoffs: Eliminated in Western Conference Finals
Notable Subtractions: LW Matt Beleskey, D Francois Beauchemin, LW Emerson Etem, RW Kyle Palmeri, D James Wisniewski
Notable Additions: LW Carl Hagelin, RW Chris Stewart, C Shawn Horcoff, D, Kevin Bieksa, G Anton Khudobin
2014-15 Review:
The 2014-15 season was another year of regular season triumph and post-season despair for the Anaheim Ducks. Despite deadline deals for the likes of James Wisniewski and Simon Despres, the Ducks didn’t have enough to take down the Blackhawks in the Western Conference Finals.
The Ducks were paced in the regular season by their captain, Ryan Getzlaf and his partner in crime Corey Perry. Getzlaf posted 70 points once again, while Perry chipped in 33 goals and 55 points. Their big offseason acquisition, Ryan Kesler, had a solid first year in Southern California by posting 47 points in 81 games. Left winger Matt Beleskey netted 22 goals skating alongside Perry and Getzlaf and defenseman Sami Vatanen paced the blue line corps with 37 points.
2015-16 Outlook:
The Ducks are poised for another solid season in 2015-16. They return their offensive core players in Getzlaf, Perry and Kesler and added winger Carl Hagelin in a trade with New York and winger Chris Stewart via free agency. Despite losing Beleskey, Etem and Palmeri, the top six remains relatively intact and the Ducks hope for the continued growth of Rickard Rakell and Patrick Maroon.
On the defensive side of the ice, the Ducks boast one of the best young corps in the NHL. Hampus Lindholm emerged a true number one defenseman for the Ducks while Sami Vatanen and Cam Fowler continued their growth. Simon Despres, traded for Ben Lovejoy from Pittsburgh at the deadline, looked better in his new environment and could emerge into the prospect he was always pegged to be. Despite the loss of Wisniewski and Beauchemin via free agency, Clayton Stoner and newly acquired Kevin Bieksa will provide veteran stability to the young corps.
It is in the crease that will determine how far the Ducks go this season. They entered 2014-15 expecting Pittsburgh native John Gibson to emerge into a pure number one goaltender. Instead, struggles and injuries saw Frederick Andersen gain the reigns of the team. The Ducks traded for Anton Khudobin from Carolina at the draft to provide a solid back up if both Andersen and Gibson struggle early on.
In all, the Ducks are built for success in the especially strong Western Conference. If Getzlaf, Perry and Kesler are healthy, they alone can win the Ducks 35 games. If Hagelin, Stewart and Silfverberg score like they are capable of, the Ducks can easily post another 50-win season. Their defense is young and they have questions in net, but there is no reason to doubt they couldn’t represent the West in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Prediction: Reach the Stanley Cup Finals
Projected Lines:
- Patrick Maroon – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry
- Carl Hagelin – Ryan Kesler – Jakob Silfverberg
- Andrew Cogliano – Rickard Rakell – Chris Stewart
- Nick Ritchie – Shawn Horcoff – Jiri Sekac
Projected D-Pairs:
- Hampus Lindholm – Kevin Bieksa
- Cam Fowler – Simon Despres
- Sami Vatanen – Clayton Stoner
Projected Starter: Frederick Andersen
Arizona Coyotes
Notable Subtractions: C Sam Gagner, C Mark Arcobello, D John Moore, LW Lauri Korpikoski
Notable Additions: C Antoine Vermette, RW Steve Downie, C Boyd Gordon, RW Brad Richardson, D Zbynek Michalek, D Nicklas Grossman, G Anders Lindback
PTOs: D Keith Aulie
2014-15 Review:
It was another forgettable campaign for the newly dubbed Arizona Coyotes. They finished 29th overall in the league and lost 50 games once again. In the process, the Coyotes have realized they are in full rebuild mode once again, and were awarded a top 5 pick after their abysmal season.
Among the bright spots on the horrendous season was stud defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Swedish international led the Coyotes offense in both goals (23) and points (43). Ekman-Larsson is one of only two Coyotes who led them in scoring to return in 2015-16.
The year for Arizona may be better remembered for their dealings off the ice. Besides the city of Glendale trying to terminate their contract with the franchise, the Coyotes were busy at the trade deadline and on draft day. Those moves are the foundation for the franchise rebuild in the desert.
2015-16 Outlook:
Don’t expect very much from the Coyotes again this year, except another lottery selection in the 2016 NHL Draft. They enter the year with only Ekman-Larsson and captain Shane Doan returning from the leading scorers in 2014-15. Also returning are goalie Mike Smith, center Martin Hanzal and winger Mikkel Boedker.
The offseason saw a several old faces return to the desert and several young faces brought in via trade and draft. Defenseman Zbynek Michalek chose to re-sign with Arizona after they traded him to St. Louis at the deadline. The same can be said of center Antoine Vermette, who got his Stanley Cup ring after a deadline deal to the Blackhawks. At the draft, the Coyotes selected Dylan Strome, brother of Islanders winger Ryan. While Strome was a stud in juniors, he likely won’t see time in the desert this year.
The same cannot be said for several other top prospects for Arizona. Expect 2013 12th overall selection Max Domi to play a full year along with winger Anthony Duclair (acquired in the Keith Yandle trade to the Rangers) and defenseman Brandon Gormley.
The Yotes are building for the future, so don’t expect much out of them. Ekman-Larsson will be an all-star, but other than that, not much will be good in the desert this year.
Prediction: Last in the West, Top 5 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft
Projected Lines:
- Mikkel Boedker – Martin Hanzal – Shane Doan
- Max Domi – Antoine Vermette – Steve Downie
- Anthony Duclair – Kyle Chipchura – Tobias Rieder
- Joe Vitale – Boyd Gordon – Brad Richardson
Projected D-Pairs:
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Zbynek Michalek,
- Michael Stone – Nicklass Grossman
- Connor Murphy – Brandon Gormley
Projected Starter: Mike Smith
Calgary Flames
2014 Playoffs: Eliminated in the 2nd Round
Notable Subtractions: D Raphael Diaz, RW Brian McGrattan
Notable Additions: RW Michael Frolik, D Dougie Hamilton
2014-15 Review:
Was there a better Cinderella story last season than the Calgary Flames? They entered the year still in rebuilding mode and expected to be a lottery team. But as Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast sweetheart!”
The Flames not only hung around all season, but they made the playoffs and eliminated the St. Louis Blues to reach the second round. A group of young forwards and four solid defensemen led the 2014-15 team.
Let’s start with the defensemen. Captain Mark Giordano was a Norris Trophy candidate before a season-ending bicep injury kept him out the last quarter of the season. In his absence, the Flames fought on, thanks in large part to the play of veteran defensemen Dennis Wideman and Deryk Engelland, along with the emerging play of young defensemen TJ Brodie and Kris Russell. Wideman, Giordano and Brodie each eclipsed the 40-point mark last year while Russell chipped in 34 points. All four are back in 2015, as is the veteran Engelland.
On the forward side of spectrum, young studs Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan led the Flames. Gaudreau posted 64 points in his rookie season, while Monahan’s sophomore year saw him post 31 goals and 62 points. Veteran Jiri Hudler led the Flames with 76 points, top 10 in the NHL.
2015-16 Outlook:
The Flames didn’t divert from their “rebuild” in the offseason. Instead of spending big money on free agents, they only made two moves to improve the team. First, they pulled off a blockbuster move at the Draft by acquiring defenseman Dougie Hamilton from the Bruins. Hamilton posted 42 points in 72 games in Boston last year, his best season in the NHL. The Bruins traded him, and the Flames decided to make a splash and trade for, then extend, Hamilton. The 21-year-old will call Calgary home for the next half-decade.
The second move was to sign winger Michael Frolik in free agency. Frolik had another solid year for the Jets last year, but didn’t get insane money that some expected. Instead, the 19 goals, 42-point scorer signed a friendly deal to be apart of the Flames rejuvenation.
2015-16 shouldn’t see this team take a step backward. Giordano will be healthy going into the season and the defensive corps now consists of him, Hamilton, Wideman, Russell, Brodie, Engelland and Ladislav Smid. They arguably make up the best defensive corps in the West, if not the NHL.
On the offensive side, 2014 4th overall selection Sam Bennett is expected to play a full season. In his short stay in 2014-15, Bennett posted 11 goals and 24 points. Bennett should flank Mikael Backlund this season along with the free agent Frolik. The top line will again consist of the Flames big three of Johnny Hockey, Monahan and Hudler. Their bottom six should be just as solid, with David Jones (30 points in ’14-15), Michael Ferland and Matt Stajan returning.
The only question mark for Calgary is in net. Like the Ducks, they have several options and no clear number one. Jonas Hiller was signed last offseason and had a decent year. The same can be said for back up Karri Romo and prospect Joni Ortio. The Flames will enter camp with the three of them vying for the starting job, and whoever wins it constantly looking over his shoulder.
This team is built for the future, but there is no reason to believe they cannot succeed in the mean time. Their defensive corps is the best in hockey; especially after the Hamilton acquisition and the top six boasts several talented players under the age of 25. If they can figure out who will be their number one netminder, they can go even deeper in the playoffs.
Prediction: Qualify for the playoffs and lose in the second round.
Projected Lines:
- Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
- Sam Bennett – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik
- Michael Ferland – Matt Stajan – David Jones
- Lance Bouma – Josh Jooris – Joe Colborne
Projected D-Pairs:
- Mark Giordano – Dougie Hamilton
- Dennis Wideman – TJ Brodie
- Kris Russell – Ladislav Smid
Projected Starter: Jonas Hiller
Chicago Blackhawks
2014 Playoffs: Won the Stanley Cup
Notable Subtractions: LW Brandon Saad, LW Patrick Sharp, D Johnny Oduya, C Antoine Vermette, C Brad Richards, D Keimo Timonen, G Antti Raanta
Notable Additions: LW Artemi Panarin, C Artem Anisimov, RW Ryan Garbutt, RW Marko Dano, RW Viktor Tikhonov, D Trevor Daley
PTOs: C Daniel Paille
2014-15 Review:
While the regular season wasn’t as stellar as years past, the spring brought much of the same success the Blackhawks are used to. They entered the Stanley Cup Playoffs unsure if they would have star winger Patrick Kane in the lineup after he suffered a shoulder injury in February. They traded for the likes of Antoine Vermette and Keimo Timmonen at the deadline to make up for injuries and hope to get on a run in the spring.
In the meantime, Kane put up 64 points before he missed the last 20 games. Captain Jonathan Toews had one of his best seasons posting 66 points in 81 games. The ageless wonder in Marian Hossa scored 22 and posted 61 points and Brandon Saad had his best season yet. Duncan Keith was just as solid as always and his partner Brent Seabrook had another solid year at both ends of the ice.
The Hawks entered the playoffs and got their key scorer, Kane, back. It was all aces from there. Despite a scare against Nashville, the Hawks found their way past the Preds, the Wild and the Ducks. In the Cup Finals, they faced the high-flying Lightning and were able to shut them down in six games. The Blackhawks solidified this era as a dynasty, winning their third Cup in six years.
2015-16 Outlook:
This upcoming season holds a lot of questions for a team that is coming off a championship. First, the new contracts for Toews and Kane kicked in, meaning each will earn upwards of 10 million annually. While they are both generational players, they are handcuffing the Hawks financially. This resulted in the Hawks moving veteran sniper Patrick Sharp to Dallas, a blockbuster deal that sent 23-year-old Brandon Saad to Columbus and also veteran Kris Versteeg sent to Carolina. All of a sudden, two of their top six scorers are gone.
While the Hawks got Artem Anisimov and Trevor Daley in return in those deals, the biggest question revolves around one of their 10 million dollar men, Patrick Kane. An alleged rape charge has Kane’s status up in the air, and even sparked rumors that the Hawks have shopped their star winger. There has yet to be charges filed or an arrest, but this off-ice issue won’t go away for either Kane or the Hawks very soon.
Meanwhile, on the ice, Chicago will enter the season with a lot of new, young faces. Artemi Panarin and Viktor Tikhonov join the Hawks from the KHL in Russia. Panarin is expected to slot in on the top line alongside Kane and Toews while Tikhonov is projected to join the bottom six. Anisimov will center the second line alongside Marian Hossa and Chicago’s top prospect in Teuvo Teravainen. The bottom six will see Andrew Shaw and Markus Kruger return to center the 3rd and 4th lines while they and Bryan Bickell are joined by new faces Marko Dano, Ryan Garbutt and Tikhonov.
On the defensive side of the ice, the Hawks will still boast one of the best defensemen in the NHL in Duncan Keith, along with steady veterans Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmersson. Trevor Daley joins the top 4 after coming over from Dallas and youngsters Trevor van Riemsdyk and David Runblad will be expected to hold down the bottom pairing. Corey Crawford and Scott Darling will complete the roster in net.
Questions remain around this team, but it is hard to discount three championships in six seasons. The Hawks essentially “rebuilt” after their first title and they will do so again this time. I don’t expect a repeat this year, especially if Kane misses any time with legal troubles, but this is a playoff team and a lethal one once they get there.
Prediction: Reach the playoffs, but fall in the Conference Finals.
Projected Lines:
- Artemi Panarin – Jonathan Toews – Patrick Kane
- Teuvo Teravainen – Artem Anisimov – Marian Hossa
- Viktor Tikhonov – Andrew Shaw – Ryan Garbutt
- Bryan Bickell – Marcus Kruger – Marko Dano
Projected D-Pairs:
- Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook
- Niklas Hjalmarsson – Trevor Daley
- Trevor van Riemsdyk – David Runbland
Projected Starter: Corey Crawford
Colorado Avalanche
Notable Subtractions: C Ryan O’Reilly, LW Jamie McGinn, RW Jordan Caron
Notable Additions: C Carl Soderbeg, LW Blake Comeau, C Mikhail Grigorenko, D Francois Beauchemin, D Nikita Zadorov
PTOs: RW Jack Skille
2014-15 Review:
If 2013-14 was a Cinderella year for the Avs, then 2014-15 was about as good as a sequel to a classic film. The Avs made some solid offseason moves, but failed to fix their major problems on defense, and it showed.
The Avs got off to an atrocious start and saw their big names like MacKinnon, Landeskog, Duchene and O’Reilly struggle. The addition of veteran Jarome Iginla and the mid-season turn around of the before mentioned forwards saw the Avs play better in the second half of the season, but ultimately fall short of a playoffs spot in the high-flying West.
The 38-year-old Iginla led the Avs in scoring with 29 goals and 59 points. Captain Gabriel Landeskog chipped in 59 points of his own and Alex Tanguay and Duchene each posted 55 points. While the Avs struggled, they remained amazingly healthy with Iginla, Landeskog, Duchene, O’Reilly and Tanguay each playing over 80 games.
While the scoring was relatively well spread, the Avs struggled mightily in their own zone last season. With former Vezina candidate Semyon Varlamov struggling and missing significant time to injury, the Avs couldn’t keep the puck out of their end, and out of their net.
It was a disappointing year. After Patrick Roy’s breakout, Jack Adams winning year in 2013-14, hopes were high. Instead, the Mile High fan base needed all the legal marijuana they could get their hands on to survive the season.
2015-16 Outlook:
What team will we see in Colorado? Will it be the 2013-14-surprise team or the underachieving 2014-15 team? It is hard to answer that question on paper, but I think you will see something closer to 2013-14 just based on the offseason moves.
While the Avs lost the great two-way center in Ryan O’Reilly in a trade with Buffalo, the same deal brought in two key pieces: 20-year-old defenseman Nikita Zadorov and 21-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko. While neither is especially proven, it helps the Avs get some solid young players on friendly deasl. The move also allowed the Avs to pursue pending free agent Carl Soderberg from Boston and sign him to a multi-year contract at the NHL Draft. The Avs also added veteran defenseman Francois Beauchemin to stabilize the questionable defensive corps and veteran Blake Comeau to add scoring to the bottom six.
The top six should look very similar to last year, with Duchene flanked by Landeskog and MacKinnon while Soderberg centers veterans Tanguay and Iginla. I expect MacKinnon to rebound from a sophomore slump and add more firepower to this already powerful top six. Comeau should join Grigorenko and Everberg on the 3rd line.
On the blue line, Erik Johnson and Tyson Barrie are the standouts of the questionable corps. Beauchemin will help stabilize them and bring a veteran presence, but I still don’t believe it is enough to bring another Cup to Denver.
If Varlamov can regain Vezina form, the Avs will overachieve, but they are a borderline playoff team at this time unless they upgrade the defense. If they are hanging around at the deadline and add there, they could make the playoffs again.
Prediciton: Avs improve, but miss out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Projected Lines:
- Gabriel Landeskog – Matt Duchene – Nathan MacKinnon
- Alex Tanguay – Carl Soderberg – Jarome Iginla
- Blake Comeau – Mikhail Grigorenko – Dennis Everberg
- Cody McLeod – John Mitchell – Patrick Boreleau
Projected D-Pairs:
- Erik Johnson – Tyson Barrie
- Francois Beauchemin – Nikita Zadorov
- Zach Redmond – Brad Stuart
Projected Starter: Semyon Varlamov
Dallas Stars
Notable Subtractions: D Trevor Daley, RW Ryan Garbutt, C Shawn Horcoff, G Jhonas Enroth
Notable Additions: LW Patrick Sharp, D Johnny Oduya, G Antti Niemi
2014-15 Review:
The Dallas Stars were another team that underachieved last season. After a great first year in Dallas by Tyler Seguin and the offseason additions of Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky, the Stars were expected to make the next step into success. Instead, they underachieved.
The problem? Certainly not the offense. The Stars were second in the NHL in scoring with 3.13 goals per game. Art Ross winner Jamie Benn (87pts) and linemate Tyler Seguin (77pts) led Dallas offensively. Spezza rebounded from a slow start to post 62 points and rookie defenseman John Klingberg emerged as a future Norris Trophy contender by posting 40 points in 65 games.
The problem, like the Avs, was on the defensive side of the game. Goalie Kari Lehtonen severely underachieved and besides Klingberg and veteran Alex Goligoski, little offense or defensive success was seen. The Stars finished 26th in goals against.
It was a disappointing year, especially after the offseason moves GM Jim Nill made. Coach Lindy Ruff was retained and is expected to help the Stars take the next step forward in 2015-16.
2015-16 Outlook
Dallas is a team that could go two ways: Either they grossly underachieve or they shock the NHL. They’re my bold prediction of the year, I’m leaning more towards option two. I think the Stars are primed for a huge season.
Firstly, the Stars added to an already lethal offensive attack by acquiring three-time Cup champion and sniper Patrick Sharp. Sharp is expected to skate alongside Spezza and Hemsky and post big numbers again. Jamie Benn is expected to be ready for the season after offseason hip surgery and flank Tyler Seguin once more.
On the defensive side, the Stars will ask for more of the same from Alex Goligoski, who remains the team’s number one defensemen. They will ask sophomore John Klingberg to grow even more. He had a huge rookie season and comparisons have been made to hall of famer Nicolas Lindstrom. Veteran Johnny Oduya signed as a free agent and is expected to provide more stability and minutes in a top 4 role. While the other three defensemen remain young, a mid-season trade could turn this team into a legit Cup contender.
Finally, if the Stars are going to go far, it will need better goaltending. GM Jim Nill spent big in this area. If incumbent Kari Lehtonen struggles again like last year, Ruff will have the option to turn to veteran and Cup champion Antti Niemi. Niemi signed a three-year deal in July. This gives the Stars two solid options to fall back on.
The Stars can be incredibly legit. They have 11 of their 12 forwards returning and Sharp is a vast improvement over others. Oduya will add to the defense, just as Niemi will the goaltending corps. The Stars are for real in my eyes, and I see them going far.
Prediction: Dallas makes the playoffs, and wouldn’t be surprised if they score their way to the Stanley Cup Final
Projected Lines:
- Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Valeri Nichushkin
- Patrick Sharp – Jason Spezza – Ales Hemsky
- Antoine Roussel – Cody Eakin – Patrick Eaves
- Travis Moen – Vernon Fiddler – Colton Sceviour
Projected D-Pairs:
- Alex Goligoski – John Klingberg
- Johnny Oduya – Jason Demers
- Jordie Benn – Jamie Oleksiak
Projected Starter: Antti Niemi
Edmonton Oilers
Notable Subtractions: C Boyd Gordon, D Martin Marincin, G Viktor Fasth, RW Matt Fraser, RW Steve Pinizzotto
Notable Additions: Connor McDavid, Lauri Korpikoski, C Mark Lestestu, D Anfrej Sekera, D Eric Gryba, G. Cam Talbot
2014-15 Review:
It was another season of horrid hockey in a hockey town. Edmonton, despite having five number one picks over the past decade has failed to rebuild into a Stanley Cup contender. 2014-15 was no different. Their abysmal year saw the majority of the hockey operations staff dismissed at season’s end. It led to rampant trade rumors of big stars and plenty of internal and external complaints. Needless to say, it was another hard year to be an Oilers fan.
What did this team do? The Oilers got solid years out of Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, each posting over 55 points on the season. But that was about it. Taylor Hall missed time due to injury. Nail Yakuopv underachieved and David Perron was traded out of town. Same happened to Nick Petry, who was dealt at the deadline.
If there was any consolation, the Oilers won the lottery once again and the right to draft Connor McDavid first overall in the draft. Many were disgusted with the lottery process, which turned out had problems, especially since Edmonton has failed to get any better with the plethora of first overall picks they have already had. But that is the system and here we are.
2015-16 Outlook:
This season looks just about as good as 2014-15. Sure, the Oilers will have Connor McDavid, a generational player who is compared to Sidney Crosby, on their second line, but a lot of other things need to happen for any success to occur.
Success will start and end in the hockey operations department. New GM Peter Chiarelli needs to make Edmonton a desirable destination once again, which means he and his staff need to develop these top picks into legit number one overall players. New coach Todd McLellan will need to get these guys to buy in as well. A culture of losing has set in in Edmonton, and he needs to get these young guys back on track and give them something to strive for.
So what do the Oilers have? McDavid could be the next Crosby, so his development is key. The Oilers will also need a turnaround from former number one pick Nail Yakupov, who is expected to skate alongside McDavid on the second line. The top line of Hall, Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins is solid, but need to spend more time in their end. The bottom six isn’t bad, but it will all come down to the Oilers defensive play.
Edmonton added veteran offensive defenseman Andrej Sekera on July 1st and he will immediately step into the number one role. He is expected to skate alongside Justin Schultz, who had a rough year. Veteran and captain Andrew Ference and Nikita Nikitin will likely round out the top 4. The bottom pair will come down to veterans Mark Fayne, Eric Gryba (acquired from Ottawa) and Oscar Klefbom, along with prospects Darnell Nurse and Griffin Reinhart. If they can somehow manage to be respectable, they could provide newly acquired netminder Cam Talbot a chance.
Talbot was acquired at the Draft from the Rangers. Coming off a career year, Talbot is expected to start in net immediately. The only way to match his career year will be improved play of the guys in front of him. A terrible year for the Oilers shouldn’t be a reflection on Talbot’s talent.
It will be much of the same in Edmonton in 2015-16. They are building towards the future, but unless Chiarelli and McLellan can right the ship, it’ll be much of the same in the future.
Prediction: Another lost season, likely another top 5 pick on the way.
Projected Lines:
- Taylor Hall – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle
- Benoit Pouliot – Connor McDavid – Nail Yakupov
- Lauri Korpikoski – Anton Lander – Teddy Purcell
- Rob Klinkhammer – Mark Letestu – Matt Hendricks
Projected D-Pairs:
- Andrej Sekera – Justin Schultz
- Nikitia Nikitin – Andrew Ference
- Mark Fayne – Oscar Klefbom
Projected Starter: Cam Talbot
Los Angeles Kings
2014 Record: 40-27-15 (95pts) 4th in the Pacific, 9th in the West.
Notable Subtractions: RW Justin Williams, D Andrej Sekera, C Mike Richards, C Jarrett Stoll, G Martin Jones, D Robyn Regehr
Notable Additions: LW Milan Lucic, D Christian Ehrhoff, G Jhonas Enroth
PTOs: G Peter Budaj
2014-15 Review:
The Kings became the first defending Stanley Cup champions since the 2006-07 Carolina Hurricanes to miss the playoffs the year after winning it all.
Ouch!
But was it just a down year or a sign of things to come? The Kings had issues last season, both on and off the ice. First, Slava Voynov was suspended indefinitely after being arrested for domestic violence. He spent the summer in prison, and currently is facing deportation back to Russia. Next, Mike Richards, an expensive center, underachieved so much that he was sent to the minors. Richards was later released based on a breach of contract, but the NHLPA will likely appeal the decision. The Kings defensive corps struggled last year, after years of success in that area that led to two Stanley Cups. And finally, there were multiple reports that head coach Darryl Sutter had lost the locker room and it led to the Kings demise late in the season.
Though the Kings failed to return to the playoffs, there were some bright spots. Former Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick had another solid year in net, winning 36 games and posting a 2.24 goals against average. Anze Kopitar emerged as the leader of the offense, posting 64 points on a team that struggled to score. Jeff Carter had a solid year while Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson emerged as legitimate top six wingers. Drew Doughty had another solid year on the blue line and Jake Muzzin continued to develop into a quality number two. The Kings missed out, but were still a step above the likes of Dallas or Colorado.
2015-16 Outlook:
A lot of questions remain going into the new season. If Sutter has lost the locker room, will the summer off be enough for him to get it back? That is highly unlikely considering there is little turnover on the roster. The big acquisition was winger Milan Lucic from Boston, who is slated to skate on the top line with Kopitar and notorious streaky sniper Marian Gaborik. Christian Ehrhoff rebounded last season in Pittsburgh after down years in Buffalo, and signed a deal to return to the west in free agency. Those are the two major moves, along with the signing of Jhonas Enroth to be Quick’s backup.
So what does the season hold for the Kings? Kopitar will continue to emerge into a star. He produced 64 points last year and I think he can come up from there. Lucic should benefit from a change of scenery and succeed in the Sutter system. Jeff Carter will center the young wingers in Pearson and Toffoli while the bottom six relies on veterans such as captain Dustin Brown, Trevor Lewis and Dwight King.
The Kings should be steady defensively and in net again. Quick returns and though solid backup Martin Jones is gone, there should be no slack in that department. Drew Doughty will lead the defensive corps again, and the addition of Christian Ehrhoff should add not only to the defense, but the power play as well.
I think the Kings will rebound from an off year in 2014. I expect them to return to the post season, but not sure how far they make it.
Prediction: Make the playoffs, but ultimately lose in the first round.
Projected Lines:
- Milan Lucic – Anze Kopitar – Marian Gaborik
- Tanner Pearson – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
- Dwight King – Nick Shore – Dustin Brown
- Kyle Clifford – Trevor Lewis – Jordan Nolan.
Projected D-Pairs:
- Drew Doughty – Jake Muzzin
- Christian Ehrhoff – Alec Martinez
- Matt Greene – Brayden McNabb
Projected Starter: Jonathan Quick
Minnesota Wild
Playoff Results: Eliminated in the 2nd Round
Notable Subtractions: C Kyle Brodziak, LW Matt Cooke, RW Chris Stewart, G Josh Harding
Notable Additions: D Mike Reilly, LW Ruslan Fedotenko
2014-15 Review:
The Wild’s season looked in danger around the all-star break. Star players dealt with devastating losses off the ice, as both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter lost their fathers. Mike Yeo was filmed screaming at his team in practice, they went through a tough losing streak and looked as if a promising season was about to be lost.
Then everything changed. Devan Dubnyk was acquired and went on a scintillating run to close out the year and his teammates rode him into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A season that was on the brink ended up being quite the story in the end; the Wild made the playoffs, Yeo saved his job and Dubnyk won the Masterton award for his efforts.
Defense is the name of the game in Minnesota, and last season was not different. They were sixth in the NHL in defense and tops in the penalty kill, killing off 86.3% of their penalties. The offense was much better than years past as well. Parise had a solid year, leading the team in points. Jason Pominville had a great year on Parise’s opposite wing and Thomas Vanek regained his lost touch after signing with his home-state team.
2015-16 Outlook:
I am not sure what to expect from this year’s edition of the Minnesota Wild. For one thing, I don’t know if Dubnyk is the long-term answer to their woes in goal. He had an outstanding half of hockey in the Twin Cities, posting 27 wins and a 1.78 goals against average in 39 games. The question is can he repeat that level of play, or will he fall back into what we had seen of him in years past. I think the Wild’s season will depend on the answer to that question.
Offensively, the Wild don’t look much different. They lost deadline acquisition Chris Stewart to free agency, along with Matt Cooke who was bought out. Otherwise, this is the same team we saw the majority of the season last year. Parise, Pominville and Vanek will be counted on for the majority of their offense again and more scoring touch will be asked of top line center Mikael Granlund.
Defensively, the Wild are still strong. Ryan Suter had a down year by his standards, but was still their top offensive defenseman. The likes of Brodin, Scandella, Spurgeon and Dumba all took steps forward as well. The final spot on the bottom pair will come down to University of Minnesota teammates Christian Folin and Mike Reilly. Reilly was the collegiate Erik Karlsson last year and many teams sought his services going into this season. He elected to stay home in Minnesota and will be considered for that spot. The other is Christian Folin, who played 40 games for the Wild last year on the bottom pair. Regardless of who gets that spot, defense will be far from the problem of the Wild.
So where do the Wild go in 2015-16? It all depends on the guy between the pipes. If Dubnyk retains his form, then the Wild will likely be around come April again. If Dubnyk falters, then the Wild don’t have the offensive potency to overcome a leaky goaltender, meaning they are dead in the water.
Prediction: Wild make the playoffs, but fall in the first round.
Projected Lines:
- Zach Parise – Mikael Granlund – Jason Pominville
- Thomas Vanek – Mikko Koivu – Nino Niederreiter
- Jason Zucker – Charlie Coyle – Justin Fontaine
- Ryan Carter – Erik Haula – Jordan Schroeder
Projected D-Pairs:
- Ryan Suter – Jonas Brodin
- Jared Spurgeon – Matt Dumba
- Marco Scandella – Mike Reilly
Projected Starter: Devan Dubnyk
Nashville Predators
Playoffs: Eliminated in the first round
Notable Subtractions: D Cody Franson
Notable Additions: D Barret Jackman, RW Cody Hodgson, RW Steve Moses
2014-15 Review:
I’d like to start this section by saying I called it. I had the Predators making the playoffs under new head coach Peter Laviolette last season. It was bold and luckily, I got away with it. The Preds played fun hockey last year. Unlike the Barry Trotz years where it was all defense, defense, defense, the Predators under Peter Laviolette put the puck in the net and were more fun to watch.
Part of the reason was rookie Filip Forsberg. Son of the hall of famer, Forsberg led the team in scoring with 26 goals and 63 points. Veteran center Mike Ribeiro teamed up with Forsberg and offseason acquisition James Neal to produce 162 points among them. The defense was solid as always, but also produced on the offensive end. Top pair Shea Weber and Roman Josi had 100 points between themselves.
Of course, the Preds got where they did because of their goaltender. Pekka Rinne was a Vezina finalist once again, winning 41 games and posting a 2.18 goals against average. He struggled against the Blackhawks in the playoffs, but it was a high scoring series on the whole.
2015-16 Outlook
I loved the moves Nashville made going into 2014-15, but this year has been much quieter. GM David Poile decided to make small tweaks to his team, each of which should improve them. First, he brought in Cody Hodgson who has produced in the past, but became stagnant in Buffalo the last two years. A change of scenery should benefit him. Steve Moses spent last year in the KHL, but had a huge year. Moses posted 57 points in 60 games played for Jokerit. He is expected to skate in the bottom six and add a little extra punch, even if he is the smallest guy on the ice. Finally, the Preds added veteran defenseman Barret Jackman. Never an offensive stud, but always dependable, he will be a stable presence on the bottom pair.
As I mentioned, much of the roster remains the same. Weber, Josi, Ryan Ellis and Seth Jones will compose the top 4 while Forsberg, Ribeiro, Neal, Colin Wilson, Mike Fisher and Craig Smith will make up the top six. The special teams play will need to improve, but if the defense remains at the same level, good things should happen.
Of course, the key to the season will be Pekka Rinne. If the Vezina finalist can stay healthy, then Preds should have no problem making the playoffs again this year. If he struggles, well it could be a rough year for Nashville.
Prediction: Makes the playoffs again, but get eliminated in the first round.
Projected Lines:
- Filip Forsberg – Mike Ribeiro – James Neal
- Colin Wilson – Mike Fisher – Craig Smith
- Eric Nystrom – Calle Jarnkrok – Cody Hodgson
- Gabriel Bourque – Paul Gaustad – Steve Moses
Projected D-Pairs:
- Shea Weber – Roman Josi
- Seth Jones – Ryan Ellis
- Barret Jackman – Mattias Ekholm
Projected Starter: Pekka Rinne
St. Louis Blues
Playoffs: Eliminated in the first round
Notable Subtractions: RW TJ Oshie, D Barret Jackman, D Zbynek Michalek, C Marcel Goc, C Olli Jokinen
Notable Additions: RW Troy Brouwer, C Kyle Brodziak
PTOs: LW Scottie Upshall
2014-15 Review:
The Blues continued their ascension to the top of the Western Conference last year by finishing in tie for first in the West. They matched the Ducks with 109 points and hosted the Calgary Flames in the first round. Unfortunately, the Flames were too hot for the Blues and attention shifted back to the Cardinals in the Gateway City.
Until the playoffs though, the Blues were an exciting team to watch. Vladimir Taresenko evolved into a complete stud, and got paid like it in the summer. The Russian had 37 goals in the regular season and a third (6 of 18) of the Blues post-season goals. He was fun to watch, scoring some creative goals the NHL hasn’t seen since fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin broke into the league.
Other youngsters developed into solid players, especially winger Jaden Schwartz and centerman Jori Lehtera. They along with Taresenko, TJ Oshie, David Backes and Alexander Steen made up the top six. Paul Statsny had a solid first season in St. Louis, posting 46 points and Patrik Bergland had a solid year as well.
On the blue line and in net, the Blues missed some of the notes. Kevin Shattenkirk missed nearly half the season due to injury and veteran Jay Bouwmeester really fell off the map. Alex Pietrangelo had a good year, but struggled without partner Shattenkirk. In net, Jake Allen and Brian Elliot split time, but Allen gained the reins going into the playoffs. The defense struggled and so did Allen, leading to an early exit for the best in the west.
2015-16 Outlook:
I don’t see the Blues taking a step forward in 2015-16. I still have questions about their goaltending and their defense, especially after losing the steady Michalek and Jackman. A healthy Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo will help this team, but I don’t believe the Blues answer on the bottom pair is Robert Bortuzzo with a rookie defenseman. They need another veteran in that corps.
Offensively, I think they will be just as good as last year. Losing Oshie will hurt, but Brouwer is a solid player and will make up most of Oshie’s production. I expect Tarasenko to be huge again this year and I think Paul Statsny will have a better year this season.
The success of this club will ultimately come down to goaltending. I don’t like the goaltending by committee approach. There should be one bonafide starter and ride him until he’s done, then switch. The back and forth worked last year, but it didn’t in the playoffs. They need one guy to emerge and take complete control of the spot. Then, the Blues can make a move in the spring.
Prediction: Make the playoffs, fall in the second round.
Projected Lines:
- Alex Steen – David Backes – Vlad Taresenko
- Jaden Schwartz – Jori Lehtera – Troy Brouwer
- Patrik Bergland – Paul Statsny – Dmitrij Jaskin
- Steve Ott – Kyle Brodziak – Ryan Reaves
Projected D-Pairs:
- Alex Pietrangelo – Kevin Shattenkirk
- Jay Bouwmeester – Carl Gunnarsson
- Petteri Lindbohm – Robert Bortuzzo
Projected Starter: Jake Allen
San Jose Sharks
Notable Subtractions: G Antti Niemi, D Matt Irwin, LW John Scott
Notable Additions: RW Joel Ward, D Paul Martin, G Martin Jones
2014-15 Review:
It was a rocky year in Northern California. The Sharks, a perennial playoff team, failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2003 last season. There were many problems in the locker room, including the GM saying it was time to rebuild and questioning the leadership of veterans Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Todd McLellan lost the room and as Logan Couture stated, the “culture was not great.”
In spite of all the locker room problems, the Sharks had a few bright spots. Logan Couture had a great season, posting 40 assists and 67 points. Joe Pavelski knocked home 37 goals and 70 points on the year as well. Defenseman Brent Burns was a finalist for the Norris Trophy, posting 60 points. Antti Niemi was stable in goal, but the culture and attitude did this team in by the end of the 2014 calendar year.
2015-16 Outlook:
The biggest change to this team is behind the bench. Peter DeBoer was brought in to replace McLellan, but if the GM continues to fight with is stars, it could be another down year. It would behoove both sides, GM Doug Wilson, Joe Thornton, etc. to just shut up and play hockey.
The biggest player acquisition is Paul Martin. He immediately improves this defensive corps and is used to playing high minutes. He will allow Brent Burns join the rush and not worry about getting back to cover his own end as fast. Joel Ward will add to the offense as well. A versatile winger, he can play on any line and succeed. Though he is 35, I see him as a difference maker for the Sharks.
The core of veterans, Thornton, Pavelski, Marleau and Couture, remain intact. The success of the team will come from guys like Matt Nieto, Chris Tierney and Tomas Hertl. If they can produce like they did in their rookie years and stay healthy, they can give the Sharks three solid lines.
Defensively, the Sharks have a solid top 4 in Burns, Martin, Marc-Eduard Vlasic and Justin Braun. Brenden Dillion and Mirco Mueller will hold down the bottom pair.
Goalie should be interesting as well. Niemi is gone, and former rival Martin Jones is in from LA. Jones was a solid backup, but how will he handle the full time workload? Also, if he struggles, there really isn’t a legitimate backup to cover for him.
The Sharks have the pieces to get back to the playoffs, seriously. However, it will be up to the players whether they will just play hockey, or if they will make a side-show of another season.
Prediction: Sharks make the playoffs, but get eliminated in the first round.
Projected Line:
- Patrick Marleau – Joe Thornton – Joe Pavelski
- Melker Karlsson – Logan Couture – Tomas Hertl
- Matt Nieto – Chris Tierney – Joel Ward
- Raffi Torres – Ben Smith – Tommy Wingles
Projected D-Pairs:
- Brent Burns – Paul Martin
- Marc-Eduard Vlasic – Justin Braun
- Brenden Dillon – Mirco Mueller
Projected Starter: Martin Jones
Vancouver Canucks
Playoffs: Eliminated in the first round.
Notable Subtractions: C Nick Bonino, D Kevin Bieksa, G Eddie Lack, C Shawn Matthias, RW Zach Kassian, C Brad Richardson
Notable Additions: C Brandon Sutter, LW Brandon Prust, D Matt Bartkowski
2014-15 Review:
The Canucks had a surprising turnaround after the atrocious year under John Tortorella. Willie Desjardins stepped in and rejuvenated a team that won’t admit it needs a rebuild. The offseason acquisition of goalie Ryan Miller and winger Radim Vrbata helped the turnaround.
The Sedin twins rebounded alongside Vrbata, the trio scoring 212 points on the season. Rookie Bo Horvat played the majority of the season and played well enough to stick. On the back end, Alex Edler, Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis played solid in both ends of the ice. Ryan Miller missed time with injury, but was solid in his 45 games. He won 29 while back up Eddie Lack won 18.
2015-16 Outlook
While 2014-15 was a pleasant surprise, this season has the makings for disaster. The Canucks traded away three of their bigger contributors from last season in Bonino, Bieksa and Lack. They replace them with the likes of Brandon Sutter, Matt Bartkowski and Jacob Markstrom. I’ll take the first three please.
The defense is still decent and if Ryan Miller plays like the old Ryan Miller, this team can succeed. That being said, I’m not holding my breath. I didn’t feel the Canucks had a second line last year, and still don’t think they have one this year. Sutter is a good defensive center, but he doesn’t have the playmaking skills of a second line center. The bottom six is capable, but it doesn’t stack up to other bottom six’s in their division or conference.
Most frankly, I see a long season for the Canucks, period.
Prediction: Miss the playoffs
Projected Lines:
- Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin – Radim Vrbata
- Chris Higgins – Brandon Sutter – Alex Burrows
- Brandon Prust – Bo Horvat – Jannik Hansen
- Sven Baertschi – Linden Vey – Derek Dorsett
Projected D-Pairs:
- Alex Edler – Chris Tanev
- Dan Hamhuis – Yannick Weber
- Luca Sbisa – Matt Bartkowski
Projected Starter: Ryan Miller
Winnipeg Jets
Playoffs: Eliminated in the first round
Notable Subtractions: RW Michael Frolik, LW TJ Galiadi
Notable Additions: LW Matt Fraser
PTOs: LW Thomas Raffl
2014-15 Review:
For years, the knock against the Jets was their goaltending. They didn’t have a legit number one to get them to the playoffs and they didn’t have one for them to stay long. Last season was no different, except Ondrej Pavelec and Mike Hutchinson together played well enough to get them there.
The Jets made the playoffs for the first time since moving back to Winnipeg. Their 99 points was just enough to squeak into that last spot in the West. The Jets got more consistent play from their defensive corps last season, which was another reason for their playoff appearance. Dustin Byfuglien had a solid year and Tyler Myers played much better after his escape from Buffalo.
Same can be said for winger Drew Stafford. Like Myers, Stafford’s career stagnated in upstate New York, and the move helped the Jets down the stretch. The trade cost them Evander Kane, but his reputation as a locker room cancer didn’t affect the team at all. Captain Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little and Mark Scheifele each had solid years, which also helped the Jets into the playoffs.
2015-16 Outlook:
The Jets didn’t do much to the team in the offseason. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, I still don’t feel they have a legit goalie in Ondrej Pavelec. He only had 22 wins in 50 starts last year, and if it weren’t for his offense, he wouldn’t have won that many.
Ultimately, improved offense and defense will make the difference between a dismal year and another appearance in the playoffs. I like the core of Little, Wheeler and Scheifele, along with Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba and Toby Enstrom; they will be key to the future in the Peg. But their bottom six leaves little to be desired and the goaltending is a huge issue for me. The Kings, Sharks and Stars are much better than they were last year, so they will take the Jets spot.
Prediction: Jets miss the playoffs.
Projected Lines:
- Andrew Ladd – Bryan Little – Blake Wheeler
- Mathieu Perreault – Mark Scheifele – Drew Stafford
- Nikolaj Ehlers – Alex Burmistrov – Matt Halischuk
- Matt Fraser – Adam Lowry – Chris Thorburn
Projected D-Pairs:
- Dustin Byfuglien – Jacob Trouba
- Tyler Myers – Toby Enstrom
- Mark Stuart – Ben Chiarot
Projected Starter: Ondrej Pavelec