2019 NHL Draft recap

Last weekend, the NHL Draft happened in Vancouver, and there were a few surprises and some trades, most of them happening on the second day. Let's see what each team did.

1. New Jersey Devils-Jack Hughes, C, US NTDP (USHL)

One of two things you could have predicted correctly, the Devils went for the dynamic US-born talent in Hughes. He does come with size concerns, but so did Patrick Kane when he came out for his draft year. He figures to slot in right away as a second-line center behind Nico Hischier, and has the potential to elevate the games of Kyle Palmieri and Blake Coleman.

2. New York Rangers-Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS (Finland)

The other thing you could have seen coming, the Rangers went for a player that raised his stock in the last year with clutch performances on the world's biggest stages. Had he played more center, it was possible that he could have gone first overall. As it is, Kakko falls into a good situation, playing alongside either Mikka Zibanejad or Chris Kreider.

3. Chicago Blackhawks-Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)

A mild surprise, since Dylan Cozens was seen as the better WHL prospect of the two, but Dach has skill and the potential is higher than Cozens'. A playmaker, he has a great chance to continue to develop his game while both Jonathan Toews and Dylan Strome hold down the fort in Chicago down the middle.

4. Colorado Avalanche-Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver (WHL)

Having the luxury of picking the best player available since they have another pick at 16, the Avs decided to further bolster their blueline with the best defender in the draft. Byram has a few things to clean up, but his stock was helped considerably by his performance in the WHL playoffs. He won't be rushed to Colorado right away, since their defensive unit is good, even if they do decide to move Tyson Barrie.

5. Los Angeles Kings-Alex Turcotte, C, US NTDP (USHL)

Injuries this past year were a concern coming into the draft for Turcotte, but his skill was not. The Wisconsin commit will bring strong two-way play and a chance to shine without playing behind Hughes.

6. Detroit Red Wings-Moritz Seider, D, Mannheim (Germany)

The first real surprise of the draft, Seider wasn't seen as a top 10 pick in most drafts, but his size and puck moving ability are starting points for why he was a worthy first rounder. He's a couple years away, but the potential is there to be at worst, a solid second pairing player.

7. Buffalo Sabres-Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge (WHL)

A power forward that has potential to be a top line center, he does need to gain a little weight, but that will come with time. Buffalo needed offense, and Cozens can provide that.

8. Edmonton Oilers-Philip Broberg, D, AIK (Sweden)

His stock took a bit of a hit as his team didn't trust him as much in the second half of the season, but that did not scare off an Oilers team desperate to cobble together a blue line. He has to answer questions about his puck-moving skills, but his size and skating are unquestioned.

9. Anaheim Ducks-Trevor Zegras, C, US NTDP (USHL)

Another center stuck behind Jack Hughes, Zegras is a playmaker that has the ability to shoot, but he will need to have a more prominent role to fully realize his potential, something that will happen at the next level, whether it is Boston University or Mississauga of the OHL.

10. Vancouver Canucks-Vasili Podkolzin, RW, SKA-Neva (Russia)

Thought to have been a top 5 pick, the fact that he will remain in Russia for two years scared off some teams. He has offensive potential, but he also carries a bit of a mean streak, something that Vancouver has needed for years.

11. Arizona Coyotes-Victor Soderstrom, D, Brynas (Sweden)

The Coyotes moved up to this spot by switching spots and giving up their second rounder to Philadelphia. He's not big, but he does have offensive skill that will translate to today's NHL.

12. Minnesota Wild-Matthew Boldy, LW, US NTDP (USHL)

Consistency was an issue with Boldy, but his goal scoring prowess is what caught notice of scouts. He is headed to Boston College, where he will have time to round out his game.

13. Florida Panthers-Spencer Knight, G, US NTDP (USHL)

Florida's goaltending situation is as close to dire straits as it gets, with Roberto Luongo undecided on what he wants to do, James Reimer being a shell of his former self, and Sam Montembault not ready for prime time. There's also nothing behind Montembault, which makes the Knight pick the only one they could have made here. Knight has the potential to be a starter within three years.

14. Philadelphia Flyers-Cam York, D, US NTDP (USHL)

The Flyers traded back from 11 to acquire an extra pick, which they sent to Nashville (that pick had been acquired in a trade with New Jersey) to move up in the second round to take Bobby Brink. On paper, the Flyers should have good defensive depth, but not many of them have developed as hoped. York is an offensive defender who can help on the power play.

15. Montreal Canadiens-Cole Caufield, RW, US NTDP (USHL)

Like Alex DeBrincat in his draft year, Caufield saw his stock drop due to his size. However, he scores a lot, and the Canadiens were desperate for a scoring winger, now that their center depth is now sorted out for the moment.

16. Colorado Avalanche-Alex Newhook, C, Victoria (BCHL)

The Boston College commit put up numbers in the BCHL reminiscent of now-current teammate Tyson Jost when he came into his draft year from the BCHL. He is skilled, but college is a jump from lower level junior. Still, the potential is there to be better than advertised.

17. Vegas Golden Knights-Peyton Krebs, C, Winnipeg (WHL)

Seen as a top-10 pick before an injury that occured a few weeks ago, Krebs already has the character, having played the majority of his WHL career on some bad Kootenay squads. His skill was on full display in the Prospects Game in January when given a shot to perform with better players.

18. Dallas Stars-Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga (OHL)

A solid two-way defender, Harley's offense is only going to get better. Seen as a safe pick, he has the potential to play in the NHL for many seasons.

19. Ottawa Senators-Lassi Thomson, D, Kelowna (WHL)

His shot and puck moving ability are way ahead of his defense, and he is still acclimating to the North American game, but Thomson improved as the season went along, and there is reason to believe he will continue to develop the rest of his game.

20. Winnipeg Jets-Ville Heinola, D, Lukko (Finland)

Winnipeg got this pick back from the Rangers in the Jacob Trouba trade, and they addressed a potential glaring hole on the blue line with a solid puck mover in Heinola. Skating is an issue, but can be corrected, and his overall game reminds many of Miro Heiskanen.

21. Pittsburgh Penguins-Samuel Poulin, LW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

Pittsburgh needed to replenish their pipeline, and Poulin brings bloodlines and a power forward presence not seen in Pittsburgh in a while. He has scoring ability, but that is through work ethic more than skill, but his skill isn't something to overlook.

22. Los Angeles Kings-Tobias Bjornfort, D, Djurgarden Jr. (Sweden)

Solid defender who has no standout abilities, he has the leadership capabilities, and can be on an NHL roster for years to come. Still, this seems like the Kings could have gone for better here.

23. New York Islanders-Simon Holmstrom, RW, HV71 Jr. (Sweden)

The Islanders went way off the board here, picking a player who has offensive ability, but also had injury issues. Yes, the Islanders have a deep prospect pool, but was Holmstrom a better pick than someone like Raphael Lavoie, who went 15 spots later and was a higher ranked prospect.

24. Nashville Predators-Philip Tomasino, C, Niagara (OHL)

This was a pick that I thought would happen, given that the Predators are forever in need of center depth. Tomasino didn't get as great of a look, given that Niagara went all in for a deep playoff run, thus pushing him down the lineup, but he's got playmaking skill and is willing to lineup wherever a team wants him. Effort is also unquestioned.

25. Washington Capitals-Connor McMichael, C, London (OHL)

Though he didn't have a major role this year due to the depth that London seems to boast every year, McMichael has the ability to be even better once he gets prime opportunites. He does need to bulk up, but his ability to put up points is something that happens thanks to his economic style.

26. Calgary Flames-Jakob Pelletier, LW, Moncton (QMJHL)

Size is an issue, as Pelletier needs to bulk up badly, but he has offensive skill and his hockey sense is one of the best in the draft class. Despite his size, he can also play a possession game.

27. Tampa Bay Lightning-Nolan Foote, LW, Kelowna (WHL)

The Lightning opted to go back to the Foote well, as they had drafted Nolan's brother Cal a few years earlier. He's a power play weapon with his shot, but does need to improve both his skating and consistency of effort.

28. Carolina Hurricanes-Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie (OHL)

A playmaker who does have questions to answer in terms of compete level, Suzuki is a candidate to be moved to a better OHL team and see if better players around him causes the light to turn on.

29. Anaheim Ducks-Brayden Tracy, LW, Moose Jaw (WHL)

Taken a little higher than most expected, Tracy has offensive skill, as his numbers show, but he will need to elevate his game with some of Moose Jaw's veterans moving on.

30. Boston Bruins-Johnny Beecher, C, US NTDP (USHL)

Another product of the US NTDP, Beecher is a big man. Consistency and hockey sense are questioned, but the Bruins do well with players like Beecher, who will have time to round out his game in Michigan.

31. Buffalo Sabres-Ryan Johnson, D, Sioux Falls (USHL)

He has some bulking up to do, but his skill set reminds many of Kris Letang, meaning that he can start an offense from his own end without much effort.

As for trades, Toronto salary dumped Patrick Marleau to Carolina and Nashville moved PK Subban to New Jersey for draft picks, Steven Santini and prospect Jeremy Davies.

NHL Mock Draft: picks 24-31

The last section of the NHL mock draft is here, and just like every other section, there is unpredictability abound.

24. Nashville Predators-Philip Tomasino, C, Niagara (OHL)

A solid all-around player that has elusiveness, Tomasino could be a sleeper in this year's draft, since the Ice Dogs were trying to load up on their OHL run, pushing Tomasino around the lineup. With some of those players graduating, he figures to have the same impact that Barrett Hayton and Morgan Frost did in their respective post-draft years.

25. Washington Capitals-Jakob Pelletier, LW, Moncton (QMJHL)

Size is an issue with Pelletier, who will need to gain a few pounds, but everything else about him grades out to the next level. Speed and hockey sense are what will get him into the NHL, but so too, will his possession game despite his size.

26. Calgary Flames-Matthew Robertson, D, Edmonton (WHL)

More of a stay-at-home defender, Robertson has offensive potential that could be on the level of a Shea Weber. He already has the size and is surprisingly good at skating for a guy his size. Where Robertson could elevate his game is on the physical side, where his size will be a major factor.

27. Tampa Bay Lightning-Cam York, D, US NTDP (USHL)

Victor Hedman's injury that led him to being out of the first round against Columbus this season exposed a problem with the Lightning's blue line depth, as they didn't have the puck mover that was needed to push their offensive game. York isn't as big, but he has all of the ability to start the offense from his own end and can slot in on the power play.

28. Carolina Hurricanes-Brett Leason, C, Prince Albert (WHL)

Passed over twice, Leason appears to be taking the same route as another player that had been passed over twice in Tanner Pearson. Given a chance to shine on a loaded Raiders team, Leason put up great numbers en route to helping them win the Ed Chynoweth Trophy. He could be an immediate contributor on the Hurricanes right now, and at worst, may need a year in the AHL.

29. Anaheim Ducks (from San Jose via Buffalo)-Philip Broberg, D, AIK (Sweden)

Blue line depth, much like forward depth, is in need, as the Ducks will need to eventually rebuild there, especially since Shea Theodore and Sami Vatanen are gone and Cam Fowler had injury issues while Hamphus Lindholm was not great. Broberg provides a big body that can skate, but will need work on puck moving.

30. Boston Bruins-Lassi Thomson, D, Kelowna (WHL)

A work in progress in his own end, Thomson has the ability to let one go from the blue line, and his puck moving skills are above average, things that could play well once Zdeno Chara finally hangs it up and Thomson is ready for the NHL.

31. Buffalo Sabres (from St. Louis)-Bobby Brink, RW, Sioux City (USHL)

The offense is definitely there for Brink, who will head to Denver for college. His skating will need work, but he is a great playmaker who showed that he could score, too, ending the USHL regular season as the league's player of the week three times in a row.

NHL Mock Draft: picks 16-23

The NHL entry draft is officially one week away, and now, the final order is set, thanks to St. Louis winning the Stanley Cup. Though they won't have a first round pick, thanks to surrendering it to Buffalo in the Ryan O'Reilly trade, it does go to show that drafting wisely can reap its rewards, as Robert Thomas was a key contributor on the Cup-winning team.

16. Colorado Avalanche-Alex Turcotte, C, US NTDP (USHL)

This is another opportunity for the Avs to load up on forwards, and while Turcotte has had injury issues, he does boast some high-end talent. Where he ends up is unknown, since he played on the second line behind Jack Hughes, but putting up nearly two points a game is worth considering.

17. Vegas Golden Knights-Moritz Seider, D, Mannheim (Germany)

The only team to not have had a homegrown rookie on their NHL roster thus far, the Golden Knights are likely to continue that trend unless Cody Glass makes the roster. As it is, their blue line could use some refreshing, and they go with a physical specimen that could stand to benefit from better competition, but has the size and potential to one day succeed Deryk Engelland as the stay-at home type.

18. Dallas Stars-Egor Afanasyev, RW, Muskegon (USHL)

The lack of scoring depth was ultimately the Stars' undoing, and there isn't likely an immediate option to help that outside of free agency. Afanasyev has the tools to be a scoring power forward, but does need refinement, something that will happen in Windsor of the OHL next season.

19. Ottawa Senators (from Columbus)-Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie (OHL)

A playmaker whose stock took a hit due to Barrie being in rebuilding mode, Suzuki is more of a playmaker at this point, but given the Senators' woeful center depth, combined with needing the help within a year or two, at the latest, Suzuki goes here instead of Alex Newhook.

20. New York Rangers (from Winnipeg)-Ville Heinola, D, Lukko (Finland)

Heinola has a similar skill set to Miro Heiskanen, but with less in the skating department at the moment. Given that the Rangers are fairly loaded with forward depth, it is possible that they choose to address defense here.

21. Pittsburgh Penguins-Ryan Johnson, D, Sioux Falls (USHL)

The Penguins need a puck mover in their system, as Kris Letang is not getting any younger, and his ability in his own end is eroding along with the rest of the team getting slower. Johnson will have time to develop and gain some weight, but his ability to start the offense from his own end is already pro-level.

22. Los Angeles Kings (from Toronto)-Alex Newhook, C, Victoria (BCHL)

Smart, two-way player that has quibbles with level of competition, Newhook is seen as a Tyson Jost clone, in that he has the ability to lead a team one day, but will need time to develop, something he can do at Boston College.

23. New York Islanders-Samuel Poulin, LW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

The Islanders are loaded just about everywhere in the pipeline, but they do lack a big body that can at worst, play on the third line right away. Poulin is the prototypical power forward that the team lacks, and given the Isles just re-signed both Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle, they can take some time here and possibly just go with the best player available to them.

2019 NHL mock draft: picks 9-15

Picks 9-15 are up, and like everything after pick three, it's anyone's guess where the teams will go.

9. Anaheim Ducks-Matthew Boldy, LW, US NTDP (USHL)

Skill is not the problem with Boldy, but the consistency in which he shows it is, which is why he is not mentioned among the top five. The Ducks will still need to replace their aging stars up front, particularly since prospects such as Sam Steel, Max Jones, and Isac Lundestrom don't appear to be ready for big roles right away and once they do crack the NHL roster, will need to replenish their pipeline.

10. Vancouver Canucks-Peyton Krebs, C, Kootenay (WHL)

Krebs has played well on an Ice team that has largely struggled in the standings, and given that he has the prerequisite tools and work ethic, it is likely he could be drafted earlier than the tenth spot. As it is, the Canucks need more help up front, especially down the middle, and Krebs fits the bill here as a Bo Horvat clone.

11. Philadelphia Flyers-Raphael Lavoie, RW, Halifax (QMJHL)

The Flyers have built themselves a nice pipeline, but not many of them have had an impact on the NHL thus far. Eventually, some of that talent is going to stick, and when it does, it will need to be refilled. Lavoie helped himself in the QMJHL playoffs and Memorial Cup tournament with Halifax after an okay regular season, and projects to be a power forward.

12. Minnesota Wild-Spencer Knight, G, US NTDP (USHL)

The Wild have little in the way of talent in the pipeline, as they were the only team without a representative in the WJC tournament in January. The other problem is that they need reinforcements everywhere and will likely need to trade out a player to pick up more draft picks. Where the Wild hurt the most in the system is in goal, where there is nothing behind Devan Dubnyk. Knight is the consensus top goalie in the draft, and it is possible that the Wild panic and draft a goalie earlier than they should.

13. Florida Panthers-Trevor Zegras, C, US NTDP (USHL)

If the Wild don't panic and take Knight, it is likely the Panthers will take him here, since their goalie situation is just as big of a mess, with Sam Montembeault not ready for the starting role and Roberto Luongo likely headed to long term IR. Forward depth was tested this season, and it was not good. Zegras is a few years away, but with Henrik Borgstrom ready for the NHL, he will be allowed to develop.

14. Arizona Coyotes-Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga (OHL)

Depth is still an issue on the blueline for the Coyotes, who will eventually see guys like Niklas Hjalmarsson, Alex Goligoski, and Jason Demers fall off a cliff, if they haven't already, from a skill set point of view. Harley is the most well-rounded defensive prospect of the class, and he could be a fringe top defender with definite second defender potential.

15. Montreal Canadiens-Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton (OHL)

Kaliyev excels at scoring goals, and the Canadiens were the second-worst team on the power play. The rest of his game isn't great, but that should come with experience. As it is, he would give the Canadiens the thing they sorely need: goal scoring.

2019 NHL mock draft: picks 1-8

The NHL entry draft is less than two weeks away, and the draft order is almost set, as the final game that will be played on Wednesday will determine the last two spots. As is the tradition of this blog, I will take a shot at who will be taking who. Today, it is picks 1-8.

1. New Jersey Devils-Jack Hughes, C, US-NTDP (USHL)

The Devils need offense in a bad way, and that fact was further exposed when Taylor Hall missed significant amount of time this season. The middle Hughes brother (Quinn is a defenseman in the Vancouver Canucks system and Luke is eligible in 2021) reminds many of Patrick Kane when he came out in his draft year, and if Hughes is anything close to his potential, the Devils will be happy to take it.

2. New York Rangers-Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS (Finland)

The other top candidate to go first overall, Kakko is a great consolation prize for a Rangers team that needs a flagship player that the team can sell their fans on in their rebuilding phase. While he's purely a winger, Kakko does just about everything well and has come up big in the clutch, scoring the gold-medal winner at the WJCs this year.

3. Chicago Blackhawks-Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge (WHL)

The Blackhawks would prefer a winger, but Cozens would be a great pickup here, as he has the size to be a power forward and the skill to eventually be a top line talent. It's uncertain where Dylan Strome's ceiling truly is, so picking Cozens makes sense in hedging their bets here.

4. Colorado Avalanche-Vasili Podkolzin, RW, SKA-Neva (Russia)

The Avalanche missed out on elite talent thanks to a few bounces of the ping pong balls, but they still get to draft a great talent here. Between Kirby Dach and Podkolzin, the Avs are getting a great talent to fill their forward depth. Given their depth in the pipeline that needs to come through, the Avs can afford to let Podkolzin develop, and when he is ready, they can be getting a Brad Marchand clone that plays more in control of his emotions.

5. Los Angeles Kings-Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver (WHL)

Without any real room for anything other than an immediate game changer, the Kings will need to play a little bit of a long game, and where the team has needs in the long-term is on the blue line. Byram is more of an offensive defenseman at this point in his development, but that is a spot where the Kings will need help down the line on the back end, especially since Jarret Anderson-Dolan and possibly Rasmus Kupari could crack the lineup up front within a year or two and there just simply isn't any cap room with eight players in their 30's on big deals and only Ilya Kovalchuk and Dion Phaneuf will have their deals expire in two years, which is the earliest that cap relief can come outside of a buyout.

6. Detroit Red Wings-Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)

The Red Wings still need an elite defender, but that isn't available in the draft this year. The good news is that the Wings still need help up front, and Dach will help out here. He may need a year or two in Saskatoon, but with Filip Zadina and possibly Joe Veleno being favorites to make the NHL next season, the wait may be a blessing for a team that simply needs all the help they can get, especially since they can be rid of Jonathan Ericsson's contract after next season.

7. Buffalo Sabres-Cole Caufield, RW, US NTDP (USHL)

Depth on the wings is terrible with the Sabres, and that has a trickle down effect on an offense that if it ever matched the potential of the unit on hand, would have not had this problem. As it is, potential still must turn into actual production, and only Jack Eichel has shown that of the forwards developed by the team. Caufield would be helpful as a second line winger with either Casey Mittelstadt or Sam Reinhart right now.

8. Edmonton Oilers-Victor Soderstom, D, Brynas (Sweden)

There's so many things the Oilers need, but with Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse needing pay raises and so little cap room, the Oilers desperately need to fill that hole in case they lose either or both. Soderstom would be a year away, but he would provide a puck moving defender that the team lacks in the system.

Stanley Cup Finals Preview

Two months of playoff hockey have whittled the field down to two teams. The final games begin Monday, and it's plenty of time to dissect the teams.

(2)Boston Bruins vs. (3)St. Louis Blues

The Bruins had to outlast Toronto, Columbus, and Carolina to get to their third final this decade. On the strength of Tuukka Rask in goal and a combination of veteran talent such as Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Zdeno Chara, as well as youth such as Charlie MacAvoy and Danton Heinen, the Bruins are poised to bring another championship back to Boston. Where they need to succeed is with Brad Marchand, who frequently straddles the line on his play, but can also hurt you on the scoresheet.

The Blues survived Winnipeg, Dallas, and a blown call against the Sharks in game 3 to make the Finals for the first time since 1970. Ironically, it's against the team they last saw when they made the Finals. Jordan Binnington is the team's backbone in goal, but it is longtime stalwarts such as Alex Pietrangelo and Jaden Schwartz who have propelled them here, as well as newcomers Ryan O'Reilly and Tyler Bozak. The Blues need Vladimir Tarasenko to get untracked if they want to bring home a championship to St. Louis for the first time in hockey.

Prediction: Bruins in 6

Handicapping the 2019 Memorial Cup

The 101st Memorial Cup Tournament begins tomorrow in Halifax, NS, and as is tradition, the host team will kick off the tournament in their special Memorial Cup themed uniforms. The tournament will also feature the QMJHL champion, OHL champion, and WHL champion, so who fills those roles? Let's look at the teams vying for the ultimate prize in major junior hockey.

Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)-The Mooseheads are the host team this year, which ensured their berth into this tournament. However, don't think of them as a pushover, as they actually made the QMJHL finals, falling in six games. Their NHL prospects to watch for include Jared McIsaac, Benoit-Oliver Groulx, and Antoine Morand. They are led by overager Samuel Asselin, and are backstopped by Alexis Gravel, who is a Chicago Blackhawks prospect. As with any host team, the Mooseheads are all in this year, and given that they made the league finals this year, have a great shot at skating away with the Memorial Cup.

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)-The QMJHL champion, they were the hottest team entering the league's playoffs, and this is their second appearance in four seasons, having fallen short in 2016 to London in the Memorial Cup final. Led by coach Mario Pouliot, who will look to win his second straight Memorial Cup (he accomplished the feat last year with Acadie-Bathurst), the Huskies rely on the overagers, with Peter Abbandonato Jacob Neveu, and Samuel Harvey leading the way. However, it is New York Islanders prospect Noah Dobson who is the team's best player, having also won with Acadie-Bathurst last year.

Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)-The Ed Chynoweth trophy winner, the Raiders actually had the most difficult path of the four teams, being challenged by Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Vancouver before claiming their spot in an overtime game 7 in the finals. Led by Ian Scott in goal and a glut of forwards such as Dante Hannoun, Noah Gregor, Parker Kelly, and Cole Fonstad, the Raiders are well-tested and will look to give the WHL their third Memorial Cup championship in 11 years.

Guelph Storm (OHL)-The most resilient team in the tournament, the Storm had to win three game 7s, needing to come back from a 3-0 series deficit against London and a 3-1 deficit to Saginaw in two of those series before ultimately overcoming a 2-0 series deficit to Ottawa in the finals to win the championship in 6 games. They have counted on a bounty from Owen Sound in Nick Suzuki, Sean Durzi, and Markus Phillips, as well as holdovers in Isaac Ratcliffe and Dmitry Samorukov to carry the team. The player to watch is Alexey Tropochenko, who has had a breakthrough year while impressing St. Louis Blues brass.

NHL Conference Finals Preview

The NHL playoffs keep getting exciting, and with four teams remaining, it's a time to be alive. Which teams are still in it and what could happen? Let's sort through the mess.

(3) St. Louis Blues vs. (2) San Jose Sharks

The Blues are once again on the doorstep of making the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1970, and this time, it is on the back of some timely scoring and sterling goaltending from Jordan Binnington. They outlasted the Stars, as they had to make a comeback from a 3-2 series deficit. Jaden Schwartz continues to be an unsung hero, but it is the resurgence of the likes of Alex Pietrangelo and Vladimir Tarasenko that continue to push the Blues forward.

The Sharks are still inconsistent, but keep finding ways to win, thanks to contributions from the likes of Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture. Getting Joe Pavelski back after missing all but the last game of the Colorado series was a shot in the arm. Where the Sharks desperately need to improve is contributions from the back end, as Brent Burns has been quiet and the team is still waiting on Erik Karlsson to contribute. Martin Jones still has consistency issues, but rises to the occasion when things are on the line.

Prediction: Blues in 6

(2) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Carolina Hurricanes

The Bruins are still the physical team that can wear down opponents to win, as evidenced by their series win over Columbus. However, they are also a team that can outscore opponents, as needed, with David Pastrnak and David Krejci leading the way. The team has done well despite little in the way of offensive output from Brad Marchand. Defensively, this is a unit that is getting healthy at the right time, with Charlie MacAvoy and Brandon Carlo pushing the unit forward with a guiding hand from veterans such as Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug. Tuukka Rask continues to hold down the fort in goal, with more consistency in his numbers.

Carolina has solid depth all around, and though the output from Sebastian Aho hasn't been as great, it has been the likes of Teuvo Teravainen, Nino Niederreiter, and unsung hero Warren Foegele who have pushed the offense forward. Defensively, they suffered a blow when Trevor van Riemsdyk was announced to be out for the rest of the playoffs, but others have stepped up, and that will continue to be the case here. Where the Hurricanes could be vulnerable is in goal, where Petr Mrazek missed the last two games to injury, and though the Hurricanes have had time off, it remains to be seen if he can be 100 percent if he comes back during the series. In the interim, Curtis McElhinney held down the fort well, and he will be a key if Mrazek is unable to go or isn't completely healthy.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 7

NHL Conference Semi-finals Preview

That was fun, wasn't it? All four division leaders were eliminated in another exciting first round, and the party is just getting started. What will the next round hold? Let's find out, with at least a series kicking off as I write this.

(2) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Columbus Blue Jackets

The Bruins once again make it to the Conference semis at the expense of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team they have not lost to in the playoffs since 1959. Though the Bruins have some injury issues still, there is depth and players still step up when needed. The question here is whether the Bruins will have the offense necessary to match the Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets didn't just win a playoff series for the first time in their existence, they did so in rather convincing fashion. Sure, the Lightning all but gave up after game one, but it should be noted that Sergei Bobrovsky had his best playoff series since joining the league in 2010. It has also helped that Seth Jones is looking more and more like a top defender while Matt Duchene and Artemi Panarin were major contributors offensively. Where the Blue Jackets face questions is how much the time off will affect them and whether or not they can replicate the success of the first round.

Prediction: Bruins in 6

(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (4) Dallas Stars

The Blues were one of the hottest teams entering the playoffs and they did little to dissuade that notion in the series against the Jets. Jordan Binnington is still as good as ever, and key players such as Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Brayden Schenn are finding their games at the right time. Their defense is coming together, and they are showing no signs of a letdown.

The Stars seemed to have woken up during the playoffs, as their top line of Alex Radulov, Tyler Seguin, and Jamie Benn did most of the damage up front against Nashville. Defensively, there are still some holes in their own end, but offensive production from the likes of Miro Heiskanen and John Klingberg more than make up for it. In goal, Ben Bishop showed that he is the team's last line of defense. What Dallas can do past their first line is what remains to be seen.

Prediction: Blues in 6

(2) New York Islanders vs. (4) Carolina Hurricanes

The name of the game for the Islanders is defense, and they did a great job in shutting down the Penguins in a sweep. It begins with the duo of Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss, who showed why they were the William Jennings Trophy winners for lowest team GAA. Defensively, this is still a largely no-name unit that will be tested with Johnny Boychuk out for some time, but this is where a guy like Ryan Pulock can step up. Up front, they are led by the likes of Matt Barzal, Anders Lee, and Jordan Eberle, but they must do something about their power play or else trouble could be brewing.

Carolina was another hot team coming into the playoffs, and certainly, their home record thus far is one of the biggest reasons for them being in this spot right now. Petr Mrazek still has consistency issues, as shown in the Washington series, but he has the ability to steal games as needed. Like the Islanders, their defense is largely no-name, with Dougie Hamilton being the lone player with some recognition. Up front, it's Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, and Nino Niederreiter who lead the top line, with possibly a recovering Andrei Svechnikov coming back. Consistency is still an issue, particularly away from PNC Arena, but the Hurricanes have shown their resiliency when their backs are against the wall.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 7

(2)San Jose Sharks vs. (4) Colorado Avalanche

San Jose also has consistency issues, putting them down 3-1 against Vegas before rallying to take the series, and even then, they also had to overcome a 3-0 deficit with 10 minutes left in game 7. Martin Jones needs to be more consistent, and their defense still has to figure out their chemistry, something that could be fatal against Colorado. Up front, it seems like a new hero steps up every night, with Tomas Hertl emerging as a go-to guy, but Logan Couture is still reliable. What the Sharks have to answer is how they will fill the likely void of Joe Pavelski.

Colorado was actually the hottest team entering the playoffs, and other than a game 1 hiccup against Calgary, the Avs proved that a superior top line will win if left unchecked. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen are the team's offensive firepower, with Gabriel Landeskog along for the ride. Defensively, there are still some issues, but the baptism by fire of Cale Makar has proven to be beneficial, as he's given that unit a shot in the arm. In goal, it's Phillipp Grubauer who has seized the starting role.

Prediction: Avalanche in 7

Power Outage in Tampa

As most of the hockey world knows by now, the Tampa Bay Lightning made history last night. The problem was that it was for the wrong reasons, as they became the first team to win the Presidents Trophy as the regular season champions, only to get swept in the first round. The most obvious question to be asked is what happened?

In nearly every measurable category, the Lightning were in the top 10 for goals, goals against, faceoffs, and were the top team in both special teams categories. By mid-March, the Lightning clinched the Presiidents Trophy, meaning they took their foot off the gas for about a month. That momentum looked like it was coming back in the first period of the first game against the Blue Jackets, as they were up 3-0. As fate would have it, the Blue Jackets would come back from that deficit to win 4-3 in regulation. Since that point, it seemed that the Lightning were demoralized, as they would lose 5-1, 3-1, and 7-3. The series wasn't even close aside from game 1, and somewhere, there has to be questions about coaching and player effort, as this is not something that should be coming from a team that should have been Stanley Cup contenders a year after blowing yet another chance at the Cup last year.

What is there to analyze about the Lightning's collapse? After the game 1 debacle, this wasn't the same Lightning team that ran roughshod over opponents in the regular season. This was a team that just got straight beaten. Now, the 2012 Vancouver Canucks can feel a lot better knowing that there is indeed a worse team to win the Presidents Trophy.

First Round Goalies: An Extinct Species?

photo by Bill Tenca: www.puckstopperphotography.com

In the last piece I did about how the ping pong balls went for the NHL Draft Lottery last week, one question was raised by a reader. How have there been fewer goalies selected in the first round since 2012? For this answer, it requires a deep level of research, and for the purposes of this piece, I will limit the net to the 2000s.

Since the 2000 NHL Draft, there have been 31 goalies drafted in the first round, and only two since 2013 (Ilya Samsonov in 2015 and Jake Oettenger in 2017). For reference purposes, no goalies have been taken in all of the other years in that time span, although there may in fact, be a goalie that will be drafted in the first round this year in Spencer Knight of the US U-18 team. Even then, he's not projected to go until the middle of the first round, at best. So, what happened to the days where an elite goaltender could be picked up within the top 10 picks?

• Let's start with the starting goalies in this year's playoffs. Of the 16 starters, four are first round picks, and thus far, of that number, one (Semyon Varlamov) is in a time-share with another goalie, and one (Andrei Vasilievsky) is on the verge of being eliminated. A deeper look reveals that of the non-first round pick goalies, Sergei Bobrovsky was undrafted, as he was signed from the KHL, Frederik Andersen was actually drafted twice, as he didn't sign with Carolina after being drafted in 2010, and was re-drafted by Anaheim two years later, while guys like Pekka Rinne, Martin Jones, and Ben Bishop were either drafted late or weren't drafted at all.
• Going off that, since 2010, only six players were drafted in the first round. What happened to each of those guys, you ask? Excluding both Samsonov and Oettenger, who are still in the developmental stages (more on this later), Jack Campbell was drafted 10th overall in 2010 and never panned out in Dallas. He has found new life in Los Angeles, where he currently serves as a backup to Jonathan Quick. Meanwhile, Mark Visentin (pictured) was taken 26th overall by the then-Phoenix Coyotes, and like Campbell, never panned out. He recently retired after a stint in the Austrian League. Andrei Vasilievsky was taken 19th overall by Tampa Bay in 2012, and while he's been great since taking the starting role in the 2016-17 season, he has yet to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Saying that, he's also needed at least four to five years of development, and he benefited greatly from having that time to develop while a more established starter was in place (once again, something that will be discussed later). Malcolm Subban was taken 24th overall in that same draft by Boston, and while he languished in the minors, he found new life as he was claimed by Vegas off waivers. He currently serves as a backup to Marc-Andre Fleury, and has filled in capably as a starter whenever Fleury has needed time off to injury.
• On the subject of development, an NHL goalie usually needs four to five years to become a starter because there are only two spots on the NHL roster for a goalie, and given that the learning curve for goalies is sometimes longer than even defensemen, teams are more reluctant to waste a first round pick on a goalie when other positions of need could be addressed. Even guys like Carey Price (fifth overall in 2005) require that time period before he could become a starter. In short, there just simply isn't going to be that goalie that can come in almost right away and become a starter short of others getting injured (i.e. Carter Hart). The days of a Patrick Roy, Grant Fuhr, or even Jim Carey coming in at 20 or younger aren't going to be happening very often any time soon.

What impact does this have? If you're a goalie-starved team like the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, or even the Minnesota Wild, your plan to draft goalies should have began long before your starters either started to decline or become injury prone. Late rounds seem to be the way to go, as teams such as the Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals, and Arizona Coyotes are showing currently. The NHL Draft is a time to shore up your prospect pool, and unless you're mortgaging your future for a Cup run, it is wise to think how you're going to use your picks and know when to use a pick on goalies, or else you could end up with a Mark Visentin or Adam Munro.

The Luck of the Draft Draw

Yesterday, the NHL teams that didn't make the playoffs, and the Colorado Avalanche learned where they will be picking in the upcoming NHL Draft. The results are in, and for the second time in three seasons, the New Jersey Devils will be picking first overall. Their only other time picking first overall was in 2017, when they picked Nico Hischier. They are a team that desperately needs high-end talent to supplement Taylor Hall, and given that the Devils were nothing when Hall went down midway through the season, either Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko will look really good in a Devils uniform. The second overall pick will go to the New York Rangers, who are in the midst of a rebuild. Like the Devils, they also need a high-end talent to spearhead their youth movement, particularly to supplement an emerging Mika Zibanejad. Chicago also made a leap up the draft boards, as they will be drafting third overall. The last time they were in that spot was 2006, when they took some guy named Jonathan Toews. Assuming Kakko and Hughes are off the board, that leaves a couple of WHL guys in Dylan Cozens of Lethbridge and Kirby Dach of Saskatoon. In recent years, the Blackhawks have rebuilt their defensive pipeline, though its rewards won't be reaped by the time both Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook hit rock bottom. Where does that leave the Colorado Avalanche? Well, the pick they got in the Matt Duchene trade from Ottawa is now the fourth overall pick. That might be a sigh of relief for Ottawa, but given that the Avs have not only a deep prospect pool right now, but they can also add to that with both the fourth overall pick and possibly the 16th overall pick if they don't make the Conference Finals this year. Let's also not forget that the Avs were drafting fourth a couple years ago, and they took Cale Makar, who figures to be a future stud on thee blue line and will likely be making his NHL debut when the Avs start the playoffs.

2019 NHL Playoffs: Western Conference Preview

The Western Conference was mostly a free-for-all, with many teams jockeying for position, especially in the Central Division. In the end, there was one clear cut favorite, and even they have question marks heading into the playoffs. Let's see who the participants are:

(1) Nashville Predators vs. (4) Dallas Stars

The Predators survived a tough Central Division where they, St. Louis, and Winnipeg all vied for the division crown on the last day of the season. They have the offensive firepower, but had their issues with consistency, particularly on the power play. The good news is that the offense found its spark late in the season, and appears to be hot at the right time. Defensively, the effort was in and out, with some of the blame being on whether or not the team may have gotten bored at times. As is the case with the offense, the defense came back at the right time, and that is good news for either Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros, both of whom were the most consistent parts of the team.

The Stars had to make a bit of a spirited run to secure a spot as a wild card. They're still led by Tyler Seguin, Alex Radulov, and Jamie Benn up front, but the lack of scoring depth up front is concerning. It becomes more pronounced when players such as Valeri Nichushkin haven't played to expectations. Defensively, what was perceived as a weakness for the last few years is now at the very least passable. Yes, John Klingberg is still a liability in his own end, but his skill offensively combined with being paired with a guy like Marc Methot or Roman Polak helped stabilize the unit. It has helped that Miro Heiskanen has done well as a rookie on the blue line. Goaltending was really good, as Ben Bishop was great when healthy. Of course, that is the rub, as health continues to be a concern. Fortunately for Dallas, Anton Khudobin is a more than capable fill-in.

Prediction: Predators in 6

(2) Winnipeg Jets vs. (3) St. Louis Blues

The Jets started out hot, but then faltered late to fall into the second spot in the Central Division. Injuries certainly played a role, as did Connor Hellebuyck coming back to Earth a little bit during the season. It will remain to be seen if Hellebuyck finds that extra gear in the playoffs or if Laurent Brossoit, if healthy, will have to try and save the day. Defensively, this was where injuries hit the hardest, as Dustin Byfuglien and Josh Morrissey both missed considerable time. Both are expected to be ready to go by the first game, which bodes well. Up front, the offensive power outage of Patrik Laine remains one of the season's biggest mysteries, as he failed to make a major impact this season. With a new contract looming and the playoffs approaching, this would be the perfect time for him to rediscover his scoring touch. The good news is that both Mark Schiefele and Blake Wheeler performed to expectations while Nikolaj Ehlers is also healthy after missing some time to injuries.

St. Louis looked like a heavily underachieving team in the middle of the season by the time they canned Mike Yeo as head coach and inserted Craig Berube to fill in. One smart move to go with Jordan Binnington as the starting goaltender later, the Blues almost went from out of the playoffs to division champs. They are the hottest team in the league right now, and Binnington is a major reason for that. A defensive unit that looked lost under Yeo suddenly played well, with Alex Pietrangelo finding a rhythm once he was taken off a pairing with Jay Bouwmeester, who himself played well enough to earn another year with the Blues next season. Offensively, Vladimir Tarasenko looked like he was going through the motions in the first half of the season before he found his scoring touch. Ryan O'Reilly and Brayden Schenn were the most consistent players on the team, and the sometimes maligned David Perron showed that he could go on a hot streak offensively if needed.

Prediction: Jets in 7

(1) Calgary Flames vs. (4) Colorado Avalanche

For a team that finished near the bottom offensively a season ago, the Calgary Flames finally played to their paper expectations. Yes, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan led the way, but it was the likes of Elias Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk, and Mark Giordano that also saw spikes in their production. Defensively, Giordano showed that he has something left even at 36 while Travis Hamonic, TJ Brodie, and Noah Hanifin all provide a very solid top four defensive unit. In goal, Mike Smith was good when healthy, but that was the thing that felled him again. The good news was that David Rittich took full advantage of the time and established himself as not only the goaltender of right now, but possibly the future. Still, neither has had a long track record of playoff performances, and this, along with James Neal, will be a deciding factor in whether they make a deep run this year.

Colorado once again, needed almost the entire season to make the playoffs, and this time, they also needed a 10 game winning streak to overtake both Arizona and Minnesota for that spot. Their goaltending was dreadful for the first half of the season, and it looked like they were wasting the production of both Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. Now, it appears that both Phillipp Grubauer and Semyon Varlamov are finding their games; it's all a matter of who truly has the hotter hand. Defensively, this unit is acceptable, as there is no superstar player. Tyson Barrie is essentially a forward cast as a defender, but Nikita Zadorov has become the physical player that the Avs haven't had since Adam Foote last patrolled the blue line. One player to possibly watch is Cale Makar, fresh off a breakthrough college run that saw him become a Hobey Baker finalist. Offensively, it is the MacKinnon and Rantanen show, as they are basically the whole show there. They still need some help, and it is unknown where that help up front will be.

Prediction: Flames in 6

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Vegas Golden Knights

The Sharks on paper, look like a team that should make a deep playoff run. However, they also didn't play as well as the unit that was assembled, as there were times when they played uninspired. Up front, Evander Kane was the most consistent player there while the likes of Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski all had their ups and downs. Tomas Hertl had a breakthrough year, and it is expected that he will continue that trend. Defensively, this was supposed to be a scary group, but only Brent Burns played to expectations. Erik Karlsson looked like he was still not the same player prior to surgery prior to last season and the rest of the unit just didn't do a lot. The normally excellent goaltending also had their troubles, as Martin Jones came back down a little while Aaron Dell wasn't the answer at times.

It had to end some time for the Vegas Golden Knights, as teams weren't taken by surprise this time around. Still, any team that has a healthy Marc-Andre Fleury and a capable Malcolm Subban should still scare you, both showed flashes of brilliance during the season, especially Fleury, who was undoubtedly the team's MVP this season. Defensively, this is still a no-name unit that plays solidly, a product of good coaching from Gerard Gallant. Offensively, they were supposed to get more from newcomers such as Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny, but that didn't materialize as well as they hoped, which was why they went out and got Mark Stone.

Prediction: Sharks in 7

2019 NHL Playoffs: Eastern Conference preview

Another regular season is in the books, and although the top team was never really in doubt, the rest of the league had some interesting battles. The playoffs are a different time where things are amplified. What does the Eastern Conference bring?

(1) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (4) Columbus Blue Jackets

The Lightning were the best team in the league all season, having clinched the Presidents Trophy long before anyone else ever claimed a playoff spot. Nikita Kucherov leads a high-powered offense and though Steven Stamkos is no longer the offensive focal point, he is still a force, as are Brayden Point, Tyler Johnson, and JT Miller, among others. Defensively, Victor Hedman was the best player there, with Mikhail Sergachev, Ryan McDonagh, and Anton Stralman all playing solid in their roles. Goaltending shouldn't be a question mark, as Andrei Vasilievsky was great and Louis Domingue was good when he had to fill in for a few games. Given that the Lightning wrapped everything up by mid-March, will they find their motivation fast enough?

The Blue Jackets are all in this year, as they chose to hang onto both Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin despite neither having any stated intentions of remaining with the team once their contracts expire after the season. To further amplify that point, they traded for the expiring contracts of Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel while giving up a hefty sum to the Senators in separate trades. The continued development of Pierre-Luc Dubois is going to be important, as will whether or not Bobrovsky can finally shake off the playoff bugaboo that's plagued him in his entire career. Defensively, there should be no problems, as Seth Jones and Zach Werenski lead a very good group while Cam Atkinson also provides offense in addition to Duchene, Dzingel, Panarin, and Dubois.

Prediction: Lightning in 5

(2) Boston Bruins vs. (3) Toronto Maple Leafs

The Bruins were solidly the second best team in the East despite a rash of injuries that took out key players at varying points in the season. Brad Marchand has become the super pest that can both get under players' skin and score 40 goals in a season. He's not alone offensively, as David Pastrnak enjoyed a breakout season while the likes of David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, and Jake DeBrusk also contributed offensively. Defensively, Zdeno Chara showed no signs of slowing down even as he is going deeper into his 40's. The key defensively, however, will be the youth, as both Brandon Carlo and Charlie MacAvoy both need to be healthy to allow the Bruins a chance at a deep playoff run. In goal, Tuukka Rask doesn't seem to get enough respect with his own hometown team despite putting up solid number this season. Having a seasoned vet in Jaroslav Halak behind him is nice.

The Maple Leafs were the trendy favorite to possibly win it all after a hot start. Then, their defense fell apart, and now things aren't looking as rosy. Still, any team that can boast the likes of John Tavares, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner should still be a force to be reckoned with. Where the fate of the Maple Leafs' playoff hopes lie is William Nylander, who has yet to live up to his new contract. Even with the addition of Jake Muzzin, there are still massive holes defensively, as only Morgan Rielly shows any signs of being the defender the team desperately needs. Travis Dermott is good, but nowhere near the level of even Muzzin. In goal, Frederik Andersen was inconsistent, and now that Garrett Sparks is out for the series due to off-ice issues, that puts a lot of pressure on the team.

Prediction: Bruins in 7

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (4) Carolina Hurricanes

The Capitals waited until the final week of the season to once again, reign supreme at the top of the Metropolitan Division. While the Caps weren't dominant at all during the season, it should be noted that they were also not dominant heading into last year's playoffs, and they ended up winning it all then. Any team that begins with Alex Ovechkin should be considered a threat to repeat, and throw in Niklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Jakub Vrana, and the Capitals are very good in scoring. John Carlson leads the way defensively, and though the Caps are largely unknown behind him, this is still a very good group that can play well as a unit. In goal, Braden Holtby was more consistent during the regular season, and that should bode well for him heading into the playoffs. He'll likely never be the Vezina winning goalie of a few years ago, but he also showed that he does indeed have an extra gear in the playoffs.

The Hurricanes were near the bottom of the division at the end of 2018. Somewhere along the way, the team started to win, and win some more, with PNC Arena becoming more favorable to the team, although the road was also good to them as well, having won 22 games away from PNC. Sebastian Aho is the best scorer on the team, with Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov not far behind. Justin Williams is the leader the team desperately needed, and he still has the reputation of being clutch in the playoffs. Defensively, this is largely a no-name group, but don't discount the contributions of Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Justin Faulk, and Trevor van Riemsdyk. In goal, it is now Petr Mrazek's team, now, with Curtis McElhinney providing a good backup option. The Hurricanes come into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the league.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 7

(2) New York Islanders vs. (3) Pittsburgh Penguins

Everything that the Islanders did this regular season compared to last year can be attributed to a team-wide buy into what both Barry Trotz and Lou Lamoriello were selling. This team wasn't supposed to be good with John Tavares leaving for Toronto, but they nearly ended up winning the division thanks to an Anders Lee that was out to prove that his numbers weren't merely a product of playing with Tavares. The likes of Matt Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier, and Brock Nelson were also helpful. Defensively, the personnel didn't really change, but the results did, as a team that was dead last in that category actually finished first in team GAA, as Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss had bounce back years after being dreadful in Buffalo and the Island, respectively, the year before. It helped that the team in front of them were more committed to team defense. Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield, and others helped spearhead a revival there, and with more youth on the way and finally pointed in the right direction, the Islanders could surprise now and in the future.

Pittsburgh mostly sleepwalked through the season, as key players had injuries, and only Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel played anywhere near expectations. Still, the team played well enough to make it again thanks to timely goaltending, and a defense that knows when to turn it on. Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel are going to be important to get untracked, as Malkin had a dreadful +/- despite good point totals while Kessel wasn't the same Kessel of old. Defensively, Kris Letang will need to show that last year's playoff showing isn't a sign that he's losing a step while the rest of the unit will need to step up. In goal, it's still Matt Murray's crease, but how long before his playoff magic finally runs out? It showed signs last season, but was it an aberration or just the beginning?

Prediction: Islanders in 7

Nomadic ICE

In a move that was expected for some time, the Kootenay ICE will be relocating next season to Winnipeg, MB. As you can see in the picture, the new Winnipeg team will be retaining the ICE logo and colors save for the city/region name, as it will mark the second time the franchise has moved since it came into the Western Hockey League as the Edmonton Ice. As a team playing in Cranbrook, BC, the ICE have had on-ice success, claiming two league titles. However, as one of the smallest markets in all of the Canadian Hockey League, filling up the Western Financial Place was a pretty big task, especially since only Swift Current had a smaller barn.

As for what will happen once the franchise moves to Winnipeg, their first two seasons will be played at the Wayne Fleming Arena on the campus of the University of Manitoba. The implied plan is that a new arena will be built for the franchise, meaning that they won't be a third occupant in the Bell MTS Place, which already houses both the NHL's Jets and the AHL's Manitoba Moose. In the process, the move will also mean that the ICE will be moving to the East Division and an instant rivalry with fellow Manitoba squad in the Brandon Wheat Kings while the Swift Current Broncos move to the Central Division.