2021 NHL Draft: Needs and mock draft, part 2

 

A quarter of the way through, and this time around, I look at the other teams to not make the playoffs. Keep in mind this is done in order of draft position before factoring in trades and in Arizona's case, forfeiture of pick.

9. Vancouver Canucks 

The year did not go as planned, and a suspect blue line and regression from key players were to blame. Through the draft, they should aim to get another defenseman, as Olli Juolevi is still no sure thing, and Quinn Hughes is a liability in his own end. As for free agency, if Jim Benning can refrain from signing anyone on the first day, that would be great. 

Projected pick: Carson Lambos, D, JYP Jr.

A top 10 potential pick prior to this season, his stock took a bit of a hit thanks to a rough adjustment to Finnish league hockey and a surgical procedure just two games into his WHL season. Before that, he was a willing defender who can jump into the play.

10. Ottawa Senators

Youth is the order of the day, and in both the pipeline and on the parent team, that is in spades for Ottawa. Goalie is still an issue, but there is no obvious prospect available here, so they could go for best available regardless of position. 

Projected pick: Kent Johnson, C, Michigan

Offensive talent who is likely to spend another year in college, the Senators can afford to let Johnson develop other aspects of his game, as well as get rid of some bad habits. 

NS. Arizona Coyotes 

This is where things get dicey, as the Coyotes do not own a first round pick this year, as they forfeited it due to pre-draft violations. They do not draft until pick 37, which they got in a trade with Columbus, and is one of two picks in the round for them. As for what they need, higher end talent is the simplest answer, as there's no one truly ready to make a jump. Long answer is defense, as they are one of the older teams in that regard and have holes to fill in terms of depth for next season. Losing out on the first four rounds last year hurts, as it further hampers their development. 

First projected pick: Logan Mailloux, D, Lejon

11. Chicago Blackhawks 

Lack of blue line depth and scoring undid the Blackhawks last season. They do figure to get Jonathan Toews back next season, which helps up front, but they desperately need to continue to think about keeping the blue line prospect pool filled, especially with Duncan Keith now traded away. Getting another scoring winger would be nice, as well.

Projected pick: Brennan Othman, LW, Olten

12. Calgary Flames 

A team that should consider overhauling its core, one of the first areas to address is blue line. There's no sure thing in the line, and their current group is either up there in age or not ready for top minutes. Factor in the team's poor first round record since their Stanley Cup win in 1989, and you get why the Flames need to reconfigure their system.

Projected pick: Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks

13. Philadelphia Flyers 

On paper, this is a team with everything now and in the future. However, consistency is something that cannot be figured on paper, and that is where the Flyers fail. Their main issue last season? Goaltending. It took a major step back, and now, we wonder if Carter Hart is the answer next season. One thing is certain, and that he will likely have a new backup goalie. If there is a spot where they truly lack, it's down the middle.

Projected pick: Cole Sillinger, C, Sioux Falls (USHL)

14. Dallas Stars 

A team with a middling prospect pool, this year is where they could get some solid players through the draft without needing to rush anyone. Scoring depth could be a possibility, with Chaz Lucius still here. They could address blue line depth in the later rounds.

Projected pick: Chaz Lucius, C, US NTDP

15. New York Rangers

The Rangers are loaded everywhere but down the middle and need someone to be hard to play against. The most logical pick at this point would be Zach L'Heureux, who is difficult to get the puck from once he has it and is competitive. 

Projected pick: Zach L'Heureux, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

The Unsung Hero

 

I know I haven't posted in a while, and yes, much has changed in the world. The 2021 NHL season has been as chaotic as you think, given the interruptions both in and out of teams' control, but there have been some pleasant surprises. 

The Chicago Blackhawks were widely thought to be rebuilding this year, given their depth, or lack thereof. As of this writing, they are tied for first in the reworked Central Division, albeit, with some schedule luck. They are playing with at least 5-6 newcomers, and until recently, had major questions in goal. So, who is the guy pictured? Kevin Lankinen, a 25-year old Finn who is playing his first season in the NHL. He currently has a 7-2-3 record and a 2.29 GAA, with his first shutout coming in last night's 2-0 win at Detroit.

Lankinen is as close to an out-of-nowhere story as it gets, as he wasn't even drafted by an NHL team. In fact, he was considered an afterthought, as he didn't start regularly until the 2014-15 season, when he played with HIFK. It wasn't until 2018, when Chicago signed him to a two-year entry level deal. He was named as the Rockford Ice Hogs' representative in the AHL All-star game in 2020. At the start of the season, it was unclear where he would be, as his competition included Malcolm Subban and Colin Delia. Lankinen has impressed thus far, and in the process, may have finally answered the call to be the successor to Corey Crawford.

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.

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.

Now or Never Time?

Earlier in the week, the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes swapped former first round picks in the hope that either or both teams will get their anemic offenses going. The trade also symbolizes a need for all the participants in the trade to justify their status as first round picks.

The Coyotes will get Nick Schmaltz, who was the 20th overall pick in 2014. He had a pretty good first season in the league, scoring 21 times last year. However, he has only scored twice with nine helpers. The Blackhawks get Brendan Perlini and Dylan Strome. Perlini, the 11th overall pick in 2014, scored 17 goals last year, but has been held to just two goals and four helpers this season. Strome was the third overall pick in 2015 behind Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, and has had trouble sticking in the NHL, as he has been back and forth between the NHL and AHL since turning pro last season. He scored three goals and three helpers prior to the trade this season.

Both teams have struggled with offense, as the Coyotes haven't gotten the bang for their buck from players such as Alex Galchenyuk and Clayton Keller while having injury issues with Anttii Raanta. The Blackhawks are having the same issues, but with more depth issues. Adding both Strome and Perlini should at least mean more chances to score, but whether or not it means anything in the grand scheme of things this year remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Schmaltz is another in the long line of changes for the Coyotes, who jettisoned Max Domi for Galchneyuk, only for Domi to already match his goal total from last year, and it's not December yet. For nothing else, the trade is a wake up call for all involved and may very well change the fortunes of the teams if any of them pan out.

Cutting Room

The past month has seen some changes in the NHL, as four teams as of this writing have changed head coaches in the middle of the season...and it's not December, yet. Let's run them down, and look at who may be next to go.

• The Chicago Blackhawks parted ways with Joel Quennville and replaced him with Jeremy Colliton, who was the head coach of the team's AHL affiliate in Rockford. The Quennville firing comes as a shock, but the reality was there was a major butting of heads lately between Quennville and General Manager Stan Bowman. Someone had to go, and soon, the other half may be gone by the end of the season, so this change is definitely a referendum on Bowman, who has put the Blackhawks on the verge of salary cap hell and hasn't adequately addressed the team's depth problem lately.
• The Los Angeles Kings were also in the mood to fire their head coach, as John Stevens was given his walking papers. Willie Desjardins was named interim coach. Stevens had a decent regular season last year, but his inability to get any offense out of the team come playoff time was exposed, and it has been further exposed this season despite adding Ilya Kovalchuk in the off-season. While Desjardins is an interim coach, was it really the best decision? Marco Sturm is the likely head coach in waiting, and skipping the middle man would have made more sense, although the Kings haven't been able to field a healthy goaltending unit lately, since Cal Petersen, he of a handful of games thus far, is now on the NHL roster until the likes of Peter Budaj and Jonathan Quick can get healthy again.
• Speaking of the Kings, they were the last team that Mike Yeo would be facing as the head coach of the St. Louis Blues. The Blues were shut out last night by that team, and an offensive dry spell that topped a team struggling to meet expectations meant the Mike Yeo experiment it over. Before I get to who is replacing him, it should be noted that the Blues hand-picked Yeo to replace Ken Hitchcock after the 2016-17 season, only to speed up that process by a few months, as Hitchcock was fired for Yeo. Just over two years later, Yeo is now looking for a new job. His replacement is...Craig Berube? This may be an interim move, but given that Berube was terrible as head coach in Philadelphia, it almost seems like the Blues WANT to fail.
• Spekaing of Hitchcock, he was lured out of retirement...again, as the Edmonton Oilers fired Todd MacClellan this morning. Hitchcock will be behind the bench for at least the rest of the season. One has to wonder if General Manager Peter Chiarrelli should be answering the phone because his job is now on the line. A team that has underachieved despite Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and is also on the verge of salary cap hell, the Oilers may need to do more than just fire the head coach.

So, who could be the next coach to go? Randy Carlyle in Anaheim seems like a safe bet, as does Jeff Blashill in Detroit and Guy Boucher in Ottawa. 

Things I Missed

The team previews are written, and as is seemingly the case every year, there are things that happen after I type each report. This year is no exception, so let's see what I missed or need to correct in time for the season to start Wednesday.

• The Carolina Hurricanes have settled their captaincy problem, and it isn't Justin Faulk or Jordan Staal, co-captains a year ago. Instead, the captain role will go to Justin Williams, who returned for a second tour of duty last season after spending time earlier in his career with the Hurricanes, helping them win a Stanley Cup in 2006.
• The Florida Panthers also named a new captain, as Derek McKenzie stepped down from the role to give way for Aleksander Barkov. Barkov is on the verge of being a superstar that more people will get to know about, and his progression has been on the rise from his rookie season of 2013-14. He's an excellent choice for a team that needs a stable identity after having gone through identity changes in the last three seasons.
• Corey Perry was expected to try and rebound after some subpar seasons. He won't get that chance until February or March because he will be out due to injury. With Ryan Kesler likely out for the season, pressure is now squarely on the shoulders of Nick Ritchie to produce, as he has yet to be the player the Ducks have hoped for since being drafted in 2014.
• Seth Jones is also going to miss time, 1 to 2 months. While it isn't a fatal blow for Columbus, it is a blow for a team who relies on defensive ability to win games. Zach Werenski will have some added pressure to begin the season.
• Chicago may be without Corey Crawford to start the season, as he continues to recover from vertigo and concussion issues. Cam Ward will likely be the starter for opening night, and the Blackhawks will need Crawford to be 100 percent sooner rather than later because depth behind Ward is woefully thin unless Colin Delia can convince the team that he is at worst, a good AHL starter.

Fallen Empire

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

2017-18 record: 33-39-10 (73 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Jonathan Toews

This is a time that many Chicago Blackhawks fans don't want to face, but reality hit them hard last year and now, it may be coming again, only for more than just a year. The Blackhawks will have to rebuild their pipeline, and to do, they will have to deal with depth issues up and down the lineup for the forseeable future. What's the good news? Patrick Kane is still here, which gives them some semblance of a chance to succeed.

Unfortunately, Kane was the majority of the offense, as the likes of Jonathan Toews, Brandon Saad, and Duncan Keith all had off years by their standards. Even worse, Keith and Brent Seabrook crumbled under the weight of having to carry a defense that sorely lacked depth and talent behind them. As a result, the Blackhawks were in the bottom third of both allowing and scoring goals. Whereas the majority of the core struggled, a couple of rookies played very well, tying for second in team scoring. While Alex DeBrincat got all the headlines for Chicago rookies, Nick Schmaltz was quietly effective and has a future as a second line center behind Toews, provided Toews rediscovers his form. The blue line only really gained a Brandon Manning that does absolutely nothing of note other than provide a warm body. In goal is where things really need to come together, as the team fell apart when Corey Crawford went out due to vertigo symptoms. Up to that point, he was, along with Kane, carrying the team to relevance. The good news is that Cam Ward still has something left and will provide better insurance than Anton Forsberg ever could. Still, it's hard to see how Chicago really improved, since there's still massive depth issues.

Prediction: 7th in the Central Division

The Blackhawks began the rebuilding process in terms of prospects last season. It may take some time before defensive depth is less of a problem again, and now that forward depth is also becoming an issue, it may be a while before the Blackhawks are anything more than a fringe playoff contender.

NHL Free Agency: Burning Money Edition

July 1 is known as a money burning day, as the first day of both NBA and NHL free-agency begins, as well as the New York Mets' tradition of giving long-gone Bobby Bonilla a million plus interest a year until 2035. So, how will the NHL make me laugh this time?

• The big shoe that needed to drop, did, as John Tavares announced that he would be taking the Toronto Maple Leafs' offer of seven years, and an annual amount of 11 million. It's a steep price for Toronto, and it still doesn't solve their defensive woes, but Tavares potentially shoves both Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri down a slot, which improves their offensive output. The big concern would be what happens next offseason, when both Matthews and Mitch Marner are coming off their ELCs.
• The Maple Leafs' 11 million dollar gamble wasn't actually the worst move made. No, the worst happened this morning, as the Calgary Flames decided to throw five years and an annual cap hit of 5.75 million at James Neal. You might say that's better than what Washington threw at TJ Oshie, but even four years is excessive for a 30-goal scorer that is on the wrong side of 30, has major streaks of production and non-production, and may be headed for a steep decline ala Dany Heatley. The Flames also threw over 3 million to some guy named Derek Grant. Have fun with the RFA contracts of Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin.
• Los Angeles did the expected, and signed Ilya Kovalchuk to a three year deal. The hit carries a 6 million dollar price tag a year, and it had been announced that the Kings intended to make him the focal point of their offense. If you're paying him that much, he better be, and if he can still score 30 goals per year, it's not bad. So, where are the Kings screwed? The eight year extension that will be carrying an 11 million dollar hit that is going to Drew Doughty. The Kings learned nothing from the Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik sagas. The Kings will be in Cap Hell even after Kovalchuk is gone thanks to the ridiculous contracts being handed out.
• Detroit likes to kick the can down the road, and signing both Jonathan Bernier and Thomas Vanek to deals, as well as re-signing Mike Green to a new two year deal is proof. On a contending team, these signings would actually be praised. However, Detroit is not even close to contending. I know there's the albatross contracts of Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm, and Jonathan Ericsson, but there is no way they are a Jonathan Bernier away from playoff contention.
• Chicago actually didn't do badly with signing Cam Ward to one year, as he proved that he had something left, although that wasn't necessarily by choice in Carolina, as Scott Darling self-immolated. Brandon Manning is just a warm body on defense while I absolutely don't understand how Chris Kunitz will fit with the team.
• Vegas made moves, as they slightly overpaid for four years Paul Stastny and inexplicably threw 2.75 million a year for two years at Ryan Reaves.
• Pittsburgh signed Jack Johnson. The issue with Johnson isn't money, as about 3 million a year is sensible, but term, as five years is a little long. They also brought back Matt Cullen because I don't know.
• Boston signed Jaroslav Halak for two years and a 2.75 million annual deal. Halak had a bad year, but he should rebound somewhat, since Boston is a stronger defensive team and he won't have to be overextended, as he backs up Tuukka Rask. The Bruins also signed John Moore to the same 2.75 million a year hit, but for five years. I don't know if Moore is worth that much money-wise, but he's still relatively young, and you can do worse than him if you're a Boston team that figures to be led by Charlie MacAvoy and Brandon Carlo in the future.
• Buffalo moved on from the volatile Robin Lehner in favor of an older, but calmer Carter Hutton. Hutton is getting three years, and 2.75 million per year. The bigger news is that they traded Ryan O'Reilly to St. Louis and are getting back Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, and two draft picks. The change was needed for both Buffalo and O'Reilly, which showed cracks late season. O'Reilly instantly gives St. Louis a second line center and takes the albatross contracts of both Berglund and Sobotka off the books.
• Speaking of the Blues, they gave David Perron four years and four million per year to make his return for a third time. Inconsistent as he is, it isn't a bad number, and he showed that he has something left. They also gave Tyler Bozak a three year, 5 million a year contract because I don't know. The money is too high for what will amount to a third line center, especially now that Brayden Schenn and O'Reilly will be in front of him. They also picked up a year rental of Chad Johnson for 1.75 million. Again, too high of a price, given his lack of production lately.
• Vancouver continues to want to tread water, as they handed out identical four year, 3 million per year contracts to Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel. Two years and just under 2 million a year for Tim Schaller and three years and 3.36 million a year to Sven Baertschi were also handed out. None of those are Loui Eriksson bad, which is good, but only the Baertschi signing makes sense, as he can still deliver on some of his offensive upside. Roussel, Beagle, and Schaller do provide a defensive presence up front that had been sorely lacking since Ryan Kesler bolted town.
• If I began with the Maple Leafs, I have to end with the New York Islanders, the team Tavares is leaving behind. I don't think Tavares leaving is a death blow, as Mat Barzal looks like he will be the best player on the Islanders by this time next year, but it certainly hurts. Saying that, the Islanders signed Leo Komarov to four years and 3 million per year. The term may be a little long, and Komarov isn't going to provide major offense, but he will provide leadership and at a reasonable price, the Islanders will have room to move. They also re-signed Thomas Hickey for four years and 2.5 million. Thought to have been a bust after failing to crack the Kings roster in the time after he was drafted in 2007, he's turned out to be a respectable defender with the Islanders, and he was one of the few bright spots on a blue line that was awful last year. The big problem was signing Valtteri Filppula for 2.75 million. It's only one year, but the Islanders did not need Filppula, who clearly has nothing left at this stage of his career.

If I didn't mention your team, it's because there weren't any good or bad moves made. 

NHL mock Draft: picks 24-31

There is big news involving a three way trade that I will get to at some point, as it relates to the clown show known as the Ottawa Senators and the potential impact it may have on its star player. In the meantime, I need to finish this mock draft, which is likely going to be wrong save for maybe the first three picks.

24. Minnesota Wild-Ty Dellandrea, C, Flint (OHL)

The Wild's center spot is getting older and the surest things in the system haven't proven themselves yet, as Joel Eriksson-Ek hasn't been the player they Wild envisioned yet and Luke Kunin has injury issues. Dellandrea already has shown character, playing on a Flint team that had been in turmoil early in his time there, and he has skill that may only be in the beginning stages.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs-Sampo Ranta, LW, Sioux City (USHL)

The Maple Leafs may look to trade out of this spot, given their wealth of prospects. Should they stay, left wing may almost certainly need an infusion, and with the number of prospects, they can afford to take on a project in Ranta, a goal scorer who will likely need two years minimum at Wisconsin.

26. New York Rangers (from Boston)-Martin Kaut, RW, Pardubice (Czech Republic)

The deadline trades strengthened the Rangers' blue line prospect pool, and center looks set if Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil both make the NHL roster next season. The Rangers may look to trade up, since they have another pick at 28. Kaut might be the safest pick, as he doesn't truly excel in one category, but does everything fairly well.

27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville)-Mattias Samuelsson, D, US NTDP

The Blackhawks need defensemen badly. With the scoring need addressed earlier in this mock draft, they get a physical player in Samuelsson, who shows better offensive acumen than his father Kjell, who played in the NHL in the late-80's and early 90's.

28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay)-Filip Johansson, D, Leskand Jr. (Sweden)

The Rangers could always use another player on the blue line, especially since there is uncertainty as to who will emerge. Johansson is an all-around player that may have more offense than what he's shown thus far.

29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg)-Ryan McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)

The Blues need to close the gap between the first and third lines. With the possibility of either Tage Thompson or Robert Thomas getting regular NHL time next season, that means the Blues need another center to groom. McLeod needs to be more than just a speed guy, but he will have time to develop.

30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas)-Jacob Olofsson, C, Timra (Sweden)

The Red Wings need any help they can get, and though it is unknown what Olofsson's offensive upside is, his two-way game already would put him in position to join the NHL next season if he chooses.

31. Washington Capitals-Nicolas Beaudin, D, Drummondville (QMJHL)

The Capitals need to continue to stock the defenseman pipeline, with Madison Bowey already graduating to the NHL and Lucas Johansen potentially close. Beaudin needs to gain weight, but the rest of his game suggests that he can be a quality defender on an NHL roster.

2018 NHL mock Draft: Picks 1-8

With the NHL Draft just a little over a week now, the mock drafts are coming together...except for mine. That changes today, as I begin my sixth year doing this, with the actual results hopefully resembling mine a little. Like every year, the mock draft will be broken down into parts. Today, picks 1-8.

1. Buffalo Sabres-Rasmus Dahlin, D, Frolunda (Sweden)

Never has a defenseman received as much hype as Dahlin, who is viewed as a generational talent. His year included a roster spot on the Swedish Olympic team. He has the size and ability to step in right away, something that Buffalo will happily take, as their defense is rather thin after Rasmus Ristolainen.

2. Carolina Hurricanes-Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie (OHL)

Carolina picked a bad time to have the second overall pick, as their needs are where this year's Draft is weak. However, given that everyone except Sebastian Aho is considered tradeable, a pure goal scorer is exactly what the Hurricanes need. Svechnikov is the best player in this regard.

3. Montreal Canadiens-Filip Zadina, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

Like Carolina, the Canadiens' needs are not highly ranked in this Draft. However, if there is a team that is a prime target to trade down to get more picks, it's Montreal. Should they stay at three, Zadina would be just as good of an option as a scorer, especially if Max Pacioretty gets moved. Zadina is also a little better defensively, which should help the Canadiens, who need to play 2-1 games consistently.

4. Ottawa Senators-Quinn Hughes, D, Michigan (Big 10)

With recent increased rumors of Erik Karlsson maybe on the move, the Senators need a defender that can come close to his talent level down the line. Hughes is the safer pick between him and Adam Boqvist, as Hughes appears to be closer to NHL ready if he leaves Michigan right away.

5. Arizona Coyotes-Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)

Though they picked Pierre Olivier-Joseph last year and Jakob Chychrun the year before, the Coyotes still need to stockpile the blue line, particularly if they let Niklas Hjalmarsson walk and/or buy out either Alex Goligoski or Jason Demers in the next year or so. Dobson may need another year or so before he's ready, but he's got high potential and is already a winner, as he was on the Acadie-Bathurst team that won both the QMJHL title and the Memorial Cup this year.

6. Detroit Red Wings-Adam Boqvist, D, Byrnas Jr. (Sweden)

Detroit hasn't had a great offensive option from the blue line since Nicklas Lidstrom retired. Mike Green is likely gone in free agency, and there's no guarantee Dennis Cholowski will develop. Boqvist has the best offensive potential from the blue line out of all the defensemen in the Draft not named Rasmus Dahlin.

7. Vancouver Canucks-Evan Bouchard, D, London (OHL)

Although depth on the blue line is good, the Canucks lack a true number one defender. Olli Juolevi recently underwent surgery, so the Canucks may want to consider a fall-back option. Bouchard is more well-rounded than many of the defenders in the Draft, and he has the size most don't.

8. Chicago Blackhawks-Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, US NTDP

Though they need defensemen more, the Blackhawks do have the luxury of waiting until the end of the first round thanks to having Nashville's first round pick and the Draft being pretty good on defensemen. Wahlstrom would give the Blackhawks another scorer that could potentially go along with Alex DeBrincat in the future.

Here Lie the 2017-18 Chicago Blackhawks

The 2017-18 Chicago Blackhawks were supposed to be having one last shot at competing for the Stanley Cup. Instead, for the first time since Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were rookies, they will be watching the playoffs from the comforts of home. So, how did it come to this? Let's open the coroner's notebook.

• For every success in the draft (i.e. Toews, Kane, Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, etc.), there were some failures, and none stick out more than the period of 2008 through 2011. In those drafts, they took Kyle Beach (2008), Dylan Olsen (2009), Kevin Hayes (2010), and Phillip Danault and Mark McNeill (2011). Of that group, only Danault even had a decent sniff of playing time with the Blackhawks, and none of them remain with the team. Kevin Hayes didn't even sign with the team, opting to sign with the New York Rangers once he became a CFA in 2014.
• Salary cap management. In many ways, tying up money to a core that includes Kane, Toews, Corey Crawford, Keith, and Brent Seabrook can be a good thing when things are going well. When they aren't, well, there are repercussions, and key players such as Dustin Byfuglien, Hjalmarsson, and Artemi Panarin all had to be traded out to get under the cap.
• Mortgaging the future for a chance at the Cup. Again, when it pays off, it pays off handsomely, as the trade for Antoine Vermette in 2015 showed. However, the trade for Andrew Ladd in 2016 blew up spectacularly. In both cases, a first round pick was sacrificed, and either or both could have been needed around this time. 
• Looking at more recent Draft history from 2012 onward, the results are pretty grim. Teuvo Teravainen has put up most of his numbers in a Carolina Hurricanes uniform, Ryan Hartman is now a key piece in Nashville's run this year, and the only other players that are producing at a reasonable clip are Alex DeBrincat and Nick Schmaltz. If you take out Vinnie Hinostroza, the production from that group is even worse.
• Corey Crawford was arguably the best player in recent seasons, and when he went down to injury this season, it all but ended their hopes. Anton Forsberg has been terrible, and they've had to resort to a 32-year old rookie named Jeff Glass and J.F. Berube.

The Blackhawks aren't quite in salary cap hell in the same way that the Edmonton Oilers will be soon, but unless they can move Seabrook's contract, their ability to make moves will be limited. Their biggest need is to once again, hit on the draft picks that started their run of excellence from 2009 to 2017, especially in goal. Otherwise, it may look a lot like 2003 all over again.

Chicago's Last Stand?

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

2016-17 record: 50-23-9 (109 points)
Lost to Nashville in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Jonathan Toews

The Chicago Blackhawks were supposed to have another deep run in the playoffs last season, with a Conference-leading 109 points and a core that is still going strong. Nashville and its stonewall defense had other ideas, and now, the Blackhawks are a team on the verge of collapsing. Key players were traded (i.e. Artemi Panarin, Niklas Hjalmarsson), left the team through other means (Trevor van Riemsdyk) or are retired/not playing this season (Brian Campbell and Marian Hossa). The core of the team is still here, but depth will be tested in a major way, with their playoff hopes being at its most endangered since Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews' rookie years.

Up front, everything still goes through Kane and Toews, though Kane is the far better offensive option. Losing Panarin will hurt, but he could have either returning Blackhawk on one line, as Patrick Sharp is out to prove that he still has something left while Brandon Saad returns a more complete player than when he left in 2015. Richard Panik showed that he could step up in a bigger role, and it wouldn't be a major upset if Alex DeBrincat contributes right away if he ends up on a line with either Kane or Toews. The blue line is where there is more concern about depth. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook remain, but Connor Murphy, picked up in the Hjalmarsson trade, is the next best defender on the team while Michal Kempny will be having a bigger role. If that didn't set things up well, it can only get worse if the youth (Gustav Forsling and Ville Pokka) fail to step up and/or Czech import Jan Rutta doesn't play to expectations. Goal could be an issue, too, as Corey Crawford didn't hold the fort as well last season, and now, his backups are unproven Anton Forsberg and J-F Berube. The moves aren't too helpful in fixing a dreadful penalty kill, which will now be minus both Hossa and Marcus Kruger.

Prediction: 4th in the Central Division

In the past, the Blackhawks have been written off any time trouble rears its ugly head, but each time, those reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated. This time, they may not be so lucky, as depth will be tested, and this season will be a referendum on just how well they have developed their prospects. Buckle up, it's going to be a wild ride in Chicago.

NHL Mock Draft: Picks 16-31

With Adidas revealing all 31 teams' new (sort of, for some teams) uniforms, I'm expediting the mock draft.

16-Calgary Flames: Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Spokane (WHL)

The Flames have had success with players like Yamamoto, as they have his contemporary height-wise in Johnny Gaudreau. Super skilled offensively, and Sam Bennett still needs wingers that can score.

17-Toronto Maple Leafs: Cal Foote, D, Kelowna (WHL)

Toronto could always use another defensive prospect, as they remain thin at that unit, a fact exposed by their third pairing of Matt Hunwick and Roman Polak getting repeatedly torched. Foote isn't a game-breaker, but he is reliable in his own end and has a little more offensive than his dad Adam, a former Colorado defender.

18-Boston Bruins: Nic Hague, D, Mississauga (OHL)

The Bruins have tried preparing for the eventuality of Zdeno Chara finally hanging it up, and though Charlie McAvoy, last year's first round pick, looks like a sure thing, the first round pick from 2015 Jakub Zboril is not as certain to be great. Hague has the size and may provide solid two-way play to go along with McAvoy's offensive prowess and Brandon Carlo's stay-at-home abilities.

19-San Jose Sharks: Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, Charlottetown (QMJHL)

The Sharks need young defenders in the pipeline, especially since they just gave up on Mirco Mueller living up to his potential. Joseph is a puck mover that needs to gain weight, but is checking off the boxes in most other areas.

20-St. Louis Blues: Klim Kostin, RW, Dynamo Moscow (KHL)

St, Louis got pushed around a lot last year, and despite an off-year thanks to injuries and a lack of playing time in the KHL, Kostin showed what he could do when given the time to show. Provides a physical element that was missing last year.

21-New York Rangers: Erik Brannstrom, D, HV71 (Sweden)

The Rangers are getting old on the blue line, and though they just parted ways with Dan Girardi, they still have decent ability there. The future doesn't look too bright beyond that, and Brannstrom would not only be a body on the blue line, but also a puck mover that they haven't had in a while.

22-Edmonton Oilers: Robert Thomas, C, London (OHL)

Though listed as a center Thomas can play anywhere up front, and he's likely the safest pick in the first round. The Oilers would like to have better depth up front, especially when it comes to the third and fourth lines, and Thomas can bring a two-way game to those areas right away if needed.

23-Arizona Coyotes (from Minnesota): Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, HPK Jr. (Finland)

I fully expect the Coyotes to take a goaltender either here or with their second round pick. Presuming they do like what they see in that category, it's down to Luukkonen or Jake Oettinger. Luukkonen has the higher upside, and I think he's a little closer to NHL ready.

24-Columbus Blue Jackets: Kole Lind, RW, Kelowna (WHL)

The Blue Jackets are sound defensively, but they didn't have nearly enough firepower to go toe-to-toe with Pittsburgh in the first round. Sadly, this year's draft doesn't have much in the way of offensive talent, but Lind is one of the better options available. Plus, going down the wing, the Blue Jackets could use another guy there.

25-Montreal Canadiens: Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP (Finland)

The Canadiens just traded away Mikhail Sergachev, leaving their defensive pipeline a little less stocked. Reliability is what he will provide, but he may require a few years to develop his hockey sense a little more.

26-Chicago Blackhawks: Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, Guelph (OHL)

A project, Ratcliffe has the size that Chicago desperately needs, as they've been lacking in that lately and were pushed around by St. Louis and Nashville in recent playoff tilts, teams with at least one physical presence. He can provide a little offense, but once he gets a little more weight, his size will be his greatest asset.

27-St. Louis Blues (from Washington): Jaret Anderson-Dolan, C, Spokane (WHL)

Anderson-Dolan rose up the draft board thanks to his tournament play in the World Under-18s, and he is just now scratching the surface of his potential. With Dan Lambert now coaching Spokane, it will be interesting to see how much offense he can really provide.

28-Ottawa Senators: Jason Robertson, RW, Kingston (OHL)

Robertson could afford to improve his skating, which seems to be a theme with most draft picks this year, but if any team knows about offensive talent that needs improved skating, it's Ottawa, as Robertson draws comparisons to Mark Stone, who's done pretty well in Ottawa. Work ethic is something to watch, but the offensive skill is there.

29-Dallas Stars (from Anaheim): Kristian Vesalainen, LW, Frolunda (Sweden)

The offensive upside is there with Vesalainen, but he also had an up and down season, as he moved quite a bit. Size suggests power forward, but he may be a few years away.

30-Nashville Predators: Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State (NCHC)

Assuming the Predators don't trade this pick in pursuit of a center like Matt Duchene or Tyler Johnson, the Predators go with the draft route, taking Poehling, who could end up a Mike Fisher clone, as in not great offensively, but very good in many areas, and can play a shutdown role if needed.

31-Pittsburgh Penguins: Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle (Sweden)

Liljegren's stock took a tumble, and with Pittsburgh needing to figure out a plan in case they don't keep Justin Schultz and/or Derrick Pouliot doesn't pan out, Liljegren would fit the Penguins system perfectly, as his offense is way ahead of his defensive game.

Ridin' High in April, Shot Down in May

It's been an interesting pro hockey career for David Rundblad, to say the least, as he was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2009. He never played for them, as he would be traded to the Ottawa Senators before the season ended for the first round pick in 2010 that became Vladimir Tarasenko. Before making his debut with the Senators in 2011, he played in Sweden, where it looked like he would fulfill his full potential. His time in Ottawa was short-lived, as in his first NHL season, he was traded to Phoenix for Kyle Turris. Most of his time there was spent with the AHL affiliate before he was traded in 2014 to Chicago, where he would log the most NHL time in the 2014-15 season, as he was a replacement for Michal Roszival while he was injured. That season also marked a high point, as he would go on to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup as a member of that Blackhawks team. This season, he played in Switzerland, and beginning next season, he will take his game to Saint Petersburg, Russia, as he signed with SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL.

Western Conference preview

With the playoffs beginning soon, it's time to look at the Western Conference.

(1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (4) Calgary Flames

The Ducks rode a hot streak to win the Pacific Division crown. However, recent playoff history hasn't been particularly kind, and certainly, the pressure will be on for a deep run. Goal remains as big of a question as it ever was, as John Gibson is still a question mark thanks to injuries while Jonathan Bernier is still prone to giving up the occasional soft goal, though he did play well this season. Cam Fowler has been the leader on defense, a good thing since Hamphus Lindholm has played catch-up since ending his early season holdout. Up front, the usual suspects need to show up, as Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, and Ryan Kesler will need to carry the day again. One player to watch is Nick Ritchie, who needs to provide a physical presence to offset Calgary's group.

Goal is also a question in Calgary, as both Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson have been streaky. The good news is that when one fails, the other is ready to pick up. Defensively, Dougie Hamilton will need to take his game to another level while up front, the emergence of Mikael Backlund as an offensive threat is welcome. Backlund's defensive prowess is also unquestioned, though it does help that the Flames can take it to a team physically with Micheal Ferland, Troy Brouwer, and Matthew Tkachuk.

Prediction: Calgary in 7

(2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3) San Jose Sharks

Edmonton is back after an 11 year absence from the playoffs, and while everything begins with Connor McDavid, a big reason for their success is in goal. Cam Talbot set a team record for most wins in a season, and he doesn't mind being in net often. The Oilers will need him, as Laurent Brossoit is unproven if Talbot goes down. Defensively is still a work in progress, but for the first time since 2006, there is a certifiable number one pairing, as Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson came on late to provide a top pairing. Offensively, it all begins with McDavid, who took home the Art Ross Trophy, and some of the beneficiaries include Leon Draisaitl, Patrick Maroon, and Jordan Eberle. The Oilers were built to be physical, too, and that is where Maroon, Milan Lucic, and Zack Kassian will need to show up.

San Jose had a bit of a tailspin to end the season, but they are still the reigning Western Conference champions. Martin Jones has proven to be a top option in goal, and the pieces are still in place defensively. Brent Burns leads the group, and they may need to compensate for an offense that could use a pick-me-up besides Joe Pavelski.

Prediction: Edmonton in 6

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (4) Nashville Predators

For the lack of respect that Corey Crawford has gotten, there is a reason why he has two Stanley Cup rings: he comes through when it counts the most. It helps that other proven playoff veterans such as Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brent Seabrook are in front of him. Up front, the offense is more balanced now that Artemi Panarin has firmly established himself as an option along with Patrick Kane. If there is pressure on one player, it's Jonathan Toews, who had a slightly disappointing season,, but it is the playoffs now, and you know what he can do when the lights are on brightest.

Nashville has been a streaky team. Goaltending is more of a certainty than in recent playoff runs, thanks to Pekka Rinne and Jusse Saros holding down the fort there. Defensively, they've had a few injuries, but now it's time to find out just how much the trade for PK Subban will pay off, as chances need to be taken, and Subban is one of the best at taking chances. Up front, Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson were the best options, with Ryan Johansen being a frequent collaborator. They will need James Neal to show up, as he had a below average season. A player to watch is Miika Salomaki, who missed most of the season, but provides a physical element to the Predators squad that needs it.

Prediction: Nashville in 7

(2) Minnesota Wild vs. (3) St. Louis Blues

Minnesota had a hot start to the season, but were tailing off by season's end. Devan Dubnyk held down the fort once again, and defensively, things were together for the most part, though there isn't a big name player in the bunch. Offensively, the Wild were balanced, though Martin Hanzal has been a disappointment since coming over at the trade deadline.

St. Louis looked like they were going to miss the playoffs as the calendar turned to February. Goal is still a question mark, as neither Jake Allen nor Carter Hutton are proven commodities in the playoffs. Defensively, they have actually gotten better despite trading away Kevin Shattenkirk at the deadline. Up front, it's always going to be Vladimir Tarasenko that gets things started, but they Blues could be getting a boost from returning Vladimir Sobotka, who provides a solid defensive presence up front.

Prediction: St. Louis in 5

A Guy Like Me

It had been a long, strange year for John Howard Scott, who was suddenly thrusted into the spotlight around this time last year, when he was voted into the NHL All-Star game by fans, only to be traded a few days later and the subsequent chain of  events that followed that would ultimately see him be in the All-Star Game that year and win the game's MVP honors. His autobiography, A Guy Like Me, written with the help of Brian Cazeneuve, tells of a big kid at heart who simply wanted to enjoy the game he loved.

From his early days to his struggle with being the tall guy in pee-wee hockey, he tells of a guy who truly is like any other person, right down to their struggles. His time at Michigan Tech, which had obstacles both on the ice (the team was never any good while he was there) and off the ice (he served time for DWI), is documented, as well as how his relationship with his now-wife evolved from the awkward beginnings to where it is now, are covered. Also included is his relationship with former teammate Derek Boogaard and how he had wished he could have done more, coaches who he loved playing for, and of course, the drama leading up to his All-Star turn. Scott may be retired now, as he announced it a couple months ago, but the mark he left on the game, however small it may be ultimately, won't soon be forgotten.

One of things that makes A Guy Like Me a great read is that everything you read is truly from the heart of Scott. Despite never being comfortable in the spotlight, the reader always got the sense that no matter the situation, he manages to get through, and throughout the book, he gives thanks to his wife. Another positive of the book is that he offers a side of some of hockey's more notorious villains (that does depend on which team or teams you root for) that most fans never get to see, and while he doesn't completely throw a few people under the bus, he does address a few of those critics in a respectful manner. The book may not be as detailed as some would like, but it is one of the most honest autobiographies one will read.

I Watched This Game: The Great Midwest Outdoors

Another Winter Classic is in the books, and while the surrounding hype wasn't quite matched by the game itself, it is fair to say that the city of St. Louis did well in paying attention to detail when it came to putting on a show. Yes, I watched this game.

• It looks more like the Outdoor Fog Bowl.
• Also, due to sound being off (thankfully), there will be no commentary on in-between entertainment.
• The national anthem was performed on trumpet by Spencer Ludwig, which was not only done well, but also a tribute to St. Louis' musical history.
• Pet Peeve #1: For those at home, the last line of "Star Spangled Banner" is "Home of the BRAVE," not home of the BLUES or CHIEFS.
• The ceremonial puck drop was done by the Hulls, Bobby and Brett. It took them a minute to get the pucks, since someone forgot to supply them with one heading to the ice. I think this may have been planned, given the propensity of both Hulls to put on a show in their playing days.
• That didn't take long, as Michal Kempny's shot from the blue line deflects off of Jake Allen's glove and into the net to put the Blackhawks up 1-0.
• Pet Peeve #2: the ref cam. Was that really necessary?
• The Walking Penis Pierre McGuire is interviewing Ken Hitchcock, and for some reason, Hitchcock appears to be auditioning for role in the remake of Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
• Alex Pietrangelo will feel shame for two minutes, as he got nicked for slashing.
• Brian Campbell tried to delay the game, but only gets two minutes in the box for his troubles.
• After one period, it's Blackhawks 1, Bules 0. No, that's not a typo, I'm just taking another shot at the Seattle Sounders supporters, as they once misspelled "blue" as "bule" on one of their banners.

• Back to the actual hockey action, Panarin will be sitting two minutes and feel shame for holding.
• The Blues don't score on the power play, but they do tie it up, thanks to a Jay Bouwmeester pass from the corner that Patrik Berglund tips past Corey Crawford.
• Robby Fabbri boarded, so he will be sitting for two minutes.
• Shortly after Chicago kills off the penalty, Ryan Hartman goes off for interference, and despite it carrying over into the third period, the game remains even at one once the penalty ends.
• Hartman didn't last long out of the box, as this time, slashing is how he gets nicked. Meanwhile, Niklas Hjalmarsson was seen limping off the ice. Fortunately, he didn't miss a shift and was just fine.
• Ryan Reaves heads off for interference.
• A Vladimir Tarasenko pass finds a bank shot off of Niklas Hjalmarsson's stick, which ends up in the back of the Chicago net to put the Blues up 2-1.
• Tarasenko strikes again. This time, he didn't need luck to score this time, putting the Blues up 3-1.
• What would life had been like for the Ottawa Senators had they kept their first round pick from 2010? The pick they surrendered? It went to the Blues, who took Tarasenko that year.
• Alex Steen puts a ribbon on the game with an empty net goal, and that is how the 2017 Winter Classic ends: Blues winning 4-1.

The conditions for the game weren't perfect, but the Blues found ways to go around it to send their fans home happy. The wisest move the Blues made was extending Tarasenko, as he is definitely their best goal scoring option. 

Take it Outdoors

Now, that all of the teams participating in the outdoor games have their uniforms sorted out, it would be fair to assess each one, beginning with the Centennial Classic.

The designs you see for both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings are what they will be wearing for the Centennial Classic at BMO Field, home to both Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts. The Maple Leafs went with elements of their past incarnations for their uniform design. The stripe that runs through the middle was previously on the Pats sweaters while the Arenas' T will be found on the breezers. Meanwhile, the Red Wings kept it rather simple, with only a silver stripe on the arms that also features the years they won the Stanley Cup. Though Toronto has the better sweater design, both teams earn high marks for going in different directions when it comes to the collar.

Up next is the Winter Classic match between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks slated for January 2 at Busch Stadium. Of the teams participating in the outdoor games, the Blues have the best looking sweaters, edging out Toronto for that distinction. It's as close to a throwback as it gets, as much of the design was inspired by the team's first years in the NHL. If the Blues' design was the best, then the Blackhawks would be on the opposite spectrum. Clearly, playing in as many outdoor games as they have has shown that the idea well has run dry for them. If there was ever a case for limiting how many outdoor games you can play in a specific time period, you can point to the Blackhawks for that.

Last up is the Stadium Series, and the participants in that matchup are the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins unveiled their look a few weeks ago, and certainly, going gold was a wise decision, as was the idea of having the triangle encircle the captaincy or alternate designation. The patch on the left is a nod to the team's four Stanley Cups, and the side numbers are on the shoulders. The sweater loses points for the numbering, though, as it rips off the World Cup North American team template.

A few days ago, the Flyers unveiled their design, and going black on their sweaters isn't the worst idea, but having black numbers and lettering is a bad idea, even with the orange nameplate and white outlining on the numbers. The Flyers would have been better served with white numbering and lettering.

Climbing Back

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

2015-16 record: 47-26-9 (103 points)
Lost to St. Louis in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Jonathan Toews

Individually, the Chicago Blackhawks players were award winners, as Patrick Kane became not only the first U.S. born player to win the Art Ross Trophy, but he also took home both the Ted Lindsay and Hart Trophies as MVP, as voted by both the players and the press, respectively, while teammate Artemi Panarin took home the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. As a team, however, falling well short of the ultimate goal of the Stanley Cup, one that would have made them the first back-to-back winner since Detroit turned the trick in 1997 and 1998 is one that will not sit well with them. As it was then, the salary cap struck again, this time, forcing the Blackhawks to try and find replacements for guys like Andrew Shaw, Teuvo Teravainen, and letting rental Andrew Ladd walk. Their replacements are likely coming from within, as some of the prospects that have bide their time in Rockford should be ready to go.

Up front, it's still the Patrick Kane-Jonathan Toews show, as Kane finally stayed healthy long enough to win the scoring title while Toews remains the man that steers the ship when it comes to on-ice and locker room leadership. Adding Panarin prior to last season was a major plus, as he was the second leading scorer on the team. However, secondary scoring will be needed, as the gap between Kane and the fourth leading scorer (Brent Seabrook) was almost 60 points. Given that youth will have to be served, expect around three or four rookies to be around for the duration of the season, so the bottom six spots are going to be varying. On the blue line, things are much more in place, as the top-four of Seabrook, Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brian Campbell will take up the majority of the time. Michal Roszival, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Michal Kempny will vie for the final two spots, though Ville Pokka will also be in the mix for one of two spots remaining. In goal, Corey Crawford is the starter and Scott Darling is the backup, so nothing has changed since the middle of their last Stanley Cup run. The power play was the second best in the league, but fixing a penalty kill that ranked 22nd is imperative if the Blackhawks hope to win another Stanley Cup this season.

Prediction: 3rd in the Central Division

A longer summer after three straight seasons of at least making the Conference Finals figures to make the Blackhawks more motivated and well-rested. However, is the salary cap finally taking a toll on their window of opportunity to win another Stanley Cup? The Blackhawks have been counted out before, and we all know the results some years, so it wouldn't be wise to bet against them even in an increasingly tough Central Division.