2021 NHL Draft: Needs and mock draft, part 1

 The 2021 NHL season came to an end last night, which means the offseason officially begins now. In 13 days, the Seattle Kraken draft their team while the entry draft will be a few days later. To that end, it's time to examine each team and their needs going into the draft. Since there are 32 teams, this will be broken down into sections, and it will be in order of original draft placement. 

1. Buffalo Sabres 

The owners of the first overall pick, the Sabres have needs almost everywhere, but especially up front. Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel are both looking to leave, and it is possible that Rasmus Ristolainen also goes. With no clear top prospect in the draft, it is possible they go with Owen Power, a defenseman from Michigan. They also have eight other picks, so they can load up to give themselves more prospects for what is likely a rebuild of a rebuild that never got off the ground. 

Projected pick: Owen Power, D, Michigan

2. Seattle Kraken 

The Kraken are in position to pick the best available player here, and are likely to accrue another first round pick or two, as teams will try to get them to select a player to work under the cap. Odds are they will load up on veterans to give the drafted players time to develop, ala Vegas in their first year.

Projected pick: Matty Beniers, C, Michigan

3. Anaheim Ducks

The third overall pick in the draft, they have loads of prospects, but little veteran leadership, particularly if Ryan Getzlaf leaves. With Trevor Zegras pencilled in next season, it may benefit the Ducks to pick a player that can step in a year or two from now, given the development of Jamie Drysdale, among others. 

Projected pick: Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda

4. New Jersey Devils 

Experience, experience, experience. That is issue surrounding the Devils, especially since PK Subban keeps declining in skill. That also raises an issue on the blue line, where there is still a hole or two to be filled. Luke Hughes can be seen as a reach here, but reuniting him with older brother Jack may be a draw.

Projected pick: Luke Hughes, D, US NTDP

5. Columbus Blue Jackets 

Offense has been an issue since Artemi Panarin left. However, with Seth Jones not wanting to commit after next season, when he becomes a free agent, defense could be an issue, too. They have cap to work with, but Columbus has rarely been a destination for the bigger names.

Projected pick: Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL)

6. Detroit Red Wings 

They're still likely going to go with veterans on one year deals to help the kids along, and Moritz Seider is likely going to make the jump next season, giving Detroit their likely top defender. Goalie help is in short supply, and I can't see them reaching for Jesper Wallstedt this early. A trade down could happen here.

Projected pick: Brandt Clarke, D, Nove Zamky

7. San Jose Sharks 

A team in desperate need of prospects, defense is their biggest need, particularly since their top four average 32 years of age. Goalie help is also needed, but I think that gets answered via cheap FA pick up for now. If they need someone to step in now, William Eklund appears to be the most ready of the available talent, according to me.

Projected pick: William Eklund, LW, Djurgarden

8. Los Angeles Kings

Loaded with prospects everywhere but in goal, I get a feeling Los Angeles goes with the best available goalie here, the aforementioned Wallstedt. Beyond that, it's likely short term veterans filling out the roster to give a few prospects time to develop. 

Projected pick: Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea

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

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

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.

Licking Their Wounds

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

2017-18 record: 45-30-7 (97 points)
Lost to Washington in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Nick Foligno

The Columbus Blue Jackets made history when they made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in their history. They were also due for their first playoff series win, and were actually up 2-0 on Washington. Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets' defense faltered, their goaltending fell to pieces, and they couldn't find any offense other than Artemi Panarin. The result was the Blue Jackets failing to win a playoff series...again. Questions are still there for the Blue Jackets, and while the playoffs are still a possibility, winning a series may still be a pipe dream.

The offense was middle of the league, thanks in large part to Panarin. The rest of the scoring was fairly balanced, but they do need a healthy Cam Atkinson to have a chance, especially with Panarin's contract situation coming into play and rumors of Panarin wanting out of Columbus. Reinforcements in the off-season were non-existent. Defensively, this should be the strength of the team, and while they finished 10th in the league, they also gave up no fewer four goals in each of the games against the Capitals in the playoffs. Some of that is on the team not showing discipline, and some of it is on Sergei Bobrovsky showing a Jekyll and Hyde personality in goal. He was great in the regular season, but his habit of letting in the occasional soft goal reared its ugly head in the playoffs again.

Prediction: 4th in the Metropolitan Division

The Blue Jackets still have the pieces to make the playoffs again, but John Tortorella's seat is at inferno levels. That seat may be burning him if the Blue Jackets fail to win a playoff series again.

NHL mock Draft: picks 16-23

I'm trying to catch up here before the Draft Friday, so here's my picks from 16 to 23.

16. Colorado Avalanche-Joel Farabee, LW, US NTDP

The Avs addressed their blue line depth in last year's Draft, and now, their main objective is to get more scorers in the pipeline. A year at Boston University should give Farabee a chance to pack on a little weight, but his ability is there, and if he gets paired with either Nathan MacKinnon or Mikko Rantanen down the line, it would unlock his full potential.

17. New Jersey Devils-K'Andre Miller, D, US NTDP

The Devils are still fairly thin on the blue line even with the addition of Sami Vatanen and the emergence of Will Butcher. Miller still has room to grow, especially since he's still learning the position, but the rewards are immense and he will get a little time to learn in Wisconsin.

18. Columbus Blue Jackets-Rasmus Kupari, C, Karpat (Finland)

The ceiling is high for Kupari, but consistency is an issue that needs to be sorted out. Still, the Blue Jackets need scoring, and Kupari would, at his best, provide that.

19. Philadelphia Flyers-Serron Noel, RW, Oshawa (OHL)

The Flyers don't have much in the way of needs in the pipeline, but do have some holes to fill at the NHL level. Noel provides a power forward skill set that could very well match that of current Flyer Wayne Simmonds.

20. Los Angeles Kings-Jared McIsaac, D, Halifax (QMJHL)

The depth on the blue line may become an issue soon, especially if Drew Doughty leaves soon. McIsaac won't replace his offensive numbers, but everything else about his game suggests that he can be a solid player who's proficient in his own end.

21. San Jose Sharks-Jett Woo, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)

San Jose needs to get younger on the blue line, and there isn't much in the pipeline. Woo is more of a physical type and won't provide much offense, but his game is similar to Marc-Edouard Vlasic, something that the Sharks will happily take.

22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh)-Barrett Hayton, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Ottawa is thin down the middle, and if Matt Duchene leaves after the season, the Sens are in major trouble. Hayton will get a chance to show more of what he can do offensively, but he's already a player who shows great detail defensively.

23. Anaheim Ducks-Dominik Bokk, RW, Vaxjo Jr. (Sweden)

The Ducks need skill players, and bad. Bokk may just be scratching the surface of what he can do, and he may also need to pack on a few pounds, but the potential is there, and he got to play on the same team as Elias Pettersson, who is slated to debut in the NHL next season a year after being drafted.

2018 NHL Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview

We've narrowed it down to 16 teams, and there's as always, going to be some exciting times in the hockey world. The playoffs begin Wednesday, and for the first time in a few years, I will not have to tie in my picks with a playoff pool. Saying that, let's begin:

(1) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (4) New Jersey Devils

The Lightning got exactly what they thought they were going to get from Andrei Vasilievsky, as he made the fans forget about Ben Bishop. Despite wearing down a little late in the season, mostly due to injuries to a rotating group of backup goalies, he is still a vital cog to the team's success. The blue line features Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev, but depth worries me a little, as Dan Girardi does not inspire confidence if he's in the lineup. It showed, as the Lightning had a habit of letting teams back in some games. Offensively is where the Lightning can kill you, especially if Steven Stamkos is healthy. The good news is that he isn't even the best offensive player this year on his own team. No, that honor goes to Nikita Kucherov, who had a bigger coming out party this season, becoming the third Lightning player to score over 100 points. The X-factor here is JT Miller, who could be in line to have his own coming out party this postseason.

The New Jersey Devils were a major surprise this season, and much of that is due to Taylor Hall finally staying healthy for a full season and showing the offensive skills that made him the first overall pick in 2010. Beyond Hall however, there isn't much besides Nico Hischier and when healthy, Cory Schneider, although Keith Kinkaid did well when pressed into starting duty. Brian Boyle is the team's inspirational leader this year, and their no-name blue line did fairly well.

Prediction: Lightning in 6

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

The good news is that the Boston Bruins have depth up and down the lineup, with four scoring lines and a defensive unit that can go deep. It also helps that their youth is taking major roles on the team, with Jake DeBrusk, Brandon Carlo, Charlie MacAvoy, and Danton Heinen all having a hand in the team's success this year. Tuukka Rask has also returned to form. However, the Bruins did struggle down the stretch, missing out on a potential Atlantic Division crown in the final days, and their depth is being tested in a big way, with MacAvoy, Carlo, and Patrice Bergeron all missing time at varying points in the season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs went over the 100 point barrier despite not having Auston Matthews for a few weeks. Frederik Andersen played his best hockey this season, the offense rallied together to make up for any time Matthews missed, and the blue line held together well. The Leafs will be another year wiser in the playoffs, but will it be enough to mean a deep playoff run?

Prediction: Maple Leafs in 7

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (4) Columbus Blue Jackets

Washington is once again in the playoffs, and once again, it is Cup or Bust. Alex Ovechkin is still the engine that drives the unit, but this is the year where more than any other that depth, or the lack thereof, is going to hurt them. The more alarming thing here is that Braden Holtby had his worst season in a Capitals uniform, and this time around, it was Phillipp Grubauer that bailed them out. There are many questions that will have to be answered here, such as can the Capitals get past the second round, can they even reach the second round, and who starts in net.

The Blue Jackets have made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. Like last year, they had to ride a lengthy winning streak to get here, which may make their hopes more of a fool's gold. Sergei Bobrovsky's playoff yips do bear watching, as does a rather alarming lack of scoring depth behind Artemi Panarin. Giving up goals is not a problem here, as any John Tortorella team is usually good at stopping the opposition from scoring.

Prediction: Blue Jackets in 7

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers

The Penguins may look ripe for an upset here, but if the last two seasons taught us anything, it is never to count them out. Between problems in goal, namely injuries and inconsistent play, and a blue line that largely spent more time on a milk carton, it's amazing that the Penguins were able to be the second seed in the Metropolitan Division. If you have to find someone to credit for keeping them afloat, it's Evgeni Malkin. He was thought to be a Hart Trophy candidate at some point in the season, and Sidney Crosby still doesn't get the credit he deserves.

If there is ever a team that no one can really pinpoint, it's the Philadelphia Flyers. They can either be really hot or really cold, and worse, all this happened despite another swinging door in goal, as players got hurt. The blue line should be better than what is assembled, but they are also still young at the position. Not having Wayne Simmonds hurts the offense, but having Claude Giroux step up in a big way was a big boon, as he not only topped the 100 point marker for the first time in his career, but did so while amassing his first career NHL hat trick in the process.

Prediction: Penguins in 6

Reaching the Deadline

With the NHL Trade Deadline approaching, teams are already making moves, and many of them made this season are already more impactful than last season's deadline, when very little happened in the way of blockbuster deals. Let's look at the deals made over the weekend and other potential players getting moved.

• The Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they were all in for a shot at a third Stanley Cup in a row when they were part of a three way trade. The basis of the trade is that they get Derick Brassard from Ottawa, Ottawa gets Ian Cole (more on him later) and Filip Gustavsson, and Vegas gets Ryan Reaves, with draft picks also being part of the equation. For Ottawa, they have signaled a rebuild, with the future of Erik Karlsson being an uncertainty past next season. Vegas gets fighter in Reaves who can also score on occasion while Pittsburgh gets the third line center that they had lacked since Nick Bonino defected to Nashville in the off-season.
• Remember Ian Cole? The Senators didn't hang on to him for long, as he was sent to Columbus for Nick Moutrey and a 2020 draft pick. Columbus gets more depth on the blue line, and they would later address the center depth, as in another three way deal, Nashville traded Pontus Aberg to Edmonton for Mark Letestu, and then flipped Letestu for a fourth round pick. Aberg gets a fresh start in Edmonton after he was squeezed out due to forward depth, which gets better with Mike Fisher coming back as of today.
• The New York Rangers are building for the future, sending Michael Grabner to New Jersey for Egor Rykov and a draft pick. Their biggest trade happened a few days later, as they sent Rick Nash to Boston. Ryan Spooner, Ryan Lindgren, Matt Beleskey, and a first round pick this year plus another draft pick were what they got in return. This was the trade the Rangers desperately needed, as Spooner can slot in as a top six forward while Lindgren is a solid prospect. The only hiccup, a necessary one to keep order in the salary cap, is Beleskey's albatross contract.
• Tomas Plekanec is leaving the only team he had ever known...and is heading to their biggest rival. That's right, he is going from Montreal to Toronto. All it cost was Kerby Rychel, Rinat Valiev, and Kyle Baun.
• Evander Kane, Alex Burrows, and Johnny Oduya are names that were either told to wait for trades or were placed on waivers, indicating that they could be on the move by the time the deadline passes in a few hours.

This year's trade deadline has been far busier than last year, when the only big name to get moved was Martin Hanzal. There will be at least a few moves made, many of them minor, but the ticker watching will happen.

Reloading the Cannon

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

2016-17 record: 50-24-8 (108 points)
Lost to Pittsburgh in the Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Nick Foligno

A 16-game unbeaten streak highlighted the Columbus Blue Jackets' season as they finished with the most points in franchise history, yet a first round loss to Pittsburgh illustrates that they have a long way to go where they want to be. The pieces are in place for a sustained playoff run, and with many of their key players yet to reach 30, the window may be as wide open as it gets.

When John Tortorella was brought it, he brought accountability to a team that had largely struggled with that in recent years. It begins with Nick Foligno, who rebounded to post respectable offensive totals while providing much needed leadership. Cam Atkinson was an offensive force that should be better with Artemi Panarin joining the team in a trade from Chicago. The trade came at the cost of Brandon Saad, but there are more than enough players who can provide what he provided. There isn't a true number one center, but Alexander Wennberg took a big step in that direction, and now he has the contract to prove it. They will need to replace Sam Gagner and William Karlsson, but if Pierre-Luc Dubois can step in right away, that will take some pressure off the rest of the team. The blue line is the strongest it's ever been, and provided Zach Werenski shows no ill effects of an eye injury suffered in the playoffs, figures to be a strength for a long time. Werenski and Seth Jones are both top defenders while David Savard and Jack Johnson have provided the team with a solid shutdown pair. Gabriel Carlsson could push for time, and the pressure is now on Ryan Murray to do something or get left behind. Sergei Bobrovsky finally stayed healthy for the first time since 2013, and it was reflected in his second Vezina Trophy. Playoff success still eludes him, but staying healthy was a major step for him, and provided the injury issues are behind him, he should be a major player for a while.

Prediction: 3rd in the Metropolitan Division

Despite falling off a little towards the end of the regular season, the Blue Jackets are a team on the rise. Health will always be an issue until proven otherwise, but we've seen what happens when key players are healthy. The Blue Jackets figure to be in the mix in a tough Metropolitan Division.

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.

Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview

Another NHL season is in the books, and now, the real fun begins with the playoffs beginning Wednesday. First up is the Eastern Conference preview, and there have been a few surprises to go along with some expected results thus far.

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) New York Rangers

The Canadiens survived a coaching change, which mirrored an earlier change in 2003, to claim the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Carey Price was healthy once again, and as it always seems to be, everything will go through Price. It's not just Price that makes the Canadiens go, as Shea Weber has provided a solid presence on the blue line and while they're still looking for answers up front past Max Pacioretty (think Alex Galchenyuk and his health), the Canadiens are looking to make a deep run.

The Rangers are in this spot thanks to a rather tough Metropolitan Division that sees them get the short straw despite finishing with over 100 points on the season. Sure, Henrik Lundqvist is still in goal, but this is about as offensively driven of a team as you will find, as Mats Zuccarello leads the way. Of course, their defense could be better, as could the consistency of some players such as Michael Grabner, who fell off after a hot start to the season.

Prediction: Canadiens in 5

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (3) Columbus Blue Jackets

It was another wild season for Pittsburgh, as Sidney Crosby continues to lead the way, winning the Rocket Richard for most goals in a season, yet missing out on the Art Ross Trophy (more on the winner in the next piece). For the success though, injuries have played a role in their sometime struggles, as they will be without Kris Letang for the playoffs and both Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray have had bouts of either inconsistency, injury, or both.

Columbus rode a hot streak in the middle of the season to the playoffs, and certainly, a healthy Sergei Bobrovsky was a big reason why the Blue Jackets are back in the playoffs. The Blue Jackets have also bought into coach John Tortorella's system, which explains their second best defense ranking. They will need that if they hope to fend off Crosby and company.

Prediction: Blue Jackets in 7

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (4) Toronto Maple Leafs

The Capitals are going all in this year. Stop if you've heard that one before. Goaltending is a major strength, as Braden Holtby and Phillipp Grubauer hold down the fort there, and in spite of Alex Ovechkin having a down year, the rest of the team has picked up the slack.

The surprise entrant of the playoff picture, the Maple Leafs have been as inconsistent as you would envision them to be, particularly since they're led by a bunch of kids who are not quite of drinking age in the U.S. Auston Matthews has been everything as advertised, but he's had help, too, as Mitch Marner led the team in assists. Defensively, the health of Frederik Andersen is one to watch, as he's been what the Leafs have hoped for. Still, this is a young group, so this may be nothing more than an opportunity to experience hockey at its best.

Prediction: Capitals in 5

(2) Ottawa Senators vs. (3) Boston Bruins

The Senators had a fair amount of adversity, from Craig Anderson taking time away to attend to his ailing wife to late-season nagging injuries to captain Erik Karlsson. While the offense struggled, as they ended up a -1 in goal scoring differential, goaltending and defense were strong, as Mike Condon helped keep the Senators afloat until Anderson came back. Now, with two good goaltenders, it will be up to them to help compensate for an offense that still needs work.

The Bruins were left for dead when they changed head coaches mid-season. However, a late-season surge puts them back into the playoffs. They aren't the same Bruins of earlier this decade, but goaltending has been a strong suit once again. When it comes to scoring, it's now David Pastrnak's team now. This Bruins team is more balanced to the point where they don't need to rely on one aspect to carry them.

Prediction: Senators in 7

Regrouping the Troops

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

2015-16 record: 34-40-8 (76 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Nick Foligno

Just about anything that could go wrong with the Columbus Blue Jackets' season did, ranging from a slow start that cost Todd Richards his head coaching job early in the season to Ryan Johansen butting heads with John Tortorella, leading to his trade to Nashville for Seth Jones to goaltending that either couldn't stay healthy, get any decent production, or both. A full season of Tortorella behind the bench should at least give the team some stability, plus the pipeline is ripe with players that will either help the team at the NHL level or in Cleveland, where a Calder Cup winning year undoubtedly gave the youth playing there a major boost.

Up front, there's a lot of talent on the wings, but no number one center. That used to be Johansen, but given the trade, that leaves a collection of second line centers to try and fill the top center role until Pierre-Luc Dubois is ready for the role. Dubois has a pretty good chance of sticking with the Blue Jackets straight out of the draft, but won't have to produce right away, as Boone Jenner, Brandon Saad, and Cam Atkinson all are fairly sure bets to score more than 20 goals apiece, with the first two netting 30 goals each last season. However, production took a major nosedive beyond the top four, particularly with Nick Foligno, who may have been the one to suffer the worst from the Johansen trade. Besides Dubois, other rookies up front that could make the opening night roster include Oliver Bjorkstrand, Josh Anderson, and Sonny Milano. The return for Johansen was Seth Jones, who was thought to be the heir apparent in Nashville. Columbus is now his team, and he won't have to wait to see if he's ready to be the lead dog on the Blue Jackets' blue line. Along with Ryan Murray, who finally stayed healthy for a full season, David Savard, and possibly Zach Werenski, youth will be served on the blue line, and the potential to be great is there. That would greatly help the overall defense that saw only Calgary end up worse than them. It is Sergei Bobrovsky's crease for now, but he must remain healthy and produce consistenly. The backup role is Curtis McElhinney's for now, but even worse numbers may put his spot on the NHL roster in peril, particularly since Joonas Korpisalo played well enough when he filled in on the NHL and was lights out in the AHL playoffs. Special teams suffered, as well, as the offensive woes from the back end manifested itself on the team's dive in the power play standings while the team was too undisciplined too often to offset any ability on killing penalties.

Prediction: 6th in the Metropolitan Division

The Blue Jackets must avoid another slow start, an undesired trademark of Richards' teams as head coach, and they must rediscover what made them on the verge of perennial playoff appearances. Of course, health is one thing that can solve a lot of problems, but figuring out who can carry the mail down the middle is going to be a bigger issue that won't be solved so easily.

NHL Mock Draft Picks 1-10

With the Stanley Cup awarded last night, and with the NHL Draft around the corner, it's time to start thinking about the future of your team. It also means I get to take another crack at figuring out who will go where. For this time around, I will divide it into three sections as opposed to five, so there will be much more to cover in each section. Today, it's picks 1-10.

1. Toronto Maple Leafs-Auston Matthews, C, Zurich (Switzerland)

Much was made of what Auston Matthews was going to do prior to last season, as he had three teams in three leagues vying for his services. While Everett of the WHL is going to forever play the "What if?" game like they did with Seth Jones a few years, back, Zurich was the beneficiary of Matthews' decision, and it worked out well for both the team and for Matthews. The Maple Leafs need a number one center badly, and they will have it with Matthews, who comes NHL-ready after playing with men in Switzerland. Offensive dynamo, he is not, but neither is Jonathan Toews, who would be a better comparison for Matthews, and that's not a bad thing.

2. Winnipeg Jets-Patrik Laine, RW, Tappara (Finland)

In a race to see who would be taken second, Laine and fellow Finn Jesse Puljujarvi are as close as it gets. If you're wanting an offensive dynamo, Laine is it, and the Jets would welcome his scoring touch wherever they decide to put him, whether it is on a line with Mark Scheifele, Bryan Little, or someone else.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets-Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Karpat (Finland)

The more well-rounded player of the two Finns, Puljujarvi would provide an immediate player that can step in wherever the Blue Jackets need him. Though not as dynamic offensively, he does everything well despite just being draft-eligible.

4. Edmonton Oilers-Olli-Juolevi, D, London (OHL)

I bounced back and forth between Juolevi and Jakob Chychrun as the options defensively for the Oilers. In the end, Juolevi won out, as I see him as the more ready player to step in should the Oilers decide to rush the pick to the NHL next season. The Oilers still need defenders, and of the ones available in the draft, Juolevi is viewed as one that can step in right away regardless of where he goes.

5. Vancouver Canucks-Pierre-Luc Dubois, LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL)

The Canucks filled a need for an NHL-ready defender when they traded for Erik Gudbranson a few weeks back. However, it came at the cost of Jared McCann, a forward capable of offense. Dubois not only would fill the need for offense, but also a power forward that can put people in their place (not to mention, a cheaper alternative to Milan Lucic). Should Dubois be taken by Edmonton (they could always use more physicality up front), look for Matthew Tkachuk to be taken here.

6. Calgary Flames-Matthew Tkachuk, LW, London (OHL)

The Flames need goaltending badly, but it would be a folly to draft one this high, as there isn't a Carey Price-type of player available. So, their next big need would be scoring on the wing, and Tkachuk provides that and more. A slightly less edgy version of his dad on the ice, it would be a mistake to think the younger Tkachuk is soft, as the 107 penalty minutes this season does speak for itself. And yes, he can score, too.

7. Arizona Coyotes-Mikhail Sergachev, D, Windsor (OHL)

Of the defenders available, Sergachev rates as the best offensive defender in the draft. He does have to refine his play in his own end a little, but it's easy to see why scouts are loving this guy, as he has everything you could want, from size to skill, to a high ceiling. The Coyotes need a top defender in the pipeline, and getting a possible clone of Oliver Ekman-Larsson would be a good idea here.

8. Buffalo Sabres-Tyson Jost-C, Penticton (BCHL)

With all of the young talent already on the roster, Jost represents a chance for the Sabres to take it a little slower, allowing him to further develop in North Dakota. Despite playing against lesser competition in the BCHL, the Sabres can take a flier on a player that could pay off handsomely, as he's the highest potential of all the forwards not in the top three.

9. Montreal Canadiens-Alexander Nylander, RW, Mississauga (OHL)

Losing Carey Price for much of the season exposed a long-standing problem for the Canadiens, as in they couldn't score to save their own lives. Though Nylander is marked as more of a playmaker, it is possible that he could unlock the full offensive potential of the likes of Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk. Anything will help in Montreal, and Nylander could see time in the AHL next season, at least, thanks to the same loophole that saw Dallas rush Julius Honka to the AHL after drafting him.

10. Colorado Avalanche-Jakob Chychrun, D, Sarnia (OHL)

The Avs would have loved to have seen Mikhail Sergachev drop to them, but they will happily settle for Chychrun, who figures to be a solid NHLer, at worst, and a franchise defender, at best. The Avs need it badly, as they were one of the worst blue lines in the NHL, forcing their goaltending to face far too many shots. Chychrun would be one step towards fixing that problem.

Restocking Needs

With the NHL Draft less than three weeks away, it's time for teams to figure out how to replenish their systems with the best possible players. This week, I will take the time to look at what each team needs to do and how they can best address those needs with the picks they do have. The needs section will be divided into three, which means ten teams get a look each day this week, and the list will go according to order in which they are supposed to draft.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Number of picks: 12
Picks in first round: 1st and 29th/30th overall (from PIT)

The Maple Leafs are almost certain to draft Auston Matthews with the first overall pick. That will fill a major need down the middle, as Nazem Kadri is the only center that will be on the roster next season that scares anyone on the opposing team. With the pick they got from the Phil Kessel trade, they can address the back end, be it on the blue line or in the blue paint. While the blue line options are plenty, it only seems that the Leafs would have to go with Carter Hart if they decide on a goalie. Either way, the Leafs can take their time in developing the other first round pick.

Winnipeg Jets

Number of picks: 7
Picks in first round: 2nd and 22nd overall

The Jets will take one of the highly regarded Finns, whether it is Patrik Laine or Jesse Puljujarvi. Whoever they get will add size and offensive flair. With the 22nd overall pick, picking up a center or a defender would be a sound strategy for the Jets, as they don't have the depth down the middle that they would like nor do they have a sure thing on the blue line. Given the Jets' prospect pool, they don't necessarily have to rush either pick.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Number of picks: 5
Picks in first round: 3rd overall

The Blue Jackets are most likely taking whoever the Jets don't pick between Laine or Puljujarvi. Adding size and scoring up front is paramount for a team that now needs it badly. However, they do need to be accurate with the rest of their picks, as they only pick four other times in the draft, and none in the middle rounds. Forwards that can handle the puck are a need, with a goaltender being a possible need late in the draft, given Sergei Bobrovsky's annual injury issues.

Edmonton Oilers

Number of picks: 9
Picks in first round: 4th overall

The Oilers have a lot of picks to make, and possibly more if they decide to move any of their prized forwards not named Connor McDavid. As for the first round pick, picking a defenseman would be a wise move, as they are still lacking. Olli Juolevi is regarded as the safest and best pick of the bunch, but don't be surprised if the Oilers decide on size, whether it is Jakob Chychrun on defense or Pierre Luc-Dubois up front. An important thing for the Oilers to do is develop whoever they pick,as that's been a problem the last few years.

Vancouver Canucks

Number of picks: 6
Picks in first round: 5th overall

The Canucks just lost their second and fourth round picks, but gained a fifth rounder in the recent Erik Gudbranson deal. Having picked up a blue liner that can step in right away, the Canucks can focus on size and offensive ability up front. Dubois or Matthew Tkachuk would go a long way in answering that question. However, given their only other higher round pick is in the third round, they would need to hit on that, as the last four picks are sure to be developmental projects. Scoring could be addressed again, but so could goaltending depth.

Calgary Flames

Number of picks: 8 or 9
Picks in the first round: 6th overall

Getting a winger that can score is a must for Calgary, as is a goalie that can stop the puck. Since the latter is a major reach this early in the draft, the Flames could pick either Tkachuk or Dubois if either or both fall to them. It would not be surprising if they simply take the best player available at the sixth overall spot. As for goalie, Zach Sawchenko in the middle rounds makes sense.

Arizona Coyotes

Number of picks: 7
Picks in the first round: 7th and 20th overall

The Keith Yandle deal is the gift that keeps on giving for the Coyotes, as they have another first round pick from the Rangers. The Coyotes will most likely look to defenseman with the first of their two first round picks, which means Mikhail Sergachev, Olli Juolevi, and Jakob Chychrun will be looked at by the Coyotes. With the other first round pick, it is possible that they could either continue to build up the blue line or pick up scoring. Looking to goal late in the draft would be wise.

Buffalo Sabres

Number of picks: 10 or 11
Picks in the first round: 8th overall

The Sabres' climb to respectability enters another year, and it is possible they could take the best player available with the first rounder they have. It is also an ideal spot to take a player with a high ceiling but not as proven competition wise such as Tyson Jost. Continuing to address depth everywhere, particularly in goal, will be the Sabres' goal this off-season.

Montreal Canadiens

Number of picks: 7
Picks in the first round: 9th overall

Offense suddenly became a problem when Carey Price went out because he covered so many of the holes that plagued Montreal the previous two seasons. Scoring, any scoring would be welcome, particularly if they can step in within a year or two. Getting their big bodied players to stick with the NHL club wouldn't hurt, either, but they could always draft another one just in case.

Colorado Avalanche

Number of picks: 6
Picks in the first round: 10th overall

Defensemen, defensemen, defensemen. The Avalanche need it badly, as they continue to get torched there, and no amount of offensive talent up front is going to mask that fact. They cannot afford to whiff like they did with Duncan Siemens in 2011, but they also cannot continue to ignore the need. If they decide to go up front again, getting a winger with size would be a place to go.

Trading Places

There's been a fair number of trades today, with Los Angeles trading with Philadelphia and Nashville trading with Columbus. First, Los Angeles gets Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn while Philadelphia gets much needed cap space as well as Jordan Weal and a third round pick.

As for Columbus and Nashville, you may have noticed that I put the Portland Winterhawks logo as the primary picture. Well, it so happens that two Winterhawks alumni will be trading places, as Ryan Johansen (2009-11) goes to Nashville with Seth Jones (2012-13) going to Columbus. The trade is a culmination of the rather tumultuous relationship between Johansen and Blue Jackets' upper management that came to a head when Johansen clashed with coach John Tortorella once Tortorella was named as coach midway through this season. Johansen gets a fresh start with Nashville while Seth Jones will get his best chance to be the number one defenseman in Columbus now that he won't be stuck behind Shea Weber and Roman Josi.

Out of the Infirmary

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

2014-15 record: 42-35-5 (89 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Nick Foligno

Last year, the Columbus Blue Jackets were expected to expand upon their breakout 2013-14 season in which they made the playoffs.  However, a slow start and over 500-man games lost helped stunt the team's growth as they missed the playoffs.  This year, they add a couple of Stanley Cup winners up front and will rub rabbit's feet that they can avoid the trainer's room as much as possible.  Their offense didn't suffer too greatly, as both Ryan Johansen and Nick Foligno led the team in points while being one few players that didn't miss any significant time, with Johansen being one of just two players to play all 82 games (David Savard was the other).  Continued production from those two players and Scott Hartnell, plus bounce back years from Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinsky would keep the team heading in the right direction.  It would also help if any of Alexander Wennberg, Kerby Rychel, or possibly Sonny Milano takes the opportunity to have a breakout year and if either or both Rene Bourque and David Clarkson rediscover their offensive touch.

Defensively, this was where injuries severely tested the team depth, as only Savard and Jack Johnson played more than 70 games.  To that end, the Blue Jackets drafted Zach Werenski to help the pipeline, but it would be to their benefit if 2012 first round pick Ryan Murray can stay healthy, as injuries have prevented him from fulfilling his full potential.  In goal, this was also where injuries took their toll, as Sergei Bobrovsky was never the player he was in the lockout-shortened 2013 season or even the season where the Blue Jackets made the playoffs.  Curtis McElhinney is a fine backup, but 32 games from a career backup is not exactly something that inspires confidence from the fan base.

Prediction: 5th in the Metropolitan Division

Yes, the Blue Jackets improved, but so did the Islanders, Capitals, and Penguins.  Even the Rangers, who took a slight step back in the off-season, remain a top contender.  That's a formidable challenge for the Blue Jackets to overcome, particularly with the injury bug that hit last season still fresh in the team's mind.

2015 NHL Mock Draft: Picks 6-10

Picks 1-5 were made, and those seem to be near certainties, particularly the top three picks.  Now, we begin to play the guessing game with the Draft, beginning with picks 6-10.

6. New Jersey Devils: Mitchell Marner, RW, London Knights

The Devils were the third worst offense in the league, and there is no immediate help in the pipeline.  Though Marner won't answer all the problems of the Devils' offense, he will help out significantly, whether it is now or in a couple of years.

7. Philadelphia Flyers: Kyle Connor, C, Youngstown Phantoms

The Flyers looked old last season, and the center position is the weakest spot right now, though the blue line could always use another body.  Connor is likely a year or two away, since he is University of Michigan bound.  However, he answers the need for a second line center and was the best player in the USHL this season.

8. Columbus Blue Jackets: Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon Wheat Kings

Besides better health, the Blue Jackets could use more defensive depth.  Provorov is a more well-rounded player than Hanifin, and though his offensive upside isn't as high, he can provide a highlight reel play, as he proved in a game against the Calgary Hitmen this season.

9. San Jose Sharks: Mikko Rantanen, RW, TPS

The Sharks aren't getting any younger, and it's about time they start getting younger.  They could also go with Zach Werenski here, since they practically need to get younger everywhere, but I have them going with Rantanen, who is the most complete player available at this spot.

10. Colorado Avalanche: Zach Werenski, D, University of Michigan

The Avs were awful of defense last year, and they don't have a top player on the blue line.  Werenski has all the makings of a future stud defenseman, and he would effectively push both Tyson Barrie and Erik Johnson down to roles where they should be in time.

Blue Jacket Leader

The big news today is which team Mike Babcock will be coaching next season and beyond.  I will get to that once I put together the thoughts I have on that matter.  For now, there was a different vacancy that was filled this week, as the Columbus Blue Jackets ended their search for a new captain that spanned three seasons.

Nick Foligno was named captain after a season in which he was the face of the Columbus Blue Jackets' All-Star showing and was one of the bright spots in the team's recent years.  Acquired in a largely unheralded trade with Ottawa for Marc Methot, Foligno would experience his best years to date, as he and Ryan Johansen would represent the team in this year's All-Star game in Columbus.  He set career highs in points as the Blue Jackets were taking their time to identify an on-ice leader after disastrous runs with Adam Foote and Rick Nash.

The Journey Continues...

This is Tim Erixon, and he was a first round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2009.  However, he refused to sign with the team, thinking he would not be able to make the team with the depth in front of him, and was dealt to the New York Rangers in 2011.  A year later, he would be a part of the deal that would bring Rick Nash to New York, meaning he would be on his third NHL team in four years.  Somehow, his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets would be the longest he would stay with a team (to date), as he would last more than two years in Columbus (mostly in the AHL affiliate Springfield) before being traded to Chicago earlier this season.  Yesterday, the Toronto Maple Leafs became the fifth team he will be on since he was drafted, as they picked him off waivers.

If you're keeping score, that's five teams, 78 games, a goal and 12 assists in the time he's spent in the NHL since his draft year of 2009.  Pending the offseason, he could be on his sixth team, since he is a restricted free agent, and the number of teams he's been on since 2009 could be enough to scare some teams off, yet, there could also be a team that can unlock the potential that Erixon had coming into the 2009 Draft.  The question is whether Erixon will ever figure it out before it's too late.

Captain News

At the start of the free agency period, there were seven teams looking to name new captains. As of today, three teams have made their decisions. Montreal will go with four alternate captains this season, as Toma's Plekanec, Andrei Markov, Max Pacioretty, and PK Subban will serve in that role. The move is presumably to see whether Subban or Pacioretty can handle the added responsibilities while giving Plekanec and Markov the opportunity to help them grow into those roles.

Ottawa named Erik Karlsson the captain on the same day they signed Bobby Ryan to a seven year extension. The move is significant because it means the Senators are locked in with a captain for more than the one year they got from Jason Spezza. Chris Phillips and Chris Neil will help Karlsson out, since they remain alternate captains.

Florida named newcomer Willie Mitchell captain in a move that gives Florida veteran leadership on a team that is one of the youngest in the league.

Columbus, Buffalo, and San Jose remain without a captain as of this time.

Update: the New York Rangers named Ryan McDonagh captain with Dan Girardi, Martin St. Louis, Marc Staal, and Derek Stepan etching as alternate captains.