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

Mind Your Ps and Qs

Do you remember the Simpsons episode in which Kent Brockman vilified a wooden dummy named Gabbo for saying taboo things on air, only to forget that his mic was still on while he said the same taboo words on air? In last night's game between Detroit and Nashville, referee Tim Peel had a Kent Brockman moment. 

The call in question was a tripping by Viktor Arvidsson in which replays confirmed an embellishment by Jon Merrill. As mentioned by Reuters,

"It wasn't much, but I wanted to get a (expletive) penalty against Nashville early," Peel said a few minutes later before the TV broadcast went to commercial.

The 54-year-old Peel, who was scheduled to referee his final game in late April, has worked over 1,300 NHL regular season games and 90 playoff games.

 The NHL did not take too kindly to Peel revealing the secrets, and have sent Peel on his way a month before he was to retire. The statement by the NHL:

National Hockey League Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell announced today that Referee Tim Peel, following his comments during the game last night between the Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators, no longer will be working NHL games now or in the future.

“Nothing is more important than ensuring the integrity of our game,” Campbell said. “Tim Peel’s conduct is in direct contradiction to the adherence to that cornerstone principle that we demand of our officials and that our fans, players, coaches and all those associated with our game expect and deserve. There is no justification for his comments, no matter the context or his intention, and the National Hockey League will take any and all steps necessary to protect the integrity our game.”

 In all sports, there is always going to some level of favoritism by referees, and some even choose to not hide that fact. The thing you shouldn't do, no matter what, is say it while the game is actually going on. This kind of thing isn't going away anytime soon, but if there's anything to learn from this, it is to be aware of both your mic and any cameras on you, or else, you end up like Kent Brockman. 

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.

Spinning their Wheels

DETROIT RED WINGS

2017-18 record: 30-39-13 (73 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Henrik Zetterberg

These are dark times in Detroit, where the glow of their glory days of the 1990's and 2000's is fading fast. While the Wings think they can still compete, the reality is that the pipeline that had given them the likes of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Tomas Holmstrom has been drying up, and while they haven't hit rock bottom, they are still stuck in the purgatory that is mediocrity. That figures to be the case once again this season.

If you're looking for a big reason for the Red Wings' decline, begin with the offense, which was 28th in the league. Dylan Larkin rebounded to post a nice 63 point season, and Anthony Mantha certainly has 30-goal potential, but beyond them, there's not much hope. It becomes even more pronounced because Zetterberg is likely to miss the entire season. They have to hope Filip Zadina can make the team and produce right away. Getting Thomas Vanek for a year should also bump the number slightly. The Red Wings' defense was nothing special, as they were slightly below the league average. Jimmy Howard wasn't bad when healthy, but that was a problem, and given that they traded Petr Mrazek in the middle of last season, they needed someone reliable. Jonathan Bernier should provide that. In front of them, Mike Green returns, which is a big coup, as he was their best defenseman last season. Along with Trevor Daley, they are actually the team's best defenders, which speaks poorly of the team's ability to identify talent on the back end lately.

Prediction: 5th in the Atlantic Division

The Eastern Conference is relatively weak, which means a mediocre team like Detroit can somehow sneak into the playoffs. The Zetterberg injury changes things, though, as he was unquestionably the leader on the team. The Red Wings won't outscore many teams, and their defense just isn't good enough to compensate, which means it will be another long year in the Motor City.

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.

Options for the Predators at the deadline

Currently at the top of the Western Conference heap, the Nashville Predators find themselves in this position for the first time since the 2014-15 season, where they would ultimately fall off a little and succumb to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round that season. In that season, the Preds made trades for both Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli to add secondary pieces for a playoff run. This year, the Preds are in the same spot and are pondering a move or two to build for a deep run. So, what are the options for the Preds?

• They are already deep down the middle, and now they will soon get Mike Fisher out of retirement. That addition means either Calle Jarnkrok or Colton Sissons will be moved to the wing.
• That move brings about the major question that the Predators are trying to solve. Option one is Rick Nash. His contract expires after the season, and he could come at a price. The Rangers may be asking for draft picks and/or a defensive prospect. Michael Grabner is also an option from the Rangers, and he may come cheaper, which may be appetizing for the Preds.
• Evander Kane comes with as many questions as he does answers. Off-ice issues are his biggest problems, but he also comes with 30-goal potential that he has fulfilled a couple of seasons. A big plus is that the Predators have the leadership in place that could keep Kane on the straight and narrow for the season.
• The Detroit Red Wings may look to move Gustav Nyquist or Tomas Tatar. The price may be higher, since the Wings may look to poach a prospect like Dante Fabbro as a means to give up either winger.
• The Montreal Canadiens are considering trading Max Pacioretty. His contract could be an issue, as would the asking price. Given their depth on the blue line, an NHL-ready player could be in play in addition to picks and possibly a prospect.
• Sign Eeli Tolvanen after his KHL season ends. He's already showing his scoring chops in both the KHL and the Olympic stage. He does have an option for a second year in the KHL, but the Preds may look to sign him once he has the ability to become available.

Nashville has many ways to go, and much of it depends on what they feel. Their faith in signing Tolvanen in time for the playoffs may be the biggest factor in everything they do as far as a trade. The cap doesn't figure to be a major issue, and with only Scott Hartnell and Alexei Emelin currently as the only UFAs after the season, their window should be open.

Clipped Wings

DETROIT RED WINGS

2016-17 record: 33-36-13 (79 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Henrik Zetterberg

As the final seconds ticked down before the reality of missing the playoffs hit, it was icing on the cake for a Detroit Red Wings team that has only just begun to feel the pain of rebuilding. Almost everything that could have gone wrong did, and though they are entering a new arena in downtown Detroit, it's going to be a while before they can be playoff contenders again.

Up front, many of the young players that were expected to take the next step forward didn't, and the result was a team near the bottom in scoring. Henrik Zetterberg put up good numbers, but he's also on the wrong side of 35, and apart from Tomas Tatar and Anthony Mantha, there wasn't much in the way of improvement. Dylan Larkin took the biggest tumble, as he was able to get only 32 points in 80 games, and certainly, the stubborn coaching of Jeff Blashill wasn't helpful, as he waited a little too long before letting Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou loose. The veterans other than Zetterberg were also complicit in the team's struggles, as they too, took downward turns in numbers. Defensively has long been a sore spot since Nicklas Lidstrom retired in 2012, and it doesn't figure to be better anytime soon. Mike Green is a fine option for offense from the blue line, but the unit as a whole isn't going to put fear in anyone. Trevor Daley was added to at least make the group look respectable, but this is a unit in trouble. In goal, Petr Mrazek was supposed to be the starter, but he struggled with the role, and generally outplayed by Jimmy Howard when he was healthy. Mrazek has a lot to prove, especially since he was left exposed in the expansion draft, while Howard just simply needs to repeat last season while staying healthy.

Prediction: 7th in the Atlantic Division

This is just going to be plain bad for the Red Wings, as there isn't much to inspire confidence that they will even be competitive. With ownership changing hands after Mike Ilitch's death, as his son Chris runs the team now, this could be the last season for General Manager Ken Holland and Blashill if they don't show signs of growth.

NHL Mock Draft: Picks 9-15

Continuing on with the NHL Mock Draft, and the rest of the lottery teams:

9. Detroit Red Wings- Eeli Tolvanen, LW, Sioux City (USHL)

Detroit was awful offensively, and short of guys like Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist finding their offensive games again, they need a game-breaker badly. Tolvanen has the potential to be just that.

10. Florida Panthers- Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga (OHL)

Florida has plenty of young talent in the pipeline, but it doesn't hurt to have another player ready, especially if Jaromir Jagr eventually hangs it up. Tippett is the biggest boom or bust pick of the potential first round players, but the upside is great here.

11. Los Angeles Kings- Martin Necas, RW, Brno (Czech Republic)

The Kings have been left behind when it comes to the changing game, which is speed. Necas provides their best chance at catching up, but he also brings a reliable two-way game up front, so it isn't just one dimension.

12. Carolina Hurricanes- Nick Suzuki, C, Owen Sound (OHL)

The Hurricanes are lacking down the middle, and while Suzuki isn't a gamebreaker down the middle, he is reliable and has enough offensive talent to one day be a number one center.

13. Winnipeg Jets- Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City (WHL)

The Jets don't have that intimidating presence up front, and while it is a folly to suggest that Rasmussen will be a great power forward, there is a lot to like, with his offense being no worse than third-line. At best, he would open up opportunities for the likes of Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele.

14. Tampa Bay Lightning- Maxime Comtois, LW, Victoriaville (QMJHL)

While it is possible that the Lightning could lose some talent up front (Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat), they do have pretty good talent in the pipeline. Comtois would add a two-way element that has largely been missing from the forward unit, with potential for above average offensive output.

15. New York Islanders- Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City (WHL)

Because it is unknown whether the Islanders will ever put their young talent on display, one can never know how the defensemen will pan out. In the event that most don't, it may be wise to pick one, and Valimaki is more developed offensively than defensively, but the puck mover type is what they sorely need the most.

I Watched (and Listened to) This Game: Happy 100th

Photo credit: Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP

With the calendar year turning to 2017, that means the NHL, as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs turn 100, both having been established in 1917. So, what does one do to celebrate this occasion? Hand the Leafs their very own outdoor game and against an Original 6 rival in the Detroit Red Wings. Yes, I watched, and as you will read on, later listened to, this game known as the Centennial Classic.

• 30 minute delay as the teams wait out a sun glare issue.
• Ceremonies before the game push the actual start time back to around 2:50 PM CST. The first 28 of the top 100 players were announced, with that group being represented by their family members. Five more were announced, and they made their way out on their own.
• Because of the channel flipping, I only caught the end of "O Canada," and it sounded a little rushed.
• Nothing really doing in the first period, as both teams were rather tentative, although Nazem Kadri drove to the net on one play and drew a penalty on Brendan Smith.
• No score after one. Also, no comment on intermission entertainment, having learned from the debacles of the Winter Classics past.
• Switching over to radio, and the I Listened to This Game portion, 
• Detroit actually had the better chances late in the first period, and they continued their momentum, drawing a penalty on William Nylander for holding the stick.
• They don't score on the power play, but Anthony Mantha puts the team on the board. If Detroit were wise, they'd give him top six forward minutes, as he's a goal scorer and Detroit needs scoring badly.
• Connor Brown goes off for hooking, and the Leafs are down a man again. Again, the Wings don't capitalize.
• Nick Jensen (no, not the Vancouver Canucks draft bust) gets too grabby, and is sent off. However, the Leafs' power play is abruptly halted, as they are caught with too many men on the ice, and Mitch Marner takes one for the team.
• In between the calls, Jake Gardiner nearly ties it up, but gets gonged by the post. Detroit heads into the final frame with a 1-0 lead.
• The beginning of the third period sees Uncle Leo Komarov head to the net and tip in a shot to tie things up and that also wakes up a Toronto crowd that was last seen awake during the baseball playoffs.
• We get a fight, as Steve Ott and Matt Martin have a disagreement and drop gloves. Decision goes to Martin.
• Marner puts the Leafs ahead after carrying the puck from the corner to roof one past Jared Coreau. Those Patrick Kane comparisons aren't off.
• It's raining goals, as Connor Brown doubles the Leafs lead, and a short time later, Auston Matthews makes it 4-1.
• Detroit answers back, as Jonathan Ericksson cuts the lead down to two. A JVR mistake leads to a Dylan Larkin goal that puts the Wings back within one.
• A furious finish sees Mantha tie up the game with 1.1 second left, though there was a wait, as the play was under review.
• Free hockey, as overtime commences and both teams trade chances, but fail to score.
• Before the shootout could happen, Matthews comes through to score the game winner for Toronto. He was on the wrong end of overtime matches in both his debut and the first game against fellow 2016 draftee Patrik Laine, but this may very well be to him what the Winter Classic in Buffalo was to Sidney Crosby.

The game got off to an excruciatingly slow start, but from the third period on, it was one of the more exciting tilts of the season. The Leafs need to figure out how not to blow three goal leads in the third period, and that will come with experience, but there is much to like here with the roster as constituted. As for the Wings, they have a lot of work to do, as the only guy who stood out was Mantha, who needs to be a top six forward. Remember, he was drafted to be a goal scorer, and the Wings would be wise to put him in a spot that best suits his skill set. That means letting him learn on the job in the NHL, as he's been more than ready this season.

Home Improvement

This is PNC Arena, home to the Carolina Hurricanes. Last season, the arena was also home to the worst drawing NHL crowd, as they drew just over 12,000 people on average, a full thousand less than the next worst team in the Arizona Coyotes. On Monday, it was also home to a postponed game that wiped out the Hurricanes' match-up with the Detroit Red Wings. The reason? According to NHL.com, the following was discovered:

The Hurricanes discovered a broken seal on the main compressor that runs the ice chiller at 6 p.m. ET, resulting in the ice temperature rising from the game-time standard of 21 degrees to about 30 degrees, president Don Waddell said. They initially postponed warmups by 30 minutes to fix the seal, which was leaking Freon, but the temperature did not drop quickly enough to allow the game to be played.

In case you're asking the last home game prior to Monday, it was two days prior, when the Hurricanes beat the Sabres in a shootout. As for the problems of the ice, this is something that the people who maintain the arena should have been on top of, seeing as the Hurricanes are the only pro sports tenant in the arena.  On any level of hockey, this is poor in terms of teams not doing due diligence to ensure that both teams are playing on a surface that is safe enough, but given that this was an NHL team who failed here, it not only shows a lack of preparation on their part, as well as the arena maintenance crew, but also puts those who traveled into Raleigh from other places out of money and possibly a chance to root on their team.

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.

Clipped Wings

DETROIT RED WINGS

2015-16 record: 41-30-11 (93 points)
Lost to Tampa Bay in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Henrik Zetterberg

It took the final game of the regular season, but the Detroit made the playoffs for the 25th straight year last season. However, they were dispatched fairly quickly by Tampa Bay in the opening round. It took some luck to extend the playoff streak last season, but that luck may be gone if they want to make it 26 seasons in a row.

Offensively, if it weren't for Dylan Larkin pacing the team with 23 goals, the Wings would have missed the playoffs. Now, they have to replace Pavel Datsyuk, who intends to finish his career in Russia, and that won't be an easy task. Henrik Zetterberg is still there, but beyond that, the rest of the team will need to rebound from a collective drop in goals scored. Bringing in Frans Nielsen will at least replace some of the production Datsyuk took with him, but Thomas Vanek is a reclamation project and Steve Ott adds almost nothing at this point in his career, so it will be up to the likes of Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, and the rest of the young players to pick up the pace. Defensively, they have never been able to replace Nicklas Lidstrom since he walked into the sunset in 2012, and the unit as a whole is largely a collection of players that are solid, but not great. They will have to be this way again for Detroit to be be competitive, especially since the leader from that group was Mike Green with 35 points, a respectable number, but more was to be expected. In goal, Petr Mrazek was inconsistent, losing the starting job for a few weeks to an even worse Jimmy Howard. A more consistent Mrazek would help, especially since despite the lack of consistency, he did post solid numbers in goal. Neither special teams unit was particularly special, as both finished in the middle of the pack, but the power play took it worse, as it was closer to the top the season before.

Prediction: 6th in the Atlantic Division

The Red Wings benefited from Dylan Larkin's presence last season, as he was enough to get the Wings to another playoff appearance. This time around, the rest of the team will have to rebound after a collective decline in numbers. There's not much to get excited about for the Wings, but if nothing else, they will have motivation to close out the time at Joe Louis Arena with another playoff appearance.

Free Agency Clean-Up from Day 1

With the biggest name in free agency signed days before the actual period began, it was expected that some of the biggest names remaining would be going on the first day. Though there are still some useful players still available at this point, many of them either found new homes or re-signed with their team from last season. To that end, let's look at who signed and what it means for the team that they signed with:

Loui Eriksson: Signed with Vancouver for six years, and an average of $6 million per year. He provides offense, usually to the tune of 25-30 goals per year, and though the years may be a little high, given that the Sedins will likely retire by the time Eriksson finishes year four of the contract, they could always do worse. I'm okay with this signing, but it will be up to Willie Desjardins to keep a level of consistency that maximizes the talent available (that means not putting Derek Dorsett with the Sedins ever again).

Milan Lucic: Edmonton claims him to the tune of seven years, $6 million per year. Obviously, his familiarity with General Manager Peter Chiarelli was an influence, but it will be the idea that he is likely getting slotted with Connor McDavid and Jordan Eberle that should have Oilers fans excited. It also adds another big, physical presence to a team that is finally figuring out what they really want to do.

Kyle Okposo: Same contract configuration as Lucic, but with the Buffalo Sabres. On the minus side, he may experience a drop off in numbers now that he won't be alongside John Tavares. However, it's not so bad when you realize that Okposo could be on a line with Jack Eichel at best, and Ryan O'Reilly, at worst. Given the uncertainty of Evander Kane's future after another run-in with the law, Okposo is a welcome addition to a maturing Sabres team (minus Kane).

David Backes: Five years, $6 million per year to play in Boston. This wasn't such a great signing, but not because Backes can't play. However, it's a far different thing to play on a team with a superstar in Vladimir Tarasenko than it is to play with unproven talents such as David Pastrnak. Boston needed an NHL body on the blue line worse, and though they may find that player yet, Backes doesn't fill a need in any way, shape, or form for them.

Eric Staal: Three years, $3.5 million is what Minnesota is giving him to center the second line. The days of putting up boffo offensive numbers is long past, but he is still useful. The contract, as a whole, is friendly to both him and the team, so at worst, it beats the deal they (regrettably) handed Thomas Vanek two years ago.

Thomas Vanek: Speaking of Vanek, the recently bought out player didn't have to wait long to find a new home, as Detroit signed him to a $2.6 million deal for one year. 18 goals last season wasn't cutting it for Minnesota, and it's questionable if it cuts it for Detroit. However, one year is not a bad deal, and the Red Wings could still get something out of him.

James Reimer and Jason Demers: Reimer is heading to Florida for five years, and $3.4 million to presumably be the full-time starter when Roberto Luongo finally hangs it up. In the meantime, he will serve as a backup with the possibility of splitting time to start. Also, in recent news, the  Panthers also signed Jason Demers to a five year, $4.5 million deal. He won't put up the numbers recently departed Brian Campbell has, but he's younger and should make up a fair amount of that offensive production. Plus, he's likely first in line to get paired with Aaron Ekblad, who signed an eight-year extension recently.

There's more, but there is one that I will address that caught my eye, and that is...

Alexander Radulov: One year, $5.75 million to play in Montreal. If you remember his first NHL stints with Nashville, it was pretty headache inducing, right down to Radulov being benched for a game due to missing curfew in the 2012 playoffs. From 2012 until now, he had played in the KHL, falling short with CSKA in the last two seasons. Montreal needs offense, but this may be too much of a gamble, as Radulov was never a proven player in the NHL, and few players who spent the majority of their careers in the KHL ever see that success translate to the NHL level.

NHL Mock Draft: Picks 11-20

Today, picks 11-20 will be given the mock treatment, as I attempt to get something right. If you're keeping score, since I started doing mock drafts, I've gotten six right (getting it right means either getting player with team or draft slot correct) in 2013, none in 2014, and three in 2015. I can safely say at least one pick will be correct. That out of the way, here are picks 11-20.

11. New Jersey Devils-Clayton Keller, C, USA NTDP

The Devils still need scoring badly, and with only Kyle Palmieri and Mike Cammalleri likely returning, the urgent need for scorers won't be ending anytime soon. Getting Keller, who nearly eclipsed the NTDP scoring record set by Auston Matthews, would be a step in the right direction and be a nice compliment to last year's first round pick Pavel Zacha.

12. Ottawa Senators-Logan Brown, C, Windsor (OHL)

Michael McLeod would also be considered here, as would a defender, but Brown's measurables and bloodlines are too good to pass up here. He's more of a playmaker than scorer at this point, but it's hard to ignore the size, as well as the high potential of setting up players like Bobby Ryan and Mike Hoffman.

13. Carolina Hurricanes-Michael McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)

The Hurricanes are woefully short on offense, and given their needs up the middle, McLeod would fill both spots. Like Brown, he has high potential, but a fair amount is already showing, and he has the speed to make highlight reel plays when needed.

14. Boston Bruins-Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston University

Boston has many picks to play with, and while the needs are considerable everywhere except on the left side and in goal, the Bruins continue to replenish their defensive depth and do so in their own backyard. McAvoy is more of an offensive defender at this point in the development, but his size suggests that he can be a fair defender in his own end who would be hard to move off the puck.

15. Minnesota Wild-Kieffer Bellows, LW, USA NTDP

The Wild need a high-end scorer in their pipeline, and they look to a familiar bloodline, as they take ex-North Star Brian Bellows' kid Kieffer. Where he continues to develop remains a bit of a question, as he is committed to Boston College, but could go the major junior route and Portland of the WHL. As for what he can do, he scores...a lot. That's his one dimension, but on a team with many playmakers and few goal scorers, it makes sense.

16. Detroit Red Wings-Jake Bean, D, Calgary (WHL)

The Red Wings need defenders, preferably one that can be a top pairing player. However, there are far more solid second pairing players at this point in the draft, and given the Red Wings' problem of filling that void Nicklas Lidstrom left when he retired in 2012, it seems that anyone will do. Bean is the best offensive defender remaining, and while his work in his own end is a work in progress, the Red Wings will be happy to take a near point a game season like what Bean had this season in Calgary.

17. Nashville Predators-Dante Fabbro, D, Penticton (BCHL)

The Preds may wish to start thinking about the future on the blue line, as Shea Weber can't play forever, and the pipeline defensively is starting to run a little thin. Fabbro is the safest pick available on the blue line, and the Preds can afford to let him develop at Boston University.

18. Philadelphia Flyers-Max Jones, LW, London (OHL)

The Flyers need scoring, and while Jones didn't put up eye-popping numbers in London, there's no mistaking that he is a definitive power forward. Discipline may need to be reinforced a little, as he sat out much of the OHL playoffs due to a 12-game suspension, but he is unafraid to hit people and score goals however he has to do it, things that could make him a fan favorite in a city known for toughness.

19. New York Islanders-Riley Tufte, LW, Fargo (USHL)

The Isles can afford to wait on this year's group to develop, and a perfect example would be Tufte, a Minnesota-Duluth commit who can use the time to fill out a little. The upside is a power forward in the vein of Nick Bjugstad that can score and has some bite.

20. Arizona Coyotes (from the New York Rangers)-Logan Stanley, D, Windsor (OHL)

Whereas I had the Coyotes taking a more offensive defender in Mikhail Sergachev with their first pick, this time around, they go with a shutdown defender in Logan Stanley, also playing in Windsor. A big guy at 6-6, 216 lbs., he would be given time to develop, as he needs improvement on skating, but getting a player that can work in Dave Tippett's system would be a plus, something that Stanley can do.

Restocking Needs, Part 2

Part two of what each team needs to do to ensure future success continues with a look at teams 11-20 on the original draft list.

New Jersey Devils

Number of picks: 9
Picks in the first round: 11th overall

Offense has been a major problem for the Devils, as they were at or near the bottom the last two seasons. Getting help for Kyle Palmieri, under the assumption that he will be resigned, since he's an RFA, would be priority one. Given that the Devils have plenty of chances to further restock a pipeline in desperate need, it is possible that they can package a couple of picks to get another first round pick. Of course, they also need all the help they can get in front of Cory Schneider.

Ottawa Senators

Number of picks: 6
Picks in the first round: 12th overall

Help down the middle and on the blue line should be addressed. The former would be ideal in that there's no stud there that can take top line minutes while the latter would be great in stopping goals, particularly since Jared Cowen didn't pan out and now, they have to replace Chris Phillips' dependability as a shutdown guy. Perhaps Dion Phaneuf can replace some of that, but another prospect like Dante Fabbro would help.

Carolina Hurricanes

Number of picks: 10
Picks in the first round: 13th and 21st overall

In recent drafts, the Hurricanes were able to makeover their blue line, going from terrible to promising in just two years. Now, it's the forwards' turn, as they need offense. The good news is that they have plenty of opportunities to do so in the draft, and possibly move up in the first round if they choose. If there is a team that can change the dynamic of this year's draft, Carolina is that team.

Boston Bruins

Number of picks: 7
Picks in the first round: 14th and 29th/30th overall

In the quest to shed some salary, the Bruins suddenly got old real quick, particularly on the blue line. Given the dearth of blue line prospects that can step in right away, getting another body there would be a good idea. Also, filling that perpetual hole on the right side of the forward line would be good.

Minnesota Wild

Number of picks: 4
Picks in the first round: 15th overall

Trading picks for short term rentals that don't pan out have left the Wild with only four chances at replenishing a farm system badly in need of it. It doesn't help that those picks are in the first, fourth, and seventh rounds, meaning the Wild won't get many chances to get the best available. Shedding salary would be a nice start, though the Wild would have to make a hard deal for decent picks. As for needs, just about anything to improve depth would be great.

Detroit Red Wings

Number of picks: 6
Picks in the first round: 16th overall

The most gaping hole the Wings need to fill is likely going to be one left by Pavel Datsyuk's impending retirement. That means a center with high potential. However, the Wings would be wise to try and improve a blue line that has been in flux since Nicklas Lidstrom retired in 2012. When the best defender since then has been Kyle Quincey, that speaks to the problems of finding even a capable third defender.

Nashville Predators

Number of picks: 7
Picks in the first round: 17th overall

The Jimmy Vesey saga will leave the Predators without a high-quality scorer in the system. However, given that Kevin Fiala is still around and there is a chance that Collin Wilson may have finally turned a corner in the playoffs, the Preds may very well choose to address a potential long-term problem on the blue line first. Getting one that is also physical would be twice as nice, since they lack overall grit.

Philadelphia Flyers

Number of picks: 10
Picks in the first round: 18th overall

With the blue line and blue paint prospect pool filled, the Flyers can put the majority of their focus on the forwards. Scoring forwards are in short supply, and the Flyers could always use another scorer. On the back end, it's simply a matter of roster space that keeps the blue line group as deep as it is, though that figures to change by a player or two next season.

New York Islanders

Number of picks: 5
Picks in the first round: 19th overall

The Isles don't lack for toughness or for primary scoring. However, secondary scoring became a problem, and picking up another player or two that can push for a spot would be helpful. Another blue line prospect wouldn't hurt, either, as one of their top prospects there figures to be a regular next season. The Isles only pick once in the first three rounds, but don't bet against them making a trade to get another first round pick, as they've done so the last two drafts.

New York Rangers

Number of picks: 5
First pick: 81st overall

The Rangers continue to trade top picks, having been without one since 2012, when they took Brady Skjei. Their annual push for the Stanley Cup has also robbed them of considerable prospects that could have helped them now such as Anthony Duclair. Getting their prospect pool back to snuff would be great, but given their annual trades, top players that would normally be available will be hard to come by while the prospects that are there would have to look over their shoulder for any possibility of being moved to a different address.

NHL Playoffs Preview: Eastern Conference

The NHL Playoffs begin this Wednesday and despite there being no Canadian teams in the hunt this time around (much to my chagrin), there will be no shortage of excitement, as the storylines do run here. For this segment, it will be the Eastern Conference preview.

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (4) Philadelphia Flyers

The Capitals basically wrapped everything up by the time the calendar turned to April, so anything that could be looked into this month appears to be irrelevant. Now, the real fun begins, as we will see if the Caps can finally get over the hump or if it was all smoke and mirrors. Braden Holtby's season for the ages suggests that he's turned a corner in becoming an elite goalie while Alex Ovechkin once again led the way, securing the Rocket Richard Trophy and being the only player with 50 goals this season. This is the best shot for the Caps to win it all, but will it come together finally?

The Flyers needed the last weekend to make the playoffs, and did so with fairly convincing wins. Few expected them to make it here prior to the season, but the team is firmly buying into rookie head coach Dave Hakstol's system and with contributions from Claude Giroux and rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, the Flyers could cause some trouble.

Prediction: Capitals in 6

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

No Evgeni Malkin, no Marc-Andre Fleury, and a dysfunctional team for half the season, yet the Penguins comfortably made it into the playoffs. A mid-season coaching change lit a fire under Sidney Crosby, who put the team on his back for the first time in a while Malkin is out with injury. Fleury's situation also bears watching, as he could miss a game or two to open the series, but is more likely to start. However, it doesn't look great when Jeff Zatkoff is still on the roster and Tristan Jarry was recently called up to take Matt Murray's spot due to injury.

The Rangers had a little drama of their own, as they couldn't get out of their own way at times, and if not for Henrik Lundqvist, they would have had a harder time making the playoffs. As the likes of Mats Zuccarello and Rick Nash go, so will go the Rangers' offense. The wild-card here is Eric Staal, who hasn't been in a playoff game since 2009 with Carolina. Defensively, there could be trouble if Ryan McDonagh is out for an extended period of time.

Prediction: Penguins in 7

(1) Florida Panthers vs. (4) New York Islanders

The Panthers rode the goaltending of Roberto Luongo and contributions from the likes of Aleksander Barkov, Jaromir Jagr, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Aaron Ekblad to the Atlantic Division title. The next step is winning a playoff series for the first time since 1996. With Jagr, Willie Mitchell, and Dave Bolland on board, this is where the veterans will have the most impact, as they can impart the wisdom of how to handle a playoff series to the young players. If there is a player that needs to step up, it's Nick Bjugstad, as he had a disappointing season.

The Islanders weren't quite as good this season, as John Tavares didn't put up the elite numbers one would be used to, but he contributed in other ways that benefited the team, and that worked for players such as Kyle Okposo and Brock Nelson. Defensively, this wasn't the best of units, but part of that can be traced to a revolving door in goal, as Jaroslav Halak, Thomas Greiss, and J-F Berube saw a fair amount of time there due to injuries. If there is a way the Islanders can pull off the upset, it will have to be up to the likes of Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin to throw off the Panthers with their physical play.

Prediction: Panthers in 6

(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings

The Lightning come limping in thanks to the absence of both Steven Stamkos and Anton Stralman. However, the Lightning seem to be getting goals from everyone, but especially Nikita Kucherov, who broke the 30-goal barrier for the first time in his career. Victor Hedman is still on the blue line, and he will look to build on last year's performance while Ben Bishop holds down the fort in goal. One interesting thing to watch for is what, if anything, can Jonathan Drouin contribute.

Detroit barely managed to make it 25 seasons in the playoffs, thanks to a tie-breaker over Boston. However, there isn't a heck of a lot to like about the team right now. Despite having Dylan Larkin, the Red Wings couldn't do much damage offensively, and Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk aren't getting any younger, with Datsyuk possibly on his way out after the season. The Wings still haven't come close to filling the void left by Nicklas Lidstrom after the 2011-12 season, and this time, the goaltending is having a hard time bailing it out, as consistency was hard to come by for either Petr Mrazek or Jimmy Howard.

Prediction: Lightning in 4

Still Soaring

DETROIT RED WINGS

2014-15 record: 43-25-14 (100 points)
Lost to Tampa Bay in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Henrik Zetterberg

The Detroit Red Wings cracked the 100 point barrier last year and were one of the better balanced teams in the league.  However, cracks started to show, as a goalie that started the year in the minors had to rescue them from falling out of playoff contention and their leading scorer had trouble finding the back of the net late in the season.  Not even a well-played series against eventual Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay could take some of the hurt out of the Red Wings.  The departure of coach Mike Babcock for greener pastures in the off-season didn't help matters, nor did Pavel Datsyuk needing surgery that will likely force him to miss the start of the season.  However, there is good news, as the man that will be replacing Babcock as head coach is Jeff Blashill, who despite having no NHL coaching or playing experience, is a familiar face to many of the Red Wings players thanks to a year as an assistant coach with the team and more recently, three years as head coach in Grand Rapids, where Detroit has their AHL affiliate.

Unlike recent years, the Red Wings didn't lose anyone of significance, as only Stephen Weiss was bought out.  In addition, the Red Wings finally got the right-handed shot from the blue line they wanted, as Mike Green will be coming over from Washington.  Brad Richards was also signed in the hope that he has something left as a second line center.  Still, it will be all about youth up front, particularly since Datsyuk may miss the start of the season and Zetterberg may be experiencing the early stages of a decline.  That means guys like Justin Abdelkader, Gustav Nyquist, and Tomas Tatar will be expected to lead they way offensively and beyond while Zetterberg will continue to provide leadership by example.  Defensively, even with Green, depth remains a concern, as beyond the top three, the other defensemen are either unproven still or average, at best.  In goal, there will now be a fight for the starting job, as Jimmy Howard struggled mightily after an injury not only derailed what was a stellar season, but also his momentum.  Those struggles, plus Jonas Gustavsson's injuries, opened the door for Petr Mrazek to take the job late in the season and for the playoffs, where he showed that he belonged.  With the competition, it will be the best man winning the starting role.

Prediction: 2nd in the Atlantic Division

Despite ongoing issues on the back end, the problems there aren't nearly as glaring as one may think. Up front, it is scoring by committee, as five players (Datsyuk, Tatar, Nyquist, Abdelkader, and the since departed trade deadline pick-up Erik Cole) scored 20 goals or more.  That balance, plus familiarity with the new coach, should help the Red Wings make the playoffs once again.

NHL Mock Draft: Picks 16-20

Entering the second half of the first round, just about anything can happen, and I will most likely be revising after the full first round picks are made in this mock.

16. Edmonton Oilers (from Pittsburgh): Thomas Chabot, D, Saint John Sea Dogs

Conventional wisdom says that the Oilers must take a defenseman.  Oilers fans would probably riot if they didn't at this point in the draft.  Chabot, like his Saint John teammate Jakub Zboril, is a solid two-way player at this point in the development.  The difference is that Chabot has a higher ceiling for offense from the blue line.

17. Winnipeg Jets: Mathew Barzal, C, Winnipeg Jets

There's no denying that Barzal is talented enough to be taken in the top half of the draft.  However, it is possible that he falls in the draft.  The Jets don't have major needs to be taken care of and they have another pick in the first round to play with, so taking the best available player at this point, it's a no-brainer here.

18. Ottawa Senators: Travis Konecny, C, Ottawa 67's

Center depth is something of a concern in Ottawa, and with a player that plays in the same city like Konecny, the temptation is certainly there.  Injuries are a concern, but he's a willing player that will not give up on a play and is a likely heart and soul player that any team would love to have.

19. Detroit Red Wings: Brandon Carlo, D, Tri-City Americans

The Red Wings were sorely lacking in defensive depth before the season, which explains why they traded for Marek Zidlicky at the trade deadline.  Carlo is a player that the Wings can take time with, but the expected finished product is a tall player that opposing offenses would have trouble getting around that is also a right-handed shot.

20. Minnesota Wild: Evgeny Svechnikov, RW, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

A big player that can score, Svechnikov can provide the Wild with much needed offense that for whatever reason, is lacking.