Team reviews

The salamehockey.com site administrators, over the course the next few weeks, will be taking a look at each team’s roster and analyzing the likely scenarios for keepers and re-signs for the upcoming 2010-2011 season. Quebec Habitants Forwards Keepers Henrik Sedin, Vancouver – Henrik has really come out of his shell this year, actually leading the NHL in points for a decent span and solidifying himself among the elite in the league. There’s no reason to expect anything less than 90-100 pts from this big Swede, especially if he continues to play at this pace, and as is evident this year, flirting with 110 could be possible as well. Daniel Sedin, Vancouver – Quite similar to his brother and only really hurt in production by his extended injury time this year, Daniel possesses nearly matching skill to Henrik and also holds 90+ pt potential for several seasons to come, playing the top role in Vancouver and finally delivering on the Sedin twins’ drafting position more than 10 years ago. Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa – Vinny has always been extremely talented and has the potential to hit 90 pts again in his career if he can find the right linemate to make it click. In the meantime, he seems to have taken second fiddle in production to Stamkos and St. Louis, who have breached the 90+ barrier, while Lecavalier remains a good bet for 75-90 pts per season. Daniel Briere, Philadelphia – Briere has never quite duplicated his career 95 point year he had in 2007 with the Sabres, but was paid handsomely to do the same in Philadelphia amidst a much deeper forward corps. Since then, Danny has been nearly a point per game but has struggled with a variety of injuries that have kept him at bay over the course of the 2008-2010 period. One can expect 70-80 pts from this talented forward going forward, especially if he’s dealt to another team with less offensive depth. Kyle Okposo, Long Island – Baby Iggy has begun to grow into his own and develop on his talent as a great power forward complement to the youth movement in Long Island. With 50 pts in sight this year, there’s no stopping Okposo from reaching the 60-70 pts range in due time, with excellent potential for more if he develops alongside John Tavares. Scott Hartnell, Philadelphia – Scott is in his prime and has always been a physical scoring presence for the Flyers. Despite the slump that seems to have mired the whole team this season on the production side, Scott has the talent to keep hitting 60+ pts with a high likelihood of fitting into the 50-60 pts window on any given year, if he maintains top six status on Philadelphia’s developing offense. Scott Gomez, Montreal – Gomez saw his best years in New Jersey alongside Brian Gionta, but has yet to emulate this performance in Montreal this year. Despite this, he has the playmaking ability to be a big line producer and will likely be an integral part of the Montreal top six for years to come. Resigns David Krejci, Boston – Krejci is a bit of an enigma, having scored above 70 points in early in his career and regressing significantly this year despite being thrust into a bigger role in the absence of Marc Savard to injury. He has the talent to achieve 60 point seasons for many years to come, with a ceiling in the low 80s, and stands to benefit from a Boston turnaround in the coming years, given this years fall from dominance. Evander Kane, Atlanta – Evander Kane was not expected to begin the season with the Thrashers in 2009, but impressed the Atlanta brass so much that he remained with the big club and has contributed in his rookie season with respectful numbers. He has the skill to be a top line forward and will likely play a big part of the Atlanta top six next year. Jamie Benn, Dallas – Benn has made the jump to the big team and has not disappointed in his rookie season. He has the tools and work ethic to contribute on either of Dallas’ top 2 lines for several years to come as an effective goal scorer. Ryan O’Reilly, Colorado – A significant two-way presence on a burgeoning Coloardo offense that can contribute much in the way Sharp has done for Chicago in recent years, O’Reilly has the tools to be a top six forward and is responsible in his own end as well. Defense Keepers Brian Campbell, Chicago – Before Duncan Keith took the reigns, Campbell was heralded as Chicago’s main man on the blue line and still remains a force to be reckoned with in all situations, as he as the capability to continue playing at a 50-60 point pace, as he demonstrated in his career seasons in Buffalo as well as in previous years with Chicago. Mark Streit, Long Island – Mark is one the best known Swiss hockey players and has great offensive upside, as demonstrated in recent seasons with Montreal and Long Island. Has the tools to be a 50-60 point defender, on a steadily improving Long Island team with little offensive competition on the blueline or the powerplay point. Pavel Kubina, Atlanta – Kubina carries the veteran presence on the Atlanta blueline very well and is easily capable of 40+ pt seasons for several years, especially if the youth movement on the offensive side continues to develop accordingly. Resigns Francois Beauchemin, Toronto – Has excellent all-around skill to be a big part of the Toronto top 4. Marc-Andre Bergeron, Montreal – Excellent powerplay marksman and great offensive contribution to the Montreal offense, despite defensive downside, when healthy. Goaltenders Keepers Brian Elliott, Ottawa – With the continuing saga of Pascal Leclaire’s injury woes in Ottawa, Elliott has taken over as a dominant netminder for a resurgent Senators team that has restructured nicely after the departure of key goalscorer Dany Heatley. Elliott has the tools […]

The salamehockey.com site administrators, over the course the next few weeks, will be taking a look at each team’s roster and analyzing the likely scenarios for keepers and re-signs for the upcoming 2010-2011 season. Rockers Forwards Keepers Jarome Iginla, Calgary – Iggy cannot be forgotten as a franchise player in the NHL, and is still capable of hitting 80-90 pts per season. His fitness and determination are all-world but his age has begun to catch up. Even so, he remains an elite option for NHL forwards. Rick Nash, Columbus – Rick is a solid, physical and dominating presence on the wing and unmistakably Columbus’ best player. Once he finds the right playmaker to open up some room for him (the Jackets this hope Brassard can fill this role), Nash is capable of 90 pts + seasons. Paul Stastny, Colorado – Leading centre on a very young and impressive Avalance squad, Paul has the tools to be a at least a PPG player once he gets back to this peak. With a growing group of very good youngsters surrounding him, he can achieve good production totals. Ales Hemsky, Edmonton – Will deliver 70-80 pts if healthy, and may surpass that if he gets someone just as talented as he is to play with in Edmonton. Patrick Sharp, Chicago – Plays on arguably the best top six in the league and is a good bet for 60-70 pts for several years. Rich Peverley, Atlanta – Role will be more noticeable with departure of Kovalchuk, but is still surrounded with a lot of young talent and is not dependent on others to put up points – capable of 60-70 pts per season. Steve Downie, Tampa – Plays on one of the hottest lines in hockey, and if not protected, might get plucked as he is finally beginning to tap into his offensive potential. One can expect a range of roughtly 55-65 pts per season with a ceiling near the 70-mark. Resigns Eric Fehr, Washington – When Mike Knuble either leaves or retires, may step into the coveted line spot alongside Ovechkin and Backstrom, which can mean excellent production totals for this young forward. Cody Hodgson, Vancouver – No NHL experience and risky considering the current depth in Vancouver’s offensive corps. He is however the top forward prospect in Vancouver and is often heralded as the next Trevor Linden. Has great two-way capability. Mikhail Grabovski, Toronto – No one is left in Toronto and he will benefit from a top six role with a decent points ceiling, and may contribute significant benefits as soon as next year. Gilbert Brule, Edmonton – If given enough ice time and the right linemates, may develop into a bigger offensive presence and finally begin to deliver on his entry draft ranking. Defense Keepers Brent Burns, Minnesota – Will likely be a key cog in the Minnesota powerplay for years to come, and has the potential to become a 50-60 pt defenseman long-term, if he can remain healthy. Denis Grebeshkov, Nashville – Denis is on very deep Nashville blueline but has been able to deliver despite usually occupying the second powerplay slot. Is easily capable of matching his 40+ pts total and has upside in the 50-55 pt range. Ian White, Calgary – Ian has quickly become a favorite of Calgarians seeking a decent replacement for the underperforming Dion Phaneuf, and he has begun to gel with his linemates on the powerplay and in other situations, enough so to provide upside of 35-45 pts per season. Resigns Dmitry Kulikov, Florida – The future of the Florida blueline but may need time to reach the expected potential pinned to him. Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis – If given the chance, may become the second most productive defenseman in St. Louis behind Erik Johnson. He has grown and developed his defensive game in recent years and has come off a particularly productive WJC where leadership qualities were definitely put on display. Goaltenders Keepers Ryan Miller, Buffalo – Franchise goalie and the likely only reason why Buffalo may continue to contend. With this year’s production, is capable of attaining 130 pts, and is a sure bet to surpass the 100 point mark for years to come, with a realistic ceiling of roughly 120. Resigns Rick DiPietro, Long Island – Depending on a Long Island turnaround (which could happen if executed properly) and his health, RDP can become the potential 100 pt goalie he was once again. Dustin Tokarski, Tampa – Highly-touted prospect and has put up respectable numbers in the minors, but among other things, has the opportunity to surpass the current Tampa underperformers in goal and deliver on his potential to be a #1 goalie. – Giulio Iaconi

The salamehockey.com site administrators, over the course the next few weeks, will be taking a look at each team’s roster and analyzing the likely scenarios for keepers and re-signs for the upcoming 2010-2011 season Keepers – Forwards Nicklas Backstrom, Washington – One of the best young forwards today, Nicklas is centring the best player and winger in the game in Alex Ovechkin. Quick, agile and a great puck-handler, he has the potential to flirt with 100 pts for the rest of his career. Zach Parise, New Jersey – About to enter his prime, Parise is coming off a 94 point season, and is currently a PPG player. Primarily a goal scorer, Par has a great shot and the timing needed to consistently score 40 goals a season with the potential to easily hit 50. Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles – Still only 22 years old, Kopitar has the size, skill, and durability to be a top level talent in the league. Currently at a more than PPG pace, Kopitar’s potential is to be at LEAST a PPG over the next little while, but can flirt with 100 points once he hits his prime and becomes more consistent. Jason Pominville, Buffalo – While his 80 point season may have been a tease, Jason is still a talented player who can consistently put up 60 points. Justin Williams, Los Angeles – No one can deny that Justin is a great player, but also no one can deny that he’s always injured. When he does play, he is effective and typically plays wing on Kopitar’s line. If he can string together a healthy season, look for 55-65 points. James Van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia – James is a complete player who brings a good shot, speed and skill to the table. While not blowing anyone away in his rookie season, this former #2 overall pick has all the tools to be at least a 70 point player in the NHL, but his potential can be elite status. Claude Giroux, Philadelphia – While small, Giroux plays bigger than his size. With great play-making skills and a willingness to get his nose dirty, look for 65-70 points once he hits his stride. Resigns – Forwards Jarret Stoll, Los Angeles – Right now the second line centre in LA behind Kopitar, Stoll is a solid fantasy player. A dependable option for LA in case Kopitar ever goes down, Stoll has proven before that he can score points when needed. David Bolland, Chicago – The man is so highly regarded in our pool, he once was drafted twice… by the same GM. Reliable second line player, will always play top 6 forward minutes on Chicago. Patrick O’Sullivan, Edmonton – Has taken a step backwards in his development in the last couple of years, he still has the potential to be a producing top 6 forward on the Oilers. Luca Caputi, Toronto – Getting traded to Toronto may be the best thing that ever happened to him as he was being lost in the numbers game in Pittsburgh. Lack of quality forwards on Toronto means more playing time for Caputi. Keepers – Defencemen Keith Yandle, Phoenix – Offensively gifted defenceman, he has the skills to be a top PP producer on the Coyotes for years to come. Has already started to groom into Jovo’s replacement. Look for 45-55 points a year once he hits his stride. Jack Johnson, Los Angeles – Continuing the love affair with LA, Johnson is a solid #2 on the team behind Drew Doughty. Plays all situations, including PP and is a solid 35-40 point d-man. John Carlson, Washington – John showed in the WJC what the capitals already knew. While not as offensively gifted as Mike Green, he has the potential to be a 40-45 point defenceman once established in the NHL. Resigns – Defencemen Ryan Whitney, Edmonton – Showed in Pittsburgh that he has the offensive skills to succeed, he has regressed slightly since being traded to Anaheim. New surroundings and less competition on the Oiler blueline may give him the confidence to succeed once again. Bobby Sanguinetti, New York – A pure offensive defenceman, Sanguinetti is the future of the Ranger blue line along with Michael Del Zotto. Strong skater and puck mover, if the Rangers can find a way to move Redden and Roszival off their roster, he may be with the team as early as next year. Keepers – Goaltender Steve Mason, Columbus – The sophomore jinx has never been more evident than with Mason. However, he is the long term goalie for Columbus and showed his talent in his rookie year. Look for him to bounce back. Capable of hitting 100 points consistently if Columbus’ young players take off. Resigns – Goaltenders Kari Lehtonen, Dallas – While he has been injured more often than Rick Di Pietro, Lehtonen is definitely a top level goalie when healthy. More than likely the new number 1 in Dallas, the only reason he isn’t a keeper is his injury-proneness. Jonas Gustavsson, Toronto – The Monster has shown flashes of brilliance this season, but is finally being groomed behind a proven seasoned veteran. His record is not reflective only of his play, but mostly on how bad his team is. Jonathan Bernier, Los Angeles – The best goalie prospect not playing in the NHL right now, Los Angeles can only hold him back for so long. Has put up insane numbers in the AHL this season and somewhere down the line, the King’s management will have to decide: Quick, or Bernier? -Danny Petti

The salamehockey.com site administrators, over the course the next few weeks, will be taking a look at each team’s roster and analyzing the likely scenarios for keepers and re-signs for the upcoming 2010-2011 season. Punishers Forwards Keepers Dany Heatley, San Jose – Should be the Punishers untouchable forward, given that the Heatley-Thornton link is very strong and has both players flirting with 90-100 pts this year, without signs of a coming slowdown given both are on the better side of their 30s. Marc Savard, Boston – Top line center with great consistency before this year’s injury problems, but should not have issues hitting 85-90 point mark again in the coming season. Patrik Elias, New Jersey – Top line winger playing with either Parise or Kovalchuk this season and will likely hit 70-75 pts if he remains healthy. Travis Zajac, New Jersey – Hard-working center playing with Parise and Elias mostly, entering his prime and should range from 65-75 pts for several years. Joe Pavelski, San Jose – Promising center playing on one of the league’s most talented teams, will likely average 60+ pts for years to come. Simon Gagne, Philadelphia – Injury-prone but very talented forward on an extremely deep forward corps with several up-and-coming (and smaller cap hit) players, yet still has the tools to achieve continuous 65-70 pt seasons, if he remains healthy. Jordan Eberle, Edmonton – No NHL experience to date but has shown he can bring the goods to the big game and may help develop Edmonton’s lack of firepower if he’s put into the situation beginning next year. Has a very good upside in the 75-80 pt range and may achieve it as he nears his prime, if given good enough players to play with. Resigns Jason Arnott, Nashville – Aging but talented veteran playing a top six role and able to contribute offensively. Mike Fisher, Ottawa – Gritty center now in his peak years, but will likely continue to sit in the 2nd line slot behind Spezza unless the latter is traded one day (no longer likely). Derick Brassard, Columbus – If the coaching change is given enough patience in Columbus and if he can remain healthy all year long, he may eventually become the center Rick Nash needs to hit his peak. Brassard has the tools to achieve some very good production and is a candidate for a bounce back season in 2011. Rene Bourque, Calgary – Has finally started to enter his prime but injury concerns will continue to plague him. He is a good bet top six minutes and excellent value for his price if he continues to play the same role as he does now. Devin Setoguchi – San Jose – San Jose is hoping he is not going to become Jonathan Cheechoo part two, but Setoguchi may well bounce back to previous production levels, and perhaps more if he gets more time on the Thornton line. Tyler Bozak, Toronto – Showing good promise as a top six forward and doesn’t have extensive competition with which to compete for those minutes. Could be helped by a veteran presence up front, something that can help him take his game to the next level. Defense Keepers Zach Bogosian, Atlanta – Entering his third season next season, may begin to develop into the impact defenseman Atlanta wants, with upside in the 40-50 pt range if he begins to play similar to the way Doughty has this season. Niklas Kronwall, Detroit – Depending on Lidstrom, may begin to take over the spot of the top defenseman in Detroit, with 50 pts not unrealistic given he has done it before. Cam Barker, Minnesota – With the new environment and a sparked offensive system in Minnesota, may well achieve the 40-50 pts range he was heralded as in Chicago. Resigns Joe Corvo, Washington – On the assumption that Corvo remains in Washington (which is in question), his upside is improved and notable as a good offensive defenseman. Thomas Hickey, Los Angeles – Rising prospect with potential impact as the number two defenseman if Jack Johnson is moved from Los Angeles. May make a bigger impact to a team with less defensive depth. Goaltenders Keepers Pekka Rinne, Nashville – Keeper-calibre goaltender with decent points production upside playing behind arguably one the deepest defensive corps in the league, and has been given more duties than Ellis, which bodes well for the long-term. Is capable of 100 point seasons, and if given more than 60 starts, can produce between 80 and 110 pts. Resigns Ondrej Pavelec, Atlanta – No longer hiding under Lehtonen’s shadow as the number one, will thrive as soon as Atlanta begins winning again. – Giulio Iaconi

The salamehockey.com site administrators, over the course the next few weeks, will be taking a look at each team’s roster and analyzing the likely scenarios for keepers and re-signs for the upcoming 2010-2011 season. Ultra Maroons (Soon to be “Behind the Mask”) Keepers – Forwards Patrice Bergeron, Boston – Though only 24, it seems like Patrice has been in the NHL forever. Concussions have slightly derailed his career, but he is enjoying a renaissance season. Elite level play making ability, he has the talent to be a PPG player, but only if he remains injury free, and that’s a big “if”. Dustin Penner, Edmonton – Started the season on a major hot streak, but cooled significantly once injuries on the team (including to line-mate Ales Hemsky) began to mount. Once season was cast as a lost one, began to play like it too. He was the ability to be a consistent 60 point forward, with upward thrusts to 70. Needs good players around him to do that though. Chris Stewart, Colorado – A former first round pick, he broke out in a big way in his second season so far with 53 pts in 63 games. At 6’2”, 228 pounds, he’s a big body presence that is gelling with Paul Stastny. If he can remain on that line, has the potential to hit 70 consistently. Niclas Bergfors, Atlanta – Traded to Atlanta in the Kovalchuk deal, Bergfors has shown promising signs for the future with 8 pts in 13 games since the trade. On pace for 22 goals and 41 pts this year, it’s not a stretch to believe he can be a consistent 50 pt guy with potential to hit 60. Ryan Smyth, Los Angeles – Captain Canada, Ryan has fit in perfectly on a line with Anze Kopitar. Not the player he once was however, but if healthy, can easily hit 60-65 points provided he stays on that line. Michael Frolik, Florida –One Panther not mentioned in trade rumors this year, Frolik is one of the few top level talents on the Panthers at this point. Not overly large, but extremely quick, Frolik has the potential to be a perennial 70-80 point player. Brandon Sutter, Carolina – Given his chance due to the difficulties Carolina has experienced this year, Sutter has played well. On pace for 40 points in only his second full year, Sutter has the potential to be a consistent 50 point player, with gusts to 60 once in his prime. Resigns – Forwards Josh Bailey, Long Island – Great playmaking ability and work ethic, Bailey is slotted as the #2 centre behind Tavares for years to come. Artem Anisimov, New York – Big, with great stickhandling skills, he will be Gaborik’s centre once he acclimatizes to the NHL tempo or Tortorella gets fired, whichever comes first. Mikael Backlund, Calgary – Elite play-making ability, can be the centre they have been looking for to play with Iginla. But will he develop in time? Zach Boychuk, Carolina – Like Sutter, has had his opportunity because of Carolina’s difficulties. Fast and offensively gifted, will be a mainstay on the hurricanes next season Wayne Simmonds, Los Angeles – Great shot, good skater, has had a good second season in the NHL. Simmonds has the potential to be a top 6 forward on the Kings for years to come. Keepers – Defence Ivan Vishnevskiy, Atlanta – A future PP quarterback for the Thrashers, Vishnevskiy has all the tools necessary to be a very good offensive defenceman in the mold of a Tomas Kaberle. Ceiling of 50 points. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay – Hedman has had a rocky rookie season, but this 6’7” former #2 overall pick is being labeled as the next Pronger but with a lesser mean streak. Has the potential to be a 60 point defenceman. Jonathan Ericsson, Detroit – Will be in the top 4 pairing in Detroit as soon as Lidstrom and/or Rafalski retire. Has a heavy slap shot and will play 2nd unit PP. Look for 35 points a season. Resigns – Defence Chris Butler, Buffalo – About to enter his prime years, Chris is enjoying a good second year in the NHL. Keeper – Goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist, New York – Though expensive in our pool, UM’s salary structure allows them to fit him in. A top 5 goalie in the NHL, Lundqvist has averaged 70 starts for the past 3 seasons and has 60 up to this point. 90 to 120 point goalie depending on the year the Rangers have. Resigns – Goaltenders Semyon Varlamov, Washington – Lead the Caps in the playoffs last year and almost upset the Penguins. Has had a difficult rookie season because of injury, but is seen as the Capitals goalie of the future, but Michal Neuvirth may have something to say about that. Antti Niemi, Chicago – Has outplayed Huet for some stretches this season, to the point where Blackhawk fans and (if rumors are true) management are questioning who should be #1 -Danny Petti

The salamehockey.com site administrators, over the course the next few weeks, will be taking a look at each team’s roster and analyzing the likely scenarios for keepers and re-signs for the upcoming 2010-2011 season. Old No. 7 Keepers – Forwards Marian Hossa, Chicago – An elite winger with 80-90 point range and possibly the most talented player on the roster. He is playing on arguably the most talented team in the NHL, and has enough firepower and playmakers to help him push that point total for years to come. Mike Richards, Philadelphia – Elite two-way center with 75-85 point range and possesses one attribute Hossa may no longer have: he is entering his prime. John Tavares, Long Island – Elite forward learning the ropes with the highest upside on the entire roster (general consensus is he’ll eventually hit 90-100 pts in his prime). May make a similar impact as Stamkos if he gets a veteran presence (similar to a Martin St. Louis) to guide him. Matt Duchene, Colorado – Making a bigger impact than Tavares and highly regarded as the next Steve Yzerman – cannot be left unprotected and is playing on such a young, upstart team. He may give Stastny a run for his money as soon as next year, and has the tools to get to 85-95 pts in his prime. Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh – Best third-line center in the league, can potentially hit very good numbers (70-80) if he were on another team, but can hit those same numbers if he were to magically find his way on a Malkin line or a Crosby line. Cannot be left unprotected. Ryane Clowe – San Jose – Very good second liner option with 60-70 ceiling Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson – Very talented player with good upside but no NHL experience yet. May make a big impact down the line and should be held. Resigns: Guillaume Latendresse – Minnesota – Has put up respectable numbers in Minnesota and may continue to do so if given the right opportunity on a consistent basis. Has the tools to become a player comparable to Scott Hartnell down the line, minus the mega mean streak. Oscar Moller – Los Angeles – Has the tools to become a top six forward but is currently on a team with aspirations of landing a big name this summer, which may hurt his development. Jack Skille – Chicago – Will be thrust into the lineup next year once cap-intensive contracts get moved, if not, may need to get traded to hit his top six forward ceiling in 3-4 years. Probable impact next year comparable to Benoit Pouliot (but on a much deeper team). Joe Colborne – Boston – Skilled, big forward with high upside but not yet ready to get to big team for 2011 on a full-time basis. Keepers – Defense Duncan Keith, Chicago – My pick for this year’s Norris Trophy and arguably the second best offensive option in the league. Does it all, and would be the top plucking candidate if ever left unprotected. 60 point defenseman that flirts with 70 in good years (like this one). Tyler Myers, Buffalo – Excellent rookie and top candidate for the Calder Trophy. Currently doing everything and anything on the Buffalo blue line with no competition, especially size-wise. Will get to 50-60 pts in no time. Zdeno Chara, Boston – The older, more mature, more established version of number 2, pts you can count on, even on a terribly performing Boston team (that will likely rebound in 2011). 50 pts without a sweat. Resigns: Anton Stralman, Columbus – QBs the power play in Columbus with Tyutin, despite said PP being pretty bad overall. The team is likely to turn things around so we may see good production from him next season. Jason Demers, San Jose – Plays on one of the best teams with some aging defensemen to leap over in the coming years (e.g. Blake, Boyle). Tom Gilbert, Edmonton – Risky option considering he went from 45 pts to less to on pace for 15 this season, but much less competition on the blueline given that Visnovsky is now gone and his replacement (Ryan Whitney) has yet to show he can be an offensive force on a team other than Pittsburgh. Keepers – Goaltenders Michal Neuvirth – Washington – The only goaltender on the team with potential to become a number 1 goalie (either in Washington or elsewhere). -Giulio Iaconi