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.
Goodfellas
Forwards
Keepers
- Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh – Malkin truly established himself as a member of the elite superstar category or “big three” last season and is an extremely gifted player with excellent scoring and playmaking skill. He has the talent to contend for the Art Ross Trophy on an annual basis and provide a production upside of 100-120 points per season. Despite his somewhat season-long slump this year, he will remain a force in the NHL for quite some time.
- Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey – Kovalchuk is arguably a top five forward talent and offers incredible offensive punch to any team who is lucky to have him. Despite the numerous rumors of a KHL-bound career, he is still more likely to sign with a big team next season and will likely be given a big role to play as a premier goal scorer. Ilya has always been a point per game player and has the upside to achieve 100 point seasons if he plays with the right playmakers.
- Patrick Marleau, San Jose – The former number 2 overall pick now has two 80+ point seasons under his belt, and faces unrestricted free agency this coming summer with much to offer any team in the NHL. He is a premier scoring center or winger, depending on the line he plays on, and offers excellent production value considering his SFHL price tag. Marleau has the talent to continue to produce in the 80-90 point range for several seasons.
- James Neal, Dallas – James has truly come into his own this season as a permanent member of the Dallas top six and provides the excellent scoring punch the young and developing Stars needed to complement the surging Loui Eriksson and Brad Richards. Neal has the upside to be a consistent 60-70 point player.
- Kristian Huselius, Columbus – The Juice offers good 20-30 goal production on arguably one of the league’s poorly performing teams in Columbus, however he has often showcased a great ability to deliver when it counts and offers a 60-70 point range in production with potential for mid-70 points if given the right opportunity (which the Rick Nash line offers in CBJ).
- Jamie Langenbrunner, New Jersey – While Jamie never hit any major offensive highs while in Dallas, he has truly come into his own in New Jersey and has taken a leadership role with the team, all while providing excellent offensive as well as defensive upside, providing consistent 60-70 point production among NJ’s top six.
- Blake Wheeler, Boston – Blake, a former first round pick, has top six potential with a growing Bruins forward corps and plays a big, offensive-minded game. Still developing under the guise of the Boston veterans, he offers great potential as a goal scorer and will likely become deliver at least 50 points with a potential for 60-70 in the near future.
Resigns
- Patrik Berglund, St. Louis – Member of a young and developing and very deep forward corps for the Blues, Patrik has the upside to become a top line player once he breaks out. It is only a matter of time once the older guard in St. Louis is replaced with the youngsters, and once this happens, Patrik’s top line role will help him flourish.
- Andy McDonald, St. Louis – Some may say that Andy saw his best years alongside Teemu Selanne in Anaheim, but this top six point producer still has several years in him and offers established veteran presence for any team seeking a good top six forward.
- Alexei Ponikarovsky, Pittsburgh – This season’s top trade deadline acquisition, Alex has broken out of his shell in Toronto and now has decent potential to really produce alongside either Crosby or Malkin in Pittsburgh, a highly-coveted role to play for any young winger with top six production.
- Scott Glennie, Dallas – The former first round pick is quickly developing into an excellent forward with the Brandon Wheat Kings and offers decent potential to complement other youngsters in the Dallas system inching their way towards the big team.
Defense – Keepers
- Mike Green, Washington – A point per game defenseman. It’s just not fair. Green, at only 24 years of age, possesses enough offensive skill to derail any argument that his defensive game is lacking, and then some. It also doesn’t hurt he plays on the league’s top power play and holds incredible offensive dynamism to undoubtedly be considered the top offensive option on the blue line in the entire NHL. Has the potential to top 80 pts per season.
- Alex Goligoski, Pittsburgh – Goligoski, a purely offensive defenseman, is being groomed to take over from Sergei Gonchar once the Russian eventually retires from being the Pens’ quarterback on one of the league’s most dangerous power plays. He has the skill to be a top offensive defenseman with 50-60 point upside in Pittsburgh.
- Tobias Enstrom, Atlanta – Enstrom, while a member of a great young Atlanta blue line with a lot of depth, holds the best potential to quarterback the power play for years to come and has the offensive skill to continuously offer 50-60 point production.
Resigns
- Brian Rafalski, Detroit – Despite the blip in Detroit’s offense this season, Brian remains a top pairing defenseman with excellent power play skills and holds top 10 offensive production ability while healthy.
- Jamie McBain, Carolina – Only 22 and already showing excellent poise on the Carolina blue line, McBain projects as a top offensive defenseman and can quickly move up the Carolina ranks as such without much competition (aside from the injury-prone Joni Pitkanen).
Goaltenders – Keepers
- Roberto Luongo, Vancouver – Bobby simply personifies goaltender talent and plays a smart game on a very skilled Vancouver team. While now in his 30s, he still holds the number one slot and will likely play 70+ games per season with a potential to hit 40 wins as well as 5-7 shutouts.
Resigns
- Tuukka Rask, Boston – Arguably one of the most exciting goaltending youngsters playing in the NHL, Rask holds all-world skill and has the potential to be a fantastic number 1 goaltender for the Boston Bruins for several years to come.
– Giulio Iaconi