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 2011-2012 season.
TEAM: QUEBEC HABITANTS
GM: JOE FERRARO
FORWARDS
KEEPERS
1. Henrik Sedin, Canucks – Henrik won the NHL scoring title in 2009-2010 and has not looked back since. He has risen to the top of the elite and short of the big two, is a mainstay on any keeper forward listing. As the twins progress through their prime, there should be no reason to doubt their production topping 90 pts and often flirting with 100 each and every year.
2. Daniel Sedin, Canucks – Daniel won the NHL scoring title in 2010-2011 and paid dividends for those who banked on him rebounding after an injury-shortened year prior to this one. Same as his brother Henrik, Daniel has now eclipsed the 100 pt mark for the first time in his career, and one can only expect a continuing trend, given how much the brothers are leaned upon in Vancouver for production.
3. Jeff Carter, Flyers – Jeff, a former first rounder who was snubbed by Trevor Timmins (good call Trevor!) in the 2003 entry draft, has not put up the same pts as he did in 2008-2009 when he hit 84, but has shown good consistency as a fantastic scorer with excellent size on a deep Philadelphia forward corps. If he continues with the Flyers and is not dealt for a goaltender at some point to replenish the sieve the Flyers have in goal, their most glaring weakness, he can be counted on for anywhere between 60-70 pts per season, and at 26, is just entering his prime as a goalscorer.
4. Mike Richards, Flyers – Mike has developed into a fantastic leader and all-around tough player and is often hated by any hockey fan outside of the Philadelphia area for his cheap hits. Similar to Carter above, Mike has settled into a 60-70 pt range since scoring 80 pts in 2008-2009, but continues to be a perennial offensive force on an ever deeper Philadelphia team that usually rolls with three lines, hence the lower production.
5. Phil Kessel, Maple Leafs – Kessel is a mercurial 30 goal scorer, having hit the milestone three times in his short career so far. His only demise is that he plays for the Leafs, whose hopes for progression will likely depend on getting Phil a big first line center to be paired with. At that point, it is always likely Phil can eclipse the 70 pt mark and make the jump to become a 40 goal scorer as well.
6. Vincent Lecavalier, Lightning – Now at the ripe age of 31 and nearing the downside of his career, Vinny is beginning to rebound after languishing for two years after suffering several injuries and only putting up 67 and 70 pts after two fantastic 90+ seasons in the 2007 and 2008 campaigns. While the scoring threat in Tampa has shifted to the likes of St. Louis and Stamkos in the last 2 years, Vinny’s late season heroics while being re-paired with MSL delivered some positive results which make the big center a likely rebound candidate for the upcoming season, if he doesn’t suffer a setback. Anywhere between 70-90 pts is fair game for the Frenchman.
7. David Perron, Blues – Perron began an impressive-looking season in 2010-2011 before succumbing to injury and missing a lot of time throughout the season. Nevertheless, the resurgent Blues have faith in the young forward, and there is reason to hope for a rebound year in 2011-2012 whereby Perron continues his development into a solid top six forward capable of 60 pts.
RESIGNS
8. Brad Marchand, Bruins – The third liner that plays like a top sixer, Marchand was highly effective in the later stages of the season and managed a respectable 41 pts in his first full NHL season. Everyone and their mother hates the kid’s guts, but paired with Bergeron and Recchi for the majority of the season, he has learned from veterans and quickly silenced critics that pigeon-holed him into third line duty.
9. Jordan Staal, Penguins – As the Penguins lost their two top centers in 2011 to injury, Jordan became a leader and an example to help carry the Penguins into the playoffs with an albeit patched together team of rentals and depth players. While his defensive acumen continues to be his calling point for the Pens, Staal has risen to the challenge offensively as well, and given the right opportunity and playing with the right players, can deliver decent production at his price.
DEFENSE
KEEPERS
1. Dion Phaneuf, Maple Leafs – Dion struggled mightily ever since joining the Leafs and has failed to deliver comparable results as he did in Calgary earlier this decade. Things did look positive following the trade of Tomas Kaberle from the Leafs however, and Phaneuf is likely slated to a return to 40+ pts in the coming campaign after a strong finish.
2. Mark Streit, Islanders – The Long Island PP QB missed the entire 2010-2011 season with injury and rehabilitation but is a proven competitor and likely the best option at the point on a very young and likely resurgent Islanders club. If he remains healthy, he is a good bet for 50 pts.
3. Brian Campbell, Blackhawks – Campbell has struggled since joining the Hawks and its likely due to the mammoth contract that seems to be one of the major reasons for the team’s fading depth as years go on. Being overtaken by Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook on the top pairing, Campbell no longer stands the likelihood of delivering a 60+ pt season as he did with the Sabres/Sharks prior to his free agency signing, however he is still a very capable offensive defenseman capable of scoring 40 pts in a season.
RESIGNS
(None)
GOALTENDERS
KEEPERS
1. Michal Neuvirth, Capitals – Neuvirth has slowly but surely taken over the reigns as the top option of the three-headed Capitals goaltending machine. Having played the most, and maintained the best consistency in comparison to Varlamov and Holtby, Neuvirth offers the talent the Capitals are looking for, and has the ability to win 35-40 games with 2-3 shutouts.
RESIGNS
2. Steve Mason, Blue Jackets – Ever since his rookie season 2, Mason has struggled to re-gain the necessary level of confidence that kept him so dominant. Some say the book is out on him and he will never amount to more than an average starter, while others remain hopeful of the fact that Mason has proven pedigree at several levels of competition and remains a very talented, big goaltender with upside, that simply needs maturity and a better defense in front him. Only time will tell if the young tender will go the way of Roman Cechmanek or Cam Ward…
3. Brian Elliott, Avalanche – Elliott should barely be on this list, but given his current starter status on a young Avalanche team, he cannot be ignored. The Avalanche’s season was one of two outcomes – what looked promising early in the season quickly faded. With a headliner addition on the blueline (the potential beast in Erik Johnson, who has yet to prove much at the professional level in terms of elite talent), Elliott may be able to backstop a surprising Avalanche team in the coming season.