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: BLACK SOX
GENERAL MANAGER: ANTHONY CALZETTA
FORWARDS
KEEPERS
1. Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings – after a slow 2010 season where Datsyuk’s production declined to 70 pts in 80 games, the Russian Superstar bounced back with 59 pts in 56 games due to injury, scoring at an 86 pt pace. He rarely falters when he is healthy, and has rarely missed time to injury in his career as well. Having scored 87+ pts four years straight and only 2 years removed, Datsyuk, who is definitely still in his prime, can be expected to put up 85-95 pts in the coming year as he leads the Wings towards another playoff berth.
2. Alexander Semin, Capitals – a perennial band aid boy, Semin has not played more than 73 games since his rookie season, but remains a good threat to post point per game numbers. His numbers, like any other Capital, were stifled in 2011 due to a team philosophy change, one that may be permanent, depending on the team’s managerial plans in the offseason. Semin is a good bet for 70-80 pts when he plays a near to full season, but in the current Capitals system, will likely put up 60-70.
3. Patrik Berglund, Blues – after an horrendous sophomore season where the young Swede regressed to 26 pts, Berglund doubled his efforts and scored 52 in 82 in 2011. His talent and upside are undeniable, and with time on his side, figures to be a long-standing member of the Blues top six for a very long time. His consistency still remains an issue to resolve, as Berglund’s season was often marred by dry spells and hot streaks, including a 20 game, 18 pt run in the mid-season. He has the talent to put up 70 pts, but expecting 50-60 with a hint more in the coming year is a good expectation.
4. Brooks Laich, Capitals – the Wolf continued to impress the Capitals’ brass with his hard work ethic and agitating play among the Capitals’ top six. Laich did not build on his career best 59 pts from 2010, but no one on the Capitals squad exceeded expectations in 2011 with the new team system. Expect 50+ pts in 2011, assuming the big winger re-signs with the Capitals. If put into a top line role, anything can happen.
5. Patric Hornqvist, Predators – Moving throughout the Predators’ scoring-by-committee system on all lines in 2011, Hornqvist ditched the goal-heavy label placed on him after his solid 30 goal performance of 2010, and scored 48 pts in a relatively good year. Having produced the most alongside Sergei Kostitsyn and Mike Fisher, Hornqvist is a candidate to top his career-best numbers and be the a top line winger with net presence in the coming year. Expect 50+ pts.
6. Magnus Paajarvi, Oilers – like many SEL imports before him (Kopitar and Backstrom were early comparables), the expectations from Paajarvi were very high for his rookie season. While he did not make the impact his fellow Swedish Elite League graduates made in their rookie seasons, Paajarvi’s 34 pt year was somewhat encouraging in that no one on the Oilers team would actually go on to score more than 50 pts in 2011. Figuring to be part of the top six in Edmonton for quite some time, Paajarvi has the talent to be a top winger in the NHL, and is big enough to do it right away. Expect a rebound effort in 2011-2012, with 50 pts not out of the question, and 70-80 down the line a definitive possibility once the team’s core begins to fire on all cylinders.
7. Brayden Schenn, Kings – After a small cup of coffee with the Kings in 2011 that didn’t go far in keeping Schenn with the big club, the feisty center with a Mike Richards-like edge went on to make the WHL his bitch. 53 pts in 27 games for the Saskatoon Blades, followed by 7 pts in 7 games to finish the season in Manchester of the AHL, Schenn will definitely be a factor for the Kings long-term, just when is the question. He will likely suit up the majority of his games with the Monarchs to begin the season, but smart bets may have Schenn pulling the same feat Logan Couture did last season in San Jose. Schenn in his prime will be a top six centerman with excellent hockey IQ, and has the talent to become a 70-80 pt player in his prime.
RESIGNS
8. Tomas Fleischmann, Avalanche – the Flash as he was dubbed in Washington, Fleischmann had a rocky 2010-2011, having been dealt to the Colorado Avalanche, a team in transition, and then being diagnosed with pulmonary emboli, forcing him to miss the rest of the 2010-2011 season after playing 45 games and scoring 31 pts. That 56 pt pace would have surpassed his earlier seasons. With concerns over his health, Fleischmann may or may not figure into Colorado’s long-term plans, but assuming he returns to play soon enough, he is a top six forward with good upside.
9. Alexander Burmistrov, Thrashers – Burmistrov raised eyebrows at the 2009 WJC, where he scored 11 pts in 7 games for the Russian Federation. The diminutive center was selected 8th overall in the 2010 entry draft, but did not have a huge impact with Atlanta in 2011, despite playing the full season in the NHL. His 20 pts in 74 games are definitely only the beginning, as his move to North America to play with the Barrie Colts yielded 65 pts in 62 games in his junior year in 2009-2010. Burmistrov has top line talent and will figure in Atlanta’s long-term plans up front.
10. Niclas Bergfors, Panthers – the young Swede has now played for three teams in the NHL, and it’s anyone’s guess how Bergfors will perform with the Panthers, a perennial cellar-dweller. He has the talent to be an impact player at the top six level, but his lack of consistency and disputes with coaches regarding style of play have stifled his production thus far to seasons of 44 and 36 pts since his debut for the Devils. Expect some improvement if he can find chemistry amongst the Panther’s top 2 lines.
11. Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Wild – Bouchard looked set on becoming a star for the Wild in 2009, prior to a major concussion that would sideline him for the 2009-2010 season and a good chunk of the 2011 season as well. Despite this, his production in 2011 was back up to where it was prior to the concussion, having scored 39 pts in 59 games. He has surpassed 50 three times before, and should be a lock in the Wild top six as he is now in his prime. Another hit to the head still poses a huge risk though.
12. Mattias Tedenby, Devils – Tedenby impressed early on with the Devils, finding chemistry on a line with Patrik Elias and Jason Arnott, and while consistency issues prevailed, would develop some chemistry on the PP with Kovalchuk late in the season to cement his spot for the coming year as a top six option. While small, Tedenby offers good skill and is just what the Devils need up front considering his age and contract being very affordable.
13. Marcus Johansson, Capitals – another product of the Capitals’ drafting machine, Johansson is a smart two-way center hailing from Sweden. After spending 60% of his ice time centering either Ovechkin or Semin, he scored 27 pts in 69 games for the Capitals, who transitioned into a defensive-minded team in 2011. Despite this, he has good talent to become a complimentary top six forward for many years to come, and fits the team mold perfectly going forward. Only time will tell if he can fill the 2nd line center void or if that position will be filled by another import or someone else in the system.
14. Dave Bolland, Blackhawks – scoring at 50 pt pace in his shortened season with the Hawks, Bolland provided the two-way punch the Hawks needed en route to the playoffs. While he did not play amongst the team’s top 2 lines very much, Bolland responsible play in his own end makes him an important part of the team, despite his consistent injury concerns.
DEFENSE
KEEPERS
1. Tomas Kaberle, Bruins – At 33, Kaberle is still in his prime, despite having seen his best years come and go. He will likely never replicate his 67 pt career high once more, but having moved on from the Leafs, he remains an excellent top 10 threat from the blue line. He did not light it up with the Bruins upon arrival, and because of this, may not figure into Boston’s plans in the offseason, but would definitely be a good addition to any team in need of a playmaking puck mover, of which there are many. Expect 40-50 pts going forward.
2. Andrei Markov, Canadiens – Markov was really beginning to shine with Canadiens until the dreaded injury tables got turned on him. Twice going down for knee injuries, significant injury concerns remain with him, but he will likely return to form in good health. Having surpassed 40 pts four times in his career, more of the same can be expected if Markov plays a full season – expect 45-55 pts, with potential for more given Markov has hit the 60 pt barrier already once in his career.
3. Brent Burns, Wild – after two shortened seasons plagued by injury, Burns returned to form to score 46 pts in 80 games, and took a prominent role on the Wild PP. Still only 26, he has a lot of hockey left in him, and will likely deliver results as long as the Wild are still somewhat relevant offensively. Expect 40-50 pts from the big blue liner.
RESIGNS
4. Stephane Robidas, Stars – at 34, Robidas no longer figures to be the long-term option for the Stars back end, but remains a solid depth producer. His 41 pt effort from 2010 will likely not be replicated given the arrival of Alex Goligoski on Dallas’ PP, but similar efforts to those of 2011 can be expected going forward, as he still has good offensive skill.
5. Nick Leddy, Blackhawks – another smart acquisition by the Chicago brass, Leddy, a former 1st round pick by the Minnesota Wild, is an offensive defenseman with decent skill, and will likely figure into the Hawks’ top 4 in the long-term. He will likely not surpass Keith, Seabrook or Campbell on the depth chart, but will definitely produce at a decent level in his prime.
6. Marc-Andre Gragnani, Sabres – Gragnani was a late-season addition by the Sabres and by the Black Sox, but impressed upon his arrival with a combined regular season and playoff production of 10 pts in 15 games. Gragnani has excellent size and offensive skill, and will have likely cemented his spot with the Sabres defensive group for the coming season as a PP QB option alternative to Tyler Myers and Jordan Leopold. Having torn apart the AHL from the blue line with the Portland Pirates in 2011, scoring 60 pts in 63 games, he has a good future ahead of him.
GOALTENDERS
KEEPER
1. Corey Crawford, Blackhawks – Crawford took over the vacated spot left over by Antti Niemi midway through the season as Marty Turco could not hold up the fort for the Hawks. At 26, he is a mature rookie performer, having honed his skill in Rockford for quite some time. He backstopped Chicago through a gruelling seven game series with Vancouver in round 1 of the 2011 playoffs, only to be eliminated early, but has shown poise in all situations, enough to land him top starter job for good. He is now an RFA and likely a top priority for Chicago to sign this summer. Expect 35-40 wins and 4-6 shutouts in a full season coming next year if he finds himself with the Hawks once more.
RESIGNS
2. Niklas Backstrom, Wild – since putting up career highs in 2009, Backstrom has been less of a factor at the top end of the NHL goaltending spectrum. His performance may have been tied to contract expectations, as well as minutes played, as the 33 year old has not played 2,000 minutes since that season. Despite this, he is solidly in place as the number one on a middling Minnesota club that hopes to contend. Expect more of the same but over a more healthy stretch and hopefully a bounce back in form we saw from 2009.
3. Evgeni Nabokov, Islanders – the 35 year old Nabokov was the odd man out in San Jose as contract expectations proved to be too rich for the all-star Russian goaltender. Having spent roughly 4 months in Russia playing for SKA St. Petersburg prior to mutual termination of his contract, Nabokov signed with the Red Wings only to have been picked off by the Islanders through waivers he had to cross. While he likely will never play a game for the Islanders, Nabokov offers any NHL team looking for stability in goal a cheap alternative with great experience. The odds are thus in favour of him being traded to a team soon, but only time will tell. Having won 40+ games in three straight seasons for the Sharks, Nabokov has the talent to put up similar numbers on the right team.
Next up: Patriots