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: HOT LIQUID
GM: JOE D’ABRAMO
FORWARDS – KEEPERS
1. Corey Perry, Ducks – in six seasons with the Ducks, Perry has actually played better each and every passing year – with pt totals going from 44, 54, 72, 76, to 98 in a career-high year that had many experts saying Perry should be a Hart Trophy shoe-in given his skill in notching his first 50 goal season and nearly eclipsing 100 pts, carrying the Ducks into the playoffs. Perry is a top line threat for 50 goals and 90-100 pts.
2. Ryan Getzlaf, Ducks – In six NHL seasons, Getzlaf has scored 415 pts in 430 games, centered the most formidable line in hockey, and continues to impress with his size, physicality and playmaking ability. Well above PPG for the past four years, he is threat to crack 90 pts over 80 games, assuming he can stay healthy, but he has had trouble in the past couple of seasons doing so. Nonetheless, he can be relied upon to offer great production and will likely figure among the Ducks’ top line for many years to come. Expect 70-80 pts in 65-75 games.
3. Bobby Ryan, Ducks – the former 2nd overall pick, alongside Perry and Getzlaf, has blossomed into a strong scoring forward with excellent upside. Similar to Perry, Ryan has improved year over year, with a 71 pt effort in 2011 being a career-high. Ryan has the talent to score 40 goals each season and can well be on his way to being the third part of a PPG line that cracks 80+ each year. Expect 70-80 or more in the coming year with potential for 90+.
4. Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks – Captain Serious has already done so much at the age of 23, having won the Stanley Cup with the Hawks, an Olympic Gold and a Conn Smythe trophy. In 2011, Toews also surpassed expectations by scoring 76 pts, and figuring amongst the league top 20 in scoring for much of the year, in turn delivering on a fantasy level on top of being a complete hockey player. He has the talent to hit 80 pts in his prime, and will likely do so at some point, but expect 70-80 pts going forward as the Hawks continue to deal with salary cap issues by employing cheap complimentary forwards.
5. Rick Nash, Blue Jackets – a career high 79 pts in 2009 really stands out when we look at Rick Nash’s production over the years, as the big winger has not beaten 70 pts in a single season, despite only being 26 years old. Now in his prime, Nash is hoping that Ryan Johansen may well be the top line center he has needed to help elevate his game to the next level, at which point 90 pts may be attainable. Until such happens and Johansen gets into his rhythm, Nash remains a 70 pt player with little help from his surrounding and less-talented peers.
6. Michael Cammalleri, Canadiens – Cammy has played 65 and 67 games in his two years so far since joining the Canadiens, and remains stifled by the defensive style instituted by Jacques Martin. Only 2 years removed off an 82 pt season, the two-time 80 pt scorer has the talent to repeat his past performance but needs keep his consistency well above his current level, and scoring a little bit more wouldn’t hurt either. While the 80s might seem a stretch, Cammalleri can put up 65-70 pts in a full season going forward.
7. TJ Oshie, Blues – at 24, Oshie is a good candidate to break out in the coming season, having only hit 48 pts tops in 2010. 2011’s good start was derailed by injuries, a concern for Oshie given his three years in the NHL have only brought out 182 games out of a possible 246. Despite all that, he will likely crack the 50 pt barrier and has potential to hit 60-70 in his prime.
FORWARDS – RESIGNS
8. Tyler Ennis, Sabres – Ennis finished a strong rookie campaign with 49 pts in 82 games with the Sabres, capitalizing from the absence of Derek Roy for more than half the season. He has top six upside and strong hockey skills which make him a formidable offensive threat for the Sabres, despite his small stature.
9. Stephen Weiss, Panthers – after two consecutive 60 pt seasons, Weiss regressed to 49 in 2011, most likely as a result of Florida’s continuing collapse as an NHL cellar-dwellar. He will be called upon again to center the team’s top line featuring David Booth and will regain his form if there is some consistency in that pairing. 2011 was a year of transition for the Panthers, and as such, Weiss played on several different lines, likely a major cause for his drop in production.
10. Drew Stafford, Sabres – Stafford, a former 1st round pick, broke out of his shell after four underwhelming seasons and scored 52 pts in 62 games. Dispute being once labeled as soft, the big winger has blossomed well into a top six performer and should see a good chunk of ice time after inking a nice contract at season’s end.
11. Mikkel Boedker, Coyotes – Boedker remains one of the Coyotes hopes for future regardless of an uncertain ownership saga that seems to be dragging on and on. Along with Kyle Turris and Brett MacLean, Boedker has first line upside but will likely need further experience to get there. He will likely figure among the team’s top 2 scoring lines in the coming year.
12. Erik Cole, Hurricanes – Cole had never hit 82 games played in his entire NHL career since 2001-2002, and despite a lengthy career so far, has only played more than 75 games in three seasons out of 9 since his beginnings. He has nonetheless established himself among the Canes for quite some time as a talented winger with good size, and if healthy, is likely to continue to produce at this pace.
DEFENSE – KEEPERS
1. Shea Weber, Predators – in five seasons, Weber has topped 40 pts four times (and missed one due to injury and injury alone) and is solidly in contention for the Norris trophy on an annual basis. A true complete defender, he is highly coveted and likely to continue his career in Nashville after a resounding 5 year debut with the team that drafted him. Only 25, there’s still a lot more hockey in him and he will remain a dominant force in the NHL as time goes on, scoring anywhere from 45 to 55 pts each season.
2. Erik Karlsson, Senators – in his second season with the Sens, Karlsson broke out and scored 45 pts manning a powerplay originally intended to be handed over to Sergei Gonchar. When you’re outpointing the Gonch, you’re likely very good or the Gonch is getting old. It’s both in this case, but Karlsson retains superior playmaking ability on the blueline and is going to be a dominator as the Sens improve their offensive side with time. Expect 45+ in the coming season with huge upside as Karlsson gains experience as a puck-mover.
3. Christian Ehrhoff, Canucks – the young German defender has improved his stats since coming over to Vancouver from San Jose, and continues to impress the Vancouver brass with his deadly shot and offensive skills. Gifted on both ends of the ice, he has now crossed the 50 pt barrier and will likely fit into any team’s top powerplay given he will be an unrestricted free agent, in his prime. Expect 50+ anywhere he goes.
DEFENSE – RESIGNS
4. Jack Johnson, Kings – after two strong seasons, Johnson has begun to live up to the hype he generated in college and in the WJC prior to his top-end drafting after Crosby and Ryan in 2005. Johnson, in signing a 7 year contract with the Kings, will likely be featured on the top-pairing and powerplay unit for years to come, and as he continues to improve his defensive game, will prove to be more and more valuable to the Kings organization. His point totals will likely never hit the same heights as that of Drew Doughty, but they will likely remain a close 2nd as JJ has the offensive knack of a forward and elite skating skills.
5. Dmitry Kulikov, Panthers – at the young age of 20, the two-year d-man has now taken over the reigns of the Florida power play and will likely see a jump in production. Still very raw, Kulikov has great upside as a power play quarterback and will likely feature on the Florida (or anyone else’s team if Panthers management figures out a way to trade yet another great asset) blue line for years to come.
GOALTENDER – KEEPER
1. Jonathan Quick, Kings – in three seasons with the Kings, Quick has had Jonathan Bernier breathing down his neck as the former 1st round pick has always held the “pedigree advantage” despite Quick’s performance in all three seasons. Quick remains a threat to win 40 games and averages 4-6 shutouts per season, and likely has the upper hand in the race to determine who will mind the net for the Kings long-term, and will likely feature among’s the league’s great goaltenders for many years to come.
GOALTENDERS – RESIGNS
2. Jonas Hiller, Ducks – Hiller was set to complete a career year in 2011 before vertigo issues became a major concern for the young Swiss goalie. Very talented and poised, with good size and movement, he will likely return to his former production and be an integral part of the Ducks franchise for years to come.
3. Kari Lehtonen, Stars – Lehtonen could simply not stay healthy prior to joining the Stars, and often got criticized for not delivering following a 2nd overall drafting in 2002 by the Atlanta Thrashers. Conditioning and hard work in the offseason paid off, as the Finn went on to play in 69 games in 2011, and became the number one with ease for the Stars. Jack Campbell and Richard Bachman remain options in the long-term, but don’t expect Kari Lehtonen to disappear from the scene too quickly, as he is now in his prime.
next up: MAGNUM (Achille get cracking!)