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: YOSHIES COOKIES
GM: JOSIP VINSKI
FORWARDS
KEEPERS
1. Patrik Elias, Devils – at the age of 35, Elias continues to be an exemplary forward with excellent skill and hands, and manages to find the net with his excellent vision. Long detached from his career high of 96 pts, he remains a heavy contender to flirt with 60-70 pts on an annual basis, depending on the ice time he has to share with the remainder of the Devils top six.
2. Milan Hejduk, Avalanche – another player that has recently hit 35, Hejduk, long detached from a 98 pt campaign in 2002-2003, has been a steady presence for a Colorado club that has met its fair share of change over the years. While he has begun to break down, one can expect anywhere from 55-65 pts from Hejduk in a moderately healthy season.
3. Chris Kunitz, Penguins – while Kunitz first impressed spectators with a 60 pt sophomore season in 2006-2007, he has struggled to duplicate that performance with seasons totaling 50, 53, 32, and 48 pts since then. The trend has never risen above that magical year playing alongside Perry and Getzlaf, despite the fact that Kunitz should have developed some chemistry alongside Sid the Kid by now. Expect 50-60 pts.
4. P.A. Parenteau, Islanders – you’d think Parenteau was a rookie having played his first full NHL season in 2011, but no, he’s 28. After stints with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, Augusta Lynx, Portland Pirates, Norfolk Admirals, Chicago Blackhawks (briefly), Hartford Wolf Pack, and get this, the NEW YORK RANGERS! (wow…. THE RANGERS!), Parenteau, the sonofuvabitch frenchman, found himself on John Tavares’ line. I guess those 8 years of toiling in AHL mediocrity paid off. If Pierre-Alexandre somehow manages to stick to that line as Tavares begins to uncover his potential, he should be good for even more than his 53 pt showing in 2011, but nothing crazy. He is after all, a former member of the Rangers. RANGERS.
5. David Booth, Panthers – Booth is a prolific goalscorer and truly talented forward with excellent upside. Unfortunately for him, he can’t seem to find it since he got clocked 6 ways to Sunday by Mike Richards in 2009. Nevertheless, he has good hands and with the right team and system, should be able to return to his 30 goal ways. He is capable of 60 pts down the line, perhaps even as soon as this year, assuming chemistry develops with Niclas Bergfors on the Stephen Weiss line.
6. Derek Stepan, Rangers – Stepan, a highly regarded prospect drafted by the RANGERS, became a household name in 2011 when he took on a very responsible two-way role down the middle and put up 45 pts doing it. In his prime, Stepan has the talent to hit 60-70 pts, however the 20 year old still needs to work on his consistency.
7. Bryan Little, Thrashers – at 23, Little has shown he can score at the NHL level, despite having had a terrible sophomore season where his 51 pt rookie season was erased from fans’ memories. Despite this regression, he put up a respectable rebound 48 pts in 76 games in 2011, and is now a feature goalscorer on the Atlanta top six. With good mobility and a sniper’s vision, he can achieve the 60 pt mark soon.
RESIGNS
8. Brian Gionta, Canadiens – The Habs’ captain is no longer the player that scored 48 goals in 2005-2006, yet the leadership he brings to the Canadiens dressing room and the consistent presence as a two-way forward in a wonderful Jacques Martin system make Gionta a better all-around player. Unfortunately, this doesn’t translate into mind-boggling numbers, and after consecutive 46 pt seasons, one can expect more of the same from the top six winger.
9. Mason Raymond, Canucks – Raymond really broke out of his shell in 2010 after posting 53 pts on a Canucks team that only just began to show its talent and depth. As inconsistency paired with not enough pts to go around to the players not named Sedin, Kesler or Burrows occurred in 2011, Raymond regressed once again and only hit 39 pts in 70 games. Nevertheless, playing on such an offense can have its perks, and Raymond is likely capable of hitting his peak numbers again, assuming his role remains the same.
10. Antoine Vermette, Blue Jackets – some thought Vermette’s 65 pt performance in 2010 was a bit high, and that it was perhaps a result of extensive playing time with the Blue Jackets’ franchise player, Rick Nash. That might have been true, as Vermette’s pt totals took a hit in 2011. However, he remains a valuable option to the Blue Jackets top six despite continued pressure from the team’s young core to break through, and should be regarded as such going forward.
11. Guillaume Latendresse, Wild – while he missed the majority of the 2011 season, Latendresse impressed the Minnesota brass with his play in 2010 and warrants a continued look as a physical net presence. Expectations should however be tempered given the Frenchman’s inability to crack 40 pts since his beginnings in the NHL.
12. Matt Calvert, Blue Jackets – Calvert impressed the Columbus management prior to injury in the 2011 season as he rose above his 5th round pedigree to provide a scoring punch to a stagnant offense. And while he certainly doesn’t possess the talent of Nash, Voracek, or Brassard, his work ethic above all else make him a likely fixture amongst the Blue Jackets top scorers in the coming year.
13. Cal O’Reilly, Predators – O’Reilly took his time to get to the NHL, but quickly made an impact with the Predators prior to breaking his leg after 31 games. On an offensively-challenged forward corps, his playmaking ability will likely be a factor to consider in 2011-2012.
DEFENSE
KEEPERS
1. Lubomir Visnovsky, Ducks – While considered fragile, Lubo held up to lead all NHL defensemen in scoring in the 2010-2011 season. At the age of 34, he eclipsed his career high once more and scored 68 pts, likely as a result of excellent puck-moving ability, good shot, and playing on one of the more intimidating power plays in the NHL. When healthy, given his track record, he is capable of surpassing 60 pts.
2. Ryan Suter, Predators – the physical all-around defensive presence making up the 1-2 punch for the Predators alongside Shea Weber, Suter has shown for the past 6 years that he can be relied upon in all aspects of the game. While he does not possess the shot or dynamics of Weber, he nevertheless has the talent to post 40-50 pts per season, as he has done in the past.
3. Joni Pitkanen, Hurricanes – Pitkanen has not really played more than 72 games in an NHL season since the 2006 season, however he finds a way to put up respectable pt totals on the majority of teams he has played for. Now a free agent, Pitkanen will likely become a top-pairing defenseman wherever he signs, and expect more of the same from the young Finn going forward, that being approx. 35-45 pts per season.
RESIGNS
4. Bryan McCabe, Rangers – Now a member of the NEW YORK RANGERS, McCabe has become a consistent presence on the blue line despite his age and declining production. He remains a viable top four option assuming he remains healthy.
5. Ian White, Sharks – Ian White became a member of the SHARKS late in 2011 and made a good impression with team into the postseason as well. Aside from Dan Boyle, he stands to be one of the more contributing members of the Sharks’ blue line assuming he re-signs with the team for the next season.
6. Andy Greene, Devils – While the entire Devils team went into a tailspin in 2010, the team itself woke up in 2011 under Jacques Lemaire and Ilya Kovalchuk. After a 37 pt effort in 2010, Greene failed to duplicate this production and stands to be either replaced on the point by younger d-men or will need to step it up in 2011-2012 to retain his place on the Devils’ PP.
GOALTENDERS
KEEPERS
1. Jaroslav Halak, Blues – unlike his Montreal Canadiens counterpart Carey Price, Halak was unable to deliver a full year’s worth of solid goaltending for the Blues, despite an excellent start to the 2011 season. While very talented, the Blues continue to build a contender and when that is near completion, Halak will likely benefit as well. Over a full season, it would be normal to expect 30-35 wins, and 5-7 shutouts.
RESIGNS
2. Sergei Bobrovsky, Flyers – the 22 year old Russian, nicknamed Bobocop in the early portions of the 2010-2011 season, took the reins of the Flyers non-existent goaltending depth and ran with it. He went on to post 28 wins in 54 games, respectable for a rookie, however the glaring inconsistencies left the Philadelphia coaches to continue rolling with a three goalie tandem all throughout the end of the season and postseason. Unless a free agent is brought in, Bobrovsky remains the most logical choice for the Flyers brass going forward, but whether he sticks in the long-run is anyone’s guess at this time.
3. Devan Dubnyk, Oilers – Dubnyk, a former 1st round pick (2004), has taken his sweet time to make an impact at the NHL level. Nevertheless, he responded well late in the 2011 season with good poise on a terribly incoherent team filled with injuries, and will likely hold the fort in the coming season assuming no goaltending signings by the management team.