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: THE ROCKERS
GM: DANNY PETTI
FORWARDS
KEEPERS
1. Eric Staal, Hurricanes – the big number one center who now has 7 full seasons in the NHL under his belt and is only 26 is one of the most reliable producers in the NHL today. Having averaged no less than 70 pts for six straight seasons, Staal is among the elite NHL forwards and he is just now entering his prime. He has broken the 100 pt barrier before and may do so again under the ideal circumstances, e.g. if he would be playing with an equally talented winger to set up. It is possible that Jeff Skinner can help with that in the coming years, but for now, expect anywhere from 70-80 pts from Staal, year in, year out.
2. Brad Richards, Stars – Since falling out favour in Tampa Bay and being traded to Dallas in a salary-cap deal, Richards has responded and has returned to the elite stage with two excellent point per game seasons and one injury-shortened one. Richards has broken the 90 pt barrier twice and is talented enough to do it once more, however it remains to be seen where this UFA will land in the coming year. Expect anywhere from 70-90 pts from Richards in the coming year, mostly depending on chemistry and which team he ends up signing with.
3. Claude Giroux, Flyers – Claude’s coming out party began in April 2010, when he would deliver a 21 pt effort in the 2010 playoffs for the Flyers en route to a Stanley Cup Final berth. Giroux had broken out, and many hoped he could turn his postseason success into regular season consistency. Giroux then went on to score 76 pts in 82 games, was the best Flyer on the ice for all situations. His offensive playmaking ability is at an elite level and at only 23 years old, Giroux will have tons more to prove going forward. While he is not the most physically daunting of players, his strength and conditioning prior to 2011 helped him battle consistent attack by some of the opposition’s best defensive pairings. He will be a threat for point-per-game production if he continues to work through his opponents, and is capable of breaching the 80 pt ceiling in the long term. By year’s end, he had climbed up the Philadelphia depth chart to the most ice time amongst the deep forward corps the Flyers have, so any argument against Giroux suffering because of the Flyers’ depth up front are now long gone.
4. David Backes, Blues – Backes, a former third round pick for the Blues, was brought up through the ranks slowly and really broke out of his shell in the 2009 season for the Blues as a budding power forward with leadership qualities. In 2011, as the Blues forward corps sustained heavy injuries, Backes helped carry the attack and finished the season with a career-best 62 pts in 82 games. Backes, at 27, will continue to produce throughout the prime of his career at the current level and has the talent to breach 70 pts in the long-term, at his best.
5. Andrew Ladd, Thrashers – after winning the Stanley Cup with the Hawks in 2010, Ladd was dealt to the Thrashers due to salary concerns and really broke out offensively as the season began. Ladd would go on to score 59 pts in 81 games and lead the Thrashers’ young core to a strong start, despite faltering in the late stages of the 2011 season. He has been named captain of the team and offers excellent scoring potential for the coming season, and will likely figure among the team’s top line for the majority of the year. Ladd has the talent to produce 60-70 pts with some upside above 70 when his linemates begin to hit their stride.
6. Shane Doan, Coyotes – Doan has produced six 60+ pt seasons with the Coyotes and has been the team’s heart and soul throughout its development into a playoff team in recent years. He remains, at 34, a strong offensive presence and good leader for the budding young talent on the Coyotes depth chart. Doan is capable of delivering more of the same in the coming years, assuming he can continue to withstand the rigors of NHL level physicality. Expect 60 or more in a healthy season.
7. Steve Downie, Lightning – Downie, a former first round draft choice of the Philadelphia Flyers, had not played more 32 games in an NHL season prior to 2009-2010 when the young bruising offensive forward scored 46 pts in 79 games. He would score at a similar pace in an injury-shortened 2011 season, and remains a good fit on the Stamkos-St.Louis line, providing ample breathing room for the duo to perform at even strength and chipping in on his own as well. The 2011 playoffs have seen Downie turn into a monster on the offensive end, with having scored 12 pts in 11 games so far as the Lightning have reached the Conference Finals. In the coming year, the physical forward can be expected to breach the 50 pt barrier.
RESIGNS
8. Tuomo Ruutu, Hurricanes – Ruutu shuffled around the top two lines of the Carolina attack in 2011, and finished the year with a career-best 57 pts in 82 games. He is a good forward with some injury history but remains an excellent contributor for secondary scoring, and more of the same can be expected from the Finn in the prime of his career.
9. Rich Peverley, Bruins – Peverley broke out with the Thrashers in late 2009 when he went on a point-per-game tear to finish the season, leaving many hopeful he could break out over a full season in 2010. He did just that, scoring 55 pts with the Thrashers after a very hot start to that season. With the arrival of several pieces before the beginning of the 2011 season, Peverley’s production declined, and by the trade deadline, he was dealt to the Boston Bruins to help them in their cup run. Peverley slots into the third center role for the time being, and while his line provides great energy to the lineup, his production took a major hit in 2011.
10. Blake Comeau, Islanders – Comeau broke out with 46 pts with the Islanders in 2011, playing the majority of his ice time with Josh Bailey and Robbie Schremp. He figures to be a depth scorer for Long Island for some time, as he now approaches his prime and has top six upside.
11. Troy Brouwer, Blackhawks – Brouwer is a decent complementary scoring option for the Blackhawks, and after two seasons figuring among the top nine, may play a more integral part in the Blackhawks attack in coming years, given his work ethic and size.
12. Matt Cullen, Wild – Cullen, at 34, is an aging two-way center that fills the 2nd line role well within the Wild organization. Despite the decline in production in 2011 (39 pts vs. career averages in the mid-40’s), Cullen still has the talent to get back to his career numbers.
13. Bobby Butler, Senators – Bobby Butler played 85% of his minutes alongside Senators franchise center Jason Spezza in 2011, scoring at a 48 pt pace in 36 games as the Sens took the plunge into the tanking depths of the NHL. While the majority of the roster fillers used were legitimate AHL players, Butler is an NHL talent with top six upside, and can benefit greatly from a continuing scoring role alongside Spezza and whomever the Senators hope to draft in the 2011 entry draft, which promises to have several offensive options at the top 10 selection level.
14. Jordan Caron, Bruins – Caron, a former 1st round pick, has good size and strength, and offers the Bruins additional potential top six depth in the coming years. He has had injury issues in the past in his junior years, but has responded well in all situations he’s been put in since, as he now develops his talents in Providence. He will certainly become a full-time NHLer in no-time.
DEFENSE
KEEPERS
1. Brian Rafalski, Red Wings – Rafalski is a venerable threat at the blueline, having scored nine 40 pt seasons, among which four were above 50 pts. He is a top-pairing defenseman on a team that is stacked to win year in and year out, given the offensive strengths of the Red Wings system. At 37, he has nevertheless shown some wear and tear in the current season, but remains a good bet to post 50 pts as a top-pairing option and power play quarterback with Nicklas Lidstrom by his side.
2. Dustin Byfuglien, Thrashers – yet another Chicago Blackhawks salary cap cast-off, Byfuglien joined a young Thrashers team and would quickly make his presence felt on the blueline as a point producer. His first 40 games as a Thrasher had him scoring at a 75 pt pace, and Byfuglien quickly gained notoriety and became the talk of the NHL, even giving him consideration for Norris Trophy honors. But as time went on, and the Thrashers began to fall to injuries and slumps, Byfuglien would go on to a second half scoring at a 25 pt pace. The end result was a 53 pt effort, akin to definitely more playing time, and because the giant had finally been given the necessary opportunity to flourish. Armed with a big contract, only time will tell if Dustin can replicate his efforts year in and year out. He is a threat for 50 pts going forward, with upside for more.
3. Marc Staal, Rangers – Staal flourished under Tortorella’s RANGERS (that’s right Roger, you could have had him too!) when the RANGERS (say it with a long errrrrs at the end of the word RANGERS, makes it more fun) and scored 29 pts in 2011. The top-pairing d-man is an excellent defender in his own end, and hasn’t been known for his offensive side, but possesses the skill to contribute decent numbers nevertheless. Expect 30-35 pts from the big d-man in 2011.
RESIGNS
4. Jason Demers, Sharks – Demers scored 25 pts in 2011, to follow up on his impressive rookie debut. While he has not yet shown the same flash he demonstrated in the Q, the talent to produce at the NHL level is there, and Demers figures to be a part of the San Jose top 4 defensive group for some time, with offensive upside to back that up.
GOALTENDERS
KEEPER
1. Ryan Miller, Sabres – Miller is the engine that keeps the Sabres going. He has shown time and time again that he is a top 10 goaltender at the NHL level, now having figured among that group for five years, always producing at least 34 wins, 5 shutouts and a very competitive save pct. Expect anywhere from 35-40 wins and 5 shutouts from the franchise goaltender.
RESIGNS
2. James Reimer, Maple Leafs – I feel bad for James Reimer. While the young backstopper, chosen 99th overall in 2006 by the Leafs has some good talent, he has been heralded as the next big thing by the Toronto media, after having delivered a respectable 37 game effort for the Leafs to close the season and get this, ALMOST getting them into the playoffs. In Toronto that’s enough to anoint you a saint… Nevertheless, Reimer has potential as an NHL starter with good stats on a good team… the team is the problem. He should be part of a tandem in the coming year, but if he is given the full duties, one should not expect record numbers from the rookie.
3. Al Montoya, Islanders – Montoya, at age 25, has only played 26 full NHL games in his young career as an AHLer, but is likely to figure into Long Island’s goaltending plans for the coming year, given his pedigree as a former 6th overall pick… by you guessed it… THE RANGERS. After having done some time in the Phoenix system, Montoya never really delivered until bringing some consistency to the revolving door of Long Island’s goaltending gauntlet, which featured no less than five starters in 2011. He is likely to pair up with Kevin Poulin in a 1A-1B system (if the GM knows what he’s doing) once Rick DiPietro breaks a leg in October 2011. Expect anywhere from 30 to 50 starts, and depending on Long Island’s progression, he may surprise.