DPFHL

The three final keeper analyses will be posted after this Saturday, beginning with Assman, and then depending on Mr. Marra, Magnum and finally Hot Liquid.

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: RED MENACE GENERAL MANAGER: DEREK GROSSI FORWARDS KEEPERS 1. Paul Stastny, Avalanche – the talented Paul Stastny is an excellent playmaking center with good vision, hands and above all else, excellent hockey IQ. Often compared to his father, he has a proven track record after having scored 70 pts or more in 3 of his five seasons in Colorado, with the remaining two under that mark due to injuries and a change in team direction. With the sudden changes that came in 2011, Stastny will likely continue to provide a 1-2 punch down the middle with Matt Duchene, and is capable of posting 75-85 pts in a full season. Only 25 years of age, he will likely begin to step up his production if he can find decent chemistry with a strong scoring winger, at which point, 90 pts is in reach. 2. Ales Hemsky, Oilers – while performing at nearly or at a point per game pace, Hemsky continues to have significant difficulty staying healthy since 2005 when he posted a career-best 77 pts in 81 games. With the rise of young talent around him, the talented winger, if healthy, can produce 70-80 pts in 70 or so games, but needs to keep that consistency if he plans on remaining a key element to the Oilers forward corps into the future. At 27, he is now in his prime and is capable of hitting his best numbers once more. 3. Andy McDonald, Blues – Since posting an excellent 78 pts in Anaheim centering Teemu Selanne, McDonald has struggled to replicate his performance over a full season with the Blues. Having averaged 58 games played in his last 4 seasons, he is a definite injury risk, but manages to produce nevertheless as a top line center. With the continued development of the young core in St. Louis, McDonald may figure more into a leadership role going forward, but still has the offensive skill to put up 60-70 pts in a full season. 4. Jakub Voracek, Blue Jackets – there is a rare breed of NHL talent that appears every 5-6 years that can deliver no matter what the situation. Those players become generational talents while the majority of highly-rated prospects need three major ingredients to succeed: talent, opportunity, and a good supporting cast. Voracek has the talent, but has not been able to build on so far pretty modest production because of a dire need for the Columbus organization – a talented defender who can move the puck up the ice. All the Jackets forwards have the innate talent to produce at an elite level, but will continue to be stifled because of this need. Voracek is no exception, however no one should be forgetting him quite so soon – the young winger is only 21, and was once projected to become a top line winger with excellent vision, size and strength. There have been flashes of brilliance and other segments of total disappearance. With the right team, Jake can break out, but it will take time. An improvement is to be expected in the coming year, with anywhere from 50-60 pts being achievable, and much more (70-80) being a possibility once things are set in motion. 5. Jason Pominville, Sabres – Pominville has hit 80 pts before in his career, but that performance screams one-year peak rather than a true indication of what’s to come. The picture of consistency for the Sabres missed some time to injury for the first time since joining the NHL, but continues to score at a 60+ pace. Expect more of the same, with some competition from healthy youngsters who are on the brink of breaking out in Buffalo. 6. Wojtek Wolski, Rangers – with an 18 game, 18 pt performance with the Coyotes to end 2010, Wolski looked like he was on his way to finally living up to his potential as a solid top six winger. But after a less than stellar start to the 2011 season, Wolski would be dealt to the Rangerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs. At 25, there is still a lot of time left for him to become the scorer he was once pegged to become, but time is quickly running out for the inconsistent winger. Expect 45-60 pts depending on where he plays. 7. Kyle Turris, Coyotes – Turris was simply brought along too quickly in what seemed like a no-fail decision in 2008 to put the young forward with the big club full-time. Stunting his development curve, Turris would have to be sent back to the AHL to hone his skills accordingly, as the young phenom who scored 121 pts in 53 games in junior has yet to deliver at the professional level. A peak performance with the San Antonio Rampage in 2010 of 63 pts in 76 games gave many people hope Turris could be a producer once more, and it is still possible that 21 year old delivers on his draft pedigree, and breaks out in 2011, 50 pts being in reach, with a ceiling in the 70s attainable in the long term. RESIGNS 8. Olli Jokinen, Flames – the aging Finn has likely seen his best days pass him, as his Florida heyday of 91 pts would dictate, and while Jokinen’s performance in 2011 showed encouraging signs of a return to greatness, consistency still remains an issue at 32. While such a problem is usually okay for a 22 year old player, 32 year old players should be well into their prime and leading by example, which Jokinen is not doing anymore. Ever since his best season in 2006-2007, Jokinen has gradually declined and unless he can find the drive and fire back, he will continue to produce at this level. 9. Cody Hodgson, Canucks – while its undeniable that Hodgson has […]

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: PATRIOTS GENERAL MANAGER: VINCE SPADAFORA FORWARDS KEEPERS 1. Patrick Kane, Blackhawks – Kane continues to be an integral part of the Hawks core, with four straight 70+ pt seasons, among which his career best 88 was hit in 2010. At 22, he is a dominant playmaking forward and part of the NHL elite. He also possesses excellent puck coverage skills continues to be a very good bet to flirt with 80-90 pts throughout his career, with a ceiling above that when he enters his prime. 2. Henrik Zetterberg, Red Wings – Zetterberg is a long-standing part of the Red Wings dynasty that has had so much regular season success and playoff success in the last decade. He is a five-time 70+ pt scorer, whose career best of 92 pts is consistently within reach, with the Swede having scored 80 pts in 80 games in 2011. While it may seem he has shaken his tenacity to miss 10+ games per season, he continues to be a small risk, but will likely produce at a point-per-game level regardless. Expect 75-85 pts. 3. Patrick Sharp, Blackhawks – Sharp’s scoring took on a new level in 2011, when the talented forward was on pace for 40+ goals early on in the season. A fall back to earth resulted in an excellent season nonetheless, with Sharp nearly eclipsing the point-per-game mark in 74 games with 71 pts. He remains a threat to hit 60-70 pts year in, year out. 4. Mikko Koivu, Wild – now in his prime, Mikko Koivu has led the Wild by example throughout his tenure in Minnesota, having scored three straight 60+ pt seasons, and averaging a 70+ pt pace throughout this time. Assuming he continues to partnered with decent wingers, he can continue to put up pts well into the decade at this current rate. Expect 70+ pts. 5. James Neal, Penguins – the big winger who was a prized member of the Dallas Stars top six was traded off to the Penguins to fill a need in Alex Goligoski late in the 2011 season. While many saw the Pens as the clear winners of the deal, Goligoski quickly made an impact with Dallas while Neal’s impact required more patience. The big goalscorer awaits to be paired with one of Pittsburgh’s top centers, likely Crosby, where its anyone’s guess if some chemistry will form or not. Given the right chemistry, Neal’s upside with Crosby centering him can blow his 55 pt career best out of the water, and the talented winger may even potentially breach the 40 goal barrier. A conservative expectation for 2011-2012, assuming Crosby returns at 100%: 60+ pts. 6. Nik Antropov, Thrashers – Antropov’s career looked like it would get into high gear after the gigantic center scored 67 pts in 2010, but the progress would hit a skid as 2011 would see a regression back to 41 pts in 76 games. He is nevertheless Atlanta’s top center option at this time, and with Evander Kane likely hitting his stride and becoming the dominant power forward so many people have him pegged to become, a bounceback campaign may well be in the cards. Expect 50-60 pts if not more, depending on the emergence of Kane as Atlanta’s go-to forward. If so, Antropov will be the benefactor. 7. Mikael Samuelsson, Canucks – The Canucks top six has become crowded with NHL stars. Whomever is lucky enough to play alongside the Sedins or Kesler will benefit, and Samuelsson is in top end of the list of players who spend the majority of their time with either of the three stars. With two consecutive 50+ seasons, more of the same can be expected from the aging Swede, however several depth players and prospects in the Vancouver system may have something to say about that in due time. RESIGNS 8. Linus Omark, Oilers – the highlight reel on skates, Omark made his first impression in the NHL pissing off its more traditional stars with a spinorama move that made all the Sportscentre highlight reels the next morning. While that goal left an imprint on most Edmonton fans, the Swede also impressed throughout the season with his skill, forming a little chemistry alongside Magnus Paajarvi and Sam Gagner in the process. He figures to be part of the Edmonton top six, and will likely continue to electrify the NHL with his antics. 9. Radim Vrbata, Coyotes – Playing in a defensive system often does wonders for goaltenders but will also tend to stifle the offensive group. Vrbata scored at a 50 pt pace in 2011 alongisde Ray Whitney and Martin Hanzal on what was arguably Phoenix’s top line, despite the constant shuffling by Dave Tippett. His consistency continued to improve as the year went on, so much so that one can expect further improvement from the Czech forward. 10. Valtteri Filppula, Red Wings – after showing an inkling of a breakout in 2010, scoring at a 50-60 pt pace that year in 55 games, Filppula regressed once again in a disappointing year to a paltry 45 pt pace, scoring 39 pts in 71 games. He has a tendency to miss time and hasn’t hit his stride offensively as many have hoped, but remains a fixture in the Detroit top six, playing with Johan Franzen and Todd Bertuzzi the majority of the time. 11. Frans Nielsen, Islanders – Neilsen once again surpassed his prior year totals with 44 pts in 71 games, playing the majority of the time with Michael Grabner as the two showed some chemistry, and Grabner went on a scoring spree in the second half of the 2011 season. The young Dane has top six potential and will offer good scoring production at his price on an increasingly interesting Long Island squad. 12. Milan Michalek, […]

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 […]