DPFHL

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 […]

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: ASSMAN GM: ROB CAMPOPIANO FORWARDS – KEEPERS 1. Sidney Crosby, Penguins – Crosby shook off any doubt that he wasn’t the very top of the elite in the game in early 2010. His 26 game point streak helped remain atop the league scoring standings for quite some time, despite having suffered a major concussion on New Year’s Day and another the following game following hits from Dave Steckel and Victor Hedman. Crosby is a perennial 110-130 pt threat, he has eclipsed 120 before and will again, and assuming he returns to full health following a scary concussion spell in the 2011 half of the season, should be able to rebound very well given his drive and his level of competiveness. 2. Ilya Kovalchuk, Devils – the $100 million dollar man really delivered underwhelming results in 2010, especially to start the season, as New Jersey’s coaching change and playing philosophy only regained form under the guise of Jacques Lemaire mid-season. With that in mind, Kovalchuk is a career PPG player, a five-time 80 pt scorer and excellent all-around forward. Given the right situation, he has the talent to eclipse 90 pts, but under the assumption of a defensive-minded system (which remains to be seen to this point), expect more of an 80+ performance. 3. Jason Spezza, Senators – a true band aid boy, Spezza has only played one full 82 game season in his eight year career. And while has demonstrated in the past that 90 pts is not in the realm of impossible, as time goes on Spezza seems to be fitting the mold of the 70 game, 65-70 pt player rather than the dominant franchise center he once was. If he can keep himself on the ice and off the shelf for a full-year, he can surprise with 80 pts or more, as his 532 career pts in 526 games demonstrates. 4. Marian Gaborik, Rangers – after a seemingly endless parade of injuries, Gaborik has strung together Spezza-esque seasons (go figure) and remains a top line threat when he is healthy. Only 29, there may very well be a lot of hockey in him, and given the right centerman (ahem, Brad Richards perhaps?), Gaborik may eclipse 80 pts once again over 70+ games. 5. Evander Kane, Jets? – Evander Kane became a fan favorite after having clocked perennial pest Matt Cooke in 2010, and despite his ability to knock out players, Kane has taken great strides in developing his game as a power forward, scoring 43 pts in his sophomore year. The size and talent cannot be denied and Kane will likely crack 50 or more pts in the coming year, with a ceiling probably up in the 70s when he gets into his prime. 6. Dustin Brown, Kings – for a little while, it looked like Dustin Brown would finally deliver that 70 pt season people thought he could deliver. Not so much – the physical captain of the burgeoning Kings delivered another decent 57 pt finish, despite showing some potential alongside Kopitar on the top line. Inconsistencies brought Dustin back to earth, and with it, the Kings offensive numbers also suffered, with the team hitting a big dry spell near the end of the season. Expect more of the same, 50 to 60 pts, unless Brown can hit another level with his top linemate and any potential forward that may enter the mix from free agency. 7. Michael Grabner, Islanders – prior to the all-star break, Grabner looked to be dwindling in mediocrity after being shipped from Vancouver to Florida and then being picked off waivers by the Islanders. At some point in January, Grabner decided he’d score 30 goals in about 50 games, and the rest is history. Now firmly entrenched as part of the Long Island core of young forwards, expect Grabner to try to build on his second half success and likely score 30 goals with 15-20 assists, with upside for more as he grows stronger. FORWARDS – RESIGNS 8. Devin Setoguchi, Sharks – Devin showed signs of a return to his 65 pt form from 2008-2009, but only finished the year with 41 pts as the Sharks relied on other top six forwards for offense over the course of the second half. His role will continue to be among the top six, and a slight improvement might be expected in the coming year. 9. Teddy Purcell, Lightning – Teddy never really became what the Kings drafted him for and was dealt at the deadline in 2010 despite never being given a decent chance. Under the guidance of Guy Boucher, Purcell found his touch and became an agitating and physical component of the Tampa top nine, playing the majority of his time in 2011 with Vincent Lecavalier, or alongside Dominic Moore. Purcell followed up his 51 pt effort in 2011 with a very strong playoff, instilling great faith that the big winger could contribute in a top six role as he enters his prime. 10. RJ Umberger, Blue Jackets – Umberger continues to produce at a 55 pt level despite the Blue Jackets’ dire need to improve on the back end and in goal to ever be considered a playoff threat. Having not been paired up with Rick Nash for very much in 2011, he led the 2nd line for the majority of his ice time and never quits, important for a player of his size. Expect more of the same unless a major shakeup comes about in Columbus’ lineup. 11. Max Pacioretty, Canadiens – Pacioretty was rushed to the NHL in his early years and made the right decision to return to Hamilton to further his development. The dividends are now starting to come in for the Habs, and everyone in the Canadiens management team hopes MaxPac can regain […]