Is this thing on?

*blows the dust off*

Hello motherpuckers! We are a little over two weeks away from training camps opening up, and with that, the season will not be far behind. Time to shake off the cobwebs of inactivity the off season has oh so generously placed upon on, and look towards the 2011-2012 regular season. Only way I know how to welcome in the season is with previews, predictions and breakdowns. So let's get to it. However, I would be remiss to start anything without mentioning the latest in an unfortunately growing list of former player leaving us all too soon. Wade Belak was found dead in a condo in Toronto today. I have heard conflicting reports of how he died, but common theme is suicide. He is the third player to found dead this year along with Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien. There seems to be a connection between "enforcers" and suicide/accidental death now that the league should certainly look into in some fashion before this becomes even more common.

now, on to the "fun" stuff....


NORTHEAST DIVISION:
last season's standings.

Boston 46-25-11
Montreal 44-30-8
Buffalo 43-29-10
Toronto 37-34-11
Ottawa 32-40-10

The Northeast Division is one of the toughest divisions in hockey. The three most recent Vezina trophy winners are in this division. Tim Thomas-Ryan Miller-Tim Thomas. That's a nice goaltending sandwich right there. Of course we also have Carey Price, who finally staked his claim as the legitimate #1 goaltender in Montreal. How good does that Halak trade look now? And the upstart James "Optimus Reim" Reimer who managed to displace both former Conn Smythe winner Jean-Sebastian Giguere and Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson as the Maple Leafs starter and goalie of the future. Rounding out this goaltending pinwheel is Craig Anderson. He had a bit of a let down year last season, compared to 09-10, but started to bounce back after being traded to Ottawa. If you like goaltending, you'll love this division.

Boston Bruins: Last year's Stanley Cup Champions Boston Bruins will enter the season largely unchained. Nothing drastic in terms of roster moves this off season, which will either help or hinder them coming into this season. Gotta love the ambiguity of that statement. With a mostly identical roster, you bring back chemistry and familiarity. Familiarity breeds contempt does it not? The Bruins have won the ultimate prize. While one is never enough, there is always the dreaded "cup hangover" to contend with next season. The Bruins certainly have the tools to compete for the cup again without a doubt, but they are their own biggest obstacle this year.

Montreal Canadiens: Free agent pick up of Erik Cole was a bit of a surprise, but a solid pick up to help bolster their offense. The biggest surprise was the extension given to Andrei Markov, who has had nothing but injuries the past few seasons. It seems like Montreal is banking on Markov overcoming the injury bug. Perhaps Pierre Gauthier is looking to beat the odds two years in a row with this signing. Will Peter Budaj be a better backup than Alex Auld? With the amount of games Carey Price plays in a season, it probably won't matter. In an already tight divisional race every year, it's quite possible the Habs will be even more competitive.

Buffalo Sabres: Apparently the Sabres new owner was like a kid in the candy store come July 1 this summer. Ville Leino, Christian Ehrhoff and trading for Robyn Regehr mark the key off season moves for the now free spending Buffalo Sabres. Whether or not Ehrhoff and Leino will be worth their hefty pay will be a big question mark. Leino played his first full NHL season last year and appeared to be out of gas down the stretch. Ehrhoff had two good years in Vancouver and cashed in big time with a 10 year deal. While Buffalo is a solid team, they're not as good or deep as Vancouver. Will these moves come to get Buffalo over the hump, or will they be ones the Sabres ultimately lament? One move they will not regret is bringing in Robyn Regehr. He can act as the older mentor for Tyler Myers which he was lacking last season. Look for Myers to have a much more consistent year this year, which will also help Buffalo greatly.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Tim Connolly, John-Michael Liles, Matthew Lombardi (good news on his part, concussion symptom free) and Cody Franson are the newest players to don the blue Maple Leaf emblazoned sweater. Draft picks Tyler Biggs and Stuart Percy look to be solid prospects to come up in the future. For now, this is going to be the Optimus Reim show. Will James Reimer be a flash in the pan, like so many goalies before him (even Brian Burke has called him out on this possibility), or will he be new coming of Felix Potvin? There is a very real possibility that the Maple Leafs will become more like their division counterparts in the respect that they will go only has far as their goalie(s) will allow. Tim Connolly will also need to stay healthy to be an effective pivot for Phil Kessel. Connolly hasn't played more than 75 games since 2002-2003, and has lost almost two full seasons due to concussions, so that will also be something to watch up in Toronto. Regardless of all that, the Maple Leafs will need to get off to a better start than previous seasons if they wish to have a shot at making the playoffs. Something they haven't done since before the lockout.

Ottawa Senators: Ahh the redheaded stepchild of the Northeast Division. They really are the Edmonton of the Eastern Conference...but without all that 1980's glory. After a great run to the cup finals against the Ducks, the Senators have consistently gotten worse and worse. This team is completely dependent on their top line for essentially all their offense. Couple that with a goalie who has an injury report longer than my arm, and you have a recipe for disaster. Drafting Mika Zibanejad goes towards bringing depth and youth down the middle, but that's assuming the young Swede will be able to crack the line up immediately. I'm not so sure that will happen, and so once again, if anything happens to Spezza or Alfredsson, the Sens could be in serious trouble...unless Craig Anderson pulls some of Avalanche magic and carries this team on his back like he did in 09-10 for Colorado.


Predictions: I want to say Boston will win their division again, but I think Buffalo has made some much needed additions to take the top spot. A healthier Atlantic Division will make it a tall order for the other teams in the east to make the playoffs, but once again it is possible for over half of this division to make the playoffs. I'm going to call it like this though.

Buffalo
Boston
Toronto
Montreal
Ottawa

Yes, I might be predicting it a possibility that Toronto actually ends the dry spell of playoff appearances. That said, don't plan the parade yet, Leafs Nation. It's a long hard road to get there, and they have to play much better out of the gate to make it plausible. Otherwise, it's the Habs in the third spot and taking one of the 6th-8th spots in the East.


Other divisions to follow shortly, so keep your pants on. Also, new season, new reminders. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

A What the Puck Kinda Day

The truth about Ryan Smyth requesting a trade comes out, the Canadiens sign the best d-man on the IR to a 3 year deal and oh yeah, the Flyers take over the hockey world in a span of about 20 minutes. What the pucking puck just happened today?! We're going to try to make sense of it all.

In terms of trade rumors, Jeff Carter's name comes up just below Tomas Kaberle's. Just in the past few weeks he has been traded to every team in the NHL...twice. Probably rumored to play in the KHL or form a new league, the JCHL, where he would be every team. The long term extension he signed earlier this year put a kink in the speculation chain, but since the Flyers early exit and their acquisition of the rights to Ilya Bryzgalov, Carter had once again become the center of trade rumors. The most popular, and ultimately the actual deal made, was Carter to Columbus for their first round draft pick, 8th overall, winger Jakub Voracek and a 3rd round pick. While Voracek doesn't have the stats resume, but he was amassing 40-50 points in Columbus and could certainly do more on a deeper Philadelphia squad. The big piece here is the 8th overall draft pick. The Flyers now have a chance to get another young top prospect. Even more rumors abound with this draft pick possibly being packaged with Kris Versteeg to Florida for the 3rd overall pick. Either way, the Flyers have a top 10 pick, something they haven't had in recent years. Oppositely, the Blue Jackets get what they have sorely needed since their inception, a number one center. While Carter is a shoot first center, he will be able to free up space for, and help distribute to Rick Nash.

Then shortly after the Carter trade was announced, the Mike Richards trade broke. This trade was certainly a shock. For all the news the rumor mill "leaks" this was held incredibly close to the vest. This is probably THE trade that shook up the hockey world, and particularly flyer fandom, the most. A player once regarded as the next Bobby Clarke became the next Eric Lindros over the course of a season. Mike Richards was their captain, and a player who gave his all on the ice. It's being reported that the trade call between GM Paul Holmgren and Richards was an emotional one, and I don't doubt it. Thought to be the Flyers captain for life, Richards managed to help the team even as he's leaving. The Los Angeles Kings got what they also needed in a legitimate top 6 foward. He will most likely play behind Anze Kopitar on the 2nd line for the Kings. In return for their coveted 2nd line center the Kings sent the Flyers a 2nd round draft pick, winger Wade Simmons and prospect Brayden Schenn. Schenn is widely regarded currently as the best player not in the NHL. A young gifted center who has been a point-per-game player (or better) at both the WHL and AHL levels. While it is unknown whether or not Schenn will immediately jump in the line up (presumably at the 3rd line spot) or play for the Flyers AHL affiliate, Wayne Simmons is a player who can jump in the line up now. Possibly a 2nd or 3rd line winger who is close to reaching the 20 goal mark, Simmonds will help to replace some of that offense the Flyers have traded away today.

The probable catalyst for at least one of these trades today was the signing of Ilya Bryzgalov to a 9 year deal worth 51 million dollars. The Flyers have now put their goaltending fate in the hands of the 31 year old Russian netminder. While this now puts a question mark around fellow Russian Sergei Bobrovsky, the Flyers got their "elite" netminder and are set to move forward. It's uncertain whether or not these trades will pay off or not, but regardless of the outcome, it's fair to say June 23rd will be a day Flyer fans everywhere won't soon forget.

A few quick words on the Markov signing by Montreal. Markov is a good player, but a player who has missed significant time the past two seasons with lower body injuries. A ten year veteran in the league, it is possible that his best years are behind him in terms of durability. A 3 year deal with a cap hit of 5.75 million seems like a gamble to me, but I suppose that's why I don't work as a GM in the league.

As far as the Ryan Smyth rumors are concerned, it has been handled ridiculously. Here is a player requesting a trade for family reasons that for whatever reason has been turned into a he said-she said debacle. While I understand trade possibilities leak all the time, this situation could certainly have been handled better from all sides. Reporters report what they are given. I don't blame Bob McKenzie for "breaking" the story, nor do I blame the Edmonton Journal for asking Smyth about it. However, I do think that it might not have turned into the circus it has become if handled in a slightly different matter. This isn't like Danny Heatley who simply wanted out of Ottawa (or Atlanta), and became a drama queen about where he was possibly traded. This is a player who has carried himself with nothing but class his entire career, and has asked to go "home" for whatever reasons (it's none of my business to know). Let's not try to crucifying him. Oddly enough everyone, there are things more important than hockey. Well sometimes anyway.

It's preview time.

No pontificating (I just wanted to say that) about the end of the regular season. You know it's over, and you know it was awesome. The playoffs are here and it's time to get down to business. So without further adieu (bi-lingual up in the mo-pucker) here is the Eastern Conference matches and my "expert" analysis and predictions.

#1 Washington Capitals vs. #8 New York Rangers
Regular Season results, Rangers win series 3-1 (Caps 2-1-1)

The Rangers once again needed the last day of the season to clinch a playoff spot, and they needed help from the Tampa Bay Lightning to do it. The Caps on the other hand, have once again finished on the top of the heap, and while they failed to capture the President's Trophy for two years in a row, but till have the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers will be out to prove that they deserve to be in, and the Caps are looking to finally get passed the first round and show they're for real.

Caps: The Caps have improved defensively and that was their biggest downfall the last few years in the playoffs. Their run-and-gun offense was fine in the regular season, but when the playoffs start and teams buckle down, it's not always enough to play fast and loose. What remains to be seen is whether or not Mike Greene will be back in the line up after dealing with his head injury. He will certainly help the Caps power play which finished the season at 17.5%. The biggest question will be whether or not the Caps young goaltenders will be able to rise to the occasion and get them over the hump. All three goaltenders who have played for the Caps this season have been rather solid between the pipes, but only Varlamov has any kind of playoff track record. Neuvirth seems to be the Caps choice heading into the first round, so it will be interesting to see if he's the key to the Caps success or not.

Rangers: Rangers might have just made the playoffs on the last day, but the last few games have been some really inspired hockey with gutsy wins over division leaders Boson and Philadelphia. The Alanta shutout was a cause for alarm, but they bounced back and won when their backs were against the wall. They have lost one of their emotional leaders in Ryan Callahan to a broken leg, courtesy of Zdeno Chara. The return of captain Chris Drury seemed to be a morale boost. The play of Henrik Lundqvist has once again been stellar, as he is the NHL shutout leader this season, with 11. King Henrik, has been known to let in a softy in his day, so it should be interesting to see which version of him shows up come playoff time.

Breakdown: This series should be rather intense. The Rangers have a chip on their shoulder, but the Caps have something to prove of their own. Rangers and Caps have met in the playoffs before so there could be some bad blood brewing, if it hasn't started already. With the new commitment to better team defense, expect the Caps to put on a better display than they did last year against the Habs. Goaltending will be the key to this series. The Rangers actually put up more goals this season than the Capitals (233 to 224), so they aren't afraid to go toe-to-toe in an offensive battle. Their biggest problem is that they tend to score in bunches, so if the well runs dry against a team like the caps they could be in trouble. Will either goaltender be able to steal a game, possibly the series, for their respective clubs? Whoever can win the battle between the pipes will win the series. I think the regular season struggles of the Caps have made them a stronger team for the playoffs.

Bottom Line: Caps in 6. that's if they can get playoff caliber goaltending from Neuvirth...or whoever starts for them. If goaltending fails them again, Rangers in 7


#2 Philadelphia Flyers vs. #7 Buffalo Sabres
Regular Season results, 2-2 (Philly 2-1-1, Buffalo 2-2)

Stop me if you heard this before, but Philadelphia needed a solid last game effort to clinch a spot, and they have goaltending issues. Only difference now is that last year they were fighting for the final playoff spot, and this year they were fighting for the Atlantic Division title and #2 seed. Goaltenders for Philadelphia have been healthy this season as opposed to the trauma unit they had in goal last year, but their anointed starter has been pulled twice in his last few starts once again raising the question of who will be in the pipes come Game 1. Buffalo, has been...well Buffalo. Seemingly flying under the radar, but playing well enough to make it in.

Philadelphia Flyers: As stated above, the Flyers are once against in the midst of some goaltending issues, but that's par for couse at this point. Honestly, if this happened to any other team, it wouldn't be a big deal, but Philly's been having goaltending issues since Hextall's 2nd go round in the orange and black. It's up there with death and taxes as things you can count on in life. The recalling of Michael Leighton from the Phantoms only adds to the goaltending situation. Are the Flyers showing no faith in rookie Sergei Bobrovsky, or are the Flyers simply looking to add some insurance in case something should happen to either him or Boucher?
Offensively the Flyers are arguably one of the deepest teams in the playoffs. 7 players with 20 goals or more, two of which are over 30 goals on the season. They also have two players who just missed the 20 goal plateau, which means they could've had 9 players with 20 or more goals. Defensively, the Flyers have a terrific crop of 6 D-men, although the absence of Chris Pronger, courtesy of a broken hand, has been detrimental to the team. All aspects of their game has been suffering without his veteran leadership on the ice. Waiver pickup Nick Boynton is day-to-day with neck issues, so look for the 6th man to be Danny Syvret, until Pronger or Boynton is healthy enough to come back in the line up. Obviously the Flyers are hoping for Pronger's return first and foremost to help with their mediocre power play and PK.

Buffalo Sabres: Buffalo enters the playoffs on a decent streak of 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, securing the 7th seed. Thomas Vanek has been one of the hottest players down the stretch, and their leading scorer for the season. The acquisition of Brad Boyes has also sent a message that the Sabres are out to win, and they want to win quickly. Previous ownership of the team was notoriously frugal, and the new owner has come in with a message to the team that he wants to win, and he's willing to spend to do it.
Defensively one has to look at Tyler Meyers, rookie phenom who had one of the worst sophomore slumps in the first half of the season. He has since been on a tear and managed to finish even in plus-minus, after being a minus for the majority of the time leading up to the midway point of the season. Jhonas Enroth has also been a pleasant surprise for Buffalo this season. It used to be the Sabres only had a chance to win with Miller between the pipes, as Patrick Lalime has been terrible during his tenure in Buffalo. To give you an idea of his "success" in Sabres blue, in the past 3 seasons with the sabres, he has been a combined 9-26-5, including 0-5-o this season. Those are numbers that instill confidence in your back up. Enroth on the other hand is 9-2-2 this year, already equalling Lalime's wins over 3 seasons. If something should happen to Miller, Enroth appears to have the skills to step in and get some wins for the Sabres. At the end of the day though, this is still Ryan Miller's team, and he will need to be brillant to stifle the Philadelphia attack.

Breakdown: Philly limped into the playoffs this year, but they did that last year too. Will they capture lightning in a bottle twice, or will the lackluster 20 game stretch be too much for them? The long layoff should help, and hopefully they will use that time to rest up and nurse any nagging injuries before the series with Buffalo. Their regular season match ups have been exciting games, and the playoff atmosphere should only add to that. Will the man they call Bob say "nyet" to the Sabres and bring the Flyers one step closer to the Cup, or will they need to call on their expirienced backups? The Flyers have the physical edge, but Buffalo can punish you for being careless with the puck. If the Flyers can control the flow of the game their forecheck will wear down Buffalo. They will need to play smart and limit the term overs, something that has been a bit of an issue as of late. If they can do that, they can win.

Bottom Line: Flyers in 7. Ryan Miller will steal some games, but the Flyers should be able to prevail

#3 Boston Bruins vs #6 Montreal Canadiens
Regular Season results Montreal wins 4-2 (boston 2-3-1)

Boston Bruins: The "big bad" Bruins have certainly lived up to their name this year. Towards the top of the lead in fighting majors, and if there is a stat for this, they have to be up there in breaking opponents bones. Well at least Chara is anyway. Their abilities to be excellent loan sharks notwithstanding, the play of Timmy Thomas has to be noted. While most people out there were willing to write him off after last season (myself included) he has stormed back and not only silenced even the harshest of critics, he did so while setting a new record in save percentage of .938%. As long as Tim Thomas is between the pipes, the Bruins will have a chance to win every game they play.

Montreal Canadiens: In one of the most bizarre moves of last year's off season, the Habs traded the rights of Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues for a 6-pack and half a pizza. After their run to the Eastern Conference finals, defeating both the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins in playoff series for the ages, they essentially say "thanks for that, now don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya," although it probably sounded way more pompous in French. The Habs decided to stick with Carey Price and he has rewarded them with his best season as a professional, with each stat being a career high for him. The Canadiens will need more of this kind of play out of him if they have any kind of hope to beat the Bruins

Breakdown: This is like a prize fight where it's speed versus power. There is no way the Habs can compete with the Bruins in a physical series, but the Bruins cannot compete with the speed of the Habs. Whoever can control their aspect of the game will be victorious. There is already a long standing history between these two Original Six teams, and this regular season has only added to it. The Pachioretty incident will certainly be talked about again, and the Habs should use that to their advantage, but looking at their first meeting with the B's after that, they simply came out flat. The Canadiens will need to skate and move the puck quickly to keep Boston reeling. Conversely, the Bruins will need to bang on the Habs every chance they get. You often hear players say from the bench "no easy plays, boys" and the mantra should hold true for Boston. Finish every check and make the Habs pay a price every time they touch the puck, and they will success. Both goalies will need to bring their best efforts to give their teams a chance to win. You have two Vezina caliber goaltenders going head to head in one of the most storied rivalries in the NHL, and this should be an exciting series to watch.

Bottom Line: Boston in 5/6. The Habs will need to find a way to respond to the physical game of the Bruins if they have a chance. Plus, Tim Thomas has been a beast all season, and I don't that changing any time soon.

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #5 Tampa Bay Lightning
Regular Season results, series split 2-2

This is the series the league will be pushing the most in the first round. Will Crosby be back in time to play in this series? What will Steven Stamkos be like in the post season? These are two teams with players who know what it takes to win the cup, and who want to win. Who will want it more?

Pittsburgh Penguins: When Crosby was on nearly a two point-per-game pace, the play of Marc-Andre Fleury was suspect at best. Then when both Malkin and Crosby were lost for the season, the man they call Flower came up huge for them. Jordan Staal finally returned to the line up after his broken hand injury and has been this team's number one center in the absence of the team's top two guys. Credit to Dan Bylsma for turning this team into a more defensive minded team amidst the loss of their two most offensively dynamic players. It is working well for them, as everyone was expecting them to fall off the face of the earth without Crosby and Malkin.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Steve Yzerman and Guy Boucher have turned Tampa Bay into what they should've been for years, a playoff team. Steven Stamkos was on pace for 50 in 50, and while he fell off his torrid offensive pace, he still managed to finish the season with 45 goals and 91 points. Line mate Martin St. Louis turned in his second best season in terms of points, and set a new personal record for assists. In terms of Center-Winger combinations they are 2nd only to the Sedins in terms of points, but not by much. Vincent Lecavalier looks like he's finding his game again scoring more goals this season than last season, despite playing in 17 fewer games. He's a long way from his career years, but he knows what it takes to win, so look for him to step his game up in the playoffs. The big question in Tampa is goaltending. Expect Dwayne Roloson to start. At 41, you have to wonder if he has it in him to sustain a long playoff run, but he seems to be ageless between the pipes.

Breakdown: The Penguins are perennial favorites for the division title and conference lead. This year was no different, and they challenged right up until the end for the division. Tampa Bay was leading their division for awhile, but lost it to the Caps. With both teams having a mix of veterans who know what you need to do to hold the cup over your head, as well as young hungry players, it will simply come down to who wants it more. Dwayne Roloson carried the Oilers to the Cup finals in '06, and if not for his injury, it's quite possible they would've won. Can Rollie the ageless goalie do the same for Tampa Bay? The Lightning are a team that can score, but they can also give up as many as they put in. Roloson will have to be his old self and be prepared to steal this series.

Bottom Line: Pens in 7. This should be a back and forth series, but it just seems like the Pens will find a way to pull this one out. Roloson will have to steal a few games in order for the Lightning to be victorious. Tampa has given up the most goals this season, and I don't see that changing in the playoffs.




So there you have it, the east in a nutshell. Yeah i picked all the top seeds, but honestly these series can all go either way. The only series I really see being "easy" to predict is Boston/Montreal. I will be back tomorrow, or Tuesday, with the Western Conference previews. Those should be fun matchups.

My thoughts on Chara hit

because clearly you all live under a rock and haven't heard enough about this already.

We'll get it out of the way, so here's the hit if you haven't seen it yet....



and here is an excerpt from the official ruling, which you can read in its entirety here.

"After a thorough review of the video I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline. This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly -- with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards. I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous.

"This was a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface. In reviewing this play, I also took into consideration that Chara has not been involved in a supplemental discipline incident during his 13-year NHL career."

Now for my two cents. It is easy to watch this hit and and scream for Chara's head on a plate. If you listen to the chants of "Fuck you Chara" in the video above you can see Habs fans were ready to take it right there. You can't begrudge them for their reaction. If that happened to a player on a team I support in their home arena, I'd want revenge as well. You can't expect any less from passionate fans, regardless of location.

The fact of the matter is, that this is NOT a suspendable hit under what everyone seems to think is the be all end all of NHL rules, the infamous Rule 48, which states (as per the NHL's website)

Rule 48 - Illegal Check to the Head

48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted.

48.2 Minor Penalty - There is no provision for a minor penaltyfor this rule.

48.3 Major Penalty - For a violation of this rule, a major penalty shall be assessed (see 48.4).

48.4 Game Misconduct – An automatic game misconduct penalty shall be assessed whenever a major penalty is assessed under this rule.

48.5 Match Penalty - The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent with an illegal check to the head.

48.6 Fines and Suspensions – Any player who incurs a total of two (2) game misconducts under this rule, in either regular League or playoff games, shall be suspended automatically for the next game his team plays. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.

If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion (refer to Rule28).

Watch the hit again with these guidelines in place. It does not fit . While it is a lateral hit, the head is NOT the principle point of contact. For those that would argue this still shot as an example, that's called a follow through. It's forearm to shoulder at best with the hand coming forward, as i doubt Chara is a contortionist.

So, if you haven't figured it out yet, I agree with the NHL's ruling for once. Before you ask, no I am not a Bruins fan either. I am simply looking at this hit within the guidelines as set up by the NHL. And here's the kicker, IF the NHL punished the injury and suspended him for a few games, I wouldn't have protested. Disagreed absolutely, but the fact remains that the NHL has a tradition of punishing the injury and not the play. The referees did that last night, by handing out a major penalty and a match misconduct. Ultimately this is a play that any defenseman could and would make to prevent what would be an odd man rush and scoring chance. It is a tragic result and everyone should keep Max Pacioretty in their thoughts. The NHL had a rather difficult decision to make, and I believe that at the end they made the right one. Unfortunately this is a no-win situation for the league. Should they suspend people would say it's excessive, and since they didn't people are saying they should. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Trade deadline

Yep, it's that time again. With the trade deadline just 15 days away, I figured why not do a quick rundown of what I think every team needs to do in terms of acquiring players (buyers) or draft picks/prospects (sellers). Rather than break up the teams by division, as i have done in the past, it's gonna be just a list. With the amount of teams on the verge of making or breaking in the next few weeks it seems like there may not be so many traditional sellers as there are buyers, but either way the trade deadline could be interesting, so hold on to your hockey hats.

Anaheim Ducks: 31-21-4 66 points, 6th in West. (buyers)

Anaheim are one of five teams in the west of have given up more goals than they have scored so far this year, and they are the only one of those teams in a playoff position. They have already addressed a portion of their defensive struggles by trading Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner and a conditional 4th round pick for Francios Beauchemin. I expect the Ducks to make a move for a foward to help balance the lines and take some pressure off Perry-Ryan-Getzlaf

Atlanta Thrashers: 25-23-10 60 points, 9th in the East (buyers)

If the flames want to make their first Kovalchuk-less playoff appearance they will need to remedy their current-21 goal differential. They will need a stay at home defensemen and another solid forward to help boost the goals, but defense is far more important to this team. They have a solid goaltender, and some decent young players up front, but with a penalty kill currently at 76.4%, ahead of only Edmonton's 75%, they need to shore up their defense if they hope to make a push into the playoffs.

Boston Bruins: 31-18-7 69 points, 3rd in the East (buyers)

The Bruins are most certainly in the buying market. They are the best defensive team in the east with just 2.32 goals-against per game, which also ties them for nashville for 2nd overall in the league. There have been rumors of Boston persuing another defenseman, which is a possibility, but given the cap space from Marc Savard's injuries they can definitely afford another forward. They are also 5th in the league averaging 3.05 goals per game. While GM Peter Chiarelli has the cap space to make a bigger move, I expect him to make depth moves, and shore up his team for the long run. Honestly I could see them go for a seasoned backup, given Tuukka Rask's subpar season. Tim Thomas will obviously be the #1 down the stretch and into the playoffs, but if something should happen to him, will Rask be enough to get them to the promised land? Right now I sincerely doubt it.

Buffalo Sabres: 26-22-6 58 points, 10th in the East (buying and selling)

The Sabres are in an interesting position. having played the fewest games of anyone in the east, they have the best chance of gaining ground, given their current position in the standings. The next few games will be critical for them. While they can certainly sneak in in the 7/8 spot, I think this season will more than likely end up a wash for Buffalo. I'd look for them to start testing the waters to see what they can get for some rental guys on their list. Tyler Ennis and Tyler Myers are the young building blocks on this team, and it would be nice to see the Sabres gear up for the long haul rather than just make it in again only to be knocked out early and have a mid round 1st pick.

Calgary Flames: 28-22-8 66 points, 10th in the West (buying and selling)

A few weeks ago it looked like the Flames were in the running for a lottery pick, but after an impressive run including going 7-1-2 in their last 10, Calgary is currently one point out of 8th and 4 points out of 3rd. Look for interim GM jay Feaster to see who is buying and who is selling. Would Iginla agree to leave if it would help this team in the long term, or would they trade reliable, but coveted Robyn Regehr? They're currently -4 in goal differential, but part of that was based on their awful play earlier in the season. The Flames are another team like Buffalo who can be both. Will they attempt a run with what they have, or start breaking this team down for a true rebuild, which has been something this team has needed for awhile.

Carolina Hurricanes: 27-22-8 62 points, 8th in the East (buying and selling)

A team much like Calgary and Buffalo where the next week or so will decide their fate. The Hurricanes have some coveted players like Eric Cole or Joni Pitkanen who would be worth a decent price on the market if they choose to sell. With a relatively young Eric Staal, Cam Ward along with excellent rookie Jeff Skinner, the young core has the understanding of what it takes to win as well as talent for years to come. Their -7 goal differential is something to consider when either choosing to buy or sell as it will be hard to win when you consistently give up more than you can score.

Chicago Blackhawks: 28-22-6 62 points, 11th in the West (selling more than buying, but willing to spend if the price is right)

The Blackhawks are still in cap trouble, so they are limited by what they can do. Good news is, that they are still in it, albeit on the bubble, and the core of this team is still intact. I expect the Hawks to make little noise, but may make a trade in the depth department. Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa, Seabrook and Keith are still here and that's a damn fine group to build around. I expect them to make a bigger splash in the offseason after any type of cap increase is made and their own cap woes get cleared up. I expect Stan Bowmen to listen to any deals, but I don't expect him to dismantle and start from scratch. There's too many good places already in place.

Colorado Avalanche: 25-25-6, 14th in the West (sellers)

The Avalanche finally did what everyone expected them to last year and that is fall off the pace. Only Matt Duschene and John-Michael Liles have played in all 56 games for Colorado so far and a fair amount of their roster has missed chunks of 10 games or more. While I listed them as sellers mainly due to their position in the standings, it can be expected that the Avs will play it safe and not decimate this team at the deadline. This is still a decent team, but they were hammered by injuries this season. The signing of Forsberg was an interesting move as it brings in a veteran presence to the team who knows what it takes to win, but on another level this season is really nothing more than a tryout for Foppa. If he stays healthy look for him to re-sign in the offseason and a healthy, conditioned Peter Forsberg will add something to this team, even at 37-38 years old.

Columbus Blue Jackets: 28-23-5 61 points, 12th in the West (sellers)

I still maintain that the Blue Jackets will miss the playoffs. They play in one of the toughest divisions in the league, and in a conference where every point matters. However, they are on a 7-3-0 run in their last 10 games, so I suppose anything in possible. There are still too many questions for me regarding this team. Is Steve Mason the real deal or just a flash in the pan? will there ever be a dynamic #1 center to play alongside Rick Nash? The -16 goal differential shows that they still need help defensively as well. Something's gotta give for this team eventually.

Dallas Stars: 31-19-6 68 points, 3rd in the West (buyers...maybe)

Why did I say maybe? Because the ownership of this team is in question, so money is tight. They have approximately 6.7 million in cap space, but I can't realistically see it being spent while there are ownership issues. Until that get resolved I see them sticking to what they have mostly, unless they can do a few trades that don't require a huge chunk of change for them. Brad Richards's impending UFA status will also make this an interesting 15 days. There are a number of teams who would like to acquire the center, but will Dallas make the deal, or will they manage to sign him before July 1? It's the front office issues that will make or break this team come the deadline. GM Joe Nieuwendyk has a difficult job ahead of him in the meantime. Damn, I didn't mean to make that rhyme. oh well.

Detroit Redwings: 34-16-6 74 points, 2nd in the West (buyers...but cap strapped)

The Redwings are typically buyers looking to fine tune their team for the playoffs, and this year is no different, however cap issues prevent them from taking on anything significant in terms of salary without giving something up. The biggest "issue" facing them right now is goaltending. Jimmy Howard hasn't been living up to expectations and Osgood has been injured. Joey MacDonald will not get it done for this team, and he currently has the best numbers. The Redwings are an entirely different animal come playoff time so the wings fans out there shouldn't be too concerned. There is an excellent group of winning veterans who know what it takes to win. They should be fine.

Edmonton Oilers: 16-31-8 40 points, 15th in the West (sellers)

Edmonton is a lock for another top draft pick again this year, and are in the position to move any number of players if the price is right. Ales Hemsky and Dustin Penner have been rumored, but I wouldn't put it out of the realm of possibilty to see Khabibulin moved. at 3.75 million and a cup winner, he could become attractive to a team looking to shore up it's goaltending, while not wanting to give up the farm on a Voukun or Giguere, who both come with a higher cap hit. There is an impressive crop of young talent on this team so the Oilers might to look to acquire some younger veterans (late 20's-early 30's) who still have some productivity left in them, but not washed up guys just looking to keep the checks coming in to help mentor the young talent. Still look for them to sell of marketable players, without mortgaging the future, and compiling draft picks.

Florida Panthers: 24-24-7 55 points, 11th in the East (sellers, but buyers too)

Look for Dale Tallon to sell what he can to continue to stockpile draft picks and young players, just like he did in Chicago. the Voukun rumor is too good not to write about, but there is the intent to re-sign him (or so they say). Tomas could get them an excellent return, providing they're willing to take back some salary. While the Pathers have so far played better than their record, proving to be a tough win for opponents most nights, they still need help at almost every position so I'm sure if the right deal comes along, Tallon will make it. They have the cap space to take a bit of a dump if they do decide to move Voukun before he becomes a UFA. They also have seven other pending UFA's to be on this team, so they could look to rebuild come the offseason. Should be fun to watch what they decide to do.

Los Angeles Kings: 31-22-3 65 points, 9th in the West (buyers!)

If there is any team that NEEDS to buy in the coming weeks it is the Los Angeles Kings. After an impressive performance by Jonathan Quick this afternoon against the Flyers, posting a 40 save shutout, it shows how dangerous this team can be, but also shows that they need help up front. While this has certainly been no surprise to anyone who has followed them at all this season, it's even more imperative now. They need to string wins together and they need to do it ASAP in the tight Western Conference. They have some cap space to play with, and have some assets they can move in a player for player deal if need be. Dean Lombardi has been playing it safe so far this season, but now is the chance to be bold. Make the move to get this team into the playoffs and past the first round. Quick is one of the best goalies in the league, and arguably a Vezina finalist. Give him the help in front he needs.

Minnesota Wild: 30-20-5 65 points, 8th in the West (buyers)

Minnesota are tied with LA with 65 points, but have a game in hand so are technically ahead of them. They are up against the cap with a little over a million in cap space to play with, but could do a player for player deal if it helps them. Their special teams are both putting up respectable numbers, 19.9% on the power play which is 8th in the league and a PK of 83.4% which is 11th. The Wild's biggest problem is their scoring .96 goals a game at even strength. While your special teams have to be effective in the post season, you also need to score at even strength. That is their biggest weakness. With the solid goaltending they've been getting from both Backstrom and Theodore, I would expect the wild to go after someone who can help them produce offensively...at least if they want to make the playoffs.

Montreal Canadiens: 31-20-6 68 points, 6th in the East (buyers, but also cap strapped)

The Canadiens need help on their injury ridden blue line, but will need to shed salary to do so. Being a point back of rivals and division leading Boston makes any moves they make a must win for them. Carey Price must continue to perform, and they will need to shore up their defense down the stretch. They can't afford to give up 8 goals against anymore. They also need to beat teams they should be. Getting shut out by the Islanders should be a wake up call that something needs to happen to this team.

Nashville Predators: 30-19-7 67 points, 4th in the West (buyers)

The Predators are quietly one of the most consistent teams in the west. They don't dominate teams the way Detroit or Vancouver does, but they manage to win as a group without any real superstars, with the exception of Shea Weber. They have one of the better goalies in the league in Pekka Rinne and Anders Lindback has proven to be a capable backup. They have one of the best coaches in the league, who in my opinion needs to win a Jack Adams already, who manages to get results from teams most coaches wouldn't want. What Nashville needs to get over the hump is more consistent scoring. Their leading scorer is defenseman Shea Weber with 35 points. They need offensive talent to come to Smashville to make the more competitive and give their defense/goalies some room to breathe. While they never spend to the cap, they do have over 8 million in cap space and can afford to take on a larger contract than their used to to help them go further in the playoffs.

New Jersey Devils: 22-30-4 48 points, 13th in the East (sellers, if they can be taken and buyers)

The Devils under John MacLean were the worst team in the league, and their record now shows it. MacLean showed he wasn't ready for coaching in the NHL, and the team suffered for it. Enter coach Lemaire for his 3rd tour of duty and the team has turned itself around and climbed out of the basement. This is both good and bad. It's good because the roster was way too good to be in last, but they've ruined their chances to get a lottery pick and another young prospect to play in the organization. Cap trouble had crippled this team early on, and the move Jamie Langenbrunner did something to relieve it. Look for other veterans like Arnott to get moved if they agree to waive their NTC's. if they don't, their salaries come off the books at the end of the season and the devils can focus on re-signing Parise to a long term deal.

New York Islanders: 20-29-7 47 points, 14th in the east (sellers, but what's left)

Once again the Islanders are in the basement, and that's to be expected when you sell everything that isn't bolted down. Really the islanders/bridgeport sound tigers have little left in terms of trade value that they don't want to use to rebuild. I still like Garth Snow as a GM, but I understand that he is restricted by ownership. The Islanders were also crippled by injuries again this year. Mark Streit has yet to play a game, Doug Weight has only played in 18 game before being injured and Kyle Okposo only recently returned from injury sustained in preseason...and that's just the "marquee" players on this team. I'd expect Niederreiter to make the squad next year, and maybe their lottery pick from this upcoming entry draft as well. Once again DiPietro looks to be the x-factor as to whether or not he can actually stay healthy, but at this point it's almost a given that the Islanders should carry three goaltenders, just in case.

New York Rangers: 30-24-4 64 points, 7th in the East (buyers)

The Rangers got a much needed win this afternoon over division rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Rangers also got what they were looking for in a strong PK and a resilient come from being victory. The Rangers will need to produce consistently and get strong goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist. There is a little cap space for them to play with, and Glen Sather knows how to spend...just not always wisely. A smart move can keep the Rangers in the playoffs, although given their position I don't see them making it out of the first round, but it's the playoffs so who knows how the blueshirts will respond.

Ottawa Senators: 18-30-8 44 points, 15th in the East (sellers)

The Senators need to have a fire sale. While not to deliberately belittle other teams in the East, when you are behind the Islanders and Maple Leafs you have some issues. Their goaltending is questionable at best, as Pascale Leclaire is injured just slightly less than DiPietro. Their defense has been horrid, and they're getting no sustainable scoring, with a -60 goal differential and the fewest goals for in the league at 126. The Sens really just need to start from scratch. Get market value for Spezza, and let Alfredsson go to a winner. Bryan Murray will, presumably, be fired at the season's end as will Cory Clouston. It really is a chance for Ottawa to start fresh, which is something they need to do.

Philadelphia Flyers: 36-14-5 77 points, 1st in the East (buyers)

The Flyers have been atop the East for the vast majority of the season. With one of the deepest teams in the league both offensively and defensively, the playoffs are a given, and after last season, on the Stanley Cup will be considered a success for this group. While the team are technically buyers, I can't see this team making any drastic moves. They have 8 players with 12 or more goals (the most in the league) and best 6 d-men playing right now. The biggest question is, surprise suprise, goaltending. Will the tandem of Brian Boucher and Sergei Bobrovsky be enough to get them the 2 wins they were shy of last year? There have been speculations of the Flyers going after Giguere or possibly Voukun, which would certainly up their odds come playoff time (assuming if they giggy, he stays healthy), but what will they have to give up? they can take a max of 3 million in cap space thanks to LaPerriere being on LTIR, but will still need to move someone to take on Giguere or Voukun. Versteeg has also been rumored, but again will the Flyers be willing to part with what the leafs will ask for? I would expect Paul Holmgren to play it safe and make a solid depth move. Might that mean saying goodbye to fan favorite Dan "Carbomb" Carcillo? Possibly, but we'll see in the next 15 days.

Phoenix Coyotes: 29-19-9 67 points, 5th in the West (buyers....if they can get ownership sorted out)

The Coyotes are looking like they'll make back to back playoff appearances for the first time since...ever? Keith Yandle is having a phenominal season leading the team, and all NHL defenseman, in scoring with 46 points. with 9 milion dollars in immediate cap space the 'Yotes can afford to take on some hefty salaries if it will help them, but with their ownership situation in flux, they are operating on a budget so it will be tough to bring in more players. Once again it will be up to Bryzgalov to carry this team into the playoffs and possibly out of the first round. The idea of Bryzgalov vs Rinne in the first round (if the playoffs started tomorrow) is an exciting match up. Phoenix can use some help both up front and on defense, but given their position right now, if it ain't broke, don't fix it right?

Pittsburgh Penguins: 35-19-4 74 points, 4th in the East (buyers)

While the Pens are 4th in the East, they are fading fast, as their lack of depth at forward has become evident these past few weeks and more specifically the past few games. Losing 9-3 in the hockey game that broke out at the UFC match on Long Island, and then blowing a 2 goal lead to lose 5-3 against the Rangers this afternoon, this is a team the desperately misses both Crosby and Malkin. Crosby hasn't played in roughly 15 games and still has a commanding points lead over their second leading scorer, Kris Letang. With Malkin lost for the season, they can use his LTIR cap space to make a move for a rental player or two to help up front until Crosby comes back...if he returns this season as his recovery has been slow. It was no secret that the Pens were weak on the wings, but with Crosby and Malkin as your one and two centers it didn't really matter. As long as they had someone who could skate with them and chip in when possible it was enough. Now it clearly isn't. The pressing issue for the Pens is do they persue a winger to play alongside Staal and then Crosby should he return, or do they go after another center to replace Malkin (if that is really possible) and continue as they have. I do not envy GM Ray Shero right now at all. Marc-Andre Fleury has recovered from an early season slump, but can he can he carry this team while their two biggest stars are on the shelf for who knows how long? A lot of questions coming out of "city of champions."

San Jose Sharks: 30-21-6 66 points, 7th in the West (swappers, since they're so strapped)

The Sharks have quietly climbed out of the basement from earlier this season and are now in the playoffs. Antii Niemi has started to play like they've hoped recently posting back to back shutouts. While Danny Heatly is on pace for his worst season in terms of points he still leads the team with points, but rookie Logan Couture leads the team with 24 points. Once again Joe Thorton is dishing assists like nobody's business, but will this line up be enough to get them over the hump? While the sharks have been the model for regular season success and post season failure, can their stuggles this season make them a better playoff team? They will need to make some moves to secure their blue line, and possibly move out Devin Setoguchi to do so. While the Sharks should be active, it might be more little deals like the Ben Eager trade, rather than a huge move one might expect. With their cap situation that's the reality for the sharks. Go with what you've got and tinker where you can.

St. Louis Blues: 24-21-9 57 points, 13th in the West (buyers)

Yes I did say that the St. Louis Blues are buyers. This is a team better than their record, but were simply crippled by injuries. Adding insult to injury, when trying to address their injuries and line up problems, they had two players claimed off waivers, leaving them high and dry. The Blues have a decent crop of young talent and one of the best goaltenders in the league with Jaroslav Halak. It's difficult to actually gauge how good or bad the Blues really are since the team they assembled to start the season isn't really the same team they have now. They have a lot of cap space and should teams be looking to move, the Blues can take them. But I don't expect the Blues to become a salary dumping ground. Look for them to be smart with their moves coming up and then make a move in the offseason.

Tampa Bay Lightning: 34-17-5 72 points, 2nd in the East (buyers)

Offense is not the problem for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They have the 3rd highest goals for in the East behind Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but they give up just as many as they score (172 if you were wondering). While Steve Yzerman has been operating this team with a budget, they do have the cap space needed to acquire a solid defenseman who may have a higher cap hit than they'd like to spend. The addition of Dwayne Roloson has been great for them as he has posted 2 shutouts since coming over from the Islanders. The combination of Stamkos and St. Louis has been phenominal, as the two have combined for 140 points. The Lightning need defense in front of Roloson (and more specifically Ellis) to get this team back to the cup. While they're certainly capable of out scoring a team, like the Capitals of last year, my concern is that if they run into a team who ends up playing tight defense and making the most of their opportunites, will they have the defense to shut them down? Right now I'd have to say no.

Toronto Maple Leafs: 23-27-6 52 points, 12th in the East (sellers, but looking to buy as well)

In typical Brian Burke fashion, he wants to buck the trend of being a full on seller, and look to make player-for-player deals. However given the talent pool that the Maple Leafs have, I can't see many people looking to make those kind of deals. While the Beauchemin trade was good for the club as they needed scoring and Lupul comes to the team as capable top 6 guy (although in my opinion he's definitely a 2nd line winger at best), the team still has no number one center to play with Kessel and needs to address their overpaid and underperforming defense. Kaberle remains the big piece to move if possible. Burke has stated repeatedly that he won't ask Tomas to waive his NTC, and Kaberle doesn't seem interested in waiving. However at this point I would ask him where he would go and see what can be done. All signs are pointing to Kaberle running out the door July 1 and leaving the leafs high and dry, so why not attempt to get something for him in the meantime. Although on a personal note, I'd just like to see it done one way or another, because we've all been hearing about Kaberle all season and the record is old. The Leafs also have a bit of a goalie controversy. Will they move Giguere before the deadline and go with Reimer and Gustavsson? Is "the monster" even in Toronto's plans moving forward? He has had a few health scares with his heart, and so far as played far below expectations. That's a question for the off season I think. Gustavsson has shown flashes of what people have expected since he's come over to the NHL, but will he ever be able to play like that at a consistent level? That's the million dollar question...well that and who would take any leaf offered up in trade.

Vancouver Canucks: 36-11-9 81 points, 1st in the West (want to buy, but we don't take plastic)

The Canucks have so far steamrolled the competition so far. The Sedins are out to prove that last year wasn't a fluke for Henrik and that Daniel is just as good. Daniel is currently on pace for 106 points and 46 goals, both of which would be new career highs. Both Luongo and Corey Schneider (when called upon) have both posted respectable numbers of save percentages over .920 and goals-against averages under 2.40. The Canucks main concern at this point has to be their defense, as there has been a rash of injuries on their blue line, the latest being the concussion to Dan Hamhuis. The Canucks are built to win now, and will they be able to turn it up come playoff time and finally make it past the 2nd round? Time will tell. Vancouver will definitely have to shed salary first in order to make any kind of deal of note, but anything is possible as the deadline nears.

Washington Capitals: 29-17-10 68 points, 5th in the East (buyers...but probably won't)

The Capitals of 10-11 are a far different animal than that of even last year. The Capitals were an offensive juggernaut, daring teams to even try to keep up as they posted over 300 goals for. This year has seen the team struggle offensively and go on a losing streak the likes they haven't seen in washington in years. Everyone has said that their defense has needed work, and it has actually improved, but at a cost to the offense. Ovechkin, usually a lock for a Richard trophy finalist, is on pace for only 30 goals this season, by far his worst in the national hockey league. However he's still at almost a point per game pace, it's just not what everyone has come to expect from the "Great 8." While I believe the adversity they faced earlier this season has been somewhat of a blessing as they have never really handled anything like that before. They've been so used to winning they didn't know how to respond to losing. Now they do. The question still remains whether or not these young goaltenders will be enough to get them to the cup. Both Varlamov and Neuvirth have played well, but both have been injured at times, notably Varlamov. If he can stay healthy, his play will be critical if the caps go into another scoring drought.


Ok....I'm done.