Atlanta Thrashers
Well...Ilya Kovalchuk anyone? They picked up some cheap free agents like Jason Williams and Marty Reasoner. Next to Kovalchuk, their best winger is Colby Armstrong...Yeah this team isn’t going anywhere anytime soon unless Kari Lehtonen can get his act together and keep pucks out of the net...But I wouldn’t count on that.
Boston Bruins
They were able to pick up Michael Ryder even if it was for a lot of money, and they have some young talent (Kessel, Krejci, Lucic) and they will have Patrice Bergeron back after being sidelined last year after a hit by Randy Jones. Also a good fight for starting goalie between Manny Fernandez and Tim Thomas, and Tuukka Rask waiting for his chance.
Buffalo Sabres
It was a bad year for them last year and it could be about the same this year as they lost D-man Brian Campbell and tried to replace him with Craig Rivet and have also resigned Teppo Numminen. They will not run into the Briere/Drury problem of two summers ago next year with Miller as he resigned this summer, and with Lalime as a backup I’m sure Miller will rack up the playing time. If the Sabres go to guys (Vanek, Roy, Pominville and Afinogenov) can pick up the pace from last year they will be alright.
Carolina Hurricanes
They added an alright defenseman in Joni Pitkanen for Erik Cole, resigned Eric Staal and have a good core group (Williams, Walker, and Brind’Amour). Should goaltender Cam Ward play as well as he did last year (37 wins, .904 save percentage) they should be alright in what once was the easiest divison in hockey.
Chicago Blackhawks
Oh boy, can it be. Good hockey may have returned to the Chicago area. With young guns like Kane and Toews (P. Kane and Capt Johnny T) and additions of Brian Campbell (for 8 years) on defence and Cristobal Huet (for 4 years) things are looking up for the Blackhawks.
1 comment:
Perhaps Kari Lehtonen should reserve sitting ON the net for playing the leafs, that would be the start to good goal tending...
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