BY MIKE BROPHY
sportsnet.ca
In anticipation of the new NHL season, sportsnet.ca previews a division a day leading up to opening night.
The Northeast Division is arguably the most competitive as Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal have all re-tooled this summer in anticipation of getting back to the post-season and challenging the big, bad Bruins.
In Buffalo, a potential 40-goal scorer in Thomas Vanek and a top goaltender to keep them solid at the back leaves the Sabres with the dark horse tag.
By Mike Brophy, sportsnet.ca columnist
BOSTON BRUINS
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The Boston Bruins were one of the NHL's feel-good stories last season. The B's increased its points total for the fourth straight season and served notice that they will be a team to contend with going forward.
The loss in the second round of the playoffs was disappointing, without question, but the Bruins will be looking to take the next step this season. Coach Claude Julien stresses defence, as most coaches do, but also understands offensive players need to stretch their wings. The Bruins were the NHL's second highest-scoring team last season with 274 goals. In fact, seven Bruins had 20 or more goals last season.
That said the Bruins lost their top goal-scorer, Phil Kessel, who was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for two first round draft picks and a second round pick. It was a curious move for a team hoping to make an impact now.
Burning Questions:
Will the Bruins miss Phil Kessel?
Is the Pope Catholic? Any team would miss a 36-goal scorer. Kessel has overcome cancer and various other injuries to remain one of the fastest, most pure goal-scorers in the NHL. You have to think his best days are ahead of him. On the other hand, GM Peter Chiarelli is a pretty sharp man, and for him to allow a young star like Kessel to walk, he may know something the rest of us don't.
Can Tim Thomas do it in the playoffs?
The Johnny Bower of his era, Thomas is a fighter who, at age 35, has taken his game to a plateau that many never imagined he'd reach. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner understands, however, it's all about what you do in the playoffs. Thomas has what it takes to carry a team deep into the playoffs. Even though the Bruins went out in the second round last season, he had the best goals-against average, 1.85.
Is Marc Savard justified in feeling ripped off by not being invited to Team Canada's summer evaluation camp?
Darn right he is! This guy has finished ninth in NHL scoring in three of the past four seasons and has become a reliable two-way performer having gone from minus-19 three years ago to plus-25 last season. And with six goals and 13 points in 11 playoff games, he demonstrated he saves his best for last.
With Kessel out of the picture, who replaces his goals?
Let's start with Michael Ryder. The former Montreal Canadien had a nice bounce back year under his old pal Julien and is capable of adding to the 27 goals he notched last season. Blake Wheeler had a fine rookie season so 30 goals might not be out of the question and if tough guy Milan Lucic really is being groomed to be the next Cam Neely, then adding to his 17 goals from a year ago is a must.
How will the Bruins do?
There is no reason to suggest the Bruins won't repeat as division champions even with the loss of their top goal scorer. Julien is a demanding coach and he has plenty of talent to work with. Depending on how the Canadiens numerous roster changes work out, they might give the B's a run for their money, but it is unlikely any of the other three teams will be in the hunt.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
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Being smaller and faster didn't work for the Montreal Canadiens coming out of the lineup, but that has not discouraged GM Bob Gainey from going that route once again.
After a very disappointing 100th anniversary season, Gainey tore it down and rebuilt it through free agency. That includes an entire new first line of Scott Gomez, Michael Cammalleri and Brian Gionta. Travis Moen was adding as a hard-nosed checking winger while additions to the blueline include veterans Jaroslav Spacek, Hal Gill and Paul Mara.
All the additions are proven players with plenty left in the tank. It's what returnees like Carey Price, Tomas Plekanec, Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn, Guillaume Latendresse, Matt D'Agostini and Maxim Lapierre do that could determine the fate of the team.
Burning Questions:
Is Jacques Martin the right man to be coaching the Habs?
With a 517-406-175-15 career record, the answer is a resounding yes! Martin favours a defence-first style, but lest we forget he was behind the bench when the Ottawa senators were lighting it up a few years ago. He won't say no to a few goals each night. More than anything Martin will help the team improve on its goal-against average which ranked 21st in the NHL last season.
How did Gainey do with his free agent shopping expedition?
Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: Gainey paid a lot of first-line money to players who have enjoyed the majority of their success as second-liners. Gomez struggled in New York while Gionta has not come close to duplication the 48-goal season he had following the lockout. We'll take a wait-and-see approach with Cammalleri who played well with the Flames last season until the arrival of Olli Jokinen. Gainey fared better picking new defencemen where Spacek, Gill and Mara are proven safe players.
Can Carey Price bounce back form a disastrous season?
It would be a little silly to write a kid off in his early 20s so we won't. That said; Price must show more discipline and conviction if he is to get back to being considered one of the brightest young goaltending prospects in the game. He is a big (6-foot-3, 226 pounds) kid with a lot of agility and potential. It would be a shame to waste it.
Who feels the heat if the Habs struggle this season?
Obviously it will be Gainey. It was the GM's decision to allow defencemen Sheldon Souray, Mark Streit and Mike Komisarek walk and get nothing in return rather than trade them or sign them to contract extensions. Any way you try to paint it that was a huge mistake. Gainey has been widely regarded as one of the game's deep thinkers, but if Montreal flops this year after his much-ballyhooed makeover, his reputation will take a shot.
How will the Canadiens do?
There is every chance this team will be competitive based on Martin's coaching exploits in the past, but how competitive remains to be seen. Much will depend of how the new forwards do. If they play to their potential, the Canadiens should be fine. If they don't, the restless Habs fans are going to be calling for heads to roll.
BUFFALO SABRES
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There is a fine line between being competitive and competing for the Stanley Cup.
The Buffalo Sabres will be competitive so long as Lindy Ruff is standing behind the bench and Darcy Regier is calling the shots from upstairs. But whether or not the team can re-build and develop in to bona fide Stanley Cup contenders is up in the air.
Outside of adding a couple of dependable depth defencemen this past summer, the Sabres did little to help improve a team that finished third in its division and 18th overall. That said, they suffered injuries to significant players so simply getting them back healthy should be enough for the team to show improvement. Coupled with continued development from players capable of taking their game up a notch or two and the Sabres should be able to skate with most teams most nights.
Burning Questions:
Who is the leader on this team?
Despite the fact the Sabres alternate captains - like they are a peewee outfit - Derek Roy is the inspirational leader and should be awarded the 'C' full-time. He is a solid player at both ends of the rink, plays the power play and kills penalties. Roy is the second coming of Danny Gare with more skill and upside. This team needs a face and it belongs to Derek Roy.
Can Thomas Vanek win the Rocket Richard Trophy?
With Dany Heatley feeding off of Joe Thornton, the chances may be slim. But if Vanek remains healthy, he should be in the hunt. The best player to even emerge from Austria (are there any others?), Vanek is a student of the game who is determined to live up to the big contract presented to him by the Sabres.
Do the Sabres have an ace up their sleeve?
They do, and his name is Tim Connolly. If this guy is healthy, he is a point-per-game player who makes those around him better. In 48 games last season Connolly managed 18 goals and 47 points and had a team-best plus-12. Problem is he has been limited to 48, 48 and 63 games the past three seasons. Sabres fans are keeping their fingers and toes crossed.
How far can Ryan Miller carry the club?
The Sabres were 4-7-2 while Miller sat out with an ankle injury and it cost them a spot in the playoffs. Miller remains one of the best stoppers in the league, but he can't do it on his own. Luckily for him, Ruff is a stickler for detail and he should receive plenty of help. Many wondered if Miller wouldn't eventually to his hometown Red Wings, but he signed on for the long haul and wants to win in Buffalo.
How will the Sabres do?
This is a team that plays it pretty close to the bone. If they are healthy, they should be able to compete with and beat many teams. Injuries, though, can take them right out of the picture because they don't have a lot of depth. They do, however, have some players - the likes of Drew Stafford, Jason Pomminville and Clarke MacArthur - who have demonstrated the ability to add to their offensive totals.
OTTAWA SENATORS
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We haven't seen a soap opera plot like the Dany Heatley Affair since Victor married Nikki for the seventh time on the Young and the Restless. But it's over and both sides have moved on.
There is no question the Senators will miss Heatley's scoring punch. Goal-scorers like this dud don't grow in trees. But aside from the fact the team made it to the Stanley Cup final two years ago, and Heatley was a solid contributor, his presence wasn't enough to push the club over the top. So maybe moving in a new direction isn't a bad thing.
General manager Bryan Murray did well to get Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo and a second round pick in return for Heatley, but it remains to be seen if they can combine to replace his offence.
And don't think just because Heatley has departed there will be a shortage of plotlines to follow. Alexei Kovalev arrived from Montreal and he's perfectly capable of putting on a show all by himself.
Burning Questions:
Will the absence of Heatley ruin the Senators chances of making it back to the playoffs?
There is no question his loss will be felt, but the pain will be lessened if Cheechoo comes close to being the scoring threat he was a few years ago when he won the Rocket Richard Trophy is 2006. That doesn't mean he needs to hit 56 goals again, but 35-40 would be outstanding. The addition of Kovalev and Michalek gives the Sens experience and depth they have lacked in the past.
Can Kovalev make an impact in Ottawa?
Physically, he sure can. But when a guy professes his love for his old team and suggests he may want to finish his career in Montreal, it should be a cause for concern. If Kovalev is committed to Ottawa, he can be a huge influence on young players looking for veteran guidance. But as we know all too well, his mind tends to wander. Kovalev is a unique talent, but the results aren't always there.
Can young coach Cory Clouston win over his young team?
Based on the way veteran players said Heatley would have to explain his actions had he elected to return to the team, you'd have to guess that Clouston has the backing of the masses. When Heately's play faltered last season Clouston cut back on his ice time. That in itself should send a message to the players…it's his way or the highway. The Senators seemed to react to Clouston after he replaced Craig Hartsburg so it will be interesting to see how he'll do with a full season before him.
Do the Senators have the goaltending to be considered legitimate playoff contenders?
Newcomer Pascal Leclaire has shown at times he is capable of being a bona fide No. 1 stopper in the league, but he seems a little fragile and the Senators need a rock between the pipes. Brian Elliott gave a fare showing last season in limited play, but it remains to be seen if he has what it takes to be a starter.
How will the Senators do?
Ottawa has some skill up front, to be sure, but the defence is thin and the goaltending a question mark. After going to the Stanley Cup final in 2006-07, the Senators have been on a steady slide and it's looking like a second straight season out of the playoffs is a distinct possibility.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
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The Maple Leafs executed one of the biggest makeovers in the NHL in the offseason and GM Brian Burke put his indelible stamp on the organization.
It actually began last season when Burke signed a handful of college players and continued through the summer when he revamped his defence bringing to town Mike Komisarek from Montreal and Francois Beauchemin from Anaheim. He also outbid the opposition to sign The Monster, Swedish goaltender Jonas Gustavsson.
Burke has indicated it is his goal to make the playoffs this season, but the fact he then traded two first round picks and a second round pick to Boston for 21-year-old Phil Kessel suggests he wants - expects - to go deep into the post-season this year.
Burning Questions:
Are the Leafs moving in the right direction?
One thing is certain, with new players and new direction, they are going to be a much tougher team to play against. Burke won the Stanley Cup three years ago in Anaheim with a tough team that led the NHL in fighting and one can expect this year's Maple Leafs to follow a similar route. All the way to the Cup? Don't be silly. But they will certainly be a much tougher team to play against.
Is the goaltending up to par?
This in a nutshell, is the Maple Leafs' biggest concern. It is one thing to give your defence an overhaul, but if the guys charged with stopping pucks struggle, nothing else matters. Vesa Toskala had a miserable season last year and now he's being asked to change his style. The transition could take time. While a number of teams chased Gustavsson, there are no guarantees he is NHL ready. And he had a minor heart operation before he saw any NHL action in training camp.
Who will score for the Leafs?
The Leafs don't have a player who will wind up in the Top 10 in scoring this season, but there is such a thing as scoring by committee. When Kessel is healthy (he's not expected to play until November thanks to a bum shoulder) he'll be the prime scoring threat. Jason Blake, Mikhail Grabovski, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Nikolai Kulemin, Lee Stempniak, Niklas Hagman and Matt Stajan can also produce. Scoring should be as much of a problem as some people think.
Who is under the most pressure in the Leafs organization?
That would be coach Ron Wilson. He was basically given a free pass last year, but expectations are much higher this year. The Leafs were the NHL's worst defensive team last season and that obviously needs to change if they are to realize their goal of making the playoffs. Wilson has a proven track record so we'll allow him to take a mulligan on last year.
How will the Leafs do?
Making the playoffs is a realistic goal and like Leafs fans have been saying since 1968, once you get in, you never know. They will also be a more competitive and entertaining team than they were a year ago. Burke never said he'd turn things completely around overnight, but he has made some pretty dramatic changes that should reap immediate rewards.
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Poll
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Who will win the Northeast Division?
