In anticipation of the new NHL season, sportsnet.ca previews a division a day leading up to opening night.
To begin, the Atlantic Division is the Pittsburgh Penguins’ to lose. After hoisting the Stanley Cup in seven games over the Detroit Red Wings last spring, the Penguins lost little to free agency and aim to build on a confident core of young talent.
But with a new coach in New Jersey, a familiar face in net for the Flyers and the No. 1 pick in the draft playing on Long Island a dark horse might emerge to challenge the Penguins in 2009.
By Mike Brophy, sportsnet.ca columnist
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
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Jacques Lemaire is back. Will the New Jersey Devils winning ways also return?
The Devils won the Atlantic Division crown last season, but were eliminated in the first round of playoffs in seven games. So when Brent Sutter decided to skip town, GM Lou Lamoriello brought back a familiar face. Lemaire coached the Devils to its first Stanley Cup championship in 1994-95.
The Devils have some of the finest talent in the league including future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur, rising star forward Zach Parise and veterans Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner. And as long as Lamoriello is running the show, they will be very competitive.
Burning Questions: Will Lemaire’s defence-first approach suck the life out of Parise’s game? There is a huge risk of that happening. Parise finished fifth in league scoring last season with 45 goals and 94 points and established himself as one of the brightest young stars in the game. Hopefully Lemaire will realize what a special talent he has before him and let the kid do his thing.
Can the Devils go deep into the playoffs without a stud on the blue line? Think back to the Stanley Cup days when the likes of Scott Niedermayer, Scott Stevens and Brian Rafalski ruled the roost. Ahh, those were the days. Nowadays the Devils have some very competent defenders, but none that you would recognize on the street if you tripped over them. Paul Martin is rounding out into a fine No. 2 guy, but the team lacks a bona fide No. 1 defender.
Will the Devils finally wise up and give Brodeur some rest during the regular season? Hard to say. His play was limited last season because of injury, but when he is healthy the Devils ride him into the ground and he has looked tired come playoff time. The Devils play in one of the toughest divisions in the league where every point in the regular season has playoff implications, but they cannot afford to have a tired goalie in the spring.
Can the Devils get more out of Brendan Shanahan and Brian Rolston? It looked like a great piece of strategy when Lamoriello brought those veterans, along with Bobby Holik, back to town last year, but it really didn’t have the desired result. Holik hit the wall; Rolston was injured, too, but his play clearly took a dip and Shanahan came on board late and wasn’t as effective as he’d been the previous year in Detroit. Rolston has played some of his best hockey under Lemaire.
How will the Devils do? As long as Brodeur is healthy, they will not only make the playoffs, the Devils will be a threat to capture the division title. But it’s what they do in the playoffs that matters, and the team is coming off back-to-back first-round defeats.
The Devils won the Atlantic Division crown last season, but were eliminated in the first round of playoffs in seven games. So when Brent Sutter decided to skip town, GM Lou Lamoriello brought back a familiar face. Lemaire coached the Devils to their first Stanley Cup championship in 1994-95.
As competitive as the Devils will be, it’s hard to see them going deep into the playoffs.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Lose the Stanley Cup final. Win the Stanley Cup. So what’s next?
A repeat?
When you have two of the best young players in the NHL, it’s hard to quickly write off the notion, even though you’d have to think the odds are stacked against the Penguins. Both Pittsburgh and Detroit made it back to the final last season after meeting for the Cup the year before, but history indicates not many teams are able to pull it off. And the NHL hasn’t had a back-to-back champion since 1996-97 and 1997-98 when the Red Wings pulled it off.
Let’s sit back and see exactly how far Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin can carry the team – especially in an Olympic year when both will be counted on to carry their respective country to a gold medal.
Burning Questions: What can we expect out of Crosby and Malkin this season? Hard to say, really. With most players you can guess how they’ll do based on past experience. But when you are talking about two of the game’s brightest stars who are both in their early 20s, it’s really tough to guess how much better they can be. Certainly the fact they played a long season last year and will be key players for the Olympic teams could work against them. Then again, they are superstars.
Has Marc-Andre Fleury arrived as a big-time goaltender? In a word, yes. There was some school of thought that Fleury couldn’t get over the hump when the chips were down, but waltzing into Detroit and beating the Red Wings 2-1 in Game 7 of the final last year disproved that theory. His post-season numbers weren’t overwhelming, but the number that counts the most – 16 wins – ends that discussion.
Is the defence good enough to repeat? Let’s be honest; there weren’t too many out there that thought last year’s defence was good enough to help this team win a Cup, especially with Sergei Gonchar playing hurt. The loss of big Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi will be felt, but the pain will be lessened if veteran Jay McKee can make a solid contribution.
Will Jordan Staal ever become all that he can be playing behind Crosby and Malkin? Probably not. Staal has the potential to be a much more effective point producer, but doesn’t get the luxury of playing in the scoring situations as other players of his ilk who play for other teams. That certainly doesn’t mean he will not become a well-rounded, two-way performer. Heck, he just turned 21 and he’s already one of the best two-way threats in the league. But you are left wondering if he couldn’t be a consistent 80- to 90-point guy given half a chance.
How will the Penguins do? As long as Crosby and Malkin are healthy and rested, there is no reason to believe the Penguins can’t be a serious threat for the Cup. It will be up to sophomore coach Dan Bylsma to make sure both players get the rest they need down the stretch for another long playoff run.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Will it be a return to the Broadstreet Bullies?
With the addition of defenceman Chris Pronger and celebrated mad man goaltender Ray Emery you might think so, but the answer is probably not. Oh, the Flyers will be plenty tough to play against. But this is also a very skilled team and goofiness can be a great equalizer when you are up against a team of similar or slightly less skill.
The Flyers have plenty of fire power and a solid defence so if Emery can keep his cool and concentrate on winning games, the Flyers could get back to their first Stanley Cup final since 1996-97 and their first championship since 1974-75.
Burning Questions: What kind of an effect will Pronger have on the Flyers?
Well, let’s see. He joined the Edmonton Oilers and took them to the Stanley Cup final in Year 1. He joined the Anaheim Ducks and they won the Cup in Year 1. The Flyers were already a solid team without him, so is there any reason to suggest he won’t have a similar effect on his new club? Nope. One big difference this year is Pronger will likely be the shooter from the point on the power play, unlike in Anaheim where he was more of a set-up man. Expect an increase in goals over the 11 he scored last season.
Has Emery matured?
Indeed, but some will still suggest he is a loose cannon who will ultimately self-destruct. I don’t see it that way. Emery is a very good goalie who nearly got himself drummed out of the league. This shot with the Flyers might be his last and he understands a good year will lead to a lucrative long-term contact. My guess is he’ll be on his best behaviour.
Was last season’s 46 goals an aberration for Jeff Carter?
There is no guarantee he’ll hit that plateau again, but becoming a consistent 40-goal man isn’t out of the question. Carter is a big strong kid with a wicked shot and will get plenty of opportunity to match last year’s total. One thing, though, if the Flyers are to go deep into the playoffs, they’ll need more than the one goal he scored in six post-season games last year.
How much will the Flyers miss veteran Mike Knuble?
That depends on whether or not rookie James van Riemsdyk is able to step into the lineup and make an impact. The second overall pick in 2007 is big like Knuble and can score as well. Make no mistake about it; Knuble was a valuable member of the Flyers, but if the kid can get it down, his absence won’t be quite so severe.
How will the Flyers do?
If the Penguins take a step back, look for the Flyers to be right there banging on the door to replace them as Eastern Conference champs and Stanley Cup finalists. This is a team that is highly motivated to win now and the arrival of Pronger gives them a fighting chance.
NEW YORK RANGERS
The Rangers are definitely one of the NHL’s mystery teams. On one hand they have one of the league’s best goalies in Henrik Lundqvist and made one of the biggest acquisitions in the off-season by signing right winger Marian Gaborik. On the other hand they don’t have a lot of depth and are constantly making lineup changes that result in a lack of cohesiveness.
The Rangers finished fourth in the division last season and then went down in seven games in the opening round of playoffs. On paper they don’t appear to be significantly better and the fact Gaborik has been suffering groin problems already has to be a huge concern.
Burning Questions: How good can Gaborik be?
When he’s healthy he is one of the game’s most pure offensive talents. In just 17 games last season he managed 13 goals and 23 points. When he’s healthy there’s no reason to doubt he can be a Top 10 scorer. But he’s always hurt. What will be really interesting to see, if he’s healthy, of course, is how he’ll do playing for a coach (John Tortorella) who will let him use his creativity versus playing for a coach (Jacques Lemaire) who wouldn’t.
Will Sean Avery have a positive or negative effect on the team?
What do you think? Avery was well behaved upon returning to the Rangers from Dallas last season, but he’s a time bomb. There is no denying his talent and the positive effect he can have on a team when he is focused and things are going his way. But throw a little dissension into the mix and all bets are off. One thing is certain: Tortorella won’t put up with his crap. If he steps out of line, he’ll be gone.
Will Tortorella have the patience to mould this team if it gets off to a bad start?
Absolutely. There’s no question Fonzie loves the limelight and loves to be front and centre, but when push comes to shove he knows it’s a long year and this team’s only chance for survival is a game plan. It’s going to take patience.
Is Chris Drury really cut out for Broadway?
Based on his play the first two years in Manhattan, the answer is an overwhelming, ‘No’. Maybe it’s a money thing, but Drury has shortchanged the Rangers by scoring 25 and then 22 goals after managing 37 in his final year with the Sabres. One goal and no assists in six playoff games last season was unacceptable, too.
How will the Rangers do?
Don’t look for big things from this team this season. Even if Gaborik is healthy and productive, the Rangers won’t have many easy games. The Atlantic Division is tough and even games against the lowly Islanders seem to take on a life of their own.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
How can we put his politely? The New York Islanders are a work in progress. There, that’s better than the New York Islanders still suck, right?
Even with the arrival of child prodigy John Tavares, this team stands little hope of making the playoffs. The fact is they will likely be in the race for the first overall pick again.
Maybe that’s not a bad thing. After all, Tavares will need additional talent in the lineup. Perhaps a couple more high draft picks is what this team needs in the ;ong run. The first line heading into training camp: Sean Bergenheim, Doug Weight and Kyle Okposo. Bet none of those guys go in the first round of your office pool.
Burning Questions:
Will Tavares win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year?
Given the fact somebody always scores on a lousy team, Tavares will have plenty of opportunities to pile up the points. His skating is a concern going into the year, but he is a quick study and will soon figure out what he needs to do to keep up with the pace. Few players have ever come into the league with hands as good as his or with such great vision. I say he wins it.
If Tavares stumbles, is there any other reason to even watch this team?
Actually, there is. Mark Streit has blossomed into one of the game’s best and most productive defencemen, having led the Islanders in scoring last season with 16 goals and 56 points and was plus-5 on a team that allowed 76 more goals than it scored. Still find it hard to believe the Montreal Canadiens let this guy walk as an unrestricted free agent.
Will Rick DiPietro return to the crease and re-establish himself as the team’s No. 1 goaltender?
Given the fact the team went out and acquired Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron, you’d have to think the chances are pretty slim. And that’s a shame. DiPietro looked like he was about to rise up the ladder with the best goalies in the game before injuring his knee. He played in just five games last year. The good news is he has started taking shots in practice.
Besides Tavares, are there any other kids that might offer hope for the future?
Start with Okposo and follow that up with a dose of Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau. If rookie coach Scott Gordon did one smart thing last season, it was ramping up the ice time of his kids, the players this team will rely on in the very near future. Okposo responded favourably with 18 goals and 39 points while Bailey and Comeau also both showed promise.
How will the Islanders do?
Without question they will battle the Phoenix Coyotes and Atlanta Thrashers for last overall and the top pick Taylor Hall first in the draft next June. If Tavares lives up to advanced billing, they may at least be fun to watch.
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