SportsJudge's Colligan Joins Forbes; Daily News's Spector Promoted to Rangers Beat Reporter; Coslov to Lead SJ Hockey

This was a big week for SportsJudge alumni and friends in the world of hockey:

Michael Colligan, who wrote SportsJudge's heralded hockey column from 2008-2009 and also writes a column on sports business at The Hockey Writers, will soon be joining Forbes SportsMoney. We look forward to seeing Mike "on the cover of Forbes Magazine, smiling next to Oprah and the Queen."

Also, Jesse Spector -- a long-time baseball reporter with the New York Daily News, who competed in the 2009 SportsJudge.com Fantasy Baseball Classic -- has been promoted to the Daily News's new New York Rangers beat reporter. We will be reading Jesse's work from the blue seats.

Finally, over at SportsJudge Blog, our hockey coverage will be led this year by Darren Coslov, who is entering his third season with the blog. While Darren will have some big shoes to fill, he has already written several outstanding hockey features, including this brilliant piece on the Edmonton Oilers. We look forward to Darren's emergence as the face of SportsJudge Hockey.

The Exodus of the Oilers

A "For Sale" sign stands tall outside the Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, where General Manager Steve Tambellini is prepared to overhaul the Edmonton Oilers player personnel. The 65-hour window of opportunity began last night at 12 midnight EST when the Olympic trade freeze was lifted.

Speculations and rumors are in full force that the leadership of the Oilers hockey club is about to change. The veterans are on the block and they know who they are. Last place in the National Hockey League with 19 wins in 61 games is certainly not what the Oilers management and coaching staff had in store, and the overall player attitude of this storied franchise has all but worn out it’s welcome.

The Edmonton Oilers under head coach Pat Quinn are relentless on the ice when it comes to hard work and are playing a full sixty minutes of hockey...sometimes. Other times, the end result is due in large part to the bench simply not putting in the type of work needed to outperform their opponent.

One thing that’s apparent however is the attitude that adjusts so quickly when the opposition scores first. It’s almost as if the players at some point expect to be down, and from that point on, the hard work continues to be there, but the right frame of mind to get the two points is not.

Their lack of production and success is paying dividends however for their entry draft layout several months down the road. Forwards Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin and Defenseman Cam Fowler are the big 3 in this years draft and have the ability to make quite the impact for an NHL franchise. If Edmonton is going to indeed select one of these three, General Manager Steve Tambellini must take necessary steps in preparing for their arrival. Starting primarily with clearing space for not only this years top pick, but for the youth that awaits it’s fate in the Edmonton organization.

If you look at the veteran’s currently on the roster with cap hits beyond this season, the likes of forwards Sean Horcoff, Ethan Moreau, Dustin Penner and defenseman Sheldon Souray, Steve Staios and Lubomir Visnovsky stand out as potential trade chips, as their respective contracts are not only expensive, but will linger on during what should be a re-building mode. Only Dustin Penner should be an exception due in large part to the amount of money a counterpart would have to absorb in any type of trade.

The Edmonton Oilers must move the expensive salaries and open up the books to their promising youth waiting in the wings. Prospect forwards Jordan Eberle, and Ryan O’Marra and defensemen Taylor Chorney, Alex Plante and Theo Peckham are in the big picture, and need to be factored in moving forward.

When Edmonton announces their first overall selection, the chances are greater then ever, that the elite player will put them ahead of the eight-ball during the rebuilding mode. What the return on most veterans will net, that's a whole other issue. If Steve Tambellini moves salary, his best bet is to seek picks and prospects to add to the organizational depth chart.

One thing that is evident right now, Steve Tambellini is working the phones and has a plan in place to begin the overhaul of the Edmonton Oilers. This hockey club is out of excuses, overpaid, and due for a demolition. Pat Quinn and his staff are the right fit in Edmonton to coach this team with a promising future. For right now though, moves need to be made, and the veterans of this current club need to start preparing their goodbyes.

The Oilers as a team have scored just six goals in their last six games. Taylor Hall is just what the doctor ordered. If they can have Hall, Eberle and MPS - along with whatever their return is for the firesale you know is coming - this team could potential be a fun team to watch rebuild, not unlike the Penguins, Blackhawks and Kings of the recent past.

If your an Edmonton Oilers fan, today through Wednesday can only mean good things to come for this franchise. You have to believe that at this point; because right now, things can't get any lower. It's all up hill from here, and it's up to Steve Tambellini and Assistant GM Kevin Prendergast to evaluate and make decisions that are going to enhance the look of this club, and get the Oilers back into contention.

Late this afternoon, that process got underway with veteran defensemen Denis Grebeshkov on the move to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2010 2nd round pick. This move will be one of many from now till Wednesday at 3pm for the Oilers.

While the for sale sign stands tall and players are packing and saying their goodbyes, the Edmonton Oilers will have a new look to them by Wednesday at 3pm and only time will tell exactly where this club will stand. Hey, it's going to be a better position then where they currently stand, that much we are sure of.

Preparing for the Post-Olympic Frenzy

NHL hockey fans across the USA and Canada are well into a weeks worth of Olympic hockey. There's still plenty more to go in what may be known as some of the greatest hockey games in recent memory. This also means that these same fans are sitting and watching their beloved superstars and itching to return to NHL action.

Furthermore, that same wait time is in effect for the NHL General Managers, who cannot make trades until the NHL trade freeze is lifted following the conclusion of the Olympics. GM’s can talk all they want, but can’t submit a single thing to the league until the clock strikes 12 midnight on March 1st.

I can only imagine what the GM’s are going through right now, because it simply has all NHL fans at the edge of their seat. They might be watching Olympic hockey, but all are wondering where certain players are going to end up as a result of the tight 65-hour window following the Olympics. The anxiety is surely building.

If you’re a Maple Leafs fan, you're wondering if the reports are true of Tomas Kaberle possibly sticking around in Vancouver a little longer then anticipated prior to the Olympics starting.

If you’re an Oilers fan, you’re preparing your goodbyes to maybe a half a dozen players, or more?

Florida Panthers fans are just starting to digest the letter sent from the Panthers ownership group. I think it’s fair to say, this ownership group is refreshingly honest and seems to have a real plan in place now. However, was this letter intended to prepare the Panther fans for a shocking Stephen Weiss or Nathan Horton trade?

Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Ray Shero’s had the green light from owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux to max out on the salary cap. He has done just that, and has a Stanley Cup ring to show for it. However, the Penguins need a shut-down defenseman and a winger for Evgeni Malkin, but first need a partner to help them clear some room. Who leaves Pittsburgh mid next week for cap purposes? Who is on Ray Shero’s radar? Penguin fans are beyond anxious and ready to find out.

Rumor mills are beginning to explode, reporting every single time two GM’s are seen together sipping coffee in Vancouver. These websites are having an effect apparently, because it has people debating feverishly on team message boards. Some of the most off-the-wall deals are being mentioned as potentially taking place when the freeze is lifted. Funny thing is though, there might actually be legs to some of them. It leaves a handful of people really itching for that 65-hour window to start.

The best way to go about this is to sit back and enjoy what’s about to take place in Vancouver. Herb Brooks is surely looking down and asking everyone to do the same. I can promise you an incredible ending to what has been an outstanding Olympics for NHL and KHL players.

Following that, we will get our answers to so many questions around the National Hockey League in a very short period of time. Deals are going to happen as soon as Monday March 1st.

All of that being said, rumor mills don’t have much longer to entertain the NHL fan base. Fans themselves can start the count down. Big ticket players around the league will need to hurry back from Vancouver to start packing. It’s going to get crazy, and I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to the breaking news to start coming through.

Enjoy the rest of the Olympics, and may the NHL General Managers bring you what you wish for.

Surveying the Aftermath in Atlanta Post-Kovalchuk

When the Atlanta Thrashers traded Marian Hossa to the Pittsburgh Penguins two trade deadlines ago, it was very clear that superstar forward Ilya Kovalchuk was the face of this franchise for many years to come...or not.

Until just days ago, General Manager Don Waddell didn’t realize that not even 100 million dollars would keep the Russian phenom around. Yes, that’s what was offered to Mr. Kovalchuk hours before being dealt to the New Jersey Devils in a 5-player trade.

Many have argued since the breaking news hit just about every single website related to the sport of hockey a couple weeks ago, that GM Don Waddell simply didn’t get enough assets in return for a hockey player who was supposed to be the key to not only winning hockey games, but keeping the Thrashers in Georgia for years to come. I have to agree with a large population of bloggers and NHL media, that Waddell didn’t get enough assets in return, and their future success plans hit a snag; but I can also guarantee one thing, Don Waddell had no other choice but to make this deal and somehow add pieces to the puzzle that may just work.

Forwards Nicklas Berfors, prospect Patrice Cormier, and defenseman Johnny Oduya along with a 1st round pick in 2010 were acquired for Ilya Kovalchuk. I think everyone was shocked at first, expecting to see the likes of promising, proven prospects like Wayne Simmonds or Jack Johnson. Hey, maybe even Scott Hartnell or Simon Gagne. Listen, those deals simply were not going to happen. Period, end of story. There were deals supposedly in the works for weeks, but in the end, a large percentage of those deals were merely the fantasies of fans and the media.

This is reality hockey fans, and this is what Don Waddell was faced with and had to do.

Bergfors, a 2005 draft pick from Sweden, has 28 points in his rookie season and had to be a part of any deal involving NJ.

The Captain of Team Canada in the 2010 World Junior Championship, Patrice Cormier, has been suspended the rest of the 2009-2010 season for the elbow to the head of an opposing player, but let’s not let that blind us from the fact that this player has a great skill set, a physical presence, and great size at 6’1 205.

Defensemen Johnny Oduya was a popular player in New Jersey, but hardly a top 3 guy on the blueline. What Oduya will provide Atlanta with is a solid defenseman with great shutdown instincts. He has skating ability, but will never be mistaken for an offensive type player. Oduya is a great teammate and leader, and will make an impact almost immediately in Atlanta.

The 1st round pick will fall in the range of 25th-30th. There are no guarantees here. Waddell has no idea how the chips may fall, but it’s a 1st round pick nonetheless, and it needs to be picked wisely.

If you briefly look back at the Atlanta-Pittsburgh blockbuster trade involving Marian Hossa, only thrashers forward Colby Armstrong plays regularly. Forward Eric Christiansen has bounced around the league and is currently a New York Ranger, and prospect Angelo Esposito is constantly injured. This deal was difficult to accept at the time and still haunts the Thrashers today. This deal also contributes to the irate reaction from fans in Atlanta over the Kovalchuk deal. Rightfully so.

However, the Thrashers have a better mix of players now than they did two years ago. The only problem is, they still aren't winning enough hockey games. Even with Kovie in the lineup, the same problem still exists.

So where do you go from here?

Don Waddell must continue to overhaul this roster. There is a good mix in Atlanta right now, but other moves must be made to improve this roster from top to bottom. The Kovalchuk deal needs to be one of many that will deepen a questionable depth chart.

Kari Lehtonen's days were numbered as he conditioned with Chicago of the AHL, and now they are over. Lehtonen is officially a Dallas Star after a trade that sent the terribly injury-prone, yet still promising goaltender to the Stars in exchange for a 4th round pick in 2010 and up-and-coming defenseman IvanVishnevskiy.

Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg are by no means the long-term tandem moving forward between the pipes. At this point however, Waddell needs to continue to deepen the talent pool in Atlanta, and the two goaltenders he has now, well let's just say it's worked for so far this season.

The Atlanta Thrashers are a game over.500. They are four points removed from the 8th and final playoff spot. With 24 games remaining in the 2009-10 season, the Thrashers ultimate goal is to make the playoffs. It's certainly reachable, and it's not totally far fetched at this point.

Don Waddell will need to continue to find trading partners, and add more pieces to the puzzle in Atlanta. He has learned from past mistakes, and can't afford to make new ones. As this hockey club battles for a playoff spot, players will come and go from now until the March 3rd trade deadline. One thing we can assume at this point, they have a better variety of players now then ever before. That list will grow larger as Don Waddell continues to get the big picture.

What is Brewing in Beantown?

Head Coach Claude Julian’s job in Beantown is safe...

...for now.

Meeting with the media on Wednesday morning at the Ristuccia Arena prior to the Bruins taking the ice, General Manager Peter Chiarelli was adamant about the fact that results have to come from the players, coaches, and upper management. A sincere top to bottom effort.

According to Chiarelli, the entire hockey club is responsible for finding a way out of this current 2-7-1 slide that has moved the Bruins from a comfortable position in the standings to merely a point away from the 8th and final playoff spot in the East.

Wasn't this essentially the same roster that dominated the Eastern Conference last year?

The real question Bruins fans have to be wondering is whether this current group is good enough to not only lock up a top eight spot in the Eastern Conference, but finally make a serious run at a Stanley Cup. At this point in the season, it's hard to argue the Bruins really pose a serious threat to the Penguins, Capitals, and Devils teams they would likely have to beat along the way.

On one hand, the Bruins injury woes have been terrible this year. The return of top line superstar center Marc Savard should give the Bruins the lift they desperately need moving forward. He's appeared in only 21 games this season, and his most recent injury, a partial MCL tear in his right knee, will require him to wear a brace. But his presence on and off the ice cannot be discounted.

On the flip side, Savard is not your clutch scorer. He's not the guy who's going to put the team on his shoulders like a Malkin, Crosby, or Ovechkin in the playoffs and mount the comeback on his own. He's a great playmaker, possibly the best in the game right now, but great playmakers need to be paired with dynamic scorers to truly thrive. With this fall's trade of Phil Kessel to the Toronto Maple Leafs, right now that scorer is not on the Bruins roster. It's probably safe to say until they find him, this team will not win a Cup.

With that in mind, how does does Peter Chiarelli approach the next few weeks leading up to the NHL trade deadline? He's drafted exceptionally well and locked up a great core of young talent. The depth of this year's draft crop is outstanding and with the poor season Toronto is having, the picks acquired in the Kessel trade will be very valuable. There may be an opportunity to build a package around those picks to acquire an impact player like Ilya Kovalchuk at the deadline. If that chance arises, does Chiarelli go all in and pull the trigger, or does he hold off and enhance the depth chart of the organization?

This week, the group was starting to look whole again, but it didn't stop Chiarelli, Assistant GM Benning and Vice President Cam Neely from attending practice to evaluate the current group and get a feel for what they are up against a little over a month from now. When the Bruins enter the war room on the morning of March 3rd, they will have a clear understanding of where they stand with regards to post-season play. For now though, they must find ways to collect valuable points before it becomes too late.

The current roster is in place for the 2010-11 season on paper, but on the ice, if they aren't good enough to win the Stanley Cup this season, don't try and fix something that isn't necessarily broken. Peter Chiarelli knows what he has in terms of depth on the big club and assets currently in Providence, but the most important thing is the future of this team. Don't sacrifice for short term solutions, especially if June hockey is not in the fold.

What Really Puts a Coach on the Hot Seat?

The notion of winning and losing in the National Hockey League is always at the forefront when it comes to the job security of head coaches and their staffs. At the end of the day, when losses pile up, the easiest route to take is to blame the bench boss.

Since the lockout, the advent of the salary cap has essentially handcuffed General Managers when it comes to trades and bringing in new player personnel. Attendance revenues are down across most of the league, which only adds more pressure to win games in a tough economy.

Expectations

This morning, the St. Louis Blues fired head coach Andy Murray. The Blues were 12th in the Western Conference with a record of 17-17-6, but a terrible home record of 6-13-3 and an anemic offense full of young talented players left no choice for President of Hockey Operations John Davidson. Murray and his intense style had simply lost the dressing room in St. Louis.

Last year, the Blues were the feel-good story in the NHL. Murray led this inexperienced squad from last place in February, to the #6 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. With most of the team returning for the '09-10 season, expectations were high and John Davidson exercised an option to keep Andy Murray around for another season.

Last year's improbable run may have been what cost Murray his job this morning. When the team is expected to follow in the footsteps of other young Cup-contending franchises like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks, .500 hockey isn't going to get it done. The demands simply were not being met by the Blues players. Andy Murray said time and time again, these guys know how to get the job done; but when you can't trade away all the players, the coach must take the fall. Today, Andy Murray took the fall.

***

A few weeks ago, Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Stevens got the ax in favor of Peter Laviolette. Are we to assume Stevens hit unemployment for being just several points shy of the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference?

His starting goaltender, Ray Emery, had been reportedly playing with an abdominal injury for weeks. 16-year NHL veteran Chris Pronger was brought in over the summer to lead this team to a Stanley Cup. Yet Pronger isn't sure where he fits in the Flyers locker room, especially when it comes to his relationship with current captain Mike Richards:

"[Richards] hasn’t come to me [to] ask me anything, and it’s delicate because at the end of the day, it’s his team. He’s the captain. He needs to show the rest of the players that it is his team. I don’t want to be the guy that has to stand up every day and tell ourselves to look into the mirror and play better and all this stuff.

"I don’t know if he is ‘rah-rah’ type or talkative type. It is a difficult tightrope to walk. I don’t want to step on his toes. Maybe he is evaluating. You can’t just jump into a situation and ranting and raving without understanding what has gone on here in the past, as well.

The bottom line is this team was expected to challenge the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Eastern Conference elite, and that just wasn't happening. Pronger was brought in to lead, yet doesn't feel comfortable doing it. John Stevens was so well liked by the players, that his forgive and forget approach in the dressing room and behind the bench at Wachovia Center left this team without direction. Ultimately, that led to his termination.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Speaking of the Penguins, their Stanley Cup Championship season last year wasn't all roses. Exactly one year ago, this team was in disarray and free-falling down the Eastern Conference standings. I attended a December 23 game between the Penguins and hapless Tampa Bay Lightning, and saw some of the worst hockey I've ever seen in my life. The Legend of Vincent Trembley echoed these feelings at the time:

Rock Bottom

Zero goals.

Fifteen shots.

Against the godforsaken Tampa Bay Lightning.

If Michel Therrien isn’t peeling paint off the walls right now, consider this season over now.

Michel Therrien was the head coach of the Penguins at the time, and his abrasive, disciplinarian approach was taking it's toll on the young and very talented squad. General Manager Ray Shero gave Therrien as long as he could. Perhaps because he had just signed an extension through 2010-2011. Perhaps because he was a finalist for Coach of the Year in 2006-07. But in the end, Shero felt the time was right to bring in a fresh face and take the team in a new direction.

Enter Dan Bylsma. With Therrien out of the picture and the Penguins searching for direction, Bylsma was brought in to take the reigns on an interim basis. At the ripe age of 38, he was the youngest head coach in the NHL at the time. Fans, management, and players knew it couldn't get worse than it was prior to Therrien's firing, but few could have imagined Bylsma would lead the team to an amazing 18-3-4 record through his first 25 games. As the #4 seed in the playoffs, the Penguins rode the momentum to their 3rd Stanley Cup in franchise history.

That unbelievable turnaround will likely have an effect on the job security of head coaches for years to come. Press the 'Fire Coach' button, win a Stanley Cup. Yet what made the Penguins different was they already had the core in place to win a championship. They were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings in the Finals the year before, and knew what it would take to overcome that final hurdle. The Flyers don't have that kind of experience yet. The Blues definitely don't have it either.


Who's Next?

Head Coach Paul Maurice undoubtedly has his hands full in Carolina as the team continues to battle injuries and face adversity for as long as they have. If you look at their lineup on a day-to-day basis, there are difference makers, but are they on the same page as their coach? Is Paul Maurice's second stint with this lowly club wearing thin? It happened once before and it can happen again. What made Carolina so successful last season after the coaching change, was a familiar voice in the dressing room. Players were quick to adapt to the change, but that was then and this is now. This current lineup should win hockey games, but they are losing not just because of injuries, but a lack of communication. Veterans like Rod Brind'Amour and Ray Whitney aren't getting any younger. It's time to right the ship or dismantle and rebuild.

***

The Columbus Blue Jackets are well on their way to the basement in the Western Conference. In fact, they are just about there. One point from there to be exact. With the talent level currently in Columbus and the numbers to show for, there are no excuses from an offensive standpoint. This was a surprising young playoff team from last year that was very similar to St. Louis.

Defensively and between the pipes, the Blue Jackets are struggling, and a horrible sophomore slump for goaltender Steve Mason has not helped matters much. All of this being said, you still have to wonder if Ken Hitchcock plays any type of role in their embarrassing 14th spot in the conference. The answer is simple, he does.

Ken Hitchcock's intense philosophies work best in the initial years of a coaching tenure. The players quickly buy into his theories, and are pushed out of their comfort zone by a strict disciplinarian. All necessary steps to help a franchise grow. But after a few years, the same chirping voice becomes stale. Young players lose complete confidence in their game, and some are pushed away from the team altogether. Columbus' Russian star Nikita Filatov is currently on loan to the KHL, maybe entirely due to an inability to coexist with Hitchcock.

Ken Hitchcock's approach to coaching in the NHL will never change. It's what makes him so appealing to executives around the NHL, and it's what won him a Stanley Cup in Dallas in '98-99. But if the Blue Jacket players are losing interest, as they seemingly have already, it's a no brainer to add Ken Hitchcock to the hot seat.

- Mike Colligan and Darren Coslov

The Florida Panthers Approach the Halfway Mark on the Brink of the Playoffs

The Florida Panthers are currently in the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference and the 3rd spot in the Southeast division. Here we go again in Sunrise, Florida.

Welcome to another addition of Florida Panthers Hockey, where consistent failure to advance to the post-season has the potential to once again live on in the 2009-10 campaign, only this time however, the excuses may begin to run out, adding pressure to first year General Manager Randy Sexton.

Regardless of the off-ice shenanigans with upper-management that causes more drama than the ever so popular Frank Sinatra Theatre inside the Bank Atlantic Center, this Florida Panther hockey club is a unique one...they are right there. They are competing for a playoff berth, one that has been extinct in South Florida since before the lockout. They are sitting right there in the 8th spot, but they are holding on for dear life with the New York Rangers just 2 points behind them at #9.

With fewer than five games to go until the midway point, the Florida Panthers will need to begin to find ways to play 60 minutes of hockey, the brand of hockey that creates chances to not only grab 2 points, but to secure them a spot in this spring's quest for Lord Stanley. They will need to make it difficult on the opposition, and not hand out free passes to the win column. It’s plain and simple, and Head Coach Peter DeBoer undoubtedly would agree with me. In fact, judging by this year’s roster, with just a few holes to shore up, the right attitude and approach will go along way for this hockey club.

Starting with Center Nathan Horton who leads the Cats with 35 points in 37 contests; his on-ice awareness, preparation and leadership has improved immensely and is a huge reason for the first half success of this hockey team.

First round selection in the 2001 entry draft, Stephen Weiss, is not too far behind with 33 points in 37 games, and in most scouts eyes took a little longer than expected to come out of the gates for the Florida Panthers. It’s better late then never for the 5’11 speedster who currently has 17 goals on the season. The success and bright future for both Horton and Weiss are evident, but the importance of the contracts locked into place until year’s 2012 and 2013, will have a major effect on the long-term performance of the organization (especially in the salary cap era). Horton and Weiss may lead this team, but are not alone.

Forwards Michael Frolik and Rostislav Olesz have a combined 39 points in 37 games played, and don't appear to be taking a step back anytime soon. Both forwards have the speed, skill, and determination necessary to fit the mold of a top six guy in Florida. Frolik ranks 41st in the NHL with 101 shots on net, a stat that has to surely please Peter DeBoer.

David Booth, who took a vicious hit from Flyers forward and captain Mike Richards, is on the shelf with a concussion and hasn't laced up the skates since October 24th. Rest-assured one thing however, a healthy David Booth pays dividends all over the board for the Florida Panthers, as his stock is on the rise. He's also locked up to a reasonable long-term contract.

Journeyman Center Steven Reinprecht has fit in quite well with this younger looking Panther squad adding 11 goals and 28 helpers in 37 games for the Cats, and seems to have brought not only leadership to this hockey club, but an energy boost as well.

From a blueline standpoint, veteran Captain Brian McCabe, Keith Ballard and newcomer Jordan Leopold are tremendous leaders on defense for the Panthers. The Panthers 1st round selection in the 2009 entry draft was Russian Defensemen Dmitry Kulikov who checks in at 6'1 183. The Panthers coaching staff inserted him into the lineup on opening night, and so far so good for the talented young defenseman. He has 3 goals 9 assists, good for 12 points. His biggest assets are clearly his defensive first mindset, his ability to carry the puck into the offensive zone, and his strong shot from the point.

Many thought the departure of franchise defenseman Jay Bouwmeester last spring would push this team into a full rebuild mode, but the rearguards mentioned above have filled in nicely. Compare this to the Anaheim Ducks, who suffered a similar loss when Chris Pronger was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Ducks are currently #13 in the Western Conference and haven't found a way to replace the grittiness and huge minutes Pronger took with him.

With what many would argue is a clear cut #1 goaltender as a backup to Tomas Vokoun, Scott Clemmensen's addition gives the panthers security between the pipes and much needed flexibility. Vokoun's 10-10-7 record with a goals against average of 2.63, is another indication of inconsistency. This year though, they have a backup plan in Clemmensen who has 5 victories thus far for Florida, and gives their goalkeeping a glimor of hope.

The positives throughout this lineup are promising for the Florida Panthers and their fan base. Yet while the pluses are there throughout, the weaknesses are still recognizable amongst Randy Sexton and his staff.

The Florida Panthers are right there in the 8th spot, a spot all too familiar based on past disappointments. Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis, and Los Angeles are always in the conversation when talking about young teams with a very bright future. Florida rarely gets that kind of recognition, despite finding ways to beat the elite of the Eastern Conference.

But they must still seek upgrades when possible. They must do whatever it takes to fill holes in areas of this current lineup. They need to captivate a market that's still trying to keep one leg off the bandwagon. They must put the finishing touches on a team that's surprisingly not too far from competing past mid-April. If Randy Sexton can accomplish just that in his rookie season as General Manager, he might be looked upon not only as a successor, but someone who finally get's the big picture in Sunrise, Florida.

Changes For Struggling Carolina Hurricanes Would Be a Good Thing

After being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, Carolina Hurricanes head coach Paul Maurice undoubtedly looked ahead to the 2009-10 campaign, taking plenty of positives with him.  Most noticeably, a lineup that had regrouped following the firing of former head coach Peter Laviolette in December of 2008, and finished the regular season on a tear with a record of 45-30-7, good enough for #2 in the division and #6 in the Eastern Conference.

President and General Manager Jim Rutherford felt inclined to keep the majority of last year's group together, while simply adding free agent forwards Stephane Yelle, Tom Kostopoulos and defensemen Andrew Alberts for depth purposes.

In the months ahead, not a single player or coach around the league would have imagined Carolina sitting in the basement of the NHL with just six victories in 28 games to date. That’s precisely where the Hurricanes sit today, and I'm afraid to say it’s not going to get any easier for this struggling hockey club.

While it’s easy to blame injuries to Eric Staal, Eric Cole, Joe Corvo and most notably goaltender Cam Ward, the Carolina Hurricanes simply did not show up in the first quarter of the season. They struggled to put pucks on the net, create scoring opportunities, finish their checks, and play a full 60 minutes of hockey.  Staal has notoriously been a slow starter, but fans in Raleigh have come to expect much more from the $8.25M face of the franchise.

As their struggles mounted, the production on paper (or lack there of) was as lopsided as their current record of 6-17-5. Rod Brind’Amour has 2 goals in 28 hockey games, Jussi Jokinen is at 6, and Sergei Samsonov at 4. All 3 players were integral parts of the Hurricanes comeback season in 2008-09. Veteran forwards Ray Whitney and Matt Cullen lead the hockey club with 7 goals apiece (never a good sign), followed closely by pest Tuomo Ruutu and youngster Brandon Sutter.

Yes, Eric Cole and Eric Staal have been absent with injuries, but Staal has 3 goals in 18 games played and Cole has 6 in 18 games. This team is hurting offensively, yet you can’t help but to notice the lack of everything when injuries occur.  When Ward suffered a left leg laceration a few weeks ago, Hurricanes' fans realized there was no help behind him.  Michael Leighton has never had a season with over a .500 record in his career, and after he suffered a groin injury, it forced Rutherford to bring in over-the-hill veteran Manny Legace from the unemployment line. 

Where is the help in the Carolina organization when you need it? This is a question that only Jim Rutherford can answer.

No one is questioning how the Hurricanes reached the conference finals with this current group last season. The character and veteran leadership ultimately led them there, along with some crucial breaks along the way (right New Jersey?). However, is this team really deep enough? Or are we starting to see a real problem brewing in Carolina?

I am going to take the latter on this one. It’s time for Jim Rutherford to makes some changes to this drastically aging lineup. The Carolina Hurricanes can only go up from here, so where do you start?


From now until the trade deadline, the Carolina Hurricanes need to identify the players they want to move forward with. At seasons end, forwards Ray Whitney, Scott Walker, Sergei Samsonov Matt Cullen and defensemen Joe Corvo, Aaron Ward and Niclas Wallin are all poised to test the free agent waters. As far as I'm concerned, the Hurricanes are better off moving forward without them. Teams like Columbus and Phoenix would love to bring in some cheap veteran presence, especially on the blueline, with the hopes of sparking their respective squads.

With that being said, it’s time for Jim Rutherford to get on the phone and unload from now till the March deadline, acquiring draft picks and pieces to build around a promising core of forwards Eric Staal, Eric Cole, Brandon Sutter, Zack Boychuk, and defensemen Joni Pitkanen and Tim Gleason. Rutherford has his work cut out for him from now till March, but I’d imagine with current conversations taking place, deals are near, and the Carolina Hurricanes will find ways to right the ship. Until then, the market is open at the HSBC RBC Center.

An Improvement in Ottawa for the Senators?

When Executive Vice-President and General Manager Brian Murray traded the prolific winger Dany Heatley this past off-season to the San Jose Sharks, it was the inevitable that a deal had to get done, but it was a must that the return involved at least two high-end NHL players that can play a top six role in Ottawa. Senators fans learned of Heatley’s fate and welcomed forwards Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo to the nation’s capital. How things would play out in the 1st quarter of the 2009-10 season was certainly in question, but I’d imagine Brian Murray and Head Coach Cory Clouston welcomed the opportunity to proceed with 23 players who wanted to play in Ottawa and not ones that wanted to jump ship.

Michalek and Cheechoo joined Alex Kovalev as the newcomers of the Ottawa Senators. Without hesitation, Head Coach Cory Clouston inserted all three of them into top-six-forward roles. As much of a no brainer as it seemed, the results are far from expectations prior to opening night. Through 24 games played, Kovalev and Cheechoo have a combined six goals to show for and are a minus 8. Michalek is a bright spot with 13 goals in 24 games played, but by no means is this guy playing his best hockey. Brian Murray mentioned all three of these high end players as candidates to shake things up on the top units, in an attempt to get forward Jason Spezza re-energized. Two goals for Spezza thus far however, dictate once again, it’s not working out quite as planned. The Senators might have a 13-7-4 record which is much improved from last season, but this is not what anyone upstairs had in mind.

The regular season began with Pascal Leclaire between the pipes for the Ottawa Senators. The significance behind this was not only did the Ottawa Senators have a potential threat in net, but the return investment from the trade that sent popular forward Antoine Vermette to the Columbus Blue Jackets at last years trade deadline was about to make his debut. The trade was another high impact move for Brian Murray, trying to solidify the goalkeeping, not only for this coming season, but the future. Coming off of season ending ankle surgery, Leclaire started by posting eight wins in 16 contests, before recently sitting out with an undisclosed lower body injury. To make matters much worse for the Senators, Leclaire was subject to a deflection of a puck off his cheek bone, sitting on the bench as he backed up his counterpart Brian Elliot. A broken cheek bone will now keep Leclaire out 4-6 weeks. Brian Elliot has taken on the #1 role with AHL journeymen Mike Brodeur as his backup. Again, Brian Murray has to be simply shaking his head.

Alexander Picard and Filip Kuba lead all Ottawa Senator Defensemen in points, though both players have a combined 3 goals to show for. Rookie D-man Matt Carkner has 2 goals in 24 games, after taking on the role as an AHL enforcer in previous seasons. Chris Phillips who is clearly Ottawa’s #1 defensemen has 7 points and is tied with Chris Campoli through 24 games. All of that being said, you can’t help but to think Brian Murray is kicking tires to try and improve this bleak blueline. You also can’t help but to wonder what it would be like to actually have an impact player on the blueline in Ottawa, such as the one they lost to the Boston Bruins via free agency years ago, AKA Zdeno Chara.

There are bright spots in Ottawa early on. Their record indicates a vast improvement from that of last season. Heatley is no longer there and a promising Milan Michalek seems to be just getting started. Pascal Leclaire will eventually be back, in the meantime, a pretty solid Brian Elliot will tend between the pipes. Alex Kovalev will eventually score some goals in crucial situations, while Jonathan Cheechoo might just flirt with the Rocket Richard trophy on a few occasions. Things aren’t all that bad in the Nation’s Capital. In fact, some might say they are much improved. If you’re a Senators fan, there is one thing you can be sure of however, Brian Murray is well aware of the list of tasks at hand.

A Ray of Hope on Long Island?

When General Manager Garth Snow was awarded the 1st selection in the 2009 National Hockey League entry draft, London Knight’s John Tavares, it was the inevitable that they were turning the corner under the current ownership group led by Computer Associates CEO Charles Wang. Maybe, just maybe, this was the end of what has been an absolute nightmare for the Islander faithful who have witnessed a lack of direction, on-ice depth, leadership and most importantly, a true foundation.

Welcome to another 82 games for the New York Islanders, only this time, however improbable it might sound, the Islanders actually have necessary pieces to the puzzle to not only compete on a nightly basis, but to build around for right now and the future. This Hockey club might have just 8 wins in the first 23 contests, but for the most part, the first quarter of the season was about establishing a new identity.  I believe that's what they've done under Head Coach Scott Gordon. When GM Garth Snow chose superstar forward John Tavares over Swedish Defensemen Victor Hedman, you couldn’t help but think about the huge voids in the Islanders offense. You couldn’t help but think about which players would skate with Tavares.  I think it’s safe to assume, a large percentage of the Islander fan base were keen on finding out exactly that it would look like at the Nassau County Memorial Coliseum for the first 20 games.  A new beginning, or more of the same false hope?

Long Island, New York...please welcome journeyman Left Winger and Mississauga, Ontario native Matt Moulson, a former 2003 draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and past member of the Los Angeles Kings organization. Moulson signed a one year contract with the Islanders on July 6th, 2009 and as far as I am concerned, has been 2nd best to John Tavares, surpassing a short list of promising talent lead by forward Kyle Okoposo. Moulson’s 10 goals are good enough for the team lead through mid-November. His 18 points are just one shy of Tavares. At this time, it’s safe to assume, Garth Snow has found his first diamond in the rough. The former Cornell University standout has been more then a pleasant surprise for the Islanders. His positive energy on and off the ice, is just an added bonus.  This is how successful teams are formed.

If you look beyond Tavares and Moulson however, it’s safe to argue that Garth Snow isn’t done building the new foundation; in fact, he is still a ways away from doing that. Forwards Kyle Okoposo and Josh Bailey are apparently part of the future, but their combined 10 goals are simply not going to cut it. Veteran forward Richard Park is currently fifth in overall points with 9, and one goal to show for. Again, that’s not going to cut it. No offense to a hard working Richard Park, but when Scott Gordon is relying on a career high 32-point getter over the course of a 16-year career, you have major problems. So far so good though for Park, but it’s not what the doctor ordered; never has been, and never will be.

Knock on wood Islander Faithful, Defensemen Mark Streit is healthy and through 23 games, is fourth on the team in scoring. The highly talented offensive defenseman was brought in as an Unrestricted Free Agent in July of 2008 and has become a quiet leader of the Islanders back end. Yet if I were you, I would ask General Manager Garth Snow where his partner is. When will the Islanders bring in an impact defenseman to compliment Streit? Jack Hillen, Andy Sutton, Brendan Witt, Radek Martinek and Bruno Gervais make up for the rest of the blueline right now, but it’s the same story every year for the majority of this group. They are not good enough on paper, which makes the on ice level of play that much worse. Signing three starting goaltenders (Dipietro, Biron, Roloson) isn't the answer to defensive shortcomings. Bottom line, Garth Snow must bring in a player to compliment Mark Streit.

A foundation is there for the Islanders, and if you have watched a good portion of their games you would agree with me. You would also agree that there are still needed assets in several areas on this squad, and simply dead Weight in others. Garth Snow needs to continue to find diamonds in the rough like Matt Moulson if Charles Wang is not going to give him the go ahead green light to make an impact trade. For the time being however, John Tavares and company will continue with the identity process, and as far as I'm concerned, it really hasn't been too bad so far.

The Injury Riddled Stanley Cup Champions: How Will The Penguins Respond?

When the Pittsburgh Penguins entered the 2009-10 campaign, it was time to defend Lord Stanley’s Cup. After a thrilling Game Seven victory this past June, the Penguins were Stanley Cup Champions for the third time in franchise history.

Following a much shortened off-season, the Penguins were back in Pittsburgh preparing to defend. A handful of Champions left for free agency however, including the likes of forwards Miroslav Satan and Petr Sykora, along with Defensemen Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill, giving the Penguins somewhat of a new look up front, and undoubtedly on the blue line. Losing free agent role players to other teams following a championship is hardly a new development.  One of the toughest challenges winning teams must face is reloading the following season.

Along with the free agent departures, the Penguins were preparing to begin the season without injured forward Maxime Talbot as well, due to off-season shoulder surgery. However, the Penguins did make the necessary roster additions in order to supplement from the free agent departures and the injury to Talbot.  They were prepared to not only be as good as last season, but perhaps even better.

The Pittsburgh Penguins welcomed free agent rugged forward Michael Rupp and waiver claim Chris Bourque along with veteran defensemen Jay McKee and Martin Skoula on board as replacements. Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero  constructed a 23 man roster to Head Coach Dan Bylma’s liking, and the club was on their way to defend.

Soon after the start of the season, the Penguins found themselves atop the Eastern Conference and first in the National Hockey League with a record of 12-3. Character efforts and strong team performances contributed to the solid start and had many Penguin fans expecting nothing less then a continuation of last spring's magical run.

It would be interrupted unfortunately during a recent stretch of road games, due to a rash of injuries. In a span of one month, the Penguins lost in no particular order, defensemen Sergei Gonchar, Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik and forwards Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz and Tyler Kennedy.  As you would expect, their on-ice chemistry was gone and the Penguins were left looking for answers.

The Penguins had no other choice but to quickly re-adjust and move on due to the compressed schedule in the National Hockey League, with the Olympics on the horizon in February. Games are so close to one another, that captain Sidney Crosby was forced to try to carry the team on his back, especially while the other half of the two-headed monster, Evgeni Malkin, was nursing a shoulder injury. It wasn’t getting any easier for the Penguins, and as a result, they recently dropped four straight contests, moving them from the top spot down to 4th in the Eastern Conference.

Blaming injuries on offensive woes and lack of production from a group so talented as the Penguins would obviously be the easiest route to take. Yet Sidney Crosby and assistant Captain Bill Guerin were not satisfied making excuses. They held a players-only meeting last week following nearly three shutout games in a row and were determined to right the ship like true champions so often do.

Case in point, this past Saturday night, with Malkin returning from injury but still a patchwork lineup, the Penguins found themselves trailing the Boston Bruins with merely seconds left in regulation.  With the net empty, the Penguins were determined to not let the Bruins escape town with another two points:




It's amazing what a comeback win like that can do for a team's confidence in trying times.  Saturday nights performance however, was long overdue.

The cup rings around the dressing room at the Mellon Arena are a constant reminder of what this team can accomplish, even when the critics give them no chance to succeed.  Outside of Penguins fans, you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who thought Pittsburgh could win back to back games against the heavily favored Red Wings last spring in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Yet adversity is what defines, and sometimes builds, true champions.  When Gonchar went down in the preseason last year, young Kris Letang was thrown into the fire and became a huge part of the team's postseason success.  When Crosby missed time at midseason, Evgeni Malkin stepped up and found the confidence to completely take over games.  Despite suffering what appears to be another addition to the injury list, Alex Goligoski has emerged in recent weeks as potentially the centerpiece on the Pens blueline for years to come.

[Update: Goligoski will be sidelined 2-3 weeks with lower-body injury.]

It will be a tough few weeks, but few of the Eastern Conference elite are healthy and thriving right now.  One thing is for sure, when the trainers room finally clears out, the sky's the limit for Sidney and company.

Injuries Strike in Beantown and Leave Bruins Searching For Direction

The Boston Bruins finished the 2008-09 regular season with a shocking 53 wins. That was good for 1st place in the Northeast division and atop the ladder in the Eastern Conference. Within the next month of hockey however, the Bruins were brought back to life, being eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes and stopped just short of a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. A Game 7 overtime goal by NHL veteran Scott Walker not only ended a tremendous 2008-09 campaign for the Bruins, it left the Bruins stunned as they watched the Hurricanes celebrate just days after Walker’s sucker punch to the face of Bruins defensemen Aaron Ward (picture below). Days after the Game 7 loss, General Manager Peter Chiarelli seemed convinced that with the proper roster adjustments in the off-season, the Bruins would be back to where they left off in the 2008-09 season.

Unfortunately for Peter Chiarelli and Head Coach Claude Julien, things have gotten much worse since the domino effect began in May.  Phil Kessel underwent shoulder surgery and the Bruins realized they were unable to sign the restricted free agent.  Luckily, they pulled in a collection of high draft picks from the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the 2009-10 season began with mediocre hockey at best.  This was followed by significant injuries to forwards Marc Savard and Milan Lucic. While the Bruins are short handed due to injuries, the slow start for forward David Krejci has definitely contributed to the lackluster beginning to this season as well. To make matters worse, Krejci has been diagnosed with H1N1 and will join Savard and Lucic on the shelf.

The string of bad luck is followed by the departures of not only Phil Kessel, but also Chuck Kobasew, traded to the Minnesota Wild. Let’s stop for one second and devour all of this, Marc Savard, Milan Lucic, David Krejci, Phil Kessel and Chuck Kobasew, all missing in action for the Boston Bruins.  Aside from the Detroit Red Wings, how many teams in the NHL are currently playing without that much talent from last season?

The Bruins were off to a 6-7-2 start heading into Saturday night’s action against the Buffalo Sabres. Most recently, a not so surprising scoring drought left the Bruins without a single goal in just shy of two hundred minutes of hockey, until Patrice Bergeron scored his fifth goal of the season. Yes that’s right, five goals in 15 games. Hey, it’s good enough to lead the club in scoring, but, it’s also bad enough to add to the club’s woes early on. Steve Begin, a well traveled NHL veteran through the waiver wire and via trade, is tied for 3rd on the team in scoring with eight points and one point behind hard nosed defensemen Derek Morris.

After 116 points in the 2008-09 season, it’s evident that the Boston Bruins are no where near the high expectations of the ownership group led by Jeremy Jacobs, General Manager Peter Chiarelli, and especially the fans. Rest assured one thing though, Chiarelli and assistant GM Jim Benning will without a doubt work through the difficult times they are facing with injuries and lack of scoring. The Bruins will be okay eventually, but for now, they have a difficult task ahead. 

With pending free agent center Marc Savard likely to suffer the same fate as Kessel this coming summer, one has to wonder whether the Bruins are gunning for a Cup, or simply in rebuilding mode.  With their most recent Stanley Cup occurring in 1971-72, asking for Bruins fans to be patient won't be easy.

Anaheim Ducks Struggle Early, Look to Right Ship

The Anaheim Ducks are currently sitting in the 14th spot in the Western Conference. Through twelve games, they have four wins to show for, an embarassing loss to former Ducks Vice President and GM Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs, penalties a plenty, and questionable goalkeeping at best. They are struggling at the Honda Center early on, and their road record is not a whole lot better.

While it’s conceivable the Anaheim Ducks are not meeting the high expectations (or coming close for that matter), GM Bob Murray and Head Coach Randy Carlyle are not going to play witness to this much longer.  No, Murray is not going to hit the panic button. He'll be sure Carlyle will have ample opportunity to make the necessary adjustments on his own and from within.  The coach recently mentioned the fact that 'different strategies' would be implemented if the current roster didn't begin to turn the corner.  A clear cut message is there. Last year's rookie sensation Bobby Ryan has already found himself off the top line that was so devastating in the second half of last season.  Center Ryan Getlaf is off to yet another terribly slow start.

If there is one lasting impression Brian Burke has left on this organization, it's the mandatory rule of strong work ethic and the willingness to hold yourself accountable on and off the ice while collecting a paycheck. It’s still evident in their up tempo, rugged style of play, that the players understand exactly the demands, but let’s not kid ourselves here; this just isn't Burke's Anaheim Ducks.

This is a fragile and confused team right now, trying to steer themselves out of a wet paper bag. When the Ducks recently dropped a game to the previously winless Toronto Maple Leafs, they took 17 minor penalties, turned the puck over in the neutral zone repeatedly, and felt that playing 35 minutes of hockey was acceptable. They have it all wrong right now; from their mentality to on ice work habits.

When you start to see penalties such as the Toronto game, you can’t help but to think the attitudes are adjusting due to the frustrations from top to bottom on this hockey team. Is the Chris Pronger trade coming back to haunt the Ducks? Is the veteran defensemen’s on and off ice leadership, presence, and ability to eat up minutes dearly missed? It’s easy to point fingers to player moves such as Chris Pronger’s or the departures of veteran leaders Travis Moen, Rob Neidermayer, Samuel Pahlsson and Francois Beachemin; but in no way, shape or form is that an excuse to play the kind of hockey that undoubtedly shortens your season come mid-April.

Regardless of the departure to Pronger and several others, there are still plenty of Stanley Cup Championship rings to go around on this roster. Where's Teemu Selanne and Scott Neidermeyer? The self pride in itself, and the established winners on the Anaheim Ducks, easily indicate that this slump is not going to last long.  In the competitive Western Conference, a two month slump is not an option.

Kovalchuk and the Future of the Atlanta Thrashers

This past off-season, I mentioned Atlanta Thrashers General Manager Don Waddell as a suitable candidate for the early season Hot Seat in the National Hockey League. The Thrashers are coming off a disappointing 76-point season in 2008-09, and were again eligible for the draft lottery held this past June. While the signs of promise are certainly there, the Atlanta Thrashers need to turn the corner and compete on a nightly basis with a surprisingly much improved Southeast Division. Most importantly however, Don Waddell must take care of business with star forward and Captain Ilya Kovalchuk. Heading into the final year of his contract, improving the Thrashers and pushing the right buttons in order to sign Kovie is a must.

The Thrashers took tremendous steps forward this past off-season in order to add to what could be their most talented group of players since their expansion year. The first round selection of Vancouver, BC native Evander Kane, the acquisition of hard nosed Czech defensemen Pavel Kubina, the signing of former Leaf forward Nikolai Antropov (a friend of Kovalchuk's), a training camp tryout with a contract to follow for Maxim Afinogenov, and a waiver claim of defenseman Christoph Schubert just hours before the 2009 season began. All in all, a pretty solid off-season for GM Don Waddell and the Atlanta Thrashers, but the work doesn’t stop there. Don Waddell recently signed forward Rich Peverley to a two year deal worth $2.6 million. The additions to this somewhat promising lineup are in place, the results on the ice; well that’s always a story in itself.

A 4-1-1 start for the Atlanta Thrashers is nothing new, been there done that. It’s a different feeling though as this young season progresses. Not only are the Thrashers getting offensive production from off-season acquisitions, there is a balance on this hockey club now. They are getting the secondary scoring, along with solid goaltending from their 2^nd round pick in 2005, Ondrej Pavalec. Goaltending has always been an issue with the Atlanta Thrashers, battling injuries or poor on ice performances. Pavalec looks really solid however, and may just be the go to guy they've been searching for. Johan Hedberg figures to remain as a solid backup to Pavelec, as a once high touted goaltender Kari Lehtonen again nurses an injury. Talented rookie forward Evander Kane’s recent on ice performance indicates a trip back to junior is not in the cards, at least not at this point according to GM Don Waddell. From a defensive standpoint, newcomer Pavel Kubina and Tobias Enstrom have a combined 11 helpers in 8 games.  Kubina's veteran experience is an invaluable tool for the young Thrasher dmen.

The early season success is there for Head Coach John Anderson and the Atlanta Thrashers, but make no mistake, this hockey club is ways away from out of the woods. GM Don Waddell has his work cut out for him in order to put the best possible product on the ice. It all starts and ends with superstar Ilya Kovalchuk, who is due to hit the open market on July 1^st of 2010. The Thrashers must find a way to lock up Kovie, give him what he wants, and continue to place the right pieces to the puzzle around him. A healthy Kovie surrounded by the right players, well that’s exactly what the fans in Atlanta have been waiting for. They might just get their wish.

Marian Gaborik and The New Look Blue Shirts

The New York Rangers began the 2009-10 campaign with nine new players on the roster. How things would play out for at least the first few months of the season was certainly a popular topic across the NHL this past off-season. After General Manager Glen Sather overhauled his hockey club on the ice, it was inevitable that this might take some time to come together.

With the additions of Marian Gaborik, Vaclav Prospal, Envir Lisin, Ales Kotalik amongst others, and the departures of Scott Gomez, Marcus Naslund, Nik Antropov and Nikolai Zherdev, the writing was on the wall that Head Coach John Tortorella had his hands full with quickly trying to establish a club identity before the 2009-10 season arrived. The emergence of Russian youngster Artem Anisimov and defensemen Michael Del Zotto and Matthew Gilroy allowed Tortorella’s Rangers to become younger over night. The demands were in place from the hard nosed head coach from day one of camp, and sure enough, the New York Rangers were piecing together a lineup that most media members in the NHL would have to use a program for.

For the Rangers to be successful, superstar forward Marian Gaborik must stay healthy. He's an elite talent that doesn't get recognized as such due to his recurring stints on the IR year after year. After missing the first few days of camp with a strained groin, it's been so far so good for the former Minnesota Wild, collecting 4 goals and 2 assists through Sunday’s afternoon showdown with the west’s Anaheim Ducks. A healthy Marian Gaborik equals Rangers success in the Big Apple - something overpaid former Rangers center Scott Gomez was never able to do.

Youngster blueliners Michael Del Zotto and Matthew Gilroy have already found the back of the net, which has created plenty of excitement early on at MSG. Could this quite possibly rejuvenate overpaid veteran defenseman Wade Redden? Whatever the case shall be, Glen Sather and John Tortorella took the road of getting younger on the blueline which varies from the March trade deadline approach of unloading young talent for high-priced rental Derek Morris. It has worked for the time being, and should only get better as the season progresses and the youngsters get more experience.

Recently, head coach John Tortorella called a timeout early on against the New Jersey Devils, responding to the lack of just-about-everything on the ice for the Blue Shirts. His stern lecture for the entire length of the timeout was followed by a character-building 3-2 victory. If the New York Rangers, especially the newcomers, were not on the same page with “Torts” to start the season, I have a feeling they are now.

Things are looking pretty good early on for the New York Rangers and will continue to improve, even in a tough Atlantic division. No matter how you look at it though, Marian Gaborik must be a part of it.

SportsJudge.com Fantasy Hockey Challenge Draft Recap

Our SportsJudge NHL team and friends recently completed their experts fantasy draft, and now that the regular season is underway, let's take a look at the results. Check out our league preview article for a list of the SportsJudge friends involved, as well as the rules and basic structure of the league. Please keep in mind our standard head-to-head 10 category format may not be completely appropriate for the league you may be participating in. If you have specific questions, feel free to email us at info(at)sportsjudge.com or comment below.

I'll only be reviewing the first ten rounds in this recap due to space constraints, but will be covering the league on weekly basis throughout the season.

Round 1
1 Alexander Ovechkin (SJ Coslov)
2 Sidney Crosby (PuckCentral.net)
3 Evgeni Malkin (InsideHockey.com)
4 Dany Heatley (SJ Colligan)
5 Ryan Getzlaf (SJ Romano)
6 Joe Thornton (TheHockeyWriters.com)
7 Roberto Luongo (PuckProspectus.com)
8 Evgeni Nabokov (SJ Seto)
9 Miikka Kiprusoff (SaucerPass.com)
10 Jarome Iginla (IllegalCurve.com)

Notes and Reaction: The talented Sharks duo going at #4 and #6 is risky, but if they click each could easily top 100 points next season. Keep in mind Dany Heatley is only two seasons removed from back-to-back 50 goals seasons without the NHL's best playmaker on his line.

Round 2
1 Ilya Kovalchuk (IllegalCurve.com)
2 Tim Thomas (SaucerPass.com)
3 Martin Brodeur (SJ Seto)
4 Pavel Datsyuk (PuckProspectus.com)
5 Mike Green (TheHockeyWriters.com)
6 Alexander Semin (SJ Romano)
7 Rick Nash (SJ Colligan)
8 Zach Parise (InsideHockey.com)
9 Henrik Zetterberg (PuckCentral.net)
10 Daniel Sedin (SJ Coslov)

Notes and Reaction: To some, Romano's Semin choice might be the surprise pick in this round. However, had he been healthy last season the Russian was on pace for 104 points. Starting the season on Ovechkin's wing could mean an enormous year for Semin.

Round 3
1 Nicklas Backstrom (SJ Coslov)
2 Jeff Carter (PuckCentral.net)
3 Corey Perry (InsideHockey.com)
4 Vincent Lecavalier (SJ Colligan)
5 Patrick Kane (SJ Romano)
6 Tomas Vokoun (TheHockeyWriters.com)
7 Dion Phaneuf (PuckProspectus.com)
8 Martin St. Louis (SJ Seto)
9 Zdeno Chara (SaucerPass.com)
10 Niklas Backstrom (IllegalCurve.com)

Notes and Reaction: Bruce took Vokoun far earlier than expected, but I think he may be on to something. Few realize that Vokoun and former understudy Craig Anderson were #2 and #3 respectively in NHL save percentage last season. With the departure of All-Star Jay Boewmeester on defense, Vokoun could be facing even more shots this season.

Round 4
1 Marc Savard (IllegalCurve.com)
2 Devin Setoguchi (SaucerPass.com)
3 Dan Boyle (SJ Seto)
4 Bobby Ryan (PuckProspectus.com)
5 Jonas Hiller (TheHockeyWriters.com)
6 Henrik Lundqvist (SJ Romano)
7 Cam Ward (SJ Colligan)
8 Marian Gaborik (InsideHockey.com)
9 Eric Staal (PuckCentral.net)
10 Marc-Andre Fleury (SJ Coslov)

Notes and Reaction: If Fleury can find his Playoff form of last year, Coslov may have the steal of the draft with the 11th goaltender off the board. Timo Seppa also snagged a gem in Bobby Ryan, who is part of what may be the strongest line in the NHL. He had 31 goals in just 64 games last season.

Round 5
1 Henrik Sedin (SJ Coslov)
2 Patrick Marleau (PuckCentral.net)
3 Mike Richards (InsideHockey.com)
4 Ryan Miller (SJ Colligan)
5 Simon Gagne (SJ Romano)
6 Andrei Markov (TheHockeyWriters.com)
7 Jonathan Toews (PuckProspectus.com)
8 Daniel Alfredsson (SJ Seto)
9 Michael Cammalleri (SaucerPass.com)
10 Jason Spezza (IllegalCurve.com)

Notes and Reaction: With only 73 points, last year was a down year for Jason Spezza. Losing Dany Heatley hurts, but Spezza has looked extremely fast in camp alongside newcomer Milan Michalek. On a roster that already includes Iginla, Kovalchuk, and Savard, Richard could have an offense to reckon with.

Round 6
1 Shea Weber (IllegalCurve.com)
2 Martin Havlat (SaucerPass.com)
3 Patrik Elias (SJ Seto)
4 Thomas Vanek (PuckProspectus.com)
5 Nicklas Lidstrom (TheHockeyWriters.com)
6 Sergei Gonchar (SJ Romano)
7 Carey Price (SJ Colligan)
8 Chris Osgood (InsideHockey.com)
9 Ray Emery (PuckCentral.net)
10 Steve Mason (SJ Coslov)

Notes and Reaction: It's not too often that a potential 45-50 goal scorer falls to the sixth round, but that's exactly what Timo found in Thomas Vanek. Vanek slowed down after a jaw injury in February and still ended up hitting the back of the net 40 times. Hitting his prime at the age of 25, look out.

Round 7
1 Marian Hossa (SJ Coslov)
2 Cristobal Huet (PuckCentral.net)
3 Johan Franzen (InsideHockey.com)
4 Olli Jokinen (SJ Colligan)
5 Pekka Rinne (SJ Romano)
6 Semyon Varlamov (TheHockeyWriters.com)
7 Nikolai Khabibulin (PuckProspectus.com)
8 David Booth (SJ Seto)
9 Chris Pronger (SaucerPass.com)
10 Anze Kopitar (IllegalCurve.com)

Notes and Reaction: Hossa and Huet are great value this late in the draft. Huet stumbled towards the end of last season but he has a nice cushion as the starter for one of the best team's in the Western Conference. Some may think this is early to take Hossa, but in a league like this, your team is only as good as your playoff roster. Hossa should be back by mid-November and in prime shape by the time fantasy playoffs roll around.

Round 8
1 Duncan Keith (IllegalCurve.com)
2 Scott Hartnell (SaucerPass.com)
3 Brian Rafalski (SJ Seto)
4 Sheldon Souray (PuckProspectus.com)
5 Derick Brassard (TheHockeyWriters.com)
6 Brenden Morrow (SJ Romano)
7 Scott Niedermayer (SJ Colligan)
8 Marty Turco (InsideHockey.com)
9 Teemu Selanne (PuckCentral.net)
10 Scott Gomez (SJ Coslov)

Notes and Reaction: Getting a 60-point defenseman this late in the draft like Manson Seto did, shows it sometimes makes sense not to overpay for the big names like Chara or Phaneuf in the initial rounds. With this possibly being Lidstrom's final season in Detroit, expect Rafalski to take the reigns as the go-to guy in Hockey Town.

Round 9
1 David Krejci (SJ Coslov)
2 Shane Doan (PuckCentral.net)
3 Jason Blake (InsideHockey.com)
4 Mike Knuble (SJ Colligan)
5 Steven Stamkos (SJ Romano)
6 Patrice Bergeron (TheHockeyWriters.com)
7 Milan Lucic (PuckProspectus.com)
8 Mikko Koivu (SJ Seto)
9 Jay Bouwmeester (SaucerPass.com)
10 Niklas Kronwall (IllegalCurve.com)

Notes and Reaction: Shane Doan was a nice pick here by Declan as a complement to his already potent offense. Doan is a perfect example of a steady scoring forward that goes completely unnoticed playing the Arizona desert.

Round 10
1 David Backes (IllegalCurve.com)
2 Mark Streit (SaucerPass.com)
3 Bill Guerin (SJ Seto)
4 Dennis Wideman (PuckProspectus.com)
5 Alex Tanguay (TheHockeyWriters.com)
6 Mike Ribeiro (SJ Romano)
7 Alex Kovalev (SJ Colligan)
8 Joe Pavelski (InsideHockey.com)
9 Ales Hemsky (PuckCentral.net)
10 Phil Kessel (SJ Coslov)

Notes and Reaction: While we're on the subject of under appreciated players, Schrembs snagged Mark Streit at a great spot in the 10th round. In a perfect world, Streit should have been up for the Norris Trophy last season, his first on Long Island. Not only did he put up 56 points in only 74 games, he also managed to finish the season at +6. On the surface, this wouldn't blow away the casual hockey fan, but as the leading defenseman on the worst team in the league and almost half his points coming on the powerplay, I think this was an outstanding accomplishment. Adding John Tavares and legitimate starting goalies to the Islanders will only help Streit's cause.