Boston Bruins after three games

  In this abridged version of an NHL season a good start is imperative. Points will be at a premium and any losing streak at all could devastate a teams playoff chances. The Bruins have come out of the gate with a solid 2-0-1 start, and have nabbed five out of a possible six points. Maintain that pace all season and the B's should be in good shape. Here are a few points of intrigue after the opening three games.
 

  1) Dougie Hamilton is good
     It appears as if Dougie Hamilton can maintain a steady role on the Bruins top six D. In the absence of Dennis Seidenberg, Hamilton has looked more capable of NHL play than Aaron Johnson. Hamilton has shown flashes of future greatness already in just three games. Its a small sample size but hey, who's not excited to watch this kid grow and hopefully become the next great Bruins D-man. He brings youth to an aging Boston defense and has the potential to be an impact player early on in his career.
 
  2) Whats going on with Tyler Seguin....?
    If you're like me you expected Tyler Seguin to burst onto the scene this year and really assert himself as that offensive super star the Boston Bruins have lacked since Joe Thornton was traded to the San Jose Sharks back in 2005. Its only been three games, it certainly is not time to panic, however there may be reason for concern. Seguin has looked lost sometimes, both in the offensive and defensive zones. Seguin needs to find what he showed last year, lighting speed and incredible play making ability. If he can get back to that his development to offensive super star will continue.
 
  3) The offense has depth
     This years version of the Bruins offense looks similar to the version that won the cup back in 2011. This team looks as if it has the ability to roll four lines on offense. This could be key in this 48 game sprint season. If the B's are able to play four lines somewhat evenly, the chances of staying healthy and as rested as possible are far greater. Should any of the lines emerge as a defensive liability key minutes will be shifted and that added strain could lead to fatigue and injury. The Bruins will be a scary team come playoff time if they arrived healthy and energized.
 
4)  Defensive depth is a different story
    With Dennis Seidenberg suffering from injuries already this season, the B's were forced to play Aaron Johnson. Johnson is not a terrible player but he is a drastic downgrade from Seidenberg. If any more injuries were to plague the defense, there could be some serious holes. This also means more minutes for 19 year old rookie Dougie Hamilton. Whether or not Hamilton can handle that or not, is still to be determined. If Seidernberg's injuries turns out to be worse than expected, or another defender falls to injury, serious action could be required. This could force the bruins to be active on the trade front, something that GM Peter Chiarelli has been known to do mid season. While i hate to speculate trade, P.K. Subban remains unsigned in Montreal. Just throwing it out there. I know the thought of P.K. wearing the spoked B on his chest puts some Bruins fans stomachs in knots, however he is an incredibly talented player. Subban and Hamilton could become cornerstones of the Boston defense for years to come. Not to mention the Bruins drafted his brother Malcolm in the first round of last years entry draft. Now what the Bruins would have to give up to acquire P.K. is an entirely different story. Just something to think about.
 
  5)  Tuukka Rask looks ready and able to take over the number one goaltender spot for good
      It feels like forever now we've been waiting for Tuukka Time between the pipes in Boston. That time appears to have finally occurred. Rask has looked stellar in the seasons first three games and i expect him to continue this play all season. The guy is so passionate, he just refuses to fail. I think were about to see Rask make his name as an elite goaltender in the league this season and maintain that status for years to come. That being said, Tuukka has struggled with fatigue before. In a season of just 48 games Rask needs to stay healthy and energized. If he cannot carry the load his status in Boston becomes very iffy. Not to mention the Bruins playoff chances. Only time will tell whether Rask truly is an elite starting goaltender.

Atlantic Division Preview

      Previously the Northeast Division was previewed now its time to move on to what was the best division in the NHL for the 2011-2012 season; the Atlantic Division. The division produced four playoff teams, and all four of them garnered over 100 points. It’s hard to see the division coming up as big as it did last season.

New Jersey Devils- The Devils went on an impressive run to the Stanley Cup final last season. Ultimately they fell just short of their goal. I don’t see the Devils returning to that level of success but I don’t think they’ll be slouches either. While the departure of captain Zach Parise may weigh heavy on some fans hearts, it won’t have a major deterrent to the season.  Kovalchuk is the biggest question mark on this team right now. He is brining the Devils a big time Russian factor. It’s up in the air if he’ll return from Russia. If he does you can see him brining 90 or so points with him. You’ve got secondary scoring in Elias, and Henrique will undoubtedly build on his great rookie season. They’ve got a good bottom six that can chip in with goals as well as grind other teams down. The defense comes in with budding superstar Adam Larsson looking to finally blossom. You don’t have any true stars on that blue line, but they are all solid workhorses who get the job done. In true Devils style they’ll be for the most part a boring team to watch. With a tough grinding bottom six, sturdy shut down defensemen, and Marty Brodeur back in net they’ll be successful again. Not flashy, not the first game I’ll look for on my hopefully free NHL center ice package, but they will win. Maybe not as well as last year especially with the Rangers being who they are and a healthy Crosby in Pittsburgh, but fourth in the Atlantic with a playoff bid seems likely.

New York Islanders- It’s been a long 5 years for the Islanders at the bottom of the Atlantic. This ship doesn’t look like it’s going to be pulled up from the bottom, at least this season anyways.  The biggest player news as of late is Lubomir Visnovsky’s decision to stay in the KHL. Now we all know what the KHL is, and he decided to stay there instead of coming back to the NHL. Starting goalie Evgeni Nabokov did the same thing last season. This really goes to show what players think of this organization. The Islanders offense does have players that stand out to you, John Tavares, Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo, and if he can play well again Michael Grabner. Tavares is coming off an 81 point season. His best to date. He should hover around this number again. After that you have Matt Moulson who banged home 69 points last year. P.A Parenteau left for greener pastures in Colorado. Brad Boyes was brought in to try and take his place. This is the same Brad Boyes who hasn’t been impressive since 80-09. Not much is to be expected of him and rightfully so. Put him with the rest of the underachievers and you can see why Tavares’ point totals could dip this season. Poor guy. Give him credit though he re-signed to stick out the rebuild. Moving on to the defense well what is there to stay? According to the official Islanders website they only have 3 defensemen on roster. Obviously Travis Hamonic will get brought up from Bridgeport. It’s not a far stretch to think Griffin Reinhart will get a shot with the team. They’ll miss Calvin De Haan finally getting some real NHL action as he’s out with a separated shoulder. Continuing on the prospect road, it’ll be interesting to see what they do with Ryan Strome. Some were surprised to see him not make the roster last season. He’s playing well in the OHL this year, and had a tremendous WJC. He may very well land a spot on this team.  All in all, it’s all for not the Islanders. They can not run with the big ships in this Atlantic, and they’ll be sunk for the sixth straight season.

New York Rangers- Seems the mantra surrounding the Rangers is always the same, “they’re the team to beat”. Last year it looked as if it was finally true they were the kings of the east. Even if the Crosbyless Penguins did push them to the absolute brink for that crown. Night in and night out the team showed up to play. Stars like Gaborik and Richards got the job done while grinders played their parts as well. Subtract the forgettable Brandon Dubinsky and add Rick Nash this team has become scary good. Gaborik who is oft injured played a full 82 game season for the first time in his career. He’s coming back from shoulder surgery but in a short season he’ll be exceptional.  Look for him to be a Rocket Richard Trophy contender. Expect bigger things from Derek Stepan this season, his point totals rose in his sophomore campaign. They should rise again. While Brandon Prust left for Montreal the toughness on this team is still there. Rupp, Asham, and Bickel will protect the superstars and give them space. The additions of Halpern and Pyatt make the team better defensively. They’ll be a great shutdown third line. The defense comes back young and impressive, Del Zotto needs to be re-signed but that should hopefully come easy. Staal wasn’t as productive last season coming back from his concussion, but don’t expect him to be a let down on defense this year. He’s a Staal, the family is full of NHL studs he’ll be back and he’ll be better. As usual, Henrik Lundqvist comes in looking great on, and off the ice. He was 3^rd in wins last season and hasn’t posted under 35 wins for six straight seasons. While that is a lofty goal for a 48 game season don’t expect to see him to outside of the top 5 in wins. However, all that will not be enough to win the Atlantic. They’ll take second.

Philadelphia Flyers- Last season saw Scott Hartnell become a goal scoring machine. Hartnell Down was one of the biggest ups for the flyers. Outside of Claude Giroux that is, “G”  plays with an edge, yet is flashy and skillful. He should be next in line to wear the C for the Flyers. That is if they plan on going with one this season. Outside of those two offensive dynamos you have Danny Briere who can dazzle at the drop of a hat. He’ll miss the start of the season but that gives more playing time to guys like Matt Read and Wayne Simmonds. Believe it or not the departure of Jaromir Jagr is a blessing for the Flyers. The young guns will be able to play more without hurting the ice time of a legend. I’ve yet to mention Sean Coturier and Brayden Schenn, they will be the X factors for the Flyers this season. They had modest point totals last season, but I can see their roles increasing and the totals rising. If they rise they flyers rise. The defense is solid even without Chris Pronger. Luke Schenn joins his brother and gets a fresh start. Something that he has needed immensely, even if Pronger can’t play Schenn will learn. What it comes down to is what we saw kill the Flyers in the postseason; the enigma that is Ilya Bryzgalov. Brzy didn’t just have the typical holes numbered 1 through 5. At times he had 6 and 7 holes. And, all of them were “Humongous big”. When he is on his game he’s fantastic, but when he’s off his game it’s ECHL quality.

The Flyers will make the post season but they won’t pass the big two in the Atlantic.

Pittsburgh Penguins- He’s Back. Hate him or love him, Sidney Crosby is back, and he is the best player in the NHL. Sid was on pace for 131 points last season. He looked unstoppable. His playmaking was on point, and scored on ten percent of his shots. He plays just as well on D as he does on offense. Add him to last years deadly duo of Malkin and Neal who combined for 190 points. Mix them with Chris Kunitz, and Pascal Dupuis who add in on offense they’ve got a solid core. While Jordan Staal might be gone Brandon Sutter fills that void. He will play a different role than Staal, but he will play that role well most likely chipping in 40 points along the way. On offensive the penguins are the strongest team in the eastern conference. The defense packs as much of a scoring punch with Kris Letang back there. Erik Karlsson not withstanding there is no better pure skating offensively talented Defenseman. After that the defense gets very defensive rough and tough with Derek Engelland and Brooks Orpik, and smart with Paul Martin. People are worried about Marc-Andre Fleury coming off his awful playoff performance, and I would be as well. At times he looked like a varsity goalie and at times looked worse than that. The penguins traded for and signed Thomas Vokoun not to pressure Fleury, but to play. This is a goaltending tandem that rivals that of Halak and Elliot. The Penguins are the most well rounded team in the NHL. I could go as far as calling them the best team as well. The Penguins will win the Atlantic, as well as the East.

End Of The Burke Era

“Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, goodbye.” This is the tune some Maple Leafs fans must be singing with the news of Brian Burke’s firing. Burke’s tenure with the Leafs has been rocky, to say the least. He took over in 2008, and was supposed to be the team’s night in shining armor. In reality he was more like a kamikaze pilot.

When Burke arrived he said he was brining with him truculence, and brining in Rosehill and during the next fee agent period Colton Orr. This showed he was committed to that.  He also shed off some older players from the roster one example being Alexi Ponikarovsky. Went on to sign a great college free agent in Tyler Bozak and it looked like there was plan to what he was doing. 

During Burkes first draft with the Leafs he drafted Nazem Kadri. A player that fits the Brian Burke build. Think Burke drafting Kessler when he was in Vancouver. Only problem here is when Burke drafted Kessler he had supporting stars for him. In Toronto that wasn’t the case.

Come July first Burke dropped loads of money on a broken Mike Komisarek. Komisarek was not the same player after getting exposed as a fake tough guy by Milan Lucic. The on ice presence that he had in Montreal disappeared in Toronto, add that to shoulder injuries, look for him to be first on the buyout list by new management.  

            That offseason Burke also signed Francois Beauchemin the defensemen who he should have kept over Komisarek. But when you look at the return he got it isn’t too heartbreaking. Jake Gardiner looks to be a future stud on the blue line and, Joffery Lupul has resurged himself in the blue and white.

But that Lupul move came after the disaster that was the Phil Kessel trade. When you’re a franchise that hasn’t made the postseason since the lockout, you hold onto your first round picks. Burke didn’t believe in that. He misread his roster and gave them up for Kessel. Kessel might have scored 82 points last season, but Seguin and Hamilton would have been cornerstone pieces for years to come.

Yes Burke did bring in Dion Phaneuf, and he did shed Tomas Kaberle and got an astonishing return. However, it doesn’t make up for the mistakes that he made. The team is without a goaltender, and hung on to a failing coach for too long. Burke failed to bring with him any level of success during his tenure.

It shouldn’t be shocking that he’s fired, and it shouldn’t be a bad thing. While the Leafs no longer need a full on rebuild. They need to find the right pieces to make this team whole. They have prospects, and players that can play. Now they need a goalie, and smarter GM that can bring it all together.

2013 Playoff Predictions (Eastern Conference)

    After a lockout that lasted way too long i believe the one thing all hockey fans can agree on is, we're sure as hell glad the NHL is back. The signings of stud players like Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, and acquisitions of players like Rick Nash were quickly forgotten over the trivial lockout. Here is a look at what I think the top 8 will look like come playoff time

Eastern Conference
1) Washington Capitals
2) Boston Bruins
3) Pittsburgh Penguins
4) NY Rangers
5) Tampa Bay Lightning
6) Philadelphia Flyers
7) Ottawa Senators
8) Winnipeg Jets

      Well, I'm putting a lot of faith in what I saw the Caps do to the Boston Bruins in the playoffs last season was a bit of a coming of age. They dumped the immensely talented yet ever inconsistent Alexander Semin. Picked up a coach in Adam Oates, who I believe is one of the up and coming coaches in this league. Only time will tell how Oates handles his first taste of NHL head coaching. He inherits a team with a well publicized identity crisis. He also inherits a team with, a (possibly disgruntled) superstar captain, questions in goal and on defense, and an offense that many believe vastly underachieved last year. Why am i so high on this team? I believe they really grew up last year in the playoffs and think this team will flourish under Adam Oates (a phenomenal offensive playmaker). All and all I believe if this team can find consistency in goal they will wrap up the number one seed headed into the playoffs.
  The Boston Bruins seem poised for another cup run after a season that saw the Bruins shed the dreaded hangover in time to become mid season cup favorites, only to see themselves ousted in the first round by the Washington Capitals. Boston retains most of the core that won the cup in 2011 and the only real question appears to be in goal. Can Tuukka Rask finally assume the roll as ace number one goaltender and carry the B's as Tim Thomas did during the magical cup run. Other possible story lines with this team include the health of Nathan Horton, and development of Dougie Hamilton. Horton's agent has said Nathan is fine and ready  to play once the season begins. Dougie Hamilton seems poised to take the ice donning the black and gold this season, and could see significant minutes. The Bruins could use Hamiltons offensive touch to help a powerplay absolutely starved for production from the point. Tyler Seguin also seems poised for super star status in this league. If this year is the year TS19 becomes the super star he is capable of being, the Bruins could be busting out the duckboats for a second time in three years.
   The Pittsburgh Penguins are good,  scary good. This team is rapidly becoming the Detroit Redwings of the East and don't count this year as one for that to change. First and foremost the Pens will have a healthy Sidney Crosby. When healthy, Crosby is the consensus best hockey player in the world and its not even close anymore. Not to mention this team has two guys in Evgeni Malkin and James Neal who are coming off arguably their most successful years as pros. This team does have some questions on D, however the goal tending duo of Marc-Andre Fleury, and Tomas Vokoun should be strong enough to make up for that.
    Ahhh, the New York Rangers. It seems like every year the Rangers go out and make a big signing proclaiming it to be their year only to fall short in the palyoffs yet again. This off season the Blue Shirts traded for maligned super star Rick Nash. The Rangers are young, yet experienced, offensively potent yet as defensively sound as you can be. Oh and they have a perennial all star in between the pipes. However I'm still not sold on this team. Their style yields injury and in a short season like this injuries could be devastating. I don't see where Rick Nash Fits in on this team. Marian Gaborik's injury issues are frightening as well. However i believe the biggest problem for this team will be developing chemistry after losing a guy like Brandon Dubinky in the Nash deal. Ultimately I believe this team will start off slow but enter the playoffs on a roll and who knows what can happen once the second season begins.
    After failing to reach the playoffs in 2012 the Tampa Bay Lightening are ready for another deep playoff run similar to what they did in 2011. This team will be spearheaded by the most talented goal scorer in the NHL, Steven Stamkos. I think this team has enough veteran leadership in guys like Vinny Lecavlier and Martin St. Louis to find its way into the playoffs in 2013. Outside of guys like Stamkos,Lecavlier and St. Louis this team may look thin on paper, but guys like Ryan Malone, Victor Hedman, Benoit Pouliot and J.T. Brown are out to prove they have enough to get this team to the promised land. The main concern for me is Anders Lindback. Can Lindback become a legitimate number one goalie in this league. If they get production in the crease and stability on defense from guys like Matt Carle and Victor Hedman, this team has enough offensive firepower to have an extremely deep playoff run.
    Well the Philadelphia Flyers found themselves in the headlines this off season. A place the Flyers have come to know well under GM Paul Holmgren. After the Nashville Predators matched the massive contract offered to super star D-man Shea Weber, the Flyers traded winger James Van Riemsdyk to Toronto for d-man Luke Schenn. The Flyers are very good on offense and should be a treat to watch with guys like Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell. However, even with the addition of Schenn, this team is old on defense. The goal tending situation is also a bit unstable in philly. After a pretty average first year in the city of brotherly love, Iyla Bryzgalov looks to find inner piece and lead the flyers back to the Stanley Cup finals. I think this team could come out to a slow start but i expect them right in the middle of things come May and June.
    Last year the Ottawa Senators surprised a lot of people by making the playoffs and ultimately taking the top seeded New York Rangers 7 games in the first round. In what will likely be captain Daniel Alfredsson's final season, I like the Sens to make it to the post season for the second straight year. This team is brimming with young talent by way of guys like Milan Michalek, Erik Karlsson and Kyle Turris. I don't like this teams depth defensively, but i believe they have enough on offense and in goal to push them into the playoffs.I think Craig Anderson is ready to assert himself as an elite goalie in this league. Also watch out for a guy like Jakob Silfverberg as a potential x factor on this team.
    Finally in the eighth and final playoff spot we have the Winnipeg Jets. In their second year playing out of Winnipeg, and hopefully their last in the Eastern Conference, i like this team to sneak in the playoffs. The young talent is finally starting to come together for the team formerly known as the Thrashers. Don't be surprised if a guy like Evander Kane has a year canonizing him as an elite power forward in this league. Nowhere on the Jets roster are you blown away by their superior talent, however nowhere do you see a glaring weak spot. This team has a young core of players and a sprinkling of savvy veterans itching to prove themselves. Goalie Ondrej Pavelec is slowly coming into his own while the big guy, Dustin Byfuglien is trying to assume the roll as the face of this franchise. While this team could easily finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference just as easily as it could make the playoffs, i like this team to start hot and ride that momentum into the playoffs.

Northeast Division Preview

It only took  113 days but we will have an NHL season. We will only see 48 games of NHL action, and that could make things very different for the upcoming season. Over the next few days I’m going to give you a division by division breakdown of how this season could play out. We’re going to start out with the Northeast Division.

Boston Bruins- When you’ve been the Northeast Division Champs three seasons running the expectation is you’ll be back at the top of the mountain again. When your top scorer of last season was tearing up the Swiss league during lockout it shouldn’t be that much of a stretch either.  The Bruins return generally healthy, last seasons scoring was very spread out with 5 twenty goal scorers. It’s easy to see that happening again. Nathan Horton is believed to be healthy, but with the banging style he plays it remains to be seen how effective he is. Tuuka Rask taking over the reigns from Tim Thomas could have some Bruins fans worried. I would be to if I were a Bruins fan he might always have a high save percentage, but the wins compared to losses haven’t been that overwhelming. Albeit that was in a backup role, we’ll see how we can do in a 48 game season. But the last time he started that many games was back in 2009-2010 and he managed 22 wins. That would only be enough for 44 points. Can't say that’s a playoff number. The Bruins success has been from goaltender out and if that fails, the Bruins very well could fail to reclaim their Northeast title. Even without that title they will be a playoff contender. Bruins will finish 1st or 2nd.

 

Buffalo Sabres-  The last time Buffalo won the division was in 2009-2010. Since then they have not finished better than 3^rd. Last season was defined by the beat downs they were given by the Boston Bruins. Those beat downs shaped the offseason moves made by the team. They went out and traded for Steve Ott, and signed John Scott, add them to the incumbent tough guy/peace disturbers in Patrick Kaleta and Cody McCormick you’ve got a team that can handle the big bad Bruins. But, does this make them a playoff team? No. Overall they are brining back the same subpar defense, as well as the overpaid Ville Leino. While they hope Cody Hodgson can replace the scoring they lost with Roy’s departure, it won’t matter Ryan Miller’s in zone defense won’t help him anymore than they did last year. I can see the Sabres making it interesting and having some AMAZING games against the Bruins.However, I do not see a finisher higher than 3^rd in the Northeast Division.

Montreal Canadiens- Oh how the mighty have fallen. Les Habitant have now gone twenty years without a Stanley Cup championship or even a Stanley Cup final appearance. The days of their dominating powerplay are whispers in the wind, and their search for a true superstar continues. While Alex Galchenyuk appears to fulfill that quest this should not be the year they find out. Galchenyuk should not be developed the way the Habs are brining along Lars Eller. Unless Gally shows he can play top 6 minutes leave him in Sarnia. While the Habs went out and singed Brandon Prust, and retained Travis Moen, they still can’t compete on toughness in this Divison. The Defense is subpar at best, and P.K Subban isn’t even resigned yet. The only bright spot last season was the emergence of the Cole, Pacioretty, Desharnais line. That can still be bright this season, but it won’t be enough. The Habs will finish in the bottom of the Northeast Division again.

Ottawa Senators-  Ottawa was the surprise team in the Northeast Last season. They had an abysmal 2011-2012 season finishing dead last in the Northeast. Needless to say expectations were not very high for the Senators. But when the season started Jason Spezza was at his best for the first time in three years and Erik Karlsson was nothing short of spectacular.  While Alfredsson comes in another year older I don’t see him slowing down especially in a short season. Spezza might not reach  84 points, but I don’t see a huge dip in his totals. Nor do I see the Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson slowing down. While Nick Foligno departed from this roster Guillaume Latendresse was added. If he can be healthy I can see him easily replacing the points lost by Foligno. Last year in net Craig Anderson showed that he is a real deal starting goalie. With solid D in front of him he’ll be top ten in wins again this season. The Senators will give the Bruins a serious run in the Northeast.

Toronto Maple Leafs- The Leafs come into this season with a new coach and a brand new stud winger in JVR. Carlyle brings a coaching style that could lead to this teams success. Kessel, Lupul, and Grabovski were solid for the Leafs last year. We also saw Jake Gardiner was capable of on D. Colborne and Kadri should finally get some solid looks on this team, and with the decent numbers they put up in a small sample last year they should improve Toronto’s offense.  Overall Toronto’s defense even with Mike Komisarek is more solid than Montreal and Buffalo's. What holds up Toronto, is the same thing that has held them up for countless years, goaltending.  Reimer was supposed to be the last season’s hero. He wasn’t. While rumors of Roberto Luongo coming to this team run rampant it remains to be seen if it happens. The leafs could give up Bozak for him and it wouldn’t hurt as the previously mentioned Kadri and Colborne could step in. But, would it be enough? If Luongo comes to Toronto, and if Kessel can be great again this season, and if the Leafs can be good in streaks as they have been the last few season there is a chance for them. However, that is a hell of a lot of “if’s”. Toronto finishes ahead of Montreal and maybe even Buffalo.

Brandon Hebert
Contributing Writer Game83