This particular NHL season has a little more riding on the line in the early going, as countries prepare to name their rosters for the Olympic competition in 2010.
The Final Four is now set, but which players have had the greatest individual success through the first two rounds of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs?
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New Jersey Devils (2008-09 record: 51-27-2-2)
Notables coming in: Yann Danis (FA-NYI)
Notables going out: Brian Gionta (FA-MTL) Brendan Shanahan (UFA) John Madden (FA-CHI) Bobby Holik (Retired) Kevin Weekes (UFA)
Positives: With Martin Brodeur in goal, the Devils will always be a threat to make the playoffs. He was motivated to break the all-time wins record last year; this season, the extra boost may come from fighting for the #1 position on the Team Canada Olympic team. The Devils also feature one of the games brightest rising stars in Zach Parise who had 94 points in 2008. The club's top seven defensemen will all return from last season.
Negatives: After finishing tied for 14th in goals last season, New Jersey lost 20-goal scorer Brian Gionta without adequately replacing him. They also finished in the bottom third of the league in penalty killing (20th / 79.9%) and lost defensive forwards John Madden and Bobby Holik.
Prospect Watch: Matt Halischuk (RW) scored the game-winner in overtime for Canada at the 2008 IIHF World U-20 Championship. After enjoying a stellar rookie campaign in the AHL, the hard working winger may see time in the NHL in 2009-10.
The Lowdown: The Devils will be led by new coach Jacques Lemaire in 2009-10. The new regime behind the bench may tweak things slightly, but will generally have a very similar strategy to that of last season, concentrating heavily on defense while relying on Parise to lead a thin offensive group. Expect New Jersey to challenge for one of the last spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
New York Islanders (2008-09 record: 26-47-4-5)
Notables coming in: Dwayne Roloson (FA-EDM) Martin Biron (FA-PHI)
Positives: The selection of John Taveras with the number one selection in the 2009 entry draft breathes new life into the Islanders organization. It may be a very slow trip back to respectability, but the team is at least on the right track with a legitimate future star. Young forwards Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey should make a jump in their second full season in the NHL.
Negatives: Rick DiPietro was so well liked by the organization; he was inked to a 15-year extension in 2006. Injuries limited him to five games in 08-09, and the team signed two key free agent goalies in the off-season as insurance. While the Islanders have depth in goal, unless it’s DiPietro between the pipes, it won’t be their original plan. Also an uneventful free agent season means the product on the ice in 2009-10 may be unfortunately similar to that of last season.
Prospect Watch: Calvin de Haan has the potential to make the 2009 draft a great one for the Islanders. The OHL defenceman was spectacular in the second half of last season, and may soon join fellow draftee Taveras with the big club. His promotion shouldn’t happen this season, but on a team desperate for top talent his progress will be watched very closely.
The Lowdown: The Islanders took baby steps in the right direction, mostly through the draft. The team's young core will need to perform on the ice to attract free agents in the future. The tandem of Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron should provide respectable goaltending, but the front office must be concerned with the status of Rick DiPietro being that he is under contract for 12 more seasons. Expect another trip to the lottery for the Islanders who stand little chance in one of the NHL's deepest divisions.
New York Rangers (2008-09 record: 43-30-3-6)
Notables coming in: Donald Brashear (FA-WSH) Marian Gaborik (FA-MIN) Ales Kotalik (FA-EDM) Christopher Higgins (T-MTL)
Notables going out: Nik Antropov (FA-ATL) Scott Gomez (T-MTL) Paul Mara (T-MTL) Derek Morris (FA-BOS) Markus Naslund (Retired) Nikolai Zherdev (Atlant Moscow - KHL)
Positives: Marian Gaborik should add a much needed boost to the offense that was 28th in goals scored last season. Despite not receiving much in return for Scott Gomez, shedding his ridiculous salary ($7.5-million per year) should be seen as a positive for the club giving them room under the cap. Henrik Lundqvist in goal is a premier player at his position and helped backstop the Rangers league best penalty kill in 2008-09 (87.8%). Artem Anisimov and Evgeni Grachev will be two exciting rookies to watch.
Negatives: GM Glen Sather gambled heavily on Gaborik, who has a reputation for being injury prone. Even with the former Minnesota Wild sniper in the line up, the Rangers will be hard pressed to improve vastly on last season's goal input (200 / 2.44 per game).
Prospect Watch: Michael Del Zotto is a talented defenseman in the Rangers system that is slowly starting to live up to expectations. He will most likely spend a final year in the OHL before fighting for a roster spot in 2010-11.
The Lowdown: Coach John Tortorella has the tough task of creating chemistry on a team fresh with new faces. If Gaborik can stay healthy, and new acquisitions Christopher Higgins and Ales Kotalik can add secondary scoring, the Rangers will be a threat. If not, New York may join their in-state division rivals on the outside of the playoff race looking in come April.
Philadelphia Flyers (2008-09 record: 44-27-5-6)
Notables coming in: Chris Pronger (T-ANA) Ian Laperriere (FA-COL) Brian Boucher (FA-SJ) Ray Emery (UFA)
Notables going out: Martin Biron (FA-NYI) Derian Hatcher (Retired) Joffrey Lupul (T-ANA) Luca Sbisa (T-ANA)
Positives: The trade for Chris Pronger could be the biggest move of the off-season. The Flyers lost forward Joffrey Lupul and defensive prospect Luca Sbisa in the deal, but landed themselves a hard hitting defenseman who will be given the task of stopping opposing teams’ top snipers. The young combination of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards may become the leagues most talented dynamic duo in the years to come.
Negatives: The combination of Ray Emery and Brian Boucher will be given the task of backstopping a team loaded with talent on offense and defense. As in years past, the question marks in goal may keep the Flyers from reaching their full potential. The Flyers also had a league high 1,434 penalty minutes last season, a number that could increase with the addition of Pronger and forward Ian Laperriere.
Prospect Watch: James van Riemsdyk is a talented winger that will fit perfectly in the Flyers physical system. He is expected to begin the season in the AHL but could see time with the big club if injuries arise or the team needs a scoring boost partway through the campaign.
The Lowdown: The Flyers have the potential to be a dominant team in the Eastern Conference. Chris Pronger headlines a talented defensive group, while the quartet of Richards, Carter, Simon Gagne and Daniel Briere can cause big match-up for opposing coaches. Potentially the deepest roster in the NHL, if Philadelphia can receive better from average goaltending expect a deep playoff run that could even see them in the Stanley Cup Final.
Pittsburgh Penguins (2008-09 record: 45-28-3-6)
Notables coming in: Jay McKee (FA-STL)
Notables going out: Hal Gill (FA-MTL) Petr Sykora (FA-MIN)
Positives: The 2008-09 Stanley Cup Champions will look very similar to their championship team when the puck drops this season. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will again battle for both the Art Ross and Hart trophies. Jordan Staal has developed into a strong two-way player. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was fantastic in the playoffs and will look to earn a spot on the Team Canada Olympic roster with a solid start to the regular season.
Negatives: The Stanley Cup hangover may cause problems, but a lack of scoring depth could be the Penguins undoing. Being up against the salary cap didn’t allow the team to give Crosby and Malkin any secondary scoring. Unproven rookie John Curry will backup Fleury in goal.
Prospect Watch: Luca Caputi could see some time in the NHL this season. The 20-year old scored on his first shift in the big leagues, but has also had disciplinary problems in the past. The upside for him to contribute is there if he gets a shot.
The Lowdown: It’s tough to find a knock against last year's champion, and they may very well start the season as the most likely team to come out of the East. If there are any negatives, they come from a lack of scoring depth, as well as an uncertain situation with the back-up goaltending duties. Barring injuries to their significant players, the Penguins will find themselves in the hunt for not only the Presidents Trophy, but possibly the Stanley Cup once again.
