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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Parity is the most overused term in the National Hockey League since the lockout. Teams are always selling the prospect of a playoff spot to the fans, and in some cases much more then that. In reality, all teams don’t have a chance. In the Western Conference, there is a clear group of contenders, followed by a small group of teams on the rise. What’s left is a group of pretenders, with varying levels of expectations that need to be brought down to earth.
Contenders
San Jose Sharks
Reason to buy the hype: Dany Heatley on Joe Thornton’s wing should produce spectacular results over the season's first 82 games. The jury is still out on their ability to win when the games start to count, but the President’s Cup could belong to San Jose once more.
Calgary Flamges
Reason to buy the hype: Olli Jokinen and Jarome Iginla make a very nice one-two punch for the Flames. The addition of Jay Bouwmeester is the best off-season move of any team in the NHL, and should help Calgary capture the Northwest Division with relative ease.
Detroit Red Wings
Reason to buy the hype: Detroit was just one win away from back-to-back Stanley Cups. Losing to the Penguins last season will motivate a very talented group of players. If Chris Osgood or Jimmy Howard provides average-plus goaltending, this team could be the favorite come the playoffs.
Chicago Blackhawks
Reason to buy the hype: The Blackhawks reached the Western Conference Finals last season with a young core of talented players that is ready to take a step forward. Despite the offseason problems (contract issues, Patrick Kane arrest) there are enough positives to outweigh the distractions.
Anaheim Ducks
Reason to buy the hype: Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan form the second scariest trio of forwards in the league (behind the #1 unit in Washington). Despite losing Chris Pronger, the team has enough depth on defense and great goaltending that will keep them rolling into the playoffs.
On The Rise
St. Louis Blues
Reasons to look forward to the future: Andy Murray has really righted the ship in St. Louis, turning the Blues into a competitive team every night. The team doesn’t have any superstar talent, but is loaded with great depth and enough goaltending to make things exciting.
Los Angeles Kings
Reasons to look forward to the future: Anze Kopitar could be the most underrated player in the league. The Slovenian sensation is ready to take another step forward. The Kings also have a stable of young goaltenders capable of helping the team compete soon. Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson will be a top defensive tandem in the very near future.
Colorado Avalanche
Reasons to look forward to the future: Of the teams on this list, they may have the least chance of cracking the playoffs this season but the post-Joe Sakic days are looking up. Matt Duchene will be a very good player in the league and will get a shot with the big club this season. Craig Anderson was a great pick-up in the off season. Seven of the teams top 10 forwards are 25 or younger.
Nashville Predators
Reasons to look forward to the future: Barry Trotz manages to get this team in or near the playoffs every season no matter how limited the payroll. The Jack Adams award could be his if he can squeeze the Predators into the top 8 in the West this season. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are a top defensive tandem, and Pekka Rinne might be the next great European goalie.
Pretenders
Vancouver Canucks
Reason to drop the expectations: No team in the NHL is more over-rated than the Canucks. GM Mike Gillis did a great job re-signing players who haven’t been able to get the team to the next level in the past. The Sedin twins are nice players, but won’t win a Stanley Cup as the premier players on their team. Roberto Luongo is the best goalie in the league, but he needs help and right now doesn’t have enough to keep up with the top teams in the West.
Edmonton Oilers
Reason to drop the expectations: Dany Heatley wanted out of Ottawa desperately and still wouldn’t accept a trade to play in Edmonton for a bevy of reasons. Somewhere on the list beyond living conditions in the cold city is the fact the Oilers don’t have a squad that is built to compete. They aren’t particularly good on offense of defense, and while Nikolai Khabibulin is a solid upgrade in goal, it isn’t nearly enough to make them a contender.
Dallas Stars
Reason to drop the expectations: The team does have a few young players to be excited about, but there is more reason to focus on the negatives on this point. Marty Turco continues to struggle in goal and the team hasn’t found its offensive replacement for Mike Modano who is now in the twilight of his career. Captain Brendan Morrow will need a big return from his season ending surgery last season to help this team avoid mediocrity.
Minnesota Wild
Reason to drop the expectations:
The one thing that kept the Wild competitive last season was their vicious defensive style. With a change in coaches and a promise to open things up, their games will be more exciting, but the team itself probably won’t be as successful. Marian Gaborik leaving for the Rangers was a mistake by management. He should have been traded at the deadline to get some value for the future; instead he walked away for nothing.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Reason to drop the expectations: They finally made the playoffs last season, but it probably won’t be a regular occurrence just yet. Rick Nash and Steve Mason are great hockey players, but the team has a lack of depth that wasn’t addressed in the off-season. Kristian Huselius, Jacob Voracek and Derrick Brassard are not good enough as 2nd, 3rd and 4th scoring options to keep this team in the race a second year in a row.
Phoenix Coyotes
Reason to drop the expectations: Not sure if there are any expectations to drop, but all of the turmoil surrounding this team give them very little chance of seeing any positives. The sad thing is Shane Doan is a great player and there are young skaters that will be fun to watch in the near future. Until there is stability in the front office, the news out of Phoenix will be more about court decisions then it will be the product on the ice.
