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NHL Preview - Northeast Divsion
10/1/06
Sunday, October 1, 2006
Northeast Divsion
Former Michigan State goaltender Ryan Miller, is a big reason why the Sabres made there deep playoff run.
1. Buffalo Sabres - For the first time in decades, the Buffalo Sabres come into the season as a Stanley Cup contender. Buffalo caught alot of people by surprise last year, by making it to the Conference Finals and losing to the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes. The Sabres return most of there team back from last year and expect to be just as good, with divisional rival Senators losing a couple key parts. Two huge contributors back are defenseman Chris Drury, and right wing Maxim Afinogenov. Break out goaltender Ryan Miller is also back, and hopes to build on last year. The Sabres should be a contender, but if anything, they have taught you to expect the unexpected.
Dany Heatley (above), Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza form the leagues top line.
2. Ottawa Senators - The Senators once again last year, flew threw the regular season but failed to come up with anything in the postseason. It has been a trend for Ottawa teams to be a bust in the playoffs, and they want to end that now. With defenseman Zdeno Chara gone to division rival Boston, they will be much weaker on defense, but they still have one of the best offenses. Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley combined for 112 goals and produced most of the Senators offense. But with Chara gone, it will be hard for Ottawa to repeat last years great regular season, but that still leaves the door open for a good postseason finally.
Saku Koivu is the undisputed leader of the Canadiens, but they need someone else to step up and score goals.
3. Montreal Canadiens - Sure, Montreal made the playoffs last year but not by much and they weren't that great of an overall team. Led by goaltender Cristobal Huet in the 2nd half of the season, the Canadiens just barely made it to the playoffs and they were one and done against Carolina in the first round. Huet was very surprising last year and they will need him to repeat his performance of .929 save percentage. Saku Koivu is their best player but even he is a question mark, with an eye injury from the playoffs. The Canadiens will most likely be a mediocre team, but they won't slip in the postseason this time.
The addition of All-Star defenseman Zdeno Chara, immediately makes Boston a better team but there still not a playoff caliber team.
4. Boston Bruins - The Boston Bruins song for this off-season should be "Change, Change, Change". The Bruins made a ton of moves this summer, in both the front office and the players. Zdeno Chara (All-Star defenseman) from Ottawa, is defiently there biggest addition and makes them a much better defensive team. They also got a new G.M. (Peter Chiarelli) and a new coach (Dave Lewis). Boston was already a not very good team, and with all these changes it will take them a while to get used to. They will most likely be a improved team, but still at the bottom of the division.
At 35 years old, center Mats Sundin is the Maple Leafs only legitimate star.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs - The Maple Leafs were a solid team last year (41-33-8) but with key losses this off-season they will drop off a bit. They lost goaltender Ed Belfour, right wing Tie Domi and center Eric Lindros. All were pivotal parts of the team and Toronto will feel the after effects of losing them. To boot, the Leafs have a new coach (former Carolina coach Paul Maurice) and that usually takes a little bit of time to adjust to. The only notable addition for Toronto is Michael Peca, who is a good leader and one of the best at checking. Toronto, be prepared for a lost season.
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NHL Preview - Northeast Divsion
Northeast Divsion
Former Michigan State goaltender Ryan Miller, is a big reason why the Sabres made there deep playoff run.
1. Buffalo Sabres - For the first time in decades, the Buffalo Sabres come into the season as a Stanley Cup contender. Buffalo caught alot of people by surprise last year, by making it to the Conference Finals and losing to the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes. The Sabres return most of there team back from last year and expect to be just as good, with divisional rival Senators losing a couple key parts. Two huge contributors back are defenseman Chris Drury, and right wing Maxim Afinogenov. Break out goaltender Ryan Miller is also back, and hopes to build on last year. The Sabres should be a contender, but if anything, they have taught you to expect the unexpected.
Dany Heatley (above), Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza form the leagues top line.
2. Ottawa Senators - The Senators once again last year, flew threw the regular season but failed to come up with anything in the postseason. It has been a trend for Ottawa teams to be a bust in the playoffs, and they want to end that now. With defenseman Zdeno Chara gone to division rival Boston, they will be much weaker on defense, but they still have one of the best offenses. Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley combined for 112 goals and produced most of the Senators offense. But with Chara gone, it will be hard for Ottawa to repeat last years great regular season, but that still leaves the door open for a good postseason finally.
Saku Koivu is the undisputed leader of the Canadiens, but they need someone else to step up and score goals.
3. Montreal Canadiens - Sure, Montreal made the playoffs last year but not by much and they weren't that great of an overall team. Led by goaltender Cristobal Huet in the 2nd half of the season, the Canadiens just barely made it to the playoffs and they were one and done against Carolina in the first round. Huet was very surprising last year and they will need him to repeat his performance of .929 save percentage. Saku Koivu is their best player but even he is a question mark, with an eye injury from the playoffs. The Canadiens will most likely be a mediocre team, but they won't slip in the postseason this time.
The addition of All-Star defenseman Zdeno Chara, immediately makes Boston a better team but there still not a playoff caliber team.
4. Boston Bruins - The Boston Bruins song for this off-season should be "Change, Change, Change". The Bruins made a ton of moves this summer, in both the front office and the players. Zdeno Chara (All-Star defenseman) from Ottawa, is defiently there biggest addition and makes them a much better defensive team. They also got a new G.M. (Peter Chiarelli) and a new coach (Dave Lewis). Boston was already a not very good team, and with all these changes it will take them a while to get used to. They will most likely be a improved team, but still at the bottom of the division.
At 35 years old, center Mats Sundin is the Maple Leafs only legitimate star.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs - The Maple Leafs were a solid team last year (41-33-8) but with key losses this off-season they will drop off a bit. They lost goaltender Ed Belfour, right wing Tie Domi and center Eric Lindros. All were pivotal parts of the team and Toronto will feel the after effects of losing them. To boot, the Leafs have a new coach (former Carolina coach Paul Maurice) and that usually takes a little bit of time to adjust to. The only notable addition for Toronto is Michael Peca, who is a good leader and one of the best at checking. Toronto, be prepared for a lost season.
mrbigshot238 at 4:39:00 PM EDT Blog about this entry |
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