NHL Reviews 2007

It’s time to really take a look at each NHL team and see how they stack up. Today, we will look at each NHL team and break them down into multiple categories. We’ll look at everything from studs, to sleeper picks, to line projections. This will be a series of three articles of ten teams each and sorted alphabetically. With this piece being the first one, we’ll start with Anaheim. Here we go:

 
Anaheim Ducks

Overview: Anaheim is fresh off a Stanley Cup championship, but they could potentially be without two key parts. Both Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer have contemplated retirement, and they should have a decision made sometime soon. It looks like Niedermayer is more likely to return than Selanne at the moment. The Ducks also brought in Mathieu Schneider and Todd Bertuzzi to replace those two.

Fantasy Stud: Andy McDonald has averaged 82 points over his last two seasons, while playing in all 164 games over that span.

Sleeper Pick: Ryan Getzlaf is just 22, but he has the puck handling skills of a seasoned veteran. He can dangle with the best of them, and often leaves defenders standing in place while he skates by.

Don’t Overrate: Todd Bertuzzi is coming off of an injury plagued season, in which he played just 15 games. He could be a solid pick, but until he can stay healthy again, he’s someone you don’t want to overrate.

Rookie To Watch: Look for Bobby Ryan to finally make the team this year. Depending on how he does during training camp will determine how much of a role he plays this season. With Anaheim losing Dustin Penner, Ryan could be looked upon to play some key minutes.

Line Projections:

L1 – Chris Kunitz – Andy McDonald – Todd Bertuzzi (Selanne)

L2 – Bobby Ryan- Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry

L3 – Travis Moen – Samuel Pahlsson - Rob Niedermayer

L4 – Brad May – Todd Marchant – George Parros

DP1 – Chris Pronger – Sean O’Donnell (Niedermayer)

DP2 – Mathieu Schneider – Francois Beauchemin

DP3 – Joe DiPenta – Kent Huskins

G1 – Jean-Sebastien Giguere

G2 – Ilya Bryzgalov

Prediction: 1st in Pacific Division.

 
Atlanta Thrashers

Overview: Atlanta should have another top offense in the league this year. The Thrashers made a couple of moves to help their blue line, mainly signing Alexei Zhitnik and Ken Klee. Steve McCarthy should improve this season, so I have to believe Atlanta can be more balanced this season as a whole.

Fantasy Stud: Atlanta boasts two top players in the league, Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa, and should both be targets on draft day. I believe Hossa is the better of the two, but both should be good for 90 points.

Sleeper Pick: Atlanta signed Todd White this off-season after he spent a few seasons in Minnesota. White will get a chance to center Kovalchuk or Hossa this season.

Don’t Overrate: Any forward outside of Kovalchuk and Hossa. Other than those two stars, Atlanta doesn’t have much to brag about.

Rookie To Watch: The Thrashers bring in two of the top scorers in the AHL last season in Brett Sterling and Darren Haydar. They should be given every opportunity to make the team and should be able to post somewhere around 40 points.

Line Projections:

L1: Ilya Kovalchuk – Todd White – Marian Hossa

L2: Slava Kozlov – Bobby Holik – Pascal Dupuis/Brett Sterling

L3: Brad Larsen – Steve Rucchin – Eric Perrin

L4: Eric Boulton – Jim Slater – Chris Thorburn

DP1: Alexei Zhitnik – Niclas Havelid

DP2: Ken Klee – Garnet Exelby

DP3: Joel Kwaitkowski – Steve McCarthy

G1: Kari Lehtonen

G2: Johan Hedberg

Prediction: 3rd in the Southeast Division.

 
Boston Bruins

Overview: The Bruins made a few trades this off-season to help their chances this season. First, they acquired left winger, Peter Schaefer, from the Ottawa Senators for Shean Donovan. Then they acquired goaltender Manny Fernandez from the Wild. Both should be able to help Boston improve, though I don’t think they are playoff caliber.

Fantasy Stud: I don’t think we can go against Marc Savard. Many had doubts about him last season, but he proved everyone wrong and had another great campaign.

Sleeper Pick: Fresh off a successful battle with testicular cancer, Phil Kessel is poised to be a top scorer in Boston this season. He could be a nice late round selection in most pools.

Don’t Overrate: Zdeno Chara has kept up a steady point total, averaging about 43 points over the last three seasons. However, Chara’s +/- took a huge hit and he saw a steady decline in his PIM.

Rookie To Watch: If Zach Hamill makes the team out of camp, he could surprise a lot of people. Outside of Hamill, I don’t see much for first year players.

Line Projections:

L1: Peter Schaefer – Marc Savard – Glen Murray

L2: Marco Sturm – Patrice Bergeron – Brandon Bochenski

L3: P.J. Axelsson – Phil Kessel – Chuck Kobasew

L4: Mark Mowers – Jeremy Reich – Shawn Thornton

DP1: Zdeno Chara – Dennis Wideman

DP2: Andrew Alberts – Andrew Ference

DP3: Aaron Ward – Mark Stuart

G1: Manny Fernandez

G2: Tim Thomas

Prediction: 5th in the Northeast Division.

 
Buffalo Sabres

Overview: Buffalo turned out to be the arguably the biggest loser in free agency. The Sabres lost star centers Daniel Briere and Chris Drury. They nearly lost Thomas Vanek, but Edmonton’s offer was eventually matched. Buffalo will have to promote from within and hope Ryan Miller can steal some games for them.

Fantasy Stud: The 90 million dollar man, Thomas Vanek. Vanek projects to be a top line left winger this year, and won’t just put up a lot of points, but should post a high +/- rating now that he knows what defense is.

Sleeper Pick: There are quite a few choices here, but I will go with Drew Stafford. He will get a shot to make the 2nd line this season and it could pay off big time. Be sure to also keep an eye on centers Derek Roy and Tim Connolly, as they could surprise people.

Don’t Overrate: Ales Kotalik has disappointed in my mind, and may be bumped down to the 3rd or 4th line this season playing the wing behind Stafford, Afinogenov, and Pominville.

Rookie To Watch: Not a whole lot of rookies stick out to me, but I will say Marek Zagrapan. Marek was a former top prospect for the Sabres and could turn out to be a solid player in a year or two.

Line Projections:

L1: Thomas Vanek – Derek Roy – Maxim Afinogenov

L2: Jochen Hecht – Tim Connolly – Jason Pominville

L3: Dan Paille – Paul Gaustad – Ales Kotalik

L4: Michael Ryan – Adam Mair – Drew Stafford

DP1: Henrik Tallinder – Toni Lydman

DP2: Jaroslav Spacek – Brian Campbell

DP3: Dmitri Kalinin – Teppo Numminen

G1: Ryan Miller

G2: Jocelyn Thibault

Prediction: 2nd in Northeast Division.

 
Calgary Flames

Overview: Calgary made quite a few moves this off-season, though the player moves weren’t anything too big. Their biggest move was hiring former Florida Panthers coach, Mike Keenan. They also traded with Chicago and acquired Adrian Aucoin to help their defense, on top of signing Cory Sarich to a ridiculous contract, and brought in a veteran forward in Owen Nolan.

Fantasy Stud: Obvious choice is Jarome Iginla. Iginla could break 100 points this season if he can play in the majority of the Flames’ games.

Sleeper Pick: There aren’t many options in my mind, but let’s go with Adrian Aucoin. He could be a top 2 defenseman in Calgary this season and should post a respectable +/- rating.

Don’t Overrate: Dion Phaneuf is young and a big hitter, but he’s not the most offensive guy out there. Don’t be mad if he gets picked before you.

Rookie To Watch: Brent Krahn may have the highest potential, but he’s stuck being a guy named Miikka Kiprusoff, so my rookie to watch is Dustin Boyd. He had a taste of the NHL last season, and will be looking for more this season.

Line Projections:

L1: Alex Tanguay – Daymond Langkow – Jarome Iginla

L2: Kristian Huselius – Matthew Lombardi – Owen Nolan

L3: Wayne Primeau – Craig Conroy – David Moss

L4: Marcus Nilson – Stephane Yelle – Brandon Prust/Eric Godard

DP1: Robyn Regehr – Cory Sarich

DP2: Dion Phaneuf – Adrian Aucoin

DP3: Rhett Warrener – Anders Eriksson

G1: Miikka Kiprusoff

G2: Brent Krahn

Prediction: 3rd in the Northwest Division.

 
Carolina Hurricanes

Overview: The Hurricanes were fairly quiet this off-season, but they did manage to trade for Matt Cullen. Cullen, who played previously for the Canes, spent a season in New York. He should be a nice addition to their team. A couple other new faces that may be helpful include Dennis Seidenberg and Jeff Hamilton. Carolina could be in for a big year if guys like Erik Cole, Frantisek Kaberle, and Cory Stillman can stay healthy.

Fantasy Stud: I could go a few ways here, but the safe pick is probably Eric Staal. Staal seemed pretty quiet last year, but he’s still a top notch player and should be a quality pick come draft day. I’d also keep an eye on Justin Williams, Rod Brind’Amour, and Erik Cole.

Sleeper Pick: Cory Stillman seems to be flying under the radar this season, due in large part to his injury that kept him out of most of last season. This guy is a proven scorer and would be a nice pick in a late round. Cam Ward could also be a nice sleeper.

Don’t Overrate: Eric Staal. He is a top notch player, but he’s definitely not worth a high draft pick this year. Don’t be afraid to draft him, just don’t reach for him.

Rookie To Watch: I don’t see any rookies, but the closest is Ryan Bayda. He has 78 NHL games under his belt and has done quite well at the AHL level. I wouldn’t get near him though.

Line Projections:

L1: Cory Stillman – Eric Staal – Erik Cole

L2: Ray Whitney – Rod Brind’Amour – Justin Williams

L3: Andrew Ladd – Matt Cullen – Scott Walker

L4: Chad Larose – Jeff Hamilton – Craig Adams

DP1: Frantisek Kaberle – Mike Commodore

DP2: Niclas Wallin – Tim Gleason

DP3: Bret Hedican – Glen Wesley

G1: Cam Ward

G2: John Grahame/Michael Leighton

Prediction: 1st in Southeast Division.

 
Chicago Blackhawks

Overview: Chicago was one of the first teams to make a move prior to the Entry Draft, and they picked up Sergei Samsonov from the Montreal Canadiens. They were also able to sign veterans by the likes of Robert Lang, Andrei Zyuzin, and Yanic Perrault. The Hawks could be a surprise team this year.

Fantasy Stud: If Martin Havlat can stay healthy once, he could easily notch 80 points.

Sleeper Pick: Sergei Samsonov. What more could you ask for with a European in a contract year? This could be a big year for Samsonov, especially since he will get an opportunity to play top line minutes in Chicago.

Don’t Overrate: Tuomo Ruutu is young and has tons of potential, but the fact is the kid can’t stay healthy enough to live up to that potential. Take a shot at him late.

Rookie To Watch: Chicago will have a few rookies to keep an eye on, but I’d definitely watch Jonathan Toews. Toews will be expected to step right in and contribute. Also watch Patrick Kane, if he makes the team, and Jack Skille.

Line Projections:

L1: Sergei Samsonov – Robert Lang – Martin Havlat

L2: Tuomo Ruutu – Jonathan Toews – Patrick Kane

L3: Rene Bourque – Yanic Perrault – Jason Williams

L4: Patrick Sharp – Kevyn Adams – Martin Lapointe

DP1: Brent Seabrook – Duncan Keith

DP2: Cam Barker – Andrei Zyuzin

DP3: James Wisniewski – Jim Vandermeer

G1: Nikolai Khabibulin

G2: Patrick Lalime

Prediction: 4th in the Central Division.

 
Colorado Avalanche

Overview: Colorado made a huge splash in free agency this season by signing Scott Hannan and Captain Canada Ryan Smyth. Their success this season will be in large part of how well the young guys play. They need to hope Paul Stastny and Wojtek Wolski stay out of a sophomore slump and that Peter Budaj can carry the team.

Fantasy Stud: Joe Sakic managed 100 points this past season, and he could get to 90 again this season. Also keep an eye on Ryan Smyth and Paul Stastny.

Sleeper Pick: Let’s go with Marek Svatos. He had a great rookie year, but fell off the radar last season. I think that means it can only go up from here.

Don’t Overrate: Paul Stastny is a quality player, but don’t forget he wasn’t even supposed to make the team last year. Don’t reach too far for him.

Rookie To Watch: If Chris Stewart makes the team, he could be someone to keep an eye on. He’s a big power forward and can put the puck in the net. Also watch defenseman Kyle Cumiskey. He had a successful tenure last season with the big club and could be a nice waiver addition.

Line Projections:

L1: Ryan Smyth – Joe Sakic – Milan Hejduk

L2: Andrew Brunette – Paul Stastny – Wojtek Wolski

L3: Jaroslav Hlinka – Tyler Arnason – Marek Svatos

L4: Brad Richardson – Ben Guite – Ian Lapperierre

DP1: John-Michael Liles – Brett Clark

DP2: Scott Hannan – Jordan Leopold

DP3: Kurt Sauer – Karlis Skrastins

G1: Peter Budaj

G2: Jose Théodore

Prediction: 2nd in Northwest Division

 
Columbus Blue Jackets

Overview: The biggest move the Jackets made was signing veteran center, Michael Peca. Peca brings a wealth of experience and also brings leadership capabilities. Columbus will need Rick Nash to reach some of his untapped potential and hope Pascal Leclaire or Fredrik Norrena can hold down the goaltending job and steal a few games.

Fantasy Stud: Rick Nash. Columbus’ offense is pretty slim.

Sleeper Pick: Last year I chose Gilbert Brule as my rookie to watch, but that didn’t pan out too well. I believe he can be much improved this season though. I’d also monitor Nikolai Zherdev.

Don’t Overrate: Rick Nash did make my fantasy stud, but there aren’t many other options. Nash has been a major disappointment the past couple of seasons.

Rookie To Watch: If Jakub Voracek can make the team out of camp, he’d be someone to keep a close eye on. He has scoring ability and that’s what Columbus needs.

Line Projections:

L1: Rick Nash – Sergei Fedorov – David Vyborny

L2: Fredrik Modin – Derrick Brassard/Gilbert Brule – Nikolai Zherdev

L3: Jason Chimera – Michael Peca – Dan Fritsche

L4: Jody Shelley – Manny Malholtra – Jiri Novotny

DP1: Rostislav Klesla – Ron Hainsey

DP2: Adam Foote – Jan Hejda

DP3: Ole-Kristian Tollefsen – Duvie Westcott

G1: Pascal Leclaire

G2: Fredrik Norrena

Prediction: 5th in the Central Division.

 
Dallas Stars

Overview: Dallas wasn’t overly active this off-season, but they did bring in a couple new faces. These guys won’t be fantasy impact players, but Todd Fedoruk and Brad Winchester were brought in. Fedoruk could be good for PIM, but that’s about it. This team will rely heavily on Mike Modano, Brenden Morrow, and Sergei Zubov.

Fantasy Stud: First time I’ve done this, but Marty Turco. Dallas is traditionally a defensive-minded team, and Turco should benefit the most.

Sleeper Pick: Jussi Jokinen is fresh off a nice new contract and should be ready to show he’s worth the money. I think he is capable of reaching 60 points.

Don’t Overrate: Mike Modano. He is only getting older, so logic says his production will continue to decrease.

Rookie To Watch: Although he doesn’t qualify as a rookie anymore, Loui Eriksson. Dallas’ prospects are brutal.

Line Projections:

L1: Brenden Morrow – Mike Modano – Jere Lehtinen

L2: Jussi Jokinen – Mike Ribeiro – Antti Miettinen

L3: Joel Lundqvist – Jeff Halpern – Loui Eriksson

L4: Niklas Hagman – Stu Barnes – Steve Ott

DP1: Sergei Zubov – Philippe Boucher

DP2: Trevor Daley – Mattias Norstrom

DP3: Niklas Grossman – Stephane Robidas

G1: Marty Turco

G2: Mike Smith

Prediction: 4th in Pacific Division.

 
This series was put together in a joint effort by two of our growing number of experts: Real_Deal_Ryan and Blades of Steel. Big thanks to them for helping everyone out. Part two of this series will be out soon, so be sure to check in and definitely let us know what you think!

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