The race for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference has been the talk of many for some time now, as all but three or four teams have a chance of realistically finishing eighth or better. This takes the emphasis a bit off of the Western Conference and the teams battling towards the same goal of reaching the post-season.
Perhaps it's because the standings seem to tell the whole story, with the top eight teams well ahead of the teams below them. The excitement in the West is certainly there, though. It can be found among those playoff clubs as they battle for position amongst themselves.
So which of these teams are most ready? Which teams took advantage of the market to be the forerunners? And which teams fell short of gearing up for a run at Lord Stanley's Cup?
In terms of positive additions, the Dallas Stars came up big. The acquisition of forward Ladislav Nagy was a few days before the actual deadline, but it was still a move that bolstered their offense. Couple that with the acquisition of defenseman Mattias Norstrom and the Stars look like a much stronger club. And though the deal the Los Angeles Kings for Norstrom was complicated, the price was even enough to make it great for the Stars. They pick up a top-shelf defenseman while not absolutely shooting themselves in the foot.
The Sharks made a big move towards improvement as well, picking up forward Bill Guerin from the St. Louis Blues. Guerin commanded a bit less than some of his counterparts, as the Sharks sent forwards Ville Nieminen and Jay Barriball along with their 2007 first-round pick. Trading away a first-rounder for the Sharks will not be too detrimental, considering the team has a solid core for their roster now. Without drafting much at all and sticking with their current personnel, the Sharks can stay in the running for years to come.
The Vancouver Canucks added a little depth to their team as well, by acquiring forward Bryan Smolinski and defenseman Brent Sopel. Though not the major moves pulled off by some of the other teams, they were moves that addressed issues for the Canucks. And isn't that the reason to make a trade after all?
Smolinski gives the offense depth in the second or third lines, depending on where they want him. And Sopel is a decent two-way blueliner, not to mention familiar with playing in Vancouver (he played a number of seasons there before moving around the last couple of seasons). Those moves should give the Canucks enough to stay atop the Northwest Division, and maybe be a bit of a sleeper in the playoffs this year.
The Detroit Red Wings were not overly active at the trade deadline, though they did make one move that will assuredly shake up their lineup. They were able to bring forward Todd Bertuzzi from Florida. This has to be the wildcard of all the deadline dealings. Bertuzzi is a big forward at 6'3" 245 lbs., but that frame only helps when he is actually playing games. So far this season, he has only been in seven contests with a herniated disk.
The deal to bring him to Detroit wouldn't seem so unusual (especially with all the other deals that took place that day), but with no guarantee that Bertuzzi will even be able to play for a while makes it a tough deal to assess. And if he does come back, the Red Wings have to wonder how effective he will be on the ice. There are certainly more questions than answers when it comes to this move.
But the Red Wings are a team already poised to make another excellent run. They have gotten amazing goaltending from Dominic Hasek, Nickolas Lidstrom is still the best defenseman in the NHL and the roster has not lost a step with the retirement of longtime Wings' captain Steve Yzerman. It just seems that every year, the Red Wings are a favorite to win it all, and this year is no exception.
Then there are the teams that made moves that could only be called questionable. The team that took the biggest gamble is the Nashville Predators. They set the tone for many of the other deals that took place for high-profile players when they acquired forward Peter Forsberg. They had to send forward Scottie Upshall, defenseman prospect Ryan Parent and their first- and third round draft picks in 2007 to the Philadelphia Flyer for him. The deal took place a little less than two weeks before the deadline had arrived, which made it even worse for the other general managers looking to bring that big name to their playoff contender.
Forsberg is a superstar caliber player, which does command a lot in terms of compensation. However, he has not played as full season in years, and this year was no exception. His frequent injuries make him a liability: Though his presence on the ice is often game-changing, it's hard to count on that when he may not be in the lineup on any given day. But the Predators are good enough that, without him playing, they could still come out of any contest with a win.
The remaining teams made only minor adjustments to their rosters. Anaheim has not needed any tuning all year, getting strong play at both ends of the ice. They have a firm hold of first place in the Pacific Division and should be able to maintain it down the stretch, even with the Sharks pursuing them. Actually making a big move would have been more surprising than any they could have made. They made minor changes, but will go into the post-season with their arsenal well in hand.
The Minnesota Wild and the Calgary Flames were also apparently content with their roster, both only making slight changes. They seem strong enough to hold onto the bottom two spots in the West, but their chances of moving up any further are not good. Neither team is altogether weak; they just aren't as strong as the juggernauts at the top of the West this year.
These will almost assuredly be the teams who secure the eight spots in Western Conference, though their final positions in the standings may take until April to decide. Again, a few teams really made strides to get that extra boost for the stretch. Others made the effort, but the result was not quite what it needed to be to make the difference. In the end, these eight teams (who are most likely the teams who will be continuing play come April), will be fighting for position. And home ice. Fans will only have to sit back and enjoy the drama unfold.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Pushing Forward: The Road to the Playoffs Part I
With Tuesday now well behind us, hockey fans can finally unfix their eyes from computer screens and give the refresh button a rest. And the NHL's managers can now get some sleep, having the chance now to reflect on the deals made rather than the ones they hope will go through.
The trade deadline this year was as crazy as any in recent memory, falling short in terms of overall big moves only to the season before the lockout. But just like that season, it was easy to tell which teams were gearing up for a playoff run.
Now the question is: Who made the best moves of the day for that playoff push?
While certainly a matter of opinion as to who did the best job, there were certain teams who clearly picked up major help for their playoff bid. Perhaps looking at each conference is the best way to dissect the matter. This installment will take a look at the Eastern Conference.
One of the most active teams was the Pittsburgh Penguins. For a full rundown of the moves made by the Pens, check here. Adding toughness to their roster allows the Penguins' scorers - most notably Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal - more room to put points on the board and pucks in the net.
Another team that came out of Tuesday looking a bit better is the New York Islanders. The acquisition of Ryan Smyth was, if nothing else, the most surprising move of the entire day. Who knew the Islander's General Manager Garth Snow had it in him to nab a franchise player? After the questionable decision to sign goaltender Rick DiPietro to a 15-year deal - a signing considered epically over the top - he redeems himself a bit.
The price for Smyth seems a discount when compared to some of the other deals made throughout the day, even though he definitely did not come cheap. Adding forward Richard Zednick and defenseman Marc Andre Bergeron tops off a series of moves that could give the Islanders enough to finish in the top eight.
The Buffalo Sabres have no need to worry about making a run for the playoffs. It's almost a foregone conclusion that they will be there. And what's more is that they will most likely be the top team in the East, possibly the whole league. But there was work to be done for the Sabres.
After dealing goalie Martin Biron to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Sabres needed a backup to starter Ryan Miller. They found the answer in Ty Conklin, sending only a fifth-round choice to the Columbus Blue Jackets for him. They also picked up forward Dainius Zubrus as part of a deal with the Washington Capitals. His offense will be a great boost for the banged-up Sabres, who have been riddled with injuries throughout the season (they currently have five of their starters on IR).
Not all teams, however, made major strides for improvement. The New Jersey Devils did almost nothing. They upgraded their fifth-round pick in next year's draft for the Calgary Flames' third-rounder, only having to give up defenseman David Hale in the process.
The Devils truly don't need much tuning: they have a highly disciplined team, who has taken fewer penalties than any in the NHL; their system is often smothering, barely allowing opponents room for any offense; and, oh yeah, they have some goalie named Martin Brodeur. The Devils have their playoff roster in place, and may be a stronger team now than any of the three teams that raised Lord Stanley's Cup over the last decade.
And still there were a few teams that neglected their true needs for that playoff boost. The Montreal Canadiens will be going down the stretch without starting goaltender Christal Huet. An obvious issue that they could have addressed at the deadline would be someone in net to help them take one of the spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
So they decided that picking up defenseman Craig Rivet was the best decision. Now, Rivet is a great pickup, but only if he is coming in to compliment a top starter. The Canadiens could have brought Martin Biron in for the year without having to commit to him next year in the hopes of making a run at the Cup. Now, the starting job will be between David Aebischer, who has not been consistent all season, and Jaroslav Nolak, who has little experience at the NHL level with his five games played.
The Atlanta Thrashers made some big trades, but only big in the sense of how much they gave up for them. They were able to acquire forward Keith Tkachuk from the St. Louis Blues. But they had to surrender forward Glen Metropolit, their first- and third-round draft choices in 2007 and a second-rounder in 2008, along with the conditional 2008 first-round pick if Tkachuk resigns with Atlanta next season. This was easily the biggest price paid for any player this season.
And though Tkachuk is a solid player who will help the Thrashers' mediocre power play and add grit to a less physical Atlanta club, giving up the future for the short-term was not worth it. To make matters worse, they gave up Braydon Coburn, a potential top pairing defenseman, for Alexei Zhitnik, who used to be a top pairing defenseman. The Thrashers apparently don't feel that drafting in the next two years or developing young talent is at all useful.
The Tampa Bay Lightning made some moves, but none that are overly worth mentioning. Same with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Neither team did anything to help their club much. The Lightning gave away Nikita Alexeev for...nothing really. And the Maple Leafs brought Yanic Perreault back for another tenure. I wonder how long he'll be there this time.
The worst attempt at gearing up for the playoffs came from the Carolina Hurricanes. The defending Stanley Cup Champs did almost nothing to try to bring new life to their lineup. Anson Carter is not the answer to their issue. And chances are, Carolina won't even have an answer for how to make the playoffs, much less succeed in them.
The Eastern Conference should provide some excitement when April rolls around. Some teams seemingly went into the trade deadline with a mission, such as Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Others decided to stay neutral, such as New Jersey. And some...well, some seemed to miss the point of making a club better through making deals. But the deals that were made will certainly shape the way the East plays out.
The trade deadline this year was as crazy as any in recent memory, falling short in terms of overall big moves only to the season before the lockout. But just like that season, it was easy to tell which teams were gearing up for a playoff run.
Now the question is: Who made the best moves of the day for that playoff push?
While certainly a matter of opinion as to who did the best job, there were certain teams who clearly picked up major help for their playoff bid. Perhaps looking at each conference is the best way to dissect the matter. This installment will take a look at the Eastern Conference.
One of the most active teams was the Pittsburgh Penguins. For a full rundown of the moves made by the Pens, check here. Adding toughness to their roster allows the Penguins' scorers - most notably Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal - more room to put points on the board and pucks in the net.
Another team that came out of Tuesday looking a bit better is the New York Islanders. The acquisition of Ryan Smyth was, if nothing else, the most surprising move of the entire day. Who knew the Islander's General Manager Garth Snow had it in him to nab a franchise player? After the questionable decision to sign goaltender Rick DiPietro to a 15-year deal - a signing considered epically over the top - he redeems himself a bit.
The price for Smyth seems a discount when compared to some of the other deals made throughout the day, even though he definitely did not come cheap. Adding forward Richard Zednick and defenseman Marc Andre Bergeron tops off a series of moves that could give the Islanders enough to finish in the top eight.
The Buffalo Sabres have no need to worry about making a run for the playoffs. It's almost a foregone conclusion that they will be there. And what's more is that they will most likely be the top team in the East, possibly the whole league. But there was work to be done for the Sabres.
After dealing goalie Martin Biron to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Sabres needed a backup to starter Ryan Miller. They found the answer in Ty Conklin, sending only a fifth-round choice to the Columbus Blue Jackets for him. They also picked up forward Dainius Zubrus as part of a deal with the Washington Capitals. His offense will be a great boost for the banged-up Sabres, who have been riddled with injuries throughout the season (they currently have five of their starters on IR).
Not all teams, however, made major strides for improvement. The New Jersey Devils did almost nothing. They upgraded their fifth-round pick in next year's draft for the Calgary Flames' third-rounder, only having to give up defenseman David Hale in the process.
The Devils truly don't need much tuning: they have a highly disciplined team, who has taken fewer penalties than any in the NHL; their system is often smothering, barely allowing opponents room for any offense; and, oh yeah, they have some goalie named Martin Brodeur. The Devils have their playoff roster in place, and may be a stronger team now than any of the three teams that raised Lord Stanley's Cup over the last decade.
And still there were a few teams that neglected their true needs for that playoff boost. The Montreal Canadiens will be going down the stretch without starting goaltender Christal Huet. An obvious issue that they could have addressed at the deadline would be someone in net to help them take one of the spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
So they decided that picking up defenseman Craig Rivet was the best decision. Now, Rivet is a great pickup, but only if he is coming in to compliment a top starter. The Canadiens could have brought Martin Biron in for the year without having to commit to him next year in the hopes of making a run at the Cup. Now, the starting job will be between David Aebischer, who has not been consistent all season, and Jaroslav Nolak, who has little experience at the NHL level with his five games played.
The Atlanta Thrashers made some big trades, but only big in the sense of how much they gave up for them. They were able to acquire forward Keith Tkachuk from the St. Louis Blues. But they had to surrender forward Glen Metropolit, their first- and third-round draft choices in 2007 and a second-rounder in 2008, along with the conditional 2008 first-round pick if Tkachuk resigns with Atlanta next season. This was easily the biggest price paid for any player this season.
And though Tkachuk is a solid player who will help the Thrashers' mediocre power play and add grit to a less physical Atlanta club, giving up the future for the short-term was not worth it. To make matters worse, they gave up Braydon Coburn, a potential top pairing defenseman, for Alexei Zhitnik, who used to be a top pairing defenseman. The Thrashers apparently don't feel that drafting in the next two years or developing young talent is at all useful.
The Tampa Bay Lightning made some moves, but none that are overly worth mentioning. Same with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Neither team did anything to help their club much. The Lightning gave away Nikita Alexeev for...nothing really. And the Maple Leafs brought Yanic Perreault back for another tenure. I wonder how long he'll be there this time.
The worst attempt at gearing up for the playoffs came from the Carolina Hurricanes. The defending Stanley Cup Champs did almost nothing to try to bring new life to their lineup. Anson Carter is not the answer to their issue. And chances are, Carolina won't even have an answer for how to make the playoffs, much less succeed in them.
The Eastern Conference should provide some excitement when April rolls around. Some teams seemingly went into the trade deadline with a mission, such as Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Others decided to stay neutral, such as New Jersey. And some...well, some seemed to miss the point of making a club better through making deals. But the deals that were made will certainly shape the way the East plays out.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
The campaign for the Presidents' Trophy
The Presidents’ Trophy: The award given to the regular season champion. It symbolizes putting together a brilliant 82 games, one that will be remembered for the next season - maybe seasons to come after that. It’s hard to forget the run of the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins, who set an NHL record for consecutive wins with 17, beating the record held previously by the 1981-82 New York Islanders with 15. Or the dominance of the 1996-97 Detroit Red Wings, who set the record for most win in a season with 62.
But perhaps what more people remember about that season is that the Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. And the fact that the Penguins did not.
The Presidents’ Trophy is an honor always overshadowed by Lord Stanley’s Cup, and there certainly is good reason for that. The NHL playoffs are more grueling and physically demanding than that of any professional sport, forcing teams to outlast 15 other hungry clubs and win 16 games to claim hockey’s ultimate prize.
Sounds a lot more exciting than having more overall points than any other team. And perhaps it is, but that does take away from the fact being the regular season champ is a great accomplishment for any club, and really indicates that the team from top to bottom is complete.
So which team will win the point race this year? It’s actually tough to pin one down at this point, though there are a few teams who are clear favorites at the moment.
An obvious first choice is the Buffalo Sabres. They have been atop the East since…well, since the season got underway. No team in the Eastern Conference has been able to keep up such a consistent game throughout the season. And their league best 41 wins is evidence of that.
The only thing standing in their way may be themselves. History seemingly repeating itself from last years playoffs, the Sabres are dropping left and right, the most recent hit to their lineup being co-captain Chris Drury. They have found ways to win despite missing players in their lineup, but it’s hard to maintain chemistry when players are changing frequently It will come down to how good Ryan Miller can play, how well the team’s system works, and how good a coach Lindy Ruff truly is.
Another easy choice is the Nashville Predators. Similar to the Sabres in that they have built a team of players who work more as a unit than as individual stars, the Predators have become a major force in West, having finished in the fourth spot in last years playoffs, the second straight post-season appearance for the young franchise. One win behind Buffalo with 40, they have found ways to implement the talent they have into production. Having Tomas Vokoun and Chris Mason in net doesn’t hurt either.
The big question hanging over Nashville’s head now is whether the acquisition of Peter Forsberg was worth it. Never mind the hefty price they paid to bring him to Tennessee; think about his role on the team. It’s hard for a team who plays a tight system to implement a cog like Forsberg. Their cycling system relies on a knowledge of linemates - how they like to play, where they like to be, and what purpose they serve on the ice. Adding someone such as Forsberg, who will be on the top line basically every game down the stretch, will have to fit into the system. He has yet to score a point in a Nashville uniform after three games, which my be an indicator of his usefulness to the team. A player such as Forsberg has the skills to take a game over, but will there be room for that in the Preds’ system? All of this, of course, hinges on whether he can stay healthy.
The defending Presidents’ Trophy winners, the Detroit Red Wings, have proven that they are a tough team. They have pressed on without longtime leader Steve Yzerman, having Nickolas Lidstrom take up the helm as captain. His +/- rating at a league leading +42 shows that his presence on the ice is brilliant and almost flawless. But Detroit certainly is not a one-man show. Scorers such as Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk carry much of the scoring, while utility players like Robert Lang and Thomas Holmstrom have stepped up when and where they have been needed. Ice the cake with the stellar play of Dominik Hasek, who has a 32-8-3 record, and success is not far behind.
There aren’t many knocks against a team like Detroit - other than maybe the fact that they are division rivals with Nashville. The Red Wings have quietly risen to first in the West, a point ahead of the Preds for first in the Central Division as well as the Western Conference. They have played solid hockey all year and will likely continue to do so down the stretch.
Two sleepers (for lack of any better term) are the Anaheim Ducks and the New Jersey Devils. Both are very close in the standings, with 80 and 82 point respectively.
The Ducks have enjoyed a few points this season of being number one, and would surely love to see that happen again. With the high offense of Teemu Selanne, a blue line stacked with superstars in Scott Niedermeyer and Chris Pronger, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere having the success he was expected to have last year, the Ducks are formidable at any point in the year, and will make a push for the Cup this year for sure.
New Jersey’s success is easy to pinpoint or define: Martin Brodeur. Easily the best goalie in the league this year, and probably in the past few years, his dominance has led to 38 wins under his belt and a league leading 11 shutouts, five ahead of the next closest net minders. The Devils aren’t high-powered offensively, but they make up through consistent play, being the least penalized team in the NHL with only 206 times shorthanded. Their defense has been stifling against most teams this year, and it could translate into a successful run (and possibly a fourth Stanley Cup with Brodeur at the helm).
The race for the season champ is far from over, and it’s hard to answer the question of who will win it this year. What may be an even bigger question is whether any of these teams want to claim the Presidents’ Trophy. It’s a popular superstition that the regular season champ is destined to fall short in the playoffs, missing their chance to bring home the Cup. Another reason, perhaps, that many give little concern for the award.
But perhaps what more people remember about that season is that the Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. And the fact that the Penguins did not.
The Presidents’ Trophy is an honor always overshadowed by Lord Stanley’s Cup, and there certainly is good reason for that. The NHL playoffs are more grueling and physically demanding than that of any professional sport, forcing teams to outlast 15 other hungry clubs and win 16 games to claim hockey’s ultimate prize.
Sounds a lot more exciting than having more overall points than any other team. And perhaps it is, but that does take away from the fact being the regular season champ is a great accomplishment for any club, and really indicates that the team from top to bottom is complete.
So which team will win the point race this year? It’s actually tough to pin one down at this point, though there are a few teams who are clear favorites at the moment.
An obvious first choice is the Buffalo Sabres. They have been atop the East since…well, since the season got underway. No team in the Eastern Conference has been able to keep up such a consistent game throughout the season. And their league best 41 wins is evidence of that.
The only thing standing in their way may be themselves. History seemingly repeating itself from last years playoffs, the Sabres are dropping left and right, the most recent hit to their lineup being co-captain Chris Drury. They have found ways to win despite missing players in their lineup, but it’s hard to maintain chemistry when players are changing frequently It will come down to how good Ryan Miller can play, how well the team’s system works, and how good a coach Lindy Ruff truly is.
Another easy choice is the Nashville Predators. Similar to the Sabres in that they have built a team of players who work more as a unit than as individual stars, the Predators have become a major force in West, having finished in the fourth spot in last years playoffs, the second straight post-season appearance for the young franchise. One win behind Buffalo with 40, they have found ways to implement the talent they have into production. Having Tomas Vokoun and Chris Mason in net doesn’t hurt either.
The big question hanging over Nashville’s head now is whether the acquisition of Peter Forsberg was worth it. Never mind the hefty price they paid to bring him to Tennessee; think about his role on the team. It’s hard for a team who plays a tight system to implement a cog like Forsberg. Their cycling system relies on a knowledge of linemates - how they like to play, where they like to be, and what purpose they serve on the ice. Adding someone such as Forsberg, who will be on the top line basically every game down the stretch, will have to fit into the system. He has yet to score a point in a Nashville uniform after three games, which my be an indicator of his usefulness to the team. A player such as Forsberg has the skills to take a game over, but will there be room for that in the Preds’ system? All of this, of course, hinges on whether he can stay healthy.
The defending Presidents’ Trophy winners, the Detroit Red Wings, have proven that they are a tough team. They have pressed on without longtime leader Steve Yzerman, having Nickolas Lidstrom take up the helm as captain. His +/- rating at a league leading +42 shows that his presence on the ice is brilliant and almost flawless. But Detroit certainly is not a one-man show. Scorers such as Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk carry much of the scoring, while utility players like Robert Lang and Thomas Holmstrom have stepped up when and where they have been needed. Ice the cake with the stellar play of Dominik Hasek, who has a 32-8-3 record, and success is not far behind.
There aren’t many knocks against a team like Detroit - other than maybe the fact that they are division rivals with Nashville. The Red Wings have quietly risen to first in the West, a point ahead of the Preds for first in the Central Division as well as the Western Conference. They have played solid hockey all year and will likely continue to do so down the stretch.
Two sleepers (for lack of any better term) are the Anaheim Ducks and the New Jersey Devils. Both are very close in the standings, with 80 and 82 point respectively.
The Ducks have enjoyed a few points this season of being number one, and would surely love to see that happen again. With the high offense of Teemu Selanne, a blue line stacked with superstars in Scott Niedermeyer and Chris Pronger, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere having the success he was expected to have last year, the Ducks are formidable at any point in the year, and will make a push for the Cup this year for sure.
New Jersey’s success is easy to pinpoint or define: Martin Brodeur. Easily the best goalie in the league this year, and probably in the past few years, his dominance has led to 38 wins under his belt and a league leading 11 shutouts, five ahead of the next closest net minders. The Devils aren’t high-powered offensively, but they make up through consistent play, being the least penalized team in the NHL with only 206 times shorthanded. Their defense has been stifling against most teams this year, and it could translate into a successful run (and possibly a fourth Stanley Cup with Brodeur at the helm).
The race for the season champ is far from over, and it’s hard to answer the question of who will win it this year. What may be an even bigger question is whether any of these teams want to claim the Presidents’ Trophy. It’s a popular superstition that the regular season champ is destined to fall short in the playoffs, missing their chance to bring home the Cup. Another reason, perhaps, that many give little concern for the award.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Renting Biron
In the span of just a few weeks, Martin Biron went from being safe in his position on Buffalo's bench to being a potential deadline acquisition for a club looking for an upgrade in net.
The emergence of Ryan Miller as a reliable netminder has limited Biron's playing time this season, having only started 16 games as of 2/21. Biron's numbers have been rather solid this season, posting a 12-4-1 record with a 2.84 GAA and .904 SV%. But he isn't starting - a testament to just how well Miller has been playing.
It's become clear that Miller is going to be the man in net for Buffalo, as his contract is in effect until the 2009-10 season. Biron becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. And unless the Sabres plan on shelling out $2 million plus on a back-up, they may want to look into getting something for him.
An even better reason to try to unload Biron is the fact that the Sabres are beat up at this point in the season. Ales Kotalik, Jiri Novotny, Maxim Afinogenov, Paul Gaustad and Tim Connelly are all presently out.
There are a few teams that could benefit from the 29-year-old goaltender. An obvious choice is Montreal. With starter Cristobal Huet out for the rest of the season, their hopes of a playoff birth hang in the hand of David Aebischer, who has gone 10-10-3 thus far. It's difficult to put the success of your team in the hands of a .500 guy, so adding Biron as a rental may be just what they need to make that push to the post-season.
Boston may be another interesting buyer. Their situation in net relies on two goalies with little experience in the NHL setting. Tim Thomas is 32-years-old, but would not be starting on most other teams in the league. His back-up, Hannu Toivonen, may still need more time to develop in the farm system. Biron would bring a veteran - who happens to be younger than Thomas - to the team, and may even be someone they could resign come the off-season.
The issue here is that trading to either of these teams could mean trading to the team they face in the playoffs. If Boston can make the push at the end of the year, it is likely that they will only finish with an eighth seed. And it’s very likely that Buffalo will remain at the top of the Eastern Conference. Trading a player like Biron to a potential competitor is not necessarily a wise idea on the whole.
So then comes the second option for moving him: Send him to a rebuilding team. There are plenty of teams that have room for improvement. Building from the goalie out is often a good strategy. New Jersey is certainly a prime example of how that can translate into success.
One team that could certainly use a shake up in goal is Philadelphia. Robert Esche is obviously not starter material, and Antero Niittymaki has had a horrible season thus far. It may be the fact that the Flyers on the whole have played terribly, but Niittymaki has not looked very good in almost any of his starts, only managing nine wins this whole season out of 41 starts. Picking up a new goalie to start rebuilding depends on how delusional the management of the Flyers is. Team chairman Ed Snider was quoted as saying, “We don't feel that we're that far away when we're healthy.” Too bad it’s been a lack of stability, not health, that has made it a train wreck of a season for Philly. They stand the most to gain from a player like Biron - and that may be why they are the least likely team to obtain him.
The Florida Panthers could certainly use a net minder as well. Ed Belfour, despite having decent numbers so far this year, will most likely not be staying in Florida - at least for the reason of playing hockey. Alex Auld has proven to be a weak replacement for Roberto Luongo, though could certainly serve as an adequate back up. Biron could stroll in and take the starting job without much resistance.
Another team that should look into Biron, though they are certainly not making a playoff push of any sort, is Phoenix. The Coyotes will find themselves with their starter becoming an UFA at the end of this season. Curtis Joseph will be 40 this April. His dismal numbers this year combined with his age give very little reason to resign him. Although Mikael Tellqvist was resigned for two years, he has not proven himself to be a
viable starter just yet. Biron could be a guy to help groom Tellqvist to some degree (if it is Phoenix's intension to make Tellqvist a future starter), while also potentially pulling the Coyotes out of the bottom third of the West.
Now, will any of these teams make a bid for Biron? It’s difficult to say. Montreal, probably the most obvious candidate for a goaltender right now, is supposedly looking at Mathieu Garon from Los Angeles. But that doesn’t mean that Biron is out of the question for them. The Peter Forsberg trade has made the stakes very high, so the right price is always a factor. But if this becomes a trade deadline characterized by the “rental player,” Biron may be suiting up in a new home locker room very soon.
The emergence of Ryan Miller as a reliable netminder has limited Biron's playing time this season, having only started 16 games as of 2/21. Biron's numbers have been rather solid this season, posting a 12-4-1 record with a 2.84 GAA and .904 SV%. But he isn't starting - a testament to just how well Miller has been playing.
It's become clear that Miller is going to be the man in net for Buffalo, as his contract is in effect until the 2009-10 season. Biron becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. And unless the Sabres plan on shelling out $2 million plus on a back-up, they may want to look into getting something for him.
An even better reason to try to unload Biron is the fact that the Sabres are beat up at this point in the season. Ales Kotalik, Jiri Novotny, Maxim Afinogenov, Paul Gaustad and Tim Connelly are all presently out.
There are a few teams that could benefit from the 29-year-old goaltender. An obvious choice is Montreal. With starter Cristobal Huet out for the rest of the season, their hopes of a playoff birth hang in the hand of David Aebischer, who has gone 10-10-3 thus far. It's difficult to put the success of your team in the hands of a .500 guy, so adding Biron as a rental may be just what they need to make that push to the post-season.
Boston may be another interesting buyer. Their situation in net relies on two goalies with little experience in the NHL setting. Tim Thomas is 32-years-old, but would not be starting on most other teams in the league. His back-up, Hannu Toivonen, may still need more time to develop in the farm system. Biron would bring a veteran - who happens to be younger than Thomas - to the team, and may even be someone they could resign come the off-season.
The issue here is that trading to either of these teams could mean trading to the team they face in the playoffs. If Boston can make the push at the end of the year, it is likely that they will only finish with an eighth seed. And it’s very likely that Buffalo will remain at the top of the Eastern Conference. Trading a player like Biron to a potential competitor is not necessarily a wise idea on the whole.
So then comes the second option for moving him: Send him to a rebuilding team. There are plenty of teams that have room for improvement. Building from the goalie out is often a good strategy. New Jersey is certainly a prime example of how that can translate into success.
One team that could certainly use a shake up in goal is Philadelphia. Robert Esche is obviously not starter material, and Antero Niittymaki has had a horrible season thus far. It may be the fact that the Flyers on the whole have played terribly, but Niittymaki has not looked very good in almost any of his starts, only managing nine wins this whole season out of 41 starts. Picking up a new goalie to start rebuilding depends on how delusional the management of the Flyers is. Team chairman Ed Snider was quoted as saying, “We don't feel that we're that far away when we're healthy.” Too bad it’s been a lack of stability, not health, that has made it a train wreck of a season for Philly. They stand the most to gain from a player like Biron - and that may be why they are the least likely team to obtain him.
The Florida Panthers could certainly use a net minder as well. Ed Belfour, despite having decent numbers so far this year, will most likely not be staying in Florida - at least for the reason of playing hockey. Alex Auld has proven to be a weak replacement for Roberto Luongo, though could certainly serve as an adequate back up. Biron could stroll in and take the starting job without much resistance.
Another team that should look into Biron, though they are certainly not making a playoff push of any sort, is Phoenix. The Coyotes will find themselves with their starter becoming an UFA at the end of this season. Curtis Joseph will be 40 this April. His dismal numbers this year combined with his age give very little reason to resign him. Although Mikael Tellqvist was resigned for two years, he has not proven himself to be a
viable starter just yet. Biron could be a guy to help groom Tellqvist to some degree (if it is Phoenix's intension to make Tellqvist a future starter), while also potentially pulling the Coyotes out of the bottom third of the West.
Now, will any of these teams make a bid for Biron? It’s difficult to say. Montreal, probably the most obvious candidate for a goaltender right now, is supposedly looking at Mathieu Garon from Los Angeles. But that doesn’t mean that Biron is out of the question for them. The Peter Forsberg trade has made the stakes very high, so the right price is always a factor. But if this becomes a trade deadline characterized by the “rental player,” Biron may be suiting up in a new home locker room very soon.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Defending champions?
Last year, NHL fans enjoyed an exciting Stanley Cup Finals between Eastern Conference champs the Carolina Hurricanes and the eighth seeded Western Conference representatives the Edmonton Oilers. A seven game thriller that came down to the offensive strength of the 'Canes and the blue-collar play of the Oilers. In the end, Carolina rose to the occasion in the final game, defeating Edmonton 3-1 and hoisting the clubs first Stanley Cup.
All throughout the post-season, the Oilers wowed critics with their workhorse style of play, upsetting President's Trophy winner Detroit, fifth seeded San Jose, and the then Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Carolina, on the other hand, was only living up to expectations as they mowed over Montreal, Eastern Conference playoff mainstays New Jersey, and upstart Buffalo. Both teams looked to be the real deal and were certainly viewed by most as the best teams in the playoffs. If someone were to say that this year, the NHL could see a repeat visit of last year's teams, he or she would have a difficult time finding someone else who agreed (unless he or she was from Edmonton or Carolina, I suppose).
So what happened? How is it that these two teams, who few considered long shots as the playoffs rolled on last year, became long shots this year? Before drawing any conclusions, both teams should be broken down a bit.
Edmonton did not have an impressive off-season, most notably losing star defenseman Chris Pronger in a trade that brought only a modest return. Pronger was the cornerstone of the Oilers' blue line, especially on the power play, notching 42 of his 56 points on the season with the man advantage. He also averaged 27:59 minutes of ice time per game, almost five minutes more than Jaroslav Spacek's 23:00, another player who happens to be playing for another squad this year. Pronger was on the ice almost half of every game - literally. Unloading a player who carries that much of the burden will shake up a team tremendously. And though they don't have to absorb his whole contract at this point, they also don't have that ace on the blue line to rely on.
Fernando Pisani may also be playing a role in the team's struggles. In last year's playoffs, Pisani finished with a total of 14 goals in Edmonton's 24 games played, leading the team. The 56 games he has played this year (as of 2/20) have only seen him hitting the back of the net 11 times. If the Oilers were hoping to rely on Pisani for a large chunk of their goal scoring this year, they made a potentially fatal error. Pisani had only scored 18 goals prior to the playoffs during the 2005-06 season. His playoff burst was simply that: a burst of offense that happened to come at the most opportune time. Pisani falls into that category of many players who saw a great playoff run only to fall well short of expectations in ensuing years.
Edmonton's greatest downfall has simply been an inability to build off of their wins. They've only had one winning streak that extended more than three games this whole season, a five game run from November 13-24 (and a point streak of six games until the 28 with an overtime loss to Anaheim). At no real point during the whole season have they been able to string together a consistent run of games, which has kept them at only 50-50 hockey. Being unable to generate momentum makes it very hard to start a playoff push. And with the Oilers eight points off the pace going into their game against Ottawa on Tuesday, another team hungry for points and a shot at defending their Northeast Division title, they have to get something going. Their current winless streak of three games has not helped their cause. The time for a turnaround is now; otherwise, it's never.
They have not been able to win games at critical junctions in the season, which contributes to their inability to keep up with the top eight in the West. Last season saw the Oilers keeping the hunt throughout the year, finally edging out the Canucks to secure the eighth seed. That Edmonton team seems to be a bit late in arriving, if they even plan to show up at all this year.
The only ray of light that the Oilers have at this point is that their direct competition for the bottom playoff spots are in their division. Vancouver, Calgary and Minnesota are separated by only three points going into Tuesday, battling for the top spot in the Northwest. If the Oilers can put together a few excellent performances against these divisional rivals, they can gain some much-needed ground. But they will have to play a consistent game down the stretch all around; otherwise, dreams of another Clarence Campbell Trophy will evaporate very quickly.
Then there's the defending Cup Champs. Carolina does not look like the team that marched through the playoffs last year, even though their personnel hasn't changed much from last year, at least in terms of its most key components. But looking at the stats, it's reasonable to say that the production of the team overall may be to blame for the lesser performance this season. Although Ray Whitney is already well ahead of his final totals from last season and Justin Williams will have good numbers again, Eric Staal will fall well short of last year's 100 point performance, though his 57 points are still good enough for third on the team. Staal was a major factor in getting the Hurricanes to the top of the Southeast Division and second in the East, finish only one point behind the Ottawa Senators. His 25 goals are respectable, but still 20 short of last year. It's not likely that he'll average a goal per game the rest of the way, so another 40+ goal season is out of reach.
Cory Stillman's absence from the lineup has been equally detrimental. His 76 points last season was good enough for second on the team. Having only played 24 games this year has hurt the 'Canes. But his performance in those games did not seem to be following up the previous year's success, with only three goals this season. However, even a slumping Stillman would have bolstered the offense enough to make a difference.
What may be the most revealing element of the equation is the emergence of two more contenders for the Southeast Division title. Despite the fact that both the Thrashers and the Lightning finished with 90 and 92 points respectively last year, both teams were hardly in the playoff run for most of the season. Tampa was the final team to make the playoffs for the East, just squeaking in over Atlanta and Toronto. They were knocked out in the first round after a disappointing showing against the Ottawa Senators.
The improved play of some of their division rivals has made it a battle for that home ice and bragging rights in the Southeast. Atlanta has emerged as a top contender to represent the East this year, led by superstar forwards Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk, and an all-star potentially franchise) netminder in Kari Lehtonen. Tampa Bay boasts the second and third leading scorers in the NHL: Vincent Lecavalier, who also leads the league in goals scored; and Martin St. Louis, who won the league's scoring title in 2003 on a campaign that resulted in the Stanley Cup being brought to Tampa.
This year has both teams making very legitimate strides towards the playoffs, with both teams on pace to finish a little better than last year. So as both of these teams have become more competitive, the Hurricanes have had to play a greater number of difficult games. They have faired well in only about half of their divisional games this season, which could account for being off the pace from last year. At this point, a few more divisional wins could make the difference between seventh in the conference and third in the playoff hunt.
There is a good chance that teams just chasing Carolina could pass them up, so a playoff birth is still very uncertain. It's even more unlikely that they will be able to win their division this year, which could also help explain what has made this appear to be such a questionable year for the defending Cup Champions.
Carolina has not been a team that has played poorly this year on the whole per se. They are still very much in the playoff hunt, currently holding on to seventh in the Eastern Conference. But that is a far cry from last years dominant year, finishing tied for third in the NHL overall in points with Dallas with 112, second in the East, and first in the Southeast Division. If they ran the table the rest of the season, they would only come within nine points of last year, and the chances of them winning out are slim at best.
So what are the odds of another Carolina-Edmonton finals: Impossible. Edmonton will have to pick up their game tremendously if they hope to even see a single playoff game. They don't want to follow in the footsteps of the 2003-04 Anaheim squad by missing the post-season after making it to the Cup Finals the previous year. Carolina is teetering on missing the post-season if they don't keep pace with about four or five other teams. The Hurricanes could go the route of the Lightning, who finished in the eighth spot after making it to the Stanley Cup. They certainly don't want to be compared to the 1994-95 New York Rangers, the last team to win Lord Stanley's Cup the previous season and miss the chance the following year. Carolina does not want to be the next.
All throughout the post-season, the Oilers wowed critics with their workhorse style of play, upsetting President's Trophy winner Detroit, fifth seeded San Jose, and the then Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Carolina, on the other hand, was only living up to expectations as they mowed over Montreal, Eastern Conference playoff mainstays New Jersey, and upstart Buffalo. Both teams looked to be the real deal and were certainly viewed by most as the best teams in the playoffs. If someone were to say that this year, the NHL could see a repeat visit of last year's teams, he or she would have a difficult time finding someone else who agreed (unless he or she was from Edmonton or Carolina, I suppose).
So what happened? How is it that these two teams, who few considered long shots as the playoffs rolled on last year, became long shots this year? Before drawing any conclusions, both teams should be broken down a bit.
Edmonton did not have an impressive off-season, most notably losing star defenseman Chris Pronger in a trade that brought only a modest return. Pronger was the cornerstone of the Oilers' blue line, especially on the power play, notching 42 of his 56 points on the season with the man advantage. He also averaged 27:59 minutes of ice time per game, almost five minutes more than Jaroslav Spacek's 23:00, another player who happens to be playing for another squad this year. Pronger was on the ice almost half of every game - literally. Unloading a player who carries that much of the burden will shake up a team tremendously. And though they don't have to absorb his whole contract at this point, they also don't have that ace on the blue line to rely on.
Fernando Pisani may also be playing a role in the team's struggles. In last year's playoffs, Pisani finished with a total of 14 goals in Edmonton's 24 games played, leading the team. The 56 games he has played this year (as of 2/20) have only seen him hitting the back of the net 11 times. If the Oilers were hoping to rely on Pisani for a large chunk of their goal scoring this year, they made a potentially fatal error. Pisani had only scored 18 goals prior to the playoffs during the 2005-06 season. His playoff burst was simply that: a burst of offense that happened to come at the most opportune time. Pisani falls into that category of many players who saw a great playoff run only to fall well short of expectations in ensuing years.
Edmonton's greatest downfall has simply been an inability to build off of their wins. They've only had one winning streak that extended more than three games this whole season, a five game run from November 13-24 (and a point streak of six games until the 28 with an overtime loss to Anaheim). At no real point during the whole season have they been able to string together a consistent run of games, which has kept them at only 50-50 hockey. Being unable to generate momentum makes it very hard to start a playoff push. And with the Oilers eight points off the pace going into their game against Ottawa on Tuesday, another team hungry for points and a shot at defending their Northeast Division title, they have to get something going. Their current winless streak of three games has not helped their cause. The time for a turnaround is now; otherwise, it's never.
They have not been able to win games at critical junctions in the season, which contributes to their inability to keep up with the top eight in the West. Last season saw the Oilers keeping the hunt throughout the year, finally edging out the Canucks to secure the eighth seed. That Edmonton team seems to be a bit late in arriving, if they even plan to show up at all this year.
The only ray of light that the Oilers have at this point is that their direct competition for the bottom playoff spots are in their division. Vancouver, Calgary and Minnesota are separated by only three points going into Tuesday, battling for the top spot in the Northwest. If the Oilers can put together a few excellent performances against these divisional rivals, they can gain some much-needed ground. But they will have to play a consistent game down the stretch all around; otherwise, dreams of another Clarence Campbell Trophy will evaporate very quickly.
Then there's the defending Cup Champs. Carolina does not look like the team that marched through the playoffs last year, even though their personnel hasn't changed much from last year, at least in terms of its most key components. But looking at the stats, it's reasonable to say that the production of the team overall may be to blame for the lesser performance this season. Although Ray Whitney is already well ahead of his final totals from last season and Justin Williams will have good numbers again, Eric Staal will fall well short of last year's 100 point performance, though his 57 points are still good enough for third on the team. Staal was a major factor in getting the Hurricanes to the top of the Southeast Division and second in the East, finish only one point behind the Ottawa Senators. His 25 goals are respectable, but still 20 short of last year. It's not likely that he'll average a goal per game the rest of the way, so another 40+ goal season is out of reach.
Cory Stillman's absence from the lineup has been equally detrimental. His 76 points last season was good enough for second on the team. Having only played 24 games this year has hurt the 'Canes. But his performance in those games did not seem to be following up the previous year's success, with only three goals this season. However, even a slumping Stillman would have bolstered the offense enough to make a difference.
What may be the most revealing element of the equation is the emergence of two more contenders for the Southeast Division title. Despite the fact that both the Thrashers and the Lightning finished with 90 and 92 points respectively last year, both teams were hardly in the playoff run for most of the season. Tampa was the final team to make the playoffs for the East, just squeaking in over Atlanta and Toronto. They were knocked out in the first round after a disappointing showing against the Ottawa Senators.
The improved play of some of their division rivals has made it a battle for that home ice and bragging rights in the Southeast. Atlanta has emerged as a top contender to represent the East this year, led by superstar forwards Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk, and an all-star potentially franchise) netminder in Kari Lehtonen. Tampa Bay boasts the second and third leading scorers in the NHL: Vincent Lecavalier, who also leads the league in goals scored; and Martin St. Louis, who won the league's scoring title in 2003 on a campaign that resulted in the Stanley Cup being brought to Tampa.
This year has both teams making very legitimate strides towards the playoffs, with both teams on pace to finish a little better than last year. So as both of these teams have become more competitive, the Hurricanes have had to play a greater number of difficult games. They have faired well in only about half of their divisional games this season, which could account for being off the pace from last year. At this point, a few more divisional wins could make the difference between seventh in the conference and third in the playoff hunt.
There is a good chance that teams just chasing Carolina could pass them up, so a playoff birth is still very uncertain. It's even more unlikely that they will be able to win their division this year, which could also help explain what has made this appear to be such a questionable year for the defending Cup Champions.
Carolina has not been a team that has played poorly this year on the whole per se. They are still very much in the playoff hunt, currently holding on to seventh in the Eastern Conference. But that is a far cry from last years dominant year, finishing tied for third in the NHL overall in points with Dallas with 112, second in the East, and first in the Southeast Division. If they ran the table the rest of the season, they would only come within nine points of last year, and the chances of them winning out are slim at best.
So what are the odds of another Carolina-Edmonton finals: Impossible. Edmonton will have to pick up their game tremendously if they hope to even see a single playoff game. They don't want to follow in the footsteps of the 2003-04 Anaheim squad by missing the post-season after making it to the Cup Finals the previous year. Carolina is teetering on missing the post-season if they don't keep pace with about four or five other teams. The Hurricanes could go the route of the Lightning, who finished in the eighth spot after making it to the Stanley Cup. They certainly don't want to be compared to the 1994-95 New York Rangers, the last team to win Lord Stanley's Cup the previous season and miss the chance the following year. Carolina does not want to be the next.
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