NHL Season Preview: Central Division
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings are by far the strongest team in the Central Division. Led by aging goalie Dominik Hasek, the Wings boast a team full of veterans and youngsters who know how to win. They added solid D-man Brian Rafalski, checking forward Dallas Drake. Rafalski will be replacing Matthew Schneider who inked a deal with the Ducks. Essentially, the Red WIngs will ice the same team as last season, save for the loss of Kyle Calder who was replaced by Drake and Schenider whose spot will be taken by Rafalski. Perhaps the one question mark lies in the goaltending department with Hasek aging and back-up Chris Osgood prone to inconsistency.
Nashville Predators
With the prospect of a new ownership, and the uncertainty of the future of this once feared franchise, the Predators were in the selling mode instead of the buying mode. Thus, they lost speedster Paul Kariya, all-star goalie Tomas Vokoun, who was traded at the draft, tough guy Sheldon Brookbank. The moves they made this off-season, included signing 3rd liner Jed Ortmeyer, Greg De Vries, Radek Bonk, among others. Youth, inexperience and the goaltending will cause this team to have a long season this year.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Here's another team that lacks serious depth. Perhaps their biggest move this off-season was changing their logo, and when that's the biggest thing you do after a bad season, you know your in for a long year. With Ken Hitchcock taking over full-time behind the bench, it can be assumed that the Blue Jackets will be a defense-first team. Up front, beyond all-star Rick Nash, the forwards on this team won't instill a lot of fear into the hearts of opposing goalies. It hasn't helped that the Blue Jackets are drafting players like Gilbert Brule who need a few years in the minors before being NHL-ready. On defense, the Blue Jackets can rely on aging veteran Adam Foote, but the rest of the kids are going to have their growing pains. In goal, iot could get ugly, as none of the goalies in camp have ever been handed a #1 keeper's job. In summary, don't expect much from this team for the next 3 seasons at least.
Chicago Blachawks
Over the past few seasons and this one, the Blackhawks have taken baby steps towards improving by drafting promising players like Jonathon Toews, trading for Sergei Samsanov was certainly a step in the right direction. As was signing players like Robert Lang and Yanic Perrault. While this team has improved significantly from the team that was iced last season, more drastic changes are needed to contend, including adding scoring depth up front and either having their young defensemen develop quickly, or signing veteran defenders. Goaltending will halso be a question mark, as Mike Brodeur won't be mistaken for Martin Brodeur any time soon.
St Louis Blues
The Blues are a completely different team from last season, and the signing of Paul Kariya will go a long way to helping this team be a success on the ice. Under the guidance of Andy Murray and with the help of a good mix of veterans and youngsters like Erik Johnson, look for the Blues to enter the playoffs once again, for the first time since the lockout.
How these teams will finish in the standings at the end of the 07-08 season:
1. Detroit Red Wings
2. St Louis Blues
3. Nashville Predators
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. Chicago Blackhawks
The Red Wings are by far the strongest team in the Central Division. Led by aging goalie Dominik Hasek, the Wings boast a team full of veterans and youngsters who know how to win. They added solid D-man Brian Rafalski, checking forward Dallas Drake. Rafalski will be replacing Matthew Schneider who inked a deal with the Ducks. Essentially, the Red WIngs will ice the same team as last season, save for the loss of Kyle Calder who was replaced by Drake and Schenider whose spot will be taken by Rafalski. Perhaps the one question mark lies in the goaltending department with Hasek aging and back-up Chris Osgood prone to inconsistency.
Nashville Predators
With the prospect of a new ownership, and the uncertainty of the future of this once feared franchise, the Predators were in the selling mode instead of the buying mode. Thus, they lost speedster Paul Kariya, all-star goalie Tomas Vokoun, who was traded at the draft, tough guy Sheldon Brookbank. The moves they made this off-season, included signing 3rd liner Jed Ortmeyer, Greg De Vries, Radek Bonk, among others. Youth, inexperience and the goaltending will cause this team to have a long season this year.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Here's another team that lacks serious depth. Perhaps their biggest move this off-season was changing their logo, and when that's the biggest thing you do after a bad season, you know your in for a long year. With Ken Hitchcock taking over full-time behind the bench, it can be assumed that the Blue Jackets will be a defense-first team. Up front, beyond all-star Rick Nash, the forwards on this team won't instill a lot of fear into the hearts of opposing goalies. It hasn't helped that the Blue Jackets are drafting players like Gilbert Brule who need a few years in the minors before being NHL-ready. On defense, the Blue Jackets can rely on aging veteran Adam Foote, but the rest of the kids are going to have their growing pains. In goal, iot could get ugly, as none of the goalies in camp have ever been handed a #1 keeper's job. In summary, don't expect much from this team for the next 3 seasons at least.
Chicago Blachawks
Over the past few seasons and this one, the Blackhawks have taken baby steps towards improving by drafting promising players like Jonathon Toews, trading for Sergei Samsanov was certainly a step in the right direction. As was signing players like Robert Lang and Yanic Perrault. While this team has improved significantly from the team that was iced last season, more drastic changes are needed to contend, including adding scoring depth up front and either having their young defensemen develop quickly, or signing veteran defenders. Goaltending will halso be a question mark, as Mike Brodeur won't be mistaken for Martin Brodeur any time soon.
St Louis Blues
The Blues are a completely different team from last season, and the signing of Paul Kariya will go a long way to helping this team be a success on the ice. Under the guidance of Andy Murray and with the help of a good mix of veterans and youngsters like Erik Johnson, look for the Blues to enter the playoffs once again, for the first time since the lockout.
How these teams will finish in the standings at the end of the 07-08 season:
1. Detroit Red Wings
2. St Louis Blues
3. Nashville Predators
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. Chicago Blackhawks
posted by opinionator777 at 6:59 PM
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