ATLANTIC DIVISION PREVIEW

ATLANTIC DIVISION PREVIEW

On paper, this is the most competitive division in hockey with no real stinker of a team especially in light of Philadelphia’s free agency moves and extremely talented youth. An argument can be made for every team to be competitive and contend for a playoff spot. Likely though only the Rangers, Devils and Penguins will make it happen. Anyway, here’s a brief look at every team with corresponding grades!

New York Rangers

Forwards: As much as it pains me to say this, this is the team that naturally scares me the most. Whenever you add 2 front line centers, any team would consider that a quality hull. Combine that with Jaromir Jagr, the Rags should once again be there in the playoffs this season. Add outstanding secondary parts in Brendan Shanahan, uber pest Sean Avery and the underrated Marty Straka allows Jagr/Drury and Gomez to have the help they needs. Rook Ryan Callahan proved he can join this supporting cast in his action last season as well. Look for Petr Prucha, who struggled throughout his sophomore season to play more like he did in the second half of last season. Toe-to-toe, the Rangers can match up against any team offensively. Rangers also have enough grinders and tough guys to limit the offensive stars of other teams. A

Defense: The Rangers have some overall depth unrivaled by most in the league. Ex-Pen, Michal Rozsival put away his injury concerns and had an extremely solid season while providing solid defensive positioning and 40 points. Paul Mara came over during the trading deadline and saw his production improve. He has enough skills to be a pp contributor as well as decent defensive ability. Fedor Tyutin is only 24 and will look to showcase the potential that many believed could carry the team for years. Combine young stud, Marc Staal and the extremely solid Thomas Pock and the 23 yr old Dan Girardi and the Rangers can have a strong defense for years. Marek Malik and Jason Strudwick provide back end help to help in the defensive zone and penalty killing. The Rangers were top 10 in goals-against last season, so there isn't a whole lot wrong with coach Renney's game plan but rather question marks about a bunch of so called no names. B

Goaltending:
Henrik Lundqvist is elite. Stephen Valiquette – not so much. Barring injury, they'll be fine. B-

Prediction: First

New Jersey Devils

Forwards: This team lost a ton in the off-season with the loss of Gomez and Rafalski. Dainus Zubrus won't come close to matching Gomez's production so look for a bit of a downgrade there overall. This team still has enough talent with Patrik Elias, Zach Parise and Brian Gionta to score their 3 goals a game in front of their 14 fans. In true Devil fashion, some rookie will blossom onto the scene and chip in 20 goals like Travis Zajac did last year. (Ok so he scored 17 goals but you get the point.) The team still has the best group of checkers in Madden and Pandolfo and can shutdown most offenses. The beauty of this team is that they don't need to score a lot to win. The other two phases of the team are just that damn good. B-

Defense: Paul Martin was given a new long term deal and will need to become the de-facto Devil powerplay quarterback as well as replace Rafalski. Martin stepped it up last season but will need to take that next step. Lukowich and Rafalski were replaced by hard hitting Vitaly Vishnevski and ex Rag Karel Rachunek. Rachunek will try to help Martin in replacing some of Rafalski's offense but he needs to actually be healthy to do that. Andy Greene and Johnny Oduya are there to help out the back pairings and Colin White is still one of the most feared players in the league to play against. B

Goaltending: Brodeur is a stud and will continue to attempt to break Patrick Roy's records. Expecting another 48 wins is expecting a bit much but expect around 40 wins with the gaa under 2.6. Kevin Weekes comes to the swamp during the offseason and will take some games from Brodeur so he can have some rest for the post season. Weekes is one of the best backups in the league and should provide with an adequate enough break so Marty is ready for the post season. A

Prediction: 2nd

Pittsburgh Penguins

Forwards: When thinking of the Penguins offensively the term top heavy comes to mind. Sidney Crosby became the best player in the league last season and will continue to do so barring injury. Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal give this team 3 young studs at center for at least 10 years (unless of course Kevin Lowe decides to spend another 5 first round draft picks on either of them) Add Mark Recchi, Gary Roberts, shootout specialist Eric Christensen, and ex Devil Petr Sykora and this is a potentially dominating offense on the powerplay. The team needs more scoring 5 on 5 and for some additional scorers to pop up from the 3rd and 4th liners specifically Ryan Malone and Colby Armstrong. Grinders and checkers are there unlike in previous years. B+

Defense: The Penguins dumped Joe "The Terrible" Melichar and replaced him with Darryl Sydor. Sydor isn't the player he was before but he is a lot better than Joe "F'ning" Melichar. Rob "Not as terrible as Melichar but terrible & also a BC grad and thus making me a douchebag" Scuderi is still an 8th defensemen in the league getting top 6 minutes. Scoring wise, the Pens are fine with Gonchar and Ryan Whitney. Underrated Mark Eaton played swimmingly last season and Brook Orpik gives this team a physical presence. In their own zone though, this unit is a mess and will continue to be a mess. Crease clearing and physical defenders are needed. C+

Goaltending:

Marc-Andre Fleury won 40 games last season and played admirably against the Senators despite a shit defense. Fleury will always be questioned on whether he can become elite but the potential is still there and Fleury is still only 22. Backup Goaltending is a concern with Dany "Who?" Sabourin. Fleury better be healthy or this could be a long season. C-

Prediction: 3rd

New York Islanders

Offense: Gone are Jason Blake (our prayers are with you, Jason), Ryan Smyth, Alexei Yashin and Viktor Kozlov. To replace them, GM Garth Snow brought in Bill Guerin, Mike Comrie, Ruslan Fedotenko, Josef Vasicek and Jon Sim. While outside of Guerin, these guys aren't really names they can and should replace the lost talent adequately. Trent Hunter is still there as is Miro Satan. Richard Park and Andy Hilbert are under-the-radar contributors. Youngsters Sean Bergeinheim and Jeff Tambellini can also make some noise. The group is a rag tag bunch of no names and has beens but the overall depth is way better than given credit for. They still need one of these guys: Comrie, Guerin, Satan to become the go to guy. Chris "convict" Simon will also be seen at some point in December after serving his suspension. C+

Defense: The strength of the team on paper the Isles have a solid defense. Brendan Witt and Andy Sutton are prone to brain farts but are solid in their own zone and are physical. Marc Andre Bergeron is the powerplay quarterback who played extremely well for the Isles last season. Chris Campoli and Bruno Gervais are young dmen with some upside. This group that doesn't scream top 10 in the league but they are a lot better than given credit for. B

Goaltending - Rick Dipietro despite being an uber douchebag turned in his finest year as an NHL goalie last season and actually looked like a goalie that was lavished with a 15 year deal. If DP has similar numbers to last year than the Isles will once again be around the playoff door. Wade Dubielewicz is the backup and has shown that he can win some important games when called upon. B-

Prediction: 4th

Philadelphia Flyers

Forwards: the Flyers signed the free agent to get in signing ex Sabre Daniel Briere. Briere is the exact opposite of the old Flyers model and will look to provide another 90-100 points this season. Simon Gagne is still as dangerous as ever and Mike Knuble is solid in the slot and in front of the net. The Flyers took some chances in acquiring young Joffrey Lupul, who arrived in Edmonton amid much fanfare a year ago and promptly laid a giant egg with just 16 goals and a minus-29 showing. Lupul did score 28 goals two seasons ago and will look to turn his career around. Two of Jeff Carter, Mike Richards and RJ Umberger need to step up to provide some secondary scoring depth. Ex Pred, Scott Hartnell comes over and will provide the Flyers with another hardnosed banger with 25 goal potential. C

Defense: The Flyers are mixing an incredibly talented group of young defenders with a strong veteran corp. Kimmo Timmonen was the big acquisition for this group this off-season and is smart with the puck and solid in all phases of the game. Jason Smith comes over from Edmonton and will be a nuisance for the division to play against. Cement Booted Derian Hatcher is still around and if he is within stick length, he's still solid. Problem is he is among the slowest players in the new NHL. Young players Brandon Coburn, Lasse Kukkonen and Randy Jones will continue to progress. Coburn has size and can skate but still hasn't put it all together. Kukkonen can handle the puck and should help the PP. B

Goaltending: Marty Biron was brought over last year from Buffalo and will look to cement himself as a starting goaltender. He's no Brodeur or Henrik but he's an improvement over Robert Esche. Antero Niitymaki is there to provide him with some relief. Niity is playing anywhere near the same level he played at during the olympics 2 years ago but is still better than Dany "Who" Sabourin. C+

Prediction: 5th

-op