They're really hurting from the loss of Chara before last year too. Also Comrie, Eaves and Saprikyn will be missed for Ottawa.

I will agree, Chara was a huge loss for us (should have kept him and dumped Redden). But Comrie, ya he played well for us but not really a "core" guy, but I would like to have him back. Eaves is made of glass and was injured all the time, and Saprikyn... come on... he didn't do much of anything for us.

But as of right now, our defence is looking good. Come on, with Phillips, Smith and Volchenkov shots on Gerber will be few and far between. Kuba had pretty much the same numbers Meszaros, but plays way better defensively... and HITS. Brian Lee will be a great replacement for Redden. He has the same playing style as Redden. Then there will be a battle for the final spot with Bell and Picard. Bell has a lot to prove, and I thought he played pretty well for the Leafs.

Offensively, like I said, Spezza, Heatly and Alfredsson is one of the best lines in the league. Fisher's healthy again and he can get score goals and make hits. We reigned Chris Kelly he is an incredibly underrated player for what he contributes on the PK. We also resigned Vermette, who like Kelly is great on the PK and has a scoring touch... if he can play to his potential he could be an elite NHL player.

Neil, Rutuu and Schubert will be throwing bodies around on the ice. We pick up Winchester right before the playoffs, a much saught-after AHL forward who can be a good second line winger. Alex Auld I thought had a great season in Boston, even though he was somewhat thrown out to the wolves with both Fernandez and Thomas getting injured. He's way more level headed than Emery and a team player.

I think we're going to have a good team this year. I think team chemistry will be a lot better with Emery and Redden out (Emery just being Emery and Redden just giving up playing because he knew he wasn't going to be back).

Agree

Anyways, in the West:

1) Detroit: I don't even need to talk about these guys. They were the best in the league last season, and not much has changed. In fact, getting Hossa made them more dangerous. They'll be on top again.

2) San Jose: Always an amazing regular season team, the Sharks will be atop their divsion yet again. Trading for Dan Boyle will help their powerplay greatly.

3) Minnesota: Being in the most difficult division in the league, I see a very tight race this year for the North-West. The Wild have been making some big steps forward the last few years and I see them atop the division again.

4) Dallas: As per usual, the Stars will be among the top 5 of the West. Very little has changed in the off season, which should have teams in the West worried.

5) Chicago: The young talent on this team cannot be ignored. Almost making the playoffs last year spoke volumes about this young squad and with a season to mature, these young stars will be that much more dangerous. Their goaltending has improved picking up Huet and so has their blueline with Campbell. The Hawks will be dangerous this season.

6) Edmonton: Much like the Blackhawks, this is a young but extremely talented team. After a terrible start to the season they faught the the very end and just barely missed the playoffs (had the same points as the Hawks as well). With vets healthy, like Souray and Staios leading the way to a mass of young talent, mark my words, the Oilers will be among the great teams in the West for a number of years.

6) Calgary: With their core still in tact, the Flames will continue to push forward. I believe Kipper will return to form this season and backstop the Flames far into the playoffs.

7) Nashville: As much as I hate to say it, the Preditors just keep improving. Being a joke in the league a few years ago they've become quite a cometitive team the last few seasons. Playing the Red Wings over and over will do that to you I guess.

8) Colorado: This team is aging... and quickly. Unless the do a complete overhaul in before next season, I think it could be safe to say this will be one of the last season we see the Avs in the top 8 in the west.

As much as I hate Detroit, you are right, they are a shoo in pretty much every year.
I don't know about Edmonton though, I think you're off on that pick, but the rest looks good to me. Minus the exclusion of Atlanta.

I think just about everyone hates Detroit... just because they're so damn good every freakin year.

No one ever picks the Oilers, but if you look at their roster they have a ton of amazing young talent which really started to shine at the end of the season... even with all the injuries they had last year (Edmonton was in the top 3 teams of man-games lost due to injuries and just barely missed the playoffs). They're right up there with Chicago with amazing young talent, just that people don't think twice about them because they're Edmonton... But I assure you, unless they trade away all their young stars that they will be one of the elite teams in the NHL in the coming years and I think they'll have a good season.

Penner and Hemsky are fun to watch, having Roloson doesn't hurt either and of course Potulny. I remember watching Potulny when he played at the U of Minnesota, they are my hometowns rival (St Cloud State Huskies), so I booed him alot. But he's good and came from an awesome college hockey system in the U of M.

Hemsky is an amazing player, and really overlooked in the NHL. Rolson I think will be in more of a backup role this year as Garon played great last season. Rolson was meh. Souray is healthy and we all know he has an amazing shot from the point. Horcoff and Moreau are also healthy and that helps the lockeroom.

But young stars like Gagne, Congilano (one of the most overlooked rookies from last year), Penner, Smid, Nilsson and getting Visnosky from LA for Staios... Those are some great players all under 25.

Roloson was pretty awesome when he played for us in Minnesota, they alternated him and Fernandez, I didn't like to see him go, but Backstrom is just as good, probably better.
I remember when the Wild was stacked with young guys, alot of them have developped and are doing well now, Brent Burns is a great example as well as Miiko Koivu. Too bad Burns is likely to be out for the first four weeks due to elbow surgery. When we get him and Foster back we'll be in full swing.

Training camp starts this week! Who's excited???

I'm stoked as hell about training camp. I'm bummed Kurtis Foster is out until at least December, but it's good news he skated twice last week, not bad for having a busted femur 5-6 months ago. Also it sucks that Brent Burns is going to be out the first 4 weeks too, But it will be interesting to see how the Wilds young prospects play out in training camp trying for a spot in the line up. I'm particularly excited to see Danny Irmen play.

I'm excited for training camp! Everyone is wonderin if Cody Hodgson can make the team this year, having a Sam Gagner-ish situation.

PS: It's funny how you two are the only ones who post in this topic.

I grew up on the iron range in northern minnesota and live in st cloud minnesota now which is a hockey hotbed, hockey is a way of life in minnesota. I'm a hockey fanatic, I'm just glad to have some people to shoot the shit with about hockey.

Hey! We gotta keep things rolling! All the NFL, MLB talk the NHL needs some loving too! That and I can talk hockey all day...

Gaborik's a free agent after this year, I just hope Risebrough ponies up the cash to re-sign him, Gaborik is just insanely good and I'd hate to lose him. I was bummed out when they just let Demitra go, we had a good deal going with the Slovakians, I would have rather seen Radovoivich go or Skoula. Both are pretty worthless imo.

Other than the Wild, I was sad to see Pittsburgh trade Colby Armstrong mid-season last year.
Also I'll say it again, this has got to be a breakout year for Kyle Okposo in New York, check this shit out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkjZhU6dHKo


note: This is our states hockey anthem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT4KQMrH67w


I would serve this as a warning to anyone wanting to gun for Wild skill players
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYz41iAFzos



By the way Mr. Black, who do you think is the best NHL enforcer?

Easy, George Laraque. The guy is a monster! I would hate to fight him.

I like Boogaard obviously, but Laroque is ok. I like Cam Janssen and George Parros too though for that role, especially Parros with the long hair and the 70's porn star moustache.
This is one of my faves of Boogaard, I love seeing Jody Shelley getting manhandled, that guy is such a tool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIDoOEbFEME

George Parros is pretty awesome. Don't mess with a guy with the 70s stache..... it means business and he'll mess you up!

Man I really hope Kipper gets back on his game this year, he's so much fun to watch between the pipes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24y_iich3zA

I just have this feeling Kipper is going to be on fire this year. Don't ask me why, I just have a feeling. He's my fav gaolie in the league right now so I hope he returns to form.