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The Battle for the Northwest. My Opinions and Picks... |
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The Northwest has been among the strongest and often hardest to pick divisions since the lockout...When you think about it, the teams have all had their moments and going into each year is was pretty much anyone's ball game...This year not so much.
In my opinion, this year we see two teams far and away the class of the division, two teams looking for identities that could go either way but also can surprise on any given night, and a team far too talented to be acting this way. The one constant that remains is that division games between teams in the Northwest are NEVER boring or void of emotion. This difference with these franchises is maybe easiest to view when you look at the moves made and how drastically different the off-season strategies have been. I often talk about "Windows" in the new NHL and the stages are perhaps never better defined then they are right now in the Northwest...I will go into windows in more depth tomorrow...but let's look at the Northwest...Going in reverse order for dramatic purposes.
#5 Colorado>>
For a team that always stayed consistent and surprised us over and over again with moves that kept them near the top it almost feels like they are reverting to their roots in Quebec. There are many ways to build an NHL team, but the one used the least is the "play all the kids and be really bad for a few years and get multiple great picks." To me that is where the Avs are at this point...And in my opinion they went to it way too early and in a very risky manner. The Nordiques lost a franchise for many reasons, but for the last few years it can't be discounted that they were really, REALLY bad. And their fall to terrible happened very quickly. In the late 80s with the Stastnys and Goulet they had some teams that were actual Cup contenders and then the wheels came off (where have you gone JF Sauve) (one of my personal favs at the time) Suddenly the Nords were wracking up losses and top picks in Sakic, Sundin, and Lindros (who of course they turned into Forsberg).
The Avalanche right now have more talent than those bad Nord teams. Players like Hejduk, Svatos, Hannan, Preissing and Liles all would have made those awful Nordique teams, and of course the Avalanche's best player is their own Stastny who is as intelligent hockey player as they come...In goal, they have issues for sure, but Craig Anderson seems poised to make a run with his shot here at a #1. Is he a #1? I have some doubts, but he has earned his shot at it. The addition of Matt Duchene is eerily similar to the pickup of Sakic in skill, type, and potential. And this team did all it could to get into the top three last spring as they just played so far below their abilities as they stumbled into the finish line. They already have shown this "alrightness" with getting worse before they get better by trading Ryan Smyth. Now, they are entertaining moving Hannan and if they do so, that is a definite sign that this team is looking for it's Forsberg last year.
Rumours surrounding the Avalanche: Hannan and even Hedjuk who I am told is sought after by the Preds after losing out to the Leafs in the Kessel sweeps...The Bruins love Hedjuk as well, but would need to make ANOTHER big move and likely will let this team ride and see where they are minus Kessel.
#4 The Wild.
It is very rare that a team comes out and from the farm team up just announces that they are changing their style. It is not surprising given the new owner Craig Leipold (a guy I have a ton of respect for) and his history in putting exciting teams on the ice in Nashville. Craig is all about passion in hockey and loves the fans of his teams and they love him as well. But Craig is also an owner who hires good hockey people and lets them do their job. His firing of Risebrough was a first. He never fired a GM or a coach in ten years in Nashville. The Wild are a team that wants a new fresh start, but it will take a little time due a still rebuilding farm system. The NHL did a survey a last year and the Wild were ranked the team that out of market fans followed the least. This is a team that sells out and is in the State of Hockey, and yet the Thrashers and Panthers have more out-of-market fans? Why? Well the theory goes that the Wild never really got involved in the party. How many trades did they make? How many big UFA's did they sign? Not many at all. In fact, the two teams about which I have probably written the least amount of rumors since I started have been the Stars and the Wild. Well all that changed this summer. The Wild not only came to the table this summer, they came to play. They not only signed Havlat, Sykora, and Zanon but they were VERY close to signing Saku Koivu and were primary players in the Heatley sweeps early on. This was an interesting year to be a Wild fan. Craig hired a great GM in Chuck Fletcher and Chuck hired a progressive offensive minded coach...But it will take time. The wide majority of this team was built on another kind of foundation. In Burns, they have a future Norris winner and they will battle hard this year for the eighth spot in the Conference along with the 3rd spot in the division with the Oilers. As an aside, I really want to get to this city to see a game this year, from all accounts the experience in Minnesota and the building is unrivaled.
Rumours surrounding the Wild: With the Sykora signing I think it is safe to say they are done for the time being, but I also expect this year to be a mild rebuilding type of a year and that the Wild will pop up in many more rumors and speculation.
#3 The Oilers
The Oilers had a terribly dissapointing 08-09, mostly driven by injuries. Some disclosed, some not. The pressure in Edmonton is intense, and this team isn't allowed to rebuild despite desperately needing to rebuild, but in a weird way the injuries sort of gave them an excuse. It was quite unfortunate that the summer was lost to the Heatley saga on some levels and due to those weird events surrounding July 1 some players were left alienated and some other moves that were contingent on the Heatley deal of course never happened. The Oilers make moves like a team with a closing window sometimes despite the fact that they are very much a team with an opening window. Take the Khabibulin acquisition. It is definitely a move that a team on the verge of winning a Cup makes right? I mean, while goaltending has been the issue, does anyone think it has kept them from winning a Cup? What holds the Oilers back (besides terrible injury woes last year) is basic youth and inexperience that lead to inconsistency. So enter Pat Quinn. A legend who at one point lost his job because he had a tough time relating to young players, but showed the complete opposite in leading the Canadian Junior team last Christmas. But again firing MacT...Was he the problem? I know that some people believe he lost the Oilers and really rode some of his players, but was he the reason this team didn't win a Cup? All this said, a healthy Oilers team with one more year under their belt will be tougher and the Bulin Wall can steal a few for sure. But Khabibulin concerns me too because it takes a certain mentality to play with struggling teams and while Khabibulin is GREAT when his teams are great (Tampa's Cup run and last year in Chicago) he can be mediocre at best...well all the other times (see Chicago post lockout until last year when they couldn't give Khabibulin away)
I will say this. There may not be a more exciting team to watch in the NHL, and these Oilers can flat out fly like no one's business. I love the return of Comrie and what that could mean for Hemsky. I love Ganger and Cogs and Souray and Visnovsky.
Rumours surrpounding the Oil: They are still looking to move Penner for the right person and and the right package and I kind of hope they stop that mentality. I think Penner is OK, overpaid, but still a legit top 6. Same with Horcoff.
#2 The Flames.
Ok, I have gone back and forth with the Canucks and Flames and who wins this division. I changed this again just now. Unlike many others I do not question the letting go of Cammalleri. I feel that it was addition through subtraction to a degree. The Flames have the most exciting player in the West in Iginla and from all accounts Jokinen came to camp in incredible shape, body and mind. If he is, then the Flames are going to be dangerous offensively without Cammalleri. I like Rene Bourque to step up and fill in many of the points lost by Cammalleri. And of course defensively. Well this is the best defensive corps in the NHL by a quite a bit. I can't wait to see Jay Bo under the gun night in and night out. I for one think it will be great for him and as good as he is I think we have only touched the surface of what real pressure could do to elevate his game.
Dion appears to have his focus back and no doubt the addition of Jay Bo will prey on Phaneuf's ego enough to keep him sharp if he wants to be considered "the man." Reghr continues to be quietly one of the top 10 all around defenseman in the game. There is no All-Star game this year due to the Olympics, but were there and All-Star game it is quite possible that the Flames would dress the most All-Stars of any Western Conference team. All that talent is great and makes for entertaining hockey night in and night out, but it's the addition of Sutter as coach that really has me high on the Flames. I simply can't wait to see what happens once Sutter's systems and work ethic combine with this talent.
Rumours surrounding the Flames: Sutter came out and said that they are done for now, but with all the competition for spots going on in this year's camp you have to imagine that some options could open up. A guy like Boyd could become a big and valuable chip for Sutter due to the simple numbers games.
#1 The Canucks.
As the free agent period started to wind down I have to admit I was less than inspired by what the Canucks had accomplished. I couldn't imagine how they could lose but not replace a stalwart like Ohlund. However in the last month that has very much changed. They not only signed Luongo, they brought in Ehrhoff and Schneider and more than replaced Ohlund. I love Bieksa and feel that this season will be the year that he solidifies himself as one of the best in the NHL. I have to admit that Gillis continues to impress me as a GM. Many former agents don't, but he really has not only been good, but he has been creative. I don't love the Samuelsson signing. I feel that he is an example of a guy who benefitted greatly from playing in Detroit. However, if the chemistry is there with the Sedins we will see. I still think the Canucks are void of a sniper, but it may not matter in the regular season. They need to find a clutch scorer if they are to get into the third round in the playoffs, but I see the defensive depth they have assembled and the chip that is Corey Schneider and I could see that player coming via trade. I am surprised that they didnt go harder for Sykora. In the end the battle for #1 in the division will come down to Kipper and Luongo, and which of these two amazing goalies can get their team over the top. With the coming Olympics in Vancouver I can't help but think that Luongo will have an unreal year.
tomorrow...Trade rumors and the Window blog. (the two are very connected of course)
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