|
Declining Playoff Teams Reason For Hope |
|
|
|
|
|
The consternation about the Maple Leafs inability to acquire significant impact players and improve their chances to end their long playoff drought is understandable, but if you look at the additions and subtractions of the other clubs in the Eastern Conference so far, there is reason for optimism.
Here is a look at the comings and goings of the eight 2012 playoff teams rosters so far:
N.Y. Rangers(1st in Atlantic - # 1 Seed – 109 pts)
Added:
Rick Nash
Aaron Asham
Taylor Pyatt
Jeff Halpern
Lost:
Brandon Dubinsky
Artem Anisimov
Tim Erixon
John Mitchell
Brandon Prust
Ruslan Fedotenko
Status: Improved –
New York will be without sniper Marian Gaborik for the first couple months of the season, but improved their firepower with the acquisition of Nash without giving up any of their prized prospects. The remaining roster turnover was role player for role player.
Boston(1st in Northeast - #2 Seed – 102 pts)
Added:
Chris Bourque
Lost:
Benoit Pouliot
Joe Corvo
Greg Zanon
Status: Stationary –
The Bruins did not feel the need to make any big changes and who can blame them. They will be getting a healthy Nathan Horton back and will be adding rookie defenseman Dougie Hamilton to the fold. The only question is the whether the departure of Tim Thomas will have that much of an effect. Tuukka Rask is a proven commodity, but has never been “the Man” in Beantown without Thomas being there as a safety net.
Florida(1st in Southeast, #3 Seed – 94 pts)
Added:
Filip Kuba
George Parros
Peter Mueller
Lost:
Mikael Samuelsson
Jason Garrison
Wojtek Wolski
Status: Declining –
The Panthers hodge-podge of Chicago Blackhawks expatriates and free agent signings was surprisingly effective enough to win the Southeast Division by a two point margin over Washington. They had only three 20+ goal scorers last season, got a stellar year out of veteran Jose Theodore and led the league with 18 loser points. Defenseman Jason Garrison, who led blueliners with 16 goals signed as a free agent with Vancouver. They will be heavily dependent on youngsters Erik Gudbranson and Jonathan Huberdeau performing up to their lofty draft status if they are to make the post-season two years in a row.
Pittsburgh(2nd in Atlantic, #4 Seed – 108 pts)
Added:
Tomas Vokoun
Brandon Sutter
Tanner Glass
Lost:
Jordan Staal
Zbynek Michalek
Aaron Asham
Steve Sullivan
Status: Slightly Improved –
Only Pittsburgh could lose Jordan Staal and still be an improved squad for next season. That is because Sidney Crosby is back and healthy. GM Ray Shero moved Staal before he lost him to free agency next season, but added Brandon Sutter who will fit nicely in the checking line center role. Veteran Tomas Vokoun was added to backstop the inconsistent Marc-Andre Fleury.
Philadelphia(3rd in Atlantic, #5 Seed – 103 pts)
Added:
Luke Schenn
Danny Syvret
Ruslan Fedotenko
Lost:
James van Riesmdyk
Jaromir Jagr
Matt Carle
Status: Slightly Declining –
The Flyers are now without their top defensive pairing from last season, as Matt Carle signed with Tampa and Chris Pronger is likely headed for retirement with concussion issues. Luke Schenn should benefit from a change of scenery, but the offer sheet to Shea Weber just proves that GM Paul Holmgren is not done trying to upgrade his blueline. Philly has superior depth up front, but still will miss Jagr, who gelled with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell.
New Jersey(4th in Atlantic, #6 Seed – 102 pts)
Added:
None
Lost:
Alexei Ponikarovsky
Zach Parise
Eric Boulton
Status: Drastically Declining –
Goalie Martin Brodeur is another year older, they lost team captain Zach Parise to free agency and without him are pretty much the same club that finished way out of the playoffs two seasons ago.
Washington(2nd in Southeast, #7 Seed – 92 pts)
Added:
Mike Ribiero
Joey Crabb
Wojtek Wolski
Lost:
Alexander Semin
Dennis Wideman
Jeff Halpern
Status – Slightly Improved –
The Caps tasted some playoff success playing the tough-minded defensively responsible style of former coach Dale Hunter. Devils assistant Adam Oates takes over and it is expected that he will try to find a happy medium between Hunter’s conservative approach and Bruce Boudreau’s wide-open style. Brayden Holtby was a star in the post-season and will need to play up to that standard for Washington to make the playoffs again. The loss of Semin was expected, as the Caps were ready to move on from his inconsistent, enigmatic ways, but the addition of playmaking Ribiero more than makes up for it. Averaging 47 assists over the last six seasons, the former Stars center will help Washington’s power play and scoring depth up the middle.
Ottawa(2nd in Northeast, #8 Seed – 92 pts)
Added:
Marc Methot
Mike Lundin
Guillaume Latendresse
Lost:
Nick Foligno
Zenon Konopka
Matt Carkner
Filip Kuba
Status – Declining –
The Senators were an unexpected surprise, with an influx of youth from their Calder Cup winning affiliate in Binghamton, sophomore Erik Karlsson scoring 78 points in his Norris Trophy winning season, 35 goals from Milan Michalek, 33 wins from veteran journeyman Craig Anderson, 27 goals from the ageless Daniel Alfredsson and a top center-like season out of Jason Spezza. The tendency of young players to go through a sophomore jinx has to be a concern for Bryan Murray and Paul MacLean, as well as the departure of role players like Konopka, Foligno and Carkner. Karlsson will have to break in a new defense partner as Kuba departs to Florida and Ottawa native Methot takes his place.
Tomorrow: A look at the seven non-playoff teams and whether they have improved enough to contend for a playoff spot in 2012-13.
If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.
For Those on Twitter:
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information
click here.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»