Jake Gardiner

What if Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner didn't have a strong six-game run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? What if he didn't surprise and impress coach Randy Carlyle with his skating and decision making? What if he didn't play well enough to rediscover his confidence heading into the offseason? What if … OK, enough of the questions, because Gardiner did have a strong six-game run against the Boston Bruins, strong enough to surprise and impress Carlyle and to feel good about his game again. Gardiner thinks he can do it, and the Maple Leafs again have big plans for the 23-year-old defenseman, who after a forgetful, concussion-plagued 2012-13 regular season was at his best once Carlyle inserted him into the lineup for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Carlyle still has to see an improvement in Gardiner's defensive play, but at least now he finally sees him as a defenseman ready for a top-four role with power-play time. It's no longer about the future for Gardiner; his time has come, and Toronto needs him to be good now, even better than he was as a rookie in 2011-12, when he had 30 points in 75 games and made the NHL's All-Rookie team. They had the same thought at this time last season, but while the NHL and NHLPA were going through the labor dispute, Gardiner sustained a concussion playing for the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League. It happened in early December and he missed the next six-plus weeks. The Maple Leafs brought him up for two games in late January, but clearly he was not right. He was sent back to the AHL and played in 21 games before being promoted again. Gardiner wasn't himself until late March, when he returned to the Maple Leafs and played in 10 games. He occasionally was erratic. He got his chance in the playoffs because an injury to Mike Kostka and the unreliable play of John-Michael Liles forced Carlyle to make changes on the blue line after a 4-1 loss in Game 1 against the Boston Bruins. Gardiner had five points in six games and played more than 24 minutes in three of them. Gardiner wants to believe he did that last season, too. Maybe he wasn't able to build on his strong rookie season by playing another full season in the NHL, but he pushed his growing pains and his concussion aches to the side with a solid, albeit short, postseason for the Maple Leafs. Now he has to play that way for at least 82 games. There could be more if he does.

 

Ben Bishop

Ben Bishop finally has his chance to prove he can withstand the rigors of life as a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL. The 26-year-old, who has a 2.67 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in 45 games spanning three seasons with three teams, will have every opportunity to do so when the Tampa Bay Lightning open training camp. Bishop went 8-5-1 with a 2.45 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage for the Senators, keeping his team's postseason hopes afloat while Anderson recuperated from a right-ankle injury. Not long after Anderson returned to claim the starting job, Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman pounced near the NHL Trade Deadline. With Anders Lindback limited because of a high ankle sprain, and Mathieu Garon underachieving, Yzerman traded rookie forward Cory Conacher and a fourth-round draft pick to the Senators for Bishop, then gave him a two-year contract after six appearances with Tampa Bay. In doing so, Yzerman showed he believes he has secured the most important position on the ice for the near future. That's something the GM felt was a priority because his team was one of four to have four goalies suit up last season. In Bishop's Lightning debut April 4, he made 45 saves in a 5-0 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes and finished 3-4-1 with a 2.99 GAA and .917 save percentage in nine games following the trade. Bishop won a career-high 11 games in 2012-13 with a 2.67 GAA, .920 save percentage and two shutouts. Bishop, who spent three seasons at the University of Maine, was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the third round (No. 85) of the 2005 NHL Draft and has yet to get the chance to be a No. 1 goaltender. With St. Louis, he backed up Chris Mason and Manny Legace in 2008-09 and Jaroslav Halak and Ty Conklin in 2010-11. Bishop then served as Anderson's backup after the Senators acquired him in exchange for a 2013 second-round pick on Feb. 26, 2012. Though Yzerman gave Bishop an extension not long after acquiring him from Ottawa, the 6-foot-7 goaltender will have to earn the starting job. Yzerman brought in Bishop nine months after acquiring Lindback from the Nashville Predators and has publicly stated his preference for Bishop and Lindback to feed off the other and split duties to help alleviate some of the pressure associated with an 82-game season.

 

Jason Spezza

For the entirety of Jason Spezza's career with the Ottawa Senators, he had someone to lean on. It was Daniel Alfredsson's team, and there was no questioning that fact. Now, with Alfredsson gone to the Detroit Red Wings, it would be hard to argue that the Senators are not Spezza's team. It's a big change from an off-ice perspective, and one Spezza appears ready to embrace. Spezza in all likelihood will be named captain in Ottawa before the season starts. At 30 years old and with two years remaining on his contract, Spezza is a logical choice to get the nod over the other main candidate, defenseman Chris Phillips, who is 35 and entering the final year of his contract. It may not always be easy for Spezza if he gets the "C" sewn on his sweater, considering the person he'll be replacing and the manner in which that person left the team made some fans angry. But Spezza has watched Alfredsson operate for years, and that surely will help. On the ice, Spezza will be under scrutiny as well. Making a quick recovery from back surgery in time to play Ottawa's final three games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season was impressive, but Spezza obviously was not nearly as effective as he normally is. Now, with an entire offseason to recover properly, Spezza has been given perhaps his biggest weapon since Dany Heatley with the addition of high-scoring right wing Bobby Ryan in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks. Ryan has scored at least 30 goals in every full NHL season he has played, and that was in the shadows of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in Anaheim. In Ottawa, Ryan will be expected to score, a lot. That responsibility will be shared by Spezza as the playmaker on a top line that likely will include Milan Michalek opposite Ryan. Spezza will need to show he can stay healthy for an entire season, something that has happened once in the past four. But if he is able to stay on the ice, Spezza should be poised to star as he settles into a new leadership role on a team that undoubtedly is his, centering what may be one of the most potent lines in the NHL.

Toronto Maple Leafs - Line Up

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after nearly a decade, but the ending of their first-round series with the Boston Bruins will be remembered for much longer than that. General manager Dave Nonis had a pretty interesting summer as the Maple Leafs try to build on what was a successful regular season and move past the remarkable collapse in Game 7 against the Bruins. Two decisions inevitably will be linked and already have been analyzed and scrutinized aplenty: Center Mikhail Grabovski was bought out, and center Tyler Bozak was given a five-year, $21 million contract. Another center, Dave Bolland, was added in a draft-day trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. The most expensive move was adding forward David Clarkson on a seven-year, $36.75 million contract. Clarkson could be a prototypical power forward, but he’s scored more than 17 goals in a season once and never has had more than 46 points. Nonis also traded for goaltender Jonathan Bernier, a sought-after commodity who could push James Reimer for playing time. The defense corps could look similar, though someone could be moved to free up salary-cap space because two key players (Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson) remain restricted free agents. Paul Ranger, who looked like a promising defenseman before giving up the sport in Tampa Bay, decided to try a comeback and is an intriguing depth signing. Those who have embraced advanced statistics in hockey have been highly critical of the Maple Leafs' moves this offseason, and this was a club that already was a candidate to regress in 2013-14. Maybe Clarkson can become a more consistent scorer and either Reimer or Bernier can become an elite goaltender. Maybe the players with high shooting percentages last season don't regress. Either way, there will be plenty of focus on Toronto in 2013-14. There is plenty of statistical data to show that Kessel does not actually play better with Bozak, but the team believes in the chemistry they possess. Kadri is an undeniable talent, but he's also a prime regression candidate. Playing more meaningful minutes might help curb some of that. Someone needs to lock down a spot on the third line next to Bolland and Kulemin. Colborne is a natural center, but it could be him. A young player, Jerry D'Amigo or Tyler Biggs, could surprise during training camp. Gardiner had a frustrating season in 2012-13, but late last season he began to look like the player who was a revelation as a rookie in 2011-12. Reimer had a strong season and played well in the first six postseason games against the Bruins, but now will face a real challenge for his job from Bernier, long considered one of the top young talents at the position while waiting his turn with the Los Angeles Kings.

In: RW David Clarkson, C Dave Bolland, G Jonathan Bernier, D T.J. Brennan, D Paul Ranger
Out: G Ben Scrivens, C Mikhail Grabovski, RW Matt Frattin, LW Clarke MacArthur, RW Leo Komarov, D Mike Komisarek
UFAs: D Ryan O'Byrne
Prospects: C Joe Colborne, D Morgan Rielly

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Maple Leafs:

Forwards

Joffrey Lupul - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel
James van Riemsdyk - Nazem Kadri - David Clarkson
Joe Colborne - Dave Bolland - Nikolai Kulemin
Frazer McLaren - Jay McClement - Colton Orr
Trevor Smith

Defensemen

Dion Phaneuf - Carl Gunnarsson
Jake Gardiner - Cody Franson
John-Michael Liles - Korbinian Holzer
Paul Ranger - Mark Fraser

Goalies

James Reimer Jonathan Bernier

Tampa Bay Lightning - Line Up

It has been a disappointing two seasons since the Tampa Bay Lightning came within one goal of the Stanley Cup Final in 2011. Jon Cooper will run an NHL training camp for the first time in 2013-14 after being named coach in March, and he could use many of the players who excelled for him at his old post with the franchise's American Hockey League affiliate with the big club. The Lightning have collected a bushel of young talent, but being patient and waiting for those players to be ready to help Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis is easier said than done. Another part of the transition happening for Tampa Bay was finalized this summer. This has become Stamkos' team, and the former face of the franchise, Vincent Lecavalier, was bought out to shed his long, expensive contract. Valtteri Filppula was added on a slightly shorter, slightly less-expensive contract, and he'll be expected to anchor the second line. Jonathan Drouin, the No. 3 pick of the 2013 NHL Draft, will get every opportunity to prove he's ready for big minutes. Any other changes likely will come from within as some of the team's prospects push for regular roles. Filppula and Drouin could help balance the offense, though plenty of questions remain about the defense and the talented but relatively unproven goaltenders. Tampa Bay could have one of the most talented rosters in the Atlantic Division in coming seasons, but there could be more patience needed. Drouin likely will start the season in the top six, and a healthy Malone could offer size the other forwards can't. The competition for bottom-six slots could be wide-ranging during camp. Besides Killorn, Johnson and Panik, there are several others who could force their way into the lineup. A couple of first-round picks, Brett Connolly and Vladislav Namestnikov, are at the top of that list. A full season for Gudas and Sustr could lead to increased minutes for them and improved depth on the blue line for the Lightning. Better play from the defense also would help the goaltenders, Bishop and Lindback, who will compete for playing time. Bishop might have a slight edge after playing well for Tampa Bay after arriving in a trade from the Ottawa Senators, but Lindback could end up being the player the Lightning expected last season after a year to get more comfortable.

In: RW Geoff Walker, C/LW Valtteri Filppula, D Drew Olson.
Out: C Vincent Lecavalier, D Brendan Mikkelson, RW J.T. Wyman, LW/RW Benoit Pouliot.
UFAs: G Mathieu Garon.
Prospects: RW Brett Connolly, RW Nikita Kucherov, LW Jonathan Drouin, D Andrej Sustr.

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Lightning:

Forwards

Jonathan Drouin - Steven Stamkos - Martin St. Louis
Ryan Malone - Valtteri Filppula - Teddy Purcell
Alex Killorn - Nate Thompson - Richard Panik
Tom Pyatt - Tyler Johnson - B.J. Crombeen
Dana Tyrell

Defensemen

Victor Hedman - Sami Salo
Matthew Carle - Radko Gudas
Eric Brewer - Andrej Sustr
Keith Aulie

Goalies

Ben Bishop Anders Lindback

Ottawa Senators - Line Up

The Ottawa Senators had to deal with injuries to key players last season but still managed to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs and knock off a division rival before getting eliminated by one of the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. Had the Senators not been dealt such bad luck with their health, they probably would have … reached the playoffs, defeated a division rival in the first round (maybe the Toronto Maple Leafs instead of the Montreal Canadiens in the 4/5 or 2/7 matchup) then been eliminated by one of the two best teams in the East. Ottawa was a prime example of how NHL teams are sometimes able to survive without star players over the course of a small sample size. But the Senators also managed to meet preseason expectations, albeit with a greater degree of difficulty because of the injuries. The ensuing offseason has not lacked drama. Longtime captain Daniel Alfredsson made it to free agency without an extension and ended up joining a new division rival, the Detroit Red Wings. The breakup has been public and a little messy. General manager Bryan Murray didn't take long to replace Alfredsson, sending a package of players to the Anaheim Ducks for Bobby Ryan. The Senators also added Clarke MacArthur as a free agent, and, if healthy, the top six forwards could be more potent, even with Alfredsson in Detroit. Veteran defenseman Sergei Gonchar was set to leave as a free agent before being traded to the Dallas Stars, where he quickly signed. Veteran Joe Corvo was subsequently added as a depth defenseman, but Jared Cowen, a restricted free agent who needs a contract, will be expected to fill a bigger role. With Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner, the Senators might have one of the top goaltending tandems in the NHL, especially now that Jonathan Bernier and Cory Schneider have changed addresses. Ottawa looks like a solid playoff team and one that can close the gap on the elite teams in the conference. Whether or not the Senators can challenge the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit at the top of the East likely will hinge on better health and a couple of young defensemen improving. Then again, Paul MacLean has proven to be an elite coach who is able to produce results regardless of who is available to play on any given night. Ryan seems like a natural fit on the top line, or he could end up providing more punch with the second group, which sounds remarkably similar to his previous role in Anaheim. Five top-six slots seem set, with a group that includes Conacher, Greening, Smith, Condra and maybe a surprise (rookie Matt Puempel) competing for the last spot and places on the wings next to Zibanejad on the third line. The Senators would probably like to see Cowen and Wiercioch cement a place in the top four on the blue line, but Phillips or Corvo could eat some extra minutes if needed. Or Karlsson can just soak up more ice time, as he is known to do. Anderson, if healthy, will be in contention for a spot on the United States Olympic team. Lehner could earn a trip to Sochi for Sweden, and give Anderson ample time to rest with the condensed schedule.

In: RW Bobby Ryan, D Joe Corvo, F Clarke MacArthur
Out: RW Daniel Alfredsson, RW Stefan Noesen, RW Jakob Silfverberg, D Sergei Gonchar, D Andre Benoit, C Peter Regin, RW Hugh Jessiman, D Mike Lundin
UFAs: LW Guillaume Latendresse
Prospects: LW Dave Dziurzynski, C Mike Hoffman, C Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C Shane Prince, LW Matt Puempel, RW Mark Stone

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Senators:

Forwards

Bobby Ryan - Jason Spezza - Milan Michalek
Cory Conacher - Kyle Turris - Clarke MacArthur
Colin Greening - Mika Zibanejad - Zack Smith
Erik Condra - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Chris Neil
Jim O'Brien - Matt Kassian

Defensemen

Marc Methot - Erik Karlsson
Patrick Wiercioch - Jared Cowen
Chris Phillips - Joe Corvo
Eric Gryba

Goalies

Craig Anderson Robin Lehner

 

Montreal Canadiens - Line Up

The offseason before the 2012-13 season was an eventful one for the Montreal Canadiens, but this summer has been decidedly quiet. There is no new general manager or coach to get acclimated with the franchise. Only one key player exited (free agent Michael Ryder signed with the New Jersey Devils) and he had already been replaced by the signing of former Philadelphia Flyers forward Danny Briere the day before. The main item on the to-do list before the 2013-14 season starts is figuring out what went wrong at the end of 2012-13. After a blistering start (20-5-5), the Canadiens finished 9-9-0 before bowing out in five games to the Ottawa Senators in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Injuries played a part in the postseason, but the Canadiens yielded five goals or more in six of the final 18 regular-season games and six of the final 13 games with the series against the Senators included. Montreal won the final incarnation of the Northeast Division and will be moving to the new-look Atlantic Division. The Canadiens will need to fix their late-season goal prevention issues if they hope to contend for another division crown with the Boston Bruins, improved Detroit Red Wings and those pesky Senators in the same neighborhood. Galchenyuk could be a superstar, but he's going to have to earn a larger role first. The Canadiens are again likely to distribute the wealth among their top three lines up front. Markov and Subban logged a ton of minutes and will likely do so again. Emelin will be back from a major knee injury, and Tinordi will have to keep his place in the top six during training camp; there are seven players on one-way contracts. He also could have to contend with Nathan Beaulieu, who has a year of seasoning in the American Hockey League and could force his way onto the big club. Price had his lowest save percentage since 2008-09 last season. Budaj signed a new two-year contract to be his backup.

In: C Daniel Briere, RW George Parros
Out: RW Colby Armstrong, D Tomas Kaberle, RW Michael Ryder, D Yannick Weber
UFAs: C Jeff Halpern
Prospects: D Nathan Beaulieu, C Michael Bournival, C Gabriel Dumont, C Louis Leblanc, D Greg Pateryn, D Jarred Tinordi

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Canadiens:

Forwards

Danny Briere - Tomas Plekanec - Alex Galchenyuk
Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais - Brendan Gallagher
Rene Bourque - Lars Eller - Brian Gionta
Travis Moen - Ryan White - Brandon Prust
George Parros

Defensemen

Andrei Markov - P.K. Subban
Josh Gorges - Jarred Tinordi
Alexei Emelin - Raphael Diaz
Francis Boullion - Davis Drewiske

Goalies

Carey Price Peter Budaj

Buffalo Sabres - Line Up

For the first time since 1997, the Buffalo Sabres will go to training camp without Lindy Ruff as coach. The Sabres went into rebuilding mode after back-to-back disappointing seasons and traded captain Jason Pominville, Jordan Leopold and Robyn Regehr before the deadline in April. General manager Darcy Regier also traded Andrej Sekera to the Carolina Hurricanes for Jamie McBain and a second-round pick at the 2013 NHL Draft. Two veterans who have not been traded are forward Thomas Vanek and goaltender Ryan Miller, and each is in the final year of his contract. Regier has been open about trading either or both if the right deal comes along. Besides the trade for McBain, it was a quiet offseason in Buffalo. Regier added former Sabres defenseman Henrik Tallinder to provide some of the experience lost on the blue line. Forward Nathan Gerbe was bought out, and a couple of fringe NHL players moved on. It looks like a transition year in Buffalo, especially if Vanek and/or Miller don't finish the season with the team. One of the biggest things to watch will be the development of forwards Grigorenko and Foligno, who should have a chance to earn consistent top-six minutes. Luke Adam had that chance two seasons ago but spent most of last season with Rochester in the American Hockey League. He's one of several forwards not listed who could make a play for a spot on the opening-night roster. Another player to watch is Myers, who looked like a No. 1 defenseman as a rookie but whose development has stagnated. He's under contract for a long time, and the Sabres need a bounce-back season from him. Adding McBain and Tallinder should keep the team's first-round picks, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov, developing elsewhere unless one of them has an outstanding camp. As long as Miller is in Buffalo, he will be the No. 1 goaltender. Enroth had a great World Championship for Sweden and could be ready to see if he can be a No. 1 netminder. Matthew Hackett, who arrived from the Minnesota Wild in the Pominville trade, is a top goaltending prospect and could earn some NHL duty this season.

In: D Henrik Tallinder, D Jamie McBain
Out: LW Nathan Gerbe, D Adam Pardy, D Andrej Sekera
UFAs: None
Prospects: C Mikhail Grigorenko, D Rasmus Ristolainen, RW Joel Armia, G Matt Hackett, D Mark Pysyk, D Brayden McNabb, D Chad Ruhwedel, C Zemgus Girgensons

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Sabres:

Forwards

Thomas Vanek - Cody Hodgson - Tyler Ennis
Marcus Foligno - Mikhail Grigorenko - Drew Stafford
Johan Larsson - Steve Ott - Ville Leino
Brian Flynn - Kevin Porter - Patrick Kaleta
John Scott

Defensemen

Christian Ehrhoff - Jamie McBain
Henrik Tallinder - Tyler Myers
Mike Weber - Mark Pysyk
Alexander Sulzer

Goalies

Ryan Miller Jhonas Enroth

Boston Bruins - Line Up

The Boston Bruins were two wins shy of a second championship in three seasons and are positioned to make another run at the Stanley Cup in 2013-14. There was some turnover this offseason: Five of the 18 skaters who appeared in at least 14 of the Bruins' 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games are no longer with the team. Nathan Horton, Jaromir Jagr and Andrew Ference signed elsewhere as free agents. Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley were traded to the Dallas Stars. Jarome Iginla was signed to replace either Horton or Jagr, and Loui Eriksson, the prize in the Dallas deal, likely will replace the other. The Bruins will have a new-look third line, but the "Merlot Line" is back. The Bruins have three young defensemen who saw action in the postseason, and a combination of Dougie Hamilton, Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski will absorb Ference's responsibilities. Tuukka Rask signed a monster contract extension, and Chad Johnson was added to be his new backup in goal. Boston should begin the 2013-14 season as the favorite in the Atlantic Division and one of two or three teams most likely to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final. Eriksson, a strong defensive player, seems a natural fit next to perennial Selke Trophy candidate Bergeron and Marchand on a line that could dominate teams in plenty of advanced statistical categories. That would mean Iginla plays with Krejci and Lucic in the spot vacated by Horton. Smith, the other player added in the trade with the Stars, could fit on the third line. He, Soderburg and Caron could be pushed for roster spots by prospects Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight. Paille or Thornton could move up a line if needed, but coach Claude Julien would probably like to keep them with Gregory Campbell on the "Merlot Line," so named for the color of their practice jerseys. Julien likes to put Chara and Seidenberg together during the playoffs, but they often skate apart at even strength during the regular season. Hamilton played in seven postseason games, but expect the Bruins to give him a long look during camp in a top-four role; he has the most upside of the younger players on the blue line. Joe Morrow, who was traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to Dallas for Brenden Morrow then to Boston in the Eriksson-Seguin deal, could push for a roster spot.

In: RW Loui Eriksson, RW Jarome Iginla, RW Reilly Smith, RW Matt Fraser, G Chad Johnson, RW Nick Johnson
Out: RW Tyler Seguin, RW Nathan Horton, RW Jaromir Jagr, D Andrew Ference, G Anton Khudobin, RW Jamie Tardiff
UFAs: LW Jay Pandolfo, LW Kaspars Daugavins, D Wade Redden
Prospects: G Niklas Svedberg, C Jared Knight, C Ryan Spooner, D Joseph Morrow


Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Bruins:

Forwards

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Loui Eriksson
Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Jarome Iginla
Carl Soderberg - Chris Kelly - Reilly Smith
Daniel Paille - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton
Jordan Caron

Defensemen

Zdeno Chara - Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg - Dougie Hamilton
Torey Krug - Adam McQuaid
Matt Bartkowski

Goalies

Tuukka Rask Chad Johnson

Shane Doan

A great look at Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan's greatest moments.

http://www.fiveforhowling.com/2013/8/27/4661344/phoenix-coyotes-preseason-countdown-shane-doan-day

Josh Bailey

 

Heading into the 2013-14 NHL season, it remains to be seen who will accompany Matt Moulson and John Tavares on the New York Islanders' top line. The most likely candidates are free-agent signee Pierre-Marc Bouchard and 20-year-old Ryan Strome. That line will need to produce if the Islanders are going to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second straight season. But the No. 1 line can't do it alone. New York's second line of Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo was productive last season. Bailey missed the start of the season due to a knee injury sustained playing overseas during the lockout, but the first-round pick (No. 9) from 2008 finished with 11 goals and eight assists in 38 NHL games. Owner Charles Wang and GM Garth Snow were pleased with what they saw from Bailey last season. On July 15, Bailey, who was a restricted free agent, signed a five-year contract worth $16.5 million. It's been a roller-coaster ride for Bailey since the Islanders drafted him. They surprisingly kept him in the NHL as an 18-year-old, and Bailey showed glimpses of his ability with 25 points (seven goals) in 68 games on a team that finished at the bottom of the NHL standings. Things went south for Bailey during 2010-11, when he went 13 straight games without a point and was demoted to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the American Hockey League. Though there have been more slumps since, Bailey's hands and vision are too impressive to ignore. The talent is there; the Islanders need him to show it on a consistent basis. As with most other players, much of Bailey's game revolves around confidence. When it hasn't been there, neither has the production. Islanders coach Jack Capuano said he believes the combination started to arrive when Bailey was shifted from center to left wing during the second half of the 2011-12 season. Bailey's production will be crucial this season as the Islanders compete in the newly formed Metropolitan Division with the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals. Only the top three teams in the division are assured of a playoff spot, so the race truly begins when New York opens the season at New Jersey on Oct. 4. Bailey, who spent some time on Tavares' line during the first-round playoff loss to the Penguins, told NHL.com he would have no problem skating again with Nielsen and Okposo. He said he believes the continuity and familiarity could benefit all three players. Now that the Islanders finally got over the hump and made the playoffs last season, bigger things could be on the horizon for a young core that has collected its lumps together. Can they take the next step in 2013-14? Much of that will depend on Bailey's performance. He's ready to do whatever it takes to help bring this franchise back to prominence.

 

Travis Zajac

Two seasons ago, New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac was sidelined by injury for more than half the schedule, but the team persevered and went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Los Angeles Kings in six games. A healthy Zajac returned to the lineup and appeared in all 48 games last season, but produced  seven goals and 20 points, not the output one would expect from a player about to begin the first season of an eight-year, $46 million contract. In order for the Devils to have success in 2013-14, they'll need Zajac to rediscover his offensive game. It got to a point last season that coach Peter DeBoer had no choice but to move Zajac to a third-line role in an effort to relieve some pressure and, perhaps, jump-start the offense. When the Devils opened the season 8-1-3 and Zajac stumbled out the gate with two goals and one assist during that stretch, it was much easier to accept because the team was winning. Then the Devils began to struggle, and Zajac, who arguably is the organization's top center, couldn't seem to shift into that next gear. It wasn't too much of a surprise that Zajac's offensive woes were magnified following the departure of Zach Parise via free agency to the Minnesota Wild in the summer of 2012. But that's ancient history now, and it's time the 2004 first-round pick (No. 20) begins to shoulder more of the offensive burden as a respected 28-year-old top-line center in the League. With Ilya Kovalchuk gone now, too, the Devils really need Zajac to regain his form from 2008-09 and 2009-10, when he had at least 20 goals and 60 points in each season. One area DeBoer needn't concern himself with is Zajac's ability on faceoffs. He has ranked among the top two players on the team in faceoff winning percentage in five of the past six seasons; the only time he didn't was his injury-plagued 2011-12. Zajac led the team with a 57.4 percent faceoff percentage last season, winning 506 of 881 draws. Don't be surprised if DeBoer has Zajac centering Ryane Clowe and Michael Ryder to open the season in an attempt to give him a fresh start and, at the same time, begin forming some chemistry with two of the newest Devils.

Marian Gaborik

The Columbus Blue Jackets' hopes of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs would get a major boost if Marian Gaborik's offensive history repeats itself. Gaborik is riding one of the most pronounced every-other-season stretches in NHL history. In 2007-08, 2009-10 and 2011-12, he's had at least 41 goals, 76 points and a plus-15 rating while missing no more than six games. But those seasons have alternated with 13-, 22- and 12-goal performances during which he's battled injuries and inconsistency. After an "on" season in 2011-12, in which he scored 41 goals and led the New York Rangers within two victories of the Stanley Cup Final, 2012-13 was one of the "off" seasons. Gaborik underwent shoulder surgery following the Rangers' playoff run, and despite the longer rest due to the lockout, he never found his scoring touch, was a target of criticism from coach John Tortorella and was sent to the Blue Jackets at the NHL Trade Deadline, waiving his no-trade clause to do so. Gaborik, 31, gave the Blue Jackets a bit of an offensive boost, scoring three goals and contributing eight points in 12 games during a late-season run that finished just short of a playoff berth. But his willingness to waive his no-trade clause and come to a team that has made the playoffs just once in its history was as impressive to coach Todd Richards as anything Gaborik did on the ice. Forward Brandon Dubinsky, a teammate of Gaborik's in New York before being traded to Columbus last summer, said the three-time 40-goal scorer was willing to drop his no-trade clause because he could see that the Blue Jackets are an up-and-coming team. This season, the Blue Jackets will have Gaborik from the start for a full 82-game season, and Richards is eager to see what a healthy Gaborik can do. Gaborik underwent postseason surgery to repair an abdominal injury, but is expected to be ready to go when training camp opens next month. At his best, Gaborik is the kind of offensive presence few teams can match, and one of the toughest players in the NHL to defend against. He's the kind of player whose abilities attract attention from opponents to a degree that it leads to open ice for teammates. Columbus was 25th in the NHL in offense last season and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs despite having the Vezina Trophy winner in goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Another big season by the 24-year-old could go to waste and the Blue Jackets' playoff hopes could be doused if Gaborik can't rediscover his scoring touch.

 

Jeff Skinner

The Carolina Hurricanes surprised many by selecting Jeff Skinner with the seventh pick of the 2010 NHL Draft. The forward responded not only by earning a full-time NHL job at age 18, but also by scoring 31 goals and leading all first-year players with 63 points to win the 2011 Calder Trophy as the League's top rookie. However, Skinner has yet to reach that same level of play since his fast start. As the 21-year-old enters his fourth NHL season, the first of a six-year, $34.35 million contract, his coach said it's time for Skinner to take the next step in his development. Skinner's second season was marred by a five-week absence due to a concussion. He had 12 goals and 24 points in 30 games before the injury, which occurred during a game against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 7, 2011. When he returned, he was limited to eight goals in his final 34 games. He sustained another concussion last season, returned after five games and finished with 13 goals and 24 points in 42 games. Those numbers weren't awful, but they certainly can be improved. Muller sees Skinner's struggles as similar to what Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers, the 2010 Calder winner who has struggled since then, has gone through. Another part of the problem could be self-applied pressure. Skinner signed his new contract in August 2012, and after scoring five goals in his first five games, had eight in his final 37. Muller said he believes the harder Skinner worked to produce at the level of the contract, the more it did to hurt his offensive play. To prevent a recurrence, Muller said most of his offseason talks with Skinner have revolved around making sure the young forward understands how important it is to round out his game, especially his play without the puck, so that he's able to make a contribution even if he's not scoring.

 

NY Rangers - Prospects

The New York Rangers have done an outstanding job of developing their prospects and turning them into major NHL contributors: Henrik Lundqvist, Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Ryan Callahan, Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin among them. Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller, the team's first-round NHL Draft picks from 2009 and 2011, were integrated into the roster last season and likely will continue on that path in 2013-14. In light of that, and the veteran defensive corps that is one of the team's strengths, it's unlikely too many prospects will be skating at Madison Square Garden this season.

1. Danny Kristo, RW: Kristo has been a Rangers prospect for a couple of months. New York was thrilled to acquire the skilled forward from the Montreal Canadiens in July in exchange for forward Christian Thomas. A second-round pick (No. 56) in 2008, Kristo (5-foot-11, 172 pounds) had an excellent senior season at the University of North Dakota. He led the Fighting Sioux in goals (26), points (52), shots (161) and plus/minus (plus-17) and was a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's top Division I player. The 23-year-old was named a first-team All-American and College Hockey News' Player of the Year, along with winning bronze for the United States at the 2013 IIHF World Hockey Championship.

2. Dylan McIlrath, D: The Rangers knew what they were getting when they took McIlrath with the 10th pick at the 2010 draft. At 6-5, 215, the stay-at-home defenseman earned a reputation with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League for being one of the most physical and feared players in junior hockey. That reputation didn't subside once he ended his junior career. In his first full season with Connecticut of the American Hockey League, the Winnipeg native had 125 penalty minutes in 45 games while posting a plus-7 rating. After being sidelined with a knee injury, McIlrath, 21, didn't start the 2012-13 season until late-December. But with that injury behind him, he's looking to take the next step in his development.

3. Brady Skjei, D: After playing for two years with the U.S. National Development Team, Skjei, 19, started his college career last season at the University of Minnesota. The Rangers' first-round pick (No. 28) in 2012 was thrown into a great situation with the Golden Gophers. Skjei (6-2, 196), a Minnesota native, had one goal and three points in 36 games and gained invaluable experience playing in a pairing with Nate Schmidt, who was named a second-team All-American and team MVP.

4. Samuel Noreau, D: It was easy to see what the Rangers saw in the Montreal native when they took a flyer on the 20-year-old in the fifth round (No. 136) of the 2011 draft. At 6-5, 206, he was a giant on the blue line for Baie-Comeau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Adding some muscle to his massive frame, Noreau was able to develop his game, enjoying a successful final season with the Drakkar, finishing second among the team's defensemen with 32 points and leading a strong Baie-Comeau team to the QMJHL final, where it lost in five games to a Halifax team that won the Memorial Cup.

5. Marek Hrivik, LW: An undrafted free agent who signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Rangers' AHL affiliate in 2012, the Slovakia native has been an established scorer since coming to North America as an 18-year-old to play for the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. In his second season in Moncton, he led the team with 38 goals. His 70 points in 54 games convinced the Connecticut Whale to give him a shot. Though he scored one goal in eight AHL games in 2011-12, they brought him back and Hrivik, 21, enjoyed a breakout season in 2012-13. In his first full pro season, Hrivik (6-1, 195) led Whale rookies with 19 assists despite missing three months with injuries.

6. Jesper Fast, RW: The Swede has developed nicely since the Rangers chose him in the sixth round (No. 157) of the 2010 draft. Undersized at 165 pounds when he was drafted, the speedy wing spent the next three seasons playing with men as a member of HV71 of the Swedish Elite League. It all came together last season, when the Fast (5-11) finished third on the team with 35 points despite missing time with injuries. He had five goals in five playoff games to establish himself as a player to watch. Following the SEL season, Fast came to North America, where he scored the game-winning goal in the one game he played with Connecticut. That scoring touch has become the signature skill for the 21-year-old, who was the top scorer for the Swedish team that finished fourth at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship.

7. Oscar Lindberg, C: Of all the players on the list, perhaps no one has made a bigger jump in the past year than this Swedish center. A second-round pick (No. 57) by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010, Lindberg, 21, developed his game by playing for Skelleftea of the SEL. But his breakout season last year took everyone by surprise. Despite being several years younger than most of his teammates, Lindberg (6-1, 190) finished third on the team with 42 points in 55 games. He took off in the postseason, where he led Skelleftea to its first league championship in 35 years. His 12 points earned him the Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy as playoff MVP. Also among his team's best performers in the faceoff circle, Lindberg was invited to Sweden's Olympic camp.

8. Conor Allen, D: There isn't much flash in this Chicago native's game, but there are some things to like. A two-time member of Hockey East's All-Academic team while at the University of Massachusetts, Allen enjoyed a strong junior season with the Minutemen. Allen (6-1, 210) led the team with 57 blocked shots and ranked eighth in Hockey East in defenseman scoring. It was enough to convince the Rangers to sign him as a free agent. Considering the depth the Rangers already have on their blue line, there isn't a concrete plan for Allen's immediate future. But if the 23-year-old can continue to develop, he could someday find a spot in the NHL. After all, the Rangers had success with another undrafted defenseman: Girardi, who was a 2012 All-Star.

9. Adam Tambellini, C: The Rangers didn't have any picks in the first two rounds of this year's draft, but they did have three third-round selections. The first of those was used on Adam Tambellini at No. 65. The lanky center (6-2, 169) didn't have a standout junior career, although he was a key contributor with Vernon and Surrey of the British Columbia Hockey League. Tambellini does have a strong bloodline; his father, Steve, played nine NHL seasons and was Edmonton Oilers GM, and his brother Jeff was a first-round pick in 2003. The youngest Tambellini, the 18-year-old showed the ability to make plays as he developed in the BCHL. Now that he's committed to the University of North Dakota, one of the top Division I programs, he should further develop as a player, although it likely will be a while before he laces up for the Rangers.

10. Cristoval Nieves, C: Known more by his nickname, Boo, Nieves grew up in Western New York and appears to have all the tools needed to someday play in the NHL. Selected by the Rangers in the second round (No. 59) of the 2012 draft, he had a strong freshman season with the University of Michigan. Playing for the Wolverines, Nieves, 19, was an honorable mention on the CCHA's All-Rookie team and led the team with 21 assists. He was named CCHA Rookie of the Month in February, when he led all freshmen in the nation with 10 points. With good size (6-3, 192) and established playmaking ability, he figures to be a Wolverine to watch.

 

NY Rangers - Line Up

The New York Rangers have become regulars in the Stanley Cup Playoffs again, something that wasn't the case despite high payrolls before the salary-cap era. John Tortorella is gone to the Vancouver Canucks, and Alain Vigneault has arrived in what essentially became a swap of coaches. Brad Richards is still here after much speculation his contract might be bought out. After a pair of major trades with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, most of the Rangers team that reached the second round before being brushed aside by the Boston Bruins returns. Ryane Clowe proved to be a rental, moving across the river to the New Jersey Devils. The Rangers focused on remaking the depth of the roster in the offseason, adding free agents Benoit Pouliot and Dominic Moore up front, and a series of transactions brought Justin Falk, Aaron Johnson and Danny Syvret to replace Steve Eminger and Roman Hamrlik on defense. This is one of the best rosters in the Eastern Conference, especially if Richards manages a better season with a new coaching staff. How the team plays for Vigneault could be the difference between challenging for a division title and being considered a Stanley Cup contender and just trying to get into the playoffs, like the Rangers did a year ago. Hagelin and Callahan could miss time at the start of the season, and Stepan remains a restricted free agent. Add that to a new coaching staff and there is plenty of uncertainty how the Rangers will be aligned up front. Zuccarello could see time in the top six, and J.T. Miller could make the team during training camp if any of those other three aren't ready for opening night. The defense looks more stable at this point. Staal should be ready after an eye injury last season, and Falk might prove to be a sneaky acquisition. There likely was some bad luck in his performance for the Minnesota Wild last season, but he might need an injury to someone to see regular playing time. Johnson has a one-way contract, and the Rangers could keep eight defensemen, but he could end up in the American Hockey League without penalty against the salary cap. It will be an interesting season for Lundqvist, in part because the Rangers aren't likely to play as protectively in front of him, and because this is the final year of his contract.

In: C Dominic Moore, LW Benoit Pouliot, D Justin Falk, D Aaron Johnson, D Danny Syvret, RW Danny Kristo
Out: LW Ryane Clowe, C Kris Newbury, D Matt Gilroy, RW Christian Thomas
UFAs: D Steve Eminger, D Roman Hamrlik, D Michael Sauer
Prospects: RW Danny Kristo, LW Marek Hrivik

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Rangers:

Forwards

Carl Hagelin - Derek Stepan - Rick Nash
Chris Kreider - Derick Brassard - Ryan Callahan
Mats Zuccarello - Brad Richards - Brian Boyle
Benoit Pouliot - Dominic Moore - Derek Dorsett
Taylor Pyatt - Aaron Asham

Defensemen

Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi
Marc Staal - Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto - John Moore
Justin Falk

Goalies

Henrik Lundqvist Martin Biron

 

Derick Brassard

When the New York Rangers traded wing Marian Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets at last season's deadline, there was surprise that an Original Six team would part with one of the NHL's top scorers. But the Rangers got back some important pieces, notably center Derick Brassard, who almost immediately became the Rangers' most consistent offensive force. With a spot centering the Rangers' second line and able to enter free agency next summer, this could be a big year for the Quebec native. Brassard's play could dictate how much the offense improves on a team that last season ranked 15th in the NHL in goals scored. Brassard wasted little time making his presence felt in New York. In his first game with the Rangers, he collected a goal and four points, winning over the faithful. He scored 11 points in 13 regular-season games, providing offensive depth to a team that was lacking it. Brassard led the Rangers with 10 assists and 12 points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, getting time quarterbacking a sputtering power play. Following a second-round elimination by the Boston Bruins in five games, Brassard admitted his first playoff experience was an eye-opener.

"I learned with the playoffs, it's a grind. I learned about self-discipline and how hard I'm going to work this summer to be ready," Brassard said then. "I've been telling everyone here that I'm really excited to be here. I think I can bring a lot to the team. Next year it's going to be a full season. I'm just going to need to bring my game and be effective."

When former Vancouver Canucks coach Alain Vigneault was named Rangers coach this summer, one of his first staffing moves was to hire Scott Arniel as associate coach. Prior to coming to the Rangers, Arniel coached the Blue Jackets for a season-and-a-half. In Arniel's first season, Brassard established career highs in goals (17), assists (30) and points (47). Brassard's offensive play made him a key in the Rangers' lineup, but it was his versatility that made him invaluable. Former coach John Tortorella was prone to juggling lines, and Brassard was one of the few players able to consistently produce offense no matter which wings flanked him.

"I just felt like in Columbus, my passion and the emotion of my game was gone. When I got traded, honestly I felt so good inside," Brassard said. "I feel really comfortable here. The organization is great. Next year I'm going to feel good starting a new season."

NY Rangers - Challenges

On paper, a lot of things appeared to go right for the New York Rangers last season. They improved down the stretch and overcame injuries to finish second in the Atlantic Division before knocking off the NHL's hottest team, the Washington Capitals, in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But the Rangers were overmatched against the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, bowing out in five games to the eventual conference champions. That second-round defeat spotlighted some deficiencies on a team that has all-star talent throughout its roster. Those problems ultimately cost coach John Tortorella his job. With a stout defensive group and one of the world's best goaltenders (Henrik Lundqvist), defense should continue to be a strong suit. But the offense was stifled at times under Tortorella's disciplined system. The hope is Vigneault can jump-start a unit led by Rick Nash. For three straight seasons, Vigneault's Canucks ranked among the League's top five in goals scored, leading the NHL in 2010-11. There will be a learning curve with a coaching staff built from scratch this summer, but a veteran-heavy team, led by captain Ryan Callahan, should help that transition. Throughout last season, fans and Tortorella agonized over how to bring along the team's top two forward prospects without stunting their development. Following an impressive playoff run in 2012, Chris Kreider struggled at the start of 2012-13, scoring once in his first 13 games. He was sent to Connecticut of the AHL before being called back up in the final month of the season. He was a healthy scratch in parts of the postseason but found his stride against the Bruins, scoring in overtime in the Rangers' win. J.T. Miller, the team's first-round pick (No. 15) in 2011, was a standout last season in Connecticut and during the United States' gold-medal run at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship. After getting called up to the Rangers in February, Miller scored two goals in his first home game before failing to score in the next 24 games and being reassigned to the AHL. He and Kreider will be expected to take the next step in their development. A number of teams will have bumps at the beginning of 2013-14, but none will contend with the hurdles already in front of the Rangers. With Madison Square Garden in the final phase of its renovation, the Rangers will open the season with nine road games. The team went through a similar trip when the arena began construction in 2011, starting that season with seven road games and going 3-2-2. That tough schedule will be compounded by injuries that could trickle into the start of the season. Callahan and forward Carl Hagelin had shoulder surgery after the season and their rehab could stretch into the opening weeks. Defenseman Marc Staal engaged in a regular summer training program, but there's no real word yet on how the eye injury he sustained in March will affect his play in the long term. In the second year of his nine-year, $60 million contract, things couldn't have gone much worse for Brad Richards. He got off to a great start, centering a top line flanked by wings Marian Gaborik and Nash. Unfortunately, that first week would be the high point. The 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Richards' production dwindled as 2012-13 went on, although he got red hot in the final two weeks playing with late-season addition Mats Zuccarello. With a six-game point streak (five goals, 11 points) to close the regular season, Richards disappeared in the playoffs. He scored one goal in 10 games before being a healthy scratch for the final two games against Boston. That lack of production inspired speculation the Rangers might buy out Richards' contract. But in the end, they decided to keep him with the hope he'll find his game. On a team with prominent weaknesses, none was more glaring than the power play. In each of the past two seasons, the Rangers' power play ranked 23rd in the League with a 15.7 percent success rate. That performance was troubling, then the man-advantage disappeared entirely in the postseason. At a 9.1 percent success rate in the 2013 playoffs, the Rangers ranked ahead of only the Minnesota Wild, who failed to score on 17 opportunities in their five-game opening-round loss to the eventual champion Chicago Blackhawks. With the Rangers' unit sputtering, Tortorella held an open audition to quarterback it, with everyone from Richards to Derick Brassard getting a chance. Vigneault molded one of the League's top power-play units in Vancouver and will be expected to use some of that expertise to improve New York on the man-advantage. The Rangers signed defenseman Ryan McDonagh to a four-year contract extension this summer and added forwards Dominic Moore and Benoit Pouliot through free agency. But the team will have a number of big personnel decisions to make next summer that could alter its direction. Many of the Rangers' biggest contributors are scheduled to enter free agency next summer, and the team will be hard-pressed to keep all of them. Entering 2013-14, players who can become unrestricted free agents include Callahan, Brassard, center Brian Boyle, defensemen Dan Girardi and Anton Stralman, along with Lundqvist and backup goaltender Martin Biron. Kreider, Zuccarello and defenseman Michael Del Zotto could become restricted free agents, unless they sign contract extensions before free agency starts. Though it's unlikely the Rangers will be able to bring back all these impending free agents, one player in particular doesn't see himself going anywhere.

 

NY Rangers - Preview

Entering the 2012-13 NHL season, expectations couldn't have been higher for the New York Rangers. Coming off a season when they finished first in the East and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final, they enhanced their lineup over that summer with the acquisition of forward Rick Nash. Despite being an early Stanley Cup favorite, the Rangers occasionally struggled to find traction last season. But a strong finish and an offseason coaching change have the club poised to make a run in 2013-14. Nash did his part last season, scoring 21 goals and 42 points in 44 games. The Rangers went 0-3-1 in the four games he missed due to injury. The offense and power play struggled for long stretches, but the team got hot at the perfect time. They were 10-3-1 in April and went more than a month without losing at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers also managed to outlast the Washington Capitals, arguably the League's hottest team entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs, in seven games in the opening round. But New York struggled against the Boston Bruins in the second round, bowing out in five games. A failure to match the Bruins' aggressiveness and clutch play ultimately convinced Rangers management it was time for a change. Coach John Tortorella was let go after more than four seasons in New York. He was replaced by former Vancouver Canucks coach Alain Vigneault, who built a new coaching staff from scratch and could be exactly who the team needs to jump-start its offense. For a three-year stretch with Vancouver, Vigneault's offense was the class of the NHL. With Nash spearheading a forward unit that includes Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin, the New York offense should improve. The Rangers showed something of an offensive explosion late last season when they signed forward Mats Zuccarello and acquired center Derick Brassard in a deadline-day trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Each player had success with the Rangers, helping forward Brad Richards snap out of a lengthy slump that defined the toughest season of his career. Partnered occasionally with Zuccarello and Brassard, Richards finished the regular season with a six-game scoring streak of 11 points. But the veteran center scored one goal in 10 playoff games before being a healthy scratch for the Rangers' final two games against the Bruins. With a new staff, Richards will need a bounce-back season if he wants to end speculation the Rangers might use their compliance buyout on his nine-year, $60 million contract. The defense was typically stout, ranking fourth in the League at 2.25 goals allowed per game. The Rangers feature arguably the world's best goaltender, Lundqvist, and veteran defensemen who play responsibly in their own end. That unit includes Dan Girardi, Anton Stralman and Ryan McDonagh, who signed a four-year contract extension this summer. John Moore was acquired in the trade with Columbus and emerged as a strong presence, but Michael Del Zotto took a slight step back from his breakout 2011-12 season. It remains to be seen what lingering effects the eye injury sustained by alternate captain Marc Staal will have on his play. If Staal can return to the form he showed prior to the injury, the unit should be one of the best in the League. Hagelin and captain Ryan Callahan had shoulder surgery during the offseason and their rehab could cause each to miss the beginning of the season. Once they return, the offense is expected to take a step forward under Vigneault. For a team that came so close in 2011-12 and found its stride at the perfect time in 2012-13, a new coaching staff and core players who have had a few seasons to develop chemistry could give Madison Square Garden another playoff run. But the Rangers will need to make improvements under Vigneault in order to compete with the elite teams in the Eastern Conference.

 

San Jose Sharks Line Up

For many NHL teams, sweeping a division winner in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and taking the defending champion to a seventh game in the second round would be an unquestioned accomplishment. For the San Jose Sharks, who have been searching for an elusive trip the Stanley Cup Final, it was another season with a successful regular season but a too-early postseason exit. The Sharks have reached the conference final three times in the past nine seasons; only the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers can make that claim. But each of those teams has reached the Cup Final, and all except the Flyers have won a championship. San Jose was not far off in 2012-13, pushing the Los Angeles Kings to the limit. Given the collective health of the two clubs, the Sharks may have given the Blackhawks a tougher challenge in the next round. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson did not have a particularly busy summer beyond locking up core forwards Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski to long-term contracts. Tyler Kennedy arrived in a draft-day trade from Pittsburgh, and TJ Galliardi was shipped to the Calgary Flames a few days later. Backup goaltender Thomas Greiss signed with the Phoenix Coyotes, but Alex Stalock might be ready for a full-time opportunity at this level. Offseason surgery could leave Martin Havlat unavailable at the start of the regular season, and it is possible a top-six forward could be atop Wilson's in-season wish list if Havlat cannot return. The Sharks could play Pavelski on one of the top two lines, and almost certainly will at times, especially if Hertl or Wingels isn't able to handle that type of role. Kennedy saw time in Pittsburgh's top six when others were injured and could be an option. After moving Burns to forward and trading Douglas Murray, the Sharks' defense parings were settled and meshed quite well at the end of the season and in the playoffs. Niemi quietly had a great season and will be looking at 65-plus starts again (his career high was 68 two seasons ago).

In: C Tyler Kennedy, D Rob Davison
Out: C/RW TJ Galiardi, G Thomas Greiss
Prospects: C Tomas Hertl, G Alex Stalock, D Matt Tennyson, C Travis Oleksuk

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Sharks:

Forwards

Patrick Marleau - Logan Couture - Tommy Wingels
Tomas Hertl - Joe Thornton - Brent Burns
Raffi Torres - Joe Pavelski - Tyler Kennedy
James Sheppard - Andrew Desjardins - Adam Burish
Bracken Kearns

Defensemen

Matt Irwin - Dan Boyle
Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Justin Braun
Scott Hannan - Brad Stuart
Jason Demers

Goalies

Antti Niemi Alex Stalock

Anaheim Ducks Lineup

Replacing Ryan on the top line is the first step in that competition. One of the young players could slide into that spot, or it could be someone from the team's past: Dustin Penner, who returned in July as a free agent. Penner teamed with Perry and Getzlaf to form arguably the Ducks' best line in the 2007 run to the Stanley Cup. Whether there are one or two open spots in the top-six depends on Teemu Selanne. Murray said he has no knowledge of what the 43-year-old might do, but said he fitting him into the lineup won't be a problem if Selanne decides, at any point, that he wants to continue playing. Though the forward spot looks a bit unsettled, the Ducks appear set in goal with Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth. Fasth, who signed with the team in September 2012, emerged as a life preserver early in the season, winning his first eight starts. The 30-year-old finished his first NHL season 15-6-2 with a 2.18 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and four shutouts in 25 games. Hiller rediscovered his form as the season progressed and eventually retook the No. 1 job. He went 15-6-4 with a 2.36 GAA and .913 save percentage in 26 games. He also started all seven playoff games, posting a 2.46 GAA. The rotation likely will remain the same this season. And if one falters or gets injured, top prospect John Gibson, the only non-NHL goalie invited to USA Hockey's Olympic orientation camp, waits in the wings. Defensively, the Ducks have a solid mix of veterans Francois Beauchemin and Sheldon Souray and emerging young players Cam Fowler and Luca Sbisa.

The Anaheim Ducks returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2013, but their stay was cut short when the Detroit Red Wings rallied to win Games 6 and 7 in the opening round. After signing Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry to long-term contract extensions during the 2012-13 season, the biggest move of this summer was trading Bobby Ryan to the Ottawa Senators for Jakob Silfverberg, prospect Stefan Noesen and a first-round pick. The second-biggest move, signing former Ducks forward Dustin Penner away from the rival Los Angeles Kings, could end up being a nice bit of insurance.

If Teemu Selanne decides to return and signs a new contract, Penner could drop to the third line in place of Winnik. Pairing him with Bonino and especially Etem would make one of the fastest lines in the League. If Selanne doesn't return, the Ducks still might be all right on offense. Silfverberg could have a breakout season, and Penner almost certainly will not shoot such a poor percentage (3.3 percent) in 2013-14. Either of those wings could produce 20-25 goals, as could speedy Etem, who looked a like a future all-star against the Red Wings in the playoffs. Anaheim's third line was also great against Detroit, and young players Noesen and Rickard Rackell could push for a lineup spot during training camp. Beleskey and Palmieri each saw time in the top six during the playoffs, and forward depth could finally be a strength in Anaheim after being a struggle at times in recent seasons. Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm, a 2012 first-round pick who played in the American Hockey League during the lockout but missed the NHL season because of a concussion, each could earn a place in the top-six on defense. Hiller and Fasth were a solid tandem in net, and the Ducks have one of the top goaltending prospects in the world, John Gibson, who will likely be the starter in the AHL and could make his NHL debut if Hiller or Fasth miss time with an injury. Another of the team's veteran Finnish players, defenseman Toni Lydman, also has not signed and remains a free agent. The Ducks have a couple of young defensemen who could push their way into the top six to replace him.

In: RW Dustin Penner, RW Jakob Silfverberg
Out: RW Bobby Ryan
UFAs: RW Teemu Selanne, RW Radek Dvorak, C Matthew Lombardi, D Toni Lydman, C David Steckel, D Jordan Hendry
Prospects: D Hampus Lindholm, G John Gibson, D Sami Vatanen, C Peter Holland, RW Rickard Rakell

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Ducks:

Forwards

Jakob Silfverberg - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry
Emerson Etem - Nick Bonino - Dustin Penner
Andrew Cogliano - Saku Koivu - Daniel Winnik
Matt Beleskey - Peter Holland - Kyle Palmieri
Brad Staubitz - Patrick Maroon

Defensemen

Sheldon Souray - Francois Beauchemin
Cam Fowler - Ben Lovejoy
Bryan Allen - Luca Sbisa
Sami Vatanen

Goalies

Jonas Hiller Viktor Fasth

Los Angeles Kings Lineup

The Los Angeles Kings had a remarkably stable roster the season after winning the Stanley Cup in 2012, and that is a trend that hasn't changed much heading into the 2013-14 campaign. Los Angeles said goodbye to a couple of supporting cast members from the 2012 title team this offseason, but all of the key cogs from that edition remain. In fact, the Kings could dress 16 players on opening night in October who were among the 20 in the lineup for Game 6 against the New Jersey Devils, only Simon Gagne, Rob Scuderi, Dustin Penner and Jonathan Bernier are gone. Scuderi and Penner left via free agency in the offseason, and Bernier was traded to Toronto for Matt Frattin, Bernier's replacement (Ben Scrivens) and a second-round pick. The Kings likely will look to their younger defensemen to absorb Scuderi's minutes (and tough assignments), and they could get a boost from a healthy Willie Mitchell. Jeff Schultz was a depth signing as a free agent after he was bought out by the Washington Capitals. Frattin and another trade acquisition, Daniel Carcillo, join what could be a crowded roster up front. The Kings could miss Scuderi, especially if Mitchell's comeback doesn't work out, but they still look like one of the favorites in the Western Conference along with the Chicago Blackhawks and the team they've defeated each of the past two playoffs, the St. Louis Blues. Carcillo might be a surprise on the second line and will face plenty of competition for that spot. Toffoli played there at times during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and prospects Tanner Pearson and Linden Vey could push for a place on the second line. Inserting Carcillo and Frattin in the top nine (along with keeping Toffoli) leaves quite a scrum for the fourth line. Lewis is probably the safest bet to play every night, but any of those five would be a regular on most clubs. A healthy Mitchell not only would give the Kings one of the top defense corps in the West, it would give them nine NHL defensemen on a one-way contract. Schultz and Keaton Ellerby could be subject to waivers and being sent to the American Hockey League if everyone is healthy. The Kings would have decide if they want to carry 14 forwards or eight defensemen; Toffoli is the only player projected to be on the roster who wouldn't need to clear waivers to be sent down. Quick was great again in the playoffs and will try to earn the No. 1 job for the United States at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Scrivens could prove to be a nice, cheap addition with a better defensive team in front of him. Martin Jones, a restricted free agent, is one of the better young No. 3s in the League.

In: RW Matt Frattin, LW Daniel Carcillo, D Jeff Schultz, G Ben Scrivens
Out: LW Dustin Penner, C Brad Richardson, G Jonathan Bernier
UFAs: None
Prospects: RW Tyler Toffoli, C Linden Vey, LW Tanner Pearson

Forwards

Dustin Brown - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams
Daniel Carcillo - Mike Richards - Jeff Carter
Matt Frattin - Jarret Stoll - Tyler Toffoli
Dwight King - Colin Fraser - Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford - Jordan Nolan

Defensemen

Robyn Regehr - Drew Doughty
Willie Mitchell - Slava Voynov
Jake Muzzin - Matt Greene
Alec Martinez

Goalies

Jonathan Quick Ben Scrivens

Calgary Flames Lineup

The Calgary Flames finally committed to a full-scale rebuild before the 2013 NHL Trade Deadline, and it could lead to plenty of young players receiving the opportunity to log important minutes in 2013-14. Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester were traded, and Miikka Kiprusoff may retire with one season left on his contract. General manager Jay Feaster acquired David Jones, TJ Galiardi, Kris Russell and Shane O'Brien in trades during the offseason. Goaltender Karri Ramo, who has spent the past four seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League, was the team's biggest free-agent addition. Calgary likely will be predicted to finish near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, and if the Flames don't surprise and make a run at a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, another high draft pick would infuse more talent into the rebuild. The Flames need 2013 first-round pick Sean Monahan and 2011 picks Sven Baertschi and Johnny Gaudreau to develop; Calgary hasn't drafted and developed an impact player since Dion Phaneuf in 2003. Calgary's search for long-term answers at center continues, and Monahan, a 2013 first-round pick (No. 6), likely will be given every chance not only to make the opening-night roster but to secure a spot in the middle of one of the top three lines. Backlund remains more potential than performance but could start the season as the top center. If other, younger options don't work out, Cammalleri and Stajan are fallback options. Monahan and Baertschi lead a group of young forwards who will try to win roster spots during training camp. Count Corban Knight, Max Reinhart and maybe Ben Hanowski in that group. The Flames re-signed Brodie, a restricted free agent, and he likely will see an increase in playing time with Bouwmeester gone. If Kiprusoff is done playing for the Flames, Ramo is the favorite to be the team's No. 1 goalie. He has been great in the Kontinental Hockey League but was the opposite of that in his brief NHL career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Another free-agent addition, Reto Berra, had a strong run at the 2013 IIHF World Championship for Switzerland and could push MacDonald for a place on the roster.

In: LW TJ Galiardi, G Karri Ramo, D Kris Russell, RW David Jones, D Shane O'Brien, C Sean Monahan
Out: LW Alex Tanguay, D Cory Sarich, C Roman Cervenka
UFAs: D Anton Babchuk, LW Steve Begin, G Leland Irving
Prospects: C Corban Knight, RW Ben Hanowski, C Maxwell Reinhart

 

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Flames:

Forwards

Curtis Glencross - Mikael Backlund - Mike Cammalleri
Sven Baertschi - Sean Monahan - Jiri Hudler
TJ Galiardi - Matt Stajan - Lee Stempniak
Tim Jackman - Roman Horak - David Jones
Blair Jones - Brian McGrattan

Defensemen

Mark Giordano - Dennis Wideman
TJ Brodie - Kris Russell
Chris Butler - Shane O'Brien
Derek Smith

Goalies

Karri Ramo Joey MacDonald

Edmonton Oilers Lineup

The Edmonton Oilers have amassed the prized young talent a full-fledged rebuild is expected to yield, but they haven't converted it into a winning team to this point. It's taking a little longer than other franchises who committed to such a path; the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Year 3 of their Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin eras, and the Chicago Blackhawks were Stanley Cup champions in the final year of the entry-level contracts for Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle finished their ELCs without a playoff appearance, but the fourth time could be the charm for the prized duo. Edmonton traded its captain this summer, but Shawn Horcoff had been pushed into a reduced role. The Oilers added a potential top-six forward in another deal, acquiring left wing David Perron from the St. Louis Blues. They also obtained some needed experience on the blue line and a bottom-six center to win faceoffs and help the penalty kill with the free-agent signings of defenseman Andrew Ference and center Boyd Gordon. Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin is gone, but the Oilers added a pair of options to back up Devan Dubnyk: Jason LaBarbera and Richard Bachman. The key for the Oilers remains the continued development of their young stars. They need better health for Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and to find some long-term solutions on defense. If that happens, the Oilers might be the contender for which everyone has been waiting. The Oilers basically have seven top-six forwards, so in this scenario Hemsky is the odd-man out. There also is the possibility Nugent-Hopkins will not be ready for the start of the season because of the shoulder surgery that prematurely ended his 2012-13 season. Someone - Gordon? Lander? Mark Arcobello? One of the wings? - would need to fill the No. 2 center spot behind Gagner in that scenario. Edmonton's biggest weakness has been on the blue line. Depth certainly is not a problem with the additions of Ference, Larsen (through the Horcoff trade), and the signings of Grebeshkov and Anton Belov. The Oilers have nine players for seven or eight spots, and that doesn't include top prospect Oskar Klefbom. If someone isn't moved, Belov could be the odd-man out at the start because he's on an entry-level contract. Figuring out which players get to skate every night on defense and the pairings will be interesting to monitor early in the season. With Khabibulin back in Chicago, Dubnyk easily should surpass his career high of 47 games. LaBarbera and Bachman will battle for the backup spot during training camp.

In: D Andrew Ference, D Denis Grebeshkov, G Richard Bachman, G Jason LaBarbera, F Ryan Hamilton, F Jesse Joensuu, LW David Perron, C Boyd Gordon, D Philip Larsen
Out: F Magnus Paajarvi, F Shawn Horcoff, G Nikolai Khabibulin, D Theo Peckham
UFAs: D Ryan Whitney, G Yann Danis, D Mark Fistric, LW Darcy Hordichuk, LW Lennart Petrell, D Andy Sutton
Prospects: D Oscar Klefbom, C Anton Lander

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Oilers:

Forwards

Taylor Hall - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jordan Eberle
David Perron - Sam Gagner - Nail Yakupov
Ryan Jones - Boyd Gordon - Ales Hemsky
Ryan Smyth - Anton Lander - Jesse Joensuu
Mike Brown

Defensemen

Ladislav Smid - Jeff Petry
Andrew Ference - Justin Schultz
Nick Schultz - Denis Grebeshkov
Philip Larsen - Corey Potter

Goalies

Devan Dubnyk Jason LaBarbera

Atlantic Teams - Part 2

Ottawa Senators - There may be no team in the NHL that is looking forward to next season more than the Ottawa Senators. With all the drama that has surrounded this team since the fifth game of last season, general manager Bryan Murray is eager to reap the rewards of all the adversity his players and coaching staff overcame in 2012-13. For those with foggy memories, within the first month of the season the Senators lost Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Erik Karlsson (Achilles tendon), Jason Spezza (back) and Jared Cowen (hip) with what were believed to be season-ending injuries (though all three would come back to play). Starting goaltender Craig Anderson (ankle) and top-line left wing Milan Michalek (knee) also sustained long-term injuries. Spezza and Karlsson were lost within a matter of days in late January, and Murray now can admit he didn't see how his team would be able to overcome blows like that and qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They not only qualified, but won a round for the first time in six years. Those "kids", Kyle Turris, Mika Zibanejad, Jakob Silfverberg, Patrick Wiercioch, Colin Greening, Zack Smith and others, filled roles they never were expected to fill, and some even younger players who weren't expected to reach the NHL last season took over the support roles that were vacated. Coach Paul MacLean made it all work by convincing his players they could win without the star power, and he was rewarded with the Jack Adams Trophy and a three-year contract extension. That was the underlying feeling following Ottawa's playoff elimination at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins: the best was yet to come. Unfortunately for Murray, the drama didn't end once the season was finished. In fact, the bulk of it only was beginning. Captain Daniel Alfredsson decided in late June he would come back to play one more season, except it would not be in Ottawa after an apparent misunderstanding or dispute, depending on which side you believe, led him to sign a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings. The fallout in Ottawa over Alfredsson's departure was massive, and still is, but the Senators were not left empty-handed as a result; far from it. Murray signed Clarke MacArthur away from the Toronto Maple Leafs for two years and $6.5 million, or $1 million more than Alfredsson’s 2013-14 salary-cap charge with the Red Wings. MacArthur had 28 goals with 35 assists for 63 points in 113 games the past two seasons while playing a second-line role in Toronto; Alfredsson's numbers the past two seasons were 37 goals and 48 assists for 85 points in 122 games. Alfredsson has been more productive and has a treasure chest of intangibles that practically is unmatched in the NHL. But under the circumstances, MacArthur appears to be an adequate replacement, especially considering that at 28, he's 12 years younger than Alfredsson. MacArthur's value as a replacement for Alfredsson becomes far greater in light of Murray's acquisition of Bobby Ryan from the Anaheim Ducks, a deal which cost him Silfverberg, top prospect Stefan Noesen and a first-round draft pick in 2014. Ryan gives the Senators their best pure goal-scoring talent since Dany Heatley left in 2009, and Murray is excited by the possibility of having Ryan team with Spezza and Michalek to form what could be one of the most potent offensive lines in the NHL. With the additions of Ryan and MacArthur countering the subtractions of Alfredsson and Silfverberg off the 2012-13 roster, and taking into account the continued development of Ottawa's young players, it would not be crazy to suggest the Senators will be a better team this season. Murray, for one, is very eager to find out. But one thing he learned from last season is not to assume anything, because things can change drastically midstream.

The Ottawa Senators had everyone questioning their ability to succeed last season, and they answered all of them with their play on the ice. But entering this season, the Senators have a number of questions, and many of them are linked to the adversity the team overcame to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season despite missing so many of its best players. Erik Karlsson's Achilles tendon injury was supposed to keep the defenseman off the ice until this season, but he worked extremely hard to make it back for the final three games of the regular season and the playoffs. It was a huge emotional lift for the Senators, and Karlsson had an immediate impact, playing at least 27 minutes in each of his three regular-season games and getting four assists. His first few games in the playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens were effective, but his play began to slip as the series went on and continued to deteriorate in a second-round loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was not the Erik Karlsson the Senators had grown accustomed to, and he knew it. That hesitancy had a major impact on Karlsson's play. Instead of just making the move that came naturally to him, he was taking a split second to consider whether or not he could pull it off; that split second was the difference between success and failure. The Senators traded the rights to Sergei Gonchar to the Dallas Stars prior to the opening of free agency, then were shocked when Daniel Alfredsson signed with the Detroit Red Wings once the market opened. In one fell swoop, 37 years of NHL experience left the organization. The Senators have gotten significantly younger as a result of Alfredsson and Gonchar leaving, but Murray said he is convinced there are enough veteran voices who remain to pick up the slack. In Alfredsson's absence, the Senators will have a new captain for the first time in 13 years. Spezza appears to be a natural candidate to take over, but Murray would not say whether that will be the case. Regardless, Spezza will be looked upon to take on a larger role in the leadership department. Bobby Ryan has played second fiddle to Anaheim Ducks stars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry his entire NHL career, but now he will be looked upon to be a top goal-scorer for the Senators after Murray acquired him in a trade July 5. Murray gave up a lot, Jakob Silfverberg, prospect Stefan Noesen and a 2014 first-round draft pick, to acquire Ryan, and the GM is banking on the fact Ryan is ready to take this next step in his career. Craig Anderson's .941 save percentage and 1.69 goals-against average in 24 games last season represented one of the best seasons for a goaltender in modern history. If it weren't for an ankle injury that cost Anderson more than five weeks, he was in position to make history. His absence didn't derail his momentum, however. Anderson was dominant in the playoffs, playing a starring role in the Senators' five-game elimination of the Canadiens in the first round by stopping 171 of 180 shots (.950 save percentage). With the bar raised so high, how can Anderson possibly match it? Murray has little doubt. Hitting those same numbers this season may be a tad unrealistic for Anderson, considering no goalie in the modern era who has played more than 40 games has done it. But if Anderson is able to make goaltending an afterthought when he's in net like he did last season, he successfully will have maintained his level of play. The departures of Alfredsson and Gonchar created holes on the second forward line and second defense pairing. Each will be filled as a result of a training-camp battle. Kyle Turris and free-agent acquisition Clarke MacArthur are likely to play on Ottawa's second line, but who fills the remaining spot remains in question. Murray said the Senators would prefer keeping Mika Zibanejad at center, meaning he would be in the middle on the third line. So the candidates to fight for that second-line spot include Colin Greening, Cory Conacher and Zack Smith, who would move to the wing after spending most of last season at center. On defense, Karlsson and Marc Methot are set as the first pairing, but Cowen will need a partner on the second pairing. Murray said Patrick Wiercioch, who was signed to a three-year, $6 million contract in the offseason, is ready to take on that role. When Jason Spezza had back surgery Feb. 1, the role of No. 1 center fell to Kyle Turris. He had a difficult adjustment at first, with six assists with no goals in the 18 games following Spezza's surgery. But Turris finished the season with eight goals and eight assists in 23 games, and he shined in the playoffs with six goals and three assists in 10 games. With Spezza returning, Turris should be freed to face less difficult matchups and play the role he was brought in by Murray to play when he acquired him from the Phoenix Coyotes in 2011.


Tampa Bay Lightning - It's hard to imagine how the Tampa Bay Lightning finished out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fifth time in six years despite having the NHL's top two point-producers last season. But it happened. At age 38, Martin St. Louis with 60 points became the oldest player to win the Art Ross Trophy, and linemate Steven Stamkos finished second with 57. But their production contributed little to the success of the team; the Lightning finished 28th in the overall standings at 18-26-4. Offense wasn't the problem: The Lightning ranked third in the NHL averaging 3.06 goals per game. But they couldn't keep the puck out of their net, allowing 3.06 goals-per game to place 26th. A 6-1-0 start to the shortened season was followed by a 7-16-1 skid that cost coach Guy Boucher his job after two-plus seasons. Boucher's dismissal came one day after the Lightning fell behind by four goals in the first period of a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators to drop to 13-17-1. Part of the problem was the Lightning allowed opponents to score first in 35 of 48 games. The Lightning were terrific in blowouts (10-3 in games decided by three or more goals), but poor in one-goal games (5-16; the five wins were the fewest of any team). It certainly wasn't what general manager Steve Yzerman envisioned entering the season, particularly when he felt he had bolstered the team's defense with the acquisition of goalie Anders Lindback and the signings of free-agent defensemen Sami Salo and Matt Carle. Yzerman named Jon Cooper, coach of the American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse, as the eighth coach in Lightning history one day after firing Boucher. The change didn't help; Tampa Bay went 4-8-3 under Cooper, who had led the Lightning's prior AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, to the Calder Cup in 2012. Yzerman made his first major move of the offseason June 27 when he opted to use a compliance buyout on captain Vincent Lecavalier. The four-time All-Star, drafted No. 1 by the Lightning in 1998, helped the franchise win its only Stanley Cup in 2004 and scored a franchise-high 383 goals; he had 10 last season. The decision to buy out Lecavalier will cost the Lightning $32 million over 14 years, but it saved more than $7.7 million in salary-cap room for this season. With veteran goaltender Mathieu Garon not re-signed, there figures to be a battle for the No. 1 job between 6-foot-7 Ben Bishop and 6-foot-6 Anders Lindback. Yzerman acquired 26-year-old Bishop in April from the Senators in exchange for forward Cory Conacher and a 2013 fourth-round draft pick. Nine months earlier he brought in Lindback, 25, from the Nashville Predators. Bishop got most of the playing time after coming to Tampa Bay and received a two-year contract extension. Yzerman signed center Valtteri Filppula, right wing Geoff Walker and 2013 first-round draft pick Jonathan Drouin on July 5 to bolster the lineup. Filppula, who can play center or wing, was not signed to fill the void left by Lecavalier, according to Yzerman. There's no question training camp and the exhibition season will help Cooper gain a better grasp on potential lineups. For instance, are left wings Ondrej Palat and Pierre-Cedric Labrie, along with centers Alex Killorn and Tyler Johnson ready to take on bigger roles? Can Drouin, the No. 3 pick in the 2013 draft, have an immediate impact? Drouin's playmaking skills could earn him a spot with Stamkos (29 goals, 57 points) and St. Louis (17 goals, 60 points) on the top line. Defensively, Cooper likely will keep Victor Hedman and Sami Salo as his top pairing, followed by Carle and Radko Gudas, who was one of the biggest surprises of an otherwise disappointing season. After the top four, it gets a bit dicey; there's 34-year-old Eric Brewer, along with several young players in the mix, including Andrej Sustr, Mark Barberio, Slater Koekkoek and Nikita Nesterov. Rick Bowness, hired as an associate coach in June, will help provide Cooper with a foundation and stability on the back end. Additionally, Yzerman hired former University of Denver coach George Gwozdecky in August as an assistant coach in charge of the forwards and the power play. Keep in mind the Lighting made six picks at the draft on June 30: five forwards and a goalie. Yzerman said he feels the defense he has in place and those in the system are capable of getting the job done. The Lightning were one victory away from the Stanley Cup Final in 2011. Two-plus years later, they're picking up the pieces after back-to-back non-playoff seasons. But Yzerman said any setbacks the team hits are temporary.

After failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight year following a trip to the Eastern Conference Final in 2011, the Tampa Bay Lightning are undergoing a facelift. Goaltending and defense proved to be the team's biggest issues in 2012-13, when the Lightning dropped to 14th in the East. That earned them the third pick in the NHL Draft, which they used to select forward Jonathan Drouin of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Drouin figures to get every chance to spend the season with Tampa Bay. One reason there's an opening is general manager Steve Yzerman made the tough decision to use one of his compliance buyouts on captain Vincent Lecavalier after 14 years with the organization. Yzerman, entering his fourth season as GM, said changes had to be made after back-to-back disappointing seasons. Since he scored 24 goals and 70 points in 2009-10 with the Lightning, Lecavalier's offensive numbers have declined. Though it wasn't an easy decision, the buyout was necessary in order to give the Lightning room to upgrade the roster and allow top prospects a chance to prove themselves. Tampa Bay should be fine offensively: The Lightning were third in the NHL with 147 non-shootout goals last season; Lecavalier scored 10 of them. Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis will lead the offense again, and youngsters Brett Connolly, Richard Panik and Drouin figure to get the chance to step up in Lecavalier's place. In Jon Cooper's first full season behind the bench, it's critical he have his players on the same page, especially when it comes to shutting down the opposition. The Lightning surrendered 147 non-shootout goals last season, putting them in the bottom five in goals allowed. Cooper considers himself a players' coach who's more worried about how his team is playing than what the opposition is trying to do. During Yzerman's state of the team address to season-ticket holders in July, the GM said Martin St. Louis still has a lot of seasons remaining in his 38-year-old body. Whether that's news to St. Louis remains to be seen, but Yzerman is hopeful. The departure of Lecavalier, Tampa Bay's captain since 2008-09, leaves St. Louis as the lone member of the Lightning's 2004 Stanley Cup-winning team. St. Louis has been with the Lightning since 2000, and has 336 goals, 556 assists and 892 points in 910 regular-season games, and has always been the voice of reason in good times and bad within the dressing room. Getting the "C" would be an honor for a player whose No. 26 will be raised to the rafters of the Tampa Bay Times Forum soon after he retires. The other possibility is Stamkos, the NHL's top goal-scorer during the past four seasons. Making Stamkos the captain would follow the trend of giving the "C" to the young, face of the franchise star. Yzerman said the ninth captain in the organization's history is likely to be named during training camp. Don't be surprised if St. Louis is given the nod. The competition between Ben Bishop and Anders Lindback begins in earnest during training camp in September. Yzerman acquired each goalies via trade and paid a big price, so neither figures to get preferential treatment. Yzerman sent a pair of 2012 second-round picks, a 2013 third-rounder and goaltender Sebastian Caron to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Lindback, forward Kyle Wilson and a 2012 seventh-round pick in June 2012. Yzerman traded forward Cory Conacher and a 2013 fourth-round pick in exchange for Bishop, then signed him to a two-year contract extension. The organization likes what it sees in Jonathan Drouin. He brings great skill and hockey sense, and the fact Yzerman signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract five days after selecting him with the third pick in the 2013 NHL Draft speaks volumes. Drouin skated in 82 games in two seasons for the Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and had 48 goals, 134 points and a plus-43 rating. He played in 34 playoff games, connecting for 21 goals and 61 points and helping the Mooseheads win the Memorial Cup in May. There doesn't appear to be much left for him to accomplish in juniors. The Lightning passed on the draft's top defensive prospect, Seth Jones, to take Drouin, so the odds of him being returned to the Canadian Hockey League following his nine-game trial with the Lightning would appear to be slim. Look for Cooper to experiment with Drouin on the top line alongside Stamkos and St. Louis. The coach might also use Drouin with free-agent signee Valtteri Filppula at center and Teddy Purcell on right wing. Tampa Bay appears to have a good mix of youth and experience in Cooper's first full season behind the bench. To help him, Yzerman added veteran Rick Bowness as an associate coach and former University of Denver coach George Gwozdecky as an assistant. Bowness spent the previous seven seasons with the Vancouver Canucks as an assistant and associate coach, primarily working with the defense. The team reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in all but one of his seasons in Vancouver and appeared in the 2011 Cup Final.


Toronto Maple Leafs - The Toronto Maple Leafs have to prove that snapping a nine-year Stanley Cup Playoff drought in a lockout-shortened season was the first step toward becoming a perennial contender, not a detour on what since 2004 has been their seemingly never-ending road to mediocrity. First, they're going to have to get over the heartbreak of how last season came to a stunning and crushing halt. The Maple Leafs had a three-goal lead in the third period of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins, but blew it and eventually lost in overtime. Toronto GM Dave Nonis and Carlyle said the franchise has done its post-mortem on that loss and has moved on, but they should expect a deluge of questions about that meltdown from the inquisitive Toronto media on the first day of training camp. What about when it comes up in training camp? How will the players handle retracing the steps that led to that rugged ending? Nonis clearly thinks building on last season, when they finished fifth in the Eastern Conference with 57 points and at least took the eventual Eastern Conference champions to overtime in Game 7 on the road, starts with adding experienced, gritty players to the lineup. Dave Bolland, acquired in a trade June 30, won the Stanley Cup twice with the Chicago Blackhawks, and his last significant contribution was the Cup-clinching goal late in the third period of Game 6 in Boston on June 24. David Clarkson, signed to a seven-year deal July 5, scored 30 goals for the New Jersey Devils two seasons ago, when he helped them get to the Stanley Cup Final. He had 15 goals in 48 games last season. They each fit the profile of a Randy Carlyle-type player because they're tough, don't back down, play well at both ends of the ice and go to the front of the net, especially Clarkson. Bolland likely is ticketed for a third-line role, but Carlyle said he would be comfortable moving him up in the lineup. Carlyle and Nonis cited Bolland's numbers as a junior player for the London Knights (130 points in 59 games in 2005-06) as a sign he can provide more offense than he has so far in the NHL (168 points in 332 regular-season games). Nor do the Maple Leafs view James Reimer as their clear-cut No. 1 goalie anymore. That changed June 23, when Nonis traded Matt Frattin and Ben Scrivens to the Los Angeles Kings for Jonathan Bernier, who won nine games with a 1.88 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in a backup role last season. Bernier wasn't going to beat out Jonathan Quick to be the No. 1 in Los Angeles, but he'll be given that chance in Toronto, where Reimer put up 19 wins, a 2.46 GAA and .924 save percentage last season. They actually did last season for the Maple Leafs, who reached their realistic goal of qualifying for the playoffs. The plan this season is to show they can do it in an 82-game season. Toronto's team hasn't done that since 2003-04.

The Toronto Maple Leafs ended their NHL-long nine-year Stanley Cup Playoff drought last season, but they bowed out of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in heartbreaking fashion with a meltdown in Game 7 against the Boston Bruins. After licking their wounds, the Maple Leafs got back up and had an interesting summer filled with transactions that drew praise and scorn across the NHL, but specifically in Toronto. They want to believe they're on the right path with the type of tough, physical, no-holds-barred team Randy Carlyle loves to coach, but several questions face this team as it heads into 2013-14. James Reimer was good enough last season to help get Toronto into the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2004. To reward Reimer, general manager Dave Nonis brought in a competitor for his job. Jonathan Bernier long has been considered No. 1 material, but because he was playing behind Jonathan Quick in Los Angeles, he never got the chance on a full-time basis. He'll have to earn it in Toronto, but his chances of becoming a No. 1 with the Maple Leafs are much better than they were in L.A. Reimer was solid, but not by any means spectacular last season, with 19 wins, a 2.46 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage and four shutouts. Bernier, in limited action with the Kings, won nine times in 14 games and had a 1.88 GAA and .922 save percentage. No one is saying the Maple Leafs have to name a No. 1 goalie coming out of training camp, because it's always good to have two goalies you trust for an 82-game season. If all goes according to plan, Reimer and Bernier will push each other and perhaps have a near-even split in playing time throughout the season. However, if the Maple Leafs want not only to make the playoffs, but do some damage once they get there, they're going to need one of their goalies to emerge as a No. 1. It should be a compelling competition to watch. It's a good thing Nonis got his five-year contract extension before having to make this happen, because it's a head-scratcher. Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson are restricted free agents who are due raises, but the Maple Leafs have a shade under $5 million in salary-cap space to work with, according to Capgeek.com. Nonis told NHL.com last week he thinks the Maple Leafs have enough room under the salary cap to get both players signed in time for training camp, but said there have been quiet periods in the negotiations and there was nothing to update. Reports surfaced in lat July, starting with TSN's Darren Dreger, that Nonis could be looking to trade Franson. It hasn't happened yet and there has been no indicator anything is close, but Nonis has to at least be considering it. Franson, who is 26 years old and coming off his best season (29 points in 45 games), is an intriguing option for any team. Nonis, though, potentially could get both under contract if he can convince Kadri, who is 22 years old, to accept a bridge deal similar to what Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban signed in January. This usually is a two-year contract with a reasonable cap number (under $3 million) that incentivizes the player to play well so he can land his big contract in his next deal, when the salary cap is expected to be higher than the $64.3 million it will be this season. Even though Nonis said David Clarkson isn't expected to score 30, the GM wouldn't have signed him for seven years if he didn't think the power forward had it in him to do it. Clarkson became a 30-goal scorer in 2011-12, and had 15 goals in 48 games last season with the New Jersey Devils. He landed a seven-year, $36.75 million contract with Toronto on July 5 and immediately drew comparisons to former Maple Leafs power forward Wendel Clark, who was a four-time 30-goal scorer for Toronto, reaching a high of 46 in 1993-94. Clarkson embraced the comparisons to Clark, his favorite player growing up in the Toronto suburb of Mimico, Ontario. Now Clarkson has to embrace the pressure that comes along with being the player who is supposed to be the new Clark in blue and white. The plan, at least heading into camp, is to see if Clarkson can develop chemistry with Kadri. The Maple Leafs also brought back Tyler Bozak, who likely will resume his duties as the top-line center, flanked by Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk. That leaves Kadri, Clarkson and perhaps Joffrey Lupul as a second line that has the potential to be dangerous, provided Clarkson finds his scoring touch and doesn't abandon the other powerful and antagonizing areas of his game that make him the power forward he is. After going through a trying season, one split between the NHL and American Hockey League that included a concussion that derailed him for longer than he anticipated, Jake Gardiner was one of Toronto's best players during the final six games against the Bruins in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. He looked like a better version of the player who had 30 points in 75 games as a rookie in 2011-12. He was nothing close to the player who was inconsistent in 12 games with the Maple Leafs during the 2012-13 regular season. Gardiner used his speed, touch, defensive acumen and strong skating ability to produce five points in six playoff games, and left Toronto after the heartbreaking loss in Game 7 with renewed confidence and a sense of belonging. Perhaps the best part about his game was that he was willing to take some risks again, something that was missing during the regular season. It absolutely was necessary for Gardiner to end on a high note after all he went through last season. He needed a surge of positivity going into the offseason, and now he's ready to be a difference-maker with the Maple Leafs. Nonis made a surprising comment shortly after trading for Bolland at the 2013 NHL Draft on June 30. He said he thought Dave Bolland, who scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal for the Chicago Blackhawks, could do more offensively if given a chance in a higher-profile role. He cited Bolland's numbers in the Ontario Hockey League, when he had 130 points in 65 games with the London Knights in 2005-06. Maybe Nonis was choosing to overlook the fact that when healthy during the 2012-13 regular season, Bolland primarily was the Blackhawks No. 2 center, with Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp on his wings, and produced seven goals and 14 points. Bolland was shifted down the lineup in the playoffs and was a more effective player. Toronto would welcome more production from Bolland, who has scored 19 goals twice in his career and had a personal-best 46 points in 2008-09, but odds are he'll still be playing center on the third line, unless Bozak and/or Kadri stumble. The good thing is the Maple Leafs have seen enough to believe Bolland can move up to a scoring line if necessary, but he's most effective when he's in a checking-line role. Chicago used him that way in 2010 and in the playoffs last season, and that's why he's a two-time Cup champion. The Maple Leafs should not try to make Bolland abandon what he does best, but he's good enough to deliver a fair amount of secondary scoring, and maybe that's what Nonis was going for in the first place. The right answer will depend on how Morgan Rielly performs in training camp. The only thing known for sure is the defenseman isn't old enough to start the season in the AHL with the Marlies, so it's either the NHL or back to the Western Hockey League for the 19-year-old, who was the Maple Leafs' first-round pick (No. 5) in 2012. If Rielly impresses, the Maple Leafs likely will keep him on the NHL roster at the start of the season;  they can afford to give him a nine-game tryout before the clock starts running on his entry-level contract. That should be enough time to see if he's ready for the NHL. In addition, if Rielly is good in camp, Nonis would have to make difficult decisions on which players to keep on the blue line, and that calls into question the futures of Paul Ranger, Mark Fraser, Korbinian Holzer, T.J. Brennan and maybe John-Michael Liles. If Rielly falters, the easy decision would be to send him back to the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL. It wouldn't be a terrible thing because Rielly would return as an older player on a younger team, which would give him a chance to develop leadership skills that could prove useful down the road in Toronto. However, Maple Leafs executives aren't sure if another season in the WHL would do anything for Rielly. He was a near point-per-game player for Moose Jaw last season and they're not sure he needs more time developing at the junior level.