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NHL SEASON OPENER 2010
IN
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S
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B.C. boys
ready to roll
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into new season
By Mark Janzen
This year, British Columbia could well have a In Vancouver, blueliner Dan Hamhuis
serious impact on the NHL. is making a homecoming of sorts. The
Across the NHL, B.C.-born or raised players Smithers-native is back in the province
are rubbing shoulders with the best the league where he was born and, with the weighty
has to offer. expectations put upon the Canucks,
Tsawwassen-product Brent Seabrook and Hamhuis should be a key member of
Penticton’s Duncan Keith had about as good of the team.
a campaign as is possible, last year by winning Having spent the past seven
the gold medal at the Olympics in Vancouver years with the Nashville organiza-
followed by hoisting the Stanley Cup less than tion, Hamhuis is ready to have an
four months later. impact in Vancouver, wherever it
And to add to it, Keith won the Norris trophy might be.
for the NHL’s best defencemen. But despite the “Talking with other [Canucks]
accolades and championships last year, Keith defencemen, you earn the ice time
gave hockey fans plenty to be excited about you get,” Hamhuis said. “If I fit into
coming into this year. the shutdown role, I’ve done that in
According to the former gap-toothed grinner, Nashville a lot, and if they want me in a different
the B.C. boy and his partner Seabrook are just role, I’ve done that at other times in my career,
getting going. too.
“It’s nice to win [the] award and win champion- “[The powerplay] is something I played on
ships,” Keith said in Las Vegas after winning the quite a bit my first few years in the league, but
Norris trophy. “But I think as soon as the summer it really tailed off and it was hardly anything last
goes by...all the hunger will come back. It’s nice year. It was disappointing with that role. It’s a
to enjoy it [for a while], but once you strap on the fresh start here and I hope to earn my way on to
skates again, everything’s all about winning. the power play.” DAN HAMHUIS
“And one year—one good year—is not going In Montreal, all eyes will be on Carey Price,
to make me satisfied.” an Anahim Lake-product. Price looks to bounce
Nashville’s Shea Weber, who is from Si- back from a season where Jaroslav Halak
camous and was recently named the captain of earned the right to take over the reins for the
the Predators will have high expectations after Habs’ playoff run.
last season when he had 43 points in 78 games. Other B.C. players who could very well make
And, especially with the Predators feeling like a big impact this year include Boston’s Milan
they’re as close to contending as ever, and Lucic (Vancouver), Edmonton’s Shawn Horcoff
with a bitter taste in Nashville’s mouth after its (Trail), Washington’s Karl Alzner (Burnaby),
post-season loss to Chicago, Weber is ready to Montreal’s Josh Gorges (Kelowna) and Phoe-
spit it out. nix’s Kyle Turris (New Westminster).
Photo: Getty Images
HOCKEYNOW.CA / SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
18
NHL SEASON OPENER 2010
ROBERTO LUONGO
Photo: Getty Images
The NHL’s Western Conference seems strong, And goalie Miikka Kiprusoff is still very capable
yet again. between the pipes.
With Stanley Cup champions Chicago looking The Flames’ offence finished 29th overall last
to repeat, a handful of teams will challenge them in year and the team will look for contributions from
the race for Lord Stanley. throughout the lineup to add to the offence, this year.
Here’s a closer look at each of the 15 teams. The Flames have added Alex Tanguay (F), Olli
Jokinen (F), Tim Jackman (F).
ANAHEIM DUCKS Eric Nystrom (F), Nigel Dawes (F), and Craig
The Ducks have two solid forward lines, with Conroy (F) are no longer with the team.
Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan lead-
ing the way. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
And with Jonas Hiller in net, they are just fine The top-end forwards and defenceman are
NHL Western Conference
between the pipes. some of the best in the NHL. Forwards Jonathan
On D, the Ducks are hoping that young players Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa along with
like Luca Sbisa and Brendan Mikkelson will take blueliners Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook will
big steps, this season. make up the core of the team, once again.
team previews
Anaheim has added Andy Sutton (D), Toni Lyd- The ‘Hawks are dealing with several key depar-
man (D), and Aaron Voros (F). tures and will need contributions from throughout
Scott Niedermayer (D), Steve Eminger (D), and the lineup.
By Mark Janzen Mike Brown (F) are no longer with the team. Chicago adds Marty Turco (G), Fernando Pisani
(F), and Ivan Vishnevskiy (D) to the lineup.
CALGARY FLAMES Dustin Byfuglien (F), Kris Versteeg (F), Brent So-
With the Sutters running the ship, defence pel (D), Antti Niemi (G), John Madden (F), Ben Eager
will always be impressive and that won’t change. (F), Andrew Ladd (F) are no longer with the team.
HOCKEYNOW.CA / SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
19 NHLPOWERPLAY.COM
COLORADO AVALANCHE
The Avs are young and can put the puck in the
net. If their young players continue to improve,
Colorado will be just fine offensively.
Centre Matt Duchene had a breakout season in
2009/10 and is one of the league’s most exciting
young talents.
Colorado will look to a group of youngsters to
play key roles.
The Avs add Daniel Winnick (F) and no longer
have Marek Svatos (F), Stephane Yelle (F), Darcy
Tucker (F).
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
If some of the young Blue Jackets forwards
are able to take some big steps and complement
captain Rick Nash offensively, Columbus will be in
good shape up front.
Columbus will need strong performances from
their existing D group in order to make a push for
the playoffs.
The Jackets add Ethan Moreau (F) and say good-
bye to Mathieu Roy (D) and Nathan Paetsch (D)
DALLAS STARS
The forward unit may be one of the most un-
derrated in the league. With Brad Richards leading
the way and players like James Neal and Jamie
Benn stepping up, the Stars will score goals.
They’re young on the blueline and they’ll need
to improve from within. Goalie Kari Lehtonen will
need to have a big year if the team is to push for a
JONATHAN TOEWS
spot in the post-season.
Dallas adds Adam Burish (F) and Andrew
Raycroft (G).
Meanwhile, Mike Modano (F), Marty Turco (G),
and Jere Lehtinen (F) are no longer with the team.
PATRICK KANE
DETROIT RED WINGS
The forward unit is still talented and with the
return of Jiri Hudler and the addition of Mike
Modano, the Red Wings should score goals in
bunches.
The defence is essentially the same solid group
as last season.
Detroit will need strong performances from top
to bottom in order to compete with some of the
other powerhouses in the West.
The Wings added Jiri Hudler (F), Mike Modano Photo: Getty Images
(F), and Ruslan Salei (D) to the lineup.
Brett Lebda (D) is no longer with the team. MINNESOTA WILD PHOENIX COYOTES SAN JOSE SHARKS
The Wild have some skilled forwards and, with Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is a key leader for the The forward unit hasn’t changed very much and
EDMONTON OILERS coach Todd Richards running things, should be Coyotes and with a veteran defence aided by a few they’ll still put plenty of pucks into the net.
With so many young and talented forwards, this able to flourish. youngsters coming up, the Coyotes will ice a very The defence will miss Rob Blake but should be
could be a quality group but you just don’t know The classic Minnesota defence was not as competitive roster. able to fill the void with depth. Antti Niemi needs
for sure how the young players will fare. strong last year as it was in previous years. The The offence should see a bit of an improve- to duplicate last season for the Sharks to go far.
The Oilers lost some key defensive forwards team will have to tighten that up to get back into ment with Wojtek Wolski around all year and Ray Besides Niemi, other additions include Antero
and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin is a question mark in playoff contention. Whitney in the fold. Nittymaki (G), and Jamal Mayers (F).
terms of when he will return. The Wild add Matt Cullen (F), Eric Nystrom (F), Phoenix adds Ray Whitney (F) to the lineup Evgeni Nabokov (G) Rob Blake (D), Manny
Edmonton adds Colin Fraser (F) and Kurtis and John Madden (F) to the roter. and says goodbye to Matthew Lombardi (F), Malhotra (F), and Jed Ortmeyer (F) are no longer
Foster (D) while saying goodbye to Ethan Moreau Former Wild, Derek Boogaard (F) signed with Daniel Winnick (F), Zbynek Michalek (D), Jim with the team
(F), Patrick O’Sullivan (F), Fernando Pisani (F), the New York Rangers. Vandermeer (D)
Mike Comrie (F), Robert Nilsson (F), and Sheldon VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Souray (D) NASHVILLE PREDATORS ST. LOUIS BLUES The Sedin twins are the leaders of the offence
With new captain Shea Weber and Ryan Suter Goalie Jaroslav Halak is the lynchpin in the Blues but Vancouver has two good lines that can score.
LOS ANGELES KINGS forming the top blueline pairing and plenty of post-season hopes. The blueline is solid but not nec- The top six defencemen are very good.
The defence is young but very capable and depth defenceman, the Predators are in good essarily spectacular, though young players like Erik Roberto Luongo looks to return to the Hart Tro-
can provide offence. The forwards are skilled and shape defensively. Johnson and Alex Pietrangelo have huge upsides. phy-nominee form of his first season in Vancouver.
entertaining and their goaltending should be solid. Scoring goals will likely be their main challenge, The Blues need players like David Backes and The Canucks have added Dan Hamhuis (D),
L.A. adds Willie Mitchell (D) and Alex Pon- this season. Brad Boyes to return to form. Keith Ballard (D), Manny Malhotra (F), Raffi Torres
ikarovsky (F) to the lineup. The Preds add Matthew Lombardi (F), Sergei Along with Halak, the Blues have also added (F), and Joel Perrault (F).
Meanwhile, Alex Frolov (F), Jeff Halpern (F), Kostitsyn (F), and Ryan Parent (D). Vladamir Sobotka (F). Departures include Willie Mitchell (D), Michael
Fredrik Modin (F), and Sean O’Donnell (D) are no No longer with the team are Dan Hamhuis (D), Meanwhile, Chris Mason (G), Keith Tkachuk (F), Grabner (F), Steve Bernier (F), Pavol Demitra (F),
longer with the team. Jason Arnott (F), and Dan Ellis (G). and Paul Kariya (F) are no longer with the team. Kyle Wellwood (F), and Andrew Raycroft (G).
HOCKEYNOW.CA / SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
20
NHL SEASON OPENER 2010
The NHL’s Eastern Conference has some of the The B’s picked up a big part of their future by
most exciting hockey players in the world. Here’s a selecting Tyler Seguin No. 2 overall at the draft.
look at how the 15 Eastern squads stack-up head-
ing into 2010/11. BUFFALO SABRES
With all-world goaltender Ryan Miller between
ATLANTA THRASHERS the pipes, the Sabres will always have a chance.
With Ilya Kovalchuk no longer filling the net But they’ll need to start scoring some goals in
in Atlanta, the Thrashers’s main challenge will be order to be considered a Stanley Cup favourite.
scoring goals. The Sabres didn’t have a single 30-goal scorer
The Thrashers to have some solid, young build- and Derek Roy led the team with 69 points.
ing blocks — Evander Kane and first-round pick Buffalo will count on Thomas Vanek to start
Alexander Burmistrov. producing at a level worthy of his $6 million
Atlanta added four players from the Stanley contract.
Cup champs — Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent On the plus side, oft-injured Tim Connolly
Sopel and Andrew Ladd — but it’s not enough to suited up for a career-high 73 games.
NHL Eastern Conference
get into the playoffs.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
BOSTON BRUINS The rebuilding project is underway in Carolina.
The Bruins are eager to erase the bitter tastes With the retirement of longtime captain Rod
team previews
from their mouths after a monumental playoff Brind’Amour, the keys to the castle are officially in
defeat against Philadelphia, when the Flyers over- the hands of superstar Eric Staal.
came a 3-0 series deficit. The ’Canes also added Staal’s youngest brother
By Scott Fisher
Marc Savard and Milan Lucic missed large Jared, a couple of former first-round picks (Riley
chunks of last season and will need to stay in the Nash and Bobby Sanquinetti) and took centre Jeff
lineup for the offensively challenged Bruins to Skinner seventh overall in the draft.
have a shot.
SIDNEY CROSBY
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HOCKEYNOW.CA / SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
22 NHLPOWERPLAY.COM
FLORIDA PANTHERS
The Panthers have some very good building
blocks.
New Cats GM Dale Tallon, who largely built the
Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, dealt
away the club’s top scorer, sending Nathan Horton
to Boston.
But Tallon did stockpile picks and his three
first-rounders — Erik Gudbranson, Nick Bjugstad
and Quinton Howden — should pay big dividends
down the road. Gudbranson could play this year.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
Canadiens fans had plenty to feel good about
heading into the summer with incredible playoff
performances by both Jaroslav Halak and Mike
Cammalleri. Still, GM Pierre Gauthier shipped
Halak to St. Louis.
Thanks to Halak’s magic, the Habs advanced to
last spring’s Eastern Conference final.
Carey Price has been handed the reins to lead
the Habs.
Brian Gionta was recently named the team’s
new captain.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
It took all summer, but the Devils finally got
their man.
Ilya Kovalchuk is under contract for the rest of
his career.
Needless to say, the talented Russian needs
to fill the net with regularity for the Devils to stay
afloat.
Martin Brodeur remains one of the top goalten-
ders in the game, despite being 38-years-old.
The Devils have won four of the last five Atlan-
tic Division crowns.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
John Tavares is on his own. At least for now.
Top draft pick Nino Niederreiter (fifth overall)
should provide some excitement a few years down
the road, but Tavares is the sole face of this fran-
chise for the forseeable future.
If Matt Moulson can find a way to repeat his
30-goal campaign, it’ll help keep the Isles in
contention. DION PHANEUF
NEW YORK RANGERS
Photo: Getty Images
The Rangers couldn’t have come closer to a
playoff spot last spring, losing in a shootout on the
final day of the season. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS Pittsburgh boasts the top duo in the NHL with draft pick.
But they didn’t do a lot in the off-season to put The Flyers qualified for the playoffs on the final Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but the duo will Phil Kessel led the way offensively but will need
them over the hump, although salary-cap restric- day of the season — by winning a shootout — and need help from the rest of the offence in order to as much help as he can get this season if the Leafs
tions played a role. then went all the way to the finals. go far. are to improve.
The Blueshirts added a backup goaltender Nikolai Zherdev, who spent last season in the The blueline group is strong and the goaltend-
(Martin Biron) and arguably the league’s most KHL, joins the East champs and will look to pick TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING ing situation is promising.
intimidating enforcer (Derek Boogaard). up some of the slack for departed sniper Simon The Bolts underwent a major facelift over the With the additions of Kris Versteeg, Colby Arm-
But if Marian Gaborik can pull off a minor Gagne. summer. strong and Clarke MacArthur, the Leafs have a real
miracle by staying injury-free for a second straight The second-most penalized team in the league New GM (Steve Yzerman), new coach (Guy opportunity to take some steps forward, this year.
season, the Rangers have a shot. also decided to add more toughness in the form of Boucher) and a new big weapon (Simon Gagne).
enforcer Jody Shelley. With established scorers like Vincent Lecava- WASHINGTON CAPITALS
OTTAWA SENATORS Playoff hero Claude Giroux should help keep lier, Martin St. Louis and young star Steven Stam- There’s no secret to the Caps’ gameplan. Score,
The Sens could be an exciting team to watch the Flyers in contention. kos, the Lightning will not starve for goals. score, and then score some more.
with players like Daniel Alfredsson, Alex Kovalev, If sophomore defenceman Victor Hedman The Capitals had seven players surpassing the
Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek in the lineup. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS takes a large step forward after a 20-point rookie 50-point mark, led, of course by the ridiculously
By signing Sergei Gonchar, the Senators should The Pens said goodbye to the Igloo and hello campaign, the 2004 champs could very well be skilled Alexander Ovechkin’s 51-goal, 109-point
receive a big boost in production on the blueline. to the Consol Energy Center. playoff bound. campaign.
And they may need every goal they can get af- The 2009 champs also said goodbye to a num- Despite falling in a shocking upset to the
ter defenders Anton Volchenkov and Andy Sutton ber of players, including Sergei Gonchar and Bill TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS eighth-seeded Canadiens in the opening round last
left in free agency. Guerin, after an early departure from the playoffs. The Buds had a tough 2009/10. But there is spring, Washington did little in the off-season.
The team’s fortunes likely rest on the shoulders Centre Jordan Staal will miss at least the first some excitement going into 2010-11. The message was clear. This team is good
of Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson, the team’s few weeks of the season, so the Pens brought in Not only did the Leafs finish second to last in enough. Now they need to prove it in the post-
leaders and offensive catalysts. Mike Comrie as a backup plan. 2009-10, there was no payoff in the form of a high season.
HOCKEYNOW.CA / SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
23 NHLPOWERPLAY.COM
TAYLOR HALL
VFXMOAVFXMOA
Photo: Getty Images
NHL youth wave keeps rolling
By Mark Janzen
NHL fans, GMs and coaches alike are getting giddy about the the leap to the next level; while in Toronto, Brian Burke and the Leafs
vast potential of the continued youth movement in the NHL. are hoping Nazem Kadri can make an impact, this season.
Since the NHL lockout ended in 2005, the NHL has seen a In Boston, all the talk is about Tyler Seguin. Although he’s a
huge influx in young superstars and the 2010/11 season should be natural centre, Sequin has been playing well on the wing with Mark
no different. Recchi and Patrice Bergeron. If he sticks there, he’s bound to be a
And what better place to start the discussion than in Edmonton rookie to watch.
where lies this year’s poster boy for über-talented youngsters? Montreal’s PK Subban should also be an interesting story as
With the Oilers in a full-fledge rebuilding phase, GM Steve his jersey instantly became chic apparel in Quebec after last year’s
Tambellini and his staff have made it clear the goal for this year is to impressive playoff performance.
expose their rookies to the NHL game and hope they stay ahead of And speaking of blueline rookies, watch for Washington’s John
the surf. Carlson and Phoenix’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson potentially to make an
The trio of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi has impact in their jump to the NHL.
Edmonton fans salivating just thinking about the possibilities. And if While goalies rarely are difference makers in their first NHL cam-
the first pre-season game for each of them is any evidence of what paign, Florida goalie Jacob Markstrom could be one to do it. While he
to expect this year, good things are just around the corner. may start with the Panthers AHL affiliate, he could well do enough to
Paajarvi had three goals and an assist, Hall had a goal and Eberle get him up to the big club and.
was arguably Edmonton’s most dangerous player in his Oilers debut This year’s crop of sophomores includes John Tavares, Matt
against Vancouver. Duchene, Tyler Myers, Michael Del Zotto, Tyler Bozak and Niclas
In Vancouver, the Canucks are hoping for Cody Hodgson to make Bergfors, to name a few.
HOCKEYNOW.CA / SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
24
NHL SEASON OPENER 2010
“NO ONE IS LEAVING
BOSTON WITH BOTH
SEDINS EXCEPT ME.” – Brian Burke, former Vancouver Canucks GM,
at the 1999 NHL Draft in Boston
DANIEL SEDIN HENRIK SEDIN
Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
A DECADE OF THE TWINS
Sedins elevate their game to superstar status
By Mark Janzen
The year was 1999 and the Vancouver Canucks one is leaving Boston with both Sedins except me.” this past year with the Hart Trophy after being years. Before last year, when Daniel missed 19
had just closed the last page on a season that saw And after several sly trades, Burke had the named the MVP of the NHL, Burke must have had games because of a foot injury, he had only missed
them win just 23 games, finishing second last in No. 2 and No. 3 overall picks and had Atlanta con- a small smirk on his face. one game since the lockout and has 396 points in
the NHL. vinced to take Patrick Stefan first overall. In the Sedins’ first three years donning the that span.
Garth Snow was the starting goalie that year. “I don’t think I could have made this deal hap- Orca, neither of them topped 40 points. It took a while, but the Sedins have become
Markus Naslund led the team in points with 66 pen if I had given any of the top teams an indica- But boy oh boy did Burke ever defend his twins the Canucks’ steadiness that continually keeps
while Mark Messier was second with 48. tion that I might walk away from the draft without and did the Canucks ever insistent on giving the Vancouver’s heart beating.
And the team, under the tutelage of Brian one of the Sedins,” Burke said after the 1999 Swedish youngsters ice time. And if the Canucks are to win a Stanley Cup in
Burke, was in need of some fresh faces. draft. “It was no bluff. And eventually the other Many critics began to write-off the twins. the next few years, the critics should be silenced
And as everyone would find out in short order, teams at the top of the draft began to believe But then, after the NHL lockout, something once and for all; and the talk will no longer be
Burke was highly motivated to get both Daniel and me when I said I’d take one Sedin and wait until changed. about their ability but rather who should win the
Henrik Sedin in the upcoming NHL Draft in Boston. another team taking the other Sedin caved in.” Since the lockout, Henrik hasn’t missed a single Conn Smythe: Daniel or Henrik?
He went so far as to tell The Sporting News, “No So, when Henrik walked away from Las Vegas game and has 426 regular season points in five Or both?
HOCKEYNOW.CA / SEPTEMBER 30, 2010