This year seems to be the season the National Hockey League finally turns things around by way of suspensions and fines. And by around, I mean a complete 360.

Last season, during the 2010-2011 season, Colin Campbell handed out 37 suspensions and 18 fines. This season, new League disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan has taken it a step further handing out 22 suspensions and 10 fines over the course of three months.

Shanahan’s latest victim to fall to the Shanahammer is San Jose Sharks center Andrew Desjardins for his boarding of Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Sami Lepisto. While it was reported he would face disciplinary action, Desjardins skated away with a $2,500 fine for the early first period hit.

To clarify, the NHL rule book defines Rule 43.1 – Checking from Behind as the following:

A check from behind is a check delivered on a player who is not aware of the impending hit, therefore unable to protect or defend himself, and contact is made on the back part of the body. When a player intentionally turns his body to create contact with his back, no penalty shall be assessed.”

Lepisto, who was racing for the puck, caught a cross check from behind. Assuming the NHL would adhere to the rules, Desjardins would’ve been awarded a cross-checking penalty. Instead, the referees slapped him with a boarding penalty, earning him a date with Shannahan.

Desjardins was in essence charged with breaking Rule 41.1 — Boarding, defined as the following:

A boarding penalty shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who checks or pushes a defenseless opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to hit or impact the boards violently in the boards. The severity of the penalty, based upon the impact with the boards, shall be at the discretion of the Referee.”

Desjardins, who split his time last season between the Sharks and the Worcester Sharks, isn’t known for sending players crashing into the boards. While in Worcester, he had 69 penalty minutes which included a few fighting majors, the pivot was not suspended for any of his actions.

So far, in the 26 games played with the San Jose Sharks, Desjardins has 25 penalty minutes. At this time there was no video made available of the play in question.

By Christian Arnold
NHLHS New York Islanders Correspondent  

Uniondale, NY – The Islanders 3-2 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night was a tough loss to swallow for fans and players of the Long Island based organization. But the Islanders ability to come back from a 2-0 deficit and take one of the best teams in the NHL to the brink speaks to how quickly the Islanders have turned their season around from just two ago.

In their last six games the Islanders have gone 4-0-2 and secured 10 out of a possible 12 points. The recent hot streak has propelled them back into the playoff hunt; they are six points out of eighth place in the eastern conference.

In prior weeks the Islanders had seemed lifeless, being shutout in back to back games. Even when they had played well they did not have the confidence level to stay in a game should the other team take an early lead or stage a comeback. There was chatter about a lack of identity and fears that a repeat of last season’s early collapse was immanent.

Now the outlook is much more hopeful. The Islanders have played, and earned points, against some of the leagues best teams. They’ve played well in the third period, something that had been a shortfall several weeks back, and are getting production from guys like Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo, who’ve struggled earlier in the year.

“I think we came along way since three weeks ago,” PA Parenteu said Thursday night. “Three weeks, a month ago, we didn’t have the confidence to comeback like that. We would have got scored on and get down on our selves. Right now we’re not doing that, we’re sticking with the plan, we’re working even harder when we’re down and I think that’s the key to success.”

According to Parenteau the team held several meetings to try and figure out what the problem was.

“We got together,” he added. “We got some good veterans, we got some good young players too and everyone got involved. We had to realize how good we were. We hit this rough patch again, but hopefully it wasn’t as big as last year and now we’re in the hunt. It’s fun and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Islanders assistant captain Steve Staios notices a general improvement in the teams work ethic.

“I think we had to learn how hard we had to work to win in this league,” Staios said after the 3-2 overtime loss to Chicago. “We feel like we have a template of how we need to play to be successful and then we just have to put the effort in. We feel like if we do that on most nights we’re gunna win. We got a confident group that way and it’s showed.”

He later added, “Work ethic, forwards are back pressuring hard, Dmen are getting more active, and we’ve been quick and physical on pucks in our own zone. It’s a number of things, but really bottom line is we’re outworking teams right now.”

Head coach Jack Capuano is happy with the way his players are performing. After the game on Thursday he told reporters that his team showed that they could play with good hockey teams. He also acknowledged that his team may have not been able to compete like the way they are now.

“Mentally and emotionally the way that the bench was at the start of the year possible,” Capuano responded when asked if Thursday’s game was one the Isles would have lost earlier in the year. “But right now our guys are resilient. They’re showing a lot of character…we’re playing with an attitude, we’re playing with an edge, we’re playing with a little bit of a swagger and that’s what we need to do.”

Parenteau feels the team’s renewed confidence will carry them a long way.

“We weren’t a confident group three weeks ago and now we found this confidence,” He said. “I feel like when we had that nice run after Christmas last year, after the all-star break, I feel the same way right now in the locker room. It’s good and it’s looking bright for the future.”

The 12th annual Toast of Hockeytown took place at Joe Louis Arena on Wednesday evening. What’s the Toast of Hockeytown, you ask? It’s a charity event benefiting the Detroit Red Wings Foundation. What does it entail? The ice at The Joe being turned into a swanky club with food around the boards, a silent auction area in the middle, a live band playing at one end, and almost a dozen tables set up for wine tasting.

And the Red Wings team is there as well.

Now, my brothers (Matt and Mike) and I, being the huge hockey fans we are, have been wanting to do this for several years now. Our problem has been that I’ve been under 21 years of age, since it’s a wine tasting event. This was the first year we could finally go.

Getting a one-on-one (or three-on-one with Matt and Mike there, too) with the players, how could I not ask them a question I’ve always wanted to know:

Outside of Joe Louis Arena, what’s your favorite arena to play in?

Johan Franzen was the first player we talked to, congratulating him on his hat trick in the previous game. “Favorite place to play? Probably Colorado,” he told us. It makes sense, of course, since he scored more goals than the entire team in the 2008 Western Conference semi-finals. “There are a lot of fun places, though,” he added.

Justin Abdelkader, Patrick Eaves, and Darren Helm all said Chicago for the National Anthem (and the Original Six rivalry). Helm added, “Montreal is fun, too. And I’m excited for Winnipeg,” though the Red Wings won’t visit there until next season.

I startled Valtteri Filppula with my question. He didn’t have an immediate answer for me, and it took him a fair amount of time to come up with an answer. “Calgary,” he told me. We also asked him what he thinks Nicklas Lidstrom‘s chances are for winning the Norris Trophy this year. His face lit up and he laughed a bit. “Ohoh! Pretty good! If he keeps playing like this… it’s unbelievable.”

Then it was Pavel Datsyuk‘s turn. You think he’s hard to understand in interviews? Try an arena with a loud, live band playing and hundreds of people talking. Matt told him, “Hands down, you are the most entertaining player to watch in the NHL.” Datsyuk chuckled, gave a noncommittal shrug, and said, “Thank you. I try harder.”

When asked about his favorite arena in which to play, he said, “Old Pittsburgh. Mellon. But now it’s new… they all similar. Big, fans far away, lots of lights.” He mentioned another old arena that isn’t play in anymore, but couldn’t recall the name.

We asked him what he thought Lidstrom’s chances were for the Norris. He smiled and said, “He should have retired eight years ago. But he win seven of them, so…”

Tomas Holmstrom took fake offense to my question, mostly because I started out by saying, “Okay, Homer, you’ve been in the league a long time…” I patched things up between us, though, and he said he enjoys Toronto and Montreal for the fans.

“So you’d favor a move to the Eastern Conference?” asked Matt.

“Oh, for sure,” Homer said. “Right now, we always have to leave the time zone to plan an opponent.”

Henrik Zetterberg said he enjoys Chicago for the Original Six rivalry. “The fans recognize me on the street and give me a hard time,” he said with a laugh. Unlike a place like St. Louis or Columbus where “we’re just left alone to do our thing.” Of course, this is all null and void anywhere in Canada.

A few weeks ago, various Red Wings players visited local businesses around the Metro Detroit area. Datsyuk ended up serving coffee at a Tim Horton’s drive-thru. Start watching this video around a minute in, and you’ll see Zetterberg drive up in his car and ask where his coffee is. So I had to ask, “How much fun was it to drive through the drive-thru at Tim Horton’s when Datsyuk was working?”

Zetterberg started laughing. “Oh yeah. I was really hoping he was the ‘Welcome to Tim Horton’s’ guy, you know, just so you couldn’t understand him. And then I wanted to order fourteen coffees…”

Jonathan Ericsson took a different approach with his answer and said anything out west is good. “Mostly because it’s warm, so we can see the sun in the winter,” he explained. he also enjoys Florida, though the Wings don’t travel there often. Also, he told me he was 6’4,” and I’m pretty sure he’s lying.. I’m 5’8″, and he makes me look ridiculously tiny.

And then, of course, there’s the man himself. Nicklas Lidstrom. The wait to meet him was longest, by far, but absolutely worth it. Of course, the three of us had met him last season at the Season Ticket Holder Open House, but when he’s behind a table and you’re being ushered forward, it’s hard to carry on a conversation.

Obviously, you don’t walk up to him and ask him what he thinks his chances are of winning the Norris. I shook his hand heartily and grinned at him. While he signed my program, I asked, “You’ve been in the league for a while, so I’m curious – what’s your favorite arena to play in, aside from the Joe?”

“Oh, the Shark Tank!” Lidstrom told me immediately.

“Well, it does have an awesome name,” I agreed.

“Yeah, and the fans are always so loud,” he added. And with playing the past two postseasons there, I’m sure he’s grown a little fond of the place, even if the team ticks off almost every single Red Wings fan.

By far, the best conversation of the evening was with Niklas Kronwall. Matt, Mike, and I all had a different question to ask him or a comment to tell him. “If you’re willing to divulge this information, where did you get your glasses?” Mike asked.

“Polo Ralph Lauren,” Kronwall told him, laughing. “But it wasn’t in Detroit.” He told us he doesn’t wear them anymore; he had Lasik surgery at the end of this past season.

Matt asked the standard favorite arena question. “Montreal for their fans,” Kronwall said. “Calgary, too. Vancouver has a nice atmosphere. …And Nashville! Because they have so many fans.”

“Yeah…we’re not a fan of those games because of some of the chants they do,” Mike said.

Kronwall chuckled. “I can see that.”

Mine was a little more personal, and a bit of an anecdote. “Okay, I have to tell you…” is how I started it all. “Our neighbors set up an ice rink in their backyard every winter. And when we shovel it, we push all the snow to one side and stack it up so we can check people into it.” I looked at Kronwall. “We named it after you.”

“Really?!” he asked.

“Yes. It’s the KronWall of Check,” I told him.

“That’s amazing!” he exclaimed, absolutely ecstatic.

In other interesting facts, Drew Miller talks with brother Ryan a couple times a week. You know, just in case you ever wondered.

We asked Ian White how he likes playing for Detroit, and he said he’s glad he came here. He said he’s not fond of the twenty minute drive down to Joe Louis Arena from where he’s currently living; he was used to a five minute drive back in San Jose.

By far, the most talkative, friendly players were Eaves, Kronwall, Zetterberg, and Holmstrom. Datsyuk was, too, in his broken English way.

To learn cool little facts about the players and have one-on-one, almost private conversations with them was a treat. If your respective NHL team has anything like this, I say do it. While you may be able to go every year, it still feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity. And it’s an evening you will never forget.

Christina Roberts
NHLHS Detroit Red Wings Correspondent
Twitter: @franzenmuth
Email: christina.roberts@nhlhotstove.com

By Jeff Quirin
NHL Hot Stove Associate Editor

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As the NHL enters its fourth week of action I’m finally able to to get NHL Hot Stove’s weekly Power Rankings post series rolling.

How did I come up with the rankings?

I do love stats, but no advanced saberme have been or will be used. I’ll leave that to the whiz kids and baseball folk. Seeing it with your own two eyes is important, but has been and will not be a great reliance on anecdotal evidence. Just running some basic figures which are available on NHL.com, ranking teams 1-30 in a category, assigning them some points and tabulating the results. Stats used were through Saturday’s games.

The maximum amount of points are 510. The highest rated team in a category earns 30 points and there are 17 categories. The math is pretty simple. Just to set an expectation, its not very likely any team hits that mark.

As the season goes on, more detail and information will be added to this feature, but for introductory purposes (and my sanity on a Monday), the list will be simple today. Just rank, team name and point total.

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Format: Rank – Team – Points

Week 4 Power Rankings

1 – Chicago Blackhawks – 387

Johan Franzen is known to his Detroit Red Wings teammates and fans as The Mule. It was a name bestowed upon him by Steve Yzerman because the captain saw Franzen’s on-ice strength and how he used it so he wasn’t pushed around easily by opponents.

In the book The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Detroit Red Wings: Heart-Pounding, Jaw-Dropping, and Gut-Wrenching Moments from Detroit Red Wings History by Ted Kulfan, there’s a wonderful quote from Franzen about his nickname:

“‘It’s different,’ said Franzen of the tag, which isn’t exactly the most common nickname around. …’I like it. I was a little surprised at first, though. I wasn’t sure what a mule was.‘”

Obviously, a comic needed to be drawn to show what his train of thought probably was. (Yes, I sometimes draw hockey comics for fun. There will be more in the future, though they will be on the computer and not scanned in. And not as crummy, but still pretty crummy.)

It’s a fun nickname, especially when you hear the national announcers call him “The Mule.” And it’s fairly fitting, too.

Red Wings fans have come to hope every season that Franzen will perform to his full potential – or what we assume can be his full potential. But every season, he seems to go down with an  injury two weeks into the season…usually during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks. (It happened two seasons in a row…)

Just take a look at how many games he’s played each season. The most was back in 2005-2006 when he played 80 of the 82 games in his rookie season with the Red Wings. The seasons after that, he was only in 69, 72, 71, 27, and 76 games. Yes, he was only out for six games last season, but he was so streaky, it didn’t really matter. He scored five goals in one game against the Ottawa Senators, and proceeded to not score for another twenty-some games.

Talk about not showing up…

So, four games into the season, with a healthy, physical, rearing-to-go Franzen on the second line, he already has two goals – both of them game-winners at that.

Do Red Wings fans dare get their hopes up that this will be the season Franzen hits sixty, seventy points and/or thirty/forty goals? Right now, he has two goals and two assists, putting him on pace for 82 points this season, which would be a career high. But when are the “on pace for…” predictions even remotely close to what actually happens?

And Franzen hasn’t played a game against Chicago yet. There’s always room for concern.

With every Detroit sports team doing pretty dang well (the Tigers made it to the Conference Finals, and the Lions are 5-1 for this first time in pretty much forever), is it smart to get our hopes up for a terrific year from Franzen? Everything has been looking up sports-wise for this city…do we dare believe Franzen will stay healthy for all 82 games and be one of the offensive leaders on our team?

And what if he does stay healthy? Red Wings fans wait with bated breath, wondering if The Mule will be able to hit sixty points, thirty goals, (forty goals?!), or end up petering out over the course of the season and only hitting twenty goals, maybe fifty points. There are so many questions that it can end up driving you crazy with how often you run around in circles trying to figure it out.

If Franzen does stay consistent and hit career-high numbers this season, you can bet it will take a lot of pressure off of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. That’s not to say that any less will be expected of them, but more of the fact that opponents will have another offensive player to keep in check. Most teams in the Western Conference know to keep an eye on Franzen, but he’s been so streaky and/or injured that it hasn’t mattered much. But if he does stay consistent, you can be sure that the Red Wings opponents will always have a man or two on him every game, and maybe slack a little on Datsyuk and Zetterberg (Red Wings fans can only hope…)

But then we need to dial it back and remember that it’s hockey. Anything can happen.

For now, we sit and wait to see what each game will bring. Will Franzen be the player the organization (and fans) know he can be? Or will he fall to another early-season injury? As the band Asia would say, “Only time will tell.”

Christina Roberts
NHLHS Detroit Red Wings Correspondent
Twitter: @franzenmuth
Email: christina.roberts@nhlhotstove.com

By Patrick Powell

The Detroit Red Wings have signed non roster camp invitee Fabian Brunnstrom to a 1 year, $600,000.00 contract. Brunnstrom was a hot commodity while playing in the Swedish Elite League in 2007-2008. The Dallas Stars won the sweepstakes, and Brunnstrom made a heck of a first impression with the Stars. He became the third player in NHL history to record a hat trick in his first game (He also recorded the game winner in a 6-4 Stars’ victory.). He joined Alex Smart of the Montreal Canadiens (1943) and Real Cloutier of the Quebec Nordiques (1979). (Note: Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers became the fourth member of this illustrious club in 2010.) Brunnstrom went on to put up 17 goals and 29 points in 55 contests in his rookie season. Since then, he recorded just 2 goals in 44 NHL games. In Detroit, he will need to be only a tertiary scorer with the likes of Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, Valtieri Filppula, Dan Cleary, and Tomas Holmstrom. The 26 year old Swede earned a roster spot by potting 3 goals with a +1 rating in 6 pre-season games. The Red Wings enter the regular season armed with a dangerous 23 man roster and $5.2 million in available cap space.

Veteran goaltender Ray Emery has found an NHL home in Chicago. On Monday, he signed a 1 year/$600,000.00 contract to back up incumbent netminder Corey Crawford. The 29 year old Hamilton, Ontario native posted an impressive 7-2 mark with a 2.26 goals against average in ten games for the Anaheim Ducks last season. Emery defeated 24 year old Alexander Salak in the battle for the back up job in Chicago’s camp. The Blackhawks will enter the 2011-2012 campaign with approximately $5 million of cap space. Their secondary players may determine how far they advance this year. The Hawks are looking for breakout seasons from Rostislav Olesz, Viktor Stalberg, and Michael Frolik. 38 year old Andrew Brunette and 39 year old Sean O’Donnell are trying to prove that they have enough gas in their respective gas tanks for one more rodeo.

Philadelphia Flyers’ General Manager Paul Holmgren seemed to tip his hand today on one young player- Matt Read has apparently earned a spot on the Flyers’ opening night roster. Read’s strong two-way play in the pre-season indicates that he can compete at the NHL level, but the Flyers are left with yet another cap dilemma. Assuming that top prospect Brayden Schenn has earned a roster spot, the Flyers currently have but $175,000 in available cap space. 2011 top draft pick Sean Couturier also may be in line for a spot on opening night with his strong defensive play in camp. Veteran Blair Betts ($700,000 cap hit) is on the bubble. The Flyers will need to walk the tightrope with the cap again as they make their final roster decisions prior to Wednesday afternoon’s deadline.

New Jersey Devils’ top pick in the 2011 draft, Adam Larsson, has earned a spot on the opening night roster. Larsson is likely to log 20 minutes per game and to pair with sniper Ilya Kovalchuk on the point of the Devils’ top power play unit. Larsson has signed a 3 year entry level contract worth $925,000 per season. Former Devil and current nonroster camp invitee Petr Sykora appears to be awaiting his fate as the Devils have pared their forward ranks down to 14. The Devils have close to $5.5 million in available cap space, so that will not be an impediment to signing Sykora. The strength of the Devils is their blue line, much as it was in the mid 1990s with Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer as the anchors. They are counting on 2 goaltenders who were born during the Nixon Administration. Martin Brodeur is arguably one of the best to play the position, but what can he provide the Devils at this point in his career? Johan Hedberg is looking to follow a season in which he posted his career-best goals against average (2.38) in the NHL with another strong season. Has he found his prime in his late 30s? Offensively, is Ilya Kovalchuk going to fit into the Devils’ system and excel? Will Zach Parise and Patrik Elias stay healthy? Will either be dealt for prospects if the Devils start slowly? It could all come together for the Devils, but they seem to have more questions than answers at this juncture.

Two handers, slew foots, and face washes are always welcome on Twitter @Gordsie

By Jeff Quirin
NHL Hot Stove Associate Editor

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The hockey blogging community is the strongest its ever been and grows daily. From aspiring journalists to devoted fans who all want to share their unique perspectives on their favorite teams and push their material out across the net. Yet, they remain the greatest asset to the NHL with the weakest capitalization. So when opportunity presents itself to engage some of the best around and maybe add one more drop in the “acceptance of bloggers” bucket, I jump on it.

More often than not this will take the form of a Q&A. It’s concise and simple. As Associate Editor I hope to bring more of this style of content throughout the season to expose the readers of NHL Hot Stove to a wide array ideas and hockey points of view they may not have otherwise.

In this season’s first such venture five bloggers covering the five Central Division clubs have answered ten questions relating to the near future of the division.

Bringing the cannon to the party, is Columbus Blue Jackets fan and blogger Martin Poston of the Martini Hockey blog. You can follow him on Twitter: @MartiniHockey.

One of Smashville’s finest scribes, Mark Willoughby of Hockey Independent and The View From 111, has the Nashville Predators covered. You can follow him on Twitter: @TheViewfrom111.

Two of NHL Hot Stove’s own cover the top dogs in the Central. Ryan Hackett with the Chicago Blackhawks and Christina Roberts with the Detroit Red Wings. You can follow Ryan on Twitter: @Hawknut and Christina on Twitter: @Franzenmuth.

Normally I would dish out the thoughts from a St. Louis Blues pov, but for this post Brian Heanchen of Hank’s Sports Blog will take over. You can follow him on Twitter: @Brian_Haenchen

To the questions.

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Question 1. Who is the front runner to win the Central Division? The Detroit Red Wings or Chicago Blackhawks?

Martin Poston:Red Wings, easily. I’m not among those ready to anoint Chicago as a threat to the throne just yet. Corey Crawford had a breakout season for sure. Whether or not he can continue that success will determine whether the Blackhawks even make the Playoffs this year. And that’s not a given by any means.

Mark Willoughby: The front runner to win the Central is the Detroit Red Wings. The team still has the components to win the division: a solid netminder; sound defense; and forwards that know how to score. That being said, the Wings are going to net their backup goalie to give them some quality starts to spell Jimmy Howard. And as with every team in the division, they will have to stay healthy. A critical injury is all that separates any of the teams from contending and being an also-ran.

Christina Roberts: I’ve got to put in a little bias and say the Red Wings. While we may have lost some key players like Brian Rafalski, Kris Draper, and Chris Osgood, we picked up some pretty good guys like Ian White, Mike Commodore, and Ty Conklin (who was good before when he was on our team). We haven’t lost our core players, and Nick Lidstrom is still playing as good as ever. Chicago was a little shaky last year, especially with Toews having a rough first half, and losing so many guys in the off-season hurt them a lot. I definitely wouldn’t count Chicago out of it, though.

Ryan Hackett: Way to make me sound biased right off the bat here, Jeff. I say it has to be the Blackhawks. They’re as deep as ever, and they added some much-needed toughness. The goaltending situation is solid with Crawford getting a nice extension, and they’ve had a nice long offseason to get healthy and hungry.

Brian Haenchen: Detroit Red Wings. Personally, I’m not sold on the Blackhawks. Corey Crawford showed a lot of potential in his rookie season and I expect him to continue performing at a high level this season. However, the pieces around him are not going to be enough for the Hawks to dethrone the Red Wings.

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Question 2. Between Nashville, St. Louis and Columbus, who has the best chance at unseating the top two and why?

MP: If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never count out Nashville. True, they lost some quality guys (and withstood an arbitration nightmare with Shea Weber) and didn’t add much in Free Agency in terms of marquee talent. However, Barry Trotz has proven to be a coach who can do a lot with less. They might even threaten Detroit in April.

MW: Nashville has the best chance of unseating the Wings as the top team in the Division. The Predators have the best goalie in the Division and one of the best in the NHL. The defense will be replacing a few components on the third and fourth pairing, but although young, these players will be immensely talented. The big question for the Predators is the forward group- more specifically, can they score goals? I think they will be able to do so, at least enough to win. Last season, the Predators went 4-2 against the Wings and were 3-3 against the Blackhawks.

CR: Nashville has always scared me. While St. Louis and Columbus have added components to their rosters, they both still have problems with injuries and until they overcome that, they won’t be scaring the Red Wings anytime soon (minus those handful of games us Wings fans like to block out that were, what, 8-0 and 10-3? Something ridiculous like that). Regardless, I think Nashville is still a force to be reckoned with. And Shea Weber scares me.

RH: Definitely Nashville. Their style of play really gums up the works of the fast, high-scoring offenses of Detroit and Chicago and their first playoff series win has to have them thirsty to get back there.

BH: The Saint Louis Blues have the best chance of those teams to finish among the top 2 in the Central…as long as they can stay healthy. Player to watch: Patrik Berglund. Berglund bounced back from a disappointing sophomore season, scoring a career high in goals. Do not forget about Jaroslav Halak, who will benefit from having that one full season as starting net minder under his belt.

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Question 3. Who made the best and worst off season moves?

MP: Columbus’ top-to-bottom audit of the organization led to a lot of offseason changes, and GM Scott Howson pounced in June with an unprecedented boldness, acquiring Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski via trade, then making the sale with Wiz in the final hours before free agency. It’s hard to call anyone’s offseason the “worst,” but Nashville’s offseason was rough, that was for sure. The team has tended to be frugal in the past, and going to arbitration with Weber burned them badly. However, accepting the huge arbitration award and keeping Shea Weber was about the best move they could make under the circumstances. Chicago didn’t add much more to help themselves, other than an aging forward in Andrew Brunette and a reason for opponents to watch their back when Dan Carcillo is on the ice. Some call it grit. I call it a suspension waiting to happen.

MW: The team that made the best off-season moves in the Division would have to be Columbus Blue Jackets. The addition of Jeff Carter up front and James Wisniewski on the blue line will certainly bolster their roster. Carter will add scoring punch to go along with Rick Nash, which has been desperately needed by the Jackets. The measure of this acquisition will be Carter’s mental approach to playing in Columbus and his presence in the locker room. If both are good, then this move by Scott Howson will be remembered as a turning point for the franchise. If Carter turns out to be a negative in both areas, the trade will also be remembered as a turning point, but not in a good way.

CR: I would have to say Columbus made the best moves. They jumped on opportunities to sign two awesome players: James Wisniewski and Jeff Carter. The worst moves…honestly, you could say the Red Wings. They didn’t make any super spectacular moves like everyone thought they would, what with Rafalski’s salary opening up. That’s not to say their moves were bad, just not as good as everyone else’s.

RH: The best: Columbus. Adding James Wisniewski at the blue line was a bit risky, especially at that salary, but could potentially pay big dividends, but the acquisition of Jeff Carter could finally relieve some of the pressure on Rick Nash. Worst: Nashville. The moves in the Central were altogether good, I just thought the Preds did the least amount of good, and possibly fractured their long-term relationship with defenseman Shea Weber.

BH: By adding Jeff Carter, a player not known for his play-making abilities, and sticking him on a line with Rick Nash, a prolific forward who can do it all, Columbus turned themselves into a serious playoff contender.

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Question 4. By season’s end, which potential one-two punch stands to push Pavel Datsyuk/Henrik Zetterberg for the best in the division: Jeff Carter/Rick Nash, David Backes/Chris Stewart, Patric Hornqvist/Martin Erat or Jonathan Toews/Patrick Kane?

MP: Ah, the “one-two punch.” So invaluable to a team. Tough choice here. It’s hard not to go with Toews and Kane. However, Nash and Carter are going to turn some heads this year as the forward lines mesh in Columbus.

MW: Until someone in the division can step up and surpass their production, the best one-two punch in the Division is Toews and Kane. I think they will be again this season.

CR: Toews/Kane is always a good one-two punch that has the potential to give the Euro Twins a run for their money, assuming they both stay healthy. I can see Carter/Nash being absolutely insane, though. Nash is dangerous and giving him someone on his line that will easily complement him.

RH: Again, I’m going to sound like an absolute homer here, but I say it’s Toews & Kane. They have the championship experience and the depth behind them to have career years once again, and barring injury, could be the top duo in not just the division, but the entire NHL.

BH: As much as it pains me to say it, Toews and Kane will push Datsyuk and Zetterberg for the best one-two punch in the division. Those two players are something special.

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Question 5. By season’s end the top starting netminder in the Central will be: Jimmy Howard, Pekka Rinne, Jaroslav Halak, Corey Crawford or Steve Mason?

MP: Howard.

MW: The top starting netminder at the end of the season will once again be Pekka Rinne.

CR: I’d have to go with either Jimmy Howard or Pekka Rinne. Rinne always tends to annoy me when the Wings play against him because he seems to stand on his head and make phenomenal saves. He’s had a few solid years, too, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he were top. But don’t forget that Howard was up for the Calder two years ago with fairly solid numbers. His stats may have taken a slight beating last year in comparison, but he still wound up with the same amount of wins. It’ll be a tough battle for both goaltenders.

RH: I think it’s a two-horse race here between Pekka Rinne and Corey Crawford, with my early vote going to Rinne. If he even approaches the season he had last year, he’s going to take the Predators far.

BH: Jaroslav Halak. That full season as a starting goalie will do wonders for his confidence.

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Question 6. If any of the five head coaches are fired, who will be first and why?

MP: I’m not sure anyone is really on the hot-seat during the season, unless someone has an absolutely  disastrous October/November. If Chicago winds up the odd team out in the Central (which I think will put four teams in this year), then maybe Quenneville.

MW: No Central Division coach will be fired this season.

CR: Either Columbus’s head coach or St. Louis’s. Mike Babcock, Joel Quenneville, and Barry Trotz’s jobs are all pretty much safe. Neither coach has been around for a super long time, and both are vying for playoff spots. If either team falters too much, I can see a head coach cut from the roster…

RH: Well we can throw out Mike Babcock and Joel Quenneville right away, as they’ve cemented their jobs for a few years. No one does more with less than Barry Trotz, so I doubt he’s on the hot seat. That leaves Davis Payne in St. Louis and Scott Arniel in Columbus, and Arniel has only had the job a year, so he’s got a little bit longer of a leash.

BH: I do not think any of the five coaches will be fired.

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Question 7. The Predators will make the playoffs again, if…

MP: …they get off to a hot start at the beginning of the season. After that, they have to keep playing their brand of hockey. Consistency will be the key, especially playing in the Central.

MW: The Predators will make the playoffs if A) they stay healthy and B) their young forwards step up and produce scoring. I’m looking at you, Colin Wilson, Blake Geoffrion, and Nick Spalding.

CR: The Predators will make the playoffs again if they stay healthy and focused.

RH: If Hornqvist can stay healthy and have near a career year and Rinne is a Vezina contender once again. Not necessarily a finalist, but at least in the conversation.

BH: The Predators will make the playoffs again, if Pekka Rinne can match his performance from last season (33 wins in 64 starts, 2.12 GAA).

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Question 8. The Blues will make the playoffs, if…

MP: …Halak gets better in net and steals more games. Also, if aging veterans Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner make the most of their one-year deals and provide leadership and scoring on the ice.

MW: The Blues make the playoffs if they can keep from going into some kind of mental funk that has seemed to plague them over the past few seasons. What’s up with not being able to win in your own barn?

CR: The Blues will make the playoffs if their roster stays healthy. Last year, I had them pegged as sixth in the conference come playoff time. But look at how many of their players went down with injuries and how well they fared once everyone came back.

RH: They either improve their penalty kill or stay out of the box and T.J. Oshie stops acting like Randy Moss and plays up to his enormous potential.

BH: The Blues will make the playoffs again, if they can stay healthy.

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Question 9. The Blue Jackets will make the playoffs, if…

MP: …Steve Mason rediscovers his rookie form, and if Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski deliver in the roles for which the Blue Jackets are paying them so handsomely. The Jackets have the personnel to roll out two threatening scoring lines, and possibly a third.

MW: The Blue Jackets will make the playoffs if Steve Mason returns to form from 2 years ago and if these guys get selective amnesia and forget their rather forgettable history up to this point.

CR: The Blue Jackets will make the playoffs if their expensive purchases over this past off-season pay off. And if Steve Mason has a season similar to his Calder-winning season.

RH: Nash and Carter can both eclipse the 60 -point mark and Mason returns to solid form.

BH: The Blue Jackets will make the playoffs, if the tandem of Jeff Carter and Rick Nash can live up to their lofty expectations.

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Question 10. What will be the final standings in the division?

MP: I’m not kidding, it’s a tough call on this. The Central will put four teams in the Playoffs (all five, if one of the Cali teams in the Pacific falters). The Central Division will reside in the top nine, and if it comes to this, the Blues edge out Chicago: 1. Detroit, 2. Nashville, 3. Columbus, 4. St. Louis, 5. Chicago.

MW: 1. Detroit, 2. Nashville, 3. Chicago, 4. St. Louis, 5. Columbus.

CR: Final standings in the division (this is tough): 1) Red Wings 2) Blackhawks 3) Columbus 4) Nashville 5) St. Louis. I think this will be one of the closest races in recent years.

RH: Chicago, Nashville, Detroit, Columbus, St. Louis (Sorry Jeff…)

BH: 1. Detroit, 2. Nashville, 3. Saint Louis, 4. Columbus, 5. Chicago. I think Detroit will run away with it, but Nashville, Saint Louis, Columbus, and Chicago will all finish within 10-15 points of one another.

- – - – -

Much has been said. Conclusions to draw?

- The Red Wings and Blackhawks are still the king of the mountain.

- Predators are a scrappy bunch who cannot be left for dead and will push on the top two. Maintaining what they have is the key, besides more goals.

- Won’t believe the Blues can do it till they actually do it.

- Kane and Toews are the top duo not named Datsyuk/Zetterberg.

- Doesn’t seem likely that a coach is fired.

- Goaltending is a significant concern for all five teams.

- Much love for the Carter trade and for Pekka Rinne.

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Not sure when the next Q&A will be, but some ideas are in the works. Have a topic you’d like to see discussed? Contact me via Twitter, @JTQ_1.

Thanks for reading.

By Jeff Quirin
NHLHS Associate Editor and St. Louis Blues Correspondent

The temperature dropping in to the mid-40′s Thursday morning was a brisk reminder that hockey season is just around the corner.

Just walking out the door was like stepping in to the rink. The smell of “cold” and the quickly browning leaves rustling in the wind like skates carving through the ice. Come Friday morning at 9 a.m. blue bleeding fans will no longer have to imagine the sights, sounds and smells of St. Louis Blues hockey. They’ll be able to experience it for real as the 2011 Training Camp gets under way at the St. Louis Mills Ice Zone practice facility.

There are some noticeable changes in the schedule of events from the last few years.

While camp will start at the Mills over the weekend and then transition to Scottrade Center as it has previously, there will be additional dates open to the public after the first few days. The first four sessions from September 16th through 19th will take place Ice Zone as will September 26th and 27th. In the past once the team moved downtown they did not go back to the Mills for camp activities.

The widely attended Blue vs Gold Scrimmage is not likely to return per comments made by General Manager Doug Armstrong and head coach Davis Payne the August media summit.

There is speculation that the equally as popular FANFest is going the way of the scrimmage as well. The one time weekend long festival has been continually pared down to the half day event prior to the final preseason home game it was last season. Announcements regarding FANFest typically come during training camp, so check back for details.

An eight game in twelve day preseason schedule kicks off on Tuesday, September 20th as Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning come to St. Louis. The game is the first of five consecutive.

Sept. 20th – vs. Tampa Bay
Sept. 21st – @ Tampa Bay
Sept. 22nd – vs. Minnesota
Sept. 23rd – @ Colorado
Sept. 24th – @ Dallas
Sept. 27th – @Minnesota
Sept. 29th – vs. Colorado
Oct. 1st – vs. Dallas

The lineups for the ten warmups will be derived from the 57 man camp roster which breaks down in to 34 forwards, 18 defensemen and 5 goaltenders as listed on the Blues official website.

Forwards
Jason Arnott – David Backes
Jay Barriball – Cody Beach
Patrik Berglund – Jonathan Cheechoo
Adam Cracknell – BJ Crombeen
Matt D’Agostini – Stefan Della Rovere
Evgeny Grachev – TJ Hensick
Jamie Langenbrunner – Stephen MacAulay
Andy McDonald – Philip McRae
Derek Nesbitt – Scott Nichol
Anthony Nigro – TJ Oshie
Anthony Peluso – David Perron
Chase Polacek – Chris Porter
Ty Rattie – Ryan Reaves
Tyler Shattock – Chris Stewart
Vladimir Sobotka – Brett Sonne
Alex Steen – Brett Sterling
Ryan Tesink – Yannick Veilleux

Defensemen
Brock Beukeboom – Carlo Colaicovo
Ian Cole – Mark Cundari
Joel Edmundson – Brennan Evans
Cade Fairchild – Jake Gannon
Kyle Hagel – Kent Huskins
Barret Jackman – Nikita Nikitin
Alex Pietranglo – Roman Polak
Brett Ponich – Kevin Shattenkirk
David Shields – Danny Syvret

Goalies
Jake Allen
Jordan Binnington
Ben Bishop
Brian Elliot
Jaroslav Halak

This camp will be like none other in recent memory as few NHL roster spots are available. Primarily due to the number of one way contracts and added veteran depth, but also because of the superior level of play from Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk who are both on entry level contracts. Closing the window the only potential openings on the back end.

One exception is the battle to backup Jaroslav Halak. Local boy Ben Bishop has paid dues in the AHL with the Peoria Rivermen and looks to make the jump to the big show full time. Free Agent signing Brian Elliot hopes that his starting experience with the Ottawa Senators gives him a leg up in the battle. Both will see an ample number of pucks through out the entirety of camp to determine who starts the season in St. Louis. It’s clear whoever performs the best will win the job. It’s a straight forward, winner take all contest.

Jake Allen cannot sit back an relax and just let Elliot and Bishop duke it out. No matter how well he performs in games and at camp, he is destined for Peoria. But how many games he will start correlates directly to how he compares to the loser of the NHL backup battle.

As far as Halak is concerned, camp is about confirming he is in shape and ready for a full starter’s workload.

The 13th and potentially 14th forward openings will likely go to more seasoned role players rather than first or second year pros. Look for Chris Porter, Adam Cracknell and Ryan Reaves to all be in contention. All three performed very well in a late season showcase and the front office wants to see who can follow up the best. Reaves has the edge in physicality, but Porter has the best chance of earning the job.

Jonathan Cheechoo will be in the mix as well, but not just to be the safety net in the pressbox. He will compete with Traverse City Prospect Tournament scoring leader Phil McRae, AHL scoring aces Brett Sterling and TJ Hensick, as well as Evgeny Grachev for call-up priority when a skill player is needed. McRae’s 7 points in 4 games run will give him a leg up, but there can be no let down at camp or he will slide down the list.

The Blues top pick in the 2011 draft had a solid showing as McRae’s linemate, but now Ty Rattie will truly be tested. He will not just be among comparable young players as he was in Traverse City, but up against much stronger and more experienced competition. His stock is already high, but he could lock his place in just below Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz as the third highest rated forward prospect in the organization with a solid camp.

There may not be an official battle between top two centers David Backes and Patrik Berglund, but their level of play will be closely monitored. The organization’s faith clearly rests in Backes as he now the captain and Berglund agreed to a “prove your worth” contract this summer. The question is how much must be put on Backes’ shoulders. Will he need to shoulder some of Berglund’s burdens or can Payne utilize them as centers “1A” and “1B”?

Who flanks those two in the middle will also largely determine line order. Expect to see significant experimentation with the top six combinations. The most likely scenario is that trios which have already displayed chemistry will be the defaults. Andy McDonald and Matt D’Agostini with Backes and TJ Oshie and Chris Stewart with Berglund sound about right.

Consensus belief is that Alex Steen will join summer acquisitions Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner to form the “third line”. Payne does prefer an all purpose group group to a shutdown line in that role. Throughout the preseason they will likely be tested together in all situations.

Two players who stand to loose quite a bit at this camp are Chase Polacek and Brett Sonne. Polacek is a former NCAA scoring star and Hobey Baker finalist. Sonne was a solid center in the WHL and put together an impressive final season as an overager in 2008-09. They could easily fall behind the insurgence of veteran depth (Sterling, Cheechoo) and growing fringe prospects (Tyler Shattock, Anthony Nigro) and find their first opportunity to the NHL closed. For Sonne it’s all about maturing and playing as a professional. For Polacek, it’s about proving his skill set is good enough to compensate for size at the professional level.

In assistant coach Brad Shaw’s world of defenseman there are plenty of questions needing answers.

In general the Blues greatly favor balance in their pairings. A left handed shot with a right handed counterpart. Someone with offensive skill skating with a steady stay at home type. A dynamic the Blues have if they want it. Barret Jackman can pair with Pietrangelo, Carlo Colaiacovo with Roman Polak and Kent Huskins with Kevin Shattenkirk.

That said, tedious tinkering in the preseason is in store to maximize situational match-ups. In offensive zone draws moving Pietrangelo to his off hand left side to get Shattenkirk out there with him. Partnering Colaiacovo and Pietrangelo to pair Jackman with Polak to ice a shutdown pairing.

Russian import Nikita Nikitin will see a good amount of ice time in the preseason and be under the microscope in camp. The organization feels Nikitin is more like a fifth year than second year pro because of his KHL career and expect him to perform as such. If he can it will make keeping Huskins in the lineup difficult for the overall game Niktin brings.

Both Ian Cole and Mark Cundari come to camp pushing for top pairing minutes in Peoria as well as priority on the recall order. Since Cole has already made his debut on NHL ice, he has an obvious advantage. Don’t discount Cundari though. Small he may be, but he is deceptively strong, slick skating and carries a respectable offensive armament.

Are there more stories to follow at Blues training camp? Of course, but they’ve yet to be written. Check back for updates throughout the preseason.

Thanks for reading.

You’re welcome to follow me on Twitter: @JTQ_1 for news and thoughts on the Blues, Western Conference and the NHL at large.

By Bill Whitehead

When Florida Panthers fans are able to reflect on the moves made in the last month by team general manager Dale Tallon that changed the club’s culture from down-and-outer to hopeful up-and-comer, the one transaction that may stand out the most is the one that wasn’t made in Minnesota.

I remember it clearly because of when and where it was coming down, and the stir it caused. While some folks were busy devising mock drafts for Friday’s first round in St. Paul, many of the players being mocked-up were having lunch the day before with the media at St. Thomas University in Minneapolis before an interview session. A table full, including the eventual first four selections, sat a few spots across the room at the “Top picks” table, while the No. 9 pick (Dougie Hamilton) sat right next to us.

And the deal that suddenly popped in on everyone’s Twitter timeline that had most forgetting about the prospects? Philadephia’s Kris Versteeg and Friday’s No. 8 pick (acquired by the Flyers a few moments earlier from Columbus) going to Florida for the Panthers’ No. 3 choice. Suddenly, that table with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Gabriel Landeskog, Jonathan Huberdeau and Adam Larsson didn’t seem so important, though Sean Couturier — chosen eighth the next day — had also settled in to the group of talented diners.

Fortunately for Florida that deal never happened. That transaction would have meant no Huberdeau, an offensively skilled player who likely won’t break camp with the Cats but has generated enthusiasm. Also, mostly defensemen were chosen around the eighth pick (Florida had little interest at all in Couturier), so it’s possible Tallon would have dealt the pick for more picks. More draft picks instead of top-end talent would have been frustrating, especially after what everyone at BankAtlantic Center had to sit through over last season’s final two months.

Versteeg, however, wasn’t out of Florida’s plans. Tallon made a deal for his former Chicago Blackhawk on July 1, sending a conditional second-round pick in 2012 or 2013 (Florida’s choice) and a third-round pick next year. This was done shortly after the Flyers signed Jaromir Jagr, who will turn 40 next February.

“I was happy,” Versteeg said. “I thought there was a good chance I’d be coming here from Chicago. All the people up there couldn’t speak highly enough of (Dale). It was a great process up there and you can see how he’s rebuilding here. I’m definitely excited about the whole process. This is going to be a lot of fun. Seeing the facilities, you don’t get to see much of what it’s like. But the practice facility is gorgeous and first class, and obviously the BankAtlantic (Center) is too, so this is going to be a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Versteeg admitted it was a little frustrating in being traded twice last year. After helping Chicago to a Stanley Cup championship, the 25-year-old was dealt to Toronto. The Maple Leafs sent him to Philadelphia after 53 games and 35 points. Now he hopes to call Sunrise home for years to come.

“I’ve moved around a couple of times, and this is definitely one place where I’d like to have a good season, stay here, and be a Panther for a long time,” said Versteeg, who has posted three straight 20-goal seasons. “It’s definitely in my goals, hopefully in theirs, too. I just hope I can improve on my last year, come here and be strong for the guys, and be a Panther for a long time.

“Obviously, the first time we ran in to cap issues. There’s nothing you can do about it. Me and (Chicago GM) Stan (Bowman) talked at the end of the year, and it sounded like I was going to go. They tried to keep their five or six guys together. I get to Toronto. I don’t know what happened there. It was more that they needed draft picks; they haven’t had any in a while. They got some pretty good picks for myself. And I get to Philly and it’s just clean house again. I heard Scottie Upshall’s interview, and he said you just run in to bad situations with the cap, obviously in the new era. I’m just trying to move on and cement myself in one organization.

“I’d love for it to be here. You have to look at the trades as a positive, as that other teams want you. That’s all you can do. Sometimes it wears on you in the back of your mind, I’m not going to lie to you, but that’s why I want to make it happen here.”

If the Lethbridge, AB, native really wants to endear himself to Panthers fans, he will get a Twitter account and treat followers to his personality, which is really over the top at times. He doesn’t need to go overboard and challenge Florida Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison for most outrageous pro athlete tweeter in South Florida honors, just be himself. Something like this:

The Panthers are fortunate to have Versteeg and even luckier the way they got him; that’s the diagnosis of the deal, but probably has more to do with skill than luck. Maybe in another year, he and Huberdeau will be sporting the red and tearing up the Eastern Conference as teammates rather than playing against each other.

Well played, Mr. Tallon.

By Bill Whitehead
NHLHS Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com

For the past few off seasons, the New Jersey Devils seem to replay the same story over and over again. Since the lockout the Devils have not held onto a coach for longer than two seasons.

General Manager Lou Lamoriello tried coaches Larry Robinson, Claude Julien, Brent Sutter, himself, Jacques Lemaire and John MacLean without any success.

The draft came and went without a coach. July 1^st came and went without a coach. But now it seems like the Devils might hire a new head coach relatively soon.

Guy Carbonneau recently stepped down as head coach of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL and could be a potential candidate. As a player, Carbonneau exemplified defensive minded hockey. In 230 games as head coach for the Montreal Canadiens, Carbonneau recorded 124-83-23.

However, the Devils’ troubles in the post-season the last few seasons are apparent. And Carbonneau has only won one playoff series.

He seems like a good fit, as do other speculated head coach possibilities, Ken Hitchcock, Michel Therrien and Mike Haviland.

Hitchcock has a similar coaching style to Lemaire. While coaching the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets, Hitchock won 13 playoff series.

While Therrien coached the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Cup Finals in 2008, he was fired the following season. His coaching style, much like Lemaire’s, is defensive-oriented. He, however, focuses on offense as well.

With players like Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk, their offensive prowess cannot be wasted completely on a defensive-minded team. Both players have become bettter in the defensive zone over the past few seasons, but they both need the freedom in the offensive zone to put up points.

Therrien could be an asset for the Devils, if they want to adapt to his system.

Then there is Haviland, a New Jersey native, who could be the best choice for the Devils. He was named the American Hockey League’s coach of the year in the 2006-2007 season before becoming an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks.

With the experience of the playoffs and a Stanley Cup victory under his belt, he could help the Devils get over their first round playoff hump.

The Winnipeg Jets had the opportunity to hire Haviland as their new head coach, but instead went with Claude Noel.

After three years of coaching under Joel Quenneville, Haviland seems ready to make the transition to head coach.

For now the speculation will continue as Lamoriello would not speak about who is and who is not a possible candidate to replace Lemaire.