By Danny Di Nicolantonio

You want to play fantasy hockey, and think you have what it takes to win?  Well, you’ll be one step closer to winning your league after this week’s fantasy hockey preview series.  There is no better place to start than the guys between the pipes:  Goaltenders.

During most drafts you will be required to have two starting goaltender roster spots, then one or two backup slots on the bench.  Even though forwards are the first to be drafted in the beginning, there are statistics out there that indicate goaltenders are going toward the backend of that first round.

Depending on the size of the league you are in, the average being 8-12 teams per league, and where you are positioned to pick, this will help you develop a strategy for the draft.  Logically the reason why we see goaltenders picked toward the end of the first round is because, the draft is about to head back in the other direction giving this team two picks fairly close together, if not back to back.  As a result, it gives a team the opportunity to select a forward and a goaltender right off the bat.  There are players in the league that I refer to as “trend setters”, and these are the teams that may not have had an opportunity to select a star player at the beginning of the draft and may nab two goaltenders with their first two picks that create a wave of three or four goaltenders being selected.

There are many factors that go into ranking and drafting a goaltender that include, risk, reward, age, prone to injury.

Ranked Goaltenders 2011-2012 Fantasy Hockey:

Player Team GP SA GA GAA W L OT SV SV% Shutouts
Tim Thomas BOS 57 1811 112 2.00 35 11 9 1699 0.938 9
Roberto Luongo VAN 60 1753 126 2.11 38 15 7 1627 0.928 4
Pekka Rinne NSH 64 1905 134 2.12 33 22 9 1771 0.930 6
Tomas Vokoun WSH 57 1753 137 2.55 22 28 5 1616 0.922 6
Jonathan Quick LAK 61 1631 134 2.24 35 22 3 1497 0.918 6
Henrik Lundqvist NYR 68 1965 152 2.28 36 27 5 1813 0.923 11
Ryan Miller BUF 66 1964 165 2.59 34 22 8 1799 0.916 5
Corey Crawford CHI 57 1545 128 2.30 33 18 6 1417 0.917 4
Jimmy Howard DET 63 1830 168 2.79 37 17 5 1662 0.908 2
Marc-Andre Fleury PIT 65 1742 143 2.32 36 20 5 1599 0.918 3
Carey Price MTL 72 2147 165 2.35 38 28 6 1982 0.923 8
Ilya Bryzgalov PHI 68 2125 168 2.48 36 20 10 1957 0.921 7
Antti Niemi SJS 60 1741 140 2.38 35 18 6 1601 0.920 6
Miikka Kiprusoff CGY 71 1935 182 2.63 37 24 6 1753 0.906 6
Dwayne Roloson TBL 54 1596 138 2.59 24 25 5 1458 0.914 4
Cam Ward CAR 74 2375 184 2.56 37 26 10 2191 0.923 4
Steve Mason CBJ 54 1541 153 3.03 24 21 7 1388 0.901 3
Martin Brodeur NJD 56 1313 127 2.45 23 26 3 1186 0.903 6
Kari Lehtonen DAL 69 2043 175 2.55 34 24 11 1868 0.914 3
Jonas Hiller ANA 49 1493 114 2.56 26 16 3 1379 0.924 5
James Reimer TOR 37 1134 90 2.60 20 10 5 1044 0.921 3
Mike Smith PHX 22 576 58 2.90 13 6 1 518 0.899 1
Ondrej Pavelec WPG 58 1558 147 2.73 21 23 9 1558 0.914 4
Niklas Backstrom MIN 51 1566 132 2.66 22 23 5 1434 0.916 3
Jaroslav Halak STL 57 1518 136 2.48 27 21 7 1382 0.910 7
Craig Anderson OTT 51 1546 135 2.66 24 20 4 1411 0.918 2
Nikolai Khabibulin EDM 47 1389 153 3.40 10 32 4 1236 0.890 2

We’ll take an in-depth look at defensemen tomorrow, left and right wingers on Thursday, and centers on Friday.

By Bill Whitehead

Newly acquired Florida Panthers goalie Jose Theodore knows all too well about the current goalie market. It’s about as kind to money-seeking netminders as a Steven Stamkos one-timer on the power play. He also considers himself lucky to be a Panther, knows what former teammate Tomas Vokoun is going through and understands his role.

“What I’ve been looking for is consistency, and I’ve had it the last few years,” Theodore said last Friday at BankAtlantic Center. “The last two years in Washington we had a great team. My last year in Washington I felt really confident.”

Theodore, now 34, expected to cash in on a big payday after going 30-7-7 for the President’s Trophy-winning Capitals in that final season in DC. He ended the regular season strong, posting a 20-0-4 mark, but he was pulled in Game 2 and never returned as the Caps were upset by Montreal.

Surely the body of work he authored in the regular season would outweigh the quick, disappointing postseason showing and guarantee him a hefty contract, right?

“I thought when July 1 came I’d get offers as a No. 1 guy, but you could see the way the market was going,” said Theodore, who signed with Minnesota last season to back up starter Niklas Backstrom. “Sometimes the offers are not coming. Last year was a great opportunity for me to show people that you can put me on any team and I can do my job. I finished with a winning record (15-11-3). I just want to show people what I’m capable of doing.”

The goaltender market did change for the financial betterment of one player, former Phoenix Coyote Ilya Bryzgalov. The Philadelphia Flyers, plagued for years by schizophrenic play in net, signed the 31-year-old Russian to a nine-year, $51 million deal. Writer Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News reported last week that the Flyers began floating goalie Sergei Bobrovsky out on the market after signing Bryzgalov, but there were no bites. A similar situation faced Vokoun, whom Theodore played with in 1996 in Montreal and Fredericton of the AHL.

“You could see what happened to Vokoun,” Theodore said. “My take is what happened to him right before. If you get available on July 1 as a No. 1 goalie, you’re looking for No. 1 goalie money, just like I was when I had 30 wins and seven losses. Then the teams start signing guys at $1.5 (million), 1.2, 1.6, and the next thing you know there’s no opening.

“From what I could see, after July 1 I was just wondering where would Tomas go. Philly had Bryz. All the teams where he had a chance to go — Denver, Phoenix — they all signed goalies. So you’re like, ‘Well, he’s a great goalie, really a top goalie, but if there’s no room there’s no room.’ I was kind of surprised. It just seems like now a lot of guys are getting signed for 1.5 or 1.7.”

When faced with his second July 1 free agent decision almost two weeks ago, Theodore didn’t hesitate. The 2002 Hart and Vezina trophies winner said he wanted to play in Florida, where his parents vacationed in nearby Boca Raton, and contacted his agent about the possibility of playing in Sunrise.

“When July 1 comes, a lot of times it’s a gamble,” he said. “You have a quick call and it’s like take it or leave it now or they’re going to sign another guy. You can’t wait for the next offer. I know for myself that when Florida called, that was my No. 1 choice. That’s the truth. I told my agent, ‘If you can make something happen with Florida, forget the rest.’ It was my No. 1 choice.”

Ultimately, Theodore said he expects to play well, and his numbers over the past four years in the NHL have been strong — 105-56-15. Also, he realizes his mentor’s role with young Swedish goalie Jacob Markstrom, the Panthers’ highly touted phenom who is recovering from a knee injury.

“Markstrom’s a top prospect. And like I did with (Semyon) Varlamov and (Michal) Neuvirth in Washington, I’m a team guy at the end of the day. And if I can help these kids out to have a good career and show them a trick here and there, I really enjoy that part of the game now at that point in my career. I’m looking forward to meeting him and just trying to help him the best I can. If he can be dominating for the next 10 or years, perfect. I’m looking forward to meeting the kid.”

If a Florida fan were arguing as to who might be the most important piece of the possible/potential postseason puzzle that GM Dale Tallon has been assembling, a convincing discussion might center around the Laval, Quebec, native and his right-handed catching success between the pipes. Without it, Florida likely won’t get very far. With it, the Panthers could be playing meaningful games in late March and maybe in April, too.

But for right now, let Jose Theodore enjoy the moment. He’s just happy to be here.

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

By David Strehle
NHL Hot Stove Creative Editor

After a trip to the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals and falling just two wins shy of winning it all, the Philadelphia Flyers’ 2010-11 season fell well short of high expectations.

Subsequent to getting past the Buffalo Sabres in a tough seven-game first round series, Philadelphia’s season came to an abrupt and disappointing finish in a quick four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The result is likely to bring about a very active off-season for GM Paul Holmgren in retooling his squad in preparation for the 2011-12 campaign.

Without further ado, it’s report card time for the 2010-11 version of the Flyers; complete with comments as to the performance over the course of the season, as well as each player’s role moving ahead to next season.

In this issue, the defensemen and netminders are examined.

DEFENSEMEN

Oskars Bartulis:  INCOMPLETE

2010-11:  After playing in the first two regular season games, Bartulis was the Flyers’ forgotten man.  Over the next two months, the 24-year-old would see action in just one more contest.  Bartulis was pressed into service when Chris Pronger suffered a fractured right foot, playing in nine games from December 18th through January 11th.  The six-foot, two-inch, 184-pounder would sit again upon Pronger’s return, only returning when Sean O’Donnell went down with a knee injury at Madison Square Garden on February 20th.  In his first game back in the lineup on February 22nd, Bartulis suffered a separated shoulder when he took a late hit into the boards from ex-Flyer and current Phoenix Coyote forward Scottie Upshall.  He would miss the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.  Bartulis finished having played in just 13 games, recording no points with a -4 and four penalty minutes.  2011-12: Signed for two more seasons at $600,000 per year, Bartulis is likely to stick around in Philadelphia.  The club is once again at the upper end of the salary cap, with less than $500,000 in space left with just 18 players signed.  Affordable options like Bartulis will be valuable, but he will need meaningful playing time in order to develop his game.  Even before his injury this season, he was not receiving that.

Nick Boynton:  INCOMPLETE

2010-11:  Holmgren plucked Boynton off the waiver wire from the Chicago Blackhawks in late-February as a depth move when O’Donnell suffered a knee injury and Bartulis separated his shoulder.  Like forward Kris Versteeg, Boynton was on the roster of Chicago’s Stanley Cup championship team last June, and it was thought he might be able to step in and provide some stability to the blue line.  And his pro-rated $500,000 salary also didn’t hurt matters for a team that had very little cap space availability.  The 32-year-old rear guard’s time in Philadelphia started off better than expected, as he played well in back-to-back games on March 10th (at Toronto) and 12th (home against the Thrashers).  Boynton kept things very simple, not trying to do too much, and played physical at the right times.  Unfortunately, his third game was not so good, as he finished a -2 in only 5:39 of time on ice in a 3-2 Flyers’ victory over the Panthers in South Florida.  Boynton would end up seeing action in just 10 regular season contests with the Orange-and-Black, and logging double-digit minutes of ice time in only half of those games.  He was not in the Philly lineup after April 1st.  2011-12: An unrestricted free agent, it’s highly doubtful Holmgren makes any attempt to re-sign Boynton this fall.  The organization has a couple of young defenders that appear ready to make the big club’s roster at training camp, and it would seem that Boynton doesn’t fit into the club’s plans.

Matt Carle:  B-

Photo Credit: Bridget Samuels / Flickr

2010-11:  Many experts insinuated that Matt Carle’s excellent play last year was likely because he played alongside of stalwart blue liner Pronger.  But in a season where Pronger missed 32 games due to a myriad of injuries, Carle was forced to play much of the time with various partners.  He responded by leading all Flyers’ defensemen in scoring with 40 points (one goal, 39 assists), and tied with Andrej Meszaros for the team lead with a +30.  The 39 assists and +30 were career-highs for the former member of the San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning.  Like most of his Flyers’ teammates, the six-foot, 205 pound native of Anchorage, Alaska struggled defensively in the club’s recently-completed playoffs.  He finished seven of the 11 postseason contests on the minus side of the plus / minus ledger, posting a -8 overall.  2011-12: Carle is entering the last season of a four-year contract that pays him just under $3.5 million before becoming an UFA next summer.  While he is still a valuable member of the team’s defensive corps, Holmgren may attempt to trade the 25-year-old defenseman at some point during the upcoming summer or 2011-12 season.  But his excessive salary, as well as the fact that he is the perhaps the least-physical defenseman on the club’s roster, will almost certainly make him a pretty tough sell.

Photo Credit: Bridget Samuels / Flickr

Braydon Coburn:  C-

2010-11:  Braydon Coburn signed a two-year contract extension last summer that pay him $3.2 million annually, and played on Philadelphia’s second defensive pairing with Kimmo Timonen. The 26-year-old defender picked up two goals and 16 points, while posting a +15 during the regular season, but showed only flashes of what he is capable of when playing at his peak effectiveness.  When using his long stride to skate the puck out of his own end and taking advantage of his large six-foot, five-inch, 220-pound, Coburn can be a force.  But after recording career-highs in goals (9), assists (27), and points (36) during the 2007-08 campaign, Coburn’s offensive numbers have decreased in each of the last three seasons despite increased ice time.  The native of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan recorded a +7 in the seven-game first round triumph over the Buffalo Sabres, and scored his most-important goal of the year against Ryan Miller in the closing minute of the first period in Game 7 to begin the rout.  But Coburn then proceeded to post a minus in each of the four games against the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.  2011-12: Just like Carle, Coburn is heading into the final year of his contract.  The former eighth overall pick of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2003 will become an UFA next summer, and also like Carle could be trade bait.

Andrej Meszaros:  A

Photo Credit: Bridget Samuels / Flickr

2010-11:  Acquired on July 1st from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a draft pick, Meszaros was a revelation for the Flyers.  Many criticized the move because of Meszaros’ $4 million price tag, and the fact that he would likely be on the club’s third pairing because the first two were already set with Pronger-Carle and Timonen-Coburn.  But Mez became an invaluable piece of the Philadelphia roster this year, leading the defensive ranks in goals (8), and tying Carle for the top plus / minus rating (+30).  As the 25-year-old’s confidence grew over the course of the season, so did his effectiveness for the team.  He jumped up into offensive rushes, used his six-foot, two-inch, 223-pound body to hit with a reckless abandon, and even scored two game-winning goals in overtime.  Maybe the most-valuable attribute that Meszaros brought to the club this year was his versatility.  With Pronger’s frequent absences from the Flyers’ lineup, the native of Povazska Bystrica, Slovakia played on several defense pairings where needed.  He started the year playing on the team’s third pairing with O’Donnell, but would also see action with Carle as part of the top duo in Pronger’s spot.  With the high level at which he performed, it made Pronger’s time out of the lineup less debilitating.  Meszaros appropriately won the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers’ top defenseman as a reward for a fantastic season.  In the postseason Meszaros led all Philly defenders in goals (2), and tied Timonen for the lead among Flyers’ defensemen (6).     2011-12: Meszaros still has three more years remaining on his contract, and figures to be a key member of the Philadelphia blue line.  If he continues to play the way he did this past season, he will be a mainstay for many years to come.

Sean O’Donnell:  C

2010-11:  Signed as an UFA to a one-year, $1.3 million contract on July 1st, O’Donnell was one of the steadier defensemen for the Flyers for the first half of the season.  Paired with Meszaros for much of the early going, both rear guards were near the top of the overall NHL plus / minus leaders.  Following a knee injury in a late-February game against the New York Rangers, the 39-year-old veteran was nowhere near as effective.  O’Donnell was supposed to miss several weeks to recover from the injury but his replacement, Bartulis, was lost for the rest of the season in the next game with a shoulder injury.  O’Donnell returned early, and was noticeably less mobile than he had been prior to suffering the injury.  The six-foot, two-inch, 237-pounder played a physical game for Philadelphia, and was one of the most-knowledgable students of the game on the club.  O’Donnell still ended the regular season at a +8.  2011-12: It’s not known if O’Donnell is in the plans for the team in the fall, especially if he expects a raise as part of a new one-year deal.  There are a couple of young blue liners primed to grab a spot in the coming year, and O’Donnell turns 40 in the second week of October.  There’s no doubt that he could be of great assistance to the younger defenders but with the cap limitations facing Holmgren, it is unlikely O’Donnell’s salary could be squeezed in.

Photo Credit: Bridget Samuels / Flickr

Chris Pronger:  B

2010-11:  After playing in all 82 games during his first campaign in Philadelphia, Pronger suffered through an injury-plagued 2010-11 season – one in which he appropriately referred to as a “year from hell”.  Commencing the year on the shelf following off-season knee surgery, it set the tone for what was to come over the course of the year.  The Flyers’ top defenseman would play in just 50 regular season contests due to various ailments.  The 36-year-old blue liner was just getting back into top form again when he suffered a fracture in his right foot after blocking a slap shot in Montreal in mid-December.  It is no coincidence that Philadelphia was the NHL’s top team at the time of the injury, because as Pronger goes, so go the Flyers.  This was evident again in late-February, when he took a shot off his right hand late in a game against the New York Islanders.  After X-rays proved negative, Pronger played in four more games.  The club had been developing bad habits, and the veteran defender had called players out behind closed doors for their careless play.  After a home win over the Oilers in early March, it was announced that Pronger had sustained a break in his hand that had gone undetected previously.  He again required surgery, and the team struggled without their on-ice leader in the lineup.  It was originally thought that Pronger would return for the final weekend of the regular season, but after suffering a “set back” in early-April, the six-foot, six-inch, 220-pounder wasn’t ready for the beginning of the postseason.  The Flyers’ defensive play was faltering down the stretch without him, and also suffering in Pronger’s absence was the club’s power play unit.  Without his big shot from the point, Philadelphia’s output with the man advantage was paltry.  With the Flyers trailing their first round series with the Sabres, 3-2, Pronger came back for Game 6.  He played just 4:33 - all of the power play - but his mere presence was a lift for his teammates.  The Flyers won in overtime on Easter Sunday to force a Game 7 back in Philadelphia.  Pronger played in that contest and saw 17:27 of ice time, picking up an assist in the 5-2 triumph.  The power play was anything but an advantage for Philly without him, but upon his return the unit improved to 3-9 in Games 6 and 7.  Unfortunately for the Orange-and-Black, Pronger was laboring with back pain that persisted through a loss to the Bruins in Game 1 of the second round.  He would not play the rest of the way and after the team’s elimination from the playoffs, it was announced that the hulking defenseman had a herniated disc in his back.  Surgery was once again required, and a successful discectomy was performed on May 12th.  It will be about six weeks from time of the surgery that Pronger can begin full exercise.  2011-12: The results with and without the dominant defender on the Philly blue line this year spoke volumes about his overall value.  His presence is obviously a key to success, but it isn’t the only issue for Philadelphia regarding Pronger.  There are still six years remaining on his contract, at an annual cap hit of more than $4.9 million.  Since it is an over-35 pact, the club is on the hook for the full amount, regardless if Pronger is able to play or not.  Pronger’s health is a must for Philadelphia to again be among the league’s elite squads.  If the majority of the news surrounding Pronger this year involves injuries and surgeries, the outlook for the Flyers will indeed be bleak.

Photo Credit: clydeorama / Flickr

Kimmo Timonen:  A-

2010-11:  Timonen turned 36 during the regular season and was once again one of the Flyers’ best defensemen.  He finished second in goals (6) and points (37) among Philly blue liners, and was the only defender to score shorthanded (which he did twice).  The native of Kuopio, Finland finished with a +11 rating, and was the unit’s leader with Pronger out for much of the season.  Timonen scored a goal, recorded six points, and was a +3 in the postseason.  When the team didn’t play well down the stretch and when they were bounced out in the second round by the Bruins, Timonen was visibly upset and voiced his displeasure at the disappointing finish.  ”That’s what pisses me off the most,” Timonen told Teemu H. of Broad Street Hockey after their elimination.  ”We weren’t even close.  There was no effort which I find unbelievable.”  There is no doubt that Timonen cares about the team’s performance, and he was to meet with Holmgren last week.  You can bet that the 12-year veteran gave the GM an earful as to what he felt was wrong with the club, and what he believes is necessary for the Flyers to achieve the ultimate success.  2011-12: With two seasons left on a contract that pays him $6.33 million per year, Timonen is the highest-paid Philadelphia defenseman.  At five-feet, 10-inches and 194 pounds, he is one of the team’s smaller defensemen.  But Timonen, who is entering his fifth year in the City of Brotherly Love, is both savvy and smooth.  He should remain as one of the most effective Philly blue liners at least through the end of his deal.

CONCLUSION

OVERALL DEFENSEMEN GRADE:  B-

After going through the first half of the season as one of the best defensive teams in the league, the Flyers struggled to keep the puck out of their net for much of the stretch run.  They ended up yielding 223 goals this season, which was only sixth-best among playoff-qualifying Eastern Conference clubs.

While the club’s blue line and goaltending was partially responsible, Philadelphia’s forwards also didn’t play well in their own end.

The team will need to acquire more depth for the upcoming season, especially with the question marks where Pronger’s health is concerned.  Not having the big defenseman in the lineup for a good portion of the year definitely hurt, but the general state of confusion defensively was mysitfying, given the number of veteran leaders on the team.

Pronger’s rehabilitation from back surgery will be an important development to keep an eye on as the summer progresses, and there are other question marks heading towards training camp.  Will O’Donnell be re-signed?  Will both Carle and Coburn be on the Flyers’ blue line next season, or will they be dealt before becoming UFAs next summer?

Will Holmgren attempt to bring in a legitimate right-handed shooting defender, especially with Vancouver’s Kevin Bieksa and Sami Salo, and Montreal’s James Wisniewski available as UFAs?  The Flyers have not had a decent righty since Eric Desjardins retired during the 2005-06 season, and it has been one of the adverse affects on an impotent power play.  Without a right-hander to man the left point on the man advantage, one-timers from that side of the ice are non-existent.  Holmgren brought Matt Walker to Philly in the Simon Gagne trade, but he was a complete bust.  Due to various injuries, Walker saw action in just four NHL contests this season.  When he was in the lineup, he was ineffective – even in pre-season matches.

If Holmgren is to bring in a big name defenseman, more room will have to be made to fit them into the club’s bloated cap situation.

Meanwhile, Erik Gustafsson, who nearly made the club out of training camp last year, should be ready to claim a spot this fall.  The 22-year-old has two years left on his entry-level contract at $900,000 per season, and had a very good season with the Phantoms.  The five-foot, 10-inch, 180-pound native of Kvissleby, Sweden did not look out of place in three games with the Flyers this year, and possesses slick offensive creativity from the blue line.

Others who may get a long look in camp are Marc-Andre Bourdon (21, 6′, 0 “, 205 pounds, $875,000) and Kevin Marshall (22, 6′, 1″, 191 pounds, $845, 833).

GOALTENDERS

Photo Credit: clydeorama / Flickr

2010-11:  Signed as a free agent last May, Bobrovsky was looking like an early season front-runner for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie-of-the-year.  The 22-year-old slumped down the stretch, but still finished with a 28-13-8 record, with a 2.59 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.  Head coach Peter Laviolette named Bobrovsky as his starter for the postseason, and the native of Novokuznetsk, Russia did not disappoint in his first game.  Bobrovsky held his team in the game into a scoreless third period, eventually yielding a goal to Patrick Kaleta in a 1-0 loss.  In Game 2, he gave up three early goals, was pulled in favor of Brian Boucher, and disappeared from the lineup as Michael Leighton was brought back into the rotation.  As the Boucher-Leighton tandem eventually faltered, Bobrovsky again played.  He started the fourth and final game of the Boston series, playing well in keeping the Flyers tied into the third period before taking the loss.  2011-12: There is no question that Bobrovsky is the team’s goaltender of the future.  With two years remaining at $1.75 million per season, the only issue regarding Bobrovsky is when he will be ready.  With Pronger and Timonen heading into their late-30′s, the time to win for Philadelphia is now.  Goalie coach Jeff Reese said he believes Bobrovsky is “two-to-three years away from being a workhorse”, so talk around Philly is that Holmgren will attempt to bring in a legitimate number one guy over the summer.  Bobrovsky could be the backup, or maybe even end up being the starter with the AHL’s Adirondack Phantoms.

Photo Credit: Jayne Shives / Wiki

Brian Boucher:  B

2010-11:  Finishing up the last year on his two-year deal ($925.000) this past season, Boucher was the perfect soldier for the Flyers.  He did everything asked of him, and without complaint.  When he thought he would be the starter when Leighton had off-season surgery but the job was instead given to Bobrovsky to open the campaign, Boucher filled the backup role to perfection.  He finished the regular season with a respectable 18-10-4 mark, and led the team in GAA (2.42) and save percentage (.916).  Boucher got the win in the final regular season contest in relief of Bobrovsky, when the Flyers absolutely had to get a victory to win the Atlantic Division crown.  In the playoffs, Boucher recorded all four Philadelphia wins in the Buffalo series.  But as each netminder took a turn falling flat when given the reigns to take control of the net, the 34-year-old native of Rhode Island may have fallen the hardest.   2011-12: Again an UFA, it remains to be seen if the team will attempt to re-sign Boucher.  It would seem unlikely, given Ed Snider’s comments about the carousel of goalies the club experienced during the postseason never happening again.

Photo Credit: Resolute / Wiki

Michael Leighton:  INCOMPLETE

2010-11:  Leighton’s year has been one full spectrum of contradictions.  After coming onto the scene off the waiver wire and taking Philadelphia to within two wins of capturing the Stanley Cup, Leighton was re-signed (two years, $1.55 million annually) as an UFA last summer.  Expecting to be the team’s number one, he instead began the year on injured reserve after undergoing back surgery during the pre-season.  The 30-year-old came back to find Bobrovsky had wrestled the starting job away from him, and Leighton was sent to Adirondack.  He played in just one NHL regular season game with the Flyers this year, and made a return during the playoffs.  That didn’t end up so well, as he lost Game 5 of the Sabres series in overtime, then was yanked for good after giving up three soft Buffalo goals in Game 6.  2011-12: With one year left on the contract he signed last year, it is unclear where Leighton fits into the Flyers’ plans.  If it is deemed necessary for Bobrovsky to get the bulk of the workload in Adirondack, it is conceivable that Leighton could back up whichever goaltender Holmgren brings in to lead Philly.

CONCLUSION

OVERALL GOALTENDER GRADE:  B-

While Bobrovsky played better than anyone could have foreseen and Boucher was the consummate backup, the Flyers lack of a clear cut number one created a circus-type atmosphere around the team in the postseason.

Even though the organization has historically ignored the crease area, the signing of Bobrovsky last year as a free agent was a huge step in the right direction for Philadelphia’s future.  With the recent signing of Finnish netminder Niko Hovinen to a free agent pact and Joacim Eriksson and Jakob Kovar looking ready to make the trip to North America very soon, the Flyers’ net situation appears bright for upcoming years.

With Snider’s proclamation that the team’s goaltending situation will indeed be rectified this summer, the speculation as to which goalie Holmgren will attempt to secure has commenced.  Ilya Bryzgalov is the biggest free agent fish, and Holmgren inquired about his availability when the Russian played for the Anaheim Ducks back in the 2006-07 season.  Bryzgalov won the Cup in Anaheim that season, and has established himself as one of the best netminders in the world in Phoenix the past two years.  In order to afford the kind of contract it will take to sign Bryzgalov, salary will have to be moved off the current payroll.

Other names of interest include Tomas Vokoun (UFA, played with Florida Panthers in 2010 for $5.7 million), Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames; three more years remaining at $5.833 million annually), and Niklas Backstrom (Minnesota Wild; two years remaining at $6 million per season).  Holmgren could choose to trade for either Kipper or Backstrom, and both the Flames and Wild are looking for more scoring up front.  It just so happens that if the Flyers try to deal for a netminder, forward is the spot where they would have to move salary.

While it’s bound to start the Jeff Carter ($5.272 million) rumors, there are other forwards that would be more desirable to deal.  Much-maligned winger Scott Hartnell ($4.2 million) tops the list, but he would have to waive his NTC in order for anything to happen.

Holmgren could also go a cheaper route if he finds it impossible to land an expensive backstop.  Pitches could be made for Jonathan Bernier (L.A. Kings, $1.25 million), Anders Lindback (Nashville Predators, $875,000), or Cory Schneider (Vancouver Canucks, $900,000), but the question of experience and how far these guys could take the Flyers would be genuinely pertinent.

*All salary numbers were obtained from www.CapGeek.com.

If you have any comments or questions, you can email the author at dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter – @David_Strehle

Welcome, Wild puck heads!

We have now passed the halfway point of the season and the Wild are just out of the eighth spot in West for the playoffs. After a great January (where they were 8-4) and winning six of those games it finally looks like this team is putting it together and ready to make a playoff push.

Some of the high points in January were the stellar play of Anton Khudobin. After having a rough start when he had to step in during the game he quickly found his game, getting the nod againt Vancouver. Shouting out their lethal offense 4-0 then going into Edmonton and almost posting back to back shut outs was great to see. Wild fans: this should give us all hope over this frozen state that if anything were to happen he can step in and take charge.

Martin Havlat seems to be taking over where everyone has been expecting he should be, leading the team in scoring (15), assists (31), and points (46). Havlat was also sent to the All-Star Game as a replacement. Keeping his game up at a high level is a very big key to the success of the Wild. They will continue lean on him in big game situations.

Collectively since the beginning of January the Wild goaltending has been awesome, posting a 2.06 GAA while having three different players in net over the stretch. In addition, all three goalies have posted shutouts in that time as well. Jose Theodore got his in Pittsburgh and Khudobin at home versus the best in the West Vancouver (should have had two but what do you do). Niklas Backstrom has posted two during that time, once on the road in Calgary and at home versus the Kings winning in the shootout. If Coach Richards were to put in Backstrom, Theodore, and Khudobin there isn’t a Wild fan out there that should be worried.

It is only the 11th of February but for the rest of the month all the games coming up are versus the West, four on the road and six at home. Three of the teams they will have to play twice this month in Chicago, Anaheim, and St. Louis. Looking at these games there is no way that they can think of splitting with either of these teams. Sweeping is a must! Putting distance on Chicago and St. Louis will ease pressure going into March while closing in on Anaheim who is only 3 points ahead of the Wild. Come this time that every game is huge, especially to a team on the bubble in such a tight race in the West, but the Wild need to dig down deep and pull out a winning record this month to have a chance. Even when the Oilers come to town is a game that the Wild need to count as a must win.

Notes: Mikko Koivu is one point back from being tied with Havlat for the lead, only trailing him by one goal. Brent Burns was also sent to the All-Star game notching one assist. With his shutout versus the Kings, Backstrom records only his second shutout since Richards took over as coach. Wild have a home-and-home series against the Blues starting today in St. Louis. Hockey Day MN is Saturday, there will be outdoor High School Match ups, along with the Gophers and Wild playing at home.

Welcome all you Wild puck heads out there, I hope you all had a great holiday season, mine was nuts. It has been a while since I have had a chance to write anything but WOW! Talk about a bi-polar season for the Wild. One day you’re talking about playoffs the next it’s draft picks, then back to playoffs. Not saying that this is not exciting at all, but how many people in Minnesota have high blood pressure because of this besides me?

The Wild are three points out of 4th in the West and back in the chase for a playoff spot. With a 7-2-1 record in the last 10 games, they are only second to Vancouver (9-0-1), while accumulating points in eight out of their last nine road games 6-1-2. This team is firing on all cylinders and very focused right now. Last year the Wild won a total of 13 road games, not winning their 10th till March and now already have 10 in the books.

Throughout these 10 games the Wild have notched wins against potential playoff teams in Colorado, San Jose, Phoenix, and Boston.

Tomorrow they look for another big win in Pittsburgh to take on the Sidney Crosby-less Penguins in hopes of adding to their road record and gaining more ground in the West.

Sounds like Jose Theodore is going to get the call in net again for the Wild tomorrow with Niklas Backstrom still questionable. Theodore is 18-4-3 with a 2.41 GAA, and .914 SV% lifetime versus the Pens. The Wild will be looking for another big showing from Theo like they got from him in Boston last night.

Taking on the Northeast Division leaders last night the Wild were looking to continue their dominance of the Bruins. The Wild have never lost in Boston (6-0-0) and in one of the most exciting and energetic games the team has played all year long, they kept the streak alive. Winning 3-1, the Wild outscored Boston 33-16 lifetime and held them to 0-4 on the PP while continuing a streak where they have never allowed the Bruins score on the PP (0-35).

During the run their blue line is stepped it up offensively and put the puck in net. Cam Barker broke his scoring drought when he beat Jason LaBarbera for 6-5 OT win in Phoenix. Clayton Stoner scored his first career goal when he dumped the puck in the New Jersey  Devils zone, where the puck took a crazy hop off the boards and into the Devils net for the game winner.

The Wild are also getting points from Nick Schultz and Brent Burns. Burns is tied for the team lead in goals with 12.

Besides putting pucks in the net, the Wild have relied on two call ups from their AHL affiliate Huston Aeros in Jared Spurgeon and Marco Scandella. These two have stepped up their game for the team when they have needed them to.

With Marek Zidlicky out for a longer than anyone thought, Scandella and Spurgon have filled the gap flawlessly. Both are getting valuable ice time and mentoring by Greg Zanon, Burns and Schultz and should turn out to be solid pieces down the road for this team.

If the doubters thought that Cal Clutterbuck was a one dimensional player, he has proved them wrong. Not only is he leading the league in hits for the third year in a row, he is also tied with Burns for the most goals on the team (12). The one huge change is that he has been completely clutch on the ice this season, five of his 12 goals have tied games while four have given them the lead.

Hitting the halfway point in the season the Wild will need to continue the intensity that they showed against the Bruins if they want to make the playoffs. This team is hitting a very hard part of their schedule six out of the next nine games are against playoff teams while four are against Northwest divisional opponents.

Mikko Koivu and Martin Havlat are going to continue to be points leaders, but will need help from the likes of Clutterbuck, Burns, Matt Cullen and Andrew Brunette to keep the run going. There is not a lot that I would change on this team at the moment and hope that Coach Richards sees it the same way.

Minnesota is hungry for a playoff berth and the Wild are showing they can be a tough, gritty team even while missing key players to injury.

Josh Sargent
NHLHS Minnesota Wild Correspondent
Twitter: Josh_Sargent

As most people know, I am a diehard Wild fan who yes will admit has been known to drink the kool-aid from time to time, but I am also realistic too. Over this season, if you are a Wild fan or just like to watch the team you probably feel like I do: stuck on a rollercoaster that never stops, only going up and down. As frustrating as those highs and lows can be it can be just as troublesome when the GM tells the team “Win or there will be changes.”

Yes, this team is lacking in areas and here are the biggest areas that I feel need to be addressed. By no means are these going to be quick fixes but if you look around the League the top teams have “it”.

Lack of a true enforcer

The loss of Derek Boogaard and John Scott are hurting the team more than they thought it would. That case was proven when they went into Dallas last Friday and Steve Ott basically did anything that he wanted. From harassing Martin Havlat and Pierre-Marc Bouchard to literally crashing the net and running over Jose Theodore a couple times. Ott was given the first star of the game due to the fact he did anything that he wanted to and he scored a goal as well. Not having someone who could “force” him to play clean may have cost the Wild a win that night.
Yet the presence of a tough guy not only gives your team protection but also caused disruption to the game plans of others as Ott did to the Wild. Later in Boogaards time with Minnesota he learned that, whenever the team would face off with Edmonton it seem that he knew what to do to get under their skin. Big hits and constant harassment gave way to bigger plays to Koivu and Gaborik. Heading out on this West coast road trip I don’t see the next couple games being any different. There is not a single player on the Wild roster that can step up to some of the heavy weights in the West. As much as I respect Brad Staubitz he is not the kind of person that is going to keep a team in check and be a physical presence on the ice. If the Wild can find someone, anyone, to fill this roll it will give players like Havlat, PMB, Cullen, and Koivu space to make plays and score goals.

Lack of talented youth

Since the departure of Marian Gaborik the threat to score at will for this team has left with him. There is no future super star on this team at the moment that can spark to life into this team. Now that is not to say they don’t have talent on the team with Guillaume Latendresse, Bouchard, and Havlat but Latendresse is the youngest of the three and we have yet to see what he can do for a full season. Vancouver has Ryan Kesler and Colorado Paul Stastny that they both have built solid teams around, while Edmonton has two in Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall who will bring them back to the playoffs in years to come. Minnesota has… Mikael Granlund. Who?? Exactly. Granlund is 18yrs old playing professionally in Finland drafted by the Wild last spring. Though he does have plenty of potential nobody is clamoring to get him up to the NHL level as soon as possible. Not seeing him play personally I can’t say that he won’t be a solid player in the future but it doesn’t feel like we have this next big thing waiting in the wings.

Lack of solid leadership

Yes this is a slight knock on our captain but when he gets upset that fellow Finn and BFF Antti Miettinen wasn’t going to be play on his top line you have to question him a bit. There is no doubt that everyone regards the Minnesota Wild as Mikko’s team I just don’t see him taking a solid leadership role on the ice this season and holding teammates responsible for  blown assignments or faulty play.

Maybe Jaques Lemaire did have it right, he would chose the team captain by committee. Every month he would pick the player that was stepping up and leading the team in games and practices. This team is full of savvy vets who have been on this team for years and to not see a Brunette, Koivu, Burns, or even Schultz step up and call out the team and expect more of them is ridiculous. One of these players needs to step up and take charge of the team, without solid leadership this team is going to go nowhere.

Coaching Decisions

Now this isn’t to say that Todd Richards is not a good coach or that he doesn’t know what he is doing, but with over a third of the season over with “What is he doing?”
Game after game thus far Coach Richards has not been able to make game time adjustments to help his team. Mixing lines has never been a strong suit for him but continually keeping lines together and not mixing them up is starting to do more harm than good. How often have we seen this year the Wild come out flying in the first with speed and determination only to get completely stopped in the 2nd and shutdown in the 3rd. One of his biggest decision gaffs being when he kept Niklas Backstom in net after he gave up 4 goals in the 2nd period to Colorado only to give up 2 more in the third and lost 7-4.

A big question on the Coaching is how well do the players listen and trust them? I’m pretty sure about this but when you have to bring in a Spec. Ops Army Ranger into the locker room to inspire the team you are not do a good job at it. If the players decide to quit on Richard we might as well shut down the season now, having a frustrated Owner and GM is only going to force them to make trades and fire people. Although I don’t want to see that, on the bright side we’ll probably have a high draft pick come spring.

Josh Sargent
NHLHS Minnesota Wild Correspondent
Twitter: @Josh_Sargent

The Wild face off with the Calgary Flames tonight at the Saddledome, and if you think that you know how the Wild will come out and play tonight we need to have a conversation about what the lotto numbers will be this week. With a record of 11-9-2 and currently in 3rd place in the division there is no sure thing with this team.

Throughout the season they have been starting new traditions and breaking old ones, from being completely inept to a dominating force, and just when you think you have them figured out BAM! they crush your spirit.

When they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 6-2 at home people where getting excited for the upcoming road trip vs. Edmonton and Vancouver to prove that it wasn’t just a home stand fluke. Going into Edmonton the Wild spent a whole period on the penalty kill and were lucky to come out with a win only to face off with a Canucks team that was looking return the beating they took in Minnesota. The Wild came out with nothing and it honestly looked as if they switched uniforms from their previous meeting.

The next four games at home were against some of the league’s top talent. Between LA, Chicago, San Jose and Washington the Wild only gave up 6 goals, I don’t know how everyone feels but I thought that was huge. Niklas Backstrom almost shut out the Capitals until Ovechkin scored in the last 2 minutes but had his first home shut out in 41 starts against San Jose winning 1-0. Prior beating the Sharks Minnesota had a record of 3-16 vs. San Jose, while Washington has never beat the Wild at the X (just thought I would throw that in).

Soon after the 5 game home stand it was time for the team to venture out and play Columbus (where they never win at), Atlanta and Florida (who they owned in the past), then finishing with a up and coming Tampa squad.

With Jose Theodore in net the Wild finally won a game in Columbus and were riding high into Atlanta. I would hear people on the radio and TV saying that this trip they could take 3 out of the 4 games now; that they should be able to run over the Thrashers and Panthers like they have done traditionally in the past.

Again after a great win they came out completely flat and ran into a human train by the name of Dustin Byfuglien (who is from MN and at least one thing we can be proud of) and lost 5-1. Looking for a rebound win the next day they gave up 2 goals in under a minute losing 2-1. Despite the loss Minnesota did look like they buckled down and played a solid game for the remaining 2 periods. Picking up a win in Tampa Minnesota ended the trip completely opposite of how everyone thought it would go, 2 of 4 yes, beating Tampa and Columbus no.

How did they follow that up, by beating a hot Anaheim team then going to Detroit where they never win and beat the Wings 4-3. Leading the Wings 2-1 going into the 3rd period and never giving up when Detroit tied it to head to overtime, then pulling out the win. It brought everyone one back up in the fan base from disgruntled to overjoyed with how gutty the team was.

With everyone in high spirits Minnesota took on the NY Rangers and team deserter Marion Gaborik. Now hated in Minnesota Gabby was booed every time he touched the puck and cheered when he was hit into the boards. Gaborik though, was the one with the last laugh when his Rangers left the X with a 5-2 win, followed by Philly who put on a scoring clinic dominating the game 6-1.

With another back to back set of games the Wild came out like a totally different team yet again and destroyed the Predators 5-2. Where did this team come from?? Only scoring 3 goals in the last 2 games and giving up 11, Minnesota scored all 5 goals 5 on 5!!

Heading to Colorado with a lot of confidence, where traditionally they won all last year, and had a 2 game shutout of the Aves in Denver you had to think they had a chance right? Well they at least did lead the game going into the 2nd period but then the flood gates opened. Denver rattled off 20 shots in the 2nd and scored 4 goals. For some reason Coach Richards kept a beaten down Backstrom in the game only to surrender 2 more goals before pulling him.

This team has given up 20 goals in the last 4 games yet I can’t tell you who I think will win tonight. Minnesota couldn’t pull off a win in Calgary for the better part of, well, ever. But to say that they will lose, no clue. Who is to say that the team that put up 5 even strength goals on the Preds won’t show up or the gritty, gutty, grind it out team that won in Detroit. They could even be the team that spent 1/3 of the game in the box like they did in Edmonton yet still pull out the win. Or, we could see the team that Vancouver, Atlanta, Colorado, Philly, and NY walked, ran, jogged, all over.

You might have better luck winning the lotto then try and pick what Wild team will show up tonight. Up, Down, Black, Red, Even, Odd, Hit, Split, or ride it all on the river card sound like better options then trying to guess that. Like Jekyll and Hyde you just don’t know who you’re going to get.

Josh Sargent
NHLHS Minnesota Wild Correspondent
Facebook: @Josh_Sargent

In a season full of breaking traditions, the Minnesota Wild are looking to continue one facing off against the Atlanta Thrashers. The Wild are 6-1-2 lifetime playing against Atlanta and look to add another win to this 4 game road trip when the go into Phillips arena.

Coming into this game the Thrashers are 6-6-3 with 15 points on the season and currently on a 3 game skid. Atlanta has a 3.00 GG while sitting at the bottom of the league giving up 3.60 GAA. Their power play and penalty killing are complete opposites. While ranking 4th in the league on the PP at 26.1% they are killing 75.5% of their penalties putting them at 27th.

Minnesota on the other hand is 7-4-2 with 16 points and coming off a great road win in Columbus 3-2. The Wild are scoring 2.46 GG and 4th in the league in goals against at 2.15. Their power play has been where they have won games ranking 2nd at 27.1% while 8th in the league killing 86.4% of their penalties.

The goalie matchups for the game are looking like Chris Mason for the Thrashers and Niklas Backstrom for the Wild. Mason, after having a rough game against Ottawa where he was pulled after giving up 4 goals on 18 shots and was replaced by Ondrej Pavelec, has a 3.66 GAA and .903 SV%. Backstom on the other hand is playing lights out with a 1.80 GAA and .941 SV%. It is easy to say that Backstrom is playing his best hockey and is a big advantage for the Wild.

This game will feature 3 of the NHL’s biggest defensive talent in Atlanta’s Dustin Byfuglien, Tobias Enstrom, and the Wild’s Brent Burns. Byfuglien and Enstrom have amassed a combined 26 points putting them in the top 3 for the team in total points. Brent Burns has 8 points on the season and had his first multi goal game of his career scoring twice against Columbus. Byfuglien and Burns sit at the top of the board with 5 goals each among the league’s defensemen. Both teams will rely heavily on these players to step up big in this game. While Atlanta’s 2 are more of a scoring threat Burns has been able to shut down the league’s top talent and will look to do so again.

Although Atlanta has a big scoring threat in Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, Tobi Enstrom, and Evander Kane they are not without holes. Evander Kane and Nik Antropov have a combined plus/minus ranking of -21. The Wild will look to exploit this by the play of their second line with the skill of Martin Havlat and the awareness of Matt Cullen.

Staying out of the box for the Wild and capitalizing on the man advantage will be key for them to win. Atlanta’s power play and the Wild Penalty kill should be a great matchup but one I don’t wish to see. Playing physical Minnesota will look to put their highly rank power play on the ice against the Thrasher 27th ranked penalty kill.

My keys to the game for the Wild to win are:
- Mikko Koivu who has been a solid 2 way player for the Wild so far this season notching a point in 11 out of 13 games. Look for him to be very physical and test the goaltending of the Thrashers.
- Niklas Backstom will look to continue is quietly amazing season. If Backstrom can keep the Thrashers to 1-2 goals the Wild have a strong chance to come out with a win.
- Matt Cullen on the power play for the Wild this season has been what this team needs. A strong leader and decisive decision maker his play at point has made the Wild a force on the man advantage.

Game notes: Martin Havlat has only 1 goal on the season which makes him tied now with Derek Boogaard…..ok that might be a small cheap shot. Antti Miettinen seems to have the green light to play but don’t expect him back on the first line, Coach Todd Richards seems to like having Cal Clutterbuck playing with Andrew Brunette and Mikko Koivu. The Wild have recalled Cody Almond from their AHL affiliate the Houston Aeros. Guillaume Latendresse, Chuck Kobasew, and Marek Zidlicky are reported to be out this game with injuries.

Josh Sargent

NHLHS Minnesota Wild Correspondent

Twitter: @Josh_Sargent

I get it, it is early in the season but 7-4-2, that is the record of the Minnesota Wild after the first month of the hockey season and 6-3-1 in the last 10 games. Most Hockey enthusiasts and fans coming into the season never expected this, yet here it is. Starting the season the Wild were but one thing, inconsistently consistent. Now it looks as if this team has found its ice legs; and are playing as a top team in the Western Conference not just the Northwest Division.

Why is this team doing so well? Answer, solid play from key players. Last year was full of change. Players that needed to be on the ice could not due to injury or just not playing up to par in the new system. Year two and familiarity is setting in, players are back, and the team seems to be coming together more. Here are the players I feel are making this team what it is……a possible contender.

Cal Clutterbuck. I know what you’re thinking, “WHAT! You must be out of your mind; in the last 2 seasons combined he has less than 40 points!” Yes that is true, but the one thing that Cal brings to this team every night without exception is his physical play. There isn’t a player on this team other than him that makes it his personal goal to crush their opponent and throw them off their game. He has led the league in hits the last 2 years with 356 in 08-09 and 318 last season, this year he is already at the top of the list with 62. Despite being called “Cal Buttercup” by a certain Canadian icon Cal set the record for hits in that 08-09 season. The best play by far was his last game Vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets when he took out 2 of their player with one hit, got to the top of the crease, and scored the game winning goal. His aggressiveness on the ice makes up for what you don’t see on the box score.

Mikko Koivu. Mikko has matured into one of the top two way players and arguably the best Finn in the NHL right now surpassing his brother Saku Koivu. Before the departure of Marion Gaborik everyone was staying that it was Gabby’s team but on the ice you could see who the player respected and trusted. Last year at the beginning of the Todd Richards era, Koivu was made the first permanent Captain in franchise history. Koivu has continued to improve his game year after year finishing with 71 points last year when the team was down. This year it is not unreasonable to say that he could have up to 80-90 points at the end of this season being that he is already on pace for it. Signing a big deal in the offseason the Wild will have his leadership and playmaking ability to build off of for the next 7 years.

Matt Cullen. The big offseason acquisition Stanley Cup Champion, Matt Cullen comes back to play Hockey for his home state. At the time of the signing Cullen he said “That it just feels right.” Coach Richards has used Cullen more than any other player on the Wild. Cullen centers the second line for the team with Martin Havlat and Guillaume Latendresse on his wings. On the power play he is point man at the blue line breaking down the oppositions PK making the team the second most potent team on the power play in the league, and also plays on the teams top ten penalty kill. Although he is not a “big” name that fans were screaming for in the offseason he is what this team needed. Second to only Mikko in points this year with 12, Matt is focused on breaking personal records and helping this team make a solid run at the Cup.

Brent Burns. In a season last year filled with injury Burns is coming back to what fans have expected and known is there in being a dominate defensive player. Tied for 4th in points on the team Burns had his first multi goal game playing Columbus where he scored twice on the power play. As much as people put into scoring and player points the best games he has played this year have been against Washington and San Jose. Versus Washington he was able to shut down the high flying Alexander Ovechkin. Throughout the game you could see how frustrated Alex was getting not being able to get by Burns’s long reach and physical play. Playing San Jose he didn’t have just one player to worry about but the top line in the league with Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Danny Heatley. Playing solid defense he was able to help the Wild to a big shutout at home. With a bright future here Brent is a defensive force that teams will have to game plan for every time they face the Wild.

Niklas Backstrom. Coming into the season the big questions were, “Can he find a way back to his old form and was he just another product of the Jaques Lemaire system?” Well, the main reason why the Wild are where they are can be found between the pipes. Backstrom has been a dominate player in big time situations when the team has been undisciplined and in penalty trouble. With his 1.80 GAA and .941 save percentage Backstrom has been slowly and quietly climbing the ranks of top goalies in the league this year. His play versus the Sharks gave him his first shutout win in 41 home games and first since Coach Richards has taken over. Everyone in hockey knows that a team can excel or die by how the goalie plays and if Niklas can continue to play at top for is it too far out of the question for this team to make a solid run to and in the playoffs.

Those are my top players on the team right now and you may think it is way too early to be talking playoffs but in honesty this team needs to be thinking about it every night. They walk a fine line of being really good and really bad. Any kind of early season slip ups will cost this team down the road when it really matters. All 5 of these players can keep the momentum going, if they can set up and motivate the rest of the team it could be a great year if not the front office better reduce ticket prices

Josh Sargent
Twitter: @Josh_Sargent

This has been one of the less eventful off-seasons for the Red Wings, but GM Ken Holland has kept himself fairly busy. When the Red Wings were tossed out of the second round of the playoffs by the San Jose Sharks, Holland didn’t give many specifics about what he planned to do. All he would say was that we would do most of the work come August, after locking up our top-guns before the July 1 frenzy.The Red Wings lost a few players from last season’s roster: defenseman Andreas Lilja (still on the market), defenseman Brett Lebda (signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs), and forward Jason Williams (also still on the market). You can include forward Kirk Maltby in this as well – he has yet to be signed anywhere. Maltby is reluctant to leave, having spent fourteen of his seventeen NHL seasons in Detroit, but for a veteran of over 1,000 NHL games, playing in the minors (which is what the Red Wings would probably have to do to him) isn’t exactly the most appealing option. His fate is still up in the air.

But in losing some players, others were gained. Jiri Hudler is back from the KHL; in his one season overseas, he had 19 goals and 54 points in 54 games. In his last season with the Red Wings, he had 23 goals and 54 points in 82 games. Valtteri Filppula’s brother Ilari signed with a two-way contract and will most likely end up playing the season in Grand Rapids; this past season, Filppula won the Jari Kurri trophy as the best player in the SM-lliga playoffs – he had fourteen points in fifteen games. To give a bit more info on this trophy, it’s been awarded to players like Saku Koivu, Olli Jokinen, Miikka Kiprusoff, Kari Lehtonen, and Niklas Backstrom (twice).

With the loss of Lilja, the Red Wings signed Ruslan Salei to a one-year deal; he played under Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock back when Babcock was the coach of Anaheim. Mike Modano signed a one-year deal as well, adding that final ingredient Holland was looking for: a solid, reliable veteran player.

The Red Wings also re-signed a lot of key players. Nicklas Lidstrom decided to come back for at least one more season as the Red Wings top defenseman and captain. Look out for his sniping slapshot on the power play when he intentionally shoots it wide so Tomas Holmstrom can snag the rebound and flip it into the net. Speaking of Homer, he re-signed with a two-year, $3.75 million contract, so he’s still the reigning king of the edge of the crease.

Todd Bertuzzi is back for another season. Ask any Wings fan what their opinion is on Bertuzzi and responses will be varied. If his play is solid like it was in the middle of last season, there should be no reason to throw him under the bus. Patrick Eaves and Drew Miller both signed one-year contracts. Look for either of them to be on the fourth line.

With fifteen forwards signed with one-way contracts, the Red Wings have some decisions to make once training camp arrives in mid-September. They have a few players who have been on their minor league team for a few years now and may be ready to take the plunge into NHL-level hockey, but there isn’t much room to spare. The moves Holland made in the off-season may not have been substantial like when he signed Marian Hossa two years ago, but only time will tell at this point.

Let hockey season commence!