After the tumultuous battle that was known around the NHL Hot Stove parts as Kovy-Gate, the Boston Bruins finally received word that the seven-year contract they signed Marc Savard was valid.

The problem with the contract was that it averaged out to a $4 million per year cap hit, while it paid him $7 million in the first year and $525,000 in the final two years of the deal.

News broke early Saturday morning that the second submitted contract signed by Ilya Kovalchuk was approved. After this it was only time before the contracts signed by Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo and Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa and Savard were old news.

The latest Savvy trade rumors were that he could possibly be heading to the big apple in a deal that would see the New York Rangers send Matt Gilroy, Sean Avery and a draft pick for the playmaker.

Leaving many Bruins fans frantically worrying about the status of their forward, GM Peter Chiarelli put the rumors to rest, in an article written by ESPN’s James Murphy, saying that he reached out to Savard and told him he would be a Bruin this season. Chiarelli admitted to having trade discussions, but received nothing that would make him want to give up on Savard.

When it comes to centres, the Bruins are stock piled with them. They currently have NHL vets Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Daniel Paille on the roster. Time will tell if the second overall draft pick in 2010 Tyler Seguin will crack the lineup, and the consensus pick says he will.

The logjam up the middle gave Chiarelli all the more reason to deal Savard, but he made the smart choice to stand by him. Savard has 223 assists in 279 games for the Bruins and has proved his worth. Not to mention he has publicly stated he wants to stay in Boston for the rest of his career.

Keeping him seems like the easiest decision, for one if the team decides to keep Seguin in the lineup he will have a league all-star to learn the ropes from. Another reason is that the Bruins are a team built to compete now, with the likes of Zdeno Chara, Marco Sturm and Bergeron all UFAs at season’s end.

However, even with Sturm starting the year on the PUP list, the Bruins have some shuffling around to do. They are $3.5 million over the cap, so guys like Michael Ryder and Matt Hunwick could be moved before Sturm comes back.

It was hectic, but Bruins fans can now rest easy knowing that Savard will be in black and gold come puck drop in Prague.

Brandon Macdonald
NHLHS Editor
bmacdonald@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter @bMacdonald8

It seems that a recent trend is continuing, and a certain type of player is disappearing from the National Hockey League landscape.

The true enforcer, once a prominent component in the makeup of an NHL team, is all but becoming extinct in today’s new NHL.  A few still remain but for the most part, club’s general managers have said they will go with “team toughness”.

The history

There have always been fighters in the NHL, but during the 1970′s and 1980′s, NHL enforcers enjoyed what would become their hey day in the league.

In the ’70′s, some teams even employed four or more players that could act as their team’s respective police men.  If a player on a club messed with one of your team’s skill players, there would be a certain amount of hell to pay.  Bench-clearing brawls became commonplace, and the NHL became a battle ground.  This is when the not so affectionate term “goon” was the most frequently used to describe enforcers.

But the league enacted rules, fines and suspensions concerning whoever was determined to be the first man off the bench to join a fracas, and those types of occurrences became more and more of a rarity.

In the ’80′s and 90′s, most clubs employed one true heavyweight to police their team.  Pugilists named Bob Probert, Troy Crowder, Dave Brown, Joey Kocur, and Dave Semenko kept opponents honest.  When the teams with these players came to town, there was an air of excitement that came along with them.  Games that paired clubs with premier heavyweights on opposite sides became hot tickets.

Today

George Parros of the Anaheim Ducks is a good example of one of the leftover enforcers.  At 6′ 5″ and 232 pounds, Parros is a heavyweight.  And with 13 goals, 25 points, and 694 penalty minutes over the course of 289 career NHL games, Parros’ role with the Ducks will never be questioned.

Players that are still known as enforcers, with many similarities to Parros around the league are Eric Godard (316 Games Played, 6 Goals, 15 Points, 728 Penalty Minutes) of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Derek Boogard (255 games, 2 G, 15 P, 544 PIMs) of the New York Rangers, Jody Shelley (538 games, 16 G, 49 P, 1,347 PIMs) of the Philadelphia Flyers, and Colton Orr of the Toronto Maple Leafs (327 games, 8 G, 17 P, 788 PIMs).

The “new breed”

While the new NHL enforcer is more of an “ultimate weapon” in today’s era, they have to have some skill tied into their game – more so than simply being able to drop the gloves and dance.

Sean Avery is a perfect example, and one that can be used as the definition of what the new NHL brings with their new “blood” of what was once known as an enforcer. Although his time with Dallas did not fair well, the fiesty forward has found a home, again, with the Rangers and fits in to their plans perfectly.

Avery has earned over 100 penalty minutes in any season he has appeared in more than 50 games and has not slipped below the 15 goal total during those seasons. Fantasy statistics aside, Sean Avery has helped create this new breed within the NHL.

He knows, perfectly, how to get under the skin and into the mind of his opponents while on the ice.  Time after time we have seen Avery yapping away at a player on the opposing team thus creating a stir. Although Sean may not drop the gloves as often as many fans would like to see, there truly isn’t a need for him to do so unless it is called for. Yes, his reputation may create a difficult situation and some questionable calls during a game, but Sean Avery does his job and he does it with perfection.

Dan Carcillo is another player who can be used to compare and contrast the difference between an enforcer and agitator.

Aside from his tactics on the ice, he has been able to score some clutch goals with the Flyers as well.

Although Carcillo has never put up amazing offensive numbers, he does contribute on the score sheet and we all know how much his presence on the ice means to his club. With the acquisition of Jody Shelley this off-season, Carcillo will be called upon to play more hockey and less enforcer this year. At a bright young age of 25, expect his numbers with his new role to rise offensively.

Carcillo has also been flagged, while on the ice, for infractions that come due to reputation and has been the goat of the game, but do not let that stand in the way of his true value while on the ice. Coach Laviolette will help Carcillo’s game develop, even more so now that the organization has signed Jody Shelley this off-season to take on the role of “enforcer”

Another player who has created a 180 degree turn in their game, much in part due to the way a coach helped influence him is Steve Downie, a one-time NHL outcast. With the assistance of head coach Rick Tocchet last year, Downie has been able to turn his game around finding a top six spot last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Known for his “attitude” and rugged style of play, Downie brings a complete game with him – hands to put the puck in the back of the net, and fearless in sticking up not only for himself but his teammates.

Arron Asham of the Pittsburgh Penguins played in 72 games with the Philadelphia Flyers, scoring 10 goals and 24 points, while recording 126 PIMs.  Asham’s style of play will go along well with that of teammate Matt Cooke, who ended up with 15 goals, 30 points, and 106 PIMs.  Cooke is one of the most hated agitators, both with fans of opposing teams and opposing players alike.  His antics last season drove superstar Ilya Kovalckuk, then of the Atlanta Thrashers, to retaliate, uncharacteristically attacking the Pittsburgh forward.

Steve Ott of the Dallas Stars is another example of the ever-evolving breed of agitators.  Last season, he notched 22 goals and 36 points to go along with his 146 PIMs.

The Vancouver Canucks’ Alex Burrows played in all 82 games last year, scoring 35 goals, 67 points, and racking up 121 PIMs.  All the while, he was under the opposition’s skin and a thorn in a certain official’s side.  Burrows is taking the agitator role to a new level, much the same way that Brendan Shanahan and Keith Tkachuk defined the role of “power forward” back in the early to mid-1990′s.

In today’s era of hockey, there continues to be a place in the game for fighting.  The old saying of “I went to a hockey game and a boxing match broke out” may have simmered somewhat, but more often than not, there will be a scrap or two during a hockey game. Especially when you consider the heated rivalries amongst many of the clubs around the league.

There may not be bench clearing brawls anymore, but you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be one hell of a scrap when two players prepare to drop the gloves during a game. It remains a major factor in separating hockey from many, if not most of the other sports out there.

The cuts, contusions, and fisticuffs help add to the action of what is already the greatest sport on Earth.

As professional hockey continues to change and moves more towards the skill end of the spectrum, players that will be able to contribute in all ways will find their way onto NHL rosters.  With the salary cap in full force and affect, teams can no longer afford to keep one-dimensional players on board.

Dave Strehle
NHLHS Philadelphia Flyers Correspondent
dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PhilaDAVEia

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS New York Islanders Correspondent
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

While the recent on-field success of his franchise might not be the best role model, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis’ “Just win baby” could be the perfect thing for coach Peter Laviolette to tell his Philadelphia Flyers this weekend.

After Wednesday night’s expected New York Rangers victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the entire season comes down to a home-and-home series between Philadelphia and New York, starting tonight at Madison Square Garden.

The Flyers’ magic number is at two points.  With a regulation win tonight in New York, the Orange-and-Black would clinch a playoff spot.

If the game goes to overtime, the Rangers would be guaranteed at least a point and everything would ride on Sunday’s contest at the Wachovia Center in South Philly.

And there is no way that Laviolette and his Flyers want it to get that close.

If history is any kind of a tell-tale sign for things to come, Philadelphia would do itself a tremendous favor by clinching the spot in the postseason tonight.

Past Rangers Torturing of the Flyers

In the 30 seasons I have been fortunate enough to witness, the Rangers have tortured the Flyers more than any other during that time frame.

It began with Ron Duguay, Ron Greschner, and the Smurfs, led by USA hockey coaching legend, Herb Brooks.

I get all warm and fuzzy watching “Miracle” and reminiscing about Team USA’s incredible Gold Medal victory over the Soviet Union, I really do.

But remembering those days in the early-80′s and what Brooks’ team did to the Philly faithful, it conjures up all kinds of horrific images.

Kind of like Linda Blair, head in full spin mode, and pea soup spewing from her mouth.

Yes, it has been that bad.

Along with the Brooks / Smurfs-era, the 80′s brought about a new playoff format and a young John Vanbiesbrouck to take over the Orange-and-Black house of pain.

Philadelphia would traditionally finish first in the old Patrick Division, with the Rangers barely qualifying in the fourth spot.  One played four, and you can see where this is going.

More often than not, New York knocked the Flyers out of the playoffs.  The years that Philly won the annual battle, they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The 90′s brought Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, and Flourtown’s Mike Richter, a whole new crew to dole out punishment.

The Flyers weren’t very good in the pre-Eric Lindros 90′s, so the torment was at least contained in the regular season.

With Lindros leading the Legion of Doom line, Philadelphia actually won most of the late-90′s playoff battles, most memorably knocking out the Wayne Gretzky / Messier-led squad on the way to the 1997 Finals.

Other than the usual rivalry issues, nothing extraordinarily bad had happened to Philadelphia at the hands of the Broadway Blueshirts.

Until the last game of the 2008-09 regular season at the Wachovia Center, that is.

Current Flyer Blair Betts was playing for New York last season, and he scored a late third period game-winning goal to take the all-important home-ice advantage away from the Flyers.

The loss dropped Philly to fifth place giving another arch-rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins, home ice in a series they would take in six games on their way to winning the Stanley Cup.

So with the chance there to end the drama tonight and exorcise the demons of seasons past, the Flyers would be wise to take it.

Because if they don’t, I’m sure the Rangers would be more than willing to add yet another chapter to their Orange-and-Black horror story.

But then again, Orange-and-Black are Halloween colors…”Halloween”, that is, a la Michael Myers.

Carter to be a “game-time decision”

Leading goal scorer Jeff Carter, out since March 21st with a fractured left foot, could play as early as tonight at Madison Square Garden.

Carter, who had a screw surgically inserted into the foot on March 26th, got good news when his MRI led the team’s medical staff to clear him for practice on Thursday.

Carter spent about 40 minutes on the ice Thursday, and another 15 this morning at MSG.

It remains to be seen if Carter will dress tonight or not.  But just the thought that their premier sniper is close should be a positive sign.

If the Flyers can get to the postseason, Carter’s addition would be a huge boost for an offense that has slumbered too often down the stretch.

Boucher Confident

With a record of 6-16-3 as of last last week, it would have been easy for Flyers’ goaltender Brian Boucher to pack it in.

But beginning with last Friday night’s effort in a 1-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Boosh has turned in three straight solid games, including wins in his last two.

Boucher has allowed just four goals in those three games, stopping 79 of 83 shots.  His shutout of the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night was his first blanking of the season.

With the injuries that ended the seasons of Ray Emery and Michael Leighton, Boucher was pretty much thrown into the starter’s role.

The 33-year-old number 33 could really make his mark on this season with getting Philadelphia into the playoffs.

Avery to miss weekend set

Super-pest Sean Avery, who almost single-handedly did the Flyers in during the Rangers 3-1 victory on March 14th, will miss the final two regular season games with a knee injury.

Should be a good sign for Philly, because Avery has been one of the leading New York torturers when they have beaten the Flyers in recent times.

The Gift of Gab – Some Great Quotes about Home-And-Home Set

Flyers forward Daniel Briere told the Philadelphia Inquirer:  “It’s clear as day now.  We all know what’s on the table.  Our confidence is high, we’ve played the right way three games in a row now.  If we play the way we have, we will be fine.  It will be a lot more satisfying to do it ourselves.”

Rangers starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist:  “It’s fun to be here.  A couple of weeks ago I thought we were out, but we never gave up and we’re back in the race.  The whole season comes down to the last two games.”

Philly captain Mike Richards:  “Now it’s real crunch time and it’s an exciting time of year.  It’s the best time of year when it means something.”

But maybe Flyers winger Scott Hartnell summed it up best:  “It’s going to be a hostile environment for sure at MSG, and we’re just going to have to go balls-out.”

Penalty-Killing Unit Getting Job Done

The Philadelphia penalty-killing unit has been stellar as of late.  They killed off all six Toronto man advantages on Tuesday, and now have killed off the last 20 opponent PP chances over the course of the last five contests.

Led by ex-Ranger Betts, Ian Laperriere, Richards and Darroll Powe, the forwards have been getting into lanes and blocking many of the point shots before they have gotten to Boucher.

Especially Laperriere.  Consistently faced with some of the biggest shooters in the NHL winding up to blast a shot towards the Flyers’ goal, Lappy never flinches.

Even after the Jason Pominville shot he took to the chops back on a Black Friday game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Laperriere ended up with nearly 100 stitches and lost seven teeth, but he has never stopped demonstrating the warrior’s soul.

And for the sake of the franchise, hopefully the entire team takes a page from Lappy’s book and shows the same moxy this weekend.

What’s at Stake?

Make no mistake, this weekend series between these two rivals is a huge deal to both franchises.

If the Rangers do not qualify for the playoffs, it will be the first time in the past five seasons that they have sat home when hockey’s second season begins.

It just might mean the beheading of general manager Glen Sather and possibly head coach John Tortorella.  Not to mention the countless offseason moves a non-playoff finish will trigger in the Big Apple.

The Flyers were an early-season pick for many of the hockey experts to make the Stanley Cup Finals when they acquired Chris Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks this past offseason.

A non-playoff finish would be catastrophic for a franchise that gave up a lot of youth in exchange for Pronger’s services.  They sent a younger goal scorer (Joffrey Lupul), a young, promising defenseman (last year’s first round choice, Luca Sbisa), and this year’s first round draft pick in the upcoming 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

There is no doubt that there is a high number of folks rooting for the Rangers to sweep the Flyers in the home-and-home and make Philly’s pick a REALLY good one for the Ducks.

And Finally…Weekend Prediction

Look for Simon Gagne to have at least a goal.  He lit it up against Lundqvist and the Rangers on Broadway back at the end of December with a hat trick, and his play of late indicates he could be in for another big game tonight.

If Carter is able to lace ‘em up, it will be another gigantic boost of confidence in the team’s locker room.

With New York’s emotional pot-stirrer Avery out, they will need huge efforts from Marian Gaborik, Chris Drury, Ryan Callahan, and Brandon Dubinsky.

These players have come up big against the Orange-and-Black in the past and for New York to have a fighting chance, they will need them tonight.

Based on the severity of the situation, I will go against my better judgment on how the Flyers have performed in big games so far this year and say the Philadelphia locks it up tonight with a 4-2 win.

But if the Rangers pull off a win in regulation tonight, all bets are off as to how things play out for Sunday.

And the Flyers are hoping Sunday’s game won’t matter in the standings.

David Strehle
NHLHS Flyers Correspondent / NHL Writer
dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PhilaDAVEia

Madison Square Garden network made history, as last night’s telecast of the Rangers-Islanders game went 3-D. It was indeed the first time a National Hockey League game had done so. Semantics aside, the Rangers didn’t disappoint, whether your viewing pleasure was enhanced or otherwise, as they dominated a dormant Isles bunch.

Clearly in an unenviable position heading into last night’s showdown with their interstate rivals, the Rangers took the game away, early and often. Yes the Rangers won 5-0, but if it wasn’t for Dwayne Roloson, this could have been more embarrassing than it turned out to be.

Artem Anisimov got the ball rolling for the home team, when he roofed home a loose puck that deflected off of teammate Jody Shelley, passed the shoulder of the Isles netminder. For Anisimov, that was his 11th tally of his rookie season.

Marian Gaborik then decided to finally show up and deliver his best performance since the Olympic break. The energy was palpable early and the Rangers kept breathing down the neck of their inferior opponents.

Just 2:33 after the Double A gave them a 1-0 lead, Gaborik, off a nice feed from behind the net by Brandon Dubinsky, put home his 38th of the season. This play all started with Dubinsky and Marc Staal almost scoring just a few seconds prior, rushing in two-on-one. When the play broke down, so did the Islanders defense, which left Gaborik all alone in front to accept the feed from the Alaska native to keep the Rangers rolling.

Feeling left out, Michael Del Zotto, who earlier in the contest fed Sean Avery a brilliant breakaway pass, that the ‘Grate One’ was unable to convert on, scored on a nifty setup by Gaborik. Del Zotto has become a power play specialist in just his first NHL season is starting to show why the Rangers are so high on the Stouffville, Ontario native. With the Rangers swarming on the extra man advantage, Del Zotto smartly snuck down low from his point position. Gaborik, as great a passer as he is a scorer, shredded the downtrodden Islanders defense with a wonderful pass, which the neophyte made no mistake on, popping Roloson’s water bottle from the net.

This assault all came within the first 8:30 of the contest. The 3-0 lead held up for a little over a two period span, that is until the Slick Slovakian felt like adding to the visitor’s misery. Already thwarted on a breakaway by a game Isles netminder, Gaborik wouldn’t be denied in the third. Seemingly having more jump in this game then he has in quite a while, all he needed was one step to breeze by and stalk his former Minnesota Wild teammate. Gaborik broke in and went high on the backhand, making it look all too easy, and simultaneously putting this game out of reach at 4-0.

The Islanders, to their discredit, didn’t make it all to hard for the Blueshirts, as the only extra effort that was shown, other than from their goaltender, was in trying to get after Sean Avery, who played another effective game. When Avery plays the way he has since his return from the benching in Atlanta, he is one of the more vital pieces to the success of this team. The value he brings transcends the scoreboard, although he did register an assist, as well as drive the Islanders crazy in the process.

What is driving the Rangers and their fans crazy is their inability to sustain a consistent effort game by game.

Henrik Lundqvist, who did indeed get his third shutout of the season and 23rd of his career, has been one of the few who has brought a consistent effort game in, game out. Another is Ryan Callahan, who despite being unable to finish the last game against the Bruins, came back last night and was effective, playing with Avery and captain Chris Drury. That is not enough though and it hasn’t been enough, as the Rangers are still five points out of the last playoff berth.

They are actually closer to an entry draft lottery slot, only one point from the 26th overall team in the league and two points out of 27th spot. The Oilers and Leafs are buried at the bottom two, but another mini slide can leave them in a lottery position, a position the Rangers are unfamiliar with.

Even amidst that terrible seven year playoff drought, the Rangers were still unable to be amongst the five worst teams in the league.

So, the question here Rangers fans is this, as much as it is great to watch playoff hockey, what would you rather see happen: Make the playoffs and get most likely wiped the floor with by the Capitals or get the best draft position possible and hopefully draft a player that will help this team going forward?

Knowing the Rangers history as we all do even if they do get a high draft pick, Sather and Co. can quite conceivably fail to deliver. I don’t have to remind you all about the Rangers selecting Alvaro Montoya with the sixth overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, do I?

But hey who would have thought we would be able to ever watch hockey in 3-D? As dangerous as it can be, Rangers fans can still dare to dream.

Hope springs eternal, even if hope is only an illusion in the end.

Brandon Augienello
NHLHS New York Rangers Correspondent
brandon@nhlhotstove.com
@HockeyGuy_B

Mike Modano leads all USA born hockey players in points and goals but now mans the fourth line in Dallas. After he and Marty Turco blamed the team’s woes on agitator Sean Avery, which amongst other things led to his exodus from Dallas, the Stars have not played any better than their mediocre 10th seed standing.

Turco destroyed all hopes of a playoff seed last year with a 2.81 GAA and .898 SV%.  His 33-41 record accounted for 90 percent of the Stars’ starts.  So what did the Stars do to alleviate their problems? Nothing!

Modano finished with less than 20 goals for just the third time in his career.  His point totals represented his fourth lowest total while he did not eclipse the 30 goal mark for an eighth straight season.  The former first overall pick projects for 44 points on the season, a stark contrast from his high scoring past.

What do these two players have in common?

The need to step aside and allow the franchise to build around youngsters Tom Wandell, Loui Eriksson, James Neal, Jamie Benn and now Kari Lehtonen amongst others.

By GM Joe Nieuwendyk trading for the oft-injured Lehtonen he receives a tall, agile goaltender whose younger than the 34-year-old Turco and 29-year-old Alex Auld.  The Finnish netminder provides a cheap and hopefully reliable option going into next season.  He may not represent the answer, but going younger needed to happen.

With Modano, Turco, Jere Lehtinen and Steve Ott impending free agents, expect plenty of moves to be made in Dallas.  Stars owner Tom Hicks outright said he would cut costs this season as he attempts to sell the team leading to frequent speculation that both Turco and Mike Ribeiro will be traded.  With the emergency tracheotomy on Ribeiro, it appears more likely only Turco and perhaps Ott will move to another team.

The Stars need a transition and this is how they will start.  Although they traded a 21-year-old and former first round pick for a 26-year-old goaltender and added age, they took from a strength and in theory plugged a gaping hope.  Good job, Joe!

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Editor
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotstove

Based on Matthew Pouliot’s series on Circling the Bases, I have decided restore the rosters for every NHL team. Like Pouliot, I have established some ground rules for my selections.

1. Each team contains players they originally drafted or signed before any other NHL team. This includes players drafted and not signed, as well as European free agents coming over at an older age.
2. I have chosen to leave retired players off the list, and lean toward players in the AHL rather than those deported (KHL, SEL, DEL, etc.).

Essentially I am choosing the best available players for a team to succeed in the current NHL season. All 30 teams will be covered, with grades assigned to forwards, defense and goaltending. After all 30 articles are written, they will be ranked in order. This series’ intent is to reward or shame NHL scouts.

Detroit:  The model every GM tries to emulate.  What’s that saying? “Often imitated, never duplicated” well that could not be truer of the Detroit Red Wings.  Drafting has definitely been a strength for Detroit.  Well it would have to be when you’re constantly finishing in the top five of the league and drafting in the bottom five as a result.

Such stars as Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom (their current top line by the way) all drafted after the 6th round, and none higher then 171st overall and as low as 257th, Detroit most definitely made the most of their draft picks.  Sixteen of the 22 players on this list are still in the Red Wings organization.  How many other teams can boast that fact? Not many.

Forwards:

This has been their strength in the draft.  This is hard to say considering you have Nicklas Lidstrom on D.  Their forward group can go head-to-head with any line-up in the NHL, a bonus for Detroit considering eight of their 13 forwards are still in the organization.

Henrik Zetterberg – Pavel Datsyuk – Tomas Holmstrom
Johan Franzen – Valtteri Filppula – Tomas Fleischmann
Slava Kozlov – Darren Helm – Mike Knuble
Sean Avery – Justin Abdelkader – Tomas Kopecky
Bench: Ville Leino

Their top 2 lines are almost identical to what is on the current roster, with the exception of Fleischmann.  Fleischmann’s dual wing eligibility makes him an added threat to opponents and a treasure to his team.   When Knuble, currently the right wing to Alexander Ovechkin plays on the 3rd line, it should tell you something about the strength of this group.

The bottom six consists of all grinders with a bit of a scoring touch, so you can never really rest easy against any group that Detroit decides to put on the ice.  The one concern with this group is the lack of youth ready to take over.  However, Detroit has always been known to bring their prospects along slowly allowing them to develop all aspects of their game, so I wouldn’t be too concerned with that after all.

Grade: A

Defence:

The defensive corps is what they dress on a nightly basis, save for Quincey, who now plays for Colorado.  Lead by two of the best, Lidstrom (considered by many to be the best to ever play D, although personally I think Bobby Orr is the greatest defensemen of ever) and Kronwall, the defence on this team is pretty rock solid.

Nicklas Lidstrom – Niklas Kronwall
Jonathan Ericsson – Kyle Quincey
Derek Meech – Brett Lebda
Bench: Jacub Kindl

What else needs to be said about a defence group that is in essence the same one that wears the Winged Wheel on a nightly basis?  Quincey has put up 20 points so far while still managing to have a +6 rating, pretty good numbers for a 3-4 defenseman.  The rest of the corps is very serviceable 4-6 D men on any team.

Grade: B+

Goaltenders:

The one area of weakness in the scouting for Detroit would have to be Goaltending.  This is funny when you consider Osgood has won three Stanley Cups.  Osgood’s problems have been in regular season consistency.  Shown by the number of goalies Detroit has brought in during his tenure to “replace” him.

Jimmy Howard
Chris Osgood

Howard has been nothing short of spectacular this season piling up an 18-10-4 record with a 2.20 GAA and a .927 SV%  Those numbers have been good enough to take over the starting duties from Osgood, but we’ll see what happens come playoff time.  If Howard can continue this pace moving forward in his career, goaltending may turn into a strength for Detroit’s scouting staff.  Only time will tell for sure.

Grade: C+

Jose Simoes
NHLHS Storyteller
jsimoes@nhlhotstove.com

Central

• Chris Kuc of The Chicago Tribune thinks losing two games should not be cause for concern. The team now recovered with three days off and they feel refreshed.
• Derrick Brassard, frustrated by lack of minutes, compares to Patrick Sharp of the Hawks.  We wrote earlier this month on coach Ken Hitchcock and his propensity to bench young players or play them in checking roles.
• Despite an embarrassing 6-0 loss to the Islanders, coach Mike Babcock rested his players.  The oldest team in the league needs to make a pre-Olympic push in order to make the playoffs.
• Due to payroll restrictions the Predators simply cannot afford to keep both Pekka Rinne and Dan Ellis.  John Glennon of the Tennessean asks if they should trade one before the deadline or carry both for a playoff push.
• The Blues return to a physical brand of hockey with interim coach Davis Payne.  The team sported a potent forecheck last season during their unbelievable stretch run.  Improbable but the Blues still feel there is hope, as David Backes leads them in taking out star players.

Northwest

• Despite a solid effort against the Penguins the Flames fell short.  Now frustration sets in with the team with just one win in three games despite averaging around 40 shots over that period.
• Avs defenseman Brett Clark took a puck to the face but vows not to stop shot blocking.  ”It was a fluke that happened, when you compare it to the amount of times I’ve done it,” said the injured Clark.
• Nikolai Khabibulin out indefinitely after needing surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back.  At this point the Oil seem poised to win the Taylor Hall sweepstakes now that the Hurricanes nursed themselves back to full strength.
• Michael Russo of the Star Tribune discussed the Wild’s third period rally to defeat their division rivals.
• The Wild defeated the Canucks with their fists and on the scorecard.  Even though the Canucks played an admirable second period their poor third period would lead to their demise.

Pacific

• The lastest Ducks win comes at the expense of veteran leader Teemu Selanne.  After returning quickly from a broken wrist the Finn expects to miss several weeks.
• GM Joe Nieuwendyk gave his team a pep-talk recently.  ”I have been a bit disappointed in some of the older guys, and I have talked to them and asked them to look in the mirror and bring more and take the leadership role,” Nieuwendyk said.  Veteran forward Steve Ott agrees, “We did it earlier in the year, we’re doing it at home now, we know how to play winning hockey.”
• LA Kings.com named Marc-Andre Cliche their prospect of the week.  The main peice of the Sean Avery deal scored three goals this past week with Manchester of the AHL.
• Jim Gintonio of The Arizona Republic takes a deeper look at the tough schedule the Coyotes will endure.
• Former Shark captain Patrick Marleau stays humble after scoring his league leading 31st goal.  His consistent effort remains one of the reasons for the team’s success.

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Editor
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove