FIVE TEAMS ON THE RISE, FIVE TEAMS ON THE SLIDE
+ Ottawa Senators
Daniel Alfredsson is gone, but coming in hot is Bobby Ryan, who brings lots of personality, lots of success, from his days in Anaheim. And the foundation is being laid properly. Including the always-flashy Erik Karlsson, the Sens deployed 18 self-drafted players last winter. Finest penalty killing in the league. Backed by Craig Anderson, one of the best goalies in the business — and guided by Coach Walrus — Ottawa won’t be starting the playoffs on the road. And just imagine if they stay healthy.
+ Columbus Blue Jackets
After scorching through the last chunk of the season (to the tune of 19-5-3), the Blue Jackets managed to collect 55 points, enough to deadlock them for eighth in the Western Conference. The tiebreaker, though, went to the Wild. Breakout star Sergei Bobrovsky is back in net. Additionally, they’ll get a full season of Marian Gaborik, not to mention contributions (at some point) from newcomer Nathan Horton. Door swings open for highly touted youngsters Ryan Murray and Ryan Johansen.
+ Colorado Avalanche
In the spot normally reserved for the supposedly upswinging Oilers is an outfit every bit as crammed with talent. The Avs boast one topflight centre, Matt Duchene, and a couple of other forwards, Ryan O’Reilly and Paul Stastny, who figure to be supremely motivated. Factor in captain Gabriel Landeskog, who’s only 20. Oh yeah — Nathan MacKinnon, the first overall pick, happens to be there, too. Legend-in-residence Patrick Roy can worry about defensive shortcomings later.
+ St. Louis Blues
With Ken Hitchcock still on the whip, with a committed blue-line (Jay Bouwmeester acquired, Alex Pietrangelo extended), with savvy grit added (Brenden Morrow), the Blues are set to burst into the next level (beyond the regular season). Physical and talented, they should — and will — shake the label of Los Angeles Lite.
+ New York Islanders
When talking about the folks from Long Island, there is one place to start — John Tavares, who finished 17th in league scoring last season. His 28 goals were third most in the NHL. The dashing centre, who turned 23 last week, leads a group that pushed the Penguins to six games in the opening round last spring. The under-rated likes of Matt Moulson, Frans Nielsen and Travis Hamonic help to pave the way to another playoff berth.
– Vancouver Canucks
Man of the Manor, John Tortorella, apparently plans to jolt the Canucks out of their country-club stupor. Yes to blocking shots. No to tweeting. (And pocket-ringing reporters, you’ve been warned.) But as always, success boils down to talent, depth and goaltending. Can the Sedins, freshly turned 33, keep producing? Can battered Ryan Kesler still inspire fear? How will Roberto Luongo respond to being marooned in Vancouver? In the Pacific Division with the surly squads of California, it won’t be easy.
– Winnipeg Jets
Sure, the travel will be a comparable snap for the Jets, who spent the past two winters traipsing all over Carolina and Florida. Unfortunately, their new itinerary takes them repeatedly to places like Chicago, St. Louis, and St. Paul, Minn. The Manitobans do have some nice pieces — Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler, Evander Kane. The Jets finished four points south of eighth spot last spring. Bank on that increasing.
– Detroit Red Wings
As often as experts pick the Oilers to march up the standings, they guarantee the slide of the Wings. Too old. Too soft. Too, uh, European. But, stubbornly, they stay in the thick of things. Now in the Eastern Conference, the Wings can boast of incoming talent — Tomas Tatar, 22; Danny Dekeyser, 23; Joakim Andersson, 24; Gustav Nyquist, 24; but all of their top chaps are on the dusty side of 30. Further, they are cap-crunched. Finally, the Wings will rattle out of the top eight.
– Toronto Maple Leafs
Expectations built up beyond all reality, as usual. Just when it appeared the team had made up its mind goaltending-wise, it chucks Jonathan Bernier into the mix. And speaking of distractions, how will the Leafs be affected by the last-year-of-contract sideshow of captain Dion Phaneuf and winger Phil Kessel? (Fun fact: the Leafs are still paying out Darcy Tucker, one more year at $1 million.)
– Pittsburgh Penguins
No one would ever condemn their top-end group (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, James Neal), but what about that goaltending? Apparently, the Pens are content to stick with Marc-Andre Fleury. Too, the team’s filler is far from decent. And while no one is suggesting the Pens will miss the playoffs, the Eastern (regular-season) kingpins are in reverse. That Eastern Conference final pounding, courtesy of the Boston Bruins, remains fresh. And telling.