NHL preview: Eastern Conference
Share with others:
Coach: John Stevens.
General Manager: Paul Holmgren.
2008-09 record: 44-27-11.
Key newcomers: D Chris Pronger, G Ray Emery, RW Ian Laperriere, G Brian Boucher, D Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, C Blair Betts, LW James Van Riemsdyk, RW Jason Ward, RW Mika Pyorala.
Key departures: D Derian Hatcher, RW Mike Knuble, LW Joffrey Lupul, D Randy Jones, D Luca Sbisa, G Martin Biron, G Antero Niittymaki, D Nate Guenin, D Andrew Alberts, D Lasse Kukkonen.
Overview: Unless Emery self-immolates, as he tends to do, Flyers are threat to win division, conference and Cup.
Coach: Dan Bylsma.
General Manager: Ray Shero.
2008-09 record: 45-28-9.
Key newcomers: D Jay McKee, C/LW Mike Rupp, G Brent Johnson, RW Chris Conner, D Nate Guenin, D Deryk Engelland, D Martin Skoula
Key departures: D Rob Scuderi, D Hal Gill, RW Petr Sykora, RW Miroslav Satan, G Mathieu Garon, D Philippe Boucher, C Mike Zigomanis, LW Jeff Taffe.
Overview: Repeat champions are rare in NHL. So are clubs with this much young, top-shelf talent.
Coach: Jacques Lemaire.
General Manager: Lou Lamoriello.
2008-09 record: 51-27-4.
Key newcomers: RW Niclas Bergfors, G Yann Danis, D Cory Murphy, LW Andrew Peters, D Rob Davison, C Rob Niedermayer.
Key departures: C John Madden, RW Brian Gionta, C/LW Mike Rupp, D Niclas Havelid, C Bobby Holik, G Kevin Weekes, G Scott Clemmensen.
Overview: Lemaire's defensive style generates more victories than new fans.
Coach: John Tortorella.
General Manager: Glen Sather.
2008-09 record: 43-30-9.
Key newcomers: RW Marian Gaborik, RW Chris Higgins, C Vaclav Prospal, RW Ales Kotalik, C Artem Anisimov, RW Enver Lisin, C Tyler Arnason, LW Donald Brashear, D Matt Gilroy, D Michael Del Zotto.
Key departures: C Scott Gomez, RW Fredrik Sjostrom, RW Colton Orr, RW Markus Naslund, D Derek Morris, D Paul Mara, C Nik Antropov, C Blair Betts, RW Nikolai Zherdev, D Doug Janik, LW Lauri Korpikoski, C Blair Betts.
Overview: Shouldn't be boring, no matter how much they win or lose.
Coach: Scott Gordon.
General Manager: Garth Snow.
2008-09 record: 26-47-9.
Key newcomers: C John Tavares, G Martin Biron, G Dwayne Roloson, LW Matt Moulson, C Jeremy Reich, C Robbie Schremp, D Brett Westgarth.
Key departures: G Joey MacDonald, G Yann Danis, C Mike Sillinger, LW Dean McAmmond, C Andy Hilbert, D Thomas Pock.
Overview: Couldn't compete with Islanders' dynasty of early 1980s. And most of those guys are 60 or so.
Coach: Claude Julien.
General Manager: Peter Chiarelli.
2008-09 record: 53-19-10.
Key newcomers: LW Steve Begin, G Dany Sabourin, D Derek Morris, C Trent Whitnfield.
Key departures: RW Phil Kessel, D Steve Montador, LW P.J. Axelsson, D Paul Mara, D Shane Hnidy, C Jeremy Reich, C Stephane Yelle, D Aaron Ward, G Manny Fernandez.
Overview: Excellent overall depth, although replacing Kessel's 36 goals could be problem.
Coach: Lindy Ruff.
General Manager: Darcy Regier.
2008-09 record: 41-32-9.
Key newcomers: D Steve Montador, RW Mike Grier, LW Jeff Cowan, D Joe DiPenta, C Cody McCormick, D Tyler Myers.
Key departures: RW Maxim Afinogenov, D Jaroslav Spacek, D Teppo Numminen, LW Andrew Peters, C Dominic Moore, G Mikael Tellqvist.
Overview: Ruff will find way to make Sabres competitive, especially if G Ryan Miller stays healthy.
Coach: Ron Wilson.
General Manager: Brian Burke.
2008-09 record: 34-35-13.
Key newcomers: RW Phil Kessel, D Garnet Exelby, D Mike Komisarek, D Francois Beauchemin, G Jonas Gustavsson, C Wayne Primeau, G Joey MacDonald, RW Colton Orr.
Key departures: D Anton Stralman, D Pavel Kubina, G Martin Gerber, G Curtis Joseph, LW Brad May, C Boyd Devereaux, LW Ryan Hollweg, C Kris Newbury, RW Jeremy Williams.
Overview: There's no longer a black hole in the self-proclaimed center of the hockey universe.
Coach: Cory Clouston.
General Manager: Bryan Murray.
2008-09 record: 36-35-11.
Key newcomers: RW Alex Kovalev, RW Jonathan Cheechoo, LW Milan Mihalek, D Erik Karlsson.
Key departures: LW Dany Heatley, G Alex Auld, D Brendan Bell, C Mike Comrie.
Overview: Some potential, but just too much uncertainty on defense and in goal.
Coach: Jacques Martin.
General Manager: Bob Gainey.
2008-09 record: 41-30-11.
Key newcomers: C Scott Gomez, D Hal Gill, RW Brian Gionta, D Jaroslav Spacek, LW Mike Cammalleri, LW Travis Moen, D Paul Mara, G Curtis Sanford, C Andreas Engqvist.
Key departures: C Saku Koivu, RW Alex Kovalev, D Mike Komisarek, LW Chris Higgins, D Mike Komisarek, LW Alex Tanguay, C Robert Lang, D Mathieu Schneider, RW Tom Kostopoulos, D Patrice Brisebois, D Francis Bouillon, D Mathieu Dandenault, G Marc Denis.
Overview: If smaller is better, Canadiens should be great.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Coach: Bruce Boudreau.
General Manager: George McPhee.
2008-09 record: 50-24-8.
Key newcomers: RW Mike Knuble, C Brendan Morrison.
Key departures: C Sergei Fedorov, LW Donald Brashear, G Brent Johnson, C Viktor Kozlov.
Overview: Forwards, led by LW Alex Ovechkin, are as good as any group in the league.
Coach: Paul Maurice.
General Manager: Jim Rutherford.
2008-09 record: 45-30-7.
Key newcomers: C Stephane Yelle, D Andrew Alberts, RW Tom Kostopoulos, D Aaron Ward,
Key departures: LW Ryan Bayda, RW Patrick Eaves, D Dennis Seidenberg, D Anton Babchuk, D Frantisek Kaberle.
Overview: Hurricanes are better than they looked in Eastern Conference final.
Coach: John Anderson.
General Manager: Don Waddell.
2008-09 record: 35-41-6.
Key newcomers: D Pavel Kubina, C Evander Kane, C Nik Antropov, D Noah Welch, C Josh Gratton, D Joel Kwiatkowski, RW Maxim Afinogenov.
Key departures: D Garnet Exelby, C Eric Perrin.
Overview: Although few might have noticed, there's a good young defense being assembled in Atlanta.
Coach: Rick Tocchet.
General Manager: Brian Lawton.
2008-09 record: 24-40-18.
Key newcomers: D Victor Hedman, D Mattias Ohlund, LW Alex Tanguay, D David Hale, LW Todd Fedoruk, D Kurtis Foster, D Matt Walker, G Antero Niittymaki, LW Stephane Veilleux,
Key departures: RW Evgeny Artyukhin, RW Radim Vrbata, C Vaclav Prospal, D Cory Murphy, D Noah Welch, RW Jason Ward, LW David Koci, D Marek Malik, LW Matt Pettinger, D Josef Melichar.
Overview: Hardly a model franchise, but won't be a punch line anymore, either.
First Published September 29, 2009 6:55 pm
