5 day forecast
NHL preview: Western Conference
Share with others:
Coach: Joel Quenneville.
General Manager: Stan Bowman.
2008-09 record: 46-24-12.
Key newcomers: RW Marian Hossa, C Tomas Kopecky, C John Madden.
Key departures: RW Martin Havlat, G Nikolai Khabibulin, C Samuel Pahlsson, D Matt Walker.
Overview: Play of G Cristobal Huet will determine how far Hawks can go.
Coach: Mike Babcock.
General Manager: Ken Holland.
2008-09 record: 51-21-10.
Key newcomers: RW Todd Bertuzzi, C Jason Williams, RW Patrick Eaves.
Key departures: RW Marian Hossa, D Chris Chelios, G Ty Conklin, C Tomas Kopecky, RW Mikael Samuelsson, C Jiri Hudler, RW Aaron Downey, RW Darren McCarty.
Overview: They'll be around next spring, when it matters most.
Coach: Ken Hitchcock.
General Manager: Scott Howson.
2008-09 record: 41-31-10.
Key newcomers: C Samuel Pahlsson, G Mathieu Garon, D Mathieu Roy, D Anton Stralman.
Key departures: C Jason Williams, D Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, G Wade Dubielewicz, C Manny Malhotra, C Mike York, C Michael Peca.
Overview: Jackets should reach playoffs for second year in row.
Coach: Andy Murray.
General Manager: Larry Pleau.
2008-09 record: 41-31-10.
Key newcomers: D Alex Pietrangelo, G Ty Conklin, RW Derek Armstrong, D Darryl Sydor, D Bryce Lampman, D Brendan Bell.
Key departures: D Jay McKee, D Jeff Woywitka, RW Dan Hinote, C Trent Whitfield, G Manny Legace.
Overview: Blues have been assembling excellent young talent for several years.
Coach: Barry Trotz
General Manager: David Poile
2008-09 record: 40-34-8.
Key newcomers: RW Ben Guite, C Marcel Goc.
Key departures: D Greg Zanon, C Scott Nichol, C Radek Bonk, D Ville Koistinen, C Vernon Fiddler, D Greg DeVries, RW Joel Ward.
Overview: Season should provide fodder for sad country song.
Coach: Alain Vigneault.
General Manager: Mike Gillis.
2008-09 record: 45-27-10.
Key newcomers: G Andrew Raycroft, RW Mikael Samuelsson, D Mathieu Schneider, D Christian Ehrhoff, D Brad Lukowich, LW Sergei Shirikov.
Key departures: C Mats Sundin, D Mattias Ohlund, G Jason LaBarbera, LW Jason Jaffray, C Jason Krog, LW Jeff Cowan, G Curtis Sanford, LW Taylor Pyatt, D Ossi Vaananen, D Rob Davison.
Overview: G Roberto Luongo will be trying to lock up No. 1 job with Team Canada.
Coach: Brent Sutter.
General Manager: Darryl Sutter.
2008-09 record: 46-30-6.
Key newcomers: D Jay Bouwmeester, LW Nigel Dawes, RW Brian McGrattan, RW Fredrik Sjostrom, C Garth Murray, LW Jason Jaffray, C Riley Armstrong.
Key departures: C Wayne Primeau, D Adrian Aucoin, LW Mike Cammalleri, D Jordan Leopold, RW Todd Bertuzzi, C Warren Peters, D Anders Eriksson, LW Andre Roy, D Jim Vandermeer.
Overview: Will benefit from defensive structure introduced by new coach.
Coach: Todd Richards.
General Manager: Chuck Fletcher.
2008-09 record: 40-33-9.
Key newcomers: RW Martin Havlat, D Greg Zanon, RW Petr Sykora, D Shane Hnidy, C Nathan Smith, G Wade Dubielewicz, C Kyle Brodziak.
Key departures: RW Marian Gaborik, D Kurtis Foster, LW Stephane Veilleux, D Martin Skoula, D Marc-Andre Bergeron, C Dan Fritsche.
Overview: Transition to up-tempo style of play might include some bumps.
Coach: Pat Quinn.
General Manager: Steve Tambellini.
2008-09 record: 38-35-9.
Key newcomers: G Nikolai Khabibulin, C Mike Comrie.
Key departures: G Dwayne Roloson, C Kyle Brodziak, RW Ales Kotalik, G Dany Sabourin, D Mathieu Roy, C, Robbie Schremp.
Overview: Lack size, grit needed to be a force.
Coach: Joe Sacco.
General Manager: Greg Sherman.
2008-09 record: 32-45-5.
Key newcomers: LW Matt Duchene, LW David Koci, D Kyle Quincey, D Tom Preissing, G Craig Anderson, RW Darren Haydar.
Key departures: C Joe Sakic, RW Ian Laperriere, LW Ryan Smyth, G Andrew Raycroft, C Tyler Arnason, C Nathan Smith, RW Ben Guite, C Cody McCormick.
Overview: Might not win many more games than the Broncos.
Coach: Todd McLellan.
General Manager: Doug Wilson.
2008-09 record: 53-18-11.
Key newcomers: LW Dany Heatley, C Scott Nichol, C Manny Malhotra, D Kent Huskins, RW Jed Ortmeyer.
Key departures: RW Jonathan Cheechoo, D Christian Ehrhoff, G Brian Boucher, LW Milan Mihalek, RW Claude Lemieux, C Jeremy Roenick, D Brett Westgarth, C Riley Armstrong, C Marcel Goc, RW Mike Grier, LW Travis Moen, D Alexei Semenov, D Brad Lukowich.
Overview: Once again, success will be measured by post-season performance.
Coach: Randy Carlyle.
General Manager: Bob Murray.
2008-09 record: 42-33-7.
Key newcomers: C Saku Koivu, RW Joffrey Lupul, D Nick Boynton, D Luca Sbisa, D Steve Eminger, RW Evgeny Artyukhin, D Steve McCarthy, RW Mike Brown.
Key departures: D Chris Pronger, D Francois Beauchemin, C Rob Niedermayer, D Bret Hedican, D Kent Huskins.
Overview: Despite diluted defense, Ducks can do some serious damage.
Coach: Marc Crawford.
General Manager: Joe Nieuwendyk.
2008-09 record: 36-35-11.
Key newcomers: G Alex Auld, D Jeff Woywitka, D Karlis Skrastins, C Warren Peters.
Key departures: D Sergei Zubov, LW Steve Begin, D Darryl Sydor, RW Mark Parrish, RW Brendan Morrison, RW Chris Conner, C Brendan Morrison.
Overview: Stars aren't a power anymore, but they're not a patsy, either.
Coach: Terry Murray.
General Manager: Dean Lombardi.
2008-09 record: 34-37-11.
Key newcomers: LW Ryan Smyth, D Rob Scuderi.
Key departures: D Kyle Quincey, C Kyle Calder, D Tom Preissing, LW Matt Moulson, RW Derek Armstrong, D Denis Gauthier.
Overview: There's a breakout season coming for this team. Soon.
First Published September 30, 2009 12:00 am
