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They’re going to win the Stanley Cup, right?
What do you mean they won’t? They acquired 35-year-old Chris Pronger for four first-round draft picks (two future ones, two previous ones).
What do you mean that doesn’t matter? They have Ray Emery to hold the fort between the pipes.
Still no?
Fine, you’re right.
The fact of the matter is that while the Philadelphia Flyers seemingly are one step closer [...]

Entering the 2009-10 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins are the team to beat in the East, if not the entire NHL.
One could throw out names like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Sergei Gonchar and Marc-Andre Fleury and listeners will concede the likelihood of championship favorite.
It’s a testament to the talent in Pittsburgh, if nothing else. But the reason why the Penguins should be considered the Beast of the East extends much further than some talented players–the champions haven’t missed a beat.
When a team wins a championship–in any sport–the subsequent off-season is too often a period of turmoil, despite the great [...]

It was all supposed to go so well, but it didn’t. Such was the story for 2008-09 Tampa Bay Lightning.
In addition to stars like Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis, the Bolts brought in Ryan Malone and drafted supposed phenom, Steven Stamkos.
Potent, they said, when describing what the offense might be like. Tough to beat, we’d hear, too. The results, unfortunately, were especially disappointing. Unless you don’t think the bottom of the standings is bad.
What happened to the Tampa Bay Lightning of 2008 represented the notion that names and so-called “stars” aren’t enough. The recipe for success in sports is [...]

Superstar forward Ilya Kovalchuk made it clear to the front office that unless management takes strides to build a bona fide contender, he will elect to sign elsewhere, as his contract expires at the end of the 2009-10 season.
Abracadabra! The Thrashers signed Nik Antropov. Kovalchuk will be a Thrasher for life!
The signing of Antropov is about as effective as removing a pebble behind a tire before pulling out of a parking spot., while Kovalchuk remaining a Thrasher is as likely as…well, the notion itself is a default impossibility!
Kovalchuk asked for a thunderstorm and got an artificial drizzle.
Is Antropov that bad? [...]

The Florida Panthers are a bubble team.
Sometimes that’s a compliment. Most of the time, however, it’s the sports world equivalent of “You’re nice and everything, but…”
The “but” in this case is the fact that the Panthers are much more likely to be on the outside looking in come playoff time.
Last year was their chance to turn the tide. The bottom half of the Eastern Conference was there for the taking; the Panthers were right there in the thick of things, but, nevertheless buckled. And that was when stud defenseman Jay Bouwmeester was the staple of the team’s back end.
The picture [...]

There shouldn’t be high expectations surrounding the 2009-10 Carolina Hurricanes as they enter the start of the regular season.
That’s not at all a slight, it’s just a fact.
Given that what they will have in October will be eerily similar to what they had in May, you have to ask yourself: Where is the improvement?
It’s not really there.
While the ‘Canes shocked the world with a game seven victory over the New Jersey Devils before upsetting the No. 1-seeded Boston Bruins in another seven game battle, reality struck when they ran into the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Weaknesses were exposed.
Firstly, relying on impeccable goaltending can [...]

The Washington Capitals are an enigma.
Without hesitation one could argue they are among the few teams to beat in the Eastern Conference, if not the entire NHL. However, ask the same person if they are among the favorites to contend for a Stanley Cup, and you’ll detect a hint of reservation.
How can that be?
Defense and goaltending, primarily.
We’re living in a “New NHL” era. Talent, skill, speed prevail. Big, immobile, bruising grinders–whether forwards or defensemen–can no longer call the NHL their home because of the new rules and approach to the game.
The Wahington Capitals, it appears, accidentally missed that memo. Guys [...]

They were supposed to make all the noise this off-season. Instead, we heard the sound of silence.
GM Brian Burke is one of the league’s most upfront and vocal executives in the NHL, and upon his arrival to one of hockey’s truest mecca, Toronto, he made it especially clear that the Leafs were about to undergo a massive overhaul.
While many names have come and gone since his proclamation, one question still looms one of the league’s most prestigious franchises: Are they good?
Not yet.
Forward Nik Antropov was traded at the deadline from Toronto to the New York Rangers. Dominic Moore fled the [...]