NY Islanders:
General Manager: Garth Snow
Head Coach: Jack Capuano
Key Additions: Marty Reasoner, Brian Rolston (Trade via NJ)
Key Subtractions: Trent Hunter (Traded to NJ, then bought out), Jack Hillen (Nashville), Radek Martinek (Columbus), Zenon Konopka (Ottawa), Nathan Lawson (Montreal)
Are the Islanders ready to take the next step and finally make the playoffs? They certainly can with their potent offense and high-end skill. However, they have to stay healthy and that mostly applies to goaltender Rick DiPietro, who is often injured. He has to stay healthy and be very consistent. Also, Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit have to be healthy and John Tavares has to step up his game and hopefully reach his potential of being a 40 goal scorer. Finally, the play of Michael Grabner will also determine their destiny. Again, I think they have the skill and firepower to win, but can they do it on a consistent basis.
New Jersey Devils:
General Manager: Lou Lamoriello
Head Coach: Peter DeBoer
Key Additions: Cam Janssen, Eric Boulton, Trent Hunter (Trade via NY Islanders, bought out), Maxim Noreau (Trade via Minnesota)
Another year, another new coach for the Devils. Their biggest move for a 3rd straight offseason was naming a coach. This time its Peter DeBoer, who I think is exactly what the Devils need. They wanted for a long time to finish what Brent Sutter started and they will get a chance to do so with DeBoer. However, they will have to find success without top center Travis Zajac, who will be out until November. But, their success will depend on Brodeur, Parise's and Kovalchuk's play as well as secondary scoring of players like Elias, Clarkson, Tedenby, Josefson and Zubrus. I think they will be back in the playoffs and will make some noise.
Key Subtractions: Colin White (San Jose), Mike McKenna (Ottawa), Anssi Salmela (KHL), Pierre-Luc Letourneau-LeBlond (Traded to Calgary)
NY Rangers:
General Manager: Glen Sather
Head Coach: John Tortorella
Key Additions: Brad Richards, Mike Rupp, Tim Erixon (Trade via Calgary)
Key Subtractions: Evgeny Grachev (Traded to St. Louis), Matt Gilroy (Tampa Bay), Vaclav Prospal (Columbus), Chris Drury (retirement)
The NY Rangers in my mind could be either a deep playoff threat or a huge disappointment as they usually are. However, I expect them to reach Round 2 of the playoffs and even take their opponent to 7 games, but their success will depend on Henrik Lundqvist.
Pittsburgh Penguins:
General Manager: Ray Shero
Head Coach: Dan Bylsma
Key Additions: Steven Sullivan, Jason Williams, Alexandre Picard
Key Subtractions: Maxime Talbot (Philadelphia), Mike Rupp (NY Rangers), Eric Godard (Dallas), Corey Potter (Edmonton)
The Penguins will reach the Finals in my view, but again if both Crosby and Malkin are healthy and effective, simply put.
Philadelphia Flyers:
General Manager: Paul Holmgren
Head Coach: Peter Laviolette
Key Additions: Ilya Bryzgalov, Jaromir Jagr, Maxime Talbot, Brayden Schenn (Trade via Los Angeles), Wayne Simmonds (Trade via Los Angeles), Jakub Voracek (Trade via Columbus), Andreas Lilja, Michael Nylander (Tryout)
Key Subtractions: Mike Richards (Traded to Los Angeles), Jeff Carter (Traded to Columbus), Sean O'Donnell (Chicago), Dan Carcillo (Chicago), Kris Versteeg (Traded to Florida), Ville Leino (Buffalo), Danny Syvret, Brian Boucher (Carolina)
A huge makeover involving their two core players getting traded will take a while to mesh and create new chemistries. They will be a cup contender, but I think the division will be a 4 team race and I am picking the Penguins to win this division.
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