2011 Offseason Recap - Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks - 3
Highest Possible Finish - 1st in division, 1st in conference
Projected Points Leader - Patrick Kane, 34-59-93
Signings
July 15: D Sami Lepisto (CLB), one year, $750,000 cap hit
July 1: LW Dan Carcillo (PHI), one year, $775,000 cap hit
July 1: LW Andrew Brunette (MIN), one year, $2,000,000 cap hit
July 1: D Sean O'Donnell (PHI), one year $850,000 cap hit
July 1: RW Jamal Mayers (SJ), one year, $550,000 cap hit
June 30: D Steve Montador, four years, $11 million, $2,750,000 cap hit

Trades
June 29: D Steve Montador from BUF for 7th round pick (2012 or 2013)
June 27 : 7th round pick (2013) from FLA for RW Tomas Kopecky
June 24: LW Rostislav Olesz from FLA for D Brian Campbell
June 24: 1st round pick (2011, C Phillip Danault) from WAS for RW Troy Brouwer

Departures

C Jake Dowell - DAL

D Garnet Exelby - DET

G Marty Turco

RW Fernando Pisani

What to Expect

The Hawks got back what they lost a lot of in last year's salary purge, character. The core of the team is as good as they come, but an upgrade was needed on the bottom lines. Jamal Mayers and Dan Carcillo are two of the finest shift-disturbers in the league and they will bring a lot of energy to the team. Steve Montador and Sean O'Donnell form a veteran third-pairing. All should help a 25th ranked penalty kill, one of the main weaknesses last season. Corey Crawford showed a lot of potential in his rookie last year so there shouldn't be any problems in net. This will once again be a dominant team and will overtake the aging Red Wings as division champion more often than not from this point forward. They have all the right tools as they did in 2010, they just have to work together properly. 

Detroit Red Wings - 5

Best Possible Finish - 1st in division, 2nd in conference

Projected Point Leader - Henrik Zetterberg, 31-55-86

Signings

July 20: G Ty Conklin (STL), one year, $750,000 cap hit

July 11: G Joey MacDonald, two years, $1.1 million, $550,000 cap hit

July 2: D Ian White (SJ), two years, $5.75 million, $ 2,875,000 cap hit

July 1: D Mike Commodore (CLB), one year, $1,000,000 cap hit

July 1: LW Drew Miller, two years, $1.675 million, $837,500 cap hit

July 1: RW Patrick Eaves, three years, $3.6 million, $1,200,000 cap hit

June 30: D Jonathan Ericsson, three years, $9.75 million, $3,250,000 cap hit

June 20: D Nicklas Lidstrom, one year, $6,200,000 cap hit

Trades

June 24: 2nd round pick (2011, RW Tomas Jurco), 2nd round pick (2011, D Xavier Ouellet) from OTT for 1st round pick (2011, LW Matt Puempel)

Departures

D Brian Rafalski - retirement

G Chris Osgood - retirement

D Ruslan Salei - KHL, Lokomitiv Yaroslavl 

D Derek Meech - WIN

C Mike Modano

What to Expect

The Wings got Lidstrom for another year which is especially helpful after the sudden retirement of Brian Rafalski. Mike Commodore and Ian White will add veteran depth to the blueline and Niklas Kronwall should get an even bigger chunk of ice timePavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are still capable of being the top two-way players in the game and Johan Franzen is unlikely to go on another two goals in 27 games stretch. The second-ranked offense is in no danger of falling. In goal, Jimmy Howard will look to go from good to great in his third season as starter. While they are no longer the elite team i the conference, they are still going to be a highly difficult team to play against and with nearly $6 million in cap space, they is room for med-season improvement. 

St. Louis Blues - 6

Best Possible Finish - 3rd in division, 5th in conference

Projected Point Leader - Chris Stewart, 37-39-76

Signings

Aug. 8: D Danny Syvret (PHI), one year, $525,000 cap hit

July 13: RW Jonathan Cheechoo, one year, $600,000 cap hit

July 6: C Jason Arnott (WAS), one year, $2,875,000 cap hit

July 6: RW Jamie Langenbrunner (DAL), one year, $2,875,000 cap hit

July 5: C Scott Nichol (SJ), one year, $700,000 cap hit

July 4: LW Brett Sterling (PIT), one year, $600,000 cap hit

July 2: D Kent Huskins (SJ), one year, $1,000,000 cap hit

July 1: G Brian Elliot (COL), one year, $600,000 cap hit

July 1: RW Matt D'Agostini, two years, $3.3 million, $1,650,000 cap hit

Trades

June 25: C Evgeny Grachev from NYR for 3rd round pick (2011, C Steven Fogarty)

Departures

RW Cam Janssen - NJ

D Nathan Oystrick - PHO

D Dean Arsene - PHO

D Tyson Strachan - FLA

G Ty Conklin - DET

What to Expect

After a great start to the season, injuries took over and derailed everything. They now have a very deep offense that is dangerous even without winger David Perron who is still sidelined with a concussion. Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner are the veterans tagged to guide this young roster and they can still play important roles on the ice when they need to. No one is going to be able to lead the offensive charge themselves, but they will be able to roll out waves of a speedy attack that should be fun to watch. On defense, Kevin Shattenkirk, who led all rookie D-men in assists and points last year, and Alex Pietrangelo are the rising stars. Other than Barrett Jackman, Carlo Colaiacovo and Roman Polak, the blueline is pretty thin. Jaroslav Halak will have a much better season playing behind a healthier team. The Blues are definitely in for their best season since the lockout and could record fewer than 30 losses for the first time since 2002-03.

Nashville Predators - 8

Best Possible Finish - 3rd in division, 5th in conference

Projected Point Leader - Martin Erat, 24-40-64

Signings

Aug. 8: D Jack Hillen (NYI), one year, $650,000 cap hit

Aug. 3: D Shea Weber, one year, $7,500,000 cap hit

July 28: D Tyler Sloan (WAS), one year, $650,000 cap hit

July 3: RW Niclas Bergfors (FLA), one year, $575,000 cap hit

Trades

July 3: D Brett Lebda, LW Robert Slaney, 4th round pick (2013, conditional) from TOR for D Cody Franson, C Matthew Lombardi, 4th round pick (2013, conditional)
July 2: LW Brodie Dupont from NYR for RW Andreas Thuresson
June 25: 6th round pick (2011, C Chasen Balisy), 3rd round pick (2012) from LA for 3rd round pick (2011, C Nicholas Shore)
June 25: 6th round pick (2012) from NYR for 6th round pick (2011, D Peter Ceresnak)
June 2: 7th round pick (2013) from WAS for LW Taylor Stefishen

Departures

RW Joel Ward - WAS

LW Steve Sullivan - PIT

C Marcel Goc - FLA

D Shane O'Brien - COL

RW Wade Belak - retired, deceased

What to Expect

Nashville manage to hang on to Weber for another year, signing a deal through arbitration and holding off a long term contract for another year. They remain a difficult team to beat, but other teams around them have improved more this summer and will likely bump the Preds down in the standings as a result. An already weak offense lost the creative, but aging, Steve Sullivan. Forwards will get help from the backend as Webet and Ryan Suter are two of the best offensive-defensemen in the NHL. Look for Weber to reach 20 goals again after signing that contract. Still, despite shortcomings on offense, a Vezina Trophy nominee playing behind an excellent defensive system will ensure Nashville finishes on the right side of eighth. The third best defensive team didn't get any worse is that aspect; that along with confidence from making it to the second round for the first time, will help them win any important game they need to if they are in a tight playoff race. 

Columbus Blue Jackets - 11

Best Possible Finish - 3rd in division, 8th in conference

Projected Points Leader - Rich Nash, 42-38-80

Signings

July 23: LW Vinny Prospal (NYR), one year, $2,500,000 cap hit

July 13: C Cody Bass (OTT), one year, $600,000 cap hit

July 6: D Radek Martinek (NYI), one year, $2,200,000 cap hit

July 5: D Aaron Johnson (NSH), one year, $550,000 cap hit

July 1: G Curtis Sanford (MTL), one year, $600,000

July 1: D James Wsniewski, six years, $33 million, $5,500,00 cap hit

Trades

July 7: C Ryan Russell from MTL for RW Mike Blunden
June 29: D James Wisniewski from MTL for 7th round pick (2012)
June 25: 3rd round pick (2011, C TJ Tynan) from OTT for LW Nikita Filatov
June 23: C Jeff Carter from PHI for RW Jakub Voracek, 1st round pick (2011, C Sean Couturier), 3rd round pick (2011, C Nick Cousins)

Departures

RW Scottie Upshall - FLA

G Mathieu Garon - TB

D Jan Hejda - COL

D Mike Commodore - DET

D Sami Lepisto - CHI

LW Ethan Moreau - LA

C Andrew Murray - SJ

What to Expect

The excitement of landing a few players capable of playing on the same level as Rick Nash will likely add up to a hot start. Last season, they were no higher than 22nd in NHL standings (81 points), offense (2.56 goals per game), defense (3.05 goals-against average), power play (14%) and penalty kill (80.2%) and while the offense was addressed, not enough was done about the defense. So unless Steve Mason reverts back to rookie season form, or Rick Nash and Jeff Carter each score 50 goals, there still won't be enough goals to offset the ones against. The good news is they finally have the ability to score with the best teams in the Western Conference. The bad news is there are still holes on defense that need to be filled before they become a serious playoff contender, if only they didn't play is the best division in the NHL. At least, for the first time, they should be fun to watch.