Monday 5 September 2011

2011 Offseason Recap - Pacific Division

San Jose Sharks - 2
Best Possible Finish - 1st in NHL
Projected Points Leader - Joe Thornton, 23-61-84
SigningsC
Aug. 3: D Colin White (NJ), one year, $1,000,000 cap hit
July 19: C Andrew Murray (CLB), one year, $575,000 cap hit
July 1: C Michal Handzus (LA), two years, $5 million, $2,500,000 cap hit
July 1: D Jim Vandermeer (EDM), one year, $1,000,000 cap hit
June 23: RW Devin Setogouchi, three years, $9 million, $3,000,000 cap hit

Trades
Aug. 7: C James Sheppard from MIN for 3rd round pick (2013)
July 7: RW Martin Havlat from MIN for LW Dany Heatley
June 25: 2nd round pick (2011, LW Matthew Nieto) from FLA for 1st round pick (2011, D Rasmus Bengtsson), 3rd round pick (2012)
June 25: 5th round pick (2011, C Sean Kuraly), 7th round pick (2011, C Colin Blackwell) from WIN for 4th round pick (2011, D Zachary Yuen)
June 24: D Brent Burns, 2nd round pick (2012) from MIN for RW Devin Setoguchi, C Charlie Coyle, 1st round pick (2011, C Zack Phillips)

Departures
C Scott Nichol - STL
D Kent Huskins - STL
D Ian White - DET
LW Ben Eager - EDM
RW Jamal Mayers - CHI
D Niclas Wallin - SEL, Lulea

What to Expect
There is nothing left for Sharks management to do other than tinker with the roster until they find the right combination of players that will push them over the top. Dany Heatley is gone, but let's face it he isn't nearly as dangerous as he used to be and wasn't a factor in consecutive runs to the Western Conference final. Martin Havlat will be able to pick up the slack on Heatley's production. Devin Setogouchi was also shipped to Minnnesota for Brent Burns. While that takes away from the speed of the Sharks, Burns should help out a defense that finished 10th and penalty kill that finished 24th last year. Jim Vandermeer and Michal Handzus will help out in that aspect as well. Any doubts about Antti Niemi should have been erased last year, he is a legitimate starter and capable of backing the Sharks. Joe Thornton and co. aren't going to experience down seasons again as they vie for the best record and the Stanley Cup.

Los Angeles Kings - 4
Best Possible Finish - 1st in division, 2nd in conference
Projected Points Leader - Anze Kopitar, 36-56-92
Signings
Aug. 23: LW Ethan Moreau (CLB), one year, $600,000
July 2: LW Simon Gagne (TB), two years, $7 million, $3,500,000 cap hit

Trades
June 26: C Colin Fraser, 7th round pick (2012) from EDM for LW Ryan Smyth
June 25: 3rd round pick (2011, C Nicholas Shore) from NSH for 6th round pick (2011, C Chasen Balisy), 3rd round pick (2012)
June 23: C Mike Richards, C Rob Bordson from PHI for RW Wayne Simmonds, C Brayden Schenn, 2nd round pick (2012)

Departures
C Michal Handzus - SJ
LW Alexei Ponikarovsky - CAR

What to Expect
The Kings were a good team before, Now, with Mike Richards, they become one of the best in the Western Conference. He adds grit, scoring and experience and allows Anze Kopitar to concentrate more on offense, so he should be among the top scorers in the league. Simon Gagne is also a solid addition. While he has only scored 17 goals in each of the past two seasons, he has also recorded a career high 12 playoffs points in those years as well. He, Richards and Justin Williams could combine to for a formidable, former-Flyers line. If Dustin Penner can score 30 goals again, the 25th ranked offense will improve greatly. Drew Doughty took a small step back last season, but he will once again be near 60 points. His improvement along with the fact the defense didn't lose anybody will ensure another top-10 finish on goals-against average. Jonathans Quick and Bernier will put up even better stats now that they can relax thanks to some goal support.

Anaheim Ducks - 7
Best Possible Finish - 2nd in division, 4th in conference
Projected Points Leader - Ryan Getzlaf, 29-74-103
Signings
July 20: C Mark Bell (Swiss-A, Kloten), one year, $575,000 cap hit
July 14: D Matt Smaby (TB), one year, $600,000 cap hit
July 12: G Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (EDM), two years, $1.225 million, $612,500 cap hit
July 7: LW Brian McGrattan, one year, $600,000
July 6: LW Jean-Francois Jacques (EDM), one year, $650,000 cap hit

Trades
July 15: D Mathieu Carle from MTL for D Mark Mitera
July 12: C Andrew Cogliano from EDM for 2nd round pick (2013)
July 1: D Kurtis Foster from EDM for D Andy Sutton
June 25: 6th round pick (2011, D Josh Manson) from TOR for 6th round pick (2012)
June 24: 1st round pick (2011, RW Rickard Rakell), 2nd round pick (2011, G John Gibson) from TOR for 1st round pick (2011, RW Tyler Biggs)

Departures
LW Jason Jaffray - WIN
C Kyle Chipchura - PHO
LW Josh Green - EDM
D Andreas Lilja - PHI
C Todd Marchant - retirement

What to Expect
The Ducks are very dangerous with Teemu Selanne; without him there is little scoring beyond their first line. If Andrew Cogliano can live up to his potential, it will ease the burden on MVP Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Boby Ryan. If Jonas Hiller really is over his vertigo, they have solid goaltending. However, if any symptoms flare up again they only have Dan Ellis and Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers to guard the crease. The blueline is a capable collection of veterans and youth that plays better than the sums if its parts.  Lubomir Visnovsky and Toni Lydman had their best seasons last year and the Ducks need them to replicate those seasons again as Luca Sbisa and Cam Fowler develop into mature NHL defensemen. Kurtis Foster will be an underrated addition. But it all comes down to Selanne. If he plays the Ducks can be one of the best teams in the league, if he doesn't they are a one line team that will experience a dip in the standings.

Dallas Stars - 13
Best Possible Finish - 3rd in division, 9th in conference
Projected Point Leader - Mike Ribeiro, 21-49-70
Signings
July 12; RW Eric Godard (PIT), two years, $1.45 million, $725,000 cap hit
July 1: D Sheldon Souray (EDM), one year, $1,650,000 cap hit
July 1: Michael Ryder (BOS), two years, $7 million, $3,500,000
July 1: LW Vernon Fiddler (PHO), three years, $5.4 million, $1,800,000 cap hit
July 1: RW Radek Dvorak (WIN), one year, $1,500,000 cap hit
July 1: D Adam Pardy (CAL), two years, $4 million, $2,000,000 cap hit
June 29: D Brad Lukowich, one year, $1,000,000 cap hit

Trades
none


Departures
C Brad Richards - NYR
RW Jamie Langenbrunner - STL
D Jeff Woywitka - MTL
RW Jason Williams - PIT

What to Expect
Brad Richards was having his best season last year while dragging the Stars up the standings. Now he is gone, for nothing in return, and there doesn't seems to be another player capable of taking over like that. Their defense may stay the same, but the offense is going to take a dive and they won't be able to get near ninth pace again. GM Joe Nieuwendyk is doing as well as he can given the team-imposed budget, but there is only so much he can do. Michael Ryder played well with Mike Ribeiro when they played in Montreal, so the Stars need them to rekindle that connection. Loui Eriksson is going to have to score 70 without the aid of Richards. Alex Goligoski will finally fill the role vacated by Sergei Zubov when he left the NHL after 2008-09. Sheldon Souray's big shot will help the power play in lue of RIchards, but you have to remember, Souray is getting more money fro Edmonton to not play for them than the Stars are paying him to play.

Phoenix Coyotes - 14
Best Possible Finish - 3rd in division, 9th in conference
Projected Points Leader - Shane Doan, 24-37-61
Signings
Aug. 5: Patrick O'Sullivan (MIN), one year, $625,000 cap hit
July 27: G Justin Pogge (CAR), one year, $575,000 cap hit
July 19: C Kyle Chipchura (ANA), one year, $550,000 cap hit
July 6: D Dean Arsene (STL), one year, $725,000 cap hit
July 6: D Nathan Oystrick (STL), one year $600,000 cap hit
July 4: G Curtis McElhinney (OTT), one year, $625,000 cap hit
July 2: C Alex Bolduc (VAN), one year, $575,000 cap hit
July 1: RW Radim Vrbata, three years, $9 million, $3,000,000 cap hit
July 1: C Boyd Gordon (WAS), two years, $2.65 million, $1,325,000 cap hit
July 1: LW Raffi Torres (VAN), two years, $3.5 million, $1,750,000 cap hit
July 1: G Mike Smith (TB), two years, $4 million, $2,000,000 cap hit
June 28: RW Matt Beaudoin, one year, $525,000
June 6: G Jason Labarbera, two years, $2.5 million, $1,250,000 cap hit


Trades
Aug. 29: C Daymond Langkow from CAL for RW Lee Stempniak
June 25: C Marc-Antoine Pouliot from TB for 7th round pick (2011, C Matthew Peca)
June 7: LW Matt Clackson, 3rd round pick (2012), future considerations from PHI for G Ilya Bryzgalov

Departures
LW Vernon Fiddler - DAL
C Eric Belanger - EDM
D Ed Jovanovski - FLA
C Andrew Ebbett - VAN
G Matt Climie - VAN

What to Expect
What a difference a goalie makes. There has only been one major change in Phoenix this summer and now it looks like they won;t even be close to making the playoffs. Ilya Bryzgalov has been the main reason the Coyotes have been able to make the playoff the past two seasons. Now it is up to Mike Smith to provide the quality goaltending needed for this offensively challanged team. They don't even have Ed Jovanovski to patrol the blueline anymore. Last season they finished 14th in goals, but it was the first time since 2005-06 they finished higher than 20th in offense, so don't expect those totals again. Their best offensive player is Keith Yandle, so he is going to once aging have to finish near the top in scoring among defensemen. Coach Dave Tippett will make them competitive, but they hardly had enough goal support for Bryzgalov, they won't have it for Smith. 

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