Game On!

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun
NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

After a 16-month hiatus, the NHL will finally drop the puck this evening, and for the sport’s long-suffering fans, it’s not a moment too soon. The embattled league has reinvented itself for this relaunch, and the early indications are that the new-look NHL will represent a vast improvement.


The league recognized that its on-ice product deteriorated measurably in recent years, and that some rule changes were needed to stem the tide. Officials have promised an aggressive crackdown on the clutching and grabbing that defined the league over the past decade, and preseason games saw a steady flow of culprits sent to the penalty box for interference infractions. Assuming the league remains diligent in this regard, the 2005-06 season could see more offensive fireworks than any since 1992-93. In 2003-04, the Ottawa Senators led the league with 262 goals scored; back in 1992-93, only four teams scored fewer than 262 goals.


Another important change is the elimination of the old two-line pass rule, which should allow skilled defensemen to launch “home run” passes from the defensive zone to a forward streaking past the opposition’s blue line. A few local players – the Devils’ Brian Rafalski, the Islanders’ Alexei Zhitnik, and the Rangers’ Fedor Tyutin – should benefit greatly from this rule change. And in a surprising preseason development, some of the league’s better puck-handling goalies – among them the Devils’ Martin Brodeur and the Islanders’ Rick DiPietro – have been using two-line passes to enhance their team’s power play. Whereas it might previously have taken the power play 15 or 20 seconds to regroup after the shorthanded team dumped the puck down the ice, the transition can now be made in as little as five seconds. Over the course of the season, this means that talented puck-handling goalies can give their teams the equivalent of 40 or 50 additional power plays.


The most hyped change for 2005-06 is the inclusion of shootouts to decide deadlocked regular season contests. If teams remain tied after 65 minutes, they will go to a shootout, where three skaters from each team attempt to score one-on-one against the opposition’s goalie. Critics rightly protest out that the shootout has no place in a team sport, but the results of the AHL’s 2004-05 season – where the shootout was tested – provide a strong indication that the shootout could have a positive impact. Back in 2003-04, 25% of the AHL’s games ended in a tie, and the aforementioned clutching and grabbing style was often employed in the late stages of tie games. In 2004-05, only 12% of the AHL’s games went to the shootout; put another way, the 13% of games that would have been tied were instead decided by full squads on the ice. By removing the incentive to play for the tie, the shootout dramatically modified AHL coaching strategies … for the better.


In addition to the on-ice changes, the league now features a salary cap, and its effects thus far illustrate both the positives and the negatives of the “cost-certain” system that was implemented. On the positive side of the equation, a number of teams that have been awful over the past half-decade – the Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Chicago Blackhawks, in particular – are now well-positioned to compete for playoff spots.


Of course, the flip side of this equation is that every team is pulled like a magnet towards the middle. In 2003-04, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup with a very young, very exciting lineup, but the new economic system forced the team to make some painful personnel decisions. The Lightning locked up Hart Trophy winner Martin St. Louis and World Cup MVP Vincent Lecavalier to long-term deals, but acrobatic goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin relocated to Chicago as an unrestricted free agent. The move makes the Blackhawks better, but puts a serious dent in Tampa’s dynastic aspirations.


The new NHL is a lot like the NFL in this way. With parity fast becoming the rule, it will take a team as strategic and creative as Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots to emerge as a dynasty in the mold of the Islanders and Oilers teams of the 1980s. Of course, the league’s primary goal is to grow its fan base, and resembling the NFL is a step in that direction.


Ticket sales have been surprisingly strong so far this fall, and the league’s new economic system has the owners and players working together for the first time in a long time. Has the “coolest game on earth” survived its apocalypse? The healing begins in earnest tonight – finally.


Mr. Greenstein is the editor in chief ofInsideHockey.com.


Eastern Conference


ATLANTIC DIVISION


1. Philadelphia Flyers Peter Forsberg is the new star in town, but the Flyers’ real strength is their youth. Look for winger Simon Gagne, defenseman Kim Johnsson, and goaltender Robert Esche to have stellar seasons, and for rookie forward Jeff Carter to emerge as a Calder Trophy finalist. If Forsberg remains healthy – a big “if” – this talented team will be a potent Cup contender.


Payroll: $34.6 million


2. Pittsburgh Penguins No team has improved more than the Pens over the past 14 months. With Mario Lemieux, Sergei Gonchar, Zigmund Palffy, and Sidney Crosby, their power play should be the NHL’s best in 2005-06. Jocelyn Thibault will man the pipes; he’s quietly on pace to finish his career among the NHL’s top 10 in career wins.


Payroll: $28.3 million


3. New York Islanders The Isles added Miroslav Satan, and the NHL’s new offense-first rules should enable him to thrive alongside a rejuvenated Alexei Yashin. Goaltender Rick DiPietro is already one of the best in the game; if he raises his play to a new level in 2005-06, the Isles will pass the Devils in the Atlantic Division.


Payroll: $38.5 million


4. New Jersey Devils The defense has been decimated by the departure of Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer, but as long as Martin Brodeur remains between the pipes, the Devils have a chance to win every night. Whether Patrik Elias recovers from hepatitis A and can return to All-Star form in the season’s first half will have a huge impact on the Devils’ fate.


Payroll: $41.5 million


5. New York Rangers There’s plenty of promise for the future, but the Rangers are not playoff-bound in 2005-06. Look for the Blue shirts to distinguish themselves with hard work this season, a refreshing change of pace for the jaded Garden faithful. New arrival Marcel Hossa is possibly the Rangers’ finest offensive prospect; other notable youngsters include defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Maxim Kondratiev and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.


Payroll: $32.2 million


NORTHEAST DIVISION


1. Boston Bruins Brian Leetch, whose career began with Boston College, should have a nice last hurrah in Beantown. Joe Thornton is one of the NHL’s best players, but he hasn’t yet delivered come playoff time; that should change this coming spring. A second line featuring Alexei Zhamnov and Sergei Samsonov will generate offensive fireworks and take some pressure off Thornton and 40-goal scorer Glen Murray.


Payroll: $34.0 million


2. Ottawa Senators This is a great hockey club from the defense out – in Zdeno Charra, Wade Redden, Dany Heatley, Martin Havlat, and Daniel Alfredsson, the Senators have a quintet of world-class players. But GM John Muckler is stuck in 1999 if he thinks a 40-year-old Dominik Hasek can backstop this team to the Cup after being inactive for almost three full seasons.


Payroll: $30.3 million


3. Montreal Canadiens Goaltender Jose Theodore has evolved into one of the NHL’s best netminders, and he’ll be playing behind a much-improved Habs team. Look for defenseman Andrei Markov to have a breakout season, while Alexei Kovalev will get to showcase his incomparable puckhandling skills in the new, obstruction-free NHL.


Payroll: $31.1 million


4. Toronto Maple Leafs Like their Ontario rivals, the Leafs are taking a risk with an aging goaltender: 40-year-old Ed Belfour. The Leafs’ lineup, however, is significantly older. Centers Eric Lindros and Jason Allison are among the game’s most injury-prone players, and it’s unlikely that this team will remain healthy enough to sustain a meaningful Cup run.


Payroll: $34.5 million


5. Buffalo Sabres Look for the Sabres to play an aggressive, entertaining style. Daniel Briere, who scored 28 goals two years ago, is poised for a breakout season, while rookie sniper Thomas Vanek should compete for the Calder. Ryan Miller is the best goaltending prospect in hockey, and his spectacular preseason performances have all but guaranteed him a spot on the opening-night roster.


Payroll: $28.3 million


SOUTHEAST DIVISION


1. Tampa Bay Lightning Even without departed netminder Nikolai Khabibulin, the Lightning are still the best team in their division – by far. Centers Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards are two of the best in the game, and sparkplug Martin St. Louis will be out to prove that his Hart Trophy-winning performance in 2003-04 was no fluke.


Payroll: $37.6 million


2. Florida Panthers The Panthers added grizzled veterans Gary Roberts, Martin Gelinas, and Joe Nieuwendyk to one of the NHL’s youngest lineups during the off-season, and would appear poised to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Roberto Luongo is one of the NHL’s best goalies, and his play alone should give the Panthers and extra five or 10 victories.


Payroll: $23.2 million


3. Atlanta Thrashers The Thrashers upgraded their lineup considerably during the off-season, acquiring, among others, Peter Bondra, Bobby Holik, and Marian Hossa. But Russian sniper Ilya Kovalchuk is threatening to spend the season in Russia, and if he does, the Thrashers’ playoff hopes will be dashed.


Payroll: $32.8 million


4. Carolina Hurricanes The Hurricanes have one of the NHL’s best young centers in Eric Staal; look for him to develop great chemistry with Erik Cole. Incoming netminder Martin Gerber should do well as a first-time starter, but a playoff appearance still seems highly unlikely.


Payroll: $26.5 million


5. Washington Capitals The Caps’ hopes begin and end with Alexander Ovechkin. He’s supremely talented, but it seems unreasonable to pin the hopes of a hapless franchise on a 19-year-old winger playing his first NHL season. The Caps will be one of the NHL’s worst teams in 2005-06.


Payroll: $20.2 million


Western Conference


CENTRAL DIVISION


1. Nashville Predators Don’t be surprised when the Predators emerge as a legitimate Cup contender in 2005-06. Barry Trotz, one of the NHL’s finest coaches, will utilize freeagent acquisition Paul Kariya in all game situations. Underrated netminder Tomas Vokoun outplayed Martin Brodeur in the World Championships, and will soon become a household name.


Payroll: $29.3 million


2. Detroit Red Wings It’s one final go-around for captain Steve Yzerman, who will lead an aging but still solid hockey club. Nicklas Lidstrom once again anchors the blue line, while the franchise’s future lies in the hands of talented young forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and Jiri Hudler.


Payroll: $37.4 million


3. Chicago Blackhawks The addition of Cup-winning goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and former Islanders defenseman Adrian Aucoin will make the Hawks very difficult to play against. Sophomore Finn Tuomo Ruutu scored nearly a point a game in the second half of 2003-04, and is rapidly evolving into a top-tier player.


Payroll: $28.3 million


4. Columbus Blue Jackets Adam Foote will make a huge difference on the blue line, as will powerplay specialist Bryan Berard, but the Blue Jackets are probably still another year away from their first-ever playoff appearance. Look for Rick Nash to once again finish among the league’s leading goal scorers – if his ankle sprain doesn’t bother him.


Payroll: $27.9 million


5. St. Louis Blues The Blues’ run of 25 consecutive playoff appearances will likely end in 2005-06. The subtraction of Chris Pronger will hurt in the short term, though former Oiler Eric Brewer will ultimately serve as a fine replacement. An out-of-shape Keith Tkachuk won’t return to All-Star form any time soon, and Pavol Demitra will be hard to replace.


Payroll: $32.0 million


NORTHWEST DIVISION


1. Calgary Flames The defending Western Conference champions improved substantially during the off-season. New arrivals Tony Amonte and Roman Hamrlik should both thrive in Calgary, as should rookie defenseman Dion Phaneuf. Alberta native Jarome Iginla is considered by many to be his generation’s Mark Messier; now he only needs the Stanley Cups to prove it.


Payroll: $32.7 million


2. Vancouver Canucks The Canucks did not make many off-season renovations to what was already one of the NHL’s best lineups. Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison, and Todd Bertuzzi will form one of the league’s dominant lines, while Anson Carter should enjoy a resurgence in Vancouver. But goaltender Dan Cloutier is not the answer if the Canucks have serious Cup aspirations.


Payroll: $40.0 million


3. Edmonton Oilers Former Norris Trophy winner Chris Pronger leads the new-look Oilers, while former Islanders captain Michael Peca will add some punch. The key to the Oilers’ success might well be Ales Hemsky: Is this the year the supremely talented forward finally becomes an All-Star?


Payroll: $32.2 million


4. Colorado Avalanche The loss of Peter Forsberg, Paul Kariya, and Teemu Selanne will put a huge dent in the Avs’ offense, but it’s the departure of Adam Foote that will hurt the team the most. Foote was the anchor of the Avs’ defense, and without him, goaltender David Aebischer will struggle mightily.


Payroll: $38.3 million


5. Minnesota Wild It’s never wise to bet against Jacques Lemaire, but the Wild lineup – at least on paper – doesn’t seem particularly well suited to the NHL’s new offense-first rules. The Minnesota faithful rightly wondered why the team didn’t aggressively pursue free-agent talent this summer. Instead, one of the NHL’s most profitable teams will likely finish near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.


Payroll: $23.1 million


PACIFIC DIVISION


1. San Jose Sharks The Sharks have improved steadily over the past decade, and this is essentially the same team that reached the Western Conference Finals in 2004. Captain Patrick Marleau has scored 20 goals five times in his career; at 26, he’s poised to emerge as a consistent scoring threat. Brad Stuart will once again anchor the Sharks’ underrated blue line, while former Calder Trophy winner Evgeni Nabokov will provide consistently steady goaltending.


Payroll: $26.0 million


2. Anaheim Mighty Ducks The addition of Scott Niedermayer should make things considerably easier for Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who can be expected to return to his 2003 Conn Smythe Trophy-winning form. Sergei Fedorov is one of the NHL’s most talented players, and he should thrive with the league’s new offense-first rules.


Payroll: $35.6 million


3. Los Angeles Kings Newly-arrived snipers Jeremy Roenick and Pavol Demitra should nicely complement a lineup that features three of the game’s best young forwards: Alexander Frolov, Dustin Brown, and Mike Cammalleri. If Mathieu Garon proves a capable starter, the Kings will return to the postseason.


Payroll: $31.4 million


4. Phoenix Coyotes The Coyotes have a solid core of young players, but it might take some time to reach the playoffs in what will likely be the NHL’s most competitive division. The Coyotes’ chances depend largely upon the development of captain Shane Doan, the health of Ladislav Nagy, and the ability of defenseman Derek Morris to rebound from an abysmal 2003-04 season.


Payroll: $33.3 million


5. Dallas Stars The Stars have a very top-heavy lineup, and their hopes rest largely upon the fast-aging shoulders of Mike Modano, Bill Guerin, and Sergei Zubov. Goaltender Marty Turco is solid, but he’s probably not dominant enough to carry this geriatric squad to the playoffs. Instead, expect a fire sale at the trade deadline.


Payroll: $36.7 million

NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use