Southeast Division Preview 2008-2009
ATLANTA THRASHERS
Roster Movement
The Thrashers went hard after several free agents, landing former Blue Jacket defender Ron Hainsey and former Blackhawk power-play specialist Jason Williams on the open market. They also addressed their forward depth by inking role-player Marty Reasoner to a new contract. Hainsey is expected to log big minutes on the blueline and help quarterback the team's power play, while Williams may end up on the Thrashers' top line with Ilya Kovalchuk. He will also get plenty of ice time when Atlanta enjoys the man advantage.
Preliminary Top Line Combinations
Ilya Kovalchuk - Erik Christensen - Williams
Slava Kozlov - Bryan Little - Colby Armstrong
Top Offensive Defensemen
Hainsey
Tobias Enstrom
Sports
Goalie Depth Chart
Probable First Power-Play Unit
Kozlov - Christensen - Williams
Kovalchuk - Hainsey
Battle for Jobs
The battles will likely occur in the third and fourth lines for Atlanta as the team has a number of role players. Christensen, Williams, and Little will all compete for top center duties, but since Williams is comfortable on the wing he can be moved around much easier. Atlanta prospect Zach Bogosian will also challenge to make the opening day roster out of training camp after being selected third overall at the 2008 Entry Draft.
Key Injuries
Christensen sustained a sprained knee near the end of last season, but he is expected to be fine for the start of training camp.
Player to Watch
The Thrashers' most intriguing stories will revolve around how the new acquisitions, Hainsey and Williams, produce, especially on the power play, and how well Bogosian performs at camp--and if he is able to impress them enough to make the team's starting lineup.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
Roster Movement
The Hurricanes lost defenseman Glen Wesley to retirement after 20 NHL seasons. They also allowed veteran blueliner Brent Hedican to walk away as a free agent, and traded speedster Erik Cole to Edmonton for mobile rearguard Joni Pitkanen. Carolina also lured defender Josef Malichar back to the NHL after a season in Europe. Former first round pick, 11th overall, in the 2007 draft, Brandon Sutter is expected to make the team out of training camp as well.
Preliminary Top Line Combinations
Ray Whitney - Eric Staal - Justin Williams
Sergei Samsonov - Rod Brind'Amour - Patrick Eaves
Top Offensive Defensemen
Joe Corvo
Pitkanen
Goalie Depth Chart
Probable First Power-Play Unit
Whitney - Brind-Amour - Williams
Staal - Corvo
Battle for Jobs
The Carolina defense corps will be pretty much open season, as the forward and goalie groups look fairly set in stone. Frantisek Kaberle, Corvo, and Pitkanen appear to be locked in the top three, leaving Niclas Wallin, Tim Gleason, Melichar, Dennis Seidenberg, Anton Babchuk, and Tim Conboy to battle it out for the remaining spots on the Hurricanes' blueline.
Key Injuries
Brind'Amour was forced to sit out 22 games after tearing his ACL in his left knee. He is expected to be 100%, come training camp, though, and should be his usual productive self. Eaves was plagued with injuries last season, missing 42 contests as a result. He is also projected to be fine this fall and should have a strong bounce-back campaign.
Player to Watch
Samsonov's turnaround success was a big story in the fantasy world after he was grabbed off waivers from the Blackhawks. It will be interesting to see if he can duplicate last campaign's achievements with another productive year.
FLORIDA PANTHERS
Roster Movement
After months of rumors and speculation, the Panthers finally dealt captain Olli Jokinen to the Coyotes in exchange for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton. Florida also signed free agent Cory Stillman and bid farewell to Jozef Stumpel, buying out the remainder of his contract. Shawn Matthias received a taste of NHL action last season, posting two goals in four games, and he is projected to make the team's starting lineup out of training camp this year.
Preliminary Top Line Combinations
Stillman - Stephen Weiss - Nathan Horton
David Booth - Matthias - Rostislav Olesz
Top Offensive Defensemen
Goalie Depth Chart
Probable First Power-Play Unit
Stillman - Weiss - Horton
Bouwmeester - Murphy
Battle for Jobs
The Panthers will likely shake up their top lines frequently this season, while looking for chemistry in order to fill the void left by Jokinen's departure. Florida also has a logjam on defense with the acquisitions of Ballard and Boynton, who immediately jump into the team's top four, with Bouwmeester and Bryan Allen rounding out the group. That leaves Karlis Skrastins, Murphy, Mike Van Ryn, Noah Welch, and Rory Fitzpatrick competing for the remaining two spots. Murphy may have the inside track, due to his offensive prowess, but it is hard to say who will make it at this time.
Key Injuries
Richard Zednik sustained one of most frightening injuries in recent memory when he was accidently cut across the throat with an errant skate blade back in February. He is expected to be ready to resume his career this season, though, and should be playing at training camp. Van Ryn (wrist) and Welch (shoulder) missed the majority of last campaign, but both are supposed to healthy in September as well.
Player to Watch
The removal of Olli Jokinen leaves a gaping hole up front for the Panthers and it appears the onus will be on Stephan Weiss to center the top line and help lead the team offensively. Weiss has developed into a solid two-way player for Florida, but he is yet to surpass the 50-point mark in his career. Will this be the year he breaks out? If he stays healthy and gets enough support from Stillman and Horton, he should be in for a career year.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Roster Movement
The Lightning made more moves this off-season than any other NHL club. Finishing last in the league will do that. Tampa completely changed the makeup of their team going into the 2008-2009 season. In a blockbuster deal this summer, star defenseman Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich were sent to the Sharks for defender Matt Carle, prospect Ty Wishart, and several picks. They were busy trading prior to that as well, acquiring the rights to negotiate with several players before free agency hit this summer. Tampa managed to agree to terms with former Penguins' forwards Gary Roberts and Ryan Malone, as well as bring back Vaclav Prospal to the fold. They also landed Radim Vrbata, who is coming off a career year offensively with the Coyotes, via free agency. Tampa Bay also came to terms with grinder Adam Hall, goaltender Olaf Kolzig, veteran Mark Recchi, and support player Brandon Bochenski. Steven Stamkos, the first-overall pick of 2008, is also expected to be added to the team's roster this campaign.
Preliminary Top Line Combinations
Prospal - Vincent Lecavalier - Martin St. Louis
Malone - Stamkos - Vrbata
Top Offensive Defensemen
Filip Kuba
Carle
Goalie Depth Chart
Mike Smith
Kolzig
Probable First Power-Play Unit
Prospal - Lecavalier - St.Louis
Kuba - Carle
Battle for Jobs
The Lightning were so jacked up making roster moves, they forgot they can only dress 20 players per game when the season gets underway. The third and fourth lines will have several possible combinations when you factor in that Jussi Jokinen, Chris Gratton, Jeff Halpern, Michel Ouellet, Ryan Craig, David Koci, and Evgeny Artyukhin are all on the roster. The Tampa training camp will be an intriguing story for a multitude of reasons. It is almost a certainty that they will have to make some trades before the season begins, as they have a glut of forwards.
Key Injuries
Lecavalier is projected to be fully recovered from off-season shoulder surgery in time for training camp. Gratton (hip), Craig (knee), and defenseman Paul Ranger (shoulder) are also expected to be in good health in September for the beginning of camp. Halpern, on the other hand, may not be available until January of next campaign, due to an injured knee. He wants to take his time in order to rehab the injury properly. We will keep updated on his status.
Player to Watch
With all the additions there will be plenty to watch for in Tampa, but all eyes will be on dynamic youngster Steven Stamkos. He is the early favorite to capture the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league's outstanding rookie, and he should provide plenty of highlight reel plays for the Lightning this campaign.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Roster Movement
The Capitals made significant changes in their crease this off-season, allowing Olaf Kolzig and Cristobal Huet to leave via free agency, while inking Jose Theodore to a two-year, $9 million deal. Theodore rebounded well last year from a couple of turbulent seasons. He displayed excellent poise and will be counted on to backstop a quickly rising Washington team.
Preliminary Top Line Combinations
Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Viktor Kozlov
Alexander Semin - Michael Nylander - Chris Clark
Top Offensive Defensemen
Goalie Depth Chart
Theodore
Brent Johnson
Probable First Power-Play Unit
Semin - Fedorov - Backstrom
Ovechkin - Green
Battle of Jobs
The Capitals could experiment with several interesting top line combinations next season. Fedorov may see time on the first unit with Ovechkin, or he could end up on the second or third line. Nylander is a wild card because he is still injured and his status is unclear at this time, but he could also be a first or second line center. Backstrom will certainly center one of the top two lines, but which one is anyone's guess. Hopefully this mess will be settled at training camp, but coach Bruce Boudreau has been known to change his lines mid-game if things are not going well. Top prospect Karl Alzner is also expected to make a considerable push to make the Capitals' starting lineup out of training camp. He is a solid two-way blueliner, but excels primarily in his team's defensive zone.
Key Injuries
Nylander was forced to shut down his season early due to shoulder surgery. He should be ready for training camp, but that information is currently unknown. Clark believes he will be 100% healthy to participate in training camp after playing in only 18 games last campaign due to a groin injury.
Player to Watch
Theodore will be under the microscope this year in Washington. He played spectacularly at times for Colorado, but was very ordinary as well at some points. He will need to provide the Capitals with consistent and stable goaltending if they are to improve on the tremendous late season charge last campaign that garnered them a division title.
