2006-07 NHL Pacific Division Preview

Pacific Divison

Anaheim Ducks

2005-06 Statistics

2005-06 Finish: 43-27-12, 6th West
2005-06 Goals For: 254
2005-06 Goals Against: 229
2005-06 Power Play: 18.1% (14th)
2005-06 Penalty Killing: 83.5% (13th)
Points Leader: Teemu Selanne (90)
Goals Leader: Teemu Selanne (40)
Assists Leader: Andy McDonald (51)

New Faces

(D) Chris Pronger, (LW) Stanislav Chistov, (G) Michael Leighton, (RW) Shawn Thornton, (C) Travis Green, (D) Ian Moran

Gone

(RW) Joffrey Lupul, (D) Ladislav Smid, (D) Vitali Vishnevski, (D) Ruslan Salei, (G) Jani Hurme, (LW/RW) Jonathan Hedstrom, (D) Jason Marshall, (C/RW) Tyler Wright

Offence

Left Wing: Chris Kunitz, Rob Niedermayer, Dustin Penner
Centre: Andy McDonald, Ryan Getzlaf, Todd Marchant, Samuel Pahlsson
Right Wing: Teemu Selanne, Corey Perry, Stanislav Chistov, Todd Fedoruk

Teemu Selanne led the Anaheim Ducks into the Conference Finals last season with great leadership and a wonderful offensive campaign, not seen since his early days with the Ducks. A remarkable 40 goals and 50 assists, and signed to another year, he will be the leader of this young talented group. Andy McDonald set career highs with 34 goals and 51 assists. Averaging over a point a game, along with Selanne on the same line will be a tandem to reckon with. Sammy Pahlsson and Travis Green will be their face-off men down the middle, along with Todd Marchant who will need to pick up the pace. Stanislav Chistov returns to the Ducks, which will bolster their offence, and sophomores Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, will be depended on a lot more this season.

Defence

D: Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Francois Beauchemin, Sean O'Donnell, Ian Moran, Joe Dipenta

The best tandem of defencemen will be on the Southern California team. The Ducks have maybe the best one-two punch on defence. Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer will be the most dominant duo in a long time. Great on defence, offence, powerplay, penalty kill, and anything else when they are on the ice. The Ducks also have depth in that area. Francois Beauchemin will try to improve on his successful playoff run. Sean O'Donnell is a strong, physical defencemen that will help their bottom 4 defencemen.

Goaltending

G: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Ilya Bryzgalov

With an emerging goaltender such as Ilya Bryzgalov, Jean-Sebastien Giguere will have to earn his number one role on the Anaheim club. What might be beneficial towards the Ducks, problems might start erupting on or off the ice if this number one goalie dispute does not get settled soon.

Look Out For:

Dustin Penner will be known in Anaheim this season. His big frame of 6'4'', 230 lbs, makes him a dangerous player around the front of the net. Soft hands and skill is an asset the Ducks were looking for, and Dustin Penner can play that role. Playing in only 19 games at the end of the 2005-06 season for the Ducks, he didn't do tremendously well, but he proved he could keep up with the big boys of the NHL. His post-season production was better with, 9 points in 13 games, and a +/- of +10.

Round-Out

With such a well-rounded team, Brian Burke has done a tremendous job as a General Manager. He understands the game really well, you give up a valuable player, in return you get another valuable player, and that he did. Chris Pronger will be a huge leader on the back end of the ice, along with Scott Niedermayer. Randy Carlyle had an absolutely wonderful first season as the Anaheim Ducks Head Coach with a record of 43-27-12. The team is under good management, and will be ahead of 3 of the 5 teams in the Pacific Divison. Not good enough to win the division.

Prediction: 101 points, 2nd in Pacific Divison

Dallas Stars

2005-06 Statistics

2005-06 Finish: 53-23-6, 2nd West
2005-06 Goals For: 265
2005-06 Goals Against: 218
2005-06 Power Play: 17.7% (19th)
2005-06 Penalty Killing: 83.7% (12th)
Points Leader: Mike Modano (77)
Goals Leader: Jere Lehtinen (33)
Assists Leader: Sergei Zubov (58)

New Faces

(C) Mike Green, (C) Patrik Stefan, (D) Jaroslav Modry, (D) Daryl Sydor, (RW) Matthew Barnarby, (C) Jeff Halpern, (C) Eric Lindros, (C) Mike Ribeiro

Gone

(C) Jason Arnott, (RW) Bill Guerin, (G) Johan Hedberg, (C) Niko Kapenen, (D) Willie Mitchell, (LW/RW) Jaroslav Svoboda, (D) Patrick Traverse, (D) Janne Niinamaa

Offence

Left Wing: Brendan Morrow, Jussi Jokinen, Antti Miettinen, Niklas Hagman, Mathias Tjarnqvist
Centre: Mike Modano, Eric Lindros, Jeff Halpern, Steve Ott, Mike Ribeiro
Right Wing: Jere Lehtinen, Stu Barnes, Patrik Stefan, Matthew Barnarby

For the Dallas Stars to be successful, offensively this season, they'll need a lot of people to step up their production. Although losing Bill Guerin, Jason Arnott, and Niko Kapenen, the Stars have a well-balanced team, with offensive touches. Combined, the three had 151 points in 232 games. It was a horrible performance by Guerin and Kapenen. Jason Arnott had a decent year, but not a terrific year. Players like Mike Modano will have to step it up in a big way. Leading the team with 77 points wasn't exactly how the Stars Management imagined their top player. Mike Modano better have an outstanding year, or he'll be pigeon held to being an inconsistent player. The whole team underachieved, so, Brendan Morrow, Jussi Jokinen, Jere Lehtinen, Stu Barnes, and newcomers, Eric Lindros and Jeff Halpern will be counted on a lot this season for help in the offensive end.

Defence

D: Sergei Zubov, Philippe Boucher, Stephane Robidas, Jaroslav Modry, Trevor Daley, Darryl Sydor, Jon Klemm

At one point, the Dallas Stars were considered of having the best defence crop in the whole world. Since then, it hasn't been that great for the Stars. Sergei Zubov still is the number one defencemen for the Dallas Stars, and up comer, Philippe Boucher will be a great defencemen for the Stars. He will take over as the number two d-man. Darryl Sydor comes back to the Dallas Stars and hopes to even stay in the top 4, which doesn't look like it will happen at the start of the year. Newly acquired Jaroslav Modry will be helpful in both ends, and so will big man Jon Klemm.

Goaltending

G: Marty Turco, Tobias Stephan

Marty Turco is known for one thing in the playoffs, and that's choking. He hasn't been able to take the Dallas Stars deep into the playoffs. There will no Stanley Cup run this year if Marty Turco does not condition himself even more so, physically, and mentally. The mental game of a goaltender is a huge part of a team's success, so Marty Turco will have to be on his A-game. In 22 playoff games, his record is abysmal 8-14. With Johan Hedberg gone, Mike Smith will likely be the backup goalie. With four AHL seasons experience, Mike Smith will be ready for the backup position.

Look Out For

Junior Lessard is a former Hobey Baker Award winner, and a lot of expectations come along with that award. He will need to prove he's worthy of staying in the NHL. At only 6'0'' and just under 200 lbs, Lessard will have to fight his way through the toughness and grit of the NHL.

Round-Out

Although winning the Pacific Divison in the 05-06 season, the Dallas Stars will have to prove they are the team to beat in the Pacific Divison. The other four teams in the division have improved drastically, while the Stars seem like they are where they were last year, with slight improvements. Unless big performances come from the top players of Modano, Lehtinen, Lindros, Morrow, Jokinen and Turco, the Stars will not be heading into the post-season.

Prediction: 81 Points, 5th in Pacific Divison

Los Angeles Kings

2005-06 Statistics

2005-06 Finish: 42-35-5, 10th West
2005-06 Goals For: 249
2005-06 Goals Against: 270
2005-06 Power Play: 14.2% (29th)
2005-06 Penalty Killing: 78.7% (30th)
Points Leader: Lubomir Vishnovsky (67)
Goals Leader: Mark Parrish (29)
Assists Leader: Lubomir Vishnovsky (50)

New Faces

(D) Rob Blake, (D) Dan Cloutier, (Head Coach) Marc Crawford, (GM) Dean Lombardi, (C) Alyn McCauley, (LW) Scott Thornton, (C) Patrick O'Sullivan, (RW) Brian Wilsie, (D) Jack Johnson

Gone

(D) Joe Corvo, (C/RW) Pavol Demitra, (D) Nathan Dempsey, (RW) Mark Parrish, (LW) Luc Robitaille, (C) Jeremy Roenick, (GM) Dave Taylor, (Head Coach) John Torchetti, (RW) Valeri Bure

Offence

Left Wing: Alexander Frolov, Scott Thornton, Brian Willsie
Centre: Craig Conroy, Derek Armstrong, Sean Avery, Jeff Cowan, Alyn McCauley, Anze Kopitar
Right Wing: Mike Cammalleri, Patrick O'Sullivan, Dustin Brown, Tom Kostopoulos

With another injury ridden year for the LA Kings, the Kings look to have everyone healthy and ready to go for this season. Luc Robitaille retired, Pavol Demitria and Mark Parrish signed with Minnesota, Jeremy Roenick left to Phoenix, and Valeri Bure is still injured. The offence will have to come from Frolov, Belanger, Conroy, Armstrong, McCauley, Kopitar, Cammalleri, Brown, and O'Sullivan. A few young players, mixed in with a few veterans, this should be a good club to compete for a spot in the playoffs. Cammalleri will have to build off from last season, and newcomers McCauley and Thornton will add a lot of depth in the third and fourth lines.

Defence

D: Rob Blake, Lubomir Vishnovsky, Brent Sopel, Aaron Miller, Mattias Norstrom, Oleg Tverdovsky

Lubomir Vishnovsky had a stellar year, last season, leading the Kings in points (67) and assists (50). He will have to build off his success from last season. With Rob Blake coming back to LA, Vishnovsky will have that experienced player next to him. Brent Sopel and Tim Gleason will be needed to provide a lot of toughness and protection for new goalie, Dan Cloutier. Aaron Miller and Norstrom will have to be consistent for the Kings to have any chance of climbing up the Pacific Divison.

Goaltending

G: Dan Cloutier, Jason LaBarbera, Mathieu Garon

There is no doubt in the new Head Coach's mind, Marc Crawford, that Dan Cloutier is the number one goalie for the LA Kings. Former Head Coach of the Vancouver Canucks still has all the faith in the world for former number one goalie for the Vancouver Canucks. Dan Cloutier will be put under the spotlight in Los Angeles and a lot of the pressure will fall into his lap. He will be the one to carry this team into the playoffs. With the acquisition of Cloutier, Garon gets put back into the backup role, and if both of them cannot take charge in net for the Kings, young net minder, Jason LaBarbera will have to take over. A 11-9-2 record, with a 2.88 GAA and .900 save percentage, LaBarbera will be able to help the Kings win but not be able to steal games.

Look Out For

The LA Kings have high hopes for Anze Kopitar and Patrick O'Sullivan. There is a lot of talent with Kopitar. He has the size, good speed, and playmaking ability to stay in the NHL. Patrick O'Sullivan is a feisty player with a sometimes-arrogant attitude. Hopefully with all that behind him, and left in the major juniors, O'Sullivan should be ready to step it up in the NHL, full time. This rookie has had great seasons in the OHL with the Mississauga Ice Dogs and the AHL's Houston Aeros.

Round-Out

The LA Kings have a lot of improvement to do this season and hopefully everything can come together for them. The bad luck needs to stop for this team to make a good playoff run. The offence does look good in the top six, and the defence core is something that is great and tough.

Prediction: 83 points, 4th in Pacific Divison

Phoenix Coyotes

2005-06 Statistics

2005-06 Finish: 38-39-5, 12th West
2005-06 Goals For: 246
2005-06 Goals Against: 271
2005-06 Power Play: 17.7% (18th)
2005-06 Penalty Killing: 80.9% (22nd)
Points Leader: Shane Doan (66)
Goals Leader: Shane Doan, Mike Comrie (30)
Assists Leader: Ladislav Nagy (41)

New Faces

(D) Nick Boynton, (LW) Patrick Fischer, (D) Ed Jovanovski, (RW) Georges Laraque, (G) Mike Morrison, (RW) Owen Nolan, (C/W) Jeremy Roenick, (C/W) Mike Zigomanis

Gone

(C/RW) Mike Johnson, (D) Paul Mara, (G) Steve Passmore, (D) Jamie Rivers, (C/LW) Geoff Sanderson, (LW/RW) Boyd Devereaux, (C/W) Oleg Kvasha,

Offence

Left Wing: Ladislav Nagy, Jeremy Roenick, Tyson Nash
Centre: Mike Comrie, Steven Reinprecht, Dave Scatchard, Mike Ricci
Right Wing: Shane Doan, Owen Nolan, Oleg Saprykin, Georges Laraque, Josh Gratton

With an almost new look to their offensive team, the Phoenix Coyotes are aiming for grit and heart. The additions of Roenick, Boynton, Laraque, Nolan and Zigomanis means that there will be a lot more grind in their game. That's the way Head Coach Wayne Gretzky wants his team. If Ladislav Nagy can stay healthy the whole season, he will average almost over a point per game, and Comrie, Reinprecht, and Doan will look to continue their roles as first line players. New additions with Roenick make the club have more veteran experience, and he will be showing up in better shape this season, compared to last season. The only question mark surrounding the offence is newly acquired Owen Nolan. He was off the whole 05-06 season due to knee surgery; we will see how well he does, with a year's rest. The third and fourth line has a bunch of bangers. Nash, Laraque, Ricci, Scatchard and Gratton are all willing to take the body.

Defence

D: Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton, Ed Jovanovski, Derek Morris, Dennis Siedenberg, Zbynek Michalek

The Phoenix Coyotes were looking to improve on their defence this season, and that they did. They ended up signing two number-one defencemen for their respectable teams. Ed Jovanovski was the number one d-man for the Vancouver Canucks, while Nick Boynton was the number one d-man for the Boston Bruins, before the hold out. They made a splash in the market and it turned out to be a big improvement. Derek Morris continues to prove that he is an NHLer, who has a devastating shot. Michalek, Ballard and Sidenberg will have to be able to keep up with the other three veterans, and I'm sure they will.

Goaltending

G: Curtis Joesph, Philippe Sauve, Mike Morrison, David LeNeveu

Wayne Gretzky went out and signed Curtis Joesph last year, and while he didn't lead the Coyotes into the playoffs, he helped contend for a playoff spot. Posting a 32-21 record in his first season with the Phoenix Coyotes. An improved blue line can help Joesph turn that 32 wins, into a possibly 40 wins.

Look Out For

David LeNeveu had a short stint with the Phoenix Coyotes. Replacing injured Brian Boucher last season, LeNeveu had a decent season in net. In 15 games played, he had a 3-8-2 record, 3.24 GAA. Not bad for a rookie goalie, who got thrown into the NHL with a team under construction. He will do better in a backup role.

Round-Out

The Phoenix Coyotes assessed a lot of issues in the off-season. They will improve their club a lot, by just having the grit and grind in their line up. The offence is there, and now they have bodies that are willing to go to the net, and cause chaos for the opposing goalie and defence. Their defence is still young, but they have the few veterans there, so it will be up to the veterans to help the young core develop into solid NHL defencemen. The only thing that might fight with is consistency.

Prediction: 92 points, 3rd in Pacific Divison

San Jose Sharks

2005-06 Statistics

2005-06 Finish: 44-27-11, 5th West
2005-06 Goals For: 266
2005-06 Goals Against: 242
2005-06 Power Play: 18.2% (13th)
2005-06 Penalty Killing: 80.7% (22nd)
Points Leader: Joe Thornton (125)
Goals Leader: Jonathan Cheechoo (56)
Assists Leader: Joe Thornton (96)

New Faces

(LW) Mark Bell, (D) Mathieu Biron, (C) Curtis Brown, (D) Scott Ferguson, (RW) Mike Grier

Gone

(D) Matt Carkner, (G) Patrick Ehelechner, (LW) Nils Ekman, (C) Josh Hennessy, (C/LW) Alyn McCauley, (D) Tom Preissing, (LW) Scott Thornton

Offence

Left Wing: Mark Bell, Milan Michalek, Villie Nieminen, Grant Stevenson, Ryan Clowe
Centre: Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Curtis Brown, Mark Smith, Patrick Rissmiller
Right Wing: Jonathan Cheechoo, Steve Bernier, Mike Grier, Marcel Goc, Scott Parker

The San Jose Sharks have a tremendous three lines and great depth in their club. Both wings have about 5 players they can choose from, and down the middle they are deep as any other team. Reigning MVP, Joe Thornton will be looked upon throughout the whole season. Considered soft in Boston, Thornton is proving that Boston made the worst trade in Boston Bruin history by trading away a franchise player. The San Jose Sharks developed another franchise player in Patrick Marleau, who is the real leader of the club. Young and old are mixed in with the Sharks, but the mixture makes a great potion for playoff hockey. Alyn McCauley and Scott Thornton departed, so Doug Wilson went out and signed Curtis Brown and Mike Grier, who basically replace the duties of McCauley and Thornton. Newly acquired Mark Bell will have to keep up with Joe Thornton and Rocket Richard Trophy winner, Jonathan Cheechoo who hopes to score more than 50 goals again this season. The first, second, third, and fourth line are able to help the team win, throughout the whole season.

Defence

D: Scott Hannan, Matt Carle, Josh Georges, Kyle McLaren, Christian Ehrhoff, Doug Murray, Rob Davison

Although trading away their best offensive defencemen during the off-season, the Sharks have an Hobey Baker Award winner in Matt Carle who will take over Brad Stuart's role before he got traded to the Boston Bruins, and Tom Preissing's role before he got traded to the Chicago Blackhawks during the off-season. Carle will become a great defencemen, and add depth to the Sharks blue line. Josh Georges and Christian Ehrhoff look to continue to their success to their young careers. Scott Hannan and Kyle McLaren will be the leaders at the blue line while the others look to increase their ice time and more duties.

Goaltending

G: Evgeni Nabokov, Vesa Toskala, Nolan Schaefer

There is such talent and depth in the goal for the San Jose Sharks. First off they have Evgeni Nabokov who hasn't been stellar, but hasn't been horrible either. GM Doug Wilson has a lot of faith in him, that's why he signed him to a four-year, $21.5 million contract. After that, Doug Wilson signed Vesa Toskala who emerged to be the number one goalie last season and taking the Sharks into the Western Conference Semi-Finals. These two will be battling for the number one spot all season long, until one of them is traded. What makes things harder for Doug Wilson, Ron Wilson and the rest of the coaching staff is that Nolan Schaefer is making tremendous progress and emerging into a star himself. Posting a 5-1 record, with a 1.88 GAA and .920 save percentage.

Look Out For

There's already a lot of young talent on the Sharks, one of the few that hasn't made an appearance in an NHL game is Devin Setoguchi. He is currently sidelined with an injury; so another Shark to look out for in training camp is Lukas Kaspar. A 1st round pick in the 2004 Entry Draft, Kaspar has good size and gifted hands. A good style of play that the Sharks are always looking for.

Round-Out

The San Jose Sharks look to be favourites this year, especially since Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo will be together, full-time. Alongside they have a young winger, Mark Bell. Patrick Marleau hopes to have another career year, with wingers Milan Michalek and Steve Bernier. All hope they can play together for the whole season. That's where the depth is, after the first two lines are tough lines. You take your pick, you have Nieminen, Grier, Smith, Parker, Goc, Clowe, Stevenson, Brown, and Rissmillar. Their defence is absolutely fantastic, offensive threats with defensive responsibilities is what makes the Sharks blue line so great. Scott Hannan and Kyle McLaren look to become shutdown defencemen for the Sharks. In goal, there's no question that they have the most talented goalies in the Pacific Divison.

Prediction: 109 points, 1st in Pacific Divison