NHL Atlantic Division Preview

By Ryan Stern | August 14 2009

New Jersey Devils

Last year’s division champs are going into the ’09-’10 season looking a lot different than they have in years past. They will be without a top scorer (Brian Gionta), a top defensive forward and face off guy (John Madden), an enforcer (Mike Rupp), and a goalie who came out of nowhere to more than “hold the fort” for the team in net (Scott Clemmensen). Yet, there are 2 words that show why the Devils will always be thought of as a threat in the NHL, Martin Brodeur. They had a big time year last year from Zach Parise and will him to improve even more due to the loss of Gionta. They will also look for continued improvement from Travis Zajac. Patrick Elias has now lost the 2 line-mates that had made him an offensive star (Gionta, Scott Gomez). He has to find chemistry with new teammates. Now, the part of the team that may let the team down: the defense. Wait, did I just say that? The Devils’ defense is the weakest part of the team? Yep. I’m sorry but White, Oduya, Martin, Mottau, Salvador, and Greene just don’t thrill me at all. Marty is definitely going to have to earn his wins this year. No more of those 1 goal allowed on 17 shots. Those days of Devils hockey are over. Which makes me wonder if new/old coach Jacques Lemaire is the right fit for this team.

Predicted Point Total: 88

New York Islanders

It’s hard to believe that this team still has relevance in the NHL. They have been a laughing stock for a while now. Don’t look for that to change a lot this year. When your best player hasn’t played an NHL game yet, and there was thought that they weren’t sold on him when they took him #1 overall. Sure, John Tavares has dominated in juniors. The kid was born in the 90’s! If someone who is your “best” player was born during the Saved by the Bell era, it doesn’t say you’re going to have a great season. Not yet. They will be better this year if for no other reason but that they will have decent goaltending this year. But the fact that they signed both Dwayne Roloson AND Martin Biron tells me that they are fearing franchise goalie, Rick DiPietro is not going to be healthy, again. That should scare them. He still has 12 years and $54 million left on his ridiculous contract. Now, the Isles have a couple decent players. I like Kyle Okposo and Jeff Tambellini, but I just don’t see this team doing anything special.

Predicted Point Total: 69

New York Rangers

The Rangers are going to have a very different look this year than they had last year. They have gotten rid of a few large contracts of under-performing players (Gomez, Naslund, Zherdev, Morris), and lost some important role players from last years’ playoff run (Antropov, Sjostrom, Mara). Coach John Tortorella has brought in players that will fit into his new regime, including a top scorer in the prime of his career in Marian Gaborik. Other additions include Ales Kotalik, Tyler Arnason, Chris Higgins and Donald Brashear, which I still don’t understand that signing. Look for Tortorella and the Rangers to bring up a couple rookie studs this year and have them jump in right away (Artem Anisimov, Bobby Sanguinetti, and Matt Gilroy). They will also look to get improvement from Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan, who I think will be a 30 goal scorer. Now, it’s time to talk about the 2 most important parts of the team this year. No, not captain Chris Drury, but Henrik Lundqvist and Sean Avery. Lundqvist will look to continue his stellar play as he is the only Rangers goalie to win 30 games in each of his 1st 4 seasons. And Avery is a game changer. No matter if you hate him or love him (it’s one or the other, nothing in the middle with this guy), you have to see that when he plays for the Rangers, they are a winning team. If he can stay on the ice all year, look for the Rangers to have a big year.

Predicted Point Total: 93

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers are going to look a lot like the “old school” Broad St. Bullies this year. Aaron Asham, Daniel Carcillo, Riley Cote, Braydon Coburn, Randy Jones, and newly acquired Chris Pronger can all take you out with one hit if you take an eye off of them. Even newly acquired goalie, Ray Emery, is a tough guy. They will beat you with speed and power. They might not be the most technically sound team, but they will scare any team that they play. Winger Jeff Carter may have the best wrist shot in the game now that Joe Sakic has retired. If you give him more than 2 feet of space, he can score from anywhere in the zone. He is that good. Captain Mike Richards is another guy who any team in the NHL would love to have on their roster. One thing that may be the Flyers downfall is the PK. For a team that scores as many shorthanded goals, they give up a lot of power play goals. Also, they don’t have great goaltending. Emery has only had 1 season in the NHL with over 40 games. For a goalie who does have talent, he has never been able to take the reigns. This will be his big chance.

Predicted Point Total: 89

Pittsburgh Penguins

The reigning Stanley Cup Champs are primed to repeat. They really haven’t changed a team that has only gotten another year of experience and now knows what it’s like to win. This team goes the direction that one player takes them. No, it’s not Sid the Kid. It’s Mark-Andre Fleury. He can look like the #1 overall pick that he was back in 2003, but he can also look at times like a goalie who doesn’t belong in the NHL. I think that this is the year that he finally settles in as the #1 overall-type goalie that the Penguins have been waiting for. The pressure is off of him with the Cup win last year. And as long as he plays every home game, he should have a very good record this year. I still haven’t talked about the best player on the team. No, it’s not Sid the Kid, again. Now, it’s “Geno.” Evgeni Malkin might be the most talented player in the NHL. He has an amazing show, world-class hands, and the determination to be better than Alex Ovechkin. Oh yeah, Sidney Crosby is pretty good, too.

Predicted Point Total: 102

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