NORTHEAST DIVISION

1. OTTAWA

New head coach John Paddock will try to keep the Sens in order while trying to take the next step and winning a title. Last season ended a Cup Final loss to Anaheim. With question marks hanging over the Sabres’ heads coming into the season, the Sens should win this division.

Offensively, the first order of business will be establishing a better balance to the forward lines. Look for Daniel Alfredsson to move to the second line after his line with Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley were hockey’s highest-scoring line for the second consecutive regular season. Niko Dimitrakos was tried out on the first line with Spezza and Heatley during training camp.

Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley learned some painful lessons about underestimating their opponents when they were crushed by the Ducks in the Final. After sailing through Buffalo (a true surprise) on the strength of Buffalo’s lack of a solid checking line, they underestimated what a the meat grinder the Ducks were last season. Mike Fisher was good for 22 goals in 68 games, while Antoine Vermette added even more depth with 19. Chris Kelly and Antoine Vermette comprise two-thirds of the Sens’ checking line, which should continue to be formidable.

Defenseman Wade Redden invoked his no-trade clause when GM Bryan Murray tried to move him earlier this summer. Makes for an interesting start to the season, but Redden says that there are no hard feelings. Joe Corvo loves to shoot, and keeps the Sens' power play strong. Luke Richardson, 38 years old, signed in August. Andrej Meszaros, Christoph Schubert and Anton Volchenkov, all in their early 20's, are the backbone. The club's defense yielded a respectable 216 total goals against, finishing 11th in the league.

Ray Emery signed a three-year deal after a 33-win season (2.47; .918SV%) and an excellent playoff run. The Sens are set in net; Martin Gerber backs up.

THE MAN: Daniel Alfreddson

STATS: 77GP; 29-58-87. Career – 783GP; 291-467-758. Always a plus player aside from rookie season.

No reason to believe that the Sens won't challenge for the Eastern Conference title again.

2. BUFFALO

GM Darcy Regeir didn’t get fired after enduring the embarrassment of watching two identity players, Daniel Briere and Chris Drury, exit to Philly and Manhattan, respectively. Reason being, in the last decade of his stewardship, the club has drafted well, and rolled emerging talent into its lineup so often that Regeir had to be given a pass by club brass. Two consecutive conference final appearances didn’t hurt.

So, who will lead these boys? Will it be Derek Roy, armed with a new $4M per annum deal, or Max Afinogenov? How about Tomas Vanek, the highest-paid athlete in club history, or Derek Pominville? Someone had better assume the leadership mantle no later than November, because when a club loses two top centers who happen to have been co-captains, well, a slide can become a slippery slope really fast. One upbeat note: The club held up very well under the stress of injuries last season; Drury and Briere both missed action and at points as many as eight starters were injured. The club’s depth may be as advertised. The club was first overall in offense last season (3.63GPG).

On defense, Brian Campbell is looking as swift as that Niedermayer guy. Only problem? He mans the point on the power play and doesn’t like to shoot (ouch!). Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman return to lead a very speedy defense corps, although Jaroslav Spacek and Dmitri Kalinin will have to step up (they rode the pine late in the playoffs). Teppo Numminen was suspended—as a salary cap-saving measure—when it was revealed that he needed heart surgery. At 38, it could be career-threatening.

The club was second in the league with 25 road wins. Achilles’ Heel: No identifiable checking line, which was the club’s undoing vs. Ottawa.

In goal, the Sabres hit a home run with Ryan Miller, whose goals against average (2.73) doesn’t reflect his elite status, similar to Grant Fuhr, whose Edmonton clubs were offensive giants. Miller has taken up the leadership mantle, at least he says so. Jocelyn Thibault (7-8-2 for PIT) backs up.

THE MAN: Ryan Miller. It used to be Drury and/or Briere. Now, it’s the last line of defense and he’ll have to bail the club out early and often, and lead them as well.

STATS: 40-16-6; 2.73GAA; .911%.

We’ll know early in the year whether Buffalo’s celebrated depth is worth celebrating. A solid second in the division, and should earn a playoff trip. Did Cup contention fly out the door when Drury split?

3. TORONTO

Andrew Raycroft, meet Vesa Toskala. He just got here, from San Jose. You have exactly one month to stand on your head or Vesa will be the next to endure the Toronto media as the number one guy. That’s how it works on John Ferguson, Jr.’s Leafs. The door revolves often, so dazzle us, will ya? Scott Clemmensen comes in from New Jersey, where he rode the pine for Martin Brodeur’s sake.

What a zoo.

It’s been reported that Sundin went to club brass and asked for help. Enter Jason Blake, formerly of the Islanders. Blake joins the Leafs this year on the heels of a 40 goal season with the Islanders. Mats Sundin signs on for one more kick at the can. Sundin still a force, will benefit greatly from Blake arrival. Darcy Tucker came through with 24 goals in 56 games, his season shortened by injury. Alexei Ponikarovsky potted 21 goals. Depth a concern, the Leafs will again contend for the last playoff spot, probably until the seaon’s last weeks in April.

On defense, Tomas Kaberle and Bryan McCabe provide lots of offense from the blueline. With 262 goals against, the Leafs finished in the last third for team defense. The team has $16.4M wrapped up in Tomas Kaberle, Bryan McCabe and Pavel Kubina, and it’s dragging the defense downhill, such overpayment. Ian White, 23, and Carlo Colaiacovo, 24, represent the future. Overall, the Leafs' top six is in the bottom third of the league for team D for a reason, no matter how much the media wants to focus on the goaltender.

Which brings us to Vesa Toskala, who will likely be the starter. As noted above, it's been a revolving door in the Leafs' net for years, and with the defense top-heavy with veteran salaries, it looks like the Leafs may again be on the outside looking in this playoff season.

THE MAN: Mats Sundin

STATS: Career - 1231GP; 523-720-1243

Mired in mediocrity.

4. MONTREAL

Can the Habs fend off mediocrity? The club failed to make the playoffs in 06-07, then lost Sheldon Souray via free agency. Craig Rivet went to the Sharks at the trade deadline. Holes abound in the Habs’ lineup, but youthful prospects should keep GM Bob Gainey optimistic.

Goaltending is the Canadiens’ strong suit, with Cristobal Huet missed 20 games late in the season, but finished with 19 wins in 42 games. Jaroslav Halak made his NHL debut February 18, and posted a 10-6-0 record (2.89GAA; .906SV%) as the Habs made a late playoff push.

Making the goaltending situation more compelling is 20 year-old Carey Price. The fifth overall pick in the 2005 draft, Price backstopped Team Canada last January at the 2006-2007 World Juniors. He was also named tournament MVP and its best goaltender. Price then won the Jack Butterfield trophy as Calder Cup (AHL) MVP after backstopping the Hamilton Bulldogs to the title. The Tri-City (WHL) junior star isn’t about to be rushed by the club, but he’ll get his shot this year.

His story includes all-Canadian devotion to his development from his father, Jerry, who bought a Piper Cub airplane to fly the young Price from their distant Anahim Lake, B.C. home, to practices and games in Williams Lake.

Defense is a concern due to the departure of Sheldon Souray and his 26 goals. Craig Rivet went to San Jose late last season. Enter Roman Hamrlik from Calgary, who hauled 24:52 average ice time and popped seven goals. Hamrlik has managed two sixteen-goal seasons (NYI, TBL) in his fourteen year career. He will likely pull power play minutes with the Canadiens. A curious pickup is returnee Patrice Brisebois, who initially failed his physical.

Offensively, you can always count on Saku Koivu to get 20 goals. Michael Ryder is coming into his own, having tallied at least 25 goals in his first three NHL seasons. Center Tomas Plekanec popped 20 goals and played up and down the lineup. Plekanec turns 25 on Halloween, and a thirty goal season is on the horizon. Right wing Andrei Kostitsyn (1-10-11) saw action in 22 NHL games while scoring 21 goals in 50 games with Hamilton (AHL). At 22, the Habs are desperate for a breakout season from Kostitsyn. More youthful promise is found in Chris Higgins (22-16-38 in 61GP). Bryan Smolinski will bring veteran mustard to the lineup at second or third center.

THE MAN: Saku Koivu. Entering his eighth season as captain. Only four Canadiens have served longer: Jean Beliveau, Butch Bouchard and Bob Gainey.

STATS: Led club in assists (53) and points (75) in 2006-07.

Searching for identity.

5. BOSTON

It’s looking to be another long season in Boston.

Two positive notes: 1. Finding a new goaltender in Manny Fernandez. 2. The Bruins hired defense-minded coach Claude Julien. Unceremoniously dumped in the final days of the regular season despite having led the New Jersey Devils to playoff position, Julien now finds himself trying to hit the ground running in Boston.

The Bruins finished 29th in defense (3.42GAA) and 25th offensively (2.56GPG).

Offensively, the club returns hoping that Masterton trophy winner Phil Kessel (70GP; 11G) continues his upward progress, having beaten cancer during his rookie year. P.J. Axelsson can improve on his 13 goals and Chuck Kobasew once scored 20 goals for the Flames. Peter Schaefer (77GP; 12-34-46) is a welcome addition from Ottawa who can play any role. M. Savard (22), P. Bergeron (22), Glen Murray 59 (28 in 59 GP due to injury) and M. Sturm (27) are a formidable top four, but after that, the Bruins are lean. The writing is on the wall for the B’s: Depth is a major issue offensively. Marc Savard proved to be as good as advertised after coming over from Atlanta, leading the Bruins with 22 goals and a colossal 74 assists.

On defense, it’s a middle-of-the-road group at best, although Andrew Ference was a nice acquisition and big-bucks D-man Zdeno Chara should have a better year. Chara scored 11 goals (9 on the power play), and is the face of the GM Peter Chiarelli’s Bruins. He’s still a monstrous presence, and around whom the club can build. 6’4” Andrew Alberts, a Boston College product, enters his third year, and the Bruins are very happy with his progress, smartly keeping Alberts in Providence (AHL) for two seasons prior.

Julien will emphasize a pressure game in the offensive zone, and try to buy his defense a break. If they can buy into this, then the Bruins might have a shot at the last playoff spot if they don’t fizzle completely by January. A tough season looms.

THE MAN: Zdeno Chara The loss of Joe Thornton was another heartbreak in a long line of Bruin disappointments, but Chara gives the B’s a star player.

STATS: 6’9”, 260lbs. Ouch.

Playoffs still a year or so away.

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