NHLTALK202

Last blog

toddnhltalk202 — Sat, 15 May 2010 12:33:41 +0000

I am done writing here, you can find my work at the following sites:

http://nhltalk202.com/

http://hendrickshockey.com/

http://BleacherReport.com/

5 Superstars Who Could Be Traded This Off-season

toddnhltalk202 — Sat, 15 May 2010 12:31:01 +0000

Though the UFA class is not filled with big names, their are some big names that could be available via trade.

1. Evgeni Malkin

Malkin is the Penguins 2nd line centre which is great to have but when you don’t have any wingers even close to your top line centre’s calibar you have a problem.

Over the past few years the Penguins have done a good job turning average wingers into above average wingers thanks to Crosby, Malkin and Jordan Staal however, Malkin needs to go.

Malkin makes over 8 million a season as the line two centre and Staal makes 4 million as the line three centre. If they were to trade Malkin they could get a legitimate line 1 winger, a prospect/pick and clear a bit of cap, meanwhile moving Staal up to line two.

Chance of a trade: 30%

Reason: Ray Shero knows that he needs a line one winger to play with Sidney Crosby.

2. Alex Semin

With the lack of cap space the Washington Capitals have and the performance Alex Semin gave them in the playoffs Capitals GM George McPhee may look to move the skilled winger for a good 2-way player who wants to win.

If they were to trade Semin it would probably be for a Colby Armstrong type player with a prospect or pick coming back to Washington as well.

Alex Semin is a rare talent and many say he has the best shot in the league however, you have to want to win and give it your all everytime you get on the ice.

Chance of a trade: 40%

Reason: They want to be a better defensive team

3. Jarome Iginla

Due the Flames huge lack of cap space and the fact that they are considering rebuilding Jarome Iginla could be on the move out of Calgary.

Jarome has already stated that if they are rebuilding or want him to move his NTC that he would. I know Calgary trading their captain seems a little far fetched but in reality it is not. Jarome is getting older and he is slowly becoming less of a factor night in night out but the Flames know if they are rebuilding they have to move Iginla now while his value is still high.

Chance of a trade: 65%

Reason: Rebuilding

4. Tomas Kaberle

Leafs GM Brian Burke has said that he will not trade Tomas Kaberle several times but do you really believe him? This is from the same guy that was asked if their was anything new on the Phil Kessel trade front he replied no and about 10 minutes later he was announcing the acquisition of Phil Kessel.

When the Leafs traded for Dion Phaneuf I figured it was to get a top notch line one defense pairing of Dion Phaneuf and Tomas Kaberle but clearly I was wrong. In the last 20 games of the regular season Carl Gunnarsson, Dion Phaneuf, Francois Beauchemin and Luke Schenn all played more minutes then Tomas Kaberle which leaves me to believe that he will not play another game for the Maple Leafs.

Chance of a trade: 80%

Reason: Tons of defenseman and lack of scoring forwards

5. Sheldon Souray

I am not going to do a huge write up on this due to the fact Sheldon Souray just came out and said I hate Oilers management, they made me play injured and that he demands a trade. However, Oilers fans should not hate him as he did say he loves the guys in the locker room and loves the fans.

Chance of a trade: 99%

Reason: Demanded a trade

Fell free to comment with your thoughts or concerns.

New Jersey Devils top three coaching options

toddnhltalk202 — Fri, 14 May 2010 22:10:58 +0000

Now that former Devils and Wild coach Jacques Lemaire has retired, the New Jersey Devils find themselves looking for a new coach.

In the last 2 seasons the Devils coaches have been Brent Sutter and Jacques Lemaire who both coach a defensive game. Both coaches had great regular seasons and lost in the first round of the playoffs. Also, Jacques Lemaire missed the playoffs before he came to New Jersey. As for Brent Sutter he missed the playoffs the year after the Devils fired him.

Don’t get me wrong defense is important but should it really be the main focus for NHL teams? To see if defense is really the way to go lets look at the remaining teams in the playoffs.

Chicago is a team that is offensive minded but takes pride in defense as well.

San Jose is a team that is offensive minded for the most part, but has a great 4th line to shutdown their opponents top line.

Philadelphia is a offensive minded team who have a great 4th line to shutdown their opponents top line.

Boston is a very physical and defensive minded team who scores timely goals and is very good at defending a lead.

Montreal is a small offensive minded team that leans on Hal Gill and Josh Gorges and Jaroslav Halak to keep them in games.

So as you can see, only one team remaining in the playoffs is a defense first minded team but they are a more physical team then the New Jersey Devils.

Here are my top three picks as to who should become the next coach for the New Jersey Devils:

1. Craig Mactavish

Pros:

A lot of experience, lets offensive players have a leash

2. John MacLean

Pros:

Good motivator, knows the system and players well

3. Guy Carbonneau

Pros:

A lot of experience, offensive minded, knows how to win

In my mind any of these coaches would be good options to take over as the next Devils coach and think a little less defense a little more offense.

The three best Centre’s in this years UFA class

toddnhltalk202 — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:48:48 +0000

There is not a huge list to chose from but in my mind, these are the 3 best centre’s in this years UFA class.

1. Patrick Marleau

Due to Sharks limited cap space the Sharks have and the playoff performance by Patrick Marleau the Sharks will have a very tough time retaining his services and he could find himself in the open market come July 1st. Patrick would be a great add for any team looking for a #1 centre as he can skate, score and will take pride is his defensive game.

Approximate asking price: 6-7 Million per season

Most likely to sign with: Kings, Islanders, or re-sign with San Jose

2. Tomas Plekanec

Tomas had a great regular season and proved that he could be a #1 Centre on most teams in the NHL. Due to the Canadiens limited cap space and the fact that Jaroslav Halak is due for a big raise, Tomas might not be back next year. Tomas could be a great add for any team looking for a playmaking centre.

Approximate asking price: 5-6 million per season

Most likely to sign with: Islanders, Avalanche, Blue Jackets, or re-sign with Montreal

3. Matthew Lombardi

Matthew is one of the most under-rated players in the NHL today. He is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and can play very good on both ends of the ice. Due to the situation in Phoenix and Coyotes GM Don Maloney not knowing how much cap space he will have to deal with Matthew could be getting a lot of phone calls come July 1st. Lombardi would be a great add for any team looking for a good responsible 2-way centre.

Approximate asking price: 3-4 million per season

Most likely to sign with: Leafs, Canadiens, Devils, Oilers, or re-sign in Phoenix

I would love to hear what your thoughts are so feel free to comment.

3 Offensive Defenseman who will break out next year

toddnhltalk202 — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:01:10 +0000

Their are many defenseman who I expect to break out next season, but these select few I expect to make the biggest jump from this season.

Erik Karlsson – Karlsson had a terrible start to the season for the Ottawa Senators and found himself in the minors because of it. However, when he was down there he immensely improved his game on both sides of the ice but his offense is what stands out the most. He ended up the season with 26 points in 60 games but he scored most of his points near the end of the season. In the final 10 games of the season Karlsson went on an offensive rampage tallying 12 points (4G, 8A). Expect Karlsson to be in the 45-50 point range next season.

Carl Gunnarsson – Gunnarsson started the season with the Toronto Marlies but with all the injuries to the Maple Leafs blue line he found himself playing with the big club. He struggled offensively at the start of the season but as the season went on Gunnarsson started to settle in and start putting up points. When the Leafs traded for Dion Phaneuf I figured that would be the end of his stint with the Maple Leafs but surprisingly in the last 20 games of the regular season Gunnarsson played more then every defenseman aside from Phaneuf…..yea that’s right he played more then Kaberle. Gunnarsson ended the season with 4 points in his final 7 games and has showed a lot of improvement in his offensive game. Expect Gunnarson to be around the 35-40 point mark next year.

PK Subban – PK started and really finished his season with the Hamilton Bulldogs. PK had 53 points in 77 games with the Bulldogs and turned into the offensive machine that he can be. PK only played 2 games with the Montreal Canadiens during the regular season and had a point in each of his games. In the playoffs PK is averaging over 20 minutes a night and has 4 points in 9 games which is pretty impresive for a 20 year old rookie playing in his 1st playoffs. It is already set in stone that PK will be the Canadiens next season as he is not only a fan favourite but a lethal offensive weapon from the point. Expect PK to be around the 40-45 point range next season.

I would love to hear your thoughts so feel free to comment.

Kings want Marleau or Kovalchuk

toddnhltalk202 — Wed, 12 May 2010 21:08:01 +0000

According to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com, the LA kings will be looking to make a splash come July 1st, though their is a chance none of these players will become UFA’s the chances are at least 1 of them will be. The LA Kings have a ton of interest in potential UFA forwards Patrick Marleau and Ilya Kovalchuk. The LA Kings tried to acquire Ilya Kovalchuk at the deadline but apparently the Kings offer was not as good as the Devils.

I personally think they LA Kings have a very good shot at signing Marleau or Kovalchuk as Kovalchuk is not sure if he wants to remain a Devil or hit the open market.

As for Marleau, his wife wants him to stay in California with her and his kids and Patrick is a family guy so he will stay on the West Coast.

Marleau’s #1 priority is to re-sign with the Sharks however, due to the Sharks limited cap space and Marleau’s play in the playoffs the Sharks will probably not be able to retain his services. So chances are Marleau will be a member of the LA Kings by the start of next season.

Canadiens VS Penguins, 3 Habs That Must Step Up.

toddnhltalk202 — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:56:24 +0000

With game 7 of the Canadiens, Penguins series set to go tonight, I am going to tell you my 3 x-factors that must step up for the Canadiens to win.

1. Hal Gill, he has been given the lovely task of trying to shutdown Sidney Crosby and the Penguins top line, though it hasn’t been easy he has done a fantastic job. Their is still work to be done. Hal Gill has held the Penguins captain to just 3 points in 5 games, all assists. When Hal was out of the lineup last game Sid the kid broke out and had a 2 point night with a goal and an assist, though the Canadiens still won that game you can’t expect to win when your opponents best player is at the top of his game. Hal Gill is expected to return to the lineup tonight after being stepped on by Penguins forward Chris Kunitz in game 5.

2. Jaroslav Halak, though Jaroslav Halak has been outstanding all series long the Canadiens still find themselves deadlocked through 6 games. Jaroslav Halak will have to be on the top of his game once again for the Canadiens to have a chance of winning this game.

3. Mike Cammalleri, Mike has been absolutely outstanding all series like his teammates Jaroslav Halak and Hal Gill but he knows the job is not done. Mike has been the offensive weapon the Canadiens expected him to be when they signed him this series as he has 6 goals in 6 games however, if Mike does not get on the score sheet tonight you can expect the Canadiens to be golfing in the next couple of days. Though it is not impossible for the Canadiens to win without him getting on the score sheet, it is very unlikely as he is the Canadiens best offensive player.

Now like you, all I can do is wait and see what happens, but chances are if these 3 players don’t have good games tonight the Canadiens will lose.

Dallas re-signs Kari Lehtonen

toddnhltalk202 — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:39:34 +0000

The Dallas Stars have shown that they have confidence in goaltender Kari Lehtonen by giving him a 3 year contract extension that will earn him 3.55 million dollars per season.

Let’s look at his stats from over the past 3 seasons.

2007-08 GP:45 Record: 17-22-5 GAA: 2.90 SV%: .916 SO: 4

2008-09 GP:46 Record: 19-22-3 GAA:3.06 SV%: .911 SO: 3

2009-10 GP:12 Record: 6-4-0 GAA: 2.81 SV%: .911 SO: 0

So as you can see he is capable of stopping pucks it is just a matter of if he can stay healthy. If he can stay healthy he will be well worth the money but if he can’t the Dallas Stars will once again be searching for a starting goalie.

The New Jersey Devils top 3 prospects

toddnhltalk202 — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:52:09 +0000

In no order I am going to take a look at the New Jersey Devils top 3 prospects.

LW Mattias Tedenby – Mattias Tedenby’s game is all about speed and skill. Mattias has represented Sweden in the World Juniors a couple of times and came up with a few highlight reel plays. Mattias is not your typical New Jersey Devil as he is mostly only offensive minded and has been questioned because of his limited defensive ability and small size but that is nothing the Devils coaching staff can’t fix. When Mattias becomes a member of the Devils he will probably play in the top 2 lines and see some powerplay time.

Plays like: Daniel Briere

Career potential: 1st line sniper

Draft info: 24th overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft

C Jacob Josefson – Jacob Josefson is a very strong 2-way centre who will contribute on both ends of the ice. Jacob is another Swedish player with a ton of talent and is expected to play with the Devils this upcoming season or next year. Jacob is the model New Jersey Devil as he will chip in offensively and play a very strong defensive game. When Jacob becomes a member of the Devils he will likely play in the top 2 lines and will see time on both the powerplay and PK.

Plays like: Pavel Datsyuk

Career potential: 1st line 2-way forward

Draft info: 20th overall in the 2009 NHL entry draft

C Adam Henrique – Adam has emerged as one of the best players in the OHL after he was drafted in the 3rd round just a few years ago. Adam was recently named OHL playoff MVP for the Windsor Spitfires as he had 20 goals and 5 assists in 19 games. Adam is a typical New Jersey Devil, he is average in size but plays with an edge to his game, he can shut down your top line, get under their skin and put the puck in the net. When Adam makes the jump from junior to the NHL (many expect this year) Adam will probably be the team’s 3rd line centre and will play the PK as well as limited time on the powerplay.

Plays like: Jordan Staal

Career potential: shutdown centre with offensive upside

Draft info: 82nd overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft

This should let you know what to expect in the future from these fine young hockey players.

Habs may lose more then last night’s game

toddnhltalk202 — Sun, 09 May 2010 17:30:54 +0000

Last night the Montreal Canadiens may have just lost more then the game.

In yesterday night’s game Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill’s leg was stepped on. Gill left the game and did not return. If Hal Gill is injured for an extended period of time (maybe even 1 game) the Montreal Canadiens could find themselves golfing as Hal Gill has played a key part in shutting down the top lines of the Capitals and Penguins. Last night the Montreal Canadiens played a great game and played as good or better then the Penguins all night, the difference in the game was just as simple as the Habs not getting a good bounce. However, it is not all bad news in Montreal as defenseman Andrei Markov is expected to play in game 6 at the Bell Centre. If Markov returns as expected and Hal Gill is healthy enough to play the Canadiens might be heading to Pittsburgh again.