Hello again everyone, and welcome back to our previews of the upcoming NHL season, with fantasy pick advice, players to watch, a hartwarming special interest piece about Florida Panthers tough guy Wade Belak, and now, your season preview for our 5 Canadian hockey teams. (I know there is 6, but Toronto is YOUR hockey team, not ours). Starting from the West.....
VANCOUVER CANUCKS (11th in the West last season)
Coach: ALAIN VIGNEAULT
Captain: ROBERTO LUONGO
Assistants: RYAN KESLER, MATTIAS OHLUND, WILLIE MITCHELL
The Canucks are a wildcard this year. With a 2 year, $20 million contract pending for Mats Sundin, this team COULD be much better than it is now, but we'll have to wait and see. Notable Canucks that left the team in the offseason were forwards Brendan Morrison who now plays with Annaheim, and former captain Markus Naslund, who has already played extremely well with the Rangers. New aquisitions include Steve Bernier and Pavol Demitra to compliment the scoring touch of Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Aside from having one of the best goaltenders in the game, who is now the team captain, a 6-0-1 record in the preseason does not mean much. Don't hold your breath for the Canucks to make the playoffs this year.
CALGARY FLAMES (7th in the West last season)
Coach: MIKE KEENAN
Captain: JAROME IGINLA
Assistants: ROBYN REGEHR, DION PHANEUF
Initial reports are that among Tampa Bay and Chicago, Calgary is one of the top teams this year that have improved their team in the offseason. If there's one thing for sure, the Flames did some housecleaning. Parting ways with a disappointing effort from forward Alex Tanguay and "liability" defenseman Rhett Warrener, who was recently put on waivers, the Flames made room to pick up the scoring (and speed) talent of Los Angeles star Mike Camalerri, the tough (but effective) Todd Bertuzzi, and Tampa Bay tough guy Andre Roy. The Flames are much tougher, and along with a solid Top 6 forward crew of Iginla, Camalerri, Conroy, Langkow, Bertuzzi, and Lombardi, they also have one of the most solid defensive cores in the league, lead by Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr, with Adrian Aucoin, Jim Vandermeer, and Saskatoon-native Cory Sarich to round out the squad. Let's not forget about Kiprusoff between the pipes, either. The Flames will have an excellent shot at the Division lead this year.
EDMONTON OILERS (9th in the West last season)
Coach: CRAIG McTAVISH
Captain: ETHAN MOREAU
Assistants: STEVE STAIOS, SHAWN HORCOFF
One of the most exciting teams to watch down the stretch last season, the Oilers have a shot to restore the identity of the Edmonton franchise, and reclaim Edmonton as "The City of Champions". Maybe a Cup-contender is a stretch, but Edmonton has my vote for the most promising young lineup in the league. Last year, Edmonton knew how to win in clutch games, having an impressive record in shoot-outs, and did so with an incredible young lineup. With star players like Shawn Horcoff, Sheldon Souray, and captain Ethan Moreau sidelined for the season, young guns Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, and Robert Nilsson elevated their rookie seasons, playing like veterans. Roster moves that included the departures of Melville SK, product Jarret Stoll and Raffi Torres, and the aquisitions of forward Erik Cole, defenseman Lubomir Viznovsky, and Brock SK, tough guy Steve MacIntyre were the right moves for this squad. Providing the Oilers remain healthy, they will be a force in the Northwest division. The prospects are so deep on this team, that along with Sophomore sensations Gagner, Cogliano, and Nilsson, keep an eye out for rookie goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers to step in for the "seasoned" Dwayne Roloson very soon, and rookie Rob Schremp, who will be on of the most exciting and dynamic players in the game in the next few years. For a visual, Watch This!!
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