2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 10-08

[whiteevo]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

gonna be hard to replace that veteran leadership that johnsson provided, thanks TSN.

 

[Sathington Willoby]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

[quote name="whiteevo"]gonna be hard to replace that veteran leadership that johnsson provided, thanks TSN.[/quote]

Yeah, I found that quite entertaining as well. What, did they have him laid out on a gurney in the middle of the locker room during the playoff run?

 

[Kerfuffle]

Re: 2010-2011 Season Media Standings Predictions/Previews Th

[quote name="R K"]Vancouver? Really? San Jose? With Nittymokin and what defense? Aging Detroit?



The Hockey News FAILS miserably. Can't wait till the END of the year to see where their predictions fall.[/quote]

We should do a prediction on the board here. Then lock the thread until the season is over and then compare. Would be fun to see who was right. I'm still reeling from the fact that several people here predicted Philly to win it all last year and came pretty damn close. I didn't have them anywhere near the playoffs and I was one shootout goal from being right as well . But I would be curious to see what people predict for this coming year.

 

[MassHavoc]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

How many times have Vancouver ever lived upto the hype? How many times have they supposed to been good and then made it to the finals, or even the conf. finals? I just think that some of being a good team is actually proving that you are a good team and not that you have the potential to be a good team. The hawks proved that they can win the cup, for better or worse they should still be the team to beat not matter what moves were made in the offseason. You play a team not individuals. And this TEAM was the best last year. Until the first few weeks of the season are done and we see what kind of team this is, then they should still be #1.

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

ProHockeyTalk (NBC Sports)

2010-2011 NHL season preview: Chicago Blackhawks



By Joe Yerdon

Fri Oct 01,2010 1:49 AM ET





Last season: (52-22-8, 112 points, 1st in Central Division, 2nd in Western Conference) The Blackhawks had themselves a good year. Winning the Central Division was good but winning the franchise's first Stanley Cup since 1961 was a lot better. After getting the playoffs off to a rocky start against the Predators, the Hawks only got better and beat everyone up along the way to winning it all. They essentially put all their eggs in one basket last season to win it and they did. Kudos.



Head coach: Joel Quenneville enters his third season as Blackhawks head coach having freshly gotten the monkey off his back. After tough seasons leading the Blues and Avalanche as their head man, and having issues with the Red Wings wherever he went, Quenneville put it all together last season and stopped toying with his goaltending long enough to get Chicago over the hump. This year, his task is a lot more difficult. While there's still a ton of talent in Chicago, doing the delicate dance needed to repeat will be tougher with what amounts to a brand new roster.



Key departures: Antti Niemi, Kris Versteeg, Adam Burish, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel, Dustin Byfuglien, John Madden, Cristobal Huet. You might've heard about Chicago having to get rid of a few guys over the summer. This a bit of a big deal.



Key arrivals: Viktor Stalberg, Ryan Potulny, Fernando Pisani, Marty Turco, John Scott, Jeremy Morin, Kyle Beach, Nick Leddy. Trade pieces and rookies dot this list of new arrivals. Marty Turco is the man of the hour here. Everyone else will (likely) have their role on the team, but Turco is the guy that has to hold it together. Speaking of which...



Under pressure: Yeah, it's Marty Turco who's under pressure here. The Blackhawks cleared out Cristobal Huet to Switzerland and walked away from Antti Niemi to bring in Turco. You can argue about how important Niemi was to Chicago's Stanley Cup success all you want, but when they needed him he was their guy. Turco is coming off of a few rough seasons in Dallas where drama seemed to always surround him even though he was never challenged for his job. Now he comes to Chicago a little older, maybe a little wiser, and for the Hawks sake a bit more grown up. Corey Crawford isn't challenging him for the starting role and the success of the Hawks this season is all on Turco.



Protecting the house: With Marty Turco and Corey Crawford as the goaltending duo this year, supplanting Antti Niemi and Cristobal Huet from last season, things take a decided turn with how things are handled. Last year, Niemi and Huet essentially split time in net 55-45 in favor of Niemi, an ideal kind of split when you're not sure who your starter will be. Now it's definitively Marty Turco's job and while he can be a stellar goalie, he'll need to be more consistent with Chicago to keep the team winning and the fans at bay. Turco can win and can get it done, it's just a question of whether will or not.



Defensively, the Blackhawks are virtually the same as they were last season and that's key. Duncan Keith, Brian Campbell, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brent Seabrook make up a dynamic first four set of defensemen. They signed John Scott in free agency, Nick Boynton took the league minimum to come back and Jordan Hendry will try to make his way into the lineup. Rookie Nick Leddy has stayed long into camp and now looks to break into the Hawks lineup as well. Leddy was the Minnesota Wild's first round pick in 2009 who they obtained in the Cam Barker trade. Question is, do the Hawks want to be patient enough with Leddy to let him learn on the job.



Top line we'd like to see: Load up that first line with all the talent, baby. Marian Hossa-Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane. Yeah, we know Patrick Sharp is good too and we dig Dave Bolland's game now, especially shorthanded. When you're the champs though, show everyone else you're not there to screw around and come out blazing with all the big guns and let it fly.



Oh captain, my captain: Jonathan Toews is the captain once again and can you really argue with what he's done as the head man of the Blackhawks? His deadly serious demeanor and ability on the ice helped carry Canada to a gold medal and the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup. People might still be unfamiliar with him (somehow) but he's the best player in the league that not-as-many people talk about at least when compared to Crosby and Ovechkin. If only we could get him to be as goofy and awkwardly affable as Patrick Kane is, we'd have yet another potential media darling. That said, what he does for the Blackhawks is as good as any of the great captains have done in the past and he's still just a kid.



Street fighting man: While the team lost the pugnacity of Adam Burish to free agency, they pick up a behemoth in former Wild defenseman John Scott. Scott was one of the Wild's team leaders in fights including this vicious knockout of Canucks youngster Alexandre Bolduc. Blackhawks fans are so eager to see John Scott fight, they've already given him the nickname of "Murdersaurus." Suffice to say, Hawks fans are ready for the John Scott era as their enforcer.



Best case scenario: For the Hawks, if their top two lines do their job as the most talented parts of the team and the defense does their thing once again limiting opposing shots and playing beastly making Marty Turco's job that much easier in goal, the Blackhawks again will be a very dangerous team. They've arguably got some of the best players in the league as it is in Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, and Seabrook. Having that many great players is a luxury and for Chicago, they'll need them to be great all season and into the playoffs to have a shot at repeating. Luckily for them, most of the teams in the Western Conference have questions surrounding them as well so it theoretically opens things up a bit when it comes to the playoffs. The Hawks can get back to the Stanley Cup Finals, but they need to not have their depth players come up small and they need their top players to be at their best. Making all of the roster turnover not affect their play will be the biggest challenge.



Worst case scenario: Teams load up against their top two lines while the defense doesn't play as air-tight as they did last season leading to Marty Turco running into old problems that he had in Dallas. Chicago's third and fourth lines play non-existent hockey and the Blackhawks bow out in the first round of the playoffs. Yes, they'll be a playoff team so stop talking about them like they won't be. There's too much talent here to fall that far. That said, may the hockey gods help this team if injuries become a problem. The Blackhawks have spent their depth to fill out ranks this year and the cupboard is as thin as any in the AHL.



Keeping it real: This team will still be pretty good. They're not the juggernaut they were last year, but anyone writing off Chicago as dead in the water is either crazy or an obsessed Red Wings fan. This team desperately needs optimum performance from their best players and they need their depth players to not be terrible. They need Marty Turco to have a resurgence in Chicago in order to go deep in the playoffs, but they'll be a playoff team for sure.



Stanley Cup chances: On a scale of 1-5, with one being the worst and five being the best, I'll give Chicago the champions benefit of the doubt and put them down as a 4. They'll need things to break right for them in the playoffs to get back to the Finals and they'll be a very difficult team to play against no matter what. They're not the shoe-in Stanley Cup contenders they were last year, but they're not out of the running either. They can get there, but they'll need some luck in doing so.



SOURCE: http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2010 ... khawks.php

 

[Guest]

Re: 2010-2011 Season Media Standings Predictions/Previews Th

[quote name="Kerfuffle"]

We should do a prediction on the board here. Then lock the thread until the season is over and then compare. Would be fun to see who was right. I'm still reeling from the fact that several people here predicted Philly to win it all last year and came pretty damn close. I didn't have them anywhere near the playoffs and I was one shootout goal from being right as well . But I would be curious to see what people predict for this coming year.[/quote]



We can do that.



FYI at the start of the year Philly were picked my MANY "experts" to go all the way to the Finals. They had serious injuries and a coaching change in mid season.

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

The Hockey Writers (THW)

Looking ahead to the 2010-11 Blackhawks season

Posted by Cheryl Adams on Sep 23 2010



After the dust settled in the post-Stanley Cup Salary Cap Shuffle, ten players were gone from the championship roster: Burish, Byfuglien, Eager, Fraser, Huet, Ladd, Madden, Niemi, Sopel, Versteeg. (Gone, too, was Kim Johnsson, who suffered a potentially career-ending concussion after just 8 games for Chicago.)



In return, the Hawks got back a selection of prospects and draft picks; and between trades and free agent signings, also acquired a bunch of guys with names like Stalberg, Makarov, and Vishnevskiy.



Blackhawks supporters could be forgiven for looking in the latest Tribune or Sun-Times, and, like the fans in Major League, asking, “Who are these guys?”



Fans had their first chance to take a look at some of the Blackhawks acquisitions at the Prospects Camp. Not surprisingly, most of the players who stood out most at that camp – including Nick Leddy, Christopher DiDominico, Brandon Pirri, Jeremy Morin, Rob Flick, and Ben Smith – were back in Chicago this week, suiting up for training camp.



They won’t all make the roster, of course. Despite the beating that the team’s roster took, the core of the team is intact: Bolland, Brouwer, Campbell, Hjalmarsson, Hossa, Kane, Keith, Kopecky, Seabrook, Sharp, Toews. Gritty D-men Nick Boynton and Jordan Hendry also return; as well as left winger Bryan Bickell, who hopes to earn a bigger role than the 16 regular season and 4 post-season games that he played last season. Bickell’s performance in camp has been impressive, and he will doubtless land a roster spot this season.



Both of the Blackhawks goalies are gone from last season, replaced by veteran goalminder Marty Turco, who spent his career with the Dallas Stars. He took at 75% pay cut to come to Chicago (signing a salary-cap friendly $1.3M/1 year deal), citing his desire to play for a winning team and get his own chance to hoist the Cup next June. Since Turco’s signing was announced, it has been frequently commented that Turco’s savvy puck-handling will be a great compliment to the dynamic Chicago defense corps.



It’s clear from Training Camp and tonight’s game against Tampa Bay that there’s a sharp learning curve in action. Turco’s style of play is unlike anything Chicago fans – or players – have seen in years: aggressively going out to meet the puck or playing it behind the net – and fans will eye the goal uneasily until they become accustomed to his skill set. But his techniques also require he becomes familiar with the players in front of him, and vice versa – as he stated in a post-practice press conference this week, learning his teammates’ voices and abilities. When watching Dallas Stars tapes, it’s clear the difference that communication will come – and make a difference – but as we saw tonight, lack of it can also cause goals.



Turco’s expected backup is Corey Crawford, who has spent the past couple seasons in Rockford and barely lost out the backup goalie position last year to Antti Niemi. He was also the best among camp goalies, letting in just 4 goals across 100 minutes worth of play. (In comparison, Turco let in 8 over 135 minutes of play.) Stan Bowman stated earlier this summer that he felt Crawford was ready for his shot at the NHL; so expect to see him in the 15-25 games that Turco does not start. . .



(a lot of talk about the individual Hawks prospects)



. . .While Chicago lost some key players and fan favorites this off season, the team’s situation remains as this: an impressive core of players, including the Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe winners, sitting atop a glut of talented prospects, with so few spots on the main squad that the competition is fierce for which spots remain. All teams should be so lucky as to have Chicago’s “problems”.



FULL ARTICLE: http://thehockeywriters.com/looking-ahead-to-the-2010-11-blackhawks-season/

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

The Sporting News



Technically, The Sporting News isn't listing their team-by-team previews as numerical rankings/predictions. BUT if one looks at their very precise and systematic daily releasing of their previews you really can't make the case IMO that they really aren't ranking the teams or else predicting what they feel the standings will reflect when you look at the shakeout. Like so. . .



VAN

WAS

DET

PIT

CHICAGO

PHI

SJ

NJ

BOS

LA

PHO

NSH

NYR

COL

BUF

TB

OTT

MTL

ANA

CGY

STL

TOR

ATL

DAL

NYI

MIN

CAR

CBS

EDM

FLA

Chicago Blackhawks: 2010-11 preview



A look at the Chicago Blackhawks heading into the 2010-11 season:

-- Larry Lage, Sporting News Yearbooks





Chicago's first Stanley Cup in 49 years brings a huge player turnover. Still, don't underestimate the 'Hawks.



2009-10 record: 52-22-8, 112 points



Last playoff: 2010 (won Stanley Cup)



Coach: Joel Quenneville



Hangovers are easier to cope with if friends are around, either lounging in a living room or going to a restaurant and telling tales from the previous night. If you're hanging out with people who weren't at the hangover-inducing party, though, it's not quite as fun.



Welcome to the world of the Chicago Blackhawks.



After hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1961 and turning the Windy City into a hockey town again, salary cap constraints forced GM Stan Bowman to part with nine players who helped the franchise capture the Cup.



Winger Kris Versteeg, playoff star Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Brent Sopel, Ben Eager and Colin Fraser were traded. Adam Burish and John Madden were not re-signed. Then, in a final punch to the gut, the Blackhawks let Cup-winning goaltender Antti Niemi walk because an arbitrator awarded him a $2.75 million salary they couldn't afford to pay.



"Money was a big factor with all the guys we lost," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "They were all guys that contributed in meaningful ways and they were significant pieces that gave us depth, which got us through the playoffs."



In the midst of the roster purge, the Blackhawks matched the four-year, $14 million offer sheet Niklas Hjalmarsson received from the Sharks, keeping a core defenseman and preserving at least some depth.



But despite the turnover, don't underestimate this season's Blackhawks.



Forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews and Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Duncan Keith didn't go anywhere. Kane and Toews signed five-year contracts in December, while Keith got a 13-year deal at the same time. Marian Hossa also is locked into Chicago with 11 years remaining on his deal.



"The good news is those players should still be improving and, knowing each of them, they won't be content," Quenneville said. "It'll be a good challenge because teams are going to be coming at us like they didn't before, but it's easier said than done to be ready for that."



Keith, who also will play alongside returning defensemen Brent Seabrook, Brian Campbell and Hjalmarsson, sounds ready.



"As soon as the summer goes by and training camp starts going again, all the hunger to come back and win again is right there," he said. "It's nice to enjoy it, but once you strap on the skates again, everything's all about winning. One good year is not going to make me satisfied."



The Blackhawks also have promising young talent. Dave Bolland recovered from back surgery and had 16 points in 22 playoff games. Jake Dowell, Bryan Bickell and Troy Brouwer are all in their mid-20s and will get every chance to produce up front.



Tomas Kopecky, who came over from Detroit two seasons ago, likely will see his minutes increase. Viktor Stalberg, acquired in the Versteeg trade, is a promising prospect who scored nine times and notched 14 points over 40 games for Toronto last season, his first in the NHL.



Defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy, added in the Ladd deal, is just 22 and has played five NHL games. And if 6-8, 258-pound John Scott plays, everyone will notice. The imposing Scott signed a two-year deal in July after breaking in with Minnesota.



"We're going to be working in a lot of young players," Quenneville said. "They will have to learn on the fly to help us win."



The goaltending situation hung like a cloud over Chicago all summer, finally ending with the departure of Niemi and subsequent signing of 35-year-old Marty Turco. Turco has battled through two tough seasons for the Stars.



The Blackhawks earned the right to party big over the summer. Prior to last season, the franchise had been in the playoffs just twice in 11 years and responded to the weight of high expectations with a division title and solid playoff run.



"It was nice to get back to Chicago and share it with all the people and all the fans of Chicago, just to see the look on everyone's face," Keith said. "It was so long ago that really bringing the Stanley Cup back to Chicago was pretty special."



How special? It was a nonstop party Quenneville described as "over the top," from public to private moments.



"It was incredible, from the parade to the reception afterward and ordinary days after that," Quenneville said. "People are always coming up to simply say, 'Thank you.' My favorite story happened after having breakfast one day at a restaurant. As I was walking out, somebody shouted, 'You made my life.'"



Life may be tougher for Blackhawks fans this season, though.





Offseason moves



Additions:John Scott, D (Minnesota); Jeff Taffe, C (trade, Florida); Marty Turco, G (Dallas); Ivan Vishnevskiy, D (trade, Atlanta); Chris DiDomenico, C (trade, Toronto); Philippe Paradis, C (trade, Toronto); Jeremy Morin, LW (trade, Atlanta); Viktor Stalberg, LW (trade, Toronto).



Subtractions: Brent Sopel, D (trade, Atlanta); Ben Eager, LW (trade, Atlanta); Andrew Ladd, LW (trade, Atlanta); Dustin Byfuglien, RW (trade, Atlanta); Colin Fraser, C (trade, Edmonton); Richard Petiot, D (Edmonton); Danny Richmond, D (Toronto); Mark Cullen, C (Florida); Kyle Greentree, LW (Washington); Akim Aliu, RW (trade, Atlanta); Adam Burish, RW (Dallas); Kris Versteeg, RW (trade, Toronto); John Madden, C (Wild); Antti Niemi, G (free agent).



SOURCE: http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/fee...ory/chicago-blackhawks-2010-11-preview#subnav

 

[MassHavoc]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

Vancouver completely choaking this year is only making these predictions even more fun!

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

Heh, weird little 90 second videos from EA Sports of the overall 2011 Playoff predictions of ESPN's E.J. Hradek and Don La Greca both also of the "NHL Live!" XM radio show. Weird because when the videos cut away from them on screen, they show not actual footage of their picks but simulations from the EA Sports NHL '11 video game, LOL.





EA Sports (via NHL.com)

EA Sports NHL 2011 Season Previews



Western Conference



CHICAGO - Hradek



VAN - La Greca



VIDEO: http://video.blackhawks.nhl.com/videoce ... 0&id=77012





Eastern Conference



PIT - Hradek



PIT - La Greca



VIDEO: http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/consol ... 7&id=77011





Stanley Cup Final



PIT (CHICAGO vs. PIT) - Hradek



PIT (VAN vs. PIT) - La Greca



VIDEO: http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/consol ... 7&id=77013

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

Firstly this dude is WAY too flippant---his attempt at snark is weak. Secondly, he's clueless all around. Tool.





The StarPhoenix (via the McClatchy-Tribune wire service)

Stanley Cup out of reach in Chicago

By Arthur Staple, McClatchy-Tribune Service October 4, 2010



Western Conference



1. Windy City repeat?



In a word: No. The Chicago Blackhawks still have the core of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, but a lot of the role players were dropped to avoid salary-cap hell. Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd (Thrashers), Kris Versteeg (Leafs) and Antti Niemi (San Jose Sharks) are all gone; Marty Turco has come on to be the No. 1 goaltender, which is a serious downgrade.



2. Return of the Wings



Goaltender Jimmy Howard is a year older and wiser and the most complete set of forwards in the league should make up for a slightly-too-old defence in Detroit. Addition of hometown guy Mike Modano signifies the Red Wings are ready for one more serious run in the Nicklas Lidstrom era.



. . . (Coyotes blather)



4. Sharks' major change



Out went Evgeni Nabokov to Russia, in came Niemi, a most unlikely Stanley Cup-winning goaltender. With fellow Finn Antero Niittymaki in goal, the Sharks' new duo should be solid. . .



FULL ARTICLE (incl. his quips about the Eastern Conference):



http://www.thestarphoenix.com/sports/St ... story.html

 

[Tater]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

[quote name="bookjones"]

2. Return of the Wings



Goaltender Jimmy Howard is a year older and wiser and the most complete set of forwards in the league should make up for a slightly-too-old defence in Detroit. Addition of hometown guy Mike Modano signifies the Red Wings are ready for one more serious run in the Nicklas Lidstrom era.



[/quote]



LMAO, I guess he was the missing piece of the puzzle. :roll:

 

[Buryit Toews]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

[quote name="Tater"]



LMAO, I guess he was the missing piece of the puzzle. :roll:[/quote]



Wait a minute... Marty Turco is a significant downgrade but Modano (pronounced ******) is going to return the Wings to the promise land? This guy is full blown Special person.

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

[quote name="Tater"]



LMAO, I guess he was the missing piece of the puzzle. :roll:[/quote]



Guess so--- :roll: , lol! I mean come on, at least one could make the case that DET really could have used Hudler's talents last season and so are fortunate to get him back from the KHL but a 40 y.o. on the noticeable decline Modano? Gimme a break.

 

[Buryit Toews]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

[quote name="bookjones"]



Guess so--- :roll: , lol! I mean come on, at least one could make the case that DET really could have used Hudler's talents last season and so are fortunate to get him back from the KHL but a 40 y.o. on the noticeable decline Modano? Gimme a break.[/quote]



Exactly, the Wings have as good a shot as anyone to win the Central this year not because they added Modano.

 

[canucklehead]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

[quote name="Buryit Toews!"]



Exactly, the Wings have as good a shot as anyone to win the Central this year not because they added Modano.[/quote]

But, but, but, acquiring a has-been in decline means you're SERIOUS!

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

CBC Sports

NHL Division Preview: Central



(Most of) the Blackhawks are back to defend their championship



Last Updated: Saturday, October 2, 2010 | 2:42 PM ET

By Justin Piercy, CBC Sports





Chicago Blackhawks



2nd in West, 1st in Central in 2009-10



52-22-8 (112 pts.) — 15-8-1 vs. Central Division — won Cup final vs. Philadelphia (4-2)



For all the critics who demanded to know “how are you going to keep that team together,” Chicago GM Stan Bowman showed them all that, really, you don't have to. What felt like moments after the Blackhawks held their parade, the team was whittled down and some of those floats could have just as easily kept driving to Atlanta, Minnesota, Switzerland, Toronto and San Jose.



Bowman needed to perform an economic trapeze act to keep the core (i.e. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook) intact, but the Blackhawks' scoring threats and high-calibre defence remains. The rest (like icing a full roster) is just details.



"Against the grain" doesn't even begin to describe how the team is now without both Antti Niemi and Cristobal Huet — the goalies that backstopped them through the season and to the Stanley Cup. Taking the reins of the starting job is Marty Turco, a former Olympian whose performance has waned in step with the performance of his former club, the Dallas Stars. Chicago is pinning its hopes that Turco's experience, coupled with a change of scenery, will help the team raise a second championship banner.



Notable Additions: Ryan Potulny (Edmonton), Fernando Pisani (Edmonton), Marty Turco (Dallas), Viktor Stalberg (Toronto)



Notable Subractions: Antti Niemi (San Jose), Cristobal Huet (Europe), John Madden (Minnesota), Adam Burish (Dallas), Andrew Ladd (Atlanta), Ben Eager (Atlanta), Dustin Byfuglien (Atlanta), Brent Sopel (Atlanta), Kris Versteeg (Toronto), Marty Reasoner (Florida), Colin Fraser (Edmonton)



Notable Quoteables: "I like Turco's track record. He stops the puck. You've got to stop the puck and get in front of it any way you can, and that's what he seems to do. I like the fact he's been in the league awhile, and right now he's at the right age. He's in his prime the next three, four or five years. Hopefully he can help this team win again." — Blackhawks' Hall of Fame goaltender Tony Esposito to the team's website



Outlook: This may not be the same team we saw win it all last year, but for all the name changes in the roster, it's still pretty darn close in terms of talent.





FULL ARTICLE (incl. the rest of the Central Div.): http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2 ... ntral.html

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

ESPN.com - Pierre LeBrun

Power Rankings: The rankings are back!



By Pierre LeBrun (Posted Oct. 4)



Ah, the power rankings. No matter the sport, nothing seems to generate more reaction from our loyal ESPN.com readers than the power rankings. It's actually kind of scary. Folks, these are only rankings. They are subjective; they are fun. I have not sat down and run sabermetrics on this baby. . .



2010-2011 Power Rankings: Week 1

1. 
   
   [*:1n61boe7]VAN
   
   [*:1n61boe7]DET
   
   [*:1n61boe7]WASH
   
   [*:1n61boe7]CHICAGO
   
   
   
   "It seems unfair to drop the Stanley Cup champions without a game in the books. But I want this team to prove out of the gates that losing half its roster won't hurt as much as many people think. I think these guys will be fine and will battle Detroit to the very end for the Central Division crown. In particular, I have a good feeling about Marty Turco."
   
   
   
   5. LA
   
   6. NJ
   
   7. PIT
   
   8. SJ
   
   9. PHI
   
   10. BOS

FULL ARTICLE: http://espn.go.com/nhl/powerrankings

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

The Toronto Observer

NHL preview: Central Division



Mackenzie Liddell

Posted 05 October 2010





CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS



2009-10 record: 52-22-2-6, 112 points, 2nd in Western Conference, 1st in Central



Key additions: G Marty Turco, F Viktor Stalberg



Key departures: F Dustin Byfuglien, F Andrew Ladd, F Kris Versteeg, G Antti Niemi, F John Madden, D Brent Sopel, F Adam Burish, F Ben Eager



On the rise: F Dave Bolland



Bolland played an integral role for the Stanley Cup champions and should carry that momentum into this year.



He only played 39 games in 2009-10 due to a back injury, and if healthy could be in for a big offensive year.



On the hot seat: Viktor Stalberg



The biggest piece coming back in the Kris Versteeg deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs will need to take a step forward in his development for a team that looks significantly different from the one that won the Cup.



Chicago is also fairly thin on left wing and will need all it can get from the second-year forward.



Big question: Can the Hawks replicate last year’s success despite losing eight regulars from their lineup?



Outlook: The Hawks erased a 49-year Stanley Cup drought with a memorable run. But faced with salary cap trouble, GM Stan Bowman was forced to unload contracts and valuable members of his championship club.



Fortunately for Hawks’ faithful, they still boast a young and exciting core highlighted by captain Jonathan Toews, playoff hero Patrick Kane, Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith along with Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp and Brent Seabrook.



Although they lost Niemi, Bowman brought in 35-year-old Marty Turco to fill the void.



Chicago seems destined for a slight falloff this year, but it still has a highly skilled group of forwards, the best defenceman in the league (Keith) and a proven goalie between the pipes.



Prediction: 2nd in Central Division, 90-100 points





FULL ARTICLE: http://www.torontoobserver.ca/2010/10/0 ... -division/

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

Yahoo! Sports

2010-11 NHL predictions: Voting breakdown



Five hockey experts at Yahoo! Sports took the plunge and offered up their best NHL predictions for the 2010-11 season, from Stanley Cup champion (prediction: Washington Capitals) to top rookie (prediction: Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers). Senior NHL writer Nicholas J. Cotsonika, NHL editor Sam McCaig, editor Ross McKeon and Puck Daddy bloggers Greg Wyshynski and Sean Leahy all participated in the Yahoo! survey.



Here’s the voting breakdown (with the number of votes in parentheses):



STANLEY CUP



Washington Capitals (3)



Los Angeles Kings (1)



Pittsburgh Penguins (1)





STANLEY CUP FINALISTS



Eastern Conference



Washington Capitals (3)



Boston Bruins (1)



Pittsburgh Penguins (1)





Western Conference



Chicago Blackhawks (1)



Detroit Red Wings (1)



Los Angeles Kings (1)



San Jose Sharks (1)



Vancouver Cancuks (1)





EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPION (regular season)



Washington Capitals (3)



Boston Bruins (1)



Pittsburgh Penguins (1)





WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPION (regular season)



San Jose Sharks (4)



Vancouver Canucks (1)



FULL ARTICLE: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=y ... prediction