NHL Recap: Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers really came on strong in the back half the season. They made a great push for the playoffs and fell a little short. If they can carry that momentum into next season they should definitely make the playoffs.

Panthers are young at forward. Stephen Weiss lead the team in points with 61 followed closely by David Booth at 60 points. Weiss lead the team in assists with 47 and Booth lead team in goals at 31. They had 5 forwards with 40+ points that looks good for next season.

Panthers are young a defense. They lost there big defender with Jay Bouwmeester going to Calgary. The defense will have a lot to prove to be as productive as last year losing Bouwmeester might make them be a non-playoff contender.

Panthers will probably be starting Vokoun in net and have Clemmensen be the back up. Expect the Panthers who almost tasted the playoffs for the first time since 2000 to really push for it this season. Let's see what they can do in the tough southeast division with the Capitals and Canes.

By: Shane Murray

NHL Recap: Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton is an interesting team in the west. Since making the Stanely Cup finals in 06 they haven't been back into the playoffs. They always seem to fall short in the back half of the year. They are in the Northwest which is a very competitive division with the Avalanche, Flames, Canucks, and Wild also being in there.

Edmonton is pretty young at forward. Ales Hemsky is there stud up front finishing the season with 66 points, 23 goals and 43 assists. They got some up and comers that should help them along this season.

Edmonton is middle aged at defense. Sheldon Souray is the big point maker on defense and second in points on the team. He had 53 points, 23 goals and 30 assists. They need the defense to just keep playing well had 4 defensemen with 30 or more points.

Edmonton know has Nikolai Khabibulin in net for them this year. I would imagine that would be there starter anyway. So he can help teach the young goalie some of the tricks of the trade. I don't know if they are ready or not for playoffs this season but it's about time. Though with teams like the Wild, Flames, and Canucks they are going to have a tough time making the playoffs in that division.

By: Shane Murray

NHL Recap: Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings seem to be big players in the playoff race and in the presidents trophy competition every year for last decade and a half. They are very good at bringing in a certain kind of talent and being able to lose and older player and bring in younger players from there farm team that can replace him.

Red Wings are middle age for a hockey team at forward. They have some great talent in there forwards with Datsyuk, Draper, Zetterberg, Franzen, and Filppuli to name a few. Datsyuk finish last year with 97 points, 32 goals, and 65 assists and a +34. Which is why he received the Selkie this year again.

Red Wings are middle aged at defense also. They have great defense like Lidstrom, Rafalski, and Ericsson. Rafalski had 59 points last season 10 goals, 49 assists, and +17.

Red Wings are stacked at goalie with Osgood in net. They have made it to the stanely cup finals two years in a row. Falling short in game seven last season is going to leave a bad taste in their mouth especially with it being in Detroit. Look to seem them push into the Stanely Cup finals again.

By:Shane Murray

Whats Wrong With The Fightins?

The Phillies suck right now. There is no other way to say it. One night the pitching sucks, the next the offense sucks, then when the pitching and hitting are clicking, the bullpen sucks, and even sometimes the best defense in the league makes bone headed plays. Even with all this shitty play for the better of 2 or 3 weeks the Phillies find themselves some how by the grace of the baseball gods still a half game up on second place. Think about that, the Phils are ONE for their last ten and still in first place. So if we are going to turn this around we have to get Jimmy Rollins rolling again, it is that simple. The Phils are 28-7 when the little guy scores a run. I also think a legit right handed pitcher couldn't hurt the cause.

By:Billy Donahue

NHL Recap: Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars have kind of fallen in the last few years. You don't see them as much anymore pushing deep into the playoffs. They missed the playoffs last season and it wouldn't surprise me if they did it again this year.

They are medium age team at forward. Mike Ribeiro lead the team in points and assists, 56 assists and 78 points. Loui Eriksson lead the team in +/- and goals, +14 and 36 goals. They need some help in the scoring department and defense needs to be put into there game more.

They are medium age at defense also. They defense was pretty bad last season. They had one player get into the 30 point range on defense and one player in the +10 area. They need some help on defense, they will be shopping around or really working hard on the defense men they already got this off season.

Marty Turco will start in net of course. He is one of the premiere goaltenders in the league so that's not a surprise. They have a lot of work to do to be playoff contenders again, could be some bad years for Dallas ahead.

By: Shane Murray

NHL Recap: Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets made the playoffs for the first time in their short history. They got helped out big time by their young goaltender Steve Mason. They might make the playoffs for again next season and that would only be second time in the team's history.

They are a very young team at forward. They have a semi star in Rick Nash and he lead the team in goals, assists, and points overall. He is a good leader for the younger guys coming in and older veterans respect him too.

They are young on defense also. The leader in +/- for them was Jan Hejda who had a +23. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to bring in some veteran leadership into the defense.

Steve Mason will be the starter in net next year. He should be even better next year as long as he works on his weak spots this off season. Columbus looks to be able to get into the playoffs for the next couple years and maybe pushing deep into them also.

By: Shane Murray

Flyers Make Big Move

Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks both made a big splash in the first round. Ducks traded there big defense men, Chris Pronger. Flyers gave away some young talent for an older but skilled defense men. Ducks got Luca Sbisa and Joffrey Lupul, and draft picks from the Flyers for Pronger and and a prospect Ryan Dingle. (Lupul and Pronger have been traded for each other twice now.)
This is a big move for the Flyers who where waiting for free agency to talk to Jay Bouwmeester. It will be interesting to see if they Flyers will still be jumping to talk to him or will talk to another Defense men or try to bring in a winger with losing Lupul.
Next year is going to be pretty interesting for the Flyers with new defense men in Chris Pronger and new goalie in Ray Emery. It should be one interesting year in Philly next year.

By:Shane Murray