NHL Recap: New Jersey Devils

Devils made the playoffs even after having a little stint during the season without Brodeur. They played that same style that's been frustrating teams for years. They will be playoff bound again.

One of the older teams at forward. Zach Parise was the leader in points last season with 94 and leader in assists and goals with 45 goals and 49 assists. Travis Zajac lead the forwards in plus minus with a plus 33.

One of the older teams at defense. Leader in points on defense was Paul Martin with 33 points. Mike Mottau is the leader in plus minus for defense with a plus 24.

Martin Brodeur will get the call in net for the devils again. The devils will probably have a hard time keeping up with high scoring teams in the Atlantic Division but they'll find a way into the playoffs with Brodeur.

By:Shane Murray

NHL Recap: Nashville Predators

Since the lockout they Predators made the playoffs 3 consecative years before missing the playoffs last season. The finished 5th in the western conference central division. That's a tough division with the Red Wings, Blues, Blue Jackets, and Blackhawks. Overall the are a middle aged hockey team.

Predators forwards need to get more of a focus on defense. J.P. Dumont was there point leader last year with 65 and assits leader with 49. Jason Arnott was the goal leader with 33 and lead forwards in plus minus also with a plus 2.

Predators defense needs to get a better focus on defense also. Shea Webber lead the defense in points with 53. While Greg Zanon lead the defense in plus minus of plus 8.

Pekka Rinne was the leader in the net last year and with 29 wins. I imagine they are going to look at him to be the leader again this season. If they can focus a little more on defense there is no reason why they aren't a playoff team.

By:Shane Murray

NHL Recap:Montreal Canadiens

They were on a roll out of the gate last season but it came to a stop after the all star break. They where just trying to make it into the playoffs and when they just made it the first team the faced just rolled over them. With some key aditions in the off season they look to not make the same mistake twice.

They are middle age for hockey at forward. Alexei Kovalev was the point leader with 69 points and lead team in goals with 26. Maxim Lapierre lead forwards in plus minus with a plus 9.

They are middle age at defense also. Andrei Markov was the point leader on defense with 64 and the assist leader of team with 52. Josh Gorges lead the defense in plus minus with plus 12.

Carey Price will be looked to in the net again as the number one. Even with the Montreal fans picking on him late in the season and playoffs. The orginization has faith the kid can turn things around and rise up and play better this year. They definitely look like a playoff bound team this season.

By:Shane Murray

NHL Recap: Minnesota Wild

Since the wild started as a franchise they have been a hard hitting defense focused hockey team with some success. They made it to the playoffs 3 times in there 8 year history. That's not too bad for an expansion team.

They are middle age hockey team at forward. Mikko Koivu was the point leader for them last year with 67 and assit leader with 47. Owen Nolan was the goal leader for them with 25. Nolan also lead forwards in plus minus with a +5.

They are middle age hockey team at defense. Marek Zidlicky was there point leader at defense with 42. Marc-Andre Burgeron was plus minus leader on defense with a plus 5.

Niklas Backstorm lead the team in net last year with 37 wins. He'll definitely get the nod in net this year too. As they look to push into the playoffs with a new offesne minded philosphy for the team. Don't think they won't be strong on defense though.

By:Shane Murray

NHL Recap: Los Angeles King

The really has not been much in the way of hockey in post season for Los Angeles since Gretzky left the team more then a decade ago. They have not really been able to even to get the playoffs since 2002 playoffs. They are a team that just really haven't found a player to carry them to the pint of greatness or playoff oportunity. Luckily they are a young team right now which means there is an opportunity in coming years to be playoff team.

At forward they are young. There captain Dustin Brown is only 24 years old. There point leader was Anze Kopitar with 66 points was also assit leader with 39. Goal leader was Alexander Frolov with 32.

At defense they are young too. Kyle Quincey was they leading defensemen in points with 38 points. The best plus minus on the team was Sean O'Donnell with a +2. They are going to need to imporve in the defense area as a team in whole.

Jonathan Quick had 21 wins for them last year. I think that he will be the starting goaltender this year. Hopefully the defense in front of him will help out some more this year. Maybe they won't finish last in the division this season. I doubt they are a playoff ready team at this point.

By:Shane Murray

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