2-4-T's Preseason Prognosis: Atlantic Division Part 1

In anticipation of the coming season, the staff at Two Minutes for Typing will be breaking out our scalpels, slicing the divisions in half, and dissecting each team to see what will be making them tick this year. Of course some appear to be more ready for the rigors of a full 82-game compliment than others. With that in mind, we will be looking through the microscope at who will perish on the operating table, who has a fighting chance under the knife, and who will be sewn, stitched, and sipping ginger ale come playoff time. I present to you 2-4-T's Preseason Prognosis.

The Miss:

Buffalo Sabres

Last Season's Result: 12th in the East

Additions: Henrik Tallinder, D (New Jersey); Jamie McBain, D (Carolina); Matt Hackett, G (Minnesota)

Subtractions: Nathan Gerbe, F (Carolina, Buyout); Jason Pomminville, F (Minnesota); Robyn Regehr, D (Los Angeles); Jordan Leopold, D (St. Louis); Lindy Ruff, Coach (Dallas)

Available Cap Space: $10.505 million

What To Expect: It looks like Buffalo's attempt at being a top-spending team didn't go quite according to plan. After securing a 7th-seed in the 2010-11 season and losing in 7 games to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of playoffs, the Sabres were ready to whip out the checkbook and fill in some missing pieces. Their executioner of playoff hopes Ville Leino signed on as a free agent for 6 years at $4.5 million per season and defenseman Christian Ehrhoff did the same with one of those cap-circumventing lovelies for 10 years at $4 million per. They also made a late-season swap with Vancouver to acquire top-line center Cody Hodgson in exchange for power forward Zack Kassian. While Buffalo has not been a bottom of the barrel team regarding money spent in recent memory, these moves did push them to within pocket change underneath the cap's upper limit.

Less than two years later, the Sabres have toppled down the standings and appear to be one or two player trades away from a full rebuild. At this year's trade deadline, with Buffalo in 12th place in the East and 4 points removed from the conference cellar, the team shipped top defensemen Jordan Leopold to St. Louis and Robyn Regehr to Los Angeles for 4 draft picks between the two. But the big shocker occurred at the 11th hour when Buffalo sent captain Jason Pomminville and a pick to Minnesota for two prospects and two picks. The big question moving forward is whether or not they decide to unload high-priced winger Thomas Vanek and goaltender Ryan Miller before they both hit the open market during the next offseason.

Buffalo is a team that needs to take a step back and reevaluate the direction they want to go in. After Ryan Miller had liberties taken against him twice at the start of the 2011-12 season, Buffalo decided to beef up their core by trading for enforcer Steve Ott and acquiring John Scott in that year's offseason. However with those as well as other recent roster additions, the Sabres currently have a wealth of role players but very few standouts who can carry the team through thick and thin. Maybe 29-year-old Thomas Vanek would be expendable in order to bring in some less-aged talent or some more draft picks to stock up on.

Players such as Tyler Ennis, Mikhail Grigorenko, Marcus Foligno, Jamie McBain, and Matt Hackett are in or entering the most crucial years of their young careers so it is yet to be seen how the Sabres develop their up-and-coming talent. Head coach Ron Rolston has big shoes to fill as well, seeing as the previously longest-tenured coach Lindy Ruff was fired from the organization 17 games into his 15th season as bench boss. Cody Hodgson has been highly misused as the top-line center, only accruing 42 points in 68 games for the Sabres. While having up-side at 23 years old, it is hard to argue that he is the solution as the number one pivot on the squad.

I would let Buffalo germinate slowly at this point if I were calling the shots. Aside from 36 year-old Jochen Hecht, 34 year-old Henrik Tallinder, and 33 year-old Ryan Miller, their players are all 31 or younger. They could use some veteran leadership up front to guide the fresh meat they have in that position but this squad could have the possibility to erupt. I just don't see it in them now, which is why they won't see some postseason time this year.

The Hopefuls:

Toronto Maple Leafs

Last Season's Result: 5th in the East, Lost to the Boston Bruins during the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals in 7 games

Additions: David Clarkson, F (New Jersey); David Bolland, F (Chicago); Jonathan Bernier, G (Los Angeles); Paul Ranger, D (Tampa Bay); Ryane O'Bryne, D (Colorado)

Subtractions: Mikhail Grabovski, F (UFA, Buyout); Mike Komisarek, D (Carolina, Buyout); Ben Scrivens, G (Los Angeles); Matt Frattin, F (Los Angeles)

Available Cap Space: $4.896 million

What to Expect: Coming off of a heart-breaking exit from their first playoff appearance since 2004, The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking at a season filled with unknowns. Line combinations, a goaltending duel, and a number of new players to mix into the system leaves the Leafs hanging in the balance. Since the addition of Jonathan Bernier to the roster, Reimer will be looking to battle for and maintain his No. 1 position. But the biggest signing of this off-season for Toronto came at a high price for GM David Nonis. $5.25M in salary cap over the next 7 years high.  Although, I believe come October, you will see David Clarkson’s impression on the young Leafs right away.

Nonis definitely hasn’t overhauled the team upon the exit of Brian Burke, but what he has done has earned him some recognition in the way of a 5-year contract extension. This extension came after the bold Bernier and Matt Frattin trade, Clarkson and Dave Bolland acquisitions, Mikhail Grabovski buyout, and Joffery Lupul signing.  It will be fun to see how the 2013-14 Leafs will hold up next to a real contender like the Bruins. 

The Leafs have a incredible opportunity heading into the 2013-14 NHL season. As an organization, Toronto is constantly under the scrutiny of Canadian media. Well the media presence will also be coming from south of the border as The Atlantic division welcomes Florida, Tampa Bay, and Original Six rival Detroit.

The Leafs will have one warm up game on December 21, at Air Canada Centre, to test the waters against the Wings before marching into Michigan Stadium on January 1. This outdoor spectacle, the 2014 Winter Classic, will be in front of what is expected to be record setting attendance for a hockey game. When an Original Six match-up between a young and upcoming Toronto and NHL epitome of success Detroit takes the stage in front of over 100,000 people, the pressure gauge for the boys in blue will be maxed out. 

The big questions right now come in regard to restricted free agents Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson. Kadri was a force to be reckoned with for the second half of last season. Even with the shortened season Kadri was able to put up 44 points (G-18 A-26). With young talent, veteran leadership, and a total of 5 players expected to attend Olympic training camps, I believe the Maple Leafs should make their mark in the new Atlantic Division and definitely have a good chance of making it into the playoffs. However, this all depends on the definition of the unknowns the team will face early on.

Florida Panthers

Last Season's Result: 15th in the East

Additions: Scott Gomez, F (San Jose); Aleksander Barkov, F (Drafted 2nd Overall)

Subtractions: Stephen Weiss, F (Detroit); George Parros, F (Montreal); Jose Theodore, G (UFA)

Available Cap Space: $11.982 million

What To Expect: Florida, in past years, has been on a short list of teams that could potentially move to a market that could better support an NHL franchise.  As a team that has struggled in the past to win games, draw fans, and even meet the minimum salary cap, GM Dale Tallon has been on a mission to make the team relevant. In the 2011 off-season, Tallon went on a spending spree in order to win some games and keep the teams name out of relocation conversations. The Panthers added Brian Campbell, Tomas Fleischmann, Kris Versteeg, Ed Jovanovski, Tomas Kopecky, Scottie Upshall, Sean Bergenheim, Jose Theodore and Matt Bradley taking their team salary from $46.7M to $55.4M. Aside from adding a lot of talent and depth through free-agency and trades, finishing close to the bottom of the NHL does have its perks by means of draft order.

Looking at the Panthers moving forward and into the 2013-14 NHL season, I feel that Tallon should have something to be proud of. The stock-pile of young talent will be provided with a real shot at earning an NHL sweater. With the Exit of Theodore, Scott Clemmensen and Jacob Markstom will be fighting hand over hand for the top spot of this team fueled by young blood. So far, the young players we’ve seen emerging out of Florida have been a success with Jonathan Huberdeau coming off of his Calder Trophy winning season. More important than young guys ready and willing to show their stuff, is a great core group of veterans, led by Jovanovski, Mike Weaver, and recent addition Scott Gomez to shows players like Quinton Howden, Nick Bjugstad, Alex Petrovic what it takes to compete at this level. 

Could it be risky relying so heavily on so many young players? Of course. Especially when you look at the new and improved Atlantic Division. Florida is moving from the worst division in the NHL last season and now being put up to the likes of Stanley Cup Finalist Boston and the always elite Detroit. The Panther's young players may take a few game to get their sea legs and the team does not have a very easy beginning of the season. However, Florida has one major thing going for them in the way of taking a bit of the pressure off of these developing players. The Sunshine State is not a heavily scrutinized hockey market. These kids won’t have the pressure from fans or the media that they would face in Boston, Chicago or Montreal. All in all I have enjoyed watching the transformation of the Florida Panthers over the last few seasons, seeing the rats come back in 2012, and I think this could be a turning point for Tallon and Panthers.

The Lock:

Boston Bruins

Last Season's Result: 5th in the East, Lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final in 6 games

Additions: Loui Eriksson, F (Dallas); Jarome Iginla, F (Pittsburgh); Chad Johnson, G (Phoenix)

Subtractions: Tyler Seguin, F (Dallas); Andrew Ference, D (Edmonton); Nathan Horton, F (Columbus); Rich Peverley, F (Dallas); Jaromir Jagr, F (New Jersey); Anton Khudobin, G (Carolina)

Available Cap Space: $1.101 million over cap limit

What To Expect: The Boston Bruins are a team with an eye for talent and the ability to keep that talent locked into the system. Out of 22 players on the Stanley Cup for the 2010-11 season, 14 are still on the roster, although Marc Savard has been living on the Long Term Injured Reserve since that season due to Matt Cooke-ery. Still, the Bruins have been built for success and they have achieved that by not showing up to the playoffs lower than 6th in the Eastern Conference in the past 5 years, not to mention the Stanley Cup to show for it.

This coming season looks to be no different as they spent top dollar to finally sign forward Jarome Iginla, extend goaltender Tuukka Rask, and bring forward Loui Eriksson to the Gold and Black. Iginla was almost acquired by Boston at the trade deadline before passing over the B's for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Bruins made their case in the Conference Finals by sweeping Pittsburgh. Rask solidified his place as a top-flight net-minder in part by limiting said Penguins to two goals in the series after posting a strong "show me" contract year. He was signed on for 8 seasons at $7 million per during this offseason. Eriksson could be a viable replacement for hired gun Jaromir Jagr, who served as a veteran guide for young stars but couldn't make an impact on the score sheet.

While they appear to be in "win now" mode, they have a bright spot for the future in defenseman Torey Krug. While he may be unproven at the NHL level, he has shown moments of brilliance with four goals in five games against the New York Rangers in this past year's playoffs. 2011 1st round pick Dougie Hamilton is the marquee up-and-comer on the Bruin's blue line, but Krug helps to bolster the notion that Boston has a core to pick up where Chara will leave off after his contract is up in the 2017-18 season.

A big question for Boston this season is how its goaltending will fare. While Tuukka Rask is far and away the starter, he also hasn't seen more than 45 games of action in a full season and that was his workload in the 2009-10 season. While he is receiving the money that would warrant him upwards of 60 games for an 82 game season, his supporting cast of Chad Johnson and Malcolm Subban has a total of 10 games of NHL experience, all of which Johnson provides. Should Rask suffer a setback at any moment, or heaven forbid an injury, his burden falls on much smaller shoulders than Anton Khudobin's, last season's backup.

All things considered, this team is once again poised to contend for the prize. The story this season will be if Loui Eriksson can outplay Tyler Seguin, each the key pieces going in opposite directions in Boston's trade with Dallas. The sluggish 3-way battle with the Montreal Canadians and Toronto Maple Leafs for the top seed in the Northeast as well as the playoff series against Toronto might raise some questions as far as work ethic goes but the Bruins prove that when they put forth the effort, they can accomplish almost anything. I say almost because they only almost won a Stanley Cup. And that should scare any other team in the league.