Time for some future wagering. Here is what I took and why

Kings un 77.5 Pts

Terry Murray will have his hands full this year with a young rebuilding project. Well let’s call it the John Tavares project. That’s the kid everyone wants next year. They actually spent some cash by signing Jarret Stoll. The Kings did some major salary cutting by axing, Blake, Torton, Willsie and Visnovsky.  The Blue line is just a rag tag group this year. Doughty and Hickey are in for a long season, but the question mark is Jack Johnson.  Don’t forget that the Canes traded him to LA before the season started last year. Rumor was that he was never going to take the ice for the Canes anyway, so they figured to get something for him. 

They were hit by the injury bug last pre-season just like they have this year.  Johnson didn’t exactly tear it up last year, only racking up 11 pts in 74 games.  Much more was expected from him.

On the offensive side of things Anze Kopitar is the gun for the Kings. He scored 32 goals and had 45 helpers.  He will be the man for them once again this year. Brown should get better after scoring 22 last year.  You notice I am leaving the last cog to the 1^st line scoring.  Patrick O’ Sullivan.  He is still holding out for a shorter contract.  Yes you read that correctly.  A shorter contract.  The Kings are offering 3 years and he wants a shorter one.  Don’t be surprised to see him dealt the first week of the season.

Now on the goaltending side….LaBarbera was the workhorse last year by starting 42 games, but only winning 17 of them, hanging a 3.00 GAA……Ouch.. But on the plus side he had a .910 Save %.  That shows you he is a good goaltender, he just gets no help at all.  Now backing him up is Erik Ersberg. This guy looked great in the few games he played. 14 games played showing great instincts in the net.  He had a 2.47 GAA, .927 SV% going 6-5-3.  This might end up being a platoon situation this year.  Also the Kings have Jonathan Bernier waiting in the Wings.  I am sure he will get some starts this year.  Why not have your young kid goaltender playing with the rest of them.  He was sent to Manchester of the AHL on Monday. 

The Kings had 71 pts last year with a vet presence.  I don’t see them getting more wins with a young group cutting their teeth.  With proper management and structure, this is a team to watch out for in the next couple of years. 

But not today.

Coyotes ov 82.5

The Phoenix is rising this year. The Great one hasn’t exactly put a playoff team on the ice since he’s been behind the bench for the past 3 years.  But he is the great one, and oh…..part owner of the team, so he gets a free pass.  Plus they ended the year on a high note and won some nice cash for the Yote backers. This year though, the ‘Yotes made some very good off season moves. 

Starting by picking up Olli Jokinen and picking up muscle with Fedoruk and McGrattan. They were just getting pushed around by the big boys of the Division, (Ducks and Sharks).  Something to keep in the back of your head is that  Olli cost them Ballard and Boynton, Ballard not a huge loss only scoring 21 pts and Boynton only scoring 12.  So a very nice trade.  But this will play into some defensive problems this year

Olli will put a spark in the first line with Doan and Mueller scoreing 49 goals between them last year. The kids for the ‘Yotes will make the difference.  They scored a huge deal in drafting Tikhonov, it was a bit of a chance being they might not even be able sign him.  But not only did they sign him they signed him to an entry level deal.  Talk about a steal !!!  He’s considered 4^th line material right now, but mark my word, that he will be 2^nd line skating before the year is over.

Now the thing that concerns me.  That blue line.  Jovanovski will be the main point man out there. He isn’t getting major penalty minutes anymore.  Last year he had 51 pts in 80 games.  He actually had an injury free year.  It’s been a good while since that has happened. Paired with him will be Derek Morris.

He actually had a plus rating last year, not bad for that Phoenix team.  Michalek and Jones will be bringing up the 2^nd line. Michalek your basic stay at home type of guy and Jones will need to step things up being he’s only played 45 games the past two years and has a -27 over that time.

Now the even bigger bright spot for the Yotes.  They finally have an honest to goodness starting goaltender.  They had just a huge pickup by getting Ilya Bryzgalov from the Ducks on waivers. This guy was the reason the Ducks were quacking dollars for the backers. He ended up with an 28-25-6 record with an 2.44 GAA and a very nice .920 SV%.  Now with that D he will have to stand on his head a good bit. Backing him up is another good goaltender in Mikael Tellqvist. He had a .908 SV% himself. He really stepped up his game last year. He had the best GAA and SV% in his career.

This team is on the upswing and you are getting a gift considering how much this team has improved and they only have to get the same 83pt total they had last year.

Caps ov 93.5 and +155 to win the Southeast division

The Caps boast the best complete player in the league in the likes of Alex Ovechkin. This guy took home tons of hardware last year. With Backstrom you have some serious scoring there. Injuries and team that just didn’t have the fire it should of, got off to a horrible start and dug themselves a huge hole last year.  Glen Hanlon was given the boot. Turn the page with Bruce Boudreau taking over.  Talk about a huge change. Ovechkin was a different player, the wide open style was in full swing and the Caps took off.  This year the Caps are starting out healthy with plenty of scoring.

That scoring can sure turn games around quickly and last year the Caps had 17 come from behind wins. Not only did the Caps get better but they added to the core by picking up Fedorov and Cooke.  There was one other pickup at the deadline that I will talk about a bit later. Well he had a cup of coffee with them.

The big O isn’t the only threat the Caps have and that’s where things will get a bit dicey for teams trying to defend them.  Throw up a couple of shadows against Ovechkin, then you have to worry about Kozlov lighting you up.  Even though he did have a dropoff year. Michael Nylander seems to always have rumors about him leaving but I just don’t see it. 

There is just too much talent to walk away from. He was pretty banged up last year, he missed the last half of the season.  From what I have seen so far this pre-season he’s getting back to the style I have been used to seeing him play. He should be a very big part of things this year.

Fedorov added 13 pts in the 18 regular season games and 5 pts in the first round of the playoffs.  Add that to the vetern leadership you have a huge presence in the locker room and on the ice.  Don’t foget that this guy has 3 cups, Stanley Cups that is. You just can’t stress the importance of something like that.

Now onto the blue line which BTW, it looks like Fedorov may be spending some time there also. Mike Green is the D stud with the Caps. He had 18 goals and 56 points last year.  Look for both of those numbers to improve. But that’s where the Caps D ends. Schultz , Morrisonn and Poti all have to step things up a bit.

Now onto the late season coffee drinker.  Huet was picked up at the deadline kicking Ollie to a backup roll.  Honestly Huet was a huge reason the Caps made it as far as they did. But the Caps decided to let him go after Chicago offered him the moon to start there. 

Yeah, they knew he would be starting the whole time.  Just waiting to knock the wall down later on.  Theodore was picked up from the Avs in the offseason. He really picked up his game for the Avs last year, but is he still ready for prime time?  I really don’t think so, he’s not a goaltender that does well with a great deal of shots and open style.  Both two things the Caps will be doing all year. 

Johnson should get some starts also, maybe 20 this year unless Theodore really melts down.  The Caps will have some games where they will need to score 4 and 5 goals to win, but if there is a team that could do it most nights the Caps are that team.

Flames un 94.5

Ok here ya go, the Flames are getting as much love as TB this year.  Let me tell you why that love is misplaced. It lays on one guys shoulders that will keep them away from it and it’s not the guy you think I am going to say.

The Flames took a hit by losing Tanguay and Huselius in the offseason. They just didn’t knock enough heads for Keenan.  Also Nolan and Godard took off for the mid-west and east coast.  I’m not sure what exactly what they are going to get with the addition of Cammalleri, he had a drop off year with the Kings although he only played 63 games.  His SH% dipped to 9.05. 

Also picked up was Rene Bourque from the Hawks. Another player that really doesn’t bring any scoring to the team.  Andre Roy was brought in for muscle and Curtis Glencross  for a set up winger. I can’t wait till Calgary plays the Oilers. The crowd will enjoy razzing Glencross.  But this is another guy that isn’t really going to do anything for the Flames. 

One last man added to the roster.  Todd Bertuzzi.  Still scratching my head on this one.  So do you want more PK’s ?  Is that really what you are looking for?  Picking up a player that has a target on his back and just reeks of getting ticky tack penalty calls because of who he is. A huge thumbs down from me on this one.

Now onto the guys that will be scoring for Calgary. Their main man Jarome Iginla.  The problem for the past few years has been getting people to play with him. He has averaged 96 points the last two seasons. Langkow is his usual set up guy, Now Cammallerimay  on that line also will give other teams fits if they just key on Iginla. Cammalleri can score some goals.  He just may get back up to his usual numbers if the clique clicks.

Conroy is Conroy, he is just kind of there now.  Really thought he would have been moved also. The D is the same core group, Aucoin will anchor things with Phaneur once again. I think you will see a bit better D this year.  The D had a year and another 1^st round exit to get things right with each other.

Now onto the shoulders that I think will sink the Flames this year.

Mikka Kiprusoff, yep that’s what I said….errr…..wrote.

For 3 years now his numbers have been going down

2003 GAA 1.7  SA% .933

2004 Lockout

2005 GAA 2.07 SA% .923

2006 GAA 2.46 SA% .917

2007 GAA 2.69 SA% .906

See a pattern here? And what did Sutter/Keenan do to the team this year? Get more physical players, a goon and about 100 more PM’s this year.  Yeah, that’s what the Flames need.  They have no scoring, haven’t had any since the last Cup run and get guys that don’t score and will cost them more goals. 

The Flames have gotten past the first round just once in 17 years and after this year it will be 18 years.  It’s time for a change in Calgry and I believe after this season the core will be broken up.  It’s just been way too long.

Calgary just has to stay at the same point count as last year and this wager cashes.  Do you really see anything that will get that point count higher?  I sure don’t, in fact I see it going lower.  I will say mid to high 80’s lower

There you have it.

That’s it, hope everyone has a great year wagering and watching the best sport out there.

TB un 91.5  yeah probabl;y a bit overrated

Kings un 77.5  not a bad young team , depending on how many dopey pts they get in losses this may be close

Coyotes ov 82.5   i think this team is horrendous..way under

Caps ov 93.5  yeah most likely a young team on the rise

Flames un 94.5  probably another overrated bunch

Habs ov 99.5  thats a lot of pts. should get there but thats a lot