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NHL Southeast Division Preview PDF Print E-mail
Fantasy Hockey Blog
Sunday, 13 September 2009 23:07
Hello again, hockey fans! Today on Fantasypros911.com I will continue my NHL previews which today with focus on the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference! Thanks for coming back as I was pretty sick this week and had to take longer than anticipated this week to post these previews. Next week/weekend will come the Western Conference before the first Power Rankings of the season, the week after. Just a taste of what’s ahead here on Fantasypros911.com! 

alt(1) Washington Capitals--- Following a season where the Washington Capitals took great strides towards being an elite team, the question is how they will follow it up. The Caps took the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins to the brink of elimination in the semi-final round before seeing their season end on a total down note as they lost 6-2 on home ice in Game 7. Still, the Caps bring back their stars from that team, and now seem to have found the goalie for the future in G Semyon Varlamov. 

Forwards--- Obviously, this team starts and ends with LW Alex Ovechkin (56g 54a). He is the catalyst to the team’s offensive attack. Still, looking ahead to this year the Caps will have a balanced attack. They have scoring up and down the roster, but one player who had a rebound last season was LW Alexander Semin (34g 45a). He is a true emerging star and could be a bargain this season in fantasy. He won’t get you that many PIM, but he will give you a solid 30 goals while accumulating a good plus/minus.

Defense--- Again, this is a unit that really relies on one true star, and then has the rest of the unit build off that success. That star of course is D Mike Green (31g 42a). He is one of the top scoring defensemen in the NHL right now, and at age 23, he still probably has his best seasons ahead of him. When it comes to a potential sleeper from this unit, look at D John Carlson, assuming he makes it up this season. Carlson had 76 points last year in only 59 games for the London Knights of the OHL (Ontario Hockey League). Again, it is a long shot for him to make the team, but if he does, he has the skill set to adjust to the NHL game pretty quickly.

Goalies--- Seymon Varlamov was one of the biggest surprises of the playoffs this past Spring. He burst onto the scene after Jose Theodore had a inauspicious start to the playoffs, losing 4-3 in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to the New York Rangers. Varlamov then led the Caps to the second round of the playoffs as mentioned above. This season, he starts his first full year in the NHL and looks to prove this year that last year’s playoff run was not a fluke.

(2) Carolina Hurricanes--- After one of the most improbable playoff comebacks in recent memory against the New Jersey Devils last springalt (scoring two goals against Martin Brodeur in the last minute and a half of Game Seven IN New Jersey) the Carolina Hurricanes seemed to run out of steam by the Eastern Conference Finals when they were swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Still, the run behind G Cam Ward and some timely goal scoring by players like C Eric Staal (40g 35a) and LW Jussi Jokinen (7g 20a) was one to remember for Hurricanes fans.

Forwards--- The Hurricanes have a solid group of forwards, and boast two deep scoring lines. With C/Captain Rod Brind’Amour (16g 35a) as the leader on and off the ice and consistent production from some of their emerging stars, look for the ‘Canes to do what they usually do, finish right around the middle of the league in scoring while relying on defense and goaltending. One player to watch this season is the aforementioned Jokinen, as he emerged in the playoffs as a clutch goal scorer. The question is whether he can carry it over to this season and beyond.

Defense--- Carolina has a experienced defensive corps that lacks a true star, however they do have a plethora of above average players. Players like D Joe Corvo (14g 24a), Anton Babchuk (16g 19a) and Joni Pitkanen (7g 26a) are good for 25-35 points per season while playing quality defense. In terms of someone to look to improve or make a bigger impact this season, look at D Bryan Rodney (0g 2a). He put up those 2 points in 8 NHL games last season, while having 36 points in 58 games for the Albany River Rats of the AHL.

Goalies--- At age 25, G Cam Ward already has his name etched on the Stanley Cup and has taken the team to the Eastern Conference Finals in his other playoff appearance. That’s impressive by itself, but he has also become one of the top five goalies in the NHL, at least in my opinion. Last season he went 39-23-5 with a 2.44 GAA and a save percentage of .916. Look for him to continue to improve this season and help Carolina to be a contender once again.

alt(3) Tampa Bay Lightning--- Due to a tough start to the 2008/09 season the Tampa Bay Lightning never really recovered and were mired in 14th place out of 15 teams in the entire Eastern Conference. Seeing that fact in place, the question is why are they ranked to finish third place? There are a few reasons for this, first is the development of some key younger players, as well as the team lacking the distraction of learning an entirely new system from a new coach.

Forwards--- Tampa Bay still has some talent up front, beginning with established front line players like RW Martin St. Louis (30g 50a) and C Vincent Lecavlier (29g 38a). Those two are still among the most dynamic teammates in the Eastern Conference, but this season could be known in Tampa as the year that Steven Stamkos (23g 23a) really breaks out and fulfills the expectations that have been heaped on him by fans. Last year, Stamkos looks a tad overmatched in the beginning of the season, but as the season came to a close, he looked as if he had adjusted to the speed of the NHL.

Defense--- This season, Tampa Bay has one of the most heralded defensive prospects in recent memory in D Victor Hedman. The 18-year old Swede was the number two pick in this past seasons draft and he has professional playing experience in the Swedish Elite League. Still, the question is how quick he can get used to the skills of NHL players. Some other defensemen on the Lightning to watch the season is D Andrej Meszaros (2 g 14a). He put up 16 points in 52 games for the Lightning last season and should see that improve this year. In his last full season, 2007/08, Meszaros posted 36 points for the Ottawa Senators so this year he should see a return to those numbers.

Goalies--- Mike Smith struggled last season, posting a record of 14-18-9 with a 2.62 GAA and a .916 save percentage. Still, he had one of the worst teams in the league in front of him, and it should be said that a .916 save percentage on a good team would translate into many more wins for Smith. This year, Tampa Bay picked up G Antero Niittymaki in case Smith does not perform.

(4) Florida Panthers--- The Florida Panthers are a young team who could easily end up in the playoffs…or end up in last place. Looking at it realistically, alt third or fourth in the division is probably a good place to expect the Panthers this season. They are in forth due in the most part to the fact that they have questions abound in various areas and the fact that Tampa Bay has two top flight offensive talents, something the Panthers don’t unless the young players take a big step forward this season.

Forwards--- Lacking a true point per game threat, the Panthers offense can be anemic at times. As mentioned above, Florida has some young players who, if they take the “next step” in their NHL development could develop into just that point per game scorer that true elite teams have. C Stephen Weiss (14g 47a) and LW David Booth (31g 29a) are two of those players who are looking to really break out as stars this upcoming season. Watch out for the Panthers if these two continue to ascend up the NHL scoring ranks.

Defense--- The loss of star D Jay Bouwmeester (15g 27a) in a trade to the Calgary Flames may have actually made the team better in the long term. Sure he was among the top young defensemen in the league, however he was asking for money that the Panthers just couldn’t pay and rather than risk losing him in free agency for nothing, they made a trade with the Flames getting another defensemen in the trade in D Jordan Leopold (7g 17a). He may not be the top flight player that Bouwmeester is but he does bring a good skilled game to Florida. Look for him to put up solid numbers this season.

Goalies--- When it comes to the goaltending situation in Florida, this may turn out to be the biggest strength for the team. They have a quality starter in G Tomas Vokoun who went 26-23-6 with a 2.49 GAA and a .926 save percentage last season. He is among one of the underrated goalies in the league. As for his backup, G Scott Clemmensen proved last season with the New Jersey Devils that he can start if needed and perform at a very high level.

alt(5) Atlanta Thrashers--- Since coming into the NHL in 2000, the Atlanta Thrashers have struggled as a franchise for the most part. They have made the playoffs in the past, in 2006/07 but were swept out of the playoffs quickly by the New York Rangers. Other than that year, Atlanta has found themselves pretty far out of the playoff picture more often than not. The question remains if this season will be any different than the past few. Honestly, it doesn’t seem that way.

Forwards--- LW Ilya Kovalchuk (42g 48a) is the best offensive player in team history, however pretty soon he becomes a free agent if he and the team cannot work out a new deal. Still, the Thrashers have some other talented players on the roster who can put the puck in the net such as C Todd White (22g 51a) and new pick-up RW Nik Antropov (28g 31a). Those three players are going to be key for the Thrashers to be competitive this season.

Defense--- D Zach Bogosian (9g 10a) has potential to be one of the better defensemen in the league in the not to distant future. At only 18 years of age, he scored 19 points in only 47 games. A strong skater who is both a physical player while showing finesse, Bogosian is looking to establish himself this season. As for another defensemen to keep an eye on is D Tobias Enstrom (5g 27a). Enstrom is only 24 years old and could be part of the Thrashers attempt to build a perennial winner in Atlanta.

Goalies--- The goaltending situation in Atlanta is the weak link of the team. They may score some more goals this season, and even the defensemen may be improved, however at the same time that doesn’t mean much if the goalies can’t stop the puck. G Johan Hedberg went 13-12-3 with a 3.49 GAA and .886 save percentage in 33 games. The other main goalie from last season, G Kari Lehtonen played in 46 games acquiring a 19-22-3 record with a 3.06 GAA and a .911 save percentage. This off season, the team did not improve their goaltending situation, and even with some promising young goalies in the minor leagues, this team is going nowhere unless they get better goaltending.
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