NHL preview - Central division

Division overview

It may actually be something of a shame that one of these teams has to make the playoffs. Detroit is ripe for the picking, if Nashville’s goaltending can hold up. If not, maybe it’s Columbus, or even Chicago making a run at the top. Maybe a fresh start is just what St. Louis’ Manny Legace needs. With so many goaltending questions, forwards are the strength of pretty well every team in this division, so the team that gets the most hot streaks out of their goalie is going to fare the best.

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings, despite the loss of Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan, are still the deepest team in the division. Henrik Zetterberg looks primed for a breakout year, Pavel Datsyuk remains mind-bogglingly talented, and the equally talented (though questionably devoted) Jiri Hudler will have a chance to make an impact this season. Mikael Samuelsson was a pleasant surprise last season, scoring 45 points, and the Wings are hoping he can improve on that output. Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby remain the anchors of the game’s premier checking unit. The Wings boost the deepest defense in the Central, with four-time Norris Trophy winner Niklas Lidstrom as well as veterans Chris Chelios, Mathieu Schneider, and newcomer Danny Markov. Goalie Dominik Hasek is back for another tour of duty, and is trying to shake the injury problems that cost him the 2005-06 season. A healthy Dom can take this team to the top of the Western Conference heap.

Fantasy Sleeper: Zetterberg record 85 of the quietest point ever last season, while Tomas Holmstrom is usually good for 50-plus.

Rookie Watch: Valteri Filppula and Hudler ripped up the American League last year, and will be given every opportunity to light lamps in the NHL.

Nasvhille Predators

This collection of Predators is without a doubt the most talented group the Music City has seen in their short tenure in the NHL. Jason Arnott’s arrival as the new top centre will make life easier for everyone else on this team. Less frequent trips to the trainer’s office will also make life easier for the Preds -- Nasvhille lost more than 270 man-games to injury last season. Up front, Steve Sullivan and Paul Kariya return as a dangerous pair, newcomer Josef Vasicek is looking for a place to happen, and Martin Erat looks ready to break out after a strong Olympics and second half last season. Nashville will feel the loss of the steady Mark Eaton and Danny Markov on defense, but they feel their call-ups are ready to fill the voids. Kimmo Timonen has quietly built a reputation as one of the best in the business. They key to the whole thing is the health of Tomas Vokoun, who was felled by a blood condition just before playoffs. If he is back in form, he’s a top five goalie in the league.

Fantasy Sleeper: Erat has spent all or part of the last four seasons in the NHL, and has posted 49 points in each of the last two. Sixty is not out of the question.

Rookie Watch: Alexander Radulov made a mockery of QMJHL defenses and goalies last year, and the Preds think he can do the same at the NHL level in time, though he’ll start the year in the American League.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have bolstered their attack by adding another pair of snipers. Anson Carter and Fredrik Modin are new faces, and they’re joined by rookie Gilbert Brule. Throw the returning Rick Nash, the unstoppable David Vyborny, and Nik Zherdev into the mix, and the fans in Columbus may be seeing a lot of red behind opposing goals. The question is whether or not the Jackets can stop their own lamp from being lit. Adam Foote is looking to improve on the poor first impression he gave last year, while management is hoping this is the year Rostislav Klesla gets it (have you read that before?). Otherwise, the blue line is pretty unremarkable. Bryan Berard was steady last season, Duvie Westcott put in a strong season, but there isn’t much to choose from back there. In goal, Pascal Leclaire has been handed the reigns after being Marc Denis’ understudy. The Jackets have felt for some time that Leclaire would eventually be the go-to guy, and that time is now.

Fantasy Sleeper: The unstoppable David Vyborny posted 65 points last year as part of his one-man show. With a stronger supporting cast, there is no real ceiling for Vyborny.

Chicago Blackhawks

If the games were played on paper, the Hawks would have to be considered favourites, especially since injuries aren’t a factor on paper. The Hawks would be guaranteed full seasons from Eric Daze, Tuomo Ruutu, Adrian Aucoin, newcomer Martin Havlat, and motivated play from Nik Khabibulin. As is, Daze appears to be gone from the game forever, Ruutu will miss the start of the season, Aucoin and Havlat are OK for now, and Khabibulin is rolling in money. Backup goalie Patrick Lalime, brought in to spell the Hawks when Khabibulin’s play slipped, is out after having back surgery. Rookie defenseman Cam Barker is out to start the year with an ankle injury. And so it goes. “Injury report” is one of the main tabs at the Hawks’ website. There is a silver lining though, and his name is Brent Seabrook. Seabrook was at least equal to Calgary’s Dion Phaneuf last year, and if not for Crosby and Ovechkin would have won the Calder Trophy. He will battle Phaneuf for years in the hunt for Norris.

Fantasy Sleeper: Several Hawks are capable of 70-point seasons, the surprise will be actually playing enough games to reach that mark.

Rookie Watch: Though sidelined until November, Barker should be able to step in and make contributions to a very thin blue line.

St. Louis Blues

This is an aptly-named team right now. After spending 25-consecutive springs watching the playoffs, it’ll be a while before Blues fans see them again. That said, the Blues have some talent in some significant areas. Their top line of Doug Weight, Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin is getting long in the tooth, but they’re proven performers that love to play together. Dan Hinote is a free agent acquisition from Colorado, and brings an excellent mentality to every shift. He will help teach the young players what it takes to compete every night. Jay McKee comes over from Buffalo, looking to improve a pretty solid blue line which includes incumbents Eric Brewer (who will be happy to get out of the number one spot), Barret Jackman (who is tough as nails) and Christian Backman, who could be the team’s captain in just his third season. But after the above list, it’s all youngsters that saw trial by fire last season, which the Blues are hoping makes them hungrier to achieve more. In goal, Manny Legace gets a fresh start after never having a real shot at the job in Detroit. The weak team in front of him won’t bail him out very often, but he will bail them out from time to time.

Fantasy Sleeper: Tkachuk had 36 points in 41 games last season, so he could be counted on for 75 or more in a full (and in shape) season. Dan Hinote may take advantage of an expanded offensive role.

Rookie Watch: Many Blues played their way out of Calder eligibility last season, and no true rookies look to make the team.