This year’s offseason was so important that I decided to break my thoughts up into separate articles.
– There is now a clear power divide in the NHL. The West is far stronger than the East.
Judging by this year’s Stanley Cup Final, it was evident that the Chicago Blackhawks, who lost to the champion Kings in the Western Conference Finals, were the second best in the league.
Heading into the year, the Kings and ‘Hawks are the league’s best, and the Boston Bruins are likely the strongest team in the East.
-Speaking of the Bruins, their leading goal scorer, Jarome Iginla, headed back out west to join Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche.
Iginla was a 30 goal scorer again last year, and he will certainly help Colorado after their loss of Paul Stastny. Yet, Iginla’s decision leaves me confused.
Sure, nothing is guaranteed in hockey, and grabbing money when you can is smart, but Iginla has made tons of money in his career.
What he lacks, however, is the most elusive prize in the sport: the Stanley Cup. I don’t think that the Avalanche can make it out of the west, but I’ve been wrong before.
– The Vancouver Canucks signed goaltender Ryan Miller to a three year deal, and I’m not so sure that I like this move.
The Canucks need to start a youth movement, and they started that process in shipping out veterans Ryan Kesler and Roberto Luongo, but they then counteracted that by signing a veteran goaltender.
They have two young goalie in Eddie Lack and Jacob Markstrom, and I would have preferred to let them play. And let’s be real: is Miller really a serious enough of an upgrade over Lack to justify $6 million a year? I don’t think so.
– In a move that surprised no one, the Minnesota Wild signed forward Thomas Vanek. Vanek has been linked to the Wild for a long time, and I think he will be a good fit. Minnesota is heavily front loaded, but I wouldn’t ignore them. Depth is a concern however.
– I described my thoughts on the trade of Jason Spezza to Dallas in Part One of this column, but the trade also opens up the free agent to be Bobby Ryan to be moved by the trade deadline.
I can”t fathom any scenario in which Ryan stays, so a team looking for a first line sniper come the trade deadline will likely make a bid on the right winger.
[Photo Credit: startribune.com]
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
