Hello everyone, welcome to the inaugural post of The Forman Faceoff; a hockey blog focused on the current NHL news. I currently have another blog about the Colorado Avalanche (www.formansportstalk.blogspot.ca), which is my favourite NHL team, but I decided for my writing career that it would be best to expand to all of the NHL. For my first post, I will look at 10 players to watch for the upcoming NHL season.
1. Claude Giroux - The Flyers captain enters the 2013-14 season with high hopes after a very disappointing shorteneded 2013 season, where not only the Flyers missed the playoffs but Giroux struggled to regain his top form where he had 93 points in 2011-2012 (he still had 47 points in 48 last season). To go along with a bad 2013 season, Giroux was injured this summer in a freak golfing incident where his club shattered in his hands causing damage to tendons in his right index finger. Giroux has since recovered from the injury, returning to action last night (September 24) in a preseason game. The Flyers had an important offseason, which saw the departure of Ilya Bryzgalov and the arrival of 3 key pieces: Vincent Lecavalier, Mark Streit and Ray Emery. With a healthy Giroux and the new arrivals, the Flyers look to get back on track and get back into the playoffs. They will need 100% from their captain to do so, keep an eye on Giroux all season he could be in for a huge year.
2. Roberto Luongo - The last few years has been a soap opera for Luongo; he has had a rough time in Vancouver and seemed to be ready to move on this summer. However, things drastically changed when the Canucks shipped out Cory Schneider to the Devils on draft day, solidifying Luongo's role as the starting goalie. The last few years Schneider really pushed for the starting spot, the two goalies went back and forth and it lead to Luongo being very unhappy in Vancouver. The Canucks made some big changes in the offseason, none bigger then bringing in new Head Coach John Tortorella. Torts immediately stated he believed in Roberto Luongo, that he wanted him to be his #1 goalie, and the trade of Schneider cemented that. Regardless of what happens this year, Luongo is now the clear cut #1 goalie and can finally look past all that nonsense from the last few years. However, Luongo will still have tremendous pressure to win, especially with the Canucks fans and their sense of urgency.
3. Nathan MacKinnon - As a Colorado Avalanche fan, I am beyond excited to watch this 18-year old hit the ice for the first time as an NHL player. MacKinnon was picked #1 overall in this past NHL draft, and new Avs Head Coach Patrick Roy immediately stated that MacKinnon was here to stay. MacKinnon isn't going to be the Avs savior, and Roy has stated he doesn't expect him to be, but that doesn't mean he won't make a big impact right away. MacKinnon possesses an extremely high level of hockey skill, and he has a very bright future ahead. I have him pegged as a co-Calder Trophy favourite, along side his former Halifax Moosehead teammate Jonathan Drouin in Tampa Bay.
4. Tim Thomas - Thomas shocked everyone last year when he decided to take a leave of absence from the NHL, taking the entire 2012-13 season off to spend time with his family. This lead to the Bruins dealing his rights to the Islanders, however they didn't sign him and he became a free agent. Towards the end of the offseason, Thomas was signed to a training camp tryout by the Florida Panthers, and it looks like he is here to stay. Its the perfect situation for both Thomas and the Panthers; Thomas gets his shot at being a #1 goalie in the NHL again, as the Panthers are limited at that position with the young and inexperienced Jacob Markstrom. Thomas is 2-time Vezina winner, a Stanley Cup Champion and a Conn Smythe winner, so the Panthers might have gotten a major steal with Thomas if he can regain his confidence. Its a win-win situation for both, and if Thomas plays well the Panthers might have a much better shot at making the playoffs.
5. Patrick Kane - Patty Kane is on top of the hockey world right now; after winning his 2nd Stanley Cup in 4 years and walking away with the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP he is doing things right. Kane was by far the best player for the Hawks last season, especially in the playoffs, and he looks to build on that in the 2013-14 season. Kane turns 25 in November, and he is almost a point-per-game player in his 6-year NHL career (424 points in 446 games). Coming off an impressive year during the lockout-shortened season, Kane looks to build on that and take his game to the next level. Regardless of what happens, his play last year has brought him into the NHL's top elite players.
6. Daniel Alfredsson - The longtime Senators captain has a fresh start at age 40 (41 in December), after 17 years in Ottawa and 13 as the captain he shocked the hockey world (mostly Sens fans) by signing with the Detroit Red Wings. At first glimpse this is a perfect match for both Alfie and the Red Wings, not only are they getting a proven veteran goal scorer but also a player who has yet to win a Stanley Cup and still has that passion to win. Alfredsson also fits in perfectly with the Red Wings due to the high number of Swedes on the roster, including Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson, Gustav Nyquist, and Mikael Samuelsson. Alfredsson will also be a big help with Detroit's powerplay, as he has 131 powerplay goals in his career. I think this is a win-win situation for both Alfie and the Red Wings, now it only remains to be seen how he gets treated in his return to Ottawa.
7. Bobby Ryan - Speaking of the Senators, they didn't waste long replacing longtime Captain Daniel Alfredsson, as they acquired talented winger Bobby Ryan from the Ducks for Jakob Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen, and a 1st round pick in 2014. The Senators may have given up a good amount for Ryan, especially Silfverberg and Noesen who are both top prospects, but they want to win now and Bobby Ryan solidifies that. Ryan is 26 years old and in the prime of his hockey career, and a fresh start in a new city will certainly be good for his career after his up-and-down time in Anaheim. At times he was a stud for the Ducks, but at times he also struggled and I think the Ducks are okay moving on without him (even though there were no hard feelings between The Ducks and Ryan). Bobby will play on a line with Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek, and if they gain chemistry early that could be one dangerous line for defence in the NHL.
8. Logan Couture - Logan Couture has been on the rise the last few years, and the hockey world got to see his talent first-hand during the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs. While Couture's Sharks lost in a game 7 in the 2nd round to the Kings, Couture was the best player for the Sharks in the postseason scoring 11 points in 11 games. The 24-year old center is entering his 4th full NHL season (only played 25 games in 09/10), and this year I think he is ready to take the next step in his career to an elite NHL scorer. His highest point total is 65 from 2011-12, I believe this year we could see him reach the 70-80 point range if all goes well in San Jose. With the Sharks stars getting older (Thornton 34, Marleau 34, Boyle 37), Couture is now taking over as the face of the franchise. I think Couture is on the cusp of becoming an elite NHL center, and the 2013-14 season could be the start of that.
9. Taylor Hall - Speaking of elite forwards, Taylor Hall is also primed for a breakout year in 2013-14. Hall turns 22 in November, and he is entering his 4th NHL season. His career high in points was 53 in 2011-12, but he made major strides last year scoring 50 points in only 45 games in the lockout-shortened season. With a full season ahead, as long as Hall can stay healthy he is due for a very big season where I predict he will be in the 80-90 point range. Hall is surrounded by young talent in Edmonton with Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, Yakupov, Gagner and Perron, and is due for a big year. Could this be the year the Oilers return to the playoffs? Time will tell, but Hall will have an important role in trying to bring the Oilers back to their winning ways of the past.
10. Marc-Andre Fleury - The only player who might have more pressure then Roberto Luongo is none other than Penguins "starting" goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. After a solid regular season where he went 23-8-0, Fleury really struggled in the first round series with the Islanders and eventually was replaced by backup Tomas Vokoun. Vokoun was in net the rest of the way, as the Penguins went to the Conference finals and were swept by the Bruins. Many people claimed Fleury was overrated and done, he struggled in the 2012 playoffs and then again last season in 2013, and Penguins fans were fed up. However, Fleury is still the goalie who led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in back-to-back years (2008-2009) and still has tons of skill. I think that fans were quick to use him as the scapegoat; the Penguins have serious problems on D and Fleury was placed with a majority of the blame. With an offseason to forget and get refreshed, I think Fleury is ready to have a big year in 2013-14. Throw in the injury to Tomas Vokoun, who had surgery to remove a blood clot, and Fleury is ready to take the majority of the load in net for the Penguins. Regardless of what happens, he will feel immense pressure from the Penguins fans to play well early, much like Luongo has in Vancouver.
Thanks for reading, I look forward to covering the NHL for years to come.
-Joel Forman - The Forman Faceoff
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