| In the last 12 months the National Hockey League | | | | team has holes, and now they can't plug it with |
| has undergone as massive of an overhaul as any | | | | money.Philadelphia Flyers (9/1) - The Flyers waived |
| sports league in the last half century. With revamped | | | | goodbye to its nucleus of Jeremy Roenick, John |
| rules, a restructured salary system and a new | | | | LeClair and Mark Recchi. Their absence will open up |
| television partner, professional hockey is the shell of | | | | the ice for young speedsters Jeff Carter and Mike |
| the sport that locked its doors a year ago. The | | | | Richards. Also, they managed to pilfer Peter Forsberg |
| changes reflect the NHL's new mantra - more | | | | and Derian Hatcher, adding two of the top free |
| scoring, increased parity and cost certainty. So forget | | | | agent talents to an already strong team. The Flyers |
| everything you know or think you know about the | | | | should have a slight edge over New Jersey in their |
| NHL, which begins preseason play on Sept. 16, as | | | | quest to defend their Atlantic Division |
| even the most faithful and ardent fan has to admit | | | | championship.Ottawa Senators (11/1) - The Sens |
| that they have no clue as to how the game will look | | | | were the top scoring team in the Eastern |
| in 2005-06.First, hockey viewers will have to get used | | | | Conference in 2003-04 (262 goals), and they added |
| to watching their game on a new station. ESPN took | | | | the dynamic Dany Heatley in a blockbuster deal that |
| a gamble and refused to pick up the network's | | | | included Marian Hossa. As long as no one asks |
| option on the NHL's broadcasting rights. The idea was | | | | Heatley to be the designated driver, he should add |
| that ESPN would be able to opt out of their deal, and | | | | some more pop to Ottawa's offense. Daniel |
| then repurchase the rights at a substantially reduced | | | | Alfredsson led the team with 48 assists in 03-04, and |
| rate. Instead, the Outdoor Living Network, a | | | | will be setting the table for Heatley. This squad is |
| subsidiary of Comcast Cable, swooped in with a very | | | | deep and strong, and will be relying on Ray Emery |
| lucrative offer and purchased the rights to broadcast | | | | and Dominick Hasek in the net.Calgary Flames (13/1) - |
| the NHL regular season and playoffs for $65 million | | | | The runners-up to the 2004 champion Tampa Bay |
| this season, $70 million in 2006-2007, and $72.5 million | | | | Lightning (man, that still sounds strange) will be even |
| in 2007-2008. Not to worry though - Barry Melrose | | | | better this season. The key move they made was |
| and his man mullet have signed on with | | | | retaining superstar Jerome Iginla. Iginla was tied for |
| OLN.However, OLN only reaches an estimated 65 | | | | the NHL lead with 41 goals in 03-04. The Flames |
| million homes throughout the United States and | | | | upgraded the offense by bringing in Tony Amonte |
| Canada. That's a substantial reduction from the 90 | | | | and Darren McCarty. Also, Roman Hamrlik was |
| million subscribers that ESPN boasts, and the 89 million | | | | acquired to shore up an already stout defense.New |
| viewers that ESPN2 can reach. Also, since ESPN | | | | Jersey Devils (14/1) - This is a very interesting team |
| doesn't own the rights, the league shouldn't expect | | | | going into the preseason. As Detroit and Colorado will |
| too much coverage from those Bristol bastards. The | | | | be most affected by the salary cap, New Jersey will |
| new deal - while a relative windfall for a sport with | | | | be most affected by the rule changes. Many blame |
| flailing TV ratings - definitely relegates the NHL to | | | | the Devils for pioneering the neutral zone trap and |
| Niche Sport status. Well, that and a 309-day lockout | | | | the clutch-and-grab style that took over the league in |
| will turn off any fan base. Right now hockey's | | | | the last decade. Offensively, they still have Scott |
| popularity lies somewhere around the WNBA and | | | | Gomez (team leader in assists) and Patrick Elias |
| extreme dodgeball.Next, besides the ideological | | | | (leader in goals and points) and I expect big numbers |
| alterations that the league has experienced, there | | | | from both. They've won at least 41 games in each |
| have been considerable changes to the practical | | | | of the past three seasons, and with Martin Brodeur in |
| aspects of the game. A competition committee | | | | goal they always have a shot.Colorado Avalance (14 |
| revisited several issues that were pinpointed as | | | | 1) - The Avs still have Joe Sakic and Pierre Turgeon |
| problem areas during the pre-lockout days. The | | | | in the center, Brad May and Alex Tanguay on the left |
| highlights of their adopted rule changes are:1) No | | | | and Milan Hejduk on the right. So in other words, |
| more ties. Instead of records that read like Lotto | | | | they still have a chance. Colorado has put up an |
| picks, the league has gone back to good ol' fashioned | | | | average of 42 wins per year the last three seasons, |
| wins and losses. At the end of overtime a six-player | | | | and its core remains intact. Rob Blake is back to |
| shootout will ensue, followed by a sudden death | | | | anchor the defense and David Aebischer is the man |
| shootout if necessary. | | | | in the cage. I expect them to figure prominently in |
| 2) Goalies will no longer be allowed to be built like | | | | the Western Conference, but I don't think they have |
| Optimus Prime. Their allotted padding has been | | | | enough depth to hoist the Cup.Boston Bruins (15/1) - |
| reduced 11 percent. The rule is backed by $25,000 | | | | The Bruins were one of the teams that benefited |
| fines and suspensions. | | | | the most from the outlandish free agency. They |
| 3) Goaltenders can no longer "freeze" the puck, and | | | | were able to lock up captain Joe Thornton for three |
| a trapezoidal area has been set up behind the goal | | | | years, and keep Glen Murray on the club. Also, they |
| line. The goalies are only allowed to handle the puck | | | | were able to add seasoned vets Shawn McEachern |
| within that area when behind the goal line. | | | | and Brian Leetch, as well as Alexi Zhamnov and Dave |
| 4) The offensive zone will be larger. The bluelines | | | | Scatchard. That talent infusion improves a team that |
| were each moved two feet closer to one another, | | | | was already pretty tough (defending Northeast |
| shrinking the neutral zone. Also, the goal-lines have | | | | Division champions). The pressure will be on Andrew |
| been moved two feet further from the boards, | | | | Raycroft, the only goalie on the roster.Pittsburgh |
| leaving more room behind the net. | | | | Penguins (15/1) - The March of the Penguins back to |
| 5) The red line is gone, and two-line passes are now | | | | hockey's elite may start this season. Besides being a |
| legal. | | | | fiscal farce off the ice, they've been one of the |
| 6) Other minor changes have occurred. There's no | | | | worst teams on it for the past several years, |
| flopping, a point of emphasis on clutching and | | | | managing just 78 wins in the last three seasons. |
| grabbing, anyone who instigates a fight in the last | | | | They put up only 2.3 goals a game while winning 23 |
| five minutes gets suspended, no flipping the puck into | | | | games in 03-04. But the Steel City won the Sidney |
| the stands in your defensive zone, and no public | | | | Crosby Sweepstakes, and the "next Gretzky" gives |
| complaints about the league.The idea is that all of | | | | them instant credibility. They resigned leading scorer |
| these rule modifications will open up scoring and | | | | Dick Tarnstrom and acquired Lyle Odelein, and that |
| increase the speed of the game. They're hoping that | | | | young talent may be ready to take the next |
| the new NHL will be similar to the hockey played in | | | | step.Tampa Bay Lightning (15/1) - Winning the |
| the Olympics, which features more scoring and skill | | | | Stanley Cup a few weeks before the lockout |
| rather than neutral zone traps and the grind-it-out | | | | must've been kind of like winning the lottery and |
| garbage that had permeated the NHL over the last | | | | then finding out we're going back to the barter |
| decade.Finally, a whirlwind of player movement has | | | | system. Tampa Bay caught lightning in a bottle in the |
| completely reconfigured the balance of talent | | | | summer of 2004, and the defending Stanley Cup |
| throughout the league. Trying to figure out who is | | | | champions have brought back the principals involved |
| going where has proven more tiresome than trying | | | | in that run. Dave Andreychuk, Martin St. Louis, and |
| to keep up with which pitcher Alyssa Milano is | | | | Vincent Lecavalier are all back and ready to go. They |
| banging now. In fact, when opening night comes (the | | | | roster reeks of old age, but they're still the champs |
| Rangers open against the Flyers on Oct. 5) most | | | | and should be shown the proper respect.Anaheim |
| fans will feel like Guy Pierce's short-term-memory | | | | Mighty Ducks (30/1) - Team Teemu returns as the |
| depraved character in Memento. They'll vaguely | | | | head of the Flying V. Sergie Federov is looking to |
| recognize where they are but have no idea how | | | | salvage a burnt out career, and Scott Niedermeyer |
| they got there.I saw a post on another sports site | | | | should flourish in Anaheim's wide-open attack. Also, |
| that I felt best sums up the player movement that's | | | | the Ducks have a huge advantage with J-S Giguere |
| taken place since the league went back in business: | | | | minding the net. That's one guy who won't need the |
| "Don't you feel like the new NHL is the equivalent of | | | | extra padding to dominate. A drawback is that they |
| someone stealing your NHL '95 game for Sega, | | | | traded captain Steve Rucchin to the Rangers.Atlanta |
| randomizing the rosters, and then giving it back to | | | | Thrashers (33/1) - I like this pick for the value. The |
| you?"Laying a bet on NHL futures trying to predict | | | | Hossa-Heatley trade was pretty much a push, but |
| who will hoist the Cup next summer could be a great | | | | getting a solid veteran defenseman like Greg deVries |
| opportunity to fleece some unsuspecting | | | | in the deal may shift the advantage in the Thrashers |
| oddsmakers. But, as always, wager at your own risk. | | | | favor. They already posses a young core led by the |
| Here's a quick overview on some teams that will be | | | | very talented Ilya Kovalchuk (team leader in goals |
| worth watching and could be worth the | | | | and assists) and Hossa's playmaking style (36 goals |
| gamble:Detroit Red Wings (17/2) - The favorites for | | | | and 82 points) will fit right in. They signed Mike |
| the upcoming season reside in Hockeytown. It's a | | | | Dunham to mentor talented youngster Kari Lehtonen, |
| terrible bet, and don't bite. Yes the Red Wings were | | | | and brought in Bobby Holik to add even more |
| the best team in the 2003-04 regular season with | | | | firepower. They might be a year away, but it may |
| 109 overall points, but perhaps no team was hurt | | | | be worth it to take a $10 or $20 flier on them.Doc's |
| more by the year off. Steve Yzerman is now 40, | | | | Sports Recent Articles:2005 Big Ten preview2005 |
| Chris Chelios is 43 and Brendan Shanahan is turning | | | | MAC PreviewNFL RookiesDoc's Sports Handicapping |
| 37. The window may have closed for the Wings and | | | | Service |
| their AARP roster. Also, Detroit has only about $7 | | | | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been |
| million to resign Pavel Datsyuk (who's said he's not | | | | recognized as one of the leaders and most trusted |
| even close to a deal) and/or Henrik Zetterberg. This | | | | names in sports handicapping information. |