NHL Teams that can make the playoffs: West/East

DP · Aug 18, 2010

Western Conference

Summer may be the most enjoyable time of the season for many, but when it comes to NHL teams, they want to put off the start to the fun times as long as possible.

But for the seven Western Conference teams that missed the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoff party, their goal since the second week of April has been figuring out how to extend their seasons into May -- or even June, like the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.

So how can the teams that missed the fun turn into postseason hits? With about a month until training camp opens, NHL.com today examines why fans of the unlucky seven can hold onto their playoff hopes:
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ST. LOUIS BLUES

Last season: 40-32-10, 90 points, 5 points out of eighth place

How it ended: When Davis Payne replaced Andy Murray as coach, the Blues went on the upswing, going 23-16-3 after Payne took over Jan. 2, including 12 wins in their final 19 games.

Offseason changes: The biggest move came in net, where the Blues traded a pair of prospects for Canadiens playoff hero Jaroslav Halak. It's been about a decade -- since Chris Osgood wore the Blue Note -- that the Blues have had a goaltender of Halak's skill, and he'll be the unquestioned No. 1, something that likely wasn't going to happen with the Canadiens. Paul Kariya was not offered a new contract and Keith Tkachuk retired, allowing for more ice time for younger players up front.

Why they could get in: GM Doug Armstrong must have been satisfied with the talent already on the roster, because adding Halak was the only significant offseason move. The Blues are betting big on Halak, who backstopped the Canadiens past the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals and Stanley Cup champion Penguins in a remarkable playoff run. And while many were focused solely on his postseason numbers, Halak did finish in the top five in the League in the regular season in save percentage (.924) and top 10 in goals-against average (2.40) and shutouts (five). Add to that a blossoming young offensive corps led by T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund, David Backes and David Perron, plus top-prospect defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, and a jump up the standings is a possibility.
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CALGARY FLAMES

Last season: 40-32-10, 90 points, 5 points out of eighth place

How it ended: After the Olympics, the Flames went just 10-10-0, including four straight losses to end the season.

Offseason changes: It was like old-home week this summer, as the Flames brought back center Olli Jokinen and left wing Alex Tanguay. The move was panned by media and fans, but GM Darryl Sutter felt he was getting two pretty good players at bargain prices. Veteran center Craig Conroy also signed on for another season, and defenseman Ian White, the centerpiece of the Dion Phaneuf trade, avoided arbitration by signing a one-year deal. The Flames also got a lot tougher with the signings of Tim Jackman and Raitis Ivanans.

Why they could get in: The Flames' hopes start from the goal out. Miikka Kiprusoff had one of his better seasons in 2009-10, posting a 2.31 goals-against average. Jay Bouwmeester, now in the second year of his monster contract, should be able to re-discover the form that made him one of the League's elite blueliners. The rest of the defense -- White, Robyn Regehr, Cory Sarich, Steve Staios and Mark Giordano -- is pretty solid. Up front, team captain Jarome Iginla should do well with help from Jokinen and Tanguay, who were productive in their times in Calgary -- Jokinen had 50 points in 75 games spanning the last two seasons, while Tanguay had 40 goals and 139 points in 159 games from 2006-08. With a healthy Daymond Langkow, plus Rene Bourque, Matt Stajan and promising youngster Mikael Backlund, the Flames have offensive depth. If they get enough offense, having Kiprusoff in net could bolster a playoff run.
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ANAHEIM DUCKS

Last season: 39-32-11, 89 points, 6 points out of eighth

How it ended: A two-month stretch from mid-October to mid-December saw them go 10-12-6, which made too big a hole to crawl out of, despite a 9-3-3 finish to the season.

Offseason changes: Captain Scott Niedermayer retired, leaving a gaping hole on the blue line and in the leadership department. Teemu Selanne, however, signed on for another season, as did Saku Koivu, shoring up the second line. James Wisniewski joined Niedermayer as former Ducks on defense, but Toni Lydman, Andy Sutton and Danny Syvret were signed to fill the void. Also, highly regarded Cam Fowler was surprisingly available for the Ducks at No. 12 in the 2010 Entry Draft, and he'll have an excellent chance at making the team and sticking past the nine-game threshold. Bobby Ryan remains a restricted free agent, which is the last bit of summer work left on GM Bob Murray's plate.

Why they could get in: A top line of Ryan, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf could combine for 90 goals and 200 points if all three stay healthy. And a second unit of Selanne, Koivu and either Jason Blake or Joffrey Lupul -- hopefully healed from the back surgery that ended his season in early December -- isn't bad, either. Jonas Hiller has developed into a fine goaltender, so if the defense comes together, a rise in the standings wouldn't be a surprise.
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DALLAS STARS

Last season: 37-31-14, 88 points, 7 points out of 8th

How it ended: The Stars won six of their last 10, including a pair of shootout wins, against the Ducks and the Wild, to close the season.

Offseason changes: It was a major summer of change for the Stars, who officially bid farewell to goalie Marty Turco and watched franchise icon Mike Modano leave for Detroit. Jere Lehtinen, another long-time Star, remains a free agent. With Adam Burish brought over from Chicago, plus Steve Ott, the Stars might be the League's most annoying team. Andrew Raycroft was signed to back up goaltender Kari Lehtonen, but more work remains for GM Joe Nieuwendyk -- top forward James Neal and defensemen Matt Niskanen and Nicklas Grossman remain restricted free agents. Ownership issues have made Nieuwendyk's job harder than usual, but those are three key players.

Why they could get in: If Lehtonen is healthy -- always an issue -- he's shown he can help a team reach the playoffs. His best numbers (34 wins, 2.79 goals-against average) came in 2006-07, when he helped the Thrashers reach the playoffs for the first time. Brad Richards had a marvelous 2009-10, finishing seventh in the League with 91 points, and with Loui Eriksson, Neal, Ott, captain Brenden Morrow and promising youngster Jamie Benn, the Stars have depth and skill up front. Coach Marc Crawford knows what it takes to get a team into the postseason, so a rise up the standings isn't out of the realm of possibility.
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MINNESOTA WILD

Last season: 38-36-8, 84 points, 11 points out of eighth place

How it ended: A season of adjustments to a new style of play and organizational philosophy ended with a 3-5-2 finish and a second straight season out of the playoffs and the fewest points since the 2005-06 season.

Offseason changes: It was a fairly quiet summer in the State of Hockey, with former Stanley Cup winners Matt Cullen and John Madden the big additions. Cullen, a Virginia, Minn., native, has posted five straight 40-point seasons, while Madden just won his third Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks and remains a solid defensive presence at center. Derek Boogaard and his toughness were allowed to leave as a free agent, the only key departure from last season's roster.

Why they could get in: Martin Havlat and Pierre-Marc Bouchard both have something to prove this season, and that hunger could work in the Wild's favor. Havlat wants to justify the big contract the Wild gave him last season to be Marian Gaborik's replacement, but he had just 18 goals; he should be better in Year 2 in Minnesota. Bouchard suffered a concussion opening night and never returned, but when healthy, he's been a productive player, with four straight 40-point seasons. Mikko Koivu makes the team go, Andrew Brunette remains a garbage-goal expert, and Guillaume Latendresse will be out to prove his remarkable rise with the Wild -- 25 goals in 55 games after just 2 goals in 23 games with the Canadiens -- was no fluke. Defensively, a healthy Brent Burns certainly will help solidify the unit in front of goalie Niklas Backstrom. Season 2 of coach Todd Richards' up-tempo style should be better than last season, and the Wild's fortunes could rise with it.
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My first selection from the Western Conference to make it into the Playoffs will be the Minnesota Wild. I see the Wild are building a talented team around their players. The 30 in 30 was recently written and released by the NHL.com writers where they write about the new veterans that joined the team.I will not count the Wild out this season.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Last season: 32-35-15, 79 points, 16 points out of eighth place

How it ended: A tough season came to a close with just three wins in the last 11 games.

Offseason changes: Scott Arniel was hired to replace interim coach Claude Noel, and that was about it for the Jackets. GM Scott Howson said his biggest offseason goal was finding a fourth-line center, and he did that by claiming Ethan Moreau off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. Moreau, a captain in Edmonton, had 14 goals two seasons ago, so he could still be a productive player. At the draft, the Blue Jackets surprised many by choosing big center Ryan Johansen with the fourth pick. In his first season in the WHL, the 6-foot-2 Johansen had 25 goals and 69 points. He skates well and could get stronger when he fills out. Could he be the long sought-after top-line center for Rick Nash?

Why they could get in: Arniel preaches hard work and will demand that out of his players. He'll tighten up some of the defensive issues, which should help goalie Steve Mason return to the player who won the Calder Trophy two seasons ago. We've seen just how well Mason can play when he's confident, and there's no reason to think he can't return to that high level. Rick Nash remains an elite scorer, but the wild card is Nikita Filatov. The 2008 first-round pick has a world of talent, but he clashed with coach Ken Hitchcock early last season and returned to Russia. Filatov is said to have gotten stronger since last season, but needs to be committed to playing in Columbus. If he -- and the rest of the team -- plays up to its talent level, a return to the postseason is a real possibility.
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EDMONTON OILERS

Last season: 27-47-8, 62 points, 33 points out of eighth place

How it ended: While the season as a whole was pretty sour, the Oilers did win three of their last four, including an overtime defeat of the Avalanche and a shootout win against the Kings, both playoff teams.

Offseason changes: After the worst season in franchise history, Pat Quinn was moved from the bench to a consultant role to GM Steve Tambellini. Tom Renney rose from his assistant spot to lead what should be a young group. Ethan Moreau, Patrick O'Sullivan, Robert Nilsson, Mike Comrie, Ryan Potulny and Fernando Pisano all were dismissed, with three first-round draft picks expected to replace them -- Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi and Taylor Hall. Kurtis Foster, who finished 20th in scoring among all NHL defensemen, was signed July 1 and Jim Vandermeer was brought in for toughness on defense. Colin Fraser, a skilled player who never got to show it on a deep Chicago team, was acquired for a draft pick and will get the chance for more ice time. Unhappy defenseman Sheldon Souray remains, but if he's healthy and things start well, he could turn into a nice part of the rebuilding process.

Why they could get in: Hall and Eberle were elite scorers in junior and Paajarvi has experience playing against men for three seasons in the Swedish Elite League. Sam Gagner remains a solid young talent, as does Andrew Cogliano, an unsigned restricted free agent who likely will re-sign with the team at some point before camp. A return to health of Ales Hemsky will be a huge boost to the offense, which scored just 206 goals last season, the fourth-fewest in the League. A kid line and a line of Hemsky, Gagner and Dustin Penner, who had a break-out 32-goal season, aren't too shabby. Goaltending remains a question mark, mostly because of Nikolai Khabibulin's back and off-ice issues, but back-ups Jeff Deslauriers and Devan Dubnyk got to taste NHL action last season, and the club signed veteran Martin Gerber as insurance. It's a long climb for the Oilers, but if the kids get off to solid starts and confidence builds, anything is possible.
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My second choice to make the playoffs are the Edmonton Oilers. Call me crazy if you want but the team from a year ago who only had 62 points are in the bubble for a playoff spot in my opinion. Who did they draft in this years draft? Oh yeah Taylor Hall. 30 in 30.

Eastern Conference

Summer may be the most enjoyable time of the season for many people, but when it comes to NHL teams, they want to put off the start to the fun times as long as possible.

For the seven Eastern Conference teams that missed out on the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoff party, their goal since the second week of April has been figuring out how to extend their seasons into May -- or even June, like the conference champion Philadelphia Flyers.

So how can the teams that missed the fun turn into postseason hits? With about a month until training camp opens, NHL.com today examines why fans of the unlucky seven can hold onto their playoff hopes.
Click to expand...

NEW YORK RANGERS

Last season -- 38-33-11, 87 points, 1 point out of eighth place

How it ended -- The Rangers went into the final day of the season with a chance to clinch a playoff spot. But Olli Jokinen missed on the final shot of the shootout in Philadelphia, which started the Flyers' miracle run to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Offseason changes -- Two-time 30-goal scorer Alexander Frolov and Todd White, who had 22 goals and 73 points two seasons ago, were added to help improve an offense that scored just 219 goals last season, 16th in the League. Goalie Martin Biron was signed to back up Henrik Lundqvist, who appeared to tire down the stretch after playing 73 games. Derek Boogaard was added to replace Jody Shelley in the toughness department.

Why they could get in -- Despite their offensive struggles, the Rangers still went into Game 82 with a chance to make the playoffs, so the talent clearly is there. Frolov should be hungry to return to the goal-scoring form he had earlier in his career with the Kings, plus he's working on a one-year contract. The biggest acquisition, however, could be Biron. While his numbers didn't look good last season with the Islanders, Biron is a competent, veteran goaltender who will make the locker room a better place just by his presence. Also, coach John Tortorella will have the confidence to play Biron 15-20 games during the season, which will make for a more rested Lundqvist -- and when Lundqvist is on his game, there aren't many better in the League.
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ATLANTA THRASHERS

Last season -- 35-34-18, 83 points, 5 points out of eighth place

How it ended -- The Thrashers had a little bounce after the Ilya Kovalchuk trade, but they won just three of their last 10 games to finish as playoff observers once again.

Offseason changes -- Rick Dudley was promoted to GM, where he replaced Don Waddell, who became team president. Dudley then went to work reshaping the roster, with a big hand from his previous employer, the Chicago Blackhawks. Dudley acquired forwards Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien and Ben Eager and defenseman Brent Sopel off the Hawks' Stanley Cup roster in two separate trades, and added to that group free-agent goalie Chris Mason. Dudley then hired the highly respected Craig Ramsey to coach the group.

Why they could get in -- The hope is the former Blackhawks will bring a championship mentality to a young team that has almost no playoff experience. Byfuglien and Ladd bring a big, tough, physical element to the offense that will give it a different look than last season's group, which was led by Kovalchuk and Maxim Afinogenov. Nik Antropov is coming off a career-best season, Niclas Bergfors was a very solid return on the Kovalchuk deal, and Evander Kane had 14 goals as a rookie -- not bad for the youngest full-time player in the League last season. Sopel will provide a veteran's touch to a young blue-line group led by Zach Bogosian and Tobias Enstrom. Mason, who won a career-best 30 games last season, will be a nice complement to Ondrej Pavelec in net, solidifying the crease in a way the oft-injured Kari Lehtonen never could.
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CAROLINA HURRICANES

Last season -- 35-37-10, 80 points, 8 points out of eighth place

How it ended -- A season that started with the high hopes generated by a trip to the 2009 Eastern Conference Final started badly (3-6-3 in October) and ended only slightly better -- 8-7-4 in their last 19 games to miss the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons.

Offseason changes -- The biggest change is the departure of Rod Brind'Amour, who retired during the summer. Brind'Amour's play clearly had slipped over the last two seasons, and Eric Staal already had replaced him as team captain, but Brind'Amour remained a strong veteran presence in the locker room. Filling that void won't be easy, nor will replacing the scoring of Ray Whitney, who took his 21 goals to Phoenix. The only additions were defensemen Anton Babchuk and Joe Corvo, who were brought back to add juice to a defense group that scored just 26 goals last season.

Why they could get in -- The Hurricanes have been stockpiling young talent, with players like Zack Boychuk, Drayson Bowman and Jamie McBain getting small tastes of NHL action over the last couple of seasons. That should change in 2010-11, with that youthful core being expected to play a big role in helping Staal and Brandon Sutter lead the team going forward. When the Canes started their youth movement last season, their fortunes improved, to the tune of a 21-10-3 mark after Jan. 21. That group has experience now, and with an improved season from goalie Cam Ward, the playoffs might not be a pipe dream.
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TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Last season -- 34-36-12, 80 points, 8 points out of eighth place

How it ended -- As rumors of dissension at all levels of the organization filtered down onto the ice, the season ended with an 8-12-1 finish, despite wins in the final three games.

Offseason changes -- New owner Jeff Vinik wasted little time clearing out the old regime, as coach Rick Tocchet and GM Brian Lawton were let go. Detroit legend Steve Yzerman was hired as GM and he began reshaping the club, starting with hiring Guy Boucher, coming off a successful stint in the AHL, as coach. He cleared payroll space by shipping defenseman Andrej Meszaros to Philadelphia, and then helped the Flyers find cap space by helping convince two-time 40-goal scorer Simon Gagne to waive his no-trade clause. Dan Ellis was added to help Mike Smith in net, and defenseman Pavel Kubina was signed with the hope a return to the scene of his best seasons could reinvigorate his career. Top penalty killer Dominic Moore also came aboard.

Why they could get in -- The Lightning are the chic pick for a 2011 playoff spot, and all the good feelings that started with Yzerman's hiring haven't worn off. Gagne's addition gives the Lightning a strong top six, with 51-goal scorer Steven Stamkos centering Steve Downie and Martin St. Louis on one line, and Vincent Lecavalier centering Gagne and Ryan Malone on another. Gagne's presence alone should help Lecavalier, as the two have known each other since their youth hockey days. Boucher is regarded as one of the top young coaching minds. With all the turmoil that went on last season long gone, a breath of fresh air could blow the Lightning right into the postseason.
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My first choice to make the playoffs in the East are the Tampa Bay Lightning. I have been preaching that this team is the Detroit of the South, and the team to beat in the South this year. The people they are putting on this team and in this organization are really solid moves by the team. I can't wait to see what they do, and if they play horrible, I'll look really bad.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Last season -- 34-37-11, 79 points, 9 points out of eighth place

How it ended -- The Islanders finished on a bit of a high, winning five of their final eight games, including three straight wins against Philadelphia, Ottawa and Montreal, all of whom made the playoffs.

Offseason changes -- GM Garth Snow worked hard to bulk up his undersized defense over the summer, signing Mark Eaton and Milan Jurcina before trading for James Wisniewski. That should ease the burden on goaltender Dwayne Roloson, who will turn 41 a week into the season. Up front, Snow is hoping P.A. Parenteau can be the same kind of under-the-radar signing 30-goal scorer Matt Moulson was a season ago. Zenon Konopka, who led the NHL with 265 penalty minutes last season, will add a major dose of toughness.

Why they could get in -- Stamkos went from 23 goals as a rookie to 51 last season; John Tavares had 24 goals last season, and the hope is he can have, maybe not the same rocket climb as Stamkos, but a marked improvement now that the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft has gotten a full taste of the NHL life. He'll have Moulson back on his wing to help, and Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo are a year older and a year more experienced. Eaton was an underrated and underappreciated part of Pittsburgh's blue line, and Mark Streit is one of the League's better offensive threats from the blue line. Roloson isn't the average 40-year-old, and if goalie Rick DiPietro can return to health and anything approaching the form that made him an all-star just three seasons ago, the playoffs are a possibility.
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FLORIDA PANTHERS

Last season -- 32-37-13, 77 points, 11 points out of eighth place

How it ended -- A 3-2 overtime win at San Jose on March 13 raised expectations that their eight-season playoff drought could end, but they won just four of their last 15 games.

Offseason changes -- New ownership brought in Dale Tallon as GM, with the hope that the main architect of the championship team in Chicago could do the same in South Beach. Tallon started his roster makeover by trading away forwards Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell and defenseman Keith Ballard for defenseman Dennis Wideman, forwards Steve Bernier and Michal Grabner and a pair of 2010 first-round draft picks. At the draft the Panthers got bigger, faster and nastier by tabbing defenseman Erik Gudbranson and centers Nick Bjugstad and Quinton Howden. Tallon said speed and skill with a good helping of size was what he looked for with the Blackhawks, and this year's draft was more of the same. Christopher Higgins, who suffered through a miserable 2009-10 after three straight 20-goal seasons in Montreal, was signed with the hope he could resurrect his career.

Why they could get in -- Much like Yzerman in Tampa Bay, there only have been positives in Florida since Tallon came on board. The return to health of David Booth, who was limited to just 28 games due to a concussion, will embolden an offense that finished 28th in the League at 2.46 goals per game last season. Higgins has a track record for scoring, Michal Frolik has back-to-back 21-goals seasons and Bernier, Grabner and Stephen Weiss know how to put the puck in the net. The defense, with the massive Gudbranson as a building block, is solid, and Tomas Vokoun always is reliable in goal. It took Tallon three seasons to get the Blackhawks back to the playoffs; he might have better talent in Florida now than he did then in Chicago.
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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Last season -- 30-38-14, 74 points, 14 points out of eighth place

How it ended -- The Leafs lost their first eight games to start the season, and things never really got better after that. They won just four of their final 10 games, including three one-goal losses, to finish with the fewest wins and points since 1997-98.
Offseason changes -- Taking advantage of Chicago's fire sale, GM Brian Burke acquired two-time 20-goal scorer Kris Versteeg. The Leafs also upped their grit and toughness by signing free-agent forward Colby Armstrong. They didn't have a first- or second-round pick to start the 2010 Entry Draft, but made a deal to move into the second round to pick Portland forward Brad Ross, a prototypical Burke forward -- 27 goals and a WHL-leading 203 penalty minutes. The Leafs made almost as many headlines for one change they didn't make -- Tomas Kaberle is staying put, as Burke failed to find a suitable deal during the summer window where Kaberle's no-trade clause was not in effect.

Why they could get in -- The Leafs' defense remains a strength, as a healthy Mike Komisarek will return to team with Kaberle, Dion Phaneuf, Francois Beauchemin, Luke Schenn and the promising Carl Gunnarsson. Center Tyler Bozak made major strides, finishing with 16 points in 21 post-Olympic games. Phil Kessel and Versteeg know how to put the puck in the net, and the future looks bright for young forwards Nazem Kadri and Jerry D'Amigo. Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Jonas Gustavsson make a fine pairing in net, especially with Giguere motivated by being in his contract year. It won't be easy for the Leafs to break their five-year playoff drought, but the seeds for success look to be in place.
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My second choice to make it to the playoffs in the East are the Toronto Maple Leafs. The talent they added around the team will greatly increase the power the ability to score. Call me what you want, but I am a newly acquired(offseason start) fan to the Maple Leafs. Why? Kris Versteeg. He will help this team make the playoffs.

Big Frame · Aug 18, 2010

Look out for the BJ's. If they can ship up that D, Mason will be a stud.

When Chicago got Scotty Bowman he turned them around...Can Yzerman do that in Tampa?

DP · Aug 18, 2010

I think Stevie can do that in Tampa. That teams been sleeping.

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NHL Teams that can make the playoffs: West/East

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NHL Teams that can make the playoffs: West/East

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