CarterHud

      With big expectations, the Dallas Stars missed the playoffs for the second straight year, and didn\’t even make any moves. While their first line isn\’t the issue, depth is. Before we look into that, here\’s some fast facts for the Dallas Stars.

Head Coach: Jim Montgomery
General Manager: Jim Nill
Arena: American Airlines Center
AHL Affiliate: Texas Stars
2017-18 record: 42-32-8 (92 points)
2017-18 placement: 6th
Division: Central
2017-18 goals leader: Tyler Seguin (40)
2017-18 assists leader: Jamie Benn (43)
2017-18 points leader: Jamie Benn (79)
2017-18 points leader (defenseman): John Klingberg (67)
Captain: Jamie Benn
Assistant Captains: Tyler Seguin, Alex Radulov, Jason Spezza
2018 first round: Ty Dellandrea

Offseason additions: Blake Comeau, Roman Polak, Anton Khudobin

Offseason subtractions: Kari Lehtonen, Dam Hamhuis, Antoine Roussel, Curtis McKenzie, Greg Pateryn.

Forwards: Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn are among the best duos in hockey. Alex Radulov is also a good player on that line. Coming back from Russia, Valeri Nichushkin is looking for a good return. Radek Faska is an underrated player on that line. So is Mattias Janmark, who will either be a third line winger or fourth line center. Martin Hanzal needs to figure it out and stay healthy this year. He played in just 38 games last year, with 10 points. For sure, it\’s an interesting forward core.

Forward lines:

Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Alex Radulov
Martin Hanzal – Jason Spezza – Valeri Nichushkin
Devin Shore – Radek Faska – Tyler Pitlick
Blake Comeau – Mattias Janmark – Brett Ritchie
Other: Gemel Smith, Remi Elie.

Defenseman: John Klingberg was one of the league\’s best defenders in 2017-18, putting up 67 points, and was a Norris contender. I think he can contend for the Norris again this year. Esa Lindell is underrated as his partner. Julius Honka is a good powerplay guy. Miro Heiskanen, the 2017 third overall pick, will get a shot in the top-4 this year.

Defensive pairs:

Esa Lindell – John Klingberg
Miro Heiskanen – Julius Honka
Marc Methot – Stephen Johns
Other: Roman Polak

Goalies: Ben Bishop had a down in his first time in Dallas, but I\’d expect him to be better. While a lot less paid, Anton Khudobin isn\’t as good as Kari Lehtonen but is still a serviceable backup.

Goalie alignment:

Ben Bishop
Anton Khudobin

Predictions:

Top five scorers

Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn
John Klingberg
Alex Radulov
Radek Faska

Playoffs: No
Division: 6th

           In a blockbuster trade, the San Jose Sharks acquired D Erik Karlsson and F Francis Perron from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for F Chris Tierney, D Dylan Demelo, F Rudolfs Balcers, F Josh Norris, a 2020 conditional 1st round pick, and a second rounder in 2019 and 2021.

           For the Sharks, Brent Burns and Karlsson are arguably the top two defenseman in the game, at least offensively, and both are on their team. This is a great trade for them, and will be reflected on for years.

           Karlsson, 28, scored nine goals and 53 assists for 62 points in 71 games for the Sens in 2017-18. In his NHL career, all for the Senators, Karlsson has scored 126 goals and 392 assists for 518 points in 627 games.

          Perron, 22, scored four goals and 11 assists for 15 points in 44 games for the Belleville Senators of the AHL in 2017-18.

            For the Senators, they need to rebuild, at that started with trading their captain, Karlsson. But, since he\’s just a rental, they didn\’t get as much as they should of. But, they still should\’ve gotten more. Maybe Timo Meier or Tomas Hertl should have been in the package.

            Tierney, 24, scored 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points in 82 games in 2016-17. In his NHL career, all in San Jose, Tierney has scored 41 goals and 63 assists for 104 points in 284 games.

             DeMelo, 25, scored 20 points, all assists, in 63 games for the Sharks last year. In his NHL career, all for the Sharks, DeMelo has scored three goals and 29 assists for 32 points in 133 games.

             Balcers, 21, scored 23 goals and 25 assists for 48 points in 67 games for the AHL\’s San Jose Barracuda, after scoring 40 goals in the WHL\’s Blazers in 2016-17.

             Norris, 19, was the Sharks\’ 2017 first round pick. He scored eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points in 37 games for the University of Michigan in 2017-18.

             I think the Sharks win this deal. Karlsson is a superstar, and this isn\’t a superstar\’s return. The Sens really should have gotten more.

            After finishing with 108 points in 2016-17, 32 points higher than their 2015-16 finish, the Columbus Blue Jackets dropped a little, but still made the wild card, setting a franchise record for most consecutive playoff appearances, though the 18 year franchise\’s record is know at just two. But were knocked out by the Washington Capitals in the first round. Let\’s look at some fast facts for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Head Coach: John Tortorella
General Manager: Jarmo Kekalainen
Arena: Nationwide Arena
AHL Affiliate: Cleveland Monsters
2017-18 record: 45-30-7 (97 points)
2017-18 placement: 4th
Division: Metropolitan
2017-18 goals leader: Artemi Panarin (27)
2017-18 assists leader: Artemi Panarin (55)
2017-18 points leader: Artemi Panarin (82)
2017-18 points leader (defenseman): Seth Jones (57)
Captain: Nick Foligno
Assistant Captain: Boone Jenner
2018 first round pick: Liam Foudy

Offseason additions: Riley Nash, Anthony Duclair, Adam Clendening, JF Berube.

Offseason subtractions: Thomas Vanek, Jack Johnson, Matt Calvert, Ian Cole, Mark Letestu, Jordan Schroeder, Jeff Zatkoff.

Forwards: Artemi Panarin has a contract issue, and could be traded. Cam Atkinson, Boone Jenner, Nick Foligno, Alex Wennberg and Brandon Dubinsky all had down season last year. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Oliver Bjorkstrand had optimistic rookie years, and could each reach 50 points this year. Sonny Milano is looking to show why he was a first round pick. Brandon Dubinsky and Boone Jenner are at rock bottom, and need to climb up. Same with Anthony Duclair, who comes in from Chicago after disappointing in Arizona.

Forward lines:

Artemi Panarin – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Oliver Bjorkstrand
Nick Foligno – Alex Wennberg – Cam Atkinson
Sonny Milano – Riley Nash – Josh Anderson
Boone Jenner – Brandon Dubinsky – Anthony Duclair
Other: Lukas Sedlak, Markus Hannikainen

Defenseman: Seth Jones had another great year, and was second on the team in points. While the race will be tighter, I think Jones will be a top three scorer in Columbus again. Ryan Murray and David Savard need to be productive on the middle pair. Zach Werenski needs a bounce back year. Next to Markus Nutivaara, there is a fight for the sixth D spot. It will be interesting to see who wins.

Defensive pairs:

Zach Werenki – Seth Jones
Ryan Murray – David Savard
Markus Nutivaara – Gabriel Carlsson
Other: Adam Clendening, Scott Harrington.

Goalies: Sergei Bobrovsky is perhaps the leagues best goalie. Joonas Korpisalo is a top 10 backup. This here is their strength, by far.

Goalie alignment:

Sergei Bobrovsky
Joonas Korpisalo
Other: JF Berube

Predictions:

Top five scorers: 

Artemi Panarin
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Seth Jones
Cam Atkinson
Oliver Bjorkstrand

Playoffs: Yes
Division spot: 1st
I think the Columbus Blue Jackets will be eliminated in the 2nd round.

           After a historically bad season, the Colorado Avalanche surprised everyone, finishing 4th in the tight Central division, and made the playoffs, led by Nathan MacKinnon\’s insane season, nearly winning him the Hart. They didn\’t change too much, but that\’s for the better. Let\’s look at some fast facts for the Colorado Avalanche.

Head Coach: Jared Bednar
General Manager: Joe Sakic
Arena: Pepsi Center
AHL Affiliate: Colorado Eagles
2017-18 record: 43-30-9 (95 points)
2017-18 placement: 4th
Division: Central
2017-18 goals leader: Nathan MacKinnon (39)
2017-18 assists leader: Nathan MacKinnon (58)
2017-18 points leader: Nathan MacKinnon (97)
2017-18 points leader (defenseman): Tyson Barrie (57)
Captain: Gabriel Landeskog
Assistant Captains: Nathan MacKinnon, Erik Johnson
2018 first round pick: Martin Kaut

Offseason additions: Phillip Grubauer, Matt Calvert, Ian Cole.

Offseason subtractions: Blake Comeau, Jonathan Bernier, Duncan Siemens, Nail Yakupov, Andrew Hammond.

Forwards: MacKinnon might not have a season like 2017-18, but he should put up at least 80 points, Mikko Rantanen could eclipse 30 goals. Alex Kerfoot, Tyson Jost and JT Compher are looking for good sophomore years. Vladislav Kamenev is entering his rookie season. Sven Andrigetto is an underrated winger.

Forward lines:

Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen
Tyson Jost – Alex Kerfoot – Sven Andrighetto
Vladislav Kamenev – JT Compher – Colin Wilson
Matt Nieto – Carl Soderberg – Matt Calvert

Defenseman: Tyson Barrie had a great 2017-18, with 57 points in 68 games. Erik Johnson is still a decent top-4 defenseman. Sam Girard is young, but leads a shaky left side on defense, which Ian Cole was brought in fix. It\’s still a work in progress here.

Defensive pairs:

Sam Girard – Tyson Barrie
Ian Cole – Erik Johnson
Nikita Zadorov – Patrik Nemeth
Other: Mark Barberio

Goalies: Semyon Varlamov is an underrated goalie when healthy, but that\’s the issue. They brought in Phillip Grubauer, knowing that Varlamov might go down. It was a smart move.

Goalie alignment:

Semyon Varlamov
Phillip Grubauer

Predictions:

Top five scorers:

Nathan MacKinnon
Mikko Rantanen
Gabriel Landeskog
Sven Andrighetto
Tyson Barrie

Playoffs: No
Division spot: 5th

          The New York Rangers have acquired defenseman Adam McQuaid from the Boston Bruins in exchange for defenseman Steven Kampfer, a 4th and 7th round draft pick.

           For the Rangers and Bruins, this is a depth defenseman trade. Kampfer wasn\’t needed by the Rangers, and won\’t be needed by the Bruins, but they get picks too. McQuaid could be a starter for the Rangers, which is an upgrade to being the Bruins 8th defenseman.

           McQuaid, 31, scored one goal and three assists for four points in 38 games for the Bruins in 2017-18. In his NHL career, all in Boston, McQuaid has scored 13 goals and 53 assists for 66 points in 462 games.

           Kampfer, who will be 30 in two weeks, had one point, an assist, in 22 games for the Rangers in 2017-18. In his NHL career for the Rangers, Bruins, Minnesota Wild and Florida Panthers, Kampfer has scored 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 166 games.