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• Columbus Blue Jackets bet big on Marian Gaborik

  April 04, 2013

  Marian Gaborik is the new face of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
  
  This development was the NHL’s deadline day blockbuster. The new John Davidson/Jarmo Kekalainen management team rescued the well-traveled, oft-injured winger from the wrath of New York Rangers coach John Tortorella.
  
  “When a player of his became available, we were quite excited about it,” Kekalainen told the Columbus Dispatch. “This is an explosive player. We worked on it for quite a while. We’re looking at this as a long-term solution, not a rental. He’s under contract through next season, and we would like to see the relationship continue beyond that.”
  
  Gaborik, who comes with a stiff $7.5 million salary, welcomed the change of scenery.
  
  “I feel good,” Gaborik told the Dispatch. “It’s hard. Everybody goes through some bumps and bruises, but I feel fine. My shoulder is fine. I feel confident going to Columbus and helping that team make the playoffs.
  
  “It’s nice to be part of a team that really wanted me. The team has shown they’re going in the right direction. We haven’t been performing the way we should (for the Rangers), myself included. It wasn’t the way anybody expected. I haven’t been having fun this year; I don’t think the whole team has at all. I’m looking forward to this challenge.”
  
  The Blue Jackets appeared headed toward a draft-drive overhaul, the sort of full-scale youth movement Davidson and Kekalainen executed in St. Louis. But they decided the opportunity to add a proven goal-scorer with the team in playoff contention was too great to pass on.
  
  In the process, the team ditched center Derick Brassard – the would-be franchise cornerstone who never developed into a true top-line producer. Defenseman John Moore and rugged forward Derek Dorsett (currently injured) also departed in the deal.
  
  Notably, the team did not sacrifice a first-round pick to make this move. The Blue Jackets did some other housecleaning, trading back-up goaltender Steve Mason to the Philadelphia Flyers for goaltender Michael Leighton and a third-round pick in 2015. The team spent a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft to Calgary to add Blake Comeau to the front-line mix.

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• John Davidson assembling Columbus "Blues" Jackets

  February 13, 2013

  John Davidson is getting the band back together.
  
  The former Blues hockey president chose Blues former scouting czar, Jarmo Kekalainen, as the next general manager of the Blue Jackets.
  
  Davidson passed over Kekalainen when he hired Doug Armstrong to become Larry Pleau’s successor. That move paid off for the Blues, but it prompted Kekalainen to move back to Finland to run the storied Jokerit franchise.
  
  His dream was to become GM of a NHL team. And that opportunity arose when Davidson moved on to his new challenge in Columbus.
  
  Kekalainen gained valuable managerial experience at Jokerit while remained wired into the talented European hockey scene. The Blue Jackets must rebuild with the draft, so he became the natural choice to become Davidson’s right-hand man.
  
  Columbus has gathered extra first-round picks, as the Blues did during the rebuild in St. Louis. Jarmo’s challenge will be the same as it was with the Blues: Maximizing the value of those picks.
  
  “It's certainly plays into it,” Davidson told Columbus reporters. “You try to look at the whole picture, everything you want in a general manager. You obviously look at the strengths, and that's something Jarmo does very well.
  
  “We know how important the draft is, especially with a deep draft, and this one is a deep draft. As an organization, we've had a number of meetings already, how we're zeroing in on the draft. This is going to give Jarmo some time to really jump into this. He'll be a major voice.”

  For more on the Blue Jackets, check out my post on STLToday.com.

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• Columbus Blue Jackets should dump some contracts

  January 31, 2013

  Columbus Blue Jackets hockey czar John Davidson has a running start on his rebuild, thanks to earlier deals that landed puck-rushing defenseman Jack Johnson and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
  
  Both were solid gets, ascending players with unique capabilities.
  
  But Davidson must also deal with some payroll management concerns as he moves forward. The franchise has made heavy investments in some mid-range talents.
  
  Looking some of the contracts clouding the franchise’s long-range picture:
  
  James Wisniewski, D: He did score 51 points two seasons ago, with 29 of those points coming on the power play while toiling for the Canadiens and the Islanders. But he earned a plus-minus rating of minus-32 during the previous three seasons. Last season injuries and a league suspension limited him to 48 games. He is a skilled D-man, but not a franchise cornerstone. Yet he is working under a six-year, $33 million contract that began last season. That deal included a $5 million signing bonus, paid out over two years. He has four years left with an average salary cap hit of $5.5 million. His actual pay decreases from $7 million to $6 million next season, $5 million the following two seasons and $3 million in the last year.
  
  R.J. Umberger, W: He has done solid work on left wing for Columbus, scoring 20 or more goals four seasons in a row. But now that the Blue Jackets lack a high-end scorer, how will he handle the extra defensive focus? He has no goals and one assist in his first seven games this season – as he starts a five-year, $23 million. After this season four years remain with an average salary cap hit of $4.6 million. His actual salary declines from a pro-rated $5 million this year to $4.5 million each of the last four seasons.
  
  Fedor Tyutin, D: He racked up a minus-40 rating during his previous three seasons in Columbus. He is minus-6 in seven games this season. He has never scored more than 34 points in a season. Yet he is starting a six-year, $27 million contract this season. He has five years remaining on his deal with average salary cap hit of $4.5 million.
  
  On the other hand, Davidson will gain wiggle room as contracts for goaltender Steve Mason ($2.9 million), winger Vinny Prospal ($2.5 million) and defenseman Adrian Aucoin ($2.25 million) expire.

  For more NHL notes and links, check out my posting on STLToday.com.

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• Locked-out NHL players suffer serious injuries elsewhere

  November 25, 2012

  If and when the NHL unlocks its doors and welcomes back its players, some notable names will be sidelined by serious injuries suffered playing elsewhere.
  
  Here is a quick update:
  
  Valtteri Filppula, W/C, Red Wings: He suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee while playing for Jokerit in Finland’s top league. That injury could sideline him for up to two months.
  
  This versatile forward is a critical offensive piece in Detroit. Last season he scored 23 goals and added 43 assists. He scored 15 points in his first 16 games in Finland this season.
  
  Ryan Murray, D, Blue Jackets: Columbus counted on Murray, the second pick in the 2012 draft, to quickly emerge as a defensive cornerstone. But he could miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn shoulder labrum while playing for Everett of the Western Hockey League.
  
  Murray has 17 points in 23 games this season. He captained Team WHL squad in the Subway Super Series against Russia and figured to be a key performer for Team Canada in the World Junior Championships this winter.
  
  This was just more bad news for Columbus, which recently saw the 2013 NHL All-Star Game cancelled due to the lockout.
  
  Jared Cowen, D, Senators: Ottawa had big plays for this imposing D-man, but he suffered a torn hip labrum Oct. 19 while playing for Binghamton of the American Hockey League. The injury eventually resulted in season-ending surgical repairs.
  
  Cowen, 21, is a former ninth overall draft pick. He played all 82 games last season, scoring five goals and adding 12 assists. He was ticketed for a Top Four role this season.
  
  “We’re disappointed for Jared,” Senators general manger Bryan Murray told the Ottawa Sun. “This was a big year for him to get more playing time in Binghamton until we’re going to play in the NHL.
  
  In Cowen’s absence, prospects Andre Benoit, Mark Borowiecki, Patrick Wiercioch and Eric Gryba will get extra attention from Ottawa’s management team. The Senators may also look outside the organization for help.
  
  Blake Geoffrion, C, Canadiens: He suffered a depressed skull fracture while playing for Hamilton of the AHL. He was injured when J.P. Cote of Syracuse checked him and then apparently made contact with Geoffrion’s skull with his skate.
  
  Geoffrion, 24, had five goals and eight assists in 55 games last season for Nashville and Montreal. He is recovering from head surgery but faces an uncertain hockey future.

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• Blue Jackets hire Davidson, gain credibilty

  October 24, 2012

  If and when the National Hockey League resumes playing games, the Columbus Blue Jackets will command more respect.
  
  They will have John Davidson running that show.
  
  After rebuilding the gutted Blues franchise into a Stanley Cup contender, Davidson is taking on a similar challenge in Central Ohio.
  
  Finally that long-struggling franchise will have savvy leadership atop the hockey operation. Current general manager Scott Howson has some good moves at the helm of the hockey operation -- but he made a lot of bad moves, too, doing his part to keep that team in wheel-spinning mode.
  
  The team’s initial president and general manager, Doug MacLean, never hit on a winning formula. He failed to build through the draft, something the Blues did in St. Louis.
  
  The Blue Jackets ended up trading away eight of their first nine first-round draft picks. The franchise moved one player he hit big on, Rick Nash, to the New York Rangers as part of still another overhaul.
  
  Previous top Columbus picks included the likes of Russian washouts Nikita Filatov and Nikolai Zherdev and epic disappointments like Alexandre Picard and Gilbert Brule.

  Davidson will do the Blue Jackets what he did for the Blues. He will develop a realistic plan of action and then stick to it. He will keep the big picture in mind at all times. He won’t allow unexpected developments to distract him.
  
  He will build a team that will climb into contention and come hard after his old team.

  For more on this hiring, check out my story on STLToday.com.

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• Ten NHL defensive prospects to watch

  September 08, 2012

  Justin Schultz of the Edmonton Oilers, Ryan Murray of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Brendan Smith of the Detroit Red Wings should be the three top rookie defensemen in the NHL these season.
  
  Each could play big roles this season and each could earn Calder consideration. We covered their potential earlier in our list of 10 emerging offensive defensemen.
  
  Here are 10 more rookie defensemen to keep an eye on:
  
  Joe Morrow, Pittsburgh Penguins: His impressive training camp almost earned him an early shot at the NHL last fall. Instead he returned to Portland of the Western Hockey League and scored 64 points in 62 regular season games. If the Penguins hold training camp this season (a big “if” given the ongoing labor dispute), Morrow will try it again.
  
  “I'm going to come in with the same expectations, the same determination I had last year,” Morrow told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I was on top of the world, getting treated well, and everything fell into place. I'm going to come in with the same kind of confidence I had. Being my second year rather than something brand new, I can play with a chip on my shoulder. I'm going to shoot for the stars, listen to everybody's advice, see how far I can take this. Do everything I can to stay as long as I can.”
  
  Tim Erixon, Columbus Blue Jackets: He was a key piece of the Rick Nash trade with the New York Rangers. He scored two points in his first 18 NHL games last season, but he produced 33 points in 52 games for Connecticut of the American Hockey League. He scored 24 points in 48 games in his final Swedish Elite League season for Skelleftea HC. He is ready to make the jump.
  
  Mattias Ekholm, Nashville Predators: He joins the cast of talented young D-men looking to fill at least part of the Ryan Suter void. His first NHL trial last just two games, but he made the most of his return to the SEL last season. He earned the Borje Salming Award winner as the league’s top defenseman after producing nine goals and eight assists in 41 games for Brynas IF Gavle.
  
  Dougie Hamilton, Boston Bruins: Once he makes it in Beantown, he will quickly graduate into a power play role. Last season he scored 17 goals and added 55 assists for Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League. He was plus-72 in his last two seasons in junior hockey.
  
  Paul Postma, Winnipeg Jets: After three strong seasons in the AHL, he could move into a starting role this season with Zach Bogosian shelved by wrist surgery. He scored 40 goals in 188 games for Chicago and St. John’s, but played just four NHL games in the past two seasons.
  
  Griffin Reinhart, New York Islanders: The fourth overall pick of the 2012 draft has the size (6-foot-4, 204 pounds), skill and bloodlines to advance quickly. The son of former NHL standout Paul Reinhart scored 12 goals, earned 24 assists and posted a plus-23 rating in 58 games for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL this past season.
  
  Tyson Barrie, Colorado Avalanche: The son of former NHL player (and former part-owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning) Len Barrie has progressed nicely. In four seasons with Kelowna of the WHL he scored 51 goals and earned 177 assists in 256 games. He produced five goals and 27 assists for Lake Erie of the American Hockey League last season and got in 10 NHL games for Colorado. He could give the Avalanche another badly needed puck mover.
  
  Brandon Gormley, Phoenix Coyotes: Knee and foot injuries have slowed his development, but the 13th overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft is still regarded as a blue-chip prospect. He scored 80 points in his last 82 games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He also played four games for San Antonio of the AHL two years ago.
  
  Ryan Murphy, Carolina Hurricanes: The 12th overall pick of the 2011 draft posted big numbers (134 points in his last 112 regular season games) at Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League and overcame a nasty concussion last season. His end-to-end offensive skills should eventually translate into a Joe Corvo-like role in the NHL.
  
  Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs: Will general manager Brian Burke take a serious look at the fifth overall pick of the 2012 this fall? Rielly missed most of last season after suffering a torn ACL and undergoing knee surgery. He did score 18 points in 18 WHL games for Moose Jaw.

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• Ten breakout NHL forwards

  September 06, 2012

  Top 2012 NHL Draft pick Nail Yakupov has extreme skill and boundless confidence. He is fully equipped to make a big impact as a rookie.
  
  The Edmonton Oilers will surround him with elite offensive talent while playing a go-go style. So how can this not turn out well?
  
  Nail scored 170 points in 107 games in the Ontario Hockey League while generating comparisons to former Russian star Pavel Bure. He should follow the lead of Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to quickly blossom into a 50- to 70-point scorer.
  
  With his family moving to Edmonton to support him, his transition to the NHL should go more smoothly. This should be quite a show.
  
  Other potential breakout forwards include:
  
  James van Riemsdyk, C, Maple Leafs: The second overall pick in the 2007 draft has never scored more than 21 goals in a season. That could change this season as Toronto converts him into a scoring line center. JVR scored 16 points in his first 19 games last season in Philadelphia before a series of injuries ruined his campaign. During the 2011 playoffs he scored seven goals while putting 70 shots on goal in 11 games. If he can play the pivot, he will create serious match-up problems coming down the middle.
  
  Brayden Schenn, C, Flyers: He appears ready to graduate into a major offensive role after scoring 12 goals in 54 games last season. His reunion with big brother Luke – acquired from Toronto in an off-season trade – should bolster his spirits. “For me and Luke, we’re pretty close,” Brayden told the National Post. “To get a chance to play with each other on the same team, it’s pretty surreal. It’s almost like we can’t even believe it.”
  
  Vladimir Tarasenko, W, Blues: At  the age of21 he already has four years of KHL experience. He scored 23 goals in 54 games last season for Novosibirsk Siber and St. Petersburg SKA. He was captain of Russia’s gold-medal winning team in the World Junior Championships two years ago. The Blues see him playing on one of their three scoring lines and bidding for power play time as well.
  
  Cody Hodgson, C, Sabres: In Vancouver he was stuck behind Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler. In Buffalo he could emerge as the No. 1 center in the wake of Derek Roy’s departure to Dallas. Hodgson didn’t get a point in his first 10 games as a Sabre last season, but a later eight-game surge saw him score three goals and add five assists. He could benefit went Buffalo stages a major bounce-back season.
  
  Mikael Granlund, C, Wild: While Minnesota is fixated on free agent additions Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, and rightfully so. Those additions cost the franchise almost $200 million. But Granlund could be a huge difference maker. He tied for the Finnish Elite League’s scoring title (51 points in 45 games) last season. He could move into the No, 2 center role behind Mikko Koivu.
  
  Chris Kreider, W, Rangers: This bulldozing winger from Boston College scored five playoff goals while demonstrating his vast upside. He scored 23 goals in 44 games during his third collegiate season. He could at least match the 14 goals and 24 assists that teammate Carl Hagelin scored in games last season as a rookie.
  
  Kyle Turris, C, Senators: The third overall pick of the 2007 draft could finally arrive as a scoring line pivot. Ottawa gave him a five-year, $17.5 million contract extension, so expect that team to give him every chance to post numbers. He scored 12 goals and added 17 assists with a plus-12 rating in 49 games for the Senators last season.
  
  Cam Atkinson, W, Blue Jackets: After scoring 29 goals in 51 AHL games, he scored seven goals and added seven assists in 27 games for the Columbus. With Rick Nash gone, the Blue Jackets will try to score by committee. Atkinson will definitely be part of that committee.
  
  Peter Mueller, W, Panthers: Remember him? Back in 2009-10 he scored nine goals and added 11 assists in just 15 games after arriving in Colorado in a trade. Injuries eradicated him in 2010-11 and limited him to 16 points in 32 games last season. Florida will give him a second chance to become a big-time scorer.

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• Top 10 young cornerstone NHL defensemen

  September 02, 2012

  An army of young puck-rushing defensemen energized the NHL during the past few seasons, led by Ottawa Senators star Erik Karlsson.
  
  He broke into the NHL with 26 points in 60 games back in 2009-10, then surged to 45 and 78 points the last two seasons. His shots on goal jumped from 182 to 261. He made historic improvements on the plus-minus front, too, improving from minus-30 to plus-16 last season.
  
  All that earned him a seven-year contract that reaffirmed his standing as one of the game’s elite young stars.

  

  “It's going to be higher expectations from everyone,” Karlsson told reporters at the NHL Awards ceremony. “That's the way it is. It's something that comes with this work, something that I know about. It's not something that's kind of snuck up on me. I know how it works. I'm going to try to play my best every night.
  
  “It's all I can do. I'm not happy with where I am today. I'm still trying to be a better hockey player. I'm becoming a better person, as well. I know Ottawa has all the capacity to help me be that guy. It's going to be an exciting thing and something to look forward to.”

  Earlier we looked at 10 NHL defensemen just hitting their prime and 10 emerging NHL offensive defensemen.

  Here are the NHL’s other young cornerstone defensemen:
  
  Alex Pietrangelo, Blues: He developed into a elite defenseman in all facets of the game – power play, penalty killing and defending against top lines. He boosted his offense from 43 to 51 points last season while earning a plus-16 rating in 24 minutes, 43 seconds of playing time per game. He earned 24 power play points. He and Zdeno Chara were the only top five scoring defensemen who also killed penalties.
  
  Kris Letang, Penguins: He has developed into one of the NHL’s elite offensive defensemen, as evidenced by his 10 goals and 32 assists in just 51 games last season. He has 92 points and a plus-36 rating during his last two seasons in Pittsburgh. His only real negative is durability; he has suited up for more than 74 games only once in his five-year NHL career.
  
  P.K. Subban, Canadiens: After scoring 74 points (including 32 on the power play) in his first two full NHL seasons, he could really take off if the Canadiens get their offensive act together. Subban was a big point producer at Belleville of the Ontario Hockey League (76 points in 56 games) and Hamilton of the American Hockey League (53 points in 77 games.) He made defensive strides in Montreal last season, improving his plus-minus rating last season from minus-8 to plus-9. He finished well, scoring 12 points in his last 18 games last season.
  
  Michael Del Zotto, Rangers: After splitting the previous season between Hartford and New Yorkd during his classic sophomore slump, Del Zotto broke out last season with 41 points. He showed his full potential last December, scoring 14 points with a plus-17 rating during 15 games. Overall he finished plus-20 after finishing minus-25 during his first two NHL seasons. He could take another step still with the addition of Rick Nash to the Rangers power play.
  
  Tyler Myers, Sabres: A hand injury and Buffalo’s general malaise caused him to suffer serious statistical regression. But Myers scored 85 points during his first two NHL seasons and has the ability to score 45 to 50 points while adding a physical presence to the blue line. He finished well last season, earning a plus-14 rating during his last two months.
  
  Kevin Shattenkirk, Blues: Moving from Colorado to St. Louis allowed him to full develop his offensive game and become one of the league’s better power-play operators. In 107 games for the Blues, he has 60 points and a plus-27 rating. He finished well last season, scoring 20 points in 33 games after the All-Star break. If St. Louis can stay healthier this season and enjoy more offensive continuity, Shattenkirk could post career numbers.
  
  Drew Doughty, Kings: He pulled out of a baffling funk and helped Los Angeles roll to the Stanley Cup last spring. His scoring declined from 59 to 40 to 36 points overall the last three seasons, but Doughty finished fast with nine points in 15 March games. He can play a robust game and help in all game situations when he is one top of his game.
  
  Jack Johnson, Blue Jackets: He is a go-go offensive defenseman that Columbus plans to build around. After arriving from Los Angeles in the Jeff Carter deal, Johnson excelled in 21 games. He scored 14 points with a plus-five rating, 35 hits, 45 blocked shots and 56 shots on goal. In 143 games with the Kings, he had a minus-33 rating.
  
  Zach Bogosian, Jets: Winnipeg will miss him during the next few months as he recovers from surgery to repair a “chronic tear” of a wrist ligament. He is a forceful defender with big offensive potential. Last season he scored five goals and added 25 assists in 65 games, a big increase from 17 points in 71 games the season before. He improved his plus-minus rating from minus-27 to minus-3. He finished well, scoring nine points in his last 12 games.
  
  
  

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• Top Ten NHL defensemen just hitting their prime

  September 01, 2012

  Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman would like to forget last season. He missed significant time with a concussion and things turned ugly in Tampa Bay’s end of the ice, largely due to shaky goaltending.
  
  Hedman, 22, regressed from plus-3 in his second NHL season to minus-9 last season in 81 games. The Lightning acquired Anders Lindback during the summer to settle the goaltending situation and Hedman seemed poised to break out after averaging 23 points in his first three seasons.
  
  He showed signs of growth last season, scoring 17 points with a plus-3 rating in 29 games after the All-Star break. Perhaps he will play a bigger role with the man advantage this season after scoring just eight power-play points since arriving from Modo Hockey Ornskoldsvik.
  
  Here are some other defensemen just hitting their NHL prime:
   
  Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Coyotes: He scored five times in March to signal his imminent arrival as an elite offensive talent. He finished with 13 goals and 19 assists while playing all 82 games during his second NHL season. After averaging 0.36 points and 1.56 shots on goal per game before January 1, he finished up by averaging 0.42 points and 2 SOG during the new year. His role on the power play increased from 1:51 per game through December to 2:16 per game after that. The Coyotes lost some offensive firepower over the summer, but Ekman-Larsson should only get better.
  
  Ryan McDonagh, Rangers: He wasn’t a huge scorer at the University of Wisconsin (46 points in 119 games), but he broke through in his first full season with the Rangers. He scored seven goals and added 25 assists while playing all 82 games. The year before he scored just 17 while splitting the season between Hartford of the AHL and New York. Last season he scored just two points on the power play, so it is difficult to project consistently high offensive production from him. On the other hand he is plus-41 in first 122 games and should flourish as a two-way D-man.
  
  Cam Fowler, Ducks: Anaheim tanked for much of last season, causing massive statistical regression for key Anaheim players. Fowler’s production slipped from 40 points as a rookie to 29 in his second season. He scored just 11 power-play points after producing 23 the season before. He had more shots on goal (128 to 123) than his rookie season, but he scored half as many goals (five compared to 10). He needs to clean up his minus-53 rating and become more physical. He earned just 38 PIMs his first two seasons.
  
  Jared Spurgeon, Wild: This pint-sized offensive specialist became critical to Minnesota’s power play last season. He jumped from 12 points in 53 games during his first NHL season to 23 points (12 on the power play) in 70 games last season. He showed his offensive potential by scoring 13 points in 28 games in November and December. Coach Mike Yeo said he would give Spurgeon first crack at teaming with newcomer Ryan Suter in training camp – if there is a training camp this fall.
  
  Luca Sbisa, Ducks: Way back in 2006-07 he played in seven games in the Swiss “A” league as a teenager. Then he came to North America to play in the Western Hockey League. The Flyers drafted him 19th overall and put him right to work, playing him in 39 games that season. Philadelphia moved him to Anaheim as part of the Chris Pronger deal, raising expectations for him. As a Duck, Sbisa improved from 11 points in 68 games two seasons back to 24 points (21 at even strength) in 80 games last season. He improved as Anaheim improved last season. After scoring just nine points in first 37 games last season, he scored 16 in the next 43. Sbisa earned a minus-5 rating overall, but he was plus-4 after the All-Star break. He should become a key part of Anaheim's bounce back.
  
  Jamie McBain, Hurricanes: He is still another product of the University of Wisconsin, the noted cradle of NHL defensemen. He scored 37 points in 40 games in his last season as a Badger and he scored 40 points in 68 games during his second season at Albany of the AHL.  He faded last season, scoring just nine points in 31 games after the All-Star break. But McBain showed his upside while scoring 10 points in 13 December games. After scoring 57 points with minus-15 rating in his first two NHL seasons, he could take a big step forward with Carolina reloaded offensively.
  
  Nikita Nikitin, Blue Jackets: He played five full seasons for Omsk Avangard in the KHL before coming to North America, so he was a mostly finished product. The Blues relegated him to an extra D-man role last season and he scored no points in seven games. Then he blossomed after moving Columbus in a deal for Kris Russell. He scored 32 points with a minus-5 rating in 54 games. After the All-Star break he scored 14 points in 23 games with a plus-2 rating. He can improve on his nine power-play points as the team’s third-best offensive defenseman behind with Jack Johnson and James Wisniewski.
  
  Jeff Petry, Oilers: The 45th overall 2006 NHL draft should be ready to find a role on a potentially explosive offensive team. He played two seasons in the USHL and three seasons at Michigan State before turning pro. He split his first full pro season between Oklahoma City (24 points in 41 games) and Edmonton (five points in 35 games). He is minus-19 in 108 NHL games, so his defense must improve. Last season he scored 25 points in 73 games for the Oilers. He scored 11 points in 42 games before the All-Star break and 14 points in 31 games after it.
  
  Nick Leddy, Blackhawks: He wasn’t a prolific scorer at the University of Minnesota (11 points in 30 games in 2009-10), but he emerged nicely after splitting the 2010-11 season at Rockford (10 points in 22 games) of the AHL and Chicago (seven points in 46 games). In 82 games last season he scored three goals and added 34 assists in 82 games. He started fast, scoring 16 points in his first 25 games. He faded late, scoring just 12 points with a minus-6 rating in 32 games after the All-Star break. Leddy had 11 power play assists last season and the Blackhawks could be much better on the power play.
  
  
  

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• Top 10 emerging NHL offensive defensemen

  September 01, 2012

  Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk is in a hurry.
  
  Faulk, drafted 37th overall in 2010, played just one season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (33 points in 39 games) after developing his talent with the U.S. National U-18 team. He played just 35 games at the intermediate AHL level, 13 in the playoffs, 12 in the regular season.
  
  Last season he scored eight goals and added 14 assists with a minus-16 rating in 66 games for Carolina. He finished well, scoring 20 points in his last 56 games. Then he scored eight points in eight games for Team USA at the 2012 World Championship.
  
  “Playing defense in the NHL is very difficult and playing at 19 years old is even more difficult,” Carolina GM Jim Rutherford told NHL.com. “But as long as I've been around the game, even as far back as when I played, I've never seen anyone handle the position like Justin Faulk has as a teenager.”
  
  Carolina bolstered its offense by adding forward Jordan Staal and Alexander Semin. Power-play specialist Joe Corvo also returned to bolster the blue line.
  
  Faulk is positioned to post big numbers in his second NHL season and become one of the league’s better young offensive defensemen.
  
  Here are some other emerging D-men to watch:
  
  Jake Gardiner, Maple Leafs: He got better as his rookie season progressed. He scored 14 points (two on the power play) in 42 games before the All-Star break and 16 points (five on the PP) in 33 games after it. He averaged 1:58 per game with the man advantage and should see that role grow this season. He scored 41 points in 41 games during his third season at the University of Wisconsin, so he is accustomed to assuming a primary offensive role.
  
  Justin Schultz, Oilers: He opted not to sign with the Ducks and put himself in the free agent market after starring at the University of Wisconsin. In his last two seasons there, he scored 91 points in 78 games. Edmonton won the bidding for him, beating out 25 other teams. At 22 years old he has the physical maturity to play a major NHL role right away. One this potential explosive team, Schultz could post huge numbers and win Calder honors.
  
  Ryan Ellis, Predators: He scored 101 points in 58 Ontario Hockey League games during his final season of junior hockey. In his first pro season, he scored 18 points in 29 games for Milwaukee of the American Hockey League and 11 points in 32 games for Nashville. In limited duty, Ellis delivered highest even-strength scoring rate among Predators defensemen. Now he will get his shot a filling the power play void left by the departing Ryan Suter, who played in 75 percent of Nashville’s power play time.
  
  Roman Josi, Predators: He must improve his defensive game to earn an even-strength opportunity with Weber, but has the skill to compete with Ellis for power play time. He scored 45 points in 68 games during his last two seasons with Bern in the Swiss elite league. He followed that with 40 points in 69 games for Milwaukee in his first North American season and 16 points in his first 52 games last season.
  
  Ryan Murray, Columbus: The second overall pick of the 2012 draft is expected to play right away. He scored 104 points in 168 games in the Western Hockey League and starred in international competition. The Islanders wanted him so badly that goofy owner Charles Wang reportedly offered his whole draft for him. But the Blue Jackets opted to use this pick to gain a defensive cornerstone to build upon. Murray is mature beyond his years and steady with the puck in both ends. The Blue Jackets can take their time developing his offensive game with Jack Johnson, James Wisniewski and Nikita Nikitin running the power play points.
  
  Slava Voynov, Kings: Jack Johnson’s departure in the Jeff Carter trade gave him an opportunity to claim a bigger offensive role. He scored eight points with a plus-5 rating in last 18 games. Overall, he produced eight goals and 12 assists with a plus-12 rating in 54 games as a rookie. He added just three points during the playoff run, however. He should improve on the six power-play points he scored last season.
  
  Adam Larsson, Devils: His rookie season took a turn for worst when Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban plowed him during a Feb. 2 game. A bruised lower back shelved him for 10 games and he earned just two assists with a minus-1 rating in 16 games after coming back. Overall he posted 2/16/18 line with a minus-7 rating and 18 PIMs in 65 games. The fourth overall pick of the 2011 draft had just four power-play points last season but could earn a bigger role this season.
  
  Stefan Elliott, Avalanche: He scores like a forward, penetrating the offensive zone and picking spots with his wrist shot. The 49th overall pick of the 2009 draft piled up ridiculous WHL numbers, including 31 goals and 50 assists in 71 games during his final season at Saskatoon. Elliott broke into the NHL last season with 13 points in his first 39 games last season. He also had 14 points in his first 30 regular season games at the AHL level. Once he earns regular time in the NHL, look out. He has just scratched the surface of his offensive potential as a pro.
  
  Brendan Smith, Red Wings: Nicklas Lidstrom’s retirement and Brad Stuart’s free agency exit gives him a clear shot at earning a primary role this season. He scored 52 points in 42 games during his last season at the University of Wisconsin. He scored 66 points in 120 games in two seasons with Grand Rapids of the AHL. He scored seven points in 14 games with the Red Wings, assuming an offensive role with Lidstrom shelved by injury in February.

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• The high trade price for Rick Nash

  June 16, 2012

  Against all odds, Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson kept his job despite the spectacular failure of his team. He spent a lot of payroll dollars to lose a lot of games.
  
  Now Howson will be the NHL’s most popular man as the draft nears. Several teams are bidding on power forward Rick Nash, a player the Blue Jackets are committed to moving as part of a badly needed overhaul.
  
  The New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks seem like the front-runners, but don’t rule out the Toronto Maple Leafs or Carolina Hurricanes.
  
  What sort of package would it take to land Nash? The team apparently is asking for two proven players and a couple of prospects or draft picks in exchange.
  
  The Blue Jackets need to start over in goal, which is why an Antti Niemi/Joe Pavelski/picks/prospects offer from San Jose could have some appeal. The Sharks figure to make major changes after their playoff flop and Niemi, a Cup winner in Chicago, was one of their major culprits. The versatile Pavelski would offset some of the offense lost with Nash’s departure.
  
  The Rangers have some young forwards with upside, but only Ryan Callahan has emerged as a proven scorer. Brandon Dubinsky has scored more than 44 points just once in his career, yet the New York media props him up as an amazing trade piece. Actually he is a really good third-line forward.
  
  Chris Kreider showed some promise after coming out of the college ranks to score five playoff goals in 18 goals. Derek Stepan had one goal and eight assists in 20 playoff games. Artem Anisimov had three goals and seven assists in 10 playoff games. Are they future impact players or merely supporting cast candidates?
  
  Should Zach Parise re-sign with the New Jersey Devils, Howson would gain a ton of trade leverage. Then his demands for four or five significant pieces would not seem so extreme.

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• Roberto Luongo bound for Sunshine State?

  June 10, 2012

  Roberto Luongo enjoyed his time in South Florida. He has star value in that market.
  
  So it’s only natural that the rumor mill would churn out a lot of Luongo-to-the-Panthers speculation. If Vancouver could add goaltending prospect Jacob Markstrom for Luongo – gaining a safety net under Cory Schneider – then that could be a win-win deal for these teams.
  
  Panthers GM Dale Tallon is known for making bold moves, so nobody would be surprised if he won the Luongo sweepstakes.
  
  The Lightning, Bruins, Maple Leagues and Blue Jackets are also seeking new goaltenders. Tampa Bay seems to be a great fit for young Kings netminder Jonathan Bernier, currently trapped behind Jonathan Quick.
  
  The Bruins or Maple Leafs could take a run at exiting Wild goaltender Josh Harding, who could break out after finally getting healthy. Should the Flyers deal young goaltender Sergei Bobrobsky, the Blue Jackets might take a run at that.
  
  The odds of a veteran like Luongo being happy with a trade to a place like Columbus are not good.

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• Plenty of NHL coaches are on the hot seat

  April 02, 2012

  Some NHL teams are getting ready to start the playoffs. Others are getting ready to fire their coaches.
  
  And some general managers will see how their teams fare in postseason play before making any decision on their bench leaders.
  
  This has been a tumultuous year for NHL coaches and more change may be in order. Here are some of the coaches we’re wondering about:
  
  Randy Cunneyworth, Canadiens. Montreal GM Pierre “The Ghost” Gauthier named him as interim coach after firing Jacques Martin. Now Gauthier has vanished as the ownership-dictated overhaul is about to begin. Cunneyworth did nothing during his brief regime to suggest he should remain. Fans are clamoring for the favorite son Patrick Roy to step behind the bench.
  
  Todd Richards, Blue Jackets: He courageously stepped in for Scott Arniel on an interim basis this season. With GM Scott Howson likely to get cashiered, Columbus figures to hit the “restart” button with a new coach as well as a new front office. Try as he might, Richards wasn't able to wring a whole lot more out of this disappointing bunch.
  
  Jack Capuano, Islanders: His team packed it in down the stretch. His exasperation peaked when he rolled out five defensemen on a shift while sending a message to his unenthusiastic forwards. Under normal circumstances that would signal “lost command” to ownership, but Charles Wang owns this team. Wang being Wang, he told the MSG Network that Capuano and his GM, Garth Snow, were safe. Long-suffering Isle fans groaned.
  
  Brent Sutter, Flames: The losing finally got to one of the calmer Sutter brothers. Brent blew up after a recent loss and had to be calmed by GM Jay Feaster. Calgary needs to start over from scratch, since cornerstone players Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff are high-mileage veterans and the franchise hasn’t developed its next generation of talent. Sutter has an expiring contract.
  
  “You feel like you could have done more,” Sutter recently told Calgary reporters. “You feel like, ‘OK what more could you do? What else could you do to help them?’ You feel bad for them. You feel bad for the organization. You feel bad for the fans. You feel like you let everybody down.”
  
  Todd McLellan, Sharks: His job security has been a popular Bay Area sports topic for some time now. This big-salaried team has been a baffling underachiever. With San Jose threatening to miss the playoffs entirely, fan unrest is about to boil over. The Sharks paying proven scorers big dollars to not score this season.
  
  Dale Hunter, Capitals: He agreed to try the whole NHL head-coaching thing on an interim basis. His contract runs only until season’s end. He is free to return to his OHL franchise in London, Ont., when the season is done. Hunter has kept the Capitals in playoff contention, but Washington’s goals are much greater. Is Hunter the man to get Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green back on track? Or is he better off returning to coach teenagers?
  
  Lindy Ruff, Sabres: New owner Terry Pegula spent a ton of money hoping to build a Stanley Cup contender. What Buffalo got instead was a team struggling to stay in the playoff hunts. Injuries played a huge factor in this team’s midseason swoon. The team’s belated rally put Ruff in a more favorable light. Buffalo is within two points of the last playoff spot. But if Ruff misses the playoffs, will he finally lose his Coach for Life standing?
  
  Joe Sacco, Avalanche: His three-year deal expires after this season. While Sacco has kept Colorado in the playoff hunt with a lot of youngsters in his mix, he hasn’t done enough to earn a contract extension. His team sits in 10th place entering the final week of the regular season, so he needs to win his last two games of the season to help himself.
  
  Tom Renney, Oilers: He has done solid work as orientation leader for the various high-end Edmonton prospects. But after finishing miles below .500 the past two seasons, he is not big fan favorite in that part of Alberta.
  
  “The circumstances around the Oilers are little bit different than they were in the past. We are rebuilding,” Renney told the Edmonton Journal last month. “The bottom line is this team has to keep improving and we should be evaluated at the end of the year. The team (players) and I’d certainly include myself in there. I have no problem with that. I’ll stand up front and centre and discuss my body of work, honestly.”
  
  Mike Yeo, Wild: Is he a fiery first-year coach or an out-of-control, in-over-his-head coach? When Minnesota went south after a fast start, Yeo couldn’t stop the bleeding. Injuries hurt his cause and logic dictates that Yeo will get a second season at the helm. But his mercurial behavior makes you wonder if he has what it takes to lead Minnesota back into playoff contention.

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• Columbus Blue Jackets brace for ugly finish

  February 29, 2012

  The Rick Nash Sweepstakes are on hold until the summer. In the meantime, the Blue Jackets will stagger through the final quarter of their season as dead players skating.
  
  GM Scott Howson told reporters that Nash asked for a trade. Nash responded by explaining why offering himself up for a blockbuster trade was in the best interest of the franchise.
  
  “I was informed by management that there was a rebuild, a reshape, in the team,” Nash told reporters Tuesday. “And I personally felt I could be a huge part of that toward bringing assets in. In my view, that was the best thing for the team, the organization, and personally for my career.
  
  “I felt I could be a huge part of the rebuilding by bringing them assets.”
  
  Columbus has to start over. Howson dropped the plunger on his team and only half of it fell, creating an awkward scenario for the rest of the season.
  
  The Blue Jackets celebrated Nash’s post-deadline presence with a resounding come-from-ahead 5-2 loss to the Red Wings.
  
  “I thought it was an entertaining game,” Jackets interim coach Todd Richards told reporters, trying to remain upbeat in the face of catastrophe. “It was a disappointing finish to what I thought was a good game.”
  
  Entertaining losses are about the best Columbus can hope for moving forward. It’ll be interesting to see how is running and coaching this team next season – and how many of the current players are still on board.

  Senators GM Bryan Murray can empathize with Howson, since he was forced to deal Dany Heatley under tough circumstances. Murray told ESPN that Nash should expand the list of teams he is willing to go to so the Blue Jackets can make the best possible deal.
  
  “I would say that the more opportunity Howson has to talk to other teams, the better chance both parties have of getting a deal done," Murray said. “The friendly advice is, get together with the agent and the player. Work with them. Allow the manager to extend the field of teams. That will allow him to complete a trade that on some level is satisfactory to the franchise as well. [Nash and his agent] at least owe him that.”

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• San Jose Sharks add grit, but not Rick Nash

  February 27, 2012

  The Sharks made a big play for Blue Jackets power forward Rick Nash but didn’t come close to striking the deal before the trade deadline.
  
  San Jose GM Doug Wilson was going to part with young gun Logan Couture, so that was that. The Blue Jackets management team stuck wouldn't come down on its demands.

  “It's based on supply and demand,” Wilson told the San Jose Mercury News. “The prices seemed to be very high.”
  
  Wilson settled for trading handy third-line forward Jamie McGinn and two prospects to Colorado to get pesky T.J. Galiardi and gritty Daniel Winnik.
  
  “We were looking for speed, grit, tenacity and penalty-killing,” Wilson said. “We think we got that in these two players.”
  
  San Jose stumbled through a 2-6-1 road trip, so the group needed a shake-up. Before now and the playoffs, the club should also add offensive winger Martin Havlat – who has resumed skating after recovering from hamstring surgery.
  
  “When everybody gets into their proper roles, we have a very good hockey team,” Wilson said. “Once you get all the pieces to the puzzles settled, we like our team a lot. But it doesn't matter what it looks like on paper, it's what's on the ice that counts.”

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