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	2003-2004 Division Finish: Second

General Manager: Don Waddell
Coach: Bob Hartley
2003-2004 Record: 33-37-8-4, 10th East
Goals For: 214
Goals Against: 243
Power Play: 14.7% (23rd)
Penalty Killing: 84.9% (10th)
Scoring leader: I. Kovalchuk (87)
Goals leader: I. Kovalchuk (41)
Assists Leader: I. Kovalchuk (46)
Additions: D Niclas Havelid, F Marian Hossa, C Bobby Holik, D Greg de Vries, C Scott Barney, F Ramzi Abid, G Mike Dunham.
Subtractions: F Dany Heatley, F Eric Healey, C Ben Simon, D Daniel Tjarnqvist, F Randy Robitaille, D Ivan Majesky.
Ready for Prime Time?: G Kari Lehtonen, D Braydon Coburn

They said it: "Ever since Bob got to Atlanta, the team has a better feel. They compete every single night. I feel like he's driving his players to be their best on any given night. It just seems like the right situation. I'm very excited by my decision." - Bobby Holik on joining the Thrashers and playing for Bob Hartley.

Thrashers Team Page

The 16-month lowdown:
Seeking a change of scenery, All-Star forward Dany Heatley quietly asked to be traded over the summer. GM Don Waddell granted his wish, and received another electrifying player in Marian Hossa. The former Ottawa Senators winger will add a new level of excitement to Thrashers hockey, playing alongside Ilya Kovalchuk under a more open offence devised by head coach Bob Hartley. The Thrashers will also have added strength up the middle with the newly-signed Bobby Holik. Greg de Vries adds stability to the blueline, though the team could use an offensive defenceman to generate opportunities from the point. Mike Dunham's arrival gives the Thrashers a lot of help in net, and a mentor of sorts for Kari Lehtonen.

Think about the future:
Since being drafted second overall by the Thrashers in 2002, Finnish netminder Kari Lehtonen has been heralded as a can't-miss star. In the final days of the 2004 NHL season, he amassed an impressive 4-0 record and 1.26 goals-against average. In his second season in the AHL, Lehtonen dominated with a 2.27 GAA and 38-17-2 record and led the Chicago Wolves all the way to the Calder Cup final. The Thrashers blueline also looks very promising, with Braydon Coburn ready to show off his stuff and 2004 first-round pick Boris Valabik in development.

	2003-2004 Division Finish: Third

General Manager: Jim Rutherford
Coach: Peter Laviolette
2003-2004 Record: 28-34-14-6, 11th East
Goals For: 172
Goals Against: 209
Power Play: 10.7% (30th)
Penalty Killing: 81.6% (25th)
Scoring leader: J. Vasicek (45)
Goals leader: J. Vasicek (19)
Assists Leader: J. Williams (33)
Additions: G Martin Gerber, F Ray Whitney, D Mike Commodore, D Andrew Hutchinson, C Cory Stillman, D Oleg Tverdovsky, D Derrick Walser, D Chris Hajt.
Subtractions: G Arturs Irbe, G Kevin Weekes, D Jaroslav Svoboda, C Jeff O'Neill, D Brad Fast, F Joey Tetarenko, D Allan Rourke, G Jamie Storr.
Ready for Prime Time?: C Mike Zigomanis

They said it: "Names don't score goals. Just because somebody gets paid a lot of money, that doesn't make them really great. Has everybody lost their hockey mind? Some of the GMs have a short attention span." - Owner Peter Karmonos on the offseason spending frenzy.

Hurricanes Team Page

The 16-month lowdown:
The Hurricanes added a few players to the mix to make up for the loss of forward Jeff O'Neill and centre Ron Francis. New to the roster are Ray Whitney, Oleg Tverdovsky, Mike Commodore, Cory Stillman and Derrick Walser. But the key to Carolina's success lies in their younger stars. Eric Staal scored 11 goals and 31 points in 81 games in 2003-04. With more size and a great 2004-05 campaign with Lowell of the AHL (26 goals, 51 assists), the Hurricanes will be expecting him to shoulder more of the load. The team struggled in net after juggling Kevin Weekes, Arturs Irbe and Jamie Storr in 2003-04. GM Jim Rutherford shuffled things around, trading Irbe to Columbus, letting Weekes go and acquiring Martin Gerber from Anaheim. Gerber led all NHL goaltenders in GAA (1.77) and save percentage (.936) for the 2003 calendar year, the best record in those two categories in a calendar year since Dominik Hasek recorded a 1.76 GAA and .943 save percentage in 1998.

Think about the future:
Martin Gerber may be the No. 1 man in net, but young Cam Ward is not very far behind. Ward enjoyed a successful rookie season with the AHL's Lowell Lock Monsters, compliling a 27-17-3 record with six shutouts and a 1.99 goals against average. He also tied for third in the AHL for goals against average, and led the league in save percentage (.937).

	2003-2004 Division Finish: Fourth

General Manager: Mike Keenan
Coach: Jacques Martin
2003-2004 Record: 28-35-15-4, 12th East
Goals For: 188
Goals Against: 221
Power Play: 16.8% (12th)
Penalty Killing: 86.4% (2nd)
Scoring leader: O. Jokinen (58)
Goals leader: O. Jokinen (26)
Assists Leader: O. Jokinen (32)
Additions: D Sean Hill, D Eric Cairns, G Jamie McLennan, C Joe Nieuwendyk, C Chris Gratton, C Jozef Stumpel, F Gary Roberts, F Martin Gelinas, D Joel Kwiatkowski, G Jean-Marc Pelletier, D Dan Focht.
Subtractions: F Paul Healey, F Darcy Hordichuk, D Mathieu Biron, D Lyle Odelein.
Ready for Prime Time?: C Rostislav Olesz, D Filip Novak, RW Anthony Stewart, D Lukas Krajicek

They said it: "The young guys will be forced to come along. They have no other choice because we are going to win a lot of hockey games." - Centre Joe Nieuwendyk.

Panthers Team Page

The 16-month lowdown:
With a young team that boasts arguably the best crop of prospects in the league, General Manager Mike Keenan wasted no time lacing his lineup with veteran help. He quickly signed Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts, Chris Gratton and Martin Gelinas and added a solid scorer in Jozef Stumpel. They add a lot of balance to a team that already features defenceman Jay Bouwmeester and scorer Olli Jokinen. The biggest question could be in net. Roberto Luongo, who turned down a five-year offer from the Panthers and was awarded $3.2 million this season, will have to take his game to the next level if he wants the big money he was asking for. All signs point to another career year for the young netminder, especially with former Senators coach Jacques Martin behind the bench. With Keenan working in the front office and Martin on the sidelines, the Panthers have a high-profile tandem with a knack for getting the most from young players. 'Iron Mike' doesn't stop short on anything to make sure they win, win, win.

Think about the future:
Tough seasons, high draft positions and good scouting have given the Panthers a wealth of young talent that is the envy of almost every team in the league. Nathan Horton benefitted with a year in the minors, while Anthony Stewart and Rostislav Olesz received a lot of attention - and rightfully so - with their efforts at the last two World Junior Hockey Championships.

	2003-2004 Division Finish: First

General Manager: Jay Feaster
Coach: John Tortorella
2003-2004 Record: 46-22-8-6, 1st East
Goals For: 245
Goals Against: 192
Power Play: 16.2% (16th)
Penalty Killing: 84.9% (10th)
Scoring leader: M. St. Louis (94)
Goals leader: M. St. Louis (38)
Assists Leader: M. St. Louis (56)
Additions: F Vaclav Prospal, G Sean Burke, F Rob DiMaio, F Jim Campbell.
Subtractions: C Cory Stillman, G Nikolai Khabibulin, D Brad Lukowich, F Andre Roy, F Ben Clymer.
Ready for Prime Time?: RW Alexander Polushin, RW Nikita Alexeev, D Mike Egener

They said it: ''Everybody's doing the math, it's not rocket science to see what it means. I'm very good friends with both guys, it's a tough, tough situation - it sucks. There's no other way to put it." - Brad Richards on competing for a piece of the payroll pie with Lecavalier ant St. Louis.

Lightning Team Page

The 16-month lowdown:
The Lightning took a huge hit with the departure of Nikolai Khabibulin to the Chicago Blackhawks, and the defending Stanley Cup Champions are looking like they're going to split the duties between veterans Sean Burke and John Grahame. GM Jay Feaster also had a short-lived problem signing Vincent Lecavalier to a four-year deal and nearly priced Hart Trophy winner Martin St. Louis out of Tampa in the process. Though he was finally able to lock down last season's scoring leader with a five-year contract, Brad Richards may be the next free agent that gets away. Keeping the team competive won't be as difficult as putting together a team that can contend for the Cup once again.

Think about the future:
The Lightning don't have a lot of high-profile prospects to boast, as most of their prominent young talent is already on the verge of hitting their prime with the big club. Nevertheless, the team has its eye on Calgary Hitmen defencemen Mike Egener and Andy Rogers, along with forwards Adam Henrich and Alexander Polushin. They are at least another year from cracking the lineup, but no one's patience is running out so long as the Lightning have the Stanley Cup in their sights.

	2003-2004 Division Finish: Fifth

General Manager: George McPhee
Coach: Glen Hanlon
2003-2004 Record: 23-46-10-3, 14th East
Goals For: 186
Goals Against: 253
Power Play: 19.2% (6th)
Penalty Killing: 81.3% (26th)
Scoring leader: J. Halpern (46)
Goals leader: J. Halpern (19)
Assists Leader: J. Halpern (27)
Additions: F Chris Clark, F Miroslav Zalesak, F Ben Clymer, C Andrew Cassels, D Mathieu Biron, D Ivan Majesky, D Bryan Muir, F Boyd Kane, F Matt Bradley.
Subtractions: F Trent Whitfield, D Chris Hajt.
Ready for Prime Time?: LW Alexander Ovechkin, RW Eric Fehr, G Maxime Ouellet

They said it: "Rather than sign the contract and fax it in, his preference was to sit in front of us, look us in the eye, sign the contract and shake our hands. Pretty impressive. He's a quality individual as well as being a phenomenal hockey player." - GM George McPhee on Alexander Ovechkin.

Capitals Team Page

The 16-month lowdown:
While the Pittsburgh Penguins worked quickly to surround Sidney Crosby with experienced and proven NHL talent, the same can't be said for the Capitals with Alexander Ovechkin. The team added centre Andrew Cassels, forwards Chris Clark, and Ben Clymer and defencemen Mathieu Biron and Ivan Majesky, but it does not make up for the roster that was taken apart a year-and-a-half before. The only stability the Caps have this season is in net with veteran Olaf Kolzig.

Think about the future:
With all the hoopla surrounding Crosby, it's easy to see how Alexander Ovechkin can be somewhat forgotten. But if the NHL needs bright young stars to help bring the game to new and exciting levels, this is one special kid you cannot ignore. Aside from his tinted hockey visor and in-game swagger, he brings all the tools necessary to dominate on the ice and bring fans off their seats. The same can be said of him off the ice, as he has already shown a willingness to sell the game in D.C. and welcome fans with open arms. And while Canadian hockey fans chuckled when the young superstar left he ice crying in Russia's loss to Canada in the gold medal game of the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championship, it's that same sort of passionate, hate-to-lose mentality that could bring the Capitals back into contention sooner than later.

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