TSN Hockey U.S. Team Previews - Central Division

TSN's Scott Cullen and TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button profile each U.S.-based NHL team ahead of training camp for the 2016-17 season. Today, they examine the Central Division.

 

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

A team that has won three Stanley Cups in the past seven years, the Blackhawks still have their vaunted core – forwards Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa, defencemen Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson and goaltender Corey Crawford.  But keeping that core together has been expensive and has required some cost-cutting throughout the rest of the roster.

Fortunately, the Blackhawks did get veteran defenceman Brian Campbell signed to a cut-rate deal in the summer, adding much-needed stability to the top four.

The Blackhawks struck gold last season when they added winger Artemi Panarin, a hugely productive scoring winger who is on an entry-level contract. But the Blackhawks have also given questionable contract extensions to centres Artem Anisimov and Marcus Kruger, leaving them precious little cap space. As a result, they’re are going to need production from players on entry-level contracts this year, including forward prospects Tyler Motte, Nick Schmaltz, Vinnie Hinostroza and Ryan Hartman.

Chicago’s financial high-wire act seems to be a perennial challenge and is likely to remain so for a while, but such is the price for being a Cup contender. We’ll see if the Blackhawks can remain in that discussion for another season.

Off-season Headlines

July 1: Campbell returning to Blackhawks 

July 5: Blackhawks agree to terms with F Tootoo 

July 15: Blackhawks call on young prospects to get back on top 

Button's Top 2016-17 Prospect

Nick Schmaltz (North Dakota, NCAA): Highly skilled forward who will help ease departure of Teravainen. Nice fit for the Hawks.

Button's Top Long-Term Prospect 

Alex DeBrincat (Erie, OHL): Back-to-back 50 goal seasons in OHL. Knows how to play and take advantage playing with top players.

 

COLORADO AVALANCHE

A couple of seasons after the Avalanche defied the odds with a percentage-fuelled playoff berth, the team has missed the postseason in back-to-back years, making it five times in six seasons that they’ve missed the playoffs. 

That provided the backdrop to a power struggle in the Avalanche front office that resulted in the resignation of head coach (and vice-president of hockey operations) Patrick Roy. While it costs the Avalanche star power, it’s likely that new head coach Jared Bednar will be an upgrade behind the bench.

Bednar takes over a lineup that has talent, so there’s some upside if the team’s tactics improve. Colorado has a nice mix of young forwards – Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog – and veteran forwards like Jarome Iginla and Carl Soderberg. Add in a top prospect like Mikko Rantanen and newcomer Joe Colborne and there should be enough for the Avs to be competitive.

While the forward group seems solid (if perhaps a tad top-heavy), the blueline remains an issue. Tyson Barrie, Erik Johnson and Francois Beauchemin have had varying degrees of success in the NHL, but the Avalanche tried to fill holes behind them with patchwork solutions, dealing for Nikita Zadorov and Eric Gelinas over the past year and signing veterans Fedor Tyutin and Patrick Wiercioch as free agents this summer. These additions provide more questions than answers.

Goaltender Semyon Varlamov has been average in his time with Colorado. If he isn’t performing well this season, he could be pushed by Calvin Pickard.

It’s possible that a new voice will bring out better play from the Avs this year, but a lot will have to break right for there to be enough improvement to reach the playoffs.

Off-season Headlines

July 8: Avs sign MacKinnon to seven-year deal 

Aug. 11: Roy resigns from Avalanche organization

Aug. 25: Avs hire Bednar as head coach 

Button's Top 2016-17 Prospect

Mikko Rantanen (San Antonio, AHL): Mature, smart and determined. Fits on a team that compliments his attributes and skill set.

Button's Top Long-Term Prospect

Tyson Jost (Pentiction, BCHL): Highly competitive and productive centre in all regards. Excellent sense and contributes in all situations.

 

DALLAS STARS

There isn’t a more fun team in the league to watch than the Dallas Stars. No lead or deficit is safe for them, but their entertaining style of play could lead to more wins if they had a goaltender they could trust.

This is particularly problematic because the Stars have already committed more than $10-million per season (for two more seasons) to Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen. Their performance has been subpar, undermining an otherwise impressive club.

Dallas’ forwards are seriously talented. Over the past three seasons, Sidney Crosby is the only player with more points than Jamie Benn. They’ve already brought in Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, Patrick Sharp and Ales Hemsky, and added Jiri Hudler this summer. There’s also young homegrown talent with Mattias Janmark, Valeri Nichushkin, Cody Eakin and Radek Faksa. Not many teams can keep pace with this attack.

On defence, the Stars are looking at change. Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers and Kris Russell are gone from last year’s team, replaced by veteran Dan Hamhuis, rookie Esa Lindell and bigger roles for Stephen Johns and possibly Jamie Oleksiak. That’s a lot of turnover behind dynamic blueliner John Klingberg and some of those young defencemen will have to handle additional responsibility. 

But all of that will only matter if the Stars can get reliable goaltending. If they do, look out.

Off-season Headlines

July 1: Stars lock up Hamhuis for two years 
Aug. 24: Stars sign Hudler to one-year deal 

Button's Top 2016-17 Prospect

Julius Honka (Texas, AHL): Plays with skill, is smart and competitive. The type of dynamic defenceman the Stars can benefit from.

Button's Top Long-Term Prospect

Riley Tufte (Blaine, USHS): Has a skill and size combo that makes it very hard to deter him. Needs some time to physically mature.

 

MINNESOTA WILD

The Wild appear to be a team stuck in the middle. They’re good enough to make the playoffs (and have for the past four seasons) but they have an older roster that doesn’t figure to be getting better.

They’ve also brought in head coach Bruce Boudreau, who has a .659 points percentage as an NHL head coach – that’s a 108-point pace in a full season.

The Wild added 31-year-old free agent centre Eric Staal to go with fellow 30-plus forwards Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu and Jason Pominville. These are the players who will be counted on to lead the Wild attack, but there’s a younger supporting cast – Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker and Erik Haula – that can play a big part too.

On defence, Ryan Suter is the leader (though he probably plays too many minutes) and Marco Scandella and Jared Spurgeon are reliable. For the group to take a big step forward, Jonas Brodin and Mathew Dumba need to elevate their play.

Goaltender Devan Dubnyk has rebounded nicely in Minnesota and, along with backup Darcy Kuemper, gives the Wild a capable duo in goal to help them stay in playoff contention.

Bringing in Boudreau should keep the Wild in the playoff hunt, but it’s hard to see how this roster takes the next step up to becoming a serious contender.

Off-season Headlines

May 7: Wild agree to terms with coach Boudreau

June 24: Wild buy out Vanek's final year

July 1: Staal inks three-year deal with Wild

July 28: Dumba agrees to two-year deal with Wild

Button's Top 2016-17 Prospect

Joel Eriksson-Ek (Farjestad, SWE): Smart, versatile centre who can contribute in multiple ways. Has matured physically and impact greater.

Button's Top Long-Term Prospect

Luke Kunin (Wisconsin, NCAA): Can play just about anywhere in the forward group and will contribute. Smart, excellent competitor.

 

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

In a franchise-altering move, the Predators traded captain Shea Weber to the Montreal Canadiens for P.K. Subban. While it might have been difficult to remove a player who has been a cornerstone for the franchise, it’s easy enough to do it for a younger and better player.

Subban is expected to thrive in Peter Laviolette’s attacking style of play. With the 2013 Norris Trophy winner joining Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis, it’s possible that the Predators’ have the best top four in the league.

 

This follows another blockbuster trade that Nashville made last season, getting centre Ryan Johansen. Expectations will certainly be high for him to perform like a franchise centre. Filip Forsberg, James Neal, Craig Smith, Calle Jarnkrok, Colin Wilson, Mike Ribeiro and Mike Fisher provide scoring depth and prospects like Kevin Fiala and Vladislav Kamenev could be wild cards this season.

All the positivity about Nashville’s skaters puts a lot of pressure on Pekka Rinne, a 33-year-old who has provided below-average results in three of the past four seasons. But he’s also a three-time Vezina Trophy finalist, so if Rinne happens to play at that level this year, Nashville could be really great. 

Off-season Headlines

June 27: Predators ink Forsberg to six-year, $36M extension
June 29: Predators acquire Subban from Montreal for Weber 
July 27: Predators sign Jarnkrok for six-year contract
Sept. 8: Fisher named captain of Predators 

Button's Top 2016-17 Prospect

Vladislav Kamenev (Milwaukee, AHL): Very smart centre who combines skill and power and has a burning fire to make a difference.

Button's Top Long-Term Prospect

Dante Fabbro (Penticton, BCHL): Steady, smart, efficient and poised defenceman who plays a strong game in all areas but isn't flashy.

 

ST. LOUIS BLUES

The Blues reached the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2001 and go into 2016-17 (head coach Ken Hitchcock’s final season behind the bench) with a roster that should be a contender.

Vladimir Tarasenko is a wonderful talent, one of the best the game has to offer. Jaden Schwartz is looking for a comeback season after a broken leg hampered him last year. Alexander Steen remains a strong two-way player. Paul Stastny might not be worth the money he got as a free agent, but he’s a productive playmaker. Add in Jori Lehtera, Patrik Berglund, promising younger Robby Fabbri, free agent addition David Perron and potentially Vladimir Sobotka returning from the KHL, and the Blues could easily run three scoring lines.

The defence got a real shot in the arm with the emergence of towering right-shot defenceman Colton Parayko, who was outstanding as a rookie last season. Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk are the more proven performers, while Jay Bouwmeester and Carl Gunnarsson might be a bit beyond their best years. Joel Edmundson is a physical presence. The Blues have one of the stronger defence groupings in the league, especially since they kept Shattenkirk, who was widely rumoured to be trade bait.

One big change is in goal, with Brian Elliott gone and Jake Allen taking over as the clear starter ahead of Carter Hutton. Allen played a career-high 47 games last season and the Blues have been ready for the 26-year-old to take the reins.

A deep run in the playoffs was a refreshing development for the Blues, but the Western Conference is very competitive, so even with a deep and talented roster, St. Louis will be facing a tough battle to get back to the final four.

Off-season Headlines

May 31: Blues sign Hitchcock to one-year contract 

June 3: Steen out four months after surgery

June 13: Blues hire Yeo to succeed Hitchcock in 2017-18

June 24: Blue deal Elliott to Flames

July 15: Blues sign Schwartz to five-year deal

August 24: Blues name Pietrangelo as captain

Button's Top 2016-17 Prospect

Ivan Barbashev (Chicago, AHL): Excellent two-way player who excels in all situations. Tremendous leader. Opportunity exists for him.

Button's Top Long-Term Prospect

Tage Thompson (Connecticut, HE) Combination of size, skill and determination allows him to impact. Development has been impressive.