Northwest: Canucks get stronger while 'Hawks lighten up
Division Report Cards: Northeast | Central
For several years, the Northwest Division was the NHL's closest from top to bottom, with seasons when all five teams finished above .500 not being unusual. It suggested either a remarkable parity or perhaps mediocrity.
That's not the case today.
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| There wasn't much separating the Canucks and Blackhawks in the Western Conference semis. (US Presswire) |
So they'll remain the best bet to go deep from a Northwest that has seen a lot of movement since the end of the season.
Here's a snapshot of what the teams have done since the season end.
Vancouver Canucks: Getting summarily bounced in the second round again didn't sit well with the Canucks, but if you believe that kind of motivation can inspire, they are probably in a good place. The Canucks have the Sedin twins and a couple of other top six forwards locked up for the next two years, and through free agency added one of the top defensive centers and an all-star defenseman to a blue line that was already pretty good. And Vancouver has some cap space. The Canucks still need to do some juggling to get some of their restricted free agents signed, but Vancouver is shaping up to be an elite team next season. Heading: Up
Colorado Avalanche: Only a few months removed from a lottery pick, Colorado caught a lot of people by surprise last season. The Avs were in the initial stages of a major rebuilding with a very young lineup, and yet they were among the NHL's best first-half teams and held the Northwest lead as late as the Olympic break. Colorado's kids faded when the going got tougher down the stretch, but they hung around long enough to make the playoffs and gain some experience from the first round loss to San Jose. As yet, Colorado hasn't dipped into free agency to address its scoring problems. There has been speculation Colorado was interested in Ilya Kovalchuk, but the plan here remains drafting and developing within. The Avs are more cost conscious now because their attendance has dropped in recent years, but they have put together a strong core of talented young players and there should be free-agent bargains before the summer is over. Heading: Up
Calgary Flames: The organization thought it had a Stanley Cup contender, yet the Flames didn't even make the playoffs. They looked old and tired at the end of the season, and they finished with fewer goals than anyone. Meanwhile, management was under constant fire for a series of moves that essentially hurt the team more than helped. It had all the earmarks of a major shakeup, but instead, there has been a reminder of how inexplicable some of GM Darryl Sutter's deals have been thanks to Ales Kotalik and the signing of two free agents who had been run out of town before. Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen did come cheap though, and if they can channel themselves three or four seasons ago, they'll help an anemic attack. But the dynamics haven't really changed for a team that been on the playoff bubble at best for several seasons. Heading: Sideways
Minnesota Wild: Not many teams are more faceless than the Minnesota Wild, who have everything going for them in one of hockey's best markets yet never seem to get anywhere. There was one out-of-body run to the conference finals and a couple of other first-round exit, but Minnesota was always on the perimeter under its first regime and remains so now. GM Chuck Fletcher and coach Todd Richards didn't have much to work with when they took over last season and despite a few flashes, the Wild made little progress. Minnesota has some cap room, but rarely gives out expensive contracts. Center Matt Cullen has been a $3.5 million addition to a lineup that has some good elements in it, but not enough to be a playoff team. Heading: Down.
Edmonton Oilers: The worst season in franchise history got people excited. Obviously there's nowhere to go but up for the Oilers, who will be coached next season by Tom Renney now that Pat Quinn has been pushed aside. But the buzz is about the future because phenom Taylor Hall, the first overall pick last month, should be in the lineup next season along with other recent first-rounders Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi-Svenson. That's the nucleus of a pretty good rebuilding program that Edmonton has undertaken since the end of the season. The Oilers have been house cleaning, getting rid of several veterans including captain Ethan Moreau and with any luck Sheldon Souray, and they've dipped their toes in free agency to get Kurtis Foster and Colin Fraser. If Nikolai Khabibulin has any kind of season, Edmonton could surprise people the way Colorado did. Heading: Up
