2008 Woodie Awards
Road to Cup Goes Through Big Apple
Bill "Blue Line" Stoklosa & Alex Whitaker
Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: Sports
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Eastern Conference
10. Tampa Bay Lightning: It's the same old story in Tampa. Forwards Vincent Lecavelier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards, along with defenseman Dan Boyle will try to carry the team into the playoffs. Tampa won't have enough around their "Big 4" to get there this time.
9. Atlanta Thrashers: This team won the division last year, but their playoff losses to the Rangers showed they really lack toughness. They have a good trio of forwards in Marian Hossa, Ilya Kovalchuk and Slava Kozlov. They will be in playoff contention down the stretch, but a lack of adequate defense will doom the Thrashers.
8. Washington Capitals: This team will improve after obtaining some much-needed help next to winger Alexander Ovechkin. The Capitals added forwards Michael Nylander and Viktor Kozlov in the offseason, as well as blueliner Tom Poti. They should be good enough to squeak into the playoffs.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs should get in this year. The difference will be their new left winger Jason Blake, who notched 40 goals with the Islanders and should thrive next to new linemate Mats Sundin.
6. New Jersey Devils: The most boring team in the NHL took a big hit with the loss of Scott Gomez and defensemen Brian Rafalski. Still, I consider the addition of tough forward Dainius Zubrus one of the most underrated moves of the offseason. They won't be as good as last year, but it would be a shock if they don't make the playoffs.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins: Young forwards Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal are coming off sensational years. The best news for the Penguins is both are only going to get better this year. They may have a little trouble keeping the puck out of their own net, but their offense should be good enough to propel the team to their second straight 100-point season.
4. Buffalo Sabres: Sabres fans are reeling from the loss of co-captains Daniel Briere and Chris Drury. If center Derek Roy steps up and center Tim Connolly can stay healthy, Briere's absence shouldn't hurt too much. But Drury will be much harder to replace. All-star goaltender Ryan Miller should be solid again, but Buffalo's defense in front of him is iffy.
10. Tampa Bay Lightning: It's the same old story in Tampa. Forwards Vincent Lecavelier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards, along with defenseman Dan Boyle will try to carry the team into the playoffs. Tampa won't have enough around their "Big 4" to get there this time.
9. Atlanta Thrashers: This team won the division last year, but their playoff losses to the Rangers showed they really lack toughness. They have a good trio of forwards in Marian Hossa, Ilya Kovalchuk and Slava Kozlov. They will be in playoff contention down the stretch, but a lack of adequate defense will doom the Thrashers.
8. Washington Capitals: This team will improve after obtaining some much-needed help next to winger Alexander Ovechkin. The Capitals added forwards Michael Nylander and Viktor Kozlov in the offseason, as well as blueliner Tom Poti. They should be good enough to squeak into the playoffs.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs should get in this year. The difference will be their new left winger Jason Blake, who notched 40 goals with the Islanders and should thrive next to new linemate Mats Sundin.
6. New Jersey Devils: The most boring team in the NHL took a big hit with the loss of Scott Gomez and defensemen Brian Rafalski. Still, I consider the addition of tough forward Dainius Zubrus one of the most underrated moves of the offseason. They won't be as good as last year, but it would be a shock if they don't make the playoffs.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins: Young forwards Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal are coming off sensational years. The best news for the Penguins is both are only going to get better this year. They may have a little trouble keeping the puck out of their own net, but their offense should be good enough to propel the team to their second straight 100-point season.
4. Buffalo Sabres: Sabres fans are reeling from the loss of co-captains Daniel Briere and Chris Drury. If center Derek Roy steps up and center Tim Connolly can stay healthy, Briere's absence shouldn't hurt too much. But Drury will be much harder to replace. All-star goaltender Ryan Miller should be solid again, but Buffalo's defense in front of him is iffy.
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