2009-10 NHL Season: What can we expect?

As I write this, the season hasn’t started, but it will probably be up Friday morning, after the first few games have been completed. But my outlook on this season is as unique as ever. There are many prospects to watch, question marks on players and teams, and predicting who will win the Stanley Cup is as tough as I have ever remembered it.

One big mystery to me is the Minnesota Wild. So much has changed there in such a short time that we’re going to be in for a completely different look. I can’t even make a good prediction as to where the Wild will finish in the standings. I personally hated the Wild because they play the trap system that I can’t stand to watch. The Wild didn’t even attempt to sign their star player in Marian Gaborik. Instead, they gave Martin Havlat a five year deal worth $30 million. Let’s just hope Havlat can stay in the form he was last year and remain healthy. Jacques Lemaire has been replaced with Todd Richards as head coach. Richard claims to want to play an up tempo, high paced game which would be a radical departure from the Wild we’re used to seeing. However, their shot totals in their preseason games suggest otherwise. Chuck Fletcher also is acting as the General Manager as well. So it will be interesting to see what the Wild do this season, and where they’re going.

The next question in my book is the Dallas Stars. Can this organization get back to its winning ways? They haven’t made the playoffs in three years, Turco was mediocre last year, and we all know about Sean Avery’s impact on the club. Can Marty Turco regain his old form and can the Stars stay healthy enough to get back to the playoffs? With a group of highly skilled forwards lead by Mike Richards and Brenden Morrow, new coach Marc Crawford will bring an exciting offensive system that should help the Stars do better this year.

Ask any ‘Hawk fan what their concern is, and they’ll answer Christobal Huet. Huet and Khabibulin split time last year, with the Bulin Wall getting most of the starts in the post season. Huet has let in many soft goals, and never truly played a full season as a number one goalie, but he’s sure paid as if he has. Hopefully the high powered offense of the Blackhawks can cover up for the soft goals Huet lets in.

Mika Kiprusoff is a player on the hot seat. His numbers have slowly been declining over the past few years, and some first round exits do not help put much confidence into Kiprusoff this year. Sutter has brought in a new coaching staff, and focused on reducing shots faced this year. I find it unlikely that Kiprusoff will return to how he was, but he still can be a solid goalie that is capable of stealing games, and can help a club win in the first round.

Who will be the new faces of the NHL? Of course there are the obvious answers like Ovechkin, Crosby, and Mike Richards. But lately the faces of the NHL have been changing. Just this year we had Roenick, Fleury (sorta), Shanahan, Naslund, Hatcher, and Joe Sakic retire. Names like Lidstrom, Modano, Niedermayer and Chelios are sure to follow sooner rather than later. It’ll be a fun to see players like Kane, Toews, Tavares, and Luke Schenn step up and take their places.

Ray Emery, the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto – there are a ton of players and stories to watch around the league. These are just some of the few that I will be carefully watching this season and think will be interesting stories. I’m curious as to who you think I should be followed this year as well, so leave a comment, and let me know.

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