Monthly Evaluation: Eastern Creme de la Creme

New York Rangers (10-3-1): I was never a Sather fan but I must admit he has built a very strong team in New York. The production of Jagr & Shanahan has been replaced and the bluieshirts can now count on two good offensive lines and two strong checking lines.


There are however a few dark clouds on the horizons: 1- Chris Drury is paid way too much to be a 3rd line center with 30 points a year but even more important is the minimal cap space available next summer, the same summer both Zherdev and Dubinsky become restricted free agents. Can the Rangers afford to lose those two young guns? Who will be sacrificed to keep them in the fold?


The defense is a nice mix of developing young talent (Girardi & Stall) and serviceable yet underachieving veterans (Redden, Kalinin & Mara) which accomplish enough to protect one of the best goaltender in the league in Henrik Lundqvist. Whispers of ankle troubles were worrisome in training camp but so far, the swedish man is been dominant for the Rangers.


Rating: A
Outlook: same




Montreal (8-1-1): With 4 games in hand and only 4 points behind New York, the Canadiens may well be in first place quite shortly and very few people would be surprised. This team is talented top to bottom and some players struggling for ice team in Montreal would be 2nd liners in other towns.

There is so much speed among those forwards and coupled with an extremely effective backcheck, it makes the Canadiens one of the hardest team to play against.

The defense is anchored by two veterans but there are a whole bunch of young extremely talented guys right behind them to provide steady help to the young goaltenders.

I was critical of Price last year, mostly of what I perceived as bad technique on lateral movement and a very slow glove hand but the kid seems to always find a way to stop the puck and he has been exceptional so far this year.

Halak has also played great and I cannot believe a team in need of goaltending has not made an offer Gainey could not refuse for him. The guy is young and looks like he has the tools to be a very good goalie in the league.

Gainey is the slow and steady improvement type but there has to be some crazy spark all over the Habs front office about going all the way in this 100th year.

Rating: A
Outlook: going up (there is still improvement to be had here)


Carolina (6-3-2): The affirmative action program of the NHL, the SouthEast division, once again propulses a middle of the road team to 3rd place.

Once old-timers Whitney & Brind'Amour retires, Eric Staal is going to feel extremely lonely on this team. There is a complete void of offensive talent and the prospect list is short too.

The defense is also awful to watch and lacks in talent and prospects (unless 28 year old Seidenberg is your idea of a talented prospect). Good thing Cam Ward is over his sophomore slump and playing so well or this team would be fighting with Florida for the 13th spot.

Rating: A
Outlook: going down


Buffalo (7-2-2): It took some time to get over all those free agent departures but this pesky ultra speedy team is back on track.

Vanek leads the league in goals and a lazy shift cannot be found anywhere on this team.

Ryan Miller is up to this usual tricks in goal and makes a weirdly constructed defensive squad look better than they are.

Rating: B
Outlook: same


Boston (6-3-3): Another rebuilding process going well. With Savard, Chara, Ryder and Wideman, the Bruins are adding nice pieces to their homegrown talent of Bergeron, Kessel, Lucic and Krejci.

Some more pieces are needed, especially on the blueline (Aaron Ward & Andrew Ference should enver be playing 20mins a night) but there is a very interesting core in Boston.

It will tough to keep this 5th place in the competitive Eastern Conference especially since Tim Thomas will not be able to keep that .944 save percentage all year but the Bruins have the talent to clinch one of the last playoff spots available.

Rating: B
Outlook: same