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Quick Hits
by Brandon Landry
In this edition of ‘Quick Hits’, you’ll be getting a speedy tidbit of knowledge on every team in the NHL.
This includes sleepers, trends and my own predictions.
Ducks – Viktor Fasth has won the Honken Trophy two years in a row for the AIK. Hiller came 24 th in
goalies with over thirty starts for goals against average last season. The moment Hiller falters, Fasth will
be given every opportunity to take the starting gig.
Bruins – Nathan Horton is expected to be healthy for day one of training camp after the doctors cleared
him for contact in July. The Bruins scored 3.54 goals per game with Horton, and 2.69 without the former
first-round pick.
Sabres – With the departure of Derek Roy, the Sabres are now without a
number one center going into the 2012-13 season. Ennis was stapled
between Foligno and Stafford to end last season where the three ignited
the Sabres offense and Hodgson saw shifts next to Thomas Vanek. My
guess is that Steve Ott or Cody Hodgson will get the first crack at playing
top powerplay and even strength minutes.
Flames – Not much is known about Czech Roman Cervenka aside from that the Flames expect him to be
in a top-six role and that as a teammate of Jaromir Jagr and Alexander Frolov, he outpointed them both
easily. Don’t hold your breath for this Calgary Flame.
Hurricanes – The ‘Canes powerplay finished in the bottom ten last season, but have
added both Alex Semin and Jordan Staal to their weapon arsenal. The Staal brothers
aren’t expected to be in sync the level of the Sedins’, but there isn’t much else to do in
Thunder Bay, so the duo should click off the bat.
Blackhawks – Viktor Stalberg recorded the most points out of any player to not have
any on the powerplay. The likely extended hiatus of Marian Hossa and departure of
Andrew Brunette may force the Hawks brass to toss the former college standout onto
the second unit. 50 points would bring him into the Andrew Ladd, Jiri Hudler, and
Mikhail Grabovski range.
Avalanche – Could the stitching from ‘C’ to ‘A’ have that great of an impact on Milan Hejduk? The glass
half full says that he’ll have less pressure and will return to his mid-fifty point totals. The glass half
empty says that this will give Joe Sacco an easier decision in burying him on the third line.
Blue Jackets – The last time Columbus played a season without Rick Nash, Geoff Sanderson cracked the
thirty-goal mark while leading the squad with 56 points. We should look for the team leader to put up
similar totals, with a bunch of high energy young scrappy forwards driving the Jackets forward.
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