*Detroit Red Wings: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." That was the mentality of Marian Hossa this summer when, mere weeks after facing off against Detroit in the Stanley Cup finals as a Pittsburgh Penguin, he signed a one-year contract with the Red Wings. Otherwise, the Wings remained quiet this offseason, and the team returns most of last year's roster. Look for speedy youngster C Darren Helm to crack the line-up at some point this season. Finnish rookie LW Ville Leino has also impressed during the preseason. If the Wings weren't the early favourites to repeat as champions before they signed Hossa, they certainly are now.
*Chicago Blackhawks: The Hawks surprised the hockey world this summer when they signed free agent goaltender Cristobal Huet to a long-term deal despite having G Nikolai Khabibulin under contract for almost $7 million. But any goalie controversy was quickly extinguished when the Hawks waived Khabibulin to make way for Huet as the starter. Chicago also signed star D Brian Campbell to a massive contract and traded away C Robert Lang. Overall, second-year forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews highlight a dynamic, young, and improved roster. With or without a healthy Martin Havlat at right wing, the Blackhawks will compete for a playoff spot come spring.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Last year, Columbus failed to make the playoffs for the seventh straight season, a drought that goes back to the team's inception in 2000-01. The offseason saw several changes, as the team shipped enigmatic RW Nikolai Zherdev to the Rangers in return for blueliners Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin. The Jackets also sent C Gilbert Brule to Edmonton for LW Raffi Torres, and picked up forwards R.J. Umberger and Kristian Huselius to bolster the offence. The influx of grit and skill should compliment rookie forwards Derick Brassard and Jakub Voracek, making Columbus a better team. An eighth year out of the playoffs, however, may be in the cards.
Nashville Predators: One of the best teams in the league two years ago, the Predators squeaked into the playoffs last season and did little in the offseason to improve their roster. As if the Predators' uphill battle this season wasn't going to be hard enough, RW Alexander Radulov abruptly left the team's first line this summer to sign with a Russian club. Not all is bleak though: the Predators have a young, skilled defensive corps anchored by Shea Weber. In addition, upstart G Dan Ellis will get a chance to prove last year's league-leading save percentage wasn't a fluke.
St. Louis Blues: Only the sad-sack L.A. Kings finished behind the Blues in the West last season. The team did little to improve in the offseason, as they mostly made depth moves-adding defencemen Mike Weaver and Andy Wozniewski, while letting go of forwards Martin Rucinsky, Ryan Johnson, and Jamal Mayers. Up front, 40-goal scorer C Brad Boyes and sophomore LW David Perron compliment veteran LW Paul Kariya and give the Blues hope for the future. On the backend, former first-overall pick D Erik Johnson expects to miss the entire season after injuring himself on the golf course, which is where the Blues will be found this spring.
*-denotes playoff team
2008 Woodie Awards
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