*San Jose Sharks: After another disappointing playoff performance, long-time coach Ron Wilson was replaced by rookie Head Coach Todd McLellan. On paper, the Sharks have a dangerous offence, led by Hart Trophy candidate C Joe Thornton. A lack of secondary scoring hurt the Sharks last season, and RW Jonathon Cheechoo, LW Milan Michalek, and C Patrick Marleau will need to improve in that department. Defensively, the addition of Rob Blake, Dan Boyle, and Brad Lukowich gives the Sharks both experience and offensive upside. Vezina Trophy finalist G Evgeni Nabokov should continue his stellar play from last season.
*Dallas Stars: The Stars had one of the best defensive units in the league last year, but with the retirement of Mattias Norstrom and an injury to Sergei Zubov, the Stars will need younger players like Niklas Grossman and Mark Fistric to step up defensively in front of G Marty Turco. Look for Brendan Morrow, Mike Ribeiro and Brad Richards to lead the Stars offensively. Swedish free agent LW Fabian Brunnstrom should provide some dynamic offence if he can adjust to the NHL game, while the acquisition of super-pest LW Sean Avery gives the Stars even more grit.
*Anaheim Ducks: With Jean-Sebastien Giguere back in goal and a blue line anchored by Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger, the Ducks' back end remains strong. But if the team wants to avoid another early playoff exit, they must improve on their 28th-ranked offence. The Ducks will depend heavily on Teemu Selanne and forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry for offensive production, but offseason acquisition C Brendan Morrison should regain his scoring touch if he can remain healthy. Meanwhile, RW Bobby Ryan, the 2005 second-overall draft pick, should break into the Ducks' top six.
Phoenix Coyotes: After improving by 16 points last season, the Coyotes are a much better team on paper. Gone is RW Radim Vrbata, their second-leading scorer, but the acquisition of C Olli Jokinen finally gives RW Shane Doan an elite linemate. Phoenix will be expecting a lot offensively from sophomore C Peter Mueller and rookie C Kyle Turris. The addition of LW Todd Fedoruk and RW Brian McGrattan adds some much needed size and toughness. Defensively, the Coyotes will have to deal with the loss of Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton. Defencemen Derek Morris and Ed Jovanovski will need to step up their play, but with a full season of Ilya Bryzgalov in net, the Coyotes should improve defensively.
Los Angeles Kings: New coach Terry Murray takes over a team loaded with young talent. Led by the explosive C Anze Kopitar, the Kings are loaded offensively with young stars like D Jack Johnson and RW Dustin Brown. The team will expect C Jarret Stoll to prove that he deserves his four-year, $14.4 million contract. The Kings were 28th in goals allowed against last season, and with the loss of defencemen Rob Blake and Lubomir Visnovsky, L.A. will likely remain in the NHL's defensive basement. Starting goaltender Jason LaBarbera will be pulling a lot of pucks out of his own net this season.
*-denotes playoff team
2008 Woodie Awards
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