NHL

NHL Preview: Carolina Hurricanes

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 10, 2011

Can Carolina return to the Eastern Conference Finals. Charlie Boccanegra tests the wind. Even though it seems like an eternity ago for Carolina Hurricanes fans that they were a relevant NHL franchise it has only been two years removed from their Eastern Conference Finals appearance and seven years from winning the Cup. Carolina has done...

NHL

NHL Preview: Winnipeg Jets

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 8, 2011

The Jets are back in Winnipeg and Canadian hockey fans are excited. But will the team live up to the excitement? Charlie Boccanegra listens for the roar of the engines. Hockey is back in Manitoba but the Jets are up against an extremely grueling schedule, as while they remain in the Southeast division they move...

NHL

NHL Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 7, 2011

Can Lightning strike twice? Charlie Boccanegra looks at Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Lightning were the shock story of the NHL last season making it all the way to game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. It was an astonishing performance, and it was mainly thanks to the outstanding hire of GM Steve Yzerman. The...

NHL

NHL Preview: Washington Capitals

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 7, 2011

Heroes in the regular season, zeroes in the playoffs. Charlie Boccanegra wonders where now for the Washington Capitals? Four consecutive Southeastern division titles and three consecutive 100+ point regular seasons mean all but nothing for the Washington Capitals. With all the regular season success they have never made it out of the second round of...

NHL

NHL Preview: New York Rangers

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 7, 2011

The Rangers have been getting to the playoffs but not going much further – can they push on this year? Charlie Boccanegra reports. This offseason GM Glen Sather signed highly touted free agent forward Brad Richards to try to take this team to the next level. I am not sure it will be quiet enough...

NHL

NHL Preview: New Jersey Devils

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 7, 2011

Can New Jersey translate talent to results on the ice? Charlie Boccanegra reports. Last year the New Jersey Devils were supposed to be a Cup Contenders after re-signing Ilya Kovalchuk to a $100 million contract. The season ended up with the John MacLean coaching experiment failing and the Devils losing their best player Zach Parise...

NHL

NHL Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 6, 2011

The Pittsburgh Penguins are the best team in the NHL. When healthy. Charlie Boccanegra reports. Last year’s loss of the league’s best player Sidney Crosby & top 10 scorer Evgeni Malkin pretty much eliminated any realistic chance of them winning the Cup. However, what it did do was force coach Byslma to find new ways...

NHL

NHL Preview: Philadelphia Flyers

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 6, 2011

Charlie Boccanegra thinks the Flyers will be fine in the regular season but still isn’t convinced about Philly in the playoffs. The Philadelphia Flyers shocked the world this offseason making some massive trades to shake up the core of the team. But have they improved a team that reached the Stanley Cup two years ago?...

NHL

NHL Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 5, 2011

Columbus has struggled for the past two years – the Jackets will struggle some more this year, according to Charlie Boccanegra. This offseason the Columbus Blue Jackets have gone out and tried to fill one of the biggest vacancies on their roster by getting a proper #1 center in Jeff Carter to play with one...

NHL

NHL Preview: St Louis Blues

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 5, 2011

Can St Louis return to the playoffs for the first time since 2004? Charlie Boccanegra weighs the pros and cons. The St. Louis Blues have been a team in rebuilding since the last NHL lockout in 2003. Every year it seems experts expect them to turn the corner with their youthful talent and contend for...

NHL

NHL Preview: Nashville Predators

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 5, 2011

Charlie Boccanegra thinks the Nashville Predators are one of the most under-rated teams in the NHL. The Nashville Predators continue to be the little team that could. Nashville’s made the playoffs in six of the past sevens seasons. Pretty good coming from a small market that doesn’t spend up to the cap. Much of that...

NHL

NHL Preview: Chicago Blackhawks

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 5, 2011

The Blackhawks dipped after winning it all in 2010 but look good to challenge again. Charlie Boccanegra has the latest from the Windy City. The Blackhawks tanked last year, struggling to make the playoffs before losing to the Canucks the first round. Chicago lost a huge amount of secondary depth. But those problems have been...

NHL

NHL Preview: Detroit Red Wings

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 5, 2011

Charlie Boccanegra wonders if time has finally caught up with the Detroit Red Wings. The Detroit Red Wings have been a model of consistency in the NHL for the past two decades having never missed the playoffs. They have won multiple cups and strung together eleven consecutive 100+ point seasons. It is simply remarkable. The...

NHL

NHL Preview: Ottawa Senators

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The bad news looks set to continue for the Ottawa Senators. Charlie Boccanegra reports. The Ottawa Senators’ free fall hit rock bottom last year as one of the Eastern Conference premier teams for the past decade had one of the worst records in the NHL. I don’t expect that to change this upcoming season as...

NHL

NHL Preview: Montreal Canadiens

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 4, 2011

Have the Habs done enough to improve in the offseason? Charlie Boccanegra reports. The Montreal Canadiens have now made the postseason four consecutive seasons but have never been a legitimate Cup contender. Don’t expect anything to change this upcoming season because this team has not done much to improve itself in the offseason. Montral will...

NHL

NHL Preview: Buffalo Sabres

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 4, 2011

Charlie Boccanegra thinks a new owner can mean a new beginning for the Buffalo Sabres. When Terry Pegula purchased the Buffalo Sabres last season the future became extremely bright. The passionate billionaire is willing to spend whatever it takes to produce a Stanley Cup. Prior to his arrival the organization had some great young talent...

NHL

NHL Preview: Boston Bruins

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 4, 2011

It’s not often you can say the Stanley Cup Champions are just as good if not better the year after but this could be the case with the Boston Bruins. Charlie Boccanegra reports. Boston is an NHL betting co-favorite with the Canucks at +750 to win the 2012 Stanely Cup. It’s hard to repeat but...

NHL

NHL Preview: Phoenix Coyotes

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 3, 2011

Past over-achievement and the absence of Ilya Bryzgalov could make this a down year in Phoenix. Charlie Boccanegra reports. The Phoenix Coyotes have overachieved and shocked most hockey fans over the past couple of years by making the playoffs in consecutive years with limited talent. Dave Tippet has done a phenomenal job getting the most...

NHL

NHL Preview: Dallas Stars

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 3, 2011

Dallas will struggle in the absence of Brad Richards. Charlie Boccanegra reports. The Dallas Stars lost Brad Richards to a huge UFA contract with the New York Rangers. Last year Dallas missed the playoffs on the final day of the regular season with Richards in the line up – I don’t expect them improve on...

NHL

NHL Preview: Anaheim Ducks

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: October 3, 2011

Charlie Boccanegra likes the Ducks’ offense to carry a suspect defense to the playoffs and beyond. The Anaheim Ducks were one of the hottest teams down the stretch of the regular season last year only to fall short to the Predators in the first round of the playoffs. This team has all the making of...