Power rankings: New Year's resolutions
The current NHL season is nearing the halfway point, but the 2008 portion of the schedule is complete after Wednesday night's action. That means it's time for the time-honored tradition of making New Year's resolutions.
The theme for this week's power rankings – which appear each Tuesday – are suggestions for what each team should pledge to accomplish in the upcoming 12 months.
1.Boston Bruins (27-5-4, Previous: 1) – Yes, we are well aware everything is going just rosy for the B's, but they can not lose sight of the fact the postseason is very different from the regular season and not to be as quiet at the trade deadline as they were in 2008.
2.San Jose Sharks (28-4-4, Previous: 3) – While this team has done its best not to get caught up in all the hype and accolades thrown its way early, there still is the temptation to get overconfident. Remember that the regular season is a process toward playing your best in the spring. If anyone thinks Detroit isn't going to be hard to dethrone, think again.
3.Detroit Red Wings (23-7-5, Previous: 2) – A great team is only as good as its best players and for Detroit that means keeping Henrik Zetterberg in Motown for years to come. The Red Wings don't want the Swedish star venturing into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, so it's high time to sign him to a long-term contract extension.
4.Montreal Canadiens (20-9-6, Previous: 7) – Too much was asked of Carey Price last postseason. He's a tough, smart and confident goalie, but the Canadiens are right back in the same boat – needing a qualified backup with postseason experience to be there just in case Price isn't right.
5.Washington Capitals (23-11-3, Previous: 9) – Firebrand hockey is fun to watch, and no one does it better than the Alexander Ovechkin-led Caps. But if you want to win when it counts most, defense is as much a part of the game as offense. To that end, Washington needs to look for ways to possibly upgrade the blue line and definitely improve in goal.
6.Chicago Blackhawks (20-6-7, Previous: 8) – The Blackhawks are like the Red Wings and Sharks, dictating games with their speed and skill. They are legitimate. But this group has not experienced a stretch run and certainly not the Stanley Cup playoffs. The trade deadline is a very important time to add a quality, role-playing veteran or two who has been there.
7.New York Rangers (23-13-3, Previous: 5) – General manager Glen Sather did a nice job of turning the responsibility of winning over to a younger core in 2008, but now he must look at adding more top-end skill to this group or another second round, or sooner, exit from the playoffs is inevitable.
8.Calgary Flames (21-11-4, Previous: 11) – Jarome Iginla can not go it alone. It's another good Flames team, maybe good enough to win the division and grab a high seed. But there's not enough skill in place to go as far as they did in 2006. It's a challenge GM Darryl Sutter faces between now and the trade deadline.
9.Philadelphia Flyers (19-10-7, Previous: 4) – Any way you cut it, the Flyers can't match the skill of every team in not only its conference but division as well. That means Philly must stick with a hard work ethic and be the toughest team to play night-in and night-out. There are no nights off, especially come springtime.
10.New Jersey Devils (20-11-3, Previous: 6) – While Martin Brodeur is expected back from injury before the end of the regular season there's no guarantee he'll be 100 percent or ready to assume the massive workload he's used to carrying. Lou Lamoriello has to be wary of the need for a veteran backup with a proven track record in big games and the postseason.
11.Pittsburgh Penguins (19-13-4, Previous: 10) – Don't forget. Just like the commercial that features Sidney Crosby stepping out of that scene moments after losing Game 6 to Detroit in the Finals last spring, the Penguins want to use the empty feeling of going that far and losing as motivation when they get there again.
12.Edmonton Oilers (17-14-3, Previous: 15) – The Oilers play an exciting brand of hockey and always have a ton of heart. But seriously, is this a Stanley Cup-contending roster? Where exactly is this team going? It's not easy to make deals in the new NHL, but Edmonton should be prepared to shake things up at the deadline.
13.Vancouver Canucks (20-14-3, Previous: 12) – What's worse than losing one superstar to unrestricted free agency? How's about losing two? That's the prospects the Canucks possibly face if GM Mike Gillis doesn't find a way to get twins Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin to sign a contract extension.
14.Anaheim Ducks (19-14-4, Previous: 14) – It's not 2007 anymore. Bump and grind worked then, but teams are passing the Ducks by now – literally. While Anaheim is still a good team, the fact is the roster needs an infusion of speed or it's going to be an early spring again just like last postseason.
15.Carolina Hurricanes (17-15-5, Previous: 13) – The Hurricanes need to make more of a commitment to defense. Only Atlanta has surrendered more goals in the Southeast than Carolina, which will continue to straddle the line of making or missing the playoffs until they address the problem head-on.
16.Colorado Avalanche (19-16-1, Previous: 21) – The Avalanche have reached a crossroads. They have some good players and some older ones who are skating toward retirement. Rebuilding is calling out, and Colorado must start at the trade deadline.
17.Buffalo Sabres (17-14-5, Previous: 16) – Look around the conference and virtually every team has more size than the Sabres. You can only skate around them so long. If Buffalo wants to compete with the big boys come spring, the Sabres are going to have to find a way to get a little bigger themselves.
18.Phoenix Coyotes (17-15-5, Previous: 17) – Like Chicago but to a lesser degree of having success, the Coyotes have been patient with their youth movement for the past 18 months. Don't be afraid at the deadline to take a chance if, again, a player or two who fits the long-term plan is available.
19.Dallas Stars (15-15-5, Previous: 23) – The time has come to do what is one of the hardest things in hockey – find that new No. 1 defenseman. A suddenly injury-plagued Sergei Zubov can't be counted on to be the excellent, seemingly ageless player he has been for so many years.
20.Minnesota Wild (17-16-2, Previous: 18) – Don't think about re-signing Marian Gaborik, just be prepared to make the best deal possible when another team comes calling for the oft-injured forward. Don't worry about all the potential that will be going out the door because your team has proven it can win without him in the lineup and whatever you get back will help, too.
21.Florida Panthers (16-15-5, Previous: 19) – Please, please, please create an identity other than that of a team that can only win if the goalie stops 40 shots and David Booth scores.
22.Columbus Blue Jackets (16-16-4, Previous: 24) – The fans, media and players are tired of hearing it, but patience is still the key in Columbus. The Blue Jackets will again likely miss the cut for the postseason and will have to resist the temptation to get off course in search of a quick fix.
23.Los Angeles Kings (15-16-6, Previous: 26) – We knew about the potential of the youthful roster, but the Kings really are on the right path when you look at the goals-against. The fact they are right there with the other teams in their division suggests things are going in the right direction.
24.Nashville Predators (17-16-3, Previous: 20) – Sue for nonsupport. Honestly, this team has won enough over the last four years to attract more attendance at home. The building is smack dab in a great part of town. There's really no excuse for such poor attendance. If it continues, it won't be the Preds' fault for bailing on Music City.
25.Tampa Bay Lightning (10-16-9, Previous: 28) – Can we all agree pushing Steven Stamkos so hard in the summertime boxed the Lightning in the corner when it was obvious the 18-year-old could have used more time to develop elsewhere? Don't make the mistake again with the youth, because for this franchise to turn itself around it's going to need more young talent down the line.
26.St. Louis Blues (14-19-3, Previous: 27) – The Blues need to find a new piece of wood to knock on because the current one isn't doing them any good in terms of injuries. They deserve a better fate, and they have to realize there's always a team that gets hit the hardest – see Boston and Edmonton last season.
27.Toronto Maple Leafs (14-16-6, Previous: 22) – The Leafs continue to be competitive on most nights throughout a rebuilding phase that will certainly kick up a notch with Brian Burke now at the controls. Credit for the end of the country club feel goes to the new coaching staff. But tough days are still ahead and everyone must remember how important it is to stick to the plan and realize there are no shortcuts.
28.Ottawa Senators (12-17-5, Previous: 25) – How much evidence do we need to admit the Senators' window has slammed shut, at least with the current roster? The time for change is past due. Look for bodies to start flying every which way here. And if not, front-office jobs will be on the line.
29.Atlanta Thrashers (12-20-4, Previous: 29) – Don Waddell is a gentleman and a big reason why USA hockey made big strides in the 1990s. But everything he has tried in Atlanta simply hasn't worked. Unfortunately, the time has come. Change is overdue.
30.New York Islanders (11-23-4, Previous: 30) – Plain and simple, the Islanders need a new home. We're not breaking any new ground with that comment, but if virtually every other team in the league can get it done, why can't this franchise?
