Mirror, Mirror on the Wall... Part 1

I love being new at something.  This is now the third time I've started this message and I'm hoping like heck it is my last.  Anyway, back to hockey:

With the UFA pandemonium finally subsiding, we can start to take a look at the Sabres competition, namely their rivals in the Northeast Division.

Ottawa:

Departures-

Radek Bonk C/LW (Montreal via trade to LA)

Todd White C (Minnesota via trade)

Jacques Martin Coach (Fired, now coaching Florida)

Patrick Lalime G (St. Louis via trade)

Martin Prusek G (UFA signed with Columbus)

Curtis Leschyshyn D (UFA signed with Colorado)

Arrivals -

Dominik Hasek G (UFA from Detroit)

Ray Emery G (AHL promotion)

Steve Martins C (UFA from St. Louis)

Tomas Malec D (UFA from Anaheim)

In Limbo -

Peter Bondra and Shaun Van Allen (UFA's)

Overall, this is still the team to beat in the division.  They brought in an aging Hasek, who we know wont be all-world but who does have swagger and the ability to win games single-handedly.  Emery should be fine as his backup.  The defense is absolutely loaded:  Chara, Redden, Phillips, Volchenkov, de Vries, Porthier.  Their scoring is stacked with the likes of Hossa, Havlat, Spezza, and Alfredsson plus they have some excellent support players in Fisher, Varada, Schaefer, Vermette, and Neil.  Their questions are few, though Hasek's health is primary.  LW and second line centre scoring are also possible concerns on the ice, and cap issues may be a distraction off the ice.  But this is still one of the best teams in all of hockey IMHO.  And they faceoff with Buffalo 8 times this year....

Comments

[Tom L]

The rich get richer I guess. Right, Chain? 2 more chances to pad their point totals for playoff seeding.

Can't argue with that, really.

Ta,