Faceoff Factor

Evaluating Teams Post-Free Agency: Central

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Jul 24, 05:08 PM | Hype this story!

With about three weeks gone in the free agency period, most of the top tier talent has found itself a new home. Now that things have slowed down considerably, Faceoff Factor will go division-by-division and break it all down.

The Central Division.

Chicago Blackhawks

Gained: Cristobal Huet (4 yrs, $5.625/yr), Brian Campbell (8 yrs, $7.1/yr), Doug Janik (1 yr, $500K), Matt Walker (1 yr, $600K), Aaron Johnson (1 yr, $525K), Tim Brent (RFA), Pascal Pelletier (RFA)

Lost: Jason Williams (ATL), Rene Bourque (CGY), Patrick Lalime (BUF), Yanic Perreault (UFA), Kevyn Adams (UFA), Andrei Zyuzin (Europe), Martin St. Pierre (BOS), Danny Richmond (PIT)

Still needs to: Find their way under the Upper Limit, have a plan for forward depth if the youngsters don’t work out, not spend nearly $12.5 million on two goaltenders, pray that Brian Campbell is actually worth $7.1 million every year for eight years.

Approximate cap space remaining: (-$416,000)

Rumors associated with them: There’s been rumors involving Nikolai Khabibulin and Cam Barker being traded, apparently Ottawa would get both. The Kopitar to Chicago rumor is bogus. However, Ottawa and Chicago have apparently been talking things over for a good while now, it could boil down to a smaller deal, but with the emergence of guys like Niklas Hjalmarsson, Cam Barker might be moved.

Notes: The Blackhawks are counting on a couple youngsters to step up this year and make the big squad, otherwise, their forward depth (especially when Havlat gets hurt again) will look rather lackluster, but top heavy. They have spent a lot of money on goaltending, now that Crawford is getting up there in years and they won the Antti Niemi sweepstakes, I would have figured that signing the best UFA goalie was not an option. So, they are over the cap, with two very expensive goalies and probably two very unhappy goalies in Rockford (AHL). For their sake, they better get their money’s worth out of at least one of those big priced players (Havlat, Khabibulin, Huet or Campbell); remember: fans are actually going to be watching this year.

Current lineup (for depth purposes, not actual lines):
Havlat-Toews-Kane
Ladd-Lang-Sharp
Byfuglien-Bolland-Skille
Eager-Brent-Adams
Ex. Burish, Blunden, Brouwer

Campbell-Seabrook
Sopel-Keith
Wisniewski-Hjalmarsson
Ex. Barker, Janik

Huet
Khabibulin
Ex. Niemi

Columbus Blue Jackets

Gained: Kristian Huselius (4 yrs, $4.75/yr), Fedor Tyutin (4 yrs, ~$2.844/yr)*, Raffi Torres (2 yrs, $2.25/yr)**, Christian Backman (1 yr, $2.3)*, Mike Commodore (5 yrs, $3.75/yr) [* – acquired in trade with NYR, ** – acquired in trade with EDM]

Lost: Nikolai Zherdev (NYR), Ron Hainsey (ATL), David Vyborny (Europe), Gilbert Brule (EDM), Dan Fritsche (NYR), Dick Tarnstrom (Europe), Duvie Westcott (Europe), Joakim Lindstrom (ANA)

Still needs to: Hope that their young players pan out this time, realize that trading extremely talented players when they finally “get it” is not a key to success, get close to a playoff berth for once.

Approximate cap space remaining: $12.68 million (with Pascal Leclaire to sign still)

Rumors associated with them: Nothing of major significance at this time, other than the potential craziness associated with Filatov signing his entry-level deal and the response of the Russians.

Notes: Well, the Blue Jackets new blueprints are out and I can’t say I’m extremely impressed. They gave up on Gilbert Brule for Raffi Torres which is fine I guess, and while I like Fedor Tyutin a lot and what he brings, was it really worth an on-his-game Nikolai Zherdev? Huselius is a good pick up, everyone knew Umberger’s value was artificially high and that didn’t stop Columbus; if he’s on the first line with Nash and Huselius he might accidentally scoop up points though. The bottom six is one of the best the NHL has to offer, but the top six has a lot of uneasiness to it. If Mike Commodore continues to play like he did last year at that price tag, people will forget all about Jeff Finger’s contract. Klesla, Tyutin and Hejda offer a solid, responsible core, but it needs support and better players around it, which Columbus fails to offer at this time. Pascal LeClaire had his coming out party; he and Mason should make a good duo in a year or two. Could this be the year that Columbus finally finishes within 10 points of a playoff spot? I can hardly contain myself.

Current lineup (for depth purposes, not actual lines):
Nash-Umberger-Huselius
Modin-Brassard-Voracek
Torres-Malhotra-Chimera
Peca-Svitov-Boll
Ex. Novotny, Murray, Picard

Klesla-Commodore
Tyutin-Hejda
Backman-Tollefsen
Ex. Rome, Russell

LeClaire
Norrena
Ex. Mason

Detroit Red Wings

Gained: Marian Hossa (1 yr, $7.45), Ty Conklin (1 yr, $750K), Darren Haydar (1 yr, $525K)

Lost: Dominik Hasek (retired), Chris Chelios (UFA)*, Darren McCarty (UFA), Dallas Drake (retired) [* – likely to return]

Still needs to: Well, I would say find a top 15 or 20 goaltender in the league, but they really don’t need that and it showed in the playoffs.

Approximate cap space remaining: $3.38 million (Filppula arbitration case still to go)

Rumors associated with them: Nothing of major significance other than having way too many good players both on the roster and in their prospect pool. Perhaps a small move will need to be made after Filppula’s new contract?

Notes: The Red Wings lineup is pretty much stacked from top to bottom, they have fantastic prospects in the system and players on the roster. Their one weak spot is in net, but when they give up eight shots per game, it’s a non-issue, as evidenced by the Stanley Cup that was handed to Chris Osgood, despite his best efforts, last season. The Wings will have the capability to run three, perhaps four, offensively gifted but defensively responsible lines…incredible. The signing of Ty Conklin, using a first round pick on a goalie in 2008 and having a good up-and-comer from Sweden in Daniel Larsson can’t have Jimmy Howard feeling too safe about his role in the organization (but curiously enough, just signed a three year deal with the club).

Current lineup (for depth purposes, not actual lines):
Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Hossa
Holmstrom-Filppula-Franzen
Hudler-Leino-Samuelsson
Helm-Draper-Cleary
Ex. Maltby, Kopecky, Abdelkader

Lidstrom-Rafalski
Stuart-Kronwall
Lilja-Lebda
Ex. Ericsson, Meech

Osgood
Conklin
Ex. Howard

Nashville Predators

Gained: Josh Gratton (1 yr, -), Ryan Jones (1 yr, ~$920K)*, Drew McIntyre (1 yr, -)

Lost: Alexander Radulov (Europe), Marek Zidlicky (MIN), Martin Gelinas (UFA), Jan Hlavac (UFA), Brandon Bochenski (TB)

Still needs to: Go get one of their best players back from Russia, make sure they get to the Lower Limit (they are very close to it, but on the compliant side)

Approximate cap space remaining: $15.18 million (assuming Radulov is gone)

Rumors associated with them: There has been some talk that a defenseman may be moved because they have been a pipeline for high quality d-men in recent years, but it looks like Zidlicky maybe the lone blueline move at this point. There’s also talk the Preds are after Linus Videll, a Swedish power forward.

Notes: The Predators took a major blow when Alexander Radulov bolted for Russia, provided that the Predators lose that battle, there is still some hope however. There are some good young kids in the system including Patric Hornqvist, Antti Pihlstrom, Cal O’Reilly and recently acquired forward Ryan Jones, all of whom have a slightly better chance of making the team now. They are investing a lot (their 08-09 season) in a Dan Ellis/Pekka Rinne combo. So that’s almost 54 years in age but only 48 NHL games between them, throw in Group VIer Drew MacIntyre’s 25 years of age and two NHL games and you’re all set though.

Current lineup (for depth purposes, not actual lines):
Erat-Arnott-Dumont
Sullivan*-Legwand-Hornqvist
Ortmeyer-Bonk-Tootoo
Nichol-Fiddler-Smithson
Ex. Peverly, O’Reilly, Jones (*- if Sullivan doesn’t retire due to injury, if he does, add Pihlstrom)

Weber-Suter
Hamhuis-Klein
deVries-Koistinen
Ex. Franson, Zanon

Ellis
Rinne
Ex. McIntyre

St. Louis Blues

Gained: Matt Foy (1 yr, $500K), Mike Weaver (1 yr, $700K), Brad Winchester (1 yr, $600K), Andy Wozniewski (1 yr, $500K)

Lost: Matt Walker (CHI), Mike Johnson (UFA), Martin Rucinsky (Europe), Petr Cajanek (Europe)

Still needs to: Sure up the defense in case Wagner and Woywitka don’t transition in well enough, make sure the scoring depth has some backup options because of some potentially inconsistent youngsters.

Approximate cap space remaining: $5.57 million

Rumors associated with them: There has been talk that if the Rangers don’t bring him back that Brendan Shanahan could end up back in St. Louis for one last year.

Notes: The Blues might go all-in with some good young prospects, David Perron, T.J. Oshie and Patrick Berglund could all make the team this year (Perron, of course played with the Blues last year as well); so could defensemen Steve Wagner and Jeff Woywitka (who has not played more than 40 games in a season in his career). Those are some pretty good additions that would keep the lineup young and geared towards the near future. Meanwhile, vets Kariya, Tkachuk and McKee occupy their ranks also. This year will likely be a good barometer to see if John Davidson’s plan for success is on the right track. If the goaltending holds serve, this team could turn a few heads this year.

Current lineup (for depth purposes, not actual lines):
Kariya-McDonald-Boyes
Tkachuk-Oshie-Stempniak
Perron-Berglund-Backes
Janssen-McClement-Hinote
Ex. Foy, Winchester, King

Brewer-Johnson
McKee-Jackman
Wagner-Woywitka
Ex. Weaver, Wozniewski

Legace
Mason
Ex. Schwarz