Pre-Season Preview: #4 Sandusky Slanderers

Coach: Tron Ries
Trophy Case: POH3 Championship---POH3 Fleury Division Winner---POH3 Associate's Cup Winner---POH4 Wrath of Reid---POH5 Fleury Division Winner

POH5 Regular Season Finish: 2nd
Postseason Finish: Semi-Final Loss

Pre-Season Rank
Forwards: 6th
Defensemen: 3rd
Goaltenders: 4th
Coaching Pedigree: 7th
Overall: 4th
Projected Win Total: 84

Keepers:
C Jeff Carter (3rd Year in Sandusky)
RW Corey Perry (3rd Year)
W Bobby Ryan (3rd Year)
D Lubomir Visnovsky (2nd Year)
G Jimmy Howard (3rd Year)

Outlook
Sandusky is the POH affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, with keepers Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan and Lubomir Visnovsky returning to the team in 2011-12. GM Tron Ries and the Slanderers recovered nicely from their abysmal POH4 campaign by winning the Fleury Division a year later. With four seasons under his belt, Tron Ries is proving that his down year in POH4 was an outlier, with regular season finishes of 2nd, 1st and 2nd in POH2, 3 and 5, respectively. The POH6 Slanderers are not a flashy club, with few big names that make you say, "Wow! Tron you are thee best man in my world!" But don't be fooled, this team has plenty of point producers. Jeff Skinner is coming off a Calder Cup win in 2010-11 and could improve on his 63-point rookie season. The lumbering Milan Lucic is another sneaky 30 and 30 guy, while Thomas Vanek leads an improving Sabres roster. Visnovsky, Ehrhoff, Seabrook and Souray form a strong backline for the Slanderers, as Ehrhoff signed in Buffalo for big-time money while Visnovsky returns after leading the league with 68 DEF PTS. In net, Sandusky has a formidable 1-2 with Howard and San Jose netminder Antti Niemi. Jose Theodore will be down in Florida, probably having a pretty rancid year but for a No. 3 goalie you could do worse than him. In order to defend their Fleury championship from a year ago, another big season will be needed from the Perry-Ryan duo in Anaheim. Perry is coming off a Hart Trophy win with his 50 G, 98-point season. 



Players to Watch:

G-Jimmy Howard

Howard took a step back last season after a tremendous rookie year. Luckily for GM Tron Ries, the Slanderers had POH5's No. 1 ranked goal scoring, shots on goal and defenseman units. It's hard to envision this group doing the same here in POH6, so more will be needed from Howard. With an aging defense in front of him, and no Brian Rafalski, can we really expect more from this third year goaltender?

D-Lubomir Visnovsky

Visnovsky helped fuel the Slanderers No. 1 ranked defensemen a year ago with his NHL-leading 68 D points. This free-wheeling blue-liner takes a ton of chances out on the ice, but in fantasy that's exactly what you want ...who cares if the Ducks get burned a few times in the process. Kris Letang and Drew Doughty won't be back this season to continue the Slanderers season-long Defensemen Points rampage we saw last year. That makes a repeat performance even more imperative for Lubo.

LW-James Neal

After a rather productive start to the season with Dallas, Neal was moved at the deadline to the injury depleted Penguins. He struggled, scoring just once after the move. But with a healthy Malkin, and the return of Crosby looming sometime this season, Neal will likely inherit one of the all-world centers to play alongside. He finished the 2010-11 season with 22 goals and 45 points, don't be surprised if that total comes up to somewhere in the low-to-mid 70's if he can develop a rapport with either Malkin or Crosby.

Pre-Season Preview: #5 Winnipeg Wasps

Coach: Joel Hafnor
Trophy Case: POH4 Championship---POH5 Wrath of Reid

POH5 Regular Season Finish: 10th
Postseason Finish: DNQ

Pre-Season Rank
Forwards: 5th
Defensemen: 7th
Goaltenders: 1st
Coaching Pedigree: 3rd
Overall: 5th
Projected Win Total: 77

Keepers:
C Nicklas Backstrom (3rd Year in Winnipeg)
RW Chris Stewart (2nd Year)
LW Dany Heatley (3rd Year)
D James Wisniewski (2nd Year)
G Ilya Bryzgalov (3rd Year)

Outlook
Winnipeg Wasps GM Joel Hafnor has been on quite the roller coaster ride over the last 18 months. From winning a Prince's Pot in the spring of 2010, to finishing 41 games under .500 a year later and earning the wretched Wrath of Reid trophy...a stain that will never leave his coaching résumé. Hafnor has made it public that the quest for a second Prince's Pot Championship is his number one fantasy priority, which is saying a lot for a man who eats, sleeps and poops fantasy sports. Up front, the POH6 Wasps are much more respectable than the POH5 version, with first round selection Patrick Kane, Loui Eriksson, Mike Ribeiro and Joe Pavelski adding depth behind the keeper trio of Backstrom-Stewart-Heatley. The blue-line took a significant hit when Hafnor panicked by trading blue-chipper Drew Doughty to Istan in the midst of his contract dispute, but Brent Burns could provide decent return value as he joins the offensive-oriented Sharks. Keeper James Wisniewski is suspended for 1/10th of the regular season after a dirty hit on Cal Clutterbuck in the pre-season. Erik Karlsson is an interesting young prospect whom the Wasps are hoping will build on his 13 G, 45-point 2010-11. If the Wasps are to return to the postseason in POH6, it will be on the back of its three netminders. Bryzgalov moves from Phoenix to Philadelphia in the offseason, which should provide him a lot more offensive support. Jonathan Quick still appears to be the man in Los Angeles, but with Jonathan Bernier lying in wait he may not start 61 games like he did a year ago. Semyon Varlamov is the man in Colorado, and will try and prove himself with the upstart Avs who feature perhaps the largest set of defensemen in the league. (Large doesn't always mean effective, but the Avalanche blue line is filled with giants). We here at Channel 7 expect an improved Wasps club in 2011-12, but a return to championship contention may have to wait another year or two.




Players to Watch:

C-Nicklas Backstrom

The braintrust in Winnipeg views young Nicklas Backstrom as the undisputed No. 1 player in the organization. Last season, his scoring output fell from 101 to just 65 as the Capitals adapted to Bruce Boudreau's defensive minded philosophy. Though the Wasps consider themselves a goaltending-first squad this season, the offense will need more than 65 points from Backstrom in order to punch a playoff ticket.

G-Jonathan Quick

First of all, wake up Jonathan, you look like a dumpster in this picture. Secondly, Quick is the key man in net for the Wasps this season. If he can post similar numbers to the 35 W, 2.24 GAA, 91.8 SV% campaign he enjoyed last year than Winnipeg will have a deadly 1-2 punch in net. But this could very easily become a timeshare in LA as uber-talented Jonathan Bernier continues assert himself.

C-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

This weasely little character your looking at could be a centerpiece for the Winnipeg Wasps organization, or he could be dropped 7 games into the season. Hafnor gave the 2011 No. 1 overall pick  a chance after the Oilers announced Nugent-Hopkins would be on the roster for opening night. There is a possibility the team will ultimately move him to the AHL, as he still has some filling out to do. It will be interesting to see how Hafnor handles the presence of Nugent-Hopkins, and whether he will cut ties with him if the young gun struggles, or if he'll hold onto him for the future.

Pre-Season Preview: #6 Alberta Bears

Coach: Sean Slevin
Trophy Case: POH1 Championship---POH1 Associate's Cup Winner---POH3 Rathje Division Winner---POH3 Manager of the Year---POH4 Rathje Division Winner

POH5 Regular Season Finish: 4th
Postseason Finish: Semi-Final Loss

Pre-Season Rank
Forwards: 4th
Defensemen: 6th
Goaltenders: 10th
Coaching Pedigree: 2nd
Overall: 6th
Projected Win Total: 73

Keepers:
C Eric Staal (3rd Year in Alberta)
RW Martin St. Louis (3rd Year)
LW Zach Parise (3rd Year)
D Dan Boyle (3rd Year)
G Tim Thomas (2nd Year)

Outlook
With five different champions in five seasons, the discussion of "greatest manager in league history" would likely vary depending on who you asked. But with 509 career wins, two division championships, one Manager of the Year award, an Associate's Cup and a Prince's Pot to his name, we here at Channel 7 are comfortable in giving the nod to Slevin until further notice. In his five-year career, not once has Slevin missed the playoffs...and POH2 remains the only year in which he failed to advance to the semi-finals. All that being said, Alberta fans have waited 4 1/2 years since their last championship and the expectation is the same for Coach Slevin as it has been every season: win it all. The offensive firepower should be elevated from POH5, as franchise player Zach Parise returns after missing all of the 2010-11 season. Parise, like fellow keeper Eric Staal, will put the puck on net 300 times if healthy. Slevin did a nice job surrounding finishers Parise and Staal with set-up experts Martin St. Louis (68 A in '10-'11), Claude Giroux (51), and Derek Roy (25 in only 35 games). The defense may be better than I give them credit for, led by keeper Dan Boyle who will play on a very potent San Jose power play unit. Boyle is joined by Keith Yandle (57 pts in '10-'11), John-Michael Liles (46) and Kevin Shattenkirk (43). All I've done is praise the Bears, but here's where I get to explaining their 6th-place projection....goaltending. Tim Thomas comes back for another season after finishing second in the Vezina voting last season. Thomas has little help, however, as Craig Anderson will get a lot of time in net for the probably-not-very-good-Ottawa Senators, while Al Montoya finds himself in the midst of a three-man timeshare in New York with Rick DiPietro and Evgeni Nabokov. I think of the NWT Moose of last season when I think of these Bears, a team that will find a way to sneak into the playoff picture by virtue of  a high-octane offensive attack.
Players to Watch:

LW-Zach Parise

Maybe nobody in Alberta wants to admit it, but everyone knows it: the Bears' success will depend largely on Parise's ability to recover from the knee injury he sustained last year. With him, they are one of the most feared offensive squads in the league. Without him and they become middle class. That won't suffice with the goaltending as questionable as it appears.

SF/PF-Tim Thomas

This versatile big man can really shoot from long range. Nothing that he does on or off the court will affect how the Alberta Bears perform this season.

G-Tim Thomas

The Bears, who are thin at the Goalie position, will be depending heavily on another stellar season from Thomas. The Bruins backstop posted an extraordinary 35 W, 2.00 GAA and 93.8 SV% in 2010-11. With young stallion Tuukka Rask waiting in the wings, and the Bruins hoping to preserve Thomas somewhat for another postseason run at the Cup, it'd be hard to imagine him duplicating a similarly brilliant season.

C-Derek Roy
Roy was on a tear last season before suffering a season-ending quad injury 35 games into the year. The Sabres center had 10 G and 25 A in that span. The Sabres spent the off-season upgrading their offensive talent, and nobody figures to benefit more from that than Roy. He'll be the Bears' No. 2 center alongside Eric Staal, but don't be totally caught off guard if he leads a talented group of centers (Stastny, Lecavalier, Spezza) in scoring.

Pre-Season Preview: #7 Latvia Lipsuckers

Coach: Travis Todd
Trophy Case: Nothing

POH5 Regular Season Finish: 8th
Postseason Finish: DNQ

Pre-Season Rank
Forwards: 2nd
Defensemen: 9th
Goaltenders: 7th
Coaching Pedigree: 9th
Overall: 7th
Projected Win Total: 66

Keepers:
C Jonathan Toews (2nd Year in Latvia)
C Anze Kopitar (2nd Year)
LW Henrik Zetterberg (2nd Year)
D Zdeno Chara (2nd Year)
G Tomas Vokoun (2nd Year)

Outlook
From a talent perspective, this Latvia Lipsuckers hockey club could be considered not only playoff worthy, but division champion material. But can GM Travis Todd follow through on this team's promise by consistently making good decisions all winter long? Or will his lack of hockey knowledge cripple the Lipsuckers? Enough cannot be said about the job done by Todd in the draft. He added to an already solid group of forwards by selecting Patrick Marleau, Teemu Selanne, John Tavares and Daniel Alfredsson. The back-line of Edler, Gonchar, Chara and Zidlicky won't strike a lot of fear in opponents. Chara, for how much he disrupts opposing offenses in real life, doesn't play an elite level in the fantasy realm (44 TP last season). The goaltending is decent, with Tomas Vokoun back from last year (though with a different uniform on, after joining the Capitals this offseason). Miikka Kiprusoff is a serviceable No. 2, but I question Todd's decision to roll with a 2-man netminding unit...I expect him to pick up a third goaltender (perhaps a Dubnyk or Mason). As the only POH franchise representing an entire country, there will be a good deal of pressure on Todd and the Lipsuckers to perform this season. Todd is one of Twelvo Sports finest managers, with 3 World Titles to his name...some of the finest names in the Twelvo sports realm have transitioned to the ice gracefully, with the likes of Lake, Ries and Hafnor all claiming Prince's Pots. Todd's second year in the league will likely give us a better idea of how much desire he has to be respected in the Princes of Hockey.

Players to Watch:

RW-Teemu Selanne

The 41-year-old Selanne returns for one last NHL campaign after signing a one-year, 4 million dollar deal in Anaheim. Last season, Selanne ranked among the top-10 scorers in the league with his 80 point season. If Selanne can deliver another 75-80 point performance this year, the Lipsuckers will be even more dangerous on offense than they might appear.

C-John Tavares 

The former No. 1 overall selection now enters his third season with the Isles and is poised for a breakout. He could very well be the face of the the Lipsuckers for years to come. 

G-Tomas Vokoun

Much will be expected from Vokoun this season in Latvia. Not only is he the team's best netminder, he is one of only two on the entire roster...making a strong season even more important. Vokoun moves from the equivalent of a hockey black hole in Florida, to a Stanley Cup contender in Washington. The move should result in more Wins...though it is yet to be seen how his other stats will rise or fall.

Pre-Season Preview: #8 Lake Erie Shtonsters

Coach: Evan Tynan
Trophy Case: POH5 Manager of the Year

POH5 Regular Season Finish: 5th
Postseason Finish: First Round Loss

Pre-Season Rank
Forwards: 9th
Defensemen: 10th
Goaltenders: 3rd
Coaching Pedigree: 5th
Overall: 8th
Projected Win Total: 62

Keepers:
C Joe Thornton (3rd Year in Lake Erie)
RW Jarome Iginla (3rd Year)
RW Marian Hossa (3rd Year)
D Jack Johnson (2nd Year)
G Martin Brodeur (3rd Year)

Outlook
GM Evan Tynan enters his fourth season with the Shtonsters. In his first three seasons, Tynan has led the franchise to three consecutive playoff berths, including a POH4 Finals appearance. Joe Thornton (32 years old), Jarome Iginla (34), Marian Hossa (32) and Martin Brodeur (39) all return for a third straight season in Lake Erie. With the nucleus of the team growing a bit long in the tooth, concerns have been raised about the future of the franchise. The 26-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury may be the long-term answer in net for Tynan. But outside of centerman Mike Richards (26), there isn't a whole lot else on this team in the way of keeper potential. The front line of the Shtonsters can best be described as underwhelming. That shouldn't come as much of a surprise for a team that annually focuses on the goaltending categories. Johnson, Mark Streit, Chris Pronger and Ryan Suter form a skank group of blue-liners, and much will be expected of Streit after missing all of the 2010-11 season. Brodeur, Fleury and Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom form one of the best goaltending trios in the league. The question remains: will the goaltenders be stout enough all season to support a less-than-stellar group of point scorers? The answer to this question will go a long ways in determining the fate of the Shtonsters in POH6.

Players to Watch:

RW-Marian Hossa

Since signing with the Chicago Blackhawks two seasons ago, Hossa has missed 45 games. As a result, the production we've come to expect from the Czech product hasn't quite been there. He has five times topped the 35-goal mark, and if he can stay on the ice for 75+ games this season we'll likely see anywhere between 35-40 goals.

D-Mark Streit 

After finishing last season with no elite defenseman options on the roster, Tynan took a chance on young Jack Johnson...hoping the young Los Angeles King would continue developing in POH6. But make no mistake, Streit is the man to watch on the Lake Erie defensive front. Streit totalled 62, 56 and 49 points in the three seasons following 2010-11 (which he missed with a shoulder injury). If he gets back to that level and avoids further injury, this could be a strong defensive unit.

G-Martin Brodeur

Most Princes of Hockey analysts suspect this will be Brodeur's final season with Lake Erie whether or not he comes back for the 2011-12 season. The future hall of famer needs to stay on the ice in order for the Shtonsters goaltending unit to live up to it's expectations in POH6. The Devils are widely expected to be better this season, and Brodeur could enjoy one last trademark campaign before floating off into fantasy irrelevancy.

Pre-Season Preview: #9 Branson Bull Frogs

Coach: Dustin Larson
Trophy Case: Nothing

POH5 Regular Season Finish: 9th
Postseason Finish: DNQ

Pre-Season Rank
Forwards: 8th
Defensemen: 5th
Goaltenders: 6th
Coaching Pedigree: 10th
Overall: 9th
Projected Win Total: 58

Keepers:
C Steven Stamkos (3rd Year in Branson)
C Pavel Datsyuk (3rd Year)
C Danny Briere (2nd Year)
D Ryan Whitney (2nd Year)
G Henrik Lundqvist (3rd Year)

Outlook
Dustin Larson enters his fourth season in Princes of Hockey with a club most would consider his most talented yet. Still, questions linger about whether or not Larson---who has finished second-to-last in each of his last two campaigns---has what it takes to guide a team to the post-season. The franchise moves to Branson, Missouri, and will dawn the new mascot name "Bull Frogs". Some wonder whether it is a direct slap in the face to fellow GM Nick Lake by combining his past two team names (Istan Buls and Prague Phrogs). The top of this lineup features a group of proven scorers in Steven Stamkos, Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk. But beyond the top-three there are plenty of question marks. Danny Briere, a holdover from last year, should provide a bit of depth for the Bull Frogs, who will depend heavily on their Centermen this year. Along the right side of the ice, things look bleak in Branson with Shane Doan, Dustin Brown and Teddy Purcell. Sophomore forward Taylor Hall is a developmental piece who doesn't figure to score a ton this year, but could be considered a dark horse keeper option heading into POH7. The defense is led by keeper Ryan Whitney, who very quietly plowed his way to 27 points in just 35 games in 2010-11. If he keeps up that pace, the Bull Frogs will be formittable on the blue line. The goaltending should be respectable at the very least. Cam Ward gives some depth to this group, while Henrik Lundqvist returns for a third year in Branson. Mike Smith needs to improve on his 2.89 GAA from last year, and prove that he can handle the starting gig in Phoenix, a team known for it's defensive system.

Players to Watch:

C-Steven Stamkos

Two years ago, young Steven Stamkos was entering his second year in the league when manager Dustin Larson selected the sharp shooter in the 11th round (No. 84 overall). Heading into POH6, Stamkos is without question the face of the Branson franchise (and perhaps the most sought after fantasy player in the world). Steven will likely need to improve on his 91-point 2010-11 season if the Bull Frogs are going to finish in the top-six.

LW-Ilya Kovalchuk

Larson went ahead and took the most talented player on the board after winning the right's to the No. 1 pick in the POH draft in this spring's lottery. Will the Bull Frogs get the worthless sack of fuck that caused Winnipeg GM Joel Hafnor to trade him for two pieces of lint and the corpse of goaltender Marty Turco last year? Or will they get the man who scored 31 points in 33 games after the All-Star break? Kovie will have a lot to do with Branson's success (or failure) in POH6.

D-Ryan Whitney

Whitney was on pace for 63 points in 2010-11 before sustaining an injury that kept him out of 47 games. If he continues on that torrid pace in POH6, Branson will have themselves a dynamic game changer on the blue-line. Look up and down the rosters of the six playoff teams from last year, and almost every one of them had an impact defenseman.