Pre-Season Preview: #1 Vancouver Villains

Coach: Brandon Svitak

Trophy Case: POH5 Champions---POH4 Fleury Division Winner---POH4 Associate's Cup Winner---POH4 Manager of the Year

 POH5 Regular Season Finish: 3rd

Postseason Finish: POH Champions

Pre-Season Rank
Forwards: 3rd

Defensemen: 1st

Goaltenders: 2nd

Coaching Pedigree: 2nd

Overall: 1st

Projected Win Total: 102

Keepers:
C Sidney Crosby (3rd Year in Vancouver)
C Henrik Sedin (3rd Year)

RW Marian Gaborik (3rd Year)
D Mike Green  (3rd Year)
G Roberto Luongo (3rd Year)

Outlook
What can you say about Brandon Svitak? Since joining the league prior to the POH4 season, the guy has dominated the entire landscape of the league. He obliterated through the POH4 season at 119-40 before losing in the semi-finals to the eventual champion Winnipeg Wasps. He came back in POH5, weathered a season ending concussion to his best player Sidney Crosby, and still won the league. Svitak lives up to his team's name, as nobody in the league would ever really consider grabbing a beer with the guy, but few could dismiss his accomplished two-year run as mere luck. The defending champions come back with another strong club. The first thing about this group that catches your eye is the defensive corps, which figures to be the best in the league. Mike Green, Shea Weber and Kris Letang are all No. 1-type blue liners, and Vancouver possesses all three. You will be quite lucky to steal that category from the Villains all season. The goaltending isn't what it was in POH5, and that has to be cause for concern in Vancouver. Yes, Luongo returns and should be as steady as always, but Corey Crawford and Dwayne Roloson are nowhere near the Fleury-Quick duo of a year ago. Questions still circle Sidney Crosby, who has begun the year on the injured reserved, but can be activated at any time because he ended last year on the IR. Svitak figures to be in the playoffs with or without Crosby, and the addition of Sid the Kid will only make the Villains more dangerous. Svitak could be in for another big year, as his decorated trophy case continues to grow.

Players to Watch:

G-Corey Crawford
Crawford excelled last season after wrestling the No. 1 job away from Marty Turco in Chicago. He is now expected to anchor the net for what should be a very, very good Blackhawks team this season. Will the sudden expectations be too much for this kid to handle, or will he continue where he left off in 2010-11? The Villains will certainly be hoping for the latter, as a second reliable goaltending option will be necessary for a repeat.

RW-Marian Gaborik
Gaborik was limited by injury last season, as he posted just 48 points in 62 games. Svitak chose to bring the Czech sniper back for another go thanks in large part to the addition of professional set up man Brad Richards in New York. Gaborik figures to return to his familiar 40-goal form. Gaborik will provide the finishing touch in Vancouver, while teammate Henrik Sedin should rack up the assists. Whichever way you look at it, the Villain offense figures to be quite potent.

C-Sidney Crosby

The Kid was exceptional last season, scoring 34 goals and 66 points before his season ended after just 41 games played. The Penguins are opting to be especially careful with their most prized possession. For many fantasy clubs around the country, this is probably cause for concern. But for GM Brandon Svitak, the absence of Crosby won't be keeping the Villains out of contention. Remember, this team won the championship without Crosby, so to count them out for a No. 1 seed or a Fleury division title would be foolish. But watch for the return or Crosby, because when that day comes all bets are off...the Villains will be a wrecking ball.

Pre-Season Preview: #2 NWT Moose

 

Coach: Jared Stewart

Trophy Case: Nothing
POH5 Regular Season Finish: 6th

Postseason Finish: First Round Loss

Pre-Season Rank
Forwards: 1st

Defensemen: 4th
Goaltenders: 8th

Coaching Pedigree: 6th

Overall: 2nd

Projected Win Total: 95

Keepers:
C Brad Richards (2nd Year in NWT)
LW Alexander Ovechkin (3rd Year)

LW Daniel Sedin (3rd Year)
D Nicklas Lidstrom (2nd Year)
G Jonas Hiller (2nd Year)

Outlook
Of the five managers in Princes of Hockey who have yet to win a Prince's Pot Championship, it is GM Jared Stewart who most suspect will be next in line to hoist the trophy. Entering his third season, Stewart has built an intimidating nucleus in the Northwest Territories, including Daniel Sedin, Alexander Ovechkin, Brad Richards and Nicklas Lidstrom. The Moose, who have had issues in net for each the past two seasons, addressed the problem by spending their first round pick this season on young Pekka Rinne, who figures to be the goaltender of the future in NWT. Offensively, the Moose built around Sedin, Ovechkin and Richards by adding talented forwards Mikko Koivu, David Krejci, Alex Tanguay and Tomas Plekanec. On defense, Tobias Enstrom could be a future keeper with Lidstrom knocking on the door of retirement. With the return of Jonas Hiller after his vertigo issues last year, the team will have a formidable 1-2 punch of Rinne-Hiller. Jonathan Bernier is the teams No. 3 goaltender, and it will be interesting to see whether Stewart elects to find a less talented starter, or stick with Bernier, who likely won't start more than 30 times this year. The talent is certainly in place for Stewart and NWT to contend not only for a Rathje Division crown, but perhaps a Prince's Pot when all is said and done.

Players to Watch:

G-Pekka Rinne

Stewart was thrilled to see Rinne fall to No. 5 at this year's draft. Rinne is a Vezina favorite, and gives the Moose immediate respectability in the goaltending department after struggling in POH5. In the final year of his contract in Nashville, Rinne will be fighting hard to prove he deserves a monster contract. If Rinne has a big year, it will finally make NWT a well-rounded organization.

 

D-Nicklas Lidstrom
Lidstrom has been a cornerstone of the NWT franchise since the league switched to its keeper format in POH4. But with the seven-time Norris Trophy winner turning 42 in the spring, many wonder how much longer we'll be seeing No. 5 patrolling Hockeytown. He can tie Bobby Orr for the all-time Norris Trophies won this season, so there is little doubt Lidstrom will be motivated enough to produce at an all-star level. The question is, what does Stewart plan to do about replacing this legend should he walk away at season's end? Look for the Moose to pursue potential keepers as the season progresses.

C-Brad Richards
Richards was the most coveted free agent of the offseason, and after being pursued heavily by several clubs he chose the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. Now Richards will play alongside all-star Marian Gaborik, who has the  finishing touch Richards is looking for. Once these two start clicking, it's going to be a thing of beauty. Don't be surprised if Richards surpasses the 70-assist plateau in his first season with the Rangers.