For many people around the world, the beginning of 2011 elicits the creation of a list of new year’s resolutions. Many scoff that odes to stop smoking or lose 20 lbs. are pipe dreams, but what’s wrong with a little optimism as the world cleans the slate of its calendar?
With that in mind, we decided to recommend a few changes (or sometimes with successful teams, what not to change) for each NHL team. We’ll go division by division in alphabetical order, because one of our resolutions is to be fair.
Click here for the Atlantic Division post.
Click here for the Central Division post.
Northeast Division new year’s resolutions
Boston
Improve home cooking
What’s the point to earning home ice advantage for a round or two if you’re better away than at home? The Bruins currently have two more wins on the road so far this season, which is a good sign for their heartiness but a bad one for their play in front of their own crowd.
Get more out of offense
Boston is the best in the league at limiting their opponents’ scoring. If they could get more out of rookie Tyler Seguin (13 points in 35 games) and get Marc Savard up to speed (five points in 14 games with a -8 rating), they could be a true contender.
Buffalo
Tank?
Considering the Sabres’ struggles when it comes to luring big name free agents - although a possible ownership change could alter that - so maybe the best way to get better is by adding blue chip prospects. Their current playoff picture looks cloudy at best, so why not get a better pick?
Get a better backup next summer
Ryan Miller is an all-world goalie and probably likes a lot of starts, but what a goalie enjoys and what is actually good for them could be very different. Getting Miller a better backup than shaky Patrick Lalime would be nice.
Montreal
Generate more offense
The combination of Carey Price’s great goalie and Jacques Martin’s defensive system helped the Habs limit opponents’ scoring and develop a great penalty kill. Unfortunately, that system plus limited offensive talent is forcing them to struggle to score. Maybe the addition of James Wisniewski will help spark more offense.
Ottawa
Tank
The Senators have settled for middle of the pack finishes and mediocre playoff runs for a while now, but what have they really accomplished? Their roster is in serious need for a reboot and the draft is a better way to do that.
Following that logic, Ottawa should get rid of pricey veterans. I’d be against moving Jason Spezza because he’s in his prime, but his big contract makes him expendable. The most logical moves would be shipping out Sergei Gonchar, Alexander Kovalev and possibly even Daniel Alfredsson. It’s hard to say if they have much market value, though.
Toronto
Acknowledge reality
The Maple Leafs were once known as an expensive team that couldn’t get over the hump in the playoffs. Now they’re an expensive team that cannot even get a sniff of the postseason. It’s clear that they’re “have their cake and eat it too” approach of adding expensive players in their late-20s while simultaneously trying to rebuild isn’t working.
Trade for prospects instead of outright tanking
The problem for the Leafs is that they won’t see the benefits from another putrid season until the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft because of that Phil Kessel trade. Tanking would only make that transaction more embarrassing.
Instead, the Leafs should parlay their limited assets into draft picks. That will be easier said than done, though, naturally.