Nothing Cute To Say About the Southeast

Atlanta - A million tongues have grown tired over the years, always picking those young but plucky underdogs to "take the next step" every year since 2003 and grab that elusive playoff spot. Somehow, there are always different voices trumpeting the cause. I just don't see it.
At their heart, the Thrashers are a team with an explosive offense that can have fans on the edge of their seats, always thin on defense, and porous for any number of reasons in net. This year is no different. Ilya Kovalchuk will threaten the 50-goal plateau, while Marian Hossa and Slava Kozlov will flit around the ice almost at will to put up their points. However, after Jon Sim, you can't expect a lot of production from the third or fourth lines. Marc Savard's departure to Boston will be sorely missed. The addition of Steve Rucchin as a free agent from the Rangers complements Scott Mellany in the "gritty veteran looking to provide leadership to a young team" department, but you have to wonder how both will hold up. Furthermore, if your best defenseman is named Greg DeVries, you've got problems. In net, new signee Johan Hedberg is living his seventh or eighth life, and Kari Lehtonen is like that sign in the Wawa deli department displaying the number of days between accidents.
Even though the defending champs won't be as dominating this year, there are three teams who will take advantage of Atlanta's freewheeling ways. Even though the supposed hallmark of the new NHL is an emphasis on offense, you still need defense and goaltending to make the playoffs. The Thrashers are in danger of becoming the NHL's version of the Chicago Cubs. Prediction: 4th place, 35 wins

Carolina - The trouble with winning the Cup one year, is that a certain segment of fans and analysts immediately seize on the previous year's winners to repeat, always shaking heads in disbelief when it inevitably does not occur. With 30 teams, more parity, and 16 teams in the postseason with winning records, it is virtually impossible for one team to repeat its run to the Cup.
Still, the Hurricanes are a very talented team with the right balance of veteran experience (especially on the backline, where experience tends to shine through), exciting forwards who should all hit their peak at the same time, and a goaltender with a tremendous upside. Aside from losing Aaron Ward (Rangers), Mark Recchi (back to Pittsburgh) and Doug Weight (back to St. Louis) the lineup remains unchanged. There are a few cracks in the armor, though. One is the Cup hangover. Another is that there are two other talented teams in the division (Florida and Tampa Bay) out to prove last year's struggles were mere flukes. What could cause a problem is, how can Cam Ward possibly repeat last year's performance? He's been to the highest of the high so early in his career, how can he deal with the pressure of such early success without a sophomore or junior year slip? Ward now has to bear the burden of being a starting goaltender, since Martin Gerber left and John Grahame is simply not a viable starter.
The 'Canes won't repeat, and they won't put up a 50-plus win season this year, but they're one year older and one year wiser. They won't need to push the pedal to the metal to prove themselves. Prediction: 1st place.

Florida - Discounting the front office turmoil, the Panthers pulled off the double take moments of the summer by swapping Roberto Luongo for Todd Bertuzzi and Alex Auld, then bringing in Ed Belfour.
Looking at this lineup, it's hard to believe the 2005-2006 edition had trouble scoring for most of the year, ending up in fourth place. The addition of Bertuzzi is a huge step in the right direction - he should effectively cover for reluctant big man Chris Gratton's five-year, four-team zombie act. I have no reason to believe Olli Jokinen can't repeat his goal-scoring frenzy from a year ago, or that Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk and Martin Gelinas won't contribute the same brilliant mixture of veteran savvy which has kept them in the league this long. Florida's defense is a good mixture of the hulking and the smooth, exemplified by Steve Montador and Ruslan Salei. As it is for most teams, goaltending will be an issue. Alex Auld is a competent backup, but with the move to a more offensive-oriented Eastern Conference, the likelihood of turning in a stinker increases. Ed Belfour...yeeaaahh, Ed Belfour...he'll turn in 10 great games, 10 horrific ones, and the rest will be dispassionate. If ever there was a player stealing a paycheck, Belfour is the prime suspect.
A lot of upside for the team who plays on the edge of the Everglades. Who knows if it will all come together?
Prediction: 2nd place and a low playoff seed.

Tampa Bay - Over the last two seasons, the Lightning have seen the peak and the valley, all at Ludicrous Speed. They aren't the first team to win it all one year and drop out of sight the next, and they won't be the last.
2006-2007 is the moment of truth for this resurrected franchise. They can either take the lessons learned from the last two campaigns and grow from it, or they can collapse under the malaise and discontent that an abrasive coach like John Tortorella can breed after too long. I'm going on a limb to say the Lightning will not be anything close to the world-beaters they were in 2003-2004, or even the team who bowed out in the first round last year. They've lost a key forward in Fredrik Modin to Columbus, and saw John Grahame move to division rival Carolina. Nikita Alexeev and Vinnie Prospal are pale substitutes for Modin and the retired Dave Andreychuk, but all is not lost with Lecavalier, Richards and St. Louis prowling in the offensive zone. Defensively, Tampa has young if unproven talent in Doug Janik and Paul Ranger to back up Dan Boyle, Cory Sarich, Nolan Pratt and Filip Kuba. Signing Luke Richardson, limping along in his 19th season, was not wise. He would serve the team better by sitting in the press box most games and relaying his observations to the young defense. Prediction: 3rd place, fighting for the final playoff spot.

Washington - The horror show in the nation's capital that marked Washington Capitals hockey from 1974 to 1982 has returned full force.
Alex Ovechkin is the only reason anyone in Maryland, DC, or Northern Virginia should venture into the Verizon Center to watch a game. If I were in charge of the Caps, it would be a team regenerated by a huge funeral pyre. By a slim margin, Dainius Zubrus, Richard Zednik, Donald Brashear and Olaf Kolzig will survive the firy purge, but everyone else on the ice and in the front office shouldn't wear any flammables. The flames will be stoked by the current home, road, and third jerseys, and rise until they've consumed Ted Leonsis, who still treats this hockey team like a cute little afterthought from the center of his technological empire. There's no place to go but up, but who knows how long it will take for these Phoenix to rise from the ashes? I feel bad for Olie the Goalie, whose professional loyalty won't allow him to cut and run after years of abuse propping up a second-class team. He'd probably shave off half a goal from his average if they just pour the bronze casting right over him while in uniform, letting him guard the crease in petrified form.
There will be a lot of cheering in downtown DC this year - because Rangers, Islanders, Devils, and Flyers fans will buy a majority of tickets and make the trip, filling about half the Caps home games with passionate, interested customers. Prediction: 5th place. Will fight the Penguins and Islanders for dead last in the conference.