The NHL preview columns continue with the Northeast Division.
Other than super-goon Milan Lucic and rookie Tyler Seguin, none of the Bruins roster could be picked out of a police line-up and a few aging vets like Recchi will not keep them close. Luckily the entire division - as the annoying Pierre McGuire would say "sucks dirty pond water".
The Leafs, Habs and Senators will actually battle for a playoff spot depending on how they play each other over the regular season, but the talent level in the Northeast resembles a toxic waste dump for has been stars and unproven talent and, oh yeah, Brian Burke.
Buffalo Sabres - The Sabres have a terrific coach and deep farm system that has consistently put a quality product on the ice. Balanced scoring is essential for all teams and Lindy Ruff has a talented group to work with, which is more than enough to fend off my Habs and the bozos from Beantown. Vanek needs to regain that 40-goal scoring touch and a handful of others like Connolly and Hecht need to chip in 20 plus.
Ryan Miller is the ace of spades here and always a threat for the Vezina.
Montreal Canadiens - Seeing the magical march through last year's playoffs was no fluke and this will be a banner year for much maligned Carey Price. Their little hobbit forwards will keep them from any real success, but they can run out three good lines and hope for some help from a few youngsters. A healthy Markov and a buffed up PK Subban gives them strength on defence and they are playoff bound.
Boston Bruins - Unless Tyler Seguin pulls a Stamkos and posts about 40 or 50 goals, these guys have a lack of firepower. Hulking Chara has his weaknesses and can be exploited by quicker forwards, but still provides his unmatched physical dominance. Lucic is a freak that every team would like on their roster, but unless he can score 20 goals too he's just another grinder. Goaltending will be a mystery.
Ottawa Senators - They still have Jason Spezza, who I would have traded away three years ago, and an aging Alfredsson to provide some scoring and the fiery Mike Fisher will be a factor if he stays healthy. Kovalev is marching quickly into retirement mode and although folks like Chris Kelly add depth and grit, this is a team without enough talent.
The goaltending tandem of LeClair and Elliot is middle of the pack at best. It'll be a long year.
Toronto Maple Leafs - The team is strong on the blue-line although Phaneuf seems to be regressing and Komisarek is injury prone. Kaberle is still around to run the power play because Burke was too stubborn to trade him for prospects. Speaking of which, Nazem Kadri will soon be wishing he'd been drafted by anyone else than the Leafs. Unless you have fists of stone and prefer violence to victories then you're on the wrong roster.
Burke rounded out the team with some rugged forwards but porky little Phil Kessel can't carry the scoring load, unless he's at a buffet table.
The Flyers punched their way to a couple of cups in the early '70s but times have changed and knuckle dragging oafs like that cast of criminals no longer warrant a prayer at Lord Stanley's prize. Burke had some success a few years back with a tough club, but they were also laden with plenty of offensive firepower. His season will be full of heartache, pain and angry press conferences. Entertaining yes, but the Leafs' on-ice product will be the product of a hard-headed Irishman with a theory of winning based on a philosophy that most intelligent GMs have long since given up on. Overall, this is a terrible division that will yield few cup contenders and much hand wringing.
Unending devotion to some of these original six clubs is noble, but my friend in Watrous who has his rumpus room and a wonderful bar turned into a Boston Bruin shrine will be spending more time drinking away the losses than celebrating. With that said, I hope he has me over occasionally anyway because his taste in whiskey far outweighs his choice of NHL heroes.
As far as Burke goes - at least Cito Gaston went out of Toronto with class and a fairly successful season. Burke will leave on a gurney strapped into a straight jacket with a half empty bottle of Irish whiskey and a lot of empty unfulfilled promises to the hard-core fans of this once proud franchise. Where are you Dave Keon and Bob Pulford? Probably at Tim Hortons with Eddie Shack and George Armstrong.
