NHL preview: Jets comeback, conference breakdowns, key dates

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Beyond the early crackdown on dangerous hits, the biggest change in the NHL this season is geographical.

Winnipeg is back after the Atlanta Thrashers were sold, relocated and reincarnated as the Jets, resurrecting the name of the franchise that abandoned the Manitoba capital 15 years ago for the Arizona desert.

The move, however, came too late to revamp the 2011-12 schedule based on realignment, so the Jets — for this season — remain in the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division.

Realignment is coming, however, though exactly how it will sort itself out is anybody’s guess. Options range from a simple East-West swap to a total restructuring that reduces the league’s divisions from six to four, and everything from travel costs to competitive balance to rivalries and prestige comes into play.

Moving Winnipeg to the Central Division would be the simplest scenario, as three teams there — Detroit, Columbus and Nashville — are lobbying to move to the East. But realignment also gives the NHL a good opportunity to take better advantage of natural rivalries and to fix an existing problem or two.

Put Winnipeg in the Northwest Division, for example, and it joins three others from Western Canada. Two more moves could then follow — Colorado to the Pacific, Dallas to the Central — that would significantly reduce travel times for teams in those two divisions.

But which Central team to move is a huge issue.

Detroit has

clout and reportedly has been lobbying the NHL for a change in conferences for years.

That, however, would put yet another of the NHL’s glamour franchises in the East, leaving only one Original Six team in the West. While some teams might like the idea of improving their own playoff chances with the Red Wings out of the picture, almost all would suffer at the box office with the loss of a premier draw.

Finally, there’s another variable in the mix.

If another troubled franchise — Phoenix? — ends up in a different location — Quebec City? — maybe realignment takes care of itself that way.

Or maybe it just gets more complicated.

Old faces, new places

CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF, Sabres

New ownership opened the treasury, and the former Sharks defenseman ended up with a 10-year, $40 million contract.

BRAD RICHARDS, Rangers

Richards wanted Dallas in his rearview mirror and ended up signing a $60 million, nine-year deal. No free agent pocketed more.

JAROMIR JAGR, Flyers

After three seasons in Russia, this one-time scoring machine is back in the NHL at age 39 wearing the jersey of a longtime rival.

ILYA BRYZGALOV, Flyers

Uncertainty in goal finally got to the Flyers, who acquired Bryzgalov from Phoenix in a pre-draft trade, then signed him to a nine-year, $51 million deal.

MIKE RICHARDS, Kings

The Philadelphia Flyers cleaned house, and their former captain found a new home in Los Angeles, where both his skills and leadership are most welcome.

JEFF CARTER, Blue Jackets

Another exiled Flyer, Carter — and his 11-year, $58 million contract extension — was acquired to be the star center that Rick Nash has never had.

The coaching carousel

The NHL bench bosses who weren’t there last season:

Dallas Stars: Glen Gulatzan

Florida Panthers: Kevin Dineen

Minnesota Wild: Mike Yeo

New Jersey Devils: Peter DeBoer

Ottawa Senators: Paul MacLean

Winnipeg Jets: Claude Noel

Key dates

Thursday

Opening day of regular season

Jan. 2

Winter Classic, Rangers at Flyers

Jan. 28-29

All-Star Weekend, Ottawa, Ontario

Feb. 27

Trade deadline

April 7

End of regular season

Western Conference preview

1. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Chicago came within an OT goal of knocking out Vancouver last spring, and no dismantling followed. All their top stars again are aligned, and adding Daniel Carcillo, Sean O’Donnell and Jamal Mayers raises the nuisance factor.

2. SAN JOSE SHARKS

With Brent Burns on the blue line, G.M. Doug Wilson has assembled a lineup that better balances offense and defense. Fewer question marks in key spots, but until San Jose gets it done on the ice, that smidgen of doubt remains.

3. VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond both start the season with lingering injuries, but once the Canucks are healthy, talent remains that brought them to within one game of a Stanley Cup title. But will that close call motivate or demoralize?

4. LOS ANGELES KINGS

Better late than never as long-term contract for Drew Doughty avoids messy situation. After adding scoring punch — Mike Richards, Simon Gagne — to impressive defense corps and goaltending, Kings narrow the gap behind Sharks.

5. DETROIT RED WINGS

The Red Wings might take a step backward this season with Ian White replacing Brian Rafalski, but it’s a small one. Any team with Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg is still a legitimate contender.

6. NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Barry Trotz continues to do more with less, but any coach would be happy with goalie Pekka Rinne as well as defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter as building blocks. Offense again a mystery, but somehow goals materialize.

7. ANAHEIM DUCKS

A team with Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan shouldn’t be on the cusp of making the playoffs, but that could be the case. A healthy Jonas Hiller and growth from Cam Fowler should get the Ducks into the postseason.

8. ST. LOUIS BLUES

The Blues have tempered their youth — Chris Stewart, T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund — with veteran experience in additions Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner. Injuries shouldn’t destroy playoff dreams again.

9. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Critical time in franchise history, so Columbus went all in taking on Jeff Carter’s contract, throwing a boatload of money at now-suspended defenseman James Wisniewski. Look for them to fall just short of the playoffs.

10. MINNESOTA WILD

Ex-Sharks Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi both have something to prove and should bolster the offense, though maybe not as much as the front office is counting on. Goaltending solid, but without Brent Burns, defense is suspect.

11. CALGARY FLAMES

Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff remain, but the blue line appears to have taken a step backward with departure of Robyn Regehr in trade with Buffalo. Lack of depth makes playoffs a long shot once again.

12. EDMONTON OILERS

At some point, the Oilers’ bright future will become their present as Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and latest No. 1 pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins mature. But it’s a lot to ask this season even with Ryan Smyth adding a needed veteran presence.

13. DALLAS STARS

There’s plenty of talent here even without Brad Richards — Jamie Benn, Loui Eriksson, Brenden Morrow. But defensive depth and stellar goaltending are still lacking at a time when hockey is struggling to regain market visibility.

14. PHOENIX COYOTES

Coach Dave Tippett has shown he is capable of accomplishing much, but with Ilya Bryzgalov in Philadelphia and Ed Jovanovski in Florida, it’s hard to see success on the ice while ownership problems fester.

15. COLORADO AVALANCHE

Pinning your goaltending hopes on ex-Capital Semyon Varlamov seems a tad risky, and at this point, it looks as if the Avalanche came out behind in the deal that brought Erik Johnson from St. Louis for Chris Stewart. Struggles ahead.

Eastern Conference preview

1. BOSTON BRUINS

Maybe goalie Tim Thomas won’t break his own NHL record for save percentage, but he can come close. Barring injury, no reason not to put the current champs at the top of the list.

2. WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Tomas Vokoun is an upgrade in goal, and third-line forward Joel Ward brings solid two-way support to star-studded cast. Speaking of which, Alexander Ovechkin has to be taking postseason failures personally by now, right?

3. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Sure, this depends on Sidney Crosby playing before Christmas. But the Penguins showed they could win without him last season, Evgeni Malkin starts the season healthy and James Neal has to get better.

4. BUFFALO SABRES

They may have overspent for Christian Ehrhoff and Ville Leino as they were digging into new owner Terry Pegula’s deep pockets, but that’s a seriously upgraded hockey team playing in front of always tough goalie Ryan Miller.

5. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

The one high-end NHL team whose makeover was even more drastic than the Sharks. Who knows how it will all mesh, but with Chris Pronger taking over as captain, don’t expect the nastiness to subside.

6. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Major turnaround last season wasn’t a fluke, but it will be hard to improve on with the departure of Simon Gagne and role player Sean Bergenheim. And does goalie Dwayne Roloson have another strong season in him?

7. NEW YORK RANGERS

No reason to think goalie Henrik Lundqvist won’t keep the Rangers in every game he plays and Brad Richards should be an offensive catalyst. Late decision to waive Sean Avery improves their chances.

8. MONTREAL CANADIENS

Andrei Markov’s return to blue line from injury should more than offset loss of James Wisniewski, but is Erik Cole enough to get offense back on track? Carey Price in net should be enough to return team to playoffs.

9. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The NHL’s most over-analyzed franchise will turn things around at some point, just not this year. Coach Ron Wilson is on Twitter, but reports are he’ll limit topics to pop culture. Smart thinking, but good luck with that.

10. CAROLINA HURRICANES

Calder Trophy-winner Jeff Skinner is a keeper, but Carolina could still be on the outside looking in when playoffs start, especially if past-his-prime Tomas Kaberle is the best they could do to bolster defense.

11. NEW JERSEY DEVILS

When Jacques Lemaire returned to the bench midway through last season, it looked as if the Devils might overcome a horrific start and sneak into the playoffs. They didn’t, Lemaire’s gone again, and so are their playoff hopes.

12. NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Things aren’t as dismal as they have been as Michael Grabner and John Tavares develop their offensive skills. But it’ll be interesting to see how Evgeni Nabokov handles being part of a losing culture.

13. WINNIPEG JETS

The excitement surrounding the team’s move from Atlanta should rev up talented players such as Evander Kane, Andrew Ladd and Zach Bogosian. But goaltending remains a question mark and the postseason an illusion.

14. FLORIDA PANTHERS

GM Dale Tallon worked wonders in Chicago and has ex-Blackhawks Brian Campbell and Kris Versteeg to help try to turn things around. Not likely to occur this season with Jose Theodore a step down in net.

15. OTTAWA SENATORS

With Chris Neil and Matt Carkner on the roster, did Ottawa need to add NHL penalty leader Zenon Konopka? To protect whom? Skill sets drop off after you get past Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek.

Odds to win the Cup

(Provided by Bodog.eu)

Vancouver Canucks          7/1

Washington Capitals          7/1

Boston Bruins          10/1

Pittsburgh Penguins          10/1

Philadelphia Flyers          11/1

San Jose Sharks          11/1

Chicago Blackhawks          12/1

Detroit Red Wings          12/1

Los Angeles Kings          14/1

Tampa Bay Lightning          16/1

Buffalo Sabres          18/1

Anaheim Ducks          25/1

Montreal Canadiens          25/1

Nashville Predators          28/1

New Jersey Devils          30/1

New York Rangers          30/1

Phoenix Coyotes          35/1

St. Louis Blues          35/1

Calgary Flames          40/1

Dallas Stars          40/1

Carolina Hurricanes          45/1

Toronto Maple Leafs          50/1

Winnipeg Jets          60/1

Colorado Avalanche          65/1

Edmonton Oilers          65/1

Ottawa Senators          70/1

Columbus Blue Jackets          75/1

Florida Panthers          75/1

Minnesota Wild          75/1

New York Islanders          80/1

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_19054565?source=rss