Tribune reporter Bob Foltman breaks down all 30 NHL teams and offers his picks for season awards and the playoffs.
Western Conference
CENTRAL DIVISION
Detroit Red Wings
Coach: Dave Lewis.
2001-02 record: 51-17-10-4, 116 points.
Playoff result: Won Stanley Cup.
Key additions: G Curtis Joseph, LW Henrik Zetterberg.
Outlook: No Scotty Bowman, no Dominik Hasek, no Steve Yzerman (at least for a while). No problem, Wings are still loaded with talent, young and old.
St. Louis Blues
Coach: Joel Quenneville.
2001-02 record: 43-27-8-4, 98 points.
Playoff result: Lost second round.
Key additions: None.
Outlook: Chris Pronger is out until January, both goalies missed most of the preseason with injuries and Doug Weight may not be 100 percent. St. Louis has issues.
Blackhawks
Coach: Brian Sutter.
2001-02 record: 41-27-13-1, 96 points.
Playoff result: Lost in first round.
Key additions: RW Theo Fleury, LW Sergei Berezin, D Nathan Dempsey, D Jason Strudwick.
Outlook: Fleury’s suspension deals blow to proposed scoring line of Fleury, Berezin and Alex Zhamnov.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Coach: Dave King.
2001-02 record: 22-47-8-5, 57 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key additions: C Andrew Cassels, D Luke Richardson, LW Rick Nash.
Outlook: The Blue Jackets took a step back last year, they’ll be better this season, but not close to playoff contention.
Nashville Predators
Coach: Barry Trotz.
2001-02 record: 28-41-13-0, 69 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key additions: LW Brent Gilchrist, C Pascal Trepanier.
Outlook: The Predators raised season-ticket prices and offered a refund on the increase if they don’t make the playoffs. They’d better keep the money handy.
NORTHWEST DIVISION
Colorado Avalanche
Coach: Bob Hartley.
2001-02 record: 45-28-8-1, 99 points.
Playoff result: Lost in third round.
Key addition: D Derek Morris.
Outlook: One of the few teams that can trade a player like Chris Drury and not miss a beat. Morris is a future Norris Trophy winner.
Edmonton Oilers
Coach: Craig MacTavish.
2001-02 record: 38-28-12-4, 92 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key addition: C Jiri Dopita.
Outlook: Oilers just missed out on the playoffs last season, and this season G Tommy Salo lifts them into the postseason.
Vancouver Canucks
Coach: Marc Crawford.
2001-02 record: 42-30-7-3, 94 points.
Playoff result: Lost in first round.
Key addition: D Sami Salo.
Outlook: The Canucks had Detroit on the ropes–and then were knocked out. Goaltending will determine whether they get another chance.
Calgary Flames
Coach: Greg Gilbert.
2001-02 record: 32-35-12-3, 79 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key additions: C Chris Drury, C Stephane Yelle, RW Martin Gelinas.
Outlook: Flames’ additions–especially Drury–will help Jarome Iginla and keep Calgary in the playoff race to the end.
Minnesota Wild
Coach: Jacques Lemaire.
2001-02 record: 26-35-12-9, 73 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key addition: C Cliff Ronning.
Outlook: Wild will be tough to play against and Marian Gaborik is a big-time talent, but he doesn’t have much help yet.
PACIFIC DIVISION
San Jose Sharks
Coach: Darryl Sutter.
2001-02 record: 44-27-8-3, 99 points.
Playoff result: Lost in second round.
Key additions: None.
Outlook: Sharks head into the season with No. 1 goalie Evgeni Nabokov and defenseman Brad Stuart unsigned.
Dallas Stars
Coach: Dave Tippett.
2001-02 record: 36-28-13-5, 90 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key additions: RW Bill Guerin, RW Scott Young, G Ron Tugnutt.
Outlook: Tippett will let his creative players do their thing. Tugnutt added as insurance for starter Marty Turco.
Phoenix Coyotes
Coach: Bob Francis.
2001-02 record: 40-27-9-6, 95 points.
Playoff result: Lost in first round.
Key additions: RW Tony Amonte, G Brian Boucher.
Outlook: Amonte gives Phoenix more scoring. G Sean Burke was an MVP candidate last season but will be pressed by Boucher.
Los Angeles Kings
Coach: Andy Murray.
2001-02 record: 40-27-11-4, 95 points.
Playoff result: Lost in first round.
Key additions: None.
Outlook: Kings are hoping to improve with players from their system. Need to find someone to take pressure off top line of Jason Allison, Adam Deadmarsh and Ziggy Palffy.
Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Coach: Mike Babcock.
2001-02 record: 29-42-8-3, 69 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key additions: C Adam Oates, RW Petr Sykora.
Outlook: Ducks will be better, but West is too strong to make a playoff appearance.
Eastern Conference
ATLANTIC DIVISION
Philadelphia Flyers
Coach: Ken Hitchcock.
2001-02 record: 42-27-10-3, 97 points.
Playoff result: Lost first round.
Key additions: G Robert Esche, C Michal Handzus.
Outlook: Flyers underachieved with laid-back coach Bill Barber. Disciplinarian Hitchcock comes in to crack the whip on talented group.
New Jersey Devils
Coach: Pat Burns.
2001-02 record: 41-28-9-4, 95 points.
Playoff result: Lost first round.
Key additions: LW Jeff Friesen, D Oleg Tverdovsky.
Outlook: Pat Burns returns to the bench after a long absence. Devils were stunned in first round by upstart Carolina last season. That doesn’t figure to happen this year.
New York Rangers
Coach: Bryan Trottier.
2001-02 record: 36-38-4-4, 80 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key additions: C Bobby Holik, D Darius Kasparaitis.
Outlook: This has to be the year the Rangers buy their way into the playoffs, doesn’t it?
New York Islanders
Coach: Peter Laviolette.
2001-02 record: 42-28-8-4, 96 points.
Playoff result: Lost first round.
Key addition: D Mattias Timander.
Outlook: C Alexei Yashin has to carry the Islanders while heart-and-soul C Michael Peca recovers from knee injury.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Coach: Rick Kehoe.
2001-02 record: 28-41-8-5, 69 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key addition: C Alexandre Daigle.
Outlook: Cash-strapped Penguins couldn’t do much in off-season but wave players goodbye. Part-owner Mario Lemieux will have to turn back clock to early 1990s to sniff postseason.
NORTHEAST DIVISION
Montreal Canadiens
Coach: Michel Therrien.
2001-02 record: 36-31-12-3, 87 points.
Playoff result: Lost second round.
Key addition: RW Mariusz Czerkawski.
Outlook: Canadiens rode standout G Jose Theodore and Saku Koivu’s inspirational comeback into the second round. Having Koivu for a whole season may make the difference in tight division.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Coach: Pat Quinn.
2001-02 record: 43-25-10-4, 100 points.
Playoff result: Lost conference final.
Key additions: G Ed Belfour, D Robert Svehla, RW Tom Fitzgerald.
Outlook: Injured F Gary Roberts will be missed in dressing room. Questionable defense will keep Belfour busy.
Ottawa Senators
Coach: Jacques Martin.
2001-02 record: 39-27-9-7, 94 points.
Playoff result: Lost second round.
Key additions: None.
Outlook: Ottawa may benefit more than any other team from crackdown on obstruction, especially in playoffs.
Boston Bruins
Coach: Robbie Ftorek.
2001-02 record: 43-24-6-9, 101 points.
Playoff result: Lost in first round.
Key addition: G Steve Shields.
Outlook: Bruins lost 41 goals when Bill Guerin went to Dallas. D Kyle McLaren is in a contract squabble, and Shields is trying to prove he can be a No. 1 goaltender again.
Buffalo Sabres
Coach: Lindy Ruff.
2001-02 record: 35-35-11-1, 82 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key addition: LW Jochen Hecht.
Outlook: Buffalo will be strong defensively, get better than average goaltending but won’t make the playoffs and may have trouble making payroll.
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Washington Capitals
Coach: Bruce Cassidy.
2001-02 record: 36-33-11-2, 85 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key addition: C Robert Lang, W Mike Grier.
Outlook: New coach Cassidy will try to get along with Jaromir Jagr and Lang by letting them run loose. Too much talent not to contend, but injuries always plagued franchise.
Carolina Hurricanes
Coach: Paul Maurice.
2001-02 record: 35-26-16-5, 91 points.
Playoff result: Lost Stanley Cup final.
Key additions: None.
Outlook: Hurricanes surprised the NHL last season by making Cup final but were a solid team that worked hard. That will be the model again, but the result won’t be the same.
Florida Panthers
Coach: Mike Keenan.
2001-02 record: 22-44-10-6, 60 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key additions: D Dmitry Yushkevich, D Jay Bouwmeester.
Outlook: Panthers will improve with a full season under Keenan. Bouwmeester could develop into a stud defenseman.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Coach: John Tortorella.
2001-02 record: 27-40-11-4, 69 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key addition: LW Ruslan Fedotenko.
Outlook: Tampa Bay has one of the best goaltenders in the world in Nikolai Khabibulin but not enough to contend for the playoffs.
Atlanta Thrashers
Coach: Curt Fraser.
2001-02 record: 19-47-11-5, 54 points.
Playoff result: Did not qualify.
Key additions: LW Shawn McEachern,
LW Slava Kozlov, D Richard Smehlik.
Outlook: Kozlov could be a positive influence for Ilya Kovalchuk, who along with rookie of the year Dany Heatley may be the only thing worth watching in Atlanta.
Predicted award winners
HART (MVP)
Sergei Fedorov , Detroit
NORRIS (top defenseman)
Rob Blake, Colorado
VEZINA (top goaltender)
Olaf Kolzig, Washington
ROSS (top scorer)
Peter Forsberg, Colorado
RICHARD (top goal scorer)
Paul Kariya, Anaheim
CALDER (top rookie)
Tyler Arnason, Blackhawks
Eastern Conference playoff predictions
FIRST ROUND
Philadelphia (1) over Carolina (8)
Washington (2) over Ottawa (7)
New York Rangers (6) over Montreal (3)
New Jersey (4) over Toronto (5)
SECOND ROUND
Philadelphia over New York Rangers
New Jersey over Washington
THIRD ROUND
New Jersey over Philadelphia
Western Conference playoff predictions
FIRST ROUND
Colorado (1) over Edmonton (8)
Detroit (2) over Blackhawks (7)
San Jose (3) over Phoenix (6)
Dallas (5) over St. Louis (4)
SECOND ROUND
Colorado over Dallas
Detroit over San Jose
THIRD ROUND
Colorado over Detroit
Stanley Cup Finals
Colorado over New Jersey
