A look at veterans under pressure

When the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup last June, the onus was put on All-Star starting goalie Roberto Luongo. Over his 351 minutes, 24 seconds of ice time during the Finals, the 32-year-old managed a .891 save percentage -- well below average. Despite two shutout wins in a seven-game series, Luongo felt the pressure; enough pressure to eventually lose his chance at the championship.

As the 2011-2012 season ramps up, let's take a look at some other players who should be feeling the pressure.

We started with number 1, as in Vancouver's number one in Luongo; but the Chicago Blackhawks' number 2, Duncan Keith, will certainly be feeling the pressure following a disappointing defending season. Last season, the veteran and former Norris Trophy winner dropped seven goals and 17 assists off his production. He still leads his team's blue line but his decrease in production was well documented. Much like...

Alex Ovechkin, who dropped 18 goals and six assists off his point totals from the previous season. For yet another season he will try to shed the 'playoff bust tag' and will have an improved supporting cast which should help him out. Not only did the team add gritty, supplemental players like Joel Ward, Roman Hamrlik, Jeff Halpern and Troy Brouwer, they also added a top notch starting goalie in Tomas Vokoun. Not all the pressure will lie on Ovechkin but he will need to carry the team at times, just like fellow Russian...

Evgeni Malkin, who will carry the torch for the Pittsburgh Penguins with Sidney Crosby still on the shelf. After playing in only 43 games last season, Malkin posted the lowest totals of his career by far -- his 15 goals were 13 goals shy of his previous low while his 37 points were 40 shy of the season before. In short, he will be counted upon to score like a MVP, just like reigning Hart Trophy winner...

Corey Perry. Following a 50-goal season, the Anaheim Ducks will need their top line to produce more than ever. In fact, the team is already worried about their secondary scoring despite having Saku Koivu, Teemu Selanne and Andrew Cogliano as part of their supporting cast. Perry's 50 goals represented 21 percent of his entire team's output, which was surprisingly less than the 18 percent that...

Ilya Kovalchuk's goals totaled last season for New Jersey. The free agent prize of 2010 turned a guaranteed playoff team -- a team which made the show the previous 13 seasons -- into a fringe playoff team. In his second full season in New Jersey, he was passed over for the captaincy in an effort to take some pressure off of him. Nevertheless, he will be expected to elevate from 31 goals -- his lowest total since his 29-goal rookie year -- to his career average of one goal every .52 games. As the top UFA in 2010, all eyes were on him to succeed, just like they will be on the 2011 UFA prize...

Brad Richards, who already has a goal and assist through his club's first two games. While that production would yield an 82-point season, it apparently was not good enough for the New York Rangers to take home a 'W' in either game. For the $60 million the organization is paying him, they expect their team to win a Stanley Cup. Henrik Lundqvist only has a few years left of playing at an elite level, the clock will be ticking. Just like it currently is ticking for...

Dwayne Roloson, who at age 41 (42 this week) continues to defy all odds. Last season, he won 18 of his 34 starts with the Tampa Bay Lightning en route to an unbelievable playoff run which fell one win short of the Stanley Cup Finals. For years the team's offensive core of Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, as well as Steven Stamkos more recently, played at a higher level but it was only until Roloson gave them adequate netminding that they re-emerged as a contender. Likewise, the Philadelphia Flyers expect a similar result now that they acquired...

Ilya Bryzgalov. Following years in a defensive-minded system under coach Dave Tippett, Bryzgalov will have a lot of weight on his shoulders to get his new team that elusive Stanley Cup. Over the last two seasons he posted save percentages of .920 and .921, which are a bit higher than his career average of .916. He will be expected to at least top the .913 SV% of last year's trioka, or GM Paul Holmgren could ship him out of town, just like he did to...

Jeff Carter, aka the "best center Rick Nash has ever played with." Regardless of his switch to the wing in Philadelphia, he will exclusively pivot the top line. Carter will be in the spotlight with unnecessary pressure put on him to get Columbus back into the playoffs. Better yet, he will be the scapegoat should the team not make the playoffs and go far...

Just like Luongo was last season, and still is.

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