Blues need big year from Halak

After acquiring goaltender Jaroslav Halak from the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010 offseason, it looked like the St. Louis Blues had everything in place to return to the postseason. Unfortunately, the team ran into bad luck with injuries as well as some somewhat inconsistent goaltending from the man they thought would turn everything around and get the Blues back into the playoffs.

30 in 30: Winnipeg Jets

For Winnipeg, everything old is new again

Is Doughty a $7 million defenseman?

Drew Doughty wanted to be the highest paid player on the Kings roster. Throughout the summer, the organization balked at the restricted free agent’s demands. Out of desperation, the Kings blinked first, giving Doughty an eight-year, $56 million contract ($7 million AAV) on Thursday night. The still-progressing blue-liner is going to have to prove, over time, that he is worth that much.

30 in 30: Washington Capitals

Well-built Capitals the team to beat in East

Top 5 Hart Trophy candidates

Leading up to the regular season, we’ll be taking a look at some of the favorites for the major awards. Who are the top Hart Trophy candidates for the 2011-12 season?

30 in 30: Vancouver Canucks

After falling one win short of Cup glory, Canucks to bounce back

Who will be new playoff teams in 2011-12?

Last season there were three new teams to make the playoffs from the 2010 ‘second season’. That was the lowest total since 2001, when there were only two new playoff teams from the year prior. Prior to last season, there had been an average of five teams per year to make the playoffs that hadn’t made it the year before.

Put simply, there are new playoff teams every year. Of the 14 teams that failed to crack the top eight of the respective conference last season, who is the most likely to get in this year?

30 in 30: Toronto Maple Leafs

Will playoff drought end? It may come down to Reimer

Top 5 Vezina Trophy candidates

Leading up to the regular season, we’ll be taking a look at some of the favorites for the major awards. Who are the top Vezina Trophy candidates for the 2011-12 season?

Video: Flyers/Rangers madness

On a day where the Flyers and Rangers were supposed to be in the news because of the official announcement for the 2012 Winter Classic, things changed during tonight's preseason game at Wachovia Center. Not only did Philadelphia's Tom Sestito deliver a more-than-suspendable hit, but Wayne Simmonds was accused of shouting a homophobic slur at Sean Avery.

Sestito hit:

30 in 30: Tampa Bay Lightning

Resurgent Lightning look to build on momentum

Conversation with Evander Kane

This weekend I caught up with Jets forward Evander Kane to get some of his thoughts on the move to Winnipeg and the season ahead.

30 in 30: St. Louis Blues

Is this the year St. Louis finally puts it all together?

Will 2011 draftees continue trend?

Last Tuesday, the hockey world watched Ryan Nugent-Hopkins make his NHL debut. Generously listed at 6'0", 171 lbs, the 18-year-old center is expected to make the big show despite his not-quite-ready frame. Considering every forward selected first overall since 2005 has made the jump to their NHL team, why should Nugent-Hopkins not be expected to do the same?

30 in 30: San Jose Sharks

Team Teal moves chips to center of the table

Saturday Faceoff: Best U.S.-born player?

With Mike Modano’s retirement this week, we bring up the debate of who is the best U.S. hockey player of all-time. Is it Modano? Chris Chelios? Brian Leetch? Someone else? Patrick and I debate…

30 in 30: Pittsburgh Penguins

Healthy nucleus should translate to a run at Lord Stanley

Streit the right choice for Isles captaincy

The National Hockey League is a very broad and diverse league. Since the Miracle on Ice in 1980, it's doors have opened up to the likes of a non-strict North American based player pool. Today, there are countless number of players from countries all over the globe.

For Islanders defenseman Mark Streit, he became the first ever Swiss-born captain of an NHL team in league history.

30 in 30: Phoenix Coyotes

Key losses, ownership issues has outlook looking murky for ‘Yotes

Top 5 Calder Trophy candidates

Leading up to the regular season, we’ll be taking a look at some of the favorites for the major awards. Who are the top Calder Trophy candidates for the 2011-12 season?

Video: Suspension for Shelley?

Philadelphia's Jody Shelley is likely facing a suspension following this brutal hit to Toronto's Darryl Boyce on Wednesday. This will be Brendan Shanahan's first chance to lay down the law in his new position as league disciplinarian.

30 in 30: Philadelphia Flyers

Following summer shakeup, expectations still high in Philly

Habs need repeat performance from Price

When it comes to the Montreal Canadiens, everyone knows how much pressure is put on the starting goaltender. Even though starter Carey Price had a tremendous season last year, he will be under the gun once again to prove to the organization and its fans that last season was no fluke.

Top 5 Norris Trophy candidates

Leading up to the regular season, we’ll be taking a look at some of the favorites for the major awards. Who are the top Norris Trophy candidates for the 2011-12 season?

30 in 30: Ottawa Senators

Sens continue rebuild with new coach at the helm

Nashville’s Geoffrion wishes to carry over success

In their season-defining win last March, the Predators had an unlikely hero rise to the occasion. On a Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, Barry Trotz’s crew was seemingly down and out. With the team trailing 3-1 late in the third period, the Preds needed someone to step up. Minutes later, thanks to this unlikely hero, the Preds escaped HSBC Arena with a remarkable 4-3 comeback win in overtime.

“There was a moment I knew we were going to make the playoffs,” Trotz said after the season, “and that was in Buffalo. That was a defining moment (in our playoff push).”

That unlikely hero was Tennessee native Blake Geoffrion.

30 in 30: New York Rangers

Hard-working Rangers improve after banner summer

30 in 30: New York Islanders

Young, energetic Islanders hope to take quantum leap

Phil Kessel trade: Two years later

By Alexander Monaghan

Two years ago, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke took a leap of faith and acquired Phil Kessel from the Boston Bruins. The price: a first- and second-round pick in the 2010 draft, plus a first-round pick in the 2011 draft. Then a restricted free agent, Kessel signed a five-year, $27 million extension, guaranteeing his services through 2014.

30 in 30: New Jersey Devils

Devils look to put ‘off’ season in rear view mirror

Saturday Faceoff: Surprise team of 2011-12?

Every season there are surprise teams. Last year it was the Tampa Bay Lightning, in both the regular season and playoffs. Two years ago it was Phoenix. Who will it be in 2011-12? Patrick and I debate…

30 in 30: Nashville Predators

After taste of second round, Preds determined to go farther

Myers extension a good deal for Sabres

When reports came in yesterday about Tyler Myers’ seven-year, $38.5 million extension with the Sabres, the words ‘overrated’ and ‘overpaid’ were often used when describing the young defenseman. Are we forgetting just how good Myers was just a year ago?

30 in 30: Montreal Canadiens

Price and Subban to play big role for balanced Habs

Conversation with Jonathon Blum

I had a chance to chat with Nashville Predators defenseman Jonathon Blum on Tuesday and get his take on his first postseason, California hockey success and Twitter.

30 in 30: Minnesota Wild

Are marquee additions at forward enough to push Wild into playoffs?

Training camp battles: Western Conference

As teams get ready to open training camp this weekend, we asked bloggers around the NHL to take a look at notable camp battles for their respective teams. Yesterday, we featured the Eastern Conference. Today, we continue with the West…

30 in 30: Los Angeles Kings

Are the Kings contenders or pretenders? Lean towards the former

Training camp battles: Eastern Conference

As teams get ready to open training camp this weekend, we asked bloggers around the NHL to take a look at notable camp battles for their respective teams. Today, we begin the two-part series with the Eastern Conference…

NHL Network drops ball with summer coverage

NHL Network’s programming has come a long way since its launch in 2001, most notably with the Stanley Cup Playoffs and league-wide events. However, it’s still a work in progress – especially in the dog days of summer. Recent weeks have exposed a flaw that needs to be corrected if the network wants to be on the same level of other pro sports networks: around-the-clock coverage.

30 in 30: Florida Panthers

New-look Panthers look to snap decade-long playoff drought

Best available free agents

With training camps just around the corner, which unsigned free agents could be helpful for teams looking for a late off-season bargain?

9-11 anniversary hits close to home for Rangers

When talking about the disastrous date of Sept. 11, 2001, it is easy to say that it hit close to home for the New York Rangers.

30 in 30: Edmonton Oilers

Better days ahead for Oilers, but when will they get here?

Saturday Faceoff: Sophomore slump for Skinner?

Carolina’s Jeff Skinner had an unbelievable rookie year, which resulted in winning the Calder Trophy. But sophomore slumps can be hard to avoid. How will the 19-year-old respond in his second NHL season? Carolyn and I debate…

30 in 30: Detroit Red Wings

Despite age, road to Central Division crown still goes through Motor City

30 in 30: Dallas Stars

Benn and Eriksson hope to carry torch to playoff berth

Ten players facing make-or-break seasons

With a month to go before the puck drops on the 2011-12 campaign, we take a gander at ten players that have crucial seasons ahead of them.

30 in 30: Columbus Blue Jackets

Goaltending will decide whether off-season upgrades pay dividends

2011 a year to forget in hockey world

Controversy, concussions and tragedy. Here in 2011, every time you turn around, a nightmarish event seems to take place – ranging from the Vancouver riots in June to Wednesday’s unfathomable tragedy involving the KHL’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team. It has been never-ending and it keeps snowballing.

Video: Crosby speaks to media

This afternoon, for the first time since late April, Sidney Crosby spoke to the media about his concussion. Crosby was accompanied at the press conference by Penguins GM Ray Shero and concussion experts Dr. Michael Collins and Dr. Ted Carrick.

KHL's Lokomotiv hit with tragedy

In a tragedy that is impossible to put into words, the KHL’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team plane crashed on its way to their season-opening game in Minsk, scheduled for Thursday. The entire team was on board.  According to SovSport out of Russia, 42 perished in the crash (other reports suggest it was 43); two survived, but are in critical condition.

Among those who died were former NHLers Pavol Demitra, Josef Vasicek, Karlis Skrastins, Ruslan Salei, Karel Rachunek and Alexander Vasyunov, as well as coaches Brad McCrimmon, Alexander Karpovtsev and Igor Korolev.

Our heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.

30 in 30: Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche remain a mystery after more shuffling

30 in 30: Chicago Blackhawks

Kane, Toews and company ready to return to Cup-winning form

Ranking current NHL head coaches

From 1 to 30, here’s a ranking of the current head coaches going into the 2011-12 NHL season.