This year we’re doing something a little different for the Trade Deadline. Every blogger out there is going to tell you who’s going to be a buyer, who’s going to be a seller, who needs this, and who needs that. And for the record, I reserve the right to do the same thing later—although it might just be more entertaining to make fun of teams and completely overreact after the fact.

But we wanted to do something a little different around here. This year, we wanted to put these same questions in front of fans who cheer passionately for their teams. Its one thing to hear answers from a blogger who follows the team and has an eye towards objectivity; but it’s something else completely when you ask the question to a diehard fan who cheers with their heart on their sleeve. We’re talking about people who watch their team every game, know what their team needs, and have strong opinions on what needs to do to get better. They’re you and me. Hockey fans.

What better place to look for passionate hockey fans all over North America than checking out Twitter? So that’s where we went—and here’s who we found! For the Southeast Division, we have Alan representing the Thrashers, Karla for the Hurricanes, David for the Panthers, Cassie for the Lightning, and Kristy for the Capitals.

Hope you enjoy the project as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together. After checking out everyone’s views, we’d love to hear if you agree or disagree with everyone’s answers. We know you have an opinion as well!

1.  Is your team living up to the expectations they had going into the season? Do you think there’s more or less pressure to make moves at the deadline because of those expectations?

Alan (Thrashers): I think the team is living up to expectations. Considering Atlanta’s situation currently, I believe there is more pressure to get something done for a playoff run. Furthermore, the team is still really young. A little more veteran help and guidance could go a long way for these kids.

Karla (Hurricanes): Our young forwards, especially Skinner, have performed well above expectations. Unfortunately we are not getting the performance we expected from our veteran defensemen. The inconsistent and often sub par performance on the blueline is largely to blame for our struggle to get into and hold 8th place in the East.

David (Panthers): It’s hard to think that a team that’s 25th place in the league is exceeding expectations, but that is the case with the Panthers. Coming into the season, they were picked to be one of the 2-3 worst teams in the league. And while 25th doesn’t seem like a big difference, this team has been in just about every game they’ve played so far. Had they held on to even half of the leads they’ve blown this season, they’re in a playoff spot right now. That said, there isn’t much pressure to make moves at the deadline at the expense of future, which is the main focus on this club. I don’t think GM Dale Tallon is interested in giving away draft picks or young assets, even if it means not making the playoffs this season, which I’m fine with.

Cassie (Lightning): The expectations for the Tampa Bay Lightning going into the season were fairly low. After three dismal seasons, pretty much all anybody hoped was that they’d make playoffs. Anything above and beyond that was wishful thinking. Even if they were swept in the first round, that would suffice as being better than they had been.

Now that the Lightning have been exceeding those expectations, there’s a bit more pressure to be better than just a first round exit. But, seriously, not by much. This has really been something of a dream season for the fans after what they’d been through previously.

So is there added pressure to pull the trigger on some trades? Not by the fans. Management has higher expectations, however. GM Steve Yzerman is used to winning, and seeing where the Lightning are in the standings has likely pushed him into making some trades like acquiring Dwayne Roloson from the New York Islanders. He may not be eyeing the Stanley Cup at this point, but he definitely wants to go as deep as he can into playoffs.

Kristy (Capitals): Um, no. And, no. Given that the Washington Capitals were the President’s Trophy winners last year and many hockey insiders picked the Capitals to win the Stanley Cup this year, there were very high expectations for the Capitals going into this season. Unfortunately, with the currently woefully under-performing talent — specifically the inability to play a full 60 minute game on a regular basis, the Capitals are not living up to the expectations of the owner, the fans, and hopefully the players themselves.

The Capitals are facing serious pressure at all levels of the organization if the Caps a) don’t do well on the current western road trip, b) don’t play well once they reach the playoffs, or c) if they don’t make the playoffs at all. If the players don’t reach down and find some way to get some wins convincingly, some of the current Caps players won’t be with the team come February 28th. Ted Leonsis, a very affable owner, must hear it from the fans on a daily basis. GMGM should be wondering if his time with Washington will come to an end. He should be working the phones for a trade like a one legged man in a butt kicking contest. Bruce Boudreau, although a damn fine man, has to believe that his tenure as coach of the Capitals will come to a close if the Caps can’t relieve some of this pressure.

2.  Will your team be a buyer or a seller? What are fans hoping to see the team do at the deadline?

Alan (Thrashers): Atlanta will be a buyer at the deadline.

Karla (Hurricanes): I don’t foresee a lot of trade activity from the Hurricanes. We might see a trade to shake up our defensive corps, but I don’t see a fire sale happening. As a fan I want to see the Hurricanes make moves designed to make a genuine run for the Cup. The last thing I want to see is my team cashing out our UFAs and start thinking about next season.

David (Panthers): I don’t think the Panthers will be buyers. They’ll either stand pat or be sellers. If the Panthers are within 4-5 points of the 8th spot, they may stand pat, ala 2008-09. I think there is a part of every fan here that would love to see the Cats make a move or two and make the playoffs, just because it has been so long since that’s happened. But I think the general understanding is the future is bright, let’s not mortgage it for a first round playoff exit. There have been quite a few scouts in the Bank Atlantic Center press box over the past couple of weeks, so my best guess is that Tallon and asst GM Mike Santos better carry an extra cell phone battery with them, as there seem to be more than a few interested parties calling until the deadline.

Cassie (Lightning): The Lightning are definitely a buyer. Frankly, the fans aren’t hoping for much of anything at the deadline at this point. The team has already exceeded most people’s expectations, and I think many would be happy if Yzerman just left well enough alone. Probably the greatest fear is disrupting team chemistry right now.

Kristy (Capitals): I think that the Caps have to be a buyer. GMGM failed to make any major trades over the summer (sorry, DJ King doesn’t count as major) which wouldn’t have been such a big deal. I think that Marcus Johansson, Matt Hendricks, Mathieu Perreault and the acquisition of Scott Hannan were definite steps in the right direction. And despite multiple rumors to the contrary, the goaltending duo of Varlamov and Neuvirth is a solid one. However, the new Tampa Bay GM (you know, Steve Yzerman?) made a flurry of good/solid moves that have contributed to a current 1st place in the Southeast. And the other GMs within the SE division have also made moves to noticeably improve their teams. As a result, in a division that the Caps have dominated over the past several years, the Caps have struggled this season to beat Atlanta, Florida, Carolina and Tampa Bay.

As a fan, I am hoping to see the Capitals do something about the 2nd line. One could argue that with the departure of Eric Belanger, the Caps lost a potential 2nd line center. I would argue that Belanger would be a 3rd line center not 2nd. The Capitals haven’t had a 2nd line (on the roster, at least) center since Michael Nylander. And Caps fans know how well THAT worked out.

3.  What specifically does your team need if they want to take the next step?  Which players/prospects are on the trading block and could be on the move by Deadline Day?

Alan (Thrashers): Atlanta especially needs scoring prowess, and will be looking to add at least one top-6 forward. Players on their way out could include Niclas Bergfors and Rich Peverley.

Karla (Hurricanes): The Hurricanes need a reliable defense. Pitkanen is a talented player but he is playing like he needs a change of scenery to get his game back on track. The biggest obstacle is finding someone willing to take on his salary. Rumors are still swirling around Ian White being on the block but so far nothing has happened.

David (Panthers): This team needs scoring, and they need to get more physical. In the system, there are an abundance of goalie prospects, and there is a great, young defensive core but there is an absence of good, young forwards. Dale Tallon wants big, skilled,physical forwards (like 2010 draftees Quinton Howden and Nick Bjugstad) which was why Michael Frolik was sent to Chicago for Jack Skille. I think the whole Panthers roster is in play, if you listen to Tallon. You have to think he would love to get back some draft picks for the expiring contracts the a number of Panthers currently have (Stillman, McCabe and Vokoun chief among them). That doesn’t mean he is actively shopping everyone, but he’s said he’ll listen to ANY offer. In years past, teams seemingly picked the Panthers roster apart and didn’t give back a whole lot in return. That won’t be the case anymore. If somebody wants David Booth, or Stephen Weiss, they’re going to have to give up equal value or very close to it.

Cassie (Lightning): The Lightning really have only one serious need right now, and that’s a power forward. With Ryan Malone out until at least the playoffs start with a torn abdominal muscle, they need a replacement for him. But even that isn’t exactly a crucial need since they can get by without. I still wouldn’t be surprised if Yzerman finds someone to fill that hole, however.

As for players/prospects that may be up on the block, G Mike Smith and D’s Mattias Ohlund and Matt Smaby are probably the most likely players to be shopped. Yzerman doesn’t want to give up prospects that work within the current system unless he absolutely has to. And he’s said that he refuses to trade any first and second round draft picks. So unless the deal is really ideal, he won’t make a trade.

Kristy (Capitals): As I mention above, a 2nd line center would be fantastic. My kingdom for a 2nd line center! Or maybe even something radical like revamping the entire 2nd line?! First, move Alex Semin up to the 1st line. Second, make a trade for RJ Umberger and Sam Gagner and put them on a line with Brooks Laich. It would probably mean not re-signing Mike Knuble but I think RJ Umberger would park right in front of a goalie and put some frozen rubber in the net. Additionally, I think RJ Umberger would have no problem speaking up in the locker room. Although, I will admit that Umberger has made some comments publicly that might have to be cleared up with his new Caps teammates. Nothing a little round of pre-game soccer wouldn’t fix, right RJ?

A real role of the dice would be to bring in Alexei Kovalev. It would appear on face value that adding another “Russian enigma” would be a problem. However, many would have argued that Sergei Fedorov didn’t have much tread left on the tires in March of 2008, but it seemed the effect that having that older Russian on the roster invigorated Ovechkin and Semin. Now Kovalev isn’t known for leadership, but he does seem to have a knack to respond when it appears the tank is empty. Adding Kovalev to the Ovechkin-Backstrom line could be amazing or it could be a train wreck. At this point, it could be the risk to take. Even taking on Kovalev’s salary, the Caps would have room for a Gagner level contract for a 2nd line center.

I believe that getting Poti back in time for the playoffs will be considered by the Caps as their Dman pick up for the playoffs. The same goes with Eric Fehr, who has goal scoring skills but just can’t get over the consistency hump.

The farm team down in Hershey has had a great run over the past five years (three titles, four finals appearances), but the number of NHL level prospects are thin at the moment. The Caps are second only to the Oilers in rookie games played this season. These rookies (Carlson, Johannson, etc.) should be the core for time to come. Therefore, the only trade bait I could see being dangled by McPhee would be Mathieu Perreault or Michal Neuvirth. Neuvirth is only 22, has two Calder Cup titles and a very reasonable contract for the next two years (1.15 mil cap hit). He also had a chance to take the number 1 spot with the Caps earlier this season, but did not knock Varly out of the way. Has flashes, but seems to still breakdown, he is young. However, with Varly and Holtby in the system, one goalie can be moved; Neuvirth appears to the one. Mathieu Perrault has had chances to take the 2nd line center role, but has not locked it down. He is a RFA after the season and could still blossom, but appears to be a player that will be on the NHL/AHL shuttle for time to come.

Last night, about 8 people saw the Southeast Division clash between the Thrashers and Florida Panthers. What just about all 8 people could agree on was that Rostislav Olesz’s hit to the face of Evander Kane would get a second look from the NHL and its disciplinary department. Maybe it was deemed a clean hit or maybe Colin Campbell thinks that Kane is a big, fat, faker—but nothing was called in the game and no supplementary discipline will be coming from the league.

At least, that’s what we think.

One of the biggest problems with the NHL’s suspension process (aside from a noticeable void in the consistency department) is that they never make statements when a play does not warrant a suspension. We could beat the dead horse named Consistency all we want, yet I seriously doubt 100% of the people will be happy 100% of the time.

For the overwhelming majority of hockey fans who did not see the hit, here you go:

Here are a couple of quotes from people who follow the Florida Panthers:

“Kane, coming toward the net, was run by Wideman and collided with Olesz, taking Olesz’s shoulder in the face. Olesz then helped lead Kane into the boards. After going hard into the back boards, Kane was slow to get up. Kane would get back into the game and was called for high sticking Jason Garrison at the end of the period.

Olesz was not called for a penalty on the play, but could possibly face retribution from the league if it is determined he lifted his elbow to ram Kane.” –George Richards (Miami Herald)

And another from the guys over at The Rat Trick:

“No one from Atlanta responded to a heavy hit to the head on Evander Kane from Rostislav Olesz in the first (except Kane himself, who picked up a high sticking penalty to close out the first).” –David Lasseter (The Rat Trick)

We get into a million different things when it comes to these hits and subsequent penalties. Was it contact to the head or the shoulder? Was the contact made with the elbow or shoulder? Did the “victim” see the hit coming? Was a penalty called on the ice? Was the player injured on the play? (For the record, Evander Kane was not on the ice for practice this morning per Chris Vivlamore.)
Blah blah blah.

(Photo: Getty)

The infamous rule, in all of its gray area glory, reads as follows, “A lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted.” The offending player is to receive a major penalty, game misconduct, and possible supplementary discipline. In this case, none of the penalties were dealt out—and worse yet, no reason why.

Herein lies my major problem with last night’s events. People can argue until they’re blue in the face whether this was a Rule 48-worthy penalty. Even if you think it was (which I do), I am willing to give the officials on the ice a pass. It’s a fast game and it’s an extremely tough rule to administer on the ice. Refs aren’t perfect and from time to time, they’ll miss a call. I’m fine with that—it’s how it’s going to be.

The problem is after the fact. The league office may have looked at the play, maybe they didn’t. When there’s a play like this, the NHL office should always release a statement. If there’s a debate out there in the hockey community, then it’s not as cut and dry as some other plays may be. I understand that the play might not deserve a suspension. Just tell me why. I (and many other fans) interpreted it as a hit to the head, delivered to a player who was engaged with another player, and was hit from the blindside. I’m fine with it not being a penalty. Just tell me why.

If some of these plays were explained in more detail, there’d be a lot less confusion when the league spins its Wheel of Justice. We want consistency, but it’s hard to determine any consistency when they don’t tell us what their thought process was when they let a play go. We’re not asking for the league to pull the curtain wide-open so we can see how it works, we’re just asking for a peek into the rationale that confuses the hell out of us.

It’s no secret that the Southeast has been the butt of jokes for the last few years. Whenever you’re looking at the order of the NHL Draft and see the same usual suspects selecting near the top every season, the jokes are going to come. And let’s be real – constantly missing the playoffs and drafting in the top 10 are not the types of consistency that fans are looking for.

But this season might be the beginning of something different. The defending Presidents’ Trophy winners look to be in fine shape in Washington DC. The Atlanta Thrashers and Tampa Bay Lightning each made some great pick-ups over the offseason, the Carolina Hurricanes were in the Eastern Conference Finals 16 months ago, and the Florida Panthers have started their rebuild with a bang. There’s a feeling these five teams could collectively be more interesting than they have been in a while.

To help us break it all down, we are happy to have some fantastic writers sharing their thoughts. Here’s today’s line-up!

Laura Astorian from SBN Atlanta (Thrashers)
Bob Wage from Canes Country (Canes)
Donny Rivette from Litter Box Cats (Panthers)
John Fontana from Raw Charge (Lightning)
Rebecca Henschel from Japers Rink (Caps)

1. Tell us why your team will be better this season than they were last.

Laura (Thrashers): Obviously we’ve added a few guys here and there from some team that just won this shiny trophy thing. No, seriously, the addition of Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, Andrew Ladd, and Ben Eager bulks the team up a bit. Bigger doesn’t equal more goals, but Buff and Ladd should be good for around 30 goals for next season, and Eager’s a useful agitator. The addition of these guys doesn’t balance out the loss of Maxim Afinogenov’s scoring touch, but it should help out with his -17. There should be more defensive responsibility with the loss of Max, Slava Kozlov, and that guy who’s keeping the Garden State on pins and needles.

Also, as sad as I was to see Johan Hedberg go to New Jersey, Chris Mason’s a massive upgrade over him. I loved watching him with the Blues the past two seasons, especially the string of 33 consecutive starts he had to lead the Blues to the 2009 playoffs. He’s an absolute workhorse and a great guy, who should be an effective mentor to Pavelec. Pavs just needs to watch out or else Masonry’ll relegate him to the back up role.

Bob (Hurricanes): The Hurricanes are younger, faster, healthier, and hungrier than they were last season. Will those attributes actually make them better? Time will tell.

In the first half of last season, they couldn’t be much worse as they fell to last place in the NHL, but in the second half, they had one of the best records in the league. What was the primary difference between the first part and the second part of the last campaign? In the latter part of the season, the Canes were comprised or a younger, faster, healthier, and hungrier group. They just need to carry on what they were doing then.

Donny (Panthers): It’s going to require a convergence of many aspects all hitting high notes at the same time; a coach’s dream. The Panthers may poach a few points out of opponents taking them lightly, but unless a stream of career years are had by veteran forwards such as Rostislav Olesz, Chris Higgins, and Steve Reinprecht, they’re done early. So many elements must come together: a veritably fresh defensive corps under new assistant coach Gord Murphy, a number of highly regarded rookies looking to make their individual marks, and a slew of new faces morphing with an already underachieving band of forwards. Plus, it would obviously help the situation if David Booth remains healthy. It’s a scary realization: the perception that all of the club’s offense is riding on a single player. This is a rebuilding year – done the correct way, finally – and any gain in the standings over last season will be a welcome but likely unexpected development.

John (Lightning): Last year, I talked about stability. I played up the fact the dysfunctional group that was in control of the Tampa Bay Lightning had stabilized and how things would improve because of that. How wrong I was…

Stability for the Lightning has been a myth for the franchise since 2007. Yet the changes in the team this off-season – from the top down – have only increased confidence in the talent this club already employs. The promising GM with a career of excellence behind him (Steve Yzerman), the prodigical new head coach whose approach to the job has earned him raves from past players and pundits around the league (Guy Boucher). That’s not even touching on player-personnel moves that have further hammered home the belief that Yzerman knows what he’s doing (Dumping dead weight, adding talent, seeking out to improve the bottom 2 lines and flesh out the defense to play to a new-system’s strengths).

Everything this offseason has instilled a new sense of confidence in the Bolts. Guy Boucher’s coaching system – if it can solve the mystery of the Lightning’s bi-polar scoring abilities – should alone make the Bolts a playoff contender.
The players are once again excited, and there Is a renewed sense of desire. New owner Jeff Vinik’s assertion that the Bolts will be a world-class organization have been proven right so far, and only a world-class organization will make inroads from dismal showings the last three seasons. I’m banking on just that happening.

Becca (Capitals): Just from a personnel standpoint, the additions of Karl Alzner and John Carlson could be huge for the Caps. They’re both still young and still developing, so neither should necessarily be expected to set the League on fire right away, but they’re very solid, have been impressive in their time with the Caps and will only get better as the season progresses. A lot of people see the Caps’ D as the main weakness – we know that’s not really where the biggest issues are but it never hurts to shore up that position.

Beyond that, though, is the fact that they will hopefully be able to build on the successes and ultimate failure of last year. The Caps perfected winning in the regular season, finished first overall, swept the season series from one of their biggest rivals, racked up huge offensive numbers – now they have to use what happened in the playoffs as motivation to make the transition to winning in the postseason. If blowing a 3-1 series lead to a #8 seed in the first round isn’t enough motivation to do that, I don’t know what is.

2. What part of your team are you concerned about this season?

Laura (Thrashers): Kind of concerned about scoring this year. Kovalchuk and Afinogenov were responsible for a good bit of scoring last season and with them gone we will lose some production. Little absolutely must produce closer to his totals from the year before last, and if he’s on a line with Bergfors and Antropov he should. Of course, getting Bergfors re-signed would be a nice step forward in that direction. Kane and Peverley’ll be looked at to pick up some slack.

We have assist machines in Tobias Enstrom and Antropov – they need people to get those pucks to.

Bob (Hurricanes): The blueline is the biggest concern. The top three of Tim Gleason, Joni Pitkanen, and Joe Corvo are solid, but the bottom four of Anton Babchuk, Jamie McBain, Jay Harrison, and Brett Carson have very little NHL experience. Cam Ward will be a busy beaver in net and he will need to stay healthy in order for the Canes to have a chance at a winning record this year.

Donny (Panthers): Management hasn’t yet acquired the stereotypical stud centerman. Could Stephen Weiss improve upon his numbers from a year ago? Quite possibly, yes; his point total dropped from the previous year (60 from 61) but goals doubled from 14 to 28 while playing with a vast array of wingers replacing the injured Booth and Nathan Horton, indicating his potential may not yet have maxed out. Head coach Peter DeBoer likely finds himself in a sticky situation in this, his third year. He showed plenty of promise in 2008-09 when his Panthers missed out on postseason action due to a standings tiebreaker (since changed), and last year’s debacle can’t honestly fall upon his shoulders. A new general manager typically wishes to install his own guy in the position but who’s to say Dale Tallon wouldn’t have tabbed Pete for the job anyway? Realistically DeBoer needs get the absolute maximum out of his squad out of the gate or it’ll be a quick hook. And this division hasn’t gotten any easier to compete in.

John (Lightning): Between the pipes, Mike Smith is in a contract year while trying to re-establish himself as able, while new acquisition Dan Ellis is in an ego year (goalies as compared to brain surgeons and his juvenile reactions to fans who called him on it? Classy, Dan…). The Lightning’s goaltending situation downright frightens me. It doesn’t help that head coach Guy Boucher’s go-go-go system can be exploited (by defensive screw ups) and lead to cases where goaltenders are left to fend for themselves on one-on-one and two-on-one situations.
Now factor in your backstops being tentative and overconfident and you have the makings for a disaster if neither netminder can stand tall in the crease and rise to the occasion.

Becca (Capitals): One of the bigger concerns going into this season is a lack of depth at center – or more specifically, the lack of a definitive second-line center. The Caps have an elite center on the top line in Nicklas Backstrom; between prospects like Marcus Johansson and Mathieu Perreault and veterans like Boyd Gordon and Dave Steckel they’ve got the third/fourth line roles taken care of. It’s that pesky second line, and a permanent slot alongside the enigmatic Alexander Semin, that’s troubling.

There are some smaller concerns, as well. Penalty killing last year was awful and it’s an area that really hasn’t been addressed this offseason – yet. We’d like to see a veteran presence on the blue line to help mentor not only Carlson and Alzner but also Green and Schultz. And as much faith as most of us have in our young goaltending tandem there are a few nerves about entering the year with two 22-year-old goalies, neither of whom has been a number one guy at the NHL level.

But really, the biggest concern is and will continue to be postseason play. We’ve seen the great regular season performances, at both the individual and team level – just about every Caps fan is looking at this upcoming season as nothing more than a dress rehearsal for the games that matter, and we hope the team is doing the same.

3. Each year there are players who break onto the scene as all-stars or even superstars. Sometimes it’s a rookie who is already expected to be great, sometimes it’s a rookie who shocks the world, and sometimes it’s a younger player who simply comes into their own. Which player on your team should we expect to have a breakout season?

Laura (Thrashers): If you can have a re-breakout year, I’m looking at Little and the line placement he’ll presumably be on. He’ll pick it up big time. Bergfors is already known for his scoring ability, so I’m going to look in the direction of Evander Kane. He’s got speed and toughness, and can school bigger and slower players (see: Chris Pronger). Being on the 3rd line last year might’ve held his totals back, as did not having any PP time at all – he should see some of that this season.

If he makes the team (and I think he will as a 3rd line center), Patrice Cormier’s going to be a force to deal with. Not necessarily as a scorer, but as a leader on the ice and as someone who will be a pain for opponents to get through when the checking line’s out there.

Bob (Hurricanes): Brandon Sutter started to break out last year, after starting off the season in the AHL. This season, he will start out as Carolina’s second line center and will be getting his fair share of powerplay time and other important time on the ice, right from the get-go. He only played 72 games last year and still had 21 goals, in a limited role. Watch out for Brandon Sutter this year.

Donny (Panthers): A year ago I answered that question with center Shawn Matthias. I was wrong (Dmitry Kulikov filled the role splendidly), but I’m going with him again. His play morphed into a gritty yet finessed style late in the season, when he really began to appear comfortable. Even from a spectator’s standpoint, it looked as if he quit overgripping the stick and started having fun, which increased his minutes substantially in a variety of roles. He’ll have every opportunity to climb the ladder.

John (Lightning): Sean Bergenheim. UFA signing this August, who had been with the New York Islanders the past few seasons. Part of this choice is from going on reactions to the signing by NHL pundits – Bergenheim played with heart on some bad Isles teams but didn’t exactly excel. Being in a more talented TB system may help him raise his game.

Both the Thrashers and Caps look to improve outsiders' opinions of the entire division...

I’m also hoping for a breakout by Victor Hedman this year. A lot was asked of Victor in his rookie season with the Lightning – too much playing itme, too little learning time. It turned into a mess. This year, he is surrounded by versed veterans who can better share the load of ice time that Victor had dumped on him last year.

Becca (Capitals): As Caps fans we’re trying to temper our expectations a bit for our young defensemen, Alzner and Carlson; after all, they’re both really young and defense is a position that is notoriously tricky to grow into. I think a lot of us are trying to play down their potential impact just in case it’s not as great as we hope.

Still, I can’t help but think that Carlson in particular is poised to have a hell of a season. If you saw him at the WJC (where he earned the nickname “Real American Hero John Carlson”, or RAHJC) or caught any of his performance with the Caps – especially during the playoffs – you know that this is a special kid. He’s positionally very sound and has good offensive instincts, and he’s a feisty little bugger who is definitely not afraid to mix it up and be physical.

Slightly more under the radar would be someone like Michal Neuvirth, the lesser known of the two kid goalies who is probably going to give Varlamov a serious challenge for the #1 spot. He’s got consecutive Calder Cup wins under his belt, has been impressive in limited work with the Caps and is very hungry to make his mark on the NHL.

4. We all know that watching a team for 82 games allows us to appreciate things casual fans won’t necessarily recognize. Which guy on your bench doesn’t get nearly the respect he deserves?

Laura (Thrashers): He got a lot more respect as the year went on last season as his production picked up, but Jim Slater’s someone who doesn’t get nearly enough attention outside of Atlanta. He has the problem of being a former 1st round draft pick (30th overall in 2002) so people expect a certain output from him. He’s not a scorer necessarily, but he’s one of the fastest Thrashers’ on the ice, and when his line’s out (usually he centers Eric Boulton and Chris Thorburn), opportunities happen. They don’t always convert as a goal, but the chance is there and the puck is often being carried down the ice into the opponent’s zone by Slater. He’s also solid on the PK, and was responsible for a couple of game winning goals as well.

Bob (Hurricanes): Tom Kostopoulos used to be a fan favorite in Montreal and now Caniacs know why. He works hard every single shift, does the “dirty work” when necessary, kills penalties, plays any role which is asked of him, and drops the gloves as needed, (even though he admits he’s not the best fighter in the world.) On top of that, he chips in 7-8 goals a year. He is your prototypical “team guy”.

Donny (Panthers): Radek Dvorak. Not that he isn’t given respect, he’s simply easy to overlook when the focus tends to be dominated by the Booths, Tomas Vokouns, et al, which is unfortunate. At 33 he remains one of the fastest skaters on the club, plays with his hair on fire every night, and is a madman on the penalty kill (7 SH goals over the past two seasons). He brings a quiet sense of stability to a roster which has lacked that in recent years.

John (Lightning): This one is actually hard to answer with the staff turnover this off-season. Last season, of the guys who are still on the roster, I can say Nate Thompson was oft overlooked. He had been a waiver pickup from the Isles in January and the man performed amiably in the role that was requested of him – third-line center. He was solid with faceoffs, spent a good amount of time on the penalty kill, handled the chores set before him well. He wasn’t flashy, wasn’t going to score a ton of goals but he did the work soundly. He was a real asset for the squad last season and one of the team’s best defensive forwards.

Becca (Capitals): Easy – Mike Green. Back-to-back Norris nominations or not, there are still a lot of fans (and a fair number of media members) who see him as little more than a forward in defenseman’s clothing.

Those who think that seem to have little understanding of a forward’s role and even less of an understanding of how Green’s position helps him to generate offense. He’s very fast and creative and possesses a lethal shot, all of which he’s tailored to his specific position. What’s more, those who disrespect him severely underestimate his defensive ability. He’s not perfect in his own end but he’s much, MUCH better than he gets credit for and is easily one of the most well-rounded defensemen in the League.

Until April. Ha.

5. The Moment of Truth: I understand that everyone is an expert BEFORE the season starts; so as bloggers, it’s important to throw up your pre-season predictions so everyone can mock you later. If your credibility was on the line, how would you rank the final standings of the Southeast Division? More importantly, which teams do you think will make the playoffs from the Southeast?

Laura (Thrashers): Final standings were tough this time, seeing how ATL improved with goaltending and TB improved with defense – and already has some scorers to deal with. I think that the Thrash and the Bolts could be either or as far as 2nd in the division this season, but I’m hoping for Tampa’s usual inexplicable meltdown and near miss. That, and I’m a homer.

1. Washington
2. Atlanta
3. Tampa Bay
4. Carolina
5. Florida

Bob (Hurricanes): This is tough because every team in the division should be better, but here goes nothing. The top two will make the playoffs.

1. Washington: No doubt everyone will pick the Caps to be number one, but will their young defense and goaltending hold up? No President’s Trophy for them this year, but the Division Championship is theirs for the taking.

2. Tampa Bay: I always felt like the main problem in Tampa for the past few years was leadership. That should not be a problem now. They are loaded at forward, Victor Hedman should improve over last season, and Dan Ellis is not too shabby in net. If Vinny regains his form, this could be a very dangerous team. (Two 50 goal scorers on the same team?)

3. Atlanta: The Thrashers have a new GM, coach, and half a new team. It might take them awhile to find themselves, but if they can play like a team, they should be very competitive and win their share of games.

4. Carolina: The Hurricanes have more questions than answers in this rebuilding year. While they should be very competitive and fun to watch, there will probably be a learning curve for the younger players to fight through. At the risk of repeating myself, the defense is too inexperienced. If one of the top three get injured, (Corvo, Pitkanen, Gleason), the Canes could have big problems.

5. Florida: I loved their draft, but the lowest scoring team in the NHL did nothing to improve that glaring weakness and they will continue to struggle scoring goals. Tomas Vokoun can only get so many shutouts

Donny (Panthers): I called the Panthers a playoff club one year ago, and we all saw how that played out. After the summer we’ve all witnessed it’s pretty clear that the scramble for second place in the division will be a dogfight, hence:

1. Washington – NHL’s best regular season club remains on top by default.
2. Tampa Bay – GM Steve Yzerman has entire franchise reading from the same page. And that’s a frightening collection of top-six forwards.
3. Carolina – Lots of new faces, but Staal, Ward, and Paul Maurice always find a way to stay dangerous.
4. Atlanta – Another team oozing with turnover; Rick Dudley’s crew is on the rise in a tougher division.
5. Florida – Year One of the rebuild commences; they’ll compete but face ever-stiffening opposition.

As for playoffs, call it Caps and Bolts.

John (Lightning): What do I see this year? More parity in the SE (and the Eastern Conference in general). Atlanta improved themselves, Tampa improved. Carolina is retooling/rebuilding and Washington has retooled. Unless Craig Ramsey in Atlanta proves to be out of his league as their new head coach, I believe this is your top-four finalists in the division. All will vie for the playoffs but ultimately only two teams making it: Washington and Tampa Bay.

Florida is a wild card that I am writing off too easily. They are rebuilding under Dale Tallon and I think this is a year of growing pains. I expect last place, but they have a record of being at thorn-in-the-side of SE teams (especially the Bolts). While I don’t expect them to make the playoffs – I wouldn’t necessarily lock them in as the cellar-dwelling team of the SE

Becca (Capitals): 1. Capitals – Washington absolutely dominated the Southeast last year, to the tune of a 19-3-2 record within the division and a 38-point lead over the second place Thrashers when all was said and done. It probably won’t be nearly as lopsided this year (and thank goodness) – but the offseason changes made by the other teams won’t be enough to catch the Caps, either.

2. Thrashers – Atlanta probably wins the “most improved” award simply by having pillaged the cap-strapped Blackhawks. They’ve been tough to play against the past few years and by adding some gritty guys like Byfuglien, Eager and Meyer they’ve become even tougher, and while they haven’t had any high-caliber forwards since Kovalchuk departed they’re well-rounded and solid. Their goaltending is also a bit more grounded with the addition of Chris Mason and their D is nothing to sneeze at.

3. Lightning – Yzerman’s already making his mark on his new team and is starting to shape them into a potentially scary division rival. They’ve got some good depth, young talent in guys like Stamkos and Hedman, slightly more solid goaltending and, if he can stay healthy, a great forward in Simon Gagne. Might be a few more years until they’re really a threat, though.

4. Hurricanes – Carolina’s M.O. this year seems to be putting out the best team for the least amount of money; they’ve still got some of their big names and will probably be a halfway competitive team but the loss of Brind’amour’s leadership and Whitney’s offense is going to hurt them. But hey, they got Joe Corvo back…so all is good in Raleigh.

5. Panthers – The good news for the Panthers is that in new GM Dale Tallon they have someone in charge who seems to be capable of turning a team into a contender (at least for one year). The bad news is it’ll be a little while longer before that can happen. They lost another of their “big” guns in Nathan Horton and were already struggling to score with him in the lineup, and have acquired only role players to fill out the roster. Florida is in full-on rebuilding mode.

As for playoff teams…I think it’s just the Caps and either Atlanta or Tampa. Depending on how much of a cluster there is at the bottom of the Conference a third team could crack the postseason, but for now I’ll be optimistic and say 2 teams make it

___________________

The next division up in our Blogger Roundtable Preview series will be the Pacific on Monday, September 13. If you want to take a look at the entire schedule, you can check it out here—or if you want to make sure you don’t miss anything, you can subscribe to VFMS (via email or RSS) for the next couple of weeks. If there are any writers you found interesting here, I urge you to go check out their sites. Each and every writer who participated has an extremely good site and pump out great content year-round!

Everyone wants their team to be successful. We don’t follow our teams for nine (or twelve) months every year just to watch them be the NHL equivalent of the Los Angeles Clippers. Everyone wants to follow a winner. If you don’t believe me, ask yourself why there are so many New York Yankees fans. It’s just more fun to watch your team win. Would you rather watch your team win two out of every three games? Or lose two out of three games?

Unfortunately, there’s a flip side to success that can make outsiders both cringe and mock simultaneously. What happens when a team is wildly successful throughout the entire season, only to slip at the wrong time and make a premature exit from the playoffs against an over matched team? What happens when that talented team that’s won three consecutive division titles has underwhelming playoff performances in three straight years? All the sudden, fans that used to get excited because their team is playing well will become jaded because they have higher expectations.

This brings us to the 2010-11 edition of the Washington Capitals. Their fans have been blessed with some exciting (and successful) hockey over the last few seasons. Three years ago, winning the Southeast Division was exciting. This year, it’s expected. Three years ago, watching a young team explode onto the scene was fulfilling. This year, they’re already residing with the league’s elite. Three years ago, earning home ice-advantage was a goal. This year, fans know it means nothing if they don’t do anything with it. You get the idea.

Fans will expect more of this. In the playoffs.

Fans in Washington used to be happy when their team would get any kind of national notoriety. They wanted fans outside of the DC area to talk about their team in a context other than being the butt of jokes that repeatedly landed those Top 5 picks. A few Hart Trophies, Norris nominations, and a Masterton later, and Caps fans are getting the attention they deserve.

But now with the spotlight directly squared on Verizon Center, there’s a new set of challenges the Capitals and their fans are faced with. Now they must produce positive results of the highest order. Not only will they have a target on their backs all season, but they’ll still be expected to thrive in spite of getting everyone’s best shot. They’re in San Jose Sharks territory. Their fans haven’t had the pleasure of tasting sweet victory, but they’re still saddled with lofty expectations. Fairly or unfairly, they’re held to a higher standard than they’ve ever actually achieved because those are their expectations. This version of the Caps may have never been to the Cup Finals (like the Sharks), but anything short of playing for it all in June, and the season will be deemed a failure. Again.

Before people can even start talking about next season, it’s important to put last season into perspective for fans in Washington. The Caps managed to Rock The Red to a ridiculous 54-15-13 record during the regular season en route to the cursed Presidents’ Trophy. Stop and read that record again. They had 54 wins. They earned at least a point in 67 of 82 games. That means the average month for them last season only saw them lose two games in regulation. TWO GAMES PER MONTH! Do you know what most teams in the Southeast call two losses in regulation? A normal weekend.

Here’s the deal: The Caps are really in a no-win situation this coming season. Chances are they won’t be able to equal their 2009-10 regular season. That’s not saying anything about their team on the ice—that’s just common sense. If a team posts franchise-best records, then it might be asking a bit much expect them to exceed those numbers. That’s just how it is. It’s not easy to set franchise records every season.

If they lose two or three games in a row, fans are going to wonder what their problem is. We’ll hear things like, “Last year’s team didn’t struggle like this and we all know what happened to them!” But if they streak through the regular season and capture another Presidents’ Trophy, we’ll hear things about how weak the Southeast Division is and how none of it matters until they win in the postseason.

Don’t feel bad for them—they put themselves in this situation by crapping the bed against a #8 seed in the first round of the playoffs last year. This is the exact same situation the San Jose Sharks have been living with for the last few years. It doesn’t matter how well they play in the regular season, because we know they are capable of winning November. Anytime they rattle off eight or nine wins in a row, people are always quick to rain on their parade and point out how they can’t win in the playoffs. And you know what? They’ll keep pointing it out until the Sharks win in the playoffs and quiet all the cynics. It’s the only way they’ll be able to shut the negative voices up.

It’s a situation that Capitals fans better get used to. They’re at that point where fans and experts alike take the team’s talent for granted. This season, they are actually better on paper than they were last year. The only players they have lost from last year’s team were their trade deadline rentals. To take their places, Washington has one of the deepest talent pipelines to pull from.

John Carlson may have burst onto the scene at the end of the season and in the playoffs, but it’s important to note that the Caps won the Presidents’ Trophy largely without his services. While showing the rest of the league that the future is bright, he only played 22 regular season games last year. In fact, he’s still eligible for the Calder Trophy next year. You have to figure that 82 games with him on the blue line is an improvement.

On the same note, Karl Alzner looks like he’s going to get a legitimate shot to make the team on a full-time basis out of training camp. Just like Carlson, Alzner played just over 20 games last season (21), but should be growing into the player the Caps picked 5th overall in 2007.

It's one thing for young players to exceed expectations. It's another to meet lofty expectations...

With the young players almost assuredly proving to be an improvement over exiled veterans, the Capitals are a better team on paper than the team that tore through the league last season. Even though they didn’t get a defensive stalwart in free agency like they might have liked, they still have two highly regarded blue line prospects with a ton of potential looking to make their mark this season.  Not to mention they have enough young forward depth that they could still be in the market to trade for the defenseman they were looking for.

In fact, the whole organization is in an amazing place. The NHL club was the best team over 82 games last season. Their AHL affiliate in Hershey was the best team over the regular season and proved it wasn’t a fluke when they tore through the AHL playoffs to win their second consecutive Calder Cup. Even if people doubt the immense young talent and veteran presence on the roster, their minor league affiliate is the gold-standard of the AHL, and is just waiting to pump out replacements to help them reload at a moment’s notice.

The players are there. The talent is there. The schedule is there because, let’s face it, the Southeast isn’t the strongest. All of the ingredients are there for the Capitals to be successful on the ice. And I’ll give you a 100% guarantee they’ll be successful on the ice. But that’s not enough this year.

If you look at the Sharks last year, they were successful on the ice, as well. But the one place they weren’t quite as successful was in the minds of hockey fans. Even when the Sharks were playing their best hockey of the year, there was a little voice in the back of just about every fan’s mind asking if this was just the same ole song and dance, or if this was a different team. Would this be a team that could break through and compete at the highest level in the playoffs? The Sharks may have captured victories on the ice—but they didn’t capture the imagination and enthusiasm of the fans. Such is life on top. The standards are higher and the expectations are rarely realistic.

The Capitals and their fans should take a good look at the public perception of the Sharks last year because that will be their reality this year. 10 game winning streaks will be looked at with skepticism. 8-1 victories in the middle of the season will be questioned and hat tricks will be quickly discarded. The only way that will change is if they realize their lofty expectations and meet them head on.

After all, it’s not easy to put up 121 points every season. But it’s what happens after those 121 points that will determine how fans will measure these Capitals. Clearly, winning the Cup after a season like that is difficult, but for the fanbase, it might be more difficult to see another successful regular season go down the drain in the playoffs.

Being at an NHL Draft, you’ll experience of ton of moments that you’d never see on television. You’ll see the draft picks walk directly to the TSN set, which is actually ON the stage, you’ll feel the excitement right before the #1 overall pick is announced, and you’ll get an up-close look and just how young these kids are.

Something that you can only appreciate by being in attendance is just how different the second day of the NHL draft is compared to the first. No kidding, there are more people on the floor representing the 30 NHL teams than there are fans in the stands. The media section isn’t quite as full as it was the night before, and a lot of the people who ARE there are talking and networking instead of paying attention to the roll call of names. In the stands, it seems like more and more of the people left were actual prospects or related to said prospects.

Of all the hype and excitement around the 1st round of the NHL Draft, one of the things I’ll remember most was a small moment in the middle of day two. We were getting to that point where the draft is a crap-shoot for anyone watching. There are a few players left who had been falling over the last few hours, but for the most part, the kids with the big names were long gone. Even the most hard-core draftophile would be looking through notes after a name was called. To be honest, the draft starts to get a little boring after a while.

The big board had just flipped between the 4th and 5th rounds and whoever was up on stage had just rattled off two names to kick start the next round. At this point, the Florida Panthers already had a huge weekend, so you had to figure Dale Tallon and Co. were content with what they had accomplished.

So why am I talking about a random 5th round pick that went to the Florida Panthers? It wasn’t so much that his name was called but what I saw afterward. When Zach Hyman was drafted 123rd overall, it probably wasn’t any different than the 122 selected before him. But my vantage point was different. And what I saw will be something that will make me root for this kid for the rest of his career.

As his name was called, he got up and took his time to hug every member of his family. Sure, everyone shows love, right? But Hyman was different. He was close enough for me to see him take his time and individually thank every single person that came with him. He didn’t just give the mindless hugs and scurry down to meet with his new team. He took his time, hugged and thanked every single person that was there with him. The look on the family members’ faces as they looked at him was a look of pride that is usually strictly reserved for parents. But the entire family had the look. And there were a lot of them.

After he had finally expressed love and gratitude to everyone around him, he made his way to the aisle to go down to the floor. Instead of meeting with the Panthers rep who was patiently waiting for him, he turned around and headed up to the top of his section (about 10 feet from me). He found a guy who was sitting in the last row, all by himself without anyone near him. The man flashed a huge smile—almost surprised Hyman was in front of him—and extended his hand for a handshake. Hyman gave the man a hug.

A few of us watching tried to figure out who the guy was. He wasn’t sitting with the rest of the family, so he obviously wasn’t part of the Hyman clan. Also, he extended a hand when everyone else was hugging, so we were pretty confident when we ruled out family. The interaction between the two looked like a professional relationship—but a CLOSE professional relationship. We decided that it was probably and agent or a coach. I was leaning towards a proud coach—but honestly we were all guessing.

The point was that even though this was Zach Hyman’s moment in the spotlight, he still took the time to thank every single person that was around him. When he was done with that, he stopped, and made the effort to find someone else who was obviously helpful in him getting to this point in his career. This was the kind of kid that had his priorities in order. I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it takes a good human being to think of others first at any age—let alone at 17-years-old.

The moment was moving enough that it made me stop, appreciate the moment, and write down the kid’s name so I could follow up later. What is this kid’s deal? Is he just another guy who gets drafted who we’ll never hear from him again? Did he slip in the rankings? I wanted more of a back-story that could help explain the scene I had just witnessed.

Here’s the deal: The kid is smart. We’re talking Ivy League type smart.

“Coach Turnbull is preparing me for Princeton and providing tools to help my dream of playing in the NHL come true. There’s always room for improvement. I will continue to work hard on ice and in class and have confidence the rest will take care of itself by NHL draft day.” –Zach Hyman

After seeing his choice in universities, it’s easy to see why he played last season in the CCHL so he could maintain his college eligibility. While he was with Hamilton, it wasn’t like he was just killing time before school. He was the youngest captain in the CCHL last year.

Not only that, he’s the kind of kid who says it’s an honor to be captain. He’s the kind of kid who calls former players “Mr. so-and-so” or “sir.” He’s the kind of guy who says he’s happy for other guys when they make a national team when he’s left at home. But more importantly, I actually believe it when he says it.

“I have always worked extremely hard to combine my athletics and academics. I am very proud and happy about the opportunity that I have been provided.” –Zach Hyman (via HamiltonRedWings.com)

Interestingly enough, his decision to put academics on the same level of hockey might have been the biggest reason he fell so far in the draft. In preserving his eligibility for Princeton, he was not able to go the normal CHL route like many others in his age group. But let’s be real, when you hear things like, “Prior to juniors, Hyman was thought to be on par with the likes of Tyler Seguin and Jeff Skinner,” from Hockey’s Future, he’s a little more intriguing than your average 5th round pick. They’re not the only ones thinking he has a bright future. Mark Seidel from Central Scouting thinks that he could be the steal of the draft.

Obviously, Hyman is going to have his work cut out if he wants to make an NHL lineup one day. If it’s tough for 1st and 2nd round picks to make it to the show, then the obstacles in front of a 5th rounder will be just as difficult. There aren’t many sure things in the NHL Draft and the ones who are certainly aren’t picked in the 5th round. But after getting a brief glimpse into Hyman’s character, he seems like he will do all the little things it takes to get the opportunity.

All I know is I‘ll be rooting for him.