Offseason Roundup: Pacific Division
By Mike Reed
If I told you about a sexy spy movie that was a thriller with a hint of romance starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, what year would you guess that it was filmed? Wait, before looking, check out the movie poster here. 1996? 1997? 2000 at the latest, right? Try 2010. The movie’s called “Knight and Day.” With Diaz pushing 40 and Cruise now post-couch, it fares about as well as you’d think. That’s what I think of some of the teams in the Pacific Division and their offseason movies. A lot of flash and flare, awesome moves if they’d happened 5-15 years ago, but they look to be a straight-to-DVD deal now. A review of divisional moves:
Phoenix Coyotes
Offseason adds: RW David Moss. G Andy Johnson, LW Rob Klinkhammer, F Steve Sullivan, F Joel Rechlicz, RW Nick Johnson, D Chris Summers
Analysis: A 3rd or 4th liner who may get promoted if Doan doesn’t resign? An aged Steve Sullivan? Someone named Joel Rechlicz? I know the Coyotes were a formidible force last season, particularly in a playoffs dominated by their goalie Mike Smith, but I don’t see any of these moves as significant adds. The Coyotes felt like they were a few pieces away last season and have done nothing to push their cause forward. Incidentally, speaking of Smith, he’s a UFA at season’s end and is only 30 years old. Think a team with a tenuous-at-best ownership situation has a snowball’s chance in Phoenix of keeping him? This could be just them kicking the can down the road until the eventual departure of the ‘yotes from Glendale. Roy Miller in Knight and Day said it best: “Someday. That’s a dangerous word. It’s really just a code for ‘never’.”
Los Angeles Kings
June 11, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A general view of the Los Angeles Kings logo projected to the ice before game six of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals against the New Jersey Devils at the Staples Center. The Kings won 6-1 to win the series four games to two. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE
Offseason adds: D Andrew Campbell, D Andrew Bodnarchuck, F Thomas Hickey, F Stefan Lengein, D Jake Muzzin, F Tanner Pearson
Analysis: The Kings are loaded and were at season’s end. No need for major changes, the returning champs look strong going into September camp. Miller: “You’ve got skills.”
Dallas Stars
Offseason adds: D Aaron Rome, F Jaromir Jagr, F Brett Richie, D Troy Vance, G Richard Bachman, F Colton Sceviour, LW Ray Whitney, F Derek Roy
Analysis: Wait, and let me get this straight. You sign a couple guys WAY past their prime (Jagr and Whitney), a not-the-same-since-his-injury Derek Roy, a marginal defenseman in Aaron Rome and Stars Fans are supposed to get excited? Come on. This almost sounds like the premise behind Knight and Day itself. I don’t see the Stars posing a big threat here. People have been praising the Stars’ moves, the guys at Bleacher Report actually gave their offseason an A-. I normally agree with the Bleacher Report authors, they’re a top flight bunch. This time we park our cars in different garages. I look forward to booing them during the anthem. Miller: “It’s just… one of those things.”
Anaheim Mighty Ducks Anaheim Disneys Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Anaheim Ducks
Offseason adds: D Sheldon Souray, RW Brad Staubitz, D Jordan Henry, D Bryan Allen, D Matt Smaby, F Corey Elkins, G Frederik Andersen, C Nick Bonino, D Hampus Lindholm, G Marco Cousineau, C Daniel Winnik
Analysis: The Ducks made some of the best offseason moves in the division. Souray is a nice scoring defenseman to add to their already decent D corps. We all know Staubitz, and we had a brief flirtation with Daniel Winnik as well. Really, though, no big moves. Miller: “I’m sorry. Who are you again?”
Overall the lack of movement makes me like our chances. Closing out with one final quote from Roy Miller: “Sometimes things happen for a reason.” Indeed.
~BB
Best Offseasons
- Carolina Hurricanes
- New York Rangers
- Minnesota Wild
- Colorado Avalanche
- Washington Capitals
Want to debate a list? Tweet me @bluelineboomer
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