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NHL Prospect Watch: New York Islanders
As with the already previewed Carolina Hurricanes, the New York Islanders prospect pool is full to bursting with promising netminders. Looking at their 2012 draft, in which all seven selections were...
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NHL Prospect Watch: Colorado Avalanche
I don’t particularly enjoy writing depressing articles, but a review of the Colorado Avalanche system is exactly that; depressing. Of course, even the worst of systems has a few promising pieces, but...
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NHL Playoff Preview: Florida Panthers (1) vs. New York Islanders(WC1)
Summary: These teams are pretty evenly matched, and we think it will go down to the wire regardless of who wins. The Panthers have several good, to very good forwards, but none quite as dynamic as...
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NHL Playoff Preview: Washington Capitals (1) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (WC2)
Summary: Not that any team in the East can match Washington’s offensive firepower, but the Flyers pack quite a wallop themselves when their top two lines are clicking. Unfortunately, they’re facing a...
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NHL Playoff Preview: Dallas Stars (1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC2)
Summary: The Stars are a high octane machine in the offensive zone. Without the puck? Not as much. Still, they should prove too much for their wildly inconsistent opponent (pun intended) to overcome....
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NHL Playoff Preview: Los Angeles Kings (2) vs. San Jose Sharks (3)
Summary: It should be a drama-filled series with some painful history between the teams. The Sharks collapse after being up 3-0 to LA two years ago in the playoffs, is a ghost rattling in the hallway –...
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NHL Playoff Preview: St. Louis Blues (2) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (3)
Summary: Every year, the Blues are a tempting pick to go on a Cup run and every year, they are a letdown. A fact they are very aware of themselves. Still, that’s not the reason for picking against...
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NHL Playoff Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning (2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (3)
Summary: The Lightning hobbled its way into the playoffs, and will be without the services of Steven Stamkos and Anton Stralman for the foreseeable future. Not exactly an ideal situation, but not one...
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NHL Playoff Preview: Anaheim Ducks (1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)
Summary: This may be the most interesting series in the first round. You’ve got a pair of very capable offenses going head-to-head, and the possibility for a major upset – if Pekka Rinne can return to...
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NHL Playoff Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs. New York Rangers (3)
Summary: They’re the hottest team in hockey, and have been a nearly unstoppable force over the past few months. They’re the Penguins, and they’re going to lose this series. Why? Their defense remains...
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NHL Prospect Watch: The Florida Panthers
Considering how little I thought of the Panthers system in the offseason, ranking them 28th overall in terms of prospect depth and strength...
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NHL Prospect Watch: Detroit Red Wings
These are not the Mike Babcock Red Wings anymore. In part, that is because Babcock has moved on to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs. But the change has been felt at a philosophical level through the...
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NHL Prospect Watch: Pittsburgh Penguins
Any look at the Pittsburgh Penguins’ system must first reconcile to the fact that the team began the season with one highly touted prospect who surprisingly made the opening game roster and another...
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McKeen’s 2016 NHL Draft Guide publishing soon
We will be publishing our annual NHL Draft Guide in early June. It is available with a 3-month, $9.99 subscription to mckeenshockey.com. First publishing its Hockey Pool Yearbook in 1994, McKeen’s...
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NHL Prospect Watch: Calgary Flames
After a pretty disappointing season for their AHL team, the Calgary Flames can rest more easily knowing that three of the top prospects in the system were not yet at the minor pro level. We won’t spend...
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NHL Prospect Watch: New Jersey Devils
Readers of this column have been privy to some excellent farm systems and some dull ones. This week we scrape the bottom of the barrel with the New Jersey Devils. Ranked dead last in the offseason by...
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NHL Prospect Watch: San Jose Sharks
Never known for having a great system in place, the San Jose Sharks have combined player development with astute free agent signings and smart trades of draft picks (future assets) for current roster...
View Article2016 NHL Draft Guide: Mock Draft
Pick Team Player Pos. Notes 1 Toronto Auston Matthews C "Great things come to those who wait." It may have taken eight years to find Mats Sundin's replacement as a first-line center, but American...
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2016 NHL Draft Guide: Michael McLeod
No other player in the top ten elicited as much debate as the speedy OHL center - some scouts have him in consideration for the top 6...yet some polled by TSN's Bob McKenzie didn't even like him in the...
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2016 NHL Draft Guide: Best Skater
Sean Day of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images BEST SKATER When you combine speed, agility and strength it's hard to argue that Sean Day isn't the draft's best skater despite...
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