Puckosphere.com

Welcome to the new HockeyAnalysis.com, now operating through the Puckosphere.com blogging platform.  This is where I’ll post my more in depth statistical analysis stuff and my less in depth commentary type stuff will get posted at DavidsHockeyThoughts.com.  At some point over the summer I’ll set up a new stats site like what was at stats.hockeyanalysis.com on the old site and there I hope to bring you a lot of interesting and hopefully useful statistics and graphics that you won’t be able to fine anywhere else.

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I have to wonder whether taking the GM job in Tampa was the best move for Steve Yzerman, or whether Steve Yzerman was the best choice for the GM job in Tampa. The rumour was that the Lightning ownership offered Yzerman the job several times only to be rejected by Yzerman until the Lightning made an offer too rich for Yzerman to refuse. If this is in fact the case, it (i.e. money) would be the wrong reason for Yzerman to take the job and the wrong reason for the Lightning to hire Yzerman. My fear for

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Though the UFA class is not filled with big names, their are some big names that could be available via trade.

1. Evgeni Malkin

Malkin is the Penguins 2nd line centre which is great to have but when you don’t have any wingers even close to your top line centre’s calibar you have a problem.

Over the past few years the Penguins have done a good job turning average wingers into above average wingers thanks to Crosby, Malkin and Jordan Staal however, Malkin needs to go.

Malkin makes over 8 million a season as the line two centre

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Now that former Devils and Wild coach Jacques Lemaire has retired, the New Jersey Devils find themselves looking for a new coach.
In the last 2 seasons the Devils coaches have been Brent Sutter and Jacques Lemaire who both coach a defensive game. Both coaches had great regular seasons and lost in the first round of the playoffs. Also, Jacques Lemaire missed the playoffs before he came to New Jersey. As for Brent Sutter he missed the playoffs the year after the Devils fired him.
Don’t get me wrong defense is important but should

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Their is not a huge list to chose from but in my mind these are the 3 best Centre’s in this years UFA class.
1. Patrick Marleau – Due to Sharks limited cap space the Sharks have and the playoff performance by Patrick Marleau the Sharks will have a very tough time retaining his services and he could find himself in the open market come July 1st. Patrick would be a great add for any team looking for a #1 Centre as he can skate, score and will take pride is his defensive game.
Approximate

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Their are many defenseman who I expect to break out next season, but these select few I expect to make the biggest jump from this season.
Erik Karlsson – Karlsson  had a terrible start to the season for the Ottawa Senators and found himself in the minors because of it. However, when he was down there he immensely improved his game on both sides of the ice but his offense is what stands out the most. He ended up the season with 26 points in 60 games but he scored most of his points

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According to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com, the LA kings will be looking to make a splash come July 1st, though their is a chance none of these players will become UFA’s the chances are at least 1 of them will be. The LA Kings have a ton of interest in potential UFA forwards Patrick Marleau and Ilya Kovalchuk. The LA Kings tried to acquire Ilya Kovalchuk at the deadline but apparently the Kings offer was not as good as the Devils.
I personally think they LA Kings have a very good shot at signing

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With game 7 of the Canadiens, Penguins series set to go tonight, I am going to tell you my 3 x-factors that must step up for the Canadiens to win.
1. Hal Gill, he has been given the lovely task of trying to shutdown Sidney Crosby and the Penguins top line, though it hasn’t been easy he has done a fantastic job. Their is still work to be done. Hal Gill has held the Penguins captain to just 3 points in 5 games, all assists. When Hal was out of the lineup last game

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The Dallas Stars have shown that they have confidence in goaltender Kari Lehtonen by giving him a 3 year contract extension that will earn him 3.55 million dollars per season.
Let’s look at his stats from over the past 3 seasons.
2007-08 GP:45 Record: 17-22-5 GAA: 2.90 SV%: .916 SO: 4
2008-09 GP:46 Record: 19-22-3 GAA:3.06 SV%: .911 SO: 3
2009-10 GP:12 Record: 6-4-0 GAA: 2.81 SV%: .911 SO: 0
So as you can see he is capable of stopping pucks it is just a matter of if he can stay healthy. If he can stay

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In no order I am going to take a look at the New Jersey Devils top 3 prospects.
LW Mattias Tedenby – Mattias Tedenby’s game is all about speed and skill. Mattias has represented Sweden in the World Juniors a couple of times and came up with a few highlight reel plays. Mattias is not your typical New Jersey Devil as he is mostly only offensive minded and has been questioned because of his limited defensive ability and small size but that is nothing the Devils coaching staff can’t fix. When Mattias becomes a

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