2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 1

N H L

S E A S O N

P R E V I E W

Power rankings

Based on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best ranking

A t l a n t i c
Penguins Devils Flyers Rangers Islanders Sabres

N o r t h e a s t
Canadiens Senators Bruins Maple Leafs Capitals

S o u t h e a s t
Lightning Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers

Offense Defense/goaltending Coaching Intangibles (out of 20)

Team rankings compiled by AP Hockey Writer Ira Podell

TOTAL

18

4 4

5 5 2

4 3

4 4 2

14

14

4 4

13

3 3

4 3 4

3 3

4 4 3 3

4 4 2

4 4

16

14

14

13
Will have to quickly shake off hangover of historic playoff collapse

12

3 3 3 3

17

4 4 4

5 2

4 4 2

3 3 3

13

11

10

2 2

3 3

2 2

3 3

10

Penguins Kovalchuk With injury could be and Co. need troubles poised for to figure out already another run way to get mounting, a at Lord past first return trip Stanleys round of to the finals Cup playoffs under is unlikely rookie coach

Without injurRangers roster in flux ed defenseman Streit again, and forward making Okposo, it playoff looks like chances another long shaky at year on LI best

Miller, NHLs Looking to best goalie, show last can focus seasons fully on run to Sabres NHL's without final four Olympic wasnt a distractions fluke

Playoff probably, but not likely Cup contender

No end in sight to 43-year championship drought

The time is With Yzerman now for in charge, Ovechkin Lightning to get have new Capitals to identity with Stanley championship Cup finals pedigree

Must avoid repeat of last seasons awful start

Bringing in Forgotten Byfuglien is team in nice addition, Florida just not will likely enough to land in turn around last place this franchise again yet

The Blackhawks launch a defense of their crown, barely resembling the group that ended the NHLs longest championship drought ...

NHL season highlights

OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MARCH APRIL

New-look are Hawks poised to repeat

C e n t r a l
Red Wings Blackhawks Predators Blues Blue Jackets
Offense Defense/goaltending Coaching Intangibles (out of 20)

Oct. 7 Start of regular season

Oct. 7-10 NHL Premiere Games: Carolina vs. Minnesota in Helsinki, Finland; Phoenix vs. Boston in Prague, Czech Rep.; Columbus vs. San Jose in Stockholm, Sweden

Nov. 6 Hall of Fame Game, Buffalo at Toronto Nov. 8 Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Toronto

Jan. 1, 2010 Winter Classic, Washington at Pittsburgh at Heinz Field

Jan. 30 All-Star game, Raleigh, N.C.

April 10 Regular season ends

April 13 Stanley Cup playoffs begin

drought Flyers in six A fter ending their 49-yearcompetingbyforknocking off the Philadelphiawith season? games, can the Chicago Blackhawks add their names to the Cup again next The Blackhawks should be the Cup for years to come their roster of

young stars. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Duncan Keith are all locked up for at least five years. They lost nearly half the roster that was last seen together celebrating at center ice in Philadelphia including netminder Anti Niemi but picked up veteran Marty Turco to replace him between the pipes. Although salary-cap considerations forced them to shed a lot of their depth, the core is still there, and thanks to a young, talented nucleus, should be considered one of the top teams in the league.
N o r t h w e s t P a c i f i c
Oilers Sharks Kings Coyotes Ducks Stars Avalanche Flames Wild

Canucks

TOTAL

Took year Lost depth Sleeper off from the from Cupteam in finals, proud winning West team should roster, coming off be back on should 100-point top with challenge for season that newfound return trip few really energy to finals noticed

18

4 4

5 5

16

4 4

5 3

4 4 4

15

Definitely on the rise, but will be hardpressed to crack top eight in the tough West

12

3 3 3 3

2 2

3 3

4 4 4

3 3

2 4 3

That playoff appearance seems like a distant memory

10

Unless Building there is a with youth posthas put Olympics Avalanche hangover, on fast could make track serious run at title

17

13

4 4

2 2

Second Look to After tough year with make up year under coach Todd Pat Quinn, 5-point Richards gap that look to should be bounce back separated smoother them from with new playoff spot bench boss last season Tom Renney

13

10

3 3

2 2

Window Team on Want to build Slipping No Modano closing on the rise. on momentum deeper into leaves Stars Sharks; will Could be of surprisshadows without face of try to make ready to ing playoff of the franchise deep playoff challenge appearance Southern for first time run with a Sharks and sevenCalifornia since team goalie other atop the game scare hockey toiled in than Nabokov Pacific against scene Minnesota Detroit
E. DeGasero AP

13

3 3 3

4 2

3 3

2 2 3

3 3 3

12

11

11

2 2 2

NHL 2010-11 PREVIEW 100510: Graphic shows team power rankings, outlook and season calenda for the upcoming NHL season; 6c x 10 1/2 inches; 295.2 mm x 267 mm; with BC-BC-HKN--NHL-Season Overview; ED; ETA 4 p.m.

Editors Note: It is mandatory to include all sources that accompany this graphic when repurposing or editing it for publication