My 2014 Pool Projections

It is that time again this year. It's time to do your homework!

When you're dealing with some regulars in your pool, you begin to see some improvements in their picking strategies and then doing your homework becomes even more important.  I have found that if I have projections done in a list, especially in Excel, I will find myself picking players at times where I find that they should go, if not getting them at reasonable bargains.  When you have a list done, there is very little chance that you will forget about a player and you can modify your list so players that you really like could appear when you want them most.

There will be times and picks where others will get players that you're looking at, but as long as they are picking them before you feel comfortable about picking them (unless it was right before your pick), you could feel some satisfaction that you likely got a better player than they did around that time and they may have blown too early of a pick on said player.

So, if you're looking for some ideas, I have each team posted individually, so you can click on the logos below and see each team and even some explanation about the team and how I think they're going to do this year.

My projections will change, leading up to my draft, which is September 21st, as they should through training camp and some exhibition games, but this will at least provide you with an idea about what I'm thinking and get your juices flowing to think the same way.

2014 Pool Projections: Anaheim

The Anaheim Ducks were off-the-charts surprising in the shortened 2012-13 season, because they were really hard to gauge as a club going into the shortened year.  As it so happened, I really didn't think the Ducks were going to make much of anything, especially given that they really hadn't changed too much, there wasn't a great influx of talent, on paper, nor was there a great buzz about them.  Which was why I would consider them the biggest surprise of the shortened season.

The one thing that we really didn't count on was the impact that Viktor Fasth was going to have on the goaltending situation of the team, nor what it was going to mean to the top players of the side, like Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.  For the most part, I would credit Fasth with giving the team that added boost, from an outsider's perspective.

The 2013-14 edition of the Ducks will be a much different group of cats, to say the least.  Change has been made, due in large part to the lowering of the salary cap, thanks to the new CBA agreement.  There are some new faces, some familiar old faces returning to the side and some young players now ready to make that real NHL impact that we've been told that they can do.

Team Table (Players sorted by 2013 points)

Pool Worthy Forwards (35+ Points)

The Ducks have their fair share of forwards that are ripe for the picking in the draft this year, since they really put on a good show last season.  The question is more whether or not they can carry that momentum forward into the 2014 season and if they can, I think the points above look reasonable.  Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry remain as the two top forwards, who will likely be taken early and should be, by their projections.

It will be hard not to choose a guy like Teemu Selanne, in general, but it could be a bit tough to pick him in the right spot this year.  Will he have a big year for his big send-off?  Will his age get the best of him?  Something in between, perhaps?  Well, I have Selanne in at around 55 points, which will put him in good shape.

I think the real sneaky players will be more of their youngsters, as Jakub Silfverberg (who came over from Ottawa in the Bobby Ryan deal), Kyle Palmieri, Emerson Etem and Devante Smith-Pelly will be the really game-breakers for Anaheim.

Old veterans, like Saku Koivu and Dustin Penner will be around for some seasoning for your pool team, likely as late-round picks, but that's about all they should be considered as.

Pool Worthy Defensemen (20+ Points)

The blueline for Anaheim is somewhat of a deceiving looking group of guys, that you'd look at and think there isn't a great deal of scoring potential there, but they do seem to manage to do the job.  I wonder if it is other teams looking at them on paper and thinking that they are the least of their worries.

I get the feeling that Cam Fowler is going to breakout this season and lead the way for the Ducks, as he had a bit of a low year in 2013.

Look for Francois Beauchemin to chip in adequately and even have a sleeper pick like Ben Lovejoy hanging around, if you need a defenseman late.

Pool Worthy Goalies (25+ Points)

There is trouble in these parts.  Who do you go with?  The old favourite, Jonas Hiller, or the new kid on the block, Viktor Fasth?  I think it will be a matter of riding the hot hand for the Ducks, so there could be an even split.  I wouldn't go after Anaheim goalies too quickly, unless there is something catastrophic that happens in camp, before your draft.

Breakout Players

As mentioned above, I am looking at Cam Fowler to have a breakout season.  He'll be the big one for the Ducks, but the young kids on the forward lines are going to be fun to watch this year.  Jakub Silfverberg is the other candidate for a good sleeper pick, which could pay off big this year.

Key Injuries

Announced in August, the Ducks will be without defenseman Sheldon Souray until the end of November, at the earliest, after suffering tendon damage in his wrist, which was surgically repaired.  A big hit to the club, if they are going to push for another division title.

Unsigned Players

With the ageless veteran, Teemu Selanne re-signing with the club yesterday, that makes everyone accounted for in the Ducks camp in September.

2014 Pool Projections: Boston

The Boston Bruins continue to be favourites for some hardware for the 2014 season, as their core has been kept together and with some tinkering, they have managed to keep some continuity, which definitely helps from season to season.

The Bruins tinkering may need to continue, however, since they are still right up against the new cap ceiling without even carrying a full roster.  As of right now, they are a couple of forwards and a goalie short of having a playable roster and they have less than an NHL minimum salary to spare, so something is going to have to change.

Nevertheless, with that little bit of tinkering, the Bruins could very well be in the mix again for some wins and are a likely team to get lots of points for your hockey pool team.

Team Table (Players sorted by 2013 points)

Pool Worthy Forwards (35+ Points)

I think one of the most interesting things about the Bruins is their lack of a real top end point-getter and their scoring by committee ideal.  There are guys that can put pucks in the net and there are guys who can dish it out, but there isn't that one guy who is out there to chase a scoring title.  This works and it has been working for a few years now.

Even with the addition of an aging Jarome Iginla, I cannot see a guy that will really step up the chase, so I wouldn't put a lot of stock in the Boston forwards, until they come into their zone in the draft.  David Krejci is likely the most appealing player, but I wouldn't choose him too high.  Brad Marchand broke out in the lockout season, but I don't see him being the guy to push too hard, scoring-wise, he'll be too busy being himself on the ice.  Earmark Patrice Bergeron for a good season, while newcomer Loui Eriksson will make an impression and Milan Lucic will continue to steamroll opponents.

But talking about cap problems, I get the feeling it will be the forward group that will take the hit, trying to fit more talent under the cap.  There is a lot of cap space taken up from the front lines, which may make it easier to move.

Pool Worthy Defensemen (20+ Points)

Where you could make a solid contribution to your pool team is from the Bruins' blueline, as they have a few guys on the list that may compliment your line-up well.  There is no question that Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg are pool usuals, but looking at guys like Dougie Hamilton and Torey Krug could be the guys that make a real push and put you over.  Krug really showed off his stuff in the playoffs and that stuff looked really solid.  If the Bruins show a little bit of confidence in him, it could go a long ways.

Pool Worthy Goalies (25+ Points)

The Bruins are going to be riding on the shoulders of Tuukka Rask again this season and for good reason... he has played well in Tim Thomas' wake.  Rask only finished 21st in pool scoring last season, but the Bruins did get off to somewhat of a rocky start in the sprint to the finish that was the shortened season, but with that season under his belt, he should give a performance that will likely keep him in the conversation for the Vezina.

As for his back-up... well, the smart money is on Chad Johnson, since he has the smallest cap hit and the most NHL experience of the bunch, but there will still be a training camp and some trades to make before that gets decided.

Breakout Players

Breaking out for some teams is different than other teams and I think breaking out for the Bruins would be considered to be that guy that puts 110% into every shift and does the little things right most games, not necessarily scoring.  It will be interesting to see what comes out of camp, but with the talent they have waiting in the wings, it will likely be one of those guys fighting for a spot that does the trick.  Not too sure if that guy is really going to be pool-worthy though.

Key Injuries

The only key injury on their books is still Marc Savard, who missed all of last season with his concussion problems and between his health and the cap issues, I don't foresee him coming back any time soon, despite what he might say going forward.  The Bruins can't afford to put him out there if he isn't 100%, nor can they afford to put him out there, period.

Unsigned Players

Everyone is present and accounted for... much to the chagrin of the cap accountant.

2014 Pool Projections: Buffalo

The rebuilding process for the Sabres could be a bit of a long one, if the look of the team right now is giving any indication.

The team has some talent waiting in the wings, but it just doesn't look like "the guys" that are going to get the job done and lift this team into the playoffs any time soon.  I think in saying that, some of the usual suspects for the pool might suffer a little, in terms of scoring, and that will be the approach that I will be taking with them this year.

I think you can take some of the usual suspects, but make sure you don't pick them too early, leaving more points on the board than what you're going to get out of Buffalo.  Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller being the two big names that come to mind the fastest.

Team Table (Players sorted by 2013 points)

Pool Worthy Forwards (35+ Points)

There are a few good forwards that you'd want to take a look at, like Vanek, Tyler Ennis, Drew Stafford and the up-and-coming Marcus Foligno.  These guys will likely make for pretty good picks this season, while Steve Ott will be a good depth pick.

There is a bit of a sleeper pick in Ville Leino, who might sneak out of the basement of the Sabres scoring pile and he could pick up some worthy points, but with the depth the Sabres have, it is hard to say who he is going to play and whether or not he'll have that motivation to put up points.

Pool Worthy Defensemen (20+ Points)

I only have Christian Ehrhoff and Tyler Myers to eclipse the 20-point mark for the Sabres, which doesn't exactly provide them with a lot of scoring depth from the back.  I think this is another one of those contributing factors to the lack of success I am prognosticating for the Sabres.  Even in their crop of young defensemen, they don't exactly have anyone that is going to beat down the door and create a scene.

I expect Myers to bounce back from a couple of rough seasons and find some more reasonable form, but it really gets thin after him.

Pool Worthy Goalies (25+ Points)

There is no question that Ryan Miller can steal games and he will do so for the Sabres in 2014, but his numbers are going to be limited as well and the trade rumours will likely fire up before too long, which didn't help the American keeper much last year.  The team will have to give him a vote of confidence right away or else this long season will be even longer.

Breakout Players

If there is a possible breakout player, I would look to the rookie, Mikhail Grigorenko, who had a taste of the NHL last year.  I don't have him pegged for many points right now, but that could change with a positive camp.

Key Injuries

None to speak of.

Unsigned Players

One huge name left on the restricted free agent market... Cody Hodgson.  Hodgson did well in his first full (if you could call it that) year with the Sabres, picking up 34 points in 48 games, albeit a streaky 34 points.  Hodgson could fit right in and give the team some scoring depth, but free agency will do the team's head in, for sure.

2014 Pool Projections: Calgary

Rebuilding is the name of the game in Calgary, although no one in the organization will say it outright... or so it would seem.

The difference between the Flames rebuild and the Sabres rebuild is the amount of young talent waiting in the wings.  The Flames, remarkably, have done a reasonable job picking up some young talent, full of potential, but potential will only take you so far.  That potential will have to blossom properly into some long-term gains.

With the loss of Jarome Iginla and the potential loss of Miikka Kiprusoff to retirement, the Flames are practically starting from square one in the 2014 season.  The team will have to look to a key forward to brunt the pressure of an NHL club and still commit to a starting goalie.  There are lots of questions to answer and some of them may not be done through training camp.

The Flames have all kinds of slots open here, so it will be paying keen attention to their training camp and if you're going to be gambling on some of the young talent, you will want to make sure that these picks are going to be late, because these kids may not have as much help as you might think.

Team Table (Players sorted by 2013 points)

Pool Worthy Forwards (35+ Points)

If I was going to look for a leader of this club, going into 2014, I would be looking to Jiri Hudler, as he had shown the most potential and he hasn't quite had the scrutiny placed upon him, that the other players at the top of the table have had, thanks to being there longer.  Hudler should be the pivot of all things offensive this year and will likely be the best forward on the team.

There will be opportunity for Mike Cammalleri, Curtis Glencross and Mikael Backlund to take that role, but it will be interesting to see how these three respond to a new start without a couple of key players they haven't really known the team to be without.

David Jones and Matt Stajan will also likely be reasonable late-round picks, if you're looking for Flames this year, but I wouldn't rush to pick these guys up, as the team, as a whole, is a big question mark.

Pool Worthy Defensemen (20+ Points)

The Flames have six NHL-seasoned blueliners already on the team and they do have some potential talent to add to the mix, coming into 2014, but there are only a few that I would be comfortable taking this year in the pool.  Dennis Wideman continues to be a good pool defender, while T.J. Brodie is growing as an NHL player and Marc Giordano continues to get minutes in a role that may be a little too big for him.

If anyone begins to fall off the map for the Flames, there are a couple youngsters like Tyler Wotherspoon, who could possibly make the jump.  

Pool Worthy Goalies (25+ Points)

The million dollar question in Calgary... who will be the starting goalie for the 2014 season?  Miikka Kiprusoff has yet to officially retire, leaving a glimmer of hope for some, but the race appears to be down to Karri Ramo or Joey MacDonald, the two most-seasoned professionals, beyond their retiring legend.  Ramo appears to be the favourite, sight unseen for many Flames fans, as he has played very well in Europe, while MacDonald is known to be a career back-up, who filled in admirably during Kiprusoff's injury-plagued 2013.

Unless you know what is absolutely going on with the Flames crease, it will be wise to stay away for the sake of your pool team.

Breakout Players

Right now, the Flames have four open slots on my table for their forwards and a huge spot open for their goaltending, which gives them lots of potential for a breakout player, but right now, I would say it's anyone's title to gain.

Sven Baertschi leads the pack of candidates, but his growth hasn't been quite as expected publicly.  Corban Knight, Sean Monahan, Ben Hanowski and Max Reinhart are all going to be under the microscope this season as well, as leading candidates to possibly breakout, but unless they're on the opening night roster, it will be hard to put any faith in them.

Key Injuries

None.

Unsigned Players

One restricted free agent left on the ledger, as Carter Bancks, an undrafted 24-year old forward, who hasn't not lifted himself into the conversation for another look.

2014 Pool Projections: Carolina

The Carolina Hurricanes are a team that really have to rely on their top end players, as they haven't given themselves much else to work on, as they have suffered some pretty bad luck in their drafting over the last few years.

Between players like Brandon Sutter, Zach Boychuk and Drayson Bowman, the Hurricanes were supposed to have some quality talent to fill in behind Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner, but the kids really hadn't panned out and a guy like Boychuk had been kicked around the league a couple times last season.  So, the top end players will have to carry the load.

On the plus side for Carolina, they have been able to manufacture deals that appear to work on paper, picking up players like Jordan Staal and Alex Semin before last season, so they'll have some top end talent to work from.

Team Table (Players sorted by 2013 points)

Pool Worthy Forwards (35+ Points)

I have found that the Hurricanes players don't normally go as high as possibly they should, so this is a good team to find some draft bargains in.  Eric Staal is a 1st round pick most years, while Alex Semin usually tends to be up there somewhere and then add Jeff Skinner, when he's healthy, to the mix and you have a pretty solid trio to pick from.  Jordan Staal is not a bad pool forward and did okay in his first season in Carolina, so I would expect much of the same from him.

Jiri Tlusty, to me, is a bit of a landmine pick.  He had a really good 2013 season, but I have absolutely no faith that he'll be quite as dominant and my projection of him is a reluctant one, at best.  If you pick him according to last year's numbers, you may be in for a shock.

If you're looking for a bit of risk/reward near the end of your pool forwards, look towards Tuomo Ruutu, who has been really close to being added onto my injury prone list, but he can pick up points when he's healthy.  Something to really consider.

Pool Worthy Defensemen (20+ Points)

The thin blue line in Carolina is exactly that.  Thin.

Joni Pitkanen, another potential player for the injury prone list, is the team's best offensive threat from the line, but he comes with very few guarantees.

Tim Gleason and Justin Faulk round out the worthy defensemen, as per my projections, and neither really look appealing on paper going into this year.

Pool Worthy Goalies (25+ Points)

With Cam Ward, it is either feast or famine, and it is mostly injury related.  When Ward is healthy, he has been a top-40 player in pool scoring, but when he gets hurt, he really gets hurt... dropping below the top 200.  Ward was hurt in the 2013 season, which could mean he's due to bounce back, but my projections are hedging those bets a little, just in case.

In behind him will be a good race between Justin Peters and newcomer, Anton Khudobin.  If Ward was to get hurt, either one of these guys will have to take the reins and that could mean some points.

Breakout Players

Anyone due to breakout in Carolina?  Well, I've been hopeful before and only Skinner has really done the deed for me.  2013 pick, Elias Lindholm, has moved to North America for a roster push, while Viktor Rask has played some junior hockey in Canada, so he could be close this year.  A breakout player could improve the projections of many players, including Ward.

Key Injuries

Nothing of note.

Unsigned Players

Zach Boychuk was the last RFA to sign for the Hurricanes, signing a 1-year deal on August 20, 2013.  He isn't much of a pool player going into training camp.

2014 Pool Projections: Chicago

The Blackhawks are the Cup champs and poolies love the champs.  I think this is an annual fact.

I don't think 2014 will be any different and I also believe that the Blackhawks will actually give their poolie followers good reason to pick them again.  I am one who is to believe that the hangover might not be quite so bad, given that the season was short last year, so the wear and tear might not be so bad.

If everything goes well for the Blackhawks, I think there is going to be a sweet bounty of points, as you will see by my projections.  Chicago has a wealth of talent in every position, so they'll be a tough team to beat on a nightly basis.  Will you rush to get a piece of the action from Chicago?

Team Table (Players sorted by 2013 points)

Pool Worthy Forwards (35+ Points)

The core forwards for the Blackhawks, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp, will be auditioning some teammates to join their exclusive club of high scoring weapons on this team and it will be the job of poolies everywhere to figure out who it is going to be.  If you're able to figure it out, there's a good chance that it will put you in great shape in your hockey pool this year.

I think there is a good chance that Brandon Saad will be the guy that makes that jump and it will be an impressive one.  The big four have found themselves on the shelf from time to time, so a kid like Saad could really take advantage, if they are either healthy or injured.  He'll be a keen pick.

Otherwise, the depth will be hit and miss for the better part of the season.  The team has some spots open on their list, which will likely be occupied by some youth.  Drew LeBlanc looks like an interesting character, who could make the jump into a full-time position, so we'll see where he lands in training camp.

Pool Worthy Defensemen (20+ Points)

The backbone of the Blackhawks will be on the blueline, who are going to be tough to match in a lot of cases going into 2014.  Between Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, the top two for Chicago are going to be popular, early on in pool drafts, since they will be beaming with confidence going into the new year.

Nick Leddy will be a pretty good pick-up for a number two or three defenseman this year, while you can find some depth out of Johnny Oduya or Michal Roszival, who should be able to chip in some points this year as well.

Pool Worthy Goalies (25+ Points)

The goaltending situation changes a little, between 2013 & 2014, as the Hawks will not have the duo that they can split time with all season, which should be much better for Corey Crawford's numbers, who will likely benefit from a few more minutes.  Crawford should find a good number of points and should be a 1st round pick in most drafts

As back-up, Nikolai Khabibulin will likely see some time, but questions linger about the 40-year old's durability and value.  The Blackhawks obviously saw enough in the Bulin Wall to give him $2 million for the 2014 season.

Breakout Players

As mention earlier, I think Saad is going to be a key breakout player this year, while LeBlanc will probably be close as well.  There are some spots available in the Chicago line-up, come training camp, so some of the youth will likely get their chance to breakout before the team goes looking for some veteran help, come playoff time.

Key Injuries

None to mention.

Unsigned Players

No restricted free agents left to sign.  Six roster slots open to all who are signed above.

2014 Pool Projections: Colorado

The Avalanche are a very intriguing team, going into the 2014 season, as they have some real potential on paper, so it will be most interesting to see if they can translate that into some quality hockey on the ice.

Looking at the team table below, I am getting the feeling that this team will be good for scoring goals, but they will also be liable in their own end, having trouble keeping the puck out of their own net.  Without a dominating blueliner to take on the job of leading this team, the Avalanche's best defense will be a good offense and that they could possibly have in spades.

If the Avalanche are going to have problems keeping the puck out of their own net, their offense will be very dependent on scoring the first goal each night, as their confidence will be tested, especially if they aren't able to get on the board before their opponents.

Team Table (Players sorted by 2013 points)

Pool Worthy Forwards (35+ Points)

Well, it looks like there is just enough space in the forward line-up for the 1st overall pick in this past Summer's draft, Nathan MacKinnon, who had shown that he has the speed and strength to be an NHL-player in last season's junior campaign, so it will be up to you to decide how high you would take McKinnon in your pool draft.  Given the team's strengths, he may feature quite well.

Beyond MacKinnon, there is a great deal of talent up front and choosing between it will be difficult, but that's why you do projections to start the year.  Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan O'Reilly, PA Parenteau, Alex Tanguay and Paul Stastny... these guys will all be looking to put up some points and the biggest thing they will have to face in the year is their own health issues.  The Avalanche have all kinds of talent, but they have also been known to be some soft players, spending time on the injured reserve from time to time.  This has to be a real concern going forward as well.

Pool Worthy Defensemen (20+ Points)

If the forwards are going to get points and surely they will, then it only seems likely that the defensemen will too, get on the board.  The question will be how often and will someone step up to the plate and do most of the damage?

Between Erik Johnson, Tyson Barrie, Ryan Wilson and Stefan Elliott, I think there is some real potential to get that blueliner to do the job, but no one immediately stands out as the guy that is going to do it for me.  All four of these defenders all line up as one of my last defensemen to take in the draft, but all four could also be big steals, if they are chosen late and decide to score.

I'm not keen on putting too much stock into these guys early on, but I don't think I would say that they're far away from doing real damage.

Pool Worthy Goalies (25+ Points)

If the Avalanche are not going to be defensively sound, goaltending will be the first casualty of that pitfall.  Semyon Varlamov will start and play a lot, so it will be up to him to play well enough to earn points.  Varlamov will be the first player to see an increase in pool points, if the Avalanche improve their overall game at any point during the regular season, but I don't think he is quite good enough to do it himself.

If you get deep into the draft and need one more goalie, J-S Giguere may be a decent pick-up, because if Varlamov does struggle behind some porous defense, Giguere will find some more starts.

Breakout Players

I think we can easily point out MacKinnon as a possible breakout player, but I think the guy to remember will be Steve Downie, who came over to the Avalanche before the shortened 2013 season, but his season was cut short to injury and he'll have a shot to breakout with a young and exciting Avalanche team.  Do you fancy taking a chance on Downie to be a good pool player?  I might.

Key Injuries

None.

Unsigned Players

One restricted free agent left, Tomas Vincour, but he won't likely play into any hockey pool decisions.

2014 Pool Projections: Columbus

One of the two new teams in the Eastern Conference this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets are going to be a part of the Metropolitan Division and will have some pretty different division rivals, compared to their days in the Central Division and that might be a bit of an upgrade for them.

Coming out of the tight checking Central Division, the Blue Jackets will be somewhat battle-tested when it comes to their defensive play, so when they are up against the offensive flow of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes or New York Rangers, they may see a little bit more offense in the 2014 season.

The Jackets have a couple new faces from the end of last season and they only have a few openings at the back end, so it will be interesting how the team finishes their build for the coming year.  With a few of the offensive threats they have in place already, most of them have spent some time in the Eastern Conference already, so they should be well-versed in the style, which could be an advantage.

There is nothing about the Jackets that really has me too excited, but with some of the pieces they have on the team table below, they could just click well together and there is a chance that something good could come of all of this.

Team Table (Players sorted by 2013 points)

Pool Worthy Forwards (35+ Points)

Buried in a smaller market, Marian Gaborik might be able to work in peace and quiet, under the radar of many and put some points together.  The make-up of the team feels a little similar to the early days of the Minnesota Wild, when he was just breaking out, without a great deal of star power, so the Jackets may only go as far as Gaborik takes them.

Another former Rangers forward, Brandon Dubinsky, will likely be another target for poolies coming out of Columbus.  The Jackets won't have too many players that will excite the poolies, but it did look like Dubinsky was bouncing back just fine from some down years in the Big Apple.

If you're looking at depth from Columbus, I might suggest R.J. Umberger, Mark Letestu, Ryan Johansen, Nick Foligno and Artem Anisimov, but they'll likely be better suited as later round picks, hoping that the Jackets can find some magic in their locker room.

Pool Worthy Defensemen (20+ Points)

The top three defensemen for the Jackets on the table, Fedor Tyutin, Jack Johnson and James Wisniewski, all have some talent that teams should be aware of this year and this is where most of the magic is going to happen for Columbus.  If these three can all stay healthy and have the season we know they can, I think they can make the Jackets into playoff race players this year.

Pool Worthy Goalies (25+ Points)

Reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Sergei Bobrovsky, really turned it on in the 2013 season, thanks to some relative obscurity, before the media caught wind of his quiet domination.  Bobrovsky has the most interesting storyline, going back into the Eastern Conference, as he will be going back to somewhat of the same division that he was chased out of, when he played for the Flyers.  Playing in an air tight Central Division is very pro-goalie, where the old Atlantic Division, now the Metropolitan Division, has all kinds of run and gun.  I am weary of Bobrovsky heading into 2014.

Breakout Players

On the blueline, the Jackets are waiting on Ryan Murray, who was the 2nd overall pick in the 2012 draft, and if he can make the jump to the NHL this year, I think he can make a push into the breakout category.

Key Injuries

The latest word I have seen on Nathan Horton, the Jackets' new addition from the Summer, is that he will be on track for a December return.  For my pool, that would possibly make him into a good candidate for a waiver draft pick-up.  Horton underwent off-season shoulder surgery, which had him out for an extended period of time, but the Summer has been pointing at a December return.

There is also one more injury to report on, as defenseman Dalton Prout had been suffering from an abdomen injury, which required surgery at the beginning of August and the team expects Prout to be out for training camp and likely all of the preseason.  His projections, albeit low to begin with, will likely have some rust that also needs to be shaken off, so he won't likely be a good sleeper.

Unsigned Players

All their key restricted free agents have been dealt with.

2014 Pool Projections: Dallas

The new-look Dallas Stars will have a few new looks to show off, as they will have new duds with a new logo (see right), some new faces to debut this season and they'll play in a realigned Central Division.

With all of these changes (except for maybe the logo and jersey), there will be a little bit of adjusting that the Stars will need to do, but if they can assert themselves in the early stages of the season, they could dictate their own fate a little bit more.  Kind of like that old adage about what do to during your first few days in prison.

There should be plenty of excitement surrounding the team, as they will spend less time in the Pacific time zone and they will also be one of four teams new to this division, with Colorado, Minnesota and Winnipeg.  If they can skate with determination and speed, they should be able to do just fine in the new Central.

Team Table (Players sorted by 2013 points)

Pool Worthy Forwards (35+ Points)

From a balance standpoint, I think what Dallas did different between the 2013 and the upcoming 2014 season is quite noticeable and I think using the horrible look in 2013 helped some decisions and taught some lessons for 2014.  There isn't quite as much aged star power on the forward lines, as Ray Whitney remains, but he still should be very useful.

In are Tyler Seguin from the Bruins, Cody Eakin has a full-time job with the Stars and Rich Peverley, also in from Boston, should provide some mid-range veteran support up front as well.  The retirement home that was the Stars last season, doesn't look quite the same at all, does it?

The real key will be Jamie Benn, who will be the team's top goal scorer, now with a healthy year behind him and no contract issues to start the year, we might finally see what he's finally capable of, now with enough NHL experience to his name.  Can Seguin be the lynch pin that sets Benn apart from the rest?

Pool Worthy Defensemen (20+ Points)

Right away, you notice that there looks to be four worthy defensemen, including the aged Sergei Gonchar, who gave us all the impression that he was heading back to Russia in the off-season, but the Stars decided to throw enough money at him to stay for another couple of years.  I'm not entirely sure that this was a smart move, but since the team has Alex Goligoski working at a good clip, Gonchar could prove to be a good insurance policy down the road.

Trevor Daley and Stephane Robidas are going to be good, solid guys to keep your blueline going.  I wouldn't expect a lot from these two, but if they can be steady, they certainly won't lose your pool for you.

Pool Worthy Goalies (25+ Points)

There is just something about Kari Lehtonen that really restricts me from projecting him too high and I think it has a lot to do with his injury prone status, which he gained in his hey-day in Atlanta.  Lehtonen, for as good of a goalie he is, he does come with a fair bit of risk.  If I could draft Lehtonen at a spot where 75 points is a good pick, he would become a pretty good bargain pick, assuming he has a healthy year.  He will play and he will play a lot.  The Stars have a real good shot this year, assuming Lehtonen stays healthy.

Breakout Players

With spots open in the forward ranks, there is some room for a young player or two to break through and make a name for himself.  Names that come to mind, Alex Chaisson and 2013 1st rounder, Valeri Nichushkin would be good candidates for this.  IF you can wait through training camp, do hear what the scouts and reporters are having to say about these two, because I think they could compliment your pool team, if they're ready.

Key Injuries

All good and all set for training camp.

Unsigned Players

Everyone is signed and accounted for.

2014 Pool Projections: Detroit

The Red Wings are the second of two teams in the projection list (the first being Columbus) moving to the Eastern Conference this year and unlike their Western Conference moving buddy, I think the Wings have the offense to really make a splash in their new digs.

The Red Wings will be moving into the aptly-named Atlantic Division, with all three teams from Canada, the two Florida teams, Boston and Buffalo.  Throwing the Wings into this mix just looks like a whole lot of scoring and quite a bit of winning, right off the hop.  Of course, the Bruins are going to be a tough match-up, but they won't be unlike playing the Chicago's or St. Louis' of the old Central Division.

I am expecting some big things from the big guns out of Detroit and I would be prepared to take some of them rather high.

Team Table (Players sorted by 2013 points)

Pool Worthy Forwards (35+ Points)

The Red Wings, annually, are a hot bed for their top end forwards and I don't see why this year would be much different.  The Wings are going to be one of those teams to look out for this year and if you don't have Pavel Datsyuk or Henrik Zetterberg high on your list, you may be missing out.

Now, beyond the top two, there is a bit of a gap below, since the Red Wings are full of players who have all kinds of question marks related to them.  Most of those question marks are health-related, so there is an element of caution when picking forwards who are not Datsyuk or Zetterberg.  There's no question that Johan Franzen, Stephen Weiss or Todd Bertuzzi have been able to pot points before, but they have all been rocked by injuries in the past, which discounts their projections on an annual basis.

There will also be a whole lot of excitement surrounding Daniel Alfredsson and his arrival in the Motor City, as he will be hungry to win a Cup with the Wings, in what could a retirement parade through the league.  One last kick at the can.  Alfie can put scoring streaks together still and he will have an interesting compliment of players to try to in Detroit, so he will be an interesting pick-up this year.

Pool Worthy Defensemen (20+ Points)

Long gone are the days where Nicklas Lidstrom was a lock to be picked in the draft at a point in time which could be deemed too-early and then Brian Rafalski wouldn't be too far behind.  Yes, those days are gone and now everyone is left to pick Niklas Kronwall and he doesn't get everyone going as much as Lidstrom did, so he's left to be picked at a more reasonable position.  Kronwall should be a more-than-solid pick for a blueliner this year, especially since someone is going to have to pick up points this year.

The other interesting pick here is Dan Dekeyser, who showed that he could skate with the big boys near the end of the regular season, so it will be interesting to see what kind of role he gets with the big club this year.  I know he'll go in my draft, but I don't think he should go too early... yet.

Pool Worthy Goalies (25+ Points)

Well, if the Red Wings are going to win games like I think they might, Jimmy Howard is going to be a can't miss pick this year.  I have a feeling that he might go really high in a lot of drafts and that isn't a bad thing.  If you can get a guy like Jimmy Howard past the 10th pick, you might be in for a real treat this year.

Breakout Players

If Stephen Weiss is healthy this year, I think there is a real chance that we might see the player that we were always meant to see, but never did during his stay in Florida.  Weiss was supposed to be a top end playmaker upon his arrival in the NHL, but his career never really took off the way it should have.  Healthy year, good coaching, exceptional linemates... the math is adding up for Weiss.

Key Injuries

There is still some mild concern over the health of speedy forward Darren Helm, as he has been dealing with some back problems, stemming back to last season.  The latest update that I had seen suggests that he should be ready for training camp, but it might be something to keep an eye on, especially if you think he has some sleeper potential.

Unsigned Players

Gustav Nyquist was the last RFA to sign with the club on August 20th.