OTF Classic

As we head into the final countdown before NHL Opening Night next week, it's time to log those all-important predictions before the first puck drops. Yesterday I posted my calls for divisional winners, so now it's time for the regular season awards: Presidents' Trophy (Best Overall Record ): In a close one, I'll go with the Carolina Hurricanes here - more due to the weakness of their division than anything else. Art Ross Trophy (Top Point Scorer): Jaromir Jagr , New York Rangers Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Evgeni Malkin , Pittsburgh Penguins Frank J. Selke Trophy (Top Defensive Forward): Kris Draper , Detroit Red Wings Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player): Chris Pronger , Anaheim Ducks Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year): Jim Playfair , Calgary Flames James Norris Memorial Trophy (Top Defenseman): Chris Pronger , Anaheim Ducks Maurice Richard Trophy (Top Goal Scorer): Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers Vezina Trophy (Top Goalie...

We're less than a week away from Opening Night of the 2006-7 NHL Regular Season, so it's time to start laying some predictions out there. Today's dose - your division winners: Atlantic: I'll take the New York Rangers in a typically tight race. They've made some nice additions, and if Henrik Lundqvist can avoid a sophomore slump, the Rangers should fare well. Northeast: This division is a bit of a mess, as Ottawa and Buffalo have each lost key components from last season. Boston and Montreal have some encouraging new faces, but plenty of holes yet to fill. Toronto is a bit of a basket case, so not much different there. In the end, I'll go with the Ottawa Senators to repeat, based on their superior offensive production, which over the course of a regular season should gain them consistent points. Southeast: I keep waiting for the Thrashers to make that great step forward, but until their defense steps up, it's just not going to happen. Signing V...

Hear ye, hear ye, come all ye loyal and true hockey fans to what has got to be the oldest hockey pool on the net, Gilles Carmel's Usenet/WWW Hockey Draft . It's a wonderfully simple setup that is now in its 19th year , attracting participants from around the globe. Hop over and draft your team, already! "> 

Technorati Profile "> 

They say that sometimes the best trades are the ones that don't get made, and to stretch that a bit, I'd say the Pittsburgh Penguins just named the best possible captain for the upcoming season. The Penguins should be better than last year certainly, but they are still not playoff-caliber, and naming Sidney Crosby as captain right now, as so many fans desire, would needlessly add to the pressure surrounding him heading into the new season. Countless rookie sensations go through a sophomore slump, so let Sid the Kid continue his on-ice development without having the added distraction of locker room leadership and taking the brunt of the media relations. Remember, Crosby just turned 19: Steve Yzerman was 21 when he was named captain of the Red Wings, while Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky were 22 when they donned the "C" in Pittsburgh and Edmonton respectively. There will be plenty of time in the years ahead for Sid to create his legacy as captain of the Penguins...

In a classic example of closing the barn door long after the horse has bolted, the Russian Hockey Federation has banned Evgeni Malkin from playing for any other team than Metallurg Magnitogorsk, which he abandoned in Finland a few weeks ago. Other than disqualifying him from playing on Russian national teams, it's unclear what possible effect this could have on his near-term future with the Pittsburgh Penguins . Based on recent history , I would think Malkin has more to worry about from unofficial Russian organizations than the RHF. "> 

In light of Bobby Clarke igniting the Offer Sheet War amongst NHL general managers, I'd like to highlight a potential target for another such deal: Dan Hamhuis of the Nashville Predators . Hamhuis is a solid defenseman entering his third NHL season. In 162 games, he's racked up 14 goals and 50 assists, and finished with a respectable +11 plus/minus rating last season. With the departure of veterans Brendan Witt and Danny Markov , "Hammer" is expected to play a major role on what many expect to be a Stanley Cup-contending team. According to The Tennessean , he made $900,000 last year and is looking for a significant raise, but his agent and the Predators remain far apart in negotiations. So who'd be interested in a 23 year old, talented two-way blueliner who logged over 22 minutes a game last season? You'd think teams would be stumbling over each other to make an offer. But let's take a look at some of the obvious candidates: Edmonton Oilers : T...