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NHL HockeyWestern Conference: Anaheim Ducks: The just-happy-to-be-here expansion Ducks lost the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals to the Devils and made it to the NHL semi-finals last year, but they could easily slide right back into their pre-Stanley Cup mediocrity if you can't put together a supporting cast for star Teemu Selanne. Veterans Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer lead this NHL defense. Calgary Flames: The Flames lost an incredibly tight NHL Stanley Cup Final to the Lightning in 2004 but were eliminated in the first round last year. Your task is to return to glory with this crew of overachievers in which no one player outshines everyone else. Chicago Blackhawks: They lost the Stanley Cup to the Penguins in 1992 and haven't hoisted it over their heads since 1961, with just one NHL Playoffs appearance during the past five seasons. This mediocre cast is begging for an overhaul. Colorado Avalanche: Once the Quebec Nordiques, the Avalanche scored Stanley Cup wins in 1996 and 2001. They might not have Hall of Famer Patrick Roy between the pipes anymore after his 2003 retirement, but Jose Theodore is a competent replacement. Joe Sakic leads an offense that has lost some important NHL players during the past few years. Columbus Blue Jackets: Even the Canadiens were young and unheralded once upon a time. Perhaps fans will look back on the Blue Jackets' early years after their 2000 birth the same way. Or maybe not. Veteran superstar Sergei Fedorov and defenseman Adam Foote are the NHL players you want to build around. Dallas Stars: Nee the Minnesota North Stars, the Dallas Stars beat the Sabres for the 1999 Stanley Cup on a disputed overtime goal in the final game. While Ed Belfour may no longer be in goal for them, the Stars still have a solid line-up and have shown their prowess with NHL Playoffs berths every year but two since 1994. Marty Turco is the man in goal, and Mike Modano leads the offense. Could this be the last stop for Eric Lindros, a player once heralded as the next Wayne Gretzky but whose career has been marred by injuries? Detroit Red Wings: Future Hall of Famer Dominic Hasek leads this team from the goalie position, with Chris Osgood more than capable as his backup. Osgood would also make good trade bait, an important point for an NHL team that's depleted on offense. Chris Chelios leads the defense for a club that has won three Stanley Cups since 1997 and ten overall. Edmonton Oilers: A sixth Stanley Cup win almost came their way last year, after a heartbreaking seven-game loss to the Hurricanes that ended a Cinderella playoffs run. Ryan Smith leads an overachieving team ready to pull off more upsets this NHL season. Los Angeles Kings: A 1993 Stanley Cup loss to Montreal highlighted the Kings' Gretzky Years, but this is a team currently in decline, with three straight seasons that ended without a trip to the playoffs. Can you build a no-name team into a powerhouse? Minnesota Wild: This expansion team brought hockey back to Minnesota in 2000. Another rebuilding project that will require plenty of patience. Look to players like Kim Johnsson and Mikko Koivu to set the standard. Nashville Predators: Some believe the NHL expanded too quickly in recent years, which may explain why this team appeared in 1998. With two playoffs appearances that ended in the first round under their belts, perhaps you can spur them to greater things. Having Jason Arnott and Paul Kariya on the roster certainly won't hurt. Phoenix Coyotes: Known as the Winnipeg Jets until they moved in 1996, the Coyotes have missed the playoffs for three straight years. However, with Curtis Joseph in goal and Jeremy Roenick and Owen Nolan leading the offense, you could help this club rebound. San Jose Sharks: They've been the darling of NHL Cinderella teams, pulling off some miraculous playoffs upsets since their inception in 1991 but never making it to the Stanley Cup Finals. With division titles in 2002 and 2004, however, they've now shown they can play with the big boys. Evgeni Nabokov provides solid defense in goal while Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau lead the offense. St. Louis Blues: "We coulda been a contender," the Blues have lamented after some stellar recent seasons that ended in early exits from the playoffs. Without a Stanley Cup win to their names and a playoffs miss last year, the Blues are ripe for a take-charge general manager who will push them to secure the ultimate prize. Keith Tkachuk leads the offense. Vancouver Canucks: With nothing but 1994 and 1982 Stanley Cup Finals losses to their names during a 34-year history, the Canucks have a lot to prove, especially considering their playoffs miss last year. Trevor Linden is the player you want to build around. Eastern Conference: Atlanta Thrashers: This expansion club opened for business in 1999. The early years were a struggle, but the 2005-2006 season marked the first winning one in franchise history. Scott Mellanby and Bobby Holik lead a team that could be on the verge of a breakthrough. Boston Bruins: You'll inherit a rich history, along with fans who demand nothing less than a playoffs berth every year, when you take charge of the Bruins. Unfortunately, this is a team that missed the 2005-2006 season playoffs and is in the middle of rebuilding its roster. Defenseman Zdeno Chara and center Marc Savard are the players to watch. Buffalo Sabres: This NHL team went as far as the Stanley Cup finals a few years ago, but that was with Dominic Hasek between the pipes. Martin Biron provides solid skills in Hasek's place, but he has big skates to fill. Look to center Chris Drury for the spark you'll need on offense. Carolina Hurricanes: Originally known as the Hartford Whalers before they moved south in 1997, the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006, defeating the Edmonton Oilers. Rod Brind'Amour and Ray Whitney lead the offense while goalie Cam Ward anchors the defense. Florida Panthers: A young club with one failed Stanley Cup bid (a 1996 loss to the Colorado Avalanche) under their belts and a current state of mediocrity, the Panthers are a dream for any general manager who wants to build a winner. Is veteran goalie Ed Belfour the key to success or trade bait for several young, promising players? Montreal Canadiens: Hockey's equivalent of the New York Yankees last won the NHL Stanley Cup in 1993 (they've won it 23 times total), but they're still a team to fear. They made it to the NHL Playoffs the past two seasons, and this year they're poised for another run, with help from Alexei Kovalev on offense and Andrei Markov on defense. New Jersey Devils: A powerhouse club, the Devils are always in the thick of the playoffs hunt and have won three Stanley Cups since 1995. Martin Brodeur is a mainstay in goal and Patrik Elias and Scott Gomez lead the offense. New York Islanders: The Isles, as they're known, won four straight NHL Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983, before the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers defeated them in the 1984 Finals and started their own dynasty. They've been a hit-or-miss club the last few years, failing to reach the playoffs last year. Can you build a winner around stars Alexei Yashin and Miroslav Satan? New York Rangers: Their 1994 Stanley Cup win was their first since 1940, but they haven't been back to the Finals since. After several underachieving years, they finally made the NHL Playoffs again last season but bowed out in the first round. Jaromir Jagr is the undisputed star of this team, coming off a 123-point 2005-2006 campaign. Ottawa Senators: This expansion club has made the NHL Playoffs every year since 1997. They have yet to secure a Stanley Cup berth, but maybe you're the GM who can make that happen. This is a young club, but they're scrappy. Philadelphia Flyers: They haven't made it to the Stanley Cup Finals since an embarrassing four-games-to-none rout at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings in 1997. Despite that fact, you can't go wrong with goalie Antero Nittymaki, and their offense offers such stars as Simon Gagne and Peter Forsberg, while Derian Hatcher anchors the defense. Pittsburgh Penguins: Budding superstar Sidney Crosby leads a team that has missed the playoffs four straight years. With such veterans as Mark Recchi and John LeClair helping him out, this NHL season could see the Penguins' rebirth. Tampa Bay Lightning: A surprise Stanley Cup winner in 2004, the Lightning don't have a lot of recognizable names but they sport a team chemistry that still produces victories. Martin St. Louis leads the offense. Toronto Maple Leafs: This venerable club hasn't won the Stanley Cup since 1967 (they've won it 11 times total), but they were a strong contender every year until last season, when they failed to make the playoffs. Veteran center Mats Sundin leads a team hungry to fulfill its legacy. Washington Capitals: The Caps' Stanley Cup loss in 1998 was their only trip to the NHL Finals in team history. Second-year sensation Alexander Ovechkin, along with veteran center Dainius Zubrus and goalie Olaf Kolzig, lead a team ready to end a two-year playoffs drought. NHL Hockey News
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