The Florida Panthers have finally released their schedule for the 2013-14 season and the club is now officially a member of the Atlantic Division along with the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Cats say goodbye to old rivals the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals, who are off to the Metropolitan Division, and to the Winnipeg Jets, who are heading west to the Central Division.

The Panthers begin their 20th anniversary season with a road game against the Dallas Stars (and their sharp new duds) on Thursday October 3rd. The home opener will be Friday October 11th versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. The season and home finale will be Saturday April 12th against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Cats are slated to make two appearances on NBC Sports Network. The first will come on December 28th against the Red Wings here at the BB&T Center and the second will be on the road March 31st against the New Jersey Devils. The club will also make a cameo on Hockey Night in Canada when the Montreal Canadiens come to town on March 29th.

Florida Panthers Schedule

It's been a busy offseason thus far for the Blue Jackets. In addition to the marquee events such as the draft and opening of free agency, there remains other business that has already been taken care of, with more moves to be made and events to take place before the puck is dropped on the 2013-2014 season. Without further ado, I offer you a collection of thoughts, finally put to paper. Or screen?

2013 NHL Entry Draft

The Jackets had seven picks going into the draft, but pulled off a minor deal, sliding down in the second round from 44th to 50th, picking up a third rounder in the process. That gave the Jackets eight total picks- three in the first round, and one each in rounds two, three, four, six and seven.

With their first pick, 14th overall, the Jackets took Alexander Wennberg. This kid is a safe bet to be a second-line contributor for many years. He's got the versatility to play any forward position, is defensively responsible, and very creative offensively. At 19th overall, the Jackets may have struck gold by drafting Kerby Rychel. Rychel's got NHL bloodlines, a sniper's touch, plays a physical brand of hockey and will drop the mitts when necessary. With two first round picks already in the stable, the Jackets used their third of the opening round to get their guy in Marko Dano. Dano was a treat to watch at the 2013 World Juniors, and has the potential to be a high-scoring SOB in the NHL.

Though they traded down a few spots in the second round, Dillon Heatherington was there for the taking. Some had him ranked as a first rounder, and the Jackets were all too happy to add such a promising defender to the organization. An excellent value pick. With the third rounder added on draft day, the Jackets scooped up winger Oliver Bjorkstrand, who was fresh off a Memorial Cup appearance with Portland of the WHL. This is another high-value pick, as many had Bjorkstrand ranked much higher. In the fourth round Nick Moutrey, a rough-and-tumble forward from the Saginaw Spirit, was chosen. Moutrey just may be the heir apparent to Jared Boll. Taken In round six, Norwegian winger Markus Soberg has the potential to join the likes of Shampoo Knutsen and OK Tollefsen as Norwegians to wear the Union Blue. I've said it before, but Soberg is a player who I am very excited about. In the final round, the Jackets took a shot at Peter Quenneville. He's the cousin of Chicago coach Joel, and is on his way to Quinnipiac this fall. Given this development route, the Jackets can be patient with him and have four years of development time.

Free Agency

Arguably, the most high-profile forward to hit the open market was Nathan Horton, formerly of the Boston Bruins. The Jackets had a glaring weakness on the wing and Horton wanted to play in a quieter market. A perfect match, the Jackets and Horton came together on a seven-year contract worth $37.1 million. This works out to an AAV of $5.3 million, and with an expected yearly increase in the salary cap, this deal will continue to look better and better. That is, if Horton can stay healthy. He just underwent succesful shoulder surgery and will hopefully be in the lineup around Christmas. I love this deal. He fits an obvious need, the AAV is reasonable, and best of all- he's about to enter his prime years.

Horton is the only NHL-level signing so far. That doesn't mean the team wasn't busy signing contracts however- as the Springfield roster was reloaded to take another shot at the Calder Cup. After suffering a beating at the hands of the Syracuse Crunch in the playoffs this past Spring, changes were made and the Falcons again look to be a strong team. One of the most important signings was that of Ryan Craig. Craig was the Springfield captain last season, playing on an AHL-only deal. He was the heart and soul of that team, and his play earned him a two-year, two-way NHL deal. Joining Craig back with the Birds are Cody Bass (a Cannon favorite), Spencer Machacek, Blake Parlett and David Savard. Savard is looking to make an impression after struggling at times last season.

In addition to the returnees, there is some fresh blood ticketed for Springfield. Patrick McNeill, an offensive defenseman who's spent the last few years in Hershey, is a solid addition. AHL veteran Frederic St.Denis was signed to a one-year deal, adding further depth and experience to the back end. Ilari Melart, signed out of Finland, will compete for a spot in Columbus, but if he falls short of that goal, he'll be a physical force for the Falcons. Former NHL first rounder Jack Skille was brought on board to compete for a Columbus job, but is more likely going to be a leader with Springfield. I think this signing could surprise, however. If/when injuries in Columbus occur, Skille can fill in perfectly in the bottom six while the top prospects like Boone Jenner can continue to get tons of ice time in the AHL. The biggest overhaul with regard to the Springfield roster is in net. Last year's AHL All Star Curtis McElhinney is penned in as the Columbus backup. Allen York was not tendered a qualifying offer, leaving two spots open. They were quickly filled in with two AHL veterans- and very good ones at that-in Mike McKenna and Jeremy Smith. The Falcons cage is in good hands.

CBJ Olympians

It's official- NHLers will be participating in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. There are a handful of Blue Jackets who could get the call to represent their country. After winning the Vezina trophy, Sergei Bobrovsky is a lock to make Team Russia. Fedor Tyutin is a former Olympian, and will likely be on the team as well. Artem Anisimov has an outside shot of making the home squad. Marian Gaborik is Slovakia's go-to sniper, and will be returning for his third Olympic games. Jack Johnson is a Team USA stalwart, and should be given lots of consideration. Brandon Dubinsky is a reliable, hard-working player. This is usually the mold that the 'Mericans use when assembling their roster, so he may be in the mix.

Blue Jackets Prospects at the 2014 World Juniors

It's always exciting to see which of the Jackets' prospects get the call to represent their country at the annual World Junior Hockey Championships. The 2014 tournament should feature a handful of future Blue Jackets, with Alexander Wennberg and Oscar Dansk looking to win Gold on home ice. Marko Dano will be the go-to forward for the Slovakians (mirroring Gaborik at Sochi...), Joonas Korpisalo will again look to be the man between the Finnish pipes, while Markus Soberg will be a member of the Norwegian team. Kerby Rychel and Dillon Heatherington have both been invited to Team Canada's summer evaluation camp, and will look to earn a spot on the Canadian roster. In all likelihood, Oliver Bjorkstrand will return to Team Denmark. The Danes are taking part in the Division 1 portion of the tournament, a level below the main group.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, proud member of the Metropolitan Division

Haha, Metropolitan division. Ok, NHL. Toronto and Detroit in the Atlantic? At least Metro division isn't geographically incorrect.

Now Hiring- Assistant Coach

With assistant coach Keith Acton moving on to the Edmonton Oilers, the Jackets have a vacancy on the bench. Here's an idea- former NHL Head Coach Andy Murray. He was a finalist for the Jack Adams while coaching the Blues, and would have obvious familiarity with Jarmo and JD. We don't know if their relationship is positive, or if Murray would want to leave his gig with Western Michigan, but it's somebody to consider.

Jackets and Icemen continue their Affiliation

The Jackets renewed their ECHL affiliation with the Evansville Icemen this upcoming season. With a glut of defensemen in the organization, the Icemen may see a handful of Columbus prospects putting on their sweater. Austin Madaisky, Anton Blomqvist and Thomas Larkin will likely see time in the 'Coast, while Oliver Gabriel is in-tough to crack the Falcons lineup.

Additions to the Scouting Staff

With Tyler Wright taking a job with the Red Wings after refusing an offer to take another position with Columbus, there were some changes required with respect to the scouting staff. Ville Siren, formerly of the Blues (shocker!) takes over for Wright, while Josef Boumedienne was added as a European scout, Marshall Davidson as an amateur scout, and Bob Halkidis as a pro scout. Additionally, Columbus hired Blake Geoffrion as a pro scout. Read this article by John Buccigross on Geoffrion. Such a crazy story. Great move by the Jackets to give Geoffrion an opportunity to stay in the NHL.

Preseason Schedule Announced

The Jackets will play eight preseason games this fall. Six are full games, while two are split-squad. Running from September 15-26, the Jackets will play two games each against Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Minnesota and Carolina.

Captain Columbus

I don't think we'll see the Jackets go another season without a true captain on the ice. The "lead by commitee" approach will always be valid, but the team needs a go-to leader to rally around and who'll be the liason between coaches, referees and the media. I'm looking at Jack Johnson or Brandon Dubinsky to get the "C".

Vinny.

A small part of me still holds out hope that Vinny Prospal will be re-signed. You can't help but love everything he brought to the team during his brief tenure as a Blue Jacket. Wherever you end up, Vinny, all the best, and thanks for the memories.

Cannonfest

I can't be there of course, so I'll live vicariously through all of you. Have a great time and be safe. Wagner will keep you up to date on everything leading up to the big event!

New Eastern Conference Rivalries

Hey Rangers- haha, what are you guys thinking? Did you see how well we did when we had Nash, Brassard, Arniel, Stralman, Moore, Dorsett and Aaron Johnson?

Hey Devils- I heard about what Kovy did. What a meanie. Please don't sign Vinny.

Hey Islanders- All the best, guys. We're two franchises trending upward. Dump the thirds, they're heinous.

Hey Hurricanes- $% you, that's what. I hope you like having us around. Jerks.

Hey Capitals- Say hi to Chimmer for us.

Hey Pittsburgh- Can we have your autograph?

Hey Philadelphia- How's the butt? Bob's having a great summer.

I hope you enjoyed the read. I'm on vacation in Boston for the next two weeks but I'll be checking in when I can. The site's in good hands while I'm away!

The NHL released the schedule for the upcoming season, and for fans of the Jackets, you can't help but be excited with what you see. Some highlights:

• The Jackets are now in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference. The "Metro" Division.
  
• The league will shutdown for the Olympics between February 9th-25th.
  
• The playoffs start on April 16, 2014.
  
• October 4, 2013 vs. Flames - Season and home opener,
  
• October 5, 2013 at Islanders - First game against a Metro Division opponent.
• October 20, 2013 to November 9, 2013 - The Jackets play eight of nine at home. Four games at home against the Canucks, Devils, Leafs, Ducks, followed by an away game against the Penguins, then back home for another four against the Penguins, Senators, Rangers and Islanders.
  
• November 7, 2013: The first game of the season against the Rangers, in Columbus. The return of Rick Nash, not to mention Scott Arniel, Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore, Anton Stralman and perhaps Sunshine Johnson.
  
• November 17, 2013 to November 25, 2013 - Five game roadie, starting in Ottawa, then out West to Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, ending in Toronto.
  
• December 31, 2013 - No New Year's Eve game in Columbus. Jackets are in Colorado to face the Avs.
  
• January 13, 2014 to February 1, 2014 - The Jackets play 8 of 11 at home. Likely the most crucial stretch of the season.
  
• March 6, 2014 - First game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks
• The Jackets final five regular season games break down like this: home against the Blackhawks, home to face the Isles, with the final home game on April 8, 2014 against Phoenix. The final two games are on the road in Tampa and Miami.
  
• Final regular season game against the Panthers is on April 12, 2014.
  

The schedule looks great at first blush. Two big home stands, little Western travel, lots of new and exciting opponents, not to mention the Olympics. The Jackets have no complaints, schedule-wise, for the first time in franchise history. It's their time.

First, credit where credit is due - I was kinda lazing through a Sunday afternoon when I saw that UnionMarc was having a quick poll on whom the fans thought would be the Blue Jackets' next captain, and I decided that while he had a point about there being two "major" candidates, I still think there's room for a couple of dark horses.

Though Jack Johnson and Brandon Dubinsky appear to be the leaders in the club house, I've seen some fans ask if the fact that Dubinsky was a relative newcomer hurt his chances.

History suggests that's really not that much of a factor. Even if you ignore cases like Bill Guerin being handed the C in long island during his "meet the team" press conference, there are quite a few teams who have awarded a captaincy to a relative newcomer, especially if he has a strong body of work behind him in the NHL.

In the Jackets' case, in fact, that seems to be the norm. Obviously Lyle Odelein was being given the honor based on his body of work, as was Ray Whitney. Luke Richardson only had one season in Columbus before he inherited the mantle, and Adam Foote, much like Guerin, signed as a UFA with the understanding that he would be given the leadership role.

Rick Nash is really the only exception to the rule - in part because the team hasn't exactly grown a bumper crop of their own players over the last few years - so it doesn't seem like time in Union Blue is going to be a limiting factor.

What They Bring To The Table:

In the case of the "primary" candidates, both bring about seven years of NHL experience, as each made their NHL debut in the 2006-2007 season, though neither really became "regulars" until the following campaign.

Both players were considered "core" pieces of their previous franchise in the past, both considered to be on and off ice leaders, and both have represented the United States in international competition, though Dubinsky has not appeared at the Olympic level. (It is possible that he may be considered for the Sochi squad, but he'll face tough competition, including former New York teammate Derek Stepan.)

Interestingly, while both are praised for their work ethic and leadership abilities in the room, there's a wide range of opinions about their actual on-ice skills.

Johnson has been regarded almost since he reached the NHL as a reliable offensive contributor, but he's a statistical mess, as has been discussed previously. Meanwhile Dubinsky is generally regarded as one of the better shutdown / possession players out there, but he hasn't been able to find the back of the net anywhere near reliably since his career high in the 2010-2011 season (though it's worth noting that he remains a 20+ assist guy, and there's a lot to be said for that.)

Leaving that aside, both have been vocal contributors to the improving culture in Columbus, and each has made an effort to embrace the community - in particular Johnson's arrival in Columbus the night he was traded, while Dubinsky has embraced the city's pursuit of sartorial excellence.

In all honesty, both have set a tone of being hardworking, accountable, and dedicated to the club. I think either one could be a fine captain, and I wouldn't have an issue with either of them, but I think there are a couple of other candidates that need discussed.

First off, the scarlet and grey elephant in the room: R.J. Umberger.

Already one of the club's regular alternate captains, many fans assumed that he was a shoe-in for Captain when Nash left, and more than a few fans wanted the "C" taken off Nash's sweater well before that and handed over to the OSU alum. In part it's because of his ties to the city, but Umby has always brought a hard nosed, big effort sort of play that fans embraced almost from day one of his tenure.

The issue, bluntly, is that he's failed to live up to expectations over the past two seasons. Even without the lockout, Umberger was coming off a below average performance after the team made a significant investment into him, including a $1 million dollar signing bonus and no-trade clause that runs through 2017. Managing to just barely hit the 20 goal mark in 2011-2012, fans hoping for a rebound would be sorely disappointed, as Umberger managed just eight goals and ten assists in the shortened season, perhaps because he spent the lockout working as a coach at OSU.

As much as I think R.J. is a great guy and a wonderful "voice" for the club, I'm not really comfortable giving him an expanded leadership position when he's struggling under the weight of expectations already.

If anything, perhaps the club needs to tell him to just go out and play, and leave the "A" on someone else's sweater, in hopes that he can find his game again.

Some fans may also mention the equally vocal and media-friendly James Wisniewski, who has also been part of the alternative captaincy rotation, but his injury history may be a concern, and the fact that Wiz has been involved with several...discussions...with the NHL's player safety department might also give the club pause.

I think most captains around the league aren't afraid to get into a scrap, especially to back up their teammates, but there aren't too many that are regarded as guys who play "on the edge" - Ryan Getzlaf perhaps, and Dustin Brown certainly knows how to draw a penalty. Even so, I'm not sure that's the way the club wants to present itself.

However, I think there's one other candidate who makes a very interesting case. Like Umberger, he's been here for several seasons, and like all four of the men I've discussed already, he's been a big part of helping to turn the club's culture around.

Fedor Tyutin has been playing like a machine since the day he arrived in Columbus, saw the highs with Ken Hitchcock, saw the lows with Scott Arniel, and when he had the opportunity to leave as a UFA, he chose to sign a long term extension instead. In fact, Tyutin is notable for how he handled the lockout - unlike many Eastern European players who decided to make agreements with KHL teams "just in case", Tyutin stayed in Columbus, helping to run informal practices from late August until mid-November, when he finally made the decision to head overseas.

Once the lockout was lifted, Tyutin returned and lead Blue Jackets' defensemen in scoring for the second time in the last three years, and contributes to the penalty kill and power play with equal skill. One of the most consistent players on the squad, Tyuuts has served as an alternate captain for much of his time here, and is expected to join Team Russia for his third appearance in the Olympic games.

Tyutin taking the captaincy would respect his deep ties to the franchise and community that have been forged since he arrived in the Zherdev trade, but also reflects the changing face of the locker room. With almost a quarter of the squad hailing from the East, the Jackets are actually fairly unusual.

Eastern European players are increasingly in the minority in NHL dressing rooms - most teams have one or two, but the Jackets have five on the current roster, second only to the New Jersey Devils. European Captains are likewise a minority, but it's slowly becoming more common, particularly over the last two years.

More than that, though, Tyutin is in many ways one of the longest tenured members of the team, and while a lot of people remember that Rick Nash put the team "above the bar" for a playoff berth in 2009 with a game tying goal against Chicago, but Tyutin was the one who clinched it with his shootout winner.

In a lot of ways, Fedor Tyutin IS the face of the Blue Jackets' success, and of their transformation from the Isle of Misfit Toys into a strong, professional organization. His performance has been integral, yet fans wouldn't notice it until it was missing.

In so many ways, you could argue that if the club had a heart, it's embodied in Fedor Tyutin.

I can't think of a better way of showing that to the world than offering him the captaincy.

Perhaps someone within the organization will agree.

The Russian Hockey Federation released their preliminary Olympic Roster today. 35 players were named as potential competitors for the 2014 games in Sochi, and it looks like we're going to be rooting for more than a few Blue Jackets, no matter what form the final roster takes.

Not surprisingly, Sergei Bobrovsky is one of the goaltenders under consideration, while Fedor Tyutin seems like a virtual lock given his appearances in Turin and Vancouver.

Artem Anisimov and Nikita Nikitin have also been named to the preliminary roster, the first time either player has been selected by Team Russia since their World Juniors performances.

With some of the other names on the list, it's a long shot for all four to make the Olympic squad, but wouldn't that be something neat to see?

Here's the translation of the official annoucement:

The coaching staff of the national team, led by Zinetula Bilyaletdinov announced the main candidates for the Russian Olympic hockey team, who are invited to gather in Sochi on August 23-24. 35 players were called - five goalkeepers, 12 defenders and 18 forwards.

Goalkeepers : Konstantin Barulin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Semyon Varlamov, Vasily Koshechkin, Evgeni Nabokov.

Defenders : Evgeny Biryukov, Vyacheslav Voinov, Anton Volchenkov, Sergei Gonchar, Denis Denisov, Alexei Emelin, Andrei Markov, Evgeny Medvedev, Nikita Nikitin, Ilya Nikulin, Eugene Ryasensky, Fedor Tyutin.

Forwards : Artem Anisimov, Michael Varnakov, Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk, Denis Kokarev, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nikolai Kulemin, Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Perezhogin, Alexander Popov, Alexander Radulov, Alexander Semin, Vladimir Tarasenko, Alex Tereshchenko, Viktor Tikhonov, Vadim Shipachev, Nail Yakupov.

The Nashville Predators 2013-2014 schedule has finally been released, featuring a new alignment which adds the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets as new division rivals, while saying goodbye to the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets. The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues are carrying forward with Nashville into the new Central Division.

The Preds' home opener will take place on against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday October 8th, with the home finale coming on Saturday April 12 against Chicago.

Once single games become available, make sure you check back with us for ways in which OTF can help you save money while buying Nashville Predators tickets.

Follow @Forechecker

Nashville Predators Schedule

More from On the Forecheck:

• 2014 Winter Olympics: Which Nashville Predators Will Go to Sochi?
• Friday's Dump & Chase: Can You Root For "Bad" Guys?
• Rich Clune Learns to Use His Mac Computer, Turns to Facebook for Philanthropy (and Possibly Trolling)
• Thursday's Dump & Chase:Concussion Rates Unchanged, Despite Rule Changes
• Nashville Predators News: Rich Clune Signs 2-Year Contract Extension

Your links for today:

Devils Links

If you hadn't heard: Jaromir Jagr is a New Jersey Devil. [Star-Ledger]

Patrik Elias never thought he'd be teammates with the legendary Jagr. [Fire and Ice]

Cory Schneider was invited to the United States' Olympic Team orientation camp. [Fire and Ice]

Former Capital Andrei Nikolishin had some candid thoughts on his time in Washington, on Kovalchuk leaving and on Jaromir Jagr, who he described as "like a child, very emotional and vulnerable." [Russian Machine Never Breaks]

Without Ilya Kovalchuk, just how screwed are the Devils? [Grantland]

Be sure to take the new Talking Red Family Feud survey! [Talking Red]

Hockey Links

Supposedly things are smoothed over between Roberto Luongo and Vancouver GM Mike Gillis. Apparently they talked quite a bit ... through Twitter? [PHT]

The 2013-14 season will see the San Jose Sharks doing quite a bit of traveling: a league-high 57,612 miles. Yipes. On the Forecheck has a wonderfully detailed breakdown of the 2013-14 schedule. Be sure to take a look. [Puck Daddy] [On the Forecheck]

A year after trading Rick Nash to the Rangers, the Columbus Blue Jackets are doing just fine. [Columbus Dispatch]

Here's a roundup of some of the big names invited to the Olympic national camps: [New York Times]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

Brule was initially drafted 6^th by the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2005 Entry Level Draft and managed to crack the Blue Jackets' roster during his first year. His first year was fraught with injuries though, suffering a fractured sternum and a broken leg in 2 months, before eventually finishing his season in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants. He was eventually traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Raffi Torres, where he would have his best season in 2009-2010, going 17-20-37 in 65 games.

Brule was initially claimed from waivers by the Coyotes on January 10^th, 2012 and went on to play 33 games with the club, going 5-9-14 with a +7 during the regular season and 2-1-3 during the Coyotes' playoff run. Brule seemed to fit well with the Coyotes as a third or fourth line center typically playing 10-13 minutes per game.

The Coyotes ended up not re-signing Brule after the 2011-2012 season, but Brule eventually found a home in Switzerland with the ZSC Lions. He played 14 games with the Lions and notched 6 assists before he was released by the club. He chose to return to Canada.

At the time Brule's struggles were not well understand by the hockey world, but recently it was announced that Brule had been dealing with personal issues with his father over the past few years, as well as some psychological issues for which he was prescribed medication. Brule alleged that his father took money from him and blackmailed him with inappropriate pictures. Those issues appear to be behind him, he is off medication and he says that he has talked through his issues with his father giving him a clear head again.

Brule spent the offseason working with his trainer from his time with the Giants and reports are that he has improved his cardio conditioning and reduced his body fat. Although he may have been rushed into the NHL and had personal problems that affected his growth as a player he is still a skilled forward who knows the Coyotes' system and could potentially be a great asset to the Yotes.

Sports book Bovada just released their latest odds for NHL teams to win the 2014 Stanley Cup, and based on how things have changed over the last month, it doesn't look like they have a very high opinion of the Nashville Predators' free agent signings, as their line has slipped from 40/1 on June 25 to 50/1 as of today.

Personally, I can understand the lukewarm reaction. While I'm jazzed about Viktor Stalberg, and look at Matt Cullen as a reasonable addition to bring depth at center, the Hendricks & Nystrom additions left me underwhelmed and the backup goaltending situation looks like a leap of faith. But let's take a look at the overall situation:

2014 Stanley Cup Odds

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From a positive viewpoint, the biggest move upward was by the Edmonton Oilers & Minnesota Wild, with each team moving from 33/1 to 20/1, while the Buffalo Sabres & Calgary Flames plummeted from 50/1 to 100/1 each.

So, are you heading to Las Vegas this summer and would you care to place any bets? As far as teams that look undervalued, the Ottawa Senators might make a bit of a dark horse...

More from On the Forecheck:

• Monday's Dump & Chase: The Dog Days of Summer
• NHL Trade Rumor: Might the Nashville Predators Bring Back Jordin Tootoo?
• Sunday's Dump & Chase: Does Hockey Have a PED Problem?
• Who Was the Greatest #39 in Nashville Predators History?
• Saturday's Dump & Chase: Why Do We Care About ESPN?

Gone are the lazy, hazy days of Summer in the Southeast – now that moving day has come and gone, it's time to scope out the new neighbors in the Metropolitan Division to see just what the Caps will be up against this season. There are some old evils-turned-division rivals (‘sup, Sid?), some who made the move right alongside the Caps (can’t quit you, 'Canes) and a brand new face on the Eastern Conference scene (love ya, ‘Lumbus).

With training camp inching mercifully closer, let's take a look at the new digs...

Carolina Hurricanes
Key Players - Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, Alexander Semin, Cam Ward
Former Caps - Alexander Semin
All-Time Record vs. Washington [as Carolina] - 33-41-14
Playoff Series vs. Washington - 0
Offseason Additions - Signed Mike Komisarek (D) to a one-year deal; acquired Andrej Sekera (D) from the Sabres; signed Nathan Gerbe (F) to a one-year deal; signed Anton Khudobin (G) to a one-year deal

Howdy, neighbor - The Caps may have shaken the rest of their Southeast pals in the division realignment, but darn it if those pesky 'Canes just won’t go away. The team that collects Staal brothers like hockey cards will get another go-round as a division rival after fourteen years in the Southeast, so there are plenty of familiar faces – including one particularly familiar one in Alexander Semin – to draw the ire of the Caps and their fans alike this season.

Just like last year, the 'Canes are fairly loaded up front with Eric and Jordan Staal, Jeff Skinner, the surprising Jiri Tlusty and Semin - and just like last year, they'll be followed by a fairly weak defense (albeit minus Joe Corvo, which is the definition of addition by subtraction). The blue line has improved slightly from last season with the addition of Mike Komisarek and Andrej Sekera, and the bargain signing of Nathan Gerbe could turn out to be a good one (or at least a low risk one, compared with some other contracts they've thrown around recently...), but did they upgrade enough to keep pace with their new division? Tough to say.

In net, as always, will be Cam Ward, who will likely have to play beyond his abilities (and stay healthy) just to keep his team afloat in a tougher division. He's not elite but he can certainly steal games, and we saw last year how closely the team's fortunes are tied to his availability - of course, if he should falter or fall injured, the pickup of Boston's discarded backup goalie in Anton Khudobin could also prove to be a key move by Jim Rutherford. Certainly an improvement over Dan Ellis...

Columbus Blue Jackets
Key Players - Nathan Horton, Marian Gaborik, Sergei Bobrovsky, R.J. "They play the wrong way" Umberger
Former Caps - none
All-Time Record vs. Washington - 4-6-4
Playoff Series vs. Washington - 0
Offseason Additions - Signed Nathan Horton (F) to a seven-year deal

Howdy, Neighbor - The new kids on the block, the Blue Jackets enter the Metropolitan Division as something of an underdog on the rise... which is potentially a little unnerving for their new division rivals, especially since they're already used to fighting it out in a pretty tough division out west. A team that seemed to capture the hearts of everyone who wasn’t fighting with them for a playoff spot back in April, they’ve got a new general manager, a bevy of former Rangers on hand and a Vezina-winner in net - not to mention a much friendlier travel schedule than in previous years.

Along with their ex-Ranger contingent, the biggest piece they added this offseason was Nathan Horton, who signed a long-term deal earlier this month, but it remains to be seen whether he can stay healthy and take a larger role after being a good complementary piece (but hardly a star) on the Bruins. If not, it could be a long seven years.

On the blue line, the Blue Jackets are still fairly young (or in the case of James Wisniewski, massively overpaid) and not that scary. Plus there's no guarantee that Sergei Bobrovsky maintains his Vezina-winning, post-Flyers euphoria through a full season (although let's be honest, there's no chance a Columbus goalie follows up a great half-season, award-winning performance with a dud... right?). But while they might not be in line to challenge for the division title just yet, one gets the sense that Columbus could keep pace with the Caps this year for those final playoff spots.

New Jersey Devils
Key Players - Ilya Kovalchuk, Travis Zajac, Jaromir Jagr, Patrik Elias, Martin Brodeur
Former Caps - Dainius Zubrus, Jaromir Jagr
All-Time Record vs. Washington [as NJ] - 72-77-9
Playoff Series vs. Washington - 2
Offseason Additions - Signed Michael Ryder (F) to a two-year deal; signed Ryane Clowe (F) to a five-year deal; signed Jaromir Jagr (F) to a one-year deal; signed Rostislav Olesz (F) to a one-year deal; acquired Cory Schneider (G) from the Canucks

Howdy, Neighbor - Kovalchuk and David Clarkson are gone. Martin Brodeur suddenly has some legitimate competition for the top goaltending spot. And our old pal and well-known mercenary Jaromir Jagr is headed to Newark. Changes abound in the Garden State, with the Devils looking less and less like the one that made a surprise run to the Final just over a year ago.

Coming off of a less-than-stellar 2013 campaign and a tumultuous (to say the least) offseason, the Devils are something of a wild card – they still have talent, and suddenly have cap space to burn now that Kovalchuk's taken his mammoth contract off the books, so there's a chance they could add a few more pieces and surprise. That said, their lineup is littered with aging veterans past their prime, from Devils lifers like Patrik Elias and Martin Brodeur to newcomer and 41-year-old Jagr, in a division with loads of young talent.

Could be another tough year in Jersey.

New York Islanders
Key Players - John Tavares, Matt Moulson, Travis Hamonic, Lubomir Visnovsky
Former Caps - none
All-Time Record vs. Washington - 86-84-23
Playoff Series vs. Washington - 6
Offseason Additions - Acquired Cal Clutterbuck (F) from Minnesota, signed Pierre-Marc Bouchard (F) to a one-year deal

Howdy, Neighbor - The Islanders were the playoff darlings this past spring as they made the Pittsburgh Penguins work for the series win in the first round before ultimately falling in six games. Thanks in large part to a stellar (and MVP finalist-worthy) performance by John Tavares, the Islanders seemed to regain a bit of credibility after years of wallowing at the bottom of the conference.

Content to go forward with the young core they have in place, the Isles made just a couple of offseason addition - trading for Cal Clutterbuck on draft day and signing Pierre-Marc Bouchard to a one-year deal - but tweaked little else (unless you count finally buying out Rick DiPietro's monster contract). So it's hard to say that this is a team poised for greatness, as beyond Tavares and maybe one or two others in their core group there aren't too many "stars" on this roster. If they want to take the next step they may need to upgrade in net - but ownership doesn't seem to be in a rush to go on a spending spree and until that changes (or ownership changes) they'll at least be a team that's a pain in the rear to play. Which is something, at least.

New York Rangers
Key Players - Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan McDonagh, Rick Nash, Derek Stepan
Former Caps - none
All-Time Record vs. Washington - 87-86-24
Playoff Series vs. Washington - 8
Offseason Additions - signed Dominic Moore (F) to a one-year deal; signed Benoit Pouliot (F) to a one-year deal; acquired Justin Falk from Minnesota

Howdy, Neighbor - After meeting them in the playoffs three of the last four years, the Caps clearly weren't sick enough of playing the Rangers... so now they get to play them even more as newly reacquainted division rivals. But with John Tortorella given the boot earlier this summer, the Rangers team the Caps will be facing this year may not look exactly like it has in years past.

The task now falls to new bench boss Alain Vigneault to take on a team with a few big names and a lot of role players, and attempt to turn them into a Metropolitan Division powerhouse. They've still got all of the pieces they acquired from Columbus at the deadline for sniper Marian Gaborik, and Nash can certainly score when he feels like it, and Brad Richards... is also there. Neither of their big money forwards stepped it up during the playoffs and Richards appears to be getting one last shot at redeeming himself, but if they can lock up underrated stud Derek Stepan, that may not matter. And while they may lack some depth on the back end, the Rangers do have a couple of guys who are more than capable of shutting down the high-flying offense this division boasts - particularly in newly re-signed defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

But as usual the Rangers begin and end with the man between the pipes, and regardless of the game plan Vigneault puts in place one imagines it will ultimately boil down to "wait for Henrik Lundqvist to make the save." As it should.

Philadelphia Flyers
Key Players - Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell, Vincent Lecavalier, Sean Couturier
Former Caps - none
All-Time Record vs. Washington - 102-67-25
Playoff Series vs. Washington - 4
Offseason Additions - signed Lecavalier (F) to a five-year deal; signed Mark Streit (D) to a four-year deal; signed Ray Emery (G) to a one-year deal

Howdy, Neighbor - Another summer, another offseason of the Flyers Flyering all over the place. Surprisingly enough, they did make one good move by signing of Tampa exile Lecavalier, which filled a need for Philadelphia (albeit at a bit more money and term than was warranted). But because they're the Flyers, that was preceded by a four-year deal for one-trick pony (and 35-year-old) blueliner Mark Streit... a deal which required them to buy out not one but two of their preexisting ridiculous contracts, as they cut Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov loose. That's $26 million for two guys not to play for them, for those of you keeping track at home.

The Flyers could be poised to possibly bounce back from an early tee time last season, with some pretty talented forwards on the roster. Giroux's off-year last year was probably an anomaly, and between him and Couturier and Lecavalier the Flyers have some decent scoring punch up front.

Of course, the blue line is another story as the roughly 27 defensemen they have on their roster could probably combine to equal 2.5 legitimate NHL defensemen. And behind them is a goaltending tandem of Ray Emery and Steve Mason (although at least this time neither one is locked up for a million years, so that's... something). Looking around the division, offense appears to be much stronger than goaltending and defense - but if you're the weakest of the bunch in that department, you could be in trouble when the Sidney Crosbys and Alex Ovechkins come to town. And they plan on visiting a lot.

Pittsburgh Penguins
Key Players - Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, James Neal
Former Caps - Tomas Vokoun
All-Time Record vs. Washington - 96-83-21
Playoff Series vs. Washington - too many 8
Offseason Additions - signed Rob Scuderi (D) to a four-year deal

Howdy, Neighbor - Ah, the Penguins. In a division full of teams and players to hate, this bunch tops the list in both categories - but they're also the team to beat in the division, unfortunately (which may say more about the division than the team itself but that's a different issue...and let us not forget that they got swept by a team that was almost ousted by Toronto in the playoffs). There's no question that the Penguins have some pretty decent talent up front, particularly at center, with Crosby and Malkin providing a potent one-two punch that really is unmatched in the division and likely will be for the foreseeable future. James Neal continues to put up big numbers, while Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitzcashed in big time for being a Crosby winger provide some secondary scoring for a team not exactly lacking in that area.

Behind them, of course, is where it gets a bit more interesting. Kris Letang is a talented offensive defenseman but had some of his weaknesses magnified in the playoffs, which a team with a rough defense to begin with couldn't really afford. The blue line was shored up a bit with the (re)addition of Rob Scuderi, but whether "The Piece" can make that much of a difference remains to be seen.

And let's not forget the circus in net that is Marc-Andre Fleury... at times brilliant, at others incredibly leaky (and hilarious) and most of the time merely average, he lost the starter's job in the playoffs but allegedly will have it back to start the season. If he can't hold it, Tomas Vokoun is, as we all know, a perfectly viable back-up - but if he's unable to rescue Fleury (or can't stay healthy, a bigger issue for him in his career), the Pens could have trouble maintaining the torrid pace they set last year.

***********

So there you have it, the Metropolitan Division (which will never not be weird to type) in a nutshell. We'll delve deeper into the fun new twists and turns of this second coming of the Patrick Division over the next few weeks - but for now, take a look around, explore the sights, and get ready for what should be a pretty entertaining season in our new 'hood.

So I finally got around to putting fingers to keys earlier today and released our top 10 fantasy prospects from the 2013 draft class. It's a decent list I suppose, shouldn't be any worse than any of the others out there. But what are you expected to do, just blindly follow my advice without getting a second opinion? Lucky for you leading up to the draft we engaged the FHS readers in a little project where they ranked each member of the top 10 in a dubiously democratic process we called the Community Fantasy Draft Rankings. So let's do a little side-by-side comp:

Not half bad people, I think you're learning. The only real discrepancies being where we had Nichushkin ranked and I'd take Mantha & Pulock over your Domi & Rychel. Let's discuss amongst ourselves:

• You guys had Valeri Nichushkin all the way up at #6 whereas it was questionable if he should even be in my top 10. I will acknowledge that the community voting was done prior to the draft and at that time there was talk that Val could go as high as #3 to Tampa, which may have swayed some people. For me there is too much risk involved with Nichushkin that I'd hold off on him until #10 which likely means someone else jumps in and grabs him, so they take on that stress instead of me. It's a philosophical thing, I'm just adverse to taking a large risk on a player like this with a high pick. That and his MHL numbers in his draft-1 season were just downright dreadful.

• The Community liked Max Domi at #9 whereas I have him ranked #12. I'm not sold on this guy, especially with him going to the Coyotes. Again, the community voting was done prior to the draft, if that means anything. But maybe you guys are on to something as it sounds like he has a chance to win a major role right off the hop. Not sure what it is, I guess the size & skating bother me and then I'm not sure if he was really driving the production bus in London.
• I went with Ryan Pulock over Domi and I think the dmen is being underrated here, as they often are by fantasy GMs. It's true that dmen are riskier than forwards but Pulock has three years of great numbers in Jr. under his belt so we know he's legit. Other reasons to like him... he contributed on 28% of Brandon's goals this year, which puts him in good company for Jr. dmen, and, maybe the biggest factor, I'm in love with his shot cause the puck is sore after he shoots it.
• Kerby Rychel was your choice by one vote over Anthony Mantha at the #10 spot whereas I had Mantha at #8 and Rychel at #11... so we're not totally at loggerheads here. I like Rychel and he may have more all-round fantasy potential than Mantha as a traditional power forward but I prefer Mantha in the top 10 as he outscored Rychel at evens (.93 to .74 ppg) (granted Val d'Or scored about a goal per game more than Windsor). Mantha was also a beast when it comes to shots (4.8/gm) and I like where he landed with the Red Wings.

Have at me in the comments.

We're fans of statistical analysis over here at The Cannon, and some of the most useful data we've found over the past few years has come from one source: Rob Vollman.

The man behind HockeyAbstract.com and the Player Usage Charts that we've highlighted on several occasions, Vollman also contributes to Hockey Prospectus and ESPN.com. His goal is to help make stats and mathematical analysis as much a part of hockey as it is baseball or basketball, and he's doing a great job alongside guys like Cam Charron and Gabriel Desjardins.

Now, as we get ready for the 2013-2014 season, Vollman has come up with a book that's meant to be a primer, of sorts, into the world of hockey stats.

Unlike the Prospectus, which we've reviewed before, this is not meant as a breakdown of every team and player in the NHL. Instead, Vollman asks questions, and walks us through the stats that he (and others) use to try to help find an answer.

Who, for example, is the best overall player in the NHL? Vollman takes a look not just at goal scoring or shooting percentages, but CORSI, usage stats, GVT, and other metrics, then presents the results and shows you his conclusions.

The book also discusses some historical events, like trying to find the most lopsided trades in NHL history based on the performance of players on their new clubs, and even trying to determine who is really the best coach in the NHL, both in terms of active bench bosses and through the league's history.

There are also a number of projections based on stats for next season, and while he's bullish several Jackets players (in particular Sergei Bobrovsky and Brandon Dubinsky), you won't be shocked to learn that he's predicting the team narrowly misses the postseason once again.

Overall, this is a great resource if you're a fan of stats or just want to get into some of the interesting history and mechanics of the game. It doesn't hurt that Rob is also a pretty cool guy and a friend of the blog, but I'd happily recommend this book to anyone. If nothing else, it's a wonderful way to start a few discussions - or perhaps settle a bar bet or two.

Hockey Abstract is available on Amazon in print, or from PayLoadz in eBook format.

Disclaimer: The Cannon was provided a reviewer copy of the eBook edition by the author.

In a lovely bit of serendipity, the guys at NHL Numbers have decided to go on a league wide blitz, providing team breakdowns for forwards and defensemen in both conferences based on last season’s numbers.

When you look at the team’s defense by the numbers, it’s interesting to see how Nikita Nikitin was OK (not spectacular, the way he was in 2011-12, but OK), compared to the perception in Columbus that he showing himself the door. Despite that, the message is pretty clear that the team’s defense relied a lot on Bob to cover mistakes, and fortunately for all of us he was up for the challenge. If Ryan Murray does break into the d-corps, it’ll be interesting to see how he adjusts, and who he ends up paired with.

Meanwhile, in terms of forwards, the club was very consistent, as you’d expect for a team that was trying to work by committee, but the lack of a defined offensive threat meant that opponents had the ability to beat them up fairly equally, too. I’m very interested to see how a full season of Marian Gaborik and (eventually) adding Nathan Horton change this, but I would not be shocked if Jarmo eventually makes a decision to pull the trigger on shaking up the forwards if we don’t see some improvement. (Not surprisingly, you see a team with similar designs in St. Louis, but the overall performance from all four lines is much higher. That’s a goal this team can and should meet.)

Finally, just for a bonus, Travis Yost decided to see how a team's "enforcer" winning a fight affected their goal scoring. What we learned there was that Jared Boll should keep his damn gloves on – in four of his six recorded "wins" last season, the Jackets surrendered the next goal. (Interestingly, Columbus scored after each of Derek Dorsett’s wins. Maybe we can try to talk Sather into sending him back in exchange for Boll. Surely Alain Vigneault wants a big enforcer to protect Rick Nash, right?)

Is any of this shocking or revelatory? Not incredibly, but it’s still interesting.

Besides, it’s still better than no hockey at all, right?

While the NHL no longer has operational control over the Phoenix Coyotes, the league is still willing to give the franchise a hand. Commissioner Gary Bettman stated on Tuesday that the league was planning on bringing the All-Star Game to Glendale in the near future.

There is no specific date planned at this time, but Bettman expressed that it was a commitment the league was interested in honoring, via the twitter feed of Sarah McLellan:

"We're going to do that at some point," Bettman said. "I don't know what the date is yet but it'll be our pleasure to honor a commitment to bring the All-Star Game here."

Looking ahead, the NHL will be without an All-Star Game during the 2013-14 season because of the Winter Olympics. In addition, the Columbus Blue Jackets were scheduled to host the 2012-13 star-studded exhibition but were unable to because of the lockout. This means Columbus is likely to host the 2014-15 All-Star Game, making 2015-16 the first available spot for Glendale.

More in the NHL:

Follow @SBNationNHL

• Longform: Hockey's first African-American superstar?

• Video breakdown: Arnott’s 2000 Cup winner

• Full Free Agency coverage

• Full 2013 Draft coverage

• The best of our hockey network

The start of a fresh new season is inching ever closer (and on time, too, wonder of wonders), and with it, thanks to realignment, comes a fresh new crop of division rivals. So it can't hurt to get a little refresher course on just who the Caps will be facing the most this season, and just how the Division's top players stack up against one another.

As we've done in the past, we'll be counting down the top ten players by position - this time in the Metropolitan Division - as well as the top prospects from the eight teams. And to kick it all off, the guys between the pipes...

Honorable mention: Martin Brodeur, Steve Mason

10. Ray Emery, Philadelphia Flyers

Emery has been one of the NHL's better redemption stories in recent years, turning around a career that seemed destined to be sidetracked by injuries and off-ice issues before finally winning a Cup with Chicago this past spring. And this summer he returned to the place where that redemption story began, Philadelphia, to try and lend some credibility to a netminding situation that always seems to be lacking in that department. His numbers were sparkling last year as a 1A to Corey Crawford (including just one loss in 21 regular season games) and he's been solid overall throughout his career. That said, let's be honest... the road may be a bit bumpier this year than it was last year, because (understatement alert) the Flyers are not the Blackhawks.

9. Evgeni Nabokov, New York Islanders

Like the Flyers, the Islanders have had some turbulence in net in recent years - so if nothing else Nabokov provided them with some semblance of stability this past season. His numbers were decent but not spectacular, and there were times in the first round matchup with Pittsburgh where his team seemed to win in spite of him (or worse, lose because of him). Still, he played almost 2500 minutes, second only to Lundqvist in the Atlantic last year, faced the fifth-most shots in the NHL and posted three shutouts along the way.

8. Michal Neuvirth, Washington Capitals

Prior to the shortened 2013 season, Michal Neuvirth stated that Braden Holtby would be his "weakest competition yet"... which unfortunately still didn't assure him the starting goaltender job, as Neuvirth would play in just 13 games last year. Only four of those would be wins, as well (although some of that falls on his team, as those four wins were also the only four games in which they gave him any run support). That said, he saw his save percentage rise from the previous season despite getting less work and handled his light workload - complete with razor-thin margins of error - like a professional (despite his offseason chattering). And at just 24 he's still not quite in his prime; he may not have the starter's job (yet) but he's one of the Division's better backups.

7. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins

When Marc-Andre Fleury is good, he is very, very good... but when he is bad, he is horrid. And that's what puts him just about middle-of-the-pack in the Division and the League, even after a pretty decent (statistically speaking) 2013 regular season. He probably takes a bit more flak than he deserves, particularly for someone who plays behind a defense that's not exactly made up of Nicklas Lidstrom clones. But he has a tendency to be a bit leaky, a fact which was on full display in the playoffs. The starter's job is apparently his to lose this season despite handing over the net to Vokoun prior to Game 5 against New York - whether he loses it or not remains to be seen.

6. Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes

On March 3, the night Cam Ward's season would end, the Hurricanes had a four-point lead in the Southeast Division. After that game the 'Canes would pick up wins in three of their next four before dropping 19 of their final 23 games, to say nothing of the Division title. Ward, like Fleury, is a decent but unspectacular goalie (in fact their career numbers are eerily similar) - but Ward lacks some of the leakiness of Fleury, and after last season it's hard to say that the 'Canes don't live and die with the success (or health) of their goalie.

5. Tomas Vokoun, Pittsburgh Penguins

No one needs to tell Caps fans that when Vokoun is healthy and on, there aren't many who are better. And while we have the benefit of hindsight, it's hard to see the Penguins even getting out of the first round if he's not there to bail out Fleury in Game 5 against the Islanders. He'll be there to bail him out again if Dan Bylsma's decision to go back to Fleury this season backfires... that is, if he can stay healthy, and at 37 he may not respond in an 82-game campaign the way he did in a shorter, 48-game season.

4. Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals

It's probably fair to say that Braden Holtby stumbled a little bit last season, first at the beginning of the season and again (and more noticeably) in the playoffs. The Holtby who barely flinched when met with a stick-swinging Rich Peverley a year ago now seemed a bit more tentative, a bit sloppier, and his inconsistency was part of the reason the Caps fell to the Rangers in the first round. Having said that, he still had far more great games than bad ones - and Holtby is still young enough (he'll be 24 by the time the season starts) that a few hiccups are bound to happen. Those hiccups certainly haven't derailed his terrific numbers, either, whether it's regular season or playoffs. Time will tell with him, but he's off to a very good start.

3. Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils

The fact that someone could get traded to this division just a little over a month ago and instantly leap up to the top three probably speaks volumes about the goaltending depth/talent among these eight teams... but that's certainly not to take away from the fact that Schneider is a pretty decent goalie in his own right. His stunning trade to New Jersey on Draft Day didn't just blow the roof off of Prudential Center, it also set Schneider up as heir apparent to Martin Brodeur's throne. It's possible that Schneider and Brodeur will split the starter's job all season, but with the latter's performance starting to slip (as evidenced by his absence from this list), it wouldn't be all that surprising to see Schneider take over as The Guy by January... if not sooner.

2. Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

There's no question that 24-year-old Bobrovsky took a huge step forward in his career last season, shaking off the Curse of the Flyers to post a career-high save percentage (and second-highest in the League) of .932 and earning his first career shutout (plus three more) en route to a Vezina Trophy win (along with an award for best dressed). It was his performance that almost singlehandedly kept the Blue Jackets in the playoff race last season, keeping his team afloat until practically the last day of the season. Still, the sample size is a bit too small and the lockout-shortened season too full of anomalies to anoint him the class of the division just yet...

1. Henrik Lundqivst, New York Rangers

...which brings us to #1. Posting characteristically great numbers (despite the fact that his team declined a bit overall from the previous season), Lundqvist remains one of the game's best. He played in all but five of the Rangers' 48 games last year and finished in the League's top five in wins, saves, shots faced and save percentage - all of which resulted in being named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy for the fifth time in his career. And of course we all remember what he did to the Caps in the playoffs...

Until proven otherwise, Henrik remains the King.

Another episode of BSH Radio is in the books, as we took to the airwaves on Thursday evening to talk a bit about the Flyers as well as one of their newest division rivals, the Columbus Blue Jackets. To help us out with the latter, we were joined by Dan P., from Blue Jackets blog The Cannon. We chatted with Dan about a number of different Blue Jackets-related topics, including but not limited to:

* Sergei Bobrovsky's great season last year, and what's expected of him for the upcoming season.

* The Jackets' move to the Eastern Conference, and how much easier it makes things for their fans

* Their big moves from the last few months, including the trade for Marian Gaborik and the signing of Nathan Horton.

* Jakub Voracek and Jeff Carter, and how their paths have gone since that trade from two summers ago.

* Steve Mason, and whether or not there's any chance he can get it back together here in Philly.

Then Dan left and we talked a bit about the first episode of Flight Plan and the things we learned (and didn't learn) about the Flyers from it. And we briefly discussed Scott Hartnell. Fun times were had by all.

Listen to the episode in full right here, or use the player embedded below. You can also download the audio file to your computer by right-clicking here and saving this file. Enjoy!

Other Recent Episodes: (click once to open file in new window; right-click, save-as to download)

Episode 53 (July 25, 2013): Couturier, the schedule, and more
Episode 52 (July 16, 2013): We're back!

Raffi Torres had played with the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks, before he signed a 2 year deal with the Phoenix Coyotes during the off season prior to the 2011-12 season. His gritty style, offensive skill and playoff experience made him a welcome addition to the team that had struggled to get out first round since coming to the Valley of the Sun.

Many people think of Torres as purely a goon, however he does have a fair amount of offensive talent. During the 2010-11 season he was 15-11-26 with one power play goal, and his best season saw him go 27-14-41 with the Edmonton Oilers in 2005-06.

Torres had more than a few disciplinary problems during his first season with the Coyotes. He received a $2,500 fine for hitting Jan Hejda during a game against the Colorado Avalanche and a two game suspension for hitting Minnesota's Nate Prosser. This eventually culminated in perhaps his most infamous hit, during the first round of the playoffs Torres hit Chicago's Marian Hossa which resulted in Torres being handed down a 25 game suspension, which was ultimately reduced to 21 games.

The suspension actually was a bit of a rallying cry for some Coyotes fans who considered it to be excessive. The "Free Raffi" face became a popular sight for the rest of the playoffs. While the Coyotes would go on to win the Blackhawks series and the semifinal series against the Nashville Predators, Torres' physical brand of play would likely have helped Phoenix in its Conference Final series against the Los Angeles Kings.

Last year as the trade deadline was approaching it appeared very unlikely that the Coyotes were going to make the playoffs making them sellers for the first time since Dave Tippett took over. Many Coyotes soon to be unrestricted free agents were traded, including Torres, who was dealt to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a third round pick, which, interestingly enough, was orginally the Florida Panthers, before they traded it to the New York Rangers in a deal that involved another ex-Coyote, Wojtek Wolski. That pick made its way to San Jose in the Ryane Clowe deal, and eventually to Phoenix, who used to to draft Yan-Pavel Laplante.

Raffi vowed to change his game after the suspension, and for the most part he did; during last year's shortened season he had only 13 penalty minutes while on the Coyotes and 4 while on the Sharks. But the playoffs marked yet another frustrating chapter in his career. He was suspended again while with the Sharks for the remainder of the second round after a hit on LA's Jarrett Stoll.

Jack Roslovic, a forward from Columbus, Ohio that played for the Columbus Junior Blue Jackets Midget Minor team last year announced yesterday via Twitter that he has committed to Miami.

Officially committed to Miami University #Redhawks#Brotherhood #96

— Jack Roslovic (@JRoslovic96) August 8, 2013

Roslovic will continue his career next season as a member of the recently announced US NTDP U17 team, becoming the first player born and raised in central Ohio to represent the US at the NTDP. The 6'0" 170 lbs. forward is a crafty playmaker with very soft hands.

Roslovic will likely join Miami's 2015 recruiting class, which already includes fellow '97 birthdates Gordie Green, Michael Joyaux, and Austin Alger.

Coyotes News

Coyotes Preseason Countdown: 38 Days - Five For Howling
With 38 days until preseason begins we look at the player who had 38 points during his time with the Coyotes.

Top Shelf Prospects: Phoenix Coyotes | Last Word On Sports
The Coyotes prospect group is deep in young defensemen, led by Brandon Gormley who seems to be a future NHL stud.

Domi's Behind The Back Pass To McDavid | The Score
Max Domi is special.

News From Around the Hockey World

Antropov signs with HC Barys of KHL | ProHockeyTalk
In Kazakhstan.

Dave Lozo’s Bag Skate: The NHL is a wasteland in August, but some valuable pieces can still be added | Backhand Shelf
Talks about the trade that changed the landscape of hockey forever.

The 10 best restricted free agents that have yet to be re-signed | Backhand Shelf
Boedker is listed at #8.

Sabres play-by-play man Jeanneret to retire after 2015-16 season | ProHockeyTalk
"Top shelf where mamma hides the cookies!"

Here’s where the ice will be at Yankee Stadium | ProHockeyTalk
Outdoor games set for Jan. 26 and 29.

‘Shouldn’t be too difficult’ to sign Lundqvist, says Rangers assistant GM | ProHockeyTalk
"Henrik wants to be here and we want Henrik."

Leafs need Kadri to take another step | ProHockeyTalk
And skeptics remain.

Columbus Blue Jackets, National Hockey League of Nations - Yahoo! Sports
Who make the list of best Blue Jackets by country.

The Final Howl

How we'd fix the NHL - Grantland

Jody Shelley played his last NHL game in orange and black. The former enforcer, who was a free agent this summer and didn't sign with a team, called his hockey career quits on Friday, retiring from the league and joining his old team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, in a front office role. He'll mostly be a broadcaster.

From the Blue Jackets:

Shelley will feature prominently in all aspects of the club's broadcasting efforts, providing analysis during select Blue Jackets home radio broadcasts; serving as a regular contributor during home game telecasts on FOX Sports Ohio, including as a second analyst between the benches on occasion; and co-hosting a weekly radio show on the Blue Jackets Radio Network and flagship station Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan. In addition, he will be involved in Jackets TV coverage via the club's website, BlueJackets.com; and actively engaged in various business and community initiatives for the organization.

Shelley was never quite the fan favorite in Philadelphia that he was in Columbus, a city in which he played parts of seven seasons. Late in his career with the Flyers, Shelley wound up riding the bench more than actually playing the game, and he only played one game last season as his role as enforcer was pretty much phased out thanks to more useful contributions by guys like Zac Rinaldo.

Shelley was always a nice guy and by all accounts a great teammate, though, so it's good to see him going back to a place where he'll be welcomed with open arms during his post-playing career.

More from Broad Street Hockey:

• Sixers owners could buy Devils
• Podcast: Scouting the Blue Jackets, our new division rival
• A look inside the Flyers' draft war room
• Stolarz makes cut at USA junior camp