It's no surprise that the division with the most Canadian teams contains the
most question marks.
But forget about economic issues. Do the Oilers, Canucks or Flames have any
chance at finishing above .500?
Obviously, that's a tough question to have when the first puck of the
regular season hasn't been dropped. Regardless, the query remains relevant.
Colorado probably won't be able to eclipse Dallas or Detroit -- or possibly St.
Louis and San Jose for that matter. But you can bank on Patrick Roy and Joe
Sakic playing for a winning team, even if Peter Forsberg may not return
until the holiday season.
|  | | Veteran and future Hall of Famer Fuhr feels pretty comfortable in a Flames uniform. |
So that leaves the other three teams:
Oilers: Unsigned holdouts continue to plague the franchise
Flames: No Fleury, no glory
Canucks: It's a mess if Messier doesn't deliver.
Hold on for Oilers holdouts
"What if?" That is the dreamy question Oilers fans must be asking.
What if the Oilers could, just once, enter the season with a full squad?
It seems like every year someone holds out for money, causing a standoff with GM Glen Sather, who's up there with Devils GM Lou Lamoriello and Bruins GM Harry Sinden in the stingy department.
The Oilers have talent, speed and the best ice in the NHL. With a full roster in training camp, who knows how much better Edmonton would do?
The current crop of holdouts includes Mike Grier and Bill Guerin, two established NHL players.
Roman Hamrlik signed at the last minute, but he'll be hard-pressed to help out early on.
The Oilers will miss Guerin the most becuase of is grit and presence as a leader.
But if reports of Doug Weight's renewed health, focus and conditioning are true, the blow may be softened a bit. Last season, it was Weight holding out that hindered the Oilers out of the gate.
"Everyone looks to Weighter for inspiration, and he's certainly given it so far," Boyd Devereaux told the Edmonton Sun. "He really has lit a fire under himself. He wants to show everyone a great season, and the guys are really excited about it."
Another interesting story out of Edmonton -- although it's far less relevant to the team's chances -- is the return of goalie Bill Ranford, who backstopped a Stanley Cup winner with the Oilers in 1990. He will back up starter Tommy Salo, but the homecoming may energize his stalled career.
"There's no doubt I have the experience," Ranford said. "But Tommy has been around long enough, he knows what it takes, and it will be fun. We'll be able to push each other."
A perfect attitude -- and person -- for a backup.
If Sather can get everyone back in the fold before too long, Edmonton will be a fun team to watch and a dreaded team to play. Just ask Dallas in the 1997 playoffs or Colorado in 1998.
Avs subtract but don't add
Now that Colorado has been mentioned, it's time to discuss a team that added no one but lost Valeri Kamensky, disappointing late-season mercenary Theo Fleury and Sylvain Lefebvre, not to mention solid backup goaltender Craig Billington.
General manager Pierre Lacroix has been criticized not only for doing nothing this summer but also for not trying to nab at least one of the remaining unrestricted free agents like Pat Verbeek or Joe Juneau.
"It's very early in the season, and we know that we have great youth, great kids," Lacroix told The Denver Post. "We'll give them the chance to perform. I don't see why we should do anything different."
Why?
Because you won't be too successful, especially if Forsberg misses the first third of the season.
However, Lacroix's point isn't totally without merit. Last season, the Avs had two of the league's best rookies in Milan Hejduk and Calder Trophy winner Chris Drury, and there's every reason to believe both will get even better. In addition Alex Tanguay and Martin Skoula are good young talents.
Look for Sakic to be a great mentor for Tanguay.
The best and worst news -- outside of Forsberg's slow recovery -- comes from the blueline. Sandis Ozolinsh isn't a holdout this season. His presence creates so many options on the power play and affects the Avs' overall pace of play as much as anyone.
Unfortunately, Colorado's defense as a unit hasn't improved, which is troubling for Avs fans because the team's play in the defensive end contributed to last season's playoff loss to Dallas.
Hopefully, Patrick Roy plays well and stays healthy.
Flames, Canucks look for brighter days
Calgary and Vancouver both missed the playoffs last season, yet Calgary at least made it interesting, only bowing out of the race late.
The Flames remain a bit of a mystery, but it's difficult to believe Vancouver could play any worse. With Marc Crawford behind the bench from the start, it's a good bet the Canucks will improve.
Of course, had Daniel and Henrik Sedin played in the NHL this season, there would be a heck of a lot more excitement in Vancouver.
But Paul Kariya's younger brother Steve, along with Andrew Cassels and defenseman Doug Bodger bolster the roster enough for more wins but not for a playoff spot.
Calgary jettisoned Fleury and Jan Hlavac but added Marc Savard and Benoit Gratton. Losing Fleury's offense hurts, but a lot of young talent remains, and Savard could flourish with a lot of ice time and less pressure.
Then there's Grant Fuhr, acquired from the Blues. Although he's well past his prime, he wins when he's healthy -- which isn't a certainty.
And his presence alone makes the team better.
"By trading for Grant Fuhr, the organization is showing everyone -- including the players in here -- that they're serious about that," Steve Smith told the Calgary Sun. "I think it's great."
Brian A. Shactman is the NHL Editor for ESPN.com
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