Know Your Foe: The NHL’s new Atlantic Division


By Nick Barnowski and Michael Caples –

The 2013-14 season marks a new era for many of our state’s most popular teams. The Red Wings return to the Eastern Conference, while six of the seven Division 1 college hockey programs in Michigan begin play in new conferences. With all those changes occurring, we thought you could use a refresher on the opponents that your teams will soon be facing. Over the next few weeks, we are profiling the new teams that you should get familiar with, or as we like to call it, “Know Your Foe”. 

Our first preview is the NHL’s new Atlantic Division, home to your Detroit Red Wings. The Wings’ new opponents are as follows:

Photo by Jen Hefner/MiHockey

Team name: Boston Bruins

Previous conference/division: Eastern Conference/Northeast Division

New conference/division: Eastern Conference/Atlantic Division

Last season’s results: The Bruins finished fourth in the Eastern Conference last season with 62 points, en route to an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Key players: F Patrice Bergeron, D Zdeno Chara, F Milan Lucic, G Tuukka Rask, F Loui Eriksson, F Jarome Iginla

Key losses: F Tyler Seguin, C Nathan Horton, F Jaromir Jagr, D Andrew Ference

Recent encounters: The Bruins and Red Wings most recently played each other in the 2011-12 season, where Detroit defeated Boston on the day after Thanksgiving 3-2 in a shootout.

Their barn: TD Garden, formerly known as the FleetCenter and TD Banknorth Garden, also hosts the NBA’s Boston Celtics. It opened in September of 1995 and also hosts college hockey’s annual Beanpot Tournament.

History: Like the Red Wings, the Bruins are an Original Six team and have been a franchise since 1924. The club has won six Stanley Cups, with the most recent coming in 2011. Two of them were captured under the guidance of the great Bobby Orr, in 1970 and 1972.

Coach: Claude Julien. He has coached the Bruins since since the 2007-08 season and has won one Stanley Cup in his career (2011). He had previously coached for the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils.

Connections: D Torey Krug (Livonia native, Michigan State University), Gregory Campbell (Plymouth Whalers)

 

Team name: Florida Panthers

Previous conference/division: Eastern Conference/Southeast Division

New conference/division: Eastern Conference/Atlantic Division

Last season’s results: The Panthers had a rough 2013 season, finishing last in the Eastern Conference. They held the second overall pick in the 2013 draft and selected C Alexander Barkov from Russia.

Key players: D Brian Campbell, F Jonathan Huberdeau, F Tomas Fleischmann

Key losses: F Stephen Weiss (to Red Wings)

Recent encounters: The Wings have played the Panthers twice since the 2010-11 season, once each in 2010-11 and 2011-12, with the Red Wings winning both games.

Their barn: BB&T Center. Located in Sunrise, Florida, it was called the BankAtlantic Center up until last year. It’s been operating since 1998 and holds over 19,000 people.

History: Founded in 1993, the Panthers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996, losing to the Colorado Avalance. They’ve won one division championship, in 2011-12, which is also the last time they’ve made the playoffs.

Coach: Kevin Dineen. He has coached the team since 2011-12, with a 53-42-24 record. He played 1,188 games in the NHL spanning 21 seasons with the Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators, and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Connections: Mike Weaver (Michigan State University)

 

Team name: Montreal Canadiens

Previous conference/division: Eastern Conference/Northeast Division

New conference/division: Eastern Conference/Atlantic Division

Last season’s results: Montreal won the Northeast Division and came in second in the Eastern Conference with 63 points. Despite finishing high in the standings, they were knocked out by the Ottawa Senators in five games in the first round.

Key players: G Carey Price, F Alex Galchenyuk, F Tomas Plekanec, D P.K. Subban

Key losses: F Michael Ryder

Recent encounters: In one of the worst Red Wings losses in recent memory, Montreal smoked a Nicklas Lidstrom-less Detroit 7-2 in Montreal the day before the All-Star break in 2012.

Their barn: Bell Centre. Replacing the legendary Montreal Forum was a tough task, but the Bell Centre holds some of the most passionate fans in the NHL. It’s owned by the Molson family and the stadium includes a ring of players around the top level.

History: Perhaps the most storied history in the league, Montreal has won a record 24 Stanley Cups, the most recent being 1993. An Original Six team, they were founded in 1909 and from 1956-1960 won five straight championships.

Coach: Michel Therrien. This is his second stint in Montreal as he coached the team from 2000-03 before moving to Pittsburgh where he took the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008.

Connections: Max Pacioretty (University of Michigan 2007-08)

 

Team name: Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous conference/division: Eastern Conference/Southeast Division

New conference/division: Eastern Conference/Atlantic Division

Last season’s results: Last season was one of disappointment for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who finished 14th in the East after picking up only 40 points in 48 games. It was their second straight season without any postseason games.

Key players: F Steven Stamkos, F Martin St. Louis, F Valtteri Filppula, D Victor Hedman

Key losses: F Vincent Lecavalier, F Benoit Pouliot

Recent encounters: On Nov. 30, 2011, the Red Wings posted a 4-2 home win over the Lightning, thanks in part to a two-point night from Pavel Datsyuk.

Their barn: The Tampa Bay Times Forum, previously named the St. Petersburg Times Forum, opened in 1996. It seats 19,204 for Lightning home games.

History: The Lightning, one the expansion clubs from the 1990s, began play in ’92. After struggling through their first decade as an NHL club, the Lightning captured their first Stanley Cup championship in 2004, when they beat the Edmonton Oilers in a winner-take-all Game 7. They weren’t able to defend their title the next season, as the NHL experienced a full-season lockout.

Coach: Jon Cooper is a familiar face to the Michigan hockey community. He got his coaching start at Lansing Catholic Central, and then coached the Metro Jets, before moving on to the NAHL and USHL.

Connections: D Matt Taormina (Warren native)

Photo by Erik Roush/MiHockey

Team name: Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous conference/division: Eastern Conference/Northeast Division

New conference/division: Eastern Conference/Atlantic Division

Last season’s results: Toronto finished third in the Northeast Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference in 2013. They were heartbreakingly knocked out of the playoffs by the Bruins in seven games in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Key players: D Dion Phaneuf, F Phil Kessel, F Joffrey Lupul, G James Reimer, F David Clarkson

Key losses: F Clarke MacArthur, D Mike Komisarek

Recent encounters: In the 2010-11 season the Red Wings defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2 at Joe Louis Arena. The two teams will meet in the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

Their barn: Air Canada Centre. The home of the Maple Leafs also hosts the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. It’s owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and opened in 1999. The building can hold almost 19,000 people for hockey games.

History: An Original Six franchise, the Leafs have played 96 seasons in the NHL. They’ve won 13 Stanley Cups with the most recent coming way back in 1967.

Coach: Randy Carlyle. He took over the Maple Leafs in 2011 after coaching the Anaheim Ducks. He won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007 and replaced Ron Wilson in Toronto.

Connections: John-Michael Liles (Michigan State University)

 

Team name: Buffalo Sabres

Previous conference/division: Eastern Conference/Northeast Division

New conference/division: Eastern Conference/Atlantic Division

Last season’s results: The Sabres picked up 48 points in 48 games last year – good for 12th place in the East. They have now missed the playoffs for back-to-back seasons.

Key players: G Ryan Miller, F Thomas Vanek, F Tyler Ennis, D Christian Ehrhoff

Key losses: F Nathan Gerbe

Recent encounters: On Dec. 2, 2011, the Wings beat the Sabres 4-1 in Buffalo. Less than a month later, they beat them again, this time to a tune of 5-0.

Their barn: The First Niagara Center has been the home of the Sabres since it opened in 1996. The host of the 2011 World Junior Championship seats 18,690.

History: The Sabres became an NHL franchise in 1970, along with the Vancouver Canucks, bumping the league to 14 teams. Ironically, both of those clubs are still looking for their first Stanley Cup. The Sabres have reached the Cup Final twice, most recently in 1999, when Brett Hull’s questionable goal gave the Stars Lord Stanley’s Cup instead.

Coach: Ron Rolston should be a familiar name to Michigan’s hockey audience; the Fenton native had his interim tag removed in May to officially be the Sabres’ bench boss. The Michigan Tech alum coached at Lake Superior State and the U.S. NTDP while working his way through the coaching ranks.

Connections: Kevin Porter (Northville native, University of Michigan), Ryan Miller (East Lansing native, Michigan State University)

 

Team name: Ottawa Senators

Previous conference/division: Eastern Conference/Northeast Division

New conference/division: Eastern Conference/Atlantic Division

Last season’s results: Ottawa finished in the No. 7 spot in the East last spring, but knocked out Montreal in the first round. A rough second-round match-up with Pittsburgh followed.

Key players: F Jason Spezza, F Bobby Ryan, F Kyle Turris, D Erik Karlsson, G Craig Anderson

Key losses: F Daniel Alfredsson

Recent encounters: The Red Wings kicked off the 2011-12 season with a 5-3 win over Ottawa, yet Detroit gave up three third-period goals to put a damper on their own party.

Their barn: The Canadian Tire Centre – formerly the Scotiabank Place – holds 19,153 rabid hockey fans. Its doors opened in 1996.

History: The modern-day Ottawa Senators began NHL play in 1992. The team they share their name with, the original Ottawa Senators, won 11 Stanley Cups, but the current one is still looking for their first.

Coach: Another familiar face for Michigan – former Red Wings assistant coach Paul MacLean. He’s been turning heads both for his work behind the bench, and for the guy who has sat behind him. Don’t know what we’re talking about? Google it.

Connections: Erik Condra (Trenton native), Joe Corvo (Western Michigan University) 

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