Little John here reporting on this year NAHL round-up.
Will start out with the year in review. The Speed wins the championship in what I call a soft north division. While in the south it was close to the end. All-in-all I feel like it was a real good season. We had Gordie Howe for Detroit lead the league in scoring with 97 points, the Veznia went to Curtis Joseph, Calder went to Micheal Scott, and Brain Leetch wins the Norris, all play for the Speed. So this year we may need to have some other team to win some awards, or the Speed may win another championship.
With this we will now break down what the teams of the NAHL will need to knock off the Detroit Speed. Let''s start with the champs
Founders Division
Detroit Speed
Not much to report here they lead the league in Defence, Scoring, and Penalty Kill
Where they may want to look at is shots against and Goaltending and after the expansion draft some depth to cover the front line.
Toronto Mapleleafs
Team Defence is what the leafs need to look at, they where last in it. Joe Sakic was second in scoring with 40 goals, 54 asst., and 94 points, but after Sakic and Young there is a drastic drop off in points. Watch the leafs go after players to back-up one of the top scorers in Sakic.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins may want to re-evaluate there team. Last in all stats, the only thing they may look forward to is the first pick in the 2004 draft.
Atlantic Division
New England Destroyers
The Destroyers may want to look some scorers they where next to last in Scoring and Power Play, and next to the top in Penalty Minutes. They may want to look for some scorer to lead the second and third lines
Miami Breakers
Southern champs pulled it together at the end to win the South. With the team leading in Power Play and second in Team Scoring, look for them to go after Defensive players where they where third to last in Team Defence and Penalty kill.
Tampa Bay Titans
Where do I start! NO Scoring is a start, Look for the Titans to go after some high flying scorers to back-up one of the best defenses in the league. Last in all but team Defence, Scoring in the main issue. This team while I watch them look to not want to shoot, but to pass two and three times before shooting look for that fad to stop next year.
Birmingham Bisons
In there first year the Bisons will go against one of the toughest Div. The Bisons feel they have had a good entry draft. They may want to look at upgrading a defence which is giving up 3.65 goals a game. The Bisons should do good in there first year.
Frontier Division
San Antonio Thunder (formerly the NY edge)
Scoring is what the Thunder may want to look at, the Thunder was a middle of the road team not leading in anything, but not last either. Second in Penalty Kill, this team may not be to far from the playoffs. Goaltending may be in the minds of the Thunder, Salo was next to last in the league. Look for the Thunder to better themselves in the draft and go after a top scorer. The Thunder has better themselves in the draft.
Texas Tornado
Texas is a work in progress. In there first year in league they find themselves where the Thunder was last year a middle of the road team. They could a team to watch out for in the reg. season.
Canadian Division
Red Deer Dragons (Formerly the Memphis Dragons)
Lead the South but lost in the playoffs to Miami. Another team in the middle of the pack. One problem for the Deers is that they lead the league in Penalty Minutes. With Brodeur giving up 3.69 GA, look for them to look for more of a solid goalie. Look for the team to pick players that will help on the second and third lines.
Provost Panthers (Formerly the Charlotte Cougars)
Look for the Panthers to pick up some help in the Penalty Kill and Team Defence. This could also be the reason for Hasik demise, being last in the Goalie department. With the Panthers being rank third in Team scoring look for them to go after some scoring Defensemen to back-up the scoring tandem of Jagr, and Lemieux. The Panthers may also try to trade some of there older players for picks. For they are the oldest team in the league.
Calgary Crows
Another first year team that has a chance to have a good year in there first season. Watch them make a late run in the season for a playoff spot.
Edmonton Crude
The Crude may need a little work, and maybe getting the 2nd pick in the 2004 could be what the Crude is looking for. Hanging around at the bottom of the league can not be good for any team. Look for the crude to make some moves during the season to help them win. If not look for the Crude and the Bruins fight for the first pick in 2004.
Now for my predictions for how the season will pan out
Founders Div.
Look for the only team to come out of div. is the speed. There will be no challenge for the speed to make the playoffs.
Atlantic Div.
This one will be hard to call. The teams are so close in talent that anyone of them could win there Div. Just in the preseason the teams where separated only by 5 points. I am going with Bisons, Titans, and Breakers come out of this div.
Frontier Division
Another tough one to call; look for Thunder, and possibly Texas out of this Div.
Canadian Division
Up to three teams could come out of this Div. Look for the Panthers and Dragons and possibly the Crows to come out of this Div.
From there it will be the Speed and Bisons out of the east.
And the Panthers and the Thunder out of the west.
Speed vs. the Thunder in the finals with the Speed winning in a close one.
Those are my predictions and I hope I am wrong, with at least the finals.
This is Little John reporting, looking at another good year for the NA