Mirtle M D Posts

While other sites are previewing "30 teams in 30 days," we decided to take advantage of the extra time off before the start of the season to bring you all 30 previews over the next three weeks. We're counting down in reverse order of finish from last season in each conference every weekday from now until October 3. Look for an Eastern Conference preview every morning and a Western Conference preview every afternoon. Click here to read them all.

Who's In: Michael Ryder, RW (UFA, Mon); Blake Wheeler, RW (UFA, Phx)

Who's Out: Alex Auld, G (UFA, Ott); Glen Metropolit, F (UFA, Phi); Glen Murray, RW (buyout)

What's Changed: Not at ton. For the first time in a while, the Bruins will have quite a bit of stability on the roster, with the most obvious change being that Ryder will slip into a scoring-line role on the right wing where Murray played last season.

A bigger boost to the offense, however, will come from a healthy Patrice Bergeron (pictured). He missed all but 10 games last season after taking a blindside hit from Philadelphia's Randy Jones, but is a solid 70-point man if he can make it back into the lineup full time. (Bergeron impressed already in preseason, racking up four points in the Bruins' first exhibition game against Montreal on Monday night.)

Elsewhere up front, there should be some solid progression from within for players like David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Vladimir Sobotka, who may not be household names but are ready for more minutes than they played as rookies last season.

While other sites are previewing "30 teams in 30 days," we decided to take advantage of the extra time before the season to bring you all 30 previews over the next three weeks. We're counting down in reverse order of finish from last season in each conference every weekday from now until October 3. Look for an Eastern Conference preview every morning and a Western Conference preview every afternoon. Click here to read them all.

Who's In: Jeff Finger, D (UFA, Col); Mikhail Grabovski, F (trade, Mon); Niklas Hagman, F (UFA, Dal); Ryan Hollweg, F (trade, NYR); Curtis Joseph, G (UFA, Cal); Jamal Mayers, F (trade, StL); Nikolai Kulemin, RW ('06 draft), Luke Schenn, D ('08 draft); Mike Van Ryn, D (trade, Fla)

Who's Out: Scott Clemmensen, G (UFA, NJ); John Pohl, F (UFA); Andrew Raycroft, G (UFA, Col); Bryan McCabe, D (trade, Fla); Mats Sundin, C (UFA, ???); Darcy Tucker, F (UFA, Col); Kyle Wellwood, F (waivers, Van); Andy Wozniewski, D (UFA, StL)

What's Changed: Oh, you know, same old Buds really: New GM, new head coach, team captain off on a free agency soul search, several veterans bought out or traded for scrap, Jeff Finger is worth $3.5-million a season and the demand for tickets has dried up in Toronto.

Just kidding on the last one.

Yahoo!'s Puck Daddy Greg Wyshynski is a FanHouse alum, which is why, when he puts together a Photoshop contest centered around commissioner Gary Bettman, we want to hop on board.

The guidelines from Mr. Daddy: "We're asking you to send in your drawings, paintings, Photoshops and any other electronically-submitted visual media that depict Gary Bettman in a moment of true valor and heroism."

Here's a few that myself and fellow NHL FanHouser J.P. Press have cooked up the past few days:

Who has Hart? Can anyone beat Lidstrom? And will it be a sweep for the Washington Capitals in the MVP, rookie of the year and coach of the year awards?

The red carpet's being rolled out here in Toronto as we speak (type), and with hockey royalty set to stroll down Yonge Street, we've got a raucous live chat setup to take your questions on the NHL's annual awards gala.

Please feel free to join me and our special guests, offer your thoughts, vote on our polls and weigh in on the discussion, which begins at 1 p.m. ET.

Who wins the Vezina, Norris, Calder, Byng, Selke, Hart, Adams, Masterton and Pearson?

After 1,316 games, regular and postseason, the NHL's 2007-08 campaign came to a close last night in Pittsburgh when the Red Wings carried away their 11th Stanley Cup.

To wrap things up in style, please join myself and FanHouse's all-star cast of bloggers and analysts as we take a final look at the finals, last night's Game 6 and the year that was.

The chat gets underway at 1 p.m. ET.

Topics for discussion:

• Does four Cups in 11 years constitute a dynasty in today's NHL?
• How likely is it that the Red Wings repeat?
• How should the Penguins prepare for next season?
• What They're Saying: The Morning After
• Hockeytown is Titletown
• And a look toward free agency, next week's NHL awards and the 2008 entry draft

Hope to see you there.

The Penguins are on the ropes, down 0-2 to Detroit in the finals, and things look grim. Here at FanHouse, however, we've got some of the top minds in the blogosphere assembled to offer their thoughts on how Pittsburgh can get back in the series.

So, please join myself, Seth Rorabaugh from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and some surprise guests for a lively discussion kicking off at 1 p.m. Feel free to ask questions and take part in our polls as we get going.

You can email me here.

Topics for discussion:

• How can Pittsburgh turn things around?
• Sydor comes in for Letang
• Is Chris Osgood Conn-worthy?
• Are the Red Wings boring?
• Will octopi fly in Pennsylvania?

Game 3 goes tonight at 8 p.m. ET at the Igloo.

There were five games last night, two Game 3s and three Game 4s, and after a week of postseason games, it's probably time to read the tea leaves.

They don't like Ottawa's chances either.

WhoWins.com is a great resource for historical comparisons, so let's take a look at what past results tell us when it comes to all eight series on the go.