Don't just stand there, bust a move

Breaking down the key offseason activity in the Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

After a season that featured a new coach and a revamped and retooled frontline culminated in a third Stanley Cup in nine seasons, the subsequent offseason has been quiet. The biggest change in New Jersey this season will be behind the foundation of the top four defensemen. The depth typically has been in the form of veterans. But Oleg Tverdovsky's return to his native Russia and the retirement of lifetime Devil Ken Daneyko ushered in change.

General manager Lou Lamoriello signed free agent Sean Brown as a depth guy, so he should prove a useful part of the Devils' defensive machine. Still, further opportunity exists on the blueline. Three college players -- David Hale out of North Dakota and Minnesota Golden Gophers teammates Matt DeMarchi and Paul Martin -- will all vie for big-club status. Additionally, there might be room for someone to crack the lineup at forward. The signing of free-agent checking forward Erik Rasmussen fits the Devils' scheme, yet fails to address the possible void left if Joe Nieuwendyk does not re-sign as a free agent. Lamoriello usually handles such dilemmas deftly and directly when he deems the time to act is at hand.

That time might not be September for a team focused on April and beyond.

The term "conventional" as it applies to general manager Mike Milbury's tenure on Long Island is hardly an apt description. Even during a relatively quiet offseason for the Islanders, "Mad Mike" managed to raise more than a few eyebrows. Milbury fired head coach Peter Laviolette after two straight playoff appearance -- these coming on the heels of a seven-year playoff drought. Milbury's rationale stemmed from whisperings of a widening rift between players and coach in the locker room.

In typical surprising fashion, Milbury named Steve Stirling as Laviolette's successor. Granted, Stirling has a fine reputation as a longtime college and minor league coach. Yet his background is curious for the task of bringing together a divided group, which usually requires instant NHL recognition and credibility. Instead, Stirling will have to prove his worth to a team ostensibly needing a swift reassessment of its own collective strengths and weaknesses.

For good measure, Milbury reacquired Mariusz Czerkawski a year after dispatching the often-dispirited goal-scorer to Montreal. True, the Isles need offensive threats, but Czerkawski was an utter failure with the Canadiens, as his brooding ways continued while his scoring ceased. Welcome to Long Island logic -- where a NHL-neophyte coach inherits a fractured room, with one malcontent reintroduced to the mix.

At least it makes sense to one guy.

This is now certainly Glen Sather's team -- or at least his assemblage of players, acquired mostly through trades and free-agent signings -- as he steps behind the bench from the outset of the season. When Sather dismissed Bryan Trottier in late January, the Rangers went 11-10-4-3 the rest of the way, failing to make the playoffs yet again, but possibly showing what Sather saw in this group in the first place.

There is that distinction again -- group as opposed to team. Ultimately, Sather's biggest challenge is turning this collection of disparate players into a team. True, the loss of Pavel Bure's projected offense is a big blow, but it's not cataclysmic, especially if Sather proves adept at assimilation.

With that in mind, Sather acquired a dependable backup netminder in Jussi Markkanen. Now Dan Blackburn's professional development can begin in earnest. The Rangers also added defensemen Greg de Vries and John Jakopin, who aid in the skill and depth departments, respectively. Up front, Sather picked up veterans Jan Hlavac, Martin Rucinsky -- both recent Rangers -- and tough guy Chris Simon. That's no fewer than five new faces again this year for the Blueshirts.

Once again, the individual pieces are valid. Yet the sum of the parts remains harder to discern.

General manager Bobby Clarke's swift shuttling of No. 1 goalie Roman Cechmanek out of town after his up-and-down playoff performance is hardly noteworthy. It certainly fails as news in Philly when you consider this list of playoff starters for the Flyers since their last Stanley Cup appearance in 1997: Ron Hextall, Garth Snow, John Vanbiesbrouck, Sean Burke, Brian Boucher and Cechmanek. Clarke then quickly signed veteran free agent Jeff Hackett as his new starter, feeling that he could easily replicate Cechmanek's solid regular-season showings -- especially playing behind head coach Ken Hitchcock's finely tuned defensive system.

To that end, signing Hackett wasn't much of a risk. The gamble is in believing Hackett's more fundamentally sound mechanics will provide the postseason panacea that remained elusive for Cechmanek and his erratic theatrics. Hackett is 35 years old, injury prone and winless in his NHL life when it comes to series triumphs -- with just 12 playoff games on his résumé.

So, while the revolving starting goaltender in Philly is a recurring theme, the news really lies in the potential for an infusion of youth, especially on the blueline. Clarke made signing Joni Pitkanen, the fourth pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, a priority. Add 20-year-old Jeff Woywitka out of Red Deer of the WHL to the mix that already includes Jim Vandermeer -- he of the impressive late-season and playoff run -- and the interesting developments in Philly may occur on the blueline.

Well, at least during the regular season.

In 1984, the Penguins pinned their hopes and dreams of rebuilding on an 18-year-old French-Canadian with astonishing offensive gifts. Accordingly, in that era of unprecedented offense in the NHL, Pittsburgh selected Mario Lemieux with the first pick in the 1984 Entry Draft. Twenty drafts later, the Penguins are centering their rebuilding efforts on the development of an 18-year-old French-Canadian with astounding puck-stopping capabilities. Thusly, in this era of stifling defense and goalies as megastars, Pittsburgh chose Marc-Andre Fleury with the first pick of the 2003 draft.

Fleury might not even play for the Pens this season, although dealing top netminder Johan Hedberg to the Vancouver Canucks certainly paves the way for Fleury to make the team with a great training camp. Either way, his immediate impact will be negligible, as was the case for Lemieux as a youngster. Even Lemieux's prodigious offensive gifts weren't enough to turn that mid '80s group of Penguins into playoff contenders. The same will hold true for Fleury, as the franchise's rebuilding process takes shape.

For now, look for several young players -- guys like defenseman Brooks Orpik and forward Shane Endicott -- to get an opportunity to learn on the job. New head coach Ed Olczyk will also be learning as he goes after moving over from the broadcast booth to his first head coaching job. Helping Olczyk get acclimated behind the bench will be Lorne Molleken, a friend and confidant of Eddie O's, but also an experienced NHL coach. Also helping with the process will be veterans Mark Bergevin -- quick with a quip and also a longtime friend of Lemieux -- as well as veteran additions Mike Eastwood and Kelly Buchberger.

Twenty years after his draft day, Lemieux is now the owner -- overseer of a franchise rife with stadium issues and in the midst of an all-out retooling. For better or worse, things have truly come full circle in Pittsburgh.

Northeast Division

Over the course of the long, arduous NHL season, opportunity afforded young players can be either seized upon or prove problematic from a depth standpoint. Which will be the case in Boston this season? Only time will tell. Certainly, though, critical roster spots abound at each position for the Bruins, providing much optimism for several B's youngsters. Gone are veterans Jeff Hackett in goal and second-line centerman Jozef Stumpel, as well as mainstay defenseman Don Sweeney. Step right up, netminder Andrew Raycroft, forward Andy Hilbert and promising blueliner Jeff Jillson -- acquired last March from the San Jose Sharks. All three look ready to make an impact.

With defenseman Jonathan Girard out this season and Bryan Berard potentially out of the fold due to contract differences, however, the Bruins' top-four blueliners are facing the challenge of holding up physically and mentally while collectively playing too many minutes in too many crucial situations. That is a dubious possibility for a team that finished 25th in goals against last season. Improvement defensively is likely under first-year coach Mike Sullivan -- just not this season, given the time logged by green rearguards like Jillson, Shaone Morrisonn and Lars Jonsson and the projected workload expected of Raycroft.

Like the Ottawa Senators, the Sabres came through bankruptcy proceedings with splendid new ownership, courtesy of Tom Golisano. Unlike the Sens, who adhered through it all to their long-established plan of building from within, the Sabres spent last season in limbo. Meaning this offseason was about setting a franchise direction based on the wishes of the new owner.

To that end, the Sabres dealt for Chris Drury and promptly locked him up long term, feeling he might just be the team's next captain. Drury gives the Sabres a definite top-line center, someone who should mesh nicely with Miroslav Satan. The Sabres also acquired offensive defenseman Andy Delmore from the Nashville Predators. He is a power-play specialist, with 14 of his 18 goals coming with the man advantage. Despite his defensive deficiencies -- minus-17 while averaging only a little more than 10 minutes of even-strength ice-time per game -- Delmore, along with another productive power-play scorer, center Daniel Briere -- acquired in March from the Phoenix Coyotes -- should boost the Sabres' power play. That could be all important for the Sabres, as they look to improve on their ranking of 25th on offense from last season.

A year ago, I wrote that goaltender Jose Theodore defined the Montreal Canadiens. It remains so today. He faltered badly last season, coming off his scintillating second half and playoff performance of 2001-02. In other words, as Theodore goes, so go the Habs.

Now, however, Theodore has lost some of his hero status due to off-ice allegations this summer -- a personal distraction he must overcome in returning to top form on the ice. Good thing, then, that off the ice, new general manager Bob Gainey now defines the Canadiens. He has credibility and class. Further, Gainey is entrenched in Habs hockey lore, having served as team captain for eight years while winning several Stanley Cups.

So far, it has been a matter of out with the old -- as in releasing vets Mariusz Czerkawski, Bill Lindsay and Randy McKay. Their collective presence failed to bolster the Canadiens' depth, which along with their lack of size, firepower and definitive No. 1 defenseman led to last season's disappointment. Gainey's quest to restore the glory in Montreal will take time. A return to form by Theodore will make the time pass more quickly and productively.

The Senators continued their march to maturity last spring, coming within a breath of reaching the Stanley Cup finals. They are deep, relatively young and the core group remains intact. Accordingly, modest movement marked the offseason for GM John Muckler. Even with veteran Sens winger Magnus Arvedson remaining an unrestricted free agent, this summer was not about change. No, it was all about regrouping, recharging and refocusing on the ultimate prize -- winning the East and the Stanley Cup for new owner Eugene Melnyk, certainly the most welcome and only necessary addition of all in Ottawa.

And that's not a slight on Jason Spezza. He is a welcome addition as a full-time member of the Senators as well. His offensive skills make him a legitimate top-six forward, but with the Sens' offensive depth, his abilities still fit on the third line. Actually, Spezza's situation fits that of the Senators overall: a motivated and talented youngster looking to mature and take that next step naturally.

The signing of veteran defenseman Bryan Marchment -- he of the nasty low-bridge tactics and resultant dirty reputation -- is a perfect match in Toronto. He joins a likewise seasoned Maple Leafs' lineup, one already known for its combativeness, thanks to the exploits of Bryan McCabe, Gary Roberts, Tie Domi and Darcy Tucker.

Further, the Leafs should benefit from the old addition-by-subtraction equation when it comes to severing ties with the likes of Shayne Corson, Jonas Hoglund and Jyrki Lumme, all long-timers of diminishing roles and impact. However, Robert Svehla's annual "I'm retiring, but don't ask me to file official papers with the league" tactic does weaken the blueline corps. Overall, though, this edition of the Maple Leafs isn't very different from those of recent years under coach Pat Quinn -- at least as of yet.

The protracted search for a GM to relieve Quinn of that half of his job description culminated with the hiring of John Ferguson Jr. Will his immediate priority be free-agent additions, or will the Leafs begin the season with a couple of kids on the blueline in Brendan Bell and Carlo Colaiacovo? Either way, the Maple Leafs have plenty of experience -- setting themselves up as a difficult opponent most nights of the regular season.

Southeast Division

The measure of progress in the NHL is straightforward: wins and losses. Signs of progress, however, encompass a wider, more subtle range. The Thrashers under head coach Bob Hartley progressed on the ice in the second half of the season by performing five games above .500 -- a staggering feat when contrasted with the franchise's first 3 1/2 seasons. The on-ice improvement finally signaled hope and, with it, expectations -- both internal and external.

Off-ice upward mobility also has been slow to come in Atlanta. However, when general manager Don Waddell inked unrestricted free agent Slava Kozlov to a long-term contract, it signaled the first time of significance that a known commodity with options chose the Thrashers instead of settling. Further proof of progress, speaking of settling, the Thrashers no longer felt the need to reserve roster spots for incumbent commodities such as Tony Hrkac, Jeff Odgers and Lubos Bartecko, opting instead to round out the depth chart with veterans like Bill Lindsay and younger serviceable journeymen like Randy Robitaille and Brian Swanson.

On the blueline, Waddell dealt for Ivan Majesky on draft day, sending a pick to the Panthers for his services. He is a solid addition to a blueline by committee --albeit one that lacks a chairman. Majesky is a big body who should soak up his share of quality minutes.

Not earth-shattering developments, nevertheless, they add up to progress in the A-T-L, both on and off the ice.

The 'Canes made three substantial moves on their blueline by adding veterans Bob Boughner and Danny Markov via trades and reacquiring former stalwart Glen Wesley through free agency after he was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the deadline in March. Added to the trio of Bret Hedican, Sean Hill and Aaron Ward, the Hurricanes have a supremely steady and experienced backline. In fact, the blueline is the strength of the team.

Up front, not much has changed, with the top two lines centered by ageless wonder Ron Francis and the still all-around effective Rod Brind'Amour. Yet, if the 'Canes are to bounce back from last season's disappointment, youngsters such as Eric Staal -- the second pick in this year's NHL Entry Draft -- and/or Ryan Bayda have to provide production if afforded the opportunity. No one stepped in and replaced the production of Martin Gelinas when he left for the Calgary Flames a year ago, and if the Hurricanes hope to make the postseason this time around, the third line will need to come through offensively.

General manager Rick Dudley and head coach Mike Keenan might not see eye-to-eye on everything, but both are longtime hockey men who know what it takes to win in this league. And the NHL is a harsh place for teams built around youth. So, with the youngest team in the league, Dudley fleshed out his roster with the reacquisition of forward Valerie Bure, the signing of dependable checking forward Craig McDonald and the inking of long-in-the-tooth defenseman Todd Gill.

Dudley's one big trade also helped the Panthers' cause when he sent tough guy Peter Worrell to the Colorado Avalanche. In exchange for Worrell's brawn, five points and nine minutes a night, the Panthers received a needed dose of depth upfront in the form of skilled center Vaclav Nedorost and versatile winger Eric Messier.

In all, it is an acknowledgement of the importance of experience in the NHL -- both to get results and to show young players what it takes to compete nightly at this level.

Things came together nicely for the Lightning last season. Young players showed maturity, and veterans supported the coaching staff's philosophies. The good news is that the lessons learned are of the long-lasting variety. Finally, there is no need to retool and start anew in Tampa Bay -- just build on the emerging foundation of team and identity.

Accordingly, GM Jay Feaster remained out of the headlines this summer with his dealings, unlike last year's much scrutinized draft-day trade that netted Ruslan Fedotenko and Brad Lukowich for the fourth overall pick, a move that worked out quite nicely for Feaster and the Bolts, thank you very much. On draft day this year, Feaster acquired veteran winger Cory Stillman from the St. Louis Blues for a pick -- an understated maneuver that should prove beneficial. He also signed '97 pick Eero Somervuori, who is coming off a breakthrough season in Finland. Both provide a hedge against the loss of free agent Vaclav Prospal to the Mighty Ducks, the only major departure the Lightning experienced over the summer.

For years, the Caps have relied on solid, steady defensemen to anchor their approach. With the retirement of Calle Johansson and the free agency of Ken Klee, the Caps' rearguards after Sergei Gonchar and Brendan Witt are a collection of also-rans and unprovens, the best of which is Steve Eminger of the OHL's Kitchener Rangers Memorial Cup team. While these youngsters settle in and gain experience, the Caps forwards need to lend disciplined support on the backcheck and in their defensive zone coverage.

Or maybe this is the perfect setup for Jaromir Jagr and company. With such an inexperienced blueline, the Caps might have to resort to thinking offense all the time. That at least would free up second-year coach Bruce Cassidy from having to go through the futility of presenting a team concept once again for Jagr to "buy into."

Either way, there will be no easing into this season for goaltender Olaf Kolzig. Given the makeup of this edition of the Capitals, Kolzig needs to be sharp immediately.

Darren Eliot, a former NHL goaltender, is a hockey analyst for SI.com.