Pierre Mcguire's In The Crease

Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov is the NHL's most underappreciated player.... Top priority for the Bruins: Improve the penalty kill, which was 28th in the league last season.... With Wade Redden and Andrej Meszaros gone, Senators coach Craig Hartsburg needs to implement a carefully structured defense to mask his team's lack of depth.... If the Sabres lose any of their top four defensemen—Craig Rivet, Henrik Tallinder, Toni Lydman, Jaroslav Spacek—to injury, they're finished.... New coach Ron Wilson, comfortable in the limelight, is an ideal fit in Toronto.