Severed Heads - Offseason Review (actual)

The Severed Heads

L: Heatley-Ott FP, Huselius-Cgy RFA, Parise-NJ P3

Rating: 3.5

Heatley just had his first 50-50 season, but until the 4th qtr was on pace for close to 60-60. Huselius is a skill winger with little defensive game, and has yet to put a full season together warranting fulltime status as a #2. Parise has arrived in Jersey and is already developing chemistry with Gionta. A strong start followd by consistent play will get him promoted.

C: Spezza-Ott RFA, Schremp-Edm P2, Bourque-Wsh P2

Rating: 3.5

Spezza gives the team a legit 100pt centreman to compete with the FP pivots common throughout the league. Schremp will be a lock to make the Oilers this year, and has the shoot-first offensive game of Jimmy Carson, but will be a consideration for promotion only if he supplants Horcoff as the obvious top pivot. Bourque didn't develop as much as hoped in his post draft year, but after getting his head on straight at the AHL level showed flashes of dominance towards the end of the season. Still another year away.

R: Jagr-NYR FP, Ruutu-Chi P4, Grigorenko-Det P3, Horton-Fla P3

Rating: 4.5

Over 50 goals and over 120 pts, so Jagr is probably a lock for top spot. Ruutu had another injury plagued season to overcome, but was last seen making big time moves for Finland at the WC. Hopes are high he fixes his position on the top line in Chicago and makes a healthy run. Last time he was injury free he had 46 in 42 games. Very solid 2nd line numbers if they project out.
Grigorenko has all but run out of time to prove he has the goods to play. Lots of space on the Detroit roster for him, but without any signs of life over the last three years that he can be scoring winger, the opportunity may have come to late to save his contract from being dumped. Horton continues down the Tocchet path of power forward development, and flirted with 30 goals last season. A moderate step up would seen him go 35-35 - which puts him solidly in 2nd line territory.

D: Briseboise-Col RFA, Sopel-LA RFA, Tanabe-? RFA, Hatcher-Pha RFA, Jackman-StL P4, Eminger-Wsh P2

Rating: 2.5

Breeze-by is a marginal top 4 defenseman, because of his streakiness. Blake's departure may help nose his numbers back up. Sopel's move to LA showed temporary improvements in his numbers, but he won't be getting the pp time he did on the Island. Tanabe has yet to land a team, and at the age of 26 the wait for his offensive game to come together seems to have peaked. Hatcher won't be matched. Jackman will get the default job of TG and should play in the teams top 4 comfortably in that role. Eminger is the up and comer the team hopes can be groomed for the powerplay, and with #8 calibre numbers last season its even hoped he might dress.

G: None

Rating: Zero

Overall: 14