Fans, media, opposing players and coaches don't need directions when it comes to looking at some of the big-name players in the NHL.

 

So, it isn't the least bit surprising that Chris Pronger will be under scrutiny in Anaheim, or that Jason Arnott, Joe Thornton, the Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton Oilers -- the list goes on -- will be under the microscope in their respective new digs.

 

And there are plenty of other compelling stories around North American rinks as the 2006-07 season dawns.

 

Here is NHL.com's list of "Ones to Watch" in the Eastern Conference this season.

 

***

 

Atlanta Thrashers: Braydon Coburn -- The wait might finally be over for the arrival of Coburn in Atlanta. The big, punishing defender was identified as a franchise cornerstone when he was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2003 draft. Last season, he enjoyed a nine-game cup of coffee with the parent club before being sent to the minors in late October for further seasoning. In almost a full year of play with Chicago (AHL), Coburn proved he is ready for prime time by garnering 26 points, 136 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating for the Wolves. The 6-foot-5 bruiser also has shown well so far in training camp, further suggesting that he will play an important role as the Thrashers chase their first playoff berth.

 

Boston Bruins: Brad Boyes -- It's hard to believe that at just 24, Boyes will be the oldest member of the Bruins' top line to open the season, but it appears that will be the case as coach Dave Lewis is leaning toward replacing veteran Marco Sturm with freshman winger Phil Kessel, 19, on the left wing with Patrice Bergeron, 21, centering the top line. In his own rookie season in 2005-06, Boyes managed 26 points and 43 assists and a plus-11 rating while appearing in all 82 games. Boyes is not afraid to shoot, he took 203 shots last season to rank a distant second behind Bergeron's 310, and must make things happen when he pulls the trigger to do his part in making this fast, creative trio work.

 

Buffalo Sabres: Nathan Paetsch -- This young defenseman earned some early press by being forced into action for an emergency one-game stint in Buffalo's playoff run last year. With the Buffalo blue line decimated by injury, Paetsch was summoned to unexpectedly play in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final against Carolina. After an MVP season with Rochester in the AHL, Paetsch proved up to the task. He has continued to impress in training camp and has likely earned a place among the Sabres seven defensemen to start the season. An offensive-minded rearguard who can also use his 6-foot, 200-pound frame when called upon, Paetsch had 50 points and a plus-3 rating with the Amerks last year, his third minor-league campaign after a solid four-year stint with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League.

 

Carolina Hurricanes: Anton Babchuk -- With Frantisek Kaberle on the shelf due to injury to start the season, the 22-year-old Babchuk will be handed another opportunity to stake a claim to full-time duty. Despite being just 22, Babchuk has been on the fringes of the NHL since the 2003-04 season, when he was still property of the Chicago Blackhawks. Last season, he got in 22 games with Carolina after being traded from Chicago in Januray. He could not, however, break the Hurricanes top-seven rotation in the playoffs and was relegated to the press box to watch and learn. Those postseason lessons should come in handy this time around for Babchuk, who will be asked to deliver on the offensive potential that has been his calling card since being selected in the first round of the 2002 draft.

 

Florida Panthers: Rostislav Olesz -- The second-year left wing will be asked to improve greatly on his 21-point rookie performance. Judging by his form in the preseason, that is a distinct possibility. A first-round selection in 2004, Olesz has the size (6-foot-1, 207 pounds) and skills to be a dominant point producer for the Panthers, joining a litany of other NHL sophomores that could have serious impacts on the League this year. He should find plenty of offensive room to ply his trade if, as has been rumored, he skates with veteran center Joe Nieuwendyk and power forward Todd Bertuzzi.

 

Montreal Canadiens: Guillaume Latendresse -- A bruising winger, Latendresse has turned more than a few heads this season and is poised to break camp with the parent club as a 19-year-old after a dominating early preseason performance. Used extensively in the team's first five games, Latendresse chipped in with a team-high three goals, playing a bullish style that has already made him a fan favorite among the hard-to-please Montreal fans. He had 43 goals last year with Drummondville in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, his destination again this year if he fails to stick with Montreal after the final cuts.

 

New Jersey Devils: John Oduya -- A puck-moving defenseman who has honed his game in Europe, Oduya should make the Devils out of camp, finding a home on the team's suddenly suspect blue line. Oduya plays a very similar game to Devil stalwart Brian Rafalaski, turning in solid, if unspectacular, play in his own zone while keying the transition game with a combination of smart outlet passes and well-timed rushes. He also brings an unexpected amount of bite to his game, using his solid, 6-foot, 200-pound frame to make his presence felt when necessary.

 

New York Islanders: Rick DiPietro -- The goalie will have the eyes of the hockey world upon him all season after signing his headline-making 15-year deal just before the start of training camp. Certainly that will provide added pressure on the 25-year-old goalie. But DiPietro, a former No. 1 overall pick, is entering the prime of his career with two full seasons of NHL play under his belt. He will, however, have to perform better than he did in posting a respectable 30-24-5 record last year with a pedestrian 3.02 goals-against average and .900 save percentage. By anointing him an Islander for life, the franchise has targeted him as the team's cornerstone. He must deliver on that promise beginning this season.

 

New York Rangers: Darius Kasparaitis -- Coming off shoulder and groin surgeries, the hard-hitting Lithuanian defenseman had a troublesome preseason, looking unsure of himself and, at times, timid. Obviously, Kasparaitis cannot play in that manner if he hopes to have an impact. He must be 100-percent confident that his body can handle the demands placed upon it by his tenacious, intimidating style of play. If he does not return to that form quickly, the Ranger blue line will look far less impressive in the early going -- even with the addition of rugged Aaron Ward and the emergence of a more physical Fedor Tyutin.

 

Ottawa Senators: Andrej Meszaros -- The departure of franchise defenseman Zdeno Chara to Boston thru free agency has suddenly ramped up the expectations placed on Meszaros in just his second season. How the 21-year-old Slovakian handles his portion of Chara's minutes and responsibilities will go a long way toward determining the fate of the Senators this year. Judging by last year, the Sens should be OK. All Meszaros did as a rookie was earn a spot on the NHL's 2005-06 All-Rookie Team, average 18:10 in ice time per game, and tie for third place among all players in plus/minus (+34). He also scored 39 points.

 

Philadelphia Flyers: Derian Hatcher -- The big, veteran defenseman was mad by the time the Flyers were ushered out of the playoffs at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres in the first round last year. And he should have been. He played well below his standards and was his commitment was questioned by the team's rabid fans. This year, Hatcher says he is recommitted and showed up to camp 10 pounds lighter. He insists the new NHL, with its emphasis on skating and a lack of obstruction, has not passed him by. He is eager to prove that this year for a Flyer team that enters the season with as many questions as it has had in recent memory. If Hatcher can bring his trademark snarl, along with a more complete game in his own end, back to the forefront, the Flyers should have little to worry about on the blue line as Hatcher still has the ability to be a top-tier defender.

 

Pittsburgh Penguins: Evgeni Malkin -- This selection was a no-brainer, but the most talked-about rookie in this year's freshman class bears even more scrutiny after badly injuring his shoulder in his first preseason appearance with the Penguins. It will be interesting to see how fast, and how effectively, the uber-talented Russian forward comes back from the dislocation, which did not require surgery. Despite never having played in a NHL game, Malkin is being counted on heavily to help the Penguins climb out of the Atlantic Division basement. He will have to be at his advertised prime upon his return if that renaissance is to begin in full this winter.

 

Tampa Bay Lightning: Martin St. Louis -- For the past couple seasons, St. Louis has been one to watch because of his unexpected and stunning offensive production. But last season, St. Louis struggled in a more wide-open NHL seemingly ideally suited to his slash-and-attack game. St. Louis had 61 points last year, good for fourth on the team, but far below the 94-point season he put together the previous NHL season when the Lightning won the Stanley Cup. For Tampa Bay to again be a contender for the NHL championship again this year, St. Louis will have return to his rightful place among the League's most dynamic point producers.

 

Toronto Maple Leafs: Michael Peca -- An elite two-way center, Peca's contributions rarely show up on the score sheet at the end of any given game. He is counted on to do all the little things that help a team win -- check the opposition's top center, kill penalties, win key draws and play impeccable own-zone defense. This season, Peca will again be asked to do all of those important chores, but he will also need to contribute more regularly on the offensive end, a facet of his game that was missing last regular season with the Edmonton Oilers. If Peca can play the 2006-07 regular season as effectively as he navigated the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs -- six goals, five assists, a plus-5 rating in 24 games -- in helping propel the Oilers to within one win of the Stanley Cup, he will be considered one of the best free-agent investments made by any team this summer.

 

Washington Capitals: Chris Clark -- Named the Washington Capitals' new captain this year, Clark is one of the most unknown leaders in the NHL. The 30-year-old right wing joined Washington last year after three solid, if unspectacular, seasons with the Calgary Flames. In his first season in Washington, Clark doubled his previous best goal output and added a career-high 19 assists to finish with a personal-best 39 points. But now, Clark will no longer anonymously sneak up on people and will be more of a focal point -- although not nearly as much as super sophomore Alexander Ovechkin -- when teams game plan for the Capitals. How Clark handles those extra expectations and the added responsibility of his leadership duties will help shape how successful the hockey season will be in that nation's capital.

 

source

Olesz will near the 20 goal 45 point mark this year in the very least. Book it.

I can't help but think that if there were more American names in hockey, I would be more interested. It's hard to initially become involved in the sport if you can't even properly remember most of the names.

I can't help but think that if there were more American names in hockey, I would be more interested. It's hard to initially become involved in the sport if you can't even properly remember most of the names.

 

names are no different then cabrera or sanchez or pujols to me

 

America is about folks with names that often are strange at first because of different languages.

 

 

good read for an article, if I was in a Hockey fantasy league I would definitely use some of this info

 

I just never seen one of those on MB.com

I can't help but think that if there were more American names in hockey, I would be more interested. It's hard to initially become involved in the sport if you can't even properly remember most of the names.

Please, baseball for one thing. The definition of American names is a melting pot of names around the world. That's pretty ignorant of you to say. Just because someone's name is different, you don't like the sport...right.

Oh how did I KNOW that you were going to bust out the melting pot?

 

Spanish names are much more familiar and common in America than a lot of hockey names (especially from a PERSONAL STANDPOINT, which is what my post represented). Do not try to mince words.

 

And jebus, I said it would be easier to be interested if the names were easier for me to remember. Part of a sport is following it and its players. Hard to initially get interested if the names are so foreign to me. Is that REALLY so RIDICULOUS an IDEA? Get that thru yer regoddamned head

 

I mean seriously folks, reread my post and tell me if there was anything so offensive or negative about my post? You hockey fans are so f***ing protective of your sport. At least I'm interacting with you, jesus.

Responding off topic: I dunno, my heritage is half-Eastern European, so to me, these names are pretty familiar sounding (plus the fact that I can read the slavic alphabet probably helps).

 

Back to topic:

 

How can this not involve Semin? He and Ovechkin could really make the Caps the most fun team to watch in the entire league.

 

Also, Olesz is a virtual lock for 20 goals if he's on the same line as Nieuwendyk

I'm very worried about the Flyers this year.....they added nothing and lost a lot......

Caps are going to be exciting to watch...lookin forward to the season getting underway

 

Just make the playoffs this year and I'll be happy

Caps are going to be exciting to watch...lookin forward to the season getting underway

 

Just make the playoffs this year and I'll be happy

 

Personally, I don't think the Caps will. But I also predicted San Jose to win it all last season so take it with a grain of salt.

Oh how did I KNOW that you were going to bust out the melting pot?

 

Spanish names are much more familiar and common in America than a lot of hockey names (especially from a PERSONAL STANDPOINT, which is what my post represented). Do not try to mince words.

 

And jebus, I said it would be easier to be interested if the names were easier for me to remember. Part of a sport is following it and its players. Hard to initially get interested if the names are so foreign to me. Is that REALLY so RIDICULOUS an IDEA? Get that thru yer regoddamned head

 

I mean seriously folks, reread my post and tell me if there was anything so offensive or negative about my post? You hockey fans are so f***ing protective of your sport. At least I'm interacting with you, jesus.

 

 

I agree with you its easier to remember Scott Gomez and Mike Peca than Guillaume Latendresse or Rostislav Olesz

Caps are going to be exciting to watch...lookin forward to the season getting underway

 

Just make the playoffs this year and I'll be happy

 

Personally, I don't think the Caps will. But I also predicted San Jose to win it all last season so take it with a grain of salt. Caps offense should be exciting to watch but their defense has nothing worth a damn really. If the defense theoretically improved enough, they could make the playoffs. But the Semin-Ovechkin connection could possibly be the NHL's most exciting young duo outside of Heatley-Spezza.

I am just worried about our defense and goalies this year. I think we will score more then we have in recent years.

 

cant wait till friday.

Responding off topic: I dunno, my heritage is half-Eastern European, so to me, these names are pretty familiar sounding (plus the fact that I can read the slavic alphabet probably helps).

 

Back to topic:

 

How can this not involve Semin? He and Ovechkin could really make the Caps the most fun team to watch in the entire league.

 

Also, Olesz is a virtual lock for 20 goals if he's on the same line as Nieuwendyk

 

Responding off topic--THANK YOU, finally someone gets it. Who would have thought Lefty would give his PERSONAL opinion? :lol

I can't wait to see Malkin.