Detroit Red Wings
The Wings have about $450 000 in cap space currently, but have a couple of players on injury reserve. Chris Chelios and Darren McCarty are hurt and if they are going to be on the roster, Detroit’s management will have to make a move. Detroit also likes to add veteran pieces at the deadline and that will tough with there current cap situation. Detroit was forced to put a couple of good young players in the minors and I think they will want them to be with the big club sooner rather then later. The Red Wings have a few moveable pieces, they could make a trade and get some room. Kyle Quincey is the 8th defenseman on the team and is out of options and might be traded for a pick when Chelios is ready to come back. Detroit is also deep in the forward lines and could trade pending free agents like Mikael Samuelsson or Thomas Kopecky to create room for younger players. The Wings are the best team on paper this year, but they aren’t immune to cap problems. If they stay healthy look for them to make a move relatively early in the year.

Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers are a great team, but they are flirting with the cap. They have less then $200 000 in room and have a lot of money committed to forwards. They have almost $30 million committed to there top six forwards and have some good young talent almost ready to come up. Top prospects like Claude Giroux could come up and contribute with the team. I think they will look to move one of there top six forwards and the easiest one to move will be Mike Knuble. Knuble is a free agent at years end and makes $2.8 million this season. The Flyers are also currently carrying three goaltenders and might look to move either Nittymaki or Aubin to a team that needs a solid NHL goalie.

New York Rangers
The Rangers might be in the worst shape overall, with 6 contracts that are more then $4 million annually. The thing about the Rangers is that they have a lot of players locked up long term and there is no obvious player they could trade to get some space. The Rangers have been rumored to want Mats Sundin and Brendan Shanahan and they won’t be able to get them without moving one of there big contracts. Beyond the big names this team isn’t overly deep and might find it hard to move money. They do have guys like Petr Prucha who is a restricted free agent next year and other teams would want him. The bottom end of there roster is filled with guys who will be restricted or unrestricted at years end. In the long run I think they will eventually have to trade some of there high price talent, but that will probably happen in the off season. For now they could move Paul Mara ($1.95 million) or Aaron Voros ($1 million). New York’s real problem will be next year when a lot of there players are free agents.

Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix is in great shape, with more then $9 million in room. Phoenix has a great young team and are looking to make the playoffs this season. In my opinion the Coyotes management will be ready to take advantage of some teams who will be looking for cap relief. Phoenix might be able to make some one sided deals to improve there team and help them make the playoffs and sell some tickets. They might be able to add some expiring contracts of good veterans to improve there team and help the young players progress in there careers.  If great players like Sundin, Shanahan and Forsberg want to return, Phoenix might be able to take a real shot at them if they truly want to make a run this year.

Vancouver Canucks
Much like the Coyotes, the Canucks are in great shape cap wise and ready to take advantage. The Canucks have been looking for offense all off season and you can be guaranteed that if solid offensive players become available they will be involved. They have some guys who will be free agents at years end, so they won’t be looking to take on long term contracts. They have already made a pitch for Sundin and if they can get a guy like Prucha from the Rangers or Samuelsson for the Wings I am sure they will jump at the chance.

We have already seen some movement early this year, with the Schneider trade and players like McLaren, Schaefer and Khabibulin being put on waivers. If Forsberg, Sundin and Shanahan return some teams will be forced to scramble to find the cap room. I think we will see a lot of moment early this year and teams with cap room will be able to make excellent trades to improve there teams. Good teams like Vancouver, Phoenix, Columbus and Dallas could make moves and take the next steps with there franchises. It should be interesting to watch and I look forward to see which teams will be the most creative and improve there teams.

Mats Sundin - Mats has been the story all off season, no one knows what he is thinking. Mats got plenty of offers to play this year, but hasn’t been able to decide whether or not he wants to play. He got contract offers from a lot of teams, including a massive 2 year $20 million offer from Vancouver. My thoughts are that Sundin is torn he wants to play in Toronto, but he also wants to play for a contender which Toronto is not. Mats is a 17 year NHL veteran, playing in 1305 games and recording 1321 points. He played the last 13 years in Toronto, he was there team captain and became possibly the best player to ever wear the blue and white. The question with Sundin is not whether he can play, its whether he wants to play. Last season Mats recorded 32 goals and 78 points in Toronto, and would be a welcomed addition to most teams in the league. The thought is that if Sundin comes back he will want to play for a chance to win the Stanley Cup. Early in the off season there were rumors of him going to Montreal, New York or Detroit. All those teams now don’t have cap space and would have to make a move to be able to afford the big center. I honestly don’t have a feeling about what Mats might do, all I know is that he will take his time and make a decision that will best fit him. Mats is a great player and if he wants to play he will get his chance, but I think he might retire.

Brendan Shanahan - Shanahan is a future Hall of Fame player and he has no where to play right now. All off season it was thought that he would return to the Rangers, but when they only offered him a tryout he moved on. Brendan is a 21 year NHL vet and has played in more then 1400 career games. He has 650 career goals and has scored more then 50 in a season twice. Brendan was a pure sniper throughout his career, he may not score 50 anymore, but he could easily put up 25 goals in today’s game. He has been a playoff performer over the years with 131 playoff points and three Stanley Cups in Detroit. I think Shanahan would be perfect for a young team that is on the cusp of winning. He could provide great leadership and add some offensive depth to most teams. If Brendan is willing to take less money I am sure he will play this year. No doubt he wanted to play in New York, but I think he would be better suited for Phoenix, Washington or Chicago. He can still play and I hope we all get the chance to see him play again.

Peter Forsberg - This seems to be a topic of conversation every year, but Forsberg still hasn’t retired. Injuries have always been his problem, but when he is healthy he can still be one of the best players in the league. He hasn’t played more then 70 games in a year since 2002-2003 and know one really knows how healthy he is now. He came back late last year and played 16 games (regular and playoffs) with Colorado and recorded 19 points. Signing Forsberg would be a big risk for any team, but he has proven when healthy he can still be a point a game player or better in this league. I don’t really see Forsberg coming back any time soon, if he comes back I think it will be in the new year and for the Avalanche. This will be a risk reward signing if some takes a chance on him and a franchise will have to see if he is worth the cap hit. Forsberg is a future Hall of Famer and if he comes back I hope he is healthy and back to the Forsberg of old.

Forsberg, Shanahan and Sundin might all be in the Hall of Fame some day and they are free agents. They will get more and more pressure to sign as the year goes on and teams will look for veterans to help lead a team on a Cup run. Other big names vets like Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka have chosen to sign in Russia and play for more money then they would get in the NHL. A veteran player can be the difference in a run for the Stanley Cup, a vet who has been there can have a calming influence on teams. Some of the older guys have found jobs, but usually for small contracts. Chris Chelios, Jeremy Roenick, Gary Roberts and Rob Blake all found good fits and hope they will be able to retire in there own terms. As you get toward your 40’s NHL players have new choices to make. For these guys its not about money, its about being in a spot where they are comfortable and have a chance to win.

The Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup is awarded to the champion of the NHL, Lord Stanley’s Cup is obviously the most important award the National Hockey League hands out.

The Hart Trophy

The Hart is the NHL’s version of the Most Valuable Player in the league. A little different then most professional sports leagues the award is for the player who is most valuable to his team. The original trophy was donated to the league in 1923, and can be found in Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Wayne Gretzky won eight straight Hart’s between 1980 – 1987, Sydney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin won it the last two years respectively.

The Vezina Trophy

This is the goalie trophy, handed out to the net minder who has been the best that season. The trophy is a memorial to great Canadians goalie George Vezina and has been awarded annually since 1927. Martin Brodeur has won the award four of the last five seasons and the great Patrick Roy won the trophy three times.

The Calder Trophy

The NHL’s best rookie is awarded the Calder Trophy at years end. The trophy is named after Frank Calder, a former president of the National Hockey League. A lot of NHL greats have won this award and over history a lot of Hall of Famers win the Calder in there first season. NHL greats Terry Sawchuk, Bobby Orr, Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux and Peter Forsberg have all won the trophy. Last year Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane won the Calder.

The Jack Adams Trophy

The coach judged to be the best that season wins the Jack Adams award. Jack Adams the man was a coach and manager in the Red Wings organization and the trophy was donated by NHL broadcasters. A lot of great coaches have won this award including Don Cherry, Scotty Bowman and Pat Burns. Last year there was a surprise winner when Washington Capitols head coach Bruce Boudreau took home the award.

The Norris Trophy

Named for the late owner and president of the Detroit Red Wings James Norris. The award is handed out annually to the leagues top defenceman. In recent history the award had been dominated by future Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom who has won the award an amazing six of the last seven years. Bobby Orr won the trophy a record eight times and Ray Bourque won it five times.

The Art Ross Trophy

This trophy is not voted on, it is given to the player who records the most points in the season. Art Ross a manger with the Boston Bruins donated the trophy in 1947. Guy Lafleur won the award three straight years in the 1970’s, Wayne Gretzky won the award an amazing ten times and Jaromir Jagr won it five times. Along with the Hart Alex Ovechkin won the Art Ross last season.

The Selke Trophy

The best defensive forward in the NHL is awarded the Selke Trophy. The award is in honor of Frank Selke who managed great NHL championship teams. The first four times the trophy was handed out it was won by Montreal Canadiens great Bob Gainey who was an excellent defensive forward. In recent years the award has been won by players like Steve Yzerman in 2000, Michael Peca in 2002 and Pavel Datsyuk last season.

Lester B. Pearson Trophy

The trophy is named after former Prime Minister of Canada Lester B. Pearson, and has awarded since 1971. This is a special award to a lot of players because it is voted by the players themselves. The players vote who they think the most valuable player of the league is. Last year it was won by Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby won in 2007. Dominik Hasek won the award in back to back years in 1997 – 1998 and Phil Esposito won the first award in 1971.

There are plenty more awards the NHL hands out, Maurice Richard Trophy (top goal scorer), Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP), Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship), Masterton Memorial Trophy (dedication to hockey) and the Jennings Trophy (fewest goals against average).

Teams can also receive awards like the Presidents’ Trophy (top regular season team), Clarence Campbell Bowl (western conference winners) and the Prince of Wales Trophy (eastern conference champions).

You can find all these trophies displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The National Hockey league does a great job honoring its players. The league celebrates its past and respects all the people who were involved in the game. These trophies are ingrained in the game and young players dream of winning some of these awards. Most of these awards have a lot of history some of which have been around since the 1920’s. To win an award and look at the engraved names and see NHL icons and your idols alike. The National Hockey League treats its players like true celebrities on award night which is truly unique to the league. To be a true hockey fan you need to respect the past, because without the greats of this game there would be no game. If you have a chance check out the Hockey Hall of Fame, you will find this game is full of great stories and emotions and you will not be disappointed.