Returning Players:
Returning from last years team are forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Marc Savard, Zach Parise, Henrik Sedin, Ray Whitney, Cory Stillman, Sergei Samsonov, Jiri Hudler, David Krejci; defensemen Zdeno Chara, Joni Pitkanen, Dennis Wideman, Paul Mara, Erik Johnson; and goalies Roberto Luongo and Rick DiPietro
New Faces:
New to the team this year are forwards Maxim Afinogenov, Jordan Staal, Erik Cole, Nigel Dawes, Brooks Laich, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Dave Bolland and Nikita Filatov; defensemen Scott Niedermayer, Marc Staal and Cam Barker; goalie Chris Mason
Keys To Victory:
For the Bear Skins to be successful this season, the following must happen:
1) Veterans Rebound - Before the draft this year, Martin St. Louis was traded to acquire 3 picks (Ray Whitney, Erik Johnson and a 2009 pick). With the unfortunate loss of Erik Johnson for the year due to a freak golf carting accident, the team needs to replace the production from these two key players. Fortunately, the Bear Skins will have a full year from Scott Niedermayer whose production should be better than last season when he played only half a season. Pitkanen's production should also be better since he was traded to Carolina. The loss of St. Louis should be offset if players like Afinogenov, Jordan Staal and Cole rebound after an offyear.
2) Young player improvement - Players such as Parise, Hudler, Dawes, Laich, Marc Staal and Wideman need to improve upon the totals they had last year. Rookies such as Bolland, Barker and Filatov need to stay out of the minors and offer much needed injury relief when the veterans go down with injuries.
3) Health in Goal - For the past two seasons, Dipietro has gone down with injury for the last two months of the season. For the Bear Skins to have a chance at winning it all this year, both #1 goalies must remain healthy.
