Summer Skate: Key players to watch

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The summer is getting hot … icy hot, that is. Using the newly debuted projection system of Puck Prospectus, VUKOTA, Insider takes the temperature of players on every NHL team. In addition to this hockey heat index, E.J. Hradek supplies a name hardcore fans need to know in anticipation of training camps.

Starting with the Atlantic Division, we'll add a new team every day. Check back often; we're just getting warmed up.

Atlantic Division

SUMMER SKATE

	Team		Summer Sizzle
	Pittsburgh Penguins	Roster | Stats	The Pens inked a smart-looking free agent, but a Stanley Cup hero could struggle.
	Philadelphia Flyers	Roster | Stats	A pair of rookies could temper the decline of a long-time Philly star.
	New York Rangers	Roster | Stats	The Rangers again spent big on a downward-trending star, putting the pressure on a young duo.
	New Jersey Devils	Roster | Stats	The Devils' sole addition of note in the offseason has been the return of Jacques Lemaire to the bench.
	New York Islanders	Roster | Stats	Even with the draft and signing of John Tavares, the New York Islanders are a long, long way from relevance.

Southeast Division

SUMMER SKATE

	Team		Summer Sizzle
	Florida Panthers	Roster | Stats	Panthers pin hopes to young forwards, but one may have already peaked.
	Atlanta Thrashers	Roster | Stats	Kovalchuk may finally get the help he needs.
	Washington Capitals	Roster | Stats	Unless the Capitals' young defenders mature quickly, the team could spin its wheels.
	Tampa Bay Lightning	Roster | Stats	A nightmare season has led to new hope -- starting with a rookie defenseman.
	Carolina Hurricanes	Roster | Stats	A return to the later rounds of the playoffs will be made more difficult if a linchpin player takes a significant step back in 2009-10.

Northeast Division

SUMMER SKATE

	Team		Summer Sizzle
	Boston Bruins	Roster | Stats	The Bruins are backed by one rising -- and one falling -- elite goaltender.
	Toronto Maple Leafs	Roster | Stats	Toronto has loaded up with big skaters, but it is a big goalie who holds they key to any improvement.
	Ottawa Senators	Roster | Stats	The Senators might be solid in the net, but they should have concerns about a star that is starting to slip.
	Buffalo Sabres	Roster | Stats	Ryan Miller's return may not save Sabres, but Chara-like prospect could help.
	Montreal Canadiens	Roster | Stats	The Canadiens have plenty of new faces, but it's up to Carey Price to ease their adjustment period.

Central Division

SUMMER SKATE

	Team		Summer Sizzle
	Detroit Red Wings	Roster | Stats	The Red Wings didn't make many moves, but are still loaded.
	St. Louis Blues	Roster | Stats	The return of defenseman Erik Johnson's will aid the Blues' youth movement.
	Chicago Blackhawks	Roster | Stats	The Blackhawks might not get all they hoped for out of signing Marian Hossa.
	Columbus Blue Jackets	Roster | Stats	The Blue Jackets are on the rise, especially with the return of Derick Brassard.
	Nashville Predators	Roster | Stats	Their young D continues to improve, but the Predators are still starving for goals.

Northwest Division

SUMMER SKATE

	Team		Summer Sizzle
	Edmonton Oilers	Roster | Stats	Pivotal year ahead for Dustin Penner.
	Calgary Flames	Roster | Stats	The Flames aim to ride an elite defensive duo to make it past the first round for only the second time in the last 20 years.
	Vancouver Canucks	Roster | Stats	After resigning Daniel and Henrik Sedin, the Canucks essentially stood pat, but that may not be enough in Vancouver.
	Minnesota Wild	Roster | Stats	A pair of young forwards should get a chance to break free under a new offensive system in Minnesota.
	Colorado Avalanche	Roster | Stats	The Avalanche are in full rebuilding mode, with maybe the lowest expectations of any team in the NHL.

Pacific Division

SUMMER SKATE

	Team		Summer Sizzle
	Los Angeles Kings	Roster | Stats	Anze Kopitar is ready to turn things around in Los Angeles.
	Dallas Stars	Roster | Stats	The Stars' talented wingers will have to compensate for a shaky Marty Turco.
	Phoenix Coyotes	Roster | Stats	After working on his frame in the offseason, this could be top prospect Kyle Turris' time to shine
	Anaheim Ducks	Roster | Stats	Big offseason moves as the Ducks poised to challenge again in the Pacific.
	San Jose Sharks	Roster | Stats	As the division got tougher, the Sharks stood pat. Will it be enough to overcome another disappointment?

Note: A mainstay of Puck Prospectus' metrics is "Goals Versus Threshold" (GVT). The stat blends an array of offensive and defensive figures to measure the value, in terms of goals, a player contributes above what a marginal player would over the course of the season. A marginal player is one that could be replaced with a player of equivalent skill, e.g., from the minors. For instance, Evgeni Malkin had an offensive GVT of +18.9, a defensive GVT of plus-4.5 and a total GVT of plus-23.4 for the 2008-9 regular season, meaning that Malkin was worth 23.4 goals more than a marginal player over the course of the season, or worth about 0.3 additional goals per game. In the team context, GVT refers to performance above an NHL average team. For the regular season, the Detroit Red Wings had a plus-30.8 offensive GVT, a plus-15.1 defensive GVT and a minus-21.5 goaltending GVT for a plus-24.4 total GVT. Therefore, at even strength, Detroit was 24.4 goals better than the average team.

VUKOTA: Keeping readers one step ahead of the competition, Puck Prospectus has developed a tool called VUKOTA.

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