A Red View of the NHL

The NHL season is nearly upon us, and there is a multitude of Cornellians in the league, including commissioner Gary Bettman '74. Here is a preview of some teams with a Cornell connection.

Atlantic Division:

New Jersey Devils: Congrats, you won your third Stanley Cup in nine years. It's too bad no one was there to see it, as the Devils have the eighth lowest attendance in the league. Maybe it's because New Jersey fans are apathetic or don't care for hockey. Or maybe it's because the Devils employ the mind-numbingly boring trap system.

Cornell Connection: Joe Nieuwendyk '88 was a member of last year's Cup winning team.

New York Rangers: For once, the Rangers didn't break the bank with free agent signings over the summer. They did, however, commit the heinous act of drafting Dartmouth sophomore Hugh Jessiman with the 12th overall pick. With a roster full of over-the-hill all-stars, maybe the Blueshirts will finally make the playoffs. Maybe.

Cornell Connection: The Rangers drafted Cornell rival Jessiman and recently signed former Harvard captain Dominic Moore.

Pittsburgh Penguins: They should just rename the team "Mario Lemieux and the Random Scrubs." Seriously, can you name another player on the Penguins? The team dumped most of its payroll and traded away its starting goalie. It also traded up in the draft to grab goalie prospect Marc-Andre Fleury at No. 1, who would probably have been available at No. 3.

Cornell Connection: Kent Manderville '93 is a member of the Penguins.

Northeast Division:

Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs have the youngest GM in the league in 36-year old John Ferguson Jr. and recently signed Nieuwendyk. After not waiting three hours in line to see the Stanley Cup this summer, I'm rooting for the Leafs so that Joe will bring the Cup back to Ithaca and maybe the line will be shorter.

Cornell connection: Ken Dryden '69 is the vice chairman of the Leafs.

Southeast Division:

Atlanta Thrashers: The Thrashers are one of the youngest and most talented teams in the league with stars like All-Star Game MVP Dany Heatley. Hopefully for him, he'll avoid the Madden Curse as he is on the cover of EASports' NHL 2004.

Cornell Connection: Stephen Baby '03 plays in the Thrashers' minor league system.

THE REST OF THIS COLUMN WAS DELETED ON THE SUN WEBSITE, SO I BRING YOU THE UNEDITED VERSION IN ALL ITS GLORY:

Central Division:

Detroit Red Wings: After an embarrassing first-round sweep at the hands of the Ducks in last year’s playoffs, the Red Wings hope to bring another Cup back to the Motor City. With the unretirement of Dominic Hasek, the team now has two tenders under contract at $8 million each, along with the league’s best backup, Manny Legace.

Northwest Division:

Colorado Avalanche: With the arrival of Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, the Avs’ offense is nothing short of ridiculous. However, the big question mark remains in goal, with the retirement of goalie legend Patrick Roy. Can David Aebsicher backstop this team to a Cup? I don’t think so.

Minnesota Wild: It was a good year for the “State of Hockey.” The Wild advanced to the Western Conference finals and the Golden Gophers won its second straight national title. With the Wild’s top two scorers still unsigned, the team is in for a rough start. The Gophers meanwhile are poised to make a run at another national title.

Pacific Division:

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: When the Ducks made the playoffs last season, one fan told his girlfriend that they would get married if the Ducks won the Cup. After Game 7 of the Finals, he proposed anyway. Geez buddy, you were given an out and you didn’t take it!

Dallas Stars: The Stars’ blueline took a big hit with the loss of captain Derian Hatcher, who signed with Detroit. The team does have one of the best goalies in the league in Marty Turco, who now has some postseason experience under his belt. After falling to the Ducks in the playoffs, the Stars are definitely out for revenge.

Phoenix Coyotes: The Coyotes have new uniforms, a new arena, and a new goalie signed in David LeNeveu ’05. Unfortunately, the team doesn’t have much else.

Picks: Daily Sun hockey guru Mike Pandolfini predicted last year that Minnesota and Anaheim would make the playoffs. In light of making my own picks, I have consulted him.

“I don't really know anything about hockey anymore, but I'm going to say that the Rangers will not win the Stanley Cup this year. In addition, I’ll say the Islanders will also not win the Stanley Cup. I’ll go as far as to say that the Devils might win the Stanley Cup along with teams such as Detroit, the Ducks, and the Stars.”

Thanks Mike, as always, for your insight.

As everyone heads home for Fall Break next weekend, I’ll be looking forward to watching the Rangers’ season opener next Friday. Oh wait, my mom decided to get the YES Network over MSG. Thanks, Mom.