Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Why Your Favorite NHL Team Rocks: Philadelphia To San Jose
Philadelphia Flyers
Your team is definitely on the right path after jettisoning the worst of their contracts. The Flyers got a third round pick for Zac Rinaldo, who one could easily argue is the worst player in the NHL. The rebuild under Ron Hextall won’t be quick but he’s going to do it the right way. The Flyers have a tremendous trio of Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds that should make things better for Flyers fans. Steve Mason is a dark horse Vezina candidate if he can stay healthy. Even if he doesn’t, Michal Neuvirth is a nice backup goalie.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins fans should be EXTREMELY excited about the potential of the Pens in 2015-2016. Not only do they have two of the top five centers in the world in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, now one of those two (probably Malkin) has an elite goal scoring wing in Phil Kessel. Kessel was a consistent 30 goal scorer even when his main center was Tyler Bozak. Graduating from Bozak to Crosby or Malkin makes Kessel a serious Rocket Richard candidate. If the Penguins are healthy, they are the best team in the NHL, in my opinion. Eric Fehr is vastly underrated as a bottom six forward and would most likely hold his own if he had to be a top six forward. Kris Letang is (hopefully) healthy.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are done with their questionable one year rebuild and are back to trying their best to win a Stanley Cup with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Brent Burns, Paul Martin, Logan Couture and Game Seven legend Joel Ward will assist Thornton and Marleau on their valiant quest. The Sharks pulled a pretty epic troll job by trading for former rival Martin Jones. A first round pick is steep, but I really like Jones. If nothing else, the Sharks teal jerseys are gorgeous.
Next: St. Louis Through Toronto