Pre-Season Team Report Card: Boomers (Paul)

Calgary (CP) Only 4 more left and Paul's Boomers are up next.

Immediate Needs:
+ 5 F projected for 85+ PPts
+ 3 D projected for 55+ PPts

What They Got:
+ F Saku Koivu MTL
+ F Alexei Kovalev MTL
+ F Jason Pominville BUF
+ F Michael Ryder MTL
+ F Viktor Kozlov WAS
+ D Michael Rozsival NYR
+ D Christian Erhoff SJS

Analysis:
The Boomers remind me a lot of the GDC Bruins: Not much superstar power but strong throughout with a reliance on one team. One major difference though is that Paul is not afraid to roll the dice and put his young players into a starting role as opposed to a back-up position. Penner, Backstrom and Price are prime examples of this. The Habs will play a huge role in the success of the Boomers and I know that he's hoping that their excellent PP will not be affected too much by the departure of Souray. With Markov though, there shouldn't be too much of a drop off as they have one of the best units in the league.

Trading Block:
+ D Sergei Zubov DAL
+ F Patrik Elias NJD
+ G Cristobal Huet MTL

Questions:
+ Who will be the starting goalie for the Habs?
+ Can Boucher continue his development into a top-end defencemen?
+ How good with the Habs PP be without Souray?

Injury Concerns:
+ F Gaborik (Various)
+ F Demitra (Various)
+ F Ruutu (Back, Shoulder)
+ F Ryder (Shoulder)

Grades:
+ Draft (B-): A mixture of good picks and others that probably could have dropped many rounds (e.g. Price)
+ Offence (C+): Not the most intimidating line-up on paper, but the whole group is capable of putting up points in bunches. Injury concerns are what downgrades this rating.
+ Defence (B-): An elite-level defencemen and two that have shown signs of dominance at times will anchor this ship. Nice acquisitions of Erhoff and Suter allow for trading flexibility in the future.
+ Goalies (B-): Although there is a question mark with Huet, I believe he will be the starter. The emergence of Backstrom made way for the departure of Turco and will be a great fantasy player.
+ Overall (B-): Paul is not far from joining the elite group as well. With a couple of moves to bring in some insurance on the forwards and no major injuries to Gaborik, the Boomers should challenge for 3rd.

Fur Engee (CP)