The NHL community has learned of three big transactions since my last power rankings:
Rick Nash is a New York Ranger. Alexander Semin is a Carolina Hurricane. Shea Weber will remain with the Nashville Predators. The Blueshirts did not blow up their young core to get Nash.
Obviously Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and Tim Erixon are good players and everyone likes having first-round draft picks, but Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonough, Michael Del Zotto and Co. remain in Manhattan.
Columbus probably got the short end of the stick here, but, hey, the guy had to go and they weren’t going anywhere anyway. This organization is years away from doing anything special.
To be frank, having a Jackets sweater hanging in Vince Vaughn’s pimped-out Ohio sports basement in The Watch was probably the most exposure this team has gotten since its inception.
The Semin-to-Canes deal is also pretty huge.
Carolina was a bit of an afterthought last season, but decided to keep the core together and improved their team by adding Jordan Staal and now bringing Semin aboard.
I’m digging this team right now.
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Article written by Tom Schreier
NHL Power Rankings: Preseason Rankings Updated with Nash, Semin, Weber Deals
July 30th, 2012 by Tom Schreier Leave a reply »
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