Wojtek Wolski

The New York Rangers are already making moves before the Feb.

It's no secret that the Rangers have been in major need of some offensive.  The New York Rangers started this offseason needing to resign several key components, obtain a true number one center, and find a puck moving defenseman.

As an Oilers fan, I fondly remember our last playoff appearance in 2005-06, where we went from the eighth seed to the Stanley Cup Finals.

One of the biggest stories during that run was Fernando Pisani, a third liner during the regular season who put away 14 goals in 24 games, almost the same total he had in the regular season, and helped lead the Oilers to within one game of the Stanley Cup.

So who will be that little-known player this year that lights it up? Here are five candidates for the Fernando Pisani Award for the 2011 second season.

Despite the Calgary Flames impressive weekend of back-to-back wins over the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks, they still sit 14th in the Western Conference.

The Flames are the second oldest team in the league this season, behind only the Red Wings, with an average age of 29.7. Mikael Backlund is the only player on an entry level contract, and the only regular under 26.

Adding to their woes is the severe lack of high end prospects. HockeysFuture.com ranks the Flames dead last in the league for quality of prospects.

The New York Rangers are set to be without their leading offensive contributor in forward Brandon Dubinsky who will miss three to four weeks after fracturing his left tibia.  Dubinsky has been the Rangers' top point-getter this season at 38 and leads the team in both goals (17) and assists (21.)

The hardest question in sports is “what if?” The question "what if" is a question which sports journalists love to throw into their articles talking about for what would have been. For the Phoenix Coyotes, the question “what if” became a reality for the 2009-2010 NHL season.

The Coyotes endured the longest off-season heading into the 2009-2010 season. In May 2009, when teams were competing for the Stanley Cup, the Coyotes were facing a competition that affects millions of families in the United States, bankruptcy. 

As part of a continuing series, writer Benjamin Benya will be previewing all 30 NHL teams over the next two weeks in preparation for the 2010-11 regular season.

Out West, we're with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Key Additions:

LW Ray Whitney, LW Andrew Ebbett, C Eric Belanger.

Key Subtractions:

Since the last time I wrote on the issue, Hockey Traditionalists Better Hope Coyotes, Thrashers, and Panthers lose soon, the Phoenix Coyotes went from 24-13-3 to the 43-22-5 record they hold today.

While they are still holding firm to their forth place hold in the Western Conference standings, their record 19-9-2 continues to impress few and depress others.

A month ago when color analyst Peter McNabb started lobbying for Wojtek Wolski to be chosen for team Canada at this Winter's Olympics in Vancouver, people laughed.

They aren't laughing anymore.

37 games into the 2010 NHL season, Wolski has not only established himself as a top line forward for the Avalanche, but also as one of the most versatile wingers in the NHL.