A look at each team's special units on the blueline -- the defensemen coaches feel most comfortable with on the power play and shorthanded units... by The Hockey News.com
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Power Play: Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer, Francois Beauchemin, Ryan Getzlaf
Shorthanded: Pronger, Niedermayer, Vitaly Vishnevski, Sean O'Donnell
X-Factor: It will seem like one of Pronger or Niedermayer will be on the ice every minute of the game.
CALGARY FLAMES
Power Play: Dion Phaneuf, Roman Hamrlik, Andrei Zyuzin, Andrew Ference
Shorthanded: Phaneuf, Robyn Regehr, Rhett Warrener, Hamrlik
X-Factor: All Phaneuf -- all the time!
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Power Play: Adrian Aucoin, Brent Seabrook, Cam Barker, Duncan Keith
Shorthanded: Aucoin, Jassen Cullimore, Jim Vandermeer, Keith, Barker
X-Factor: Barker looks to make a Dion Phaneuf-like impact.
COLORADO AVALANCHE
Power Play: John-Michael Liles, Jordan Leopold, Joe Sakic, Patrice Brisebois, Brett Clark
Shorthanded: Karlis Skrastins, Liles, Brisebois, Clark, Ossi Vaananen
X-Factor: This will be Liles'year to shine.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Power Play: Bryan Berard, Rostislav Klesla, Ron Hainsey, Aaron Johnson
Shorthanded: Adam Foote, Duvie Westcott, Klesla, Ron Hainsey
X-Factor: If Berard can make it through a full NHL season, he looks to be 65-point defenseman.
DALLAS STARS
Power Play: Sergei Zubov, Philippe Boucher, Janne Niinimaa, Jaroslav Modry
Shorthanded: Modry, Boucher, Jon Klemm, Darryl Sydor
X-Factor: The acquisition of Modry really solidifies the Dallas "D".
DETROIT RED WINGS
Power Play: Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Mathieu Schneider, Chris Chelios
Shorthanded: Lidstrom, Chelios, Danny Markov, Andreas Lilja
X-Factor: Lidstrom will play 90 percent of all special team minutes.
EDMONTON OILERS
Power Play: Marc-Andre Bergeron, Ladislav Smid, Steve Staios, Danny Syvret
Shorthanded: Jason Smith, Steve Staios, Daniel Tjarnqvist, Matt Greene
X-Factor: Smid has big shoes to fill, replacing Pronger's spot on the roster.
LOS ANGELES KINGS
Power Play: Rob Blake, Lubomir Visnovsky, Brent Sopel, Mattias Norstrom
Shorthanded: Blake, Aaron Miller, Norstrom, Visnovsky.
X-Factor: Blake will be the leader on a young team.
MINNESOTA WILD
Power Play: Kim Johnsson, Nick Schultz, Kurtis Foster, Martin Skoula
Shorthanded: Schultz, Keith Carney, Johnsson, Brent Burns
X-Factor: Schultz is slowly becoming the No. 1 guy on the Minnesota blueline.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Power Play: Marek Zidlicky, Kimmo Timonen, Dan Hamhuis, Shea Weber, Ryan Suter
Shorthanded: Timonen, Weber, Suter, Mikko Lehtonen
X-Factor: This defense corps could rival the best in the NHL.
PHOENIX COYOTES
Power Play: Ed Jovanovski, Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton, Zbynek Michalek, Derek Morris
Shorthanded: Jovanovski, Michalek, Ballard, Morris
X-Factor: One of the best groups of Top-6 defensemen in hockey?
SAN JOSE SHARKS
Power Play: Matt Carle, Christian Ehrhoff, Patrick Marleau, Josh Gorges
Shorthanded: Kyle McLaren, Scott Hannan, Rob Davison, Doug Murray
X-Factor: Carle will quarterback a lethal power play this year. Not bad for a rookie!
ST. LOUIS BLUES
Power Play: Doug Weight, Dennis Wideman, Christian Backman, Eric Brewer
Shorthanded: Brewer, Jay McKee, Barret Jackman, Backman
X-Factor: With no proven power-play quarterback, you could see a lot of forwards man the point.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Power Play: Mattias Ohlund, Lukas Krajicek, Sami Salo, Yannick Tremblay, Luc Bourdon
Shorthanded: Ohlund, Willie Mitchell, Salo, Kevin Bieksa
X-Factor: Krajicek could finally blossom offensively in Vancouver.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Power Play: Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer, Francois Beauchemin, Ryan Getzlaf
Shorthanded: Pronger, Niedermayer, Vitaly Vishnevski, Sean O'Donnell
X-Factor: It will seem like one of Pronger or Niedermayer will be on the ice every minute of the game.
CALGARY FLAMES
Power Play: Dion Phaneuf, Roman Hamrlik, Andrei Zyuzin, Andrew Ference
Shorthanded: Phaneuf, Robyn Regehr, Rhett Warrener, Hamrlik
X-Factor: All Phaneuf -- all the time!
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Power Play: Adrian Aucoin, Brent Seabrook, Cam Barker, Duncan Keith
Shorthanded: Aucoin, Jassen Cullimore, Jim Vandermeer, Keith, Barker
X-Factor: Barker looks to make a Dion Phaneuf-like impact.
COLORADO AVALANCHE
Power Play: John-Michael Liles, Jordan Leopold, Joe Sakic, Patrice Brisebois, Brett Clark
Shorthanded: Karlis Skrastins, Liles, Brisebois, Clark, Ossi Vaananen
X-Factor: This will be Liles'year to shine.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Power Play: Bryan Berard, Rostislav Klesla, Ron Hainsey, Aaron Johnson
Shorthanded: Adam Foote, Duvie Westcott, Klesla, Ron Hainsey
X-Factor: If Berard can make it through a full NHL season, he looks to be 65-point defenseman.
DALLAS STARS
Power Play: Sergei Zubov, Philippe Boucher, Janne Niinimaa, Jaroslav Modry
Shorthanded: Modry, Boucher, Jon Klemm, Darryl Sydor
X-Factor: The acquisition of Modry really solidifies the Dallas "D".
DETROIT RED WINGS
Power Play: Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Mathieu Schneider, Chris Chelios
Shorthanded: Lidstrom, Chelios, Danny Markov, Andreas Lilja
X-Factor: Lidstrom will play 90 percent of all special team minutes.
EDMONTON OILERS
Power Play: Marc-Andre Bergeron, Ladislav Smid, Steve Staios, Danny Syvret
Shorthanded: Jason Smith, Steve Staios, Daniel Tjarnqvist, Matt Greene
X-Factor: Smid has big shoes to fill, replacing Pronger's spot on the roster.
LOS ANGELES KINGS
Power Play: Rob Blake, Lubomir Visnovsky, Brent Sopel, Mattias Norstrom
Shorthanded: Blake, Aaron Miller, Norstrom, Visnovsky.
X-Factor: Blake will be the leader on a young team.
MINNESOTA WILD
Power Play: Kim Johnsson, Nick Schultz, Kurtis Foster, Martin Skoula
Shorthanded: Schultz, Keith Carney, Johnsson, Brent Burns
X-Factor: Schultz is slowly becoming the No. 1 guy on the Minnesota blueline.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Power Play: Marek Zidlicky, Kimmo Timonen, Dan Hamhuis, Shea Weber, Ryan Suter
Shorthanded: Timonen, Weber, Suter, Mikko Lehtonen
X-Factor: This defense corps could rival the best in the NHL.
PHOENIX COYOTES
Power Play: Ed Jovanovski, Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton, Zbynek Michalek, Derek Morris
Shorthanded: Jovanovski, Michalek, Ballard, Morris
X-Factor: One of the best groups of Top-6 defensemen in hockey?
SAN JOSE SHARKS
Power Play: Matt Carle, Christian Ehrhoff, Patrick Marleau, Josh Gorges
Shorthanded: Kyle McLaren, Scott Hannan, Rob Davison, Doug Murray
X-Factor: Carle will quarterback a lethal power play this year. Not bad for a rookie!
ST. LOUIS BLUES
Power Play: Doug Weight, Dennis Wideman, Christian Backman, Eric Brewer
Shorthanded: Brewer, Jay McKee, Barret Jackman, Backman
X-Factor: With no proven power-play quarterback, you could see a lot of forwards man the point.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Power Play: Mattias Ohlund, Lukas Krajicek, Sami Salo, Yannick Tremblay, Luc Bourdon
Shorthanded: Ohlund, Willie Mitchell, Salo, Kevin Bieksa
X-Factor: Krajicek could finally blossom offensively in Vancouver.