Long story short, all 30 NHL teams are looking for the same things: an Eric Lindros-sized centre with an indestructible head, a 24-year-old Chris Pronger and the next coming of Patrick Roy. But since those are harder to come by than gold, frankincense and myrrh, here are team-by-team resolutions for 2011:
˜ The Anaheim Ducks resolve to convince everyone that they are the best team in California this season.
˜ The Atlanta Thrashers resolve to make a trade with a salary cap-strapped Stanley Cup champion.
˜ The Boston Bruins resolve to never blow a 3-0 series lead in the play-offs again.
˜ The Buffalo Sabres resolve to deliver a championship to the most hard-luck city in pro sports.
˜ The Calgary Flames resolve to refrain from Jarome Iginla trade talk.
˜ The Carolina Hurricanes resolve to reignite the home fans with a memorable 2011 All-Star Game.
˜ The Chicago Blackhawks resolve to do what they did last year.
˜ The Colorado Avalanche resolve to host the league's annual outdoor game one day soon.
˜ The Columbus Blue Jackets resolve to keep building on this season's long-awaited break-out.
˜ The Dallas Stars resolve to win one for the Alamo.
˜ The Detroit Red Wings resolve to keep pursuing franchise perfection.
˜ The Edmonton Oilers resolve to take care of their kids, so the kids can one day take care of them.
˜ The Florida Panthers resolve not to be forgotten.
˜ The Los Angeles Kings resolve to deliver on their youthful promise.
˜ The Minnesota Wild resolve to entertain and excite their fans.
˜ The Montreal Canadiens resolve to return the franchise to hockey's hallowed ground.
˜ The Nashville Predators resolve to continue churning out some of the best young defencemen.
˜ The New Jersey Devils resolve to make the pain go away.
˜ The New York Islanders resolve to draft wisely.
˜ The New York Rangers resolve to take a Management 101 course at the local community college.
˜ The Ottawa Senators resolve to return to 2007, when all was well with the Stanley Cup finalists.
˜ The Philadelphia Flyers resolve to see if Dr Frankenstein can build a goalie by the spring.
˜ The Phoenix Coyotes resolve to be the best team that nobody sees.
˜ The Pittsburgh Penguins resolve to keep Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal forever.
˜ The St Louis Blues resolve to rise again as a perennial play-off team.
˜ The San Jose Sharks resolve to show more post-season resolve.
˜ The Tampa Bay Lightning resolve to give Steven Stamkos all the help that the young superstar needs.
˜ The Toronto Maple Leafs resolve to retain their first-round draft picks from now on.
˜ The Vancouver Canucks resolve to win the franchise's first-ever Stanley Cup - and the first by a Canadian team since 1993.
˜ The Washington Capitals resolve to dance deep into the spring fling.
