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this coming season. (Photo By Dave Sandfordfont> The 2009-10 season still is a few months away, but while NHL teams get in some vacation time before training camp opens in September, the pressure already is starting to build for some players who know they'll have to be big-time producers for their clubs to improve or contend in the new season.Here's a look at a player from each of the 15 teams free football games in the Western Conference under pressure to perform as soon as the puck drops:Ales Hemsky -- To watch Hemsky (and many of the Oilers' other talented young forwards) is to wonder why he's not a star, rather than a player who set a career high with 23 goals last season. After three consecutive non-playoff seasons, the Oilers need Hemsky to carry more of the load offensively -- to push himself to pu free football games t up the kind of numbers his talent says he's capable of generating.Jonas Hiller, Anaheim -- Jokinen made a big splash with the Flames in his first week after being acquired from Phoenix at the trade deadline, then failed to score in his last 13 games and did little in Calgary's first-round loss to Chicago. With Mike Cammalleri gone to Montreal, Jokinen has to play like a No. 1 center for the Flam free football games es to make any kind of a playoff push.Cristobal Huet, Chicago -- who took Chicago to the conference finals last spring -- is gone. On a team loaded with talent, Huet is the big question mark. He has to improve on his up-and-down first season in Chicago for the Hawks to take the next step as they try to end the NHL's longest Stanley Cup drought. -- The Avs are in full rebuilding mode. To remain re free football games spectable, they'll need a big season from Stastny, who missed 37 games last season due to injuries. With Joe Sakic now retired, Stastny is the No. 1 center in Denver, and the Avalanche will need him to put up the kind of numbers he posted in his previous two seasons (149 points in 148 games) to help them avoid a repeat of last season.Rick Nash, Columbus -- The Stars' season began to disintegrate w free football games hen Morrow, their captain, went down with a season-ending knee injury in November. He's a rare player who can be physical, put the puck in the net and serve as a team leader. The Stars need him to return to the level he played at in 2007-08, when he scored 32 goals and led Dallas to the Western Conference Finals.Chris Osgood, Detroit -- The NHL's first Slovenian-born player signed a long-term cont free football games ract before last season, then took a step back offensively in 2008-09 -- even as his team was improving in the standings. To contend for a playoff berth, they'll need Kopitar (who doesn't turn 22 until next month) to exceed his performance in 2007-08, when he put up 32 goals and 77 points.Martin Havlat, Minnesota -- Sullivan's comeback after missing nearly two seasons with a back injury earned him free football games the Bill Masterton Trophy. But it was the 32 points in 41 games he put up that persuaded the Predators to give him a new two-year contract. Sullivan is one of the few offensively creative players on Nashville's roster, and the Preds need him to build on his comeback numbers if they have any hope of making the playoffs.Kyle Turris, Phoenix -- Thornton has as much physical talent as any player in t free football games he NHL. But 25 goals and 86 points in 82 games is nowhere near enough production from a player good enough to win the Hart and Art Ross trophies three years earlier. The Sharks need Thornton to be dominant, not just very good, if they have any hopes of repeating as the Presidents' Trophy winner and finally pulling off the big playoff run they've failed to make in the past few years.Erik Johnson, S free football games t. Louis -- Burrows, an undrafted free agent signed in 2003, came out of nowhere last season to finish second on the Canucks with 28 goals while riding shotgun with the Sedins and helping Vancouver to the Northwest Division title. At age 28, he has to prove he's more than just a one-hit wonder if the Canucks are to take the next step and become a Stanley Cup contender. free football games
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