1/4 of the Way Done

With the NHL season a quarter finished, I thought I would take a look back at what has happened, what I think will happen, and I give out my first quarter awards. We’re doing this the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly style.

The Good
The NHL finally seems as if it might be returning to the quality hockey of old. Some games are filled with goals, others with great goaltending. Good physical hockey has finally made its way back into the game. Jonathen Toews has wowed us with goals, Alexander Ovechkin is hitting like the best of them, Crosby leaves us in shock and awe with passes, and the fighters are fighting again. I finally feel as if I can turn on any hockey game and see great plays.

The Bad
Early season “expert” projections. The experts all made their predictions for this up coming season and they haven’t held true. The New York Rangers have been anything but beasts from the easts, Sid the Kid is looking like just that, a kid surrounded by men, and the defending champion Ducks don’t look like playoff contenders. While I do like surprises, the experts have been off the mark with their predictions.

The Ugly
Suspensions. So far the reckless play of NHL players has resulted in some of the longest suspensions the NHL has ever dished out. Matthias Ohlund took a hack at Miko Koivu, and then there are the flyers. As much as I love the Flyers, they haven’t been models of self-control. The pre-season Steve Downie hit on Dean McAmmond, Jesse Boulrice’s cross-check to Ryan Kessler’s face, and then Randy Jones and Scott Hartnell, in the only two games against the Bruins, each injured two different Bruins with illegal checks. This makes the players look classless and makes the NHL look like a bunch of goons on ice.

1st quarter awards

MVP: Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightening
Just watch the guy play. Not only is he leading the league in points, and assists, but is a plus 10 and keeping the Lightening alive. True, he is not playing for the best team, but try and convince me someone is more valuable to their team.

Vezina: Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
I am a true sucker for the underdog. The 33 year-old journeyman Thomas never found a home on any team. He was drafted in a round that doesn’t even exist anymore (9th round, 217th overall) and seemed as if he was destined to be a backup. Then the Bruins needed a goalie until their top prospect, Tuukka Rask, could play. They got a blessing in disguise as Thomas has led them to an 8-6-2 record with a .941 save percentage and a 1.99 GAA.

Calder: Jonathen Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
The fact that a 19 year-old kid has finally brought hockey back to Chicago should be enough to win the award, but he has the stats to prove it. he may only have 16 points (8g,8a) but has played tremendously, including a youtube highlight real goal viewed over 126,000 times. I can’t wait to see what this kid can do when he can legally drink after games.