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Western Mid-Season Reviews:
Pacific | Northwest
| Central The final
Western Conference mid-season review is saved for the Central Division. And
what Division it is! Defending Stanley Cup champions, and some serious
pretenders to the throne make this one of the hottest divisions in hockey.
Hey, even the expansion teams can cause trouble in this group.
 The more some things
change, the more they stay the same...at least in Motown. At 24-10-7-1, the
Wings have the best record in the NHL, and appear as though they have picked
up right way where they started from last year.
Steve Yzerman is still 50-50 in terms of being able to regain the game
he would want in order for him to give it another go, and we wonder when
they will feel the pain of injuries to
Jiri Fischer and most recently,
Chris Chelios.
Brett Hull doesn't care who gives him the puck, he just keeps scoring. A
little defence depth is likely on GM
Ken Holland's shopping list, but
Jason Woolley has been a great waiver acquisition.
Workhorse: As well as Hull, Shanahan and Federov have played to the
mid-way point, there is no denying the silent leader on the team, in the
absence of Stevie Y, is
Nicklas Lidstrom. Lidstrom is again putting up Norris trophy type
numbers: 9 goals, 31 points and a +16 in 41 games. He logs almost 30 minutes
in playing time and plays both special teams. Chelios might have won the
Norris last year, had it not been for Lidstrom.
Unsung Hero: It's only taken
Brett Hull about 12 years of his NHL career to realize, it's not always
about him. After a slow start, he has really began filling the net and has
18 goals at the mid way mark. He gets a bit more than 18 minutes a game, and
the old Brett would not have liked that, but the 37-year-old one seems to
enjoy the lack of limelight. Still the best release in the game.
Disappointment: Hard to findone, but we are going with
Jason Williams. This year was hoped to be a break out one for Williams,
but he has only played in 15 games and has just 6 points. He has good skill
and plays both ends of the ice - he just plays behind some very good
players. Still, we wouldn't give up on him, if there was a way you could
hide him on your roster for next year.
Guy to Watch: The chances of
Steve Yzerman returning are only 50% - and that sucks on so many
different levels. Last year's playoff performance should have earned him the
playoff MVP, but did he complain - not a chance. If he does come back, he'll
have a slow start, but should settle in nicely just before the playoffs.
 Perhaps better dubbed Team
Adversity, the St. Louis Blues have endured injuries to key players Fred
Braithwaite,
Brent Johnson,
Keith Tkachuk,
Cory Stillman, and have been without
Chris Pronger for the entire season. And yet, they post an impressive
23-13-5-3. They are a team that plays within itself, believes in the coach
Quennville system, and will be very dangerous come the playoffs.
Workhorse: We love
Doug Weight, and we love the way that he has responded to the questions
of whether he was done, by putting up a point per game production so far.
But the real workhorse for the Blues, has to be the ageless
Al MacInnis. 9 goals, 36 points and a +12, while playing 26 minutes a
game is a tremendous tribute to the 38 year old. Quennville had hoped to
give MacInnis more time off this season, but MacInnis seems to thrive on the
ice-time and it shows. If he stays healthy (touch wood), a Norris trophy may
be his once again.
Unsung Hero: Three years ago, the Panthers parted with
Scott Mellanby thinking that he was slowing down and had very little in
the tank. Well, 15 goals and 29 points in 42 games shows Mellanby had much
more left in the tank. He might not keep it going as well in the 2nd half,
but his season has been a huge plus for the Blues to date.
Disappointment:
Jamal Mayers makes this category, but it's only because of an injury.
Mayers looked poised to make the jump from scrapper to actual solid two-way
hockey player, but he's spent more time on the DL this season than off. He's
been slow to get back, and will require some time to get it going again when
he does.
Guy to Watch: The time is now for
Brent Johnson to lead his team, successfully, into the playoffs. The
Blues have amassed a very good, very veteran team around Johnson, but for
all his regular season success, he needs to prove his worth in the playoffs.
He missed about 20 games with a high ankle sprain, and two weeks into his
return, was named NHL player of the week. The skill is there, it's just a
matter of being able to prove it.
 This was supposed to be
a very "off" year for the Hawks. No Amonte, no confidence in the starting
goalie, and no Fleury to start the season were all very real issues at the
beginning of the year. But then again, that's why they play the games.
Despite a sad Western road swing in November, the Blackhawks have been very
good...again...this year. There's still lots of holes to be filled, but they
do look very good.
Workhorse: Alexi Zhamnov has been super this season, and clearly the
leader of this team. But if not for the efforts of
Jocelyn Thibault, the 'Hawks would be nowhere near the success they have
enjoyed this season. Yes, the same Thibault that seemed to have to fight for
his job down the stretch last year, and then looked very ordinary in the
Blackhawks first round exit in last year's playoffs. A sparkling 2.08 GAA,
.923 SV%, and 19 wins (5 by shutout) have Thibault flirting with the Vezina.
Unsung Hero: Since his deliverance from Toronto,
Steve Sullivan's continued success must be like a sharp poker in the eye
to
Pat Quinn and the Leafs management. Playing on the third line and
getting sloppy second unit PP time, Sullivan thrives on the PK and is as
clutch as they come. Wonder if Quinn wishes he had Stevie instead of
MacAuley?
Disappointment: Hard to imagine what
Theoren Fleury's daily existence is, but we are sure that is about as
far as he looks these days. After signing with the 'Hawks in the summer, he
melted down in spring training and has only now gotten back, after
treatment, to playing hockey. He looks out-of-shape, which means a few more
games before he hits his stride.
Guy to Watch: Normally a 40 goal guy isn't really a guy to watch in
the 2nd half, but Daze was slowed by a bad back, and slowed again recently
with the same ailment. If he gets hot, you might want to trade him while you
can.
 It's always hard to
fire a friend, but that was exactly what
Doug MacLean did last week as he watched the Blue jackets post a
14-20-4-2 record. Since he's taken over, they have won three straight games.
The Blue Jackets spent some $$ in the off-season, with the hopes of really
making some noise in the playoffs. They will have to play tremendous hockey
to qualify, but there is always next year.
Workhorse:
Geoff Sanderson has 20+ goals,
Ray Whitney a point per game, but all would be for not without the play
of
Marc Denis. Denis has played 39 of C-Bus's 42 games, and has a very
respectable 16 wins and .912 SV%. It's taken a little longer for Denis to
develop, but then again, that seems to be the way with goalies. If the Blue
Jackets ever get some secondary scoring and depth on defence, Denis' stats
will be a heckuva lot better.
Unsung Hero: No Lidstrom, Blake or MacInnis occupies the Blue Jackets
blueline, but the closest thing they have is
Jaroslav Spacek, and his 5 goals, 24 points and almost 25 minutes logged
per game. He plays both special teams and in all crucial situations.
Disappointment:
Espen Knutsen went on the DL on the 15th of November, and the Blue
Jackets did not miss him. Not good news if your Knutsen's agent. He did have
a great season last year, but we did warn you. His 3 points in 11 games
wasn't a good sign either.
Guy to Watch:
Rick Nash might win the Calder for Rookie of the Year, and he'll have
earned it. There is no doubting his potential. He's big (6'4"), has a huge
reach and a nose for the net (9 goals and 20 points). He looks lost in his
own zone (-10), but that will come with time. Looks to be playing better as
the season goes along.
 Barry
Trotz was the next head coach potentially walking the plank, if not for
the most recent winning streak of the Predators. Quick, name the top three
scorers for the Pred's...? If you said,
Cliff Ronning as one, you'd not be alone, but you'd be wrong. Legwand,
Johansson and Delmore are your answers to the question. Much needs to happen
in the next 4 months for the Preds ownership not to avoid their promise of
"money back unless we make the playoffs" to season ticket holders.
Workhorse:
Tomas Vokoun looks to have taken the ball and ran with the it since the
departure of
Mike Dunham, but at the risk of eating a little crow,
David Legwand looks to be FINALLY taking that step to the next level. On
a team that struggles to score, Legwand has a respectable 31 points in 42
games. Still, lots of room for improvement, but at least he looks like he is
making some headway.
Unsung Hero: Playing for his 7th team in as many years,
Andreas Johansson is the definition of Unsung Hero. Johansson has been
nothing short of awesome. He has 16 goals (9 on the PP) and 28 points in 38
games. Too risky to assume that he'll keep it going for an entire season,
but it does go to show you how successful even perceived fringe NHL'ers can
be with more ice-time.
Disappointment: Remember last year when poolies everywhere were
trying to discover who
Martin Erat was. Well, as fast as he became a poolie pick, it took less
time to give him the curly arrow off your rosters. His 8 points in 25 games
has bought him a ticket to the minors to boot.
Guy to watch:
Kimmo Timonen has had a very slow start, but he is one of the most
under-rated d-men in the league. Not big, nor overly physical, Timonen moves
the puck with ease and precision. His game looks to be rounding in to form.
A solid pick-up in the later rounds of most mid-season drafts.
Western Mid-Season Reviews: Pacific |
Northwest | Central |
