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Sifting through the league’s top defensive scorers, there aren’t many shockers. Mike Green and Tomas Kaberle have stood tallest, Dan Boyle and Drew Doughty are tailing closely, veteran Scott Niedermayer is up there and Erik Johnson is leading St. Louis in points after that freakish golf cart accident.
But the surprises are clear as daylight. Alexander Edler and Christian Ehrhoff are numbers 11 and 12 while teammate Kevin Bieksa is ranked 48th. Alex Goligoski is 19th despite missing ten games and Michael Del Zotto is right in the middle.
Andy Greene may not be thinking All-Star Game but supporters certainly are. (Photo courtesy of Hazboy/ Flikr.)
After Del Zotto, No.16 is a New Jersey Devils defender. Andy Greene? Really, he began to pick up the slack when Johnny Oduya and Paul Martin suffered injuries towards the end of October; not that they were doing a lot anyway.
Be that as it may, the two led New Jersey’s blue line in points last season. Here’s Greene, a 27-year-old who had 25 points to his name in three previous years, already at five goals and 12 assists ahead of Mark Streit, Shea Weber and Brian Campbell.
Often times, the club will say they knew what talent they had with an athlete and were just waiting for him to flash his goods. However, head coach Jacques Lemaire and the Devils have admitted to being surprised like the rest of the public with Greene’s offerings.
Certain writers have suggested the possibility of an All-Star selection for the American. Greene’s confidence was no more obvious than in the first goal he beat Cam Ward with two days ago amidst his first ever two-goal match.
Giving a head fake to create room, he skated to the slot and labelled the corner. With his puck movement, poise and positive attitude, Greene is doing it all: 17 points, plus-nine rating, four powerplay goals, three game-winners, two minor penalties taken and on average partaking in nearly 24 minutes of ice time.
The Devils need that to continue because of how underwhelming the rest of the defense has been offensively. Nine others have blended for 23 points together. To put it in mathematical terms, Greene has 42.5 per cent of the entire back line’s figures. Not bad at all for an undrafted player.
New Jersey’s 21-7-1 record is purely based on team work, a trait he exemplifies best. When Greene has scored one point, the Devils are 12-2 and have the looks of an Eastern Conference Champion.
A smaller defenseman (5’11”), he spent two years in the North American Hockey League and double that with the NCAA’s Miami University before joining New Jersey’s AHL affiliate. Since the strong start, Greene has put the personal accomplishments aside and remained focused on how the team functions.
Greene’s status is secured for this season at $725,000 and in 2011 for $750, 000. By the looks of his demeanor, he isn’t the guy who will leave it all out there just for the sake of a brand new contract. If he sets his mind on something, he will do it for the right reasons knowing how hard he had to work to get into the NHL in the first place.
New Jersey already had a lot going for them with Martin Brodeur, Zach Parise, Patrik Elias, Travis Zajac, Jamie Langenbrunner and others. Andy Greene is safely plucked into that collection for the time being verifying that the rich only get richer.
Some Other Articles That You May Enjoy:
The Devils: Blue Collar Hockey
The Devils… Streaking on the Road
Andy McDonald Injured in Halloween Game
The Devils Look Each Other in the Eye
The Blue Jackets: One Fans Odyssey
St. Louis Gives Andy Murray the Axe.
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