A Look at The Montreal Canadiens At The 2013 Nhl Awards

21 May 2013

2013 nhl awards, Brendan Gallagher, Calder Trophy, jack adams trophy, Marc Bergevin, Michel Therrien, Montreal Canadiens, Norris Trophy, P.K. Subban

The Montreal Canadiens Are Hoping To Win Big At The 2013 NHL Awards

The Montreal Canadiens jump from 15th place in the Eastern Conference and 28th overall in 2011-12 to winning the Northeast Division, securing the second seed in their Conference and finishing fourth overall was something that nobody in the hockey world saw coming. Their success in the standings was impressive, but what was equally as impressive – if not more – was having three members of the organization get nominations for hardware at the 2013 NHL awards.

Any player, coach or GM will tell you that personal acheivments mean nothing compared to finding success as a team. However, having not one or two, but three potential award winners is a sure sign that Habs GM Marc Bergevin – who is one of the candidates himself – is taking a step in the right direction with this franchise.

I’m going to take a look at the three members of the Montreal Canadiens who have been recognized by the league for their success in the shortened 2013 season as well as who they are up against to try to give you an idea as to who is likely to find themselves winners at this years NHL awards ceremony.

Calder Trophy

Brendan Gallagher could be the Canadiens first Calder Trophy Winner since Ken Dryden in 1970-71 (Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports)

Brendan Gallagher, Montreal’s fiesty rookie forward is up against Brandon Saad of the Chicago Blackhawks and Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers for the Calder Trophy which is given to the league’s top rookie.

Gallagher finished the season third among rookie scorers with 28 points in 44 games behind Nail Yakupov of the Edmonton Oilers and Jonathan Huberdeau who each tallied 31 points. Gallagher’s 15 goals were second to only Yakupov whose hat-trick in the Oilers final game propelled him to 17. In the plus/minus category, Gallagher was fifth with a +10. Saad finished first with a +17 rating and Huberdeau was a -15.

Brandon Saad had the luxury of playing on the league’s top team with a star studded roster that included the likes of Jonathan Toewes, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp as well as a one two punch in goal of Corey Crawford and Ray Emery. Huberdeau didn’t have the all star support that Saad enjoyed but was given the oppurtunity to play top six minutes averaging 16:55 minutes of ice time per game, first among rookie forwards who have played at least ten games.

Gallagher on the other hand had a team that had plenty of depth but no player even remotely close to the talent that Toewes and company possess. As for time on ice, the Montreal rookie played an average of 13:51 minutes per game, placing him 13th among rookie forwards with at least ten games under their belt.

Considering the success he found with the limited time awarded to him, and the success he helped his team acheive, Gallagher should come away as the 2013 Calder trophy winner.

James Norris Memorial Trophy

P.K. Subban is up against Ryan Suter and Kris Letang for the Norris Trophy (Eric Bolte-US PRESSWIRE)

The Norris trophy is awarded to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the best all-round ability in that position. There is no surprise that P.K. Subban of the Canadiens was named as one of the three finalists along with Kris Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ryan Suter of the Minnesota wild.

Subban finished the year tied in first for points among blueliners with Kris Letang, each notching 38 points. Suter wasn’t far behind as he tallied 32 points of his own. Subban’s eleven goals were second to only Mike Green’s 12 he scored with the Washington Capitals. Seven of those goals were scored on the powerplay, ranking him second in that category behind fellow Canadien Andrei Markov.

Kris Letang’s +16 rating is tops among the three finalists followed by Subban with +12 and Suter with +2.

Suter played the toughest minutes as he averaged 27:16 minutes of ice time per game. Letang’s 25:38 minutes per game place him seventh in the league and Subban’s 23:14 minutes put him in 35th place in the NHL. The lack of minutes may be what cost Subban the Norris.

It can be viewed as more impressive that Subban put up such good numbers without being on the ice as much as his competition but many feel that his reduced time on ice implies he can’t handle the minutes of a top tier defenseman. Suter never tired and put up quality numbers on a team that failed to make it to the post season. Krist Letang played very respectable minutes and managed as many points as Subban despite playing seven less games.

P.K. Subban definitely had a great season but I would be surprised if he took home the Norris Trophy. Suter seems to be the favorite but my money would be on Kris Letang coming out on top.

Jack Adams Trophy

The Jack Adams award is given each year to the league’s top Coach. Michel Therrien lead the Canadiens to the top of the Northeast Division and second place in their Conference just one year after the Habs found themselves in the Eastern Conference and 28th overall. Therrien got the best out of Lars Eller and handled the development of rookies Brendan Gallagher (up for the Calder) and Alex Galchenyuk quite impressively.

These are just a few of the reasons that Therrien is nominated for the…..what’s that? Therrien isn’t a finalist for the Jack Adams? Really?

Bruce Boudreau and Joel Quenneville of the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks you say? hmmm… Both deserving I guess, much better teams to guide than Therrien had, but what can you do.

Winner: Paul MacLean of the Ottawa Senators

General Manager Of The Year

Marc Bergevin (right) is nominated for the GM of the year (Eric Bolte-US PRESSWIRE)

It’s pretty clear what this award is given out for. What should be just as clear is that Marc Bergevin of the Canadiens will be named the league’s top GM in 2013.

Ray Shero of the Pittsburgh Penguins did a heck of a job at the trade deadline when he acquired Jarome Iginla, Brendan Morrow and Douglas Murray without giving up a single roster player. By doing so he made a Stanley Cup competitor out of a team that beforehand was merely just a…Stanley Cup competitor.

Bob Murray of the Anaheim Ducks avoided off season stress when he re-signed forwards Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. There’s no question that losing either player would impede the team’s chances of repeating their success from this season (second in the Western Conference) in the near future. Signing Swedish goaltender Viktor Fasth was a move that payed divedends as Fasth posted 15 wins and an impressive .921 save percentage. The signing of Sheldon Souray is nothing to ignore either as the 36 year old defenseman finished with a +19 rating while playing just under 21 minutes per game.

When Bergevin hired Michel Therrien as the Montreal Canadiens head coach there were many skeptics. Therrien however, made Bergevin look like a genius as he brought the Habs to the top of their division while at the same time earning a nomination for the Jack Ad….oh wait no, sorry I keep thinking that the NHL’s top coach in 2013 was nominated for the award given out to the league’s top coach. My Bad. Nevertheless, Bergevin proved to be right in his choice.

When P.K. Subban held out at the beginning of the season, Bergevin didn’t budge. After missing six games, Subban eventually gave in to Bergevin and signed a two year contract worth $5.75 million, an amount nobody expected the eventual Norris Trophy candidate would accept.

Signing Brandon Prust proved to be very beneficial to rookies Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk as well as the whole team and he filled the team’s need for a penalty killer and good face off man by bringing Jeff Halpern back to the team late in the season.

Many were disappointed in Bergevin’s lack of action of trade deadline day, but made one of the best trades of the year earlier on when he somehow managed to talk Dallas Stars GM at the time Joe Nieuwendyk into taking Erik Cole in return for Michael Ryder and a 3rd round pick in the 2013 NHL entry draft. A straight up swap of Ryder for Cole would have already had Bergevin come out on top of that deal, pulling off a draft pick as well was just a work of art.

Having fou.. three members of the Canadiens organization named as finalists for awards this year is enough to give hope to a city that has been losing for too long. Having two out of the three who will more than likey win shows that Bergevin’s goal to return the winning culture to Montreal is one that is very reachable.

Four Steps to A Game Three Blackhawks Victory

Posted by: Evan F. Moore

in Chicago Blackhawks

20 May 2013

Chicago Blackhawks, Dave Bolland, Detriot Red Wings, Game Three Preview, Hockey, Stanley Cup, Stanley Cup Playoffs, Viktor Stalberg

(Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports)

The Chicago Blackhawks had to be aware that the Detroit Red Wings were going to turn up the pressure in game two. After having a 2-1 margin in the shots on goal department, the Red Wings came out firing in a decisive 4-1 victory in game two.

Anaheim Ducks beat writer Eric Stephens said it best when the comes to facing a veteran team like the Red Wings

As was stated in a previous blog, Detroit wasn’t just going to lie down. They’re still a solid, veteran that took it to a team in the first round the Blackhawks couldn’t beat at all during the season. There is something to be said about that.

If Blackhawks want to win game three, four things must happen. If these things do not occur, the series will be longer than previously thought.

Get Dave Bolland involved

Bolland is aptly nicknamed “The Rat” for a reason. Every team has a player that fills a certain type of role. He does the things that don’t show up on a stat sheet. Creating opportunities for teammates and frustrating opponents by baiting them into penalties is Bolland’s expertise. Even though he struggles in his role as second line center, his presence on ice during the playoffs often leads to good things for the Blackhawks.

Put Viktor Stalberg back into the lineup

Whatever Stalberg did to draw the ire of the coaching staff, it seems that he learned his lesson after being a healthy scratch for the first two games of the series. Seeing how things progressed in the game two. It’s time to put Stalberg back in the lineup. He is widely regarded as one the fastest skaters in the National Hockey League. The Blackhawks are at their best when they control the puck. Stalberg is one of the best on the team at doing just that.

Treat game three as a must-win

Game three is a must win because it is exactly that, a must win. The Blackhawks are playing a team that you don’t give extra chances to. Detroit is a veteran team that will gain confidence if they get a favorable outcome to in game three. The Blackhawks must play with some urgency if that want to stop that from happening.

Play game three like it was game one

Stella got her groove back. So can the Blackhawks. In game one, the Blackhawks were the aggressor as they dominated Detroit 42 -21 in the shots on goal department. This means they held the puck much longer. In game two, not so much. The Blackhawks have to get back to winning the battles on the boards if they want to win game three.

The Blackhawks are an experienced team in their own right. Also, they are a well-coached team. Expect maximum effort from a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

Darnell Nurse – The Next Ones: NHL 2013 Draft Prospect Profile

Posted by: Shawn Reznik

in NHL Entry Draft

20 May 2013

2013 NHL Entry Draft, Darnell Nurse, Draft Prospect Profile, Newark New Jersey, OHL, Sault St. Marie Greyhounds, Soo Greyhounds, The Next Ones

He’s big. He’s hard-nosed. He’s intelligent. He’s tough. He’s skilled. He’s an effortless skater. He’s a premier defensive defenseman prospect. He’s Darnell Nurse of the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds.

Nurse has been a standout on the Greyhounds in his 2nd year in the OHL. He has displayed a wide range of skills this season, from shutting down opponents in the defensive zone to setting up chances and putting the puck in the net in the offensive zone.

Darnell Nurse THW Close-Up:

Date of birth: 2/4/1995

Place of birth: Hamilton, Ontario

Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 185 lbs

Shoots: Left

Position: D

NHL Draft Eligibility: 2013

Twitter: @drtwofive

THW The Next Ones Rankings (January 2013): 13

Darnell Nurse climbing the 2013 NHL draft rankings (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

Other Rankings:

THW Warm Room Rankings (April): 7

ISS (May): 6

Future Considerations: 5

Craig Button: 6

Consensus aggregate of several services (NHL Numbers): 8

CS Final Rankings for North American skaters: 4

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[NHL 2013 Draft Guide - The Next Ones Draft Headquarters: Your quintessential draft resource]

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The Beast on the Back End

Scouts have had their eye on him since last season when he showcased his defensive prowess. This year, his offensive totals have skyrocketed and people are starting to talk about Nurse as sure-fire top 10 selection in June’s draft.

The sophomore OHL defenseman has stood out on the blueline as arguably the best shutdown defenseman in the draft. His mammoth size, albeit thin build, certainly lends a hand to his physicality, but his skating is one of his best attributes in terms of getting back into the play and being in the right place at the right time.

Other big defensemen like Nikita Zadorov and Rasmus Ristolainen have pretty big shots, but Nurse’s isn’t all that heavy. But his shot was never his bread and butter. His hockey smarts have gone a long way in his development from last season to this season.

He’s makes effective passes and is capable of moving the puck up ice. He can sense when to make a play or when to clear the puck out of harm’s way. Darnell’s ability to separate forwards from the puck is uncanny and his play along the boards is second to none.

Get ready to hear his name called early. Darnell Nurse will be quite a handful to deal with for any NHL team that passes him over in the draft.

Nurse and Lazar exchange pleasantries during the Top Prospects Game [photo: David Chan]

Where Will He End Up In June:

Darnell Nurse is going to be a Top 10 pick for a team who really needs a strong defensive presence.

Scout’s Honor:

“Nurse became really effective at keeping his shot low, getting it through and on net, and generating opportunities for rebounds and tip-ins in front of the net. He also effectively utilizes a good wrist shot and release when he doesn’t have time to load up the slapshot. Nurse has also improved his puckhandling skills, and shows more poise and patience in controlling the play at the blueline. He walks the line well, and uses his lateral mobility to open up shooting and passing lanes. With good vision, and improving passing skills, he is developping his ability as a powerplay quarterback, but at this point he is more of a trigger man, than a guy who controls the play at the blueline…He has excellent edgework, pivots, and agility. This allows him to transition quickly and cover all areas fo the ice. He can change direction very quickly, allowing him to close space in an instant, and throw big hits. He has good speed moving forward and backwards, and an above average first step and acceleration….Nurse has terrific size and uses it effectively in his own end. He’s a big hitter who can strike fear into opposing players as they come down his end of the ice. He wins board battles and effectively leans on opposing players and clears the front of the net. His mobility makes him very difficult to beat one on one off the rush. He uses his size and an active stick to cut down passing lanes, and willingly sacrifices his body blocking shots.”

Ben Kerr – Last Word On Sports

“Huge and highly mobile defenceman is just starting to tap into his massive potential. He’s already a shutdown defender who can physically dominate games down low. Keeps the crease clear and shows excellent defensive awareness and positioning. Has a long wingspan and plays with an active stick, clogging passing lanes. Closes gaps quickly, angles men to corners, and has quick feet to contain smaller, shifty forwards. Strong in coverage. Doesn’t activate much yet in the offensive end, but makes rocket outlet passes and has some offensive upside.”

Red Line Report

“Nurse is a big lanky kid who skates very well, has good feet, good straight-line speed and excellent lateral agility. His balance and acceleration, while already decent, will likely get much better as he adds more muscle and fills out his thin frame. He was strong positional and good at controlling his gaps. He has a strong stick that is always in passing lanes. He showed that strong defensive zone play in his rookie OHL season as he would play physical, pinning opponents to the boards and clearing his crease, but this season he is adding an offensive element.”

Aaron Vickers – Future Considerations

Statistics:

Bio/Interview(s)/Links:

THW’s David O’Connor featured article on Darnell Nurse

Nurse’s Interview with NHL.com

The Hockey News feature on Darnell Nurse

Interview with Neate Sager of Buzzing the Net

International Tournaments:

Darnell played for Team Ontario in the World U17 Hockey Challenge where he had one goal and two assists in five games. He also played for Team Canada in the at the U18 World Junior Championships.

ETA:

1-2 years

Risk/Reward Analysis:

Risk: 1/5 Reward: 5/5

NHL Potential:

Top pairing shutdown defenseman

Strengths:

Skating

Agility

Physical play

Poke check

Poise

Hockey sense/IQ

First pass out of the zone

Flaws/Aspects He Needs To Work On:

Adding more muscle

Shot from the point

Fantasy Hockey Potential:

Offensive: 5/10 Defensive: 8/10

NHL Player Comparison:

- I’m not so sure that Nurse’s offensive game will be able to translate at the NHL level, therefore I’d liken him to players like Brooks Orpik or Dan Girardi. If his offensive game flourished in the NHL, he could be on par with Niklas Kronwall.

- Hall of Fame comparison: Scott Stevens

Video(s):

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THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph

Follow Shawn Reznik on Twitter: @ShawnTHW

Jonathan Toews Named Finalist for Mark Messier Leadership Award

Posted by: Ton DeFrancesco

in Chicago Blackhawks

20 May 2013

Daniel Alfredsson, Dustin Brown, Jonathan Toews, Mark Messier, Mark Messier Leadership Award

Jonathan Toews, finalist for the Mark Messier Leadership Award

The NHL announced this morning that Chicago Blackhawks captain, Jonathan Toews, is a finalist for the 2013 Mark Messier Leadership Award for his excellent leadership qualities in the Blackhawks locker room.

The NHL first released this award following the 2006-2007 NHL season. The trophy is awarded to “the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.”

The process of winning this award is less complicated than most other trophies awarded by the NHL. Throughout the season, Mark Messier gathers input from NHL fans and NHL personnel to help his decision process, but ultimately Messier hand picks the three finalists and eventually the winner of the trophy to his consent.

Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators and Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings were the other two finalists for the award.

Last week, the NHL announced that Jonathan Toews is a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, giving Toews two nominations in 2013. Only Marty St. Louis (2) and Sidney Crosby (3) have had two or more nominations this year.

ADDED LEADERSHIP — It’s not a coincidence that the Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville is a finalist for the Jack Adams Award in the same year that Jonathan Toews is recognized as a finalist for the Mark Messier Award, and the Blackhawks ended up as the best team in the NHL regular season. The combination of coach and captain is probably the most important aspect of any hockey team. The Messier Award may be a new addition to the NHL, but years from now the correlation between the Messier and the Jack Adams Award will be prominent amongst finalists.

LOCKOUT LEADER — Toews cemented his leadership qualities prior to the season even starting, considering he was the driving force behind gathering the team to prepare for the season together during the lockout. He practically coached the team until the players decided to hire Kenny McCudden to help keep them organized, so that they could focus on playing rather than drawing up drills and playing “shinny hockey.”

(Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports)

NO STAT FOR THAT — There is no individual stat that determines leadership, but you can take team accomplishments into consideration. The Chicago Blackhawks organization had a record flirting start to the regular-season and they finished with the best record by a long shot. The consistency the team displayed was remarkable in every aspect. Consider this: The Blackhawks would have finished a full season with nearly 132 points (the 1976-1977 Montreal Canadiens hold the record at 132 points) if you prorate the numbers. Even though the Blackhawks dominated the rest of the NHL to start the season, the mantra in the locker room remained level-headed, never getting ahead of themselves, and the players were focused on one thing: Winning.

THE INJURY CLAUSE — Yes, there is no arguing the fact that the Ottawa Senators had a fantastic season without stars such as Erik Karlsson, Jason Spezza, and Craig Anderson for long stretches of the season. Daniel Alfredsson did a remarkable job alongside Paul MacLean to keep the team focused and push the club into the playoffs. But, it’s not as if the Blackhawks were exempt from injury either. Key players such as Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Dave Bolland, Michal Rozsival, Ray Emery, and Corey Crawford all missed stretches of the season (at one point, almost all of them were out) and Chicago just kept hammering out the wins to remain at the top of the league. Although they were more fortunate than the Senators in that regard, it’s quite clear that the Blackhawks fought through that adversity and keep a consistent effort night after night no matter who was in the lineup.

BOTTOM LINE — Jonathan Toews was able to elevate his team to another level that was almost record-breaking. Spectacular seasons don’t come around very often, and that type of success has to be attributed to a solid foundation of leadership. While Daniel Alfredsson and Dustin Brown deserve recognition for their efforts, I truly believe that Toews is among the cream of the crop this year. This is the one piece of individual hardware that I can’t see going to anyone else.

Nikita Zadorov – The Next Ones: NHL 2013 Draft Prospect Profile

Posted by: Shawn Reznik

in NHL Entry Draft

20 May 2013

Dan Girardi, Jarred Tinordi, Marc Methot, Michael Del Zotto, New Jersey, Newark, NHL entry draft, Nikita Zadorov, OHL, Olli Maata

The London Knights have churned out some great defenders who are playing in the NHL. Names like Dan Girardi, Michael Del Zotto, Kyle Quincey, Dennis Wideman, Jarred Tinordi, and Marc Methot come to mind. Of late, the OHL team has developed some talented young defensemen like Olli Määttä, Scott Harrington, and now Nikita Zadorov.

Nikita Zadorov THW Close-Up:

Date of birth: 4/16/1995

Place of birth: Moscow, Russia

Ht: 6’5″ Wt: 229 lbs

Shoots: Left

Position: D

NHL Draft Eligibility: 2013

Twitter: @zadorov61

THW The Next Ones Rankings (January 2013): 42

Nikita Zadorov [David Chan]

Other Rankings:

THW Warm Room Rankings (April): 11

ISS (May): 8

Future Considerations: 11

Craig Button: 11

Consensus aggregate of several services (NHL Numbers): 11

CS Final Rankings for North American skaters: 22

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[NHL 2013 Draft Guide - The Next Ones Draft Headquarters: Your quintessential draft resource]

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After playing one year in Russia’s junior league (the MHL), Zadorov decided to go overseas and develop his game in North America. A decision that could have backfired, instead turned into a great positive. His game has benefited leaps and bounds since he first played for the Knights.

His game as a shutdown defenseman is very simple: stop the man with the puck. He has tremendous defensive awareness and can effectively separate a player from the play. For such a giant player, his skating is very fluid, as would be expected from many Russian players. He has a cannon from the point and isn’t afraid to chip in offensively.

Zadorov’s positioning tends to be his greatest advantage. He seems to know when and where to be to break up a play or move the puck out of the zone. His play was so impressive that he was named to the CHL Top Prospects Game a few months ago. He didn’t have any points in the game, but he was a +2.

There are many NHL teams with a need at the defense position, so with Zadorov’s height, skill, and defensive play, he will be called early to a team that will be excited to get him in the lineup.

Where Will He End Up In June:

With so many teams pining for a defensive stalwart, Zadorov could easily go in the top 10, even with the so-called “Russian Factor”. He may slip to the Top 15, but won’t fall much further than that.

Scout’s Honor:

“An absolute physical specimen; Zadorov is 6’6, weighs 229 lbs and he’s eager to use it. Cleans players out along the walls and in open ice without really exerting himself, he just… skates through them. As for his skating, he moves really well for a man his size. His foot speed isn’t elite, but he’s coordinated, fluid and well balanced. I’ve yet to see him get beat wide, and he’s quick enough to stay with his man. As you would expect he has tremendous reach as well, which allows him to cover even more ground, and he knows how to get his stick in passing lanes. He’s tough to play against and has been a smothering defensive presence in the games I’ve watched.”

Bill Ladd – NHL Mock Draft

“The potential that some evaluators see in Zadorov has them projecting the next big physical two-way NHL defender. He shows a nice combination of mobility, strength and puck skills. He skates very well for a player of his size and shows strong footwork, balance and mobility. He makes strong plays with the puck, and reads the play well. Zadorov’s first pass is strong and he does not try to force things that are just not there. His point shot is very hard and although his windup is a little on the long side, still should be considered a weapon. His strength is his physical game as he is willing to unload a devastating hit, mercilessly eliminate opponents along the boards or drop the gloves and teach an opponent a lesson about manners towards his teammates or himself.”

Aaron Vickers – Future Considerations

“Zadorov is best known for his defensive skills. A huge defenceman, he dishes out big hits, and opposing forwards really need to keep their heads up if coming down his end of the ice. He is mean along the boards and in front of the net. His skating and mobility is top notch, making him really hard to get by one on one…Offensively, Zadorov has improved by leaps and bounds over the course of the season. Early in the year he was strictly a stay at home type, but is now using his good mobility to allow himself to join the rush and then recover quickly. In the offensive end he has a very hard and heavy slapshot, and can let it fly from the point.”

Ben Kerr – Last Word On Sports

Statistics:

Bio/Interview(s)/Links:

Overview of Zadorov from the London Free Press

Profile on NHL.com

International Tournaments:

Zadorov played in the World U17 Hockey Challenge and the World U18 Junior Championships. In 11 games he had 2 goals and 3 assists.

ETA:

2-3 years

Risk/Reward Analysis:

Risk: 2/5 Reward 4.5/5

NHL Potential:

Top 4 shutdown defenseman with the capability to add some points

Strengths:

Physical play

Board play

Slap shot

Defensive awareness/IQ

Simplistic play

Positioning

Flaws/Aspects He Needs to Work On:

Poise with the puck

Dealing with pressure

Stickhandling

Wrist shot

Fantasy Hockey Potential:

Offensive: 4/10 Defensive: 9/10

NHL Player Comparison:

- Nikita Zadorov is a less offensive version of Dion Phaneuf or Dustin Byfuglien. He plays the same physical game as those two but hasn’t rounded out the offensive skills that they possess.

- Hall of Fame comparison: Scott Stevens

Video(s):

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THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph

Follow Shawn Reznik on Twitter: @ShawnTHW

The New York Rangers’ Power Play Is Worse Than You Think

Posted by: Josh Smith

in New York Rangers, Playoffs

20 May 2013

Brad Richards, Derick Brassard, John Tortorella, Mats Zuccarello, power play, Rick Nash

The Rangers’ power play is bad, but did you realize just how awful it is? The team’s repeated failures to convert are causing them to lose all momentum and strong penalty kills look to be giving their opponents a spark. What if the Blueshirts are actually worse off on the power play? (Hint: They are.)

Rick Nash (Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)

Rick Nash’s last power play point was April 18 against the Panthers. He had no power play goals this season against teams that made the playoffs. (Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)

Taking a Look at ‘Goals Per 60′

Forget power play percentage. We’re going to look at a statistic that shows the importance of special teams relative to even strength performance – goals per 60 minutes. We’ll look at the power play goals scored compared to the amount of time spent on the power play, then see what it would look like projected over sixty minutes – basically, what would happen if the team could play an entire game on the power play. We’ll do the same thing for even strength situations as a comparison.

At even strength in the regular season, the Rangers averaged 2.46 goals per 60 minutes (goals/60). On the power play, they were much higher, as expected, averaging 5.53 goals/60. That sounds about right. New York scored about twice as often on the power play as they did at even strength, based on the same amount of time.

In the playoffs, they’ve been worse. Much worse.

The Rangers’ power play finished off the regular season at a barely-respectable 15.7%. In the playoffs, they’re converting just 5.6% of their opportunities. That’s not just bad, it’s horrendous. So much so that they would, statistically speaking, be better off not going on the power play.

Rangers Playoff Goals per 60

The Rangers have spent more time on the power play than any other team this postseason, playing 64:14 with the man advantage. That tells us two things. One, they’ve drawn a lot of penalties. The other is the fact that over 94% of those penalties lasted the full two minutes, since the Blueshirts failed to cut them short by doing something crazy like actually scoring a power play goal. Over nine games, they’ve netted only two goals with the man advantage, which works out to 1.9 goals/60. That’s right, a full game on the power play would be expected to get them less than two goals.

At even strength, the Rangers have been better. They’ve averaged 2.3 goals/60 when playing five-on-five.

Yes, the Rangers score nearly half-a-goal less on the power play than at even strength when projected over 60 minutes. (Take your time. I’ll give you a minute to consider how absolutely pathetic that is.)

They even shoot better five-on-five. Their shooting percentage at even strength is a respectable 7.8%. Give them a power play, though, and they forget how to aim. Their shooting percentage drops to just 4.3% – not counting the innumerable times the Rangers miss the net. (I’m looking at you, Michael Del Zotto and Brian Boyle.)

Brian Boyle leads the Rangers with 14 missed shots. With only 12 shots on goal this postseason, Boyle is one of the few players who’ve missed more shots than they’ve made on goal. (Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE)

Bruins Playoff Goals per 60

In the postseason, the Bruins are much more in line with what you’d expect from this stat. At even strength, they’re averaging 3.1 goals/60. That jumps to 5.6 goals/60 on the power play, nearly double their five-on-five performance. That’s consistent with the kind of improvement we saw from the Rangers in the regular season, when their efforts were much less embarrassing.

The Bruins have one shorthanded goal in the playoffs. Given the time they’ve spent shorthanded, they’d score 1.2 goals if they played the entire game down a man. Based on how inept the Rangers’ power play is, if the two teams played a game with the Rangers on the power play for the entire 60 minutes, it projects to a final score of 1.9 to 1.2. Even if we round those numbers, that means an entire-game-long power play for the Rangers would still result in them squeaking by with a one goal win. It’d probably take overtime. Depressing, right?

Mats Zuccarello’s 2 assists have him tied for the team lead in power play points. Two assists. That’s it. (Icon SMI)

What Can The Rangers Do?

Tortorella has a plan. He always has a plan. (If you don’t believe me, ask him. I’ll kindly leave the room while you do so.) What are his options to address the team’s deplorably bad power play?

Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski boiled it down to addressing the efforts of a few key players, namely Hagelin, Nash, Richards, and Gaborik (or the lack thereof).

The boys from Blueshirt Banter agreed, calling for some fresh blood on the power play. With the way Pyatt and Dorsett have been battling on the boards, why not? And whatever happened to John Moore, who saw only 10:21 of ice – none on the power play – in Sunday’s 5-2 loss?

Over at NYR Full Tilt, they’re also demanding a complete overhaul of the lines, looking for Boyle and Hagelin – even though he stinks - to get more power play time, and to have Zuccarello and Moore quarterback the power play units. (That would leave Brad Richards as this year’s Stu Bickel, riding the pine as he’s done so often. The “star” center’s ice time dropped from over 18 minutes in the regular season down to 15 against the Capitals and now averaging just 10:53 per game against the Bruins.)

Those personel moves are worth a shot, right? Maybe. Or maybe not. Maybe the Rangers need to look at their outright failure with the man advantage and leverage it in a completely different way.

The Rangers Need To Take More Penalties

Hey, Blueshirts, are you listening? Here’s the new plan. From now on, forget about drawing the penalty. Power plays are of no use to you. Use this inadequacy to your advantage. Instead of a two-minute power play, consider it a free shot on your opponent. Lucic hooked you down? Good, now turn around and give him a two-hand slash so you can both go to the box. Get cross-checked in the crease? Return the favor and interfere with Rask. Maybe you score on the delayed call. If not, it’s not like you were going to score on the power play anyway. You may as well get in his head and keep it chippy.

At this point, the Blueshirts need to find some way to make the power play work to their advantage. Perhaps the best way to do that is to avoid any manpower advantage at all. Instead, get physical and get nasty. If you can’t deliver a goal or some offensive output, you need to find a way to deliver something. Carte blanche to rough things up a little might just be an option.

Just don’t put yourselves down a man. The Bruins have actually figured out this whole ‘power play goal’ thing…

Follow Josh on Twitter – @joshsmith29

Nick Baptiste – The Next Ones: 2013 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Posted by: Carl Maloney

in NHL Entry Draft, OHL

20 May 2013

Nick Baptiste, Trent Cull

Nick Baptiste THW Close-Up:

Team: Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Birthdate: August 4, 1995

Hometown: Ottawa, ON

Height: 6’1″ Weight: 200 lbs

Position: Right Wing

Shoots: Right

Draft Eligibility: 2013 1st year eligible

Twitter: @nickbaptiste

THW (Midterm) Ranking: 85

Nick Baptiste (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Other Rankings:

CSS Final Rankings (NA skaters): 61

NHL Consensus Ranking (NHL Numbers): 88

War Room Combined CSS Rankings: 84

****

[NHL 2013 Draft Guide - The Next Ones Draft Headquarters: Your quintessential draft resource]

****

Nick Baptiste has all the tools to be a successful pro hockey player. He has good size, likes to play physical, and is one of the fastest skaters entering the draft.

He has worked hard to get to where he is, as he was not always thought of in those terms. There were some doubts about his play last season and entering this year. His skating was questioned as was his consistency as well as other aspects of his game. He was also left off the Ivan Hlinka U18 roster for Canada in 2012 due to some of those concerns.

Baptiste has worked hard at silencing his critics and has made dramatic improvements in his game. His skating is his biggest asset now, and he has developed a solid two way game and turned into one of the Wolves best penalty killers. Despite playing much of the year on the team’s third line, he turned himself into one of their most dangerous players in all three zones.

He also earned a spot on the U18 World Championship roster and helped Canada earn a gold medal in Sochi this year. He has jumped up 44 spots since midterm, and is now 61 among North American skaters in the CSS Final Rankings.

The rest of the OHL noted his improvement voting him the most underrated player in the Eastern Conference in the 2012-13 coaches poll. He was also named the third most dangerous in the goal area and the third fastest skater in the conference in the same poll.

He has certainly added depth to his game, but there is still work to be done. Baptiste lacks the elite vision and offensive awareness to be a top six offensive threat in the NHL, but many have said that about his OHL game and have been proven wrong as he keeps progressing. If he continues to work hard at improving his game and his draft stock, he may yet prove many more scouts wrong with where he ends up.

He projects at this point as an NHL bottom six forward who can play physical and aggressive, be effective on the forecheck and contribute some offensive.

Scout’s Honour:

“Nick is our possible game-breaker for next year,” Cull said. “He’s a big, strong guy, his speed is a great asset, he can score and he does a lot of good work through his defence, the way he comes back and that’s an underrated part of his game.”

- Wolves head coach Trent Cull

***

“The Sudbury Wolves forward is still a gritty, hardworking, in your face player with the ability to put up points.

Despite standing at six feet and 200 pounds, Baptiste has great speed and a quick first step. He plays a physical game and when he gets the puck good luck trying to get it back, as he shield opponents with his frame.”

- Jedd Jones, Future Considerations

***

“For the last month of the season he was the raging bull-in-a-china shop we had hoped (and expected) to see all year.”

- Kyle Woodlief, USA TODAY Sports

Where He’ll End Up in June:

Baptiste will likely go in the mid to late third round of the draft. Somewhere in the 75-90 range.

Statistics:

Interviews:

→Yahoo! Sports Buzzing the Net

International Tournaments:

2012 U17 WHC – Canada (Ontario) – 4 points in 6 games
2013 U18 WJC – Canada – 8 points in 7 games
Nick Baptiste (OHL Images)

NHL ETA:

2-3 years

Risk/Reward Analysis:

Risk: 3.5/5 Reward: 3.5/5

NHL potential:

Third line two way forward with top six upside potential

Strengths:

Powerful skater
Physical play
Work ethic
Touch around the net
Quick release

Flaws/Aspects He Needs to Work On:

Consistency
Quickness/Agility
Continue to add strength and muscle to play physical pro game

Fantasy Potential:

Offensive: 7/10 Defensive: 6.5/10

Video:

THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph

Follow Carl on twitter @maloney3383 for more articles

Bruins Defencemen And The Ottawa Playbook

Posted by: Ian C McLaren

in Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Playoffs

20 May 2013

Andre Benoit, Bryan Murray, Claude Julien, Dougie Hamilton, Erik Gryba, Matt Bartkowski, Patrick Wiercioch, Paul MacLean, Peter Chiarelli, Torey Krug

After their Game 7 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, it became apparent that the Boston Bruins would have to roll out a lineup devoid of Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference and Wade Redden once the second round began. Many saw that as a major disadvantage for the Bruins, factoring these injuries in their decision to pick the Rangers to win the series. But in the absence of that trio of experienced Bruins defencemen, youth and organizational depth has stepped to the fore, reminiscent of something that occurred with GM Peter Chiarelli’s former employers during the regular season.

Zdeno Chara has a few young Bruins defencemen to take under his big wings during the 2013 playoffs. (Bob DeChiara-US PRESSWIRE)

Earlier this year, the Ottawa Senators found themselves in a bit of a spot when they learned that Jared Cowen would miss a significant part of the season due to a hip injury. On top of that, Erik Karlsson’s season appeared to be over after the devastating injury to his Achilles back in February. As a result, the Senators had to rely heavily on a trio of defencemen from Binghamton – Patrick Wiercioch, Andre Benoit and Erik Gryba.

Of course, as the story goes, the Senators were not only able to keep the ship afloat despite injuries to key players, they defied all logical expectations by qualifying for the playoffs. While these three d-men have assumed lesser roles as guys have moved back into the lineup, their regular season contributions should not be overlooked.

Over the course of the regular season, Gryba, Wiercioch and Beniot ranked 4-6 in 5 on 5 TOI among Senators defencemen, and Wiercioch also logged the 2nd most minutes on the power play in Karlsson’s absence. In fact, Wiercioch appeared in 42 games, scored 5 goals and added 14 assists, essentially led the Sens D with a 19.15 On-Ice Corsi rating, was a +9 and chipped in with 3 PPP. Benoit scored 10 points in 33 games, including 2 game winning goals, and also boasted a 14.30 On-Ice Corsi, while Gryba’s learning curve was a bit steeper as he actually had a -3.69 On-Ice Corsi while logging some heavy shut down minutes. (numbers courtesy of Behind The Net)

What helped in this situation was a concerted effort by the Senators not only to draft well and build organizational depth, but to create an environment and a system wherein a player could and should transition seamlessly from one level to the next. As such, a defenceman playing in Binghamton under Luke Richardson would have similar demands and expectations placed on him upon arrival in Ottawa, while playing in a system under Paul MacLean that already had an air of familiarity to it.

As to how that worked out for them, well the proof is in the pudding; Bryan Murray’s work in creating this kind of system has paid off with an appearance in the conference semi-finals and a Jack Adams nomination for MacLean.

So what does this have to do with the Bruins defencemen?

Torey Krug (Meowwcat/ Wikipedia)

With Seidenberg, Ference and Redden out of the lineup, 3 young Bruins defencemen have been called to step in and step up, and that they have done.

Dougie Hamilton, of course, has been playing at the NHL level all season, but was relegated to the sidelines as the playoffs began, as Claude Julien is wont to do with rookies in the playoffs (see Seguin, Tyler: 2011). In the 5 games that he has played, however, Dougie has put together an impressive 40.31 On-Ice Corsi rating, has chipped in 2 assists, and has helped give the power play a nice look when partnered with one of his young AHL counterparts.

That man would be Torey Krug, the undrafted defenceman out of Michigan State who has made an immediate impact for the Bruins after being called up from Providence. Krug played in 63 games for the P-Bruins this season – his first as a pro – scoring 45 points (13 G, 32 A), breaking the record for points scored by a Providence rookie defenseman in a season, and becoming a fan favorite in the process.

And in 2 games vs the Rangers, Krug as scored 2 goals (1 PPG) and added an assist, with an On-Ice Corsi of 18.95.

He has also become somewhat of a cult hero in Boston, the long-awaited for “puck handling defenceman” that can and has energized a dormant power play and boosted a struggling offense. His now famous puck kick led to the Bruins second goal in Game 2, and he is causing Bruins fans to utter something to this effect:

kruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

— Sarah Connors (@sarah_connors) May 20, 2013

uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuug

— Sarah Connors (@sarah_connors) May 20, 2013

Matt Bartkowski has also made in impact for the Bruins in these playoffs, notching his first career NHL goal in Game 7 vs the Leafs, and thwarting a Derrick Brassard attempt in Game 2 vs the Rangers that led to a Bruins goal at the other end to make it 4-2. Bartkowski was drafted in the 7th round of the 2008 Draft by the Florida Panthers, and was acquired alongside Seidenberg in March of 2001. He has been quietly developing his game in Providence over the last few years, and was thought to be a piece going to the Calgary Flames in a potential deal for Jarome Iginla. Based on his play to date, the Bruins must be feeling good about retaining his rights, and he is fitting in nicely among the ranks of Bruins defencemen.

(Bruins D numbers courtesy of Behind The Net)

Really, this all shouldn’t come as much of a shock. As anyone who saw what happened in Ottawa this year can attest to, the model of developing players in the AHL and creating systemic continuity between the two pro levels can and has bred an environment where players are set up to succeed after making that jump. The Bruins are also proving that to be true with the way that Krug and Bartkowski have stepped in after logging heavy and significant minutes in the AHL this season (like Johnny Boychuk and Adam MacQuaid did before them), and one can’t help but wonder if young Dougie may have been well served with some time in Providence as well.

If anything, it all reinforces the notion that teams should be populating their AHL squads with good, young talent rather than blowing their stacks on players already at the NHL level (something that contributed to Redden becoming a Bruin in the first place), or pushing players to succeed at the NHL level too early in their careers.

As the Senators and Bruins have shown, the creation of an environment and a system where a player can transition seamlessly from one level to the next can serve the organization well when the need is greatest, and both clubs are reaping those rewards to the tune of an appearance in the second round of the NHL Playoffs.

While any one of Hamitlon, Krug and Bartkowski will be forced to sit once Seidenberg, Ference and Redden are ready to return, these young Bruins defencemen have helped the team amass a 2-0 lead over the Rangers, and that’s all that can be asked of them for now.

(For more on this AHL link, please read this great post on Stanley Cup of Chowder – Dear NBC: Time To Acknowledge The AHL)

Follow Ian on Twitter for more hockey updates and commentary.

Could Bylsma’s Ego Ruin Pens’ Cup Chances?

Posted by: Tannor Torrao

in Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins

20 May 2013

Colin Greening, Craig Anderson, Daniel Alfredsson, Tomas Vokoun, Tyler Kennedy

It’s a trend that is becoming far too familiar to Penguins’ fans in these Stanley Cup Playoffs:

A bone-headed play, a mental lapse, a brain cramp, or pure laziness leading to arguably the most talented team in these playoffs losing a game that they should win.

And last night at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa was no exception.

In what can only be described as the Pens playing “rope-a-dope” with the Senators during a last-two-minutes-of regulation-power-play, Sens’ captain Daniel Alfredsson scored short-handed to tie Game Three of this best of seven series and send the contest to overtime. Colin Greening continued his success in the series by scoring the OT winner at 7:39 of the second overtime frame to get Ottawa within a win of tying things up.

Rope-a-Dope

Daniel Alfredsson (Icon SMI)

Allow me to explain the “rope-a-dope” strategy here. Defending Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson took a slashing penalty with just under a minute and a half left to play in regulation, and the Penguins up 1-0. Now at this point, the Pens’ power play had all but abandoned them in this game. They were 0-4 to this point, including a :59 two-man advantage early in the second period.

So with a minute and a half remaining, and the Penguins up a man, you would think that puck possession in the Ottawa end would be key. Keep two defensemen at the points, control the puck, no silly passes or shots and Pittsburgh should have the next two days to ponder how best to finish off the Senators in four games. But, as has been the case with this Penguins team, “not so fast my friend.”

Instead of getting the puck deep and controlling it in the Ottawa zone for the remainder of the game, the Penguins inexplicably dumped the puck in, then sat back and allowed the Sens to gain possession. Then were content to allow Ottawa to carry the biscuit into the Pens’ end. It becomes obvious at this point that the Penguins want to score an empty-net goal. Allow Ottawa to enter the zone, and get Craig Anderson (who was nothing short of spectacular in this game) to the bench for the extra skater. Then gain possession in the defensive zone, responsibly carry the puck out and hit the empty-netter for a 3-0 series lead. But the Penguins never gained possession in their own end.

Instead, Alfredsson was allowed to skate down the right wing boards, unscathed, and was able to deflect a Milan Michalek pass over an unsuspecting Tomas Vokoun’s right shoulder to knot things at one with 29 seconds left to play. Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang each looked lost once the Senators’ Sergei Gonchar got the puck to Michalek, and he entered the zone. Add Paul Martin to the mix and you have three guys chasing the puck, and no one picking up a streaking (if you can call a 40 year-old that) Daniel Alfredsson. Needless to say, the rope-a-dope strategy failed miserably.

Who to Blame?

(Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports)

It’s easy to blame Malkin here. From a pure defensive system standpoint, Alfredsson was Gino’s guy. Or you could blame Kris Letang, who for whatever reason followed Paul Martin to Michalek, leaving the center of the ice wide open.

I prefer to blame Dan Bylsma.

Now if you have read my work during this postseason, you know that I have not been the biggest “Disco Dan” supporter. In fact, I’m one of his biggest critics. The fact is, he’s the coach. When you have a situation such as the one that arose last night at 18:33 of the third period, I have to imagine, that as the head coach, you are in charge of what your team is doing on the ice. You are the one sending a particular group of players out on the ice, and you call the strategy with which you’re sending them. In this case, he sent his top power play unit out, and in my opinion, with the strategy of allowing Ottawa to get Anderson to the bench in order to score an empty-net goal.

Why was the top PP unit out there to begin with? The Penguins didn’t need another goal. They had played masterful defensive hockey for the entire third period. Send out any combination of Matt Cooke, Brandon Sutter, Tanner Glass, Pascal Dupuis, Craig Adams, Brooks Orpik, Mark Eaton, Douglas Murray and kill off the last 1:27 of this game. But not only did Bylsma, in my opinion, send out the wrong guys, he sent them out with the wrong frame of mind.

Inexcusable

What has become all too redundant this postseason, is Bylsma’s lack of adjustments and poor judgement. It took him three games to realize that his team was getting scalded by the Islanders’ speed. Then he finally made a lineup adjustment. It’s fairly obvious that Jarome Iginla, Evgeni Malkin and James Neal are not comfortable with one another, yet he keeps going back to this line combo. And his system, for all it’s regular season successes, has failed miserably not just this postseason, but last postseason, the postseason before, and the postseason before that.

(The Penguins’ offensive game is predicated on puck possession in the offensive zone. Ask yourself this: how much time have the Penguins spent in the Senators’ zone so far during this series? Have they really gotten their forecheck going?)

Optimism

I was ready jump off a bridge last night after Greening’s goal in the second overtime. But today is a new day, and it’s not all doom and gloom. I’ve slept it off, and awaken with a new sense of hope.

Consider this: Ottawa has thrown their very best at this Penguins’ team, and it took a last-second desperation goal, 27:39 of overtime hockey, and a Herculean effort from their goalie to finally beat them. All of that, coupled with returning home to play their first game at Scotiabank Place in 12 days, and welcoming back the second-leading scorer in Senators’ playoff history in Jason Spezza. At no point in this series has Ottawa even resembled being on the same planet as the Penguins. So I will simply say that it will be a shock if the Penguins do not return home on Friday night with a chance to wrap up this series in a fifth game on home ice (which, coincidentally, would be the Pens’ first series win on home ice since the 2008 Eastern Conference Final against Philly).

Shameless Self-Promotion

As always, thanks for reading! You can keep up with me and the entire Pittsburgh Penguins writing team here at The Hockey Writers on Twitter. Shame on you for six weeks if you’re not already following me. Please do so here:Follow @TDT_Pens4Life

Remember it’s not all doom and gloom, and…

“It’s a great day for hockey!!”

An Invisible Corey Perry Eliminated The Anaheim Ducks

Posted by: Michelle Drinnenberg

in Anaheim Ducks

20 May 2013

Anaheim Ducks, Corey Perry, Detroit Red Wings, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk

It has been exactly one week since the Detroit Red Wings ousted the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks and Wings have been here before — playing six times in the postseason since 1997– but this time Anaheim was favored to win the series by a landslide.

Corey Perry blame game? (Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE)

In the past, Detroits’ roster was stacked with future Hall Of Famers; Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Nicklas Lindstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, and I can fire off an endless lists off all-stars that donned the Red Wing crest. The team known for it’s perennial players, it taking on a different path with some new faces. Now, the Wings rely heavily on mainly two highly-talented forwards; Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.

Anaheim, despite their recent success, will probably never compare to Hockey Town where winning isn’t just everything, it’s expected. However, with the Samuelis as their new owners, they’ve endeavored to keep the Ducks a playoff contender. Two monumental moves that prove that notion is the resigning of captain Ryan Getzlaf and 2011 Hart Trophy recipient Corey Perry; both being the heart of the team.

Unfortunately, Perry didn’t make much of an impact during this year’s playoffs, which I think was the deciding factor for the Ducks’ early first-round exit. There were a lot of young players who stepped up for Anaheim –Matt Beleskey, Kyle Palmieri, Nick Bonino– in addition to Getzlaf and Jonas Hiller putting out an honest effort. Perry’s inability to find the back of the net resulted in him only contributing with two assists in seven games against Detroit.

It wasn’t for an entire lack of effort.

Perry was buzzing around Jimmy Howard for the majority of the series –registering at least several shots a game– but he didn’t make those shots count. That was the difference. It doesn’t matter how many other teammates contribute. If a team doesn’t get production from their star player their season will be short-lived, which is why those specific players get paid the big bucks; to find ways to win when their team needs them.

The Ducks were successful in shutting down the Red Wings’ top forwards, but couldn’t contain them in final two games of the series. Datsyuk and Zetterberg came up big in those games and that’s when Detroit started planning their itinerary for Chicago. Datsyuk had a goal and three points in Game 6. Zetterberg had a pair of goals and an assist and then came up with two points in the final Game 7.

Zetterberg and Datsyuk came through for their team when it mattered the most. The games the two were held off the scoreboard, the Ducks’ young guns pulled through for Anaheim. What Anaheim needed and what they didn’t get was Perry stepping up. Imagine what a goal or a few extra points from Perry could have meant for the Ducks.

Thanks Corey for that early tee time.

While some Anaheim players are probably sporting some plaid shorts and solid colored polo’s, I hope that some of players are giving Corey Perry a hard time and not just of his golf ensemble.

For more information throughout the season follow me on twitter @m_drinnenberg and on Facebook here.

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Darnell Nurse THW Close-Up:

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The Beast on the Back End

Where Will He End Up In June:

Scout’s Honor:

Statistics:

Bio/Interview(s)/Links:

International Tournaments:

ETA:

Risk/Reward Analysis:

NHL Potential:

Strengths:

Flaws/Aspects He Needs To Work On:

Fantasy Hockey Potential:

NHL Player Comparison:

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Where Will He End Up In June:

Scout’s Honor:

Statistics:

Bio/Interview(s)/Links:

International Tournaments:

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Risk/Reward Analysis:

NHL Potential:

Strengths:

Flaws/Aspects He Needs to Work On:

Fantasy Hockey Potential:

NHL Player Comparison:

Video(s):

Taking a Look at ‘Goals Per 60′

Rangers Playoff Goals per 60

Bruins Playoff Goals per 60

What Can The Rangers Do?

The Rangers Need To Take More Penalties

Follow Josh on Twitter – @joshsmith29

Nick Baptiste THW Close-Up:

Other Rankings:

Scout’s Honour:

Where He’ll End Up in June:

Statistics:

Interviews:

International Tournaments:

NHL ETA:

Risk/Reward Analysis:

NHL potential:

Strengths:

Flaws/Aspects He Needs to Work On:

Fantasy Potential:

Video:

Rope-a-Dope

Who to Blame?

Inexcusable

Optimism

Shameless Self-Promotion

“It’s a great day for hockey!!”

It wasn’t for an entire lack of effort.

Thanks Corey for that early tee time.

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