NHL Mid-Season Awards and Outlook-Part II

Had to take a break and watch the Bruins game. A nice 3-2 victory. Forgive me. Moving on:

I've named the most valuable player thus far in the NHL, the best goalie, the best rookie, best defenseman, etc. What fun would all that be without naming the opposite versions? You know, like if this were Seinfeld, this would be the "bizzaro world".

It'd be too difficult to go through all the defenseman out there and anoint one of them the worst, and it's unfair to go after a rookie who's presumably only going to get better. But in terms of veteran skaters and goaltenders? Different story entirely. In homage to the Bruins of yesteryear, I'll be naming the Least Valuable Player (LVP) the Alex Zhamnov Memorial Trophy, after the Bruins "big signing" coming off the lockout. And for the goaltending award, I will combine two of the very best Bruins netminders of the past into one, and will dish out the Hannu Raycroft Award for the worst goaltender. Don't worry, I didn't forget about Rob Tallas, Felix Potvin, John Grahame, or Steve Shields. But if you recall, both Andrew Raycroft and Hannu Toivenen were the "next big thing" around here at one point in time. Kind of like Tuukka Raskcroft is right now. Alright enough about the Bruins post-lockout it's just getting depressing.

Alex Zhamnov Memorial Trophy of the Half-season

Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, Devils

Watch that video real quick and it tells the whole story. Kovalchuk, the NHL leader in goals since he broke into the league in 2001, just hasn't been able to catch a break. After a tumultuous summer in which his 17 year, $102 million free agent signing with the Devils was voided, followed by signing an equally laughable 15 year, $100 million deal, Kovy has become the whipping boy for what ails the once-proud New Jersey Devils. Right from his acquisition at the deadline last spring, it just felt weird seeing Kovalchuk, not exactly a defensive-minded player, on the defense-first Devils. 

Kovalchuk has put up a 14-15-29 line thus far, which is fine until you realize who he is, what he's being paid, and then look at his plus/minus rating: -29, far and away the worst in the NHL by 6.

The Devils have had their share of problems, including Zach Parise's long-term injury and Father Time finally catching up with Marty Brodeur, but Kovalchuk has been an even bigger problem when he was supposed to be a solution.

Off the hook: Simon Gagne, Sergie Gonchar, Phil Kessel, Chris Phillips, and Blake Wheeler. Just kidding about Wheeler. Sort of.

Hannu Raycroft Memorial Trophy of the Half-season

 

Nikolai Khabibulin, Oilers

The Bulin Wall edges out a strong crop of terrible goalies for the inaugural Hannu Raycroft award. Which is really a shame, considering his pedigree as a Stanley Cup winning goalie with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. But when you rank in the bottom 5 in both save percentage (.891) and goals against average (3.45), all while manning the bottom dwellers of the Western Conference, the choice becomes a fairly simple one. And The Wall has played more games than your average terrible goaltender, 32, which means he's had more time to improve his numbers but has failed to do so.

You'd think Edmonton will go with a younger goalie in the 2nd half, so Khabibulin may well escape, but he's set the tone for ineptitude between the pipes thus far.

Off the hook: Martin Brodeur, Rick DiPietro, Steve Mason, Marty Turco, Jonas Gustavsson

Adrian Beltre "Pleasant Surprise" Team of the Half-season

Oh right they moved to Dallas

Mike Modano, franchise icon dating back to those iconic days in Minnesota? Gone. Marty Turco, rock solid goaltender for the better part of the last decade? Exiled. Brad Richards, best player? Due to be a free agent, deemed likely to be traded for prospects.

Yet through it all, it's been a magical season in the Big D thus far. Richards has, as expected, been dynamite, posting a 20-37-57 line thus far, despite the constant trade winds that have surrounded him. The goaltending has been a surprise of epic proportions with Thrashers castoff Kari Lehtonen leading the way and, wait for it, Andrew Raycroft playing solid in relief. 

The supporting cast in Dallas has been stepping up as well, with rising stars James Neal and Loui Eriksson both making solid contributions, while captain Brendan Morrow is turning in his usual solid performance. Even former Canadiens great Mike Ribeiro has been getting in on the act, placing third on the team in scoring behind only Richards and Eriksson.

Add it all up, and Dallas is leading the Pacific Division, third overall in the West. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Richards. The guess here is they milk him for all he's worth and let him play out his contract and try to win the Cup this season. But if a desperate team comes calling, offering up a king's ransom, can the Stars turn it down? Definitely a storyline worth watching.

Also a pleasant surprise: Atlanta Thrashers, Nashville Predators.

John Lackey "Biggest Disappointment" Team of the Half-season

 

 

New Jersey Devils

As mentioned earlier, leading goal scorer in the NHL since 2001? Check. Arguably the best goaltender of the past 20 years, and possibly even all-time? Check. Another perennial 35 goal-scorer, not to mention several players left from the glory days of New Jersey? 

This could be a 30 for 30 documentary some day. What if I told you Ilya Kovalchuk, Martin Brodeur, Zach Parise, Patrick Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Brian Rolston would stumble out to the worst record in the NHL? 

Some how, some way, the New Jersey Devils have plummeted from 103 points last year to a 61 point-pace this season, currently sitting in dead last with 37. Langenbrunner has since been traded back to the Dallas Stars, where he helped them win a Cup in 1999. As mentioned earlier in the Kovalchuk section, injuries and time have simply caught up to the Devils. One must think the Devils will rebound to an extent in the second half, right? There are simply still too many talented players on this team to be mentioned in the same breath as the Islanders, Maple Leafs, Oilers, etc. But if this is indeed the end of Marty Brodeur as a top-flight goaltender, the Devils are going to have a lot of decisions to make between now and the trade deadline.

Off the hook: Islanders, Maple Leafs, Oilers, San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings

It's been yet another long season on Long Island.

There are many Bruins season ticket holders, like the one above, who have longed for Lord Stanley's return to Boston for the first time since 1972. Is this, finally, the year?

Moving forward, who exactly is the clubhouse leader in the race for the Cup? Out West, it's hard to pick against current leader Vancouver. With the Sedin twins and Ryan Kesler leading the charge offensively and Bobby Luongo between the pipes, it's hard to see them relinquishing the pole position. Although Luongo has been known to fade in the post-season before, so it's by no means signed, sealed and delivered. And never count out the Detroit Red Wings.

Back East, of course I think the Bruins have a chance. With Tim Thomas playing well enough to win not only the Vezina, but perhaps the Hart Trophy as well, the Bruins can hang with any team in the National Hockey League on any given night. They've got great depth at every position, with no true weak links.

That being said, when at full strength, I just don't know if I can see anyone getting past the Pittsburgh Penguins. I hope I'm wrong, I really, really do. But as of now, I think we're staring down a Vancouver-Pittsburgh Stanley Cup Finals. And if you think everything is all shits and giggles in the Steel City right now, with them being in the Super Bowl and all, just remember this: they still have the Pirates.