Matthews, Crosby among first-half highlights
The NHL season has reached the halfway point, and panic has arrived in some cities while optimism is flowing in others. Our look at the best and worst performers of the half (statistics through Tuesday):
TOP ROOKIE
1. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs; 2. Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets; 3. Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
The rookie-of-the-year race is a close one between Matthews and Laine. We give Matthews the edge because he has a more complete game. Matthews is scoring 0.90 points per game compared to Laine’s 0.88. Both players have netted 21 goals, but Matthews has an 18-14 lead in even-strength tallies.
Werenski could also be a major factor before the award is handed out. His puckmoving ability is a primary reason why the Blue Jackets have dramatically improved.
BEST OFFSEASON ACQUISITION
1. Sam Gagner, Blue Jackets; 2. Eric Staal, Minnesota Wild; 3. Michael Grabner, New York Rangers
From a competitive and economic standpoint, no NHL general manager made a more impactful move than Jarmo Kekalainen’s signing of Gagner for $650,000. Gagner has contributed 30 points in 39 games and added poise and polish to the Blue Jackets’ power play.
Staal’s resurgence has taken some of the burden at center off Mikko Koivu and made the Wild more dangerous on offense. The Rangers pulled Grabner out of the bargain bin for $3.2 million over two seasons, and he has given them speed and 19 goals.
MVP
1. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins; 2. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers; 3. Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
With 26 goals in 33 games, Crosby has picked up where he left off in the World Cup, where he was the tournament’s MVP.
Crosby needs to maintain this pace to win the MVP because McDavid has been consistently dominant from the start of the season. If the Hart were awarded today, it could just as easily go to McDavid as to Crosby.
Burns, meanwhile, can impact the outcome of games more than any non-goalie. He’s a physical force and a high-scoring defenseman.
BEST GOALIE
1. Devan Dubnyk, Wild; 2. Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets; 3. Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
Dubnyk (21-7-3, 1.80 goals-against average, .939 save percentage) has been dominant to the point that he also should receive MVP consideration. He’s at the top of the reasons the Wild are viewed as Stanley Cup contenders.
Bobrovsky is playing like he did when he won the Vezina Trophy in 2012-13. Believe it or not, Holtby’s numbers are better than they were last season. Tuukka Rask (Boston Bruins) could be on this list as well.
MOST IMPRESSIVE COACHING JOB
1. John Tortorella, Blue Jackets; 2. Bruce Boudreau, Wild; 3. Mike Babcock, Maple Leafs
The Blue Jackets are ranked third in goals-for and goals-against, a far cry from last season when they were nowhere near the top in either category.
Tortorella has persuaded them to believe in themselves, much as he did with the New York Rangers a few years ago. They come to the rink believing if they pay attention to the details, they will prevail. Tortorella has done a splendid job of improving the team’s power play and defensive play.
Meanwhile, Boudreau was the perfect choice to bring harmony to what had been a dysfunctional Wild team.
Babcock has the Maple Leafs well ahead of schedule in their rebuilding process.
TOP DEFENSEMAN
1. Burns, Sharks; 2. Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens; 3. Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
Bearded Burns looks and performs like the most intimidating defenseman in the game this season.
He has 16 goals in 41 games, and those goals aren’t all coming on the power play. He has 12 even-strength goals.
Weber is 230 pounds of talent, strength and will to win. Weber has been a perfect fit in Montreal and has put a charge into the team’s offense and defense.
Keith is an elite performer on both sides of the puck.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
1. Florida Panthers; 2. New York Islanders; 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
After last season’s strong performance, the Panthers were expected to continue their climb toward Stanley Cup contention.
Instead, they fired coach Gerard Gallant early in the season. They are out of sync.
The Islanders were a playoff team last season and now they are 28th in the NHL in points.
The Lightning were expected to contend for the Stanley Cup, but right now they aren’t even in a playoff spot.