There has been much deliberation as to who the best players in the league are at their respective positions up to this point in the season. Many are throwing in votes for Tim Thomas or Roberto Luongo as the best goaltender at the moment for the success of their respective teams; Evgeni Malkin, or Alexander Ovechkin for MVP; Zdeno Chara or Shea Weber for the Norris; and some surprises for the Calder.
Since we’re tired of seeing everyone else make their picks for these categories and not voicing our own opinion on the situation, we present to you our picks for the Hart, Vezina, Norris, and Calder trophies at the quarter-point in the season.
Calder
Kris Versteeg
A very nice surprise for the Chicago Blackhawks this season. The former Boston Bruins farmhand was traded to the Blackhawks three seasons ago in, what was then, a meaningless trade between the two teams. Thrown in as a castoff in a deal for winger Brandon Bochenski, Versteeg, 25, has been keeping up with the likes of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, recording seven goals and 13 assists for a total of 20 points in 19 games played this season. One thing that jumps out the most about Versteeg is that he’s tied for seventh in the league in +/- with a +11 rating, proving that he’s not only a one-dimensional player.
Derick Brassard
Playing with a player like Rick Nash will help anyone’s statistics, however Brassard, 21, is turning heads in Columbus by exceeding the expectations that anyone had for him at the beginning of the season. In 19 games played, the Blue Jackets center has amassed eight goals and 11 assist for 19 points. Like Versteeg he also has a solid +/- rating, sitting at a pretty plus nine.
Mikhail Grabovski
A small vote for the Maple Leafs forward, who came in with a ton of expectations to prove the Canadiens wrong on letting him go for a draft pick in the off-season. For being on a team that was supposed to fail, Grabovski, 22, leads all rookies this season with nine goals and looks like he could one day, with some improvements in the defensive zone, be a bonafide NHL player.
Pick: Versteeg. He has shown to be more reliable than the other two on the list and continues to put points up on a nightly basis.
Norris
Zdeno Chara:
A major reason, along with Tim Thomas, why the Boston Bruins are sitting a top the Eastern Conference standings. Chara, 32, has always played second fiddle to Niklas Lidstrom in the voting for the Norris. However, this season it seems like he’s bigger and stronger (if that’s possible) than every before. Chara is considered in this category, not for his offensive flair, as he only has four goals and five assists in 22 games played, but for his stability on the blueline and the fear that he puts into opponents that he plays against every night.
Shea Weber:
The lesser known of the two, as many on the Eastern seaboard might only remember Weber from his World Junior days, where Pierre McGuire developed a love for the 6’3” defenceman from British Columbia. Not only is Shea, 24, catching eyes playing in the Western conference, but he is the main reason why Nashville is even coming close to contending for a playoff spot at the moment. Leading all defenceman with 10 goals and 21 points in 21 games, the major surprise in all of his statistics is that he’s scored two game winning goals, good enough for 10th in the league, which shows that he’s got a knack for not only getting it done on the defensive side, but he’s also able to put the puck in the back of the net.
Pick: Weber. Has performed leaps and bounds over many of the other defenceman in the league, putting up his numbers on a mediocre Nashville club.
Vezina
Tim Thomas:
Thomas, 31, once again was slated to see minimal duty this season like in years past, apparently going to split time with ex Minnesota Wild goaltender Manny Fernandez. While this worked for the first few games, Thomas has since taken hold of the number one job, and is looking like he won’t relinquish it for a while. He is leading the league in save %, goals against average, and is tied for second in shutouts, all the while leading Boston to one of its best starts since the Joe Thornton days.
Roberto Luongo:
There was much talk at the beginning of the season that how well Luongo plays, the Canucks will play, which has been very true in years past, however this year, even though Luongo has been stellar posting five shutouts including a string of three in a row, the Canucks are getting more scoring from guys like Kyle Wellwood and Pavol Demitra. Now that Luongo, 32, is injured, Vancouver will really be tested to see if they can continue their strong play and stay near the top of the Western Conference.
Pick: Thomas. Has lead his team to one of the best records in the NHL, which isn’t bad for the once journeyman netminder.
Hart
Evgeni Malkin:
Like Semin, Malkin got off to a flying start this season, and hasn’t looked back since. When he flopped in the Stanley Cup finals against Detroit last season, critics were wondering if he could bounce back this season and play like he did last year when Sidney Crosby was out with his groin injury. Malkin, 22, has done just that, leading the league in points[35], assists[25], and leading his team, without Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney, to the fourth overall spot in the Eastern Conference
Alexander Ovechkin:
Since Ovechkin returned from missing Washington’s first few games due to family issues and having to fly back to Russia, the 22 year old has been on a tear in the last twenty games, shooting up the NHL statistics board by scoring 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points, which ranks him third overall. Not only is he playing well on the offensive side, but he’s taking care of business on the defensive side, garnering a +14 plus/minus, which sits him fourth in the NHL. Washington should only climb in the standings more now that Alexander Semin is back in the lineup as well.
Pick: Malkin. Has held Pittsburgh a float in the absence of Crosby, with the team sitting in the middle of the Eastern Conference.
For Open Ice Hockey, I’m Jesse Michael
Topics: Alex Ovechkin, Calder, Derick Brassard, Evgeni Malkin, Hart, Kris Versteeg, Mikhail Grabovski, Norris, Roberto Luongo, Shea Weber, Tim Thomas, Vezina, Zdeno Chara
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