Quarter Mark Awards

[Bizzle McDizzle]

you know the NHL has gone wrong when people start looking at points as the top stat for who should win the Norris.

no way!
this must be something new

when did they start doing that????

 

[Eddie_Shack]

Jack Adams: Scott Arniel. He's got his team off to the best start in franchise history, despite having a roster that's somewhat thin on top end talent. They've kept the defense that Hitch instilled, but they are actually scoring now. Time will tell if this is a fluke or the real deal. HM: Tippett, Sacco

Vezina: Carey Price. It's nice to see him shut the pie holes of doubters, especially the ones who were booing him last year. He has been rock solid, and given his team the confidence it needs to play. I knew he had it in him, I just didn't think he would do it in Montreal. HM: Thomas, Backstrom

Calder: PK Subban has picked up where he left off, and looks like a ten year vet out there (apparently talks shit like one too). Lots of talent, poise, and confidence despite playing in one of the toughest markets in the NHL. I'd love to have this guy on my team. HM: Skinner, Coutoure

Hart: Stamkos. Just incredible what this kid is doing. No explanation needed. HM: Crosby, Brad Richards

Norris: Nick Lidstrom, half man half machine. He's looking better than last year, putting up numbers, running the power play, and shutting down the opposition. Uh oh, I'm getting weird about this again... time to do my exercises..

I should want to cook Nick Lidstrom a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key.

Whew, I feel much better. HM: I guess Letang and Liles, if I had to pick another it would be Letang. I just don't like the D I'm seeing from those two, especially Liles.

Doofus: CC and Bettman. Completely agree with Darkstone, and there are several more incidents that come to mind, not even including Emailgate.

Letdown: I'd love to be original here, but how do you not go with Kovalchuk?

We forgot the Selke: Tough to say right now, Datsyuk and Kesler have been OK but not as good as years past. Right now I would say it's up between Jay McClement, Mike Richards, and Kevin Porter. Yes, Kevin Porter.

 

[pixburgher66]

you know the NHL has gone wrong when people start looking at points as the top stat for who should win the Norris.

I agree, but a comment on Letang is this: he's been our best defensive guy at many points this season as well...he's really developed into a great all around defensive player, but Lidstrom still gets my nod for Norris.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

I agree, but a comment on Letang is this: he's been our best defensive guy at many points this season as well...he's really developed into a great all around defensive player, but Lidstrom still gets my nod for Norris.

From what I've seen, Letang has made leaps and bounds in his own end since last season. I think the departure of Gonchar has done wonders for him, and the increased role and responsibility has helped him bloom into a more complete player. But like most young defensemen, he's still got a lot to learn before I can consider him a Norris caliber defenseman.

A lot of really good blueliners are off to slow starts this year. Right now Lidstrom I believe is the consensus choice, but I believe once Doughty gets back to 100%, he's going to start making some noise. Also guys like Weber, Meyers, Keith, and Green haven't really been themselves. Look for some of the more traditional powers to take over in the second half.

 

[beantownmaniac]

Biggest Doofus: anyone who belives the Crosby Reebok viral ads aren't faked/edited.

Pffffft. Next you'll be saying pro wrestling is fame

 

[Automattic]

Letdown - Jiri Hudler. Lets face it. Who doesn't love having a 2.5 million healthy scratch.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

Letdown - Jiri Hudler. Lets face it. Who doesn't love having a 2.5 million healthy scratch.

The midget will be back with a vengeance. Mark my words.

 

[Automattic]

Letdown - Jiri Hudler. Lets face it. Who doesn't love having a 2.5 million healthy scratch.

On second thought. Lets call it a "Wealthy" scratch.

 

[Automattic]

The midget will be back with a vengeance. Mark my words.

I know, I know. But, this is the 1/4 mark awards. He's got 3/4 more schedule to get his happy lil ass going. Babcock could find a line combo that would even get me scoring, so it shouldn't be long...

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Adams Dave Tippett Coyotes
Vezina Carey Price
Calder Jeff Skinner although Logan Couture is coming on strong.
Hart Steven Stamkos
Norris Rostislav Klesla leads the league in plus/minus on a team that doesn't score anywhere near the amount of goals Lidstrom's team does. Oh Yeah the Blue Jackets are tied with Detroit for the division lead.

Biggest Doufus is Charles Wang. This is a close one with Colin Campbell but Chuck refuses to spend any money on a team that has a 14 game losing streak.

Biggest letdown is the Devils but they seem to be improving.

 

[mattola]

Wasn't I made fun of during the playoffs last year because I said I wouldn't mind having Buttfuglian on my team?

and we will still make fun of you

 

[mattola]

TSN results

HART
Winner: Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa Bay
Runners-up: Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh; Brad Richards, C, Dallas

It's a close race between the league's two top scorers, but the slight edge to Stamkos, who is just off goal-per-game pace.

NORRIS
Winner: John-Michael Liles, Colorado
Runners-up: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit; Dustin Byfuglien, Atlanta

An unbelievable start for Liles, whose best year so far has been his rookie season (2005-2006: 49 points, plus-5), but is the only D-man with at least 20 points and a plus-10 rating through the first quarter.

SELKE
Winner: Tomas Plekanec, C, Montreal
Runners-up: Ryan Kesler, C, Vancouver; Martin Hanzal, C, Phoenix

Many contenders, but Plekanec remains a two-way force who scores a point-per-game yet is effective on the penalty kill and 5-on-5.

VEZINA
Winner: Tim Thomas, Boston
Runners-up: Carey Price, Montreal; Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles

Phenomenal starts for all three, but tough to beat Thomas' 1.46 goals against average and .955 save percentage.

CALDER
Winner: Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Philadelphia
Runners-up: Logan Couture, C, San Jose; Jeff Skinner, RW, Carolina

Bobrovsky has allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of 17 starts and a .925 save percentage gives the Flyers more stability than expected in goal. Couture leads all rookies in goals (8) and shots on goal (70), while Skinner tops the freshman points race (17).

JACK ADAMS
Winner: Guy Boucher, Tampa Bay
Runners-up: Dave Tippett, Phoenix; Craig Ramsey, Atlanta; Scott Arniel, Columbus

Perhaps not surprisingly, first-year coaches are having an immediate effect on their new teams, but had to include Tippett again, as he's guided the Coyotes to top spot in the Pacific Division.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

I just don't get the Liles love. He had a red hot start, I don't think he's going to keep it up, and he hasn't been (this season or ever) a great defender. There are four defensemen on the team that spend more time killing penalties than Liles. Foote, Hannan, Cumiskey, and Holos. That's a pretty telling stat right there. I don't have a problem awarding the Norris to a guy that's dominating the scoring race, but he should at least have hint of defense to his game.

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

Biggest Doufus is Charles Wang. This is a close one with Colin Campbell but Chuck refuses to spend any money on a team that has a 14 game losing streak.

If it we an actual, annual award, we could just go ahead and call it the Wang in recognition of his pioneering work in long term contracts, even prior to the new CBA.


That works on many levels.

..And this year, the Wang goes to...



I like it
Somebody call the committee. What committee? I don't know. Whatever committee that would decide this sort of thing. That committee.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

And Colin Campbell has been slapped with his third straight Wang! How many Wangs do you think Colin will take?

I don't know Bob, but he's always a gracious receiver of Wangs.

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

And Colin Campbell has been slapped with his third straight Wang! How many Wangs do you think Colin will take?

I don't know Bob, but he's always a gracious receiver of Wangs.

I like where this is going...

 

[puckhead]

good timing matt - here's TSN's take:
Cullen: First Quarter NHL Awards and Stats

 

[banditshcky11]

I'm not sure how anyone can think that any of the candidates they picked for the Calder are even close to #1 on the official polls... I'm guessing that you're all forgetting about a goalie named Sergei Bobrovsky in 17 starts he owns a record of 12-3-1 with a .925% save % average and a 2.21 GAA. He's been a major reason why the Flyers are where they are right now in the standing since he was turning in some stellar performances while the Flyers were finding their sleeping offensive juggernaut. In fact Bob would also be in the top 3 for the Veznia at this point I'm pretty sure with Thomas and Price(Price would win if the season ended now IMO).

I'm sure there are those people saying that goalies shouldn't be able to win the Calder cause they have the Veznia available to them, but that's a load of crap. The Calder is awarded to the player that puts up the most proficent performance during their first year in the league and so far that has clearly been Bob, what other player has heavily contributed in all of their teams wins thus far this season? or has blatantly stolen a game?

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

I'm not sure how anyone can think that any of the candidates they picked for the Calder are even close to #1 on the official polls... I'm guessing that you're all forgetting about a goalie named Sergei Bobrovsky in 17 starts he owns a record of 12-3-1 with a .925% save % average and a 2.21 GAA. He's been a major reason why the Flyers are where they are right now in the standing since he was turning in some stellar performances while the Flyers were finding their sleeping offensive juggernaut. In fact Bob would also be in the top 3 for the Veznia at this point I'm pretty sure with Thomas and Price(Price would win if the season ended now IMO).

I'm sure there are those people saying that goalies shouldn't be able to win the Calder cause they have the Veznia available to them, but that's a load of crap. The Calder is awarded to the player that puts up the most proficent performance during their first year in the league and so far that has clearly been Bob, what other player has heavily contributed in all of their teams wins thus far this season? or has blatantly stolen a game?

There are official polls?

Silly me. Thought it was just opinion.

 

[dash]

banditskcky11 does make a hell of a good case for "Bob", I have to admit I haven't see the Flyers too much this season, but it's tough to ignore those numbers...