Chuzwazza
Registered User
Every year there are the guys that make headlines, and guys that don't. This is a collection of the players we picked here at 'The Buffalo News' who were on the 2nd list, but should have been on the 1st one.
Honourable mentions go to names like Sean Burke and Lason LaBarbera and Martin Gerber who severely outdid expectations this season, but have been far from unsung. They deserved all the recognition they recieved, but in a way hat prevented them from making this list. Honourable mention to Tom Preissing, who just (and i mean just missed) out.
So...here goes...
#10). TIM CONNOLLY (PHI)
Sure, we all know about the big line in Philli (Gagne-Gomez-Bertuzzi) but Connolly has quietly gone about posting the teams best plus minus this season (excluding Redden because much of his time was in Boston) and posting an impresive 62 points. The big thing however might be the 8PP and 5 Game Winners he has contributed, putting him right behind the big 3 in both categories.
#9). SCOTT HARTNELL (BUF)
If not for Pitt's continual campaigning of the guy, nobody would know what he does for that team every night. Almost without fail, the best line on the night is whichever one he's on. Until recently (when linked with Cole and Briere) Jaromir Jagr couldn;t produce without Hartnell running LW. He also steps in and wins fights, backing up his team-mates when things get heated. 28 goals and 58 points is nice, as is the (suprise suprise!) team high +33, but those that watched the stanley cup finals last year know how much he really means to the team, when he single handedly sank the jackets and nearly stole the Conn Smythe from Dick Tarnstrom based almost solely on his 5 game cup finals performance.
#8). HENRIK LUNDQVIST (DET)
Ok, Ok, he should almost be off this list because a lot of people have been watching him in the rookie race, but does anyone really understand how good he's been for Detroit this season and how important he has been for them? His numbers (61 GP, 39-16-4 with 4 SO's a 2.62 G.A.A and a .898 puts him right behind likely finalists Luongo, Turco and Burke for the Vezina). He might still walk away with the Calder trophy however.
#7). MICHAEL OUELLET (DAL)
Ok, so Bryan McCabe is a lock for the Norris and Hart Trophies, and Yashin and Koivu have been superb this season. But who is the 3rd forward on the line which has a combine higher +/- than any other this season? That's right its perhaps the least anticipated rookie on the stars roster this season, given the arrivals of names like Parise, Roy, Upshall and Erhoff, but a 64 point season with a +34 rating should make anyone take notice.
#6) DAVID VYBORNY (CHI)
Think Chicago and 4 names spring to mind. Sakic, Kovalev, Tanguay and Zubov. Thing is they all play on the same line. So what is David Vyborny doing putting up similar numbers (77 points and a +8) as the big 3 forwards whilst having names like Matt Cullen (32 points all season) and Jamal Mayers (29 points) as linemates? He's not better than the big 3, but the face that he's managed to play at their production level with the minimal offensive help he's had is quite amazing.
#5). ANDREJ MESZAROS (VAN)
Why is he on this list and not Crosby etc? cause we all know that the calder is likely to come down to Crosby, Ovechkin and Hemsky, who have all been impressive and well watched this season. Only Eric Staal has been more important this season to the Canucks, as the two posted +27 ratings...miles ahead of anybody else on their team. the 18 goals (4 GW's) and 48 points as a rookie doesn't hurt, and in our eyes he's more deserving than Hemsky and Ovechkin for ROY.
#4). PHILLIPE BOUCHER (COL)
If not for McCabe, he'd win my vote for the Norris this season. Look at the numbers... 53 points a +30 rating (tops on the team) on a 1st round road team, 121 PIM (so you know he jumps in to help his team mates as well) and a whopping 221 hits (2nd in the league). Boucher has been the rock on a blueline that covers medicore goaltender Marc Denis, and has helped turn the Avs into a playoff team.
#3). MIKE COMMODORE (PIT)
What? Mike Commodore makes this list? what did he do? Only post the best +/- on the team (and clear cut better than anybody else on that Pens blueline) whilst Dropping the gloves with great regularity and dishing out hits. He might not be the best player on this list, but he is without a shadow of a doubt the least hyped.
#2). PETR NEDVED (BOS)
Thats right, Nedved is back. Despite LeCavalier taking so much of the attention this season, Nedved took over as the teams leading scorer in surprisingly no fuss fashion. 91 points in 82 games speaks volumes, but his 109 PIM is the real surprise. He actually decided to get involved in other aspects of the game this year. This might be a flash in the pan year for Petr, but he was truly impressive this season.
#1). MATTIAS OHLUND (OTT)
The fact that he was left off the All-star roster surprised many. Not many blueliners (if any) work with less talent around them and do more. Routinely logging massive minutes, Ohlund produced a fine offensive season (50 points in 82 games) while tied for 3rd in hits (215) and logged a team high +17 despite playing fatigued for much of the year. The Senators were top 5 in GA this year (if not for a 7-2 blowup on the last game of the season they would have been 2nd) and Ohlund had almost as much to do with it as Luongo did. There isn;t a team in the league that wouldn;t like to get their hands on an all-star level 2 way defenseman with solid wheels, a bit of a mean streak and earning only $3million a season. Look for a few teams to come after him in the off-season!
So that's all...for now
Buffalo Bill
Hockey Editor for The Buffalo News
Honourable mentions go to names like Sean Burke and Lason LaBarbera and Martin Gerber who severely outdid expectations this season, but have been far from unsung. They deserved all the recognition they recieved, but in a way hat prevented them from making this list. Honourable mention to Tom Preissing, who just (and i mean just missed) out.
So...here goes...
#10). TIM CONNOLLY (PHI)
Sure, we all know about the big line in Philli (Gagne-Gomez-Bertuzzi) but Connolly has quietly gone about posting the teams best plus minus this season (excluding Redden because much of his time was in Boston) and posting an impresive 62 points. The big thing however might be the 8PP and 5 Game Winners he has contributed, putting him right behind the big 3 in both categories.
#9). SCOTT HARTNELL (BUF)
If not for Pitt's continual campaigning of the guy, nobody would know what he does for that team every night. Almost without fail, the best line on the night is whichever one he's on. Until recently (when linked with Cole and Briere) Jaromir Jagr couldn;t produce without Hartnell running LW. He also steps in and wins fights, backing up his team-mates when things get heated. 28 goals and 58 points is nice, as is the (suprise suprise!) team high +33, but those that watched the stanley cup finals last year know how much he really means to the team, when he single handedly sank the jackets and nearly stole the Conn Smythe from Dick Tarnstrom based almost solely on his 5 game cup finals performance.
#8). HENRIK LUNDQVIST (DET)
Ok, Ok, he should almost be off this list because a lot of people have been watching him in the rookie race, but does anyone really understand how good he's been for Detroit this season and how important he has been for them? His numbers (61 GP, 39-16-4 with 4 SO's a 2.62 G.A.A and a .898 puts him right behind likely finalists Luongo, Turco and Burke for the Vezina). He might still walk away with the Calder trophy however.
#7). MICHAEL OUELLET (DAL)
Ok, so Bryan McCabe is a lock for the Norris and Hart Trophies, and Yashin and Koivu have been superb this season. But who is the 3rd forward on the line which has a combine higher +/- than any other this season? That's right its perhaps the least anticipated rookie on the stars roster this season, given the arrivals of names like Parise, Roy, Upshall and Erhoff, but a 64 point season with a +34 rating should make anyone take notice.
#6) DAVID VYBORNY (CHI)
Think Chicago and 4 names spring to mind. Sakic, Kovalev, Tanguay and Zubov. Thing is they all play on the same line. So what is David Vyborny doing putting up similar numbers (77 points and a +8) as the big 3 forwards whilst having names like Matt Cullen (32 points all season) and Jamal Mayers (29 points) as linemates? He's not better than the big 3, but the face that he's managed to play at their production level with the minimal offensive help he's had is quite amazing.
#5). ANDREJ MESZAROS (VAN)
Why is he on this list and not Crosby etc? cause we all know that the calder is likely to come down to Crosby, Ovechkin and Hemsky, who have all been impressive and well watched this season. Only Eric Staal has been more important this season to the Canucks, as the two posted +27 ratings...miles ahead of anybody else on their team. the 18 goals (4 GW's) and 48 points as a rookie doesn't hurt, and in our eyes he's more deserving than Hemsky and Ovechkin for ROY.
#4). PHILLIPE BOUCHER (COL)
If not for McCabe, he'd win my vote for the Norris this season. Look at the numbers... 53 points a +30 rating (tops on the team) on a 1st round road team, 121 PIM (so you know he jumps in to help his team mates as well) and a whopping 221 hits (2nd in the league). Boucher has been the rock on a blueline that covers medicore goaltender Marc Denis, and has helped turn the Avs into a playoff team.
#3). MIKE COMMODORE (PIT)
What? Mike Commodore makes this list? what did he do? Only post the best +/- on the team (and clear cut better than anybody else on that Pens blueline) whilst Dropping the gloves with great regularity and dishing out hits. He might not be the best player on this list, but he is without a shadow of a doubt the least hyped.
#2). PETR NEDVED (BOS)
Thats right, Nedved is back. Despite LeCavalier taking so much of the attention this season, Nedved took over as the teams leading scorer in surprisingly no fuss fashion. 91 points in 82 games speaks volumes, but his 109 PIM is the real surprise. He actually decided to get involved in other aspects of the game this year. This might be a flash in the pan year for Petr, but he was truly impressive this season.
#1). MATTIAS OHLUND (OTT)
The fact that he was left off the All-star roster surprised many. Not many blueliners (if any) work with less talent around them and do more. Routinely logging massive minutes, Ohlund produced a fine offensive season (50 points in 82 games) while tied for 3rd in hits (215) and logged a team high +17 despite playing fatigued for much of the year. The Senators were top 5 in GA this year (if not for a 7-2 blowup on the last game of the season they would have been 2nd) and Ohlund had almost as much to do with it as Luongo did. There isn;t a team in the league that wouldn;t like to get their hands on an all-star level 2 way defenseman with solid wheels, a bit of a mean streak and earning only $3million a season. Look for a few teams to come after him in the off-season!
So that's all...for now
Buffalo Bill
Hockey Editor for The Buffalo News
