Brad Marchand is an incredible hockey player.
He is one of the best left wingers in hockey. He’s plays on one of the best lines in hockey Boston’s aptly named Perfection Line. He’s worthy of being Sidney Crosby’s linemate on Team Canada. He is also The Rat. Like the parable of the Scorpion and the Turtle where the Scorpion must sting the turtle no matter how great Marchand plays he always has to be the Rat
Everyone deserves a second chance. Evander Kane is on at least his fourth chance. The fact he wasn’t the least bit humbled or contrite leads me to believe he’ll be looking for another chance.
Marc Andre Fleury as a Washington Capital would be fantastic theater. It’s the only team I want him to go to. He is not a three team in one year player and does not deserve to be treated as such.
Mid- Season Awards –
Jack Adams – Head Coach – Andrew Brunette
Mike Sullivan a Hall of Fame Coach is once again overcoming a plethora of man games lost by his stars and still has the Penguins near the top of the Metro. Dallas Eakins has taken the Anaheim Ducks from doormat to the playoffs with the same roster as last year. John Hynes with a few roster tweaks has done the same thing in Nashville. Gerard Gallant has brought a winning culture to the New York Rangers. Andrew Brunette took over for legendary coach Joel Quenneville at the beginning of the season and under extremely trying circumstances. The rookie coach has kept the Florida Panthers atop the best division in hockey.
Vezina – Goalie – Tristen Jarry
Igor Shesterkin has been a brick wall for the Rangers. Juuse Saros, out from Pekka Rinne shadow is leading the Predators. John Gibson finally has a team in front of him in Anaheim. Andrei Vasilevskiy is the best goalie in the world but Tristen Jarry bounced back from last year’s playoff debacle to being absolutely sublime this year.
Norris – Defenseman – Cale Makar
Victor Hedman is the Lebron James of defensemen. He should win this every year but let’s mix it up. The Avs’ Cale Makar and the Rangers Adam Fox are both fabulous. Fox is better 5 on 5 in the zone but Makar is better on the rush. Makar makes you jump out of your seat. He is a highlight machine.
Calder – Rookie- Trevor Zegras
Detroit’s Lucas Raymond is a better overall player than Trevor Zegras. Raymond’s teammate Moritz Seider will win every defensive defenseman trophy when they divide the Norris into two trophies. One for offense and one for defense, Seider’s play belies his age. Trevor Zegras is spectacular. Zegras’s goals and assists standout in the You Tube world. The excitement surrounding Zegras has ignited the Anaheim Ducks. The Duck have gone from the possible number one pick to the playoff bubble.
Selke – Defensive Forward – Anze Kopitar
Most people think the Selke is Patrice Bergeron’s birthright. Bryan Rust is a defensively responsible top line winger with impressive offensive numbers and but he has missed way to may games. Phillip Danault has made Anze Kopitar’s life in Los Angeles easier and has better defensive statistics than Kopitar but no one dominates between the bluelines like Kopitar. It is literally a clinic on how to defense, he controls the game.
Hart – MVP- Alexander Ovechkin
Florida’s Jonathan Huberdeau is the best player on the NHL’s best team. Chris Kreider has been on a heater all year and has carried the New York Rangers on his broad shoulders. Johnny Hockey is playing his way out of Calgary. Auston Matthews will not be the reason Toronto has another disappointing end to their season. Alex Ovechkin is playing like is he going to catch Wayne Gretzky to when will he get to 1000 goals.
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