For the Philadelphia Flyers it is a seemingly never-ending search, a generational attempt to find that one franchise netminder with which to call their own.

Through the years, we have seen the likes of Tommy Soderstrom, Dominic Roussel, Garth Snow, Jean-Marc Pelletier, Maxime Ouellet, Brian Boucher (in his first stint with the club), Roman Cechmanek, Antero Niittymaki, and Robert Esche anointed as the heir to the throne.

And when the younger guys have failed, then-GM Bob Clarke would delve deeply into the other end of the spectrum.

Sean Burke (twice) and John Vanbiesbrouck come to mind as two of Clarke’s desperate attempts to get the much-needed net presence to man the crease for the Orange-and-Black.

But all that ended up doing was handsomely rewarding an aging, unrestricted free agent for their previous performances with other teams, but not doing much in the way of helping the Flyers’ cause.

It’s a search that has been going on since Ron Hextall’s initial tenure in Philadelphia, which ended when he was dealt to the Quebec Nordiques after the 1991-92 season in the Eric Lindros trade.

It is coming up on the 20th season of that deal, and the Flyers have still not been able to find that one netminder to put between the pipes for the long haul.

Last season was a nightmare for the Orange-and-Black between the pipes, as the Flyers’ netminders were decimated by injuries, as they used seven goaltenders throughout the year.

Ray Emery, signed as a free agent out of the KHL prior to the season, would sustain two serious injuries that required surgery.  The hip injury that struck him in early March may even be career-threatening.

Boucher is signed for the 2010-11 season and Johan Backlund was recently re-signed for two more years.  But with Michael Leighton set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, the position is once again in a state of flux.

Philly GM Paul Holmgren, fresh off acquiring defenseman Dan Hamhuis from Nashville on Saturday, is set to tackle the ongoing goaltending issue.

Including bringing Leighton back, there are many avenues for Holmgren to explore.  Here are some of those options:

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Leighton – Picked up off the waiver wire by Holmgren in early-December, Leighton was a Godsend for a struggling team that could not find its way.  All he did was proceed to go 16-5-2 before succumbing to a high ankle sprain in March.  When he returned during Philly’s improbable postseason run, Leighton went 8-3.

The only problem was that he let in several goals of the “soft” variety in the Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Leighton has stated on the record that he wishes to return, and head coach Peter Laviolette has voiced his support for bringing Leighton back, but Holmgren has sounded a bit less-thrilled about Leighton returning after the loss in the Finals.  Days after the final loss on game six, Holmgren said that he still hadn’t seen the replay of Patrick Kane’s Cup-winning overtime goal.  He hasn’t seen the puck enter the net, and just couldn’t bring himself to see it.

Leighton’s agent Mike Liut has stated that he is seeking a deal worth between $2-3 million, which isn’t breaking the bank.

Leighton fingerprint:  Depending on how much is required to get Hamhuis signed and how much of the $8+ million surplus there is left to work with and given the fact that Leighton has proven to work well with his team, Holmgren may, indeed, be bringing Leighton back into the fold when all is said and done.

Marty Turco:  Turco has long been considered one of the top ten netminders in the NHL.  But the soon to be 35-year-old, nine-year veteran of the Dallas Stars saw a significant dropoff in play in 2009-10.

His six year streak of 30 or more wins came to an abrupt halt, as he struggled to a 22-20-11 record.

Taking a Flyer on Turco: Coupled with the salary that Turco most-likely will be demanding (he made $5.7 million last year) and his dropoff in play, a Turco signing would appear to be in the same avenue of the Vanbiesbrouck signing a decade ago.  I find this option very doubtful.

Evgeni Nabokov:  The San Jose Sharks have had a label of being “playoff underacheivers”, and Nabby has been front-and-center in the blame game.

The 10-year vet has been a workhorse for the Sharks in the regular season, registering 40+ wins in each of the past three seasons.

But it’s the postseason failures that most people will be looking at when considering Nabokov when July 1st rolls around.

Lowdown on Nabby:  Nabokov is in the same boat as Turco.  He will also be turning 35, and drew a salary of $5.375 million last season.  If he is looking for a big payday (i.e. a hefty raise), the chances that he will be wearing Orange-and-Black come training camp are slim-to-none.

Jose Theodore:  Theodore is another in this year’s 30-something, big contract netminders.  Theodore, who turns 34 in September, had one of his best regular seasons in the NHL last season.  His 30-7-7 record led the way for the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Washington Capitals.  But after being given the nod over Semyon Varlamov as the starter in the postseason, the Capitals fell in seven games to the Montreal Canadiens.  The play of Habs’ goaltender Jaroslav Halak was the difference, as he outplayed Theodore.

The theory on Theo:  Theodore has overcome great personal tragedy and succeeded, but with his $4.5 million salary in 2009-10, he will be expecting another huge payday.  Given his age and asking price, it’s almost a sure bet that Holmgren will pass on Theodore.

Chris Mason:  The 34-year-old Mason had his best year in the NHL last season for the St. Louis Blues, reaching the 30-win mark for the first time in his career.  A late-bloomer, Mason has 20+ wins in three of his last four seasons.

The markup on Mason:  While Mason has shown no signs of slowing down, he is still 34.  Add in the fact that he made $3 million last season, and he will probably be looking for a significant raise.  This will probably be the last chance to make the big money for Mason, so it isn’t likely that he would take less for an opportunity to win.

Dan Ellis:  Drafted by the Dallas Stars in 2000, Ellis saw action in just one game (a win in 2003-04 season).

Ellis was signed by the Nashville Predators as a free agent in 2007 and had actually taken the starting job away from Chris Mason, posting a 23-10-3 mark during the 2007-08 campaign.  But in 2008-09 Ellis dropped to just 11-19-4, prompting the call-up from the minors of Pekka Rinne.  The rest, as they say, is history.

The Down low on Dan:  Ellis may be just what the Flyers are looking for…a netminder that just turned 30 and made just $1.75 million last season.  Depending on the salary neighborhood Ellis is hoping to move in to, he may be a good possibility.

Antero Niittymaki:  Originally drafted by Philly in 1998, Niitty was always the good soldier.  A fantastic goaltender and Olympic Silver Medal winner in 2006, he was never really given the opportunity to become the number one guy for the Flyers.  There always seemed to be another guy promoted or brought in and given the job…Boucher, Cechmanek, Esche, Martin Biron.  The only time that Niittymaki was given the bulk of starts for any stretch was during the Flyers franchise-worst 2006-07, in which they finished last overall in the NHL standings.  Niitty was given the reigns as the team played out the string, and his 9-29-9 mark was abysmal.

Notes on Niitty:  When Niittymaki was allowed to walk away as an UFA and Holmgren went to the KHL to lure Emery back from his exile, it continued a pattern of the Flyers looking elsewhere when they may have had their answer right under their noses.  Niitty was signed to a one-year, $600,000 contract by the Tampa Bay Lightning, then wrestled the starting job away from incumbent Mike Smith.  He finished with a more than respectable 21-18-5 record for a non-playoff team.  At $600k, the 30-year-old goalie could be the perfect fit to come back and take the starting job for Philadelphia.

Vesa Toskala:  Not nearly on the same level as either Turco or Nabokov over the course of his career, Toskala nonetheless had four consecutive 20+ win seasons with the San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs heading into the 2009-10 campaign.  But the 33-year-old Finnish goaltender fell off dramatically this past season, recording a 9-12-3 mark with Toronto and the Calgary Flames.

The Toskala total:  Despite a 129-82-5 record over eight NHL seasons, Toskala has largely spent most of that time as a backup.  In San Jose, he was second fiddle to Nabokov.  When given the reigns for a less-than great Toronto team, he managed a 62-54-20 record before being shipped to Calgary, where he was again backup, this time to Miikka Kiprusoff.

But if he is looking for a raise on his 2009-10 $4 million salary, he will be looking in cities other than Philadelphia.

The Unrestricted Free Agent Dark Horses (i.e. the rest):  Johan Hedberg (37-years-old, $1.087 million in 2009-10), Peter Budaj (28 in September, $1.25 million), Alex Auld (29, $1 million), Andrew Raycroft (30, $500,000), Patrick Lalime (36 in July, $1 million), Manny Legace (37, $500,000).

Trade Possibilities:

Los Angeles:

There have been a number of trade rumors that Holmgren could opt to take if he chooses not to go the route of unrestricted free agency.  One that is making the rounds is that he is interested in either Jonathan Quick or Jonathan Bernier from the Los Angeles Kings.

With the connection that Philadelphia and L.A. share, with L.A.’s GM Dean Lombardi and Assistant GM Ron Hextall being former employees before heading west, there may be some meat to this one.

Quick is 24-years-old and his 2010-11 salary will be $1.8 million, a nice fit for Homer’s cap room.  The 6′ 1″, 223 pound netminder is coming off a stellar season in which he put up a 39-24-7 mark, leading the Kings to the number six seed in the Western Conference and a playoff spot.

In his first NHL postseason, Quick’s Kings lost in six hard-fought games.

Bernier, who will turn 22 in August, will likely make a push in training camp to unseat Quick as the starter.  L.A. management is very high on the first round pick from 2006, and with good reason.

With 28-year-old Erik Ersberg as backup, the Kings may be ready to move either Quick or Bernier for the right return.

With the Kings having room under the salary cap, forward Jeff Carter may be a return being sought after by Lombardi and company.  They were rumored to be in the bidding for Ilya Kovalchuk prior to the Atlanta Thrashers moving him to New Jersey, and their desire to bolster their forward slots has been made known.  They could go the unrestricted free agent route and sign Kovalchuk, but they will need to dole out approximately $10 million annually.

Minnesota:

Josh Harding – The 26-year-old restricted free agent made $1.1 million last season, and may be moved to a team where he has a chance to be the starter.  With Niklas Backstrom signed for three more seasons, playing time will be scarce for Harding if he remains with the Wild.

Minnesota can always use help at the forward position, and even though forwards have been sacrificed to fit the team’s salary into the cap limit, the Flyers still have a wealth up front with which to deal.

There had been rumors that Philadelphia was ready to offer up Carter to the Montreal Canadiens for either Halak or Carey Price.  But with the shocking trade that sent Halak to the St. Louis Blues, any deal with Les Habitants appears to have been quashed, as Price will undoubtedly take the reigns in the Montreal crease.

Conclusion:

Holmgren will have a busy week ahead of him leading up to Friday night’s commencement of the Entry Draft.  He needs to get Hamhuis signed, and is rumored to be talking to several clubs about acquiring a goaltender via trade.

If nothing comes to fruition, he can fit an unrestricted free agent into his salary structure.

As mentioned above, Holmgren would do well to avoid any long-term deals with the aging, high-money netminders.  This would wipe Turco, Nabokov, Mason, Theodore, and Toskala off of Homer’s list.

The UFA options the Flyers may want to explore if a trade is not consummated are Ellis and Niitymaki.  Outside of Leighton, these two would seem to have the best fit, both age-wise and monetarily.

And if this is the route Holmgren chooses, whichever goalie he signs will be a hold-over until hopefully Sergei Bobrovsky (see previous story on him here) or Joacim Eriksson will develop and be ready as the long-term netminder this franchise has lacked for so long.

If possible, either Bernier or Quick from the Kings would be the best-possible move for Holmgren.  Both goaltenders are young, and could alleviate the constant state of flux in the Flyers’ crease.

Either one would be considered a franchise goaltender.

Whichever goaltender ends up between the pipes for the Flyers when the season opens will definitely benefit from the work being done by Holmgren to shore up the Philadelphia blue line.

By week’s end, we may just know the identity of that masked man.  And along with that move comes the opportunity for Holmgren to put his permanent stamp on the franchise.

David Strehle
NHLHS Flyers Correspondent / NHL Writer
dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PhilaDAVEia

When Scott Hartnell banged home his second goal of the night to tie up game six at 3-3 with just 3:59 left in regulation, there was a feeling that maybe another miracle was on the horizon for the Philadelphia Flyers.

But this time it was not meant to be, as Patrick Kane somehow snuck a bad-angle shot through Michael Leighton at 4:06 of overtime.

And so ended an improbable postseason run by the Orange-and-Black.

The Run to the Finals

After all, the team barely even qualified for the playoffs, sneaking in after winning a shootout against the New York Rangers on the final day of the regular season.

Then came a matchup with the number three team in the East, the New Jersey Devils, in the first round.

Martin Brodeur and company have made a habit out of torturing the Flyers through the years, but this year that draw was surprisingly favorable.

Philadelphia finished 5-1 against New Jersey in the 2009-10 regular season.  And they continued that domination in the postseason, taking the first round series, four games to one.

But much like the adversity the team faced during the regular season, it struck again against the Devils.  Philly lost forwards Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne (both with broken right feet), and Ian Laperriere (concussion, brain contusion) as the result of blocking shots.

In the second round against the seventh-seeded Boston Bruins, that adversity nearly turned to a quick exit.  The Flyers lost three close games and found themselves on the brink of elimination.

But Gagne, on crutches a week earlier, returned early and fittingly scored the game-winning goal in overtime in game four.  He then scored two more in game five, and the series-winner in the third period of game seven.

Only two teams had ever done it prior to this series, but the Orange-and-Black had overcome an 0-3 series deficit to win.

Just like the NHL ad campaign, “History Will Be Made”.

The Eastern Conference Finals brought the Montreal Canadiens, fresh off of a second-straight seven-game series upset.  They had knocked off the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Washington Capitals in the first round, then the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

The eighth-seeded Canadiens won both game sevens on the road in the first two rounds.

Montreal netminder Jaroslav Halak was on fire in dispatching of the higher-ranked teams and looked to do the same to the Flyers.

But this time, Philly had their number, taking out the Canadiens in five games.

No Adversity, No Win

Both Carter and Laperriere returned to action for the Eastern Finals, and suddenly, something was missing as the team headed to Chicago to face the Blackhawks in the Finals.

Adversity.

For a team that seemed to thrive on it, the suddenly calm atmosphere and full compliment of players appeared to take something away from the desperation that the team had used as its main form of propulsion.

Like a family that sticks together through times of great dysfunction but falls apart when harmony is finally achieved, Philadelphia lost their edge when they got past the adversity.

End of the Season – Enter Holmgren

So now General Manager Paul Holmgren has some tough choices to make for next season.

After the playoff run the Flyers had, what Holmgren has to be careful of is not to be too euphoric in analyzing his team heading towards the 2010-11 season.

True, Philly did make it within two wins of hoisting the cherished silver chalice.  That is something that cannot be ignored.

But this is also a team that was a shootout loss against New York’s “King Henrik” Lundqvist from missing the big dance altogether.

“Homer” has to realize that his evaluation of the Flyers has to fall somewhere in between Stanley Cup Finalists and a non-playoff team.

He has some big question marks to deal with and with the long run, only has a couple of weeks before the NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles.

Philadelphia doesn’t own a draft choice until the fourth round.  In order to create a bit of space at the upper edge of the cap limit and also acquire a top three round pick, Holmgren may want to deal one of his high-end paid forwards to do so in one fell swoop.

One of the top names on that list would be Hartnell.

Though he had a dreadful regular season Hartnell, really came on in the latter stages of the Flyers’ postseason run, and ended with some pretty decent stats.  He scored eight goals in the playoffs, five of which came during the Finals.

And the fiery redhead was far-and-away the best Philly player on the ice in game six.

Hartnell:  “You waited 10 years to be in the Final and it may not happen for 10 more.  You don’t know if this is the only time you are going to kick the cat.  This summer and next training camp it will give us a little more fuel to be on the right side of things.”

“I definitely don’t want to go anywhere.  I probably won’t score 40, but I’d love to.”

But is Hartnell’s “right side of things” destined to be in Philadelphia next year?

Slated to make $4.25 million in 2010-11, Holmgren will have to think long and hard about what his best-laid plans would be regarding Hartnell.  Especially with the fact that the winger has a no-trade clause in his contract.

You always get the feeling that Hartnell is always on the fine line of doing something really good or something that will cost your team in a big way, and you are never really sure which way it will go.  Too many times during the regular season and first couple of rounds of the postseason, Hartnell went the wrong way.

Hartnell’s ill-timed penalties cost Philly quite a few games, and the positives were few and far between.  His goal-scoring total dropped off from 30 in 2008-09 to just 14 during the past regular season.

Getting past some personal difficulties he suffered through during the regular season seems to have made a world of difference in Hartnell’s game.  But one thing is for sure.  With Hartnell’s performance in the Finals, his trade value will never be higher than it is at this time.

Another forward that could be moved is Carter.  He is a valuable commodity and could bring in a starting netminder and / or a high draft pick.

Though he had to deal with fractures in both of his feet over the past couple of months of the season, Carter could not provide the offense needed to get Philadelphia over the hump to win Lord Stanley.  He registered just one goal, an empty-netter, in the Finals.

Carter has one year remaining on his three-year, $15 million deal and will become a restricted free agent at the end of next season.  For the money that he will command at that time, Holmgren may not be able to fit a new deal for Carter inside the Flyers’ miniscule salary cap space.

There were rumors earlier last season that the Montreal Canadiens may move either Halak or Carey Price for Carter.  But that was before GM Bob Gainey stepped down, and before Halak’s incredible playoff performance.  My guess is that Les Habitants would be inclined to offer up Price for Carter at this time.

It was believed that at the end of this year Danny Briere would be asked to waive his no-movement clause.  Briere still has five years remaining on his eight-year, $52 million contract, and his cap hit each year of over $6 million has become an albatross, especially at the trade deadline.  When there are clear needs but no money with which to bring in help, most point to Briere’s inflated salary.

But after a Flyers’ record-setting postseason in which Briere registered 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists), breaking Brian Propp’s old mark of 28, which was set in 1987, it appears that Briere is here to stay.

Playing at his more-familiar center position, Briere became the force that had been hoped the day he was signed.

And the team justified Briere’s statements about the Flyers players being “warriors” and the team was “built for the playoffs”.  Briere especially looked the part of the warrior as he sported a nasty gash from a high-stick he took in game five that required stitches.

Gagne is another player that may be asked to waive his no-trade clause in order to move him and his $5 million salary.  There was a rumor making the rounds at the end of the season that Holmgren might attempt to move the long-time Flyer to Boston for goaltender Tim Thomas now that Tuukka Rask has grabbed the Bruins’ number one job.

There are many possibilities, but all seem to involve getting a player to waive a NTC / NMC.

UFA Leighton to be re-signed or allowed to walk?

And if the team is not convinced that Leighton is the answer in goal, the extra money could come in handy in signing an unrestricted free agent.  Dan Ellis, Antero Niittymaki, Evgeni Nabokov, and Marty Turco are among the most-interesting candidates should Holmgren go that route.

With Brian Boucher already signed through next season as the backup, Leighton would like to re-sign and stay on.

“I definitely want to stay here.  I enjoyed my time and enjoyed the guys.  It’s tough enough that we lost.  Even if it’s a good goal, you’re still going to be disappointed that you lost.  I think for me, it’s a double-whammy.  You let in a soft goal to end the season.  I hope to get the opportunity to stay here as a No. 1 and if not, then elsewhere.”

Leighton definitely had the most success of any of the rotating goaltending carousel.  With a 16-5-2 regular season mark and an 8-3 record in the playoffs, the Flyers played their best hockey with Leighton between the pipes.

Leighton’s agent, ex-NHL goaltender Mike Liut, is rumored to be looking for a multi-year deal for at least $2 million annually.  It remains to be seen if Holmgren would balk at that number.

RFAs and UFAs

As for the team’s most valuable restricted free agents, defensemen Braydon Coburn and Ryan Parent, and forwards Darroll Powe and Daniel Carcillo, Holmgren needs to re-sign at least Coburn and Powe.  Coburn had a second straight regular season in which his level of play slipped, but he proved just how valuable he was in the postseason.  Powe is a nice, cheap fourth line banger who is also an excellent penalty-killer.  Parent’s play dropped off to the point where he basically saw only spot duty in the playoffs.  And Carcillo, though bringing a great deal of energy and a surprising amount of offensive flair from time to time, became a frequent healthy scratch in the latter stages of the postseason.  He was basically rendered ineffective, as it appeared he was a bit of a marked man every time he stepped on the ice.  He drew some questionable penalty calls in his last few games that he saw action.

As far as unrestricted free agent Arron Asham, it will be interesting to see if Holmgren brings his fourth-line winger back.  Asham was a good fit on a line with Blair Betts and Powe and may take a little less money to stay.

Towing the Leino

One player that turned out to be a revelation in the postseason was winger Ville Leino.

Acquired from the Detroit Red Wings for little-used defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and a fifth-round draft pick  in February, Leino began the playoffs as a healthy scratch.

But when forwards Carter and Gagne were injured in game four of the New Jersey series, Leino was thrust into duty.

Finding a home on a line with Briere and Hartnell, Leino tied the playoff rookie scoring record with 21 points (seven goals and 14 assists).

If there are any questions as to Leino’s game or development, check out this quote from Bob McKenzie of TSN:  “The Blackhawks were talking before Game 6 (of the Finals) about how Leino was channeling Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, that he was playing at the level, and he seriously was in terms of his puck protection and his ability to make plays.”

Now that is truly a great amount of respect, putting Leino’s name in with the likes of greats Datsyuk and Zetterberg.

At just 26-years-old, it appears that Holmgren may have found a key piece of the Flyers’ future in Leino.

It was an incredible postseason run, one that Flyers’ fans will never forget.  And the team is not that far away from being ready to embark on the same challenge next year.

Training camp opens in about three months from now, and Holmgren will no doubt be a very busy man in the interim.

David Strehle
NHLHS Flyers Correspondent / NHL Writer
dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PhilaDAVEia

Atlantic Division

• The rematch of Martin Brodeur vs. Ryan Miller will probably come some time next month in Vancouver. If Wednesday night’s game at HSBC Arena in Buffalo was a preview, we can’t wait. And neither can Brodeur. “I hope so,” he said. “We’ll see. I definitely hope so.” Brodeur figures to be Team Canada’s goalie while Miller will be in net for the U.S.
• To say it took the Flyers a little while to adjust to Peter Laviolette’s up-tempo system is a major understatement. But the growing pains appear to be over. The turnaround is in full swing. After going 2-7-1 in their first 10 games under Laviolette, the Flyers have adapted to the nuances of his attacking, two-player forecheck and left-wing lock.
• The Rangers are skipping town today as fast as they possibly can, getting a head start on a Western swing they feel can’t come quickly enough. Wednesday night, at least, their fans seemed to agree that there was nothing at the Garden worth sticking around for.
• Jack Hillen, who was hit in the face by an Alex Ovechkin slap shot in last night’s 7-2 Washington win on Long Island, suffered a broken jaw and damaged teeth. The Islanders defenseman will be out 6-8 weeks. “Jack’s been playing some real good hockey for us and for him to get hurt now [is tough],” Scott Gordon said today before the team left for Raleigh.
• Penguins defenseman Kris Letang realizes he has the potential to become a star and is also highly aware that, as a restricted free agent this summer, he soon could be paid like one. Letang, though, is attempting to delay thinking about his new contract.

Northeast Division

• Jacques Martin’s disposition was anything but sunny Wednesday night as he watched the Canadiens drop a 3-0 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The head coach arranged for the Canadiens to arrive in Florida on Sunday to give them an extra day of warm weather, but they failed to return the favour as they delivered two lacklustre performances.
• If Brian Burke can find a taker for Jamal Mayers, the Maple Leafs forward happily will pack his bags. The same goes for defenceman Garnet Exelby. “I still feel like I have a lot of hockey left,” Mayers said after practice on Wednesday. “Hopefully there are other people within the game who think so. My agent (Pat Brisson) was given permission to talk to teams and see what is out there. I am willing to do what I can to help and if that means moving on, that is what it has to be.”
• This must be prefaced with caution: The Ottawa Senators still have 28 regular-season games to play. That’s an eternity in the NHL. Anything can happen. They could fall off the map just as quickly as they could climb the standings. Nonetheless, as they ride a six-game winning streak that has taken them to a comfortable fifth place in the Eastern Conference, you’d have to think that coach Cory Clouston is beginning to attract notice as a coach-of-the-year candidate.
• After nearly two weeks of jetting from sea to shining sea, the last thing the Buffalo Sabres needed Wednesday night in HSBC Arena was overtime. Or a shootout. But the groggy Sabres weren’t in the fog you might expect after their seven-game road trip. They still found some jump in their step. They got a boost from the 2010 debuts of Andrej Sekera and Nathan Paetsch. And, of course, they have Ryan Miller.
• With the way National Hockey League coaches are so quickly dismissed, you’d think there’s a line in the management handbook that reads, “When all else fails, whack the coach.” For some organizations, the line may read, “At the first sign of trouble, fire the coach.”

Southeast Division

• It’s taken awhile – a long while – but the Thrashers will soon finally face a hard decision it dodged four months ago. The franchise is not going to keep three goaltenders and soon, it will have three. Who is the odd-man out?Johan Hedberg, Ondrej Pavelec or Kari Lehtonen?
• For much of Wednesday night’s game, Jean-Sébastien Giguère frustrated Alex Ovechkin and his teammates with stop after unbelievable stop. The Washington Capitals fired 35 shots on the Anaheim Ducks goaltender through two periods, yet had only one goal to show for their effort.
• This time, it was Cam Ward‘s turn. New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist had been stellar in three games against the Carolina Hurricanes this season, allowing a single regulation goal in each of those games. But in a 25-second span early in the first period, Carolina finally cracked Lundqvist’s armor, the first strikes in a 5-1 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden Wednesday.
• First, there was the birth of his daughter, Alina, six weeks premature, the day after Christmas. Then his early January bout with the flu. “A weird time,” Lightning goalie Antero Niittymaki conceded. “There were so much other things to think about.” Niittymaki blanked the Habs as the Bolts continued to climb in the standings.
• A day after being a healthy scratch, Panthers forward Nick Tarnasky was one of the first players on the ice at Wednesday’s practice at Incredible Ice, and one of the last ones off it. For coach Peter DeBoer, that was a sign that being able to sit healthy players will help the Panthers as they battle for a playoff spot.

Hat tip to the now defunct Illegal Curve for their permission in taking over this daily series.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

Atlantic Division

• Original recipe served the Penguins well on Sunday. Winger Matt Cooke‘s deflection off a point-shot by defenseman Sergei Gonchar provided the Penguins a second power-play goal and a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Wachovia Center.
• The Flyers’ nationally televised 2-1 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday can be explained in two words: special teams. The Flyers were just 1 for 9 on the power play, while Pittsburgh was 2 for 6, including Matt Cooke’s winning goal with 1:47 left. With the loss, the Flyers are 3-1 on the six-game homestand, which also has meetings with Atlanta and the Islanders.
• Sweep away the tumbleweed; Nassau Coliseum isn’t wasteland anymore. It finally is fertile ground again, a space where careers can blossom. Not to get hasty or anything. The Islanders still are not guaranteed a spot in the playoffs and they still have not won a postseason series since 1993. But they have succeeded in allowing players at least to get a foothold.
• The Rangers have 30 games to go in the season and there is a total disconnect within the team itself and between the players and the coaching staff. There is no better way to explain what became yet another blowout and yet another shutout, last night in an embarrassing 6-0 defeat to the Canadiens in which the Rangers competed only sporadically for one another and for head coach John Tortorella.
• Nothing is set in stone, but there is a possibility that the Devils could have center Dainius Zubrus back when they face the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night at Scotiabank Place. Zubrus said he will find out Monday, when his right knee is examined and he speaks with general manager Lou Lamoriello.

Northeast Division

• Despite web traffic that had him getting named as a substitute for the Russian Olympic team, winger Nikolai Kulemin had not heard anything as of Saturday. Tomas Kaberle (Czech Republic), Jonas Gustavsson (Sweden), Niklas Hagman (Finland), Mike Komisarek, (USA) and Phil Kessel (USA) are going. Mikhail Grabovski (Belarus) might not play due to a wrist injury.
• There are benefits to playing against — and losing to — the top team in the NHL. “Yeah, it shows we’ve got to learn,” Buffalo Sabres defenseman Toni Lydman said. The Sabres practiced in Vancouver on Sunday and tried to shake off Saturday’s 5-2 loss to San Jose. Buffalo held down the league’s best for long stretches while dictating play. It didn’t matter. The Sabres made several costly mistakes while the Sharks committed only one.
• Once again Saturday, the Ottawa Senators received the magic touch from the return of a long lost player. This time it was Jason Spezza who stepped off the injury list and into the starring role, scoring the winning goal as the Senators extended their winning streak to six games — their longest since December 2007 — in a sound 2-1 victory over the slumping Boston Bruins.
• The Canadiens appear to have grown tired of waiting for some of their young forwards to turn their season around and took action on Sunday. Early in the day, the team announced that Max Pacioretty had been assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League. The team also assigned Matt D’Agostini on a conditioning assignment.
• If it turns out that yesterday’s game was not rock-bottom for the Bruins this season, it’s frightening to imagine what a worse performance might look like. Facing the last-place team in the NHL entering the game, the B’s accomplished little offensively and were even worse on the defensive side, absorbing a 5-1 thumping at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Southeast Division

• All Brandon Sutter could do was smile, shake his head and say, “Wow.” Sutter was on the bench, admiring a replay of a nifty move by Ray Whitney that set him up for a goal, but he could just as well have been talking about the Carolina Hurricanes’ play Sunday against the Boston Bruins.
• There’s a clear presumption of excellence, immediate or otherwise, attached to being a first-round pick, and that has been Eric Fehr‘s burden since the Washington Capitals selected him 18th overall in the 2003 draft. From virtually the first time the right wing began skating with the club, Fehr has fielded questions about when he would fulfill that promise and when Washington would be able to look to him as confidently as it does some of its more established players.
• Slava Kozlov‘s franchise record for consecutive games played ended Saturday. It was not a health issue that snapped the Thrashers veteran forward’s streak at 251. Kozlov was a healthy scratch against Tampa Bay.
• Speaking of Tampa Bay, Mike Smith will at least be on the bench Wednesday against the Canadiens after the Lightning on Sunday sent Dustin Tokarksi back to AHL Norfolk. Tokarski backed up Antero Niittymaki while Smith recovered from a neck strain that kept him out of six games. “I’m getting close,” Smith said. “The goal is to be ready for Wednesday.”
• It was the goal Kenndal McArdle had waited for since the Panthers drafted him five years ago. Gregory Campbell grabbed the puck after a Toronto turnover near center ice, streaked toward the net with it on a 3-on-1 rush and slid it over to McArdle, who fired a shot from the inner edge of the right circle into the top right corner. McArdle scored his first NHL goal with 6:55 left in Saturday’s 2-0 win against the Maple Leafs, and he did so against his hometown team.

Hat tip to the now defunct Illegal Curve for their permission in taking over this daily series.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

Atlantic Division

• Somehow, the Devils won a game while allowing two power play goals on Colin White’s major penalty and taking just one shot the entire second period. That one shot, which happened to be a power play goal from Zach Parise on a deflection off Islanders defenseman Freddy Meyer, tied a team record. It was the fourth time the Devils have been held to just one shot in a period on the road.
• The question now isn’t so much about where the Rangers’ scoring has gone. The question after Saturday night is: What happened to the discipline? The attention to detail? The willingness to battle?
• The Flyers needed a wake-up call. Ian Laperriere gave it to them. With his fists. For the second time in the last three games, Laperriere energized the Flyers with a fight as he helped them outlast the lowly Carolina Hurricanes, 4-2, Saturday at the sold-out Wachovia Center.
• Penguins coach Dan Bylsma didn’t come out and say it, but his tone indicated that goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is a good bet to play this afternoon in Philadelphia. Fleury, out of action since breaking a finger Jan. 14 in Edmonton, faced some shots during practice Saturday at Mellon Arena and looked comfortable.
• The last time the Islanders and Devils played – a shutout win for the Islanders Monday – the Devils failed to show up. But last night the Islanders were absent in the third period, mustering only three shots on goal, and it resulted in a 4-2 loss to New Jersey.

Northeast Division

• The Buffalo Sabres showed they can play with the top team in the NHL. Then the top team showed why it holds that status. San Jose scored three times in the third period Saturday, pulling out of a tie and earning a 5-2 victory in HP Pavilion.
• Once again Saturday, the Ottawa Senators received the magic touch from the return of a long lost player. This time it was Jason Spezza who stepped off the injury list and into the starring role, scoring the winning goal as the Senators extended their winning streak to six games — their longest since December 2007 — in a sound 2-1 victory over the slumping Boston Bruins.
• After being embarrassed last week in New York, the Canadiens figured they had a score to settle with the Rangers. And they did it with an impressive two-way performance Saturday night, trouncing the Rangers 6-0 at the Bell Centre.
• The Bruins find themselves in a very bad place. They have just one win in their last eight games and, as a result, are clearly lacking confidence to make some of the simplest plays. But that’s understandable, said coach Claude Julien. What was bothersome about yesterday’s 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators – the B’s fourth straight defeat – was its lifeless nature.
• From the bottom of their hearts, the bottom three Southeast Division teams want to thank the Maple Leafs for coming down here this week and breathing some playoff life into their teams and sagging attendances. For Toronto, however, the losses to Atlanta, Tampa Bay and, on Saturday, the 2-0 loss to the Florida Panthers, will be remembered as the rotten road trip that changed their focus from playoffs to the next training camp.

Southeast Division

• For most of the season, the Washington Capitals have been buoyed by their prolific power play, and on Saturday night, it added two more goals to its league-leading total. But the key to keeping their winning streak alive was a smothering penalty kill.
• It is not Coach Pete DeBoer’s style of hockey nor is it a style that’s particularly fun to watch. But if the Panthers are going to stay in the playoff chase leading up to the Olympic break without leading scorer Nathan Horton, who’s going to be out up to six weeks with a broken tibia, they’re going to need to do what they did in beating the Maple Leafs 2-0 Saturday night at BankAtlantic Center.
• Lightning goalie Antero Niittymaki just seems to be a little quicker, a little savvier and a little tougher to beat whenever he’s facing the Atlanta Thrashers.In one of his most dazzling performances of the season, Niittymaki had 37 saves to remain unbeaten in 15 career games against Atlanta, leading the Lightning to a dramatic and critical 2-1 shootout win Saturday night at the St. Pete Times Forum.
• Cam Ward had the day off, or so he thought. Rod Brind’Amour was about to score the tying goal, or so he thought. In a season of unexpected twists, near-misses and all too many losses, the Carolina Hurricanes experienced it all again Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
• The Antero Niittymaki jinx continues — sort of. Tampa Bay’s Jeff Halpern scored in the fifth round of a shootout to give the Lightning a 2-1 victory over the Thrashers on Saturday at St. Pete Times Forum. Thrashers goaltender Johan Hedberg stopped the first four shots he faced, but Halpern slipped the game-winner between his legs.

Hat tip to the now defunct Illegal Curve for their permission in taking over this daily series.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

The title says it all.  This article will be no more than a comprehensive list of NHL (and some other players owned by NHL teams) players set to participate in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

For the sake of clarity we have sorted players by team.  Minor league players in red, injured players in blue.

Anaheim Ducks (8) – Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu, Jonas Hiller, Bobby Ryan, Luca Sbisa

Atlanta Thrashers (5) – Ilya Kovalchuk, Maxim Afinogenov, Ondrej Pavelec, Pavel Kubina, Tobias Enstrom

Boston Bruins (6) – Patrice Bergeron, Marco Sturm, Tim Thomas, David Krejci, Zdeno Chara, Miroslav Satan

Buffalo Sabres (4) – Toni Lydman, Ryan Miller, Henrik Tallinder, Andrej Sekera

Calgary Flames (3) – Jarome Iginla, Miikka Kiprusoff, Olli Jokinen

Carolina Hurricanes (3) – Eric Staal, Joni Pitkanen, Tuomo Ruutu

Chicago Blackhawks (6) – Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky

Colorado Avalanche (3) – Paul Stastny, Peter Budaj, Ruslan Salei

Columbus Blue Jackets (6) – Rick Nash, Jan Hejda, Samuel Pahlsson, Fredrik Modin, Milan Jurcina, Fedor Tyutin

Dallas Stars (4) – Brenden Morrow, Jere Lehtinen, Loui Eriksson, Karlis Skrastins

Detroit Red Wings (7) – Valtteri Filppula, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Nicklas Lidstrom,  Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom

Edmonton Oilers (2) - Lubomir Visnovsky, Denis Grebeshkov

Florida Panthers (2) -  Dennis Seidenberg, Tomas Vokoun

Los Angeles Kings (5) – Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson, Jon Quick, Dustin Brown, Michal Handzus

Minnesota Wild (5) – Niklas Backstrom, Mikko Koivu, Antti Miettinen, Marek Zidlicky, Martin Havlat

Montreal Canadiens (6) – Tomas Plekanec, Yannick Weber, Jaroslav Halak, Andrei Markov, Sergei Kostitsyn, Andrei Kostitsyn

Nashville Predators (6) – Alexander Sulzer, Shea Weber, Marcel Goc, Ryan Suter, Martin Erat, Patric Hornqvist

New Jersey Devils (6) – Martin Brodeur, Paul Martin, Zach Parise, Jamie Langenbrunner, Patrik Elias, Johnny Oduya

New York Islanders (1) – Mark Streit

New York Rangers (5) – Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Henrik Lundqvist, Andres Ambuhl, Marian Gaborik

Philadelphia Flyers (5) – Chris Pronger, Mike Richards, Kimmo Timonen, Oskars Bartulis, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen

Pittsburgh Penguins (5) – Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc Andre Fleury, Sergei Gonchar, Brooks Orpik

Phoenix Coyotes (3) – Sami Lepisto, Zbynek Michalek, Ilya Bryzgalov

Ottawa Senators (6) – Jarkko Ruutu, Filip Kuba, Milan Michalek, Daniel Alfredsson, Kaspars Daugavins, Anton Volchenkov

San Jose Sharks (8) – Dan Boyle, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley, Douglas Murray, Thomas Greiss, Joe Pavelski, Evgeni Nabokov

St. Louis Blues (3) – Eric Johnson, David Backes, Roman Polak

Tampa Bay Lightning (5) – Antero Niittymaki, Ryan Malone, Mattias Ohlund, Martins Karsums, Andrej Meszaros

Toronto Maple Leafs (6) – Jonas Gustavsson, Mikhail Grabovski, Phil Kessel, Tomas Kaberle, Mike Komisarek, Niklas Hagman

Vancouver Canucks (7) -  Roberto Luongo, Sami Salo, Christian Ehrhoff, Pavol Demitra, Ryan Kesler, Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin

Washington Capitals (4) Tomas Fleischmann, Nicklas Backstrom, Semyon Varlamov, Alexander Ovechkin

-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove

With Atlanta playing their 20th game last night, the first quarter of the 2009-2010 season is officially over.  Seeing as this is a milestone within the season we thought it would be a good idea to discuss the trends emerging around the NHL.

The article’s intent is to show who would win the NHL awards if the season finished today.  Of course these players will most likely NOT win the awards, NHLHS just likes having fun with small sample sizes and hot streaks.

Whether it be injury or inability there are plenty of surprises when compared to preseason predictions.  Teams such as the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings and the Buffalo Sabres find themselves at the top of the standings, surprising most pundits.

We will outline the NHL trophies and why we think these players as of right now are deserving of them.  In addition, we will include the projected nominees so you can see our train of thought.  We hope you enjoy this mini-series which should continue throughout the NHL season.

Click the link below to see our award winners and tell us what you think in the comments section!

Here are the 2009-2010 NHL Award Winners:

Hart Trophy – awarded to the player judged best in the League.

The nominees are…

1. G – Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
2. C – Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
3. C – Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

When looking at the Standings it is clear that the players chosen play a pivotal part in their team’s success.

Miller vaulted himself into elite status with his work this season.  Almost impossible to keep up this pace, the 29-year-old only lost three games in regulation.  His 1.97 GAA ranks first amongst his peers and his .931 SV% second to only Antero Niittymaki.  Even more impressive with star players Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek struggling at times the Sabres still find themselves at the top of their Division.

Similar to Miller, Kopitar thrived from the influx of veteran forwards on his line.  Lining up with Justin Williams and Ryan Smyth the 22-year-old leads the NHL in points putting the Kings tied for fourth in the Conference.  Time will tell if the Yugoslavian native can keep up his pace but for now he is a legitimate MVP candidate.

Former winner Joe Thornton rounds out the list.  Teaming with Dany Heatley and more recently Patrick Marleau would boost anyones statistics, but Big Joe is right in the middle of things.  Trailing only Kopitar in points, the former first overall pick should keep the scoring lead tight.

Miller, see above.

NHLHS Pick: Ryan Miller

The supporting cast on the Sabres simply does not match up with the Sharks or even the Kings.  Miller is the antithesis of a MVP, a player that would be irreplaceable to his team.

Vezina Trophy – awarded to the top goalie in the League.

The nominees are…

1. Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix Coyotes
2. Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks
3. Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres

Bryzgalov plays a huge part in his teams turnaround.  Boasting a 12-6-1 record with three shutouts, the Russian is amongst the league leaders with a 2.04 GAA and .922 SV% in his 19 games.  The quick turnaround in Phoenix could falter throughout the year removing the former Duck from contention, however for now he is right in the mix.

Nabokov makes a strong case for the trophy with his impressive work.  He has been an absolute workhorse for his new coach starting all but three games.  Often working in back-to-back appearances the 34-year-old leads the league in wins at the quarter mark with 14.

NHLHS Pick:  Ryan Miller

Miller’s GAA and SV% give him a slight edge on his peers. His accolades are documented above, only time will tell if he can keep up this pace but as of now he is the NHL MVP and a shoe-in for the Vezina.

Norris Trophy – awarded to the top defenseman in the League.

The nominees are…

1. Mike Green, Washington Capitals
2. Chris Pronger, Philadelphia Flyers
3. Dan Boyle, San Jose Sharks

Green follows his 30 goal season with only 3 so far.  Despite this drop in production he still finds himself the league leader in defensive scoring.  Playing on the powerplay with Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom would keep anyone’s point totals up but Green is just as dangerous of a threat.  He has solidified himself as a Norris candidate for years to come with his lethal shot from the point and excellent offensive instincts.

The Flyers get what they paid for in Pronger.  In what most predicted would be a match made in heaven, the well-known physical defenseman is likely to clear the crease by any means possible.  The veteran is on pace for 72 points a career-high.  More importantly he has solidified an already impressive defensive core bringing Matt Carle back to respectability.  His role as a bonafide number one allowed Philly to create the best second pairing in hockey with Kimmo Timmonen and Braydon Coburn making his case even stronger.

Boyle is another worthy candidate continuing his dominance with San Jose.  An excellent veteran presence on the ice and off, the former Stanley Cup winner is one pace for career highs.  If he can keep up this pace and the Sharks maintain their place in the Standings he makes a legitimate case for a Norris.

NHLHS Pick:  Chris Pronger

The difference he has made for the Philly blue-line is simply incredible.  Green’s defensive lapses keep him a notch below while Boyle’s supporting cast is too strong to single him out.

Calder Trophy – given to the rookie judged top in the League.

The nominees are…

1. C – John Tavares, New York Islanders
2. LW – James van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia Flyers
3. C – Ryan O’Reilly, Colorado Avalanche

The lead candidate coming into the year, the first overall pick has not disappointed.  With 19 points in 23 games, the 19-year-old is on pace for 68 points an impressive total for any rookie.  Playing first line minutes for one of the worst teams in the NHL he should have plenty of opportunities to improve at the major league level.

JVR started the season off slowly but actually has a higher point-per-game ratio than Tavares.  The former 2nd overall pick took advantage of the injury to Simon Gagne and could eventually render him replaceable.  Playing large minutes on the left side should continue his torrid pace.

File O’Reilly in the suprise folder, as nobody expected the kid to make the team let alone play responsible and productive minutes.  The 33rd overall pick in this past draft has 15 points in his first 23 games putting him on pace for a respectable 50 point pace.  The younger O’Reilly brother figures to be a cornerstone on a newer, younger Avalanche team led by coach Joe Sacco.

NHLHS Pick: John Tavares

I give it to Tavares by a hair.  He produces more offense on his own unlike van Riemsdyk playing with elite centers.  Regardless, both players figure to be excellent for years to come.

Lady Byng Trophy – Given to the Leagues most gentlemanly player.

The nominees are…

1. C – Brad Richards, Dallas Stars
2. RW – Patrick Sharp, Chicago Blackhawks
3. C – Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

All three players are knotted at a whopping 2 PIMs the lone indicator I will be using are their average TOI.

NHLHS Pick: Pavel Datsyuk

Datsyuk edges Richards by 12 seconds a night.  No stranger to the Byng, Datsyuk continues to be an excellent defensive player with remarkable discipline.

Frank Selke Trophy – awarded to the top defensive forward.

The nominees are…

1. LW – Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils
2. LW – Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
3. LW – Dustin Penner, Edmonton Oilers

Parise leads the league in plus minus with 15 through the quarter mark.  Assuming an even bigger role on a successful Devils team the first-line left wing ranks tied for fifth in the league in points.  Not only is he a legitimate threat every time he steps on the ice he averages over 20 minutes of ice-time providing valuable minutes for his team.  He is a qualified candidate for the Selke at this point in the year and injury withstanding at the end of the year.

Interesting that Ovy would be in this category opposed to Hart Trophy consideration but his current injury has held him out of the scoring race.  Still the talented Russian ranks ninth in points and third in the league with a plus 10.  Not known for his defensive prowess, I feel it is an incredibly underrated part of his game and would not be surprised if he ever walked away with this award.

Penner has been an absolute monster this year.  Putting up 19 points in his first 14 games, the offer sheet signee vaulted himself into Selke contention.  Although not as solid a defender as his nominees his early season merits deserve some mention.

NHLHS Pick:  Zach Parise

Jack Adams Award – presented to the League’s best coach.

The nominees are…

1. Dave Tippett, Buffalo Sabres
2. Todd McLellan, San Jose Sharks
3. Joe Sacco, Colorado Avalanche

Tippett really transformed a mediocre Coyotes team into what seems a legitimate contender.  Coming in for Wayne Gretzky in the preseason, the former Stars coach is making something out of nothing.  Sending down several top prospects to the AHL puts this team on a long-term plan, something they haven’t had in years.  When combining the shrewd moves of GM Don Maloney with the focused system of Tippett the Coyotes are much better than the past few years.

It came as a bit of a surprise when Red Wings assistant coach Todd McLellan was announced head coach of the Sharks.  Quickly implementing his system, the former Islander draft pick is enjoying a successful first year.  He has a talented team so the Sharks appearance on top of the Standings is not a surprise.  Will McLellan be the coach to finally lead this team deep into the playoffs?

Sacco is clearly the biggest surprise of the bunch.  Completely written off to start the season the Avalanche sit at the top of their Division as of this writing.  Regardless if they are the team most likely to drop out of the race, their efforts should be rewarded.  Nobody saw this team anywhere near contending giving Sacco well deserving mention in this column.

NHLHS Pick:  Dave Tippett

What he has done for the team on such short notice is simply amazing.  The Avalanche are fading after their fast start while the Sharks are expected to be in contention for the President’s Trophy.

Finally the awards decided by the numbers…

Presidents’ Trophy – San Jose Sharks
Art Ross Trophy – C – Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
Maurice Richard Trophy – LW – Dany Heatley, San Jose Sharks
William J. Jennings Trophy – Antero Niittymaki, Tampa Bay Lightning

As always, we hope you enjoyed the articles.  Please take the time to visit our sponsors to the left and keep NHLHS alive.

Follow me on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates.

-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
thehotstove@gmail.com