NHL 2011-2012 Preview - You Care, You Just Don't Know It Yet
Yes, the distant #4 of the Big 4 sports will be back in session shortly, but it's not the red-headed step-child it once was. Though it lost an entire year due to a lockout, the NHL has grown notably since that time, including a $4.6 million increase in the league's salary cap this year in spite of the nation's stagnant economy (an impressive 7.9% increase). TV viewership is also up, and the league is (in my opinion) the most innovative of the Big 4 at this time.
Above: people caring.
What does this mean for you? You care about hockey. Deep inside each of us is someone who enjoys listening to Rush; thinks Trailer Park Boys compares favorably to It's Always Sunny; respects the sophistication and dignity of the mullet; thinks that Don Cherry is the epitome of fashion; recognizes that Mike Ricci is a handsome man; and knows that hockey is an amazing sport.
The Jagr theorem holds that hockey skills are directly proportional to mulletude.
Without further ado, I'll go aboot discussing the top players to watch for in 2011-2012.
The Top 5 First Lines
While having an elite trio of forwards doesn't guarantee Stanley Cup success, it makes hockey much more fun to watch. Here are the triumvirates that will be lighting the lamp most often this year.
Leading the league in scoring is starting to become a thing for the Sedin twins. First, Henrik won the Art Ross trophy in 2009-2010, then brother Daniel took over last year. While their creepiness chemistry is undeniable, some newbs might be wondering who this Burrows guy is. Although he only scored 48 points last year, he was recovering from a shoulder injury that took months of playing time to eventually strengthen. He's a former 35 goal scorer who brings some grit to the top line, routinely earning a +/- over 20 and hitting the sin bin on a regular basis. With a healthy Burrows matched up with this duo, I don't know what will go down as the better Vancouver show: this top line, or Stargate SG-1.
Returning Hart Trophy winner (MVP) Perry leads a group that's high on scoring and doesn't shy away from a fight. They're a young (26 and under), bruising line that's played together for a while now, and they could usurp the Canucks as the top line if they all stay healthy.
You'll get no argument from me that last year was a down year across the board for these players. They may have been playing fat. To compensate, Backstrom and Ovie have mentioned ramping up their offseason workouts to come into this year in better shape. Expect these guys to come in hungrier and perhaps be the most productive line once again. If not, I'm going to hate rooting for this team.
Marty Havlat is a step down from Dany Heatley, but he's an underrated 2-way player who could flourish with his new linemates. Considering he came over from the most boring offensive team in the league (Minnesota), a significant bump in his stats will be in order if he can stay healthy. Marleau and Thornton are known entities for NHL fans, though Big Bird (Thornton) is advancing in age, so this line could slip down the chart as the year goes on.
Since the NHL talent level was diluted so much by expansion, the fifth best line is comprised of two elite scorers and one grinder (Bugsy Malone). What I'd like to see, though, is rabble-rouser Steve Downie slide into that LW position as he's shown some decent scoring chops to go with his ability to find the sin bin (171 PIMs in just 57 games last year).
*Edit* It looks like former Senator Ryan Shannon will be the LW on this line and, though he's not known for his offense, he's performed quite well this preseason.
Elite Defensive Pairings
While offense tends to grab more headlines, it's the bone-crunching checks against the boards and teeth-rattling blocked shots that separate the badass from the only slightly badass. For the best in "goal prevention," check out these tandems.
This pairing is one of the main reasons I selected Pekka Rinne as my fantasy goaltender. Both are excellent two-way players who are comfortable inside either blue line. Weber is the more physical of the two, laying out opponents and uncorking numerous slap shots, while Suter is a slick skating, puck moving defenseman with an NHL pedigree. His father, Bob, was a member of the "Miracle on Ice" team in 1980, and his uncle, Gary, was a long-time star NHL player. Unfortunately I'm so old now that I remember watching his uncle playing. If you check the above link, his Yahoo ID number is a mere two digits. He's (I'm) that old.
This pairing was part of the reason the Bruins popped the bubbly last year (the rest being Tim Thomas). Chara's the NHL's version of Jaws, and Seidenberg is his more nimble but less powerful sidekick. Both are comfortable on the power play or short-handed and do it all for the B's.
Continuing a trend of solid end-to-end play, Keith and Seabrook are continual locks for 40+ points and hits galore. Last year was an unusual down year for them in terms of plus-minus despite excellent supporting stats, so look for this duo to lock down harder than a vault with lasers, floor sensors, heat detection monitors, and a really, really big key.
What part of 'really big key' did you not understand!
For those who lost count, this is Lidstrom's 20th year manning the blue line for Detroit, and he's been a pillar of consistency. Now paired with the more physical Kronwall, Lidstrom will look to get back in the "+" column with his Swedish linemate after his first year ever registering a minus.
Though not as consistent as some of the other pairings, this tandem is my favorite to watch. Byfuglien (pronounced "buff-len") is a bruising hulk of a defender who is surprisingly skilled, and he roams wherever he pleases on the ice and somehow makes it work despite ranging way out of position. In contrast, Enstrom is your classic puck-moving blue-liner and an able power play QB. It should be an exciting time in Winnipeg for the 2.0 Jets.
The NHL season begins on Thursday, October 6th, so fire up the old N64 and play some Wayne Gretzky's Hockey 99 to get pumped up. There's nothing quite as satisfying as the combustion that comes when a flaming slapshot meets twine.
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