Mid-season analysis

Now that we've started the new year, we've just about hit the midpoint of the hockey season, and what's the verdict? Like many other seasons, there have been pleasant surprises, and many teeth-grinding disappointments. Yes, it's time for the mid-season analysis. Teams that have moved above and beyond all expectations, and others that have tanked straight out of the gate. Some of those struggling teams have made a recovery, and others have not. So the question you're all asking is, "Oh Swami, great predictor of predictors, and knower of a lot of great knowledge, what do you foresee for the Blankety Blanks?" Well, I'm glad you asked, because here it comes.

The Montreal Canadiens
After the first 20 games of the season, even the great cmburns thought he might have to apologize to Habs fans around the world for not believing. Their deadly powerplay, and second-line scoring, along with great performances from Andrei Markov and Mark Streit to fill the shoes of the departed Sheldon Souray were almost enough to propel them to tops in the league. Unfortunately, the perennial mediocrity that has plagued the Habs for the past 10 years has once again reared it's ugly head. The powerplay has lost it's effectiveness, and have dropped from being within 4 points of first in the East, to 9 points back.
Analysis: Regardless of the play of Kovalev, Huet, or Markov, the Canadiens will challenge for the 7th or 8th playoff spot, as long as Saku Koivu remains with the team, and remains healthy.

The Toronto Maple Leafs
This team's performance isn't really a surprise, I just thought I would comment on them because of all the controversy surrounding MLSE, and the fact that Leaf fans are still brainwashed enough to think that the Leafs have a chance of making a cup run. The truth of the matter is, despite their horrendously inconsistent play, the Leafs actually do have a chance of making the playoffs. Of course, making the playoffs, making a successful run (ie: Conference finals or Cup finals), and winning a Cup are all significantly different achievements. While the Leafs may have an outside chance of making the playoffs, the Leafs winning the cup is about as likely as Al Gore getting buck wild on Spring Break in Cancun. It's just not going to happen. After 40 games, the Leafs have 16 wins, which ties them for 3rd in the league for the fewest wins. The only teams with fewer wins are the Los Angeles Kings, and the Tampa Bay Lightning, both of whom are currently sitting in the basements of their respective leagues. Yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs are still losing games, they're just not doing it in regulation. If Leaf Nation thinks they're going to get past the first round of the playoffs with 30 regular season wins, then, well... I guess it'll be just like every other year in Leaf Nation. Go Leafs Go!
Analysis: This team is about as good as everyone (except Maurice) predicted. My analysis of this team is the same as it's been for the past 7 or 8 years. This team needs to be demolished, and it needs to be done soon. Fan support for MLSE is at an all time low, but you would never know it from the number of suits that still fill the seats at the Air Canada Centre. There's not a single player on this team (save Sundin) that contribute on a consistent basis, and there's not a single player on this team (including Sundin) that comes to the rink and leaves the rink with a winning attitude. The bottom line is that the Maple Leafs have filled their roster with a group of players that just don't care about hockey, and just don't care about winning. Firesale. Now. EVERYONE must go. That means the ENTIRE roster. Change the roster. Change the coach. Sell the team, or at least find someone who possesses a modicum of knowledge about hockey. Start from scratch. 'Nuff said.

The Pittsburgh Penguins
While the Pens haven't been the year's biggest disappointment, they haven't entirely lived up to expectations either. For a team with as many offensive weapons as they showed last year, they've been surprisingly quiet. Crosby, to some extent, has been outplayed by (amongst others) Lecavalier, Kovalchuk, Spezza, Zetterberg... Fleury has been inconsistent, and the trade rumours have been surfacing. Recchi was waived, and Jordan Staal, to date, has 3 goals and 10 points in 40 games played.
Analysis: While Pittsburgh hasn't been ripping it up, they're still second in the Atlantic division, and fourth in the east. With a team goal differential of +6, if this is the worst they're going to play, things are still looking up for the Penguins.

The New York Rangers
Like the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Rangers were supposed to be a juggernaut this season, but have failed to achieve the lofty goals they have set out for themselves. However, is this really a surprise? Despite the new cap system, the New York Rangers have fallen back on old habits in trying to buy talent, and if that was their goal, then their mission has been accomplished. With Jaromir Jagr, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Martin Straka, Brendan Shanahan, and Henrik Lundqvist (who was actually drafted and developed by the Rangers, but they're paying him 4.25 mil/year, so I'm putting him in the same category), the New York Rangers have one of the strongest forward lineups on paper. Despite all this immense talent, the Rangers are currently last in the Atlantic division, and 9th in the East.
Analaysis: At the end of the day, the New York Rangers will be as the New York Rangers have been for the past 10 or 20 years; a black hole of hockey. Broadway is where hockey talent comes to die, and apparently, nothing has changed. Despite a brief resurgence in Jaromir Jagr a year ago, he has receeded back into his shell, and along with him, the Rangers' playoff and Cup hopes. C'est la vie.

Individual performances:

Thomas Vanek: Upon the departure of Chris Drury and Daniel Briere, Thomas Vanek was supposed to shoulder the offensive load for the Buffalo Sabres. Has anyone seen this guy play. He's good. Very, very good. However, despite his oozing talent, he is logging 16 min. per game, and has 11 goals and 24 points in 39 games played. Now, understandably he's being checked more closely this year, but anyone who's seen Vanek play knows that he's more than slick enough to slip past the tight checking. So what's causing his dreadful "sophomore slump"? God only knows. Maybe he'll pull out of it this year, and maybe he won't. There's only one thing for certain; for a guy with this much skill, it's only a matter of time. In the meantime, if there's anybody who's looking for advice on how to make him better, and how to make your team better (ie: if Lindy Ruff is reading this page), I'm going to give you some advice, free of charge:
1. You don't have the depth at centre to roll four lines like you did last year, so stop trying.
2. You're paying Thomas Vanek 10 million dollars this year. PLAY THE SHIT OUT OF HIM.
3. Get a GODDAMNED CAPTAIN. No more of this rotating captain shit. It's just gay.

Maxim Afinogenov: Here's another Buffalo Sabre who's struggling to hit his stride. 7 goals and 18 points in 38 games is a far cry from the 1.09 points per game player we saw last year. What's ailing Maxim Afinogenov? Only Maxim Afinogenov knows.

Jonathan Cheechoo: Cheechoo followed his 56 goal performance in 05/06 with a 69 point/76 game season last year. This year, Cheechoo has a mere 5 goals and 11 points in 33 games. He's looking more and more like a one-hit wonder. While he showed some great chemistry with Thornton, and a Brett Hull-like ability to find open ice in the slot, his lack of top-end skill (ie: passing, skating, puck-possession) is apparently catching up with him. Only time will tell if he can duplicate his 05/06 Rocket Richard winning performance.

Mike Richards: Between the duo of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, I would have predicted that Jeff Carter would have been the more offensively gifted of the two. However, it seems that Mike Richards has hit his stride with significantly more "umph" than Jeff Carter. With his first two seasons totaling 66 points, Richards is ready to eclipse that combined number by being on pace for 39 goals and 93 points. It looks like he's being groomed to be the future captain of the Flyers, so his future looks bright. Also, watching him play reminds me of Daniel Alfredsson; his feet never stop moving. In case anyone is wondering, yes, he IS that good, and no, don't look for his production to stop anytime soon.

Mike Green: Mike who? Yeah, that's what everyone else is saying. This first round pick of the Washington Capitals is making a splash with 10 goals on the season, and 10 points in his last 12 games. Hot streak? Maybe, but then again, maybe not. Definetly a player to keep one's eye on in the near future.

Jordan Staal: Staal is another player with way too much talent for the number of points he's producing. I don't get to watch Staal that much, but from the few games I've seen him play, he still looks good. Methinks it's just a matter of time. Whether he breaks out of his slump this year or the next, his future is still looking bright.

Jason Blake: If New York is a black hole of hockey, then Toronto is... well, a black hole as well. It's just a lot bigger. Owen Nolan, Alexander Mogilny, Joe Nieuwendyk, Eric Lindros, and now Jason Blake. Mind you, there have been players that have gone to Toronto and still played well, but we all know they've never played as well on Toronto as they had for their previous clubs. And mind you that Jason Blake was never that good to begin with. A perennial 20 goal scorer, his highest goal total (besides the 06/07 season) was 28 goals. Can we say "abberation"? Why people would expect this guy to score 40+ goals when he's only done it once in his career is beyond me. That being said, he's not really a "true" disappointment as any informed hockey mind would have known he was incapable of the expecations set upon him by MLSE. 'Nuff said.

Paul Ranger: With Dan Boyle out of the lineup all season long, Paul Ranger has done an admirable job sucking up a lot of those minutes. While he's no Dan Boyle (yet), anyone who's seen Ranger in the past will be pleased with the progress he's shown this year. He'll never be a "Chris Pronger" or a "Scott Niedermayer", but then again, no one's expecting him to be. With any luck, when Boyle returns to the lineup, Ranger will continue to log 25+ minutes, which may even develop him into top-pair talent.

Brent Burns: A surprise for some, not so much so for others. Either way, it has been fun watching this one-time-forward blossom into a #1 defenseman. In a couple years, this guy could be logging 28+ minutes. Big body presence, power play quarterback, defensively reliable, capable of logging big-time minutes. What more could one ask for?

Corey Perry: Another "half-surprise" for anyone who's seen him play before. While his on-ice antics can sometimes put his team behind the proverbial "eight-ball", his slick hands, and potential to put up big numbers is beginning to show through. His 21 goals, 33 points, and 73 pims in 43 games is a significant leap from his last year's totals of 17 goals, 44 points, 55 pims in 82 games. This guy is only going to get better.