Great To See Sidney Crosby Skating

Whether or not Sidney Crosby returns this season, I think it is fantastic he's skating with the team, a playoff team. I will be curious to see how they manage in the playoffs with or without Sid, because thus far they have exceeded my expectations without Crosby and Malkin. Even if he doesn't play, having him practice with the team is going to make them better. He is a unique specimen that should not be rushed back before they are certain he's ready to go, but the NHL is a better place with him on the ice. If he can't play, don't play him, but I at least want to see video feeds of Crosby practicing on my nightly sports shows. I want Crosby back, and I'm not even a Penguins fan. I'm a Red Wings fan.

I want David Steckel to get a lifetime suspension.

Corey Perry, My Fantasy MVP

This season I have competed in two fantasy hockey leagues, a 20 team league and a 16 team league. In both leagues I drafted Evgeni Malkin in the first round, which was a wasted pick. Yet with just a few short weeks to go I am in a position to win both leagues, and the biggest reason is Corey Perry. I absolutely stole him at picks #43 and #39 in my fantasy drafts. Now he has 17 points in his last 10 games, is leading the NHL in goals with 44, and is a legitimate contender for the Hart Trophy. He is carrying Anaheim on his shoulders and into the playoffs. That's an MVP. Though Daniel Sedin does have to be considered the favourite to win the Hart Trophy.

Boston Slaughters Montreal

Having watched the Boston Bruins destroy the Montreal Canadians 7-0 on Thursday, I am officially predicting Boston to win a 7 game series if these two teams meet in the playoffs (which they are currently seeded to do). That Krejci-Lucic-Horton line is something special, Chara is one of the most valuable players in the whole league, and they have the best 1-2 punch in goal (though some Canucks fans may debate that last point). I think this team would have gone to the Stanley Cup playoffs had Krejci not been hurt, though they likely would have lost to Chicago. Kaberle was a great addition to this line-up, they have some fine young players who have not yet reached peak production, and they have the Toronto Maple Leafs #1 pick in the next draft.

Now is a good time for Boston Bruins fans to get excited.

Life After Malhotra

The Vancouver Canucks have been dealt a devastating blow with the loss of key centerman Manny Malhotra for the season to an eye injury. A third line center who is the 2nd best face-off man in the league, kills penalties, and provides secondary scoring is impossible to replace. This reduces the probability of Vancouver surviving a long playoff run, because the Canucks have nobody in the system who can play the role that Manny played. Hindsight being 20:20, how much would they love to have Brendan Morrison right now?

Maple Leafs Living On A Prayer

As of Monday morning March 21, the NHL's Eastern Conference playoff race is as follows:

NY Rangers 82 PTS with 9 games remaining
Buffalo 79 PTS, 10 GR
Carolina 76 PTS, 10 GR
Toronto 74 PTS, 9 GR

Buffalo has 12 PTS in their last 10 games, so if they get the same in their next 10 they would finish with 91 PTS. If Toronto won all their remaining games, they would have 92 PTS. Basically Toronto has to be perfect and Buffalo just needs to win 60%. At this time the probability of Toronto making the playoffs has to be 5%-10%. At least it was a nice run and gave Leaf fans a reason to get interested. The Leafs have to be aiming at a playoff spot next season. The team has some quality building blocks in place, but these draft picks Burkie acquired recently are 2-3 years away from being impact players, if at all. At the draft table, Burke has a good slugging percentage on 1st round picks and a terrible batting average in all subsequent rounds.

How Good Is Dion Phaneuf?

As the Leafs continue their unlikely drive for a playoff spot, team captain Dion Phaneuf scored 2 goals in a critical victory over Carolina, the team above them in the standings. These head to head matches are critical, and the Leafs have manned up and defeated both Carolina and Buffalo in less than a week. In the first few years of his career in Calgary Phaneuf appeared to have unlimited upside. Then his production substantially diminished and he was shipped off to Toronto. He had 60 PTS in his 3rd year, 47 PTS in his 4th year, and 32 PTS in his 5th year (last season). He reminds me a lot of a young Ed Jovanovski with better offensive production. Jovo didn't break 40 until his 7th season, and peaked at 51 PTS in his 12th season.

If you use the Jovanovski career arch, then Dion's best days should be ahead of him. Was his retraction just growing pains, or the result of the physical punishment he endures and dishes out every year? Can you build a franchise around this guy, and if so, why was Calgary so eager to let him go?

Who's Hot & Not In The NHL Post All-Star

It has been 6 weeks since the NHL All-Star game, and here are the best and worst performances since the midway mark. Kane and Toews are heating up, Perry and Getzlaf have been outstanding, and the playoffs are just a few weeks away. Hockey is starting to get exciting!

Hot Forwards

1. Jonathon Toews, CHI (29 PTS in 19 GP): Has been the best player in the NHL post All-Star break.

2. Cory Perry, ANA (24 PTS in 17 GP): If this team misses the playoffs, nobody can say that it is because they didn't get enough from Cory Perry.

3. Daniel Sedin, VAN (25 PTS in 20 GP): He's going to win the Hart trophy.

4. Patrick Kane, CHI (23 PTS in 19 GP): Kane and Toews flourish when Chicago gets secondary scoring.

5. Ryan Getzlaf, ANA (20 PTS in 14 GP): Biggest problem for Anaheim is Cam Fowler drying up and Hiller out with injury. Getzlaf and Perry have been incredible.

6. Alex Ovechkin, WAS (22 PTS in 19 GP): Finally Ovie is coming into form.

7. Henrik Sedin, VAN (22 PTS in 20 GP): The twins are the most entertaining show on ice right now in the NHL.

8. Ilya Kovalchuck, NJ (22 PTS in 19 GP): Scoring at same pace as Ovechkin post All-Star. Do we credit Lemaire?

9. Martin St. Louis, TB (21 PTS in 18 GP): Marty has been outscoring Stamkos for several weeks.

10. Michael Grabner, NYI (21 PTS in 21 GP): Nobody has scoring more goals in the NHL since the All-Star break.

Honourable mentions: Milan Lucic, Andy MacDonald, Drew Stafford, Bobby Ryan, John Tavares, Anze Kopitar, Martin Erat, and David Krejci.

Hot Goalies

1. Anti Niemi, SJ (13 W, .928 SVPCT): A big reason that San Jose has shot up the standings, playing fantastic hockey.

2. Mikka Kiprusoff, CGY (12 W, .922 SVPCT): A few months ago I declared he was no longer an elite goaltender. Since then, he has done everything in his power to prove me wrong.

3. Ilya Bryzgalov, PHO (11 W, .923 SVPCT): The reason Phoenix is sitting in a playoff spot.

4. Carey Price, MON (9 W, .937 SVPCT): The reason Montreal is sitting in a playoff spot.

5. James Reimer, TOR (9 W, .917 SVPCT): He's the reason Toronto is taking a run at a playoff spot. Goalie of the future?

Honourable mentions: Jimmy Howard, Pekka Rhinne, Roberto Luongo, Corey Crawford, and Jonathon Quick.

Cold Forwards:

1. Mike Fischer, NSH (6 PTS in 19 GP): Mr Underwood is not doing much to help his new team make the playoffs.

2. Valterri Filpulla, DET (2 PTS in 12 GP): Not earning his contract.

3. Matt Duchene, COL (6 PTS in 16 GP): Hasn't been the same since Fleischman went down.

4. Collin Wilson, NSH (5 PTS in 19 GP): Not the breakout season some were predicting.

5. Dustin Brown, LA (8 PTS in 18 GP): LA has enough depth that Brown's slump hasn't hurt the team, but he's better than this.

Cold Goaltenders:

1. Ondrej Pavelec, ATL: Compare 1st half to 2nd half, and it is an incredible nose dive...no pun intended...

2. Sergei Bobrovsky, PHI: Not going to win rookie of the year.

3. Jaroslav Halak, STL: Has gone cold in 2nd half.