The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Here is the third and final part of The Reminder's analysis of the NHL's 30 teams ahead of the All-Star Game. Chicago Blackhawks Two years after hoisting their first Cup in ages, the Hawks remain strong as they vie for the President's Trophy. Up front Chicago is outstanding. As I write this, they are tied with Boston for the league lead in scoring. Marian Hossa and Manitoba's own Jonathan Toews are on their game as both men compete for the Art Ross. The two Patricks _ Sharp and Kane _ aren't far behind, and Viktor Stalberg is on pace for by far his best season. Defenceman Duncan Keith has rebounded nicely from a disappointing 2010-11 campaign. He is ably abetted on the blueline by Brent Seabrook, Nick Leddy and Steve Montador, though Sean O'Donnell is certainly starting to show his age at 40. The Hawks' weak point is in net, where neither Corey Crawford nor Ray Emery have been up to task. It shows in Chicago's goals-against record, which is among the worst in the Western Conference. Until GM Stan Bowman addresses the situation between the pipes, it is hard to imagine the Hawks living up to their hype. Pleasant Surprise: Viktor Stalberg Biggest Disappoint-ment: Corey Crawford Detroit Red Wings It is nothing short of amazing that the Wings have been as good as they have been for as long as they have been. It seems like whenever the Wings lose a key player, there is always somewhere there to step up to take his place. Hence Detroit is once again a Cup contender, competing with vigour for the President's Trophy. They are once more a goal-scoring machine, led by Art Ross hopeful Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg and, in the middle of a career year, Valtteri Filppula. The defence is sound thanks to that ageless wonder, Nick Lidstrom, while Ian White is playing his best hockey in years. Kudos also to the steady Brad Stuart and, though he is a minus-player at the moment, Niklas Kronwall. Jimmy Howard in net may well be the team MVP with his Vezina-calibre play. Fans will pray he stays healthy given backup Ty Conklin's dismal performance thus far. No need to mess with success; GM Kenny Holland should stick with what he has heading into the big show. Pleasant Surprise: Jiri Hudler Biggest Disappoint-ment: Ty Conklin Minnesota Wild Minnesota has a good problem to have with its two netminders, Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding, both playing so stellar. The talented men between the pipes have helped give the Wild a top-10 goals-against record in the NHL. Unfortunately, it has not been enough to assure Minny of a playoff spot. As of this writing they are one point back of Colorado for the last slot in the West. This isn't what the Wild had in mind when they acquired Dany Heatley, who is on pace for his worst offensive season ever. Indeed the Wild have one of the worst offensive records in the league as almost none of their key forwards play to potential, save for Kyle Brodziak and perhaps Matt Cullen. The blueline is manned by a largely unimpressive group, though sophomore Jared Spurgeon is shaping into something special and Marek Zidlicky keeps the puck moving nicely. The Wild must a) build on their goaltending with upgraded defencemen and b) get the most out of their forwards, particularly Heatley, in order to avoid an early date with the golf course. Pleasant Surprise: Jared Spurgeon Biggest Disappoint-ment: Dany Heatley Montreal Canadiens Barring a minor miracle, Canadians won't be watching the Canadiens this spring, except maybe on one of those classic sports channels. Scoring goals has been more of a problem than keeping them out for the Habs, and the Cammalleri-Bourque trade isn't likely to help them in that regard. On the bright side, winger Erik Cole is putting up decent numbers along with Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec. On the back end, young P.K. Subban remains a rising star, but his supporting cast is weak. Tomas Kaberle has been awful defensively, and Hal Gill's game seems to have taken a nosedive. Carey Price has been reliable in net with 40 of a possible 46 starts in net as of this writing. The Habs were right to keep him over Jaroslav Halak a couple of years back. Montreal has promise, but they aren't at the point of realizing it just yet. Pleasant Surprise: Max Pacioretty Biggest Disappoint-ment: Tomas Kaberle New York Rangers 'Owner: Rangers closing in on Cup' read a recent headline on ESPN.com. It was hardly a half-baked statement. The NYR are vying for the President's Trophy in a surprising season built on unyielding chemistry and a solid offence and defence. The Rangers are not quite an upper-echelon team in terms of lighting the lamp, but nor are they offensive weaklings. They've got Marian Garborik and the improving Ryan Callahan, and sophomore Derek Stepan could earn 20 goals and 40 assists at this pace. Too bad Brad Richards, twice a 91-point man, has yet to truly find his game in the Big Apple. When he does, look out! Meanwhile, New York has quietly assembled a rather sturdy core of blueliners. I will predict right now that Michael Del Zotto will eventually win the Norris. I will also commend the play of Ryan McDonagh and big steady D-man Steve Eminger. But it is in net where the Rangers truly shine. Henrik Lundqvist is my early favourite for the Vezina with numbers that are out of this world. Though the Rangers suffer from a lack of experience, they certainly have the ingredients of a championship team. Watch them closely this spring! Pleasant Surprise: Michael Del Zotto Biggest Disappoint-ment: Brad Richards Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke's rebuilding plan still has a ways to go. After a promising start, the Leafs have fallen back to competing for the eighth playoff spot in the East. Offensively, the Leafs have been surprisingly strong as Joffrey Lupul and the much-criticized Phil Kessel put up some of the best point totals in the league. And how about centreman Tyler Bozak, who is producing career numbers while logging some major minutes? On the blueline, captain Dion Phaneuf is playing arguably his best hockey since arriving in Toronto two years back. John-Michael Liles has also played well, and compliments as well to the steady-going Carl Gunnarsson. It's in net where the Leafs aren't cutting it, as their goals-against record _ among the worst in the NHL _ demonstrates. I'm not saying you can blame everything on Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer, but come on! Where is the Reimer we saw last season? At least we know where he'll probably be this spring: with his caddy. Pleasant Surprise: Tyler Bozak Biggest Disappoint-ment: James Reimer Vancouver Canucks When the Canucks lost the Stanley Cup by one heart-breaking game, many fans worried the team would return this season with its confidence sapped. Far from it. The 'Nucks remain a Cup contender with great offensive and defensive stats. Henrik Sedin could very well snag his second Art Ross... but the identical statement is true of brother Daniel. What an amazing duo these guys continue to be. Solid scoring is also coming from the likes of Alexandre Burrows, Cody Hodgson and that ultimate two-way force, Ryan Kesler. Defensively, you can't go wrong with the durable Alexander Edler, Kevin Bieksa, Sami Salo (one of my favourite players) and Dan Hamhuis. In net, the oft-maligned Roberto Luongo has not played to his capacity as backup (?) Cory Schneider puts up better numbers. As long as the Canucks can have one of their goalies on top of their game, look for them to again make a deep run into the post-season. Pleasant Surprise: Alexander Edler Biggest Disappoint-ment: Manny Malholtra
