Not Your Momma’s NHL
From time to time, we like to branch out here and display some non-baseball related sports knowledge. Since we are in the midst of possibly the greatest NHL Playoffs in over a decade, Steve and I turned to our friend Dan Nadler (aka Nadlerov) to provide some insights. Dan’s love for hockey has won him honorary Canadian citizenship and his knowledge of the sport rivals my knowledge of spectacular sports commercials. See below for the inside info on the NHL’s rising stars.
Now that the NHL playoffs are into the second round, I have realized that the Pittsburgh/Washington series is easily the best thing to happen for the league in ten years. The series has pitted the two biggest names in the world against each other in Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, and they have not let fans down. However, there are other fantastic players still in the playoffs but are not recognizable to most sports fans. Here are five players still impacting the playoffs that you probably don’t know, but really should.
1. Patrick Kane, Forward, Chicago Blackhawks.
Last year’s rookie of the year Kane is the best in a nucleus of young players in Chicago who are saving the historical, original six franchise. The Hawks were one of the worst teams ever just a few years ago and now they have the next NHL superstar on their squad. By the end of next season, everyone will know Patrick Kane.
2. Jonas Hiller, Goalie, Anaheim Ducks.
Hiller, a rookie goalie for the eighth seeded Ducks, is playing in his first playoffs and he could not have had a tougher challenge going against the President’s Trophy-winning San Jose Sharks. That trophy, for those who are not familiar, goes to the team with the league’s best record. Hiller also was facing off against the league’s most premier goalie in Evgeni Nabakov and Hiller straight showed him up. Hiller made more saves, faced way more shots, and had a better goals against average than Nabakov. Now the Ducks must face the great Red Wings – let’s see if he is the real deal like Anaheim hopes he is.
3. Niklas Kronwall, Defenseman, Detroit Red Wings.
Hockey town loves this hardnosed point man, and so do I. In the new NHL, players like Kronwall are few and far between. He is one of the best open-ice hitters I have seen in a long time. Opposing players cannot for one second put their head down or they will be eating the ice. The new NHL favors more offensive defensemen these days; well, Kronwall was also in the top ten in scoring among defensemen. He is on a team with one big name after another but after being hit by him you will take note of Niklas Kronwall.
4. Simeon Varlamov, Goalie, Washington Capitols.
Another rookie goalie playing in his first ever playoffs and playing great. After a shaky start in the opening series against the Rangers, falling down three games to one, Varlamov has won five games in a row, with two shutouts. Simeon also is leading the playoffs with the lowest goals against average. The Capitols already had their own version of the Russian five, now it’s the Russian six.
5. David Krejci, Forward, Boston Bruins.
Hard name to say, even harder player to stop. Teamed up with linemate Michael Ryder, these two have been the number one seeded Bruins offense through round one. The 23 year old Krejci has been a playmaker extraordinaire in these playoffs and the Philadelphia Flyers – being the most physical team in the east and now eliminated – expect Krejci along with Ryder to roll into the finals this year.
These are not the best players in the league right now, but they will be in very short time.
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Reader Comments
Love the hockey comment, but i will tell you why i’m bitter! Pat Kane should be a Flyer but due to the ridiculous rule that the NHL has between the bottom 2 teams draft pick being decided by a coin flip is crazy! The pens got the first pick in numerous years and were able to build great talent! We get screwed with the worst record and the second pick which was Jeff VanRiemsdyk who is no Pat Kane! Now i understand that this is the flyers fault for selecting Jeff which might turn out to be good one day, but man the Hawks made out! Just would have liked the player who was NHL ready!
Vin, even if the Flyers did happen to get Patrick Kane there’s no way they would have started him in the NHL as fast as the Chicago Blackhawks did. The Flyers like to take their time with their prospects and whether it’s a good thing or bad thing, it’s what they do. Except of course the Luca Sbisa situation which had been strange from the get go all this past season. And as far as James van Riemsdyk, look out for this kid. Reemer is going to be a stud. He’s a fast skater who is big, but with really good hands. He’s a complete player who is good on D, makes great passes, and can also stand in front of the net and give the goaltenders trouble, let alone his nasty wrist shot. Without any serious comparison, I’d say he’s a mix of LeClair(net), Forsberg(passing), and Carter(shooting). I know I just threw some big names out there but all I can say is just wait and see.