Stephen Weiss: Wearing Out His Welcome In Florida

(Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

After spending some time earlier this month speculating on why the Florida Panthers would trade their former franchise center Stephen Weiss, it seems as if things may be happening faster than expected as a soap opera is starting to unfold in South Florida.

After being one of the team’s top scoring options last season, Stephen Weiss has only managed to score 4 points (1G 3A) in 14 games this season while playing under the cloud his uncertain future. With the emergence of Jonathan Huberdeau, Drew Shore and Peter Mueller, Weiss has become somewhat of an after thought on a team that he was once the focal point of.

In an effort to revitalize the slumping Weiss, Coach Kevin Dineen opted to break up the team’s most successful line and pair him with productive forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Peter Mueller. After just a few shifts it was clear that the experiment was a failure and than sacrificing the team’s best line in order to wake up Weiss was clearly not the answer.

By the end of the game Weiss found himself on the team’s fourth line and only saw 1:14 of ice time spread out over two shifts. His limited role was clearly not the result of injury, but rather a sign that Dineen was clearly fed up with the lackadaisical effort he had been seeing over the past few games, if not the entire season.

When asked about the benching during post game interviews, Dineen had this to say:

'You know what, that was to do myself a favor. I think for the last year and a half, I've looked down if we are a man short or, on the power play or whatever I need, I'm always looking at that number. So, that made it made much easier for me to have him sitting there and not part of the equation with the quality of hockey he's playing right now.' – Dineen told Erin Brown of Rinkside.net

Considering that Weiss – along with several other Panthers – have shown questionable enthusiasm and effort in recent games, it was nice to see Dineen show some fire rather than giving the traditional ”we need to play better as a team” speech.

The question now is what does the team do with the most tenured skater in Florida Panthers’ history?

Sadly, the Panthers are the ones suffering the most during this saga. Weiss’ performance is not only hurting the team on the ice, but also hurting his trade value if the team hopes to ship him out before the April 3rd trade deadline. After seeing that line shuffling didn’t work, perhaps the only solution to re-ignite Weiss’ fire would be to scratch him for a game or possibly even strip him of his alternate captaincy.

Although there is still a group of Weiss supporters among the Panther faithful, a large group of fans can now be heard criticizing Weiss via numerous social media networks and it seems that most are fed up at this point. It’s sad that it looks as if Weiss’ career in Florida may end in mudslinging rather than in an honorable fashion, but that’s hockey and not everything can have a fairy tale ending.

 

Follow Jameson on Twitter @JamesonCoop

Author information

Jameson CooperA Florida resident, Jameson is currently in his first year of covering the Florida Panthers for The Hockey Writers as well as doing THW's weekly NHL Power Rankings.TwitterFacebookGoogle+

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

New York Rangers: Are More Shots the Answer?

The Rangers currently sit in tenth place in the Eastern Conference.  At one game over .500 (8-7-2), this is not the team many expected to see in New York this season.  As the Blueshirts look to turn things around, they need to simplify their game, and their coach is working to remind them to do just that.   Earlier today, John Tortorella gave some very specific instructions at practice:

That’s what we want, right?  “Shoot the puck!” We all say that, especially the guy in the blue seats who screams 'Shoot!' at every opportunity. But do the Rangers really need to shoot more, or is it something else?

Shots on Goal

The Rangers are ranked 12th in shots on goal, averaging 29.5 per game. They're certainly finding opportunities to get the puck on goal. Their actual scoring is much lower. They sit 23rd, with an average of 2.35 goals per game. That puts the Blueshirts at a team shooting percentage of 8.0%, which is 25th in the league. The Rangers are taking shots, but they're not scoring enough. Aside from shooting more, what should the team work on?

Missed Shots

It feels like the Rangers are always missing the net. Solid scoring opportunities are wasted by shots that sail wide of the net. But how bad are the Rangers when it comes to missed shots?

Suprisngly, the Rangers are right in the middle of the pack. They're ranked 14th with 11.2 missed shots per game. The Winnipeg Jets lead the league with 14.1 missed. Ottawa is second with 12.9. Of course, the Senators also lead the league in shots on goal, so it appears that Paul MacLean's boys are throwing anything at the net. In order to balance that out, let's look at missed shots relative to shots that made it through. Stats below are on a per game basis.

Again, the Rangers are right near the middle, ranked 16th with 27.6% of attempted shots missing the net. Winnipeg again leads the league with over 33% of their shots missing the net. (The best team? Not surprisingly, the undefeated Chicago Blackhawks lead the league in this category, with only 24.0% of their shots going wide.)

Individual Breakdowns

Defensemen miss the net more often than any other position. They're shooting from farther away and often more likely to fire a less-accurate slap shot than forwards. Across the league, defensemen miss 33.6% of their shots. The Rangers blueliners are actually better than average, with only 32.9% of shots missing.

Michael Del Zotto has a hard time hitting the net (Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE)

Looking at the actual players, we start to see some differentiation. Matt Gilroy, at 18.8% missed, is most likely to get a shot on net. He's followed by Dan Girardi (21.3%) and Anton Stralman (22.9%).

Worst on the team is Marc Staal (56.3%), who actually misses the net more times (18) than he hits it (14). He's followed by Michael Del Zotto at 38.9%. Del Zotto misses the net just slightly more frequently than the league average. The frustrating part for Rangers fans is that he's doing it on the point of the team's 29th-ranked power play.

Del Zotto averages more power play time ' 3:17 per game ' than any other defenseman on the team, nearly a minute more than second-ranked Dan Girardi, and over 33% of his shots are missing the net. Even Del Zotto's solid 9.1% shooting percentage ' 20th among blueliners ' becomes far less impressive when you factor in his missed shots. Including the times he shoots wide, he's only scoring on 5.6% of his shot attempts.

Clearly, if the team is going to shoot more, they need to make sure they're hitting the net with the puck.

Up front, the Rangers have a few players who struggle to get shots on goal. Rookie Chris Kreider leads the team, with 44.4% of his shots missing the net. That's well above the league average of 27.1% missed shots for forwards. It's also way up from his numbers in last year's playoffs, when he was at 27.5%. Kreider's shooting percentage also plummets when you factor in how often he misses the net, going from a respectable 20.0% down to 11.1%.

On the flip side, Rick Nash leads the Rangers with only 18.6% of hit shot attempts missing the net. Most of his shots are getting through, but he's still not scoring. Why?  His accuracy.

Shooting Percentage

Nash has a stunningly-low 5.3% shooting percentage. For all the shots he's getting through, he's just not scoring. This is far below Nash's career average of 11.2% shooting percentage. You'd have to expect him to rebound and pick up his scoring once he's healthy, but how high can he go? Can he return to those double-digit shooting percentages from two seasons back?

Richards has a lowly 5.4% shooting percentage (Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE)

Right behind Nash in shooting percentage is Brad Richards at 5.4%. Unlike Nash, Richards has been improving his accuracy over the past three seasons. His 10.9% shooting percentage last season was his best since his rookie season way back in 2000-01. He should be expected to return to those kinds of numbers and find his way back on the score sheet on a regular basis.

Both he and Nash were brought in – and paid top dollar – to put up points, and this season neither one of them are doing a very good job if getting tehir shots past opposing goaltenders.

What Can the Rangers Do?

Shooting the puck is good. Statistically, though, even an extra three shots per game ' which would put them atop the league – might only amount to four more goals over the 17 games the Rangers have played this season. That's likely not enough to make a significant change in the standings.

More important for the Rangers is the placement of their shots.

For players shooting wide, they need to focus on getting pucks to the net.  Not only are they wasting a scoring chance, but those wide shots often have a tendency to curl around the baords and out of the zone or up out of play. (With the way the Rangers do on faceoffs, that’s probably not a good outcome.)

For the players with shots getting through, like Nash and Richards, they need to make sure they’re getting off quality, targeted shots.  A weak shot into the goalie's crest gets marked down the same as a tough glove save on a quick wrister from the slot. The problem with the Rangers is that their shots tend to be more of the former. They also take too much time in getting shots off, allowing the goalies to get in position to make easier saves.

Listen to the coach and shoot the puck. Don't worry about doing it more often, though. Just do it faster and aim better.

---

Follow Josh on Twitter – @joshsmith29

---

 

Author information

Josh SmithJosh is a life-long hockey fan. He grew up as a fan of the New York Rangers, but thanks to their general mismanagement and years of mediocrity, developed a great appreciation for every team across the league. He's been writing about hockey on various sites since 1995. Follow him on Twitter at @joshsmith29 or reach him via email at joshuasmithTHW@gmail.com.TwitterGoogle+

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

2013 NHL Mock Draft ' The Jones-MacKinnon-Drouin Decision

 

As the twenty-game mark approaches, the NHL standings are starting to take true form and with that projecting where teams might end up selecting in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft becomes a little easier. Mock drafts remain a pure guessing game and are constructed merely to entertain hockey's most die-hard fans but it also serves to show whereabouts draft-eligible players are being considered. Predicting how thousands of scouting hours, among hundreds of scouts, from thirty different NHL franchise, all with different needs will reflect the final 2013 NHL draft order is virtually impossible. As you browse through the following mock draft take into account the countless different scenarios and possibilities and accept that the end result of the mock draft is for sheer recreation.

*Mock draft does not take into account the NHL draft lottery, playoff implications or potential trades.

**Draft order reflective of NHL standings as of Sunday, February 24th, 2013.

 

Photo Mike Dembeck

1^st Columbus Blue Jackets ' Jonathan Drouin, LW (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL)

The Blue Jackets are in a tough position with arguably four franchise players to choose from with the top selection. Last season, Columbus was robbed of the top pick when the Edmonton Oilers won the draft lottery to select Nail Yakupov. With a slew of talented defensive prospects, including 2012 2nd overall selection Ryan Murray, and three first round picks, Columbus opts to select Jonathan Drouin. In Drouin, the Jackets add an electrifying player who will get fans out of their seats with all-world puck skills and an unmatched on-ice hockey sense in this draft class. If Columbus passes on Drouin, Nathan MacKinnon certainly would be an equally valuable player for the Blue Jackets with his blazing speed and total package of skills.

 

 

2^nd Washington Capitals ' Seth Jones, D (Portland Winterhawks, WHL)

In recent drafts, owning the second overall pick often results in an easy decision ' pick the next best player. However, in the 2013 draft class the decision becomes more complicated not knowing which player will be selected first overall as well as having several other worthy candidates. With MacKinnon and Seth Jones available, Washington has an opportunity to add a valuable centre ice man or a future defensive stalwart. After taking a look at the Capitals’ depth chart and factoring in how difficult it is to find a defenseman of Seth Jones' calibre, George McPhee (assuming he is still in charge) will draft the Texas born Seth Jones and add a vital player for decades to come.

 

3^rd Buffalo Sabres ' Nathan MacKinnon, C (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL)

All 30 NHL teams would love to have the opportunity to own the third overall selection in 2013 NHL Entry Draft with the high-end prospect crop available this season. Buffalo essentially owns a top pick and they will quickly snap up the draft's best skating pivot in Nathan MacKinnon if he remains on the board long enough to reach third overall. The Sabres have had a lowly season to date but bringing in a player of MacKinnon's breed would quickly mend bad feelings swirling around the Buffalo Sabres’ fan base.

 

4^th Florida Panthers ' Aleksander Barkov, C (Tappara, FIN)

It is starting to sound like a broken record, but the Florida Panthers would be the fourth team to add a potential franchise player to their depth chart with an opportunity to select big Finnish centerman Aleksander Barkov from Tappara. With no real weakness in his game and a late birthday, Barkov has the potential to develop into one of this draft class' most dangerous forwards.

 

5^th Colorado Avalanche ' Elias Lindholm, C (Brynäs, SWE)

The Ryan O'Reilly debacle has been extremely messy in Colorado this season but with an chance to bring in a responsible two-way centre with above average offensive abilities, Mr. O'Reilly can be replaced with a fresh face of equal or better ability. The last first round pick Colorado owned came two years ago when the Avalanche selected Gabriel Landeskog second overall and with Lindholm, the Avs add a similar hardworking skilled Swede.

 

6^th Edmonton Oilers ' Darnell Nurse, D (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)

The Oilers enter the 2013 NHL draft in an unfamiliar place as they sit out of the top slot (for now) for the first time in three years. Since 2010 when Edmonton drafted Taylor Hall from the Windsor Spitfires, the Oilers have selected a player from the Canadian Hockey League with its first round selection and do not be surprised if that trend continues. With an embarrassment of riches at the forward position, Edmonton will likely target a defensive prospect to add to its young talented roster and Darnell Nurse owns the skills, toughness and versatility that Edmonton could easily integrate into their system. There will be plenty of options if Edmonton chooses to draft a defenseman with Ristolainen, Pulock, Morrissey and Zadorov as other options as well.

 

7^th Calgary Flames ' Sean Monahan, C (Ottawa, OHL)

The Flaming C was donned by Mark Jankowski last year at the draft surprising many teams after Calgary traded down to select the raw offensive high school standout in the 21^st position. It was a risk that Jay Feaster and company felt was necessary and only time will tell if it was a successful gamble but there isn't a better player for Calgary's future than Sean Monahan of the Ottawa 67′s. Considered almost NHL-ready, Sean Monahan plays a complete game from goal line to goal line and Calgary would graciously welcome his top-six potential into an offensively challenged and aging lineup. Calgary has a tendency to stick to it's North American prospects in recent drafts and if Sean Monahan dons the orange and yellow jersey then he could quickly spark a fire under a frustrated fan base.

 

8^th Winnipeg Jets ' Hunter Shinkaruk, LW (Medicine Hat, WHL)

With a stable blueline and a strong scouting staff in the Canadian Hockey League, look for the Jets to add a forward with some tantalizing offensive upside. Hunter Shinkaruk and Max Domi are two players who share that description and while my gut instinct says 'Domi', Shinkaruk is the player with less risk in his game so it is he that ends up in the 'Peg. Shinkaruk is an elusive scoring winger with an element of excitement to his game that could look nice alongside future number one centerman Mark Scheifele.

 

Max Domi: NHL Central Scouting has curious ranked Tie’s son as the 23rd rated North American skater (Terry Wilson/OHL Images.)

9^th New York Islanders ' Max Domi, C (London, OHL)

The Islanders have had great success drafting forwards out of the Ontario Hockey League and with them using all seven draft picks last year on defensemen, Garth Snow opts to swing for the fences with Max Domi from the London Knights. A player with elite offensive skills and a non-stop motor packed into a small frame, Domi knows how to create offense and has an ability to elevate his game when the game is on the line.

 

 

 

 

 

10^th Columbus Blue Jackets (via Los Angeles Kings) ' Rasmus Ristolainen, D (TPS, FIN)

As the NHL's first European General Manager, Finn Jarmo Kekalainen gets his chance to add a potential franchise defenseman from his homeland in Rasmus Ristolainen. The big defender competes with great poise and confidence and that type of presence would be welcomed in Columbus. He is a mobile defenseman that makes smart decisions with the puck and understands how to play within his skillset.

 

11^th Columbus Blue Jackets (via New York Rangers) ' Valeri Nichushkin, C (Traktor Chelyabinsk, RUS)

With its third pick in the draft courtesy of the Rick Nash trade, Columbus replaces Nash's size with a similar rangy forward in Russian Valeri Nichushkin, considered a top 10 talent. Nichushkin is a risky pick considering Columbus' track record of developing Russians but with a new front office in place, Columbus is not the same team and adding a skilled big forward in Nichushkin is a big gain for the Blue Jackets.

 

12^th Minnesota Wild ' Anthony Mantha, LW (Val d'Or, QMJHL)

With a wealth of top prospects, Minnesota can take a chance selecting a player with raw offensive potential and Anthony Mantha fits that billing. He is a winger with great on-ice vision and an ability to create offense off the rush but his consistency and attention to detail will require further development and time.

 

13^th San Jose Sharks ' Ryan Pulock, D (Brandon, WHL)

The Sharks have struggled in recent drafts failing to add prospect depth but if Ryan Pulock is available when their selection comes due then they will surely be adding a promising blueliner. Pulock owns a howitzer of a shot that complements his cerebral game well. He doesn't play in a huge frame but he competes smart and would make a great eventual replacement to an aging Dan Boyle.

 

14^th Carolina Hurricanes – Josh Morrissey, D (Prince Albert, WHL)

Morrissey is a smooth skating offensive defenseman that comes in a similar mold as Hurricane's 2011 1st round selection, Ryan Murphy, but with a more developed defensive game. An instinctual defenseman, Morrissey understands the game well at both ends of the ice and has shown continual improvement.

 

15^th Tampa Bay Lightning ' Nikita Zadorov, D (London, OHL)

Lightning GM Steve Yzerman has shown adds another Russian gem to its development system in 6-foot-5 Nikita Zadorov. A mobile defenseman with an ability to lay bone-crushing body checks, Zadorov is a player with a appealing potential and would fit nicely into the Russian community Yzerman is creating in St. Petersburg. His defensive game has improved throughout his rookie OHL season and there have been flashes of offensive potential but he remains a raw rearguard offensively.

 

16^th Phoenix Coyotes ' Adam Erne, RW (Quebec, QMJHL)

Locking up a big powerful forward with a physical frame to develop into an impact power forward in Adam Erne would be a big get for the Phoenix Coyotes. Erne lacks a real standout skill but in a Coyotes' system that preaches smart hockey, Erne could excel.

 

17^th Dallas Stars ' Kerby Rychel, LW (Windsor, OHL)

The Stars have gravitated to drafting big forwards over the past few years under GM Joe Niewendyk and adding Spitfires' forward Kerby Rychel would continue that trend. Rychel has shown to be a great complementary scoring winger especially when he uses his size. With good size, scoring instincts and the potential to get gritty, Rychel has some interesting pro potential.

 

18^th Philadelphia Flyers ' Robert Hägg, D (Modo, SWE)

With few noteworthy prospects in the Flyers' farm system, Philadelphia will look to add a player who can play big minutes and contribute in the team's skill game. Hägg is a cerebral defenseman with an ability to slow the game down dissecting his opponents. He is an excellent passer who handles the puck well under pressure and he could be a nice addition to a Flyers' team looking for fresh faces on their blue line.

 

19^th Nashville Predators – Frédérik Gauthier, C (Rimouski, QMJHL)

The Predators have perfected the art of drafting defensemen but now it's time to add some impact forwards and Oceanic breakout forward Frédérik Gauthier would fit nicely into the Nashville system. He is a responsible two-way forward with an impressive compete level making him a relatively safe pick mid-way through the opening round.

 

20^th Detroit Red Wings ' Alexander Wennberg, C/LW (Djurgården, SWE)

A forward with good size and an extremely intelligent hockey mind, Alexander Wennberg screams Detroit Red Wings' material. His vision, smooth puck handling skills and ability to execute accurate passes makes him a prospect with very projectable NHL skills.

 

21^st St. Louis Blues ' Shea Theodore, D (Seattle, WHL)

A gifted skater, Theodore is a mobile defenseman with good four-way agility and has the potential to become a solid top-four defender. He owns a hard accurate point shot and defends the opposition well plus he owns some great intangibles (great leader).

 

22^nd Toronto Maple Leafs – Bo Horvat, C (London, OHL)

There is a good chance that Bo Horvat is not available if the Maple Leafs pick this late but he is an ideal candidate to don the blue and white. An extremely intelligent hockey player who competes hard at both ends of the ice, Horvat is also has an exceptional ability to read the ice well. For a team looking for a centerman who doesn’t lose a faceoff and competes the entire length of the ice, Horvat is an attractive player for Leaf nation.

 

23^rd Boston Bruins ' Ryan Hartman, C/RW (Plymouth, OHL)

In a similar mold as current Bruin Brad Marchand, Ryan Hartman is a high-energy skilled forward with an ability to agitate his opponents. His upside remains a question mark but his offensive skills are showing that he has the fundamentals to serve as a top-six forward and earn special teams ice time.

 

24^th Vancouver Canucks ' Madison Bowey, D (Kelowna, WHL)

Playing in close quarters to Vancouver is Kelowna's Madison Bowey, a mobile defenseman with a strong two-way game, a component accurate with many of Kelowna's recent graduates to the NHL including Shea Weber, Duncan Keith, Tyler Myers, Sheldon Souray, Alexander Edler, Josh Gorges and Luke Schenn.

 

25^th Ottawa Senators ' André Burakovsky, LW (Malmo, SWE)

Senators add a speedy winger with good playmaking instincts by selecting André Burakovsky. Ottawa has had good recent success drafting players holding Swedish passports and Burakovsky is a promising player that can serve as a versatile forward and as a bonus, he is already gaining valuable experience among men in Sweden.

 

26^th New Jersey Devils ' Jason Dickinson, LW (Guelph, OHL)

Dickinson has shown flashes of great offensive skills and his size, hockey sense and one-on-one skills are very promising. The Devils would be adding a potential top-six winger who has yet to tap into his offensive skills. With the lose of Zach Parise last off-season, Dickinson would give the Devils a legit top-line contender in the future.

 

27^th Montreal Canadiens – Curtis Lazar, C (Edmonton, WHL)

With Galchenyuk firmly planted as Montreal's future top-line centre, Montreal adds a versatile two-way forward to strengthen the bottom half of their lineup. Lazar has the skills to play in a top-six role and could develop into a player much like the Ryan O'Reilly's and Dustin Brown's of the league, playing anywhere inside the top-nine forward spots.

 

28^th Pittsburgh Penguins ' Anthony Duclair, LW (Quebec, QMJHL)

With the 28^th pick, Pittsburgh rolls the dice on speedy forward Anthony Duclair in hopes of one of their late-round forward selections panning out, something that has not happened often in Steeltown. Duclair is a winger with an ability to create lanes and scoring opportunities using his blazing speed and quick hands.

 

29^th Anaheim Ducks ' J.T. Compher, C (USNTDP, USHL)

The Ducks opt to select a heady two-way forward in J.T. Compher. The product of the US National Program remains one of the most complete forwards in the draft class and his desire for winning is a contagious quality. Offensively, Compher has good complementary skills that derive mainly from his advanced playmaking abilities.

 

30^th Chicago Blackhawks ' Zach Fucale, G (Halifax, QMJHL)

There are several routes the Blackhawks could go with the 30^th selection but with underwhelming goaltending prospect depth, selecting Zachary Fucale would be a smart play. As one of the few goaltenders with starting potential, Fucale has shown good poise between the pipes and an attitude driven to win.

 

Please follow @RossyYoungblood as he continues to focus on 2013 NHL draft eligible forwards.

Author information

Brendan RossMy passion for the game has led me to writing about hockey, specifically dealing with the future of hockey and it's prospects. You can find more of my work at DobberProspects.com, TheHockeyGuys.net and OHLWriters.com Outside of the rink, I enjoy spending time with my friends, golfing, kayaking and fishing as well as competing in several of my own hockey leagues. If you so do choose, please feel free to follow my thoughts and work on twitter @RossyYoungblood

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Benoit Pouliot Finally Settling into the NHL

Benoit Pouliot was traded to the Lightning from the Bruins in the off-season and has been a key contributor. (Michael Tureski/Icon SMI)

Some first round picks never pan out and many become superstars, as they’re projected to be. Then there are players like Benoit Pouliot, who take a good amount of time to adjust to the NHL game, after years of being seen as one of those players that may never live up to his potential.

After being selected 4^th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild, Pouliot had a mediocre rookie season with the Houston Aeros of the AHL, before struggling mightily for three seasons, splitting time between the Houston Aeros and the Minnesota Wild. During his fourth season with the Wild, Pouliot was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, in exchange for Guillaume Latendresse. It was in Montreal that Pouliot began to simplify his game as a player. Over the course of a season and a half with Montreal, Pouliot was able to increase his offensive productivity, compiling 54 points in 118 games.

In the Summer of 2011, Pouliot signed a one year deal as a free agent with the Boston Bruins, just after they’d won the Stanley Cup. Pouliot made the most of his opportunity with Boston, being well received by the Bruins fan base. As a third-line forward with the Bruins, Pouliot had a solid season, posting 32 points with a plus-18 rating. Although having possibly his best season overall as a two-way forward, Pouliot once again found himself being dealt after the 2011-2012 season. This time, he was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that struggled in the 2011-12 campaign, in exchange for Michel Ouellet and a 5^th round pick in that 2012 draft.

After a successful season in Boston, which is one of the hardest cities to play in as a professional athlete, there was no reason why Pouliot shouldn’t have been set up to be a consistent contributor in Tampa Bay’s lineup. Pouliot hasn’t disappointed in the early stages of this season, posting 14 points in 18 games played thus far. In the absence of veteran forward Ryan Malone, Pouliot has been rewarded for his solid play, having the opportunity to play on one of the top two lines as a top six forward. If he continues to play with elite players, his production will continue, due to the fact that he’s a power forward that can get in on the forecheck and create plays for Tampa Bay’s talented scorers.

We’ve seen some first round picks pan out and some fade as a distant memory. Then there’s Pouliot, who did take more time than expected to develop, but his time is now.

Follow me on Twitter: @Matt_Metcalf

Author information

Matt MetcalfCurrently covering all things that is the Tampa Bay Lightning for The Hockey Writers. Follow him on Twitter: @Matt_MetcalfTwitter

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Handicapping the 2013 NHL Awards

One-third of the way into the shortened NHL season, there has hardly been a lack of surprise and excitement. The Chicago Blackhawks have yet to lose in regulation, the Buffalo Sabres fired Lindy Ruff after 16 years, and all three Eastern Canada teams are currently in playoff positions. Individually, the season has been very interesting as well, with certain faces emerging from the crowd that would (and some who would not) be expected to shine. While it is very early in the season, the awards watch for the five main NHL awards are in full swing and ready to be considered. Here are the favourites to win the most important individual awards, nearly halfway through the year:

Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby

The hart  trophy is awarded to the player that is the most valuable for his team in the National Hockey League. For that reason, this trophy cannot be given to early favourite Patrick Kane, who has seen his entire team produce in every aspect of the game, en-route to an historic start. It also explains why other front-runner Thomas Vanek cannot win the award, as his best effort has not earned his team a potential playoff spot. Rather, the early Hart Trophy favourite should be the best player in the league: Sidney Crosby. Crosby leads the Pittsburgh Penguins in shots, assists, points, Average Ice Time (for forwards), powerplay points, faceoff wins, faceoffs taken, and +/-. He has the teams largest Corsi, starts the majority of his shifts in the defensive zone, and finishes a majority of them in the offensive zone. Without Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins would be an entirely different team, one that would be lacking an identity and likely many wins. He defines a player that is unequivocally valuable to his team, more than any other player in the National Hockey League. For that reason, he is the favourite to walk away with the Hart Trophy this season.

Honourable Mentions: Patrick Kane, Thomas Vanek, Steven Stamkos

Norris Trophy: Francois Beauchemin

In many situations, the Norris Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League defenseman that racks up the point totals, and is a vital component to his

(Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE)

team's offensive success. This year, the Norris Trophy favourite is somewhat of a dark horse, most notably because not only does he not fit the mold of the prototypical Norris winner, but he isn't even on the radar. Francois Beauchemin, the man who had seemed like his career was finished upon leaving Toronto, has found his stride once again, and in a more dramatic way than ever. Through 16 games, Beauchemin has recorded 12 points, averages 24 minutes of ice time a night (including 3:30 shorthanded), and is a staggering +15, good for first in the National Hockey League. Is it likely that he keeps up this pace? Probably not. However if he manages to, Beauchemin will have a combination of offensive potency and defensive responsibility that defines a top defender. What further helps Francois' case for winning the award is that no defenseman thus far has separated themselves as the best of the year, whether that be through scoring goals or standing out. It would be a shock for him to win it in June, but as of now Francois Beauchemin appears to be the front runner for the Norris Trophy.

Honourable Mentions: Alex Pietrangelo, Kris Letang, Zdeno Chara

Vezina Trophy: Pekka Rinne

Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne stopped 27 of 28 shots in game one. (Mark6Mauno/Flickr)

No offense in the NHL is more anemic and non-existent most nights than that of the Nashville Predators'. Through 19 games, the Predators only average 1.95 goals per game, which slates them as 30^th in the league and the only team to average less than 2 goals every contest. They fire a paltry 24 shots on target and have been shutout an astonishing five times. That caliber offense usually leads to a lottery pick and a sign to rebuild a struggling team. But the Preds are sitting in a playoff position, contending for home-ice in the first round. How is this possible? Because of Pekka Rinne. Rinne has been outstanding through his 17 games played, with a 1.77 GAA and a .931 sv%. Those stats alone are sufficient to justify one as a Vezina Trophy winner. Add to those facts that he has 7 wins with a non-existent offense and has planted them firmly into a playoff spot, and it's a no-brainer. Pekka Rinne is the favourite for the Vezina Trophy, who might have trouble carrying that piece of hardware and his team at the same time.

Honourable Mentions: Craig Anderson, Viktor Fasth, Carey Price

Jack Adams Award: Bruce Boudreau

It was just a few months ago where people were preparing for the collapse of the Anaheim Ducks. The team had just finished 6^th last, Bobby Ryan was unhappy being called the scapegoat, Jonas Hiller had not returned to pre-vertigo form, and star players Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry seemed destined to leave the Golden Coast in 2013. However a bolstered defense, a new goaltender, and some role players have given 2^nd year coach Bruce Boudreau the tools needed to turn the ship around. Boudreau, otherwise known as Gabby, is a player's coach and promotes a high-flying offensive system, as seen during his tenure with the Washington Capitals. So far, it appears as if Boudreau has made a serious impact in the room with his new team. The Ducks are 13-2-1 this season, sitting third in goals scored per game and fourth in powerplay percentage. Boudreau has gotten his star players such as Getzlaf and Perry to play to their potential, energized the veterans such as Selanne and Koivu, and has most notably re-juvinated Francois Beauchemin's career, who is putting up fantastic numbers. If the Ducks continue this torrid place throughout the year, there should be little doubt that Gabby takes home the Jack Adams Award.

Honourable Mentions: Paul MacLean, Michelle Therrien, Joel Quenneville

Calder Trophy: Jonathan Huberdeau

(Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

Of all of the awards that are presented to a wide variety of NHL players, the Calder Trophy is often the hardest to handicap prior to the announcement. Players rarely produce numbers in their first year that aren't similar to those of the other nominees, and as a result the award can rarely be predicted well. However, this year the favourite appears to be Florida Panther Jonathan Huberdeau. Huberdeau, the 19 year old rookie, has certainly made an impact on his team, potentially more than any other rookie. He has 8 goals and 13 points, the most goals among all first-year players and the most points among all Panthers. His 8 goals also means that he accounts for approximately 20% of all of Florida's goals. He averages 16:00 of ice time a game, good for second among rookies. In addition, he has a +2 rating, incredibly impressive considering Florida's -23 goal differential this season. Ultimately, what separates Huberdeau from the rest of the Calder Cup Nominees is his ability to make an impact on a seemingly talent-deprived team. For that reason, Huberdeau is the favourite for the Calder Trophy in 2013.

Honourable Mentions: Vladimir Tarasenko, Cory Conacher, Justin Schultz

Author information

Tyler KerdmanBorn and Raised in Toronto, I am a die-hard Maple Leafs' fan. Hockey's been a part of my life since birth, and it's my ultimate passion. A contributor at Dobberhockey, I started writing for "The Hockey Writers" in February of 2012. "The Week that Was" will be released on a weekly basis. I can be reached on twitter @T_Kerdman

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Darnell Nurse Towers Among OHL Draft-Eligibles

Darnell Nurse (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

Darnell Nurse isn’t going to be a professional football player. But with his family’s history, if football was his passion, Nurse could probably take a pretty good run at it.

Growing up in a family filled with talented athletes has given Nurse an advantage not many young people have. His father Richard was a receiver in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and his mother played basketball at McMaster University, which is also located in Steeltown. Both of his sisters are also talented athletes; his older sister Tamika played NCAA basketball, and his younger sister Kia plays hoops for the Canadian Cadette Women's National Team. And of course, Darnell’s cousin Sarah plays for the Stoney Creek Sabres in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League, and is among the league’s scoring leaders.

As a cherry on top, former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb is an uncle of Nurse’s.

“We have a competitive household, that’s for sure,” Nurse told the CBC in his rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League. “We all want to win. My dad likes to talk about his accomplishments. But I think it’s been great to grow up in an environment like that. We share our stories about our different circumstances and we learn from each other.”

The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenceman has emerged as the OHL’s top draft-eligible blueliner. With the athletic skill his family has had and currently possesses, it comes as no real surprise Nurse has grown into an elite young athlete.

Nurse has drawn comparisons to slightly-former NHL defenceman Chris Pronger. At 6’5”, 195 pounds, the comparison is hard to avoid. Not that Nurse would have it any other way.

'He's definitely someone I try to model myself after,” Nurse told the Toronto Star. 'I've watched him and got film from his younger days as a player and always been impressed with how effective he is even with all the minutes he plays.'

Darnell Nurse (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

Shea Weber is another NHLer Nurse looks up to. Weber’s two-way style of game, one that includes an intimidating physical presence, is a style Nurse relates to. Not only does Nurse focus on the body, but he’s making sure to sharpen his defensive skills. Weber is known as a defenceman who’s responsible at both ends of the ice, and that’s precisely the style Nurse hopes to fine-tune.

“[Weber's] a force in the league on a nightly basis,” Nurse told Buzzing The Net’s Neate Sager. “Being able to watch tape of him and model some things after the way he plays is something I’ve been trying to do.”

The complete package Nurse owns has scouts excited about his NHL potential. International Scouting Service’s head scout, Ross MacLean, feels Nurse has solid odds of going in first five picks of the upcoming draft.

“I think Nurse could go as high as third in the draft, possibly even second if the team picking in that spot is set on Seth Jones and doesn’t get him,” MacLean stated. “He’s got a very similar package to Dougie Hamilton but could be a little bit more explosive. He’s still so raw, which is something that I think a lot of teams who have strong faith in their development departments will salivate over. He’s a tremendous athlete who is still very much a lump of clay and can be moulded into a very special and dynamic player in a multitude of systems.”

As is the case with all prospects, there are always scouts trying to find flaws that could hinder future performance. With Nurse, his slender frame is one, but there’s plenty of time for him to fill out. Handling the physicality of the OHL hasn’t been much of an issue as of yet. Now that Nurse is beginning to take the next step on his trek to the pros, his stature is being analyzed on a regular basis.

All signs suggest Nurse is big enough at 17-years-old to have enough time to bulk up for reaching the NHL. Since he’s still a couple years away from jumping into the big league, there’s no real reason for Nurse to be concerned. He, like everyone else in a similar position, knows gaining strength is all part of the necessary process to live the dream.

In the fight below between Nurse and Oshawa Generals forward Scott Sabourin, it’s noticeable that Nurse’s upper-body strength isn’t quite where it’s going to need to be. But observers need to understand that Nurse is still growing out, so he’ll get stronger with time. Considering that Sabourin is one the OHL’s fighting leaders, Nurse did very well.

Nurse’s offensive game is often unheralded. Sean LaFortune, an OHL regional scout for McKeen’s Hockey, believes Nurse’s offensive game is coming along nicely.

“One of the more ignored aspects to Darnell Nurse’s progression has been his offensive instincts,” LaFortune tweeted recently. “[Nurse] knows when to jump into the play, when to support the attack. Making more decisive, intelligent decisions with the puck. He’s more [than] just a physical presence.”

Playing with the Don Mills Flyers Minor Midget squad gave Nurse loads of talent to develop with as he approached his OHL draft-year. That team was also home to Matt Buckles and Max Domi, who are eligible for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft as well. It was a high-profile team, one filled with big names. It gave Nurse the chance to get used to pressure at a young age. Appropriately, Nurse has grown accustomed to being ranked high on draft lists; the expectations that come with being a top prospect don’t seem to affect his game.

“It’s nice to be [high on draft boards] but some things come with it ' you have to stand up for yourself a little bit more,” Nurse told NHL.com. “That’s a brand of hockey I really enjoy playing, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

___________________________________________

Email: davidoconnorhockey@gmail.com

Twitter: @DavidOConnorTHW

Author information

David OConnorDavid O'Connor is an aspiring sports executive who also has a passion for writing. O'Connor focuses on prospects and the World Juniors for The Hockey Writers. His work has been on the Los Angeles Times website, among other places. He also does some scouting work for the local Junior B hockey club. If you would be interested in having him write for you, or are looking for a guest on your radio show, please feel free to contact him at davidoconnorhockey@gmail.com.Twitter

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Evaluating Minnesota Wild Rookie Wingers Jason Zucker and Charlie Coyle

The Minnesota Wild are currently outside of the Western conference playoff spots with an 8-7-2 record through 17 games. This is not the position that many fans expected to find their Wild in after the big summer free agent signings of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, though it should be noted that Minnesota are only a single point adrift of sixth place in the West.

Still, a stumbling up and down start has largely been due to an offense that just cannot seem to find any rhythm. Mike Yeo’s team ranks 29th in the NHL scoring just 2.06 goals per game. Yeo has tried just about every combination among his forward group to try and generate some semblance of consistent offensive output, but no player on this roster has been able to achieve that. It feels like most of this team’s better offensive players have yet to make an appearance in the shortened 2013 NHL season.

To his credit General Manager Chuck Fletcher hasn’t stood pat during Minnesota’s dry spell. He has turned to the Wild’s AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros, calling up some of the organization’s brightest young offensive talent in an attempt to bring more balance, depth or just some sort of spark to the line-up. The results have been mixed so far in terms of immediate impact. However, short stints from Jason Zucker and Charlie Coyle have confirmed that this is a franchise with a deep and exciting talent pool worthy of its top ranking position in Hockey Future’s latest team rankings.

Jason Zucker

(Steven Christy/OKC Barons)

Zucker enjoyed a sparkling NCAA career with the University of Denver where he established himself as one of the better scorers in college, a strong two-way player and a leader. He got a chance to skate in six NHL games at the end of the 2011-12 season after the college hockey season ended where he registered two assists [See also: Jason Zucker: From WCHA to the State of Hockey].

Still, the 21-year old was often overlooked during the offseason as he joined the professional ranks at the same time as some of the most exciting offensive prospects in the history of the Minnesota Wild franchise including: Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle and Zack Phillips.

He had to be patient and earn his next NHL call-up leading the Houston Aeros with 19 goals and 41 points in 47 games. He finally got the call ahead of a home game against Detroit on February 17. Jason Zucker would not disappoint. Midway through the second period he battled a puck loose in the defensive end and then showed off his fantastic skating speed out-skating the Red Wings’ defense in an end to end rush, which he capped off with his first career NHL goal.

Zucker has played in the two games since that memorable season debut registering a shot in each, but failing to make his mark on the scoreboard. There’s little doubt that he has added to his skating speed and he looks capable of competing physically in the NHL at this point. His defensive game in terms of smarts and positioning is probably the best of all the young Minnesota forwards.

There’s little doubt that Jason Zucker is NHL ready and could easily spend most of the rest of the season skating on any of the team’s four lines for Yeo. However, he isn’t likely to contribute consistent offense. He still doesn’t use his shot or drive to the net in quite the same fashion as he has done at other standards, and might not quite have the skill set to be a top end scorer in the NHL even when he hits his prime.

Charlie Coyle

Charlie Coyle. (Photo: saintjohnseadogs.com/David Connell Photography)

Coyle is now in his second stint with Minnesota this season. He played in a stretch of five games for the Wild between Feb 4 – Feb 12. During that spell he spent some time playing alongside Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise on the team’s top line. He was returned to the AHL, but made his way back into Mike Yeo’s starting line-up for Saturday night’s game against Calgary where he scored his first goal.

Charlie Coyle was the first of the franchise’s promising young offensive players to sign an entry level contract last Spring [See also: Charlie Coyle Inks Entry Level Deal, Are Granlund and Zucker Next?]. He was perhaps the slowest to adapt to professional hockey though scoring just 14 goals and 25 points in 47 games with Houston.

However, Coyle is a player with a tantalizingly promising combination of size, skating ability and raw offensive talent. He has been impressive in his short spells with the NHL club so far. He uses his size to his advantage offensively and hasn’t looked afraid to play in the dirty areas.

The experiment to spark some offense with the insertion of Charlie Coyle into the line-up has arguably failed. After all he has just one goal in six games. It’s pretty clear that the 20-year old will need to spend a little more time in the AHL. He still needs to add a little aggression and edge to his game and he hasn’t used his shot anywhere near enough. Coyle is a player who will be most effective when he has confidence to rip his wrist shot off when he is in the prime scoring areas. He still isn’t doing that at NHL level yet.

Zucker and Coyle are not the saviors of Minnesota’s offense, though attempting to use them as sparks isn’t a bad idea, but they have shown that they are players who could figure strongly in a Wild offensive that is much better in the quite near future.

Author information

Sebastian Egerton-ReadSeb has been writing about the NHL and ice hockey for nearly five years. He has written for a number of different sites and is currently lead writer of The5Hole.com and Hockeyschedule.me. He covers the Minnesota Wild for The Hockey Writers. Follow him on twitter @seberead

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.