Pregame Preview: Canadiens at Blackhawks (Game #80)

 
Match Up:

The Canadiens (45-27-7) are in Chicago Wednesday to visit the defending champion Blackhawks (45-19-5) in Montreal's final road game of the season. The game starts at 7:30 and airs on RDS and TSN.

This is the second and final game between the Habs and Hawks this season, Montreal earned a 2-1 OT win in the first match. Andrei Markov scored both goals for the Habs the first time these teams met and Carey Price made 19 save for the win as the Canadiens held the Hawks to just 20 shots in the game.

What to Watch:

Max Pacioretty was named the NHL's Third Star last week after putting up 4 goals and 6 points, 5 of them in the Habs' 7-4 win over the Sens. 9 of Pacioretty's 39 goals on the season have come in his last 8 games. PK Subban has been held under 20 minutes of ice time in his last 3 games, and has been held pointless in each of them.

With Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews on the sidelines, Patrick Sharp will likely finish the season as Chicago's leading scorer. Sharp has 33 goals and 43 assists for a career high 76 point on the year. With 60 points and a +21 rating, Duncan Keith is making a strong case for Norris Trophy consideration, although with 3 assists in his last 6 games, Keith has cooled off a bit as the season winds down.

What's at Stake:

The Canadiens are 4 points away from home ice advantage through the first round with 3 games to play. With back-to-back games coming up, and a Lightning game against the Flyers on Thursday, the Canadiens have multiple scenarios that would see them clinch.

Who's Out:

A couple of healthy Canadiens won't be making the trip to Chicago with the team, including the defensive pair of Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin. Carey Price has the night off as well, while Brandon Prust (upper body) and Travis Moen (concussion) are also out. Josh Gorges will return to action Wednesday and Dale Weise (wrist) may be ready to play as well.

The Blackhawks are missing arguably their two best players for Wednesday's game. Jonathan Toews (upper body) and Patrick Kane (lower body) are both out, as is backup goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (rotator cuff).

What Else:

With Markov missing Wednesday's game, his streak of 137 straight regular season games played will come to an end. PK Subban is the only other Hab this season to play all 79 games so far, his Ironman streak is up to 131 consecutive games played.

The Question Mark:

Who are your Little Bear and Doghouse Habs players for the season?

Let us know what you think, leave us a comment or send us a tweet with the #MTLHockey hashtag on Twitter.

Be sure to tune into the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show an hour before the puck drop and the Post Game Show 5 minutes after the final siren. Join the live conversation by using the #MTLHockey hashtag on Twitter.

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Pregame Preview: Canadiens vs Blackhawks (Game #46)

 
Match Up:

The Canadiens (25-15-5) are at home Saturday night to play host the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Chicago Blackhawks (29-8-9). The game starts at 7:00 and airs on RDS and CBC.

This is the first of two meetings between the original six rivals, the haven't faced each other in over two years, stretching back to December 2011. Despite the Canadiens scoring first in that game, the Hawks beat the Habs handily by a final score of 5-1.

What to Watch:

Tomas Plekanec scored the only Canadiens goal in Philly on Wednesday, extending his point streak to 3 games. Linemate Brian Gionta also has a 3-game points streak going, the captain is up to 23 points in 44 games.

Carey Price should be back between the pipes for the Habs Saturday night, he has a 6-1-2 record in his last 9 games, stretching back to mid-December.

The Hawks are in the midst of a mini-slump, at least by their standards. The team is 1-1-2 in their last 4 and Patrick Kane, their leading scorer, has just 1 assist in that span. Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews both have 4-game point streaks going. Sharp had a hat-trick against the Devils last Friday, leading the Hawks to their only win in the last 4.

What's at Stake:

If the Canadiens want to prove they are a serious contender in this league, the Chicago Blackhawks are the perfect team to make that point against. The Hawks are on pace for just under 120 points this season and they lead the league in goals per game. On the other side of things, Montreal is fourth in terms of goals allowed per game, so Saturday's match will provide a real test to the Habs' defensive mettle.

Who's Out:

The Habs are missing Alex Galchenyuk (hand), Ryan White (upper body) and defenseman Davis Drewiske (shoulder).

The Blackhawks are just missing Nikolai Khabibulin (shoulder).

What Else:

The Blackhawks may have won 2 of the last 4 Stanley Cups, but they still have a ways to go before the catch Montreal's totals. One of the NHL's original six teams, the Hawks have had ample opportunity to bring home their fair share of Cups, but the team has only won hockey's ultimate prize 5 times since they joined the league in 1926. The Canadiens have won a league best 24 Stanley Cups, but haven't taken home a championship in over 20 years.

The Question Mark:

We want to hear from you, what were your expectations for the Habs this season and are you satisfied with their performance up to now?

Let us know what you think, leave a comment or send us a tweet by using the #MTLHockey hashtag on Twitter.

Be sure to tune into the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show an hour before the puck drop and the Post Game Show 5 minutes after the final siren. Join the live conversation by using the #MTLHockey hashtag on Twitter.

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Subban Wins Norris, Bruins-Hawks OT...Again.

Good Morning Addicts!!!!

So P.K. Subban won the Norris Trophy as the National Hockey League's best defenceman. Does this really surprise anyone? Certainly not yours truly.

Sure, Subban is still trying to escape the shadow of his previous misgivings, but by and large, P.K. was the best rearguard in the league at both ends of the ice. His offensive prowess cannot be reproached, and his aptitude for timely, bone-crushing hits, along with his ability to effectively manage the defensive zone was surely evident to all the love the game of hockey.

Has Subban learned his lesson, or is it feasible that we may see the cocky P.K. of old next season? In my opinion, the simple fact that he selflessly attributed much of his success to his team in his acceptance speech, while saying nothing about himself or his effort on the ice, speaks volumes towards his maturation over the past few months.

The credit for that titbit of work not only lies with Subban, but with Canadiens' General Manager Marc Bergevin and head coach Michel Therrien. You may think I'm off my rocker in mentioning Therrien, who is widely thought of as a bit of a hot-head, but having witnessed his coaching abilities in the QMJHL, as well as the work he did in pacifying an exuberant Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh, his influence is undeniable.

Suffice it to say that P.K. has definitely earned himself a substantial pay raise in his next contract negotiations. And while most pundits may believe that Bergevin made a mistake in signing Subban to his most recent "bridge" contract, the Habs' GM did what was right. He put the ball in P.K.'s court and let him decide his own future.

Either way, Bergevin wins. He either resigns Subban to a long-term deal himself, or he can wait until the season is up to see what other GMs deem P.K.'s value to be. I don't see it even getting close to the latter before number 76 is resigned, but stranger things have happened in this town in recent years.

Needless to say, not too shabby for the #43 pick in the 2007 NHL entry draft.

Bruins-Hawks Stanley Cup Final Already A Classic

In just two games in the Stanley Cup finals, we've seen fantastic goaltending, great pace, highlight reel goals and four overtime periods. While it doesn't do much for my efficiency in my day job, this series is certainly providing an exemplary level of entertainment.

While much of #PlanetHabs hates...no, loathes the Boston Bruins, there is no denying their right to represent the Eastern Conference in the finals. Having struggled mightily against the Toronto Maple Leafs, they managed nothing short of a miracle in beating them, then cruised through the lowly New York Rangers, while sweeping the high octane Pittsburgh Penguins. Lead by goaltender Tuukka Rask, who has eclipsed the shadow left behind by Tim Thomas, as well as the KHL line (Krecji, Horton and Lucic), they have been a force to be reckoned with.

The Blackhawks, having beaten their own Achilles' heel in the Detroit Red Wings, were the class of the Western Conference and were the consensus pick to get to the finals. With limited contributions from sniper Marion Hossa and "Captain Serious" Jonathan Toews, they managed to get to this point of the backs of goaltender Corey Crawford, who has silenced his detractors, and the scoring of Patrick Kane.

The Bruins have done a masterful job of neutralizing Toews and Patrick Sharp in two games of the Final so far, and the longer games have gone, the more ineffective Hossa and Kane have become. That's not to say they don't get any scoring chances, but the Beantown Bruisers are built for the long and punishing grind that the Finals demand.

I picked Boston to win the series in seven games, and by all indications so far, that's the direction we are heading in. However, if I can ask one thing from both sides...

...SAVE THE LONG OT GAMES FOR THE WEEKEND!!!

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Monday Morning roundup, Russia Bound Players, NHLPA Video and Therrien Interview

Good Morning Addicts!

Well it didn't take long for many NHL players to head overseas after the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.

With Evgeni Malkin heading to the KHL to play for Metallurg and hoping to bring teammate Sidney Crosby along, it's evident that any lost time in the 2012-13 season will be advantageous for leagues in Europe.

The owners will have to hope that their star players remain healthy and will be willing to return to the NHL when and if the NHL and NHLPA reach an agreement. With the amount of money that can be offered for players services in Europe, it's a possibility that some players could elect to remain overseas.

Habs And Hockey News

- Less than a day after the NHL addressed the fans with a letter regarding the current lockout, a video was released by the NHLPA with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews among others talking about their love of the game and the importance of the fans.

- Here is Dave Stubbs' take on what the future has in store for the upcoming season that may not be.

- And for those interested in reading something non lockout related, Habs coach Michel Therrien spoke with Dave Stubbs last week about his second stint as the Habs head coach.


(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images North America)

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Habs lose, Lightning, Hawks, Sens, Crosby, Doughty, Rumours and more...

Habs News

Hockey Inside/Out - Canadiens practice, blow town
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/canadiens-practice-blow-town

Too early to panic?
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/boone/too-early-to-panic

Multimedia after Canadiens’ 4-0 loss
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/multimedia-after-canadiens-4-0-loss

Punchless Canadiens drop another one
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/boone/last-canadiens-home-game-for-almost-two-weeks

RDS - 6e défaite en sept matchs
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/327261.html

«Je suis tanné de perdre», Brian Gionta
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/327336.html

Le CH s'attaque aux gilets contrefaits
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/327326.html


NHL News
TSN - KINGS REACH VERBAL AGREEMENT ON MULTI-YEAR DEAL WITH DOUGHTY
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377081

CHEVELDAYOFF: DECISION ON SCHEIFELE MAKING TEAM NOT MADE
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377075

CROSBY LIKELY TO TRAVEL TO CANADA NEXT WEEK, STILL WON'T PLAY
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377054

RESEARCHERS LOOKING AT HELMETS TO CUT DOWN ON CONCUSSIONS
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377063

30 TEAMS IN 30 DAYS: OTTAWA SENATORS
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377029

THN.com - VIDEO: One-on-one with Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/42011-VIDEO-Oneonone-with-Chicago-Blackhawks-captain-Jonathan-Toews.html

VIDEO: Puck Panel – Phoenix Coyotes 2011-12 preview
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/42009-VIDEO-Puck-Panel-Phoenix-Coyotes-201112-preview.html

NHL Free Agent and Trade News – September 30, 2011
http://spectorshockey.net/wordpress/2011/09/30/nhl-free-agent-and-trade-news-september-30-2011/

(Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images North America)

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Canadiens Game Day: Habs Look To Clinch Playoff Spot Against Blackhawks

by Kamal Panesar

The Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks clash tonight at the Bell Centre in a pivotal "Original Six" match.

With the playoffs just over a week away, both teams want this victory badly.

The Canadiens will be trying to punch their playoff ticket, while the Blackhawks are trying not to slip out of the top eight in the West.

Tonight's game will be the sole meeting between these two teams this season.

Chicago hasn't fared well in Montreal recently, losing the last four games they've played at the Bell Centre. In addition, they have only won three of the last 10 between the two teams.


Standings

With 91 points in the standings, the Canadiens are in a sixth place tie for points in the East with the Rangers. However, Montreal is ahead of New York in the standings in virtue of their game in hand.

Tonight will be the Canadiens' final home game of the season.

As such, Montreal will be desperate to clinch their playoffs spot tonight at home, If not the Habs could be leaving it to chance over their final two games in Ottawa (Thursday) and Toronto (Saturday).

A Canadiens victory would give them 93 points, ensuring the ninth-place Canes could only catch, but not pass, them in the standings.

For the Blackhawks, they will be looking to make things easier on themselves and harder on the Flames.

With 92 points in the standings, Chicago has a tenuous hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. A win tonight would increase their buffer over the ninth place Flames to three points, while still holding a game in hand.


Goaltending

Montreal native, Cory Crawford, will be facing his hometown team for the first time. Crawford will be getting his 52nd start of the season and will be looking for his 32nd win.

This will be Crawford's 24th straight start, a span in which the Hawks have gone 14-6-4 and clawed their way back into the playoffs contention.

Carey Price, who is fresh off winning the Molson Cup for the 2010-2011 season, will be making his 71st start for the Habs.

A victory by Price would push his total to 37 this season, tying him for first overall with Roberto Luongo.


Scoring and Special Teams

The loss of Patrick Sharp from the Blackhawks lineup has been a major blow to the team. That being said, they still possess a much more potent offense than the Canadiens.

Chicago has the fourth best goals-for at 3.1 per game (246 total goals) and the second overall power play at 23.9 percent. On the defensive side of the puck things are a little more arduous for the Hawks.

They have the 12th best goals-against at 2.7 per game (214 total goals) and a weak 25th overall penalty kill at 79.4 percent.

Montreal, on the other hand, continues to have problems scoring goals with a 22nd overall 2.6 goals per game (208 total goals). Their power play, however, while relatively ineffective in recent weeks is seventh overall at 19.3 percent.

Defensively the Canadiens are in good position with the 10th goals-against at 2.5 per game (204 total goals). In addition their penalty kill is ninth overall at 83.8 percent efficiency.

With Montreal having the last change tonight, Jacques Martin will do his best line matching to try keeping the puck in the Blackhawks end. With sharp-shooters like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, among others, Montreal definitely wants to limit their scoring chances.


Roster Changes and Injuries

Jeff Halpern, who looks like he came back to the lineup too early, is listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury. Aside from Halpern, it is same old, same old for the Canadiens with Andrei Markov, Josh Gorges, Alex Picard, Max Pacioretty and Jaroslav Spacek on the sidelines.

Both Spacek and Pacioretty have been skating in the past week but neither is ready to return to the lineup. Spacek could make a return as soon as Thursday in Ottawa, while Pacioretty is still a few weeks away at best.

Injuries aside, the Canadiens will go with the same lineup that defeated the Devils on Saturday meaning the Tom Pyatt and Yannick Weber will still be on the sidelines.

The Blackhawks continue to be without the services of Patrick Sharp, Jordan Hendry and David Bolland all out indefinitely—Hendry is out for the season.


Key to Victory

As is always the case when playing against high-powered opposition, Montreal has to keep the elite Chicago scorers in check tonight.

Watch for Hal Gill and P.K. Subban to be tasked with shutting down Patrick Kane and/or Jonathan Toews. In addition, Carey Price will have to be at his best against a hungry Chicago team that has been playing playoff-like hockey for over a month.

If the Habs dynamic shutdown duo of Gill and Subban can get the job done, Montreal should be able to pull out the victory.

If not, this could end up being a nerve-racking game to watch for Habs fans.

Game time is 7:30 PM.

---
Kamal is a freelance Habs writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com, Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com and Habs writer on TheFranchise.ca. Kamal is also a weekly contributor to the Sunday Shinny on The Team 990 (AM 990) every Sunday from 8 - 9 AM. Listen live at http://www.team990.com/

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America)

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Habs back at work, December's 3 stars, Power rankings, rumours and more...

News

HabsAddict.com - The Team 990 Contest: What Made You a Habs Addict?
http://www.habsaddict.com/2011/01/team-990-contest-what-made-you-habs.html

Habs Inside/Out - Canadiens back to work today
http://www.habsinsideout.com/main/42703

Isles' goalies, Clouston's status, Toews' return
http://www.habsinsideout.com/main/42702

The World Juniors
http://www.habsinsideout.com/main/42701

Habs Future
http://www.habsinsideout.com/main/42700

ESPN.com - Power Rankings
http://espn.go.com/nhl/powerrankings

Le CH heureux d'être rentré à Montréal
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/312553.html

THN.com - THN at the World Junior Championship: Well-prepared Canadians snuff out defending champion Americans
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/37456-THN-at-the-World-Junior-Championship-Wellprepared-Canadians-snuff-out-defending-champion-Americans.html

THN at the World Junior Championship: Resilient Russians book place in final
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/37450-THN-at-the-World-Junior-Championship-Resilient-Russians-book-place-in-final.html

Justin Bourne's Blog: Injuries the ultimate test of NHL organizational depth
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/37443-Justin-Bournes-Blog-Injuries-the-ultimate-test-of-NHL-organizational-depth.html

Habsworld.net - Vote For December's 3 Stars!
http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2335

Spector's Hockey - NHL Rumors for Monday, January 3, 2011
http://spectorshockey.net/2011/01/nhl-rumors-for-monday-january-3-2011/

(Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images North America)

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Brian Gionta Named Montreal's Captain: Ranking the NHL's "C's"

by Kamal Panesar

With the news leaking last week that Brian Gionta will become the 28th captain of the Montreal Canadiens, I thought it was a good time to take a look at and rank all 30 NHL captains.

Ranking the captains is no easy task, mind you, since all of them have some combination of leadership qualities, work ethic, and a never-quit mentality.

As such, deciding which one is better than another is like splitting hairs. The following list is a ranking of the 30 NHL captains based on my overall impression of them as captains.

I am sure that this ranking will spur debate, rage, happiness, and all sorts of emotions but keep in mind that the positioning of one person ahead or behind another is by no means meant as disrespect to any of these individuals.

Being an NHL captain takes a special kind of character, and I truly feel that all of these players demonstrate, in some way or another, a certain "je ne sais quoi."

Note: Five teams have not yet named team captains. In those instances, I have stated the person who I believe should become the captain. I have ranked those teams 30 through 26 for simplicity's sake and not because I feel that their potential captains are inferior.

All stats and info were compiled from ESPN.com and Wikipedia.org.


No. 30: Vancouver Canucks – Currently Vacant

My selection for captain: Henrik Sedin
Years in the league: 9
2010 Stats: 82 GP, 112 Points (29 G, 83 A), plus-35


No. 29: San Jose Sharks – Currently Vacant
My selection for captain: Dan Boyle
Years in the league: 11
2010 Stats: 76 GP, 58 Points (15 G, 43 A), plus-6



No. 28: Edmonton Oilers – Currently Vacant
My selection for captain: Ales Hemsky
Years in the league: 7
2010 Stats: 22 GP, 22 points (7 G, 15 A), plus-7


No. 27: Atlanta Thrashers – Currently Vacant
My selection for captain: Ron Hainsey
Years in the league: 7
2010 Stats: 80 GP, 26 points (5 G, 21 A), minus-6


No. 26: Anaheim Ducks – Currently Vacant
My selection for captain: Ryan Getzlaf
Years in the league: 5
2010 Stats: 66 GP, 69 points (19 G, 50 A), plus-4


No. 25: Florida Panthers – Bryan McCabe

What makes him great: Is in charge of a team in transition, but has been there before.

Years in the league: 14
2010 Stats: 82 GP, 43 points (8 G, 35 A), Minus-4

Awards and accomplishments:
• Second All-Star Team - 2004
• 1997 World Championship Gold


No. 24: New York Rangers – Chris Drury
What makes him great: Captain Clutch knows how to come through in a jam.

Years in the league: 11
2010 Stats: 77 GP, 32 points (14 G, 18 A), minus-10

Awards and accomplishments:
• 2001 Stanley Cup (Colorado)
• 2002 Olympic Silver
• 2010 Olympic Silver
• 2004 World Championship Bronze


No. 23: New York Islanders – Doug Weight
What makes him great: Like Foote, there isn’t much that Weight hasn’t experienced.

Years in the league: 18
2010 Stats: 36 GP, 17 points (1 G, 16 A), minus-1

Awards and accomplishments:
• 1995–96: Played in All-Star Game (NHL)
• 1995–96: World Cup of Hockey Championship (Team USA)
• 1997–98: Played in All-Star Game (NHL)
• 2000–01: Played in All-Star Game (NHL)
• 2001–02: Silver medal (XIX Olympic Winter Games)
• 2002–03: Played in All-Star Game (NHL)
• 2005–06: Stanley Cup Championship (Carolina Hurricanes)


No. 22: Los Angeles Kings – Dustin Brown
What makes him great: A young veteran with grit and determination.

Years in the league: 6
2010 Stats: 82 GP, 56 points (24 G, 32 A), minus-6

Awards and accomplishments:
• 2004 World Championship Bronze
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2009)
• 2010 Olympic Silver


No. 21: St. Louis Blues – Eric Brewer

What makes him great: Has enough experience to be able to help guide a young, talented group.

Years in the league: 11
2010 Stats: 59 GP, 15 points (8 G, 7 A), minus-17

Awards and accomplishments:
• 2002 Olympic Gold Medal
• 2003 World Championship Gold
• 2003 – Played in NHL All-Star Game
• 2004 World Championship Gold
• 2007 World Championship Gold
• 2004 World Cup Gold


No. 20: Toronto Maple Leafs – Dion Phaneuf
What makes him great: He is the mold that the Leafs are being shaped in.

Years in the league: 5
2010 Stats: 81 GP, 32 points (12 G, 20 A), plus-1

Awards and accomplishments:
• 2007 World Championship Gold
• First Team All-Star 2008


No. 19: Minnesota Wild – Mikko Koivu
What makes him great: Strong leadership genes and competitive nature.

Years in the league: 5
2010 Stats: 80 GP, 71 Points (22 G, 49 A), minus-2

Awards and accomplishments:
• 2006 Olympic Sliver
• 2010 Olympic Bronze
• 2006 World Championship Bronze
• 2007 World Championship Silver
• 2008 World Championship Bronze
• 2004 World Cup of Hockey Silver


No. 18: New Jersey Devils – Jamie Langenbrunner
What makes him great: Like Adam Foote, Langenbrunner is a repository of experience.

Years in the league: 15
2010 Stats: 81 GP, 61 points (19 G, 42 A), plus-6

Awards and accomplishments:
• 1996–97 NHL Calder Trophy Finalist for Rookie of the Year (Dallas Stars)
• 1998 Member of the United States Olympic Hockey team
• 1998–99 NHL Stanley Cup Champion (Dallas Stars)
• 2002–03 NHL Stanley Cup Champion (New Jersey Devils)
• 2002–03 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Scoring Champion (New Jersey Devils)
• 2004 Member of the United States team at the World Cup of Hockey
• 2007–present New Jersey Devils Team Captain
• Named to 2010 United States Olympic Hockey team
• Named Captain of 2010 United States Olympic Hockey team
• 2010 Winter Olympic Silver Medalist - Men’s Ice Hockey


No. 17: Colorado Avalanche – Adam Foote

What makes him great: Battle hardened veteran who has seen it all

Years in the league: 18
2010 Stats: 67 GP, 9 points (0 G, 9 A), plus-8

Awards and accomplishments:
• Named to the OHL First All-Star team in 1990-91.
• Won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 and 2001.
• Won an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada in 2002.
• Won a World Cup championship with Team Canada in 2004.


No. 16: Nashville Predators – Shea Weber
What makes him great: He is young, skilled and determined

Years in the league: 5
2010 Stats: 78 GP, 43 points (16 G, 27 A), even

Awards and accomplishments:
• 2004 – WHL West Second All-Star Team
• 2004 – CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team
• 2005 – WHL airBC Trophy
• 2005 – WHL West First All-Star Team
• 2007 – Played in NHL YoungStars Game
• 2009 - Played in NHL All-Star Game
• Named to the 2010 Olympics All-Star Team


No. 15: Columbus – Rick Nash
What makes him great: Like Lecavalier, Nash is intensely committed to the Columbus organization.

Years in the league: 7
2010 Stats: 76 GP, 67 points (33 G, 34 A), minus-2

Awards and accomplishments:
• NHL All-Rookie Team - 2003
• Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy - 2004 (shared with Ilya Kovalchuk and Jarome Iginla)
• NHL All-Star Game appearance - 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009
• NHL Foundation Player Award - 2009
• World Championships gold medal - 2007
• World Championships MVP – 2007
• World Championships All-Star Team - 2007, 2008
• Gold medal - 2010 Winter Olympic Games
• Best Play ESPY Award nomination - 2008


No. 14: Buffalo Sabres – Craig Rivet
What makes him great: Class and poise

Years in the league: 15
2010 Stats: 78 GP, 15 points (1 G, 14 A), minus-6

Awards and accomplishments:
• World Championship Gold Medal - 2003


No. 13: Washington Capitals – Alexander Ovechkin
What makes him great: Wants to win so badly that you, the fans, can taste it.

Years in the league: 5
2010 Stats: 72 GP, 109 points (50 G, 59 A), plus-45

Awards and accomplishments:
• NHL All-Rookie Team: 2006
• NHL First All-Star Team: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
• NHL Number 1 Star of the Month: January 2006, January 2008, March 2008, November 2008, January 2010
• NHL Offensive Player of the Month: January 2006
• NHL Rookie of the Month: December 2005 and January 2006
• NHL Number 1 Star of the Week: Week Ending – December 30, 2007; March 9, 2008; March 23, 2008; December 28, 2008; October 5, 2009; January 18, 2010.
• NHL Offensive Player of the Week: Week Ending – December 31, 2005; January 23, 2006
• NHL Player of the Year – Sporting News: 2008, 2009
• NHL All-Star Game selections: 2007, 2008, 2009
• Calder Memorial Trophy – NHL Rookie of the Year: 2006
• Kharlamov Trophy – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
• Lester B. Pearson Award (Most Outstanding Player): 2008, 2009
• Ted Lindsay Award (Formerly known as Lester B. Pearson Award): 2010
• Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player): 2008, 2009
• Art Ross Trophy: 2008 (112 points)
• Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy: 2008 (65 goals), 2009 (56 goals)
• 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Best Forward
• 2006 Winter Olympics – Ice Hockey All-Tournament Team
• 2006 IIHF World Championship – Media All-Star Team
• 2008 IIHF World Championship – Media All-Star Team


No. 12: Ottawa Senators – Daniel Alfredsson
What makes him great: Wants desperately to get his team over the championship hump.

Years in the league: 14
2010 Stats: 70 GP, 71 points (20 G, 51 A), plus-8

Awards and accomplishments:
• 1996 — NHL All-Rookie Team
• 1996 — Calder Memorial Trophy
• 1996 — Played in NHL All-Star Game
• 1997 — Played in NHL All-Star Game
• 1998 — Played in NHL All-Star Game
• 2004 — Played in NHL All-Star Game
• 2005–06 — Second Team All-Star
• 2006 — Gold medal at the Winter Olympics
• 2008 — Starter to NHL All-Star Game, Guy Carbonneau Award for 'Top Penalty-Killer'


No. 11: Montreal Canadiens – Brian Gionta

What makes him great: Instills confidence with his quiet intensity.

Years in the league: 8
2010 Stats: 61 GP, 46 points (28 G, 18 A), plus-3

Awards and accomplishments:
• 2002–03: Stanley Cup — New Jersey Devils (NHL)


No. 10: Tampa Bay Lightning – Vincent Lecavalier
What makes him great: Despite ups and downs, Lecavalier remains intensely committed to Tampa Bay.

Years in the league: 11
2010 Stats: 82 GP, 70 points (24 G, 46 A), minus-16

Awards and accomplishments:
• NHL Second All-Star Team - 2007
• NHL All-Star Game - 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009
• Stanley Cup - 2004
• Rocket Richard Trophy - 2007
• King Clancy Memorial Trophy - 2008
• World Cup of Hockey Championship - 2004
• World Cup of Hockey All-Star Team - 2004
• World Cup of Hockey MVP - 2004


No. 9: Carolina Hurricanes – Eric Staal
What makes him great: Dogged determination

Years in the league: 6
2010 Stats: 70 GP, 70 points (29 G, 41 A), plus-4

Awards and accomplishments:
• 2003–04: Played in the YoungStars Game (NHL)
• 2005–06: Won Stanley Cup with Carolina Hurricanes, NHL 2nd All-Star Team
• 2007: World Ice Hockey gold
• NHL All-Star Game appearances: 2007, 2998, 2009
• 2007–08: All-Star Game MVP
• 2010: Olympic gold (Staal became the 23rd member of the Triple Gold Club)


No. 8: Boston Bruins – Zdeno Chara
What makes him great: His size aside, Chara is a tower of strength for the Bruins.

Years in the league: 12
2010 Stats: 80 GP, 44 points (7 G, 44 A), plus-19

Awards and accomplishments:
• Played in NHL All-Star Game in 2003, 2007, 2008 (starter) and 2009.
• Named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 2004 and 2009.
• Named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2006 and 2008.
• Won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2009.
• Won the hardest shot competition at the NHL All-Star Game SuperSkills Competition in 2007, 2008 and 2009.


No. 7: Philadelphia Flyers – Mike Richards

What makes him great: Gritty workhorse in the mold of Bobby Clarke.

Years in the league: 5
2010 Stats: 82 GP, 62 points (31 G, 31 A), minus-2

Awards and accomplishments:
• Calder Cup championship (with the Philadelphia Phantoms) - 2004–05
• NHL All-Star Game - 2008
• Bobby Clarke Trophy (Philadelphia Flyers' MVP) - 2007–08, 2008–09
• Gene Hart Memorial Award (Philadelphia Flyers' fan favorite) - 2007–08
• World Junior gold medal - 2005
• Winter Olympic Gold Medal - Vancouver 2010


No. 6: Phoenix Coyotes – Shane Doan
What makes him great: He is a supremely classy individual with an insatiable work ethic.

Years in the league: 14
2010 Stats: 82 GP, 55 points (18 G, 37 A), plus-3

Awards and accomplishments:
• Named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team in 1995.
• Won the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy (Memorial Cup MVP) in 1995.
• Played in the NHL All-Star Game in 2004 and 2009.


No. 5: Dallas Stars – Brendan Morrow
What makes him great: Learned under Carbonneau and Gainey’s tutelage

Years in the league: 10
2010 Stats: 76 GP, 46 points (20 G, 26 A), minus-3

Awards and accomplishments:
• 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships gold medal
• Gold medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics (Team Canada)


No. 4: Chicago Blackhawks – Jonathan Toews
What makes him great: Maturity and wisdom beyond his years

Years in the league: 3
2010 Stats: 76 GP, 68 points (25 G, 43 A), plus-22

Awards and accomplishments:
• Nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy – 2008
• NHL All-Star Game - 2009 (starter)
• All-Star selection of the 2010 Olympic Hockey Tournament
• 2010 Winter Olympics - Best Forward
• 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy winner
• Second-youngest to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (22 years, 41 days; only Patrick Roy was younger); youngest Captain to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
• Youngest person to gain entry into the Triple Gold Club (22 years, 41 days at time last component was achieved)
• Named full captain of an NHL team after only 64 NHL games; third youngest full captain (Crosby, Vincent Lecavalier) in NHL history.
• 2010 Stanley Cup Champion
• One of only six players to win Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same year.


No. 3: Pittsburgh Penguins – Sidney Crosby

What makes him great: The face of his city and the NHL

Years in the league: 5
2010 Stats: 81 GP, 109 points (51 G, 58 A), plus-15

Awards and accomplishments:
• Mark Messier Leadership Award (2010)
• Rocket Richard Trophy (2010)
• Stanley Cup (2009)
• Art Ross Trophy (Leading Scorer) (2007)
• Lester B. Pearson Award (2007)
• Hart Memorial Trophy (2007)
• Sporting News NHL Player of the Year (2007)
• NHL First All-Star Team (2007)
• NHL All-Rookie Team (2006)
• Rookie of the Month (October 2005)
• All-Star Game (2007, 2008, 2009)
• Mark Messier Leadership Award (2010)
• World Championships All-Star Team (2006)
• World Championship Best Forward (2006)
• World Championship Leading Scorer (2006)
• Olympic Gold Medal (2010)


No. 2: Calgary Flames – Jarome Iginla

What makes him great: Pure heart and humility

Years in the league: 13
2010 Stats: 82 GP, 69 points (32 G, 37 A), minus-2

Awards and accomplishments:
• NHL All-Rookie Team (1997)
• First team All-Star (2002, 2008, 2009)
• Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (2002, 2004)
• Art Ross Trophy (2002)
• Lester B. Pearson Award (2002)
• ESPY Best NHL Player (2002, 2004)
• Second team All-Star (2004)
• King Clancy Memorial Trophy (2004)
• NHL Foundation Player Award (2004)
• Mark Messier Leadership Award (2009)


No. 1: Detroit Red Wings – Nicklas Lidstrom

What makes him great: A stalwart, both on and off the ice.

Years in the league: 18
2010 Stats: 82 GP, 49 points (9 G, 40 A), plus-22

Awards and accomplishments:
• World Championship gold medal winner (Sweden, 1991).
• NHL All-Rookie Team (1992).
• 4-time Stanley Cup winner (1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008).
• 11-time NHL All-Star (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, and 2009*).
• 9-time NHL First All-Star Team member (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, and 2008).
• 2-time NHL Second All-Star Team member (2009 and 2010).
• 6-time Norris Trophy winner (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, and 2008).
• Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2002).
• Olympic gold medal winner (Sweden, 2006); Lidstrom became a member of the Triple Gold Club with this win.
• Olympic All-Star Team (2006).

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