Here are our top 5 forwards thru the first 15 games.
Doan at number 1 – the captain is making hay early. Rather than the slow start he habitually falls into, Doaner made a supreme effort again this season to get motoring in high gear early. 6 goals and 4 assists in 9 games ain’t too shabby. The Doaner has been getting into his MadMax personae a lot, he’s been putting opponents through walls, committing grand larceny of opponents pucks, skating through and over people on his was to those 6 goals. Once more leading his team by example, showing the 10 rostermates (some of whom appear to still be battling puberty and don’t look old enough to be battling in the NHL) how to be NHLers of high quality. Good genetics or hard work in the offseason, whatever Doan wants to contribute his awesome start to, I’ll take it. The last 4 games has seen a tailing off (not horrible, just not as spectacular as his start), its time for him to step it up again (all the vets have to stop disappearing in the crucial moments of games) because we are going to need all the will and drive we can muster to get a sniff at the post season..
Jokinen at number 2 – some people may squirm over this choice (Olli Coyote has been a wee bit quiet since the Panther game), I don’t much care. 4 goals and 6 assists in a 9 game start is nothing to sneeze at. The Joker is still a PPG guy. He’s still getting acclimated to the Western Conference’s vagarities. Between trying to bond w/ an entire new set of teammates and going up against a totally different set of teams I think the Joker is doing alright. The 1st game against the Wild we really got a glimpse at what the ‘real’ Olie Jokinen can do (and for the record IDK why he totally Casper’d on us in the 2nd Wild game… but I think the ‘other’ Olli is the real one)
Boedker at number 3 – is a no brainer. With 3 goals and 1 assist so far, the Great Dane is holding his own and then some. Bods was one of the few Yotes that has shown well during almost every game. If you knew absolutely nothing about him you probably would be hard pressed to believe he’s a rookie. (see the rookie evals below for more on the Great Dane)
Reinprecht at number 4 – what the hell can I add here? I better let HTH field this one because I totally fangirl the Rhino right now and HTH may be more objective. Steven Reinprecht, was the old dog (relatively speaking on a team of youngin’s) on the porch that appeared almost ready to resign himself to 3rd/4th line duty and play out the end of his career in obscurity, has found that spark again. Whether it’s playing with the Yote pups, the quick trip to the press box, or seeing the window starting to be slammed shut on his fun-filled, exciting career, he came roaring out of the press box with a couple high skilled cubs and has been playing with his hair on fire ever since. He doesn’t need the speed of the youngsters like Boedker (by that same premise, not many players have speed like this guy… just dayum!) to make that pass and set them loose on the break, or to park in front of the net and either tip in a shot from the outside, obstruct the goalies view, or bang in the garbage on a rebound. He’s defensively responsible and has been playing very well in all situations. His leadership and playmaking skills are a great asset to this young team (remember he is a Stanley Cup Champion – 2001 Avalanche) and will help them learn how to win and make/succeed in the playoffs this season
Hanzal/Winnik tied for the number 5 spot – Two totally different types of players. Two totally different measuring sticks. Winni has not stopped stunning us with his effort, his poise and his heart since making the team. You will see him referred to simply as The Beast a lot in coming entries because the kid has seriously come into his own. he may not get on the board as much as his efforts should allow but he rarely loses a battle (including against Malkin when the Pens were here) he rarely takes a shift off, in these 9 games he has gone to war for liberties taken against Yandle and has been a major anchor for the shut down line. he isn’t scoring yet but he is invaluable in myriad other ways and earned this spot the hard way…HTH interjects: Daniel Winnik, is the Rocky of this team, there is no quit in this kid and he’s one of the hardest working players on the ice every single game. I don’t know how he consistently goes full bore all game long against some of the opposition’s best players and still is knocking them into the boards, moving his feet and getting his stick on pucks at the end of the game. If he hadn’t done it all year long last season, I’d be worried that Gretzky was going to wear the kid out. The role he plays on the Coyotes is necessary, and scoring in that role is a bonus, so don’t worry about his lack of goals so far…he seems to be shooting when he’s got a chance so far, and that’ll be enough as the season rolls along. It’s fun watching Winnik play and if the entire team played with the kind of energy and relentless determination on the ice that he displays, we’ll have more great memories from this season.. like the second two periods of the San Jose game.
The Beast’s counterpart at the 5th slot is Marty Hanzal. I am soo sick of that movie line but damn if it doesn’t fit right now. Marty Hanzal has finally figured out just how big he is and what he can do with that frame. Hanz came roaring back from surgery and put all our fears to rest. The big Czech can still shut ‘em down and shut ‘em out. He hasn’t put much up on the scoreboard yet but you can feel it coming. (the recent empty netter was another sign that the killer instinct is bubbling to the top) Working with Tiki and the Beast has given Marty a case of extreme confidence. He’s hitting, using that awesome reach of his and setting his linemates up righteously (now when the other two can start finishing regularly) the WTH? line may just be the line that gets us over the hump during those perennial dry weeks late in the season. We have a really bad case of can’t-win-a-face-off-itis, but between Hanzal and Rhino we somehow occasionally manage to win the important ones when it counts. If Hanzal can improve the FO percentages (and stop getting thrown out of the circles) he just might move ahead of the Beast on this list.
How are the Rookies doin so far?
Boedker again, Bods shines at the top of this list. The kid has it all and is workin it for all he’s worth. At the time of this writing our Bods has accumulated another couple of points. There is an uncanny ice awareness in this kid. He has the ability that Gretzky always talks about the great players having, going where the puck is going to be. Bods can be depended on to make the right decision at the right time. Speed kills. Bods has the offensive speed to make any play he can get his stick on the puck into a breakaway. But conversely he has the nasty defensive speed to catch a fleeing opponent (he is a nightmare on blades on the forecheck),he can steal the puck and break the sound barrier going back the other way. Strong and stable on his skates, can switch directions as fast as blinking and can finish his shots. And all this is just what he has displayed in October… I get goosebumps thinking what he’ll be like by January.
Tikhnov comes in at number 2 for October. He didn’t score until November but it wasn’t due to lack of effort. The kid clicks w/ his WTH? line very well. He can play with anyone, but putting him in line with Winnick and Hanzal creates the defensive line that wet dreams are made of. How many teams have ever had a line this young that can take on the likes of Crosby, Ovechkin or Malkin and make them irrelevant? The kid is tenacious, hard working and and speedy. He is on the doorstep of the opponent’s net often due to an abundance of creativity and fearlessness. Although he is a little gangly or coltish if you will, as he gets more confidence and improves his ice awareness you can see the player he will become. When he learns to keep his head up he will become more effective along the boards and stay on his feet better during those crash and bang sessions.
Porter is probably the most calm and solid of the rookies. The guy is nearly invisible until it counts. Quietly doing his job with hardly any flash. The vets don’t hold this rookie’s hand. They treat him like a vet and he in turn, doesn’t disappoint them. Thru Ocotber Ports has not had that wtf? moment that plagues so many rookie’s first weeks. He’s comfortable but hasn’t quite gotten his groove on. Playing with the Rhino seems to be majorly helping him get settled. Ports has the phenomenal ability to form a chemistry w/ nearly everyone he plays with. He comes in at number 3 on the rookie performance charts for me for October.
Turris looked great the first 3 games. I was almost sure his strength/size issues were not going to be an issue. He is fast, he is smart but it is becoming apparent that he is going to have trouble getting his groove on. Even putting him on the easier PP minutes isn’t helping. He often leaves himself vulnerable in the corners and down low on even strength, resulting in puck possession loss and him getting banged around alot more than he should. This is a hard call, the kid has not had quality linemates for much of October. he needs quality to learn. He plays an interesting style of hockey but doesn’t have the experience yet to make the tools he has work for him against men at this level…yet. I still believe that KT will be a special player, but I have to admit that right now, in October, I see him taking a lot longer to get to production levels. Maybe its time for TPTB to give the kid a break and put him somewhere that he can have time to get some weight up (and keep it, NHL schedule is not conducive to gettin him where he needs to be) I hate to see him go back to JRs but…. then again… I hate to see him have a set back that costs him a great career. WJC is coming up and I’m betting/hoping the man crush they have on him doesn’t prevent them from letting the boy go up and play (be the best thing for him at this point).
The rest of team in inspired difference makers for October chunks…
HTH picked up the ball on DC’s eval…Carci is slowly wiggling his way out of his choke collar and figuring out how to play with an edge without getting kicked out of the game.. thank goodness!! He’s got a lot of talent and by the hundreds of Carcillo jerseys seen at the game, he’s obviously a fan favorite and exciting to watch. I think it’s starting to all click together for him, which will make him and this entire team even more fun to watch. In a recent game, he found that he could be chippy, but was still able to stop himself and acknowledge the ref telling him to stop… this is a big step for him as a player, AND a step forward for the referees to stop targeting him and showing him some respect as well. Instead of immediately sending him off, his restraint is noticeable even in referee circles and they’re allowing him to play. His hard work in all facets of the game have been apparent the last few games while he’s been playing on a line with Fedoruk and Murray… it shouldn’t be long before he’s scoring goals and celebrating after cold-cocking someone again. He’s still gotta watch the silly minor PIMS (the 2 he took in the SJS game coulda really killed us)
Z has been phenomenal. You scoff that Zbynek Michalek is always phenomenal. I say even MORE phenomenal than normal. Carrying the highest +/- on the team he has teamed up with Kurt Sauer to form a seriously insane shut down pairng. You already know how much I adore the way this kid plays D but I think the entire NHL has finally figured out that Z is no easy mark and is now giving him the props he deserves. He has over 20 blocked shots for October and has rung up some assists. We are starting to see the Z from his rookie season who could defend like hell on fire and still chip in with some offensive production (that wicked wrister is flying again). Rarely has the kid made an error and even rarer is the time when he doesn’t make up for any error he might committ. Our shutdown line has never looked so good. Z is a major part of why the Yotes are alive and in decent shape coming out of October. Unfortunately my boy is back on hand holding duty for Special Ed as of this writing but apparently is cycling duties w/ Sauer too, so he is maintaining his offensive pushes instead of getting suckered into the defense only blackhole he was mired in last season.
Bryz started the season as a slow basket case. Telly had to come in and spell the guy and let him watch the game and get his head on right. Ever since he came back though, Illya Bryzgalov has been a monster. He has been playing like the number 1 goalie we all know he is. Head to head against Luongo Bryz never blinked (the forwards let him down on that Canucks game). He’s gotten some aggression and will even stare down shooters that dare try to slip anything past him. If Breezy can roll this major for most of the season the Yotes will definitely be in contention for the post season. (TPTB still ride him a lil too long in my opinion.)
Telly played a couple of fantastic games. Big saves, key contributions were Telly’s hallmarks in October. This is a premiere back up goalie (if he could find some consistency Mikael Tellqvist could lose the back up sobriquet). He knows his role, he gives 110%. He gives the guys a chance to win and to not worry when their main guy needs a break. (WG and Co should really consider a rotation of some sort… maybe 6 games on for Breezy and 1 or 2 games in for Telly), we’re really going to need both of them firing on all cylinders down the long after-XMas road)
Sig Sauer has been a prayer answered, reliablity and defense first time every time just like the pistol his nick name comes from. Paired with Z in October to form the best shut down pairing we’ve had in a long while, Sig does it all. Big hits when he can, fantastic stick work, crisp passes and an uncanny ability to stop opponents from getting anywhere near the net with any real chance of a shot. I can’t say enough about the Kurt Alert and what he brings to the ice for us.
Keith the-Boston-Mangler Yandle… Holy fraggin jumpin! IDK what the hell happened to this guy but Yentle has left the building. Leading the blueliners in points right from jump street. Kicking azz and droppin bombs on the opposition’s nets. Yank has found his inner bad ass and bears no resemblance to the bumble footed scaredy cat of last season. You have seen multiple entries praising the lil Beantowner right here (which pained me greatly to write at the time but is getting easier w/ every good game Yank garners under his belt)
Because I am sooo late gettin this up… gonna go ahead and include Garth Murray here as the surprise of the end of the month. Party on Garth has been pretty damn solid since his call up to the big club. Solid hits, forechecks and some pretty nifty sogs. He can and will scrap when neccessary w/ the discipline to know ‘when’.
The October not doin so hot right nows:
Ed Jovanovski has been tankin royally. The worst of the not-so-hots in fact. The Jovocop has been MIA. I am not sure who the guy is wearing the 55 some nights. JV is blowin hot and cold for the season start. One game he’s on and poppin (hits and even some really crisp defense) and the next game he can look like the pylon we first aquired. I hate to bash this early but 9 games w/out a goal was really sad and as of this writing he only has 1 goal to his name. There has to be more from the big guy… and it has to be soon. Stop gripping the paint off your stick Big Ed, now that you have Z back on your 6, get in touch with your inner cannon will ya? Otherwise you are a waste of 6 million bucks.
David Hale is a severe disappointment. I know he isn’t supposed to be any kind of offensive juggernaut but could he at least play some D? Bobbled pucks, ugly turn overs and poor decision making completely marred DHL’s start here in the desert. Things looked a little better once Ken Klee arrived but I think that was more that Klee is so steady and responsible it made Oh Hale look like he could play defense. Right now Hale is the 7th blueliner for a reason. I think he ends up waivered before the season break at this rate.
If Fridge had even a lil more skill he wouldn’t be in this section. The guy works so hard but his skill set is so very limited. I give him props for workin what he’s got like a mad thang but facing facts, I would rather see a different vet or a kid rollin in his spot. We could really, really use another finisher… with grit.
I’m not going to rag on Mules yet… I am a bit disappointed in how he’s playing to start but that could just be the high hopes and expectations getting the best of me. Much is made of the weight he put on in the summer and the adjustments that he is learning to make because of it but if the boy doesn’t get his feet moving and prove he can play with someone besides Doan the ragging will commence and it will not be a pretty thing.
Thats what I saw in the first 6 weeks of the 2008 season. Anyone not mentioned has played.. okay…not world beating good nor jaw droppingly bad.
