About to hit the ACC for the Leafs-Pens AM practice. A bit cold here in lovely Toronto, which actually feels more like home than Pittsburgh lately. Anyway, before I get to the rankings, a link to the behind-the-scenes video at the Trib about what deadline period is like for at least one beat boy:
And, now, some rankings:
= Pens up a spot, but still outside the Top 10 at TSN: http://www.tsn.ca/fantasy_news/rankings/nhl/
= Puck Daddy did his 30-team trade-deadline grades: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Puck-Daddy-s-2011-NHL-Trade-Deadline-Report-Card;_ylt=Amd_DS.ak2ajSuglVn9_0eJ7vLYF?urn=nhl-327742
= Good pal Mark Spector of Sportsnet takes a look at the deadline dullness: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2011/02/28/spector_the_social_network/
= And, finally, the best-for-last USA Today rankings:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2011-03-01-power-rankings_N.htm
As always, in the interest of keeping you amused, my ballots for USA Today:
1- PHI
2- DET
3- BOS
4- VAN
5- SJS
6- PIT
7- TMP
8- CHI
9- PHX
10- LAK
11- WSH
12- CGY
13- MTL
14- NSH
15- CAR
16- NYR
17- DAL
18- MIN
19- ANA
20- BUF
21- CLB
22- TOR
23- ATL
24- NJD
25- STL
26- COL
27- FLA
28- NYI
29- EDM
30- OTT
MVP
1 – Jonathan Toews (Blackhawks)
2 – Steven Stamkos (Lightning)
3 – Tim Thomas (Bruins)
4 – Eric Staal (Hurricanes)
5 – Marc-Andre Fleury (Penguins)
–
GOALIES
1 – Tim Thomas (Bruins)
2 – Marc-Andre Fleury (Penguins)
3 – Carey Price (Canadiens)
4 –Robert Luongo (Canucks)
5 – Jonas Hiller (Ducks)
–
DEFENSEMEN
1 – Kris Letang (Penguins)
2 – Nicklas Lidstrom (Red Wings)
3 – Keith Yandle (Coyotes)
4 – Drew Doughty (Kings)
5 – Shea Weber (Predators)
–
ROOKIES
1 – Logan Couture (Sharks)
2 – Jeff Skinner (Hurricanes)
3 – Sergei Bobrovsky (Flyers)
4 – Tyler Ennis (Sabres)
5 – Taylor Hall (Oilers)
Three winners over deadline-period
I personally would put the Flames ahead of WAS, LA, and PHX. They’ve winning games for a long time now, and they’re not squeakers either. Kiprusoff has rebounded from the first half of the season, and they’ve been scoring a lot of third period goals. Iggy has 27 goals, and is in the top 10 for points.
Nathan out
Even if #87 doesn’t return this year, how he can he not get MVP consideration?! I’m not arguing he should win it, but he should be among the top 3. Pens will make the playoffs this season because to the team’s body of work with #87 in the lineup. Team record post concussion is 11-9-3, which at that pace over an 82-game season would not be playoff worthy. Even with playing just one game in 2011, #87 is still tied for fourth in goals and is seventh in scoring.
I agree with the The Bearded One…It is silly that Stamkos is even in the MVP list. Is he really more valuable to the Bolts than St. Louis? I seriously doubt it. Crosby’s lights out play early is the only reason the Pens are still in the playoff picture. And he truely did prove he is the best player in the league by lapping the filed in points per etc. MVP should be his.
It took 20 games for Stamkos to catch up to Crosby’s even-strength point total.
Crosby will not win MVP. I don’t see how he could since MAF is our MVP.
BUT…Crosby should be the hands down runaway winner of the Ted Lindsay Award as the best player in the league…which he clearly was this season. His peers should be reminded of this before they vote.
Question about Tangradi and Johnson not being able to play during the AHL playoffs…can they go to the ECHL if the Nailers make the playoffs?
AA hockey is better than no hockey.