data.3news-bydate.test.rec.sport.hockey.52571 Maven / Gradle / Ivy
From: [email protected] (Bryan Smale)
Subject: This year's biggest and worst (opinion)...
Keywords: NHL, awards
Organization: University of Waterloo
Lines: 55
I was thinking about who on each of the teams were the MVPs, biggest
surprises, and biggest disappointments this year. Now, these are just
my observations and are admittedly lacking because I have not had an
opportunity to see all the teams the same amount. Anyway....
MVP = most valuable player to his team both in terms of points and
in terms of leadership ("can't win without him")
Biggest surprise = the player who rose above expectation -- the player
that may have raised the level of his game to a new height, even
if that new level doesn't necessarily warrant an allstar berth
(includes those players who at the outset of the season, may not
even have been in the team's plans).
Biggest disappointment = the player from whom we expected more (e.g., I
picked Denis Savard in Montreal because with the new emphasis on
offence brought by Demers, shouldn't Savard have done better?)
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Team Biggest Biggest
Team: MVP: Surprise: Disappointment:
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Boston Bruins Oates D.Sweeney Wesley
Buffalo Sabres Lafontaine Mogilny Audette (jinx?)
Calgary Flames Roberts Reichel Petit
Chicago Blackhawks Roenick Ruuttu Goulet
Detroit Red Wings Yzerman Chaisson Kozlov
Edmonton Oilers Manson Buchberger Mellanby
Hartford Whalers Sanderson Cassells Corriveau
Los Angeles Kings Robitaille Donnelly Hrudey
Minnesota North Stars Modano Tinordi(not expected back) Broten
Montreal Canadiens Muller Lebeau Savard
New Jersey Devils Stevens Semak MacLean
New York Islanders Turgeon King(finally) Marois
New York Rangers Messier Kovalev Bourque
Ottawa Senators MacIver Baker Jelinek
Philadelphia Flyers Lindros/Recchi Fedyk/Galley Eklund
Pittsburgh Penguins Lemieux Tocchet(even for him) Jagr
Quebec Nordiques Sakic/Ricci Kovalenko Pearson
San Jose Sharks Kisio Gaudreau Maley
St Louis Blues Shanahan C.Joseph Ron Sutter
Tampa Bay Lightening Bradley Bradley Creighton/Kasper
Toronto Maple Leafs Gilmour Potvin Ellett/Anderson
Vancouver Canucks Bure Nedved(finally) Momesso
Washington Capitals Hatcher Bondra/Cote Elynuik
Winnipeg Jets Selanne Selanne Druce
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As I mentioned up top, these are my *impressions* from where I sit. I
would welcome any opinions from those fans nearer their teams (in other
words, *anywhere* away from a Toronto newspaper!)
Bryan