Early Season Individual Stats

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by JD

I know we like to hate on the Canucks, and rightly so, but I've watched a lot of the Canucks this year, and Kassian looks really good. You can attribute it to playing with the Sedins if you like, but I think they have a good player here. Hodgson may yet be the better player, but I don't think the Canucks did that badly on that one.

Marleau's always been an agonizingly-streaky player, so I guess it's fortunate for San Jose that he's on the good side of it to start a short season.

Ilya Kovalchuk is getting ridiculous amounts of ice time for Jersey, and looks dangerous a lot of the time. But only a modest point total so far (5 in 5 games, 2 goals).

Of the little B's hockey I've watched, Nathan Horton seems to be scoring big goals at big times of games so far. 3 goals in 6.

Our own Curtis Glencross with 3 in 4 games is notable. I know our rival fans would love to tell us that his shooting percentage was a fluke and he'll never sniff 30 let alone 20 again, but could he be the real deal? Can we pencil him in for 25+ annually?

Lets not forget Stempniak also with 3g and 5 points in 4 games. We know he can be streaky but can he maintain? Hope hes as confident as when he scored something like 15 goals in 18 games to finish the season when he was traded to Phoenix.

As well, who would of thought Tanguay would be shooting. This has to be the first time hes got as many goals (2) as assists. Seems to be trying to impress his lover (Hartley) and hey if that's what he will be producing than I'm not going to judge.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Lets not forget Stempniak also with 3g and 5 points in 4 games. We know he can be streaky but can he maintain? Hope hes as confident as when he scored something like 15 goals in 18 games to finish the season when he was traded to Phoenix.

As well, who would of thought Tanguay would be shooting. This has to be the first time hes got as many goals (2) as assists. Seems to be trying to impress his lover (Hartley) and hey if that's what he will be producing than I'm not going to judge.

The thing about Stempniak so far this year isn't the points - which are nice - but how well he is playing. If he keeps playing as well as he has, and remains as engaged as he's been, the points will be there.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by JD

I know we like to hate on the Canucks, and rightly so, but I've watched a lot of the Canucks this year, and Kassian looks really good. You can attribute it to playing with the Sedins if you like, but I think they have a good player here. Hodgson may yet be the better player, but I don't think the Canucks did that badly on that one.

Hodgson's (lack of) skating ability could seriously hinder his ability to turn into a top center. His top end speed is OK but his acceleration and first few steps are very poor as is his stride. Some of that can be improved but not all of it and how much better his acceleration can get is questionable.

Because of that he's currently getting torched defensively (on the ice for 10 GA in 6 games with at least half of those stemming directly from mistakes he's made) and eventually he's simply not going to get prime ice time if he can't keep up on the defensive side of the game. He doesn't have to be great, but he needs to be a whole lot better.

Check out the two Skinner goals here and watch #19:

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/con...3,2,43&lang=en


Or the Ward goal here:

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/con...3,2,65&lang=en


In his 30 or so games with Buffalo where he's gotten top 6 ice time he's been on the ice for more than 1 GA per game which is a pace that would put him among the top 3 worst forwards for GA last year. The risk/reward might be worth it if he was dominating offensively, but 2 of his 3 points this year were goals that bounced off his leg and since joining Buffalo he's only put up a 35 point per 82 game pace.

Kassian will never have Hodgson's shot or his hockey IQ, but he also has many physical tools that Hodgson will never have. They're both works in progress at this point. Kassian has to demonstrate a level of consistency as a pro and Hodgson has to demonstrate that he can perform an NHL level in his own end of the rink or that he can score enough to make you forget about his defensive problems. But if they both turn out, I'd say a Clowe or Franzen type power forward capable of 25 goals and 55 points is more valuable and harder to acquire than a Drury (when he was good) or Langkow (minus the grit) type smallish 60-65 point center. The knock against Kassian is he's probably less likely to reach his potential but he's off to a pretty good start for a 21 year old power forward.

[AR_Six]

Originally Posted by opendoor

Kassian will never have Hodgson's shot or his hockey IQ

Totally agree on the hockey IQ, and hasn't indicated any ability to beat an NHL caliber goalie clean on a slapper like Hodgson has done a number of times, but Kassian does have a hard and accurate wrister, at least as good as Cody's. He doesn't have the same vision or playmaking ability that Cody does.

The problem you're seeing with Hodgson is that he isn't really equipped to go best on best which you're going to have to do on most teams as 1C. His standout games last season were in sheltered minutes where he was not playing against the other team's top players. I really can't understand why Lindy Ruff isn't trying Tyler Ennis on the top line by now, that dude may be small but he has gamebreaking ability.

[Knut]

I do not think that many people question Kassian for Hodgson.. I think they question the timing of the deal. On the stretch run, going into the playoffs and lacking Center depth. it is really a deal that is more of a offseason move. If the Canucks had brought in a rental Center to replace him before the playoffs it would have made sense.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Hesla

I do not think that many people question Kassian for Hodgson.. I think they question the timing of the deal. On the stretch run, going into the playoffs and lacking Center depth. it is really a deal that is more of a offseason move. If the Canucks had brought in a rental Center to replace him before the playoffs it would have made sense.

They did; unfortunately it was Sami Pahlsson.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by opendoor

They did; unfortunately it was Sami Pahlsson.

You mean fortunately it was Sami Pahlsson.

Remember where you are.

[You Need a Thneed]

Not so early in the season any more, but here's a stat I find amazing:

Patrice Bergeron, nearly 48 minutes played killing penalties so far this year - ZERO PP goals against.

[HELPNEEDED]

Cammy on pace for 39 goals in 82 game season.

Iggy and Tangs both on pace for 70points in 82 game season.

Iggy heating up.

[malcolmk14]

Bouwmeester on pace for 16 goals and 45 points over 82 games.

[malcolmk14]

82-game pace:

Sidney Crosby 127 points
Steven Stamkos 59 goals, 125 points

Big surprises:

Brad Marchand 50 goals
Chris Kunitz 101 points

[FlamesAddiction]

As predicted, Marleau came back down to Earth.

Those Marchand and Kunitz numbers are insane. Kunitz is basically Crosby's Rob Brown.

[malcolmk14]

Crosby continues his torrid pace with a 5-point game tonight. His 82-game pace is 38 goals, 104 assists, 142 points.

The last time someone scored 142 points was Mario Lemieux (161) and Jaromir Jagr (149) in 1995-96. Last time someone got 100 assists was Wayne Gretzky (122) in 1990-91.

Too bad it's a short season.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Crosby continues his torrid pace with a 5-point game tonight. His 82-game pace is 38 goals, 104 assists, 142 points.

The last time someone scored 142 points was Mario Lemieux (161) and Jaromir Jagr (149) in 1995-96. Last time someone got 100 assists was Wayne Gretzky (122) in 1990-91.

Too bad it's a short season.

He has something like 20 points over his last 20 periods too...Just ridiculous.