QOTD: Who has been your most pleasant surprise this season?

[Bingo]

So many to choose from, but looking for biggest "surprise"

I think Giordano's ascent to the top of the Norris pile is the biggest impact but I think we saw that coming last year.

Gaudreau's rookie season
Monahan's sophomore season
Brodie breaks out offensively
Bouma becomes a top 9
Hiller's play in the net
Russell?
Jooris?

Not to mention guys like Hudler have had great seasons, and I'm sure I'm forgetting other stories

[dissentowner]

Jooris for me.

[Bingo]

I went with Monahan for two reasons

1) I really expected his shooting percentage to quiet down and the player take a big step backwards in production
2) I didn't see the player coming based on last season's style of play. He's faster, plays bigger, handles the puck more and is becoming a complete franchise defenseman.

Shows the scouts know what they are talking about.

I didn't see the kid being our #1 center in his second full NHL season.

[Erick Estrada]

Gaudreau by a long shot as given his stature and never playing pro he was a major question mark as to how he could adapt. All the other players outside of Jooris have some pro history behind them to support their success this season. I think the difference between Gaudreau and Jooris is pedigree so I definitely see Johhny as being able to sustain and get better while Jooris will probably settle back into a bottom 6 forward that may or may not become a full time NHL player. The way he's playing now he may be sitting in the pressbox by the end of the season.

[N26]

There are several pleasant surprises this year but I don't see how it can't be Jooris.

Like many I had him in the low 20s in the prospect rankings this summer and didn't expect him to be in the organization by next year. He has really put it all together and looks like a solid bottom-6 contributor now.

I have the hope that I will be saying the same about Agostino next year.

[Poe969]

I went with Jooris because I honestly had no expectation for the guy. I figured Johnny would do great, Monahan would become our #1 because he's the best option and he seems o mature that I didn't see him doing anything but improving, and the rest all seemed like they could happen. The only other one I thought about voting for was Wideman, I knew he had it in him but with the expectations for this year I didn't think he could actually play to his potential.

Other surprise is how Hartley has kept the entire team motivated and playing so well.

[Heavy Jack]

It came down to Jooris/Bouma for me and I had to go with Bouma, I cant believe the recent scoring touch he's found and I dont think that's a fluke either, you win with guys like Bouma and he has matured his game to the point where Hartley isnt afraid to put him on any of the four lines depending on the situation. Every one of those selections are legit though from Monahan progressing to Brodie taking a massive leap forward to Jooris coming out of no where, so much to be excited about.

[Yrebmi]

Jooris, but very happy with Wideman too. Not just his offence either, as Wideman has become more all rounded.

Starting to think the world of our coaching staff. Diaz has gotten better over the season too. Maybe Hartley and co, can do something with Engelland yet.

[Bingo]

That's why questions are interesting because of how they are interpreted. I can't agree that the biggest surprise is Jooris as none of us saw that coming, but I went more with biggest impact from a surprise and landed on Monahan

[Vinny01]

Jooris for me. I had him written off as a AHLer for life before this season. He has been great.

I was a big believer in Johnny before the season and am not surprised he is as good as he is. Monahan avoiding the slump and Wideman bouncing back are runners up IMO

[kyuss275]

Probably the toughest topic yet. So many good stories to chose from. I went with Wideman because i thought after last year and the start of the season he was done.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

While the Jooris story is great, and I think he has a future as a bottom 6 forward, I went with Bouma developing his 2-way game. I did not expect anything more than 5 goals a season from Bouma, so his production this year is pretty fantastic and he could still get marginally better. It's doubly good because he was a guy that was a 4th liner at best before and was in danger of being in and out of the lineup. Since he provides so much in the way of intangibles and leadership, the increase in production assures him of being a significant part of the team going forward.

[Rick M.]

I went with Wideman but I could also have gone with Monahan, Gaudreau and Jooris.

[handgroen]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I went with Monahan for two reasons

1) I really expected his shooting percentage to quiet down and the player take a big step backwards in production
2) I didn't see the player coming based on last season's style of play. He's faster, plays bigger, handles the puck more and is becoming a complete franchise defenseman.

Shows the scouts know what they are talking about.

I didn't see the kid being our #1 center in his second full NHL season.

typo

but i voted the same and for the same reasons. i find myself happily resigned to the fact that i will soon own a monahan jersey. Where as before the season started, i decided on a gaudreau instead.

[Robo]

i chose other because i couldn't pick all of the above i seriously couldn't choose between them

[Stray]

Bouma for me. He's gone from being a gutsy energy player to a legitimate scoring threat who handles a range of roles well.

That said, the roster is stacked with pleasant surprises this season

[foshizzle11]

I picked Monahan. I thought he would slump a bit this season and need to be sheltered again this season but I have full confidence with him out there in any situation. He is going to compete hard to be our number one centre with Bennett. That isn't a bad thing at all.

The future is bright for this guy.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by handgroen

typo

but i voted the same and for the same reasons. i find myself happily resigned to the fact that i will soon own a monahan jersey. Where as before the season started, i decided on a gaudreau instead.

Sadly it wasn't a typo

I'm actually floored that Monahan isn't a defenseman, I'm going to have to start paying more attention!



Funny how you can get distracted and make such a mindless mistake.

[Dr. Doom]

I have a man crush on Bouma all the way baby

[SofaProfessor]

Gaudreau. Thought he would be good. Didn't think he would be contending-for-Calder good. Every time he touches the puck you just feel excited because he has the potential to make anything happen out there.