The season's just a week old, but I already find myself fascinated with some early-season performances.
In some instances, it's really just expectation based -- I was unsure of how a player like Mason Raymond would look with his injury history, for example, and have been blown away by his skating ability and fit in the Maple Leafs lineup. Raymond's game is predicated on his speed, and when he can fly up and down the ice, he becomes a terror for the opposition to control.
The San Jose Sharks as a collective have been really impressive, too. I kind of suspected they would have a strong year, but their even-strength and power-play units are really mesmerizing, and certainly worth the price of admission. Patrick Marleau's
power-play goal against the Phoenix Coyotes was really the byproduct of incredible teamwork and rhythmic passing in the offensive zone, and I'm honestly unsure how many other teams, if any, are capable of moving the puck around like that.
One of my favorite new lines to watch? It's in Ottawa, but it's not Jason Spezza and new wingmates Bobby Ryan and Milan Michalek. It's Ottawa's second-line that's really stole the show early, featuring Kyle Turris down the middle, and Clarke MacArthur and Cory Conacher in the wing. I wrote about this trio in an earlier post, and how they sort of perfectly complement one another's skill set. Turris and MacArthur are exceptional players through the neutral zone, and have a knack for carrying into the offensive zone with control. It's that sort of possession-driving that leads to (a) shots; and (b) goals, and it's really been fun to watch. In the rare instance where they can't carry, Cory Conacher -- a lightning-rod of energy and forechecking -- has been battling like a madman to hem the defense in their own zone.
Between the pipes, I hardly fancy myself any sort of goaltending expert, but I do like what I see from Semyon Varlamov in his first two starts with Colorado. He's turned away sixty-three of sixty-five shots, a bright turnaround from last year's unimpressive .903 SV% with the Avalanche.
And now the Q to you: What players/teams have impressed you so far? Drop it in the comments section below.
Join the Discussion:
»