Maybe it isn't the most timely blog, considering the last two games Kopitar has made some errors which led to the game winning goals. However, Kopitar is off to one of his best starts in his career this year and yet again is leading the Kings in scoring at around the quarter mark.
For the last several seasons it has looked as though Kopitar would be in consideration for the award granted to the forward judged to be "the most skilled in the defensive component of the game". Since his debut in the NHL, the tremendous back checking, responsible play, and high level offensive and defensive work rate has had him, in the minds of many Kings fans at least, as a potential winner at least once in his career.
However, he has yet to even be a finalist.
Since 2010-2011 Kopitar has finished 9th in the voting twice, and last year received his highest result with a 4th place finish. The problem for Kopitar is that in this day and age he is always going to be matched up against three-time winner Pavel Datsyuk, the 2011-12 winner Patrice Bergeron, or current Selke holder Jonathan Toews. Not to mention other players like David Backes of the St. Louis Blues, who is a strong defensive centerman in his own right. Or how about Ryan Callahan who has been the two-way stalwart of the New York Rangers for some time now. It's no easy task to beat out so many world class players, however it seems that the Slovenian is getting a little more attention these days.
This season Kopitar has been there yet again for the Kings. With 22 points in 24 games he is the team's leading scorer, but also an important penalty killer, and a centerman capable of shutting down opposing top lines. To add to it Kopitar normally keeps his penalty numbers relatively low, coming in at just three minors so far this season.
With what looks like another 70-80 point, plus-rated season in the cards for Kopitar, is the hockey world ready to start taking him seriously as a Selke finalist? It's obviously early still and a lot could transpire, but you have to appreciate the way that Kopitar has played both this season and over the course of his career. It was considered a slap in the face to Kings fans when Kopitar finished ninth in 2011-12 season, but ever since the Stanley Cup run people have taken notice. He definitely has his work cut out for him though as Datsyuk, Toews, and Backes are all having tremendous years as well.
To me Kopitar has to avoid that signature mid-season slump which hits at about December-January, and he also has to deal with the emotional roller coaster that will be the Soichi Olympics. Kopitar will be the headliner on a Slovenian team which is entering their first ever Olympic hockey tournament. Will that spur Kopitar on to greater things or slow him down? Who knows. There are still around 60 games left to figure that out. My nod would actually go to David Backes right now, but there is still a lot of hockey left to play.
One thing I know for sure, I am ready to take Kopitar seriously as a Selke candidate. Is everyone else not labeled a Kings fan ready to do so? Is the East coast media finally going to look further west than Chicago/Detroit/St. Louis? At only 26 years old it's starting to feel less like a question of "if" but more a question of "when."
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- Jeff Carter is still considered week to week for the Kings, with no word on Matt Greene or Trevor Lewis. Matt Frattin has joined the long list as well but it looks like it might be a day to day thing.
- Jonathan Quick is also out until at least Christmas for the Kings, who will in all likelihood want to take their time healing the goaltender and easing him back into practice and games.
- King junior prospects? Interested? Ya don't say! I just completed the latest write-up over at Hockey's Future about the Kings' CHL prospects and how they are doing.
Give it a look.
- You'd think the AHL Manchester Monarchs would be struggling with their three best players and top goaltender with the NHL club right now right? Wrong. The team has won three of their last five and are 7-2-1 in the month of November.
- Brandon Kozun and Jordan Weal have stepped up in place of their absent teammates and lead the team in scoring with 18 and 17 points respectively.
- J.F. Berube has performed admirably as well since the departure of Martin Jones (Who will hopefully get a start soon.....) and now holds a 4-2-1 record and a .916 save-percentage on the year
- If you are an Ontario Reign fan you'll notice that there are a few familiar names on the Monarchs roster these days. Detroit native and defenseman Cameron Burt was called up to the Reign for his first taste of AHL hockey last week. He joins former Reign defenseman Chris Huxley, and the solid Vinny LoVerde who has made quite a nice transition from ECHL to AHL hockey.
- Kings start a short two-game road set tonight against the Canucks, followed by a meeting with the Sharks on Wednesday. Two very big divisional battles with some swing points at stack. Every little bit matters in this wild Pacific division. And in case anyone is wondering, the Western Conference still occupies eight of the top-10 spots in the league. Ridiculous.
- Ben Scrivens is great. (Compulsory note)
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