(t5!) 2010 NHL Preview: 30 Most Interesting People

The NHL is easily rejected by the American mainstream due to the league’s inability to promote individuals. A league is strengthened by its most compelling characters, and if they are not properly aggrandized, a league simply cannot prosper. Whenever ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption discuss hockey, they would usually examine contenders, rivalries, or suspensions handed out by the league office. But quiz Tony Kornheiser or Michael Wilbon—who are two of the most knowledgeable sports writers around—to name thirty current NHL players and they would draw an embarrassing blank.

In America, most NHL fans only “root for laundry”, allegiance determined by proximity alone. Though not necessarily a horrible sports misdemeanor, it is however spiritually and emotionally limiting. The true fans of a sport look beyond “us” and “them”, seeing the genius and glamour of players who wear the colors of the enemy. Knowing the individual means knowing which jersey to don, which fantasy statistic to recruit, and which Twitter 140-character harangue to subscribe to. Knowing the individual means opening one’s fandom to new and better opportunities. Granted, hockey players do not possess the celebrity charisma of a basketball player, or the astonishing rawness of a football player. Yet, there are still a handful of personalities with entertaining storylines that can hook fresh American fans. To welcome the upcoming season, here are the 30 most interesting people of 2010 NHL to save the league from crippling anonymity.

#30: Dustin Byfuglien, RW/D, Atlanta Thrashers

To claim Byfuglien as one of the best players of the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks is madness. But he was nevertheless a popular figure in the Windy City, and an essential ingredient to their Stanley Cup win, blinding shorthanded goalies with that 6’5”, 265 lb frame. But the ‘Hawks got themselves into some salary cap predicaments during the offseason, which endangered Buff Daddy’s tenure in Chicago. Chicago traded him to Atlanta for underwhelming draft picks. On the bright side, here’s a chance for him to prove that he’s an underappreciated talent ready to blossom without the overshadowing all-stars of Chicago, and to prove that he's not just another passable power forward with replaceable stats. The Thrashers starting him on defense makes you ponder if the latter is the more truthful argument.

#29: Ilya Bryzgalov, G, Phoenix Coyotes

Before last season, Phoenix was doomed, both competitively and financially, but Bryzgalov’s play gave Coyotes fans new hope. With the help of ’09 coach of the year Dave Tippett, he reduced the team’s goals allowed from 3.04 to 2.41 per game, which translated into a surprising playoff berth. If he can duplicate that performance this season, maybe the city of Glendale can finally track down a buyer prepared to keep the franchise in the state of Arizona before the commissioner’s December 31 deadline, ultimately screwing Winnipeg once again.

#28: Dan Ellis, G, Tampa Bay Lightning

Twitter’s great, isn’t it? It gives us instant access to people we otherwise only see on television screens and sporting evens. So when an athlete blessed with a seven-figure paycheck, like newly acquired Lightning back-up goalie Dan Ellis, decided to complain about how tragically underpaid he is, the Twitter community is all over it. It spawned the hilarious trending topic #DanEllisProblems, with clever reactions like these.

#27: Sean Avery, LW, New York Rangers

It’s always the same shit, different day from a forward who mastered the art of villainy. Two years ago, he invented a new legal way to agitate the opposing goalie, conduct that was deemed “unsportsmanlike” by the league a day later. A year and a half ago, the world was shook up when he unleashed the controversial (albeit, funny) “fall in love with my sloppy seconds” comment. A part of me wants to believe that he’s just a misunderstood soul, or at least an actor stuck in a miscreant role. But probably not. I wonder what he has in store for us this year.

#26: Jimmy Howard, G, Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings, during their twenty straight years of supremacy, never had a dominant goaltender to rely upon. Over the years, their heavily-padded ally have been either lackluster (Mike Vernon, Manny Legace), decrepit (Dominik Hasek, Curtis Joseph), or painfully above-average (Chris Osgood). They’ve managed to compensate for that by being brilliantly coached and by showing discipline on the defensive end (the massive payroll back when the cap was a pipe dream was also beneficial, I’m sure). Have they finally found a blue-chip goalie in sophomore Jimmy Howard? After all, when the Red Wings were teetering on the brink of failure last season, the inexperienced Howard saved them by posting a 13-0-2 record from March 11 until the end of the regular season. What does he have in store for an encore?

#25: Rick DiPietro, G, New York Islanders

With his unprecedented 15-year, $67.5 million contract he signed in 2006—the second longest deal given to an athlete—Rick DiPietro has represented all that is wrong with the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement. Does it really surprise anyone that a player with money-in-the-bank like this would be unable to give the maximum effort required from him, not only by his coach or general manager but by his fans as well? Because of a knee injury, he was sidelined for “precautionary reasons” and played only eight games last season, exceeding the five games he played the season before that. To put it into perspective, he earned $752,000 per hour the last two years. Can he, at least, surpass the ten-game mark in 2010?

#24: Jaroslav Halak, G, St. Louis Blues

Many blamed #1 seed Washington’s loss to #8 seed Montreal on the Capitals’ goalie deficiencies or their lack of secondary scoring. But, as a matter of fact, it was the marvelous performance of then-Canadien Halak that made the upset happen. It was the reason why trading him for prospects to St. Louis is a head-scratching decision. Sure, Montreal had the Chosen One Carey Price as an imminent starter, but the Slovak carried them all the way to the Eastern finals with .923 save percentage and 2.55 GAA. You would think Montreal would show him some gratitude. Look for him to play with a chip on his shoulder.

#23: John Tortorella, Coach, New York Rangers

It would be unfair to make this list exclusive to players, especially when a coach is this volatile in the most entertaining way. Tortorella’s hatred for the media has made all of his post-game press conferences a must-watch event. He’s consistently irritated, sneering, pugnacious, and willing to bombard interviewers with obscenities. Regrettably, his reputation as a hothead undermines the fact that he’s an effective coach. I have a feeling though that he can suppress his outbursts enough to coerce the Rangers into the playoffs.

#22: Marian Hossa, LW, Chicago Blackhawks

The value of loyalty is exaggerated, at least in Marian Hossa’s mind. It’s all about the win, baby. Allegiant players like Steve Yzerman or Joe Sakic wouldn’t have garnered praise if their teams didn’t prevail in the Stanley Cup. That’s why when Marian Hossa’s string of one-season stands finally got him a ring in Chicago, the criticism he was receiving stopped. If anything, he was being dubbed as a good-luck charm, having reached the finals three years in a row. Would he make it four in a row in 2010?

#21: Mike Fisher, C, Ottawa Senators

Mike Fisher is interesting not because he scored 25 goals last season or because he leads Ottawa forwards in Defensive Goals Versus Threshold; he’s interesting because of the arm candy he just married. Although, it is amusing that Carrie Underwood, a one-time American Idol, now calls Canada’s capital city home, what's more intriguing is if she can inspire Fisher to play better. Tony Romo and his Dallas Cowboys were Division Champions when he was dating Underwood in 2007. Is it fair to speculate that the Senators can win the Northeast Division solely beause of Underwood’s presence in Ottawa? Maybe.

#20: Eric Staal, C, Carolina Hurricanes

It’s apparent that when Eric Staal does well, so does the Carolina Hurricanes. In fact, when Staal only tallied five points in October, the Hurricanes went 2-7-3. When Staal’s November was cut short due to a groin injury, the Hurricanes didn’t win at all. Meanwhile, his younger brothers are gaining on him: Pittsburgh’s Jordan was a Selke finalist while the Rangers’ Marc was his team’s most valuable defenseman. I fully expect him to rebound from an unsatisfactory season last year, in order to remain the best Staal in the NHL.

#19: Chris Pronger, D, Philadelphia Flyers

He may be 35 years old, he may have shoddy knees, but he’s still the most intimidating force in the league. He lead his inferior seventh-seed team all the way to the finals, antagonizing the opponent’s best player, forcibly clearing the obstructions in front of his goalie, and literally pocketing game-winning pucks. He was so effective as a bully that the entire Blackhawks roster abhorred him and the city of Chicago questioned his masculinity. Does he have enough in the tank to terrorize the entire league once more?

#18: Drew Doughty, D, Los Angeles Kings

A comparison to a young Ray Bourque is not to be joked about, but Drew Doughty earned every bit of that accolade last season. He led his team in time on ice per game, and he was third best in points and total goals versus threshold among all defensemen. He was also Team Canada’s best defenseman in the Vancouver Olympics, even when the citizens questioned why he’s part of the team. If it weren’t for Duncan Keith, he would’ve been the second youngest Norris trophy winner since Bobby Orr, but expect him to be in the running again this year.

#17: Ryan Miller, G, Buffalo Sabres

Tom Awad’s new Goals Versus Threshold advanced statistic is exceptionally practical because it quantifies a player’s contributions to his team. If you want to determine the league’s most valuable player, GVT is an outstanding barometer. And number one with a bullet? Ziggy Sobotka look-a-like, Ryan Miller. It’s unfortunate, however, that the voters for the Hart Trophy haven’t geeked out on GVT yet and awarded MVP to Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin. If we see a repeat performance from Miller in 2010, maybe he gets the recognition he deserves.

#16: Marty Turco, G, Chicago Blackhawks

Thanks to the Chicago Blackhawks firesale, both of their goalies winded up in new homes. Luckily, Marty Turco became available, and even at 35, he has proven that age ain't nothing but a number. Last season with Dallas, he recorded an impressive 2.72 GAA and .913 SV% while playing with a pervious defense in front of him. Does he step his game up playing with a more prominent defense that includes Norris trophy winner Duncan Keith, or does he bring the Blackhawks down with him?

#15: Steve Yzerman, General Manager, Tampa Bay Lightning

Yzerman’s playing days are long gone, but he’s not done carving out his legacy just yet. In his first off-season as a general manager, he was busy overhauling the Tampa Bay lineup: he added Simon Gagne for more offense, Brett Clark and Pavel Kubina for more defense, Dan Ellis for goaltending help, and said goodbye to dead weight like Zenon Konopka, Stephane Veilleux, and Todd Fedoruk. His transactions are splendid theoretically, improving the Lightning by +14.9 GVT. Of course, the game isn’t played on paper, but combine his roster moves with an improved Steven Stamkos, and maybe a revitalized Vincent Lecavalier and we’re looking at a bright future for Stevie Y as a GM.

#14: Mike Modano, C, Detroit Red Wings

Modano has been a part of the Stars organization for so long (20 seasons, to be specific) that it would be difficult to recognize him in a different uniform. But that’s what we’ll see in 2010 when Dallas decided to part ways with him after recording his lowest points per game ever. Detroit though was in a gambling mood this off-season and bet on his reputation with a one-year contract. It’s a pretty safe agreement. If it turns out that his best days are behind him, the Red Wings have a strong enough offensive fire power that they can compensate for his declining skills. But, if it works, the Red Wings get a wonderful veteran presence and a potent two-way player.

#13: Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

Honestly, if it wasn’t for the fifty goals and the sixty assists he perennially scores, there’s nothing exciting about Sidney Crosby. He’s the quintessential Canadian athlete: inoffensive, good-natured, business-like, perfect fundamentals, gives it 110%, promotes Tim Horton’s. Sid the Kid is proof of the paradox that the lack of style can be style in and of itself. He’s a skating cliché that happens to be the best center on the planet. But still, do we get to see a hint of personality from him this year?

#12: Sheldon Souray, D, Edmonton Oilers?

Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Ryan Smyth—all of them have shed tears for the city of Edmonton. But why is it that franchise players like these guys are willing to show emotion to display their reluctance to leave the Oilers, but Sheldon Souray can’t wait to get out? If the NBA offseason has taught me anything, it’s that when a player decides he wants out, it’s best to trade him out as soon as possible, even if you won’t get the full value back. This will be a great assessment of GM Steve Tambellini’s negotiating skills, trying to find a taker for Souray’s two-year $10.8 million contract. Anything will suffice.

#11: Nathan Horton, C, Boston Bruins

It has been a rollercoaster ride for Bruins fans the last couple of years. Two seasons ago, Boston had the best record in the Eastern conference, but got bounced by Carolina in seven games after a formidable effort. Then they bizarrely traded their offensive leader Phil Kessel to Toronto for a first-round pick. Last season, their play was madly inconsistent and had to battle for a playoff spot late in the regular season. Then they upset Buffalo in the first round, and got a 3-0 lead on Philadelphia the next round. Afterwards, Philly won four in a row and eliminated them in the semis. Then the pick they received for Kessel turned out to be the 2nd overall, drafted Tyler Seguin who may be a definite all-star. Also, during the draft they traded disgruntled Dennis Wideman to Florida for Horton who is heading into his prime. Can he be the goal provider they lacked after Kessel left?

#10: Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa Bay Lightning

After an underwhelming rookie year, Steven Stamkos broke out like a pimple. In his second year, he validated Tampa Bay’s decision to draft him first overall in 2008. He was a deadly threat on the powerplay, possessing the uncanny ability to seemingly teleport pucks from his stick to the back of the net. He used that boisterous one-timer to lead the league in goals with 51, the third youngest player ever to score 50 goals or more. At 20 years old, we can assume that we haven’t seen the apex of his career yet, so do we see him skyrocket for even better numbers in 2010, or does he fall into the pit of the third-year jinx?

#09: Dion Phaneuf, D, Toronto Maple Leafs

I don’t know what’s behind it, but in 2008 and the start of 2009 season, Dion Phaneuf didn’t quite look like the irresistible force we’re accustomed to seeing. Maybe he was somewhat overrated, maybe the hip injury was more crippling than he thought, or maybe this was too much of a distraction. Or maybe he just wasn’t feeling it in Calgary because when he was traded to Toronto mid-season, the Leafs went from a .378 to a .565 winning percentage while he averaged 26:21 TOI per game. If he can continue this quality of play next season, we might be seeing a playoff berth in 2011 for the Leafs.

#08: Taylor Hall, LW, Edmonton Oilers

Alex Hemsky and Dustin Penner may be the Oilers’ forerunners in points, and Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi may be rookies that are more NHL ready; however, if they want to build for the future, they give first overall pick Taylor Hall as many reps as they can this season. Watching him in preseason, you can sense that he has the hockey presence to become a fifty-goal scorer, maybe not this season, but one day. They believe in him so much that President of Hockey Operations, Kevin Lowe, unretired his number from his playing days so that Hall can have it. Still, they don’t expect him to turn the Oilers around in one year. Giving him minutes this season though can sharpen his instincts, can teach him the proper rotation on defense, and can give him a sense of how much faster this league is. The worst that could happen is the Oilers are last place again and they get another high draft pick next offseason, that is if he doesn’t get injured (knock on wood).

Poor Iggy. His days in Calgary must feel like he’s stuck on Groundhog Day. Year after year, they bring in a playmaker that they think can be fruitful alongside the winger, but year after year, the Flames fail. Calgary’s nepotist GM Darryl Sutter felt that the best way to move forward as a franchise is to move backwards—by bringing in players that had failed seasons there before. Alex Tanguay had a superb season playing center to Iginla, but that was four years ago. Tanguay has been insignificant ever since, recording only 37 points last year with Tampa Bay. Olli Jokinen's previous turn in Calgary ended with a trade to the Rangers last season, because he and Iginla didn’t find a connection on the ice. But they're both back. If the Flames are as bad as Sutter’s offseason moves, it may be another long season for Iginla and the Flames fans.

#06: Antti Niemi, G, San Jose Sharks

The Sharks' troubles in the post-season have been well documented. But last season’s playoffs, San Jose surprised everyone by being quite impressive, surviving the first round against a young Colorado Avalanche and then eliminating an old Detroit in five games. But once again, they fell short, losing to the eventual champs. In the offseason, their stalwart goalie Evgeni Nabokov demanded a richer contract, but he realized that his hometown Russia is the only place where he can attain his financial goal. So what did the Sharks do? They signed the goalie that eliminated them in the playoffs. Having recently tasted triumph, Niemi knows what it takes to reach the Stanley Cup finals and may be the final piece the Sharks are looking for.

#05: Daniel Sedin, LW, Vancouver Canucks

Two words: twin rivalry! Brother Henrik had his time under the spotlight last year, leading the league in points and winning the Hart Memorial trophy. He has also shown that he can be constructive without his twin, tallying points while brother Daniel was unable to dress for 19 games due to a foot injury. Wouldn’t it be interesting though if Daniel went into a historical hot streak in 2010 because of the envy he felt while Henrik was receiving that MVP trophy? Daniel had always been the goal scorer so he’s hypothetically not dependent on his twin to get stats. This healthy competitive spirit between twins might make the Canucks a dominating offensive juggernaut.

#04: Carey Price, G, Montreal Canadiens

I already mentioned how Jaroslav Halak’s playoff performance last season captivated the Montreal fans, and how it didn’t persuade GM Pierre Gauthier from trading his rights to St. Louis. But I haven’t mentioned how this deal will affect the goalie left behind. Carey Price has absurd potential, but hasn’t displayed any indication that he can reach it. Last season, he posted a 2.77 GAA and won 13 out of the 39 games he started. In addition, he also lost all four playoff games entrusted to him by the coaching staff. Can he put it all together with all this pressure on him? The fans of Montreal don’t think so.

#03: Patrick Kane, RW, Chicago Blackhawks

One of my favorite sports theories is Pat Riley’s “Disease of More”, which basically states that a championship team's greatest adversary the next season is their own self. They had repressed their personal stats to win as a team, and now they want to gather all the accolades as individuals. Players want more money, more ice time, more publicity, and during this process of wanting more, they lose the intangible aspects of their game causing the team to implode. Let’s put aside their free agent giveaway because that's expected from a team full of rookie scale contract, but Patrick Kane looks like he’s most susceptible to the “disease of more”. He just looks like the Maverick to Jonathan Toews’ Iceman. Here he is with his douchebag entourage. Here he is getting drunk during the Stanley Cup parade. Here he is trying to be funny at the NHL awards. We might see more goals from the 21-year old this season, but don’t be surprised if Chicago doesn’t reach the Stanley Cup for the second straight year.

#02: Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, New Jersey Devils

It’s not that Kovalchuk doesn’t deserve a franchise player’s contract; as a consistent 50-goal scorer, he can lead his team deep into the playoffs every year. But a 17-year deal worth $102 million seems a bit ridiculous, considering that Kovy will be 44 years old by the time the contract is over. The NHL certainly thought so too. The league rejected the contract for circumventing the salary cap rules, Kovalchuk threatened to play in Russia, both parties went through arbitration, and then the arbitrator negated the deal. So Kovalchuk settled for a 15-year, $100-million, now the team is $3.4 million over the cap limit, and the league fined them $3 million and two draft picks. Is Kovalchuk worth all this? If he wins the Rocket Richard trophy and the Devils win the Cup, then everything I’m sure will be forgotten.

#01: Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals

Not only is Ovechkin the best skater in the league (shut up, Crosby fans!), not only is he the runaway pick in any fantasy draft, he is also the most dynamic player on any ice. The NHL are very right to push him as the face of the league to the dismissive American fans. But last season, it seemed like there's a vibe of lethargy in Ovechkin. His performance in the Olympics for Russia was disconcerting; they were the favorites to win Gold but they finished sixth. Moreover, his mediocre play continued in the NHL playoffs. Even though they finished the regular season with the best record, their post-season was terminated by the eighth seed Montreal. I'm convinced that the league hopes that Ovechkin recaptures the sheer effervescence that overwhelmed opponents every game, the type of play that snags MVP awards and enthralls fans.

If Ovechkin wins the Hart Memorial Trophy, here are more predictions:

Ryan Miller, Buffalo wins the Vezina (best goalie)
Dion Phaneuf, Toronto wins the Norris (best defenseman)
Tyler Ennis, Buffalo wins the Calder (rookie of the year)
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit wins the Lady Byng (biggest wimp)
Travis Zajac, New Jersey wins the Selke (best defensive forward)
Terry Murray, Los Angeles wins the Jack Adams (coach of the year)
Vancouver Canucks over New Jersey Devils in five games