Specialty players are a rare commodity, when you have them, your careful not too let them go, as they become important parts of a successful run for the Stanley cup. Of course if you can afford more in this cap era NHL, it's too your advantage. A good team and potential contender will have three ingredients that will anchor a good run to a championship. The first, a top centerman with a good face-off winning percentage.Two, a good two way puck handling defenceman, that also can make that all important first good pass. Legendary coach, Scotty Bowman insisted on it, was lucky during his career, to have coached among two of the best in the sport. Bowman had Larry Robinson in his days in Montreal and Lidstrom in Detroit. Three, the all important goaltender.Once again, Bowman was lucky, Dryden was his man for all five cups in Montreal, and had Hasek for his last in Detroit.
In 2006-07, the top centerman and face-off guy was Yanic Perreault with both Phoenix and Toronto. He won 62.8 % of his face-offs. As mentionned above, a good team has what I would a go to guy for the face-offs, among the tops in that category, is Rod Brind'Amour of the Carolina hurricanes, he took part in 43.6 % of his team's face-offs. Toronto's captain, Mats Sundin came in second with 37.5 %. Sid the kid in Pittsburgh, comes third with 36.4 %.
Besides the three key players I mentionned earlier, you also have to be able to count on a game-breaker. The guy that comes in and scores a goal that can save you from the jaws of defeat. Last season, Dany Heatley from Ottawa was that guy.Ten of his 50, were game winning goals.
The hockey news magazine, in it's 2007-08 poolers guide, projects that 8 of the top ten points leaders, will come from the Eastern conference. A conference that had been known as more defensive minded compared to more open Western conference.
In 2006-07, the top centerman and face-off guy was Yanic Perreault with both Phoenix and Toronto. He won 62.8 % of his face-offs. As mentionned above, a good team has what I would a go to guy for the face-offs, among the tops in that category, is Rod Brind'Amour of the Carolina hurricanes, he took part in 43.6 % of his team's face-offs. Toronto's captain, Mats Sundin came in second with 37.5 %. Sid the kid in Pittsburgh, comes third with 36.4 %.
Besides the three key players I mentionned earlier, you also have to be able to count on a game-breaker. The guy that comes in and scores a goal that can save you from the jaws of defeat. Last season, Dany Heatley from Ottawa was that guy.Ten of his 50, were game winning goals.
The hockey news magazine, in it's 2007-08 poolers guide, projects that 8 of the top ten points leaders, will come from the Eastern conference. A conference that had been known as more defensive minded compared to more open Western conference.
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