D. Should be better: Is there any point in still naming Scott Gomez?
E. Christmas wish: A healthy Andrei Markov on the blue line
E. Silly moment: Any time GM Pierre Gauthier refers to a player as “Mister”
F. Will finish: Eighth in the East and lose in seven to top seed
2. IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
A. Hart Trophy: Phil Kessel, TOR
B. Vezina Trophy: Tim Thomas, BOS
C. Top rookie: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM
D. Top coach: Mike Yeo, MIN
E. Coach in trouble: Joe Sacco, COL
F. Norris Trophy: Shea Weber, NAS
G. Biggest surprise: How little debate there was over realignment
H. Biggest disappointment: Number of concussed stars
BRUCE GARRIOCH - OTTAWA SENATORS
A. Highlight: Battling for a playoff spot
B. Needs fixing: Defensive play in own zone
C. Best player: Defenceman Erik Karlsson firing on all cylinders
D. Should be better: Goalie Craig Anderson needs consistency
E. Christmas wish: Bobby Butler finally finding scoring touch
E. Silly moment: Losing by a touchdown in back-to-back home games
F. Will finish: In eighth place to make the playoffs
2. IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
A. Hart Trophy: Claude Giroux, PHI
B. Vezina Trophy: Tim Thomas, BOS
C. Top rookie: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM
D. Top coach: Kevin Dineen, FLA
E. Coach in trouble: Joe Sacco, COL
F. Norris Trophy: Zdeno Chara, BOS
G. Biggest surprise: Minnesota
H. Biggest disappointment: Washington
LANCE HORNBY - TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
A. Highlight: Finding ways to win more close games
B. Needs fixing: Penalty killing. Like T.O. traffic, just doesn’t get better
C. Best player: Phil Kessel could be first Leaf in 74 years to win Art Ross
D. Should be better: Former 30-goal man Nikolai Kulemin loses way to net
E. Christmas wish: Fewer injuries and the traditional second-half surge
F. Silly moment: GM Brian Burke goes to war with some media
G. Will finish: Seventh, avoiding a seventh year in a row out playoffs
2. IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
A. Hart Trophy: Claude Giroux, PHI
B. Vezina Trophy: Henrik Lundqvist, NYR
C. Top rookie: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM
D. Top coach: Mike Yeo, MIN
E. Coach in trouble: Jack Capuano, NYI
F. Norris Trophy: Shea Weber, NAS
G. Biggest surprise: Kris Versteeg leads Florida to first in Southeast
H. Biggest disappointment: Alexander Ovechkin, WAS
KEN WIEBE - WINNIPEG JETS
A. Highlight: Atmosphere inside MTS Centre has been exceptional
B: Needs fixing: A 4-8-4 road record isn’t good enough
C: Best player: Goalie Ondrej Pavelec a workhorse
D: Should be better: Andrew Ladd’s offensive production is down
E: Christmas wish: A return to health for top defenceman Tobias Enstrom
F: Silly moment: Seems like every player is “day-to-day” or a “game-time decision”
G: Will finish: Eighth and in the final playoff spot in Eastern Conference
2. IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
A. Hart Trophy: Jonathan Toews, CHI
B: Vezina Trophy: Jimmy Howard, DET
C: Top rookie: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM
D: Top coach: Mike Yeo,MIN
E. Coach in trouble: Jack Capuano, NYI
F: Norris Trophy: Shea Weber, NAS
G: Biggest surprise: Joffrey Lupul, TOR
H: Biggest disappointment: Alex Ovechkin, WAS
DEREK VAN DIEST - EDMONTON OILERS
A. Highlight: Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin has been outstanding
B. Needs fixing: More production from second and third lines
C. Best player: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins better than anyone imagined
D. Should be better: Magnus Paajarvi struggling in second season
E. Christmas wish: Meaningful games in late March and early April
F. Silly moment: There was actually doubt in October whether Nugent-Hopkins was staying
G. Will finish: 10th and out of playoffs
2. IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
A. Hart Trophy: Claude Giroux, PHI
B. Vezina Trophy: Jimmy Howard, DET
C. Top rookie: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM
D. Top coach: Mike Yeo, MIN
E. Coach in trouble: Guy Boucher, TAM
F. Norris Trophy: Shea Weber, NAS
G. Biggest surprise: Brian Elliott, STL
H. Biggest disappointment: Dustin Penner, LA
RANDY SPORTAK - CALGARY FLAMES
A. Highlight: Rookies in lineup — finally team moves forward
B. Needs fixing: Home-ice power play clicking at 9.7% is unacceptable
C. Best player: Miikka Kiprusoff has been brilliant between the pipes
D. Should be better: Winger Rene Bourque too talented for such cold snaps
E. Christmas wish: Same as every year — a legitimate No. 1 centre
E. Silly moment: All the Jarome Iginla trade rumours from the Internet
F. Will finish: 10th and out of the playoffs
2. IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
A. Hart Trophy: Phil Kessel, TOR
B. Vezina Trophy: Brian Elliott, STL
C. Top rookie: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM
D. Top coach: Mike Yeo, MIN
E. Coach in trouble: Scott Arniel, CLM
F. Norris Trophy: Shea Weber, NAS
G. Biggest surprise: Kris Versteeg, FLA
H. Biggest disappointment: Ville Leino, BUF
HOSEA CHEUNG - VANCOUVER CANUCKS
A. Highlight: Scoring by committee backed by two No. 1 goaltenders
B. Needs fixing: Too many trips to the penalty box
C. Best player: One of the Sedins, take your pick
D. Should be better: Kevin Bieksa hasn't lived up to new contract
E. Christmas wish: Can Santa bring a first-aid kit?
E. Silly moment: The goalie "controversy" and how many fans are on Team Schneider
F. Will finish: Second in the West
2. IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
A. Hart Trophy: Jonathan Toews, CHI
B. Vezina Trophy: Tim Thomas, BOS
C. Top rookie: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM
D. Top coach: Mike Yeo, MIN
E. Coach in trouble: Scott Arniel, CLM
F. Norris Trophy: Shea Weber, WAS
G. Biggest surprise: Phil Kessel, TOR
H. Biggest disappointment: Drew Doughty, LA
