In honour of Wayne Gretzky's birthday, here are 50 thoughts about the state of the NHL at the break.
In celebration of The Great One's 50th birthday, here are 50 thoughts and observations about the 2010-11 NHL season.
1. It is Jan. 26. The Flyers are in first place and nobody is worried about their goaltending. When was the last time you could say that?
2. Lot's of people talked about Brent Burns not living up to expectations the past few years, but how many have noticed he is second among NHL defencemen with 14 goals this season?
3. Another defenceman quietly having a great season is Jordan Leopold (49-10-17-27) of the Buffalo Sabres.
4. Rookie Jeff Skinner has the happiest disposition of any player entering the NHL in years. The kid is always smiling!
5. Thought Nicklas Lidstrom was close to being done last season. Now he looks like he'll win a seventh Norris Trophy.
6. Another golden oldie who looks like he could play forever: Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks.
7. If Lidstrom's Detroit Red Wings are to challenge for the Stanley Cup this season, they need to find a replacement for Darren McCarty. They don't need a fighter, but they need a tough guy who'll keep the opposition honest.
8. If the Nashville Predators make the playoffs this season, Barry Trotz should be the NHL's coach of the year. Nobody does more with less than Trotz.
9. Steven Stamkos is on pace for 61 goals -- 10 more than he scored last season when he tied for the Rocket Richard Trophy with Sidney Crosby.
10. The Edmonton Oilers are the most fun, lousy team ever to watch.
11. Early in their career, the Sedin twins looked like great second-liners masquerading as first-liners. Now, there is no doubt they are special first-line stars.
12. If you had to choose just one, it would be hard to pick between Brad and Mike Richards.
13. Wonder if Danny Briere ever gets asked for ID at bars? The guy still looks like he's 15.
14. Still waiting for Jay Feaster to do something - anything! - with the Flames.
15. Non-hockey thought: Steelers win the Super Bowl by 10.
16. Mats Zuccarello, who is 5'7", gives hope to the sport's smaller players. The Rangers rookie has 11 points in 17 games and is a shootout sensation.
17. Here's hoping Peter Forsberg's latest comeback attempt is a success. The NHL is a better place when Forsberg is playing in it.
18. Marc Staal of the Rangers has taken huge strides toward becoming one of the best defencemen in the NHL this season.
19. Hard to believe Kyle Wellwood and Ben Eager were the answer to the Sharks problems. Look for Sharks general manager Doug Wilson to do more to shake up his team for a long playoff run.
20. Nice to see Jarome Iginla playing well again.
21. I still think Jordan Staal would be a No. 1 centre on most NHL teams.
22. Watch for Lightning GM Steve Yzerman to add an impact defenceman at the trade deadline.
23. Nobody has scored a prettier goal than rookie Jordan Eberle's on the opening night of the season.
24. Will the player draft actually be more exciting than the NHL's All-Star Game this year?
25. Would love to see an all-star game featuring teams of 30 and over versus 29 and under. I bet the old guys would play a little harder trying to beat the kids.
26. Hard to believe Alex Ovechkin has only two power play goals and they were scored in the same game.
27. Would you recognize Loui Eriksson (11th in NHL scoring) if you bumped into him on the street?
28. Wonder why nobody on the Leafs stepped in to fight Tim Gleason after he popped Nikolai Kulemin in the face? Might have done wonders for team unity in Toronto.
29. The Nashville Predators will scratch and claw to make it into the playoffs and then lose in the first round…again.
30. Jason Spezza's absence from the Ottawa Senators lineup has hurt the club more than most people will admit.
31. If the New York Islanders had to do it again, wonder if they'd pick Matt Duchene instead of John Tavares?
32. If Marc Savard isn't seriously considering calling it a career, he should.
33. Has anybody seen Dustin Byfuglien? The big Atlanta defender was a great story in the first half, but is pointless in his last nine games.
34. Can't wait to see what roster adjustment the Vancouver Canucks make when Sami Salo gets healthy.
35. If the Blackhawks are to go deep in the playoffs this season, it will be with Corey Crawford in goal.
36. Clarke MacArthur is two goals off his single-season high of 17 scored for the Buffalo Sabres in 2008-09. Wonder if the Thrashers have any regrets about letting him walk?
37. Still underrated after all these years: Jeff Halpern of the Montreal Canadiens. Excellent two-way player with solid leadership skills.
38. After a horrible first half, the New Jersey Devils suddenly start winning games. Wonder if they'll play themselves out of having the first overall pick in the next entry draft?
39. Brad Richards and Kari Lehtonen get a lot of credit for the Dallas Stars great season, but let's not forget the contributions of captain Brendan Morrow.
40. Things have not gone well for the Kings of late, so it will be interesting to see what unfolds when the team embarks on a 10-game road trip beginning Feb. 1.
41. It's still too early to make a judgment on goalie James Reimer of the Maple Leafs, but he is certainly making a strong bid to be in the mix next season as GM Brian Burke's makeover of the team continues.
42. Bet there will be changes to the waiver rules next season. Why should one team negotiate a deal with a player and pay for him to have a medical exam only to have another team step in and claim him?
43. Not feeling very good about my pre-season pick of the Washington Capitals winning the Cup.
44. Joe Thornton has 13 goals and is minus-13. Ouch!
45. What an amazing welcome home the Montreal Canadiens fans gave their former captain Saku Koivu. Montreal really is the centre of the hockey universe.
46. Evgeni Nabokov says he wants to try to help a contender win the Stanley Cup. Isn't this the same guy who flopped in the playoffs with the Sharks?
47. I hear the player chosen last in the All-Star Game draft will get a car. Here's hoping he donates it to charity.
48. Phil Kessel is 69th in NHL scoring and is minus-19. This can't be what Burke had in mind when he made the trade.
49. He isn't their best player, but with six game-winning goals Ryan Kessler just might be the Vancouver Canucks MVP this season.
50. Great power forward in the making: Twenty-year-old Kyle Clifford of the Kings.
Happy birthday Wayne!
