Despite the recent negativity, there are still many great reasons to remain a hockey fan.
Let's take a little break from attacking the sport of hockey.
We all know the game is not perfect and safety concerns have never been more prevalent than they are today. But it's not all bad news, is it?
In the midst of this panic situation, with so many questioning where the game is headed, here are five reasons to sill love the game:
Oh brother: The NHL's scoring race was won by Henrik Sedin last season and now his twin brother, Daniel, is the odds-on favorite to win it. Daniel leads the NHL with 90 points in 71 games, four more than Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Doug and Max Bentley are the only brothers to ever win the Art Ross Trophy with Doug winning in 1943 and Max taking the trophy in 1946 and 1947. The Sedins would be other only brothers to claim the award in back-to-back years. Beyond that, Henrik won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player last season and Daniel has a legitimate shot at that award this season.
Timmah!: Tim Thomas is the poster child for persistence. By now you should know his story, but in case you don't, here's the Cole's Notes version: A ninth-round draft pick of the Quebec Nordiques (remember them?) in 1994, Thomas began his pro career in the ECHL before heading to Finland, played in the IHL and AHL then played in Sweden before returning to Finland for a season. He joined the Bruins organization, finally played in the NHL in 2002-03, but went back to Finland in 2004-05 (during the lockout) before finally making the NHL as a regular in 2006-07. Then he wins the Vezina Trophy in 2008-09. Last season was a bummer for Thomas, who lost his starter's job to Tuukka Rask, but he reclaimed the crease this year and will likely win his second Vezina. He also has a shot at the Hart Trophy.
Devils delight: They just keep on winning. With 17 victories in their last 20 games, the Devils continue their amazing charge toward the playoffs. At one point this season the Devils were mired in 30th place, but with Jacques Lemaire talked out of retirement and now pulling the coaching strings, New Jersey is one of the best teams in the league. Ilya Kovalchuk is now being talked about as a team player and Martin Brodeur has returned to being the team's No. 1 goaltender picking up the ball from veteran back-up Johan Hedberg who also played very well. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Devils turnaround this year is the fact it is all being done without the team's best player - injured Zach Parise.
Ageless wonders: The NHL may be a young man's league nowadays, but two golden oldies, Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom and Anaheim's Teemu Selanne, continue to prosper. Lidstrom, 40, ranks third in scoring among NHL defencemen with 14 goals and 55 points in 64 games. After a tough season a year ago, the graceful Swede has a very good chance to win his seventh Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman. Selanne, also 40, ranks 18th in league scoring with 21 goals and 63 points in 60 games. Both players look as though they could continue playing at a high level for years to come. Here's hoping they do.
Consistent Canucks: Can the Vancouver Canucks provide Canada with its first Stanley Cup champion since 1993? That is certainly their intention. The Canucks lead the NHL's overall standings and were the first team to crack the 100-point barrier this season which makes them legitimate Cup contenders. Vancouver boasts all the things a team needs to be a champion: speed, experience, toughness and skill, not to mention great goaltending. Cory Schneider has emerged as a solid backup to Roberto Luongo, a youngster who appears capable of stepping in and taking over the crease for an extended period of time if required.
So there, hockey may be in crisis mode with everybody and their brother offering opinions on how to fix the game, but it's not all bad. There are still reasons to smile and with Sidney Crosby back on the blades, there's even great cause for celebration.
