Ringing in the New Year with those who have finished 2013 in style and a few for whom I wish better in 2014.
Among the many NHL players I got to meet as the emcee at the NHLPA golf tournament this past summer were goaltenders Josh Harding and Marty Biron. Harding had a number of Minnesota Wild teammates (and an ex-teammate in Cal Clutterbuck) there to support his cause and charity as he has publicly shared the challenges of his battles with multiple sclerosis. He spoke passionately to the crowd about his personal journey and challenges like he has done since he has been diagnosed. He has been a true champion for his cause and inspiration to those who are also battling with him. He enters the New Year with the best goals-against average in the NHL at 1.64.
Marty Biron also chose to support Harding’s charity as his charity of choice at the NHLPA tournament. It was a different end to 2013 for Biron as he decided to retire at the age of 36 after just two unsuccessful appearances in the New York Ranger nets this season. A class act and hard worker, Biron is already gaining plaudits for his occasional new work in broadcasting.
The Getting Better With Age Award has to go to Patrick Sharp of the Chicago Blackhawks. Maybe being their leading goal scorer (10) in last year’s drive to the Stanley Cup was a sign of his perfect aging. While Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith might be the more marquis names in Chicago, the 32-year-old Sharp enters the New Year among the NHL leaders in many offensive categories to go with his team oriented style of play and positive personality. He should be a certainty for the Canadian Olympic team.
Bruce Boudreau was only out of work a matter of hours after being fired by the Washington Capitals in December 2011. The Anaheim Ducks are getting full value now from the coach they hired mere hours after his Washington firing as they continue to battle the Chicago Blackhawks for the best overall record in the NHL. The Ducks had five of the top eight players in plus-minus overall in the NHL at the Christmas break (Hampus Lindholm, Francois Beauchemin, Dustin Penner, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf).
Another team in the hunt for first overall in the NHL are the Pittsburgh Penguins. One can wish them a healthy New Year, but they would be hard pressed to improve on the success they have had despite being ravaged by injuries. Opponents of the Penguins in the games just before Christmas faced a team without four of their top five defencemen (Kris Letang, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi) to go along with an injured Evgeni Malkin and a suspended James Neal along with some “lesser lites” missing as well. The injury news continues as we head into the New Year with Pascal Dupuis likely lost for the season. This recent success through adversity and Sidney Crosby remaining one of the seemingly few healthy Penguins bodes well for a team that many thought would have had a second Stanley Cup by now in the Sidney Crosby era.
Continued good health for 35-year-old Andrei Markov, who has played in every one of the Montreal Canadiens’ games this season (and all 48 in the lockout shortened 2013 season) after being healthy enough to suit up in just 20 of the 164 games in the two previous seasons and 65 of the 246 games in the previous three seasons overall. He helped the likes of Sheldon Souray, James Wisniewski and Mike Komisarek score big free agent contracts after playing with him in Montreal. Now he allowed P.K. Subban to enjoy the spotlight while his contribution is noticed on the ice and respected in the dressing room.
My friend and colleague Chris Johnston continues to grow and emerge as one of the top reporters, columnists and insiders in the game. He joins Ric Nattress and myself on almost all Leafs Nation post-game shows.
I think some adversity in the round robin part of the world juniors will be a positive for Team Canada and I see them ending a three-year drought by winning gold to ring in the New Year in a year where fewer Canadians seem confident they will.
Hoping his being added to the Canadian Olympic team coaching staff will help Ralph Krueger get a much deserved second shot at an NHL head coaching job. Only a 48-game apprenticeship with the Edmonton Oilers can be chalked up to the “life isn’t fair” philosophy while Dallas Eakins isn’t having a ton of fun in an 82-game season.
I am pulling for all Canadian hockey fans that their NHL team of choice rewards them with playoff victories and a legitimate Stanley Cup shot. But, nobody deserves even just one playoff game (since Leaf fans got them last year) than the incredible passionate and loyal Winnipeg Jet fans. It is a long shot for 2014 but they deserve it.
Happy and healthy New Year!