The Most Impressive Player for Each NHL Team 1 Month into the 2014-15 Season
Though the NHL season is nearly a month old, a number of players have garnered attention for their impressive early performances. Each NHL club has one player who's stood out among their teammates.
Some of these players are long-standing superstars who continue to dominate the league. Several are veterans proving they still have something left in the tank. A few are rookies keen to prove themselves at the NHL level, while a handful are young players finally blossoming into stars.
Improving skills, experience and confidence are among the factors accounting for these strong early performances. Here's a look at the most impressive player on each NHL club a month into this season.
Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks
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Frederik Andersen took over as the Anaheim Ducks' starting goalie midway through 2013-14. Still, the 25-year-old entered this season with only 35 games of combined regular-season and playoff action under his belt.
One month into the season, Anderson continues to provide the Ducks with solid goaltending. His seven victories in his first eight games rank among the top goalies. He is also among the league leaders in goals-against average and save percentage.
Though recently sidelined by leg tightness, Andersen's performance is a key reason why the Ducks are among the top teams in the opening month of the season. They'll expect more of the same when he returns to action.
Keith Yandle, Arizona Coyotes
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For several years, Keith Yandle has been among the Arizona Coyotes' best players. With four seasons of 41-plus points since 2009-10 (including two 50-plus point performances), the 28-year-old is one of the league's top puck-moving defensemen.
While the Coyotes struggled through the opening month of this season, Yandle continues to play well. He is among their leaders in assists and points. The Arizona Republic's Sarah McLellan reports Yandle ranks among the NHL's leading defensemen in points, power-play assists, power-play points and shots.
McLellan also notes Yandle's improvement as one of the Coyotes' veteran leaders. Combined with his offensive skills, he should remain an important part of their roster.
Dougie Hamilton, Boston Bruins
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In his first two NHL seasons, Boston Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton showed plenty of the potential to become a top-two blueliner. A knee injury to Zdeno Chara has forced the 21-year-old to handle a larger workload.
The Boston Globe's Kevin Paul Dupont reports Hamilton's 22:29 minutes of ice time per game leads all Bruins defenders. Since Chara was sidelined, he's averaging over 24 minutes and logged over 28 minutes in a recent game against the Minnesota Wild. Dupont also notes Hamilton appears more bold and confident on offence. He's also the points leader among Bruins defensemen.
Hamilton seems to be thriving with his added responsibilities. This not only bodes well for his development, but it also eases the sting of Chara's absence.
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Zemgus Girgensons, Buffalo Sabres
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It's been a miserable opening month for the Buffalo Sabres, who find themselves near the bottom of the NHL standings. Among the few bright spots is the play of sophomore center Zemgus Girgensons.
The 20-year-old Girgensons currently ranks among the Sabres' top scorers this season. Two of the club's three wins in their first 14 games were the result of shootout game-winning goals by the young Latvian center.
On a deeper team, Girgensons' performance might be overlooked. On a rebuilding club like the Sabres, his play garners considerably more attention.
T.J. Brodie, Calgary Flames
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Before this season, few NHL fans outside of Calgary knew who defenseman T. J. Brodie was, let alone his importance to the rebuilding Flames and their blue line. His performance thus far this season, however, should make everyone sit up and take notice.
Not a big defenseman (6'1”, 182 lbs), Brodie tallied a respectable 31 points in 81 games last season. The 24-year-old is currently among the Flames' leading scorers, averaging nearly a point per game. He's also among their leaders in power-play points, plus/minus and ice time.
Brodie and Flames captain Mark Giordano form a solid top-two defense pairing. Recently re-signed to a five-year contract extension, Brodie has established himself as a core player.
Riley Nash, Carolina Hurricanes
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Injuries to Eric and Jordan Staal forced center Riley Nash into greater roles of responsibility with the Carolina Hurricanes. Nash's performance was among the few positives through a winless October for the Hurricanes.
In only his third full NHL season, the 25-year-old center tallied three goals and five assists for eight points in 11 games. That puts him well ahead of his numbers from last season (24 points in 73 games) as an NHL sophomore. He's also among Carolina's scoring and faceoff leaders
With Eric Staal now back in the lineup, Nash has moved into the second-line center role, where he appears more comfortable. Nash's adaptability and improving skills as a two-way center and penalty-killer make him invaluable to the struggling Hurricanes.
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
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It shouldn't come as a surprise that Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was his team's best player in the opening month of the season. Considered among the NHL's elite players, Toews' abilities as a top-line two-way center continue to impress.
One month into this season, Toews is among the Blackhawks' leading scorers. The 26-year-old also leads the Blackhawks in faceoff percentage and short-handed points, and he leads all Chicago forwards in ice time.
Though the Blackhawks are off to a slow start, few can fault their captain. With Toews leading the way, it's only a matter of time until the Blackhawks resume their usual spot among the NHL's top teams.
Semyon Varlamov, Colorado Avalanche
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After topping the Central Division in 2013-14, the Colorado Avalanche find themselves struggling near the bottom of the Western Conference standings this season. While there's plenty of blame to go around, very little belongs to goaltender Semyon Varlamov.
Though Varlamov's record of 2-4-4 through 10 games is well off last season's 41-win pace, his .925 save percentage is only slightly below the .927 he posted last season. In six of his games this season, Varlamov's save percentage was .925 or higher.
What makes Varlamov's save percentage more impressive is he's among the league leaders in shots against. Despite the Avalanche's woeful defensive numbers, their 26-year-old netminder is doing all he can to give them a chance to win.
Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets
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Ryan Johansen missed all of training camp and preseason due to a contract dispute with Blue Jackets management. It had almost no effect upon the 22-year-old center, who's playing as though he missed no time at all.
Johansen is among the Blue Jackets leaders in goals, assists, points, power-play points and shifts per game. He tallied points in each of his first 10 games and ranks among the league's leading scorers.
If there was any lingering concern that Johansen's 33-goal, 63-point point performance last season was a fluke, it's now long gone. While the Blue Jackets continue to struggle through a rash of injuries that have decimated the lineup, Johansen continues to blossom into a superstar.
Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
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Traded to the Dallas Stars in the summer of 2013, Tyler Seguin blossomed into their leading scorer last season alongside linemate Jamie Benn. This season, the 22-year-old is once again the Stars' top offensive player.
Through 12 games, Seguin led the Stars in goals, points and game-winning goals, and at one point he enjoyed a seven-game point streak. He's also among the league leaders in goals and points and was named the NHL's third star for October.
Having notched 37 goals and 84 points in 80 games last season, Seguin is on pace to eclipse those numbers. While the Stars are struggling with their offensive depth, Seguin is ensuring their first line remains lethal.
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
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Sidelined for the opening five games of the season with a shoulder injury, Pavel Datsyuk is quickly making up for lost time.
The 36-year-old Datsyuk had points in his first six games since returning to action, scoring five goals and setting up five others. He's also moved up among the Red Wings' leading scorers. Seven of his points came in three games, making him the NHL's second star for the week ending November 2.
While injuries have hampered Datsyuk in recent years, he's shown few signs of slowing down this season. With the Red Wings a team in transition, their young players will look to veterans like Datsyuk for leadership and experience.
Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers
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The Edmonton Oilers are once again off to a stumbling start, managing only nine points through 12 games. Worse, the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson reports left wing Taylor Hall could miss as many as 13 games with a sprained MCL in his right knee.
The injury is a serious blow for the Oilers, as the 22-year-old Hall is their best player. In 11 games before his injury, he led the Oilers in goals (six), points (10) and shots (36). Having reached a career-best 80 points last season, Hall was on pace to reach that total again in 2014-15.
Any chance the Oilers have of getting into playoff contention rests with Hall. The longer he's sidelined, the more their playoff hopes could fade.
Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers
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As the 35-year-old Roberto Luongo began this season with the Florida Panthers, his best years seemed behind him. A month later, Luongo is serving notice he's not yet ready to be written off.
In nine games, Luongo posted a 4-2-3 record. He also ranks among the league leaders in save percentage and goals-against average for goalies with five or more games played this season.
Thanks in part to Luongo's efforts, the Panthers had a respectable 12 points in their first 10 games, slowly rising up the Eastern Conference standings. Happy to be back playing in Florida (where he resides in the offseason), Luongo is giving the underpowered Panthers a chance to win every night.
Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
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Since joining the Los Angeles Kings in a late-season trade in 2011-12, Jeff Carter has become an invaluable part of their lineup, helping them win two Stanley Cup championships in three years.
This season could prove to be Carter's best. Centering “That 70's Line” with wingers Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson, the 29-year-old is among the Kings' leading scorers. He's also one of their leaders in ice time among forwards and leads all Kings centers in faceoff percentage.
At Carter's current rate of production, he could equal his career best of 84 points set back in 2008-09 with the Philadelphia Flyers. Expect him and his linemates to remain among the NHL's top lines throughout this season.
Darcy Kuemper, Minnesota Wild
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Coming off difficult contract negotiations with Minnesota Wild management, goaltender Darcy Kuemper quickly established himself as an important part of their success through October.
In his first nine games, the 24-year-old Kuemper posted a record of 6-3-0 with a 1.77 goals-against average and .922 save percentage. Those stats put him among the NHL's top goaltenders, while his three shutouts have him tied for the league lead in that category.
Given Josh Harding's health issues (multiple sclerosis) and Niklas Backstrom's lengthy injury history, the Wild need consistent goaltending to become a serious Stanley Cup contender. Kuemper's promising start suggests that problem could be solved.
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
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A strong start by Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price alleviated any concerns the knee injury that sidelined him during the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals might hamper his play this season.
Price has won seven of his 11 starts and sits among the league leaders in that category. His ordinary goals-against and save-percentage numbers aren't an accurate reflection of his overall performance. He allowed only five goals in four games during a recent five-game win streak, with a save percentage no lower than .941.
Price's efforts are more impressive considering he's also among the league leaders in shots against. He hasn't received much help from the Canadiens defense this season. Without Price, the Canadiens wouldn't have enjoyed such a strong start.
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
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Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne has so far served notice that he's no longer affected by the hip injury that sidelined him for most of last season.
After 10 games, the 32-year-old Rinne was among the NHL goaltending leaders in wins (seven), goals-against average (1.88) and save percentage (.931). Thanks to his rejuvenated performance, the Predators are among the early leaders in the Western Conference standings.
It's still a long season, and there could be lingering concern over whether Rinne's surgically repaired hip can withstand the rigors of a full season. If he remains healthy, however, the Predators stand an excellent chance of contending for a playoff berth.
Damon Severson, New Jersey Devils
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Rookie defenseman Damon Severson has emerged as the most pleasant surprise for the New Jersey Devils so far this season.
Only 20, Severson is among the Devils' leading scorers and is in the mix for the rookie scoring race. He also leads all NHL newcomers in average ice time and shifts.
Severson's performance recently prompted NJ.com's Rich Chere to speculate over the young blueliner's chances of winning the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. His impressive debut is one reason the Devils are off to a decent start this season.
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
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In only his second NHL season, New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson is enjoying an impressive start.
As a rookie in 2013-14, Nelson finished with a respectable 14 goals and 26 points in 72 games. Through his first 12 games this season, the 23-year-old leads the Islanders in goals (six) and is among the club's leaders (which includes John Tavares and Kyle Okposo) in points, power-play goals and power-play points.
It remains to be seen if Nelson can maintain his current offensive pace. For now, he's provided the Islanders with a welcome boost to their scoring punch.
Rick Nash, New York Rangers
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It's been a difficult start for the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers. Injuries to key players, especially on defense, have resulted in a 5-4-2 season-opening record.
One bright spot among the gloom is the play of right wing Rick Nash. Off to a terrific start, the 30-year-old winger is the Rangers' leading scorer with 10 goals and 13 points. He's also among the league leaders in goals. Through his first 12 games, Nash has only been held off the scoresheet three times.
After being hampered by injury last season and struggling to score during the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, Nash appears determined to prove he still belongs among the league's top scorers. His efforts should help the Rangers remain competitive as they cope with an injury-depleted lineup.
Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
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Having been named captain of the Ottawa Senators during preseason, defenseman Erik Karlsson is having little difficulty adjusting to his new role. His performance is a contributing factor behind the Senators' promising start to this season.
Through the Senators' first 11 games of this season, the 24-year-old Karlsson is among their leading scorers. He's also their leader in ice time, logging over 27 minutes per game.
Karlsson's not immune from mistakes, as he was a minus-four in plus/minus during his club's recent 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. However, his skills, confidence and ability to bounce back are among the reasons he's thriving as team captain.
Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers
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A combination of inconsistent goaltending and an injury-riddled defense has contributed to a difficult start for the Philadelphia Flyers. Their offense, led by Jakub Voracek, has prevented them from sliding into a deeper hole in the standings.
Over the past two seasons, Voracek has become one of the Flyers' most consistent scorers. This season, the 25-year-old winger is off to the best start of his career. His 18 points in 12 games makes him the Flyers' leading scorer. He also ranks among the league leaders in assists and points.
Voracek's quick start suggests he's emerging from the shadow of linemate Claude Giroux. That provides a measure of optimism this season for the Flyers as they cope with their other roster issues.
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
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Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby won the Hart and Art Ross trophies last season, re-establishing himself as the NHL's top player. If his current start is any indication, the 26-year-old center is intent on remaining the league's top dog.
Through his first 11 games, Crosby leads the league in points and is among the leaders in goals, assists and power-play points. His efforts also earned him NHL second star of the month for October.
Crosby's early-season performance and that of his teammates indicates they've had little difficulty adjusting to offseason management and coaching changes. It bodes well for their hopes of Stanley Cup contention this season.
Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
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After bidding farewell to veteran blueliner Dan Boyle during the offseason, the San Jose Sharks shifted winger Brent Burns back to the blue line. Any concerns the move might affect his offensive production this season were for naught.
Through his first 13 games, Burns is off to a point-per-game clip. He ranks among the Sharks leaders in assists, points, power-play points and average ice time. The 29-year-old is also among the NHL's top-scoring defensemen.
The San Jose Mercury News' David Pollak reports Sharks coach Todd McLellan called Burns “an absolute force” offensively while commending his improving defensive play. If Burns can find the right balance between the two, he could become one of this season's most dominant blueliners.
Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues
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Injuries have waylaid St. Louis Blues veteran forwards David Backes, T.J. Oshie and Paul Stastny, but it's opened up an opportunity for youngsters like Vladimir Tarasenko. Only 22 and in his third NHL season, Tarasenko is blossoming into a scoring star.
After 12 games, the young Russian leads the Blues in goals and points. He's also quickly rising up the ranks of the league's scoring leaders. Because of his offensive efforts, Tarasenko was named NHL's top star for the week ending November 2.
Of Tarasenko's seven goals thus far, none were prettier than the one he scored in a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers, splitting the Rangers defense and scoring an incredible one-handed goal.
Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning
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Along with teammate Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson was a finalist last season for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. His performance, however, was overshadowed by the drama over Steven Stamkos' broken leg and Martin St. Louis' trade to New York.
While the now-healthy Stamkos remains the focus of attention, the 24-year-old Johnson has quietly posted up some impressive early-season numbers. He's among the Lightning's leading scorers, especially in assists, ranking among the league leaders in that category.
The Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith reports the “Triplet Line” of Johnson, Palat and Nikita Kucherov is currently the Lightning's hottest. With Johnson centering that line, the Lightning are also among the NHL's top teams.
Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs
27 of 30
The Toronto Maple Leafs struggled with consistency throughout the opening month of the season. Fortunately, the one constant remains the play of top forward Phil Kessel.
Through 12 games this season, the 27-year-old right wing leads the Leafs in points (16) and is among their leaders in goals, assists, power-play points and shots. He also ranks among the league's leading scorers.
It remains to be seen if the Leafs will be playoff contenders this season. The one thing they don't have to worry about is Kessel's production. Since joining the Leafs in 2009, he's been their leading scorer every season while finishing among the NHL's top 10 scorers in each of the last three seasons.
Ryan Miller, Vancouver Canucks
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When the Vancouver Canucks signed Ryan Miller this past summer to a three-year, $18 million deal, it appeared they were paying for a goalie past his prime. Since winning the Vezina Trophy in 2010, Miller's numbers were in decline, while his short tenure last season with St. Louis proved to be a bust.
So far this season, however, Miller appears to have regained some of his Vezina-winning form. He's among the league leaders in goaltending wins while posting a respectable 2.21 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.
Having gone through several seasons of goaltending drama, the Canucks hoped Miller would provide stability between the pipes. So far, so good, as he's among the reasons the Canucks are among the top teams in the Western Conference.
Andre Burakovsky, Washington Capitals
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At the start of this season, 19-year-old winger Andre Burakovsky was an unknown commodity for most Capitals fans. He was not expected to outshine promising fellow rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Burakovsky, however, began garnering attention throughout the opening month of this season. Converted to the team's second-line center, the young Swede is among the Capitals' scoring leaders and ranks among the NHL's leading rookie scorers.
It remains to be seen how Burakovsky's rookie campaign will play out, but his impressive start has earned rave reviews among his teammates. The Washington Post's Alex Prewitt recently reported Burakovsky's veteran teammates Mike Green and Marcus Johansson praised the youngster's skills.
Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg Jets
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On October 7, the Winnipeg Sun's Paul Friesen reported this was a make-or-break season for Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. Friesen cited Pavelec's poor career NHL stats, which made the Czech netminder a target of criticism from Winnipeg fans and media.
Through his first 12 games this season, the 27-year-old Pavelec has posted a 6-4-1 record with a solid 2.01 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Those numbers are considerably better than his career averages.
Thanks in part to Pavelec, the Jets overcame a sputtering start to rise up the Western Conference standings. If he can maintain his current efforts throughout the season, the Jets could have a shot at playoff contention.
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