Nov 25, 2015
Thumbs up to Lundqvist, down to Blue Jackets
TSN's Dave Hodge gives a thumbs up to New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist or being the best he has ever been, and a thumbs down to the Columbus Blue Jackets if another star forward leaves town and excels elsewhere.
By Dave Hodge
At any point in the NHL season, I'm liable to be asked to name the best team.
My latest answer is "Henrik Lundqvist."
Thumbs up to the New York Rangers' goalie for being the best he has ever been.
He is the biggest reason the Rangers are tied for the league lead, and some nights, the only reason the Rangers get two points. He is, at one and the same time, the Rangers' biggest reason for optimism and pessimism.
Their fans worry that the Rangers really aren't as good as their 16-3-2 record, or that, because of Lundqvist, they don't need to show how good they are, so they don't, and eventually, perhaps, they'll find they can't.
Lundqvist's latest masterpiece came on Monday night, when he blanked the Nashville Predators 3-0. Now it's true that Nashville can't score on anybody lately, but they held a 25-7 shots on goal advantage after two periods and needed to find a way to beat Lundqvist just once to tie the game. They lost the game 3-0. Lundqvist explains his terrific start to the season by saying he is more relaxed than ever, and thus is able to enjoy the game with a different focus.
He says he smiles now, which is easier to do when he gives himself a reason to smile by making another save that creates the opposite effect on the shooter.
The game of the year awaits for Lundqvist and the Rangers. Wednesday they host Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens. First place is on the line. And maybe the Vezina Trophy. Hart Trophy. Or it's just another game, because Price is quite capable of a wry smile, too.
Mighty Big Risk
The trade market is supposed to have Ryan Johansen's name written all over it.
From the day he stayed away from the Columbus Blue Jackets' training camp last year, it might have been expected that a fairly bitter contract squabble would linger. He's due another deal following next season, so that's at least part of the reason for the trade speculation, and that's where the understandable part of this story ends.
Johansen didn't miss a game last season while scoring 71 points. His current campaign has been disappointing, which puts him on a list with several other Blue Jackets, but he's still tied for the team scoring lead.
They might decide to trade him with contract differences or recent struggles in mind, or maybe they'll be tempted by the attractive offers that are sure to be circulating, but it's "thumbs down" to Columbus if another star forward leaves town and excels elsewhere.
The franchise lacks a true identity, except for one that can only be whispered in Columbus. The Blue Jackets have traded Rick Nash, Jake Voracek, Jeff Carter and Derick Brassard. Among other things, Nash was the NHL's third leading goal-scorer last season. Voracek finished second in assists. Carter has won two Stanley Cups with the LA Kings and Brassard has scored 15 goals in 42 playoff games for the Rangers the past two seasons.
A Johansen trade is a mighty big risk.