After an extremely entertaining first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, here are ten things that have nothing to do with concussions, suspensions or brawls.
The New Jersey Devils, not usually involved in high stakes deals, got themselves one of the most prolific goal scorers of the last decade in Ilya Kovalchuk.
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After nearly 5,000 votes, the RealGM readers have spoken. The final matchup of our Be The GM bracket involves the best all-around centers in the game today -- Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews.
Why Sidney Crosby Is a Franchise Player
Though Crosby has only managed to play eight games this season and just 41 last year, whenever he steps foot on the ice he proves to be the best player in the world. He has 12 points in eight games this year, and led the league with 32-34-66 in 41 games last year until he was sidelined by concussions.
Crosby was drafted first overall in 2005 and as an 18-year-old rookie put up 39-63-102 and finished second in the Calder Trophy race. As a 19-year-old sophomore he became the youngest player and only teenager ever to be a scoring champion in any major sport with 36-84-120, winning the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL MVP.
At 20-years-old, Crosby opened the 2007-08 season as the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and had 72 points in 53 games before leading his team to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Penguins lost to the Red Wings, but Crosby led the league in playoff scoring with 27 points in 20 games. He led Pittsburgh back to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2009 after his third 100-point season, this time besting Detroit and leading the playoffs with 15 goals. Crosby became the youngest captain ever to win a Stanley Cup in NHL history.
In 2009-10 Crosby, ever the perfectionist, showed a new style of play, one in which he shot the puck more, and he ended up leading the league with 51 goals, sharing the Rocket Richard Trophy with Steven Stamkos.
Concussions and neck injuries aside, Crosby is still only 24-years-old, and hopefully has at least ten more years or Hall of Fame-caliber play ahead of him. If anyone doubts his status as one of the greatest players of all time, his career point-per-game mark of 1.391 is first among active players, and fifth all-time behind only Gretzky, Lemieux, Bossy and Orr.
Crosby beat out Zach Parise in the first round, Loui Eriksson in the second round, Henrik Lundqvist in the third round and Tyler Seguin in the semi-finals.
Why Jonathan Toews Is a Franchise Player
Toews was the third overall pick in the 2006 Draft and like Crosby became team captain at 20-years-old, except Toews was only in his second NHL season and was quicker to it than anyone in NHL history (64 games). As a rookie he posted 24-30-54 in 64 games and improved to 34-35-69 in his first season as captain.
His regular season play seemed to peak offensively in his third year, putting up 68 points in 76 games, but in the playoffs he led all players with 22 assists and put up 29 points to capture the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP when his Blackhawks beat out the Flyers for the Stanley Cup. He ended up being the youngest Conn Smythe-winning captain ever, and second youngest winner ever after Patrick Roy.
That year, 2010, saw Toews play his best hockey, not only in the playoffs but in the Olympics. While his counterpart Crosby did score the Golden Goal, it was Toews that had more points (eight in seven games) and was the tournament leader with a +9 rating and was named Best Forward in the entire tournament.
Toews has proven himself to be one of the elite two-way players in the NHL. Year-after-year he is among the top face-off men in the NHL and plays primarily against the top offensive line, just as he was used for Team Canada in the Olympics, and this had him voted second in the Selke Trophy voting last year as the top defensive forward.
While it probably means nothing, Toews has three All-Star selections, while Crosby has two. Toews has 317 points in 351 games with a +87 rating, plus 46 points in 46 playoff games.
Toews defeated Jimmy Howard in the first round, Shea Weber in the second round, Alexander Ovechkin in the third round and Steven Stamkos in the semi-finals.
-- Nick is an NHL Feature Writer for RealGM. You can reach him by email nick.obergan@realgm.com or on twitter @NickObergan.
