Ten Best NHL Player Surprises

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 17, 2013

Ten Best NHL Player Surprises

10. Ryan Johansen

Big things were projected for Blue Jackets' first round pick (fourth overall in 2010) during each of his first two seasons. He needed some time to deliver, but the 6'-3', 220-pound center has finally become a defensive matchup issue for his opponents. He's already set career-highs of 12 goals, 15 assists, and 27 points, and carried a nine-game point-scoring streak into mid-December. Johansen excelled on the checking line last season while working his way into the team's system, so Jackets coach Todd Richards now feels comfortable using him in any situation. -- <italics>Brian Cazeneuve</italics> <bold>The 10 Worst NHL Player Surprises</bold>

9. Tyler Seguin

While it isn't a surprise that his trade from Boston may have shaken Seguin into growing up and becoming more disciplined on and off the ice, his quick adjustment to a new team and easy chemistry with forward Jamie Benn has really stood out. Seguin had just one goal in 22 playoff games last spring and was relegated to a supporting role by the time the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Final. In Dallas, he has been a mainstay, with 18 goals. No other Star has reached double figures in that category. -- <italics>Brian Cazeneuve</italics> <bold>The 10 Worst NHL Player Surprises</bold>

8. Kyle Okposo

In what has been an otherwise dreary season on Long Island, the 25-year-old winger has been a rare bright spot for the league's most disappointing team. Okposo scored only four goals during the lockout-shortened 48-game campaign, but he produced 10 in his first 34 games this season and is a respectable -5 on a club that has already surrendered 35 more goals than it has scored. -- <italics>Brian Cazeneuve</italics> <bold>The 10 Worst NHL Player Surprises</bold>

7. Ben Bishop

With sniper Steven Stamkos (broken leg) out of the lineup, the Bolts had to keep their goals-against totals down, especially after last season when they finished 26th in the league in that category. Bishop, the NHL's tallest goalie at 6'-7", has come up big. His career mark was 18-17 after parts of five seasons, but he's off to a 17-5 start with a 1.97 GAA. His teammates describe him as a confident communicator who assertively directs traffic and barks out instructions for his defensemen. Judging by Tampa Bay's improved record (19-11-3) and 11th-ranked defense (2.39 GAA), Bishop's troops have been marching in step. -- <italics>Brian Cazeneuve</italics> <bold>The 10 Worst NHL Player Surprises</bold>

6. Bryan Little

During his six previous seasons with Atlanta/Winnipeg, the 26-year-old center set his career-high goals (31) and points (51) totals in 2008-09. This season, he produced 31 points in his first 35 games. Little is a solid player with good hands, and seeing regular time with Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler has surely helped, but he's also earned the spot. -- <italics>Brian Cazeneuve</italics> <bold>The 10 Worst NHL Player Surprises</bold>

5. Ben Scrivens

Granted, 16 games isn't much of a sample size, but compare his record to date this season (7-3-0; 1.66 GAA; .941 save pct.) with that of his celebrated teammate Jonathan Quick (10-5-0; 2.35; .905) and it's clear that Scrivens is proving to have real value. At 27, he has never appeared in an NHL playoff game, so don't expect him to start in the postseason, but at least the Kings know they're in good hands when their meal ticket is hurt or off his game. -- <italics>Brian Cazeneuve</italics> <bold>The 10 Worst NHL Player Surprises</bold>

4. Jaromir Jagr

Jagr had a perfectly decent regular season in 2013, amassing 35 points in 45 games with Dallas and Boston, but he seemed to slow down during the Bruins' run to the Stanley Cup Final. He failed to score in 22 contests while his mates came within two wins of the title. Now, while playing for the seventh team of his storied career, the 41-year-old wonder is New Jersey's leading scorer (11-17-28) and just nine points away from catching his old mentor, Mario Lemieux, for seventh on the NHL's all-time scoring list. Jagr is Mario Jr. no more. -- <italics>Brian Cazeneuve</italics> <bold>The 10 Worst NHL Player Surprises</bold>

3. Tomas Hertl

He's slowed a bit since his outstanding start, but he still leads all rookies in goals (15) and points (24). The 20-year-old Czech has been playing almost 16 minutes per game as one of Joe Thornton's wingers and will probably move to center when the team feels comfortable enough to put him at his natural position. Teammates rave about Hertl's infectious optimism and the joy he shows while playing the game. -- <italics>Brian Cazeneuve</italics> <bold>The 10 Worst NHL Player Surprises</bold>

2. Alex Steen

Oh, how the Maple Leafs would like to have this one back. Toronto gave up on the superb two-way forward when he was a struggling 24-year old and traded him to St. Louis with Carlo Colaiacovo for Lee Stempniak in Nov. 2008. Though his scoring pace has slowed a bit, the son of Swedish former NHLer Thomas Steen still has 22 goals, second only to another Alex -- Ovechkin -- and has been among the top 10 in scoring since the first two weeks of the season. Steen will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, so there is added incentive for him to up his play. -- <italics>Brian Cazeneuve</italics> <bold>The 10 Worst NHL Player Surprises</bold>

1. Josh Harding

The 29-year-old goaltender became a story last year because of his inspiring battle with multiple sclerosis. By the time this season is done, he could be a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. Having won the 2013 Masterton (perseverance and dedication to hockey), Harding now leads the NHL with a 1.49 GAA and is among the league leaders in wins (17), shutouts (3) and save percentage (.939). -- <italics>Brian Cazeneuve</italics> <bold>The 10 Worst NHL Player Surprises</bold>