Drouin finally solid in Tampa; meet the Jackets unlikely leading scorer
Jonathan Drouin's future with the Tampa Bay Lightning looked particularly bleak at this point last year.
The third overall pick of the 2013 draft was unhappy in Tampa then amid inconsistent opportunities under head coach Jon Cooper and had requested a trade from the club in November. He was demoted to the American Hockey League by January and later suspended indefinitely without pay as trade speculation swirled.
The Lightning ultimately opted against dealing their frustrated winger ahead of the Feb. 29 trade deadline and by playoff time Drouin had emerged as a crucial element in the Bolts attack, totalling 14 points in 17 games en route to the club's second straight Eastern Conference final.
After a sluggish start offensively this season (seven points in 17 games), the 21-year-old is flying again.
Drouin has seven goals and 13 points in 10 games this month, including a combined five points in back-to-back wins last week. His offensive emergence has been timely for Tampa, which has been without Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat, Ryan Callahan, Vladislav Namestnikov and No. 1 goaltender Ben Bishop due to injury.
The Ste-Agathe, Que. native may soon join that group after exiting Tampa's final game before the holiday break with an undisclosed injury.
Regardless, Drouin's future with the Lightning would appear secure, quite the turnaround from one year ago.
MEET THE JACKETS' LEADING SCORER
Easily the most unknown leading scorer of the NHL's most surprising team this season, Cam Atkinson was the 157th overall pick of the 2008 draft, a smallish winger plucked out of Avon Old Farms high school in Connecticut. Atkinson, who leads the sizzling Blue Jackets with 35 points in 32 games, has quietly scored at least 20 goals in each of his three full NHL seasons, including a career-best 27 goals and 53 points last year.
The 27-year-old trails only Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby with 15 points in December, tied for sixth in NHL scoring on the season. The five-foot-eight 182-pound Atkinson has done the majority of his damage on the league's top power play, currently tops among all NHL players with 17 power-play points this year, already a career high.
TROUBLE IN BIG D
The Dallas Stars had their best campaign in a decade last year, posting 50 wins and 109 points to lead the Western Conference. It's been an entirely different story this year though with literally every facet of the Stars' game falling off and by a considerable margin.
A look at a few key numbers for Dallas, currently absent from the west's playoff picture:
Goal differential last year: plus-37
This year: minus-17
Goals per-game last year: 3.23
This year: 2.54
Goals against per-game last year: 2.78
This year: 3.03
Power play last year: 22. 1 per cent
This year: 16.5 per cent
Penalty kill last year: 82.3 per cent
This year: 77.3 per cent
Puck possession last year: 52.5 per cent
This year: 48.8 per cent
Times shut out last year: 1
This year: 3
NO. 1'S
Frederik Andersen has found his way for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but a few other new No. 1 goaltenders have yet to get on track.
Jake Allen, who signed a four-year extension worth US$17.4 million last summer (which starts next season), has a .905 overall save percentage and a .907 mark at even strength which ranks as the worst among goalies with at least 20 starts. John Gibson, who inherited Anaheim's top gig following Andersen's departure, has a .907 save percentage, including an .897 mark in December.
Petr Mrazek has a .899 save percentage after re-signing in Detroit for two years and $8 million while Connor Hellebuyck has given up three goals or more 13 times in 26 appearances, much of the damage coming when the Jets, the league's third-worst penalty kill, are shorthanded.
Only Mrazek's job has been threatened with Jimmy Howard re-emerging before a recent injury (.934 save percentage).
Andersen, meanwhile, has the NHL's second-best save percentage (.938) since the start of November, registering his first shutout with the Leafs in their second-last game before the break, a 38-stop blanking of the Colorado Avalanche.
EARLY RETURNS
One of the more intriguing trades last summer saw 23-year-old Mika Zibanejad shipped from Ottawa to New York for 29-year-old Derick Brassard. For the Senators it was an injection of veteran stability, the Rangers an infusion of youth.
How's it worked for both sides so far? It's probably too early to say.
Zibanejad: The Swede was living up to last season's career-best production (21 goals, 51 points) before breaking his fibula last month, totalling five goals, 15 points, a 52 per cent possession and 53.7 per cent success rate in the face-off circle in 19 games. He's not expected back until after the New Year.
Brassard: The former Blue Jackets first rounder is well off the near-60-point pace he managed in each of the previous two seasons, totalling only seven goals and 15 points in 34 games (a 36-point pace) for the Senators. Brassard did score in three straight games last week and boasts a strong 54 per cent puck possession mark, tops among Ottawa regulars.
Jonathan Drouin's future with the Tampa Bay Lightning looked particularly bleak at this point last year.
The third overall pick of the 2013 draft was unhappy in Tampa then amid inconsistent opportunities under head coach Jon Cooper and had requested a trade from the club in November. He was demoted to the American Hockey League by January and later suspended indefinitely without pay as trade speculation swirled.
The Lightning ultimately opted against dealing their frustrated winger ahead of the Feb. 29 trade deadline and by playoff time Drouin had emerged as a crucial element in the Bolts attack, totalling 14 points in 17 games en route to the club's second straight Eastern Conference final.
After a sluggish start offensively this season (seven points in 17 games), the 21-year-old is flying again.
Drouin has seven goals and 13 points in 10 games this month, including a combined five points in back-to-back wins last week. His offensive emergence has been timely for Tampa, which has been without Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat, Ryan Callahan, Vladislav Namestnikov and No. 1 goaltender Ben Bishop due to injury.
The Ste-Agathe, Que. native may soon join that group after exiting Tampa's final game before the holiday break with an undisclosed injury.
Regardless, Drouin's future with the Lightning would appear secure, quite the turnaround from one year ago.
MEET THE JACKETS' LEADING SCORER
Easily the most unknown leading scorer of the NHL's most surprising team this season, Cam Atkinson was the 157th overall pick of the 2008 draft, a smallish winger plucked out of Avon Old Farms high school in Connecticut. Atkinson, who leads the sizzling Blue Jackets with 35 points in 32 games, has quietly scored at least 20 goals in each of his three full NHL seasons, including a career-best 27 goals and 53 points last year.
The 27-year-old trails only Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby with 15 points in December, tied for sixth in NHL scoring on the season. The five-foot-eight 182-pound Atkinson has done the majority of his damage on the league's top power play, currently tops among all NHL players with 17 power-play points this year, already a career high.
TROUBLE IN BIG D
The Dallas Stars had their best campaign in a decade last year, posting 50 wins and 109 points to lead the Western Conference. It's been an entirely different story this year though with literally every facet of the Stars' game falling off and by a considerable margin.
A look at a few key numbers for Dallas, currently absent from the west's playoff picture:
Goal differential last year: plus-37
This year: minus-17
Goals per-game last year: 3.23
This year: 2.54
Goals against per-game last year: 2.78
This year: 3.03
Power play last year: 22. 1 per cent
This year: 16.5 per cent
Penalty kill last year: 82.3 per cent
This year: 77.3 per cent
Puck possession last year: 52.5 per cent
This year: 48.8 per cent
Times shut out last year: 1
This year: 3
NO. 1'S
Frederik Andersen has found his way for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but a few other new No. 1 goaltenders have yet to get on track.
Jake Allen, who signed a four-year extension worth US$17.4 million last summer (which starts next season), has a .905 overall save percentage and a .907 mark at even strength which ranks as the worst among goalies with at least 20 starts. John Gibson, who inherited Anaheim's top gig following Andersen's departure, has a .907 save percentage, including an .897 mark in December.
Petr Mrazek has a .899 save percentage after re-signing in Detroit for two years and $8 million while Connor Hellebuyck has given up three goals or more 13 times in 26 appearances, much of the damage coming when the Jets, the league's third-worst penalty kill, are shorthanded.
Only Mrazek's job has been threatened with Jimmy Howard re-emerging before a recent injury (.934 save percentage).
Andersen, meanwhile, has the NHL's second-best save percentage (.938) since the start of November, registering his first shutout with the Leafs in their second-last game before the break, a 38-stop blanking of the Colorado Avalanche.
EARLY RETURNS
One of the more intriguing trades last summer saw 23-year-old Mika Zibanejad shipped from Ottawa to New York for 29-year-old Derick Brassard. For the Senators it was an injection of veteran stability, the Rangers an infusion of youth.
How's it worked for both sides so far? It's probably too early to say.
Zibanejad: The Swede was living up to last season's career-best production (21 goals, 51 points) before breaking his fibula last month, totalling five goals, 15 points, a 52 per cent possession and 53.7 per cent success rate in the face-off circle in 19 games. He's not expected back until after the New Year.
Brassard: The former Blue Jackets first rounder is well off the near-60-point pace he managed in each of the previous two seasons, totalling only seven goals and 15 points in 34 games (a 36-point pace) for the Senators. Brassard did score in three straight games last week and boasts a strong 54 per cent puck possession mark, tops among Ottawa regulars.
Today at 6:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Khanjar, Al-Samarrai, and Abu Mazen are hosted by Shaalan Al-Karim to discuss accelerating the se
Today at 6:03 am by Rocky
» Iraq asks the countries of the world to respond to its requests to extradite wanted persons: We have
Today at 6:02 am by Rocky
» “It is coming soon.” The Sudanese advisor sets the date for the referral of the Baghdad metro and th
Today at 6:01 am by Rocky
» Al-Mubarqa: Iraq reserves its full right to respond to the Australian behavior
Today at 6:00 am by Rocky
» Dollar exchange rates on Iraqi stock exchanges... recorded a decline, and this is the list
Today at 5:58 am by Rocky
» Mr. Al-Sadr supports the position of American university students
Today at 5:56 am by Rocky
» Iraqis are ranked 7th in the Arab world on the list of those most seeking immigration to America. He
Today at 5:55 am by Rocky
» The UAE company ADNOC resorts to Iraqi oil. Find out the reasons
Today at 5:53 am by Rocky
» Soon.. 3 new hospitals will open in Baghdad
Today at 5:52 am by Rocky
» Sponsored by Al-Sudani...the opening of the Arab Labor Conference in its fiftieth session in Baghdad
Today at 5:51 am by Rocky
» Al-Shammari chairs a meeting at the controlling headquarters to review the results of the security o
Today at 5:49 am by Rocky
» Arab Labor Organization: We commend Iraq's interest in the Arab Labor Conference
Today at 5:48 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The development road project will provide many job opportunities
Today at 5:47 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 4/26/24 Iraqi Dinar - US Treasury Exchange Rates- Focus - Banking Partnerships - Rate C
Yesterday at 6:11 pm by Rocky
» Sudanese advisor criticizes Kuwaiti analyzes regarding the development road project
Yesterday at 3:21 pm by Rocky
» Al-Mandalawi stresses the need to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between Iraq and Poland
Yesterday at 3:04 pm by Rocky
» Power maneuvers: America provides defensive weapons to Kurdistan in exchange for withholding from Ba
Yesterday at 11:26 am by Rocky
» Kuwait is drilling an oil well near Umm Qasr, towards Iraqi territory
Yesterday at 11:24 am by Rocky
» In the document... the first Iraqi ministry identifies the obstacles to changing the new official wo
Yesterday at 11:22 am by Rocky
» Italian Institute: Iraq is stuck in its own crises, including Baghdad’s efforts to undermine the “au
Yesterday at 11:21 am by Rocky
» The head of the Integrity Commission announces the holding of an international Interpol conference i
Yesterday at 11:18 am by Rocky
» Planning: Iraqi companies are not efficient in conducting the population census
Yesterday at 11:14 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 4/24/24 Support - USA- Turkey - Timing- Currency Value - Tabled
Yesterday at 9:08 am by Rocky
» MM&C 4/25/24 National Bank of Iraq goes live with Temenos core banking and payments
Yesterday at 9:06 am by Rocky
» A banking official indicates a "danger" to Iraq by depriving more than half of its banks of dollars
Yesterday at 8:55 am by Rocky
» With the participation of the Association of Private Banks, investment opportunities are on the tabl
Yesterday at 8:45 am by Rocky
» Within a month... an Iranian border crossing recorded a noticeable increase in exports of goods to I
Yesterday at 8:44 am by Rocky
» The Association of Private Banks appreciates the efforts of the government and the Central Bank to c
Yesterday at 8:43 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki's coalition presents a third candidate for the position of governor of Diyala
Yesterday at 7:57 am by Rocky
» Arab gathering: The Kirkuk problem is getting complicated and the Sudanese must intervene
Yesterday at 7:56 am by Rocky
» Next week.. a Kurdish delegation will visit Baghdad to meet with the Minister of Finance
Yesterday at 7:54 am by Rocky
» Under the pretext of salaries... Al-Party refrains from handing over port revenues to Baghdad
Yesterday at 7:53 am by Rocky
» Association of Banks: For the first time, we are witnessing a clear targeting of depriving half of t
Yesterday at 7:51 am by Rocky
» Parliament does not know the reason for the delay in sending the 2024 budget schedules: Voting takes
Yesterday at 7:49 am by Rocky
» Applicants for the 2024 Hajj are demanding that the Central Bank secure the dollar for them through
Yesterday at 6:09 am by Rocky
» Governmental and private banks will showcase their services tomorrow during Financial Inclusion Week
Yesterday at 6:08 am by Rocky
» Iraq's oil exports rise despite OPEC+ cuts
Yesterday at 6:06 am by Rocky
» A study explodes a "surprise"... Iraq is among the countries that export oil to "Israel": How is the
Yesterday at 6:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Araji emphasizes working to strengthen national identity
Yesterday at 6:02 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani visits Saudi Arabia to participate in the World Economic Forum in Riyadh
Yesterday at 6:01 am by Rocky
» Iraq is talking about producing one million additional liters of gasoline
Yesterday at 5:59 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers approves the implementation of the Baghdad Metro project
Yesterday at 5:56 am by Rocky
» Minister of Commerce: We formed a joint economic committee with Türkiye
Yesterday at 5:55 am by Rocky
» Resources: Government measures have contributed to improving the water situation in Iraq
Yesterday at 5:53 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: Baghdad will continue to send salaries to the region’s employees until settle
Yesterday at 5:51 am by Rocky
» A parliamentarian describes the corruption of Iraqi ports as “ghouls” and reveals the involvement of
Yesterday at 5:49 am by Rocky
» Obelisk Hour: Basra is the subject of political conflict and ambiguity over the fate of the funds al
Yesterday at 5:48 am by Rocky
» Turkmen leader: An agreement on the local government of Kirkuk is near
Yesterday at 5:45 am by Rocky
» Anbar calls for the operation of its factories despite financial obstacles
Yesterday at 5:44 am by Rocky
» Turki: The crisis of the Presidency of Parliament prompted the Sunnis to amend the Council’s interna
Yesterday at 5:43 am by Rocky
» The Agriculture Committee confirms the existence of Iraqi-Turkish-Iranian discussions on water
Yesterday at 5:42 am by Rocky
» Resources diagnose the challenges facing the water file in Iraq
Yesterday at 5:38 am by Rocky
» Parliament pledges to the Interior Ministry: We will transfer money to buy weapons from citizens
Yesterday at 5:33 am by Rocky
» Al-Issawi is the closest.. Parliament sets the date for deciding the choice of the new president
Yesterday at 5:31 am by Rocky
» Deputy: Iraq's investments have risen and need a comprehensive review of previous years
Yesterday at 5:30 am by Rocky
» Iraqis consume 7 billion eggs annually and import about $900 million
Yesterday at 5:28 am by Rocky
» The Iranian role complicates attempts at open cooperation between Iraq and Turkey. Turkey is trying
Yesterday at 5:26 am by Rocky
» Move in Iran to obtain $242 billion from Iraq in compensation for the eight-year war
Yesterday at 5:25 am by Rocky
» 12 decisions from the Council of Ministers regarding the Baghdad Metro and Najaf-Karbala train proje
Yesterday at 5:23 am by Rocky
» Sudanese Advisor: The path to development has begun... the Baka and the militias “we silence them wi
Yesterday at 5:21 am by Rocky
» Not from Kurdistan.. How did Iraq become a source of oil for “Israeli tanks”?
Yesterday at 5:19 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Agriculture criticizes the Sudanese and Erdogan agreement: Türkiye will control water
Yesterday at 5:16 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government issues new decisions
Thu Apr 25, 2024 3:35 pm by Rocky
» The story of “reduced oil” to Jordan, from “compulsion” to mutual benefit.. Is there a loss?
Thu Apr 25, 2024 3:33 pm by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers takes 12 decisions for the Baghdad Metro and the Najaf-Karbala train
Thu Apr 25, 2024 3:32 pm by Rocky
» utube MM&C 4/23/24 Iraqi Dinar - IQD Update - Development Road Project - Saviour of Global Banking
Thu Apr 25, 2024 11:18 am by Rocky
» Kidney from pig transplanted into deathly ill New Jersey woman — and begins working almost immediat
Thu Apr 25, 2024 11:15 am by Bama Diva
» The most difficult option.. Warnings of the danger of floating the Iraqi dinar without achieving an
Thu Apr 25, 2024 10:48 am by Rocky
» Trade from the “Economic Committee” with Türkiye: It will overcome all obstacles facing the traders
Thu Apr 25, 2024 10:46 am by Rocky
» Washington's hope for stable relations with Baghdad clashes with Iraqi parties' rejection of the Ame
Thu Apr 25, 2024 10:41 am by Rocky
» Karim Badr: Development is America’s will to kill silk
Thu Apr 25, 2024 10:36 am by Rocky
» Oil: Opening of a new port for liquid gas for vehicles in Baghdad
Thu Apr 25, 2024 10:33 am by Rocky
» A media advisor warns of corruption in a draft law on the Parliament’s agenda
Thu Apr 25, 2024 10:21 am by Rocky
» Economist: There is serious work to lift US sanctions on Iraqi banks
Thu Apr 25, 2024 10:16 am by Rocky
» Will the agreements signed with the US Treasury reflect positively on the exchange rates?
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:52 am by Rocky
» Iraq continues its quest to join the World Trade Organization
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:51 am by Rocky
» Iraq completes the completion of the files for the initial offer of goods and services to join the W
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:50 am by Rocky
» Economist: Travelers' dollars are leaking into the parallel market...and this is what the Central Ba
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:32 am by Rocky
» President of the Federal Court: It is not permissible to force anyone to join any party, and the pol
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:30 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers holds its session headed by Al-Sudani
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:27 am by Rocky
» America weakens Baghdad...and increases Kurdistan's military capabilities
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:26 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government plans to build 10,000 schools throughout the country
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:23 am by Rocky
» American threats close the Iraqi Stock Exchange at a loss
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:21 am by Rocky
» Increase in external transfers at the Central Bank
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:20 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki calls on Britain to cancel restrictions on the entry of its companies into Iraq
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:18 am by Rocky
» Planning and the European Union are discussing signing a number of agreements in the development, en
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:16 am by Rocky
» Parliament talks about the mechanism for recovering smuggled funds and hints at the next stage
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:13 am by Rocky
» Interior Ministry: The number of completed national cards reached 37 million cards
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:06 am by Rocky
» Amnesty International: Violations of freedom and human rights continue in Iraq and the Kurdistan Reg
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:04 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Oil: The government is proceeding with the decision to raise the price of improved gas
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:03 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary committee in Basra to investigate violations of the port company and the local gover
Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:00 am by Rocky
» Revealing the 10 most important American exports to Iraq
Thu Apr 25, 2024 6:31 am by Rocky
» A noticeable increase in the rate of Iraq's import of Chinese cooling devices
Thu Apr 25, 2024 6:30 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister: Working on projects without completing the infrastructure is a waste of money
Thu Apr 25, 2024 6:28 am by Rocky
» Iraq.. Extending the deadline for registration procedures on plots of land
Thu Apr 25, 2024 6:27 am by Rocky
» What is the main purpose of conducting the population census in Iraq?
Thu Apr 25, 2024 6:25 am by Rocky
» A plan to transform Iraq from a barren land to green with 5 million trees
Thu Apr 25, 2024 6:24 am by Rocky
» The Housing Fund announces the acceptance of more than 11 thousand loans through the Ur platform
Thu Apr 25, 2024 6:23 am by Rocky