Neutral Zone Wrap: Week 4

Experts like to give credit to group efforts. It’s the PC thing to do these days. One person carries out a major task and we label it selfish or hot-dogging. The collective comes together to achieve the same activity and everyone offers high-fives and pats each other on the back. There’s no shame in asking for help, but sometimes the individual makes the difference all on his own. In Calgary’s case, the arrival of Jay Bouwmeester(notes) has created a positive effect that has transferred itself throughout the team. How can one acquisition make all the difference? If you consider the ex-Panther’s ability to eat up minutes and produce, then that puts less pressure on the other defensemen. As a result, they’re more relaxed as a unit knowing they can rely on him. If they’re at ease, then that can only make Miikka Kiprusoff(notes) feel more confident. All that effort and excellence then translates to the forwards, who can concentrate more on putting the puck in the net. Simple, right? Well, it’s worked for the Flames. Just ask leading scorer Rene Bourque(notes) (14 points, with four on the power-play), free-agent addition Nigel Dawes(notes) (six, with four goals and four PPPs), and fourth-line center Dustin Boyd(notes) (also with six).

If there’s one simple truth in Atlanta, it’s that Ilya Kovalchuk(notes) is the center of the hockey universe. With news he’ll be out up to a month with a broken foot, will the Thrashers attack crumble? He has dominated the goal-scoring side of the offense (nine), but that doesn’t mean their franchise player has acted as sole contributor. Rich Peverley(notes) (tied for the team lead with 10 points) has easily been last year’s best waiver pickup. Nik Antropov(notes) is already making an impact (seven), but it would be nice if he found the net (zero goals). Training camp invitee Maxim Afinogenov(notes) worked really hard to regain his old scoring touch (six points), but he’s still slacking off defensively (minus-5). Expect rookie Evander Kane(notes) (five points, 10 PIM) to see an increased role while Kovalchuk is away.

What happens when Rick DiPietro(notes) once again sets foot on the Island? Is Martin Biron(notes) the odd man out? What trade value would Dwayne Roloson(notes) have? Do the natives scream and run for cover? DiPietro will most assuredly not be dealt, since no one will bite on a perennially injured goalie who still has another 11 years on his contract. And imagine how messy – not to mention expensive – a buyout situation would be. The $67.5-million man just resumed skating, so it’ll be weeks before game action is a possibility. The 40-year-old Roloson was inked for two seasons, while Biron was only enlisted for one and at a lower number ($2.5M average compared to $1.4M). So the smart money would go on the latter as the more attractive trading chip, but that option may never need to happen. In this age of increased injury incidence, it would be wise for any club to keep three netminders on alert just in case one of them goes down. And with three in a rotation, none of them could possibly be overworked unless one goes on a hot streak.

The Ducks have enjoyed their moments, but Hollywood is once again the center of hockey in Southern California. Not since the Wayne Gretzky days of the early 90s have the Kings served as a pleasant distraction from the city’s other sporting franchises (although home attendance is still in the bottom half of the league). Guess that’ll happen when both baseball clubs drop out of the playoffs and the NBA season is only beginning. And it probably doesn’t hurt that LA currently sits first in the Pacific and can boast themselves as the only NHL lineup with more than four double-digit point players (six). Fantasy owners know about the Kings’ usual suspects, but a couple other skaters have risen to attention. Wayne Simmonds(notes) may never have lit up the junior ranks, but the 21-year-old is reaping the benefits (six points, plus-6) of playing alongside quality individuals. And even with young stud Ds Drew Doughty(notes) and Jack Johnson(notes) along with future talent like Thomas Hickey(notes) and Colten Teubert(notes), the Kings can still bring out someone like Davis Drewiske(notes) (four points) who provides a solid 15-16 minutes a night.

Speaking of Anaheim, the Ducks are the unfortunate recipient of some growing pains – and other related maladies. Anyone who recently claimed Lord Stanley but now has the dubious distinction of being Toronto’s first victim needs to figure out what they’re worth. Four straight home losses and frequent careless penalties prove to be the main cause of concern, but their lack of offense is just as worrisome. Bobby Ryan(notes) (four points) is struggling to follow up his monster rookie performance. Maybe Montreal knew Saku Koivu(notes) (three points, minus-5) had lost a step or two when they opted not to resign him. At least offseason arrival Joffrey Lupul(notes) (six) is blending into his new surroundings and skating with Ryan Getzlaf(notes) and Corey Perry(notes).

Buffalo doesn’t need any stars up front when the most important one is between the pipes. There were those who feared Ryan Miller(notes) would eventually leave like so many other former Sabres with substantial paydays have done. This issue was put to rest last summer when Miller inked a five-year extension and he’s excelled from then on. A top performer in 2008-09 (34 wins, 2.53 GAA, .918 SV%) before an unfortunate injury knocked him out for the stretch drive, the Michigander has been equally stellar in the current campaign. He is undefeated in regulation so far (only one overtime defeat in seven) and can show off some gaudy stats (1.69 GAA, .940 SV%). But Buffalo doesn’t totally rely on the guy in the crease; others like Clarke MacArthur(notes) (six points, 14 PIM) and defenseman Chris Butler(notes) (three, including two recent PPPs) have stepped up to claim increased roles. Many believed 6-foot-8 blue-liner Tyler Myers(notes) would eventually succeed at this level, but few thought it would come this soon (five, not including that sick shootout winner against Tampa).

In our continuing look at teams that still suck in the East, we join this week’s analysis of Tampa Bay already in progress. But wait: they’re 3-3-3, so things can’t be all bad, can they? So they’re ahead of both Carolina and Florida and even with Atlanta in the Southeast. Wow, that’s quite the division they got going in those parts. While they’ve marginally improved on the back end (29 goals against for a 3.14 GAA), the defense has often looked confused. Mike Smith(notes) hasn’t asserted himself as the No. 1 (3.36 GAA, .890 SV% in six), while Antero Niittymaki(notes) has (gasp!) actually looked decent (2.70 GAA and .910 SV% in three). On the other side of the ice, Steven Stamkos(notes) has made some brilliant moves and has the scoring to prove it (second on the Bolts with 11 points, including seven goals and five PPPs). Ryan Malone(notes) is bogarting all his points as goals (all seven of ‘em), while Alex Tanguay(notes) is doing … what again?! He was supposed to have that French-Canadian rapport with Vincent Lecavalier(notes) when they signed him before training camp, but he’s struggling (only two assists) and has slipped down to the third line.

Evan Berofsky enjoys writing. Seriously. When he’s not trying to shove hockey miscellany down your throat, he gets his kicks playing tournament Scrabbleä . If you have anything to say about Evan’s work (or need any hot word tips), feel free to contact him at eberofsky@yahoo.com.