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Who Must Be The Most Improved Player…
by Paul on 07/31/09 at 01:34 PM ET
Comments (13)
... on your team? This player could have had a very good year last season, but in order for your team to improve this year, this player must step it up a notch.
Or you could name a player who comes out of nowhere and surprises everyone with the season they are about to have.
For the Wings, I say Nick Kronwall must continue to improve and it is time he starts to establish himself as a #1 or 2 dman. If he does, expect the Wings to have another long post-season run.
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Comments
Brooks Orpik for the Pens. With the loss of Scuderi and Gill he will be become our number 1 or 2 PKer. He played with Gonchar last season and probably will again this season, but he will be given a larger defensive responsibility this season.
Posted by Kstewy16 on 07/31/09 at 01:53 PM ET
Val Filppula. If he’s centering the 2nd line, he’s the one who has to make things happen. If Zetterberg/Datsyuk are split and he plays wing for either of them, he’s gotta make sure the line he’s on isn’t a single player threat.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 07/31/09 at 02:21 PM ET
I’m going with that dude who wears #52 for the Wings. I heard he’s like 6’5”. If the Wings give him some time on the second PP unit with that cannon of a shot from the point, he could very well become a very potent weapon desperately needed from the point.
Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 07/31/09 at 02:33 PM ET
Sharks… Cheechoo, Cheechoo, Cheechoo. ‘nuff said.
Posted by Matt Fry from Winnipeg on 07/31/09 at 02:46 PM ET
Brooks Orpik is certainly a good candidate for continued improvement, especially given the absence of Scuderi and Gill which leaves an extra defensive burden to distribute. Depending on McKee, Orpik is a prime candidate to assume further responsibility.
I would also like to see Jordan Staal continuing his development, offensively as well as defensively.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 07/31/09 at 03:42 PM ET
Fil is due to have his breakout season. I like how he has developed so far, and this season I believe we will see him get more confident and obviously play a bigger role.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 07/31/09 at 04:30 PM ET
Val Filppula. If he’s centering the 2nd line, he’s the one who has to make things happen.
I guess it depends on what you mean by most improved. Compared to when? Because when Datsyuk was hurt, Flip really stepped it up and played VERY well.
Posted by Garth on 07/31/09 at 04:34 PM ET
I think for the Pittsburgh Penguins it will will be Sidney Crosby. He had a very good season, especially in the play-offs. But I think he will come out in October all guns blazing to say it with Judas Priest. And in spring 2010 he will win the Art Ross (at least) and lead the Pens to another good run in the playoffs.
Posted by Thomas from Cologne, Germany on 07/31/09 at 05:19 PM ET
I guess it depends on what you mean by most improved. Compared to when? Because when Datsyuk was hurt, Flip really stepped it up and played VERY well.
Absolutely. But it was also over a relatively short time. The kid has gobs of talent. Last year he didn’t have the ice time. The year before that he was still pretty green. This season, he’s got the time(on the 2nd line and PP) and the experience to maintain a good scoring pace over the season. I’d like to see 60 points out of him.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 07/31/09 at 05:38 PM ET
For the Rangers, either Brandon Dubinsky or Wade Redden.
Dubinsky’s been good so far but if he wants to be a 1st/2nd line center he needs to step it up.
Right now the Rangers have 4 d-men on their roster. Unless they sign another, we’re going to have a pair of rookies out there, which means that the 4 they have will be eating up minutes. Redden can’t be as bad as he was last year if they’re going to be in that situation and survive.
Posted by K24 from NYC on 07/31/09 at 06:58 PM ET
I would also like to see Jordan Staal continuing his development, offensively as well as defensively.
Agreed. He stepped up big last year and played a lot of minutes against tough opponents, but I think there is still much room for improvement with him. Hopefully a full season of playing with TK and Cooke will have all three of them putting up big numbers.
Posted by Kstewy16 on 08/01/09 at 01:46 AM ET
For the Hurricanes, I think it has to be Brind’Amour. If he returns to form - a big if, at his age - after last season’s injuries, the team will be in good shape.
Posted by Scout on 08/01/09 at 01:09 PM ET
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For the Kings it’s gotta be Anze Kopitar. If he’s going to be a #1 center in the NHL he’s gotta take a step forward.
Posted by Paul From Cali on 07/31/09 at 01:50 PM ET