Ten names who are back, and better than ever
If the league had an award for the best turnaround season, chances are that Edmonton's Dustin Penner would have it locked up by now. The Oilers big power forward has had that much of a reversal, but he isn't the only player enjoying a proverbial second act. Here are some others.
1. Brad Richards, Dallas: He was the playoff MVP in 2004 when Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup and had a big season right after the lockout, which helped him become the NHL's highest-paid player for a while. But Richards' career started trending downward after that, and a trade to the Stars in February 2008 didn't change things. Injuries contributed to his worst season last year, but now the Dallas center leads the team in scoring and is on pace for the best numbers of his career.
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| Tomas Plekanec leads the Canadiens with 34 points -- six goals and 28 assists. (Getty Images) |
3. Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary: He is perennially in the discussion for the Vezina Trophy, but for the last few seasons, that's mainly because of his reputation rather than his play. Kiprusoff's save percentage and goals-against numbers have headed in the wrong direction in each season since he took the Flames to the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals. And his ridiculous work load may be a reason Calgary has failed to advance past the first round since the Finals run. Kiprusoff still gets only the rare night off, but he has been brilliant and the biggest reason the Flames are among the league's top teams.
4. Mike Fisher, Ottawa: We're not suggesting that having Carrie Underwood dedicate her latest album to Fisher has anything to do with it, but the famous singer's boyfriend does seem to have a little extra zip in his stride this season. That's fortunate for the Senators, especially with the way No. 1 center Jason Spezza struggled before he was injured Monday night. Fisher is picking up the slack, and more, with the best season of his career. He has already surpassed last season's goal total and could have more overall points by Christmas.
5. Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix: If you're searching for one reason to explain the Phoenix Coyotes remarkable season, look no further than the goaltending they've been getting from Bryzgalov. The likely starter for Team Russia at the Olympics has had some exceptional flashes in the past with Anaheim and more recently in Phoenix, but Bryzgalov stumbled last season in the first year of a lucrative contract extension. That was a major concern for an organization as cash strapped as the Coyotes, but Bryzgalov has rebounded to the point where he is not only a candidate for the Vezina Trophy, but the MVP award as well.
6. Tomas Plekanec, Montreal: If Plekanec had a nickel for every time he was involved in a trade rumor last season, he could build a nice little retirement nest egg. But try as they might, the Canadiens could find a package to include him in. Lucky for them because Plekanec has become Montreal's top scorer. The Czech-born center is more of a play maker than finisher, but his 28 assists are already better than last season's totals, and his 34 points are just five less than he scored in his previous campaign.
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| Mike Fisher's 14 goals for the Senators are more than he had the entire last season. (Getty Images) |
8. Maxim Afinogenov, Atlanta: Perhaps there is something revitalizing in Atlanta's water, because Afinogenov has had a turnaround similar to his teammate Hedberg. The Thrashers effectively picked the former Buffalo Sabres winger off the scrap heap as training camp opened, taking a chance on a largely unfulfilled talent because he came cheap and speaks the same language as the player they need to keep, Ilya Kovalchuk. But Afinogenov has blossomed in Atlanta and has already topped his production from last season less than half way through the schedule.
9. Nathan Horton, Florida: Maybe more players should hear their names in trade rumors. It seems to have worked wonders for Penner, Kaberle and Plekanec, and since Horton started being mentioned frequently in the rumor mill a few weeks ago, he has caught fire. Horton has picked up 10 points in eight games this month, and his pace of nearly a point per game overall means he could come close to doubling his output of last season.
10. Scott Hannan, Colorado: The veteran defenseman struggled in the first two years after the Avs signed him to a big free-agent deal in 2007. Last season was the worst of his career statistically. Hannan is a stay-at-home type, so he isn't counted on for much offense, but he has already equaled his output of last season. More important, his plus-minus numbers, which say a lot more about his defensive impact have dramatically improved. So has Colorado.
