Since the Golden Globe Awards have been canceled, I thought
it might be timely to suggest my Thrashers Mid-season Awards. At the risk of antagonizing the Hollywood
Writers Guild, here goes:
Leading Role Award goes to Ilya Kovalchuk. Since the first drop of the puck in October,
the kid (yes, he’s still only 24) has taken charge of this team and led by
passion, production, and possession, as in he seems like a man possessed. If it’s possible for a player who was already
the top goal scorer in the NHL since he entered the league in 2001 to elevate
his game significantly, that’s what Kovalchuk appears to have done. He is scoring goals from everywhere on the
ice, and some of the prettiest assists we’ve seen this year have been the work
of the sniper from Tver, Russia. His playmaking is clearly underrated, and I’m
beginning to think his shot may be, too.
It seems heavier, faster, and more accurate than we’ve seen in the past,
and that can’t be good news for opposing goalies.
In an amazing
show of deductional analysis, I’m thinking the Biggest Surprise Award goes to Toby
Enstrom. Wow, this kid has been a
revelation, hasn’t he? To go from 8th
round pick to a bona fide candidate for NHL Rookie of the Year is a major step
for any player, let alone a player learning a new culture as he learns a new
league. Enstrom has shown poise and
composure far, far beyond his 23 years and his first-year status in the NHL,
and he has been rewarded with ample ice time by the Thrashers coaching staff. And now that his confidence level appears to
be ramping up with every game, he seems more willing to show us significant
flashes of his offensive repertoire.
This young d-man from Sweden
has been one of the stories of the year in the entire league, not just here in Atlanta. Of all the things I’m looking forward to in
the second half, his continued emergence is right near the top.
The Newcomer of the Mid-Season Award is
going to be one-timed over to Eric
Perrin, who has been a fabulous addition for his faceoff skills and special
teams work and is settling in beautifully as a top-two line center. I must also dole out several honorable
mentions, including Todd White, who
has gone from his defense-first mentality to give the team a potent offensive
force and has meshed seamlessly with his eminently talented wingers. The man on his right, Mark Recchi had a lot to prove and felt he had a lot left when he
arrived in Atlanta
in early December. Thankfully for Atlanta fans, he’s
stepped in and given this team exactly what it needed, top-six forward
production. And he’s given Kovalchuk a
chance to flash his passing skills, because the youngster knows the veteran of
500+ goals scored is either going to go to the net or get the puck right back
to him. It’s been a well balanced line,
and Recchi has shown his hands and hockey acumen are still in mid-career form. And finally, an honorable newcomer nod also
to Ken Klee, who is playing
productive, top d-pair minutes, and has helped resurrect the season of his
partner, Alexei Zhitnik.
Don’t trip over the red carpet.
