HOCKEYTALK NHL QUICK SHOTS BY JOSH BREWSTER

NHL QUICK SHOTS
By Josh Brewster
February 11, 2009

Brunette decision is worst of season

FEBRUARY 11, 2009 -- Last summer, after the Colorado Avalanche expressed no interest in his services, Andrew Brunette signed a deal which returned him to a former employer, the Minnesota Wild, to the tune of $7M over three seasons (expiring after the 2011-12 season). Andrew Brunette has been the Wild's captain (the club's captaincy rotates monthly) five times throughout his two terms of duty with Minnesota, and has proven to be a fantastic re-acquisition by GM Doug Risebrough. Indeed, the Brunette signing has been a bright spot amidst a mediocre Wild 2008-09 campaign.

The Avalanche went on to sign a fading Darcy Tucker for similar money ($4.5M for two seasons), but there's been nothing similar between the two in terms of production, and the decision by Colorado GM Francois Giguere to let Brunette walk is the worst so far this season.

Tucker, who missed eleven games to a sprained left knee, has managed five goals and six assists for just eleven points after 43 games played. In contrast, Brunette is the Wild's fourth leading scorer (13-18-31). Tucker hasn't played a full 82-game schedule since 2000-01. Brunette holds the NHL's current consecutive-game streak at 506 (as of 2/11/09).

Tucker, while his feistiness is welcome, always has high penalty minutes totals. Brunette, on the other hand, is tough but much less squirrelly than Tucker, and doesn't take a lot of penalties (Brunette has 12PIM in 52GP; Tucker, 45PIM in 43GP). Brunette doesn't cost his club at unfortunate times, and the Avalanche would have been far better off with Brunette's cool head than they are with Tucker's hot dome.

Brunette's skating is below average compared to most NHLers, but his willingness to pay the price in front of the net is a valuable commodity.

Overall, Risebrough looks quite astute on this one. Colorado use a lot more of what the 35 year-old Brunette is selling than what the 32 year-old Tucker offers. It wasn't a straight-up trade, but it certainly ranks as the worst player transaction so far this season, featuring very poor decision-making by Giguere.

Only an errant stick can stop Ryder's resurgence

Forward Michael Ryder signed for three seasons at $4M per with the Boston Bruins last off-season, and the critics laughed at Bruin GM Peter Chiarelli.

But the Bruins surged this season, with notable contributions from tough cookies like Shawn Thornton and of course, Milan Lucic, who's got 13 goals and 31 points while brawling his way to 86 PIM's while Thornton leads the team with 98PIM. The B's also have seen a huge offensive up tick, with youngster Phil Kessel potting a team-leading 24 goals, and playmaking veteran Marc Savard contributing 20.

Ryder, though, epitomizes the best of both worlds, the physical and the offensive.

"He's got 19 goals, but I like his strength on the puck, too, and I like his play off the wall," Chiarelli told the Boston Herald. "He's good for our cycle game. He's a strong player. You can be a scorer and not a strong player, but he's played well defensively. He's fit into our system...and there aren't many that can shoot the puck like him."

Unfortunately, only an errant stick courtesy Ottawa's Antoine Vermette during a Feb. 5th B's victory could stop Ryder's resurgence. The 28 year-old Ryder, from Bonavista, Newfoundland underwent facial surgery to repair three small fractures of the frontal sinus, a procedure during which three plates were inserted.

Look for Ryder to return after two or three weeks' recovery. The Bruins will seek some extra muscle, per Chiarelli's recent comments to the media, but Ryder's return is greatly anticipated as the stretch run looms. Ryder is money well-spent, critics be damned.

(Michael Ryder as of 2/11/09 - 52GP: 19-17-36PTS +24; 5PPG; 7GWG; 137SOG)

Carolina and Florida to play huge tilt this week

Who knew, but we're at the start of the stretch run, and with the modern NHL races tightening, the Southeast division is offering up a blistering horse race between the Hurricanes and Panthers. The clubs meet Thursday, Feb. 12, and the Panthers are a surprising 8th in the East (53GP: 26-19-8=60PTS) while the Hurricanes sit 9th (54GP: 27-22-5=59PTS), after being all but written off for dead after a mid-January slide. Very big tilt at Raleigh Thursday; will have an impact on both club's fortunes.

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MORE QUICK SHOTS:

2008-09 Season -

February 4, 2009
Shane O'Brien Blurts it Out; Plus: The Alexei Yashin Award

December 9, 2008
Melrose's refreshing candor

Nov. 24-31
No time for junk, Mr. Sanford

Nov 1-9, 2008
Tacky: Rangers want pick for Cherepanov

2008 Off-Season:

July 29: Teemu Selanne: Shoe on the Other Finn

July 19: Ironically, Russia Proves that Capitalism Works