Hockey Night in Canada's Scott Morrison delivers his insights into the world of hockey, on and off the ice.
What was hockey's story of the year?
Comments (6)
Thursday, December 27, 2007 | 03:09 PM ET
By Scott Morrison
In the world of hockey, professional hockey at least, the past dozen months may appropriately be remembered for being the year of the Ducks, but there was a Penguin who had a significant impact, as well.
But which story was bigger?
Was it the Anaheim Ducks becoming the first West Coast team in the modern era to win the Stanley Cup, rolling over the Ottawa Senators in five games in the final, the third straight final in which a Canadian team has lost?
Or was it Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby having a rather special season himself, inspiring his team to a 47-point turnaround (fourth biggest in league history) and their first playoff berth since 2001?
Along the way, Crosby finished with 120 points to win the Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion, then won the Hart Trophy as most valuable player as selected by the media, and Lester B. Pearson award as the MVP as selected by the players. He is just the seventh player to win all three in the same season.
On top of that, in the calendar year at least, Crosby had and won his first NHL fight.
He did all of this, by the way, at the tender age of 19, making him the youngest to reach 200 career points and win a scoring title (in any pro league). And the list goes on.
While there were brilliant individual performances by others (Martin Brodeur and his record 48 wins, as well as Roberto Luongo with his 47 wins, come to mind, along with Nicklas Lidstrom winning his fifth Norris Trophy in six years), it was Sid's show last season.
Indeed, he has predictably become the face of the league and the youth movement that is sweeping over it. Wherever he goes, there is excitement, a buzz. He is a large part of why the league, in fact, decided to change its scheduling matrix beginning next season, to make sure all the teams see Crosby more frequently.
Although, like this season, he isn't the runaway best player in the league, when you factor in the circumstance of age, team and pressure and, well, he really is quite marvelous and certainly hasn’t disappointed, although so far he has failed to win the really big prize.
Which brings us back to the Ducks, who finished fourth overall in the regular season with Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger anchoring the blue line, then in the playoffs beat Minnesota and Vancouver in five games, Detroit in six and finally Ottawa in five. While the Ducks were solid and deep in goal and had three balanced lines, the constant seemed to be the reliability and brilliance of Niedermayer, who guided the Ducks through some trouble spots in the spring to win his fourth Stanley Cup, as well as the Conn Smythe Trophy.
But which story was bigger?
It says here that winning is everything, and the Ducks were deserving champions who may yet repeat, but in the bigger picture of the NHL Crosby has and will continue have a greater impact on the future of the game.
Looking ahead, Crosby will continue to be a focal point, but fans of the game in Canada will also be wondering if Jim Balsillie will be able to convince the NHL to cash one of his cheques, and if the Stanley Cup drought that dates back to 1993 for Canadian teams will finally end? The answer on both fronts, at least in the next dozen months, is probably no.
But that's why they play the games...on and off the ice.
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About the Author
Scott Morrison, the recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fameís 2006 Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award, has been covering hockey for 25 years. The Toronto native began his career at the Toronto Sun in 1979. After spending more than 11 years as a hockey writer and columnist at the paper, Morrison became Sports Editor in 1991 and led the section to being named one of North America's top-ten sports sections in 1999 - the first sports section in Canada to receive the AP Sports Editors North American Award. Scott, a former two-term president of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, joined Rogers Sportsnet in 2001 as Managing Editor, Hockey, and is currently both a commentator on Hockey Night in Canada and a columnist for CBC.ca.
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Comments (6)
Matt
Ottawa
Well I dont really think there was a STANDOUT story of '07 in NHL to the same effect as, say, The Pats going 16-0 in the NFL, or Barry Bonds gong show in the MLB, but Id say Sidney Crosby continues to hog the lime light wherever he goes and I think its great for the game. The Stanley Cup is won every year, but someone special like Sid only comes along once in a while. BTW the Ducks had to make a few runs in the playoffs to finally be able to claim the Prize, and just like them the Sens have been around the playoff block a few times now and as long as they can properly bolster their lineup before March, itll be their turn this year...GO SENS !!!!
Posted January 2, 2008 01:36 PM
Helen
I think the biggest story of the year, is Alfie. The Captain is amazing and leads by example. When he pushes the others push. Go Alfie, Go!
Posted December 31, 2007 01:38 PM
maynard
NS
I hate to say it but the biggest story in hockey this year in my view is the continued violence and the fact that two on the longest suspensions have taken place in the past 12 months and both were to the same player....
until hockey cleans up its act, wouldn't that be the story of the year, I am no longer a fan of the sport...too bad that violence over shadows Ottawa and Crosby and all the rest, but maybe Cherry and company would like it that way........
Posted December 30, 2007 04:20 PM
Lindsay
Calgary
Biggest story would be The Ducks . I don't
see anything else worthy. The Black Hawks
may be the story for 2008, but the subject
of the article is 2007.
Posted December 28, 2007 12:14 PM
Woody Wingren
I think a great story that has be often overlooked is the rebirth of the Chicago Blackhawks. For starters, this original six team had never had the #1 overall pick in it's history until last year. Kane and Toews may be the new Crosby and Malkin in a market that will never be considering a move to another city. An even bigger story is the death of owner Bill Wirtz and the surprising pick of Rocky Wirtz over his brother Peter to run the team. There was not much love in Chicago for "Dollar Bill" Wirtz who lost generations of fans in Chicago by not allowing home games on T.V. and was seen by many as the reason Bobby Hull jumped to the W.H.L.. Now with Rocky in control, home games are being televised, Hull and Mikita have been brought back into the fold as "Hockey Ambassadors" and there is a hockey buzz again in the windy city. Ask anyone who saw or played a game in the old Chicago Stadium if there was a better hockey city, and now, it's back!
Posted December 28, 2007 11:33 AM
Riley Strother
but fans of the game in Canada will also be wondering if Jim Balsillie will be able to convince the NHL to cash one of his cheques, and if the Stanley Cup drought that dates back to 1993 for Canadian teams will finally end? The answer on both fronts, at least in the next dozen months, is probably no.
Probably no? Maybe so for Balsillie, but who knows, maybe Ottawa will finally win the Stanley Cup?
Posted December 28, 2007 02:12 AM