Quinn Hughes is the Norris Trophy favorite, Detroit makes sense for PWHL expansion and Ovie calls Backstrom "one of the best"
The pandemic may have ended a couple of years ago. But bubble hockey is back in the NHL, thanks to Connor Bedard.
Since coming back from a broken jaw that sidelined him for five weeks, the Chicago Blackhawks rookie has five goals and 18 points in 13 games. And he's done it while wearing a full face shield, which raises the question: could we ever see the NHL go full frontal?
Half visors have been mandatory for players entering the league since 2013-14, with only a handful (Ryan O'Reilly, Jamie Benn and Ryan Reaves among the last holdouts) still choosing to go visor-less. Meanwhile, every player in the PWHL must wear a full visor.
The reasons for going with a half visor rather than a full visor used to be pretty … uh … clear: it's much more difficult to see the puck and the rest of the action while looking through a fish bowl. But Bedard's offensive production in the past couple of months is challenging that notion.
Bedard, who is the rookie scoring leader, is averaging 1.38 points per game while wearing a full visor. Obviously, he doesn't seem visually impaired. Not after picking up three goals and eight points in his past two games.
-"I always try to go in with the same mindset and try to play the same," Bedard said. "It's funny. You know I had an eight-game streak without a goal and then you have a couple of big ones and people kind of freak out about that. But it's only two games and obviously it means nothing if we come out next game and don't do great."
With a half visor, he had 15 goals and 33 points in 39 games — or .85 points per game. Either way, Bedard has a stronghold in the Calder Trophy race, where he leads all rookies in goals and points.
That he's doing it with added protection might be the first step towards instituting full coverage somewhere down the line.
The Starting Five
1) Quinn Hughes Is The Norris Trophy Favourite According to NHL.com: According to NHL.com, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes is the favourite to win this Norris Trophy this season.
2) Ovechkin Discusses Backstrom, What He Misses Most About Capitals Center: 'He Was One Of The Best': The Capitals captain had nothing but good things to say about Backstrom.
3) 'I'm Not Happy To Be Missing Out, But I Understand': Maple Leafs' Simon Benoit Taking a Positive Approach After Being Bumped Out of the Lineup Following Trade Deadline: Simon Benoit overcame the odds by earning an everyday spot in the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup. He's ready to prove it again.
4) 4 Reasons Detroit Makes Sense For American PWHL Expansion: The PWHL will visit Detroit this week, which could serve as a test for the market as a permanent home for a future PHWL franchise.
5) Canucks Defender Casts Doubt on McDavid's Greatness: Nikita Zadorov had some interesting comments related to who he thinks is the best player in the NHL right now.