Don't tell me you knew this was going to happen because I happen to know that you didn't. Who would have predicted starts that the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks have had.
Don't tell me you knew this was going to happen because I happen to know that you didn't.
Sorry but there was no way any of us -- with the possible exception of my smart dog, Brownie -- could have predicted that a skinny Blackhawks teenager would be turning more NHL heads than Taylor Swift's doorman.
And since Vancouver finished an anemic eleventh in the leased-by-McDavid Western Conference last season, why would anything but a missed playoff for the eighth time in nine years be any different this semester?
I'll tell You why:
1. Even with all the hoopla and shmoopla, Connor Bedard IS the second coming of Wayne Gretzky. (Surely you remember Gretz, the poster boy for stringbeans.)
2. Also: Luke Richardson is a cooler cat than Paul Newman's Cool Hand Luke. Ditto for Chicago Luke's assistant, Derel King. (Also Kevin Dean; See end of column, if you can make it.)
3. Having to play five out of their first six games away from Rogers Arena, has not scared the Canucks, alias the Kings of Ugly Uniforms. Coach Tocchet doesn't scare easily either.
4. In case you missed it, the Canucks own the next Norris Trophy-winner: Shhh! His name is Hughes and his first name ain't although it might be some day.
5. The Windy City Gang also has a lesser Feel Good Story --Comeback Kid Petr Mrazek in goal.
6. Vancouver's answer to The Magnificent Mrazek is Nobody And Nothing Gets Me Down -- Thatcher (Himself) Demko, San Diego's claim to hockey-development fame.
And, by contrast to the Above Amazin's, you have to wonder what happened inside the brain of former pro goalie Kenny Holland. What in the world was Holland thinking? Did he believe that his McDavids could get away with a one-two puck-stopping combo named Jack Campbell and Stu Skinner?
I'm Just Sayin'
* If Paul Maurice happened to be behind the Edmonton Oilers bench, starting with Game One, the Oil would be in first place.
* Not having Nic Backstrom for the rest of the season surely won't help Alex Ovechkin's record quest.
* One reporter who recently covered a Caps game said Big 8 "Looks like he's in a witness protection program." (But not Saturday night with two goals vs. Islanders.)
* Jon Cooper's Lightning is at least playing competitive hockey minus Andre Vasilievskily. But just barely.
* The Oilers were picked by many to win The Stanley Cup. (No, that's not a joke.)
* SportsNet's Mark Spector, who doesn't fool around, said a Jay Woodcroft's firing would help revive the Oilers. Lets see.
* My favorite goalie name: Sam Montembeault of the Habs.
* The Kraken have to be wondering when -- or if -- Shane Wright ever will be a big leaguer.
* Believe it or not, those in the know continue to believe that Atlanta still will wind up with an NHL team.
* Rangers fans would like the season to end this evening. (Hey, maybe it will. Then they can do choruses of "Dream A Little Dream Of Me Until April." ) Vacation, as usual, in May!
* Well ahead of time, I'll admit, but The Maven's newest prize is-- the First Annual Being Under The Radar Talent Award to Bill Zito.
* After 13 games, the Panthers are 8-4-1 and second in the Atlantic Division.
* And this without their two best D-men; Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour. Want more?
* The Cats have had about a 50 per cent roster change from last season's Cup Final.
* Want more? (Last one, I promise.) All seven Florida blue liners have lefty shots. And the most pleasant surprise has been Evan Rodrigues.
* I dare -- or even double-dare -- any Analytic Ace to answer this question before The Holidays:
How does Jon Huberdeau go from third in NHL scoring to a benchwarmer in little over a season?
* If you can't wait for the answer, try this one on for size. Jonny misses the Sheltering Palms of Sunrise.
* One of my FLA Live Arena press box pals who knows Zilch about analytics has this answer: Huby loved Florida and was stunned by the trade.
* By the time Huberdeau's contract is move-able Atlanta will be back in the NHL.
* Long Island-based Eric Hornick is absolutely yythe best stat man I know. But does Eric know this "Thought Twister" from Joltin' Joe Dionisio in Santa Barbara, California:
* Who was the last active player to face Wayne Gretzky?
* Answer: Jumbo Joe Thornton who hung up his skates on October 29.
* Now, 26 years later Thornton's retirement is an extra bittersweet pill to swallow.
* Two years ago this was unthinkable. Now it's worth a thought: Shane Wright is no better than an AHL quality center.
* Edmonton's 4-1 win over Seattle on Saturday night saved Jay Woodcroft's job -- but for how long? Not Long!
* P.K. -- for "Perfectly Keen" -- Subban says the Maple Leafs should fire Sheldon Keefe.
* The Maven says: "Yoo-Hoo, Subby, wait for April. That's when the Leafs season really starts and Shelly's job will be on the line."
* One of the best jobs of assistant-coaches can be found in Chicago where old pal Kevin Dean-- from his Devils days -- is masterminding the Black Hawks young defenders.