BY TREVOR SMART - FAN FUEL BLOGGER
With the halfway point of the NHL season come and gone, the cream has risen to the top.
Here is a look at the contenders for this year's Presidents' Trophy.
Have your say: Have an opinion on the news of the day? Better yet, want to become a Fan Fuel blogger? Email us here. | Time to congratulate Luongo1. Detroit Red Wings
Detroit provides the model for all other teams to aspire to, having made the playoffs for 20 straight seasons and winning four Stanley Cups in that time. Once again, they are at the top of the league. Consistency is the key to their success; they are among the league leaders in goals for, goals against, and power play percentage, led by ageless wonder Nicklas Lidstrom and puck wizard Pavel Datsyuk.
2. Chicago Blackhawks
After a disappointing eighth place finish last year following their Stanley Cup victory, the Blackhawks retooled in the offseason and their improvement has shown in the standings. Competing in a three-way dogfight with Detroit and St. Louis for the division title, the Hawks boast an incomparable group of scoring talent up front, and are hungry to prove last season was a fluke.
3. St. Louis Blues
After a slow start, the Blues were the first team to fire their coach; this seemingly panicked move seems to have paid off, as new coach Ken Hitchcock has his team challenging with rivals Detroit and Chicago for the division lead. Boasting a league best 21-3-3 home record, the Blues are proving they can compete with the best. Fans should be prepared to welcome them into the NHL's elite: with a roster full of youth and talent, St. Louis looks to be a Cup contender for years to come.
4. Boston Bruins
The Bruins apparently did not get the memo that Stanley Cup winners are supposed to experience a "hangover" and fail to repeat their championship. Instead, the champs are blowing out the league with a +65 goal differential, led by sophomore wonder Tyler Seguin and defensive stalwart Zdeno Chara. Boston is looking good to become the first team to win back-to-back Stanley Cups since the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings.
5. New York Rangers
Predicted by most experts as a low-seed playoff contender at best, the Rangers have surprised the league not just by winning, but by winning consistently. While other teams with hot starts have since fallen back, the Rangers continue to surge. They lead the league in point percentage, led by free agent signing Brad Richards and backstopped by perennial all-star Henrik Lundqvist.
6. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks were last year's Presidents' Trophy winners, and they are once again competing for the trophy this year. They possess the league's best power play, fourth best goals-per-game, and the two reigning Art Ross winners. The Canucks are eager to avenge last year's loss in the Stanley Cup Final, and their strong play so far this season is a good start.
7. Philadelphia Flyers
After trading away their two star leaders, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, some thought the Flyers were poised to fall back to the pack this year. Potential Hart candidate Claude Giroux had other ideas. With the second highest goals-per-game in the league, Philadelphia sits only a few points back of Conference leaders New York and Boston, and a good second half could see the Flyers nab their first franchise Presidents' Trophy.
8. San Jose Sharks
As they have been for almost a decade, the Sharks will once again be in the race of the Presidents' Trophy, and - they hope - the Stanley Cup. Their postseason results can be questioned, but their consistent regular season success is quite remarkable. Having only played 46 games, their second half will be busy, but another divisional title looks to be secure, and another Presidents' Trophy is within reach.
Who do you think is going to capture the Presidents' Trophy this year? Have your say in the comment section below.
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