break out players

[w1zard 0]

I dont know if its just me but it seems this year alot of rather quiet or unknown players have had what seems to be breakout seasons or have been stepping up to help their team consistently. what do you guys think? who do you think are the most suprising goalie(s) and skater(s) this year so far?

[chris68 0]

martin straka is doing more then he usually does this year

[Eazy_b97 1]

Alot of players are having much better years than expected, but none off the top of my head were slouches before this.

For the "improvement" category I'll go with

Tucker

Hossa

Lecavalier

Frolov

for the out of nowhere I'll go with

Kopitar

Semin

[McCabe24 0]

Daymond Langkow

[RadioGaGa 162]

Chris Mason (Nash)...played great while Vokoun was hurt.

Marc-Andre Bergeron (Edm)...he used to just be known for that hit on Morrow in the playoffs a few years back...he's starting to be a real weapon on the point (6 of 7 G's on the PP).

Brian Campbell (Buf)...An All Star????? Who saw THAT coming?

Tomas Kaberle (Tor)...Finally broke out from McCabe's shadow as the true #1 D-Man in Toronto.

Thomas Vanek (Buf)...Anyone who has watched the AHL in the last few years knows what this kid could do...

Kristian Huselius (Cal)...He played well after he went from Florida to Calgary. Some thought it could be a fluke...he's continued this year.

Dan Cleary (Det)...His "breakout" has only taken...what? 9 years?

[wallin2199 0]

I was watching Bergeron play last nite and he can absolutely rip the puck. The PP goal he scored was an absolute bomb. Also some other breakout performers have been

Mike Cammalleri-LA- I don't know how the Kings are so bad with that much talent.

Chris Kunitz and Ryan Getzlaf-ANA- I have been watching them furing the late nite games and they can play.

Zach Parise-NJ- Plays really well with Gionta and can really move

[RadioGaGa 162]

I was watching Bergeron play last nite and he can absolutely rip the puck. The PP goal he scored was an absolute bomb...

Ask Mike Smith... :( The replay looked like the "Zapruder Film"

[kosydar 0]

Dan Cleary (Det)...His "breakout" has only taken...what? 9 years?

That was my first thought too.

[Hidious 0]

Maxim Afinogenov

[Cavs019 708]

Afino definitely comes to mind.....I wouldn't say Semin and Kopitar are out of no where as they were both high first round picks, I'd say "ahead of schedule" is the more appropriate phrasing. Semin's wrist shot is otherworldly, while Kopitar has the best vision of any young player i've seen in quite some time not named Crosby.

[drisco487 0]

Afino definitely comes to mind.....I wouldn't say Semin and Kopitar are out of no where as they were both high first round picks, I'd say "ahead of schedule" is the more appropriate phrasing. Semin's wrist shot is otherworldly, while Kopitar has the best vision of any young player i've seen in quite some time not named Crosby.

definetly agree with you on about everything here

and id like to add, Marc Savard

[wallin2199 0]

Savard and Afinogenov both had pretty good years last year, it seems they have taken theyre game to the next level. Afinogenov might be the fastest skater in the NHL. Savard somewhat reminds me of a better Steve Rucchin back in the day. Plays with wingers who can score and he can really dish the puck.

[NorthStar 0]

Parise

[this guy 0]

Peter Budaj- Stole points for the Avs against the Wings and against the Ducks. He has really stepped up his game since Theodore has pretty much crapped out. It was almost sad when Budaj had a bad game against the flames, gets pulled, and when Theodore was skating to the net the entire crowd at the Pepsi Center was booing him.

[jbyun04 7]

Sedin Twins

[LoXish 0]

Lee Stempniak has stepped up for the Blues.

I know, I know, St. Louis doesn't matter. BUt of all the players on that team, he's really making a season for himself.

[CanuckFan 0]

Kevin Bieska

[LkptTiger 1]

Brian Campbell (Buf)...An All Star????? Who saw THAT coming?

Thomas Vanek (Buf)...Anyone who has watched the AHL in the last few years knows what this kid could do...

Before this season, Campbell was probably one of the, if not THE, most underrated player(s) in the game - even in this area. I can tell you that I could not take my eyes off the guy throughout the duration of any game I went to last season. I was impressed with his skating ability, puck control and poise. He made me miss Niedermayer a little bit more. Guy can throw the body around, too. Even so, I wasn't expecting this kind of year from him this season. The guy has blown me away.

My first good look at Thomas Vanek came back during the '03 Frozen Four. He was, again, the guy that commanded my attention throughout both Gopher games. As a Michigan fan, I hate him for getting the OT winner in the semi-final, but, as a hockey fan, I fell in love that weekend. He's been great this season, but still has the occastional shift where he seems to space-out and convince me that I would put a roster spot to better use...they're becoming fewer and farther in-between, though.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Kevin Bieska

CBC was all confused last weekend when Van played Toronto...kept mixing Bieksa and Bieska....even had it in a graphic both ways.

[mac23 0]

Kevin Bieska

CBC was all confused last weekend when Van played Toronto...kept mixing Bieksa and Bieska....even had it in a graphic both ways.

I noticed that, too. And I agree, he's definitely stepped up his game.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I have been on the Alexander Semin bandwagon since his rookie year here, where he was under used on the 3rd/4th line, only getting 7 or 8 minutes a game.

I think he has the best shot in all of hockey.

I said this before ovechkins rookie year, that ovechkin had a really fast release on his wrister, but semin is uncannily accurate, fast, and knows when to shoot and when to hold to fake out a defender.

He is not the best player in the league (nor even on his team), but I think he has the best shot in the league

[Hidious 0]

I forgot: Yannick Perreault! This guys missed about 10 games but is easily his team's best scorer. He is paid under a million and is going to the all-star game. The Coyotes have a winning record with him, and they're almost playing for 500 this year, even if they had the worst start you can get.

[Jason 65]

I have been on the Alexander Semin bandwagon since his rookie year here, where he was under used on the 3rd/4th line, only getting 7 or 8 minutes a game.

I think he has the best shot in all of hockey.

I said this before ovechkins rookie year, that ovechkin had a really fast release on his wrister, but semin is uncannily accurate, fast, and knows when to shoot and when to hold to fake out a defender.

He is not the best player in the league (nor even on his team), but I think he has the best shot in the league

I agree with you and Cav's. If I was to shoot like anyone in the league, I would want to shoot like Alexander Semin. His shot is like a laser beam. I wonder what flex he uses?

Have you guys seen this video?:

[djinferno 2]

I have been on the Alexander Semin bandwagon since his rookie year here, where he was under used on the 3rd/4th line, only getting 7 or 8 minutes a game.

I think he has the best shot in all of hockey.

I said this before ovechkins rookie year, that ovechkin had a really fast release on his wrister, but semin is uncannily accurate, fast, and knows when to shoot and when to hold to fake out a defender.

He is not the best player in the league (nor even on his team), but I think he has the best shot in the league

I agree with you and Cav's. If I was to shoot like anyone in the league, I would want to shoot like Alexander Semin. His shot is like a laser beam. I wonder what flex he uses?

Have you guys seen this video?:

Allot of hands and a deadly shot on that kid but so does Malkin, he displayed to lasers yesterday...

[Cavs019 708]