Dallas Stars: Overachieving? What has made them so good?

To reference a recently released motion picture, there has been an awakening in Dallas, Texas... and everyone has felt it. 

Needless to say, the Dallas Stars have been an unstoppable force during the first half of the 15-16 season. They've exceeded all expectations and have thrived in every factor of the game. It seems that everything has been clicking: offense, defense, goaltending, special teams. For a writer who predicted the Stars to be fighting for a wild card spot at the end of the season, there is a lot to talk about. 

In a previous article where I gave my divisional predictions for the current season, I had Dallas sitting at a spot where they would be in a battle with two other teams for one of the two Wild Card spots in the West. In a stacked division including the recent Stanley Cup champions, I saw Dallas finishing on the low-end because I was not sure they had the defensive depth or strength in the crease to propel them to the top of the lethal Central division. Sure, we all knew Swedish defensive phenom John Klingberg was more than likely going to have a breakout year, but even then I was not too sure that the rest of the Dallas defense anchor their team and give them enough blueline security. 

Boy, was I off by a country mile. The Dallas offense just exploded this season, which does not come to much surprise. Captain and recent Art Ross Trophy winner Jamie Benn is currently leading the league in goals scored with 23. Benn is second overall in points with 50, and right behind him at the number three spot in points is his linemate, Tyler Seguin, who has amassed 48 total points so far. Seguin is also fourth in goals scored, with 21. The Stars offensive guns are firing with no clear intention of stopping anytime soon. Patrick Sharp, who was acquired in the offseason from Chicago, has done his job. Sharp's 13 goals and 17 assists are just what he was brought in to do, which is score and provide offensive depth to a team already brimming with offensive firepower. 

Benn & Seguin

Then we have John Klingberg, a two-way defenseman who puts up first line forward-type offensive stats. The 23 year-old Swede is excelling in his second year at the NHL level, posting an incredible 33 points, with 28 of those coming as assists. We are not even at the All-Star break yet and Klingberg's play has earned him top pairing minutes and is easily his team's best defenseman. Klingberg was at one point third in the NHL in points. That's not points by defensemen, that is points by all players. It is crazy to see what Klingberg has provided and how much stronger he has made the Dallas defense corps. We knew he had this potential, but it is incredible that it seems that Klingberg's play lifted the Stars defense troops as a whole. 

Klingberg

The Stars goalie tandem of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi have proven that they can backstop a top NHL squad. Lehtonen posts a record of 12-2 while Niemi's record sits at 15-5-3. Both Niemi and Lehtonen's GAA sit below 2.50 while sharing the task of platooning the Dallas net. 

So Dallas sits in a pretty comfortable spot. Their 27-8-3 record is best among NHL teams, proving all skeptics, including this writer, wrong. Dallas will still be a force come playoff time, and who knows... they may be eve stronger pending some perfectely executed trade deadline moves.

A Timeline of LA Kings Legal Troubles

Yes, the Los Angeles Kings have won two Stanley Cup championships in the last five years. Yes, they have been one of the best teams in hockey to watch in the last five years, but its what has been surrounding the Kings organization away from the ice is what has really stood out for the club. 

It all started back in 2012 when defenseman Drew Doughty was accused of rape by a 25 year-old woman from Hermosa Beach, CA. It was reported that the two met at a bar in Hermosa Beach, where the woman rejected multiple advances made by Doughty after which she was "forced" into a cab taken to Doughty's home where he supposedly raped her. Now, the case was dropped on claim of "low credibility" so Doughty is probably innocent. However I do feel that even though the case was never proven it is important to include in this timeline of unfortunate events.

Doughty

Next was probably the most notable legal issue out of these. In October of 2014, defenseman Slava Voynov was arrested at a hospital after a domestic violence incident involving him choking, kicking and beating his wife, Marta Varlamova. The report was that the incident began at a Halloween party where Voynov punched Varlamova in the face during an argument. The violence continued when the two returned home, and Voynov was reported to have choked her, pushed her into the corner of a hanging TV, and kicked her while lying on the ground. Fast forward 12 months after that, and Voynov had been suspended indefinitely by the Kings, had served time in prison with probation, and had decided to cut ties with the Kings and the NHL completely by returning to Russia. 

Voynov

Another legal issue hit the Los Angeles hockey scene. In late April 2015, center Jarret Stoll was arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of possessing cocaine and Ecstasy. Since then, the charges have been dropped to misdemeanors. The misdemeanors include provoking commission of breach of peace and trespass. Stoll had just finished out the last year of his contract with the Kings, and this incident pretty much ruined his chance of being resigned by the at-the-time Stanley Cup champions. 

Stoll

On June 17, 2015 Mike Richards was stopped an ultimately arrested at the Canadian boarder under possession of oxycontin pills. This was one of the last straws for the Kings organization as they almost immediately sought to swiftly terminate Richards' contract, which had $22 million remaining on it. The second drug-related offense in three months for an organization already dealing with so many legal troubles.

Richards

Then, just when you thought it was over, it was reported on November 18 that Kings goalie prospect Patrik Bartosak had been accused in New Hampshire of 12 domestic-related charges involving his girlfriend, which also includes a felony assault charge alleging that he attempted to strangle her at an apartment. Bartosak is scheduled for a hearing on December 16 and faces trial on 11 separate misdemeanors in January. The Kings currently have suspended Bartosak. 

Bartosak

The Kings have taken initiative in doing something to help out this reoccurring problem. They have gotten together with The Herren Project, which is a company that works to educate pro athletes on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse and will create a new position in the team among player management. The team has also announced that they plan to have players go through sexual harassment training

It has a been a whirl wind of legal troubles surrounding the Kings for these last few seasons. The steps taken by the club should hopefully provide some help, but that will only be able to do so much. The onus is on the players.

Top 5 Performing Goalies So Far in 2015

Playing probably the most important position in the game comes with incredible pressure and stress. Only the best can handle the grueling task of being a goaltender in the NHL, and here I wanted to look at the top five performing goalies of the current season as the morning of November 24th. Let's have at it!

#5: Cory Schneider - New Jersey Devils

Cory Schneider has fit in nicely as the replacement for the retired New Jersey great Martin Brodeur. He is currently posting a record of 10-5-1 in 16 games played for the Devils. Schneider's 2.05 GAA is impressive playing for a team who is not the strongest on defense. After playing second fiddle to Roberto Luongo in Vancouver for a number of years, Schneider was traded to New Jersey and has established himself as a clear-cut number one goaltender and one of the top goaltenders in the league. A .928 save percentage has put Schneider in the top class of the league. He's been averaging around that number for most of his career. 

#4: Martin Jones - San Jose Sharks

After a fairly crazy offseason experience that included being traded twice on the same day, from Los Angeles to Boston, then Boston to San Jose, Martin Jones has looked incredibly solid for his new San Jose team. An 11-5-0 record with a 2.02 GAA average has Jones looking to be one of the top goalies come end of the season. While in Los Angeles, Jones spent his two seasons as the backup to Jonathan Quick which gave him an incredible goalie and mentor  to learn off of. Jones has clearly used that to his advantage, becoming San Jose's number one goalie for the 2015 season 

#3: Jake Allen - St. Louis Blues

Jake Allen has emerged as the survivor of the goalie whirlwind in St. Louis between him and Brian Elliot. 10-4-1 is the current record posted by Allen with 16 games between the pipes. Allen has been flip-flopping as the number one with Brian Elliot for a few seasons now, but to start 2015 he has been the better of the two and solidified himself as the go-to. The 1.98 GAA and the .932 save percentage are propelling Allen to the top of the goalie list. He has been dynamite in net for the Blues and will hopefully continue this pace deep into the season. 

#2: Braden Holtby - Washington Capitals 

Braden Holtby has been a force in net for the Capitals of late. He has backstopped them to some solid playoff runs and has always had solid regular season performances. Currently in 2015 he is posting a record of 12-4-0 with a fantastic GAA of 1.88 and a .926 save percentage. "Holt-beast" offers more than just a decent beard. He offers stud performances and is a big body between the pipes for the Capitals. Holtby's quick reflexes and flexibility help him earn these strong numbers. Look for him to be a candidate for the Vezina Trophy come the end of the season. 

#1: Henrik Lundqvist - New York Rangers

Without question, the best goalie in the NHL and my prediction to win the Vezina Trophy sits atop the goalie list this far into the season. Henrik Lundvist has been absolutely dominant in his entire NHL career with the Rangers. Sitting with a 12-3-2 record, an outstanding 1.74 GAA, and a save percentage of .946, King Henrik is always atop the league leaders in in stats. No other goalie has been as good between the pipes as him the last few years, and Lundqvist will be an elite goalie for many more years to come. He led his team to a birth in the Stanley Cup Final just two seasons ago, and after a recent loss in the conference final, The King looks to backstop his squad to another birth and to his first Stanley Cup win. 

The Top 5 Logos In The NHL

The sports logo. An iconic visual that represents the entire brand of a team. Sports have created some of the most beautiful works of art in their logos, and hockey is no different. The NHL some gorgeous logos, and I will be giving you my five favorite logos from the league in this article. Let's get started!

#5 Toronto Maple Leafs

A very simple but timeless logo is what puts the Maple Leafs on my list. The Maple Leafs logo has had numerous variants of itself over the franchises extended history, but this is the latest version that they have been using since 1970. The reason I like this logo so much is that it executes the concept of not being too busy but still being full enough to be very pleasing to the eye. It is a symmetrical logo that pays a little homage to the flag of the country the team resides in. A very pleasing logo all around. 

Maple Leafs logo history

#4 Boston Bruins

The spoked "B" of the Boston Bruins is a logo that can be recognized around the entire world of sports. The round shape of the logo is something that I really enjoy and makes the logo very appealing. Black and gold contrast beautifully together and the Bruins pulled it off with flying (two) colors. This more-outlined version of the logo has been the Bruins moniker since the 2007 NHL rebranding season and the people in Boston's design department absolutely nailed this one. The eight-spoked B is a classic that fits well with the teams reputation: big, bold, and bruising. 

Bruins jersey history

#3 Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings logo is a complete embodiment of the city of Detroit's spirit. The winged wheel is something that screams the "Motor City". It is just a very appealing and quick-looking logo that is not too busy. The logo almost smells like burning fuel coming out of a Ford and it is faster than a Mustang. This version of the Wings logo has been in use all the way back to 1946 and will not be changing any time soon. 

Red Wings logo/jersey history

#2 Montreal Canadiens

Here at number two we have probably the most classic logo in the NHL: the Montreal Canadiens logo. 1956 brought us one of the best logos in all of sports. A common miss-conception with the logo deal with the "C" and the "H" that don it. The "C" actually stands for "club" and not "Canadiens", and the "H" really stands for "hockey" and not the widely assumed "Habitants" or "Habs" for short. I love that they incorporated two different letters into one shape making it look like one whole logo. It is the best logo out of the Original Six teams and will forever be a classic in the NHL.

Canadiens logo history

#1 St. Louis Blues

Ah, the Bluenote. My favorite logo in all of hockey. For a team named after the music history of the city it calls home, this logo is a top notch and is bold, sharp, and proud. In my opinion it is the most appealing and well-put-together logo in the sport. The Blues logo that also makes the home and road jerseys look extremely good. Ever since the Blues dropped the red trim from their look in 1998, their logo quality has shot through the roof. The best NHL is something to behold, and is quite the beauty to look at. 

Blues logo history

Artemi Panarin: The Russian Kane

image from NHL

The next Russian hockey superstar is among us, and he has arrived with a bang. 

24 year-old Artemi Panarin entered his first season playing in North America with the Chicago Blackhawks. He had spent all of his young career playing in the KHL in Russia as a member of the powerhouse SKA Saint Petersburg. Panarin posted an astonishing 62 points in 54 games for SKA last season. Those 62 points consisted of 26 goals and 36 assists, with a +18 plus/minus category. 

Panarin with SKA Saint Petersburg

19 games into his first NHL season, "Bread Man" as he is referred to, is leading all NHL rookies in points with 21 and assists with 14. He is second in goals with 7 tallies to his credit. Panarin is tearing it up. Artemi has found chemistry playing the left wing along side his center and fellow countryman Artem Anisimov, and established superstar Patrick Kane on the right wing. Kane and Panarin have been the leading scorers for the Blackhawks all year long and it does not really come with much surprise. 

Both Panarin and Kane are similar players. Both are not the biggest guys in the world. Panarin is listed as 5'11" and 170 pounds while Kane is listed as 5'10" and 181 pounds. Where these are both similar in terms of style of play is that they are bonafide goal scorers and playmakers. Kaner and Bread Man both possess a set of wicked hands which they both use to create space for themselves in the offensive zone. Some respectable speed and great vision. Panarin wields all the tools that Kane has come to be known for ever since he came into the NHL. Panarin is giving Chicago fans the same level of thrill and excitement that Kane gave them when he entered the league in the 2007 season. Artem Anisimov shouldn't be too upset to have too elite goal scoring options on his wings. The hands, the goal scoring touch, the flare, its all there for the young Russian sensation. 

Not everything has been the easy for Panarin since moving to North America. He can speak virtually no English and requires the assistance of fellow Russian teammate Viktor Tikhonov to translate questions asked for him and his responses in interviews. 

Here is a short interview with Panarin, assisted by Tikhonov, talking about how is acclimating to life in North America and learning English:

While he may not be able to say it in the native language of his new home, Panarin knows quite well what he can provide to his new Chicago team. He is an extremely smart hockey player who has everything you want out of a soon-to-be elite goal scorer in the NHL. Do not be shocked if you start seeing the #72 Blackhawks jersey becoming one of the most sold jerseys in the league. 

Panarin is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Chicago, and will soon become a league-wide favorite. A flat-out exciting player to watch. A future star in the making, right before our own eyes.

image from CSN Chicago

Top 5 Scorers 1 Month In - What they are contributing

Here are the current top 5 point leaders in the NHL as of November 16th. You will be able to see their stats, and what they have contributed to their team of late. 

#5 - Taylor Hall, LW, Edmonton Oilers

Taylor Hall has started off the year extremely hot. He is currently sitting at 20 points, with 8 goals and 12 assists in 18 games played. Hall began the year playing on the top line with young phenom Connor McDavid at center. Now, with McDavid being sidelined for an extended period of time with a shoulder injury, Hall has been seeing top line minutes with Leon Draisaitl at center and Teddy Purcell at RW. Hall's speed agility are what causes him to open so much and pot those 8 goals. 

#4 - Blake Wheeler, RW, Winnipeg Jets

Blake Wheeler has been the Jets dynamic offensive leader for awhile now, and he has continued it in the 2015 season. Wheeler is currently posting 20 points, with those 20 points consisting of 8 goals and 12 assists in 18 games played. The Minnesota native has been playing in the top RW spot alongside centerman Bryan Little and winger Mathieu Perreault. At 6'4", Wheeler is a big body power forward who uses his size to create space for himself and power his way around defenders. He also possesses some sneaky speed. 

#3 - Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas Stars

The embodiment of the modern-day power forward, Stars captain Jamie Benn has been reaping the benefits of his size and hockey IQ so far this season. Not to mention playing on a line with the talents of center Tyler Seguin and winger Patrick Sharp. Benn is sitting at second on the Stars in points. He has 12 goals and 13 assists, totaling up to 25 points in 18 games played. Benn has been on fire to start the year, and the Art Ross Trophy winner will look to sit atop the league in points again at the end of this season

#2 - Tyler Seguin, C, Dallas Stars

This list is dominated by Dallas players, and it should come to no surprise. Tyler Seguin is a lethal offensive weapon leading the charge down the middle for the Stars. The 2010 second-overall pick is sitting comfortably with 26 points in 18 games played, with 9 goals and 17 assists. Seguin is racking up a higher assist rate than last year when he excelled in the goal scoring column. Centering Dallas' top line with Jamie Benn and Patrick Sharp on his wings, Seguin has the opportunity to pick up a point every time he steps on the ice. With rate the Stars are playing, Seguin will be at the top of points category for the entire season. 

#1 - Patrick Kane, RW, Chicago Blackhawks 

An offseason backed by extreme controversy does not seem to be phasing Patrick Kane in the slightest. The Buffalo-born superstar is currently posting a league-leading 13 goals, with 15 assists, and the obvious league-leading 28 points. Kane has found his time on the second-line playing with center Artem Anisimov and winger Artemi Panarin. Kane has found some sparkling chemistry with two Russians and those three should remain together for the entire season. He's got the best hands in the league and underrated quickness. His vision of the goalie is at the top of it's class and it is why Kane is one of the best players in the league. 

A Look at Why Chris Wagner Was Put on Waivers

Centerman Chris Wagner was claimed off of waivers today by the Colorado Avalanche from the Anaheim ducks. Many question why waivers would be made the management-chosen destination for a player who, while may not be contributing in the statistical column, has been a solid 4th line player with an impressive physical presence. 

It is a puzzling move, no doubt.  However there are reasons to look at as to why he was put in this situation.

What comes with a struggling team are all sorts of moves within the organization to attempt to shake up the roster and light a fire under some players to string together some good performances. The Ducks are a team that are going through this exact process of late. Wagner was called up from San Diego on October 26 and since then had been a solid 4th line center on a struggling Ducks team. The Ducks finally seemed to be bouncing back from their dismal start when they put together a four-game win streak. Now, having seemed to take a giant step back and lost 3 in a row, GM Bob Murray felt changes needed to be made. He called up forward Nick Ritchie from San Diego, who has been on fire to start the season. Ritchie has posted 9 goals and 3 assists in his 12 games played. Along with Ritchie, his center Michael Sgarbossa, so Ritchie would have someone that he has chemistry with. 

That put Murray in a spot where he needed to send someone down to not be over the roster cap. Ultimately it was decided that it would be Wagner, seeing that he was the most expandable of the eligible players for re-assignment. 

Murray clearly took the risk, as Wagner has a one-way contract which means any re-assignment to the minors requires him to clear waivers. The Ducks lost a good, hard-working player. It's a bit of a mess in Anaheim right now, and it will be interesting to see what other moves will made here in the near future. 

NHL Hockey Players - The Toughest of Them All

NHL hockey is as physical a sport as they come. What comes with that are some pretty tough players. Players that will play through the worst bodily conditions because of how much they love the sport. This is why I believe hockey is superior. I just don't see as much fight in the players of other sports as much as I do in hockey players. They are ruthless, tough, and will do anything to keep playing. Let's look at just a few examples of that. 

The 2013 playoffs were brutal on the body of Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron. It probably didn't help that the Bruins made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. Bergeron had a fantastic postseason, finishing with 9 goals and 6 assists. It wasn't until after suffering a loss in the final to the Chicago Blackhawks that we knew just how much of a toll Bergeron's body took.

Take a minute and soak that in. Bergeron PLAYED with a separated shoulder, broken rib, torn cartilage, and a punctured lung. What would normally sideline the average Joe from even going to work for a couple weeks didn't seem to phase Bergeron one bit. He acquired these injuries throughout the playoffs, and he just kept playing...and playing...and playing. Such character, will, and heart from Bergeron and a prime example of why hockey players are as tough as they come. 

"Obviously, guys have bumps and bruises. But he's a 

guy that doesn't care about those bumps and bruises.

Hell, he had a hole in his lung. He wears the "B" with

a lot of pride and this is why he's one of the leaders

of our team."

- Bruins head coach Claude Julien on Bergeron's 2013 playoff injuries

Next, is another example of the sheer will and dedication that hockey players have. 

On March 10, 2014 during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars forward Rich Peverley collapsed on the bench. He was revived by the Stars medical staff and was then transported to the hospital. Peverley had surgery before the start of the season to correct an irregular heartbeat, so he knew of his condition. Dr. Gil Salazar was quoted as saying, "After he was revived and transported into the ambulance, I was able to talk to Rich. He was fully able to tell me where and who he was, and he actually wanted to get back in the game." So after basically dying on the bench and being revived, he just wanted to get back up and keep on playing in the game like nothing happened. I mean, nobody knows exactly how Peverley may have been feeling at that time, but that is absolutely insane. I cannot think of any situation in sports where a player has collapsed and then immediately asked to get back to the game. 

The dedication and will of hockey players shines through like a burning sun. Banged up? Playing. Injured? Playing. Just collapsed? Want to play, but probably won't be allowed to. 

Hockey players are a breed of their own. Willing to do absolutely anything necessary to play under any bodily conditions. They are worthy of the upmost amount of respect. I never see anything in any other sport like what I see from hockey. These players are the toughest, no argument. 

Some silly memes that help justify my argument. 

Early Evaluations: A Look at the Top and Bottom of the League

The 2015-2016 NHL season is back in full swing and with most teams being almost ten games into their respective campaigns, I wanted to take a look at the leading team and the bottom-feeding team to expand on their differences. We'll start with the team with the best current record so far.

BEST
Montreal Canadiens
Current record: 9-2-0

Name anything that could possibly happen to an NHL team. It has more than likely gone way of the Canadiens. There are four Habs players who have already surpassed double-digit points. Max Pacioretty, Andrei Markov, Tomas Plekanec, and P.K. Subban hold those titles. This is also Pacioretty's first season as captain, and he is only backing up just how good of a decision making him captain was. Carey Price has posted a 1.29 GAA in 420 minutes of play with 7 wins. Backup goaltender Mike Condon has helped out Price with two of the team's nine wins, posting a 1.50 GAA in his two outings. Special teams wise, Montreal has a 22.9% power play conversion percentage, eighth overall, and a 90.9% penalty kill efficiency, fourth overall. A whopping 35 goals scored over the course of nine games is impressive and sheds a light on the offensive fire power that Montreal possesses in their lineup. Only 12 goals against is a testament to the solid play of Price and the defensive corps that head coach Michel Terrien puts out. 

What is separating the Canadiens from everyone else is the fact that they play extremely calm and extremely well under pressure. They fundamentally sound and don't seem to have many weaknesses that stand out. The penalty kill efficiency has been a strength for the Canadiens in the past couple seasons

An extremely solid showing from the Habs to start the year. This team does not need much improvement in their lineup. Expect them to keep up this torrid pace for awhile and separate themselves from the rest of the league. 

WORST
Anaheim Ducks
Current record: 1-7-2

What is going on in Anaheim? A team that is supposed to be sitting a the very top of the league is sitting in the gallows. An absolutely dismal start has been at the hands of the offense. An almost embarrassing TEN total goals have been scored by Bruce Boudreau's squad. Ten goals in ten games is a laughably small amount. The Big 3 of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Ryan Kesler are not producing nearly enough. A grand total of six points combined between the three is what they have to show, with zero of those points coming in the goals category. The power-play conversion percentage sits at 10% even. That stat is not entirely alien to the Ducks who have dealt with power-play woes for the last few seasons. Six of the ten goals have came from Anaheim forwards, four from defensemen. Another embarrassing stat is that not a single Ducks player has a positive plus/minus category. Not having any player with a positive plus/minus is detrimental in a league where mistakes are capitalized on almost every time. It is not a coaching issue, however. It is a lack of leadership, competitiveness, and will. None of those things are being shown by the Ducks, and it needs to change fast.

The only two bright spots that seem to be shining through in this ugly mess are Frederick Andersen and the penalty kill. Andersen is posting a .932 save percentage ten games into the season and has only given up 16 goals. It is not his fault that his team keeps losing. A goaltender can only do so much until they break and give up a goal. It is on the defense to back them up. 

The penalty kill is sitting comfortably at a 90.9% efficiency rating. It is always good to know that you can have a brief sigh of relief when you need to kill a penalty, however just having a strong penalty kill is clearly not going to cut it. 

Anaheim needs to take a long look in the mirror and make some changes to their approach. It is coming down to a mentality issue. Approach and mentality are two key components to success in the NHL. If you don't have the right set of either, look out...you will be sitting a very unpleasant situation. Just ask Anaheim. 

Framtiden för Sverige: The Top 5 Swedish Players under 25

The country of Sweden is a hockey hot bed. So much talent is emerging out of the Nordic land and more and more Swedes put themselves on the map every year in the NHL. With hockey greats like Niklas Lidstrom and Peter Forsberg no longer in the game, the new wave of Swedish sensations is upon us. Sweden has what seems to be an endless pool of up-and-coming players coming from the SHL, formerly Elitserien. Is there something in that cold Scandinavian water? If there is, I don't see why they would stop drinking it. Sweden is a powerhouse of hockey talent. 

Here, in no order, are the top 5 Swedes in the NHL under the age of 25:

OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - D, Arizona Coyotes

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is one of the top offensive defensemen in the league, and arguably the best active Swedish defender in the NHL. OEL, as he is often referred to as, excels offensively. His agility and skating ability can makes him able to get himself out of trouble in his own zone. Puck moving is one of OEL's biggest attributes and he uses his speed to start offensive breakouts and even jump in on the rush. His 23 goals in the 14-15 campaign set a record for most goals in a season by a Swedish-born defenseman. He quarterback's Arizona's power-play and is a prime example of the modern-day offensive defenseman.

GABRIEL LANDESKOG - LW, Colorado Avalanche

Gabriel Landeskog has leadership abilities that are rarely seen from someone his age. He's 22 now, but in 2012 he was named the captain of the Colorado Avalanche at just 19 years of age. The youngest player to ever don the captain's "C" of an NHL sweater. Landeskog has incredible poise and low-panic level. He plays calm and collect with his blue-collar style of play. He can be physical in certain situations, creating offensive opportunities . He displays and adds leadership into any situation. 

HAMPUS LINDHOLM - D, Anaheim Ducks

21 years-old and he's already the clear-cut best defenseman on a team that is at the tip-top of the league. Lindholm is a two-way defenseman who possesses an incredible amount of vision and uses it to its full capability when it comes to time to make a breakout pass or get himself out of trouble. A smooth skater with a 6'4 frame, Lindholm shows great offensive upside. He sees powerplay time on the second unit and first-unit penalty kill time. He is a player that the Ducks can throw out in any situation with full trust that he will get the job done. he is shaping up to be an elite defenseman and will be one of the best in the league in the next few years. 

VICTOR HEDMAN - D, Tampa Bay Lightning

At 6"6", 229 lbs, Victor Hedman is an imposing figure on Tampa Bay's blueline. The second overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft has established himself as the leader of his team's defensive corps and one of the most versatile two-way defenders in the game. His size allows to him to be physical and body people off the puck. Don't let his size fool you, the 24 year-old can skate with the best of him, as he possesses a fine amount of agility and speed for someone his size. While not being the captain, Hedman still has fine leadership qualities that in my opinion will make him be a great captain someday.

FILIP FORSBERG - RW, Nashville Predators

The 2014-2015 season was Filip Forsberg's first full season in the NHL, and boy did he make noise. 26 goals and 37 assists in his rookie campaign led him to an All-Star Game invitation and being named to the postseason All-Rookie team. Forsberg wields a great amount scoring touch and offensive vision coupled with great hands. He is an offensive dynamo who can change the pace of an entire game. Forsberg is only 21 and we can expect multiple seasons of him putting up numbers like he did last year. 

A Dedication to Ducks Fam - What Hockey Twitter Has Done in My Life

To Jess, Jack, Sophia, Roudy, Emily, Danielle, Jared, Jenny, Nagely, Daisy, Elijah, Julian, Albert, Ash & Ricky & Matt, Adrian, Pupper, Chuma, Kaytlynn, Cory, Cody, Yoyo, MTG, Jonathan, Andrea, Jessica, Zach, Blake, Shelby, Kevin, Brittany, Joel, Kyra, Jordan, Tyler, Karen, Stephanie, Kyle S, Katt, Kyle N, Tommy, Ane, Tanner, Justin, Brent, even Phil & everyone else

When I was back home this past weekend, I went to a preseason AHL hockey game with my girlfriend and a group of really good friends. Here are a few photos:

ignore the random Kings fan

If someone saw us walking around they would think that we have been best friends for years and have known each other almost our whole lives. No way this sprang from social media, right? Funny thing is: we all met through Twitter, and this mass friendship has existed for only maybe 2 years at the most...

Never in my life did I ever think that I would meet some of my closest and best friends in the way that I have. We were all told when we were growing up to "be careful" on the internet and that everyone is a stranger and is out to get you. Not true at all. 

When I first created my Twitter account back in January of 2012, I really felt like nothing was happening. I felt like at times I was the only one tweeting about the Ducks and hockey and was almost in my own little world. Then slowly and slowly I began to find other people that were Ducks fans and hockey fans and began following them and interacting with them every so often. Twitter handles became the way you knew or identified someone as. It was almost like they were just a small little friend in a big, big world. 

What happened next is something that I never imagined would happen. I began interacting with a specific group of about six other Ducks fans in the beginning of 2014. One day we all decided to exchange numbers... and the rest is history. Those six people are some of best friends now and I could not be more thankful for them. So Jack, Sophia, Roudy, Danielle, Emily & Jared, thank you.

Now, in 2015, "Ducks Fam" has grown into something that I could never have imagined it being. We all soon discovered small little groups of friends on twitter who all shared the same passion for the Ducks. We all started interacting heavily and it just grew and grew and grew until it became a full-blown party. I am really proud to say that these people are my closest friends. What may look like just a pointless little online friendship that will never develop into a real-life thing really is a real-life thing. Exchanges of favorites and retweets have turned into exchanges of hugs and hi-fives. We see each other quite a bit. What has gone from just a couple people I know by their twitter handle has become one big family of everyone who knows each other by name and has become extremely close in the process. People may think it's "silly" or a "waste of time" to have friendships with people from social media, but I would not change one thing about what has happened over these last two years. It has been one of the best decisions of my life to pursue friendships with all of you. It has been such a fun and memorable process. 

I cannot express enough gratitude to everyone I have became so close with over these last two years. You all are some of the greatest and funniest people I know and you are all a very big part of my life. Thank you so much guys.

I wouldn't be doing this right if I didn't acknowledge my girlfriend. The fact that I met the most incredible, loving, and caring human being that I have ever known from all of this is pretty incredible if you ask me.  Jess, I don't know where I would be if I hadn't met you. You have played a gigantic role in my life from the start, and I would not want it any other way. It's pretty cool to say that the Ducks pretty much brought us together and made us aware of each other. If it wasn't for the Ducks and Twitter, I wouldn't have the biggest blessing I've ever received. I love you.

Needless to say, it's pretty amazing what social media can do in today's world. The amount of opportunities to meet new people is endless with social media. To all who are skeptics of having online friends and think that they never grow into true friendships, I think you are missing out.  Try it...branch out. Who knows, you may meet some pretty incredible people along the way. 

Let's have fun this season. Go Ducks!