Central Division Recap

Standings
Detroit (47-25-10-104)
Nashville (44-27-11-99)
Chicago (44-29-9-97)
St. Louis (38-33-11-87)
Columbus (34-35-13-81)

Statistical Leaders
Goals- Patrick Sharp, CHI (34)
Assists- Henrik Zetterberg, DET (56)
Points- Henrik Zetterberg, DET (80)
plus/minus- David Backes, STL (+32)
Save PCT- Pekka Rinne, NSH (.930)

All-Central First Team
LW- Henrik Zetterberg (DET)
C- Jonathan Toews (CHI)
RW- David Backes (STL)
D- Niklas Lindstrom (DET)
D- Shea Weber (NSH)
G- Pekka Rinne (NSH)

All-Central Rookie Team
LW- Brian Bickell (CHI)
C- Jake Dowell (CHI)
RW- Matt Halischuk (NSH)
D- Grant Clitsome (CLB)
D- Kevin Shattenkirk (STL)
G- Corey Crawford (CHI)

Division Awards
Hart Trophy- Jonathan Toews (CHI)..Had a career-high 76 points and was one of the best all-around forwards in the NHL, during a season in which the Blackhawks had to find their identity while defending a Stanley Cup, just struggling to make the playoffs.  Without Toews, there's a good chance they don't make it.

Vezina Trophy- Pekka Rinne (NSH)..Possibly the best goaltender in the NHL not named Tim Thomas, was possibly the MVP of this Predators team, who won a playoff series for the first time in franchise history.

Norris Trophy- Shea Weber (NSH)..Had less points than NHL Norris Winner Lindstrom (DET), with 48, but had a higher plus/minus, played more minutes while playing all 82 games for the Predators.

Calder Trophy- Corey Crawford (CHI)..Arguably the NHL's best rookie goalie, posting a .917 Save PCT with a 2.56 GAA, and winning 33 of the 57 games he played in.  Helped many Blackhawks fans with their Antti Niemi hangover.

Lady Byng- Pavel Datsyuk (DET)..One of the game's most respected players, had just 15 PIMs in 56 games in 2010-2011.

Selke Trophy- Jonathan Toews (CHI)..Had a +25 rating while winning over 56% of faceoffs and averaging just under 21:00 of ice time.

Jack Adams- Barry Trotz (NSH)..Also nominated for the NHL's Jack Adams Award.

Masterton Trophy- Pavel Datsyuk (DET)..struggled through injuries during the 2010-2011 regular season, limited to just 56 games, but had a great run in the playoffs, putting up 4-11--15 in 11 postseason games.

Players in the Penthouse
Jonathan Toews (CHI)
Patrick Kane (CHI)
Duncan Keith (CHI)
Marian Hossa (CHI)
Brent Seabrook (CHI)
Rick Nash (CLB)
RJ Umberger (CLB)
Antoine Vermette (CLB)
Henrik Zetterberg (DET)
Pavel Datsyuk (DET)
Niklas Lindstrom (DET)
Johan Franzen (DET)
Brian Rafalski (DET)
Shea Weber (NSH)
Patric Hornvquist (NSH)
Ryan Suter (NSH)
Pekka Rinne (NSH)
David Backes (STL)
Andy McDonald (STL)
Alex Pietrangelo (STL)
Jarislov Halak (STL)

Players in the Elevator
Patrick Sharp (CHI)
Brian Bickell (CHI)
Troy Brouwer (CHI)
Brian Campbell (CHI)
Corey Crawford (CHI)
Derick Brassard (CLB)
Grant Clitsome (CLB)
Danny Cleary (DET)
Niklas Kronwall (DET)
Patrick Eaves (DET)
Martin Erat (NSH)
Sergei Kostitsyn (NSH)
Colin Wilson (NSH)
Patrik Berglund (STL)
Alexander Steen (STL)
Matt D'Agostini (STL)

Players in the Doghouse
Tomas Kopecky (CHI)
Marty Turco (CHI)
Kristian Huselius (CLB)
Samuel Pahlsson (CLB)
Scottie Upshall (CLB)
Steve Mason (CLB)
Mike Modano (DET)
Todd Bertuzzi (DET)
Nick Spaling (NSH)
Vladimir Sobotka (STL)
Erik Johnson (STL)
Jay McClement (STL)
BJ Crombeen (STL)

Thoughts on the 5 Teams

Chicago Blackhawks
- The team is rebuilding nicely from the post-Stanley Cup dismantling of the Hawks with young players like Bickell, Dowell, and Crawford topping out a good group of rookies this year in Chicago.  As long as they have Kane and Toews, with the top line of Seabrook/Keith, good goaltending, and a solid group to compliment, they'll be Cup contenders for a while.
- Jonathan Toews was one of the most overlooked great forwards in hockey this year.

Columbus Blue Jackets
- This team needs to decide whether or not Steve Mason is the goaltender of the future or not.
- They acquired Jeff Carter, and have one of the game's best players in Rick Nash, a good start in the attempt of this team finallly becoming a contender as opposed to the forgotten franchise in central Ohio that has been over the past decade-plus since the franchise's inception.  It is just a start, however.

Detroit Red Wings
- The New York Yankees of hockey, seemingly ageless at times, with the best example being the 41-year old Nicklas Lindstrom winning the Norris Trophy.  That and they have now had 11 consecutive 100-point seasons.  I'll pick them to extend that streak until I see it broken.

Nashville Predators
- With a goalie like Rinne, a shutdown duo of Weber/Suter, all this team needs is some snipers and theres a solid chance at the Cup coming to Nashville.

St. Louis Blues
- Not true indication of what this team is or when they'll find their identity.  Certainly the biggest losers of the lockout.
-  It has seemed like years since they days of Brett Hull, Chris Pronger, Al McInnis, Keith Tkachuk, and Roman Turek.