So now that we have reached the all-star break of the 2011 season, it's time to look back at the league's most surprising, and most disappointing players thus far.
Studs
1) Tim Thomas- Coming off a dismal 09/10 season, Tim Thomas looks to be back in his Vezina form from 2 years ago. At the moment he leads the league in Save %, GAA, and shutouts, while being 2nd in wins. But more importantly, he has made Boston a legit contender in the east, and you can bet not many teams will be looking forward to facing this guy in the playoffs.
2) Ryan Kesler- Though Kesler didnt get the C in Vancouver, he has emerged as the true leader of the Canucks. He has limited his on ice chirping and now lets his play do the talking. He sits tied for third (with teammate D. Sedin) in the NHL in goals with 27, while playing on a second line in which both his linemates are having disappointing seasons. At the same time, Kes is just as valuable to the Canucks for his defensive play. He is the real difference maker for this team, and is a big reason why they are sitting atop the western conference.
3) Dustin Byfuglien- Big Buff has been huge for the Thrashers in the first half of the season, and it seems he is more suited to patrolling the blue line rather than terrorizing opposing goalies in front of the net with his 6'5'' 265lb frame. His 41 points are good for 4th in defensive scoring, and his 6 game winning goals are tops in the league. He has certainly benefited from Atlanta's system, as they have given him much more freedom than he saw in Chicago. He is encouraged to jump up in the rush and let his big shot go from the blue line, as he has 217 shots on goal thus far good for 2nd in the league. More importantly, Byfuglien has given this Atlanta team a bit of swagger, and they should be a playoff team come April.
Check tomorrow for the top 3 disappointments...
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