NHL NOTES : Sizing Up First Half of the Season

The NHL’s longest season is already more than halfway over, though there’s still 11 weeks until the playoffs (the real season) begin. Here’s a look at some of the highlights and lowlights of the first half.

SURPRISES

Vancover Canucks--Can a team that hasn’t had a winning season in 15 years win the Smythe Division? Sure looks like it, unless they fall apart in the second half. Kirk McLean’s goaltending has been superb, helping the Canucks cut 25 goals-against from the first half last season, and there was enough offense to give the Canucs their best-ever first half.

Washington Capitals--The Caps were the NHL’s most improved team from the first half a year ago, solely because of their now-powerful offense. Washington leaped 16 points from last season thanks to a 52-goal jump, by far the largest in the league. Their only problem: They’re in the Patrick Division, by far the league’s toughest.

DISAPPOINTMENTS

Chicago Blackhawks--Last season’s top team appears to have learned little from its first-round playoff ouster. The Blackhawks still take too many dumb penalties (especially on the road) and have a one-man offense (Jeremy Roenick). Though their 14-point drop was the highest in the NHL, they’re assured of a playoff spot, regardless of what happens in the second half, thanks to the woeful Maple Leafs.

Kings--Jari Kurri’s reunion with Wayne Gretzky was a bust, the power play disappeared when Steve Duchesne was sent to Philadelphia in the Kurri trade and too many people got hurt (or, in the case of coach Tom Webster, suspended). Also, they can’t beat Vancouver. Big salaries, little production.

ON THE RISE

New York Rangers--This could be the Rangers’ season. Mark Messier has provided leadership to go along with his still-considerable skills, John Vanbiesbrouck and All-Star Mike Richter are an excellent 1-2 punch in goal and Brian Leetch is on his way to becoming the game’s best defenseman. Their problem is similar to Washington’s: The Patrick Division is loaded.

Detroit Red Wings--Here’s all you need to know about the Wings: They improved by 12 points over the first half of last season and Steve Yzerman was NOT their leading goal-scorer. Yzerman’s production was down, but the Red Wings actually scored 26 more goals. The Norris Division is theirs for the taking if they can goal goaltender Tim Cheveldae some relief; he played in all 40 first-half games.

LOOK OUT BELOW

Toronto Maple Leafs--The faces change (2 major trades) but the results stay the same for the woeful Maple Laffs. They got only 26 first-half points last season, then managed to get even less (25) this time. Were it not for the goaltending of Grant Fuhr, Toronto would be pressing San Jose for last in the league.

Philadelphia Flyers--The Flyers started 1991-92 the way they finished 1990-91 -- in an offensive slump. Ron Hextall had his usual injury, but the Flyers’ biggest problem has been putting the puck in the net, especially on the power play. They’re already all-but-out of the playoff race.

PINCH ME, I’M DREAMING

Benoit Hogue, Islanders--The Sabres threw him over the side in the Pat LaFontaine deal; all he’s done is become the Islanders’ most valuable player. He scores, he passes, he kills penalties and he makes Buffalo’s management look dumber every day.

Mike Donnelly, Kings--One of the few Kings who had anything to boast about in the first half. He finished with more goals (18) than Wayne Gretzky (17) and Jari Kurri (15) despite not scoring at all on the power play. Not bad for someone who looked like a career minor-leaguer.

LET ME TRY AGAIN

Joe Nieuwendyk, Flames--Calgary counts on Nieuwendyk to score; what the Flames got was a gimpy-kneed center who couldn’t find the net. His poor first half mirrored that of the Flames, who are off to their worst start since the early 1980s.

Ron Hextall, Flyers--Hextall still can’t seem to stay healthy, and when he’s not hurt, he’s played well only in short spurts. If he stays healthy, don’t be surprised if he ends the season somewhere else.

MOST LOP-SIDED TRADE

Mark Messier from Edmonton to the New York Rangers for Bernie Nicholls, Steven Rice, Louie DeBrusk (and, unofficially, a pile of cash)--Messier, who helped the Oilers win five Stanley Cups in seven years, could lead the Rangers to their first title since 1940. Nicholls didn’t report until December, Rice isn’t ready for the NHL and DeBrusk has shown only that he can fight.

BEST TRADE, BOTH TEAMS

Pat LaFontaine, Randy Wood and Randy Hillier from the New York Islanders to Buffalo for Pierre Turgeon, Benoit Hogue, Uwe Krupp and Dave McLlwain--Both teams got what they needed: Buffalo added a superstar in LaFontaine while the Islanders greatly improved their overall talent base.

BEST NEWCOMER WHO CAN’T WIN

THE CALDER TROPHY

Sergei Nemchinov, Rangers--The Rangers would have been happy if he had a 20-goal season; he’s had a 20-goal half-season with a shooting percentage that borders on the unreal. At 27, the former Soviet Wings star is too old to be the rookie of the year; if he has a second half to match the first, the Rangers will find him a trophy.

PLAYERS OF THE (HALF) YEAR

(Tie) Brett Hull, Blues, and Kirk McLean, Canucks--Everyone knows Hull is the centerpiece of the Blues’ offense and he’s still scoring a goal a game. McLean is the main reason the Canucks have emerged from mediocrity to the top of the Smythe Division.

COACH OF THE (HALF) YEAR

Pat Quinn, Canucks--As general manager, Quinn rebuilt the Canucks; as coach, he’s got them playing hard every night and on top of the Smythe Division. It’s hard to ask more than that.

COMEBACK OF THE (HALF) YEAR

Bobby Carpenter, Bruins--After shattering his kneecap last season, it’s a miracle that he’s even playing. That’s he’s among the Bruins’ top goal-scorers (14) is mind-boggling.