A new NHL record for the best start after 30 games goes to the San Jose Sharks.  I have actually gotten a chance to watch some complete game of theirs recently.  They really are an amazing team to watch.  They are so fast, and when the offense gets going it is a relentless avalanche.  When the other team manages to maintain the Sharks defensive zone and get a few consecutive shots Nabakov always seems to come up big and then you are back in your own end again.  They have just gotten hit with an injury to Jeremy Roenick, we will see if that takes a toll on them but I have to say after finally getting to see some complete games of theirs, they have made more of a believer out of me and despite doubts and saying it is only a matter of time before they cool down. You got to figure them as the cup favorite right now!

In the East, the Atlantic Division has been on fire.  At the beginning of the season the Northeast Division was turning heads, but the best overall division in hockey right now is the Atlantic.  Four of the top seven teams in the East are from that division and the Devils are seventh because they have only played 28 games.  Give them a few points for their games in hand they could be leading the conference and we could be saying that four of the top six are from the Atlantic.  As a Ranger fan right now I am a little bit concerned, and Penguins fans should be thinking the same.  The Rangers and Pens were the top two teams in that division three weeks ago while the Devils were struggling without Brodeur and the Flyers were playing mediocre hockey at best.  Since then the Rangers and Penguins have been mediocre, both playing roughly .500 hockey over the last ten games while the Devils and Flyers have been almost unstoppable. I feel these four teams will continue the back and forth hot and cold pattern we have seen so far and probably split most of their games against each other.  That is going to be a great division to keep an eye on as the season continues on.

Well it seems Mats Sundin has finally made up his mind and decided on the Canucks.  I would have loved to see him play as a Ranger but bottom line is there was no way they were going to be able to pay him what the Canucks offered and fit him under the cap.  Glen Sather was working hard and there were rumors all over the place of playing musical contracts but they would never be able to match Vancouver’s offer.  Details have not yet been disclosed but the last reported offer was ten million a year. Rangers just don’t have it!

Another factor I am sure Sundin weighed just as heavily as money is where he can go to win a cup.  I think that of his two final choices (New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks) it was a real tossup.  I don’t consider either team THE favorite in their conference but they both have the best goaltender in their conference (although Luongo is currently injured), some scoring threats, and an almost identical performance so far this season; they are both very and equally respectable contenders.  The other factor I think was travel.  The western Canadian teams probably put on the most miles of anybody in the league (although I don’t know that for a fact so all you professors that called me out and misspelling Iginla’s first name settle down).  The Rangers on the other hand do a lot of ground travel, and have shorter road trips.  Was that a factor for him?  Not really sure, just thinking out loud, but it doesn’t matter now, he took the big money and he’s heading to Vancouver.  Best of luck to him!

Happy Holidays hockey fans….. Until next time!