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Pacific Division Power
Rankings
Mid-Season Awards Edition
Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen!
We find
ourselves gathered here, at the halfway mark of the NHL season, to recognize
the accomplishments of the teams from the Pacific Division. Through hard work,
determination, and a high level of craftsmanship, every team here has done
something notable; though not necessarily praiseworthy. So, without further
ado, let's get right down to the awards.
#1 - San Jose Sharks - Final Fantasy XV Award
For those who aren't gamers, the basic plotline of Final Fantasy XV revolves
around a group of friends (all guys), travelling around the world together.
Though the fellows are obviously talented, they struggle with a lack of
maturity and focus, and until they grow up they can't reach their potential.
For the Sharks, the parallels are striking as they also are brimming with
ability and promise, but far too often get sidetracked by lazy play or a loss
of focus. To truly contend San Jose needs to 'level up' their attention to
detail.
LAST RANKING: 1
#2 - Edmonton Oilers - La La Land Award
La La
Land follows the journey of two people trying to survive in a tough world,
while also reaching their dreams. While the NHL features far less musical
numbers, the Oilers are also trying to find their way through a league that
chews up and spits out pretenders. So far Edmonton is hanging tough, and even
if they aren't your cup of tea, it's hard not to hope for them to reach their
post-season goal.
LAST RANKING: 4
#3 - Anaheim Ducks - Donald Trump Award
Alright,
so I'm not going to dive into the politics of this one, but rather the
overwhelming question that many people in the US, and around the world, have:
How did it happen? Despite a variety of stats and predictions, somehow
President-Elect Trump defied them all. For the Ducks, the numbers are equally
dubious, yet somehow they find themselves sitting tied for 2nd in the Pacific;
despite a .500 road record and a 0 goal differential. I wonder if Putin is a
Getzlaf or Perry fan…
LAST RANKING: 2
#4 - Calgary Flames - David Blaine Award
Let's
put aside the fact that Mr. Blaine nearly died this past weekend. Instead,
focus on the fact that he did it to himself as his failed trick of catching a
bullet in his mouth nearly cost him his life. That's going all out trying to
impress people. In Calgary, the Flames have had to open up their game in an
effort to cover for unexpected defensive liabilities. This effort to outscore
opponents has been impressive when it works, but the downside is oddman rushes
the other way leading to game deciding tallies against. Both parties need to
learn to limit the self-inflicted wounds if they plan of sticking around.
LAST RANKING: 3
#5 - Los Angeles Kings - Odell Beckham, Jr.
Award
It's the timeless tale of a talented hero who goes partying
before a big game, only to choke when his team needs him the most. While the
Giants can't hang their loss entirely on Beckham, Jr., his actions were
consistent with a player who comes up small in the clutch. In this he isn't
alone though, as from top to bottom the LA Kings roster has put on a 40 game
clinic on how not to rise to the occasion. For proof look at Anze Kopitar's 4
goals, or the combined -20 of 2nd pairing defensemen Jake Muzzin and Alex
Martinek. If this continues, I hope the maintenance staff at Staples Center has
lots of extra drywall on hand.
LAST RANKING: 5
#6 - Vancouver Canucks - Auroch Award
In case
you haven't heard, European scientists have been hard at work bringing back the
extinct Auroch. This, for lack of a better term, super-cow dominated Europe for
millennia before being wiped out in the 1600's. Now, it's back, and better than
ever. Much like the mighty Auroch, the Canucks have sprung back onto the scene
after a prolonged winning streak. While they might not be as terrifying as a
1500-3000lb beast with 30inch horns, Vancouver has shown enough grit that they
can no longer be counted out of the current post-season discussion. However,
only time will tell if they can remain in the picture, or if they'll fade away
into history once more.
LAST RANKING: 6
#7 Arizona Coyotes - Rogue One Award
SPOILER
ALERT: If you haven't seen the movie yet, don't read this. Go out and watch the
movie right now, and then read this
Ahh… Rogue One, with your
gritty story, great protagonist, and cast of interesting, yet ultimately
forgettable supporting rebels (I mean, I feel like I should remember the blind
monk's name, but I don't). Perhaps it's because in the end, everyone dies. Not
a single survivor. Tragic, yet poignant.
Similarly, the Arizona
Coyotes are also on a one way ride to complete and utter destruction. Everyone
from Oliver Ekman-Larsson to Shane Doan to Martin Hanzal are being shopped
around, begging the question: will anyone on this roster survive until the end?
I'm sure there are other players on the trade block, but well, I just can't
seem to recall the names of anyone else on their roster. That in itself might
be the most damning indictment of them all.
LAST RANKING: 7
Contact Ryan at at
ryanhall@letsgosharks.com
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