National Hockey League (NHL) Players with most responsibility in Western Conference –Part 1
The Western Conference has always been producing top performing teams and players, but it with success also comes responsibility, which means leaders in the western hemisphere are more likely to be put down for questioning and have to be ready to take the
blame when the blame game begins.
Being one of the top teams has its own benefits, but when a downhill direction is adapted, it is most likely that the captain will be blamed for the teams’ degrading situation, if it is his fault or not. Top level teams are always under pressure and that
can certainly mean a lot more stress for those who have been given the duty to lead the franchise to success.
Jarome Iginla (Captain, Calgary Flames)
Jarome Iginla is certainly one of the best players the league has seen so far. The surprising thing about him is that no matter how great his ability to captain Calgary Flames, he has still not been able to lead them to a Stanley Cup championship yet.
What Iginla truly needs to do is bring out the better players in Calgary who can lead the team even when he is not there. At the age of 34 now, it is not hard to tell that Flames will need a younger leader in the future when Iginla will eventually have to
call it quits.
Ryan Getzlaf (Centre, Anaheim Ducks)
It is not hard to tell that Anaheim Ducks struggled a lot without their power centre on the ice with them. Having scored 90 plus points (25 goals, 66 assists) only two seasons ago, Getzlaf could not play even 70 matchups the following two seasons and his
scoring also fell into the high 70’s and 60’s.
If Anaheim wants to get back into 2007 Stanley Cup winning form, they will have to do it with a healthy Ryan Getzlaf on board.
Jonathan Toews (Centre, Chicago Blackhawks)
At only 23-years-old, Jonathan Toews has achieved what most National Hockey League (NHL) players only ever dream about and retire trying to make it big. Being a third overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by Chicago Blackhawks, Toews certainly did not
disappoint when he led his team to their first Stanley Cup in 40 years.
Without a doubt, Toews is getting better year by year, scoring 76 points last season (32 goals, 44 assists) he registered season highs, but his team barely made it into the playoffs, a year after winning the Stanley Cup.
If Chicago wants to continue being a championship team, Toews will have to learn how to take everyone together when winning games.
To be continued in part 2.....
(The views expressed by the writer are his own and do not reflect the editorial policy of www.bettor.com)
Tags: