Mid-Season Update | Three Stars of the Week, NHL, Habs, Montreal Canadiens, Carey Price, Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson
ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA — Hello there, folks! Back with an impromptu mid-season update of my three stars of the season!
As I said, this was not planned, but being at just about mid-season, this serves as a good opportunity to update you all on who has been featured most in my weekly columns.
Just by way of explanation, each week I say that players will earn points each time they appear as a star in this column and at the end of the year, I will award my three stars of the season. Allow me to explain that in the weekly column a player who finishes as third star gets one point, second gets two and first star gets three.
It is worth noting that there are many guys who are within range of working their way into my three stars of the season, but this is how the points stack up right now. So, if you do not see someone you think should be there, odds are they just barely missed the cut and they have a chance to get into the mix by more appearances in my weekly column.
Now that I have explained my tallying system, let’s take a look at who is in position to be my three stars of the season at mid-season.
☆ THIRD STAR: Tyler Toffoli
For the sake of transparency, I will note that there are two players tied with Tyler Toffoli in points gained by appearances in my weekly column, Brendan Gallagher, and Shea Weber, and they have all gained those points exactly the same way, one appearance as a second star and one appearance as first star.
I wanted to decide and have one player occupy the mid-season spot for third star and Tyler Toffoli was the guy I chose. Part of that is because there is a very good argument to me made for Toffoli having a higher spot but based on my system third star is where Toffoli lands.
Toffoli is currently injured with a lower-body injury but up until his injury he had been everything the Canadiens could possibly want and more. Eighteen goals and 27 points in 30 games played is the type of production that the Canadiens have been starving for and Toffoli has delivered.
Toffoli currently occupies the third spot at mid-season, but there is ample opportunity for that to change given what we have seen to this point in the season.
☆ SECOND STAR: Josh Anderson
On the most recent episode of the Canadiens Connection podcast, I spoke about Josh Anderson who walked away with my first star in last week’s edition of my three stars article. I spoke largely about the intangibles that Anderson brings to the table.
If I wanted to, each week for this article, I could glance at a box score and pick the guys with the most points that week and say they are my three stars. Sometimes players will produce at a level that cannot be ignored and it works out that my three stars are those guys, but part of my reason for doing this article is to go below the surface. Highlighting not just the box score, but effort plays that do not show up there.
Anderson has been a truly wonderful addition to the Canadiens. He is a prototypical power forward, which the Canadiens have desperately needed for some time now. He’s third on the Habs in goals, second in hits. More importantly, he is not fun to play against. Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin can attest to that. In the matchups against each other this season those two have always found each other on the ice and had some intense battles.
The Canadiens have lacked guys in recent years that drag teammates into the fight. Anderson does that on the ice with his play, after a tough two-game set against the Flames he did it with his words. Anderson has been everything the Canadiens could have hoped for to this point.
☆ FIRST STAR: Carey Price
Given everything that has been said about Carey Price this season, I know that him being my first star might be a little bit jarring, but context is important and if nothing else I write this column every week to try and put things into context.
So, Carey Price has appeared three times as my first star of the week, allow me to explain why he has when so many others have been criticizing him.
His first time as first star came after two very solid performances early in the season against Vancouver and Calgary. His second time came after a huge win over Toronto in February in which Price played incredibly well, allowing the Canadiens skaters to take two periods to settle into the game. The most recent first star for Price game after a stretch of five games where he had a .952 save percentage.
Add to that one appearance as a second star and Price currently leads the pack for points earned by appearances in my column. The three times he got first star, I did not have another choice.
The Canadiens play in their own zone was subpar in the last weeks of Claude Julien’s tenure as Habs head coach and Price’s numbers suffered because of it. Since Ducharme has taken over, there have been changes that have benefitted Price’s numbers.
Carey Price has earned this spot at the halfway point.
Canadiens Connection Podcast
Every Saturday, I host the Canadiens Connection podcast with Rick Stephens to discuss the latest issues involving the Montreal Canadiens. Use the player below to listen. Be sure to share and subscribe!
By Joseph Whalen, Host, Canadiens Connection podcast
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