We've arrived at that time of the year that's slightly past midseason, but not quite the home stretch: the NHL All-Star break, when truth has begun to come out about most teams and clearer pictures are afforded of the league's makeup heading toward the season's final two-and-a-half months.
Christmas may be a month in the rearview mirror, but with the trading deadline and playoff jockeying on the horizon, it's time for our All-Star break wish list.
Anaheim Ducks: That Ryan Getzlaf returns to the point-per-game production he's demonstrated throughout his career, providing life to Anaheim's power play and re-energizing Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry.
Boston Bruins: It was smooth sailing for so long for the Bruins that they're hoping Tim Thomas' White House snub wasn't at the expense of the bond with his teammates. It shouldn't be. The Bruins are hoping to remain healthy and drama-free the rest of the way.
Buffalo Sabres: That someone could go back in time to warn general manager Darcy Regier about his reckless spending. Realistically, the Sabres are hoping Ryan Miller returns to his spot amongst the league's elite goaltenders.
Calgary Flames: That the team is in ripe position for a playoff spot when Curtis Glencross returns from injury within the next two months.
Carolina Hurricanes: The 'Canes are hoping Justin Faulk takes a step forward in his development and feels more comfortable in all situations on the ice. They're also hoping one of two defensemen — Ryan Murray or Mathew Dumba — will be available when they pick at the 2012 NHL Draft.
Chicago Blackhawks: The 'Hawks will be looking for a little more consistency in the second half after a 5-5-2 January. Corey Crawford can be better, and goaltending can cover up other minor issues.
Colorado Avalanche: That Matt Duchene returns to his October-November production levels after returning from a knee injury. Duchene-Stastny-Mueller? Landeskog-Galiardi-Hejduk? There's some encouraging offensive potential in Colorado moving forward.
Columbus Blue Jackets: The Jackets are hurting and are just looking to get some bodies back as Kristian Huselius, Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski remain out. Like many other struggling teams, they're also banking on the development of younger players, and Ryan Johansen has been encouraging for Columbus this season.
Dallas Stars: The low-budget Stars, who rank 30th in total salary, will be looking to continue to receive excellent value out of players such as Jamie Benn, Eric Nystrom and Adam Burish, who have combined for 71 points and count for less than $3.4 million in cap space. Benn will be a restricted free agent after the season.
Detroit Red Wings: The Wings are hoping to get Henrik Zetterberg going. What's up with just nine goals at the All-Star break?
Edmonton Oilers: That Ryan Nugent-Hopkins doesn't miss a beat when he rejoins the team after a shoulder injury, and that perhaps a player or two from the AHL-leading Oklahoma City Barons — Philippe Cornet? Alex Plante, if healthy? — can come up to gain NHL experience in the second half.
Florida Panthers: That some of their overtime and shootout losses start turning into narrow wins.
Los Angeles Kings: Ditto. The Kings also are looking for even modest improvements to their offense and power play, which would greatly help their OTL issue.
Minnesota Wild: Minnesota needs scoring badly. The Wild are hoping for some of their depth forwards to emerge as being capable of handling 15-plus minute assignments down the stretch.
Montreal Canadiens: Montreal is hoping, wishing, praying that some team steps in and absorbs Scott Gomez's $7.4 million cap hit through 2014. He has seven assists in 19 games.
Nashville Predators: That somehow general manager David Poile is able to re-sign both Shea Weber and Ryan Suter to lucrative long-term contracts and shape an enduring defensive legacy in Music City.
New Jersey Devils: That Martin Brodeur posts 1997-like numbers during the second half and backstops the Devils to an extended playoff run as an exclamation point to his Hall of Fame career.
New York Islanders: That Kyle Okposo's torrid two-month stretch is a springboard toward years of production while the Moulson-Tavares-Okposo line evolves into one of the Eastern Conference's most feared.
New York Rangers: That Henrik Lundqvist doesn't decide to go on tour with John McEnroe in April.
Ottawa Senators: Milan Michalek has four goals in 16 games since returning from a concussion. The Sens are really hoping he can get hot in the second half as they try to ward off Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for home-ice advantage.
Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers really are banking on Ilya Bryzgalov saving his best minutes for the stretch run.
Phoenix Coyotes: That Dave Tippett somehow can work his magic again, guiding this average Coyotes team back into the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Pittsburgh Penguins: That Evgeni Malkin can continue to carry this team on his back and that Sidney Crosby at some point can suit up again this season.
San Jose Sharks: That they can start killing some penalties at home, where they're a league-worst 71.4 percent.
St. Louis Blues: The Blues will be looking to find as much success on the road (8-10-3) as they did at home (21-3-4) in the first half. With 20 away games remaining, they'll have the opportunity to work out their road-game kinks.
Tampa Bay Lightning: A goaltender has been on Tampa Bay's wish list all season. Whether by waivers or a trade, the Lightning's No. 1 priority has to be improving their goaltending situation.
Toronto Maple Leafs: That 21-year-old Jake Gardiner continues to develop and provide strong minutes on the blue line, and that James Reimer can establish some consistency while emerging as a candidate to start in net in the playoffs.
Vancouver Canucks: That David Booth remains hot, Alex Edler establishes himself as a Norris Trophy candidate, and that Roberto Luongo doesn't listen to sports talk radio during the playoffs.
Washington Capitals: For Nicklas Backstrom to come back shortly after the All-Star break and reunite with Alexander Ovechkin to increase the likelihood of the Capitals sneaking into the playoffs as a No. 3 seed.
Winnipeg Jets: That Evander Kane is able to bounce back quickly from a concussion. He hasn't scored since his overtime winner at home against Los Angeles in a 1-0 win on Dec. 29.
MID-SEASON AWARDS
Hart Memorial Trophy
Player judged to be most valuable to his team
Evgeni Malkin
No player has performed at his best when his team needed him the most quite like Malkin. His 58 points lead the league, while his seven game-winning goals rank second. James Neal also has been an important piece for Pittsburgh, but it's because of Malkin's surge that the team has won seven straight heading to the All-Star break in spite of the litany of injuries they've faced.
Also considered: Claude Giroux, Jonathan Quick, Steven Stamkos
Norris Memorial Trophy
Top all-around defenseman
Shea Weber
At both ends of the ice, there isn't a defenseman who makes a greater impact in the game today. Shaking off concussion symptoms, Weber is on pace for a career high in points and plus/minus.
Also considered: Erik Karlsson, Alex Edler, Zdeno Chara
Vezina Trophy
Top goaltender
Henrik Lundqvist
There may be others with slightly better stats, but by sporting a 1.87 goals against average, .937 save percentage and five shutouts for the team with the highest winning percentage at the All-Star break, Lundqvist gets the nod in what would be his fourth time nominated.
Also considered: Tim Thomas, Jonathan Quick, Jimmy Howard
Frank J. Selke Trophy
Top defensive forward
Pavel Datsyuk
Datsyuk narrowly edges out Jonathan Toews, who has awfully similar defensive numbers and characteristics. We're going with Pavel based on overall team attention to defense, and that there are several players on Chicago — Marian Hossa, Dave Bolland — who also could be considered for the Selke.
Also considered: Toews, Brenden Morrow, Ryan Callahan
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Player exhibiting sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct, combined with high standard of play
Teemu Selanne
The 41-year-old Selanne leads the Ducks in scoring in what is likely his farewell tour in the NHL. Along with Jaromir Jagr, he is among the most accomplished European players in league history. The Finnish flash opened up the season in his native Finland and deserves to be considered for the Lady Byng; he has been nominated once in his 19-year NHL career — in 1999-2000, when Joe Sakic won the award.
Also considered: Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom, Daniel Alfredsson
Calder Memorial Trophy
Rookie of the year
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
This is based on Nugent-Hopkins' return and expected production after a shoulder injury that has sidelined him in January. When he's been active, he's been the best rookie in the game and kept Edmonton in playoff contention.
Also considered: Adam Henrique, Adam Larsson, Gabriel Landeskog
Jack Adams Award
NHL coach judged to have contributed most to team's success
Ken Hitchcock
The Blues did not appear to be a playoff team under Davis Payne and are now 23-6-7 under Ken Hitchcock. A terrific collection of young forwards have bought in to Hitchcock's message of defensive effort, and by showing faith in Jaroslav Halak and easing him back into the platoon, Hitchcock has gotten shining efforts from both Halak and Brian Elliott.
Also considered: Dan Bylsma, John Tortorella, Claude Julien, Paul MacLean
NHL General Manager of the Year Award
Top general manager
Glen Sather
While Sather's name would have been far from this list before the start of the season, the Rangers have reaped their general manager's investments in 2011-12. It's not just high-priced free agent Brad Richards who has meshed well, it's the grassroots efforts, led by Sather, that have resurrected the league's best defense and turned the Rangers into one of the league's hardest-working squads. Whether considering Henrik Lundqvist (7th round / 2000), Dan Girardi (Undrafted free agent / 2006), Ryan Callahan (4th round / 2004) and the promotion of Carl Hagelin (6th round / 2007), or the performance of first-rounders Michael Del Zotto and Marc Staal, or second-rounders Derek Stepan and Brandon Dubinsky, Sather's drafting and developing is visible up and down this lineup. He also got Montreal to bite on Scott Gomez's ridiculous contract while bringing in Ryan McDonagh and locking up the core of the team through 2014.
Also considered: Dale Tallon, Brian Burke, Peter Chiarelli, Joe Nieuwendyk
GAME OF THE WEEKEND
NHL All-Star Game
Team Alfredsson vs. Team Chara
Sunday, 4 p.m. ET
Now that battle lines have been drawn between #teamalfredsson and #teamchara, and now that the Senators fans hopefully have tired themselves out with all their creative "Leafs suck" chants (not going to happen), which team will take it? We gave an early edge to Team Chara with its picks of Pavel Datsyuk, Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa, but Team Alfredsson roared back to nab both Sedins, Steven Stamkos and all four hometown boys. Could it come down to key saves by Jimmy Howard or Brian Elliott in the final five minutes? Does defense and goaltending even really matter in the All-Star Game, or is this really just a glorified exhibition? Throw a dart to pick a winner; we much prefer the skills competition the night before.
