NHL Team Of The Month: October 2007

Well, the first month of the NHL season is in the books. Here's my starting 6 based on their performance in October:

• Center: Sidney Crosby (11 GP, 5 G, 12 A, 9 PPP)
  
• Right Wing: Jarome Iginla (12 GP, 8 G, 11 A, 4 PPP)
  
• Left Wing: Rick Nash (11 GP, 9 G, 6 A, 8 PPP)
  
• Defense: Brian Rafalski (13 GP, 2 G, 9 A, +5, 8 PPP)
  
• Defense: Dion Phaneuf (12 GP, 3 G, 6 A, +10, 5 PPP)
  
• Goalie: Pascal Leclaire (8 GP, 6 W, 1.25 GAA, .953 SV%, 4 SO)

Comments:

• I went with Sid at center because I think he has been better than his numbers indicate (which is sick considering he is 5th in scoring despite having games in hand on everyone else at the top of the scoring list), and he was saddled with Mark Recchi on his wing for much of the early going. Hopefully he'll see more time on the ice with Malkin (Geno has been a beast so far this season) going forward and he'll have more nights like his recent 4 point outing against the Wild.
  
• You could make a case for Henrik Zetterberg at left wing and it would be hard to argue, but I think Nash has been more valuable to Columbus and has decidedly less talent around him. That gives him the edge to me.
  
• Rafalski and Phaneuf have both been lights out, as I would expect. Hopefully Rafalski will start to get a little more love from the hockey world now that he is out of New Jersey.
• Pascal Leclaire has been a revelation. There's no way he can keep this up for a full season, but for the first month he has clearly been the best keeper in the league. Enjoy it while it lasts Jackets fans!