Thumbs up to what is now, and, at this rate, will surely be at the end of the season, an interesting and completely wide-open Hart Trophy debate. The NHL reaches the exact mid-point of its schedule on this night of January 10th, and you are hereby invited to cast your vote for the most valuable player….so far. The leading point-getter is Jakub Voracek of the Philadelphia Flyers, currently a non-playoff team. The leading goal-scorer is Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars, currently a non-playoff team. You want to vote for Sidney Crosby? Thats a debate all its own. A goalie? Same thing, but if youre okay with a goalie, youve got Nashvilles Pekka Rinne or Montreals Carey Price. Defenceman? Nashvilles terrific first half brings Shea Weber to mind. Does Tampa Bays terrific first half bring Steven Stamkos to mind? Perhaps, but you might want to be mentioning Tyler Johnson instead. I give you now the choice that is most easily supported and least likely to bring howls of What? Really?--that is Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf. Seventh in the scoring race, captain of the team that has been at or near the top of the standings much of the way, and especially valuable during the 14 games played without Corey Perry on his right side. -- To Brendan Shanahan, heres a thumbs up, that, until yesterday, was a thumbs down. Im not suggesting that Shanahans meeting with Maple Leaf players and his message to fans via various media interviews contributed directly to the Leafs 17-shot, four-goal first-period explosion against Columbus, but Im not prepared to call it coincidental either. Not until three days after coach Randy Carlyle was fired was Shanahan seen or heard from. He might prefer the background to centre stage, but hes the team president and it is his team. Since being hired last April, he has retained and fired Carlyle, fired and replaced a staff of assistant coaches, and fired and replaced two of general manager Dave Nonis assistants while also adding a player personnel director, never mind whatever input he has had on player moves. Shanahan needs to be out front because hes the only one who can be under the Leafs awkward corporate setup. His boss, MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiweke, is waiting to be replaced or to leave when his contract expires in June, and is virtually persona non grata when it comes to representing the organization. The owners dont speak to such mundane matters as hockey results because theyre too busy with more important things and with battling each other in those other businesses. Nonis owns the title of general manager and does the work of a general manager, which means he does briefings, but when sermons need to be delivered, its Shanahan who must step forward. Cheap NHL Jerseys .com) - Graeme McDowell opened up with a first- round, 5-under 67 on Thursday and he holds a 2-shot lead at the WGC - HSBC Champions. NHL Jerseys . The Wizards announced Friday that Webster had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. The operation was performed Thursday in Los Angeles. https://www.cheapnhljerseysjustwholesale.com/. At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. NHL Jerseys 2020 . The team of Lars Nelson, Daniel Richardsson, Johan Olsson, and anchor Marcus Hellner cruised to victory in the 4x10 km event, winning in a time of one hour, 28 minutes, and 42. Authentic NHL Jerseys .Former NBA forward Morris Peterson has been added to TSNs Toronto Raptors broadcast team.Vladimir Sobotka will not be representing the Czech Republic at the Sochi Olympics. St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong announced the forward has been placed on injured reserve with a leg injury and will not be re-evaluated for four weeks. Sobbotka appeared to injure his knee after crashing into the boards in the Blues 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Friday night.dddddddddddd The 26-year-old has seven goals and 25 points in 46 games for the Blues this season, his seventh in the NHL. ' ' '