This may surprise many people but from my point of view Toni Lydman has been the best acquisition so far, although that may change in the post season, depending on who makes it. Some of you may not know even who Toni Lydman is. Well he happens to have lead the league in plus-minus all year. And he was one of those not so talked about free agent signings this summer. While everyone was talking about the Kovalchuck drama, he quietly got signed by the Anaheim Ducks. So far Lydman is a plus 32, and I think he is a big part of Cam Fowler's stellar rookie season. Lydman and Henrik Tallinder were big parts of Tyler Myers's amazing rookie year, but now Tallinder who signed with New Jersey in the off season, hasn't been playing to well.
This may seem funny as he was "acquired" at the draft. That person is Jeff Skinner. I guess drafted would have been a better word than acquired but it doesn't matter. Skinner has been putting up strong numbers and is making a fantastic case to be rookie of the year. Skinner has helped a offensively challenged Carolina Hurricanes, as the Hurricanes have a very low amount of depth at forward. Skinner has been putting up fabulous numbers at eighteen years of age and while playing on the second line. Skinner is tied in points with elite players like Shane Doan and Mikhail Grabovski, Skinner has 58 points. These 58 points are ahead of the likes of Ilya Kovalchuck Paul Statsny, Vincent Lecavalier and Tomas Pleckanec just to name a few players. Skinner has anchored the Canes second line at center while providing much needed offence to keep the Hurricanes playoff hopes alive.
Lydman and Skinner were my top 2, the last couple people will have shorter descriptions.
Joffrey Lupul. While he had a slow start since joining the Leafs, Lupul has caught fire scoring in bunches, and has helped the Leafs (who everyone thought was going to be a spoiler at this point) into fighting for a playoff spot.
Alex Tanguay. While many people were unsure of the move made by Darryl Sutter this last off season with the signing of Alex Tanguay, Tanguay has managed to fly under the radar with Jerome Iginla playing amazing. Tanguay has managed to collect 65 points with 21 goals. Tanguay has done all of this at a bargain price of 1 million dollars. Great move Darryl Sutter.
Ville Leino. Some of you really dedicated hockey fans may know that Leino isn't an addition at all as he was traded half way through last season. But Leino feels like a new addition as Flyer fans are finally seeing him score. He only started scoring in the playoffs last year with 21 points in 19 games. In the entire regular season Leino played 55 games in the NHL and had only 11 points. This year Leino has had 52 points in 79 games with 3 games remaining.
Well those are my favourite additions they all happen to kind of be doubted when acquired but they have all made the most of their opportunities.
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