When looking at the NHL’s leading goal scorers, there are the typical names like Alex Ovechkin (32 goals), Patrick Marleau (35 goals – current league lead), Ilya Kovalchuk (30 goals), Dany Heatley (29 goals), and others. There’s also a few names that might come as a surprise to hockey fans. Let’s take a look at some of the lower profile top 30 goal scorers this season:
Alex Burrows – Vancouver Canucks
Why this is a surprise: Alex Burrows has scored 23 goals this season for the Vancouver Canucks while averaging 16-20 minutes of ice time per game. Burrows has scored 13 goals in his last 10 games and is probably the best bargain in the NHL with a cap hit of $2 Million for the next three seasons.
Ryan Malone – Tampa Bay Lightning
Why this is a surprise: Should we really be that surprised Ryan Malone has 21 goals this season for the Tampa Bay Lightning? After all, he is playing with stars like Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis, and others. I guess it’s the fact that Malone’s six goals shy of his career high (27) and has almost the same number of goals and points as he did in all of last season.
Patric Hornqvist – Nashville Predators
Why this is a surprise: Patric Hornqvist could probably be the most unknown 20 goal scorer in the NHL right now. He’s 23 years old and was selected 230th overall in the 2005 Entry Draft. This is Hornqvist’s second NHL season and he’s tearing it up on a low scoring Nashville team.
Stephen Weiss – Florida Panthers
Why this is a surprise: Stephen Weiss is already one goal away from tying a career best in goals for a whole season (20, back in 06/07) and is finally living up to expectations in Florida. For whatever it’s worth, Weiss’ shooting percentage is currently better than double what it’s been for the last two seasons.
Stay classy, surprising goal scorers.
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I’d add Tomas Fleischmann from Washington to this list and say he’s the best bargain in the league. He’s scored 17 goals but only played in 39 games this year. He’s actually averaging more goals per game than Weiss, Malone and Hornqvist and his salary is $725k. He’s also an RFA at the end of the year and Washington may not be able to afford him.
That’s a good point, but how dare you show me up in my blog with your fancy in depth knowledge of hockey and various unknown stars I forgot to include. How dare you!!!
Haha… Fantana 1, Burgundy 0
Laraque has a goal in the NHL and it’s surprising.
no wait, i don’t think i get the game.
MIKE RUPP.
I mean I’m surprised at the amount of goals Mike Rupp has. He’s broken his own record this season with the Penguins. No, he won’t ever be high on that list of top goal scorers, but it’s shocking how many he’s buried this season.
@ Julie – Actually Laraque’s goal was surprising! The Habs should think about giving him more ice time… wait… why do I feel that may not happen now?
@ Coffeytalk – Mike Rupp is a good one. What a great signing by the Penguins! That’d be great to see him get 20 goals this season, but I think 15 is probably more realistic.
Yeah, Laraque won’t be scoring for us anymore, but at least Latendresse has been playing well & scoring recently!
OH WAIT.
I thought we weren’t talking about Latendresse anymore?
you’re right. i’m just delirious from the fever & illness from all the awfulness of my team.
i apologize and will promptly seek help.
No love for Big Fish?? Fine whatever
Also on behalf of Stéphane Auger I demand that you remove Burrow’s name from this list because his success embarrasses him as a referee
Yes. Good point on Fisher… but we’ve talked about him a lot this year already.
Great list. Hard to believe that Patric Hornqvist was the very last pick of the “Brian Lee Memorial Draft.”
The one thing I wanted to mention was your inclusion of Patrick Marleau in the “expected” list. Yes, everyone knows him as a very good player… but his 35 goals is only 3 away from his CAREER high (last season). If he stays healthy, he’s going to blow by any expectations that ANYONE could have had for him.
Yeah Matt, I do agree with you. For whatever reason, it feels like we’ve been talking about Marleau non-stop since the first game of the year. And as Fantana pointed out, Marleau has traditionally set career highs in contract years. Hornqvist on the other hand is a player that no one outside of Nashville is talking about. Perhaps in Nashville too. I’m not sure.
Yes, contract years help. You know what else helps? Playing on Joe Thornton’s wing. :)
Jonathan Cheechoo just said hi.
Jonathan who? I am familiar with every NHL player with 6 goals or more…
Yeah Matt, Thornton helps a bit too :)