We've passed the one month mark in the 2006-2007 NHL season and I think a Fantasy Report Card is in order to mark the occassion. Thus far we've had a few surprises on the club level, but from an individual perspective, the names that are rising to the top aren't really a surprise. The ones falling to the bottom however, do raise a few eyebrows.

Forwards

Marian Hossa ATL - 15 goals, 15 assists, 30 Points +2
Jaromir Jagr NYR - 7 goals, 21 assists, 28 points +7
Ilya Kovalchuk ATL - 14 goals, 12 assists, 26 points even
Vyacheslav Koslov ATL - 9 goals, 17 assists, 26 points +6
Rod Brind'Amour CAR - 7 goals, 18 assists, 25 points +3
Michael Nylander NYR - 7 goals, 18 assists, 25 points +8
Daniel Briere BUF - 7 goals, 18 assists, 25 points +9

Is there any wonder why the Atlanta Thrashers are off to their best start in franchise history and are the third best team in the NHL with 27 points behind only Buffalo and Anaheim? Three forwards in the top 5 in scoring and a healthy Kari Lehtonen (we'll get to him more in a bit) are a big reason why this team should see their first ever post season action this year. Playoff Beards for everyone here please. While it's taken Jaromir Jagr some time to get the full strength of his shoulder back, his playmaking ability is still top shelf as his league leading 21 assists can confirm. It's also nice to Kovalchuk with an even rating, rather than in the minus column, which may mean that Hartley's efforts to get him to play defense may be getting through.

Defensemen

Tomas Kaberle TOR - 7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points +4
Bryan McCabe TOR - 4 goals, 12 assists, 16 points +6
Scott Niedermayer ANA - 5 goals, 10 assists, 15 points +4
Chris Pronger ANA - 3 goals, 12 assists, 15 points +10
Matthew Carle SJS - 3 goals, 11 assists, 14 points +6
Nicklas Lidstrom DET - 3 goals, 11assists, 14 points +17
Brian Campbell BUF - 2 goals, 12 assists, 14 points +11
Andrei Markov MON - 2 goals, 12 assists, 14 points +6

The Toronto Maple Leafs blue liners are getting it done big time this year. Bryan McCabe seems to have picked up where he left off last year where he had a career season with 68 points (19 goals, 49 assists) and Tomas Kaberle seems to be doing the same. He posted a career best 67 points (9 goals, 58 assists) last year for the Leafs and is off to another terrific start, and is 4 goals shy of his career best. Anaheim's two towers on defense have been as good as advertised. Scott Neidermayer and Chris Pronger sit in the top 5 of defensemen in scoring, and their efforts have lifted the Ducks to the top of the Western Conference with 30 points. Nicklas Lidstrom is consistently the best. His offensive stats are almost always forward worthy, but it's his +/- rating that always impresses me. Lidstrom is currently a +17 in 16 games played.

Goalies

Jean-Sebastien Giguere ANA - 10 wins, 2 shutouts
Marty Turco DAL - 10 wins, 1 shutout
Martin Brodeur NJD - 10 wins, 3 shutouts
Andrew Raycroft TOR - 9 wins 1 shutout
Ryan Miller BUF - 9 wins, 0 shutouts
Kari Lehtonen ATL - 9 wins, 0 shutouts
Cam Ward CAR - 9 wins, 1 shutout
Manny Fernandez MIN- 9 wins, 1 shutout
Vesa Toskala SJS- 9 wins, 1 shutout

While I'm still irritated as a Fantasy Owner of Coach Carlyle's handling of Anaheim's Ilya Bryzgalov, but there is no denying the fact that J.S. Giguere has rediscovered his Conn Smythe form of several seasons ago. Although there's no doubt playing behind the Ducks squad in front of him, particularly the defense has been beneficial, Giguere appears to be getting better by the game. Marty Turco has always been superb in the regular season, but he will be falling under a massive microscope come playoff time. If he fails to get it done this year he will be on the 'Manny Legace' train out of Texas. If Niklas Lidstrom played between the pipes, he would be called Martin Brodeur. Brodeur is always solid, and terrific at bouncing back after a rough start ( like tonight's game against the Rangers! WOO HOO). Raycroft has no doubt been a pleasant surprise for the Leafs. The former Calder Trophy winner who fell from grace, and Boston, has rebounded and played solid for Toronto this year. Ryan Miller is the man, and he's a big part of Buffalo's dominance this season. Kari Lehtonen after season's hampered by poor conditioning, and injuries has finally realized his full potential for the Atlanta Thrashers. Some recent weak play saw him benched for a few games watching backup Hedberg rack up a few wins was probably a good wake up call for him. Lehtonen is the key for the Thrashers this year. If he gets hurt, their playoff hopes will diminish rapidly. Cam Ward recovered from a few bad starts to open the season, and aside from being shelled by Buffalo Monday night, he's looked good. Manny Fernandez now the bonafide number one has embraced the role and helped turned the Minnesota Wild into a contender. Vesa Toskala although getting every other start with counterpart Evgeni Nablokov has thrived in the platoon system putting up solid numbers and most importantly wins for the San Jose Sharks.

Busts:

Daniel Alfredsson OTT - 4 goals, 10 asssists, 14 points even
Rick Nash CLB - 4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points -6
Peter Forsberg PHI - 5 goals, 4 assists, 9 points -6
Simon Gagne PHI - 8 goals, 3 assists, 11 points -11
Patrick Elias NJD - 3 goals, 8 assists, 11 points -7
Markus Naslund VAN - 7 goals, 5 assists, 12 points even
Henrik Zetterberg DET - 5 goals, 2 assists, 7 points +6
Wade Redden OTT - 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points +3

There are probably more, but these names scream out dissapointment to me. Most of these players were probably drafted in the top two rounds of most fantasy leagues and failed to produce the numbers most expected of them. Alfredsson is a stunner. He was incredible last season putting up 103 points (43 goals, 60 assists) but has failed to produce for Ottawa this season, and is a big reason why this team is collapsing. He and Wade Redden. Rick Nash. Finally he arrives to start a season healthy, and what happens? Nothing. Even after missing almost two months of last season, Nash still put up 54 points (31 goals, 23 assists). The Blue Jackets have been a big let down, and they are the second team in this young season to see their coach hit the bricks. Forsberg and Gagne, well those two are big pieces in the unsolvable puzzle that is the Philadelphia Flyers. Naslund perhaps misses being in those big warm arms of Bertuzzi. He hasn't played bad, but his numbers are less than average for a player of extraordinary magnitude. Elias is off to a slow start, but it's his -7 rating that is worrying me. Not only is he not producing offense, but has become a major liability on the defensive side of the puck. Zetterberg's play has probably been masked by the fact that he plays on a solid hockey team. Masked to everyone but my boy Jeff and everyone who drafted him onto their Fantasy Roster that is.

Quick Shave:
Fired one week, hired the next? Look's like Ken Hitchcock may not be out of work for too long (although I though he was still in the Flyers organization as a scout, but I could be mistaken). The Columbus Blue Jackets who just fired their head coach Gerard Gallant, have received permission from the Flyers organization to interview Ken Hitchcock for their coaching position currently held by interim Gary Agnew. Hitchcock might be exactly what the Blue Jackets need, but can this taskmaster whip the club into the post season? The Calgary Flames have won five straight. No seriously. Miikka Kiprusoff stopped all 24 shots he faced and helped the Flames to a 3-0 shutout win over the St. Louis Blues. 90 seconds is all it took for Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan to ruin Martin Brodeur's evening. The New York Rangers forwards scored 3 goals in under 2 minutes to defeat the New Jersey Devils 3-2 last night. Brendan Shanahan became the first winner of the monthly Mark Messier Award for team leadership (sorry Marty). The Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks gave us a terrific Game of the Night.....but it was just a little more terrific for the Red Wings as they downed the Canucks 3-2. Ryan Smyth of the Edmonton Oilers is expected to be re-evaluated today after Monday night's knee no knee with Avs defenceman John-Michael Liles. Officials are calling it a charley horse right now, and if that's all he got from that hit, I would say count your blessings. Not only did Rolston not join the NHL HTC last night, but the Wild couldn't even beat the Phoenix Coyotes. You gotta love it when Georges Laraque decides to motivate his team by beating the crap out of another player. Regardless of how you may feel about his actions, they worked. The Phoenix Coyotes erased a 2 goal deficit and defeated the Northwest leading Minnesota Wild 4-3. Nice work GL!

Game of the Night:
NY Islanders at Dallas 8:30 PM

It's time to give the boys on the Island their due. I think they can take the Stars. Ted Nolan has done a great job getting the most out of his team, and finally found a way to motivate Alexei Yashin into the player he used to be. Oh, and if you are up late..... look for Ryan Getzlaf to join the NHL Hat Trick Club against the Flyers late tonight. Enjoy the games my chin mullet wearing friends!

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh