Blue Line Buzz: Quarterly BLB Awards

The NHL is now a quarter of the way through the season, and, as always, there has been a number of surprises. Traditionally, this is also the point where teams start to have a pretty good idea of where they stand. If they're already too far removed from the playoff picture, they likely won't make the postseason unless they go on a significant winning streak.

It's also an indication of just how well players have been faring so far, so without further ado, here's your quarterly Blue Line Buzz Awards!

Best Defenseman: Shea Weber, Canadiens

The real MVP in Montreal is Carey Price, there's no doubt about that, but Weber has also really transformed their blue line into another beast. The analytics community may still point out that Weber has been a poor possession player this year with a 49.2 percent Corsi rating that ranks 115th in the league among those who have played at least 100 minutes, but he also leads all defensemen with a plus-18 rating and seven power-play goals. If there's one stat that analytics can't provide, it's the fear factor of facing Weber when chasing after a puck in the corner.

Best Fantasy Defenseman: Brent Burns, Sharks

It's a close call between Weber and Burns, but while Weber has been efficient and arguably more valuable in leagues that count hits and blocked shots, Burns has been dominant on offense and as valuable as any other forward in the league. He leads all defensemen with 20 points in 22 games, and also leads the entire league in shots on goal with 91, five ahead of Alex Ovechkin.

Best Back to the Future Impression: Andrei Markov, Canadiens

At 37 years old, Markov should be past his peak and entering his twilight years, but he clearly hasn't gotten the memo. He currently sits tied for third in scoring among defensemen with 17 points in 22 games, and has become a fantasy staple after going in the late rounds or otherwise undrafted in most other leagues. He's been driving possession for the Habs, so don't expect him to tail off anytime soon, and at this rate he'll be yet another one of those ageless wonders who plays well into his 40s.

Best Rookie: Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets

There's really no competition for this one, as Werenski has been invaluable to Columbus and is making a very strong case for the Calder Trophy with Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews suffering through various dry spells. He's an effortless skater and elite talent, and will anchor that blue line for years to come with Seth Jones. He's averaging 22:15 of ice time per game with 16 points in 20 games as the team's top power-play quarterback.

Biggest Surprise: Alec Martinez, Kings

Very quietly, Martinez has been a dependable No. 2 behind Drew Doughty for the past couple of seasons, taking his play to the next level after scoring the overtime Stanley Cup-winning goal in 2014. He flies under the radar because he's not flashy and the Kings have played just five playoff games the past two seasons, but with 14 points in 22 games, he's currently tied for sixth in scoring among defenseman and should be a staple on the list for the rest of the season.

Best Possession Defenseman: Torey Krug, Bruins

A little surprising, isn't it? Krug's 57.1 percent Corsi is the best mark among defensemen who have played at least 300 minutes, and his PDO of 98.4 shows just how unlucky he's been. With eight points and a minus-7 rating through 22 games, expect him to rocket up the rankings as the season progresses.

Most Disappointing: Erik Karlsson, Senators; John Klingberg, Stars

It hasn't been a good season for Swedes with Finland's top talent flooding the league and making big statements on the international stage. Karlsson's doing fine with 17 points in 22 games, but he's clearly a tier below Weber and Burns this season after setting the bar so high last year; the same can be said for Klingberg, who's on pace to barely crack 40 points and has a minus-8 rating on a team that has been inconsistent and ravaged by injuries. A few others — Rasmus Ristolainen and Mark Giordano come to mind — were also candidates for this award.

Most Past His Prime: Alexander Edler, Canucks

He continues to log heavy ice time averaging 23:41 per game, but it's more out of desperation than ability. He's failed to score more than 30 points in three of his past four seasons and has missed a significant amount of time due to various injuries, and may miss a good chunk of this season after blocking a shot with his hand. He's a mule in the Mattias Ohlund mold, but with three points in 21 games he's quickly losing relevance in fantasy; youngsters Ben Hutton and Troy Stecher have emerged as the preferred – and much more effective – power-play options.

Studs of the Week:

Shea Weber, Canadiens – He continues be a beast with the man advantage, adding two more power-play points this past week to give him 10 on the season. The Habs were starting to falter a bit, losing four of five games before winning two straight, and will need all the momentum they have for their upcoming road dates against the Ducks, Sharks, Kings and Blues.

Brent Burns, Sharks – He tried to unseat Weber for top spot on The Big Board with two goals and four assists this past week, but managed only to close the gap. After three straight wins against non-division opponents at home, they dropped a tough 3-2 division matchup to the Ducks. The three California teams are ranked two, three and four in the Pacific with one point separating them, which means every divisional game is vital.

Drew Doughty, Kings – The Kings have won five straight to climb back into the division race, and Doughty is on four-game point streak.

Oscar Klefbom, Oilers – Scoring comes in bunches, and it couldn't be more true for Klefbom, who took 18 games to score his first goal of the season but then proceeded to score a goal in each of his two following games. Despite the consistency, the Oilers still hold the top spot in the intriguing Pacific Division, which is a very good sign they'll make the playoffs despite some bumps along the way. My bet is they will.

Colton Parayko, Blues – Parayko has four assists in his past three games even though he has yet to score a goal this season. After playing less than 20 minutes in four straight games, Parayko's strong play has earned him more ice time, and he played 22:35 in a one-goal loss to Washington and 23:15 in a key matchup against Minnesota. Kevin Shattenkirk's been a name has come up in trade rumors before, and if he leaves, Parayko has the most to gain with increased opportunities on the power-play.

Duds of the Week:

Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Sharks – He had been mired in a four-game point drought with just seven points on the season before leaving Saturday's loss against the Ducks with an undisclosed injury, and his status is day-to-day until further notice. The Sharks continue to alternate between three-game winning and three-game losing streaks, and they have two key divisional games coming up. The Sharks need him to step up big in those games, and hopefully he's available.

Seth Jones, Blue Jackets – He hasn't scored a single point since returning to the lineup, and has a minus-2 rating with three losses in their past four games. Jones is still an excellent two-way defenseman, but for fantasy purposes it's clear Zach Werenski has far more upside now and in the future.

Erik Gudbranson, Canucks – He was minus-2 in a 3-2 loss against Colorado, and with Alex Edler (hand) potentially out long-term and Chris Tanev (lower body) still on the shelf, the 24-year-old now has to serve as Willie Desjardins' go-to veteran. That's a difficult task for a developing defenseman on a not-so-good team, and with just three assists and a minus-11 rating for the season, he hasn't shown he's capable of shouldering the heavy load.

Kevin Shattenkirk, Blues – His name's a constant in the rumor mill, and the speculation gets worse when he's playing poorly, like right now with his current five-game drought. After scoring four points in two games, Shattenkirk has been a near non-factor lately, playing a season-low 16:14 against Boston on Tuesday. Colton Parayko has surpassed Shattenkirk in average TOI per game this season after averaging three full minutes less than him last year.

Joe Morrow, Bruins – The Bruins' blue line needs some serious help, but the 23-year-old former first-round pick hasn't taken advantage of his opportunity. Since getting called up on Nov. 13, he's averaging just 15:53 of ice time per game, collecting just one assist in six games before sitting as a healthy scratch Sunday. He's on his third NHL team with nine points in 56 career NHL games, and quickly losing his luster as a top prospect.

Recommended Pickup:

Jared Spurgeon, Wild – He has only five points this season, but the recent uptick in his average ice time is a very encouraging sign that his role is about to expand with Christian Folin (MCL) out for a few weeks. Spurgeon averaged 26:40 of ice time per game this past week, significantly higher than his average of 22:40 this season, including a season-high 28:40 against the Blues. Marco Scandella is just coming back from an ankle injury and will be playing limited minutes as he is eased back into action. Spurgeon's a talented offensive defenseman with some upside, and plays under the offensively-inclined Bruce Boudreau.

The Big Board:

^ = stock rising
˅ = stock dropping

Mike Green, DET
Alex Pietrangelo, STL
Roman Josi, NSH
Jeff Petry, MTL
Mark Giordano, CGY

Notable omissions:

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI
Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF
Tyson Barrie, COL
John Klingberg, DAL
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI