No NHL defenseman has scored 30 goals in a season since Kevin Hatcher reached the plateau for the Washington Capitals 16 seasons ago, and only seven ever have done it.
The names on that list - Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque and Paul Coffey, among others - are part of an exclusive fraternity. Mike Green, 23, scored just two goals two seasons ago, but he could be in the midst of a historic offensive campaign for a defenseman in this era.
Green leads all NHL defensemen with 16 goals and 42 points despite missing 13 games with a shoulder injury. In an era of defensive-minded hockey, those numbers look like they belong in a video game. No defenseman this decade has registered more than 80 points. Even though Green lost 15 percent of the season to injury, he remains on pace for 28 goals and 74 - and a 30-goal year doesn’t seem far-fetched.
“I wouldn’t put any limits on him,” Caps general manager George McPhee said. “He shoots the puck well, and he’s got great instincts. He’s a very talented player, but what makes him SO good is he really loves this game. He’s always on the ice - it is hard to get him off the ice sometimes.”
Because of the missed time, Green has just pulled ahead of the pack in both goals and points for a defenseman in the past few days. If he continues to rack up goals and points at this rate, his offensive numbers alone will make him one of the top candidates for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top defenseman.
After netting 18 goals to lead all defensemen last season, Green finished seventh in the Norris voting. If he squeezes his way into the top three this season, it could mean a trip to the NHL awards show in Las Vegas, where the league is reportedly considering moving the event.
“If you’re just going by the numbers alone, you have to look at it and go, ’Hmm,’ ” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Every time you talk about this guy or that guy and how many minutes they play, then why wouldn’t [Green] be in consideration?”
Green ranks 10th in the league in ice time at 25:33 a game. He has been a minute-muncher since Boudreau took over during last season, but part of his added responsibility this season has been an increased role killing penalties.
Last season Green was on the ice in penalty-killing situations a total of 28:26 all season - or 20 seconds a game. This year he averages 2:17 a game.
It’s part of the ongoing metamorphosis for Green from an offensive dynamo to a two-way defenseman. Great offensive numbers aside, he won’t win a Norris Trophy until his reputation in his own end improves.
“I definitely see him getting better,” defenseman Shaone Morrisonn said. “He’s addressed it, and he’s willing to work on that part of his game. His speed is so great that he can recover from mistakes, but lately he’s just been sound positionally. He’s been making great plays at both ends.”
Green has few peers when it comes to his skating, both with and without the puck. His willingness to carry the puck and lead an offensive rush is part of what makes him unique, but so too is his ability to recover and be in position on defense so he does not put his partner in a bad situation.
“That’s the thing - I don’t think people realize just how good of a skater he is,” Boudreau said. “When Scott Niedermayer was in New Jersey the first four or five years, nobody realized how good of a skater he was until they started getting all this recognition and the Devils won the Cup. Mike will be the same way. I’d love to see him in the NHL fastest skater competition at the All-Star Game. It would be interesting.”
Last week Boudreau intimated that Green hasn’t earned the exposure he deserves at this point in his career. Twice Green has been left off the All-Star team when he had a convincing resume.
His coach pointed to the upcoming Olympics as a potential opportunity for Green to earn his place in the spotlight. Last summer Green was a standout for Canada in the IIHF World Championship, but the ending - a loss in the gold-medal game to three of his current teammates and Russia - wasn’t what he had hoped for.
Making Canada’s roster for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver could help cement Green’s status among the NHL’s elite.
“Absolutely - I want to play on that team so bad,” Green said. “[The world championship] was amazing. It was the best time I’ve ever had playing in international hockey.”
Added McPhee: “He demonstrated last year in the world championship that he can play with elite teams and elite players. He deserves to be in that group. It is a little far away at this point to be talking about it too much, but he is certainly a guy who deserves it, and I would expect him to be there when the time comes.”
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