Early Worst Player This Season

As the NHL season progresses, I like to track the player who is getting regular ice time who has been the worst in the league.  Last season, it was Riley Cote of the Philadelphia Flyers who “won” this award.  He was a player who regularly dressed in Philadelphia, but played in limited ice time against weak competition and nevertheless rarely scored, while allowing opponents to control the play.  His main “value” came from his ability to fight and draw penalties.  On a team that has the team toughness of the Philadelphia Flyers; one must wonder if that adds anything to the line-up. It is very common that the worst NHL regular by season’s end is a hard working guy who lacks talent.  Coaching staffs and fans like him because he works so hard, but he cannot get the job done.  Earlier in the season, it is much more common for a bigger name player to be the worst regular.  The lesser players have not had as much ice time yet.  One must be somewhat highly regarded to have already been given the chance to fail. This year, the early season worst player has been Vesa Toskala of the Toronto Maple Leafs.