College Hockey's Influence on the NHL's Scoring Race

2015-16 NHL Leaders Points
1.	Patrick Kane	106
2.	Jamie Benn	89
3.	Sidney Crosby	85
4.	Erik Karlsson	82
	Joe Thornton	82
6.	John Gaudreau	78
	Joe Pavelski	78
	Blake Wheeler	78
9.	Evgeny Kuznetsov	77
	Artemi Panarin	77

While I was perusing some NHL hockey stats at hockey reference, I didn’t realize that three of the top-10 scorers in the NHL had college hockey experience. I guess that seems about right since 31% of the NHL's players comes from college hockey. Looking at the top-10, we have a Minnesota Gopher, a Wisconsin Badger, and a Boston College Eagle. I also find it interesting that they all finished with 78 points. 

What's even more remarkable is that Johnny Gaudreau has only been in the NHL for just over two seasons. This past season, he scored almost a point a game. In 79 games, Gaudreau scored 30 goals and 78 points. 

Duncan Keith's hit on Daniel Sedin

With Shane Doan getting suspended for three games for elbowing Jamie Benn in the face, you've got to think that the Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith is going to get a game or two suspension for taking out the Canucks star forward Daniel Sedin with this high elbow to the head.

Daniel Sedin also needs to sit as well because he is not innocent in this situation. 

These types of dirty hits are not acceptable and the NHL needs to be more proactive in removing these types of hits from the game of hockey. Dirty hits take out more hockey players than fights do in the NHL.  This is the type of plays that the NHL needs to punish severely and with out apology.

Related articles

• Canucks take on red-hot Blackhawks (cbc.ca)
• Shane Doan hit on Jamie Benn (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Shane Doan hit on Jamie Benn

I can find no reason the NHL shouldn't suspended the Coyotes forward Shane Doan for this bush league, unnecessary and dirty hit on Dallas forward Jamie Benn. I also don't see how anyone can defense this hit? Rightfully so, Shane Doan has a hearing this afternoon with the department of players safety this afternoon.

Anyone want to guess on what kind of a suspension that Shane Doan gets for his efforts. I don't see how he can escape punishment for this hit. I think it's time for Brendan Shanahan to throw the book at someone and stop letting them escape with a fine or no punishment at all.

Related articles

• Coyotes F Doan fined for boarding vs. Flames (espn.go.com)
• Ribeiro Leads Stars Past Coyotes (dfw.cbslocal.com)
• Stars clip Coyotes in SO to grab hold of 1st (sports.espn.go.com)