from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

Here’s some likes and dislikes around the NHL:

- Who knew Sidney Crosby would be scoring at almost a-goal-a-game clip? He might score 60 after only one season (51 in 2009-10) over 40 goals. Best player in the world today? Connor McDavid says so.

- Aaron Ekblad, who’s going to win a Norris trophy some day, is minus-17 in Florida. And 44-year-old Jaromir Jagr is third on the Panthers in scoring. Great for Jagr, not a good thing for the younger guys like No. 2 C Nick Bjugstad, back from broken hand, who has two points in his 17 games.

- Tyson Barrie has the goods to be one of the best offensive D and a power-play QBs but he had zero PP goals and five PP points at Christmas. He was also minus-20. So far, a very poor return on that four-year, $22 million deal he signed this summer.

Things that make no sense:

- Anze Kopitar was 180th in scoring at the Christmas break with 16 points; rookie Travis Konecny in Philadelphia had 18.

- Gagner has 14 goals, double what Corey Perry has. Mind you, Gagner’s career shooting average is 9.7 and it’s almost double that, 17.5 this season in Columbus. The hockey gods are smiling on him.

more on each topic plus other notes and a look at the Blue Jackets...