Balls of Steel Award: Mathieu Dandenault

Mathieu Dandenault might have just done the coolest, craziest thing I have seen this season (besides the now-famous Andrew Ference hit on Steve Ott).

The 32-year-old defenseman, playing in a game against Calgary on Dec. 9, went into the boards awkwardly after being hit by Flames forward Dustin Boyd. Dandenault went down immediately, clutching his right arm. Grimacing in pain, he got up (like a man) and began skating towards the bench... until he realized the puck was not out of his zone. Dutifully, and with that look of pure pain etched on his face, Dandenault took his place in front of the net and kept playing. After about 30 seconds of clearing the crease (and taking some additional cross-check love from a Flames player), Dandenault slowly made his way to the bench and didn't come back.

This in and of itself is not a huge feat; hockey players are famous for playing hurt... But it was later revealed that Dandenault had completely and utterly BROKEN HIS ARM on the play. That's right, a break. Like when you take a stick and snap it in half over your leg. A broken arm. And he didn't leave the ice until his zone was clear. That's sacrifice. That's love for the game. That's hockey epitomized. That's why this sport is the best on the earth: Not because of the game itself, but because of its players.

Dandenault has but two assists this season. His highest point total in the NHL for one season is 25 (with the 2000-01 Red Wings). He is not, nor will he ever be Sydney Crosby or Joe Sakic. But he's one helluva hockey player in my book.

Other things I've been thinking about:

• The Vancouver Canucks beat out the New York Rangers for the Mats Sundin sweeptstakes. I don't care how old this guy is, you get him out on the power play with the Sedin twins and magic will happen. Reportedly, Sundin chose the 'Nucks over the Rangers because it would cause the least amount of dissonance in the locker room. New York, already up to the salary cap ceiling, would have had to make significant roster changes to fit Sundin. Vancouver had plenty of space and would not have to trade anybody to be able to afford him, and that, Sundin's agent said, is why the Swede chose his new team. If that is true, and seeing how Sundin has handled himself over the years I wouldn't deny it, kudos to the man.
• Jonathan Toews is the next Joe Sakic/Steve Yzerman/Shane Doan. He's got the presence to be a true leader in this league.
• There might not be a more fun team to watch right now than the Boston Bruins. Fantastic goaltending, a stingy defense, and a fast group of forwards mixed with grinders who love to muck it up wherever they can. Watching Kessel fly down the ice faster than the speed of sound is just as fun as watching Milan Lucic win a fight purely by throwing more punches than his opponent. He doesn't even care where the punches land, he just throws them blindly until the other guy goes down. Awesome.