Just noticed that this image has been keeping itself updated. Note that we are still at the bottom of the 2 sd band, but that band now includes 2007's record low.
Due to the bitter cold winter, the Canadian Arctic waters are frozen deeper than I've ever seen before. And it's still unusually cold in that area. I doubt that the Northwest Passage will melt open this year.
In contrast, it's unusually warm around Alaska and Siberia. Melt is ahead of schedule there.
Hence, it's going to be a rather lopsided melt pattern.