This took me weeks. Most of the records and stats have changed. Some of the teams have fallen off or been getting better. But this is for the time it was written. See you at 60. It’ll be much shorter.
Anaheim:
After a rough start to the season, the Ducks have wandered out of their rut, but are still near the bottom of the worst division in hockey in the Pacific, and are beating only the Hurricanes in goals scored. If their offense ever truly picks up, their defense and great goaltending will get them to the playoffs, especially in this weak division. But in order to do that, their offense will have to pick up. It’s a team with Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler, and a variety of good depth wings like Silferberg and Sekac. There’s no reason they shouldn’t be scoring. They just aren’t.
Strength: Goaltending (Frederik Andersen, John Gibson)
Weakness: Offense (Ryan Getzlaf)
Surprise: Offense. Not in a good way.
Arizona Coyotes:
Well this is the most surprising team of the year so far. Anthony Duclair and Max Domi are superstars of the future, the next Benn and Seguin. It’s not really a surprise Max Domi is only behind John Scott in All-Star voting. Well, the John Scott part is a surprise. If Mike Smith and Anders Lindback ever get their act together, this is another team that could make the playoffs. With the way things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised. Mike Smith and Lindback are the anchors of this team, however. Inconsistency plagues them, and when they allow less than two goals they win, but they’ve allowed five against way too many times.
Strength: Youth (Max Domi, Anthony Duclair)
Weakness: Goaltending (Mike Smith, Anders Lindback)
Surprise: Plus/Minus (Doan -8, Ekman-Larrson -6)
Boston Bruins:
I’m surprised by how well the Bruins are doing this season as well. For a while, David Krejci was top 5 in scoring. He’s still one of the league’s leaders. The team is all about that high powered offense, and with Jonathon Toews struggling Patrice Bergeron is well on his way to another Selke. Recently, the Bruins went on a very good streak with several wins. Even more recently, they began losing to teams they should be beating in Western Canada. When Tuukka Rask is playing well the team is fire. When he’s not the team’s not got the defense to help him. 38 year old Zdeno Chara, on the trade block before the season, is still the team’s best defender, and he’s not going anywhere. Allowing five goals to the Calgary Flames isn’t helping anybody. Don’t get me wrong, the Bruins D has improved from the start of the year. But anything is an improvement over that. For a team known for it’s defense, this isn’t a great year. The most surprising thing is that they’re beating the Lightning and are a point down from fourth in the Atlantic with two to go.
Strength: Offense (Krejci, Erikkson, Bergeron)
Weakness: Health (Chara, Seidenberg)
Surprise: The defense after the first fifteen games
Buffalo Sabres:
Wow. In a year dominated by Max Domi, Artemi Panarin, Dylan Larkin and the not-currently-healthy Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel is nowhere near the rookie picture. Which is surprising, considering the numerous experts predicting Eichel to be better than McDavid. He’s certainly been healthier. For the record, I was the only one calling Artemi Panarin as Rookie of the Year before the season. Buffalo’s got a lot to figure out, but being two points below the Lightning most years is a very good thing. There’s one player I can rave about on this roster, and thats Rasmus Ristolainen. Who saw this guy coming before the season?
Strength: Defense (Ristolainen, Gorges, Franson)
Weakness: Robin Lehner’s health (where’s this guy been? Almost like he disappeared)
Surprise: Jack Eichel. Actual disappearance
Calgary Flames:
The Flames are the other surprise in the Pacific. Two of the teams (the Ducks) who made sure the Kings didn’t get to the playoffs last year are now lingering at the bottom with the lets-draft-another-forward Edmonton Oilers. The Flames are about to get hot, but the fact they haven’t been really shows what is meant by fluke seasons. I don’t think anybody expected Jiri Hudler to replicate last season, but 16 points and a -9 plus/minus? Johnny Gaudreau is still the best “Johnny (insert Sport)” 26 points leads the team and he’s got a positive plus/minus which is a rarity on any team this year.
Strength: Offense (Nothing Else is really a strength)
Weakness: Goaltending. Kari Ramo with a 3.06 GAA leads the team
Surprise: Defense. Where has it been? Where for art thou Dougie?
Carolina Hurricanes:
For the first time in a long time, the Canes have points in more games than games they don’t have points. Not exactly a winning record but it’s a sign of progress for the team. A large part of this is due to the defense and goaltending, both positions with bright futures for Carolina. Justin Faulk and Noah Hanifin lead the way for the Canes D, and both are very young. Faulk leads the team in points at 19, and Hanifin has only a -3 for the season so far, not bad for a rookie, especially when offensive leaders like Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal hold that same plus/minus. That’s where the problem lies for the team, is there offense is nowhere to be seen. When a defender leads the team and is not named Karlsson, it’s time to panic. If the offense does get better, the team can only go up.
Strength: Defense. Faulk and Hanifin on team friendly contracts won’t last long, but they will be two of the best American defenders and so should be the reliable tent poles of the team for a long time.
Weakness: Offense. Five players have double digit points. No one has double digit goals.
Surprise: Kris Versteeg. Tied for second in points on the team with 16, when the Blackhawks traded him I thought it was for good reason. Now I’m not so sure. They could certainly use his production.
Chicago Blackhawks:
Well. Kaner certainly is great. If Ovechkin was hurt, Kaner would be able to take his crown as best wing in the game. Kane is playing angry, and as NFL fans saw with the Pats, that’s dangerous. The rest of the team… not so dangerous. I’m still trying to figure out some of Q’s moves this season. Mashinter over Dano? really? Bickell better start producing soon, nothing would feel better than shipping him and Rundblad out of town for any return.
Strength: KaneGB. The greatest line in hockey. Proving you don’t need to speak the same language to play good hockey.
Weakness: Depth. Wow, at the beginning of the season there was a lot of hype about the Chicago Blackhawks depth. That disappeared quickly as one line was productive offensively and the rest were quiet. The team is beginning to look like that team that got all the excitement, and if Dano is ever deemed good enough by Q (please) him, which ever AHL center they want to throw out there, and Shaw are going to be a dynamite third line.
Surprise: Jonathon Toews. Before the Winnipeg game Toews was nowhere to be seen the last month. Hossa and Teuvo woke him up. Teuvo is continuing to be one of my favorite players and one of the bright spots of the future of this team. Toews this season… not so much. Even Q thinks you need to keep your gloves on.
Colorado Avalanche:
The Avalanche continue to prove that the Central is the best division in hockey (and maybe sports) but the worst to play in. If they were in the Pacific maybe the Avalanche have a much better record. They certainly have the offense to be a contender. With the addition of Francois Beauchemin, and Erik Johnson and Tyson Barrie and Nick Holden, the Avs have the defense as well. They’re like the Blackhawks’ kid brother who everyone loves to pick on but in a few years that kid’s going to be pure muscle.
Strength: Offense. Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog, Soderberg and Iginla, it’s not surprising that the team has the ability to pack a punch offensively. MacKinnon is having the bounce back year that was expected, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he got close to 60 this year. The fact that’s impressive is telling of how worrisome offensive production is across the league the last few years.
Weakness: Goaltending. It has now been proven Seymon Varlamov isn’t an elite goaltender. He’s not even second or third tier right now. a 2.90 GAA and .900 SV isn’t impressive. And I was worried about Crawford. Pickard shouldn’t be approaching the NHL, worse than Varlamov with a 5.11 GAA and .840. Those stats might be deflated due to not playing a full game (47 minutes in 2 games), but it’s still not good.
Surprise: Francois Beauchemin. At 35 years of age, Beauchemin is on his way to his best season offensively since 2005-06. The move to Colorado was good for him, and the Avalanche aren’t complaining either.
Columbus Blue Jackets:
John Tortorella has been good for the BJs. The human testosterone injection has brought has usual energy and angry to a team that needed it. After starting with an alarming losing streak, the Blue Jackets have gotten much better and have been winning more than they have been losing. The team could do with a lot of things, including Auston Mathews.
Strength: There’s not much good going on with this team. I could say Torts is their strength, but I’m going the more interesting route. Puck Luck. The Blue Jackets are scoring good goals on lucky chances, and the puck is now going their way. A lot of the players have great shot percentages. Hartnell leads with 18.40 and ten players have above an 8%. It’s a good thing to get the puck on net, and CBJ is proving it.
Weakness: Chemistry. No line is the same as it was when the season started. That means not a lot of chances for players to build chemistry with their linemates. Chemistry is hugely important (the best line is KaneGB who has been consistent and developed their game together already) and allowing players to develop their game together is beneficial.
Surprise: Brandon Saad. Despite offensive production this season, Saad is now playing on the fourth line for the Blue Jackets. Hey, if he’s that bad, I’m sure there’s teams (the Blackhawks) willing to take him off your hands for a decent return (Mashinter and Bickell).
Dallas Stars:
The first team to win 20 games this season is flying high on the backs of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Huh, Deja vu. Benn and Seguin are consistently the Stars best players and it hasn’t changed. The pair’s bromance has continued despite shakeups at the other wing. Patrick Sharp is now a third liner. Speaking of people the Blackhawks would be willing to have back. Their defense, missing all of last year, has also been rejuvinated by the play of John Klingberg and the addition of Johnny Oduya.
Strength: Offensive production. Seguin and Benn are tied second in the league at thirty-five points. Tied with themselves, by the way. John Klingberg is one of the defensive offensive leaders at a PPG, and pretty much everyone is chipping in. Most players have positive plus/minuses and the team is all about offense, and is losing very few games because of it. It’s gotta be fun to be a Star.
Weakness: Goaltending. Antti Niemi has a .909 SV percentage. Kari Lehtonen continues to be a great backup at best. A 2.57 and 2.37 GAA respectively. For a team with such great offense and a good and upcoming defense, the Stars shouldn’t have this poor goaltending. If it improves, look for the Stars to continue their dominance into the playoffs, where they will run into other issues (inexperience)
Surprise: Jason Demers. Throughout his whole career, Demers has been inconsistent offensive production wise. Now, though, the Stars have helped him find consistency and if he gets healthy he could have another thirty-point outing like he did in 2013-14. I would say somebody else, but nothing really surprises me about this Stars team.
Detroit Red Wings:
Not bad for a team that started the year hurt and has been getting healthier and healthier as the season has gone on. Also not bad for a team willing to pay Justin Abdelkader big money based on one season (cough cough Bryan Bickell mistake). Larkin is the second best rookie this year and has scored 22 points, good for tied first on the team. He’s going to be dangerous, that one is. Larkin also has a massive +20 plus/minus. For a year Datsyuk’s been hurt and Zetterbeard’s only assisting, that’s really good.
Strength: Youth. Larkin, Nyquist, and Danny DeKeyser are leading this otherwise aging team into the future, which is something Detroit can be very happy with. DeKeyser can be a reliable top 4 dman going into the future and Larkin and Nyquist are going to be on Detroit’s top 2 lines for years to come. The streak of the Red Wings playoff appearances isn’t ending anytime soon.
Weakness: Defense. Petr Mrazek has a 2.41 GAA but a .924 SV. That doesn’t happen on a team with good defense. The fact he’s saved that many shots but has allowed that many goals is a reflection on the shots the defense is allowing, not on Mrazek himself. Both he and Howard have good SVs and so the Goaltending is not to blame, at least not this year.
Surprise: Dylan Larkin. Absolutely no one saw the rookie race coming down to Larkin, Domi and Panarin, but that’s what it’s looking like. Both the Red Wings and Blackhawks lucked out with their selections (well the Hawks free agency, but they selected to go in free agency… selections) and like I said, Larkin’s a really impressive rookie. He leads all rookies in goals.
Edmonton Oilers:
The Oilers aren’t the bottom of the Pacific. That’s what they should be happy about. Otherwise, the season so far has been a let down for the Oilers. Cam Talbot isn’t performing like Edmonton is paying him to. Connor McDavid has now missed sixteen games. Jordan Eberle has missed thirteen. The defense still isn’t playing quite right, and the goaltenders are being left to their own devices. Luckily Nillson knows what to do, but he’s still getting shot on too much. It’s fair to say that the Oilers gameplan of drafting forwards at the number one position is no longer working for the team. Look for them to do it again.
Strength: Taylor Hall, 30 points. Otherwise there’ve been no strengths of this largely unimpressive roster.
Weakness: Health. Like I said, McDavid is hurt. Eberle’s been hurt. Only four players have played all 29 games for the Oilers. The team will look to get healthier as the year continues, but the struggle will be improving once healthy.
Surprise: Anders Nillson, the kid, just 25, young for a tender, and without really any defensive support, has posted a .917 SV and a 2.65 GAA. If he had more support, Nillson would be a viable starter for the Oilers right now, something they expected of Talbot, but have not had their expectations met. Nillson is surpassing expectations, and on most other teams would be the next Eddie Lack – taking the spot of the guy who’s paid to start.
Florida Panthers:
A very impressive win over the Capitals to deny them 20 shows just what this team can do – relying on youth, the team dominated. Roberto Luongo played like the Bobby Lu of old. Jaromir Jagr continues what it means to age in the NHL – like fine wine. The combination of Barkov-Huberdeau looks to be good for years to come, plus they add exceptional youth every year. Ekblad will be one of the best defensemen in seven years. Hell, this team makes Al Montoya look great.
Strength: Youth. The aforementioned Barkov, Huberdeau, and Ekblad. Trocheck, Smith, Pirri, Bjugstad. All 25 and under. All reliable and productive. This is a team built for the present and future. If they don’t get a playoff spot this year, expect it next year and the year after and the year after. The Panthers could be the next Kings.
Weakness: Depth. The fourth line is centered by Dave Bolland, who is being payed more like a second line centerman. Hell, Artem Anisimov, currently the league’s top 2nd line centerman, makes 3 million and will continue to for the next six years. Their last three defensemen aren’t good enough to be anything but sixth and seventh defensemen on other teams. This team will continue to improve, but the depth has got to get better if they’re going to make a deep playoff run in the near future.
Surprise: Al Montoya. He’s only played seven games, but in those seven games Montoya has a 1.91 GAA and .929 SV. Those are damn good numbers, and it’s surprising he’s not played more games. But when Roberto is playing the way he is, this goalie tandem can function on just about any arrangement. Montoya might be the next Cam Talbot if he continues these numbers the rest of the year.
Los Angeles Kings:
The Kings are the top of the Pacific. Not an all too tough thing to do these years, but it’s still impressive. They stand a decent chance of being the next team to get to twenty wins. With the way the team is playing, that’s not surprising. The Kings are a good team again, and after screwing around far too long last year, the mentality of the team has changed. Don’t be surprised if theres another classic series in the budding LA-CHI rivalry. Jeff Carter is proving why he’s the best attacking zone center on the team and Anze’s doing his best to work his way into serious Selke consideration.
Strength: Health. The top ten producers for the Kings have played every game. They’re a very healthy team this year, and it’s shown itself in the results the team is bringing. If the team stays this healthy, they’re going to be a fun team to watch all year.
Weakness: Depth. This is another team with very little depth, especially on the offensive zone. It’s not that the Kings third and fourth lines are bad, it’s that they’re inexperienced, especially in the playoffs. Nick Shore, Jordan Weal, Jordan Nolan, Andy Andreoff. None of them have expanded NHL experience. Are there some injured players on the Kings? Yes. But these players could be called up in the playoffs, and if they are, well, the Kings will have to rely on some inconsistency in two of their lines.
Surprise: Marian Gaborik. Finally, not a positive one. Gaborik used to be a very good player. So far this season, he’s not showing any signs of the player there once was. If Jagr is the good side of aging, Gaborik is the downside. Nine points through 28 games is simply not good enough unless your name is Andrew Shaw. But Gaborik is not Andrew Shaw, and he’s not paid to play like Andrew Shaw. Gaborik’s gotta score crucial points like he did when the Kings last won.
Minnesota Wild:
The Wild have had a very quiet season. They haven’t made much noise, but after a few rough months, they’re still hanging around in the Central. After playing the fewest amount of games, the Wild have game in hand on everybody and if that’s dangerous at this stage of the game. Look for the Wild to be competitive in December and January.
Strength: Consistency. Say anything about the Wild, but they know their strengths, they utilize them, and they keep them. The Wild are a defensive minded club, and behind Ryan Suter, also leading the team in points this year, that’s not a bad thing. The Wild’s other six guys, Spurgeon, Dumba, Scandella, Brodin, Prosser, and Folin are solid behind Suter, and the team has a good thing going with Dubnyk in net.
Weakness: Offensive Superstar. The Minnesota Wild are currently lacking an offensive superstar, something that all other teams in the Central have. They don’t have the reliable player who’s going to score in big situations, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have offensive production. Thomas Vanek is having another great season, while Mikko Koivu is suited to the second line and its showing.
Surprise: Matt Dumba. It’s kind of hard to choose a surprise when so many of the Wild’s players are so consistent, but Dumba is looking to get his most games played in a season this year, and if he does that he’s going to have more points than he has in other seasons. Dropping 55 might have been good for Dumba, who’s having his offensive break-through season this year.
Montreal Canadiens:
The Habs, who started the season off the right way, with eight straight victories, have gone about five hundred, between wins and losses (including OT), since then. Their still a dynamite team and look like one of the best teams out of the East. This is a team that gets the most possible production out of its players, and the defense is rock solid behind the productive offense.
Strength: Share the Wealth. Everybody on offense is expected to produce. Everybody on offense helps each other out to make that possible. 13 players have double digit points. Out of those thirteen, only three have more goals than assists. Plekanec and Subban each have 20. This is a team that relies on teamwork and that has worked out well for the team.
Weakness: Health. This is another team without many of it’s talented players. Carey Price has played fewer games than Mike Condon, and while the rookie has been good in net, he’s not Carey Price. Brendan Gallegher, important on ice and in the locker room, has also been absent from the ice for a while. In addition, Torrey Mitchell and Zack Kassian, two players who would help with the Habs depth, have also been off the ice. Kassian has missed the whole season to this point after being brought in from a trade for Prust over the offseason.
Surprise: Mike Condon. The Habs have gone from a two way goalie battle between Condon and Tokarski for backup to Condon being the best rookie goalie this season and starting the majority of the Habs games to this point. Condon’s posting a 2.28 GAA and a .911 SV. Enough to tie the Habs over as they wait for the return of the best goalie in the league.
Nashville Predators:
Hey, remember when the Predators couldn’t score? So do I! Cries about the 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks. This a team who is all about the defense, and is led entirely by that defense and by Pekka Rinne, a top five goalie who’s not playing top five this year. The team has had a few rough months, and it’s why they’re now trailing the Blackhawks by a point.
Strength: That defense on the Predators though. Led by Roman Josi, who also leads the team in scoring with 22, the Preds are both deep defensively and dangerous from the blue line. I say they’re led by Josi because while Josi is constantly improving, Shea Weber has not been the same player since getting injured in the Smashville-Chicago playoff series. This Predators D includes Weber and Josi, along with Seth Jones, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm and Barrett Jackman. It’s a force to be reckoned with.
Weakness: Offense. This is the flip side of the Dallas Stars from last year. They have a focus on the defensive side of the puck, and while that does help produce points (41 between Weber and Josi) that also leads to things like Riberio being your first line center for all of last year. They’re lucky Jarnkrok (who I’m now calling Jank Rock) came out of nowhere to have his so far best season and take over that first center. Riberio makes a much better second line center. This is also a team who’s had to deal with multiple injuries offensively, which has led to the need for players like Sissons, Salomaki, hell, even Cody Bass has seen time on this team.
Surprise: Aforementioned Calle Jank Rock. Jank Rock has taken over for Riberio, and has allowed the Predators to get some much needed depth. This is a guy who had 18 points last year and is already half way there. He’s also only 24, so the Predators have time to let him develop, if they see potential, into a needed first line center.
New Jersey Devils:
For the life of me I can’t figure out how the hell the Devils are so good. I mean, how? How? This is a team that came into the season projected as a landing spot for Auston Mathews. They could still pull a Toronto and fade down the stretch, but they’re currently in a wild card spot, and nobody saw that happening this season. It’s almost like the whole rosters of the Devils and Blue Jackets had a Freaky Friday situation and haven’t learned their lessons yet. The Devils might be procrastinating on learning that lesson.
Strength: Cory Schneider. The Gingkeeper has been on fire since being traded to a team matching his hair color, and he continues to be a force in net. He’s got a 2.09 GAA and a .926 SV and those are dope numbers. He’s got a good defense in front of him, but some nights its just him out there and he robs victories for the team.
Weakness: Age. That’s what everybody expected to hold this team back, and it’s still not a young team. It has one of the oldest average ages at 27.14, and with leaders like Patrick Elias (39) and Mike Cammalleri (33) it’s not hard to see why. But the Devils also have bright futures with Adam Larsson and Schneider, and so are more future oriented.
Surprise: A lot of this team surprises me. Really, most surprising, Lee Stempniak. Remember when he couldn’t get a contract? Now he’s a 20 point scorer already. They’re paying him less than a million to be one of their best players. He’s proving that injury is the only thing that drags him down, and when he’s healthy he’s a force to be reckoned with. A lot of GMs are currently slapping their foreheads and saying “we could have had him for 850000?”
New York Islanders:
Remember A few things to consider before the general panic. when Kyle Okposo was on the trade block? No? That’s being denied? Okay. Well, he’s nowhere close now, leading the team in scoring at 26 with 18 assists. He’s now back with Tavares and Brock Nelson, having finished the season on the second line. Okposo performing better allows for a better first line but also adds depth to the second line and allows for more offensive production from the team. Any player playing better is good, especially when that’s the team’s top wing.
Strength: Defense. It’s an amazing defense, one that has Johnny Boychuk, sorely missed by the Boston Bruins, on the second pairing, with Nick Leddy, sorely missed by the Chicago Blackhawks and Travis Hamonic as the top pair. If Hamonic leaves the team as is expected, the team won’t suffer too much, with Boychuk being bumped up and the strength of the Islanders last three defensemen De Haan, Hickey and Zidlicky. Brian Strait isn’t a bad seventh defenseman either, and if the Islanders are forced to trade Hamonic they should expect a defenseman in return.
Weakness: One Goal Games. Many of the games decided by one goal in the Islanders schedule have ended in the negative for the Islanders. This is a problem for the Islanders come playoff time when most games are decided by one goal. The Islanders are able to shut teams down and can be shut down themselves, but if they’re going to get far in the playoffs their going to have to get better at coming from behind and playing in close games.
Surprise: Nick Leddy’s shot percentage. It currently stands at zero, something that Leddy’s going to have to change. As a defenseman known for his offense, Leddy is currently surprisingly in a goalless drought, something I wouldn’t have expected at the start of the season. As it currently stands, Leddy is one of the last starters to score himself. Nine assists is good, but a few goals and nine assists is better.
New York Rangers:
Once again, the Rangers are a very good team and one of the best of the East. Lundqvist is Lundqvist, and he has a competent backup in Antii Raanta. Their offense is finding production this year, and their defense, despite the massive Dan Girardi contract, has been good. The Rangers are looking towards the playoffs again, and if they can stay healthy then this is a team to look out for.
Strength: Once again, this is a team with many strengths. But the one that sticks out is Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist should be up for a Hart this year as well as the Vezina, especially with Price out for so long. Posting a .933 SV and 2.14 GAA, Lundqvist is a league leader and is playing like a man on a mission – he’s hunting for his first Cup, the one thing he doesn’t have in his resume.
Weakness: Shot Allowance. Lundqvist has amazing stats, but in 25 games, Lundqvist has faced 786 shots, allowing 53 goals. This is where the losses are coming from. He’s facing an average of 31.4 shots a game, which is also a league leading stat. Even the greatest, like Lundqvist, is going to have a hard time dominating facing those numbers. If the team was able to allow less shot attempts, it would be better and more dominant. It’s an issue the Rangers are going to have to fix.
Surprise: The Rangers are my second favorite team. I’ve come to learn a lot about them and so I know what to expect. What I didn’t expect was Viktor Stalberg. Stalberg has nine points in 28 games. That doesn’t seem that good, but for someone I knew for shooting into the chest and scoring very few goals, he’s been spectacular. After being cut by Nashville, he’s been playing consistently and has put up a +7 for the Rangers. He’s better than some of the wings the Rangers had going last year and is playing much better hockey on a much better team.
Ottawa Senators:
The Senators are barely holding onto third place, especially as the Bruins have two games in hand. A pretty quick turn around as Ottawa once had a dominant lead. This is due in part to losing five of their last nine and allowing OT points in two of their four victories. Ottawa remains a good team but they need to learn to close games earlier.
Strength: Through 31 games, Erik Karlsson leads the league’s defenseman with 34 points scored, and that’s a group Karlsson is a part of: the club’s youth. The team has many greats under 25, including Chiasson, Karlsson, Lazar, Stone, Pageau, Wideman and Cowen. With so many great performing players, the future is bright for the Sens and they should expect to contend for years to come.
Weakness: There are two major weaknesses on the Ottawa Senators club. Their health has been a major concern, with Clarke MacArthur only playing four games, Chris Phillips having not yet played, and Milan Michalek has recently been hurt. The Goaltending of the Senators has also been a concern (apart from Craig Anderson). Hammond has only played in four games, and the Senators have used four goaltenders so far. Not good for a team that thought it had three excellent goaltenders going into the season.
Surprise: The Ottawa Senators are a tale of black and white: the dark side of their special teams in their PK and the bright side in their Power Play. They are ranked in the bottom ten with 77% on penalties killed but also are top ten in power plays scored on with 20%. The inconsistency of these two sides of their team is revealing about their defense and offense.
Philadelphia Flyers:
So the Flyers have seperated their two best players in Voracek and Giroux. Take it from the Anaheim Ducks, this rarely works out well. But the Flyers are desperate for a playoff spot and need some wins. This is not their year, despite a solid start to the season, but they have one of the best groups of defensive prospects, a position they will need an overhaul in, and their offense should find their footing this season. It’s a team to watch if these prospects pan out.
Strength: Offense. The team is offensively stacked with stars Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, and Schenn. But the team is also getting offensive production from depth players like Shane Gostisbehere. Ghostbear, as is the nickname, has been a solid part of the team in his 18 games and leads the defense with 14 points. Not bad for the rookie. He seems to be the leader of the future defense and is one of the first to come up.
Weakness: Special Teams. Both PK and Power Play rank in the bottom half of the league at 18th and 26th respectively. If the team is going to be better in the future their abilities on these units is going to need to improve.
Surprise: Michal Neuvirth. In his first season with the Flyers, the journeyman has a .937 SV and a 2.06 GAA. Not bad for a guy who is playing backup on a team where goaltending has been very underrated and the only consistency has been Mason. If the Flyers want to keep Neuvirth, they will have one of the better goaltending tandems to go along with their solid offense. Neuvirth also has 3 shutouts on the season.
Pittsburgh Penguins:
Pittsburgh has been disappointed with how the team has fared this season. Too be fair, who hasn’t been disappointed? Everyone was excited about the addition of Phil Kessel to the seemingly already great offense, but once again the team remains two lines of forwards, and the depth of the team just doesn’t exist. They’re going to need to fix that if they expect to get Crosby another cup. Pittsburgh continues to prove offensive stars are not the only thing needed in hockey.
Strength: First Two Offensive Lines. Crosby and Malkin remain excellent centers. The duo has put up 22 and 30 points respectively. Kessel has put up 22. Hornqvist 11. Perron, Plotnikov, and Kunitz, who have made up the other top wings for the team, have put up 27 points combined.
Weakness: The Penguins weaknesses are currently two-fold. They have been unhealthy, and their best players at each position are currently in the skybox with injuries. That’s Kris Letang, Marc Andre Fluery and Sidney Crosby all missing. Then, the depth for this team still has not stepped up. They need a fourth line. They have talent players going up against talent players, and the best teams will win that talent matchup everytime. Look for the Penguins to hit the open market to get available defensive fourth liners. They need Marcus Kruger more than they need Phil Kessel.
Surprise: Phil Kessel. He has not excelled to the point he did in Toronto despite a monumentally better center. He’s played with Malkin and Crosby and still has found very little success. He has 22 points but he should have around 30. There’s a reason he’s now playing with Bonino and not Malkin on the first line.
San Jose Sharks:
The Sharks are looking up again. They look like the only true challengers to the Kings in the Pacific, and if the current standings remain, they look to be the team going into LA for the Division Finals. They’ve figured out their captain issues, and the team finally has a solid, reliable head coach behind the bench. Peter DeBoer could be up for the Jack Adams for his work in settling the team.
Strength: The Point. The Defense is helping the offense a lot this season, in fact three of the top seven scorers for the Sharks are defensemen. Brent Burns, Marc-Eduoard Vlasic, and Justin Braun. Brent Burns continues to be one of the most undderrated defensemen in the National Hockey League, especially on the offensive side. the Caveman could be a Norris contender and would deserve that title. The Sharks are 12th in Power Play and a lot of that is the defensemen helping move the puck.
Weakness: Alex Stalock. How much longer are the Sharks going to stick with this guy. He has one of the lowest SVs with a .890 and a 3.10 GAA. And that’s not because of the defense. As stated, the Sharks have three wonderful defensemen in Burns, Vlasic, and Braun and have Paul Martin, Brendon Dillon, and Matt Tennyson to back that up. Stalock’s gotta get better or he’s gotta leave town.
Surprise: Martin Jones. In his first season as a starter, Jones has three shutouts (all at the start of the season) a 2.37 and a .916. That’s opposed to the aforementioned other netminder for the Sharks. Jones will continue to get better as he gains experience, and we’ll see how he fares the rest of the season, but the upgrade and change of scenery has appeared to be good for him.
St. Louis Blues:
The Blues are another team having a quiet season in the Central. Strange considering they’re currently in second. But that’s become expected of St. Louis. They have great regular seasons then can’t compete in the playoffs. This is a team well built this season though. Vladmir Tarasenko, the Quiet Russian, is a star in this league. The rest of the team can bully other teams. Elliot and Allen, despite not being big names, are each reliable and solid goaltenders.
Strength: Defense. Alex Pietrangelo leads the unit in play while Kevin Shattenkirk leads in points. Jay Bouwmeester rounds out their top three. Then the team has depth at the position with Gunnarson, Parayko, Edmundson, and Bortuzzo. The strength of the Blues over the last five years has resided in the defense, and it’s no different this year.
Weakness: Health and Offensive Depth. Players who have missed at least five games for the Blues: Kevin Shattenkirk, Paul Stastny, Jaden Schwartz, Magnus Paajarvi, Steve Ott, Joel Edmundson. These are important players on the Blues, and it’s hard to win when you’re not healthy. Shattenkirk and Stastny have both missed ten or more games. That’s two of the Blues’ highest scorers who are missing games. Schwartz is a talented wing and missing him has been hard for the Blues. He’d be one of their top scorers if he had played more. All these missing players is showing how little depth the Blues have. Steve Ott, despite not really doing anything when he’s on the ice, has been missed. The team has had to rely on Scottie Upshall and Dmitrj Jaskin. The same Scottie Upshall not re-signed by the Panthers. Dmitrj Jaskin is no Jaden Schwartz.
Surprise: Colton Parayko. In his rookie season for the Blues, the defenseman has fifteen points and a +14. Who saw that coming?
Tampa Bay Lightning:
Where is the Lightning this season? They’re certainly not a part of the NHL race. That’s partly because the Triplets have yet to spend any time together. That’s also because Stamkos isn’t scoring in a contract year. The team has had almost zero turnover from their cup run. They still have stars at every position, including goalie where Ben Bishop has bounced back from his playoff injury, posting a 2.00 GAA and .926 SV. If the team gets healthy they have plenty of time to get back into the midst. They’re only six points seperated from Montreal.
Strength: Ben Bishop, Victor Hedman, and Steven Stamkos. The three biggest stars for the Lightning are performing well again this year. They’re all also in their twenties and if they can fanagle room for Bishop, will continue to be the stars of this team. Steven Stamkos is the leading scorer for the Lightning, and despite rumors of being the biggest piece available at the deadline, he continues to strive for this Lightning team. Hedman paces the defense with 18 points and a +10 rating. Bishop’s stellar stats have been mentioned. These three will look to lead the team into the playoffs.
Weakness: As mentioned, the Lightning have been missing key pieces for most of the year. The Tripets, one of the best lines in the league, has been missing Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat. Jonathon Drouin, the young one helping Stamkos, is also hurt. Also missing are Andrei Visolevsky and JT Brown. If the Lightning do get healthy, expect them to compete.
Surprise: Vladislav Namestnikov. Having spent the last two seasons bouncing around the Lightning and their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch, Namestnikov is making a Namest (get it?) for himself, playing with Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, the healthy triplet, as the Drouin fill in. So far this season, Vladislav has 15 points through 35 games, almost equal to the total he had last season. Namestnikov is also at a +7 so far.
Toronto Maple Leafs:
Ah yes. The bottom feeding team Mike Babcock left the Detroit Red Wings for. When he got there he said there would be pain. He’s correct so far. The Leafs are third from the bottom in the East, but among the bottom three, the Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs and Hurricanes, the Leafs have the second best offense and the best defense/goaltending. They’re going to have to do better, or should I say worse, if they want a good shot at Auston Mathews. James Remier looks to be the permanent solution in net for the Maple Leafs… if he can stay health.
Strength: Defense and Goaltending. Like I said, a healthy Remier is the permanent solution in Toronto’s net. Posting a 2.01 GAA and a .935 SV, Remier could be another dark horse Vezina candidate. Garrett Sparks, another injured netminder, looks to be his backup – for now. This means Jonathon Bernier could be traded. The netminders for Toronto also have support from the defense, including Dion Phaneuf, Morgan Reilly, and Roman Polak. They also have depth at the position with Jake Gardiner, Scott Harrington, Martin Marincin, and Matt Hunwick.
Weakness: Goalie Health. Remier and Sparks are both hurt. The Leafs will need both of them if they’re going to improve, because Bernier has proven himself to simply not be good enough. He was sent down to the Marlies for some time this season, and that’s more than just a statement.
Surprise: Leo Komarov. A summary of Komarov’s career to this point: Drafted in 2006. Didn’t see the NHL until 2012. Didn’t play more than 50 games until last year. This year, he’s the Leaf’s best wing. He leads them in scoring, tied with Van Reimsdyk. He’s been nicknamed Uncle Leo, and has been endeared in Toronto. And he’s nearly tied his point total from last year in 35 games. Leo is quite simply better this year. And he’s becoming one of Babcock’s favorites.
Vancouver Canucks:
So the Canucks are still a playoff team despite a drop off in play. That’s telling about the Pacific. In fact their last ten they’ve gone 4-5-1. The Coyotes have three games in hand and are a point down. They’re going to catch them. We’ll see if the Canucks can catch back up.
Strength: The first line. The Sedins are still the Sedins. Daniel leads the team in points with 36. Henrik has missed two games and has 32. Jannik Hansen, their linemate, is third with twenty. The three leading scorers being on one team means that it’s dangerous, but something to worry about is that the next leading scorer, Vrbata, has half the points of Daniel.
Weakness: Everything else. Like I said, after the first line, Vrbata has half the points of Daniel. Their line diversity isn’t great. Their defense is hurting. Everyone is aging. They have only seven players out of the twenty three or so who have played under 25. Everything is wrong with this team, which explains why they currently have more losses than wins.
Surprise: Their position. 13-14-9 and they’re third in the Pacific. There’s not much good about them, except where they’ve ended up.
Washington Capitals:
And now maybe the best team in the league this regular season. The Capitals are riding high on their experienced duo of Ovechkin and Backstrom, and have gotten quality play out of relative newcomers Kuznetsov and Oshie. Even with injuries, the Capitals only have 6 losses. The Stars might have been the first team to 50 points on the calendar but Washington did it in fewer games.
Strength: Chemistry. Everybody likes each other on this team. The lockerroom must be a ton of fun. Ovechkin the Captain is an easy going easy to like player. That helps a ton with other players. The environment of Washington is also unlike those in LA and Chicago and maybe even New York where the attitude is win at all costs. It’s what makes this team so fun to watch. Ovechkin has had good play this season, playing with two centers in Kuznetsov and Backstrom. Oshie on the other wing has adjusted quickly to the Washington system. It’s going to be alot of fun watching Washington the remainder of the season.
Weakness: There’s almost no weaknesses with this Capitals team. Especially not in the regular season. Their consistency and productivity throughout the short season thus far has proven this. Maybe there is one thing – the inexperience of the defense. Nate Schmidt and Taylor Chorney have been brought into high pressure situations, especially with Brooks Orpik injured. Chorney has spent very brief stints on other teams. This is both his first season with the Caps and may end up being the most games he’s played in a season. Schmidt has been with the Capitals for a while, but he has not had the ice time he is seeing now, especially playing on the first pairing with John Carlson.
Surprise: Jason Chimera. After a tough season last year where Chimera only put up 19 points in 77 games, he’s at the same total with 33 played this season. It’s fair to say that the Caps concerns with him from last season should be disspelled and that the veteran has adjusted nicely to his new spot on the bottom six. Expect Chimera to continue being one of the most productive below the first two lines.
Winnipeg Jets:
Last but certainly least, especially in the Central division, the Winnipeg Jets. After a smooth start to the season including getting up to third in standings, the Jets have had a noticeable fall off, and trade rumors have already started circulating. Their last ten the Jets have gone 4-6-0, contibuting to their 15-17-2 record. They are currently dead last in the Central, below even the Colorado Avalanche.
Strength: The Jets should be grateful for Blake Wheeler. That’s where most of their points are coming from, as Wheeler paces the team with 35 points, good for more than a point per game clip. Wheeler’s other stats are worrying and signs of ultimate demise, however, as Wheeler has a 0 plus minus with those thirty five points. Zero.
Weakness: That’s what’s concerning. Whether it’s the fault of the defense or the goaltending, the Jets have awful plus minuses across the board. They need to get better in their own zone if they’re going to get above the Avalanche and expect to be competitive in the Central. Oh, and by the by I place more blame on the goaltending. It’s been an issue with the Jets for a while, and they’ve never addressed it. Ondrej Palat continues to prove that while he might seem statistically like a decent goaltender with a .906 SV, there’s room for improvement with a 2.82 GAA. The other two goaltenders the Jets have used this season have similar stats. That’s gotta improve.
Surprise: Nikolaj Ehler’s fall from grace. Once part of the rookie race, Ehlers is now far from it and while Panarin and Larkin pace the other rookies, Ehlers is useful for the Jets but simply not in the same league as those other rookies.