The Pacific is still trying to overcome several teams trying to avoid a massive collapse. The Canadian division has one team that has stood out while everyone else has underachieved. Let’s take a look shall we!
Anaheim Ducks: The glorious tank is rolling through Honda Center with avengence. Even if they have one of the best farm systems in hockey the Ducks are being carried by John Gibson and his worn out body thanks to their slow defense. Can you please trade Gibby to a real team for everyone’s sake!
Arizona Coyotes: As expected the Arizona Coyotes are a dark horse candidate for a playoff run. Even if they didn’t bring back Taylor Hall as well as some of the nonsense that has hit them off the ice they still have a solid chance at a playoff berth. Clayton Keller has been as good as advertised and Phil Kessel is back in 2016 form. If there is anything that this team has hope for it is that they are one of the few teams that has 2 starting caliber goalies. The problem for them is that both Darcy Kuempner and Antti Raanta are on the injured list but should be back for the playoff push. They need both of them back if they have any chance at holding off St Louis or San Jose for the last playoff spot in the Pacific. Good luck!
Colorado Avalanche: Just like Vegas was a few years ago the Avs have transformed into the Neofight of the NHL. Which means that they are a steamroller despite all of the injury and defensive questions there are. Just like he did as a player in the mid 1990s, Joe Sakic has built an hockey empire in the Rocky Mountains. Nathan MacKinnon has been the front seat driver to this machine but the rest of their Top 6 which contains the likes of Mikko Rantanen, Andre Burakovsky, Nazem Kadri, Brandon Saad, and Valeri Nichushkin is the best in all of hockey. Despite all of the high end talent on the roster and Philip Grubauer having the best season of his career in net there are still some questions about their lack of playoff success. I don’t know if they can get past Vegas with this core. Hopefully I’m wrong about these guys!
Los Angeles Kings: All I can say is that the rebuild has been going well for the Kings despite having to deal with the boys club that is their front office and locking up Drew Doughty to one of the biggest contracts in hockey. At least their young core has promise but at least they aren’t as bad as they were in 2019 and 2020. Honestly even with Jonathan Quick having his best season since 2018 it will be a huge uphill climb towards a playoff spot with their upcoming schedule. At least next offseason they have a good amount of Cap Space.
Minnesota Wild: What am I hearing this right! The Minnesota Wild are a potential Cup contender. Just like 2017 the Wild have had several players producing in bunches despite the bad contracts of Zach Parise, and Ryan Suter. In this case they have a new force that is leading their Top 6. Kirill Kaprizov, the way he snipes opposing defenses has given this team optimism that it hasn’t seen since they made it to the 3rd Round in 2003. (Kaprizov = Mike Madano in 1991) If they’re going to have any chance against the likes of the Golden Knights or the Avs they are going to need Cam Talbot to avoid a rapid decline. This is the learning experience year if anything. Just don’t do what Chuck Fletcher did to the team in 2012 and give out 13 year contracts again.
San Jose Sharks: The Sharks this year have been in a difficult position. They are within striking distance of a playoff berth but there are plenty of things that are holding them back. In particular the Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, and Logan Couture contracts. Despite the fact that Martin Jones is inconsistent as ever and the defense is either a tire fire or has no problems at all this team can overtake the Coyotes and Blues for a playoff spot. Honestly I’m excited that Patrick Marleau has set the NHL record for most games played. Even if they don’t make the playoffs after the bad year they had last year it will get plenty of people on their side again if they come very close to making it.
St Louis Blues: Once again I’m going to ask. How many times can this team have momentum only for a key player to go down. I’m not saying that they are in a rough spot on the defense because Torey Krug has so far been his old self. Injuries to Alex Steen, Oscar Sundqvist, and Carl Gunnarsson have killed them. Jordan Binnington since his massive extension has also fought the injury bug. The good news for Blues fans is that they still control their own destiny when it comes to making the playoffs. As long as Tarasenko, Schwartz, and O’Reilly are healthy they have a shot.
Vegas Golden Knights: As expected the Vegas Golden Knights are a Cup Contender in every shape and form. Even if Alex Pietrangelo hasn’t felt the same way he did in St Louis, both he and William Karlsson as well as Mark Stone and that 2 headed monster in Fleury and Lehner still lead the charge. This is a team that can put 4 solid lines at you at every given moment. (This is what everyone said about Peter DeBoer when he was in San Jose and New Jersey) Not to mention Shea Theodore and Alec Martinez are back in old form again. This is a squad that truly has no weaknesses but the question is can they avoid being cocky like last year. I hope they do just so they can learn their lesson.
Up in the Canadian Division there are mostly underachievers but there are a few squads that have stood out. Let’s take a look at what’s in store.
Calgary Flames: If I were to find any team this year that has done less with more it would be the Calgary Flames. This is the 3 time in 4 years that this has happened and despite the heroics of Johnny Hockey and Tkachuk there are serious questions surrounding the 3rd and 4th lines as well as goaltending. So far Jacob Markstrom hasn’t been the game changer that Calgary was expecting but there is still time to make up for the issues he has had. Chris Tanev hasn’t lived up to his contract, that’s not shocking at all to anyone outside of the organization. (He now has played 2nd fiddle to his younger brother in Pittsburgh when it comes to family bragging rights.) There are still a bunch of games left and they should make the playoffs only to get crushed by the Leafs or Oilers.
Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers are once again in the conversation for a deep playoff run. If you look at this team from a depth standpoint there are serious flaws in their game plan especially the bottom 6. If there is any chance that this team has at a deep playoff run it’s on the backs of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. I would say Ryan Nuggent Hopkins but he has been injured as of late and most likely won’t be back until the playoffs. In his absence their attack has gotten a boost with Darnell Nurse and Adam Larsson, 2 Powerplay QBs that are entering their primes. As long as Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith don’t run out of gas this team is winning at least 1 playoff series. It really just depends on who they face.
Montreal Canadiens: The Canadiens went from a team that looked like a dark horse Cup contender at the beginning of the season to fighting for their playoff lives. For a team that fired their coach after a massive losing streak earlier in the season they at least have played up to expectations of being good but not great. The good news for Marc Bergivin is that other than Carey Price they really don’t have any bad contracts. That’s likely going to change when Kotkaniemi gets a massive pay-day this summer. Even if Price has struggled this season Jake Allen is at least a decent 2nd option in net if things continue to go South. Considering that they have a rough finish ahead of them they need the speed and skill of their front lines to breakout like they did against the Pens last year. Good luck!
Ottawa Senators: Well it appears that Eugene Melnyk spending spree last fall has backfired big time. Expected to make some improvement in terms of their record this year the Senators have only disappointed their employees who made all of those marketing advertisements. Matt Murray hasn’t been the same since he got crushed in the playoffs by Montreal last year. At least their 1st line looks promising for the future. I will give them a few years before they can be taken seriously.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Just like the past few seasons the Maple Leafs have gotten incredible hype but this time have managed to play up to potential. John Tavares has looked invisible at times but he still is one of the most potent players in their starting line. That includes their “Golden God” Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Morgan Reilly, and William Nylander. When they go at full speed they have the chance to win their first Cup since 1967, however they often have problems closing out games. Even if they get the Presidents Trophy they will be thrown to the fire right away considering that they haven’t won a playoff series in 17 years. I do have one more thing, SHOVE THE UNDERACHIEVING YEARS INTO THE INCINERATOR!
Vancouver Canucks: The Canucks with modern day flash and speed are still dealing with the nerves of capitalizing on some of their free agent signings from years past. Braden Holtby hasn’t been the same as he was in Washington and their front lines have had to overcome injuries. For a team that had potential Cup ambitions this is an unacceptable year but there is still time to make a push at the playoffs. I don’t know how Brock Boeser, JT Miller and Bo Horvat look so invisible at times despite their talents. Just don’t let Jim Benning have too much control on free agency. Then you realize that the Canucks have overtaken the Baltimore Ravens for the biggest COVID outbreak in all of sports since the shutdown last March. I just don’t know if you can recover from that
Winnipeg Jets: Like the Maple Leafs this is another team that has Cup expectations but sometimes is frustrating to watch. Even if Connor Hellebuyck is back in Vezina Caliber form there are plenty of things that are good and bad about this team. The good being Paul Stastny and Blake Wheeler. Both are producing their usual numbers this year. If there is anything that the Jets have going for them it’s that they have the most playoff experience in their division since they have been the closest Canadian team to the Stanley Cup Finals. I think that gives them a lift for the playoffs. PAUSE
The playoff races are going to be very heavy especially out West because of the amount of teams with playoff experience and high end talent.
Bragging Rights Sports 