The Mid Season NHL Report
If you would’ve told me at the beginning of the season that the Winnipeg Jets and the Vancouver Canucks would be leading the league in points. I would’ve laughed right in your face. But here we are. Half way through the season and it’s still hard to believe.
Anaheim Ducks
Lots of injuries and the fact that they are in rebuild mode has the Ducks near the bottom of the league in almost all categories.
Makes Playoffs: Not a chance
Arizona Coyotes
They’re arena maybe small, but man are the Coyotes playing a lot bigger than their building. Nine players have more than twenty points and their starting goalie Conner Ingram has five shutouts. The Yotes have to start going on a bit of a run to get into a wild card spot but they have a chance.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Boston Bruins
Another steller season by the Bruins and it’s really going to be the playoffs that is going to define their season. Having the two best goalies in the league definitely helps and just how much every line buys in to the ultimate goal.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Buffalo Sabres
Another year of mediocre play has put the Sabres exactly where everyone thought they should be. Out of the playoffs and getting draft picks for next year.
Makes Playoffs: Nope
Calgary Flames
The Flames are going to have to battle to get into the playoffs and I just don’t know if they have a team that can do that. If Markstrom plays more consistently then they have a chance, but right now he seems to be out with a lower body injury.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Carolina Hurricanes
Trucking right along to make another playoff appearance, the problem is goaltending and defense. The Canes have some of the best d men in the league and yet they give up so many goals. So that will be the test heading down the stretch. Can Carolina keep the puck out their net when it matters.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Chicago Blackhawks
It’s clear that the Hawks are shaping their team around Bedard. So it will be a tough few years coming up while they get draft picks and trade for skilled players who can’t find a spot on another team.
Makes Playoffs: Not a chance
Colorado Avalanche
Speed, Speed and more Speed. The Avs are relentless and have the skill up front with Mackinnon, Rantanen and Cale Makar and Devon Toews on defense. What might hold them back in the playoffs is how they have one really good line and playing them too much. The Avs will need secondary scoring in the playoffs to make a big run.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Columbus Blue Jackets
Another season down in the basement for a team that sticks around in games and just recently beat the Canucks in a shootout. More skill and size are needed for the Jackets to start contending for a playoff spot.
Makes Playoffs: No
Dallas Stars
A team that flies under the radar sometimes and who is always dangerous. The Stars are built for the playoffs and will be hard to beat. Their penalty kill is second best in the league and on the other side the Stars are third in goals/for per game. Jack Oettinger is one of the best goalies in the league and will give teams fits in the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Definitely
Detroit Red Wings
A bit of a surprise season so far for the Wings as they have created havoc for teams with their speed. Alex DeBrincat has found a home with this team and has had an amazing year so far. I think Detroit has a chance to make the playoffs if they can keep this up.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Edmonton Oilers
A the beginning of the year I had the Oilers pegged to be the clear cut team to win the Stanley Cup. It shows you that stats or speculation can be dead wrong. Edmonton struggled the first two months of the season, fired their head coach and are just now in a wild card spot for the playoffs.
The Oilers are on a twelve game winning streak right now and Connor McDavid is moving up the points leader board everyday. Sometimes it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Florida Panthers
Another team built for the playoffs is the Panthers. Big, mean and getting scoring from all four lines. If Sergi Bobrovsky keeps up his consistent play in the playoffs then this team could be in for a deep run.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings had a great first part to the season and are now starting to regress a bit. They have lost nine out of their last ten games and will have to turn this around if L.A wants to get into the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Minnesota Wild
The Wild are trapped in salary cap hell right now and are trying their best besides that. Having two players who aren’t on your team anymore taking up cap space doesn’t help your cause and then your goalie Filip Gustavsson isn’t living up to the same hype as last season.
Makes Playoffs: No
Montreal Canadiens
A way better team than last year, a more cohesive group thanks to Martin St. Louis and his coaching staff. Only four points out of a playoff spot, the Canadiens have a chance to get in. The whole Eastern Conference is very unpredictable so if the Habs stay consistent they might make it in.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Nashville Predators
With Filip Forsberg leading this team in scoring and Roman Josi having another good year the Predators will be right in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Juuse Saros is another big reason they have a chance along with veteran leadership from Ryan O’Reilly who is second in the team in scoring.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
New Jersey Devils
Another team that is going to fight for a playoff spot in the crazy Eastern Conference. The Devils have been average at best and their goaltending from Vitek Vanecek has been inconsistent. I wouldn’t be surprised if New Jersey doesn’t make the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
New York Islanders
I think I’m starting to see a theme here in the Eastern Conference as the Islanders are also in the mix. Ilya Sorokin is their ace up their sleeve as he can steal a game or two and that might be the difference between making the playoffs and not.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
New York Rangers
The Rangers have their usual scoring from Panarin, Kreider and Zibanejad. On top of that, all of the other lines are also contributing to make a team that has been tearing through their division. Igor Shesterkin has been great and when he was injured, Johnathan Quick held down the fort. It remains to be seen if the Rangers can have a better playoff run than last year.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Ottawa Senators
Another dismal season after such high expectations, Dj Smith (head coach) was fired and that hasn’t even stopped the bleeding. Drafting in the top five is the name of the game now.
Makes Playoffs: Not a chance
Philadelphia Flyers
Another surprise team out of the East, who has worked hard to earn their place in the top three of the division. John Tortorella has shaped this team into hard, gritty (pun intended) team that will be tough to beat in the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Pittsburg Penguins
The definition of an average team, the Pens will have to do a lot more to convince me that they have a chance to make the playoffs. Other than Sydney Crosby being his normal hall of fame self and Jake Guentzel, Pittsburg hasn’t shown anything worthy of a playoff caliber team.
Makes Playoffs: No
San Jose Sharks
Not much to be said about the worst team in the league. They are playing for draft picks and that’s it.
Makes Playoffs: Not a chance
Seattle Kraken
A slow start to the season put the Kraken near the bottom of the standings. They soon found their footing and rattled off a bunch of wins before slightly cooling off again. Seattle will have to be more consistent in order to get into a wild card spot.
Makes Playoffs: No
St. Louis Blues
After firing their head coach Craig Berube who brought them a Stanley Cup four years ago. The Blues have been in a tail spin, they would have put together a pretty impressive second half of the season to come back into the playoff race. I just don’t see it happening.
Makes Playoffs: No
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are in the hunt for the playoffs again and might even make it into the top three of the division again as well. When you have a hall of fame goalie and several hall of fame players on your team your always in the hunt. The difference between Tampa bay and say the Penguins is they always seem to pick up players that compliment their team well.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Toronto Maple Leafs
Austin Matthews is on pace for over 70 goals this year and they just signed William Nylander to a new 8yr/11.5 million dollar deal. But do they have a team to go on a long run in the playoffs? From what I’ve seen is the answer is no. The Leafs still can’t finish games and have lost multiple games where they have the lead. I think they still need more help on defense and but man can they score goals.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Vancouver Canucks
One of the biggest surprises in the first half of the season is how the Canucks are leading the league in points. Elias Pettersson, J.T Miller and Brock Boeser are some of the main reasons. But Quinn Hughes and Thatcher Demko are having amazing years too. As with any good team their secondary lines are also contributing. A sure thing for the playoffs, it remains to be seen how far they can go but if they keep this up they might be in for a deep run.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Vegas Golden Knights
The first couple of months the Golden Knights looked unstoppable. After some injuries have hampered their progress, the Knights are always a dangerous team. I think if they can get Adin Hill back soon then they will have a chance for a deep run in the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Washington Capitals
Another surprise team who is in the playoff conversation without Alex Ovechkin playing great and Nicklas Backstrom looking like he might retire or need another off season to recover from hip surgery. Tom Wilson has been a huge reason why they’re in this spot just for his leadership and adding stability to the Caps. The Eastern Conference is so wide open that they might make it in if they keep up their consistent play.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Winnipeg Jets
After signing Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck to long term deals right before the season started the Jets just went off. Having the two star players believe in this team was huge. The Jets have only allowed two goals or less in thirty four straight games. They are now one game off the modern day record. Winnipeg is big, fast and doesn’t allow much so I would hate playing them in the first round of the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
So there it is the mid season NHL report, I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy watching Hockey Day in Canada!
`
