The NHL Report: Season Start
Well what a great summer it was! Now that it’s the fall and October we can all start watching hockey again! So let’s get some excitment going by reviewing all 32 teams and how they will fare in this upcoming season! Let’s go!
Anaheim Ducks
I think the Ducks have improved on last year and will again be closer to a playoff spot than last year but I think they still miss the playoffs just because of how hard their division is and they’re still developing a lot of their young stars.
Makes Playoffs: No
Arizona Coyotes
Out of a lot of teams in free agency during the summer I thought the Coyotes did well to get some decent players on their team. I still say this team will be used as punching bag by the rest of the league but they might surprise a few teams who think they have a gimmie win.
Makes Playoffs: No
Boston Bruins
The Bruins are trying to hold onto a long lost dream of being a contender in the Eastern Conference. This dream is over and they should start their rebuild. I really think this will be an up and down season for the Bruins and they will struggle to make the playoffs just like last year.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Buffalo Sabres
Is there any team you have to feel sorry for more, than the lowly Sabres? I think not. Pretty much the same as last year they will be terrible and at the bottom of the league in most categories.
Makes Playoffs: No
Calgary Flames
You could say the Flames organization had a bit of a crazy summer. I think that would be an understatement. But Brad Treliving did a fantastic job not only getting two players out of Calgary who didn’t want to play there anymore (Tkachuk,Gaudreau). But brought in two players that are arguably better all round players than the two that left in (Huberdeau, Weeger). Plus signing free agent Nazem Kadri to a long term deal is nothing short of amazing. This team is going to be hard to beat.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Carolina Hurricanes
This team has been dangerous for a few years now. It’s really just a matter of them avoiding major injuries to their starting players and getting great goaltending. Carolina will be at the top or near the top of their division.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Chicago Blackhawks
The Hawks will look for a better effort than last year, but I just don’t see it. If they don’t fix this I could see Johnathan Toews and Patrick Kane leave the team after this season.
Makes Playoffs: No
Columbus Blue Jackets
After getting Johnny Gaudreau off the Flames the Blue Jackets have remained about the same as last year. I think adding Gaudreau will make a difference for them but how much remains to be seen.
Makes Playoffs: No
Colorado Avalanche
The Stanley Cup Champions will look to repeat and become champions again. The team has changed a little bit adding Alexandar Georgiev in goal which should give them some more stability. The Avs are fast, skillful and will be a dangerous team to play against.
Make Playoffs: Yes
Dallas Stars
The Stars have a pretty good team again and will be trouble for teams to beat. They will need to score more goals though and get better goaltending if they want to contend for a Stanley Cup.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Detroit Red Wings
It will be another year out of the playoffs for the Red Wings. But every year they make improvements and this year is no different. Picking up David Perron will help the young players grow and give them some scoring as well.
Makes Playoffs: No
Edmonton Oilers
Connor McDavid makes this team tick and picking up a better goalie helps as well. Jack Campbell moved from one great Canadian team to another and has a lot of pressure on his shoulders. After losing four games in a row to the Avalanche in the playoffs the Oilers will have to tighten up on defense if they want to make it to the finals.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Florida Panthers
The Panthers will have another good season this year and if they’re smart they will play Bobrovsky and Knight in tandem. Florida needs to take their foot off of the gas during the regular season so they can have some left in the tank for the playoffs.
Make Playoffs: Yes
Los Angles Kings
The Kings made the playoffs last year and they will have to battle again to make it. Dustin Brown retired after the team was eliminated by the Oilers last year. So those are some big shoes to fill. L.A. will be tough to beat and will battle all the way to the end of the season in April.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Minnesota Wild
The Wild had a great season last year and were bounced early by the St. Louis Blues. The team looks relatively the same as last year and will have to find a way to make the next step so they can contend for the Stanley Cup.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Montreal Canadiens
When you hit rock bottom there’s only one way to go and that’s up. The Canadiens will be a better team than last year just because it would be impossible to be that bad again. The Habs will most likely miss the playoffs, but they should be better than last year.
Makes Playoffs: No
Nashville Predators
The Preds are pretty much the same team as last year and that might hurt them moving forward into this year. They do have an explosive offense but defensively might be their downfall.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
New Jersey Devils
The Devils will be contending for a playoff spot this year but it remains to be seen if they can make it. They will have to work hard to get a spot.
Make Playoffs: Maybe
New York Islanders
The Islanders are always on the cusp of being a contender, but they need something more than the defensive position they take in every game.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
New York Rangers
The Rangers have a really great team and will be in the hunt for the Stanley Cup again this year. All of their young players are one year older and have that much more experience. They will be a hard team to beat and very fast.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Ottawa Senators
Out of all the teams picking up players in the off season I think the Senators did some of the best work. Picking up veteran Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat will help them a lot. If they can win some close games this team might be vying for a playoff spot.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Philadelphia Flyers
So when John Tortorella says that the Flyers need to jell more as a team you know your in for a long season. If they can get good goaltending they might make it out of the basement of the league. But I think that’s a big ask.
Makes Playoffs: No
Pittsburg Penguins
After they signed Evgeni Malkin to what might be his last contract in his career, the Pens can focus on what they do. Consistently make the playoffs because they have three first ballot hall of famers and good goaltending. The Pens are never out of it and will be hard to beat again this year.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
San Jose Sharks
A team that hangs around in the playoff conversation but is slowly going towards the bottom of the league and needs a rebuild. The Sharks last year were a bit of a push over to a lot of teams and I think that trend will continue.
Makes Playoffs: No
Seattle Kraken
The Kraken are in their second season and will improve a little bit more than last year. They will be at the bottom of the league again but will battle every night.
Makes Playoffs: No
St. Louis Blues
The Blues are always in playoff contention and this year is no different. They’re division is one of the hardest to make the playoffs in and their size will help. If the Blues can make the playoffs they are very hard to beat.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Tampa Bay Lightning
After making the finals three years in a row the Lightning will have a down year. At least for them. I think they will still make the playoffs but will be out early.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Toronto Maple Leafs
The biggest question is not if this team can make the playoffs (which they will do). It’s if they can get past the first round, which they haven’t done since the early 2000’s. The Leafs will have to rely on a goalie who has won a Stanley Cup ( Matt Murray), but has struggled after that. If he can turn it around they might have a chance.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Vancouver Canucks
I know preseason doesn’t mean much, but they haven’t won a single game and could spell disaster if it carries over into the regular season. This team is average at best and will miss the playoffs again.
Makes Playoffs: No
Vegas Golden Knights
The Knights will have a bit of down year this year. Robin Lehnr is out for the season and they really don’t have a replacement. I think things could get out of hand if they get more injuries.
Makes Playoffs: No
Washington Capitals
The Caps will be a contender for the playoffs as long as they still have Ovechkin, Backstrom, John Carlson and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Darcy Kuemper fresh off of a Stanley Cup win will be the number one goalie. I think this team does play open style and because of that will have battle back into games. This might hurt they’re chances in the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets are also a team in a bit of disarray. A bounce back year from Blake Wheeler is needed and now that he isn’t the captain anymore maybe that will relive some of the pressure. On paper the Jets should make the playoffs but that all comes down to great goaltending and more scoring from their big players.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
So that’s the first NHL report of the year. Stay tuned for the mid season NHL report. Have a great first half of the season.
Joseph
