We’re simply over a month into the NHL common season, and for some groups, the excessive hopes and optimism of the preseason have pale away for one motive or one other.
The Athletic requested its NHL employees this week for every workforce’s greatest concern at this level. The responses coated the total spectrum, from goaltending and lack of offense to unhealthy protection, accidents and extra. Right here’s what they mentioned.
Their offense continues to be backside tier: The Geese have scored just one or two objectives in six of their 10 video games. They’ve averted being shut out however their 2.2 objectives per sport ranks thirty first, placing them above solely the equally punchless New York Islanders. A number of of their high offensive gamers are struggling. Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier have but to attain. Frank Vatrano and Trevor Zegras every have one empty internet aim. It hasn’t helped that their energy play is simply 4-for-31, however they’re additionally being decisively outshot by a median of 9. The offense would actually be inept if Troy Terry, Leo Carlsson and Ryan Strome didn’t have 12 of their 22 objectives. Lukas Dostal’s large goaltending is maintaining them afloat. — Eric Stephens
GO DEEPER
Duhatschek: ‘Iron Mike’ Keenan speaks, a Geese’ hypothetical and the way Utah will handle accidents
5-on-five offense: By 11 video games, the Bruins have scored solely 16 five-on-five objectives. David Pastrnak has only one. Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie, all of whom began the season within the high six, have zero. It might be one factor if the Bruins had high-end goaltending like they did for the previous three seasons. Jeremy Swayman, with out Linus Ullmark, continues to be discovering his sport. — Fluto Shinzawa
GO DEEPER
Non-public knowledge exhibits all types of crimson flags for the 3-3-1 Bruins
Secondary scoring: Heading into Friday night time, the Sabres had solely two power-play objectives this season and had just one aim complete from second-liners Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn. Of Buffalo’s 24 five-on-five objectives, 11 have include Tage Thompson on the ice. Lindy Ruff tried mixing up the second and third traces this week in an effort to get extra from gamers like Cozens and Quinn. The second line and energy play are the important thing to getting extra constant offense. — Matthew Fairburn
GO DEEPER
Can Sabres’ lineup adjustments assist Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn get again on observe?
Are younger gamers nonetheless progressing? This must be the No. 1 precedence for the Flames. Connor Zary is close to the highest of the Flames’ leaderboard in factors. That’s good. Dustin Wolf has misplaced his final two begins after successful his first three. That’s much less good. The shine of Martin Pospisil as a middle has already worn off. That’s additionally much less good, however at the least he’s enjoying with Zary once more. Matthew Coronato doesn’t have a daily spot within the lineup. The Flames crashing right down to Earth after a scorching begin was anticipated. It’s all concerning the youth persevering with to push themselves ahead. — Julian McKenzie
Goaltending: The Hurricanes’ goaltending has been good — coming into Friday’s video games, Carolina had allowed the second-fewest objectives within the league at 2.33 per sport — however that doesn’t imply there isn’t trigger for concern. Frederik Andersen missed Monday’s sport in Vancouver, resulting in Spencer Martin being recalled. Andersen was later introduced to be out week to week with a lower-body harm. Andersen (3-1-0, .941 save share, 1.48 goals-against common) had a greater GAA and save share than Pyotr Kochetkov (4-1-0, .891, 2.61) in October, and the Hurricanes are skinny after Martin ought to one other harm happen. The place is definitely on the minds of the teaching employees and entrance workplace. — Cory Lavalette
Purpose scoring: There’s little doubt the Blackhawks are a greater workforce than a season in the past, however the offense stays an space of concern. They only don’t have a ton of depth scoring. They may particularly use extra five-on-five scoring from Tyler Bertuzzi, Taylor Corridor, Philipp Kurashev, Ilya Mikheyev and Teuvo Teräväinen. These 5 gamers mixed for 4 objectives in five-on-five play by means of the primary 11 video games. — Scott Powers
Goaltending: Colorado’s .858 save share ranks final within the NHL, and it’s certainly the largest contributor to the disappointing begin to the season. The Avalanche haven’t been unhealthy defensively by most metrics, permitting the Tenth-fewest anticipated objectives per 60 minutes, however all three goalies have struggled. Alexandar Georgiev’s minus-9.42 GSAx ranks 71st out of the 71 goalies to play this season, greater than three objectives worse than the following goalie. He ought to progress again to being close to the league common, however it must occur rapidly earlier than the Avalanche lose an excessive amount of floor in an extremely aggressive Central Division. — Jesse Granger
Paper-thin depth: The Blue Jackets’ 5-4-1 begin is strong sufficient simply at face worth. However contemplating the gamers they’ve misplaced to accidents — captain Boone Jenner, Kent Johnson, Dmitri Voronkov and defenseman Erik Gudbranson — they’ve patched traces collectively and continued to play effectively. Nevertheless, they’ll’t probably undergo that many accidents and anticipate to compete. Proper? Proper? — Aaron Portzline
Wyatt Johnston has one aim and 4 assists in 9 video games this season. (Jerome Miron / Imagn Photographs)
Wyatt Johnston’s lack of scoring: It’s all relative, proper? The Stars don’t have a complete lot to be involved about. They’re 7-3-0, Jake Oettinger is in high type, Matt Duchene is having a turn-back-the-clock season. However this was speculated to be the 12 months Johnston took that last step into superstardom. As an alternative, he has one aim and 4 assists in 10 video games, he has a few of the worst possession numbers on the workforce and is on the third line whereas Logan Stankoven takes over on the highest line. The Stars have been nonetheless outscoring opponents 6-3 at five-on-five (heading into Friday) with Johnston on the ice; it’s hardly a disaster. But when the Stars are going to make one other Stanley Cup run this season, Johnston must be a giant a part of it. — Mark Lazerus
A scarcity of offensive zone time: There are loads of issues accompanying Detroit’s 4-5-1 begin, however that is the one which sums all of them up greatest. Detroit simply hasn’t spent sufficient time in its opponent’s finish. In response to knowledge from NHL EDGE, the Pink Wings have performed simply 37.3 p.c of the time within the offensive zone, the bottom share within the league. That stat is probably going a symptom of a number of points, together with getting hemmed into their very own zone too usually and flaws with the workforce’s forecheck, however it sums up Detroit’s offensive woes precisely. The Pink Wings knew they misplaced loads of offense this summer season and that it will be onerous to interchange, however they’re not even actually giving themselves an opportunity to take action. — Max Bultman
GO DEEPER
Ten Pink Wings ideas after 10 video games: Can Detroit’s early points be fastened?
Connor McDavid’s harm: The Oilers acquired off to begin of their first full sport with out McDavid, who’s anticipated out of the lineup for 2 to a few weeks with a lower-body harm. They recorded a season-high 5 objectives in a victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday. However that’s only one sport and it was towards Nashville. They at all times beat Nashville. The Oilers received simply as soon as in 5 tries final season with McDavid sidelined resulting from harm, and so they’ll be in robust till he returns. Even with the Music Metropolis end result, the Oilers nonetheless have simply 5 wins of their first 11 video games. A slide this month might price them the Pacific Division crown they’re coveting. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman
GO DEEPER
Oilers’ McDavid anticipated to overlook 2-3 weeks with harm
The third pair: Every part goes about in addition to may very well be anticipated for the defending champs, beginning with Aleksander Barkov’s return to the lineup, however they’re going to wish to determine learn how to proceed with their backside defensive pairing. There are three attainable combos of Adam Boqvist, Nate Schmidt and Uvis Balinskis, and none have been good — Florida has been outscored 10-1 with them on the ice. — Sean Gentille
Quinton Byfield is with no aim over the primary 11 contests. (Jason Parkhurst / Imagn Photographs)
Quinton Byfield’s gradual begin: Byfield is with no aim over the primary 11 contests. He’s chipped in 5 assists, however it’s not the sort of starting he or the Kings imagined after the edges agreed on a five-year extension price $31.25 million. His superior metrics aren’t unhealthy, and the Kings haven’t completed him any favors by committing to return him to his pure place at heart and abandoning that simply 5 video games in. It’s attainable that he bounces between the center and the wing, which is probably not nice for sustaining consistency or chemistry along with his linemates. The fear with him offensively is that he’s had a bent to fall into prolonged scoring droughts. Even in his breakout final season, the 22-year-old went 19 video games with no aim earlier than he scored his twentieth within the regular-season finale. — Eric Stephens
Jared Spurgeon’s well being: One large motive the Wild have been assured this season could be higher than final was the return of the captain after he was restricted to 16 video games final season resulting from shoulder, hip and again accidents. However after season-ending hip and again surgical procedures, Spurgeon was sidelined after his second sport and missed six in a row earlier than returning Tuesday in Pittsburgh. The workforce has mentioned the discomfort is “a part of the therapeutic course of.” Spurgeon mentioned they took “completely different routes” medically to get him again within the lineup, however he couldn’t say he was assured this could not be a season-long problem. The excellent news is the Wild went 4-1-1 with out him. — Michael Russo
GO DEEPER
Wild say captain Jared Spurgeon’s absence associated to surgical procedures however ‘a part of the therapeutic course of’
A scarcity of maturity: When you’re the second-youngest workforce within the NHL, with the youngest blue line, an absence of maturity in all probability shouldn’t be a priority. It must be anticipated. However regardless of their youth, the Canadiens have elevated inside expectations, and meaning recognizing sport conditions and simply how badly issues can go incorrect when your reads are off. Fundamental notions like enjoying a deep sport, defensive protection on faceoffs or defensive zone play basically have been issues at varied factors already this season. Maybe it’s an indication this workforce isn’t but mature sufficient to execute comparatively easy ideas, but when the Canadiens hope to be mildly aggressive this season, they might want to mature in a rush. — Arpon Basu
GO DEEPER
Canadiens’ consideration to element not but as much as commonplace, and Kraken uncovered it
Nashville Predators
No. 2 heart: Defensive zone protection deserves a nod, as effectively. Although the Preds have rebounded effectively from dropping their first 5 video games, they’re nonetheless forcing Juuse Saros to take care of too many Grade-A possibilities. However simply as Saros, the facility play and different facets of the Preds’ sport are progressing, that may, too. There’s no clear reply on No. 2 heart, which is a part of why Andrew Brunette has completed a lot shuffling along with his high two traces. The reply is probably going on one other roster proper now. — Joe Rexrode
Ondřej Palát’s struggles: The Devils are off to a strong begin, and their ahead group has been good. Palát, nonetheless, is off to a gradual begin. Getting into Friday, he had the worst expected-goals-for share amongst Devils forwards, in line with Pure Stat Trick, and was averaging his lowest ice time per sport since his rookie season. — Peter Baugh
New York Islanders
Objectives: If you get shut out 4 instances in your first 10 video games, there may be no different concern that tops this one. The Islanders haven’t been a goal-scoring juggernaut for a very long time, however this season’s futility is a brand new low — and so they’ve been shut out by very mediocre groups (Pink Wings, Geese, Blue Jackets) to make it even worse. — Arthur Staple
The Rangers might use a Mika Zibanejad resurgence. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Photographs)
Mika Zibanejad’s struggles: Zibanejad had seven factors in 9 video games by means of Thursday, which on the floor is a decent complete. However he was additionally a minus-3, and coach Peter Laviolette lowered his ice time from previous seasons. His underlying numbers have suffered, too. The Rangers had solely 41 p.c of the anticipated objectives share with him on the ice at five-on-five, in line with Pure Stat Trick, and have been getting out-chanced with him on the ice. Middle play is important for playoff groups, and the Rangers might use a Zibanejad resurgence. — Peter Baugh
The protection: The Sens protection has had good moments like an 8-1 domination over the St. Louis Blues. However they’ve nonetheless allowed three objectives or extra within the majority of video games. The Senators have additionally adjusted to life with out Artem Zub, who usually performs alongside Jake Sanderson, and are benefiting from their Jacob Bernard-Docker—Tyler Kleven pair. But when the Sens need to compete, they are going to nonetheless want an additional defender. — Julian McKenzie
GO DEEPER
Six potential defensive commerce targets for the Senators
5-on-five scoring: By their first 11 video games, the Flyers have managed solely 16 objectives at five-on-five — and 5 of these got here in a single sport, a win over Minnesota on Oct. 26. A part of that’s as a result of they’ve seemed a lot too disjointed all around the ice at instances and have too usually been hemmed in their very own zone. However gamers like Morgan Frost (zero five-on-five objectives), Matvei Michkov (zero), Travis Konecny (zero), Owen Tippett (1), Tyson Foerster (1) and Joel Farabee (1) have nonetheless had loads of alternatives to do extra harm and haven’t. — Kevin Kurz
GO DEEPER
What we all know concerning the Flyers after 10 video games: Some positives, however lots left to be taught
Erik Karlsson’s offensive manufacturing: By no means an own-zone marvel, Karlsson has constantly created possibilities at a historic price for defensemen. That’s not the case this season, as his paltry level complete displays an ineffectiveness offensively that could be very outdoors the norm. Karlsson is in Pittsburgh to be a prolific offensive power. However he had just one aim and 7 factors by means of 12 video games, and he hasn’t pushed play the best way he has in earlier seasons. Maybe an upper-body harm that saved him from collaborating in coaching camp stays a difficulty, or at the least it didn’t afford him the time he wanted to get game-ready. Regardless of the trigger, Karlsson’s poor offensive begin is without doubt one of the large causes the Penguins started 3-7-1 and look nowhere near competing for the playoffs. — Rob Rossi
Will Smith’s early struggles: Eight video games. No factors. It was weighing on the 19-year-old rookie, who additionally was scratched from three different contests as a part of the workforce’s load administration plan for him over the primary half of the season. It seemed like the previous Boston School star was having bother with the velocity and measurement of the NHL sport as he had minimal impression. Thursday night time noticed the strain valve pop. Smith scored his first aim (and his first level) when he beat Chicago goalie Petr Mrázek within the first interval after which added one other profitable wrist shot within the second that might be the successful aim in a 3-2 victory. The massive night time must be a confidence jolt for the No. 4 decide within the 2023 draft, who is anticipated to be a giant a part of San Jose’s future. — Eric Stephens
Make it TWO objectives for Will Smith 🔥 pic.twitter.com/bNOm0OpaH8
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 1, 2024
Backup goaltending: The Kraken have performed effectively within the first month, however regardless of some promising indicators, they’re nonetheless chugging alongside at roughly a .500 level share. They’re one in every of solely two Pacific Division groups within the black by aim differential and their underlying profile seems to be per that of a playoff workforce, however they’ve been held again by porous depth goaltending performances in October. Philipp Grubauer is sporting an .881 save share throughout his 4 begins, and the Kraken have received simply a type of 4 video games. It’s early but and the samples are small, however for a workforce like Seattle, it is advisable be at the least at a .500 level share in video games your backup goaltender performs when you’re going to be a playoff workforce. Within the first month of the season, Seattle’s depth goaltending prevented it from consolidating a extra auspicious begin. — Thomas Drance
St. Louis Blues
Robert Thomas’ harm: Thomas suffered a fractured ankle Oct. 22 and can be re-evaluated in late November. Any membership that loses its No. 1 heart will miss him, however the Blues have been already skinny on the place. They’ve compelled winger Pavel Buchnevich into the function, which hasn’t labored as they hoped. The offense (2.7 objectives per sport, tied for twenty fourth within the league) and energy play (16.7 p.c, twenty first) are struggling. In consequence, the workforce has performed loads of catch-up hockey, trailing by two objectives or extra in seven of its 11 video games. Thomas can’t get again quickly sufficient. — Jeremy Rutherford
Depth help: Depth was at all times going to be a weak spot in Tampa Bay. Cap casualties have depleted the underside six and third pair, and administration hasn’t discovered cost-effective choices to adequately substitute what the Lightning misplaced. Exterior of Nick Paul, the underside six is just about a black gap for offense. Whereas the workforce’s technique is constructed round its elite core, and with Ryan McDonagh again, plus Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli clicking, the supporting forged acquired a serious increase. However the backside of the lineup significantly lacks. — Shayna Goldman
The facility play: On one hand, that is stunning. On the opposite, it’s not stunning in any respect. The stunning side: The Leafs have had one of many league’s high regular-season energy performs for years and nonetheless boast all the identical acquainted elements of it. Sturdy begins have been the norm for the five-pack of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly. That very same unit, in fact, struggled mightily in second halves 12 months after 12 months and, extra damagingly, within the postseason. The Leafs, with first-year coach Craig Berube, opted to maintain that high group intact to start out the season. That’s modified lately, with Berube pivoting to 2 balanced models. Whether or not that makes a distinction in the long term (if the Leafs even keep it up) could be very a lot TBD. — Jonas Siegel
The place did the offense go? After a terrific 3-0 begin the place the workforce piled up objectives and introduced the Salt Lake Metropolis crowd to its ft, it has been a troublesome go for the Utahns. They’ve solely two wins of their final eight video games, a stretch throughout which they’re twenty ninth within the NHL in objectives scored. Even with their two large losses on protection — Sean Durzi and John Marino are each out with long-term accidents — they’ve managed to play OK in their very own finish, however the energy play has been misfiring and high prospect Josh Doan was despatched right down to Tucson. Utah particularly wants extra from Logan Cooley, Barrett Hayton and Lawson Crouse, who’ve mixed for simply six factors throughout this funk. — James Mirtle
The facility play: Vancouver’s core group has high-end ability and it’s constantly mixed on the facility play to fabricate objectives at a few 22 p.c clip over the previous a number of seasons — which is superb, however not elite. For no matter motive by means of the primary month of the season, nonetheless, the facility play is struggling enormously to get arrange and generate shot makes an attempt. Although the conversion price is just under common — buoyed by a two-goal outburst towards the Blackhawks in mid-October — Vancouver’s energy play isn’t passing the attention take a look at and its underlying footprint is league-worst. The Canucks, for instance, are the one workforce within the NHL producing shot makes an attempt at a price south of 80 makes an attempt per hour. And so they’re within the mid-70s. They’re additionally producing photographs at a league-worst price. If that continues, the membership might want to get fortunate or shoot at an extremely environment friendly clip to provide at even a median price with the person benefit. Even when the Canucks have the ability degree to tug that off, it’s a really robust approach to stay. — Thomas Drance
Efficiency on the highway: The distinction between how the Golden Knights have carried out contained in the pleasant confines of T-Cellular Area in comparison with on the highway has been stark. Vegas is an ideal 7-0-0 at residence however has but to win in 4 contests because the customer. A part of that may very well be competitors, as all 4 opponents on the highway have been playoff groups a 12 months in the past. It is also a results of the lineup not being fairly as deep because it as soon as was. Vegas’ high line of Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev has dominated, however on the highway, it’s more durable for coach Bruce Cassidy to get favorable matchups. — Jesse Granger
The facility play: It seems like choosing nits given how good the Caps look general, however there’s some work to be completed with the person benefit. They’re thirtieth in share, which is tough, however it is likely to be so simple as getting a bounce or two as a result of they’re producing possibilities. As a workforce, they’re at 9.35 anticipated objectives per 60, ninth within the league. In different phrases, the method isn’t damaged. — Sean Gentille
The Jets are particular groups retailers: Final 12 months’s Jets would have beloved an influence play this good: an NHL-best 45.2 p.c behemoth that has seemed harmful from each place on the ice. Kyle Connor is on hearth, tied for the power-play objectives lead with 4, and Cole Perfetti has three from the second unit. The issue is that this 12 months’s Jets will not be nearly as good at even energy as final 12 months’s workforce. The ten-1-0 report deserves plaudits, however Winnipeg has outscored its opponents solely 27-20 at five-on-five. These numbers are top-10 versus greatest within the league just like the Jets have been final season. Maintain engaged on that by means of a grueling November schedule and this workforce can be a contender. — Murat Ates
GO DEEPER
10 key takeaways from the Jets’ NHL-best 9-1-0 begin to 2024-25
(High photograph of Connor McDavid and Erik Karlsson: Curtis Comeau / Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)
