We’re simply over a month into the NHL common season, and for some groups, the excessive hopes and optimism of the preseason have light away for one purpose or one other.
The Athletic requested its NHL workers this week for every group’s largest concern at this level. The responses coated the complete spectrum, from goaltending and lack of offense to dangerous protection, accidents and extra. Right here’s what they stated.
Their offense remains to be backside tier: The Geese have scored just one or two objectives in six of their 10 video games. They’ve prevented being shut out however their 2.2 objectives per recreation ranks thirty first, placing them above solely the equally punchless New York Islanders. A number of of their prime offensive gamers are struggling. Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier have but to attain. Frank Vatrano and Trevor Zegras every have one empty internet purpose. It hasn’t helped that their energy play is simply 4-for-31, however they’re additionally being decisively outshot by a mean 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
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5-on-five offense: Via 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 prime 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, remains to be discovering his recreation. — Fluto Shinzawa
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Secondary scoring: Heading into Friday evening, the Sabres had solely two power-play objectives this season and had just one purpose whole 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 strains 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
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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 profitable 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 very least he’s enjoying with Zary once more. Matthew Coronato doesn’t have an everyday spot within the lineup. The Flames crashing right down to Earth after a scorching begin was anticipated. It’s all in regards to the youth persevering with to push themselves ahead. — Julian McKenzie
Goaltending: The Hurricanes’ goaltending has been good — getting into Friday’s video games, Carolina had allowed the second-fewest objectives within the league at 2.33 per recreation — however that doesn’t imply there isn’t trigger for concern. Frederik Andersen missed Monday’s recreation in Vancouver, resulting in Spencer Martin being recalled. Andersen was later introduced to be out week to week with a lower-body damage. Andersen (3-1-0, .941 save proportion, 1.48 goals-against common) had a greater GAA and save proportion than Pyotr Kochetkov (4-1-0, .891, 2.61) in October, and the Hurricanes are skinny after Martin ought to one other damage happen. The place is definitely on the minds of the teaching workers and entrance workplace. — Cory Lavalette
Objective scoring: There’s little question the Blackhawks are a greater group than a season in the past, however the offense stays an space of concern. They simply don’t have a ton of depth scoring. They might 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 the primary 11 video games. — Scott Powers
Goaltending: Colorado’s .858 save proportion ranks final within the NHL, and it’s certainly the largest contributor to the disappointing begin to the season. The Avalanche haven’t been dangerous 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 subsequent goalie. He ought to progress again to being close to the league common, nevertheless it must occur shortly 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 strains collectively and continued to play nicely. Nonetheless, they will’t probably endure that many accidents and count on to compete. Proper? Proper? — Aaron Portzline
Wyatt Johnston has one purpose and 4 assists in 9 video games this season. (Jerome Miron / Imagn Pictures)
Wyatt Johnston’s lack of scoring: It’s all relative, proper? The Stars don’t have an entire lot to be involved about. They’re 7-3-0, Jake Oettinger is in prime kind, Matt Duchene is having a turn-back-the-clock season. However this was purported to be the 12 months Johnston took that last step into superstardom. As an alternative, he has one purpose and 4 assists in 10 video games, he has a few of the worst possession numbers on the group and is on the third line whereas Logan Stankoven takes over on the highest line. The Stars had 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 plenty of considerations 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 line with information from NHL EDGE, the Pink Wings have performed simply 37.3 % of the time within the offensive zone, the bottom proportion 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 typically and flaws with the group’s forecheck, nevertheless it sums up Detroit’s offensive woes precisely. The Pink Wings knew they misplaced plenty of offense this summer season and that it could be onerous to exchange, however they’re not even actually giving themselves an opportunity to take action. — Max Bultman
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Connor McDavid’s damage: The Oilers bought off to an excellent begin of their first full recreation with out McDavid, who’s anticipated out of the lineup for 2 to 3 weeks with a lower-body damage. They recorded a season-high 5 objectives in a victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday. However that’s only one recreation and it was in opposition to Nashville. They all the time beat Nashville. The Oilers received simply as soon as in 5 tries final season with McDavid sidelined as a result of damage, and so they’ll be in powerful till he returns. Even with the Music Metropolis consequence, the Oilers nonetheless have simply 5 wins of their first 11 video games. A slide this month may value them the Pacific Division crown they’re coveting. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman
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The third pair: Every thing 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 want to determine tips on how to proceed with their backside defensive pairing. There are three potential mixtures 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 and not using a purpose over the primary 11 contests. (Jason Parkhurst / Imagn Pictures)
Quinton Byfield’s sluggish begin: Byfield is and not using a purpose over the primary 11 contests. He’s chipped in 5 assists, nevertheless it’s not the sort of starting he or the Kings imagined after the perimeters agreed on a five-year extension value $31.25 million. His superior metrics aren’t dangerous, and the Kings haven’t finished him any favors by committing to return him to his pure place at heart and abandoning that simply 5 video games in. It’s potential that he bounces between the center and the wing, which might not be 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 and not using a purpose earlier than he scored his twentieth within the regular-season finale. — Eric Stephens
Jared Spurgeon’s well being: One large purpose the Wild had been assured this season can be higher than final was the return of the captain after he was restricted to 16 video games final season as a result of shoulder, hip and again accidents. However after season-ending hip and again surgical procedures, Spurgeon was sidelined after his second recreation and missed six in a row earlier than returning Tuesday in Pittsburgh. The group has stated the discomfort is “a part of the therapeutic course of.” Spurgeon stated they took “totally different routes” medically to get him again within the lineup, however he couldn’t say he was assured this is able to not be a season-long challenge. The excellent news is the Wild went 4-1-1 with out him. — Michael Russo
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A scarcity of maturity: When you find yourself the second-youngest group within the NHL, with the youngest blue line, a scarcity of maturity most likely shouldn’t be a priority. It must be anticipated. However regardless of their youth, the Canadiens have elevated inner expectations, and which means recognizing recreation conditions and simply how badly issues can go fallacious when your reads are off. Primary notions like enjoying a deep recreation, defensive protection on faceoffs or defensive zone play basically have been issues at varied factors already this season. Maybe it’s an indication this group 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
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Nashville Predators
No. 2 heart: Defensive zone protection deserves a nod, as nicely. Although the Preds have rebounded nicely 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 ability play and different features of the Preds’ recreation are progressing, that may, too. There’s no clear reply on No. 2 heart, which is a part of why Andrew Brunette has finished a lot shuffling along with his prime two strains. 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, nevertheless, is off to a sluggish begin. Getting into Friday, he had the worst expected-goals-for proportion amongst Devils forwards, in response to Pure Stat Trick, and was averaging his lowest ice time per recreation since his rookie season. — Peter Baugh
New York Islanders
Objectives: If you get shut out 4 occasions in your first 10 video games, there will 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 may use a Mika Zibanejad resurgence. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Pictures)
Mika Zibanejad’s struggles: Zibanejad had seven factors in 9 video games by Thursday, which on the floor is a decent whole. 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 % of the anticipated objectives share with him on the ice at five-on-five, in response to Pure Stat Trick, and had been getting out-chanced with him on the ice. Heart play is significant for playoff groups, and the Rangers may 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 profiting from their Jacob Bernard-Docker—Tyler Kleven pair. But when the Sens wish to compete, they are going to nonetheless want an additional defender. — Julian McKenzie
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5-on-five scoring: Via 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 recreation, a win over Minnesota on Oct. 26. A part of that’s as a result of they’ve appeared a lot too disjointed all around the ice at occasions and have too typically 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 injury and haven’t. — Kevin Kurz
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Erik Karlsson’s offensive manufacturing: By no means an own-zone marvel, Karlsson has persistently created possibilities at a historic price for defensemen. That’s not the case this season, as his paltry level whole displays an ineffectiveness offensively that may be very outdoors the norm. Karlsson is in Pittsburgh to be a prolific offensive drive. However he had just one purpose and 7 factors by 12 video games, and he hasn’t pushed play the best way he has in earlier seasons. Maybe an upper-body damage that saved him from collaborating in coaching camp stays a problem, or at the very 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 group’s load administration plan for him over the primary half of the season. It appeared like the previous Boston School star was having bother with the pace and dimension of the NHL recreation as he had minimal impression. Thursday evening noticed the stress valve pop. Smith scored his first purpose (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 will be the profitable purpose in a 3-2 victory. The massive evening must be a confidence jolt for the No. 4 choose 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 nicely within the first month, however regardless of some promising indicators, they’re nonetheless chugging alongside at roughly a .500 level proportion. They’re one among solely two Pacific Division groups within the black by purpose differential and their underlying profile seems to be in step with that of a playoff group, however they’ve been held again by porous depth goaltending performances in October. Philipp Grubauer is sporting an .881 save proportion 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 group like Seattle, you could be at the very least at a .500 level proportion in video games your backup goaltender performs for those who’re going to be a playoff group. 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’ damage: Thomas suffered a fractured ankle Oct. 22 and will likely be re-evaluated in late November. Any membership that loses its No. 1 heart will miss him, however the Blues had been already skinny on the place. They’ve pressured winger Pavel Buchnevich into the function, which hasn’t labored as they hoped. The offense (2.7 objectives per recreation, tied for twenty fourth within the league) and energy play (16.7 %, twenty first) are struggling. Consequently, the group has performed plenty 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 assist: Depth was all the time going to be a weak point 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 group’s technique is constructed round its elite core, and with Ryan McDonagh again, plus Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli clicking, the supporting solid bought a significant enhance. However the backside of the lineup severely lacks. — Shayna Goldman
The ability play: On one hand, that is shocking. On the opposite, it’s not shocking in any respect. The shocking facet: The Leafs have had one of many league’s prime regular-season energy performs for years and nonetheless boast all the identical acquainted elements of it. Robust 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, after all, 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 prime group intact to begin the season. That’s modified just lately, with Berube pivoting to 2 balanced items. Whether or not that makes a distinction in the long term (if the Leafs even keep it up) may be very a lot TBD. — Jonas Siegel
The place did the offense go? After a terrific 3-0 begin the place the group piled up objectives and introduced the Salt Lake Metropolis crowd to its ft, it has been a tricky 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 prime 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 ability play: Vancouver’s core group has high-end ability and it’s persistently mixed on the ability play to fabricate objectives at a couple of 22 % clip over the previous a number of seasons — which is excellent, however not elite. For no matter purpose by the primary month of the season, nevertheless, the ability 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 in opposition to the Blackhawks in mid-October — Vancouver’s energy play isn’t passing the attention check and its underlying footprint is league-worst. The Canucks, for instance, are the one group 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 mean price with the person benefit. Even when the Canucks have the ability degree to tug that off, it’s a really powerful method 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-Cell Area in comparison with on the highway has been stark. Vegas is an ideal 7-0-0 at house 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 had been playoff groups a 12 months in the past. It may be a results of the lineup not being fairly as deep because it as soon as was. Vegas’ prime 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 ability play: It appears like selecting nits given how good the Caps look total, however there’s some work to be finished with the person benefit. They’re thirtieth in proportion, which is tough, nevertheless it is likely to be so simple as getting a bounce or two as a result of they’re producing possibilities. As a group, 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 liked an influence play this good: an NHL-best 45.2 % behemoth that has appeared 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 usually are not nearly as good at even energy as final 12 months’s group. The ten-1-0 file 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 had been final season. Preserve engaged on that by a grueling November schedule and this group will likely be a contender. — Murat Ates
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(Prime photograph of Connor McDavid and Erik Karlsson: Curtis Comeau / Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)