The NHL is sort of definitely delighted that it’s seen an uptick in scoring the previous three seasons (although down a skosh this season from final). It in all probability ought to pull a muscle patting itself on the again for the crackdown on goalie tools resulting in decrease common save percentages throughout the Unique 32 (.903 thus far this season in comparison with .910 simply 4 years in the past). The quantity of velocity and ability from crew to crew (besides the one I watch) has by no means been increased.
Which may lead to a whole bonanza of a playoff run within the spring, given what number of contenders have massive questions of their web.
potential playoff groups, one might listing the next as not having solved their man-in-the-mask points: Carolina, Toronto, Tampa, Detroit, New Jersey, Colorado, and Edmonton. Your mileage might differ on groups which are getting nice work from dumpster diving, such because the Kings. The Rangers are getting good goaltending from their backup, Jonathan Fast, however not a lot from their starter, Igor Shesterkin, who simply bought lit up by the Canes final evening. Adin Hill in Vegas leads the league in save share, and is coming off a Cup win, and but he’s by no means been a full-time starter for a season within the league (and received’t be this 12 months both, because the Knights break up begins evenly between him and Logan Thompson). The Canucks are getting the primary top-tier work from Thatcher Demko that was all the time predicted for him, however that isn’t a assure to proceed via to April.
What that may imply going ahead will rely upon the assorted desperation ranges of groups and the place they assume they’re on a growth stage for the goalies they’ve in-house. Take the Devils, who’re exterior the playoff window for the time being and have been forecast as Cup contenders by plenty of observers, including some truly handsome and charming ones. Their goaltending has been woeful, Akira Schmid not solely didn’t take a step ahead however took a step again to Utica (going to Utica is all the time a step again, so I’m instructed). Regardless that each different metric has the Devils proper the place they need to be, their goalies mixed with Dougie Hamilton’s long-term damage, has them taking a look at losing a season that’s imagined to be proper of their window.
As all the time, the Leafs middle this as a result of they are saying so. Joseph Woll might be on the shelf for a couple of extra weeks not less than, Ilya Samsonov being so unhealthy that nobody needed to assert him on waivers as he was on his method again to the Marlies (all the time say “Marlies” in the identical voice as Inexperienced Jelly’s “Three Little Pigs”), and so they’re relying on Martin Jones. The Leafs don’t get to waste a 12 months.
The Canes positively want a breakthrough this spring in spite of everything their limp second-round exits. On the opposite facet of the coin, the Rangers can wait round for Shesterkin to seek out his type once more, particularly as they’re in first place anyway partially due to Fast beating Jack Sparrow and the Spanish to the Fountain of Youth. Colorado has current reminiscences of successful a Cup with only a man in web solely two years in the past, and should take a look at their second-line issues greater than their goaltending issues.
There additionally aren’t plenty of options to be discovered on the commerce market. John Gibson has been nice in Anaheim behind a foul crew, however he nonetheless has a terminal case of being John Gibson, which has by no means meant a lot come the playoffs. The identical sentence will be written about Petr Mrazek in Chicago, and but you get the sensation some crew goes to strive on each come March. If the Flames ever wave the white flag, Jacob Markstrom hasn’t been almost adequate for a crew to tackle two extra years of his $6 million per 12 months contract, even when the Flames will eat a few of it. The Kraken are too near the playoffs to surrender, but when they fade and Joey Daccord can remind everybody he recorded the first-ever shutout in Winter Traditional historical past, perhaps? Money in guys who’re simply “guys” when you possibly can.
All of it ought to result in a fairly entertaining spring, with various 5-4s and 6-5s in our future. And a few fairly excessive confidence ranges in locations like Vegas, Boston, or Dallas which have established goalies.
I’ll simply be over right here praying somebody tumbles proper over their skis for Mrazek.
Observe Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @felsgate.bsky.social
