Bleacherreport
5 NHL Teams That Are Underperforming Expectations
J.Davis36 min ago
- Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Several NHL teams have surprised us with their performances nearly 20 games into the NHL's 2024-25 schedule. Some, like the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, and Washington Capitals, have exceeded expectations with their strong play thus far. Meanwhile, several clubs aren't playing up to the level that was expected of them when the season began. One is a Western Conference club that made some big splashes in the offseason free-agent market. Another is an Eastern Conference team that usually finishes near the top of the standings. We're looking at five teams underperforming expectations and players on those clubs whose play isn't at their usual high level. Teams with rosters decimated by injuries like the Colorado Avalanche and sidelined players like Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews have been excluded from this listing. Do you agree or disagree with our listing? Let us know in the app comments below.
- Sam Hodde/ Since 2017-18, the Boston Bruins have regularly finished among the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They've finished no lower than sixth overall during that stretch, won the Presidents' Trophy twice (2019-20, 2022-23), and finished second in the Eastern Conference in 2017-18 and 2018-19. This season, however, the Bruins stumbled from the gate. As of Nov. 17, they were clinging to eighth overall with a record of eight wins, eight losses, and three overtime losses for 19 points in as many games. At times, they've even been near the bottom of the standings and recently suffered a humiliating 7-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The Bruins once had a strong goalie tandem with Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. With Ullmark traded to the Ottawa Senators during the offseason, Swayman and his new partner Joonas Korpisalo have a goals-against per game (3.37) that's among the league's worst . Missing training camp due to contract negotiations adversely affected Swayman's play. Offseason acquisitions like center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov appear to be struggling to adjust to their new teammates. Lindholm was brought in to be their first-line center, but he's seeing second-line duty while Zadorov is skating on their third defense pairing. Most surprising is David Pastrňák's production. He's well off his usual 100-point pace with 17 points in 19 games. Pastrňák admitted to an offseason injury that may have affected his preparation for this season. Nevertheless, he was benched by head coach Jim Montgomery during the third period of his club's 2-0 win over the Seattle Kraken on Nov. 3.
- Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Following back-to-back trips to the Western Conference Final, the Dallas Stars were expected to become a serious contender for the Stanley Cup in 2024-25. Possessing a solid mix of skilled veterans and rising young stars, they were coming off a 113-point performance last season that ranked second-best in franchise history . With a record of 10 wins and five losses in 15 games, the Stars were fifth in the Western Conference with 20 points as of Nov. 16. That's not a bad placement, especially considering their early schedule featured two games in Finland against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. However, the Stars lost both those games to the Panthers. They also lost to the high-flying Winnipeg Jets, the surprising Washington Capitals, and the still-erratic Buffalo Sabres. They're among the top-10 teams offensively but their power-play percentage (18.0) ranks 19th overall. The Stars' success last season was due in part to young stars like forwards Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, and defenseman Miro Heiskanen. Robertson had a team-leading 80 points, Johnston led their scorers with 32 goals, while Heiskanen led the Stars blueliners with 54 points. This season, however, Robertson is sixth with eight points in 16 games after missing training camp after having a cyst removed from his foot. Johnston has just two goals and seven points while Heiskanen has six points. The three have plenty of time to improve those stats, but it's unusual that these three young core players are struggling at the same time.
- John Russell/NHLI via The Nashville Predators were considered among the winners of the offseason free-agent market by signingforwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault and defensemanBrady Skjei. Those additions, however, have failed thus far totranslate into improvement on the ice. As of Nov. 17 , the Predators were mired at the bottom of the Western Conference standingswith five wins, 10 losses, and three overtime losses in 18 games.Their 2.28 goals-against per game is the league's lowest and they'vegiven up the 12th-highest goals-against per game (3.22). Stamkos has just four goals and eightpoints while Marchessault has three goals and nine points, puttingthe veteran forwards well behind their 40-goal performances lastseason. Skjei has six points but his defensive play hasn'tbeen to the standard of a blueliner earning $7 million per season . They're not the only noteworthy Predators stars having their difficulties this season. Top defenseman and teamcaptain Roman Josi's plus/minus is a woeful minus-13 , leading scorerFilip Forsberg has been shut out in recent games, and two-way forwardRyan O'Reilly has been struggling. On Nov. 16, 's Alex Daugherty singledout the Predators' overall poor puck movement resulting in neutralzone turnovers. He also cited their lack of speed among theirforwards to get around defenders, while their blueliners are givingup odd-man rushes in their zeal to jump up into the play.
- Jared Silber/NHLI via Winners of the Presidents' Trophy in 2023-24, the New York Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in three seasons. Their 114-point performance last season was the best in franchise history . Entering 2024-25, they were considered among the Stanley Cup contenders. After 15 games, the Rangers were sixth overall in the Eastern Conference with 10 wins, four losses, and an overtime defeat for 21 points. That's not bad, plus they also have games in hand over the clubs ahead of them in the standings. Nevertheless, the Rangers' recent lopsided losses to the Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, and Winnipeg Jets raised concerns among observers such as columnists Larry Brooks and Mollie Walker . Both pundits cited the Blueshirts' poor puck management and sloppy breakouts, especially in their 6-3 loss to the league-leading Jets. The Rangers are near the top of the leaderboard in goals-per-game average (3.67) and special teams and possess one of the lowest goals-against per game (2.53). However, they've given up the fourth-highest shots-against per game (32.2). Scoring forwards Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider aren't producing at their usual level. Zibanejad recently spoke candidly about his confidence, calling it "the hardest thing ever" not to succumb to negativity. Meanwhile, Kreider has eight goals but only three in his last 10 games. He also hasn't collected an assist.
- Derek Cain/ After missing the playoffs in eight ofthe previous 10 seasons, the Vancouver Canucks showed significantimprovement in 2023-24. Their 109-point performance was thethird-best in franchise history , sitting third overall in the WesternConference and their first postseason since 2020. Expectations were high for the Canucksentering this season. As of Nov. 17, they were sixth in theconference with a record of nine wins, four losses, and threeovertime losses for 19 points in 15 games. That's not bad, but it's not where Canucks followers expected them to be. Winger Brock Boeser was recently sidelinedwith an upper-body injury which affects the Canucks offense. They slipped from sixth overall in goals per game last season (3.40) to 15th overall (3.19) as of Nov. 17. They're also without starting goaltender Thatcher Demko as he rehabs from a knee injury suffered during the 2024 playoffs. Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre pointed out that a mild start by rugged two-way forward J.T. Miller was limiting theCanucks' ceiling. Offseason free-agent addition Jake DeBrusk wasbrought in to provide additional scoring punch to their top-sixforwards but he's been streaky with three goals and 10 points in 16 games. The drop inElias Pettersson's production is the biggest concern. With five goals and 10 points in 16 games, the 26-year-old center is well below last season's 34-goal, 89-point pace. Pettersson isn't battling any injuries and couldregain his form as the season goes along, but his output thusfar hasn't helped the Canucks rise in the standings.
Read the full article:https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10143746-nhl-teams-and-players-that-are-underperforming-expectations
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