National Post (National Edition)
How to mend a broken hockey team?
U.S. THANKSGIVING TENDS TO BE THE TIPPING POINT FOR SEVERAL NHL GMS
Halloween is over. Time to get out the Christmas decora- tions.
Of course, talk to most NHL general managers and the holiday they’re looking forward to next is U.S. Thanksgiving. By Nov. 23, a quarter of the season will be in the books and you will generally have a good idea of whether a team is bound for the playoffs or the draft lottery.
“I think it’s a measuring stick that a lot of people do tend to look at,” Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff told Postmedia News last year.
We’ve still got three weeks to go before then, but the clock is ticking for teams to figure out their problems before it gets too late. After all, it was three days after Thanksgiving when Gerard Gallant was fired as the coach of the Florida Panthers last season.
From finding someone other than Connor McDavid to score goals in Edmonton to helping Montreal’s Carey Price get through a nasty slump, here is how four teams can fix their franchises:
MONTREAL CANADIENS 4-7-1, 15th in East
What’s wrong? Carey Price has lost his mojo, something Montreal fans reminded him of when they gave him mock cheers on dumped-in pucks during a recent 4-0 loss to the Kings. And despite scoring 13 goals in the last two games, the Canadiens’ pergame average is fifth worst in the league.
How do they fix it? Price, whose .883 save percentage is among the worst in the league, figures to eventually improve. Until he does, the Habs’ offence needs more of those 8-3 and 5-4 scores that we saw in each of their last two wins.
What if they don’t? GM Marc Bergevin can’t fire a second coach in two years. But he might be able to pull off another blockbuster trade and move favourite whipping boy Alex Galchenyuk to a team (Colorado? New York Rangers?) in exchange for a top-6 centre or top-4 defenceman.
EDMONTON OILERS 3-7-1, 14th in West
What’s wrong? Connor McDavid has five goals and 13 points, but he’s about the only one scoring for Edmonton these days. The team is averaging a league-worst 2.18 goals per game, with Milan Lucic and Ryan Strome having scored one goal each and rookie Kailer Yamamoto still searching for his first NHL goal.
How do they fix it? In hopes of generating more offence, coach Todd McLellan moved Leon Draisaitl from centre to McDavid’s wing. It’s worked, but Edmonton is now just a one-line team. The Oilers need to spread the wealth around, which could mean more line juggling.
What if they don’t? Look for the team to call-up 19-year-old winger Jesse Puljujarvi (one goal and four points in eight games) from the minors. Of course, based on GM Peter Chiarelli’s history of trading top prospects, don’t be surprised if the 2016 fourth-overall pick becomes a trading chip.
CALGARY FLAMES 6-6-0, 11th in West
What’s wrong? We’re reluctant to put the Flames in this category, since they went into Thursday night’s game with the same number of wins as the Blackhawks and Canucks. But they also went into it as a .500 team with a minus-5 goal differential, the second-worst offence and just two wins in the last six games.
How do they fix it? Jaromir Jagr, who is out with a low- er-body injury, should give the third line a shot in the arm when he returns. The guy who needs it the most is snakebitten youngster Sam Bennett, who has gone the first 12 games of the season without a point and was recently moved to the wing.
What if they don’t? With a loaded schedule against tough opponents, such as the division-leading Devils and Blues, the next three weeks could go a long way in determining Calgary’s fate this season.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS 5-5-2, 12th in West
What’s wrong? The Stanley Cup hangover doesn’t just affect the winners. After coming up short against the Penguins in the Cup final, the Predators have stumbled out of the gate, losing four of their last five games. It’s not hard to see why. The team lost winger James Neal to the expansion draft, is missing defenceman Ryan Ellis and is currently without third-line centre Nick Bonino.
How do they fix it? Patience. Ellis could be out for another month or so and Bonino’s return is uncertain. Until then, the Predators will look to Filip Forsberg (eight goals and 13 points) and goalie Pekka Rinne (.931 save percentage) to carry the load.
What if they don’t? Compared to last season’s 2-5-1 start, the Predators are actually in decent shape.