Three weeks to fix an NHL team
Halloween is over. Time to get out the Christmas decorations.
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 is a measuring stick that a lot of people do tend to look at,” Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff told Postmedia last year.
We’re 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.
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 five teams can fix their franchises:
MONTREAL CANADIENS
What’s wrong: Price has lost his mojo, something Montreal fans reminded him of when they gave him mock cheers on dumpedin pucks during a recent 4-0 loss to the Kings. And despite scoring 13 goals in the last two games, the Canadiens are averaging the fifthworst goals per game.
How do they fix it: Price, whose .883 save percentage is amongst the worst in the league, will eventually improve. Until he does, the Habs’ offence needs more of those 8-3 and 5-4 scores that we saw in each of the 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 whip ping boy Alex Galchenyuk to a team (Colorado? New York Rangers?) in exchange for a top-6 centre or top-4 defenceman.
EDMONTONOILERS
What’s wrong: 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 Dr aisai tl 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.
NEWYORK RANGERS
What’s wrong: Whether it’s Henrik Lundqvist (.898 save percentage) or Ondrej Pavelec (.887), the Rangers are simply not getting good enough goaltending to win games. Though they wouldn’t look so bad if Rick Nash could find the back of the net a little more frequently.
How do you fix it: The Rangers went on a scouting mission to Ottawa for a game between the Senators and Canadiens earlier this week. A defenceman could solve New York’s problems, but the smarter move might be to sell some assets and move towards a rebuild.
What if they don’t: Alain Vigneault was reportedly coaching for his job in a game against the Golden Knights. Whether or not that’s true, it looks like he’s on the heat seat.
CALGARY FLAMES
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 lowerbody injury, should give the third line a punch in the arm when he returns. The guy who needs it the most is snake bit ten 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 divisionleading Devils and Blues, the next three weeks could go along way in determining Calgary’s future.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
What’s wrong: The Stanley Cup hangover doesn’t just affect the winners. After coming up short against the Penguins in the 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 defence man 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 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.