Pens sure to deal, other things to know
Are the New York Islanders a playoff team? Are the Vancouver Canucks this good? Are Bob Boughner’s and Mike Yeo’s jobs safe?
There is plenty we don’t know in the middle of of the second month of this NHL season. But here are five things we do know.
Let’s make a deal
When Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford took his team to task in a candid interview on 105.9 FM in Pittsburgh last week, you can be sure players took notice. He will make a trade. Soon.
“Has this team been together too long? It’s something I always have to watch for,” Rutherford said. “When do you have to make those changes? The players are doing everything they can to tell me now’s the time.”
Rutherford is among the most aggressive traders in NHL history. In an era when GMs lament how difficult it is to make deals, Rutherford has made multiple trades, many having major impacts on his team. Among Penguins he acquired through trades: Phil Kessel, Justin Schultz, Riley Sheahan, Patric Hornqvist and Jamie Oleksiak.
The Penguins need defensive help and a spark up front. Rutherford said he doesn’t see any desirable defensemen in the market place, but he has a history of finding what he needs. The Los Angeles Kings and Carolina Hurricanes could be willing trade partners.
Swedish sensation
Unquestionably, Elias Pettersson, 20, is the NHL’s best rookie. The debate is whether we should already consider the Canucks forward one of the league’s top players.
Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill compared him to Pavel Datsyuk because of his deceptiveness. He pointed out Pettersson is more dominant than fellow Swedish countryman Peter Forsberg was at his age. He was the first player in 26 years to score nine or more goals in the first nine games of his NHL career.
Pettersson had 10 goals and 17 points through 12 games. He’s slick, quick and magical with the puck and he’s better than average defensively. How good are his hands? Look at videos online that show him juggling while riding a unicycle. As a teenager, Pettersson is already one of the league’s most entertaining players.
Stanley Cup preview
The Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning are the two teams that have most lived up to expectations this season.
Nobody would be shocked if they ended up in the Stanley Cup Final. Both teams have a balanced roster, rich in skill and playoff experience. Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne, 36, is playing as if he is in the prime of his career. Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is only now exploring the depths of his talent.
The Predators have the No. 1 defensive team (2.19 goals per game) and the Lightning have the No. 8 defensive team. The Lightning are the No. 1 offensive team (3.65) and the Predators are second (3.50).
Nashville downed Tampa Bay 4-1 when they met Nov. 1.
Offense back in style
With about a fifth of the season in the books, scoring was up about 4 percent. Teams were averaging 3.06 goals per game, according to Hockey-reference .com.
“In the last several years, it’s been close to a 3-2 league, meaning five goals per game,” Predators general manager David Poile said. “My personal preference would be that we be a 4-3 league. … It feels like we might have the opportunity to get there.”
It’s unlikely the NHL will return to the high-scoring ways of the 1980s when teams averaged 3.5 to 4.0 goals per game. Goalies are too big, too talented, and emphasis on defense is too unwavering.
But if the scoring rate continues at this pace, it would mark the third consecutive season scoring has risen.
Don’t write off Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights aren’t in a playoff spot, but give them credit for hanging in there while enduring this period of injuries and bad luck.
Injuries and No. 1 defenseman Nate Schmidt’s 20-game suspension are the reasons for the slow start. Alex Tuch missed the first eight games because of a lower-body injury. Paul Stastny’s injury was a major blow. Max Pacioretty was hurt, and now Erik Haula is out for an undetermined time.
When everyone is healthy and Schmidt returns, the Golden Knights will be back in the hunt.