The NHL has 32 teams, and we all know only one team can win the prized Stanley cup every year. If your team was perfect, they would win all 82 games. We know this isn't the case with any team and the salary cap makes it extremely hard to put together an ideally perfect team.
Here are the biggest issues surrounding every single team in the NHL. This includes your team.
Green = least concerned
Amber = somewhat concerned
Red = your team is in danger
Anaheim Ducks:
Although everything may seem perfect for this team so far, the Ducks can't seem to stop giving the puck away. They have the second most giveaways in the NHL, and 6th highest giveaways / 60 minutes.
Arizona Coyotes:
You won't win games if you cant score, and the Coyotes have a massive problem with putting pucks in the net. They've scored only 30 goals (31st) and have allowed 65 goals (T-31st) so far.
Buffalo Sabres:
It's safe to say the Buffalo Sabres have improved, a lot. There are however plenty of grey areas. They are a league-worst 44% in the faceoff circle. The Sabres have allowed more goals than they have scored (-5) and are missing that true #1 guy that will put up nearly a point/game (Rasmus Asplund leads the team with 10 points in 16 games).
Boston Bruins:
The Bruins have been hit early with the injury bug. Missing several key depth players due to injuries. They're having some offensive struggles and barely outscoring their issues every night.
Calgary Flames:
The flames look pretty good so far, however, having 5 overtime losses (T-32) is an issue that needs to be addressed as the Flames consistently fall short in 3-on-3 overtime. They've lost 6 games in their last 10, and 4 of them have been in overtime. These lost points are beginning to add up.
Carolina Hurricanes:
Yeah, I tried real hard to find a problem with this Carolina team, and there really is not much wrong with them (yet).
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks are not the same team they used to be and its becoming more evident every day. They're not scoring goals as they have only 36 goals in 16 games (30th) with a 2.25 Goals/Game while allowing 3.41 Goals/Game. Which would explain their 5-9-2 record. There also have been significant COVID-19 cases lurking around the teams star players.
Colorado Avalanche:
Arguably the Stanley cup favorite, Colorado has been struggling to keep their lineup healthy so far in this young season. Nathan Mackinnon has been missing the majority of games for the Avalanche, and Bowen Byram has just recently been injured.
Columbus Blue Jackets:
The Jackets are 9-5-0, that's great news. Unfortunately, they only have a +4 rating and are barely outscoring their issues by being nearly even on Goals allowed and Goals scored. They score 3.29 Goals / game (9th) however they allow 3.14 Goals / game (22nd) which means their bubble could burst soon. Elvis Merzlikins has been sub-par in net in his past 5 starts, which has been weighing the team down. Also, Joonas Korpisalo has been underperforming all season long.
Dallas Stars:
Dallas didn't have a regulation win until November 13th when they beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2, and when they lose they're getting blown out badly. Dallas has the 7th lowest Goals / game with 2.53.
Detroit Red Wings:
Detroit has a fantastic set of rookies that are shining early in their careers, however that is currently being overshadowed by some of their goaltending issues that are costing them games. Thomas Greiss and Alex Nedeljkovic have not performed at an NHL level, and it has caused Detroit to slip below .500.
Edmonton Oilers:
Everything seems to be going great for the Oilers, but they give up the first goal of the game more than almost every other team. They have been trailing first in 10 of their 16 games so far which is tied for 27th in the league.
Florida Panthers:
For a team that has looked almost perfect so far, they can't seem to win in the faceoff circle. Winning only 45.7% of faceoffs (30th). They're losing the defensive zone & short-handed faceoffs and surely in the long run this will cost them some games.
LA KINGS:
LA has been pitiful on the road so far this season (3-3-2) and has a bottom 10 Penalty-Kill and a middle of the pack Power Play at 17.9% (19th)
Minnesota Wild:
Until recently turning things around, lots of their wins had been decided by 1 goal. They allow 3.04 goals per game on average, and this has been due to poor goaltending by Cam Talbot (.906 SV%, 2.85 GAA) and Kaapo Kahkonen (.882 SV%, 3.08 GAA). Both goaltenders are currently among the worst ranked of all goalies that have started 3 games or more this season.
Montreal Canadiens:
After such a successful playoff for this team in 2020-21, This Montreal team is having a hard time finding the back of the net. With only scoring 2.0 Goals / Game (31st), they can't seem to outscore their problems in net with Carey Price having missed the first quarter of the 2021-22 season.
Nashville Predators:
Nashville is struggling in special teams, averaging 11:03 penalty minutes/game (6th). They have also taken 14 more penalties than they've drawn, giving them a Net Pen rating of -14. Combine that with their 79% Penalty kill (22nd) and they're giving up nearly a power play goal every single game. Giving their opposing teams a slight edge.
New Jersey Devils:
New Jersey has been struggling in nearly every single category. They are bottom 10 in the league in both Powerplay and Penalty Kill. They lack a superstar as they have a lot of average players in their lineup.
New York Islanders:
As of late, the islanders have struggled with goal scoring. They have scored 2.23 goals for/game played (30th) and only 29 goals-for (32nd). However, they've only played 13 games so their goals-for is going to inevitably overtake the Arizona Coyotes.
New York Rangers:
Igor Shesterkin has been on another planet for the Rangers, posting a .930 SV% and allowing only 2.39 Goals per game. He's played nearly every game for New York so far this season and despite the teams good record, they have not been playing good at all in front of the goaltender and the cracks are beginning to show.
Ottawa Senators:
Poor defense has been making it hard for the Senators goaltenders. Matt Murray (3.10, 46th) and Filip Gustavsson (3.01, 39th) are among the leagues worst in Goals Allowed / game, and offense hasn't been helping out in any way either scoring 2.40 Goals/game (28th).
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers are not allowing too many goals this season, having only let in 37 goals so far (5th). However, they are not exactly scoring a whole lot as they only have 41 goals to show for (24th)
Pittsburgh Penguins:
The Penguins have been dealing with a lot of COVID-19 outbreaks and injuries to important players so far. They were missing their captain Sidney Crosby and many key players for the majority of their games so far, and are still missing Evgeni Malkin.
San Jose Sharks:
James Reimer can't carry this team on his back every night. His backup Adin Hill has been abysmal in net, with a 3.11 GAA and a .894 SV% thru 8 games. Otherwise the team has great goal scorers & depth.
Seattle Kraken:
Its safe to say, the reason for the poor record for Seattle is due to the poor goaltending of Philipp Grubaur and Chris Driedger. Grubaur is in the bottom 5 of all goaltenders (more than 3 games played) with an abysmal .877 SV%.
St. Louis Blues:
There are really not too many issues with this St. Louis team other than Jordan Binnington, who with a .912 SV%, 2.83 GAA and a 6-4 record has been struggling quite a bit.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Nikita Kucherov; arguably their best player, has been injured for all of November so far and is expected to be out until January at the latest. The bolts have been allowing a lot of teams to come back late in games, with their 20 Goals allowed in the 3rd period (T-27).
Toronto Maple Leafs:
So far the Maple Leafs have played 18 games, and have a solid home record of 9-2-1. However, they've only played 6 road games so far and have a 3-3-0 record. The Leafs need will need to improve their road record to keep up with some of the powerhouse teams in the Atlantic division.
Vancouver Canucks:
This one should be pretty obvious, the Penalty Kill for Vancouver is atrocious. They are on pace to have the worst Penalty Kill since the LA Kings in 1979-80 (68.2%). So far this season, the Canucks are on the ocean floor at 60.3%. They are consistently allowing 2-3 power play goals/game and this has cost them plenty of important games.
Vegas Golden Knights:
Injuries have been the biggest issue for the Golden Knights so far this season. We all know how dangerous this team can be when fully healthy, but injuries to Theodore, Marchessault, Karlsson, Patrick and many more key players have been creating a massive disruption for this team so far. Also, the recently acquired Eichel is going to be injured through the winter.
Washington Capitals:
Just like the Calgary Flames, the Washington Capitals cant seem to win in overtime/shootouts. Losing in all 5 times the team has went beyond 60 minutes.
Winnipeg Jets:
The Winnipeg Jets are taking too many games to Overtime / Shootouts and failing to secure the 2 points. Now having lost 4 games in extra time so far this season. They also can't figure out their Penalty Kill that is 65.9% (31st).
Let us know what you would change about any of the teams and if you agree with our answers.
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