Expansion Draft Post-mortem

 

The expansion draft happened Wednesday, and now, we know who will be taking the ice for the Seattle Kraken. Little happened of note, as teams were reluctant to trade in order to get contracts off their books. As far as who will be on the team, here's some of the notables:

• Mark Giordano from the Calgary Flames is near the end of his career, but is still a solid defenseman and is likely the first captain in franchise history. 
• His defense partners include Jamie Oleksiak and Adam Larsson, both solid in their own end, with Oleksiak being the better shot blocker and Larsson the more responsible in his own end.
• Up front, Jordan Eberle is the Kraken's top scorer, though he is also decent playing defense.
• The forward core is pretty much full of solid two way players, headlined by Brandon Tanev, Jared McCann, and Mason Appleton.
• Goaltending is still largely unproven, but young enough to reach full potential. Chris Driedger goes in as the starter, but Vitek Vanecek and Joey D'Accord will get looks, too.
• Vince Dunn, Mason Appleton, and Carson Soucy stand to benefit the most, as all three will have expanded roles. Calle Jarnkrok and Joonas Donskoi are players to watch up front, as they too, will have bigger roles as the veterans to lead the younger players.

The basis of the Kraken squad is a team of players that will make the opposition have to play the full 60 while they still have cap room, meaning they may go for a bigger name or two. We find out starting Wednesday whether they can attract a Gabriel Landeskog or not.

Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft predictions

 The team that the Seattle Kraken will be putting on the ice will be known after Wednesday, and the protected lists for every team other than Vegas was released Sunday, and some notable names are on the exposed list. Armed with that knowledge, I take a crack at who I think the Kraken will take, complete with some level of explanation. If you're interested in trying your hand at predicting the team, I used CapFriendly for assistance, and I'll post the screenshots of the picks I made. 

I said I would explain the picks, so I will go down the line, in accordance with the list.

• Nashville is wanting either Ryan Johansen or Matt Duchene to be picked, and I can see them throw in another player plus either a draft pick or lower end prospect to make this happen. I think it will be Johansen, since he has a shorter term than Duchene, albeit by a year.
• Yes, I know Carey Price is available, but I get the feeling Montreal will want the Kraken to take Jonathan Drouin. The Canadiens have a lot of picks in the draft, so I can see them use a couple of them as a lure for that, plus give Drouin a fresh start.
• Tampa Bay needs to get under the cap, and Tyler Johnson is buried on the depth chart. Tampa could add another player to convince the Kraken to take him, if not either Alex Killorn or Yanni Gourde.
• There's not a great amount of players available for the Avs to lose, though the depth means they're still losing a quality player. Joonas Donskoi is that player, unfortunately, and the Kraken are getting a middle six winger.
• Pittsburgh needs to shed salary, and Jason Zucker is certainly an option. I went with Brandon Tanev because he can provide more than just goals. It comes down to term versus cap hit, as Zucker has the higher cap hit while Tanev has the longer term remaining. 
• Ottawa has little to pick from, as Evgeni Dadonov, Chris Tierney, and Matt Murray are the biggest name options. Since there are better goalie options available, Murray is unlikely to be picked, so it's either Dadonov or Tierney. Tierney has the lower cap number, shorter term, and is younger, but is unlikely to remain a Senator in the long run, so I went with him as the pick from Ottawa. 
• Toronto is another team that could use some cap relief. The problem is that their biggest contracts either had to be protected or are free agents. That leaves Alex Kerfoot or Jared McCann, and I went with McCann, as he is the better player for the Kraken middle six and they can at least, retain his rights after next season, as he's still an RFA.
• Los Angeles is not a cap ceiling team at the moment, as they are embarking on a youth movement. However, their dream scenario is more of a pipe dream, as Jonathan Quick was left exposed. Beyond him, the only players that make sense to be selected are Olli Maatta and Austin Wagner, and Wagner is picked here because he's younger and can set the pace as needed.
• Arizona is another team with slim pickings for Seattle, as half of last year's roster was either traded (Adin Hill) or are UFAs. Of this list, it could make sense to pick Ilya Lyabushkin, as he's quality depth on the blue line. I went with Christian Fischer, as he's still young enough to expand on his potential as a power forward type.
• Calgary has options, but I'm simply looking to fill out forward depth, and Brett Ritchie was the pick.
• The same can be said for Julien Gauthier, Morgan Geekie, Cliff Pu, Dominik Kahun, and Kieffer Bellows, although those players are young enough to still have potential. 
• Yes, the Islanders would like to see the Kraken take either Jordan Eberle or Josh Bailey, and that's a strong possibility. This is my opinion, and I opt to go with mostly younger players.
• Defensively, I went with guys who could use fresh starts (Shayne Gostisbehere, Jakub Zboril, and Colin Miller), depth players (Radim Simek, Carson Soucy, and Troy Stetcher), players there just for filling out rosters (Joel Hanley and Nathan Beaulieu), and a decent top pair potential in Kevin Shattenkirk and Vince Dunn. Shattenkirk isn't the player he was in St. Louis, but he's been there and can be a leader on the defense while Dunn is still yet to reach his full potential, but is already a good defender. 
• In goal, Braden Holtby gets another chance to redeem himself while Chris Driedger is likely a 1B goalie that appears to have a deal in place. Vitek Vanecek is the bridge goalie between the NHL and minors, and would be the first call up while Malcolm Subban is simply depth that could get flipped in a trade.

That is how I think the expansion draft will go, and there are sure to be a few surprises, but it will be interesting to see how the Kraken look after Wednesday. 

2021 NHL Draft: Needs and mock draft, part 4

 

With the deadline for protected players due today, as of the start of this writing, trades were made that will impact draft positions, as well as who goes where. I will get to that AFTER the entry draft, since more trades are likely. In the meantime, let's finish the look at team needs and mock draft. 

24. Toronto Maple Leafs 

Their first round pick belongs to Columbus as part of the Nick Foligno trade, and they only have three picks total this year, with nothing between rounds two and five. They're built to win now, but have nothing to show for it plus impending cap problems. Now, they take on Jared McCann's contract in the Hope's that depth will be less of a problem. 

Projected pick (Columbus): Matt Coronato, LW, Chicago (USHL)

Not a big player, Coronato put up good numbers on the Steel, and he's willing to go into the rough areas to score. He's already fairly established, so it will be interesting if he's maxed out on his development. 

Projected pick (Toronto): Jack Bar, D, Chicago (USHL)

Since Toronto picks late in the second round, they will need to go with someone that needs at least two years before they sign him. Getting a Harvard commit in Bar buys them at least three years for a player whose only major issue is turnovers.

25. Pittsburgh Penguins 

Their first round pick belongs to Minnesota as a result of the Jason Zucker trade, and like Toronto, they also have no picks between rounds two and five. Besides depth, the most pressing need for Pittsburgh will be center, as Crosby and Malkin can't play forever. They would be wise to move a contract or two, as their cap situation is not good.

Projected pick (Minnesota): Xavier Bourgault, RW, Shawinigan (QMJHL)

Very good at creating offense, his caveat appears to be that he needs the right players to succeed. If Kevin Fiala and Kirill Kaprizov both get signed long term, that bodes well for Bourgault, who has the mentality to weather the chaos around him.

Projected pick (Pittsburgh): Red Savage, C, US NTDP 

Along the lines of needing center depth, and in accordance with their draft position, the Penguins go with a safe pick in Red Savage, son of former Canadien Brian. He projects as a fringe second liner with Selke potential. 

26. Carolina Hurricanes 

Two things are on the Hurricanes agenda, and one will be easier to fill via free agency than the other. Dougie Hamilton may have priced himself out of Carolina, so an offensive defender would be nice. Jake Bean could be the first in line to answer that question. The other is in goal, and whether Alex Nedeljkovic is the starter next season. They may look internally to answer that question, but could look to free agency or trade.

Projected pick: Daniil Chayka, D, CSKA

The read on Chayka was complicated when the OHL season was shelved, thus robbing him of more time in Guelph. He went across the pond to Russia, where the reports were incomplete outside of he got to play against older competition on a strong CSKA squad. At worst, he's a shutdown defender. 

27. Colorado Avalanche 

Colorado still has a healthy prospect pool that will likely be used more to fill depth, but goal remains an issue, especially if Phillipp Grubauer leaves in free agency. They only have four picks in this year's draft, but won't need it as badly, since they do have a pick in each of the first three rounds, thanks to trading away Ryan Graves.

Projected pick: Zach Bolduc, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)

Bolduc got attention after last season thanks to Alexis Lafreniere. Without Lafreniere this season, Bolduc got off to a slow start. Once he got going, his skill set was on full display. More of a middle six center, he would make a potent Avalanche offense even better down the line.

28. New York Islanders 

Their first round pick belongs to New Jersey as a result of the Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac trade. Offense remains a thing, as their flaws were exposed by Tampa Bay in the playoffs. The good news is that their core is still young, and their system at least, is good for deep playoff runs. The key will be continuing to replenish the prospect system while remaining competitive. 

Projected pick (New Jersey): William Stromgren, LW, Modo

The Devils have guys ready to graduate to the NHL level, but are likely needing a few veterans to show the way. That means they can afford to draft a raw prospect here, which is what Stromgren is at this point. Two points of contention for him are skating and adding a few pounds to a 6'3" frame. He's got the potential to be a steal here.

Projected pick (NY Islanders): Bryce Montgomery, D, London (OHL)

There's always a need to acquire more defenseman, and with Robin Salo or Bode Wilde likely taking Nick Leddy's spot, that means someone new will need to be developed. Montgomery is big, and has some puck movement skills, but is raw and did not play at all this season. A restarting OHL season on a perennially competitive London squad will help shake off the rust.

29. Vegas Golden Knights 

Another year of coming up short has to weigh on the Golden Knights, and one of the culprits was the lack of a true top center. The problem is that it is more likely to be addressed via free agency or hope that a change in scenery makes Nolan Patrick that guy. Other than that, they are with cap issues, and that could take its toll on blue line depth if Alec Martinez is forced to walk.

Projected pick: Francesco Pinelli, C, Jesenice

Displaced to Slovenia from Kitchener, Pinelli raised his stock this season, becoming a player that could do everything well. The question is whether he's a Jack of all trades player or something more.

30. Montreal Canadiens

One of the best prospect systems figures to be even better, as they're armed with 11 draft picks, though they could use a couple of them to package in order to move a contract such as Jonathan Drouin. Center remains an eternal question, but it's less of a dire need, thanks to the continued development of Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Blue line help is also a possibility, with someone likely taking on a bigger role if Shea Weber heads to LTIR.

Projected pick: Samu Salminen, C, Jokerit Jr.

A strong season back in Finland put Salminen on the map, but it remains to be seen where his actual ceiling is going to end. He is a Denver University commit, so North America will have a better idea how his game will translate to the NHL level.

31. Tampa Bay Lightning 

They don't pick until the third round, as their first is property of Columbus in the David Savard trade and their second round pick is Montreal's as a result of moving up to the second round in last year's draft. They did get an extra pick for trading Barclay Goodrow, but will need to shed a few more contracts, likely Tyler Johnson, but Alex Killorn  and Yanni Gourde are also possibilities. As for needs? A backup goalie on the cheap and more prospects, preferably a top scorer. The latter seems impossible with where they're drafting, but they have found players outside the first round who became elite players (see: Kucherov, Nikita and Point, Brayden).

Projected pick (Columbus): Matthew Knies, LW, Tri-City (USHL)

More of a power forward who figures to hone his game at the University of Minnesota, Knies is at his best when he is around the net using his size to his advantage. Columbus could use another blue collar player if they choose to continue their identity as such, and Knies is perfect for that when he remembers to keep physical. 

Projected pick (Tampa Bay): Jackson Blake, RW, Eden Prairie 

The son of former 40 goal scorer Jason Blake will need time at North Dakota, but has potential to be good, and hockey sense and compete level are solid foundations to start.

2021 NHL Draft: Needs and mock draft, part 3

 The third installment of the needs and mock draft continues, and this is where trades figure into the equation. Every team is still getting covered, in order of original draft position, but the mock draft will go as planned, as well as the first picks of teams without a first round pick. 

16. St. Louis Blues

A team that may not go into free agency much this offseason, the Blues now have to consider moving on from Vladimir Tarasenko, who requested a trade. Depth pieces up front and blue line help are possible needs.

Projected pick: Mason McTavish, C, Olten

A team short on high end talent if Tarasenko does get traded, McTavish can provide goal scoring and a big body down the middle for a team that needs to harder to play against, something that has been missing since 2019.

17. Winnipeg Jets 

Offense up front is a major need, especially since Pierre-Luc Dubois is not a guy that can replicate the goal scoring totals Patrik Laine had. That is where replenishing the wings can be a factor. Having fewer worries about free agents in their own end should help the Jets zero in on getting scoring help there, either through draft or free agency. 

Projected pick: Oskar Olausson, LW, HV71

The Jets can afford to develop another player if Cole Perfetti and Kristian Vesalainen both make the leap next season. Olausson has upside that can be worked with for a couple more seasons, as he's signed with HV71 until 2023.

18. Nashville Predators 

The search for a top center continues, and there isn't a top guy available in the draft, much less where the Predators are drafting. As for free agency, it's going to be about shedding either Ryan Johansen or Matt Duchene's contract through the expansion draft.

Projected pick: Fyodor Svechkov, C, Togliatti Jr.

Probably the safest pick if you take away the Russian Factor, Svechkov projects as a middle six player, at worst, thanks to the overall balance in his game.

19. Edmonton Oilers 

The search for wing men that can play alongside either McDavid or Draisaitl continues, as depth once again, became an issue. Blue line help is also a problem, but acquiring Duncan Keith should help the younger players mentally, even if Keith is no longer the player he was even a few years ago. Goalie help is also needed, as there's no sure fire starter now, nor is there a guarantee the prospects will develop as promised. 

Projected pick: Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton (WHL)

Goalie is the thinnest spot in the Oilers prospect pool, as they drafted all forwards last season, and they're expecting Evan Bouchard to try for a spot next season. Keeping Cossa in Edmonton would be a boon, as they can keep an eye on him as he looks to continue to post great numbers for a strong Oil Kings squad.

20. Boston Bruins

An aging core will need much more than just David Pastrnak up front and Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo on the blue line. Depth continues to be a major problem, even as Patrice Bergeron continues to play at a high level and Taylor Hall is a possibility to resign with the team. Down the middle is a worry that could be solved in free agency while the blue line needs a more sure thing.

Projected pick: Aatu Raty, C, Karpat

A top 10 projected pick prior to this season, his confidence was rattled at times and he missed the cut for the 2021 WJC tournament, due to no practice for the Finnish squad prior to the start. He still has the tools, and could be an eventual replacement for David Krejci.

21. Minnesota Wild 

Even as they move on from the Parise/Suter era, the Wild need to continue to fill holes in their prospect pool, especially defensively, where only Calen Addison is a top 10 prospect. Their most important thing on the to-do list is getting Kirill Kaprizov signed. 

Projected pick: Sean Behrens, D, US NTDP

A mobile defenseman that got overshadowed by teammate Luke Hughes, Behrens has upside to an already good all-around game and projects to more of a sure thing than 2018 pick Filip Johansson.

22. Washington Capitals

The Capitals first round pick was traded to Detroit in the Anthony Mantha deal, and while Mantha had his moments, not having that first round pick means they don't draft until late in the second round. Their biggest concern is what to do with Alex Ovechkin, who is a UFA. Whether they think they can win one more Cup is going to be a factor in the decision making for at least a couple seasons. Beyond that, they could use another above average prospect in the system, especially up front, as Ovechkin won't easily be replaced by one player.

Projected pick (Detroit): Nikita Chibrikov, RW, CKA

His game is bent more towards offense, and with both size concerns and the Russian Factor, it's easy to see Chibrikov fall. Still, his offense is better than most players in the draft.

Projected pick (Washington): Brett Harrison, C, Koovee Jr.

An offensive threat with consistency issues that were exposed when he had to head to Europe when the OHL season was ultimately canned, Harrison should benefit by returning to Oshawa this coming season, where he performed well. If he can use his size more to his advantage, his potential is higher.

23. Florida Panthers 

Defense is a sore point depth-wise, as evidenced by Aaron Ekblad's injury. Cutting ties with Keith Yandle further reinforces this idea, and with a decent amount of cap space, they can add another player there, if needed, although they did commit 3 million per year for three years to Anthony Duclair.

Projected pick: Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck-St. Mary's 

Far better offensive starter than in his own end at this point, Morrow has the desire to improve upon his weaknesses. It helps that he is a bigger player than the trendy smaller, yet mobile defender some teams take a chance on.

Broken Dreams

 With today's news that both Ryan Suter and Zach Parise are getting bought out of the remaining four years of their respective 13-year deals, it marks an end to an era that had so much hope in the beginning. The dead money will impact the team the most over the next four seasons, with the four following that being less than 900 thousand each. Before I go with what the Wild do from here, something that will be further explored in their part of the needs and mock draft segment, let's go back to the beginning. 

It is the 2012 offseason, and the Minnesota Wild are coming off yet another disappointing season in which their trades with the San Jose Sharks were largely unfulfilling. Devin Setoguchi didn't pan out, Charlie Coyle was still a year away from joining the Wild, another first round pick acquired for Brent Burns would turn into another Wild bust in Zack Phillips. The other San Jose trade was equally as unfulfilling, as underachieving Martin Havlat was swapped for rapidly declining Dany Heatley. Nicklas Backstrom was also experiencing a decline, as well, creating a hole in goal that ultimately wouldn't be filled for a couple more seasons. Getting name free agents has been a challenge for Minnesota to this point, as the lone star player they've had left in free agency a few years prior in Marian Gaborik. 

Let's move to July 4, 2012, a day that would become the Wild's big moment, ultimately for bittersweet reasons. Zach Parise and Ryan Suter were both free agents looking for big money before the lockout would happen a couple months later. The twist? They wanted to sign with a team together, something that would cause teams like Philadelphia and Detroit to balk at the offer, since both were seemingly interested only in Suter, Detroit looking for an eventual replacement for Niklas Lidstrom in a couple years and Philadelphia, as evidenced by their attempted offer sheet for fellow free agent Shea Weber. Minnesota, in their desperate attempt at becoming relevant, and armed with enough cap space for both, swooped in to sign both at identical 7.5 million per year...for 13 years each. They made a splash, but as they would find out, it would come at a cost.

With 15 million tied up between two players for 13 years, if it made it there, plus a no movement clause for each of them, it would be imperative that the Wild surround them with quality depth. The problem there would not be on the blue line, but up front, as the Wild couldn't find a true goal scorer. Sure, Parise was good for 30 goals a season when healthy, but no consistency was found when it came to that goal scorer. Look at the records for most goals in a season for the Wild, and you'll find that Parise, Eric Staal, Jason Zucker, and Jason Pominville all crack the top 10 on that list, but only once each. It should also be noted that each of them only cracked 30 goals once. I did say Parise was good for 30 goals when healthy, which is another problem, as outside of the lockout shortened 2013 season and the shortened 2019-20 season, he missed fewer than 10 games only twice in his time with the Wild. As for Suter, he was closer to living up to the contract, keeping in mind that it was still going to be too much to live up to, as he played nearly every game in his time with the Wild, with the exception of 2017-18, where he missed the last four games plus the playoffs. However, he could not shake the second banana label, as players such as Matt Dumba and Jonas Brodin surpassed him, and both are in their prime years. It also hurt Suter that his numbers declined this season, as Jared Spurgeon helped relegate Suter to fourth best defender, thus making the contract into more of a millstone.

Ultimately, all the Wild were able to do in the Suter-Parise era was reach the second round twice, only to be bounced in short order. Now, how can I describe the era? It started with a sense of hope and some pretty packaging, but once the present was unwrapped, buyer's remorse set in, and now, it's time for the Wild to reset, likely with new deals for both Kevin Fiala and Kirill Kaprizov, who are both RFAs.

2021 NHL Draft: Needs and mock draft, part 2

 

A quarter of the way through, and this time around, I look at the other teams to not make the playoffs. Keep in mind this is done in order of draft position before factoring in trades and in Arizona's case, forfeiture of pick.

9. Vancouver Canucks 

The year did not go as planned, and a suspect blue line and regression from key players were to blame. Through the draft, they should aim to get another defenseman, as Olli Juolevi is still no sure thing, and Quinn Hughes is a liability in his own end. As for free agency, if Jim Benning can refrain from signing anyone on the first day, that would be great. 

Projected pick: Carson Lambos, D, JYP Jr.

A top 10 potential pick prior to this season, his stock took a bit of a hit thanks to a rough adjustment to Finnish league hockey and a surgical procedure just two games into his WHL season. Before that, he was a willing defender who can jump into the play.

10. Ottawa Senators

Youth is the order of the day, and in both the pipeline and on the parent team, that is in spades for Ottawa. Goalie is still an issue, but there is no obvious prospect available here, so they could go for best available regardless of position. 

Projected pick: Kent Johnson, C, Michigan

Offensive talent who is likely to spend another year in college, the Senators can afford to let Johnson develop other aspects of his game, as well as get rid of some bad habits. 

NS. Arizona Coyotes 

This is where things get dicey, as the Coyotes do not own a first round pick this year, as they forfeited it due to pre-draft violations. They do not draft until pick 37, which they got in a trade with Columbus, and is one of two picks in the round for them. As for what they need, higher end talent is the simplest answer, as there's no one truly ready to make a jump. Long answer is defense, as they are one of the older teams in that regard and have holes to fill in terms of depth for next season. Losing out on the first four rounds last year hurts, as it further hampers their development. 

First projected pick: Logan Mailloux, D, Lejon

11. Chicago Blackhawks 

Lack of blue line depth and scoring undid the Blackhawks last season. They do figure to get Jonathan Toews back next season, which helps up front, but they desperately need to continue to think about keeping the blue line prospect pool filled, especially with Duncan Keith now traded away. Getting another scoring winger would be nice, as well.

Projected pick: Brennan Othman, LW, Olten

12. Calgary Flames 

A team that should consider overhauling its core, one of the first areas to address is blue line. There's no sure thing in the line, and their current group is either up there in age or not ready for top minutes. Factor in the team's poor first round record since their Stanley Cup win in 1989, and you get why the Flames need to reconfigure their system.

Projected pick: Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks

13. Philadelphia Flyers 

On paper, this is a team with everything now and in the future. However, consistency is something that cannot be figured on paper, and that is where the Flyers fail. Their main issue last season? Goaltending. It took a major step back, and now, we wonder if Carter Hart is the answer next season. One thing is certain, and that he will likely have a new backup goalie. If there is a spot where they truly lack, it's down the middle.

Projected pick: Cole Sillinger, C, Sioux Falls (USHL)

14. Dallas Stars 

A team with a middling prospect pool, this year is where they could get some solid players through the draft without needing to rush anyone. Scoring depth could be a possibility, with Chaz Lucius still here. They could address blue line depth in the later rounds.

Projected pick: Chaz Lucius, C, US NTDP

15. New York Rangers

The Rangers are loaded everywhere but down the middle and need someone to be hard to play against. The most logical pick at this point would be Zach L'Heureux, who is difficult to get the puck from once he has it and is competitive. 

Projected pick: Zach L'Heureux, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

2021 NHL Draft: Needs and mock draft, part 1

 The 2021 NHL season came to an end last night, which means the offseason officially begins now. In 13 days, the Seattle Kraken draft their team while the entry draft will be a few days later. To that end, it's time to examine each team and their needs going into the draft. Since there are 32 teams, this will be broken down into sections, and it will be in order of original draft placement. 

1. Buffalo Sabres 

The owners of the first overall pick, the Sabres have needs almost everywhere, but especially up front. Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel are both looking to leave, and it is possible that Rasmus Ristolainen also goes. With no clear top prospect in the draft, it is possible they go with Owen Power, a defenseman from Michigan. They also have eight other picks, so they can load up to give themselves more prospects for what is likely a rebuild of a rebuild that never got off the ground. 

Projected pick: Owen Power, D, Michigan

2. Seattle Kraken 

The Kraken are in position to pick the best available player here, and are likely to accrue another first round pick or two, as teams will try to get them to select a player to work under the cap. Odds are they will load up on veterans to give the drafted players time to develop, ala Vegas in their first year.

Projected pick: Matty Beniers, C, Michigan

3. Anaheim Ducks

The third overall pick in the draft, they have loads of prospects, but little veteran leadership, particularly if Ryan Getzlaf leaves. With Trevor Zegras pencilled in next season, it may benefit the Ducks to pick a player that can step in a year or two from now, given the development of Jamie Drysdale, among others. 

Projected pick: Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda

4. New Jersey Devils 

Experience, experience, experience. That is issue surrounding the Devils, especially since PK Subban keeps declining in skill. That also raises an issue on the blue line, where there is still a hole or two to be filled. Luke Hughes can be seen as a reach here, but reuniting him with older brother Jack may be a draw.

Projected pick: Luke Hughes, D, US NTDP

5. Columbus Blue Jackets 

Offense has been an issue since Artemi Panarin left. However, with Seth Jones not wanting to commit after next season, when he becomes a free agent, defense could be an issue, too. They have cap to work with, but Columbus has rarely been a destination for the bigger names.

Projected pick: Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL)

6. Detroit Red Wings 

They're still likely going to go with veterans on one year deals to help the kids along, and Moritz Seider is likely going to make the jump next season, giving Detroit their likely top defender. Goalie help is in short supply, and I can't see them reaching for Jesper Wallstedt this early. A trade down could happen here.

Projected pick: Brandt Clarke, D, Nove Zamky

7. San Jose Sharks 

A team in desperate need of prospects, defense is their biggest need, particularly since their top four average 32 years of age. Goalie help is also needed, but I think that gets answered via cheap FA pick up for now. If they need someone to step in now, William Eklund appears to be the most ready of the available talent, according to me.

Projected pick: William Eklund, LW, Djurgarden

8. Los Angeles Kings

Loaded with prospects everywhere but in goal, I get a feeling Los Angeles goes with the best available goalie here, the aforementioned Wallstedt. Beyond that, it's likely short term veterans filling out the roster to give a few prospects time to develop. 

Projected pick: Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea

Blasted

 Oh, Blasty. How appropriate you are to not only symbolize the darkest era of the Calgary Flames, but also be a metaphor for the current team's problems. As of now, the Flames are on a skid of eight games out of their last nine, and if not for the Ottawa Senators, who I'll mention later on in this article, they would be the worst team in the North. Yes, I know Vancouver is tied with Calgary, but they have their own problems with an outbreak at the moment.

The story of the Flames' season so far is one of an identity crisis. On paper, this team should be dominating alongside Totonto. However, something is missing, or should I say, some things. Let's start with the aforementioned Senators, who the Flames have an abysmal record against this season, having just two wins against five losses, with two games remaining. In at least two of those losses, the Flames were run out of the building in embarrassing fashion. Next, the offense is primarily Elias Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and little else. There is not enough production from the bottom six forwards and the blue line has all the offensive production of a pop gun. Goaltending, long an issue since Miikka Kiprusoff retired in 2013, isn't good, either. Coaching is also an issue, as they are now on their third coach in two seasons, as not even a re-return of Darryl Sutter can energize the Flames. That is their season so far, but how did it come to this? 

Let's rewind to the 2013-14 season, the first without long time Flames Jarome Iginla and Kiprusoff. Mark Giordano is captain and Monahan is in his rookie year. The Flames are still terrible, but there is hope, as Gaudreau makes his NHL debut on the final game of the season. Following the season, Brad Treliving is named GM, and with Bob Hartley behind the bench, they look like they're going places. They even win their first playoff series in 2015, a feat not accomplished since 2004, nor has it happened since. After that season, the Flames have been a mixed bag, alternating missed playoff seasons with first round exits, with only the last two seasons being the first time they made it back to back since the late 2000's. Who do I point the finger at for this situation they're in right now? I think it's time to look at the GM.

Treliving has been around the Flames since spring of 2014. His tenure has seen five head coaches, and possibly counting, four playoff appearances, one series win, and personnel decisions that should have gotten him fired after last season. In the draft, the only real player to have an impact in Treliving's tenure is Tkachuk, and he's tailed off this season. He's traded the first round pick twice, also, to mixed results. While the Flames won the 2015 trade with Boston (to get Dougie Hamilton, only to trade him to Carolina a few years later for Lindholm), they really could have used the 2018 pick, which along with their second round pick that year, was used to trade for Travis Hamonic. They could have used Noah Dobson by now, as 2017 first round pick Juuso Valimaki has had issues staying healthy. Speaking of draft misses, the Flames have had a long history of poor player development. Sam Bennett in 2014 is a prime example, as his career high in points is 36, his first full year in the league. He hasn't cracked 30 points since. 

So, the draft hasn't been the best for Treliving, but what about free agency and trades? As mentioned earlier, his trade for and later trading of Hamilton was good. The problem is grossly overpaying for the likes of James Neal, Chris Tanev, and Jacob Markstrom. Let's begin with Neal, who they signed in 2018 to a five year deal for just under 5 million a year. To say he underperformed was an understatement, and he was shipped to Edmonton for another terrible contract in Milan Lucic. The Flames are paying him 5.25 million to put up around 20 points a season and be nowhere near the player he was in Boston. The Flames currently have just under 20 million tied to their top four defenders, 5.35 million a year tied to Mikael Backlund for four more years, and are paying Markstrom 6 million a year to post a 3.02 GAA as of this writing. 

Writing that last paragraph actually depressed me, as the Flames have no idea what they're doing right now. I didn't put the Flames in the playoffs when I made my predictions, and after writing this piece, I'm beginning to understand why. There is no direction with this team, they're simply throwing things against the wall in the hope that something sticks, and worse, it's all for nothing but tire spinning that won't lead anywhere but the middle of the pack, at best. 

I Watched This Game: Record Breaking Time?

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

 Tonight is a special edition of "I Watched This Game," as the Buffalo Sabres are on the verge of history. Tonight, as in Wednesday, if I happen to post late, they take on the Philadelphia Flyers, where they have a chance to hold a dubious distinction of longest winless streak all to themselves. How did it get here? I will set the table, and hope it doesn't get broken.

Their 18 game winless streak has consisted of four shutouts, a coach getting fired, the GM behind the bench for a game, Eric Staal getting a "Get out of jail free" card, every team in the division getting at least one win, and three total points just for reaching overtime. However, nothing in that streak was more painful than Monday's game against the Flyers. Up 3-0 entering the third period, the Flyers score three unanswered goals in the period before Ivan Provorov put an end to things in overtime. In that time, the Sabres missed a chance to ice the game late when Tage Thompson missed an open net, only for Sean Couturier to score at the other end.

Now that I've given context, let's go to the game.

First period

• Brian Elliott and Linus Ullmark are in goal. Dylan Cozens is out due to injury, and Oskar Lindblom, Nolan Patrick, and Shayne Gostisbehere are scratched by the Flyers.
• Sloppy start to the game, as both teams have a fondness for icing the puck.
• Buffalo gets their act together long enough to strike first. A Kyle Okposo pass from the corner finds Sam Reinhart in front. He wrists one, and it goes in, with a little help from Justin Braun, to make it 1-0 Sabres. Rasmus Ristolainen gets an assist at 9:32.
• At 11:59, Riley Sheahan makes a block on a Flyers shot from the blue line, and corals it for a breakaway. He wisely sees Curtis Lazar trail behind him, and dishes it to him for a 2-0 lead.

After one period, the Sabres are up 2-0. Nationally televised game, and the announcers kept harping on Sabres mistakes as a reason for their 18 game winless streak. Both teams had trouble early, but Buffalo found some momentum in the middle of the period. Philadelphia has had a habit of starting slow, so let's hope this doesn't haunt them.

Second period 

• 54 seconds in, Tage Thompson high sticks Travis Sanehim in the Flyers' offensive zone. Two minutes, and a chance for the Flyers to swing momentum. 
• The Flyers don't score on the power play, but do get momentum on their side. They are rewarded with a goal at 3:50, as Ivan Provorov claps one off Brandon Montour in front and deflects past Ullmark. Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek get the assists.
• The momentum swings the other way, as Buffalo is the team on the attack. Ristolainen feeds a puck out of the corner to a waiting Steven Fogarty, who lasers one past Elliott to restore the two goal lead for the Sabres. Jacob Bryson also gets an assist at 9:42.
• The hits continue for both Bryson and Fogarty, as this time, they are the givers to a perfect Casey Mittelstadt finish. That also spells the end of the night for Elliott at 15:39, as he gives way to Alex Lyon.
• A Henri Jokiharju clear attempt goes out of play, but without touching any of the boards. That is a delay of game at 16:51.

Here we are again, a three goal lead for Buffalo heading into the third period. Do they hold on this time? 

The Flyers had things going for them at the start of the period, but once the Fogarty goal happened, the house caved in. Fogarty and Bryson stood out here.

Third period

• Not much to note for the first half of the period, which is a good thing for Buffalo. They may hold on, after all.
• Thompson trips Sanheim at 13:38. I may be speaking too soon.
• Never mind, Philadelphia pulls Lyon, but the gamble fails, as Montour nails a shot almost the length of the ice at 14:53. Short-handed, and an empty net. It's pretty much over now.
• Now, it's really over, as Montour takes a shot at Lyon, but is stopped. He finds a rebound, and nets his second short handed goal at 15:30.

Game over, Buffalo snaps an 18 game winless streak. The score pretty much tells it all, as Buffalo played one of their best games in a while, and Philadelphia looked sleepy throughout most of the game. Ullmark finally gets rewarded for his efforts, and there's more of a direction, at least the last three games. Taylor Hall still needs to find his game, and Rasmus Dahlin showed flashes.

Mind Your Ps and Qs

Do you remember the Simpsons episode in which Kent Brockman vilified a wooden dummy named Gabbo for saying taboo things on air, only to forget that his mic was still on while he said the same taboo words on air? In last night's game between Detroit and Nashville, referee Tim Peel had a Kent Brockman moment. 

The call in question was a tripping by Viktor Arvidsson in which replays confirmed an embellishment by Jon Merrill. As mentioned by Reuters,

"It wasn't much, but I wanted to get a (expletive) penalty against Nashville early," Peel said a few minutes later before the TV broadcast went to commercial.

The 54-year-old Peel, who was scheduled to referee his final game in late April, has worked over 1,300 NHL regular season games and 90 playoff games.

 The NHL did not take too kindly to Peel revealing the secrets, and have sent Peel on his way a month before he was to retire. The statement by the NHL:

National Hockey League Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell announced today that Referee Tim Peel, following his comments during the game last night between the Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators, no longer will be working NHL games now or in the future.

“Nothing is more important than ensuring the integrity of our game,” Campbell said. “Tim Peel’s conduct is in direct contradiction to the adherence to that cornerstone principle that we demand of our officials and that our fans, players, coaches and all those associated with our game expect and deserve. There is no justification for his comments, no matter the context or his intention, and the National Hockey League will take any and all steps necessary to protect the integrity our game.”

 In all sports, there is always going to some level of favoritism by referees, and some even choose to not hide that fact. The thing you shouldn't do, no matter what, is say it while the game is actually going on. This kind of thing isn't going away anytime soon, but if there's anything to learn from this, it is to be aware of both your mic and any cameras on you, or else, you end up like Kent Brockman. 

13 and Counting...

 I originally was going to post about the Buffalo Sabres firing Ralph Krueger right after it happened yesterday. However, I decided to give it a day before making this post. In perhaps the least surprising result, the Sabres lost again, this time, 4-1 to Boston. Also, the picture you see sums up the Sabres' chances of winning at all this month. Before you ask, I cannot take credit for the picture. 

Let's rewind back to Tuesday. They had a 2-1 lead halfway through the game against New Jersey. New Jersey would score two unanswered goals to win 3-2, thus sealing Krueger's fate. Wednesday, Krueger and assistant coach Steve Smith were shown the door, and Don Granato was named interim coach, with Matt Ellis and Dan Girardi being interim assistants. Given these were hires under Krueger's watch, you would think this has potential for disaster. Tonight, at least, it was proven right, as the Sabres showed little resistance, only netting a Kyle Okposo goal in the first period. Okposo hadn't scored since February 23, 2020. That actually made it 1-1 before Boston ripped off three straight goals to end the game.

So, where does the streak end? Their month has Boston twice, the Rangers, and both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia twice. Their month of April begins with the Rangers, so it's entirety possible that the losing streak reaches 21. Their pointless streak sits at 5 right now, as they have in their current losing streak, made overtime twice.

Groundhog Day: Sabres Bugaloo

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

 6-13-3. That is where the Buffalo Sabres stand after another loss to the New York Islanders Saturday afternoon. I'm pretty sure this has been put through the meat grinder three times over, but this team is bad. No way to sugarcoat it, and they're a mess in the front office, or whatever was left after last season. How did it get this way? There are many answers, but I will tackle one part of the problem, which is their ability to develop prospects. 

For this exercise, I will reference the Hockey News prospects magazine that is usually put out every year around this time, specifically, 2011. The top 10 prospects of the team for that year will be listed, along with what they went on to accomplish, with hockeydb as a source. 

• Zack Kassian: the team's top ranked prospect that year, he was a first round pick in 2009. He would suit up for 27 games with the Sabres in 2011-12 before getting traded for Cody Hodgson at the trade deadline. Never known for his offense, he's had stops in Vancouver, Montreal (he never suited up for them), and Edmonton, where his physical play is a welcome addition for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
• Luke Adam: a second round pick in 2008, Adam had the most time in the NHL in the 2011-12 season, playing 52 games. He would only have 38 other NHL games to his resume and 26 points total. He would be more of an AHL player in North America, leaving for Germany after the 2015-16 season, where he currently plays. 
• Marcus Foligno: A fourth round pick in 2009, Foligno actually spent five-plus seasons with the Sabres, providing quality third-line minutes on a Sabres team that lacked offense. 13 goals was his career high, accomplishing that in his final year with the team. In the 2017 offseason, he was traded with Tyler Ennis to Minnesota for Marco Scandella and Jason Pominville. In Minnesota, he has been the same player, this time, on a team that finally has a game breaker on offense.
• Mark Pysyk: The 2010 first round pick was never able to be a regular with the Sabres in four seasons with the team, amassing 55 games in the 2015-16 season as a high with them. He would be traded to Florida after that season for Dmitry Kulikov and a swap of second round picks, where he became a regular on their blue line. Prior to this season, he signed with Dallas, and despite the regular time the last few seasons, Pysyk was never the offensive defenseman the Sabres envisioned, with 18 points being a season high, accomplished in 2019-20.
• Brayden McNabb: The 2009 third round pick of the Sabres spent most of his tenure in the AHL, only in 37 games with the parent club before getting traded during the 2013-14 season to Los Angeles. He would begin his NHL career in earnest the following season, playing with the Kings for three seasons before getting claimed by Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft. A noted stay-at-home defender, McNabb is a regular on the shutdown pairing.
• Jhonas Enroth: The 2006 second round pick was not a big guy, limiting his potential as a starter in the league. He bounced between the Sabres and Portland of the AHL for a couple seasons before earning the backup job in 2011. He would play a season high of 37 games in the 2014-15 season with the Sabres before getting traded at the deadline to Dallas, where he would play 13 more games that season. His GAA numbers told the story of the team in front of him, as he posted a 3.27 GAA in Buffalo. In comparison, that number was 0.89 lower in Dallas. He would have his best season as a backup in Los Angeles in the 2015-16 season, playing 16 games and have a 2.17 GAA. That wasn't enough, as he would spend the following season mostly in the AHL, with a 6 game cameo for the Maple Leafs before heading to Europe after the season, where he's played in the KHL, Austria, and Sweden. 
• Marc-Andre Gragnani: The third round pick in the 2005 draft can be best classified as a 4-A player, way too good to be in the AHL, but not good enough to be in the NHL. 2011-12 was his "best" year in the NHL, as he played 58 games between Buffalo and Vancouver. However, his offensive touch from the blue line was nowhere to be found, as the AHL numbers never translated. In 2016, he went to Europe, where he has spent time in the KHL and Sweden.
• Drew Schiestel: The second round pick in 2007 never played in the NHL, having played in the AHL, ECHL, Germany, Denmark, Austria, and the English league.
• Jerome Gauthier-Leduc: A third round pick in 2010, he also never made the NHL, spending most of his North American career in the AHL. He has played in the Czech Republic, English league, Sweden, and Austria.
• Dennis Persson: The 2006 first round pick in 2006 never played in the NHL, as he struggled to adapt to the North American game. He was last on the ice in Sweden in 2016.

What did we learn from this list? It's a microcosm of one of Buffalo's biggest problems since the start of last decade: their inability to develop young talent. Of the players on the list, the only one you can say developed properly was Foligno, and he was never considered a top tier guy. Everyone else either had their best seasons on other teams or leagues, or never developed at all. This is not a new trend with the Sabres, as the only players they've drafted that became something are Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin, and Sam Reinhart, and even then, the Sabres are on the verge of messing that up. The clean out of the staff after last season doesn't help, and given the team's struggles this season, it's not going to get better.

I Watched This Game: Lake Tahoe Edition, Part 2

 

Welcome back to another edition of I Watched This Game, and we're still at Lake Tahoe for a matchup between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins. This is a matchup of two of the top teams in the East, and like most non-Canadian teams, both have had games postponed. They are no strangers to each other, with Boston having the upper hand thus far in their meetings this season. 

Originally scheduled for 2 PM CST, it was moved up an hour, but because of the Vegas-Colorado game having issues with the sun, the Flyers-Bruins game is now playing at 6 pm CST.

Due to more delays, the game finally begins at 7 pm CST. Pentatonix sings the national anthem, and now, I finally understand the hype surrounding them.

First period

• Carter Hart and Tuukka Rask are in net to start the game.
• 34 seconds in, Brad Marchand Carrie's the puck into the zone and finds David Pastrnak cutting towards the net. A picture perfect pass and shot put Boston up 1-0. The play gets set up by a strong defensive effort by Patrice Bergeron.
• A dump and chase finds a carrom from the corner, and Joel Farabee charges in to slide one past Rask to tie it. James van Riemsdyk and Sean Couturier get assists at 6:41.
• A Couturier trip of Marchand leads to a Boston power play at 12:34. Nothing comes of it.
• However, Couturier hustles out of the box in time to begin a mad scramble in front of the net. He eventually finds the puck again, and back doors it to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. Kevin Hayes and JVR get the assists at 14:48.
• The previous goal was helped by a Charlie McAvoy broken stick that essentially left Boston short handed. He gets a shot at redemption, as Marchand goes around the Flyers net, feeds McAvoy, who lets one fly from the point to tie it at 2. Connor Clifton has the other assist at 15:27.

An entertaining first period ends all tied at 2. Boston gets some bad news, as Jeremy Lauzon left after his first shift due to injury and was ruled out for the rest of the game.

Second period

• Boston wastes no time scoring again, as Nick Ritchie carries the puck into the zone. He finds Pastrnak, who threads the needle over Hart's glove side to give Boston a 3-2 lead. Urho Vaakanainen also gets an assist at 46 seconds.
• Philadelphia shoots themselves in the foot, as they are whistled for too many men on the ice at 6:18.
• This is where the wheels fall off for the Flyers, as they have a bad turnover, and one Craig Smith to Charlie Coyle connection later, it is 4-2 Bruins at 16:14.
• It gets worse for the Flyers, as Andy Andreoff cross checks a Bruins player after the goal, a big no-no.
• At 16:47, the Bruins score again, this time, before the previous goal could be announced, as Trent Frederic scores from the point to make it 5-2. John Moore and Clifton get the power play helpers.
• Just as that goal gets announced, you guessed it, Boston scores again. Moore's shot from the point gets tipped by Ritchie and past Hart to make it 6-2. Smith also gets an assist at 17:53.
• At 18:16, Anders Bjork gets called for holding. 

Boston broke this one open, thanks to both a 15-3 shots on goal advantage and the Flyers bring undisciplined. This would also spell the end of Hart's night, as he gets pulled after the period.

Third period

• Brian Elliott takes over in goal for the Flyers.
• Bjork goes into the box again, this time, for hooking at 9:31.
• Interference from Brandon Carlo at 12:37 leads to a Flyers power play. Seven seconds later, JVR redirects a shot past Rask to cut the deficit to 6-3. Ivan Provorov and Hayes with the assists.
• At this point, the Flyers should be opening a bakery because they love making turnovers. Jack Studnicka capitalizes on this, and finds Pastrnak at the dots. Hat trick, 7-3 Bruins at 17:04.

7-3 is the final, and the Bruins go home with 2 points. Yes, the Flyers were without their entire top line and a couple of other key forwards due to protocols, and yes, neither team got in practice before the game. That doesn't excuse the undisciplined play the Flyers showed. Boston minimized their mistakes, and Pastrnak was dominant on the scoresheet. 

Boston plays the Islanders on Thursday and Philadelphia gets the Rangers on Wednesday. 

I (Sort of) Watched This Game: Lake Tahoe Edition, Part One

 Even though the regularly scheduled outdoor games were scrapped this season, that doesn't mean there won't be any outdoor games. Two games are happening at Lake Tahoe, with Vegas and Colorado playing today, and Philadelphia and Boston playing tomorrow. That means another return of I Watched This Game. 

The first game sees the Colorado Avalanche take on the Vegas Golden Knights in a reverse retro game for both teams. Heavy favourites to win the Stanley Cup this year, it happens that they are also in the same reworked West Division and both had games postponed due to protocols. Colorado only resumed play last Sunday in a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Golden Knights. That sets the stage for the first puck drop of the afternoon. 

Update: the second and third periods of the game play at 11 pm CST due to sun causing ice issues. I will post what I'm able to catch, so minimum, you're getting first period observations. 

First period:

• The starting goalies are Philipp Grubauer and Marc-Andre Fleury. Given the sun being in full effect, it was a good thing Vegas didn't go with the metallic gold helmets.
• Three minutes into the game, Colorado shows off some excellent passing, highlighted by Nathan MacKinnon spotting Sam Girard at the point, followed by a laser that finds its way past Fleury to make it 1-0 Avalanche. 
• Mark Stone raised his stick a little too high on Mikko Rantanen, and because it drew blood, that means he must sit for four minutes. 
• Vegas forgot that they only needed four men on the ice, and they get busted with too many men on the ice, to be served by Keegan Kolesar. That means 5-on-3 hockey for the rest of the period, with at least 37 seconds carrying over if Colorado doesn't score.

At the end of the first period, Colorado leads 1-0. They dominated most of the first half offensively, but Vegas would get their chances in the middle of the period. The Stone penalty was unfortunate, but the too many men penalty is an inexcusable lapse in judgement. 

At this point, the 18-minute clock for intermission had not started, and by the time the announcement was made to resume play at 11 pm, over an hour had lapsed.

From this point, everything is gathered from both the box score and video highlights.

Second period

• Colorado does not convert the power play to begin the period...eight hours later.
• William Carrier clears the puck over the board about three minutes into the period. He's in the box for that.
• At 7:37, Alex Pietrangelo fires the puck from the blue line, and after a scramble, Alec Martinez finds the loose puck and puts it past Grubauer to tie it at one. Jonathan Marchessault also touched the puck, so he gets an assist, as well.
• 4-on-4 action happens for two minutes, as Chandler Stephenson and Tyson Jost both sit, Stephenson for cross checking and Jost for interference. 
• MacKinnon makes a great defensive play on Stone, and going from end to end, he snipes one past Fleury stick side, giving the Avalanche the lead once again.
• A series of penalties occurs to end the period, with Joonas Donskoi interfering with Fleury at 16:15, Alex Tuch interfering with Grubauer at 17:44, and Andre Burakovsky high sticking Pietrangelo at 18:09.

This was a back and forth period that saw both teams show what they can do.

Third period

• More penalties begin the period, as Nazem Kadri tripped Keegan Kolesar at 1:59, and Cale Makar delays the game at 2:37 with a clear over the boards.
• Off a faceoff in the Vegas zone, MacKinnon drops a pass to a waiting Devon Toews, who proceeds to rip a shot from the blue line that gets past Fleury, thanks to traffic in front. Rantanen also touched the puck prior to the shot, so he also gets an assist. 3-1 Avalanche. 
• Zach Whitecloud keeps the puck in the Avalanche zone, finds Tuch along the boards. Tuch makes a beautiful spin move from the corner to the front of the net and backhands one past Grubauer to get the Golden Knights within one at 14:25.
• The Avalanche hang on for the rest of the game, and take this one 3-2.

Even with the prolonged break, this was still everything as advertised. MacKinnon showed why he is one of the best players in the league right now, contributing to all three Avalanche goals in the game. Both teams will get to do this again Monday in Colorado.

The Unsung Hero

 

I know I haven't posted in a while, and yes, much has changed in the world. The 2021 NHL season has been as chaotic as you think, given the interruptions both in and out of teams' control, but there have been some pleasant surprises. 

The Chicago Blackhawks were widely thought to be rebuilding this year, given their depth, or lack thereof. As of this writing, they are tied for first in the reworked Central Division, albeit, with some schedule luck. They are playing with at least 5-6 newcomers, and until recently, had major questions in goal. So, who is the guy pictured? Kevin Lankinen, a 25-year old Finn who is playing his first season in the NHL. He currently has a 7-2-3 record and a 2.29 GAA, with his first shutout coming in last night's 2-0 win at Detroit.

Lankinen is as close to an out-of-nowhere story as it gets, as he wasn't even drafted by an NHL team. In fact, he was considered an afterthought, as he didn't start regularly until the 2014-15 season, when he played with HIFK. It wasn't until 2018, when Chicago signed him to a two-year entry level deal. He was named as the Rockford Ice Hogs' representative in the AHL All-star game in 2020. At the start of the season, it was unclear where he would be, as his competition included Malcolm Subban and Colin Delia. Lankinen has impressed thus far, and in the process, may have finally answered the call to be the successor to Corey Crawford.