With December rolling in it’s more then high time to have another look at the NHL, how things are going, and how good –well a couple were-, and bad, my thoughts on each team were heading in to the season back in October. If you want to review, CLICK THIS.
OK with a look at today’s standings let’s pick up where we were:
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks: yeesh! Why do we have to start here. Could I have been more wrong about a team?! To quote myself from October: “Boom, right out of the gate a team that could make the Cup final this year. If not win it all”. Only thing I can follow it up with is, Boo! How has this team been this bad so far. They are turning things around and I’m sure they’ll have a strong finish. Still though, even Columbus has had a better recent stretch, and the fact Anaheim sits ahead of only 6 teams in the entire league, that just ain’t right.
Arizona Coyotes: Really, and this is the second team?! The one I touted as being certain they wouldn’t make the playoffs. Eat my hat on this one. Yes, playoffs are a pile of games away, you gotta feel though they are this year’s version of last year’s Calgary Flames. Keep it up Coyotes!
Calgary Flames: Honest, I’m not trying to do this team to team thread; It’s annoying me too! Tough to see Calgary struggle the way they are so far this season. I stand by my theory though, if by random chance they make the playoffs, and face Vancouver. Oh yes, once again they will beat them.
Edmonton Oilers: Deep breath… OK, how many times do I have to utter the phrase ‘The Oilers have to be better this year right?’… Well I’m doing it again. Seriously can they not read?, I’d like to wear my Oilers toque proudly, and, at some point, this decade. Good thing they are building that new arena, old one might self combust from shame, and oily northern Alberta tears.
LA Kings: Hey, we finally get to a team I haven’t been totally wrong on! Bit of a struggle at the start, and now they seem to be rolling in typical Kings style. Too early to start the debate over what’s better when LA makes the playoffs?: The games, or the Darryl Sutter press conferences!
San Jose Sharks: OK now it’s time to feel old, Joe Thorton was traded to San Jose 10 years ago. Where did the time go? The team is looking solid, when the playoffs come will they stay that way? Always kind of a 50/50 isn’t it.
Vancouver Canucks: Oh Vancouver. If you had better fans, I’d almost care. (Vancouver fans, links to write me nasty comments are over to the left) Looking better lately at least, I’ve actually been surprised at some of their struggles.
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane show continues. And a Tip of the Hat to him for his record setting points streak. They are definitely strong, and definitely in the thick of things, though unfortunately still say the roster changes/other teams gunning for them make the Blackhawks unlikely to repeat as Cup champs. And again, I add, prove me wrong Chicago
Colorado Avalanche: Eeek…Not doing better than last year as I’d prognosticated (classy word find!). And at this point, a playoff bound Colorada team isn’t looking likely.
Dallas Stars: So far so good with this team..actually I’m sticking with my initial thoughts: ‘…they will be a site to see this year. Didn’t come together last year, it will this year. Playoffs here come the Stars’.
Minnesota Wild: Right now Minnesota sits in a Wild Card spot, will they be there near the tail end of the season? Most likely, which is too bad. Minnesota, like the Jets, are a good team in a stupid good division. Stinks that one of them misses the playoffs.
Nashville Predators: Minn/Wpg could be out, unless Nashville poos the bed hard rolling forward this season. Leaning to a no on this one, though they certainly aren’t last year’s team, so far. Nashville still lurking and looking like they could do some damage once playoff time arrives.
St. Louis Blues: Congratulations St. Louis, I didn’t forget about you this time!..Sorry again about that before. You still have me scratching my head though. You’re a strong team, and yet one wonders do you have what the French call a certain ‘I don’t know what?’ (thanks Mike Myers) to be an elite NHL team?
Winnipeg Jets: Let’s Go Jets! As in come on, let’s get it going Jets. A little more consistency has to be the key. The pieces seem there. It could be a squeaker, let’s cross our fingers playoff hockey returns to Manitoba in April
Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins: On a good note, the B’s do seem to be getting their house in order, and after a struggle to the start, their seasons picking up steam. I think all this talk about them, or some players, getting old is a little early. We’ll find out come playoff time, and Bruins should be in.
Buffalo Sabres: Well, they are better than last year. It’s also still going to be Wednesday a week today... Seriously though, Buffalo is looking pretty good, and they have nothing to feel bad about. Currently they have a better record than Anaheim (seriously!), sit ahead of the Leafs, Carolina, and Columbus, just a win from being ahead of 2 more clubs, and have just 1 less win than Tampa Bay. Keep it up Buffalo!
Detroit Red Wings: New coach, older team, Red Wings keep rolling though. Currently 6th in the East, it’s tough to see them hold that spot with the teams around them in the standings coming on strong. Still it’s Detroit, so a spot in the playoffs is never out of the question. If a team can find a way to do it, they can.
Florida Panthers: Florida’s currently on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. The middle of the road is exactly where I thought they wouldn’t be. Yet, its hard now to see them being anywhere but that spot come the end of the season. Some teams will go up, some will go down with the Panthers likely being the buoy marker between the shallow end and deep end. And yes, Jarmoir Jagr, and his mullet should be at in this year’s All Star Game!
Montreal Canadiens: Well I was half right, Carey Price has been fantastic, and the Habs are certain to make the playoffs. Shoulda given a little more credit to the rest of the team though. With Price out with injury, they haven’t missed a beat. This is good cause it let’s him rest. Montreal, will need him 100% for playoff time.
Ottawa Senators: I think Ottawa’s record is better than they are. Earlier, I called for them possibly making the playoffs, though an early exit. Now I’m not seeing them in, instead finishing just outside.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The flip side is Tampa Bay are a far better team than their record shows. Far, far better team, infact. They have to be right?! (sounding like Oiler talk, yikes!)…Struggling, you have to think they turn it around soon. If not, what does it mean for the team? Let alone that whole Steven Stamkos contract situation.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Leafs are weird this year. OK, weirder than normal; and in Leaf-land weird kinda is the normal. (wrap your head around that Catch 22) Are they better than expected? To many, yes. Should they be? Yes. Should they be better then they are? Tough to say. Mike Babcock has them playing better hockey than their record shows. Some due to atrocious goaltending. Yet, brilliant goaltending has saved their skin on other nights. The flickering of life are there, the Leafs are headed in the right direction.
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes: What can I say, didn’t see them cracking the playoffs, though did expect to see a better team than this. Just ahead of 1 team in the standings and tied with 3 more in second to the bottom. Not where you wanna be.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Speaking of. CBJ along with Calgary, join Carolina in the 20 points club. And here I was feeling a better than expected year from Columbus and a playoff appearance. Congratulations Columbus you are the team making me look the dumbest…Gotta wonder if that last sentence may also be a pep talk highlight from John Tortorella following their latest loss.
New Jersey Devils: Jersey’s been a bit of a pleasant surprise. So far, not the nasty long season I thought it might be. Just shy of the playoffs, with Tampa Bay bound to get on a tear -They have to be better right?-, it unfortunately is tough to The Devils squeaking in at the end of the season.
New York Islanders: Islanders are kinda stumping some, and not just fans in Brooklyn figuring out they have an NHL team. Not the dominant team I was expecting. Still say they make the playoffs. Once they start, the could make some noise.
New York Rangers: Are the Rangers silly good again, yep. Playoffs, yep. Stil think they are final bound? That first round will be a dosey for them to get through. Still saying it will be a game 7, maybe some overtime.
Philadelphia Flyers: Repeating October’s thoughts: ‘Philly you frustrate me so much. Potential is there. And you’ve done it before’...I’ll stop there, as I also spoke of Philly making the playoffs, though I did state –I don’t know how-. This time around I’ll say I know how. With records essentially the same, they just need to do what ever Tampa Bay does to get in. Ah, yet ask yourself do you see it happening?
Pittsburgh Penguins: Let’s face it, the Penguins have been a bit of a disappointment. Getting wins, yes. And probably playing a better team game to do it than we like to think. Still, those visions of Phil Kessel/Sidney Crosby highlights every night aren’t coming true. As fans, it’s a little disappointing. They keep denying there is turmoil in Pittsburgh (Crosby and Lemieux fall out?, talk of trading Malkin) whatever it is they will need things sorted, and the captain to be rolling come playoff time.
Washington Capitals: Keep doing what you are doing Washington. In the thick of things, playing fairly consistent, solid goaltending and OV has been OV. Once again the regular season will lead to a playoff appearance. Will this be the year for playoff dominance?
A December update in the books. A some teams coming along as thought, some not so much. And yes a few disappointments so far…
Come on Oilers, winter is coming, and that toque is warm!!
-Gilmore
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