As one other yr nears an finish, the NHL season is rocking.
Earlier than Jan. 1, we graded each Western Convention crew’s 2024 portion of the season — take a bow, Vegas Golden Knights. Plus, we added a New 12 months’s decision for good measure.
All information and statistics are by means of Sunday’s video games.
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks (12-23-2) | Grade: F | 11 losses of their previous 15 video games since Thanksgiving put the Blackhawks squarely within the lead for the most effective lottery odds within the NHL. Connor Bedard seems again on observe with 12 factors in 10 video games because the firing of Luke Richardson as head coach.
Decision: Flip Bedard into the generational participant many imagine he can grow to be.
Colorado Avalanche (22-15-0) | Grade: B+ | The Avalanche refused to look at their season implode due to nightmare goaltending. League worst by means of Thanksgiving in save share, Colorado’s goaltending is seventh greatest in save share since due to trades for netminders Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood.
Decision: With goaltending mounted, the Avs ought to flip their consideration to their 5-on-5 play. The acquisition of a speedy, two-way bottom-six ahead (Buffalo’s Ryan McLeod?) is smart.
Dallas Stars (21-13-1) | Grade: B | Dallas might use slightly extra from its prime gamers — forwards Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston and Roope Hintz have been someplace between high-quality and good. However ahead Tyler Seguin’s renaissance season coming to a screeching halt as a result of a hip injury means the Stars want extra from their greatest gamers.
Decision: Simply 8-8-1 towards the 16 greatest groups within the league by factors share, Dallas should step it up towards prime competitors.
Minnesota Wild (22-11-4) | Grade: A- | Minnesota cooled after a sizzling begin, profitable simply two of its previous 10 video games in regulation. The defensive construction is again beneath head coach John Hynes, because the Wild are first in objectives towards per 60 minutes (1.85) and second in Pure Stat Trick’s expected goals against per 60 minutes (2.09).
Decision: Resolve to amass further 5-on-5 expertise. Solely the Vancouver Canucks are worse at producing high-danger probabilities among the many groups at present in a playoff spot.
Nashville Predators (11-18-7) | Grade: F | Our ultimate “F” grade suits neatly in the same bin as the Rangers. The Preds had been a playoff crew a season in the past and one which took huge swings in free company on veteran gamers to help the remainder of their core. Up to now, this plan has failed dreadfully.
Decision: The metrics are literally a lot kinder to Nashville than the outcomes, so perhaps simply keep dedicated to this awhile longer.
St. Louis Blues (17-17-4) | Grade: C- | The Blues have points scoring, however they’re the second-best team in limiting high-danger probabilities within the NHL since Jim Montgomery took over as head coach on Nov. 25. They’re 8-5-3 in that span.
Decision: A membership infamous for being towards full tear-it-down rebuilds should decide to seeing how Montgomery continues to deal with this crew.
Utah Hockey Membership (16-13-6) | Grade: B- | Latest three-game shedding streak however, Utah has began to determine issues out sufficient to get out of the cellar. It’s grading favorably in nearly each metric and getting improved goaltending because of the resurgence of Karel Vejmelka.
Decision: If there is a bona fide top-six scoring ahead — ideally at middle — with time period on his contract, Utah ought to leverage its trove of property to carry him in. Tage Thompson involves thoughts if Buffalo decides to make modifications.
Winnipeg Jets (26-10-1) | Grade: A | Might or not it’s that this Winnipeg crew is lastly totally different than the one which has struggled mightily within the playoffs the previous two seasons? The 5-on-5 numbers are solely so-so, however the goaltending is elite once more and the facility play is greatest within the league.
Decision: Win a playoff sequence for the primary time since 2020-21.
Pacific Division
Anaheim Geese (14-17-4) | Grade: D- | The Geese are bleeding chances across the board but once more and struggling to attain. They’ve the sixth-best team save percentage within the league, which is probably going why they are not fairly in Chicago territory in the mean time.
Decision: Finish the Trevor Zegras saga.
Calgary Flames (17-12-7) | Grade: B | Calgary has continued to place off requires a full-scale rebuild, and it has performed lots of high-event hockey that one way or the other hasn’t resulted in a lot scoring for or towards. They’re 6-9-4 towards the present prime 16 groups within the NHL by factors share, a sign of the place the Flames stand within the league hierarchy.
Decision: Give 23-year-old goaltender Dustin Wolf extra taking part in time.
Edmonton Oilers (21-12-3) | Grade: A- | Issues seem to have settled down in Edmonton after a plodding begin. By the numbers, the Oilers are at or close to the highest in nearly each 5-on-5 metric for ending, possession and probabilities.
Decision: Win the Stanley Cup.
Los Angeles Kings (21-10-5) | Grade: A- | The Kings the most effective shot suppression crew in hockey and scoring the fifth-most goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5.
Decision: Lastly beat the Edmonton Oilers (or whoever they face) within the first spherical of the playoffs.
San Jose Sharks (11-22-6) | Grade: D- | The Sharks had been 9-27-3 this time a yr in the past, so this can be a step in the best course. 2024 prime draft choose Macklin Celebrini has been a point-per-game participant as an 18-year-old and 22-year-old goaltender Yaraslav Askarov has performed effectively in his 5 appearances (.915 save share).
Decision: Maintain letting the younger guys cook dinner.
Seattle Kraken (16-19-2) | Grade: D | Seattle made huge bets in free company and on extremely drafted gamers who they paid up entrance to maintain long-term prices down. However the outcomes are a crew twenty fourth in high-danger probabilities for and struggling to complete.
Decision: Discover hidden offensive parts in newly acquired winger Kaapo Kakko’s sport.
Vancouver Canucks (17-10-8) | Grade: B- | The Canucks are getting one other gem of a season from captain Quinn Hughes (42 factors in 34 video games) whereas the J.T. Miller-Elias Petterson saga has taken unusual twists and turns. In the meantime, they’re thirtieth within the NHL in 5-on-5 excessive hazard probabilities for per 60 minutes.
Decision: Vancouver wants to search out further play-driving at 5-on-5.
Vegas Golden Knights (25-8-3) | Grade: A+ | By the numbers, Vegas is a little bit of an oddball crew. It is good to middling at loads and actually solely elite at one factor: scoring (third in objectives for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5). However they’re 11-7-1 towards the present prime 16 groups within the league by factors share, so one thing is working.
Decision: Get famous person middle Jack Eichel’s contract prolonged on July 1.
