THW Daily - Golden Knights Returning to Reality & Looking Back at the 2022 Free Agency Class
Also, teams on the bubble at American Thanksgiving, who Maple Leafs should acquire from Flames & more
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition, we have thoughts on the Golden Knights returning to reality, a look back at the 2022 free agency class, which teams are on the bubble at American Thanksgiving, and much more.
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Here’s the good stuff…
Yesterday’s NHL Scores…
NHL Bubble Teams at American Thanksgiving: In or Out
November 22, 2023 by Alex Chauvancy
American Thanksgiving is always a key benchmark in the NHL season. About 75 percent of teams in a playoff spot on that date end up qualifying come the spring. Still, that doesn’t mean your team is out of it if they find themselves outside the top eight in their conference.
Twenty-five percent of teams bucking the trend and making the playoffs might not seem like great odds, but a one-and-four chance of making the postseason means it’s definitely possible. Let’s look at the bubble in each conference and see who has the best chance of getting back into the playoffs.
Golden Knights Return to Reality After Hot Start
November 22, 2023 by Ben Fisher
Well, it wasn’t going to be smooth sailing all season. Finally, after a record-setting dream start to the 2023-24 NHL season, the Vegas Golden Knights have hit their first stumbling block as reigning Stanley Cup champs. After staying unbeaten in regulation through the season’s first 12 games, they have suddenly dropped five of their past seven, with four of those losses coming by multiple goals.
Panic? Hardly. This team still reigns atop the Western Conference and boasts too much veteran leadership to go into a tailspin. Still, though, the recent blip in performance has highlighted some areas of weakness to address. With just one game – a big one at Dallas on Wednesday, no less – on the slate for this week, it seems like a welcome opportunity for a reset and a chance to get back to the club’s winning form. While there is no real cause for concern, here’s what could stand to improve…
Maple Leafs Could Use Both Tanev & Zadorov From the Flames
November 22, 2023 by Spencer Lazary
When Elliotte Friedman from the 32 Thoughts podcast reported on Nov. 6, 2023, that the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in both Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev from the Calgary Flames, fans got excited. The Maple Leafs need to rebuild their backend now, and players of this magnitude will do that, which is what fans recognized from the start of the season.
Oilers Should Move On From Evan Bouchard Immediately
November 22, 2023 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The Edmonton Oilers have not been strong in their own end this season and they have not been a fun team to watch. One of their biggest issues has been defensive lapses in games where they have a lead but can’t keep ahold of it because they can’t play well in their defensive zone. One of the biggest culprits has been Evan Bouchard, who was recently re-signed to a two-year extension worth $3.9 million per season and is considered the Oilers’ number-one defenseman due to his strong offensive abilities.
Aside from his strengths as a power-play quarterback and an offensive-minded defender, he hasn’t been good at all in his own end. Bad giveaways, bad pinches, and losing 50/50 puck races are just a few things that Bouchard has had trouble with this season, and it continues to be an issue. While he hasn’t been the worst player on the team by any means, he will be demanding a massive contract by the time his current one expires. However, he is not someone the Oilers should continue investing in.
Revisiting 2022 NHL Free Agency Class: Success & Fails
November 22, 2023 by Mike Fink
Since the start of the 2023-24 NHL season, The Edmonton Oilers have sent Jack Campbell down to the American Hockey League (AHL). Johnny Gaudreau has struggled on the Columbus Blue Jackets and has been scratched for multiple shifts, including late in close games. The Calgary Flames are watching Nazem Kadri start to decline with age as the 33-year-old center only has three goals and nine assists in 18 games played.
The three players mentioned above highlighted the 2022 free agency class and all three signed big contracts and switched teams in the process. It’s hard to evaluate signings in the moment and usually, a deal takes a few years until it can be properly evaluated. A few games into the new season, though, it’s clear that some contracts from the 2022 offseason are already paying off and some are backfiring.
Red Wings Notebook: 7 Defensemen, Goalie Trade Targets & More
November 22, 2023 by Tony Wolak
With the Detroit Red Wings back in North America and set to face the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, I thought it would be a good time to empty the notebook and discuss a few early-season trends. We’re 17 games into the 2023-24 campaign – about 20 percent of the way through. Detroit’s 8-6-3 record places them fifth in the Atlantic Division and ninth in the Eastern Conference.
It’s been a rough stretch for the Red Wings, going 1-2-2 in their last five games. Perhaps the NHL Global Series provided a wake-up call, though. With that being said, let’s dive into some data, suggestions, and more.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Florida Panthers - Panthers Can Fit Patrick Kane on Their Roster
Vancouver Canucks - Canucks News & Rumors: Tocchet, Hughes & Hoglander
Boston Bruins - Bruins 3 Up, 3 Down: Pastrnak, Swayman, Lohrei & More
NHL News & Rumors - Maple Leafs, Rangers, Oilers, Hurricanes, Panthers
From TSN - Air Canada logo to appear on Canadiens white jersey
From Sportsnet - Scout's Analysis: Gauging Toronto's trade assets, Nylander's next contract
From ESPN - Golden Knights, Kraken use 'imagined' approach to Winter Classic jerseys
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