THW Daily - Week 21 NHL Power Rankings & Revisiting the Timo Meier Trade From a Year Ago
Also, a look at Connor McDavid's goal scoring slump & more
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In today’s edition, we have power rankings for Week 21 of the NHL season, a look at the Timo Meier trade from a year ago, and much more.
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Now, here’s the good stuff…
Yesterday’s Scores…
Lack of Urgency From Devils Front Office Dims Playoffs Hope
February 26, 2024 by Josh Reinitz
Everything is fair game right now. In a week where the New Jersey Devils were poised to make an urgent climb up the standings with four games in six days, three in a row at home, the team fizzled, earning just two of eight possible points. They mustered just eight total goals across the four games, finishing the run with a measly three shots in the most crucial third period of the season and losing significant ground in the process. While a run to the playoffs, a la the 1987-88 Devils, may still be possible, this team has not shown any signs that they belong among the 16 teams still playing at the close of the regular season. If the effort and lack of attention to detail this week is any indicator, Devils fans won’t have to make plans to be in Newark in May.
NHL 2023-24 Power Rankings: Week 21
February 26, 2024 by Eugene Helfrick
Across the NHL, it feels like the calm before the storm. Everywhere you turn there are trade deadline rumors swirling, yet nothing has materialized yet. The Pittsburgh Penguins will be fire-selling their roster. Or maybe not. The Calgary Flames are trading every piece that isn’t tied down. Or they are looking to buy while pushing for the final Wild Card.
Austin Matthews Is Scoring His Way to a Hart Trophy
February 26, 2024 by The Old Prof
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a superstar in their lineup. That’s Auston Matthews. If you’re an NHL hockey fan, unless you’re hiding under a log you have to know that Matthews is having a spectacular 2023-24 season. He now has scored 52 goals and has put up six hat tricks on the season. His outstanding play has solidified his status as one of the NHL’s best players.Â
Check Out Some THW Premium Substack Content:
Chicago Blackhawks: Blackhawks Prospect Spotlight by Brooke LoFurno
Tampa Bay Lightning: Time to Bolt Audio Report: Lightning Have a Winless Week by Harrison Smajovits
Minnesota Wild: Wild's Fleury Deserves Better by Mariah Stark
Prospects & Draft: 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Deep Dive: Konsta Helenius by Dayton Reimer
Hockey History: Forgotten St. Louis Blues: Martin Brodeur by Matthew Zator
NHL News & Rumours: Where Are These Brady Tkachuk Trade Rumors Coming From? by Jim Parsons
Carolina Hurricanes: Chaotic Canes Ep. 5: Sebastian Aho is Inevitable by Zach Martin
Predicting 9 UFA Contracts for 2024 Free Agency
February 26, 2024 by Alex Chauvancy
We’re still a ways away from NHL free agency, but the class — both for unrestricted and restricted free agents — looks to have some high-end talent. The trade deadline could impact where and how much some players sign for. But paydays are ahead for some notable UFAs and RFAs. For this article, let’s look at the UFAs, with RFAs to follow later in the week.Â
Revisiting Sharks’ Timo Meier Trade to the Devils
February 26, 2024 by William Espy
It has been a year since the San Jose Sharks traded forward Timo Meier to the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 26, 2023, in a blockbuster deal that changed both organization’s futures. The Sharks added valuable pieces for their rebuild, including Fabian Zetterlund, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Nikita Okhotiuk, and a first-round pick in 2023 that became Quentin Musty. San Jose also received a conditional second-round pick and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 Draft. Meanwhile, the Devils acquired a player who they hoped would push them closer to Stanley Cup contention, but that hasn’t been the case so far. Here’s a look at the trade one year later.
McDavid Piles up Assists but Oilers Need Their Star to Score More
February 26, 2024 by Brian Swane
After losing 6-3 to the Calgary Flames at Rogers Place on Saturday (Feb. 24), the Edmonton Oilers are now winless in their last three games and just 4-5-1 since the All-Star Break, as they’ve watched their six-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings for third place in the Pacific Division disappear.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Philadelphia Flyers - Flyers’ Rebuild Could Depend on Reclamation Projects
Anaheim Ducks - Ducks Who Won’t Be Back in 2024-25: Unrestricted Free Agents
New York Islanders - Islanders’ Iskhakov & Maggio a Dynamic Duo in AHL
NHL News & Rumors - Maple Leafs, Penguins, Red Wings, Senators
From TSN - Ice Chips: Giordano rejoins Maple Leafs practice, Liljegren banged up
From Sportsnet - McDavid's goal-scoring slump doesn't concern Oilers teammates
From ESPN - Bryan Rust remains in Pittsburgh as Penguins begin road trip
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