THW Daily - Week 13 NHL Power Rankings & Nathan MacKinnon's Record-Breaking Season
Also, the latest news and rumors from Montreal, the state of the Blackhawks roster & more
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In today’s edition, we have power rankings for week 13 in the NHL, a record-breaking season for Nathan MacKinnon, the latest from Montreal, and much more.
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Check Out Some THW Premium Substack Content:
Ottawa Senators: New Year's Resolutions: Goaltending, Wins & Hiring (experienced) Staff by Jacob Billington
Anaheim Ducks: Ducks' Top First-Half Moments and Accomplishments of 2023-24 Season by Jordan Reinhardt
Winnipeg Jets: New Year's Resolutions: Consistency, Special Teams & Good Health by Jacob Billington
Hockey History: Islanders Rookie Rewind: Bryan Trottier by Matthew Zator
New Jersey Devils: Devils Sunday Brunch - New Year's Eve 2023 Edition by Josh Reinitz
Nashville Predators: Predators 5 of the Most Frustrating Games of 2023 by Alex Wauthy
Philadelphia Flyers: Flyers Flash: Inconsistent Offense, Elite Goaltending by Justin Giampietro
2024 World Juniors Are Underway - Check Out Our THW Coverage:
Yesterday’s NHL Scores…
Canadiens News & Rumors: Hutson, Allen, Injuries & More
January 1, 2024 by Blain Potvin
In this edition of the Montreal Canadiens News & Rumors, Lane Hutson keeps doing Lane Hutson things at the World Junior Championships (WJC). Other Canadiens prospects are making waves as well. Despite injuries continuing to plague the team as the team hovers around a playoff spot, their game is starting to fall as teams that were struggling are starting to outpace them for the final wild-card spot.
General manager (GM) Kent Hughes will have significant work and hard decisions as the trade deadline approaches, as eyes turn to the team’s goaltenders and defensemen.
NHL 2023-24 Power Rankings: Week 13
January 1, 2024 by Eugene Helfrick
For hockey fans, New Year’s Day is one of the best days in the sport thanks to the Winter Classic. Since the Winter Classic began back in 2008, it has gone from a fun outdoor gimmick to a legitimate bucket-list sporting event that everyone should attend once just to soak in a truly unique atmosphere.
This year, the NHL did something that I really appreciate. Normally, the teams involved are the largest brands the sport has to offer so the league can create a draw that those outside the sport can’t ignore. For 2024, however, the league selected its two newest franchises, the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights, to represent them at its largest show of the year. I love this idea, as it has the potential to create a once-in-a-lifetime memory that will stick with every fan who attends in a market where hockey memories aren’t deep (even if they are plentiful).
Should the Maple Leafs’ Glass Be Half-Full or Half-Empty?
January 1, 2024 by The Old Prof
Following the meltdown of their goaltending and only registering one win in their last six games, the Toronto Maple Leafs have lost as many games as they have won this season. Their record after 34 games stands at 17-10-7. They have 41 out of a possible 68 points, which officially gives them a 0.602 winning percentage. However, if the NHL were not giving a point to a team losing in overtime or a shootout, the Maple Leafs record to this point of the season would be 17-17.
This is the first time the Maple Leafs have entered a new year without more wins than losses since the 2016-17 season when they were 16-12-7 on New Year’s Day. That was the season that Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander first skated together as part of the Maple Leafs core.
Blackhawks Roster Not Talented Enough for Connor Bedard’s Skills
January 1, 2024 by Hunter Crowther
As we discard the 2023 calendar and open up the one for 2024, unofficially the halfway point of the 2023-24 regular season, the Chicago Blackhawks have faced a considerable amount of uncertainty. But within the bewilderment that’s fallen on this Blackhawks squad, both on and off the ice, there has been one sure thing: Connor Bedard.
The 2023 first-overall pick, the latest version of hockey’s “Next One,” has come into the league with no fear, playing on the first line for each of the Blackhawks’ 36 games (as of Jan. 1), scoring 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points. Bedard, just 18 years old, is 11 points ahead of second-place Philipp Kurashev, and three goals ahead of second-place Jason Dickinson.
Nathan MacKinnon’s Record-Breaking 2023 for the Avalanche
January 1, 2024 by Stefano Rubino
2023 has already passed; in 2024, the Colorado Avalanche can look back and say they had a decent year. It didn’t go as planned, but overall, it was a solid year for the team. One standout player was Nathan MacKinnon, who had an exceptional year when it came to stuffing the stat sheet, not only across his team records but also across league records. 2023 saw Mackinnon at his best, ending the 2022-23 season on a less-than-high note with a first-round exit against the Seattle Kraken, but Mackinnon has been on a mission to start the 2023-24 season and right his wrongs from last season.
MacKinnon was a factor across the board in every offensive stat possible in 2023, leading not only his team in multiple categories but also across the league or being in the top five in the rankings. He has continued this dominant path into 2024, accomplishing numerous personal titles and breaking a few team records along the way, setting his eyes on more to come. Let’s take a look back at MacKinnon’s 2023 and see how he stacked up against the rest of the league and what he has his eyes set for in 2024.
Flames Fans Need to Watch These 4 Players at the World Juniors
January 1, 2024 by Derek Olsen
It is now late December, and that means that families all over the world are glued to their televisions watching the IIHF World Junior Championship. This year’s event is hosted in Gothenburg, Sweden and has produced plenty of great hockey even before the medal rounds have started.
Many players utilize the tournament as a means of showcasing their skills in an effort to be drafted, signed, or gain more opportunities. The Calgary Flames are in the midst of a middling season in the NHL and could potentially be in the market for some draft picks, given their multiple highly-coveted unrestricted free agents. Therefore, the World Juniors offer a great chance to watch certain players in preparation for the June draft.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Toronto Maple Leafs - Maple Leafs Should Extend These 3 Players After Jan. 1
Edmonton Oilers - 4 Edmonton Oilers’ New Year’s Resolutions for 2024
Boston Bruins - Bruins News & Rumors: Swayman, DeBrusk & Frederic
NHL News & Rumors - Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Senators
From TSN - Leafs G Samsonov clears waivers, will report to Marlies
From Sportsnet - Daccord gets first shutout in Winter Classic history, Kraken top Golden Knights
From ESPN - Team USA still unbeaten at world junior hockey championship
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