THW Daily - Week 9 NHL Power Rankings & Whether Red Wings Are Playoff Caliber or Not
Also, a blue line target for Maple Leafs, good fits for Habs goaltender Jake Allen in a trade & more
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition, we have power rankings for week nine in the NHL, an in-depth look at the Red Wings, a blue line target for the Maple Leafs, and much more.
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Here’s the good stuff…
Yesterday’s NHL Scores…
Maple Leafs Should Target Ducks’ Lyubushkin After Zadorov Trade
December 4, 2023 by Spencer Lazary
Now that Nikita Zadorov is off the market after being traded to the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 30, 2023, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to turn their attention to other defencemen who can provide the team with the same physical elements.
There are players like Chris Tanev from the Calgary Flames who could be of interest to the Maple Leafs. However, it would be nice for the club to acquire someone with a little more edge alongside a defenceman like Tanev, and that is why a reunion with Ilya Lyubushkin should be considered.
NHL 2023-24 Power Rankings: Week 9
December 4, 2023 by Eugene Helfrick
The 2023-24 NHL season is moving quickly, and not just in terms of games played. Over the last week, we saw the next head coach firing, as the Minnesota Wild let go Dean Evason and assistant coach Bon Woods after a terrible start to their season. While this firing wasn’t a huge surprise, since the Wild were massively underperforming and lost seven straight games before the move was made, it’s still something few would have suggested as an early-season outcome for the Wild back on their first game.
On the ice, the hockey world jumped back into the swing of things after American Thanksgiving caused a bit of chaos in the scheduling last week. Most teams saw a pretty heavy playing schedule, giving plenty of examples to look toward when making changes in the Rankings.
Oilers News & Rumors: Campbell, Woodcroft, Perry, McDavid
December 4, 2023 by Jim Parsons
In an Edmonton Oilers news and rumors update, Connor McDavid was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame. Meanwhile, goaltender Jack Campbell might be recalled by the Oilers this week amidst some up-and-down performances. Are the Oilers interested in Corey Perry if he sorts out all of his issues? Finally, could Jay Woodcroft be on the radar of the Ottawa Senators?
Canadiens’ Jake Allen Named Good Potential Trade Fit for 2 Teams
December 4, 2023 by Michael DeRosa
Now that the Montreal Canadiens have signed Sam Montembeault to a contract extension, fellow goaltender Jake Allen is a player to watch very closely in trade chatter. He has been generating buzz in the rumor mill since the start of the season, but now signs are pointing to him potentially being the odd man out in Montreal.
In a recent article for The Athletic, staff writer Jesse Granger discussed which teams need goaltenders and which trade candidates would be good fits for each of those clubs (from ‘NHL trade board matchmaking: Which teams need a goalie, and who might fit where?’, The Athletic, 12/4/2023). Without any surprise, Allen was discussed in this piece, and Granger views the veteran netminder as a good fit for two teams. Let’s discuss them now.
Are the Red Wings Truly a Playoff-Caliber Team?
December 4, 2023 by Tony Wolak
As of November 30, the Detroit Red Wings are a playoff team. Their 12-7-3 record placed them fourth in the Atlantic Division. The Red Wings defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 on Saturday night, bringing their record to 13-7-3. Oh, and they just signed Patrick Kane.
American Thanksgiving has typically served as a barometer for playoff probability. The Red Wings held a playoff spot then, and still do. But does that matter? Let’s dive in and find out.
Blackhawks Latest Roster Moves Hope to Bring Positive Effect
December 4, 2023 by Brooke LoFurno
The Chicago Blackhawks trying last few weeks are getting worse. They’re looking to find their footing without Corey Perry and Taylor Hall, and although they have shown some promising efforts, like the big 4-3 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs (Nov. 24) and the 4-3 win against the Seattle Kraken (Nov. 28), but have since been on a miserable three-game losing streak, are second-worst in the NHL, and nothing is going right.
In an effort to stop the bleeding, the Blackhawks made three moves over the weekend, including sending Wyatt Kaiser and Isaak Phillips down to the Rockford IceHogs, recalling defenseman Louis Crevier from Rockford, and making Lukas Reichel a healthy scratch. There’s a lot to unpack, so here’s the lowdown.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Vancouver Canucks - Canucks’ 5-Game Homestand Features Plenty of Storylines
Toronto Maple Leafs - Maple Leafs’ 2023-24 Offensive Evolution
St. Louis Blues - Mistakes Made by Blues’ Doug Armstrong Since 2019 Stanley Cup
NHL News & Rumors - Red Wings, Oilers, Senators, Flyers
From TSN - Flames await update on Markstrom (hand) after injury in practice
From Sportsnet - NHL salary cap estimated to increase by $4M for 2024-25 season
From ESPN - Jets sign Nino Niederreiter to 3-year extension worth $12M
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