The National Hockey League will reach the quarter mark of the regular season at the end of this month, which is the line of demarcation when general managers begin to evaluate where their club is at and formulate a plan of action for the rest of the season.
Even though the league under the current salary cap does not allow teams the freedom to shake up their roster if their club was struggling, it is still possible for clubs to do something to course correct and improve their chance for success.
-
Ep 37: NHL Free Agency Recapby Full Press Coverage on July 20, 2022 at 12:42 am
In this episode of Full Press Hockey Weekly, Mike Straw goes solo as he […]
In our final installment, we look at the eight clubs in the Pacific and whether they are exceeding, meeting or are below expectations:
Anaheim Ducks – (3rd place – 11-8-3, 25 points)
The young Ducks were expected to have growing pains, but great starts from Troy Terry, Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Isac Lundestrom to go along with a revitalized Ryan Getzlaf and the always-excellent John Gibson have Anaheim in the top half of the Pacific at the quarter mark.
Grade = Exceeding Expectations
Calgary Flames – (2nd place – 12-4-5, 29 points)
The Flames adapted to the physical style of two-time Cup winning head coach Darryl Sutter, with size and sandpaper (Blake Coleman, Nikita Zadorov, Erik Gudbranson, Trevor Lewis) being the focus of their offseason acquisitions. The Calgary goaltending tandem of Jacob Markstrom and Daniel Vladar lead the NHL with 42 goals allowed and seven shutouts, with Andrew Mangiapane, Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk leading the offense.
Grade = Exceeding Expectations
Edmonton Oilers – (1st place – 15-5-0, 30 points)
The Oilers continue to be dependent on the combo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to carry the bulk of the offensive load, which is sufficient on most nights to get them wins. Secondary players in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jesse Puljujarvi, and Zach Hyman have also contributed, which has covered up some gaps on the blueline and average goaltending from Mikko Koskinen.
Grade = Exceeding Expectations
Los Angeles Kings (6th place – 9-8-3, 21 points)
The Kings started red-hot, but injuries to Drew Doughty and Sean Walker on defense have slowed them down. LA is getting good goaltending from veteran Jonathan Quick, but the additions of Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson have not helped generate offense.
Grade = Meeting Expectations
Around FPC
NHL: The Injury Bug Bites Hard Throughout the Flyers Organization
NHL: NHL Quarterly Report Cards: Atlantic Division
NHL: You Don’t Understand Why the Islanders’ New Arena Is Such a Big Deal
NFL: Odell Beckham Jr., Rams Agree To One-Year Deal
Wrestling:Â Survivor Series: The Five Best Sole Survivor Performances in History
PODCAST: Full Press NHL Podcast Ep 11: Are The Penguins Really For Sale? Senators Talk w/ Murray Pam
San Jose Sharks (5th place – 11-9-1, 23 points)
After a disappointing season and the absence of leading scorer Evander Kane due to suspension, the Sharks were expected to be at the bottom of the Pacific, but a resurgent Erik Karlsson, along with Timo Meier, Logan Couture, and excellent goaltending from James Reimer have San Jose in the mix.
Grade = Exceeding Expectations
Seattle Kraken (7th place – 7-13-1, 15 points)
The expectation that the Kraken were going to contend for a playoff spot and somehow repeat the Vegas miracle was unrealistic. Although GM Ron Francis was able to bring in quality players in Jordan Eberle, Jared McCann, Yanni Gourde, and Brandon Tanev in the expansion draft, and sign free agents Jaden Schwartz and Philipp Grubauer, Seattle is an expansion team with plenty of holes.
Grade = Below Expectations
Vancouver Canucks (8th place – 6-14-2, 14 points)
The Canucks made major renovations in the offseason, giving a first-round to Arizona to dispose of the bad contracts of Antoine Roussel, Jay Beagle and Loui Eriksson and acquire Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland, as well as extending Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and Thatcher Demko, but their abysmal defensive (73 goals against – tied for 28th in the NHL) and their underachieving offense has GM Jim Benning and head coach Travis Green on the verge of losing their jobs.
Grade = Below Expectations
Vegas Golden Knights (4th place – 12-9-0, 24 points)
The Golden Knights were victimized by a slew of injuries to forwards Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, William Karlsson, and defenseman Zach Whitecloud, but have been able to maintain an above .500 record with a skeleton crew. Vegas acquired the top-line center they have needed for years in Jack Eichel, but the All-Star will likely not be back from neck surgery until after the Olympic break.
Grade = Below Expectations
Loading...
-
Ep 37: NHL Free Agency Recapby Full Press Coverage on July 20, 2022 at 12:42 am
In this episode of Full Press Hockey Weekly, Mike Straw goes solo as he […]
-
Ep 36: NHL Draft; NHL Free Agency Previewby Full Press Coverage on July 13, 2022 at 11:45 am
In this episode, Mike Straw and Chris Wassel dive into NHL Free Agency and […]
-
Ep 35: Avalanche Win Stanley Cup; Hockey Hall of Fame; NHL Offseason Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on June 29, 2022 at 2:06 pm
Jim and Chris react to the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup, the 2022 […]
-
Ep 34: NHL Coaching Retreads; Stanley Cup Final Talkby Full Press Coverage on June 22, 2022 at 3:30 pm
Mike, Jim, and Chris discuss the never-ending NHL coaching retreads and […]
-
NHL Offseason: Matthew Tkachuk Traded To Florida, Patrik Laine Staying in Columbus and Moreby Full Press Coverage on July 24, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Jim is back once again joined by C.C. Hawkley of Full Press Hockey to […]
-
NHL Free Agency Frenzy Reviewby Full Press Coverage on July 15, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Jim is back once again to discuss NHL Free Agent Frenzy and where some of […]
-
Ep 75: Bergeron Undecided? David Krejci and NHL Free Agency Primerby Full Press Coverage on July 13, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Ian and Chris discuss the latest on Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and […]
-
Ep 74: Bruce Cassidy Fired; Bergeron Returning?; Bruins Front Office Blameby Full Press Coverage on June 29, 2022 at 5:48 pm
Ian and Chris finally react to the firing of Bruce Cassidy as well as the […]
-
S3Ep35 - NHL Offseason Editionby Jim Biringer on July 18, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Jim is joined by Marc Weiss and Coach Jay as they discuss the NHL […]
-
S3E34 - Colorado Avalanche Win Stanley Cupby Jim Biringer on July 4, 2022 at 7:26 pm
Jim is back once again to discuss the Colorado Avalanche winning the […]
-
Episode #389 - The Finaleby Full Press Coverage on July 26, 2022 at 2:27 am
It's time for us to wrap up another 4th Line show. This week we take one […]
-
Episode #388 - The 2022 NHL Free Agency Roadtripby Full Press Coverage on July 19, 2022 at 2:08 am
NHL teams got busy this week as they tried to sign all of the free agents! […]
-
Episode #387 - The 2022 NHL Draftby Full Press Coverage on July 8, 2022 at 2:10 am
It's draft night! We look back on the news of the week, as well as the […]
-
Episode #107: A Fine Championshipby Full Press Coverage on June 30, 2022 at 4:38 am
For the first time since 2019, a new Calder Cup champion has been crowned! […]
-
Episode #106: If You Can't Beat Them, Become Themby Full Press Coverage on June 18, 2022 at 5:55 am
23 playoff teams are now down to just two. It's the 2022 Calder Cup Finals […]
-
Episode #107: A Fine Championshipby Full Press Coverage on June 30, 2022 at 4:38 am
For the first time since 2019, a new Calder Cup champion has been crowned! […]
-
Episode #106: If You Can't Beat Them, Become Themby Full Press Coverage on June 18, 2022 at 5:55 am
23 playoff teams are now down to just two. It's the 2022 Calder Cup Finals […]
-
Ep 60: #KrejciForever and Raised Expectationsby Full Press Coverage on May 4, 2021 at 9:23 pm
Ian and Chris talk about the Bruins post trade deadline turnaround and […]
-
Ep 59: Bruins Swing Big At Trade Deadlineby Full Press Coverage on April 12, 2021 at 9:48 pm
Ian and Chris welcome in Mike Cratty to discuss the trade acquisitions of […]
-
Tom Brady Turns 45; Is He Still The Face Of The NFL?by Full Press Coverage on August 3, 2022 at 9:49 pm
Ian and John discuss Tom Brady on his 45th birthday and ask the […]
-
8/3 - Vin Scully, Tom Brady, Stephen Ross and the Dolphinsby Full Press Coverage on August 3, 2022 at 1:20 pm
Ian and John discuss the passing of Vin Scully, Tom Brady's birthday, and […]
-
Bill Russell Passes Away At 88by Full Press Coverage on August 1, 2022 at 3:16 pm
Ian and John react to the passing of Celtics' legend, Bill Russell.
-
8/1 - Bill Russell Passes Away; Deshaun Watson Suspendedby Full Press Coverage on August 1, 2022 at 1:59 pm
Ian and John discuss the passing of Celtics' legend Bill Russell and the […]