Poll: Who Wins A Loui Eriksson-Milan Lucic Swap?
July 1st, 2016 is a day that a handful of NHL teams would like to forget. As the free agent market opened, mistakes were made, as they usually are, but this year in particular took a heavy toll. David Backes, Loui Eriksson, Andrew Ladd, Milan Lucic, Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo: six contracts, each with a term of five or more years, totaling $220MM. The contracts all looked bad right away and now three years later, all six players have been massive disappointments. None of those six teams – the Bruins, Canucks, Islanders, Oilers, Red Wings, and Sabres – have been able to shed those cumbersome contracts to this point either. As with most bad pacts, the teams must either give away something of value or take on a similarly poor contract to move the player. Entering a new off-season, patience is running out on most, if not all, of these players and it seems that long-awaited moves could be on the horizon.
But what if two of these teams simply decided to swap a 2016 mistake? It wouldn’t do much to help with cap compliance, but it would at least allow for the players to get a fresh start and perhaps play at a level closer to what was expected when their contracts were signed. Over the past few days, two players on this unfortunate list have hinted that they may want to leave as much as their teams would like to be rid of them. There seems to be a fit to make a deal as well. As a result, rumors have emerged that Loui Eriksson and Milan Lucic could be traded for one another.
Eriksson, coming off his worst season since he was a rookie in 2006-07, told a Swedish newspaper that he and head coach Travis Green “do not get on 100%”. As translated by The Province’s Patrick Johnston, Eriksson goes on to say that there is a lack of trust from Green, as reflected my a major drop-off in ice time, as well as a lack of opportunity when he is on the ice, as Eriksson feels he has been pigeon-holed into a defensive role. Still a capable two-way winger, Eriksson believes in his ability and promises to “keep fighting”, but is clearly frustrated in Vancouver.
Meanwhile, Lucic stopped just short of saying he would rather be playing for the Canucks right now during an appearance on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver. When asked if he would welcome a move to his hometown, Lucic’s answer was pretty transparent:
That’s definitely something I wouldn’t rule out. It’s obviously something that potentially could happen. Like you said, things haven’t gone that well for me here with the Oilers. Especially the last year and a half. So a new GM, new coach, which haven’t even been named yet, coming in. You don’t even know what their plan is moving forward, and stuff like that. Like I said, it’s definitely something that could potentially happen… I think the Canucks right now are a very exciting team. I love what (Vancouver GM Jim Benning) has done as far as building the team within through the draft and developing players. He’s done a great job of that. I think Travis has done a really good job as well from a coaching stand point. Like I said, it’s an exciting team and it’s a growing team and you never know what the future has in store for you.
So, Lucic would seemingly like to be in Vancouver and Eriksson would seemingly like to be anywhere else. Benning has never been afraid to shake things up in Vancouver, while the Oilers are close to hiring a new GM, who will almost certainly want to shake things up. This deal, while only a convenient rumor, could happen. But is a one-for-one trade a fair swap? From a production and salary cap standpoint, it’s pretty close between these former Boston Bruins teammates.
Both Eriksson and Lucic carry a $6MM cap hit on their current contracts, but Lucic is signed for four more years versus only three for Eriksson. This is not inconsequential, as another year hurts even more on a bad contract as it additionally impacts potential buyout calculations. Lucic additionally has greater trade protection built into his deal, a problem if he continues to play poorly. The bulk of Eriksson’s actual salary has also largely been paid out in signing bonuses over the past few years, making him more affordable from a payroll standpoint. So while Lucic and Eriksson are even in terms of yearly cap calculations, Eriksson’s contract is friendlier. It is worth considering though that Eriksson, 33, has more tread on his tires than Lucic, 30, and could be less effective in year three than Lucic is in year four.
Lucic has the slight edge in terms of performance, as he has been the least bad of the pair. To his credit, Lucic has been extremely durable during his time in Edmonton, missing only three games over three seasons. In 243 games, the power forward has 104 points, including 39 goals. While his offensive numbers pale in comparison to his early years of production, he has maintained his physical style of play, logging 715 hits. In comparison, Eriksson has struggled to stay healthy with Vancouver. Formerly a tough, two-way winger, Eriksson has missed 50 games in his Canucks tenure and his injury history shows in his play style, which has become far less tenacious. Nevertheless, Eriksson has accumulated 76 points in 196 games, including at least 10 goals each season. It’s not much, but it’s a clip that would put Eriksson only ten points behind Lucic if he had played the same number of games. It’s worth noting that the overall picture looks poor for Eriksson, but he still shows flashes of offensive ability from time to time that Lucic does not.
Needless to say, neither Lucic nor Eriksson are players that any team would be excited to add at this point in time. But if the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks were to make this trade straight-up, would it be a fair deal? The Canucks land a hometown product who is younger and has been slightly more productive and far more durable over the past few years, while the Oilers get back a player that costs less, both in reality and against the cap, in the long-term and has a more versatile game and could have more upside. What do you think?
Who Wins A Loui Eriksson-Milan Lucic Swap?
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Edmonton Oilers 40% (708)
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Even Trade 35% (624)
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Vancouver Canucks 25% (442)
Total votes: 1,774
Poll: Who Is The Stanley Cup Favorite Now?
If you had asked a crowd of hockey fans before the playoffs began to put down a bet on who would win the Stanley Cup, there would likely have been one resounding favorite. The Tampa Bay Lightning had just completed a historic 62-win season and had everything you would want in a team. Top scorers, including potential Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov who led the league with 128 points this season. Shutdown defenders like Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh, both playoff-tested from years of postseason play. One of the best goaltenders in the world in Andrei Vasilevskiy, a Vezina finalist for the second consecutive season.
None of that mattered though, after the Columbus Blue Jackets erased a 3-0 first period lead in game one and never looked back. Tampa Bay was swept out of the first round, and weren’t the only favorite to be overcome. All four division leaders were knocked out this season, the first time that has happened in the history of the NHL. The Calgary Flames (107 points), Washington Capitals (104) and Nashville Predators (100) all saw their playoff run end early. Even other 100-point teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins were ousted, though this time by even better regular season teams that were forced to face higher seeds than in playoff formats of the past.
The second round started last night, with the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues taking early series leads. Are they now the default favorites to go all the way? What about the upstart wild card teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes who have more young talent than they know what to do with?
If that same crowd were asked today to name a favorite, it might not be as easy. Cast your vote below and make sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section!
Who is the Stanley Cup favorite now?
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Boston Bruins 35% (661)
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St. Louis Blues 23% (446)
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San Jose Sharks 14% (270)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 8% (154)
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New York Islanders 6% (119)
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Colorado Avalanche 6% (109)
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Carolina Hurricanes 5% (100)
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Dallas Stars 3% (51)
Total votes: 1,910
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Poll: What Happens To Kyle Turris?
The Nashville Predators will bow out of the playoffs earlier than they expected for the second consecutive season, and this time have plenty of question marks heading into the offseason. The team scored just 12 goals in six playoff games against the Dallas Stars, and have to find a way to get more offense from basically every forward not named Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson or Ryan Johansen. Other than that top line, the Predators didn’t have a single forward with even 40 points on the season.
One of the biggest disappointments in that category was Kyle Turris. The 29-year old was supposed to solidify the team’s second-line center position and provide a healthy amount of secondary scoring, but was completely lifeless at times this season. He finished with just seven goals and 23 points in 55 games, and saw his ice time drastically limited in the postseason.
Turris was acquired from the Ottawa Senators during the 2017-18 campaign and got off to a blistering start with Nashville, scoring 17 points in 17 games following the trade. After breaking out of a slump near the end of the season though, he was a no-show in the 2018 playoffs and recorded just three assists (no goals) in 13 games. That kind of production is just unacceptable from a player the team spent so heavily on, especially in the six-year, $36MM extension he signed quickly after arriving in Nashville. There are five years left on that deal.
Notably, GM David Poile doesn’t hand out no-trade protection. Turris’ contract is also evenly distributed and contains no signing bonuses. If the team wanted to trade him, there would be teams interested given his history as a solid contributor, but there would also likely be some wary of his propensity to disappear at key times. The biggest question would be do the Predators have a replacement for him if they did decide to move on?
This season Poile decided to spend some future assets to load up for a long playoff run, and acquired two pending unrestricted free agents in Wayne Simmonds and Brian Boyle. It seems unlikely that Simmonds will be retained, given the almost non-existent role he was given under head coach Peter Laviolette. Boyle is a useful player but wouldn’t be able to provide the same kind of secondary scoring the team expected from Turris. There was however another forward acquired at the deadline, this time with another year under contract. Mikael Granlund was pulled from Minnesota in exchange for Kevin Fiala, but also struggled to make a huge impact with the team down the stretch. There’s reason to believe that he could fill that role though, despite spending the last few years on the wing.
Still, that would only put a short-term fix on the problem. Turris was supposed to be the long-term answer, and still could be if they give him the chance to bounce back from this dreadful season. What do you think they should do with him? Is it time for a fresh start elsewhere, or does the team come back with him in 2019-20 and hope for better results?
Cast your vote below and make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments.
What should the Predators do with Kyle Turris?
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Trade him, whatever you can get. 68% (671)
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Keep him, hope he turns it around. 31% (305)
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Other (leave in comments) 2% (15)
Total votes: 991
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Poll: Which First-Round Favorite Is In The Most Trouble?
The NHL playoffs are never what you expect. Every single year a bubble team surprises in the first round and plays better than they were expected to, sometimes pushing a favorite to the brink or defeating them outright. Last season saw the Toronto Maple Leafs push the Boston Bruins to seven games in their opening round series, while the San Jose Sharks actually upset the Anaheim Ducks. This year, things are off to quite the interesting start.
Four different underdogs were able to win game one of their series, including two different wild card teams in the Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets especially shocked the world as they came back from a 3-0 second period deficit to defeat the historically-good Tampa Bay Lightning. Other games came down to the wire, as the New York Islanders needed an overtime winner from Josh Bailey to take game one on the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Washington Capitals held off a late charge from Andrei Svechnikov and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Inspired by a question in yesterday’s live chat, we now ask you to decide which favorite is in the most trouble in round one. Can the Lightning get things organized after their collapse and go back to their dominant offensive ways? Will the Nashville Predators be able to crack Dallas’ suffocating defense and goaltending? Can Jordan Binnington be beaten?
Cast your vote and make sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section below!
Which first-round favorite is in the most trouble?
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Winnipeg Jets 31% (322)
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Boston Bruins 28% (289)
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Tampa Bay Lightning 22% (231)
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Nashville Predators 17% (172)
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Other (leave in comments) 2% (24)
Total votes: 1,038
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Poll: Which Team Improved The Most At The Trade Deadline?
The final chapter of the 2018-19 regular season is upon us. The trade deadline has passed and teams will now not receive any external help on their journey for the Stanley Cup. No more “looking for depth forward” or “searching for puck-moving defenseman.” As the day started there were plenty of contenders, but only a handful really went out of their way to improve.
The Islanders for instance, who are currently leading the Metropolitan Division with a record of 36-18-7, have not made a single trade since early July 2018. Instead, GM Lou Lamoriello and head coach Barry Trotz must believe this group can lead them all the way. The same could be said for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who decided not to pay the high prices for rentals and instead put their trust in the exceptional roster they’ve already built.
But that’s not to say there weren’t winners yesterday. The Nashville Predators turned Kevin Fiala and Ryan Hartman into Mikael Granlund and Wayne Simmonds, betting experience is more useful to them than youth right now. The Winnipeg Jets once again added a second line center to their group in addition to several more minor moves, while the Vegas Golden Knights landed the top name available.
Some teams did their shopping in the days leading up to the actual deadline. The Columbus Blue Jackets didn’t wait around for a last second bidding war, instead acquiring Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel early. Gustav Nyquist found himself on his way to the San Jose Sharks late Sunday night to join in their search for the Cup.
So who was the biggest winner? Who improved their team the most, if we take the last week into account? Cast your vote below and explain why in the comments.
Which team improved the most at the 2019 trade deadline?
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Columbus Blue Jackets (Duchene, Dzingel, McQuaid) 44% (812)
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Nashville Predators (Granlund, Simmonds) 19% (351)
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Vegas Golden Knights (Stone) 11% (206)
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Winnipeg Jets (Hayes, Beaulieu, Kiselevich) 6% (112)
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Boston Bruins (Johansson, Coyle) 5% (92)
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Other 4% (70)
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San Jose Sharks (Nyquist) 3% (63)
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Washington Capitals (Hagelin, Jensen) 3% (50)
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Pittsburgh Penguins (Gudbranson, Wideman) 2% (46)
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Buffalo Sabres (Montour) 2% (33)
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Dallas Stars (Zuccarello, Lovejoy) 1% (14)
Total votes: 1,849
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Poll: Where Will Matt Duchene Finish The Season?
The trade deadline is less than a week away, and it seems as though the Ottawa Senators have clarity on at least one of their pending free agents. Matt Duchene will almost surely be traded. That’s the sentiment coming out of several reports over the last few days. But where he will eventually end up is still anyone’s guess, even as the best fits start to present themselves. The Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders have all been linked to the star center, with several other teams mentioned in the rumor mill over the last few weeks. Even more than that have likely checked in on Duchene at some point, wondering if he could perhaps be the missing piece for a Stanley Cup playoff run.
Today, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) detailed the various options for Duchene’s camp as they attempt to secure an eight-year deal in free agency. A deadline deal and then sign-and-trade is not out of the question, thus including teams that may not want to give up the assets in-season. A free agent can only sign an eight-year deal with the team that owns his rights as of the latest trade deadline, meaning whoever gets him before Monday passes would have to orchestrate a deal of that length.
Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia also suggested that a sign-and-trade may be on the table, and notes that the Senators actually started “quietly shopping” Duchene last week. The expected asking price according to the Ottawa-based scribe would be a first-round pick, high-end prospect and another piece.
Like with Artemi Panarin and teammate Mark Stone, a deal for Duchene could potentially set the market for these exceptional rental options and quickly get things moving ahead of the deadline. All three will have a dramatic effect on whoever acquires them, and no one wants to waste assets on the second tier of available players before getting a crack at a star.
So who will end up acquiring Duchene? Will the Senators strike a last second deal to keep him in Ottawa long-term, or will he be on the move for the second time in less than two years? What will it eventually cost to get him? Cast your vote below and make sure to explain why in the comments.
Where will Matt Duchene finish the season?
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New York Islanders 17% (335)
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Nashville Predators 17% (331)
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Winnipeg Jets 12% (234)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 8% (149)
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Boston Bruins 6% (114)
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Ottawa Senators 3% (62)
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Montreal Canadiens 3% (58)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 3% (58)
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Vegas Golden Knights 3% (56)
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Calgary Flames 3% (54)
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St. Louis Blues 3% (52)
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Chicago Blackhawks 2% (44)
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Dallas Stars 2% (40)
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San Jose Sharks 2% (33)
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Carolina Hurricanes 2% (31)
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Toronto Maple Leafs 1% (28)
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Philadelphia Flyers 1% (26)
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New York Rangers 1% (22)
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Washington Capitals 1% (22)
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Colorado Avalanche 1% (21)
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Tampa Bay Lightning 1% (21)
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Buffalo Sabres 1% (18)
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Edmonton Oilers 1% (18)
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Minnesota Wild 1% (17)
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Detroit Red Wings 1% (14)
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Los Angeles Kings 1% (14)
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New Jersey Devils 1% (14)
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Arizona Coyotes 1% (12)
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Vancouver Canucks 1% (12)
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Anaheim Ducks 0% (8)
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Florida Panthers 0% (5)
Total votes: 1,923
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Snapshots: Matthews, Winnik, Gerrie
Talks continue between star center Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs in hopes of coming to terms on an extension in the near future. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Matthews’ agent, Judd Moldaver, is expected in Toronto this week to continue negotiations. LeBrun feels that there is still a gap between the two sides, but momentum is pushing them in the right direction. As previously noted, Matthews is not seeking a maximum eight-year term, but rather a five- or six-year extension is his preference, which LeBrun reinforces. Matthews, 21, has 45 points through 36 games this season and is tied for ninth in the NHL with Sidney Crosby in points per game. Since his debut three years ago, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick, Matthews has recorded 177 points in 180 games, among the 20 best scorers in the NHL. That combination of youth and production at center is as rare as they come and Matthews is likely seeking a contract that will meet or exceed in AAV that of new teammate John Tavares, who signed with the Maple Leafs for $11MM per year this summer. Such high-stakes negotiations usually do not come together quickly, so this is likely just another step in a long process for both sides.
- Veteran forward Daniel Winnik was unable to secure an NHL contract this off-season, but now finds himself as a priority free agent in Switzerland. Winnik ended up signing with Geneve-Servette of the NLA back in October and has been highly productive for the Swiss squad, notching 23 points in 31 games thus far. According to the Swiss Hockey News, head coach Chris McSorely is desperate to bring Winnik back next season and the experienced journeyman is open to an extension. Winnik, who played for the Minnesota Wild last season and joined the Boston Bruins on a PTO this fall, may have slight NHL interest in the off-season, but the 33-year-old is likely better off sticking in the NLA. With Geneve-Servette, not only has Winnik scored more easily than at any point in his eleven NHL seasons, but McSorely also calls him “a real leader and a positive voice in the locker room”.
- A strong season for the Bowling Green State University Falcons has helped them to net another elite prospect for their program. Bowling Green, ranked No. 12 in the NCAA in the latest Pairwise polls, has received a commitment from 2019 NHL Draft hopeful Keighan Gerrie, per the Superior International Junior Hockey League. Gerrie is currently tearing up the SIJHL with 62 points in 34 games, among the top five scorers in the league and is far and away it’s best U-18 player. Gerrie is currently slated to play in the NAHL next year, but if he continues at nearly a two points-per-game pace this season, he will likely wind up in the USHL instead before joining Bowling Green. As for the NHL, Central Scouting ranked Gerrie at No. 140 among U.S. skaters in their latest rankings, but as his stock continues to rise, he could push to be a fourth- or fifth-round selection, which could make him the Falcons’ top prospect when he finally arrives. Junior goaltender Ryan Bednard, a 2015 seventh-rounder of the Florida Panthers, has been excellent this season but will be gone by the time Gerrie arrives. Sophomore forward and leading scorer Brandon Kruse, a fifth-round pick by the Vegas Golden Knights this past year, could still be on campus to form a dynamic duo with Gerrie in two years, but may have already turned pro by that time. Gerrie could be Bowling Green’s best hope of remaining among the top programs in college hockey moving forward.
Poll: Who Will The Los Angeles Kings Trade Next?
The Los Angeles Kings have realized they’re not going to compete for the Stanley Cup this season or any time soon with their current core, and have begun to move some pieces out in exchange for future assets. The first big move of that ilk was trading Jake Muzzin yesterday to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a package that included a first-round pick and two prospects. While some may argue that the Kings could have gotten more closer to the deadline, or that Muzzin should have been retained, the team has obviously made a decision to move forward with at least a partial rebuild.
So who else is on the move out of Los Angeles? Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar are still likely untouchable, be it because of their value to the franchise or their huge contracts or a combination of the two. But other core pieces like Jonathan Quick, Jeff Carter, Alec Martinez and Tyler Toffoli have all seen their names thrown around in trade speculation throughout the season. There have even been reports of the price it would take to get Martinez out of Los Angeles, and detailed examinations of how Carter could use retirement as a sort of no-trade clause.
There are other names like Carl Hagelin, Derek Forbort, Nate Thompson, Kyle Clifford and Trevor Lewis who will all see unrestricted free agency either this summer or next, making them potential short-term rentals for teams looking to upgrade. Each of those names has their share of red flags though that might end up limiting the return. Others like Dustin Brown, Dion Phaneuf and Ilya Kovalchuk have huge obstacles blocking the way of a trade, though there are always ways around those obstacles.
Who do you think will be moved out next? What will the return be? How long will Los Angeles wait before making another move? Cast your vote below and explain your reasoning in the comments.
Who will Los Angeles trade next?
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Tyler Toffoli 29% (420)
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Jeff Carter 21% (300)
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Alec Martinez 18% (263)
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Jonathan Quick 14% (200)
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Dion Phaneuf 6% (87)
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Dustin Brown 4% (54)
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Kyle Clifford 3% (48)
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Other 3% (48)
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Derek Forbort 1% (20)
Total votes: 1,440
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Poll: Which Team Is Under The Most Pressure To Make The Playoffs?
When the NHL’s unofficial second half kicks off this week, there will be substantially fewer teams with playoff hopes than when the first half began back in October. Of course, no team has been statistically eliminated yet, but a quick look at the standings can help to rule out more than a handful of the league’s bottom-dwellers. In fact, The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn had seven teams with less than a 5% chance of reaching the playoffs in his latest model: the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, and Philadelphia Flyers.
On the other hand, there are also quite a few teams whose first-half success has given them near certainty of playing beyond the regular season this year. Luszczszyn’s projections give eleven teams an 85% chance or better of qualifying for the postseason: the Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, and New York Islanders.
This leaves 13 clubs remaining – the “fringe” teams – who are vying for a possible five playoff spots. Eight of these teams will miss out. Who least wants to be part of that group?
Well, the team who has been a member of the early off-season club the longest would certainly like to change things up. The Carolina Hurricanes have gone nine seasons since making a postseason appearance and have come close the last few years but fallen short. The team could crack 90 points this season for the first time in eight years, but it might not be enough in the tight Eastern Conference wild card race. The two other teams who are desperate to get back to the playoffs are the Buffalo Sabres, who are on a seven-year drought, and the Arizona Coyotes, who are six years out from a postseason appearance. The Sabres got off to a hot start this season and looked to be a surprise playoff team, but have regressed recently, with three wins in their past then games, and are now tied with Carolina for ninth place in the East. The Coyotes have been resilient in the deep Western Conference wild card race, battling injuries and inconsistency to stay in the mix, but Arizona has their work cut out for them the rest of the way.
Then there are the teams who have made the playoffs recently but not performed. The Blue Jackets – who have never won a playoff series in franchise history – will almost certainly have another shot this year, but what about the Florida Panthers? Many have dismissed the team this season, but the Panthers have plenty of talent and have fallen short of expectations until recently. They face an uphill battle to make the postseason but if they do, the team would have a chance to snap the league’s longest streak without a playoff series win. Florida has not won a round since 1996, a whopping 21 seasons without postseason success and longer than the Blue Jackets have even existed. That’s a substantial mark on the franchise. It’s been a decade now since the Colorado Avalanche have won a postseason series as well and now that they are armed with one of the league’s best forward lines, have a chance against anyone if they can win a spot. The Avs looked like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender early this season and with some trade deadline reinforcements could be a factor this spring. However, recent struggles have plummeted them into the thick of the wild card race in the West and they are in danger of missing the playoffs entirely.
Then, there are teams that simply entered the 2018-19 campaign with high expectations and need to meet them. The defending champion Washington Capitals are of course part of this group. Among the most likely fringe teams to make the postseason, it is nevertheless hard to ignore the disastrous play of the Capitals of late. Three wins in their past ten games, including a number of blowout losses, has begun “Stanley Cup hangover” talk and has legitimately injured Washington’s playoff odds. The team needs to right the ship soon or risk falling out of the current playoff picture. A team on the opposite trajectory are the Minnesota Wild, who have improved their play of late and have pulled away in the race for the final Central Division berth. Minnesota is another team that entered the season with high expectations and are still searching for the franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup final appearance. With hopes reaching new highs this season, a collapse for the Wild would be devastating.
Unlike the Capitals and Wild, there are also teams with high expectations who don’t have promising playoff outlooks right now. The Edmonton Oilers and the league’s best player, Connor McDavid, sit atop that list. Edmonton is currently in 13th in the Western Conference and in danger of dropping out of the playoff conversation sooner than any fringe team. The organization has already fired their head coach and general manager this season amid another year of disappointing results and face slim odds that this campaign will end any differently. McDavid and company maintain that the Oilers are a playoff-caliber team, but something has to change with this team down the stretch for that that hypothesis to be tested this postseason. The St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars certainly look like playoff teams on paper, but both have been mediocre at best this season. The Blues, a popular dark horse Stanley Cup pick before the season, have been disappointing in every regard and there has been talk that the team could blow it up this season. A recent improvement paired with the struggles of others in the Western Conference playoff race have revived postseason hopes, but few expected that making the playoffs would be this difficult for St. Louis this season. The same goes for Dallas, who has had highly-publicized feuds between ownership, coaches, and players alike this year as the team continues to fall short of expectations. The Stars currently hold the top spot in the wild card race, but a recent history of late season collapses casts doubt over their ability to hold on to that spot.
There are still many teams whose playoff futures this season remain in question. These franchises all have varying degrees of desperation based on history and expectations. Of the 13 “fringe” teams, which team is under the most pressure to make the playoffs?
Which NHL Team Is Under The Most Pressure To Make The Playoffs?
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Edmonton Oilers 27% (671)
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Washington Capitals 18% (444)
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St. Louis Blues 13% (326)
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Montreal Canadiens 9% (210)
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Buffalo Sabres 8% (197)
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Dallas Stars 7% (183)
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Minnesota Wild 5% (133)
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Carolina Hurricanes 4% (107)
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Colorado Avalanche 2% (60)
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Anaheim Ducks 2% (57)
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Florida Panthers 1% (36)
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Arizona Coyotes 1% (22)
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Vancouver Canucks 1% (17)
Total votes: 2,463
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Poll: Where Will Jake Muzzin Finish The Season?
The asking price for Jake Muzzin right now is very high. That’s what Bob McKenzie had to tell TSN radio today when asked about the Los Angeles Kings defenseman and the trade market at large. McKenzie explained that given there is still a month left before the trade deadline teams are asking for huge returns hoping someone will jump the gun and meet them.
So I would assume that the Kings will be saying, ‘We want a first-round pick, and we want a really good blue-chip prospect or young player,’ and that’s what the asking price will be.
That asking price is no doubt too steep for many of the teams in the hunt right now, but Muzzin is also an extremely valuable asset that could change the look of nearly every top-four in the league. The left-handed defenseman has 21 points through his first 50 games this season and is once again a dominant possession player who can log more than 21 minutes every night. The fact that he’s under contract for another season at just a $4MM cap hit makes him incredibly affordable for teams looking to compete this year and next.
But that incredible value could be held by the Kings next season as well. If the Los Angeles brass believe that their team can compete for a playoff spot right away, perhaps they decide to hang on to Muzzin at least through the summer and see what their on-ice product looks like next season. If it’s not going well, Muzzin would still be an attractive trade chip next deadline, or a potential extension candidate given that he’s only currently 29.
Where do you think the veteran defenseman will end up? Does a team make a splash with weeks left before the deadline, or do the trade negotiations last right to the eleventh hour? Can the Kings expect to get the full asking price? Cast your vote below and make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments.
Where will Jake Muzzin finish the season?
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Toronto Maple Leafs 33% (401)
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Los Angeles Kings 11% (138)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 9% (115)
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Montreal Canadiens 8% (93)
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New York Islanders 5% (59)
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Winnipeg Jets 5% (59)
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Edmonton Oilers 3% (41)
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Boston Bruins 3% (36)
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Vegas Golden Knights 2% (29)
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Buffalo Sabres 2% (27)
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Calgary Flames 2% (26)
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Washington Capitals 2% (24)
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Tampa Bay Lightning 2% (23)
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Chicago Blackhawks 2% (19)
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Colorado Avalanche 1% (18)
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Philadelphia Flyers 1% (18)
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Detroit Red Wings 1% (14)
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Minnesota Wild 1% (12)
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Dallas Stars 1% (11)
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St. Louis Blues 1% (11)
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Vancouver Canucks 1% (8)
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New Jersey Devils 1% (7)
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New York Rangers 1% (7)
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Nashville Predators 0% (6)
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Carolina Hurricanes 0% (5)
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Anaheim Ducks 0% (4)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 0% (4)
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Ottawa Senators 0% (4)
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Arizona Coyotes 0% (3)
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Florida Panthers 0% (2)
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San Jose Sharks 0% (2)
Total votes: 1,226
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