Katrina’s Daily Rant: Top 8 Teams in the NHL
November 12, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Colorado Avalanche forward Maxime Talbot (25) and teammate forward Gabriel Landeskog (92) smile before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Center. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
If you take a look at the league standings something very interesting is happening. The top 8 teams in the NHL are all in the western conference. These teams are the Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Phoenix Coyotes, and Colorado Avalanche respectively (Colorado actually has the most wins in the NHL but that’s a whole other can of worms). These stats become even more interesting when you look at the standings at the end of last season. So I have decided to take an in depth look at each of these teams and what has changed.
Chicago Blackhawks
Nov 9, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) on the ice during the second period against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Current Position in Standings- 1
Current Record- 15-4-4
Position Last Season- 1
Record Last Season- 36-7-5
The Blackhawks haven’t had any drastic change in there spot in standings. The reigning Stanley Cup Champions have made some changes in their line up however. In June they traded Dave Bolland to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Michael Frolik to the Winnipeg Jets and in July they traded Daniel Carcillo to Los Angeles. They also signed Mike Kostka to a one year contract.
I believe what the Hawks were trying to do was keep the team fresh while still holding on to the core that makes them great. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, and all the other talented players the team that helped them win the Stanely Cup stayed in tact. This is why they are still first in the league and will probably stay there for an extended period of time if not the whole season.
Nov 18, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) celebrates after scoring a goal with right wing Corey Perry (10) against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Anaheim Ducks
Current Position in Standings- 2
Current Record- 15-6-3
Position Last Season- 3
Record Last Season- 30-12-6
The Ducks have slightly improved the position in the standings from last season and I think there are two transactions that may be directly responsible for this. The first transaction that helped the team is the signing of Dustin Penner. Penner has 15 points in 17 games and has the best plus/minus in the league with +16. The second would be trading Bobby Ryan to the Ottawa Senators for Jakob Silfverberg. Silfverberg has 7 points in 11 games and will undoubtedly be a huge part of the team’s future success.
I’m not saying that those 2 are the only reasons the Ducks are doing well. Ryan Getzlaf has been a huge contributor with 25 points in 21 games and Corey Perry is also up there with 24 points in 24 games. Bobby Ryan has 20 points in 22 games for Ottawa which is respectable but it just goes to show that the Ducks made the right choice on which superstars to keep and which to trade.
May 26, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) celebrates with center Patrick Marleau (12) and center Logan Couture (39) after scoring a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period in game six of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
San Jose Sharks
Current Position in Standings- 3
Current Record- 14-3-5
Position Last Season- 11
Record Last Season- 25-16-7
The Sharks have made a huge jump from last season. I think the most significant difference in the Sharks from this season to last is Tomas Hertl. Hertl has scored 12 goals in 22 games including the 4 goal night no one will forget. This young forward will be the future of the Sharks franchise, this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Another thing the Sharks have going for them is that Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture, and Joe Thornton each have 23 points in 22 games. They have scored 21 goals and racked up 48 assists between the three of them. Joe Pavelski is just behind them with 22 points in 22 games. The Sharks seem to be really gelling as a team which I think is translating into their success.
Nov 19, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Alexander Steen (20) skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
St. Louis Blues
Current Position- 4
Current Record- 15-3-3
Position Last Season- 6
Record Last Season- 29-17-2
So what changed for the Blues from this season to last? Jay Bouwmeester, that’s what. The Blues acquired Bouwmeester from the Calgary Flames in April and signed him to a 5 year contract extension in August. Currently Bouwmeester is number 5 in points on the team with 16 in 21 games. He is also tied for second in plus/minus with T.J. Oshie and David Backes with +10. Bouwmeester was a huge pick up for the Blues.
The other factor in the Blues success is Alex Steen. Steen has been on a hot streak with 26 points in 21 games including 17 goals 4 of which were game winners. David Backes has been racking up the points, he has 21 in 21 games. The Blues also have great shootout skills winning 3 of 4 this season. T.J. Oshie has to be the king of the shootout this season making 3 out of 4 shots.
Nov 15, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) congratulates goalie Ben Scrivens (54) on his 2-0 shutout victory over the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Kings
Current Position- 5
Current Record- 15-6-2
Position Last Season- 7
Record Last Season- 27-16-5
Ben Scrivens as a back-up has made a huge difference for the Kings this season. As great as Jonathan Bernier is doing into Toronto (and as much as it pains me to say this) the Bernier trade was a great trade for the Kings. With Jonathan Quick out for an extended period of time Scrivens has taken his opportunity to shine. He currently leads the NHL in shutouts with three, he has a save percentage of .942 and a goals against average of 1.43. Having a solid back-up goalie is huge for any team and it is boosting the Kings in the standings.
Not to take anything away from Quick who has a save percentage of .905 and a goals against average of 2.35. This team finds most of it’s success in it’s goaltending. Their leading goal scorer is Anze Kopitar who has 22 points in 23 games which is slightly underwhelming compared to other teams but it seems to be working so far for the Kings.
November 9, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding (37) looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Center. The Minnesota Wild defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Wild
Current Position in Standings- 6
Current Record- 14-5-4
Position Last Season- 15
Record Last Season- 26-19-3
I think the improvement of the Minnesota Wild can be attributed to the improvement of Josh Harding. Last season Harding played in only 5 games and won only 1. This season he is the Wild’s number one goalie. He has a goals against average of 1.48 and a save percentage of .939. His goaltending has really carried the team this season.
Zach Parise has also improved this season from last. Last season he had 38 points in 48 games and this season so far he has improved to 20 points in 23 games. These numbers are slightly underwhelming compared to other teams given Parise is top contributor but the goaltending of Harding is keeping them in the game.
Nov 5, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) and defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) celebrate after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in a shoot out at Jobing.com Arena. The Coyotes defeated the Canucks 3-2 in an overtime shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Phoenix Coyotes
Current Position in Standings- 7
Current Record– 14-4-4
Position Last Season– 19
Record Last Season– 21-18-9
The key to the success of the Coyotes is Mike Smith. Smith is a fantastic goalie who has even has a goal and assist this season. The change that has probably made the biggest impact is probably the signing Mike Ribeiro. Ribeiro has only 16 points in his 22 games with the Coyotes but that is still 16 points worth of offense that wasn’t there before.
Oct 2, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy speaks to the media after the game against the Anaheim Ducks at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Colorado Avalanche
Current Position in Standings- 8
Current Record- 16-5-0
Position Last Season– 29
Record Last Season– 16-25-7
This has to be the most drastic shift in the NHL at least right now. The Avs were second last in the league last season and this season they have the most wins in the league. The change with the biggest impact has to be the hiring of Patrick Roy as head coach. Under Patrick Roy the goalies have been able to flourish. Semyon Varlamov has been amazing in net despite his legal troubles and Jean-Sebastien Giguere has been a solid back-up. This team has come a long way from when Giguere called them out at the end of last season.
Matt Duchene has also found his stride with 20 points in 19 games if he can stay healthy he will be huge for this team. Also their young captain Gabriel Landeskog is growing an maturing which must have an impact on the as well. Whatever the Avs are doing, it’s working and if they keep it up they will easily close that 2 point gap and be 1st in the league.