Every year, there are teams that overreact to poor playoff performance. With the crazy 2019 playoffs, regrettable decisions will definitely be made.
NHL General managers tend to overreact when things don’t go their way. Three of the four division winners this season were eliminated in the first round and that won’t be an easy pill to swallow. A few years ago, the Chicago Blackhawks were swept by the Nashville Predators and that prompted Stan Bowman to trade Artemi Panarin away for Brandon Saad.
General managers are also known for trading away great players just because they are a “problem” in the locker room. See the P.K. Subban for Shea Weber trade. This offseason will be no different so here are three teams that will make a questionable move that will be regretted for years to come:
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3. Winnipeg Jets
After going to the Western Conference Finals in 2018, the Winnipeg Jets were looking to finish the job this season. Entering the 2019 season, they were one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup and despite injuries to key players like Dustin Byfuglien, they powered through and finished second in the Central Division.
Then, they were defeated in six games at the hands of the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the St. Louis Blues. Patrik Laine had one of the most bizarre seasons ever, going really hot (including a five-goal game) and unusually cold.
In the game where they were eliminated by the Blues, the Jets were held to just one shot in the second period. Their offense was stifled and with a forward group that boasts the talent the Jets have, it was shocking.
It would be difficult to see Kevin Chevaldayoff returning with the same roster next season and he might overpay for some more scoring after being silenced by the Blues.
2. Calgary Flames
After the best season in franchise history with 50 wins, the Calgary Flames lost in five games to the Colorado Avalanche, the second wild card team that narrowly made it to the playoffs. It took just five games for everything to fall apart for Calgary and they will be set to overreact this offseason.
The Flames were blown out twice by the Avalanche and their star players didn’t show up. When the series was over, the Flames’ players were at a lost for words as they were completely stunned at the result.
Being the second-best regular season team and getting eliminated in just five games to a wild card team will not go down easy with Brad Treliving and I see a regrettable move in the near future for the Flames.
1. Nashville Predators
After four straight playoff appearances, including a Stanley Cup Final, the Predators expectations were sky-high. After finishing first in the Central Division again, the expectations got a little higher. When they found out they were going to play the wild card team Dallas Stars in the first round, things couldn’t have gotten any easier.
Then, they got eliminated in 6 games and were unable to score more than three goals in a game. The Predators have a horrible powerplay and virtually no goalscorers. Their bread and butter is defence and goaltending, but to win hockey games you need to outscore your opponent.
At the Trade Deadline, they got Wayne Simmonds but he didn’t work out so well, as he only had 3 points in 17 regular season games, none in the playoffs. David Poile is known for making big trades and with his team so close yet so far from the goal, expect something big and probably regrettable in the near future.