Top 5 NHL teams benefitting the most from the break
Unfortunately, the NHL is at a standstill thanks to the novel coronavirus. However, the break could be a blessing in disguise for these five teams.
On March 12, the NHL made the wise decision to pause their season thanks to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, fans will be without hockey for the foreseeable future. They’ll be without almost every sport as well, with leagues around the world shutting down.
However, to quote Brian from Monty Python: The Life Of Brian, you’ve got to look on the bright side of life. The break is a horrible thing, as it is keeping teams off the ice during what is usually an extremely exciting part of the season.
It’s still not known when the puck will drop next, but depending on when it does, these three teams have to be at least a little bit happy that there’s a break.
5. Columbus Blue Jackets
If the regular season is over, the Columbus Blue Jackets would be the first team on the outside looking into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While they rank eighth in the Eastern Conference in point percentage, the Toronto Maple Leafs would get in over them because the Leafs are the third-best team in the Atlantic Division.
But if there are any regular-season games left to be played, the Blue Jackets could get the chance to come back fully healthy (or at least mostly healthy). Right now, they’ve got Cam Atkinson, Seth Jones, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Josh Anderson, Nathan Gerbe, and Alexandre Texier on their injured reserve list. Anderson and Texier probably wouldn’t be able to return immediately, but they might be able to return later in the postseason.
Those other players would likely be able to return in April or early May. Of course, the Blue Jackets would need a fairly quick return to the regular season, since they’d be on the outside looking in if the Stanley Cup Playoffs began today. But if things go their way, the break could be a blessing for the Blue Jackets.
4. Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are finally starting to get healthy, as Brock Boeser recently returned from injury. A break gives players like him, as well as players like rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes, who’s playing in his first full professional season, time to rest and recover from whatever ailments they have.
While it’s not like Micheal Ferland will be able to play again this season or postseason thanks to concussion symptoms, they could get back a few important players. Jay Beagle missed their game against the New York Islanders. Assuming his injury isn’t major, they’d get him back and he’s an important bottom-six forward for the Canucks.
Defenseman Christopher Tanev is currently listed as being week-to-week. It’s quite likely he’ll be able to get healthy by the next time the Canucks play. Getting back Josh Leivo, who was injured back in December, is plausible and maybe even likely, especially if the season is paused until late April.
The big deal, though, is they’d get their All-Star goaltender Jacob Markstrom back. Since he was injured on Feb. 22 against the Boston Bruins, the Canucks have gone 3-5-0. Getting Markstrom back would be huge for them. In a relatively weak Western Conference, he’s got the ability to steal games, which could help them go on a long postseason run.
3. Philadelphia Flyers
You might be surprised to see the Philadelphia Flyers on this list. And understandably so. After all, why in the world would a team who has just won nine of their last 10 games and has been one of the best teams in the NHL since the start of February want a break?
While that’s true, the Flyers are going to be fine even with a break taking them off the rails during an impressive run. Also, though they’ve been playing remarkably well as of late, they still have quite a few injuries.
James van Riemsdyk broke his hand during their win against the Washington Capitals on March 4. He’s been an important part of their team, as he’s posted 19 goals and 40 points in 66 games as a top-nine forward. JVR ranks fifth among Flyers forwards in 5v5 points per hour and third in 5v5 goals per hour (min. 400 minutes).
Nate Thompson recently got injured as well, but he’d likely be able to return as well. In a small sample size, Thompson has given their bottom-six a bit of a boost and he’s a very capable penalty killer as well.
The wild card, though, is Nolan Patrick. Now, Patrick hasn’t played at all this season thanks to migraines. However, he recently started skating with the team again and the Flyers remain optimistic he could play this season. The Flyers already have outstanding forward depth. Adding Patrick into the mix would make them even better.
2. Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are like the black knight from Monty Python And The Holy Grail. Sure, their legs and arms have been cut off. But they’re still hanging in there and just won’t go away. You can’t help but admire their resiliency.
Their injury list includes Nazem Kadri, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Andre Burakovsky, Philipp Grubauer, Colin Wilson, and Matt Calvert. That’s six of their top seven forwards in 5v5 points per hour (min. 100 minutes). Wilson probably wouldn’t be able to return, but everyone else would. And if they managed to get Wilson back, it would make them even more lethal than they already are.
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The Avalanche have very rarely been at full strength this season. But when they’ve been fully healthy, they’ve been one of the best teams in the NHL. Maybe during the break, they can explore an exorcism and that will get rid of whatever curse the hockey gods have put on them.
As an added bonus, Cale Makar has been incredible this season, but let’s be honest, he could probably use a break. After all, this is his first full professional season. He’s gone from a relatively short season in the NCAA to a very long one in the NHL. Makar has adjusted extremely well, but you can’t deny he’s got to be happy he gets to take a break.
Getting Grubauer back would solidify their goaltending depth. Pavel Francousz has performed quite admirably in relief of Grubauer, but Gruabuer’s resume in the postseason is very impressive. In each of the past two seasons, he’s been dominant down the stretch.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins
No team in the NHL needed a break more than the Pittsburgh Penguins. First of all, they were struggling mightily, winning just three of their last 10 games. The Penguins were slumping and the pause in the season should help them get back on track.
Furthermore, the Penguins are beaten up. Sidney Crosby has been great since returning from injury, but he hasn’t been performing to his usual impossibly high standards. The break will let him get back to full health (because he’s not 100% healthy right now) and focus.
More importantly, they’d be able to get guys like Brian Dumoulin (who recently returned) back on the ice. The Penguins defense was abysmally bad without John Marino and Dumoulin. They’re probably not 100% healthy right now. Some time away from the ice could ensure they’re at full strength for a playoff run.
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But the big thing for the Penguins is this could buy them enough time to be able to bring back Jake Guentzel. He’s emerged as arguably the most important wing for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’ve been trending in the wrong direction ever since his injury. Getting Guentzel back would get the Penguins back on track to being legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.