The NHL’s new 24-team Stanley Cup Playoffs format provides a unique opportunity of redemption for many players.
The NHL’s play-in round for the Stanley Cup Playoffs offers bubble teams a non-traditional way to make it to the postseason. Teams that normally would not have made it now have a chance to punch their ticket in a best-of-five game series.
Not only does this offer teams a clean slate, but it also gives underperforming players a chance at redemption.
Here are three players that must redeem themselves in the play-in round.
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3. Matt Duchene
Last season, Matt Duchene was the biggest forward name on the free-agent market. He signed a seven-year deal with the Nashville Predators earning 8 million dollars a season. This was big news as general manager David Poile was not known for signing massive deals.
This year, he played 66 games and put up 42 points (13G 29A) and while that is not bad, it definitely is not what the Predators are paying for. His production was inconsistent all season long and has not lived up to expectations.
The play-in round is a wonderful opportunity for him to redeem himself. Last season, he was dynamite in the playoffs, posting 10 points in 10 games. If he can refind his postseason magic, it will be a huge help for Nashville.
2. Taylor Hall
When the Arizona Coyotes traded for Taylor Hall mid-season, it seemed like the team was going all-in. It was a huge move that turned the Coyotes into a real threat – on paper. Taylor Hall’s time with Arizona has been a big disappointment.
In 35 games, he has 27 points (10 G 17A) and his points per game is 0.77 which is one of the lowest he has ever put up in his career. The Coyotes gave up a ton to acquire Hall including a 2020 conditional draft pick and he has not performed up to par.
However, if he can put on a performance the way he did when he won the Hart Trophy, his regular-season woes would be forgotten. This will be the second postseason appearance of his career and last time, he put up 6 points in 5 games. Nashville’s goaltending took a big step back and their team save percentage is just .901. This is a great chance for Hall to capitalize on to prove to John Chayka that he made the right bet.
1. Sergei Bobrovsky
The two-time Vezina Trophy winner was arguably the biggest free agent in the summer of 2019 and the Florida Panthers paid him like it. Seven years at 10 million dollars a season tied him with Carey Price for being the highest-paid goaltender in the league.
The Panthers have had troubles in net for years and they thought the signing of Bobrovsky would be the solution. Unfortunately, he put up his worst season in over seven years and if it weren’t for the new playoff format, they would have missed the postseason for the fourth year in a row.
Against an offensive powered team like the New York Rangers, the Panthers will need their goaltender to be at the top of his game if they want a chance. Goaltenders are crucial in the playoffs and this is Bobrovsky’s big chance to redeem himself. Florida has incredible offensive talent and their defense is solid. If they can get their goaltending figured out, they will be a very dangerous team in the postseason.