3 Canadian NHL teams that will benefit from a shortened season
These three Canadian teams could actually benefit from a shortened NHL schedule.
With the 2020-21 season expected to run 56 games instead of the traditional 82, starting off strong will be extremely important in getting a playoff spot. Here are three Canadian teams that will benefit from the shortened NHL season:
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
For the last few years, the Toronto Maple Leafs seem to hit a wall after the All-Star break. They start off the season strong and then ride that wave until March. In their last two seasons, they have not had strong records in their last 20 games, going 10-8-2 in 2019-20 and 8-8–4 in 2018-19. Shortening the season will make sure that they keep their momentum from their fast starts.
Another big factor is health. Auston Matthews has not played a full season since his rookie year due to injuries, and last season, the Leafs were without Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin for extended periods of time. A shortened season will limit the chances of injury as well as reduce the workload for the team’s key players.
Frederik Andersen will really benefit from this reduced workload as he has shown that the fewer games he plays in the regular season, the better he is in the postseason. His two best playoff performances followed seasons where the Leafs were actively trying to rest him down the stretch. Since they finally have a reliable backup in Jack Campbell, the Leafs can properly rest their most valuable player and have him healthy for the playoffs.
2. Winnipeg Jets
I believe that teams that have undergone the fewest changes will greatly benefit from this shortened season. Players that are familiar with each other and their coach’s strategies will have an easier time getting back into the swing of things than new guys who still need to learn their new team’s system. Teams like the Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames made significant additions this offseason, and it will take time to gel together as a group.
The Winnipeg Jets have remained virtually the same, re-signing many of their key players for the next season. Their big free-agent signing was Paul Stastny; a guy was on the team just two years ago. This will be a huge advantage for them as there will be no surprises when they get to training camp.
Stastny had a positive impact on the team and complimented Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine very well. The team has built a deep and talented forward group and have the reigning Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck between the pipes. Familiarity will allow this team to come out of the gates strong, which is key in a shortened season.
1. Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens have really invested everything into Carey Price. Not only did they give him the biggest goalie contract in NHL history at the time, but they also put down another $4.35 million on his backup, Jake Allen.
The Canadiens rely heavily on Price. In 2019-20, he was tied for most games played among goaltenders with 58, and the season before that, he played the second-most games. He’s struggled with injuries and is 33 years old. Having this extended offseason is great for his body to properly heal, and a shortened season means a significantly reduced workload for the netminder.
When Claude Julien was asked about his goalie deployment plan, he said this:
“You want to make sure he’s as fresh as possible. At the same time, you don’t want to overutilize him. Not only does Carey Price have to do that for us this coming season, we’ve got him for quite a few more years after this coming season. You want to manage him so that you can get the most out of him for as long as you can.” Claude Julien via NHL.com
Next. Auston Matthews is primed to make history. dark
The Canadiens have made a lot of moves this offseason that have greatly improved their team. However, their most important piece is Price. The more favorable the circumstances are towards their star goalie, the better off this team will be.