With one month of the 2023-24 season in the books, theScore’s Josh Wegman And Jean Matisz offer their views on four captivating topics for the world of hockey.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how concerned are you about the 2-8-1 Oilers?
Wegman: 3 out of 10. John and I both picked the Oilers to win the Stanley Cup in theScore rankings. preseason predictions, so we are not off to the best start. However, I still believe Edmonton can right the ship in short order.
There were some worrying sequences switching from a man-to-man defensive system to a zone system, but Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell made the Oilers’ defense look worse than it actually is, combining to an unsustainable .861 save in the NHL. percentage. Goaltending remains a huge question mark, but the team rightfully waived Campbell on Tuesday to recall fellow forward Calvin Pickard, who has shined in four AHL appearances this year. Pickard may not be a long-term solution, but he can’t be any worse.
General manager Ken Holland is in the final year of his contract. He’s been conservative in his first three years at the helm, but don’t be surprised if he at some point makes another Mattias Ekholm-sized touch to land a goalie.
Connor McDavid also didn’t set the league on fire like we all know he is capable of doing. Maybe he’s still playing because of an upper-body injury that caused him to miss two games. Either way, he won’t stay quiet for long.
Take a deep breath, Oilers fans. It’s still early.
Matisz: 6 out of 10.
On the one hand, the Oilers have plenty of opportunities to flip the script, with roughly 85% of their regular season schedule remaining. On the other hand, the first part of the year was marked by such a tire fire that it deserves a good dose of concern.
Edmonton ranks 30th in shooting percentage after finishing first, 11th, fifth and fourth in the previous four seasons. Some of this sharp decline can be attributed to poor puck luck in a small sample size. This partly depends on the composition of the list.
In other words, I’m not too concerned about established producers like McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane. What concerns me is the fact that players in the other seven forward positions have contributed five goals in 11 games.
As Josh points out above, the Oilers also have existential problems on defense. When the offense is humming at its usual pace, the Oilers don’t need to be an elite team defensively. They only need skills. Whether it’s a coaching change, another goaltending move, or a return to man-to-man defense, Edmonton has some wiggle room to fix its fixable defensive issues .
The key word here is “some.” If the second month of the season goes as poorly as the first and the Oilers remain far from a playoff spot in early December, the level of concern will quickly go from medium to very high.
Is it time to abandon the idea of the Sidney Crosby-led Penguins making one last run at the Cup?
Wegman: Yes. Put a fork in it. It’s finish.
Of course, it might take some time for the new arrivals (read: Erik Karlsson) to get used to their surroundings, and some underlying numbers suggest they’ve been unlucky. But I just can’t imagine a scenario where this team becomes a legitimate threat.
The Penguins were healthy to start the season (until Tristan Jarry deceased Tuesday’s game), but we know that won’t last with their core of four players aged 33 to 37. They’re the oldest team in the league, so the idea that they’ll make it through the regular season and reach the playoffs with enough gas in the tank to make some noise in the spring seems unfathomable.
Their division, the Metropolitan, is arguably also the toughest in the NHL. Even if the Pens make the playoffs, they would probably have to win against the Rangers, Devils or Hurricanes. While I never want to doubt Sidney Crosby and Co., I don’t see that happening.
Matisz: I cannot, in good conscience, say yes here.
In fact, I’ll be “no” until the Penguins’ signs of decline are undeniable. (For reference, the Capitals are a good example of a team in “undeniable” territory.)
What we witnessed in Pittsburgh over the course of 11 games can be summed up in two words: growing pains. General manager Kyle Dubas made a handful of smart bets this offseason. Karlsson, Ryan Graves, Reilly Smith, Lars Eller and Noel Acciari – I liked each of these acquisitions in the context of an organization desperately trying to win a fourth Cup with Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. Positive results will come as the season progresses.
Imagine being Karlsson, who spent the previous five seasons in San Jose. In addition to learning head coach Mike Sullivan’s matchup system, you are tasked with moving across the country, joining a long-established veteran locker room, And produce immediately alongside a new partner. Not easy.
The Pens are far from a perfect team, and their path to the Eastern Conference Finals is shaping up to be an unforgiving challenge. However, 11 games isn’t enough to throw in the towel on a roster experiment worth testing.
The Calder Trophy race is wide open this year. What is your choice for the start of the season?
Wegman: Connor Bedard. Maybe he hasn’t come through the gates like some expected, but what he’s doing is still very impressive. His five goals in 11 games are tied with Marco Rossi for the most among rookies.
For me, what sets Bédard apart from rookies with comparable stats is that no first-year player has it as difficult as the Blackhawks phenom. Bédard is the focal point of Chicago’s offensive attack at even strength and their power play trigger. This means he gets the maximum attention and the toughest confrontations possible every shift. He’s really the only defensive skater in Chicago who has to plan his game – and yet he thrives.
Matisz: Pavel Mintyukov – but not by far. Bedard, Logan Cooley, Luke Hughes and Joseph Woll also appeared early.
Mintyukov, selected 10th overall in 2022, was brilliant through 12 games for the 7-5-0 Ducks. His eight points? The best among rookie defenders. Its use ? Heavy. His competences ? Mesmerizing. His movements? Essential TV, already.
This kid is, in a word, awesome.
In many ways, Mintyukov is a prototype of a modern defender. He constantly takes calculated risks. The 19-year-old will make a check or block a shot, then a second later he’ll confidently direct or support Anaheim’s offense the other way. His instincts with and without the puck pair well with his physical tools, namely his 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame and high-end skating.
I like to give extra credit to rookie defensemen, because making the smooth jump to the NHL is generally more difficult for teenage D-men than it is for teenage forwards.
Following the tragic death of Adam Johnson, should the NHL mandate neck protection?
Wegman: Yes, it’s obvious. After the former Pittsburgh Penguins forward died in an accident where a skate sliced his neck while playing in England’s EIHL, we’ve seen several current NHL players voluntarily wear a form of neck protection, which is a good start.
I guess neck guards will eventually be grandfathered. Hockey is such a fast and dangerous game. Even if it means looking a little less “cool” or having to deal with the initial discomfort of wearing a neck protector, it’s worth it to prevent a freak accident from happening again. This should be mandatory at all levels of hockey.
Matisz: The NHL grandfathered in visors a decade ago. It was a simple way to satisfy all parties: veterans weren’t suddenly required to attach a half-shield to their helmet, but newcomers had to wear one starting in 2013-2014.
I see this scenario exactly the same way, except the area of protection has moved from the eyes to the neck. It’s important here to find common ground, where the league and the NHL Players’ Association can agree to roll out a new piece of mandatory equipment in a quick and non-polarizing manner.
There has been no major backlash against the grandfathering of visors, and I don’t foresee any with neck gaiters. Still, I understand why some NHL players are hesitant to make this change mid-season, given concerns about the breathability of guards currently on the market. Manufacturers will eventually understand this.
This question will surely be on the agenda at next week’s general managers meeting in Toronto.
(Advanced statistics courtesy Hockey in evolution And Natural Stats Tip)
