The start of 2024 will be an opportunity for some National Hockey League (NHL) organizations to make amends for a dismal year marked by disappointments related to poor on-ice performances.
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Some believed they would come back strong in 2023 after being eliminated from the series, but despite significant changes, the first few months of the current campaign have brought them little or nothing positive. Here are the teams from the Bettman circuit looking to get back on track next year.
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– Pittsburgh Penguins
Despite the signing of recent Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, the Penguins continue to experience ups and downs. Their two-game record above .500 leaves them in 13th place in the Eastern Conference and a second straight playoff exit looming. For now, general manager Kyle Dubas has full confidence in Mike Sullivan to turn things around. However, the head coach's fate could become a hot topic of discussion if Pittsburgh misses the big meeting in April.
If the Pens want to get the points, a more convincing power play is crucial. It has recently shaken off its torpor after a long drought. Sidney Crosby's club relies on the 27th ranked offense in the NHL, which has an efficiency rate of 13.7%.
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– Ottawa Senators
Hoping to return to the playoffs for the first time since spring 2017, the Senators are experiencing a period of upheaval: new ownership, new GM and new head coach. Interim pilot Jacques Martin also ensured that his team was able to end a six-game losing streak with a victory over the Penguins on Saturday, which could herald better days ahead. However, there is still much work to be done. Ottawa is five games away from the .500 mark and will need a long winning streak to get back into the playoff race. The start of 2024 will not be easy as the team will play five consecutive away games at the start of the year.
The good news is that seven players have already reached the 20-point plateau this season. The not so good thing is that goalkeepers Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg didn't do the job expected. Both men have a goals-against average above 3.25 and an efficiency ratio below .900.
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– Buffalo saber
As rivals of the Senators in the Atlantic Section, the Sabers are in danger of missing the playoffs for the 13th straight season. However, the offensive talent is there on paper. Jeff Skinner, Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and a few others should basically help the team succeed. However, things don't really work out for the players of pilot Don Granato, whose dismissal is being called for by many local supporters. With a record of 14,17-4, Buffalo is a disappointment in the eyes of some. Similar to Ottawa, the goalkeepers' work is questionable. Quebecer Devon Levi, as well as Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, are all under the .900 mark and their average is above 3.00. It's no surprise that the Sabers have the seventh-worst defensive record in the league.
On an individual level, Thompson is lagging behind his 2022-23 production. He only has nine goals to his name, down from 47 last regular season. His -10 differential is the second-worst on his team.
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– Chicago Blackhawks
Certainly few experts believed in the Chicago Blackhawks' chances of making the playoffs. On the other hand, the arrival of Connor Bedard in the squad suggested better and more exciting days ahead, even without a guarantee of qualification. Except the Hawks have made no progress at all and remain at the bottom of the Western Conference. With 10 triumphs in 33 games, they will struggle to match their total of 26 wins from 2022-23. While Luke Richardson seems to be doing well behind the bench, some of his players are different. Expect further departures from within a club that has been the subject of much controversy in recent years; The case involving veteran Corey Perry, who was released because of his reprehensible behavior off the ice, has been added to the list of problems for the organization.
At least those watching at the United Center can admire the talent of Bedard, who has 30 points so far. However, he is alone on board as he is the only player on the team who has scored at least 20 points this season.
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–Edmonton Oilers
Connor McDavid and his cronies won two duels in enemy territory against very tough rivals (the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers) before the Christmas break. Is this time the right one? The Oilers are back at .500 and have the potential to repeat their eight-game winning streak from the last few weeks. However, they have no time to waste as they are five points away from a playoff spot. If Edmonton succeeds in its mission, McDavid and Co. will be one to watch, most likely with the wind in their sails. But, as with many struggling teams, more sustained performance in front of the net is essential.
If coach Kris Knoblauch wants to have better luck than his predecessor Jay Woodcroft, he will have to rely on a superior performance from Stuart Skinner, who has a batting average of .886. If the work cannot be done, the organization may want to find an alternative elsewhere. Jake Allen's name has been circulating in rumors in recent weeks.
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–Calgary Flames
The replacement of Darryl Sutter by Ryan Huska at the helm of the Flames and the promotion of Craig Conroy to GM gave fans reason for hope last summer. However, the changes did not produce the expected results. The club has a record below .500 and must expect a certain element to awaken in order to play in the playoffs. Quebecer Jonathan Huberdeau is anything but happy in Alberta. The one who amassed 115 points in his final season with the Florida Panthers in 2021-2022 amassed a total of around sixty fewer points in his first season in Calgary. And the current one seems to be even more difficult for the veteran: He has only collected 15 points in 34 duels and his record of -14 is not helping his teammates. In addition, he was acquitted in his last 11 sessions.
Goaltender Jacob Markstrom has done his part, but he needs better offensive support. Andrew Mangiapane also only scored six goals. The power play, the 30th best in the NHL, really leaves a lot to be desired at 11.8%.