NHL contender tier rankings in the midpoint 2021-22 season

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This date is in 2019. St. Louis BluesThey had surrendered 10 more goals to.500 teams than they had scored. They were out of the playoff picture and struggling to turn around their season under interim coach Craig Berube.

They were about to embark upon an 11-game winning streak followed by a playoff berth followed by a postseason trip that culminated in the first Stanley Cup title in franchise history.

They are an exception. The NHL salary cap era saw 77% of teams who were in a playoff spot on Thanksgiving end up reaching the postseason. The 2018-19 Blues didn’t make the playoffs. They were last, while their fans sipped cranberry juice.

All this serves to remind us that the NHL regular-season is a mix of predictable norms, and the unexpected surprises that keep the fans watching until the 82nd. This is what you should keep in mind when you read the latest NHL contender tiers. These tiers attempt to distinguish the true contenders from those who pretend to be legitimate at the halfway point of the season. It is possible for a lot to change in a very short time. This is an example: We had the Edmonton OilersEnjoy the Cup (! in our quarter-mark rankings back in December!

These are the most recent NHL Stanley Cup contenders:

Carolina Hurricanes
Colorado Avalanche
Florida Panthers
Toronto Maple Leafs

These four teams seem to be the Stanley Cup favorites at the halfway point of the season.

The Hurricanes offer the complete package. They were No. 1 in 39 games. They were No. 1 in goals-against-average — thanks in large part to Frederik AndersenBeing second in the league for goals saved over average and fourth overall for goals per game Sebastian AhoThis reminds of Anze KopitarHe is a No. He is a No. 1 center, who is regarded as a great player and will immediately be elevated to “elite franchise players” when he wins the Stanley Cup. I have complete faith that the front office will make the trade deadline additions to this roster. Or, at the very least, I believe Eric Tulsky will lobby to them.

Another team I believe will be a major addition at the deadline is the Avalanche, who are looking to make it in the championship round for the first-time since 2002. This is still one of the two NHL midpoint teams, even if it doesn’t. AverageThis is insane. Their defense leaves much to be desired due to their ineffective forward depth as well as a penalty kill that is at the bottom 10! Good news is that there are no concerns about Darcy KuemperAs the season progressed, things have slowed down. Although he might not win a playoff round for them, he may be able to save one.

The Panthers are the other team that averages more than four goals per match. The NHL’s popularity would double if it could capture the essence of Avs and Cats and make it a part of every league team.

Bill Zito, General Manager of General Motors, has built a deep roster that is led by Jonathan HuberdeauThe hockey world has recently noticed that he should be a Hart Trophy nominee. He seems to have been playing in unison. I have had more fun with the Panthers this season than any other NHL team, and I expect the chaos to continue into the playoffs.

The Maple Leafs have taken over the NHL. Washington Capitals. While they are putting together strong regular-season performances, their generational goal-scoring ability is beyond comprehension. However, none of this really matters unless the team avoids self-destruction during the postseason. They must overcome their playoff fears, just like the pre-Cup Ovechkin Capitals. Toronto’s playoff win is their first since “Yeah!” The No. 1 song was Usher, featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris. It was the No. 1 song in the country. If they do, You can plan your parade accordingly.

Well, maybe. One could argue that their postseason humiliations merit their inclusion in the next tier.

The tier of ‘if, then.

Boston Bruins
Nashville Predators
Pittsburgh Penguins
St. Louis Blues
Tampa Bay Lightning
Vegas Golden Knights

If the Boston Bruins are able to get “Tuukka Rask,” (current save percentage:.844), they will be a great team. Tuukka Rask(career saving percentage:.921) They could then be a formidable force in the playoffs. (Officially, one of these Tuukkas could likely spook Leafs in round 1.

If the Nashville Predators can just find a little more offense, they could be a force for the Western Conference. The Preds currently rank 20th among five-on-5 teams in goals per minute. It is possible that GM David Poile could shop for pop at trade deadline because there are more goals in front than a back end that is anchored by. Roman Josi Juuse SarosThey’ve got something in Nash Vegas.

This version of the Pittsburgh Penguins is for them. Tristan JarryThe Steel City Trinity of the playoffs Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin Kris LetangIf they are healthy, which is not always possible unfortunately, then their exceptional underlying numbers make them legitimate contenders.

If either the St. Louis Blues or St. Louis Blues have playoff-worthy performances, Jordan BinningtonThe losing streak of nine games in the postseason has been broken by, and/or Ville HussoThey could win the Western Conference with the sudden transformation of their offensive steamroller into an offensive powerhouse, who had never been in the postseason.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be able to win the three-peat if they can improve their defensive game in the playoffs. Before I begin, let me say that a team must have a strong defense. Victor Hedman Andrei VasilevskiyThis is not an offensive sieve. However, they are giving up more five on five scoring chances this season than in previous seasons. There is also a slight rise in expected goals against. Their winning percentage is also lower after the first period, compared to the previous two seasons. You don’t need to panic again, but this team won back-to-back Cups by playing defense on a daily basis.

If the Vegas Golden Knights rise to level when Jack EichelThey will then be going to the Western Conference finals. There will be some lineup questions — Chandler Stephenson William KarlssonThey are sure to be curious to hear their stories, but there is no NHL team that will have a late-season addition on their roster at the same level as Eichel. The Golden Knights are a very good team.

The cusp Tier

Minnesota Wild
New York Rangers
Washington Capitals

These are teams that seem to be bubbling underneath the surface for some reason.

The Capitals recent struggles are somewhat disconcerting, but T.J. OshieThis string is not possible to pull from the lineup. Because of their poor goaltending, the Minnesota Wild are giving up more goals than expected. Rangers are among the most difficult teams to figure out in the league, as they have the NHL’s top goaltender. Igor ShesterkinYou were at the bottom of the league for percentage of shots attempted throughout the season.

Gerard Gallant will undoubtedly win the Jack Adams.

The Jekyll & Hyde tier

Calgary Flames
Dallas Stars
Winnipeg Jets

These are teams that can be considered contenders or pretenders at times, sometimes even in the same period.

The Flames are a remarkable team with incredible numbers. They have lost 9 of 13 games since Dec. 5. Two of those losses were against the Blues and Panthers, and they still have a combined score 12-2. After losing to the Dallas Stars, they were planning to sell all their free agents. Montreal CanadiensThey beat four teams on the road and won at home. Now they have a 44% chance to make the playoffs. The Winnipeg Jets lost Paul Maurice as coach. They were also impacted by injuries. Blake WheelerYou can still make the playoffs if you shoot 3.1%.

California Dreaming Tier

Anaheim Ducks
Los Angeles Kings
San Jose Sharks

As of Wednesday night, both the Kings and Ducks were in playoff seeds. They were sitting behind Vegas, in the Pacific Division. The Sharks were just outside the playoff bubble. Through the middle of the season, all three have exceeded expectations. However, if we had the choice, the Kings would make it to the playoffs. They are currently in the top 10 for expected goal differential at 5-on-5, and they are enjoying a rebound season. Jonathan QuickThey have a group of veterans who are desperate to return to the playoffs. They also have the highest potential to upgrade their team before the deadline.

Edmonton Oilers Tier

Edmonton Oilers

Oilers belong to their own tier. An elite team that boasts two of the most talented forwards on the planet, but lost 13 of its 15 recent games. The team with the highest aspirations but the sixth-lowest save rate. Recent wins by the Oilers have helped to calm the waters or make fans reconsider throwing their jerseys onto the ice. They might be a playoff team. Or maybe they’re not. Prayers for Connor, Leon.

The tier of ‘So you’re saying there’s chance’

Chicago Blackhawks
New York Islanders
Vancouver Canucks

Three teams are looking in from the outside. They are standing on a busy six-lane highway looking in with their pair of binoculars.

The Islanders (13.6%) have the highest odds of reaching the playoffs, thanks to the fact that they still have four games against the Boston Bruins, who are the last playoff seed. Bruce Boudreau will attempt to win the Jack Adams, if he can transform their terrible season into a playoff spot.

Mathematically, the Blackhawks (5%) have a better chance of reaching the postseason that the nine teams they are destined to join when they make a draft lottery selection. Maybe: Please remember part of the Seth JonesDeal was the Blue Jackets receiving the Hawks’ 2022 second-rounder. Chicago will have to win one of two draft lotteries before Chicago gets their pick. It was a decision that was worth making, and not waiting for him to be signed this summer. Sigh.

The East tier has the lowest number

Buffalo Sabres
Columbus Blue Jackets
Detroit Red Wings
Montreal Canadiens
New Jersey Devils
Ottawa Senators
Philadelphia Flyers

Each of these teams has a less-than 2% chance to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Eastern Conference playoff field seems as likely as death taxes, Thanos, and people complaining over the NFL overtime format.

Rest of West tier

Arizona Coyotes
Seattle Kraken

I really hope that these disastrous seasons for Kraken and Coyotes — one by design, and the other unexpected — are remembered and seen as setbacks along the path to a bright future for both franchises.

While most teams reach the top, some teams are still in the bottom tiers.

Jersey Foul Award of the Week

This is a video from a Carolina Hurricanes game against New York Rangers.

Let’s try to make sense of this FrankenJersey. Phillip Di Giuseppe wore the No. 34 for the Hurricanes, and also played for Rangers. Maybe a relative. We don’t know.

Three things about the ironman-record

1.Why was it not? Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle breaking Doug Jarvis’ consecutive games played record a bigger deal? Our friends “Around The Horn” correctly notedIt is quite an accomplishment to have played 965 consecutive NHL games. To do so as a defenseman is even more flabbergasting. It is amazing that Yandle has managed to keep the streak alive, despite injuries and in two seasons of pandemics where hundreds of players were unable to play because of protocols. This makes me think Yandle could be Bruce Willis from “Unbreakable.”

2.I was there for the game on Tuesday night when he broke the record. They did not stop the game to hold a ceremony, despite the fact that the record was more than three decades old. They announced the news on the UBS Arena PA system in the first period. The achievement was received with half-standing ovations at a sparsely attended game. However, Islanders fans’ reaction seems to be in line with the hockey world’s reaction which was largely unimpressed. Is this because? Phil KesselHe’s at 941 games. We will be praising him when Yandle passes.

3.Yandle, who hails from Boston, was able to have so many family members attend the Islanders game. It was a great thing. It was a bummer that Yandle lost this record at this stage in his career. He doesn’t feel as connected to Flyers like, say. Patrick MarleauHe was with the Sharks when the Sharks set the all time games played record. He has been a Flyer for 43 of his games. It’s been a nightmare show with 13 assists, a plus-23, and his lowest average icetime since his second season in the league. As Charlie O’Connor of The Athletic notedFlyers fans reacted to the Yandle record with anger, snark, and bitterness due to Yandle’s play and the fortunes that the team had. Yandle might have taken a day off over the past 13 years if he had known this would be the reaction to setting the record.

Weekly winners and losers

Winner: Video evidence

Recent incidents in minor league hockey involved racism. The AHL suspended San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik for 30 gamesHe claimed that he made a racial gesture towards Boko Imama, Tucson Roadrunners, in a Jan. 12 match. Jacob Panetta was suspended indefinitely by the ECHL for what South Carolina Stingrays defenceman Jordan Subban called a racist taunt Saturday evening. Panetta’s Jacksonville Icemen team is also suspended indefinitely. released him.

Both leagues responded to players’ accusations, but also had video evidence. Subban’s incident: it was actually video shot by a fan of Panetta’s teamThe video went viral after P.K., a New Jersey Devils defenseman, tweeted it. Subban tweeted it to support his brother. To First Coast News, the fan said, “It’s disappointing that, you know… in 2022 we continue to deal with racism like we do.”

This is because Jalen Seeck, an Instagram user who supports Jordan Subban, posted this message. Remember that Smereck was targeted with a racist tauntAndrei Deniskin, a forward in the Ukrainian Hockey League, was last year.

He said, “It’s already the first month in 2022, and there have already been two racial acts in the second and the third highest leagues of North America.” Think about all the things that are happening at the youth level with young children. They don’t have to be recorded because it isn’t being filmed.

It is a relief that these incidents were captured on video. It’s amazing to see how many others weren’t caught on camera.

Loser: “Hockey is For Everyone”

When people are constantly being disqualified from hockey, it is difficult to say that hockey has a place for everyone. Although the intention behind the actions of the suspended players is a small one, it’s not as significant as the pain they caused. Some players wasted time creating alibis for offending players when they could have been listening to players of colour explain how their behavior alienates them. Marselis Subban was Jordan’s cousin and wrote:

Akim Aliu, Hockey Diversity Alliance’s founder, said it perfectly: “Let’s make hockey accessible to everyone.” Let’s acknowledge our failures and strive to make hockey more accessible.

Jim Rutherford is the winner

The 72-year old was given the task of building a winning team in Vancouver. He instead rewrote the blueprint for an NHL front desk. He made Patrik Allvin the NHL’s first Swedish-born general manger. He hired former player agent Émilie Castonguay to be only the second female assistant general manager in league history. Rachel Doerrie was a former Devils player agent and is now their analyst in the analytics department. Talk about a change in the vibe.

Loser: Chuck Fletcher

No executive wants to announce the “OK that didn’t work”, news conference at January’s “New Plan” news conference. that’s what happens after a franchise-record winless streakAs the Flyers did.

Gordle was the winner

A listener to the PuckSoup podcast created this. “Gordle” is “Wordle” but with hockey player names. It’s equally addictive. For what it’s value, my opening guess: “Oates.”

Loser: Aaron Dell

The NHL Department of Player Safety should not have suspended the suspension. Buffalo Sabres goalie Aaron DellFor an intentionally dangerous hit on Ottawa’s Drake Batherson. He did something similar in San Jose. delivering a hitOn Mark Stone. If you look at a goalie in an unorthodox way, you can get a penalty in NHL. But Dell uses this endangered species status to remove Batherson and cost him an All-Star Game appearance. Dell was punished for more than three games, unless “playing against the Sabres” is enough.

Winner: The Teddy Bear Toss

It’s hard. Fans get the chance to feel that warm fuzzy feeling once a year in several hockey towns. Perhaps it’s “cold-and-fuzzy.” The home team scores one goal. The stuffed animals begin to fly. It’s the Teddy Bear Toss for charity. The Hershey Bears, I mean, who other? The Hershey Bears — I mean, who else? — claimed they set a world record for collecting 52.341 teddy bears during a toss last weekend. Personally, I tallied 52,342, but they’ll be credited with the official number.

The headlines for Puck

From your friends at ESPN

Bold predictions for the second half of the season!There are some who are more bold than others.


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