He’seither a turnover machine you’ll be able to’t belief in his personal finish, or he’s a power-play guru that could be a catalyst for the Edmonton Oilers’ assault. Bouchard is commonly harmful at each ends of the ice and a really thrilling participant to observe, relying in your perspective.
Workforce Canada, nonetheless, seems to have fallen on the aspect that doesn’t belief Bouchard, as he wasn’t named to the squad that can be heading to Milan this month. The Canadians selected to take the identical eight defencemen from the 4 Nations Face-Off, even when Bouchard is arguably taking part in higher than a number of of them this season. Thomas Harley is having a down yr with solely 4 objectives, and Drew Doughty has just one level in 15 video games for the reason that staff was introduced, going minus-12 over that stretch.
You can argue gamers like Harley and Doughty possess different qualities that Bouchard doesn’t, nevertheless it’s arduous to declare the Oilers blue-liner doesn’t deserve a spot this time round based mostly on the season he’s having.
Canada made a mistake by not taking Bouchard
Bouchard could also be having his greatest season but. He’s on tempo for 88 factors and is tied for the lead amongst defencemen in scoring, whereas actually turning it on recently. The 26-year-old has 12 factors in his previous 5 video games, due to an unimaginable six-point outing that included a hat trick final weekend. Bouchard already has 15 objectives, which ought to enable him to smash his earlier profession excessive of 18.
One different factor about Bouchard is that he can play with high-end expertise. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are two of the league’s greatest, and Bouchard can assume and play the sport quick sufficient to assist get essentially the most out of them. We all know McDavid is already heading to Milan, and having Bouchard there with built-in chemistry between the 2 might’ve additionally been a giant benefit. Bouchard positively has his flaws, however there was in all probability a means for Canada to make use of him selectively to its profit on the Olympics.
One argument for taking Bouchard is his potential to quarterback an influence play. After all, Cale Makar will get the highest unit duties, however what occurs if there’s an harm? Is there actually one other excellent choice to quarterback the group after Makar? There actually wouldn’t be one higher than Bouchard, and the truth that he can use his booming slap shot provides him a component that no person else on the Canada roster actually has.
Plus, as a result of the staff is so deep, you wouldn’t must lean on Bouchard too closely if you happen to’re involved concerning the defensive aspect of the puck. When you’re down a purpose late within the recreation, then get Bouchard on the market similtaneously McDavid to try to generate some offence, and if you happen to’re main by one or two, cut back his minutes and make the most of a shutdown pair extra.
Maybe Bouchard will nonetheless discover his means onto the roster if there’s an harm, however not taking him over a few the opposite blue-liners seems like a transfer Canada could ultimately regret. The great has far outweighed the dangerous this season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender is effectively on his technique to being a Corridor of Famer. With a pair of Stanley Cups to associate with a Vezina and a Conn Smythe, it will be robust to argue that Vasilevskiy isn’t probably the greatest clutch goalies we’ve ever seen. He’ll be 32 this summer time, and with all of the miles on his physique from a number of lengthy playoff runs, you’d assume his greatest hockey was behind him. However Vasilevskiy is having one other robust marketing campaign.
The Lightning netminder’s save proportion of .921 is sweet sufficient for first within the league, and he’s additionally tops relating to goals-against common at 2.04. He additionally solely has seven regulation losses. Statistically, Vasilevskiy has had higher seasons than this one, however given the circumstances he’s handled, this is perhaps his greatest work but.
What makes this yr so particular for Vasilevskiy is that he’s been doing it with a depleted defensive core in entrance of him. Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak have all missed substantial time, and also you’d have a tough time figuring out most of Tampa Bay’s blue liners on any given night time. Charle-Edouard D’Astous, Declan Carlile, Maxwell Crozier and Emil Lilleberg have all performed a minimum of 30 video games, whereas the Lightning proceed to thrive.
That’s largely due to Vasilevskiy, who’s been almost unbeatable of late. In his previous 22 begins, Vasilevskiy owns a .937 save proportion and has saved 12.35 objectives above anticipated — not to say that in 18 of these video games, he’s allowed an unimaginable two objectives or fewer, and in 12 of these, he’s really given up one purpose or much less. Give credit score to that makeshift blue line Tampa has been using, however there’s no means the Lightning are battling for a division title with out Vasilevskiy’s play this yr.
The beginning of the season might not have gone worse for the Nashville Predators and, for that matter, Steven Stamkos. Nashville gained simply 5 occasions in its first 18 video games, and appeared destined to be a vendor on the commerce deadline with head coach Andrew Brunette was on very skinny ice. A significant a part of these struggles was as a result of Stamkos scored just one purpose in his first 14 contests, however he’s rebounded in a serious means.
Stamkos now has 24 objectives within the 39 video games since, coinciding with Nashville climbing the standings. The Predators are nonetheless a number of factors beneath the playoff cutoff line, although they appear like a really reputable risk to climb all the way in which again to the post-season.
As unimaginable because the Predators’ turnaround has been, there are nonetheless plenty of flaws to their recreation. Nashville is struggling to get saves and ranks twenty seventh in objectives in opposition to per recreation and twenty second in staff save proportion. The Preds have really executed an honest job of limiting high-danger possibilities, sitting fifth within the NHL in that class, however Juuse Saros has a save proportion beneath .900 for the second straight season.
Nashville’s particular groups are additionally very mediocre, and it sits within the backside third of the league relating to purpose scoring, so it is not adequate to compensate for the puck coming into the web with regularity. Stamkos is a big cause the Preds are again within the combine, however in the end, I feel they are going to fall wanting catching groups like San Jose, Los Angeles, Seattle and Utah.
Shane Wright could be the proper goal for a retooling staff
Issues haven’t precisely gone swimmingly for Shane Wright since he arrived within the NHL. After falling to No. 4 within the 2022 NHL draft, Wright hasn’t made a large impression for the Seattle Kraken. He had an honest season a yr in the past with 19 objectives and 44 factors, however his numbers have slipped to only 9 tallies and 20 factors this season. That’s sparked some rumblings that the Kraken could also be thinking about purchasing Wright main as much as the deadline for a contemporary begin if they’ll get an honest return. Seattle is lacking an impression participant for its playoff push, and there could possibly be a staff soft-selling who could dangle one in change for a package deal that features Wright.
If I have been a type of Japanese Convention groups within the mushy center that’s contemplating promoting a bit or two to retool for subsequent season, I’d take an extended have a look at Wright. He’s nonetheless solely 22 years of age and his improvement is much from over, so there’s an opportunity with a contemporary begin and being slotted into a great function, Wright can turn into a really serviceable.
Take Fraser Minten for example from final yr’s commerce deadline. The Toronto Maple Leafs maybe weren’t satisfied that Minten was going to be an impression participant, so that they selected to maneuver on from him to get Brandon Carlo, and now Minten is taking part in a key function on a rejuvenated Boston Bruins squad. Wright might probably observe the identical path, as he’s a wise participant who very effectively could flip into an efficient two-way, middle-six centre.
Possibly Wright doesn’t turn into a high-end expertise, however that doesn’t imply he can’t carve out an essential function for a staff that’s trying to find extra expertise.
Avalanche are liable to shedding the Presidents’ Trophy
There was a degree this season the place it appeared the Colorado Avalanche have been going to lap the sector. The Avs acquired off to a torrid begin, solely struggling their second regulation loss in early December and having two completely different 10-game profitable streaks on the season.
Colorado has began to fall again towards the remainder of the pack, although, because the condensed schedule seems to be catching up. The Avs have now gained simply thrice in 9 tries and have allowed seven objectives on two completely different events over this stretch. Nathan MacKinnon and firm at the moment are on tempo for 125 factors this season after they have been on monitor at one level to surpass the Boston Bruins’ all-time document of 135 from a number of years in the past. Minnesota is now solely seven factors again of the Avalanche for the league’s greatest document, with Dallas, Carolina and Tampa Bay simply behind them. So, is there an opportunity somebody might cross Colorado?
Although a number of groups have closed the hole, it’s nonetheless very tough to make up seven-plus factors within the standings with lower than 30 video games left, particularly with the loser level in play. Plus, the Avs have three video games in hand on the Wild, and the Lightning play within the very tough Atlantic division, so making up floor goes to be robust. It must also be famous that Colorado has handled some key accidents recently, too. Gabriel Landeskog and Devon Toews have missed time, and the Avs have even been with out Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood for 2 separate stretches lately. Count on the Avalanche to get wholesome following the Olympics and get rolling as soon as once more. Possibly they don’t find yourself overtaking the Bruins’ 135 factors, however they need to nonetheless simply cruise to the Presidents’ Trophy.
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