It’s nonetheless early, however two weeks into the NHL season, a number of groups that missed the playoffs final yr are off to scorching begins. We took a more in-depth take a look at 5 of them and requested a easy query: contender or pretender? (All stats and information are via video games performed Thursday.)
Chicago Blackhawks | 4-2-2, eight factors | Verdict: pretender
For the primary time in years, the Hawks have no less than regarded competent for lengthy stretches in each recreation. The bar was actually low, and Chicago is clearing it proper now because it sits in a playoff spot. Facilities Frank Nazar and Connor Bedard have mixed for 16 factors, and Bedard has excelled taking up new duty on the penalty kill. That does not make the Blackhawks contenders, however they’re no less than watchable.
Detroit Red Wings | 5-3-0, 10 factors | Verdict: contender
A disastrous 5-1 loss to Montreal within the opener prompted head coach Todd McLellan to name out his staff. Then the Wings reeled off 5 straight wins in opposition to 5 playoff groups from final season, together with each Stanley Cup finalists (Edmonton and Florida). Detroit has since misplaced back-to-back video games in regulation to Buffalo and the New York Islanders, neither of whom made the playoffs final season.
The Wings have been strong at controlling play and are sixth in Pure Stat Trick’s anticipated targets for proportion at 54.28 %. Ahead Emmitt Finnie, a 20-year-old lengthy shot and 2023 seventh-round choose, has been a revelation with seven factors in Detroit’s first eight video games.
Pittsburgh Penguins | 6-2-0, 12 factors | Verdict: pretender
With new coach Dan Muse off to a incredible begin, the Penguins are proper on the road between pretender and contender. An infusion of younger expertise (defenseman Harrison Brunicke and ahead Ben Kindel) unexpectedly making the staff has helped. Nonetheless, there are warning indicators flashing.
Pittsburgh is twenty fourth in Natural Stat Trick’s high-danger possibilities allowed per 60 minutes. The Penguins have performed a extra freewheeling chance-trading recreation to begin, and that is not prone to maintain up with goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs. Jarry, particularly, is a Vezina darkish horse because of his .921 save proportion.
Seattle Kraken | 4-2-2, 10 factors | Verdict: pretender
Seattle is off to a pleasant begin regardless of accidents which have price it video games from forwards Jared McCann and Kaapo Kakko. Their returns ought to assist, however the larger concern is defenseman Brandon Montour’s leave of abscence.
Seattle is last in Pure Stat Trick’s high-danger possibilities for per 60 minutes. For context, the Chicago Blackhawks have completed final in that stat for 4 straight seasons and have not completed higher than twenty seventh within the standings in any season in that span.
The Kraken have 17 high-danger possibilities in all conditions of their previous three video games and are 1-2-0. They’d 17 alone in Montour’s final look, a shootout loss to Ottawa. The Kraken want all the assistance they will get creating offense.
Utah Mammoth | 6-2-0, 12 factors | Verdict: contender
They’re eleventh in Pure Stat Trick’s anticipated targets in opposition to per 60 minutes, spectacular for a younger staff that the majority consider as offense-first. Utah reached this mark regardless of a slow start from heart Logan Cooley. He solely had three factors in his first seven video games, however he put the league on discover Thursday evening with a first-period pure hat trick and 4 factors.
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