New Year’s Resolution
With 2019 fasting approaching it is time to look at every NHL team’s resolutions. Every team has something to improve upon, let's take a look. From worst to best in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles Kings : (33 points)
After being swept by the Vegas Golden Knights last year the Kings have fallen. Sitting at the bottom of the western conference despite winning their last 4 games, the Kings are going to need to win a LOT of games in order to make the playoffs. Improving on team defense is what will turn their year around. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick sits with a 2.92 goals against average, not great for an NHL starter.
Chicago Blackhawks : (34 points)
Stan Bowman better pull something out of his sleeve in order to turn this season around. Bowman and company in Chicago have some rising stars, Alex Debrincat, Dylan Strome and defenseman Henri Jokiharju all have bright futures. Not only that but Erik Gustafsson, knock on wood, seems to be emerging into an elite NHL defensemen. The Blackhawks new year’s resolution is to hold on to their players under the age of 26, every one of them, we do not need anymore Hartman’s or Hinostroza’s.
Arizona Coyotes : (34 points)
Arizona is 13 wins away from having a better record than last year. Playing under 500 would still give Arizona a better record. Arizona needs to keep improving for the future. Their new year’s resolution is to get some more draft picks. There is no push for this team to make the playoffs this year. With young guns Clayton Keller Alex Galchenyuk, Nick Schmaltz, and Vinnie Hinostroza, they can push in a year or two.
St. Louis Blues : (34 points)
Gm Doug Armstrong had a great offseason. Bringing in strong players like Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron was amazing, especially considering they lead the team in points. St. Louis has struggled a lot this year, sitting towards the bottom of the standings this team needs a shake up. Armstrong fired Mike Yeo earlier this year, and made Craig Berube the acting head coach. Berube has a 8-7-1 record behind the bench. The Blues Resolution should be to call Joel Quenneville, the ousted Blackhawks coach. A reunion with Coach Q could spark the team and push their rival Chicago further down in the standings.
Minnesota Wild : (37 points)
Every year it is the same team with the wild. They manage to be mediocre every year. The Wild’s new year’s resolution is to be really really good. Either rise in the standings and win a Stanley cup or tank and get some great draft picks. It is time for a change in Minnesota, mediocre hockey has earned them a playoff spot 6 out of the last 7 years, but they have not gone to the conference finals since 2003.
Edmonton Oilers : (39 points)
2017 showed how playing with Connor McDavid can really improve an NHL franchise. 103 points and a trip to the second round things only seemed to be improving, that was 2 seasons ago. Now Edmonton sits on the outside looking in for the NHL playoffs. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl lead the team in points with 54 and 45 respectively. Edmonton’s new year resolution is to improve on depth scoring. There are 4 players with more than 10 goals. After that it drops down to just 7 or 5 or 3 goals for a lot of the players on the team. Edmonton needs to have other players score goals without McDavid on the back.
Vancouver Canucks : (40 points)
I said it before, and I will say it again. Vancouver is NOT a playoff team yet. They may prove me wrong this year but I do believe there is not enough depth on this team to make the playoffs. 5 players are leading the offensive charge for the Canucks. Pettersson, Horvat, and Boeser to name a few. Their top 5 point getters all are under the age of 23. This team will be scary good in a few years. Their New Years resolution is to not get crazy this year come the deadline, let these guys continue to grow and build as a team. Do not trade anyone under the age of 27.
Dallas Stars : (41 points)
Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin also known as the Dallas Stars. Benn and Seguin lead the team with points. Having a defenseman like Miro Heiskanen jump into a starting role on the defense, averaging 23:06 minutes of ice time. Dallas is one trade deadline player away from pushing for a deep playoff run. With a PK at 82.76% they are pretty good on special teams. Their resolution is to improve on their Power Play, every team that pushes for a cup has a great power play come May.
Anaheim Ducks : (43 points)
Disclaimer: I do not like this team. With 94 goals so far this year they sit 20 goals below the average, 114. They need to improve on goal scoring to win.
Colorado Avalanche : (44 points)
Rantanen, MacKinnon, and Landeskog are all having career years. Boating the best line in hockey Colorado is near the top of the standings. They could still be higher on the standings, so improving team depth scoring is this team’s resolution.
Vegas Golden Knights : (46 points)
No one said sophomore year was easy. After a slow start to the year Vegas is back to being one of the best teams in the Pacific. They have a great power play and penalty kill. Vegas needs to improve on scoring first, when scoring first Vegas is 12-6-3 when trailing Vegas is 9-9-1, scoring first strengthens Vegas. That is their new
Nashville Predators : (46 points)
This team is really good in the regular season but can never turn it around come May. Your resolution is win a Stanley Cup for a change.
San Jose Sharks : (47 points)
San Jose can win it all this year. They have won of the best defenses in the NHL, their resolution would be to trade for a few more offensive talent to spread their forward scoring out.
Calgary Flames (49 points)
Don’t change a thing. Not one thing. With players like Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkahcuk, and Lindholm all with at least 40 points this team is unstoppable, and isn’t going anywhere they are young.
Winnipeg Jets : (50 points)
Same thing as Calgary, keep going. Change nothing, unlike Calgary Winnipeg is going to be in salary cap trouble in the next few seasons. They may not get as good of a chance to win it all.
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