When the season takes a turn for the worst, NHL teams usually have at least one person, whether it's a player, coach or someone in management who is labelled as the scapegoat.
Often times it's the coach who gets the majority of the blame, but for a few teams it may be the star player(s) who deserve the blame for underperforming.
Let's look at each NHL team's scapegoat when things go wrong.
Anaheim Ducks: Bruce Boudreau
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The Anaheim Ducks have the second-worst record in the NHL and likely won't be making a playoff push this season.
Despite some of the players not performing to expectations, new head coach Bruce Boudreau will likely get the finger pointed at him because it's easy to blame the new head coach when a team struggles.
Boston Bruins: Claude Julien
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The Boston Bruins are the defending Stanley Cup champions and are leading the Northeast division, so there's not many people who deserve any blame.
Despite his success over the past year, I think many fans and media members would turn on head coach Claude Julien if the season ended in a disastrous way.
Buffalo Sabres: Ryan Miller
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The Buffalo Sabres have been a major disappointment this season after spending lots of money in the summer to improve their club for a deep playoff run.
The Sabres are 11th in the Eastern Conference standings and if they don't make the playoffs, goaltender Ryan Miller and his underperformance will shoulder much of the blame.
Calgary Flames: Jay Feaster
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Calgary Flames general manager Jay Feaster has shown that he's willing to make moves to get his team into the playoffs this season, evidenced by his recent trade to acquire Mike Cammalleri from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Rene Bourque.
If the Flames don't make the playoffs, fans will likely complain that Feaster didn't do enough to improve the roster.
Carolina Hurricanes: Eric Staal
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The Carolina Hurricanes are the third-worst team in the Eastern Conference right now, and captain Eric Staal has been a real disappointment this season.
If the club continues to plummet in the standings, their superstar player will have some explaining to do.
Chicago Blackhawks: Corey Crawford
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The Chicago Blackhawks appear headed for a deep playoff run this season, but the one thing that could hold them back is the inconsistent play of young goaltender Corey Crawford.
Crawford needs to be play better more consistently for the Blackhawks, and if the team's season ends too early, expect the young goalie to get a lot of the blame.
Colorado Avalanche: Greg Sherman
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Colorado Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman has built a nice roster of young talent, but if the team fails to make the playoffs this season, he will be blamed for not making enough moves at the deadline to help the club.
Right now the Avalanche are only one point out of a playoff spot.
Columbus Blue Jackets: New Signings
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Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski were supposed to help Columbus Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash lead the team back to the playoffs, but now the franchise has the worst record in the NHL.
The Blue Jackets' new signings have underperformed and will be blamed for the team's terrible season.
Dallas Stars: Joe Nieuwendyk
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While it's hard to imagine Dallas getting angry at Joe Nieuwendyk, the team's general manager must make a move or two before the trading deadline to help his Stars get back into the playoff race.
The fans expect a playoff run, but their current roster isn't good enough to do that.
Detroit Red Wings: Ty Conklin
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The struggles of backup goaltender Ty Conklin has forced the Detroit Red Wings to start young goalie Jimmy Howard in 38 of the team's 46 games this season.
If Howard is fatigued in the playoffs and the team doesn't make the Western Conference Finals, Conklin could get a good amount of the blame.
I can't see Red Wings fans blaming head coach Mike Babcock or any of the star players such as Henrik Zetterberg.
Edmonton Oilers: Ales Hemsky
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Ales Hemsky has scored only four goals with 12 assists this season, which are brutal numbers for a player that has star potential.
He will likely be traded before the deadline, so the Oilers can get some value for him before he becomes a free agent in the summer, but he won't escape blame for Edmonton's decline in the standings.
Florida Panthers: Jose Theodore
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With the Florida Panthers playing so well this season, it's hard to find a scapegoat when the team is exceeding expectations.
If the team doesn't make the playoffs, goaltender Jose Theodore could get a lot of the blame if his poor play is the reason for the team's late season failures.
Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Penner
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Dustin Penner has only two goals and eight assists this season which is just awful. He has been a major disappointment for the Los Angeles Kings ever since they acquired him last season via trade.
If he continues to struggle and the team doesn't score goals consistently, the Kings will miss the playoffs, and Penner will take a lot of the heat.
Minnesota Wild: Chuck Fletcher
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Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher has built a very good roster but he needs to make some moves to ensure his team secures a playoff berth this season, despite all the injuries they've suffered recently.
If Fletcher doesn't make any moves and the Wild fail to make the playoffs, people will point the finger at him.
Montreal Canadiens: Pierre Gauthier
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Pierre Gauthier has made some terrible decisions as the Montreal Canadiens general manager this season, and the franchise is in the worst shape it has been in a long time.
Gauthier wrongly got rid of head coach Jacques Martin and hired a coach who doesn't speak French, then made some poor trades getting rid of Cammalleri and acquiring Tomas Kaberle.
Gauthier will go down as the scapegoat in Montreal this season, and will likely lose his job soon.
Nashville Predators: David Poile
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The Nashville Predators sit in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, but if the team doesn't keep captain and franchise defenseman Shea Weber, the fans will be livid.
General manager David Poile has the unenviable task of signing both Weber and fellow defenseman Ryan Suter this summer, and if he screws up the situation he will be blamed heavily.
New Jersey Devils: Lou Lamoriello
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The New Jersey Devils general manager will take a ton of heat if the team is forced to trade star winger Zach Parise before the trading deadline.
He decided to give Ilya Kovalchuk a ton of money for so many years, some of which could have been used to keep Parise.
If the Devils lose their best player, the fans will be livid.
New York Islanders: Kyle Okposo
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Kyle Okposo has been a disappointment for the New York Islanders this season and hasn't progressed to the level he should be at this point of his career,
He has amassed just 22 points and a plus/minus of minus-12 this season, which is not good enough production from Okposo.
New York Rangers: Brandon Dubinsky
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The New York Rangers have had a tremendous season thus far and sit atop the Eastern Conference standings.
There aren't many potential scapegoats, but one player who has underperformed this season is forward Brandon Dubinsky. If he struggles in the playoffs and the Rangers don't make the East Finals, Dubinsky will get a lot of the blame.
Ottawa Senators: Bryan Murray
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The Ottawa Senators have become a threat to the Boston Bruins' hopes of winning the Northeast division again, and if general manager Bryan Murray doesn't make the team buyers at the trading deadline, it would send the wrong message to the team.
Philadelphia Flyers: Paul Holmgren
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The Philadelphia Flyers are a very good team but they won't make a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final unless they acquire another quality defenseman to make up for the loss of captain Chris Pronger.
If general manager Paul Holmgren cannot find a good defenseman to bring in before the trading deadline, the Flyers won't make it past the second round of the playoffs for a second straight season.
Phoenix Coyotes: Raffi Torres
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Raffi Torres was a bad acquisition for the Phoenix Coyotes last summer and he has done very little to help the team reach the playoffs again.
He has only 11 points this season and has battled injuries as well.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Paul Martin
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As the highest paid defenseman on the Pittsburgh Penguins, Paul Martin has not played to the level he's capable of this season.
The Penguins are struggling to even make the playoffs this year, but I cannot see their fans blaming Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby or head coach Dan Bylsma if the team fails to make the postseason.
San Jose Sharks: Joe Thornton
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If the San Jose Sharks fail in the playoffs yet again, captain and star center Joe Thornton will get the majority of the blame.
His previous playoff failures and inability to step up in important games have been a major hurdle he has yet to climb in his career.
St. Louis Blues: Doug Armstrong
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The St. Louis Blues are in first place atop the Western Conference standings, but still need more scoring to become a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. The Blues only average 2.56 goals per game, which ranks 19th in the NHL.
If general manager Doug Armstrong does not make a move for a scorer before the trading deadline, the Blues could struggle in the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The Goaltenders
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The Tampa Bay Lightning will not make a return trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, and the poor playoff goaltenders Dwayne Roloson and Mathieu Garon is the reason why.
When the Lightning's season ends in disappointment, the blame will be put on the goaltenders.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Brian Burke
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If the Toronto Maple Leafs' playoff drought continues after the team started this season so well, general manager Brian Burke will take the blame because of the moves he did or did not make at the trading deadline.
Burke has a real opportunity to improve the Leafs roster at the deadline, and he cannot afford to screw up.
Vancouver Canucks: Roberto Luongo
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The Vancouver Canucks will go as far in the playoffs as goaltender Roberto Luongo will take them. After failing against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final last season, the star goalie certainly has something to prove this season.
If the Canucks fail in the playoffs again, Luongo will be the scapegoat.
Washington Capitals: Alexander Ovechkin
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The Washington Capitals have struggled for much of this season and currently sit tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Star forward Alexander Ovechkin has just 35 points this season and has been a surprising disappointment. If the Capitals don't go deep in the playoffs, Ovechkin will get most of the blame, and deservedly so.
Winnipeg Jets: Kevin Cheveldayoff
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The Winnipeg Jets are only three points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has to make a deal to improve the team or they won't make the postseason this year.
If he fails to make a move, Cheveldayoff will share much of the blame.
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