One Thing Each NHL Team Must Improve on Heading into 2012

The New Year is approaching and with that, some teams have a lot of work to do. Whether your favorite franchise is down in the dumps or priming for a playoff run, improvements can be made anywhere and everywhere.

Some teams are already looking to pack it in but at the same time, there is a long road ahead. Teams that feel they are right on track with their playoff hopes have no idea that they may be gearing towards a skid.

When it comes down to it, all 30 NHL teams can improve on tactical details, philosophical approaches, or management can lift a finger and help their on-ice employees.

Here is a look at what each team could use moving forward. 

Anaheim Ducks: Defensive Zone Coverage

The Anaheim Ducks are having a really tough time in 5-on-5 situations. Currently, they are 28th in the league in 5-on-5 Goals For/Against Ratio with a .75 rating. As of Wednesday, two of their biggest stars, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, are minus-12 and minus-16, respectively.

Clearly, there is some sort of disconnect with their in-zone coverage or how they are handling their 5-on-5 responsibilities. This season may be lost for the Ducks, but if they are to make any strides in the right direction the rest of this season, it has to start in their own end of the ice.

Boston Bruins: Team Defense

The defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins look sharp. They are doing everything they need to do to book another ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals.

It is hard to look at the Bruins and see any flaws right now. One element of their game that could use a little improvement is team defense. While Tim Thomas is the best goalie on the planet, he is being relied upon a bit too much. 

Currently, the Bruins give up an average of 31.6 shots per game, which is 28th in the league. Thomas is the man, but the less rubber he sees, the better.

Buffalo Sabres: Team Toughness

After watching Milan Lucic run over Ryan Miller, the Sabres have had their toughness questioned. I tend to agree.

It is more about the current make-up of the squad than anything else. Ville Leino and Christian Ehrhoff were big offseason acquisitions that have not made a serious contributions.

When you look at the Sabres rosters you see a lot of skilled forwards (Roy, Ennis, Vanek, Gerbe) but you do not see many grinders or physical players.

The Sabres are sliding, and if they want to go for it this year, they may need to make a move for a no-nonsense power forward who can get to the net and mix it up. 

Calgary Flames: Faceoffs

If the playoffs began today, the Flames would be on the bubble. That seems to have been the case with the Flames recently. For the last two seasons they have kept their fan base interested enough down the stretch, only to fold when it matters most.

If you want to win hockey games, you need puck possession. Right now the flames are last in the league with a 45.1 faceoff percentage. That's over 2% behind the second-to-last Philadelphia Flyers.

Carolina Hurricanes: Powerplay

Yikes. Where do we begin with the lowly Carolina Hurricanes. They are pretty dismal in a lot of areas and will be sellers at the trade deadline. Fortunately for them, they were able to convince the Montreal Canadiens to take Tomas Kaberle's miserable contract.

If you had to pick one category for improvement, it would have to be their powerplay. They are currently last in the league at a 12.4%. That's brutal.

Chicago Blackhawks: Penalty Kill

While the Blackhawks are rolling with the NHL's best record, it is no secret in Chicago that since assistant coach Mike Kitchen took over special teams last season, they have gone in the tank.

It is surprising that a team with the talent the Hawks have are 27th in the league in killing penalties, with a 78.3% rating.

They are in need of another top-six defenseman before the trade deadline. Hopefully it will be one that can kill penalties. 

Colorado Avalanche: Offensive Output

The Colorado Avalanche are currently on the outside looking in on the playoff picture.

Right now their offense is sputtering. Matt Duchene is on pace to score just over 50 points after registering 67 last season. Paul Stastny has only 20 points in 35 games.

The Av's are 24th in the league in goals-for, with 2.5 a game. That will not be enough to get them in the postseason. 

Columbus Blue Jackets: Just About Everything

They have two huge contracts that they acquired over the summer, and that has yielded nine wins. They are last in a handful of categories and are the doormat of the league.

You could write a huge laundry list of things the Columbus Blue Jackets need to improve on but that would take hours. The bottom line is that it is a horrible time in Columbus and they just need this season to end.

Dallas Stars: Team Defense

The Dallas Stars are in the playoff hunt and should continue to be in the thick of things as the season moves along.

While they have little trouble providing offense, there seems to be some sort of breakdown with defensive responsibility.

Right now they allow an average of 32.5 shots per game, which is more than any other team in the NHL.

Detroit Red Wings: Penalty Kill

Another well-balanced, finely tuned machine is coming out of the Motor City. As of Wednesday the Detroit Red wings are fourth in the West but right behind Chicago in the Central with 47 points. 

Like most Detroit teams, this one is very disciplined. No team has taken fewer penalties this year. Perhaps that is why their penalty killing unit is 21st in the league at 80.6%. They are merely out of practice.

It is very hard to figure out where this team needs improvement. Do not be surprised to see the Wheel come out of the West on top this season.

Edmonton Oilers: Dump Ales Hemsky

The Oilers have promise. They are young, and while they may not make the playoffs this year, they could very well be in the top eight next season. Be patient, Oiler fans.

One of the things that has been plaguing the team is all of the chatter around trading Ales Hemsky. This can only be a distraction, and unfortunately the Oilers have waited so long, the return value will not be as high.

Still, they will be able to find a taker for this talented, yet injury-riddled player. He does not seem to be a long-term fixture in Edmonton. It's time to send him packing.

Florida Panthers: Depth Up Front

Dale Tallon's retooled and revamped Florida Panthers are in the playoff picture, but for how long? Many do not see the Panthers hanging on to their hot start and for good reason.

Their top three players seem to be putting out all of the offense. Kris Versteeg, Stephen Weiss and Tomas Fleishmann have been on the score sheet night after night, but that's about it.

Dale Tallon recently signed veteran John Madden to plug in a fourth line center role, but to date the Panthers are an unfinished product.

They may not make it this year, but Tallon will continue to beat the streets during the offseason. 

Los Angeles Kings: Offensive Production

The Kings have failed to live up to the hype. They acquired Mike Richards over the summer to boost their offense.

It hasn't worked and I am sure Kings management is scratching their heads as to why. Right now the Kings have a league-worst 2.14 goals per game.

We'll see if the Kings can turn it around, and as of late they have picked it up. They definitely need to put up some more goals for the home team. 

Minnesota Wild: A Scorer Up Front

It's hard to believe that this is the same team that was leading the Western Conference a mere two weeks ago. Now the Wild have lost their last seven games and sit sixth in the West.

If the Wild are serious about competing for the Cup this season, players like Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley are going to need help up front.

Minnesota lacks a scoring punch and if their defense isn't clamping down, they do not win hockey games. They should make a trade if they are serious.

Montreal Canadiens: Stop Buying Suspect Players!

The Montreal Canadiens are on a slide. Not all of the blame can be placed on the on ice workers in Montreal.

I'm not sure if it is the pressure of playing in the Montreal market or what, but the Habs' management is failing. If having the hefty contracts of the underachieving Scott Gomez and the now-average Brian Gionta, they went out and traded for Tomas Kaberle.

Granted, the Habs will have a lot of money freeing up on the blue line in the offseason, but are they really trying to build their defensive corps around Kaberle?

Someone needs a gut check in Montreal, and it's not the players.

Nashville Predators: Close out Games

The Nashville Predators really need a healthy Shea Weber if they are going to be able to hold onto the eighth seed in the West. All signs point to this being his last season in Nashville and he is not exactly someone who is easily replaced.

Their other big problem is holding onto leads. The Predators have only won 64% of the games they are leading after the third period. If you are giving up a third of the games you lead after two periods, it is a bad trend.

For the Preds to be in it, this has to be solved. 

New Jersey Devils: Convince Parise to Stay

Ilya Kovalchuk is going to be paid forever by the New Jersey Devils. The Devils also have a Patrick Elias around until the end of 2012-2013. After that season Elias will most likely walk. Suppose Martin Brodeur retires after this season, that frees up $5.2 million on the books. With Elias, David Clarkson, Dainus Zubrus and Travis Zajac coming off the books in 2013 as well, the Devils can still make a move to lock up Parise to a long-term deal. Clarkson could be a good trade piece this season and Zubrus may not be in their long-term plans either. If the Devils do make the playoffs this season, they may be out quickly. With this in mind, the biggest piece of team improvement they can make is to start working out a deal for Parise as soon as possible. He is an elite player and they should make him a priority.

New York Islanders: Keep the Key Players

The New York Islanders have not made the best management decisions in recent history. It is proving to be another long season on the Island when many were hoping that this season could be the breakthrough year fans were hoping for.

There are some good signs though, and while this year has gotten away from the Isles it is critical that they do not sell the farm.

Without a doubt, other teams are calling about players such as Matt Moulson and Mark Streit. These are two players that the Islanders need to keep around if they are going to gel as a unit for years to come.

Brian Rolston's contract will come off the books as well as three other defenseman. The Islanders may be able to make some moves in the offseason to support their cause.

New York Rangers: Keep Marian Gaborik Healthy

The New York Rangers are poised to make a serious Cup run. As of right now, they are capitalizing on scoring chances, have the team defense to keep pucks out of the net and although their powerplay has struggled from time to time, it is not an area that is dragging them down.

So this slide is more of a plea than a recommendation for improvement. The one thing that can derail the blue shirts is something happening to Marian Gaborik. He is such an asset offensively, but recent history has shown that he has a difficult time completing a season.

Even if it means giving his body a rest once or twice a month, it could be worth it. It's been great watching the Rangers excel this season and hopefully they can keep it rolling.

Ottawa Senators: Goaltending

The Ottawa Senators need to decide how important it is for them to make the playoffs this season. They still have a shot with 39 points as of Wednesday. They are sitting ninth and with a decent run could make the final eight.

Can they do it with Craig Anderson in net?

In 32 appearances, Anderson has a 3.36 GAA and no team has allowed more goals per game than the Sens at 3.4. 

If this trend continues it may be hard for the Sens to get into the postseason. Anderson will need to step it up, as I do not see the Senators trading for a goalie anytime soon.

Philadelphia Flyers: Stay out of the Box

Without Chris Pronger for the rest of the year, many wonder if Flyers GM Paul Holmgren will trade for another defenseman. While this may be needed, the Fly-boys can help themselves by staying out of the box.

To date, no team has taken more penalties than the Flyers. They have taken 223 penalties and have a league-leading 16.9 penalty minutes per game.

It sounds easy to fix, but it's not. Peter Laviolette needs to make sure his bunch keep their feet moving and avoid lazy penalties with their sticks.

Phoenix Coyotes: First Period Let-Downs

The Phoenix Coyotes have not won a single game after trailing after the first period. That is a pretty glaring stat and something that will need to change for them moving forward. If it cannot, then they will need to come flying out of the gate and be sure that they are taking care of business early. 

After a hot start, the Coyotes are now on the outside looking in on the playoff scene. Many wonder what will become of the franchise and if they will elect to move a player like Shane Doan before his contract expires.

Still, the Coyotes could go on a run. If they hope to do so, they will need to keep their heads about them after the first frame.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Continuing on Without Sid

In my humble opinion, Dan Bylsma is the best coach in the NHL. With the injury problems to Sidney Crosby and and Evgeni Malkin the last couple of years, the Penguins have still been very competitive.

For all considerations, it is hard to see Sidney Crosby returning this year, if ever. Players like James Neal, Pascal Dupuis and Jordan Staal will have to pick up the slack down the stretch.

Currently, the Pens are in fifth place in the East and will have to press on. Their special teams are solid, and they will have to maintain focus and try as hard as they can to forget about their embattled captain.

San Jose Sharks: More Physical on the Road

The San Jose Sharks are sitting third in the West and in really good shape before the New Year. 

Where they need some improvement comes in the form of life outside of San Jose. Right now, the Sharks are 7-4-2 on the road, which isn't bad, but a closer look at the stats suggests they are leaving points behind.  

The Sharks do not play physically on the road and right now are last in the league in hits on road games with 199.

It is no secret the Sharks have the offense to win games, but last year their toughness came into question and the same can be said about their approach when they are not in California. If they can build the same fire within that they show when at home, they will be one tough team to beat.

St. Louis Blues: Powerplay

The one thing the St. Louis Blues have going for them this year is they have caught lightning in a bottle with Brian Elliot. 

Elliot has been the only thing keeping them afloat. Other than that, the Blues have had significant trouble putting the puck in the net. Their powerplay has been one of the worst in the league at 13.1% and they have scored a mere 16 goals with the man advantage this season.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Giving Up Goals on the Road

The Tampa Bay Lightning were supposed to be in the hunt for a Stanley Cup this season. Now, they will be lucky if they make the postseason.

No team right now has given up as many goals on the road as Tampa Bay and there are no signs of the bleeding being stopped. 75 of their 115 goals against up have been away from home. When half of your games are on the road, it is hard to win games with that stat line.

The Lightning will most likely be out of the money come playoff time this year. It will be interesting to see if they sell pieces before the deadline.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Cure Your Defensive Woes

This is not necessarily a knock on the penalty kill, which sits 30th in the league at 72.7%. This is not directed at Phil Kessel either, who would not know how to cover a man in his own zone if you give him a map.

The bottom line is that regardless of how the Leafs look this year, they continue to give up goals. They continue to shuffle the deck with three different goaltenders. They should consider themselves lucky that they have an offense that has kept them in the playoff picture.

Perhaps it is the makeup of the team, but to all you Toronto believers out there, take caution, you cannot be one-dimensional heading into April.

Vancouver Canucks: Decide on the Man Between the Pipes

The Vancouver Canucks are looking good and have a strong chance at winning the West. More than ever, their goaltending situation may be in question.

Do not get me wrong, having two goalies the likes of Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider is an enviable position. At the same time, given the workload that Schneider has taken on and Luongo's playoff woes, who side are you on? 

Are the Canucks prepared to roll the dice on "Bobby Lou" in the playoffs, or are we seeing a changing of the guard in Vancouver?

Washington Capitals: Strip Ovechkin of His Captaincy

Things have gone from bad to worse in Washington. The Caps thought a lot would change after firing Bruce Boudreau. But now, the Caps find themselves in 10th place in the East and fighting for a playoff spot.

They do have the fire power to get there, but too much of the pressure is on their best player. Since Alexander Ovechkin has been appointed captain, his goal output has gone south. He had a 65 goal season followed by a 56 and a 50 goal season. Then, in the summer of 2010 he was elected captain and scored 32 goals in 2010-11.

Now, he has a mere 12 goals and 25 points in 34 games. Sure, he'll be voted into the All-Star game but some payers are just not meant to be in charge of their team.

A message to Caps management: Give the "C" to Brooks Laich and let Ovi do his thing.

Winnipeg Jets: Winning Pucks

Sometimes you need to get down and dirty in the NHL. Such is the case with the Winnipeg Jets. They are 26th in the league with 202 takeaways but if they can find a way to win more pucks, they will win more hockey games.

All is not lost. The Jets are eighth in the East and despite a brutal travel schedule, they are in a position to make the playoffs. Will they wear out down the stretch? Time will tell, but the Jets may be the surprise team of the East this season.