8 Underperforming Players on NHL Contenders
Conventional wisdom indicates NHL teams holding postseason berths by American Thanksgiving stand a better chance of qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs by season's end.
As of Nov. 28, 2024, the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and Tampa Bay Lightning held the top eight positions in the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks held those positions in the Western Conference.
Plenty of hockey to go before the regular season ends in April. Teams just outside the playoff order on Thanksgiving could knock some of those other clubs out of contention.
For example, the 2024 Stanley Cup finalist Edmonton Oilers were outside the playoff picture on Thanksgiving. By Dec. 1, they were third in the Pacific Division while the Avalanche sat one point shy of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.
The teams holding or jockeying for playoff positions have strengths and weaknesses. Nevertheless, a handful of players on some of those contenders aren't playing up to their usual standard. If their struggles continue, it could hamper their teams' chances of clinching a playoff berth or winning the Stanley Cup.
Here's a look at eight underperforming players on NHL contenders. You can express your thoughts on this topic in the app comments below.
Max Domi, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Signed to a one-year, $3 million contract for 2023-24 by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Max Domi was a good fit with his hometown team. The versatile playmaking forward finished sixth among Leafs scorers with 47 points in 80 games and tied for the club lead in playoff scoring with four points in seven games.
That effort earned Domi a four-year extension with the Leafs worth an average annual value of $3.8 million. His ability to play center and wing saw him centering the Leafs' third line this season but he's struggled in that role. Domi also briefly centered their first line after Auston Matthews was sidelined, but that attempt didn't last long.
The results speak for themselves. Domi managed only six points in 19 games (all assists) before suffering a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old forward has not looked comfortable as a center and it's unlikely he'll be placed in that role again once healthy.
Domi will likely end up skating as a winger once he returns as he's done for most of his NHL career. It's where he's most comfortable and been at his most productive. Domi could end up as a linemate to rookie Fraser Minten, who's acquitted himself well filling the third-line center spot.
Alexandar Georgiev, Colorado Avalanche
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The Colorado Avalanche were still celebrating their Stanley Cup triumph in July 2022 when starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper departed for the Washington Capitals as a free agent. They wasted little time finding a replacement in the trade market, acquiring Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers and signing him to a three-year contract.
Georgiev put up solid numbers for the Avalanche in 2022-23, winning 40 games with a 2.53 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. His performance last season was erratic, winning 38 games with a 3.02 GAA and a. 897 SP. Still, he bounced back in the playoffs, outduelling Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck in the first round.
Inconsistency continues to plague Georgiev this season. His .875 save percentage and 3.31 GAA are among the worst for NHL starters with at least 10 games played. He also missed a week with an upper-body injury in November, but his difficulties were ongoing before he was sidelined.
In fairness, Georgiev's had an injury-depleted roster in front of him for most of the last two months. Notable players like Gabriel Landeskog and Ross Colton remain sidelined while Jonathan Drouin, Artturi Lehkonen, Miles Wood, and Devon Toews missed time. Two-way winger Valeri Nichushkin only recently returned from a six-month suspension.
Nevertheless, the Avalanche are counting on Georgiev to provide the goaltending necessary to remain a legitimate Stanley Cup contender this season. So far, they're not getting it.
Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars
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The Dallas Stars became back-to-back Western Conference finalists in 2023 and 2024. Young forwards Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston were key factors behind their club's success.
Robertson, 25, quickly rose among the Stars' leading scorers since his rookie debut in 2020-21, becoming a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy. Between that season and 2023-24, the skilled winger was their leading scorer with 133 goals, 180 assists, and 313 points.
Johnston joined the Stars in 2022-23 and became one of their core players over the past two seasons. He netted 24 goals and 41 points during his rookie campaign and tallied 32 goals and 65 points in his sophomore season.
The two first-line forwards underperformed during the opening weeks of the season. Robertson had five goals and 11 points through his first 18 games while the 23-year-old Johnston had nine points over the same period.
Both players had good reason for their early-season slumps. Robertson missed all of training camp recovering from offseason foot surgery while Johnston missed most of training camp with an injury.
Robertson and Johnston have picked up the pace as they've gotten healthy and appear close to rounding into full-season form. If they've put their early-season difficulties behind them, the Stars will soon rise in the standings.
Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, New York Rangers
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The New York Rangers won the 2023-24 Presidents' Trophy and reached the Eastern Conference Final last season and in 2022. First-line forwards Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider played key roles in the Rangers' success over that period.
Zibanjad is second in total points on the Rangers with 244 between 2021-22 and 2023-24. Meanwhile, Kreider led all Rangers with 127 goals.
This season, however, the two forwards find themselves well down the Rangers' stat sheet.
Zibanejad has five goals and 17 points in 23 games and recently admitted to the difficulty he faced dealing with the mental strain as he struggled to regain his form. Meanwhile, Kreider is tied for second with Will Cuyle in goals (nine) but has yet to pick up an assist. He's missed the last three games with an upper-body injury.
Zibanejad and Kreider still have plenty of time to regain their high-scoring ways. Nevertheless, their struggles this season contributed to the Rangers' uneven performance (7-7-0) through November.
Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers
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The Edmonton Oilers rallied from a disastrous start to 2023-24 to clinch a playoff berth then marched to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Florida Panthers.
Forwards Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins played key roles in the Oilers' run to the Final last season. Hyman led the club with a career-best 54 goals while Nugent-Hopkins' two-way play saw him finish fifth in team scoring with 67 points.
The Oilers were sputtering along through the opening two months of this season, though they're still considered Cup contenders. They're in better shape than a year ago, holding one of the final playoff berths in the Western Conference as of Dec. 1.
Most Oilers observers are waiting for this club to snap out of its current malaise and find that other gear that propelled them to within one goal of winning the Cup last season. However, they'll need more from Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins on the score sheet.
With three goals and eight points in 20 games, the 32-year-old Hyman is well off last season's high-scoring pace. He's currently sidelined, but he was struggling well before his injury. Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Nugent-Hopkins had 12 points in 24 games as he's encountered difficulty finishing his scoring chances.
It's not unusual for some players to need more time to regain their form following a shortened offseason. Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins could bounce back with stronger efforts as the season progresses. For now, however, their performances are below expectations.
Stats and standings via NHL.com and Hockey-Reference.com.
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