What Should Be Atop Every NHL Team's Christmas List?
It's the time of year for ugly Christmas sweaters and the rap videos that go with them.
Lists of wants and needs are being made and checked twice by NHL general managers who are actively trying to better their teams, by owners wondering what they may be able to do to help and by fans whose only wish for their team of choice is a Stanley Cup run—or maybe a run-in under some mistletoe.
From one of those perspectives and with a splash of rum in the eggnog, we take a look at what every NHL team should have atop its Christmas wish list.
So grab a candy cane hot chocolate, toss in your beverage flavor of choice and read on.
Anaheim Ducks: Health for Corey Perry
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Just when Corey Perry thought it was safe to return to the team after being one of the first big names to be hit by the mumps outbreak in the NHL—which now has its own leaderboard, by the way—the Anaheim Ducks star faces a lengthy absence with a knee injury.
A low hip check from Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard resulted in a sprain that will take three to four weeks to heal. That puts Perry on track to return early in the new year, but the league-leading Ducks will miss their top sniper, who was already out for five games with the mumps virus in November.
He's got a team-leading 14 goals despite playing nine games fewer than co-leader Matt Beleskey.
Arizona Coyotes: Stable Ownership
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Players are quick to suggest that any off-ice issues never play a factor in what happens on the ice in games, but members of the Arizona Coyotes have been dealing with ownership issues for so long it may finally be ringing true.
Once again, the ownership is in jeopardy, and the current group—which expected to be bolstered by a 51 percent majority purchase by Andrew Barroway—is reportedly now being told to shed big-ticket salaries, per Larry Brooks of the New York Post.
The team has got to be tired of the carousel.
Boston Bruins: A Time Machine
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The Boston Bruins could do some great things if a time machine actually existed. They could go back to the shift before hulking defenseman Zdeno Chara got hurt this season and tell him to sit out a play or two. Chara tore a ligament in his knee and could take awhile to return to his former Norris Trophy form, suggests ESPN Boston's Joe McDonald. The 6'9" giant is rusty to say the least.
But going much further back, the Bruins could revisit their trade with the Dallas Stars that saw top prospect Tyler Seguin head to the Lone Star State with Rich Peverley and Ryan Button in return for Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Joe Morrow and Matt Fraser.
Seguin is leading the NHL with 23 goals and 38 points in 29 games for the Stars. Eriksson and Smith have combined for 12 goals and 30 points.
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Buffalo Sabres: New Sticks
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This photo just screams out, "Does this stick taste funny to you?"
Something must be wrong with the sticks the Buffalo Sabres are using, so some new ones from Santa would be great.
The Sabres are dead-last in the league with an average of 1.81 per game—tied for fourth worst with 45 total at even strength and rock bottom with only seven on the power play.
The lack of goal scoring puts a lot of pressure on the goaltenders, and while the solid save percentages from both Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth have been a big reason the Sabres have climbed out of the basement in the Eastern Conference, it may not be sustainable. They need some support.
Calgary Flames: More Losing Streaks
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The Calgary Flames have been playing just well enough to get to the edge of the playoff race but likely don't have the talent to finish in a top-eight position, so their winning ways early this season are ultimately blocking them from a better draft position.
Currently in the midst of a six-game slide, falling victim to some repeated extended losing streaks would help the rebuilding Flames plummet further in the standings and maybe take a crack at the draft lottery.
Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel would look mighty good with some of the talented youngsters the Flames are grooming.
This is like asking for coal in the stocking with the intention of turning it into a diamond.
Carolina Hurricanes: Smelling Salts for Alex Semin
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As frustrating as Carolina Hurricanes winger Alex Semin has been over the years, he's always been able to put up strong offensive numbers. Since becoming an NHL regular with the Washington Capitals in 2006-07, Semin has never put up fewer than 42 points—and those two examples came in seasons during which he played 63 and 65 games.
This season, the 30-year-old Russian, who has found himself a healthy scratch at times, is playing at a 20-point pace. Ouch.
Chicago Blackhawks: A Donation in Their Name
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Let's be honest here: The Chicago Blackhawks have it all. The roster is loaded from the forward position right down to the goaltenders—who haven't missed a beat while starter Corey Crawford deals with injury issues.
From Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to Brad Richards and Marian Hossa, the Hawks are firing on all cylinders at the moment.
They own the top goal differential in the league by a wide margin and have won nine of their last 10 games.
Colorado Avalanche: A Fix on Defense
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The Colorado Avalanche are allowing an average of 34 shots against per game. That's third worst in the NHL. They allowed more than 32 against per game a year ago and were only a playoff team because of stellar goaltending from Semyon Varlamov.
This year they're not getting the same kind of performance between the pipes, and they're suffering in the standings as a result. Only Calvin Pickard has a save percentage higher than .909.
The Avs could use a forward to make a deal for a defenseman to help out the back end, where Erik Johnson and Jan Hejda are overwhelmed by top trios across the league and the depth is minimal behind offensive-minded blueliner Tyson Barrie.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Health Insurance
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Artem Anisimov—torn triceps. Scott Hartnell—broken finger. Brandon Dubinsky—abdominal surgery. Mark Letestu—groin. Nathan Horton—back. Ryan Murray—knee. There have been more, with Matt Calvert, Sergei Bobrovsky, Jack Johnson, Boone Jenner and James Wisniewski all missing time as well.
The list of current and previous injuries is long. In fact, the list of those who have played all 30 games is much smaller. There are only three (Ryan Johansen, Jared Boll and David Savard).
It makes you wonder if the Columbus Blue Jackets are as bad as their record or just a team struggling to find chemistry, considering the revolving door of injury that has plagued them all year. The team showed promise in the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins last spring, and we'd like to see everyone healthy to determine whether that was a fluke.
Dallas Stars: A Goaltender Makeover
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During a decade of NHL play, the Dallas Stars' Kari Lehtonen has never posted a save percentage as low as the .902 he currently owns.
Worse, his backup is Anders Lindback, who hasn't posted a save percentage higher than .902 since his second year in the league.
The Stars' success last season was dependent on some strong netminding, and at the moment that doesn't seem possible with this tandem. Maybe Dallas can get Martin Brodeur on the cheap when Brian Elliott is healthy again in St. Louis.
Detroit Red Wings: A Mike Babcock Extension
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Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman suggests the chances are more likely head coach Mike Babcock remains in Detroit to coach the Red Wings than they were at the beginning of the season.
Wings fans should all hope this is true. Arguably the best head coach in the league on an annual basis, Babcock has the Wings playing well again despite an aging cast of stars. A 23-year playoff streak is on the line.
So far, according to Yahoo Sports' Nicholas J. Cotsonika, there have been no talks. Babcock holds all the cards, so maybe he'll feel the holiday spirit sooner than later.
Edmonton Oilers: Pink Slips
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So Edmonton Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish gets fired then later becomes the team's general manager, hires his own coach, fires him, becomes head coach again? Sounds about right.
The Oilers are in serious need of an overhaul, but that shouldn't begin with the latest coaching casualty, Dallas Eakins. And MacTavish knows it.
"There's blood all over my hands in this as well," MacTavish told Edmonton media members on Monday, via Sports Illustrated's Allan Muir.
With that roster, there's no doubt. But the culture has been in place long before MacTavish rejoined the franchise. The entire front office staff should be shaken up.
Florida Panthers: A Cloning Machine
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Boy, that Aaron Ekblad kid is good. The first overall pick of last June's draft has jumped right in as an 18-year-old and looked every bit the cornerstone defenseman for the Florida Panthers.
It's too bad there aren't more of him on the roster. If they've been able to clone sheep since 1996, shouldn't they be able to do the same with humans by now? They should start with Ekblad, who without veteran anchor Brian Campbell as a partner on the blue line might be even more impressive.
Ekblad is second on the Panthers with 18 points through 29 games and is a plus-six. He's a legitimate Calder Trophy candidate, says me.
Los Angeles Kings: A Hangover Cure
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Greasy foods, raw eggs or morning Caesars aren't going to help this hangover. The Los Angeles Kings look as if they're feeling the effects of a great deal of hockey the past few years and the lull that follows the emotion of winning a second championship in that span.
The cast that has claimed a pair of Stanley Cup victories in three seasons—including a run to the Western Conference Final jammed in between—is much the same as it was when the first title run began in 2012. And while the Kings always seemed to struggle turning up the intensity consistently in the regular season, this year's stretch of mediocrity includes some of the team's biggest stars.
Anze Kopitar has six goals and 14 points through 29 games, and his wingman, Marian Gaborik, has been in and out of the lineup with injuries this season.
Rookie Tanner Pearson (11) and sophomore Tyler Toffoli (10) are leading the Kings in goals. Kopitar and Gaborik are the cure to remedying the headaches in the second half.
Minnesota Wild: The Old Thomas Vanek
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Thomas Vanek has never scored fewer than 25 goals over a full NHL schedule. Heck, he scored 20 in 38 games two seasons ago during the lockout-shortened campaign.
So how is it Vanek is sitting on four more than a third into the current NHL season? It might have something to do with his off-ice troubles, which could be considered a burdensome distraction during his homecoming to the state in which he played his college years.
If two goals in his last four games is an indication of what's to come, the Minnesota Wild and Vanek will be extremely pleased with the early gift. Even with those, he's on pace for 11.
Montreal Canadiens: A Fluffy Pillow for Carey Price
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Carey Price could use a little nap over the Christmas break.
The Montreal Canadiens are allowing an average of 30.4 shots against per game. That's tied for ninth most in the league. Only Toronto and Florida—the current wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference—are holding down playoff positions. No goaltender in that group has as many wins as Price.
Price is second in victories with 17 and has a strong .923 save percentage and respectable 2.33 goals-against average. He's a game-changer, and, via NHL.com's Arpon Basu, Price's recent 44-save performance against the Los Angeles Kings is a great example of the kind of hockey he's played this season.
Nashville Predators: A Power-Play Strategy
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Despite the addition of notoriously offensive-minded coach Peter Laviolette, the Nashville Predators aren't winning because of the team's goal production. The Preds are only 19th in the league with 2.57 goals per game—heavily influenced by top-end scorers Filip Forsberg (12) and James Neal (11).
One area they can relieve some of the pressure on the defense and the tremendous goaltending of Pekka Rinne is the power play. Currently it's clicking at a dismal 11.5 percent—better than only the Buffalo Sabres.
New Jersey Devils: Drafting for Dummies
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If this book actually existed, someone should give it to Lou Lamoriello, who has been a subpar selector of talent for the better part of a decade, which is one reason the New Jersey Devils are flailing as a franchise despite the presence of some solid veterans like newcomer Michael Cammalleri and Jaromir Jagr.
Bleacher Report's Dave Lozo breaks it down pretty perfectly here in his Bag Skate feature.
New York Islanders: 'Get out of Jail Free' Cards
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The Islanders' penalty killing is the league's worst at 71.1 percent. They've allowed 26 power-play goals against (second most in the league) and have been short-handed just 90 times, which is the fifth-fewest.
If they could do an even marginally better job at keeping pucks out of their net when killing penalties, they'd alleviate some of the heavy burden on the team's offense, which has had to score more than three goals for victories nine times in 31 games this season.
If they could show a referee a "get out of jail free" card and limit more of those short-handed situations, they'd be in a better position to cut down on more goals against.
New York Rangers: Shots
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The New York Rangers are 18th in the league with an average of 29.7 shots per game. But those are largely thanks to sniper Rick Nash's leadership in the category.
Nash has logged 101 shots in 21 games. The next closest shooter is Martin St. Louis with 58 in the same number of contests. Considering the high shooting percentages, with seven Rangers boasting 12 percent or higher, more shots would almost certainly help the climb into the top three in goals per game from their spot in fourth.
Nash has 20 goals so far, the second most in the league behind Dallas Stars sniper Tyler Seguin.
Ottawa Senators: Some Puck Luck
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While the Rangers are shooting at some sky-high rates, the Ottawa Senators are looking at some of the lowest in the league for their top players.
Former 35-goal-man Milan Michalek has just two goals so far and is shooting at 4.3 percent. Kyle Turris, who scored 26 a year ago in his first full NHL season has four in 30 games and has a 5.3 percent success rate. Defenseman Erik Karlsson is also under 6 percent with a 5.8 shooting percentage.
The NHL average is around 7 percent, which would make a big difference for these players and the team in terms of production and translating that into more wins.
Philadelphia Flyers: A Chris Pronger Miracle
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The Philadelphia Flyers defense has been a mess all season. About the only thing that could turn it around is some sort of miracle. I know Chris Pronger isn't about to come off the long-term injured reserve and is all but retired with post-concussion issues, but the Flyers are in desperate need of a nasty, defensively responsible blueliner who can provide some stability to an inconsistent group.
Kimmo Timonen was diagnosed with blood clots before the season, and his career is uncertain pending a review in the new year. With his absence, only veteran Mark Streit has been reliable, with a collection of younger fellows disappointing through the early part of the season.
Luke Schenn has been a healthy scratch, as has Andrew MacDonald. Braydon Coburn has struggled through injuries. Michael Del Zotto and Carlo Colaiacovo are also candidates to scratch on a nightly basis. Nick Schultz and Nicklas Grossmann are veterans who offer little in the way of upside.
The team's goals against per game is 2.87, the seventh-worst in the league this season.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Playoff Redemption for Marc-Andre Fleury
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The much-maligned playoff goaltender, who some forget actually won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins, is having a Vezina Trophy-worthy season so far. He's second in the league with 17 wins, first with five shutouts, fifth with a .927 save percentage and sixth with a 2.10 goals-against average.
None of this matters until he redeems himself for the skewed numbers in the postseason. Fleury has a career .891 save percentage in his past five playoffs, including a .908 the year he helped the Penguins win the Cup.
The fact he was inked to an extension during the season, which was his last under contract, shows the faith the Penguins have in him.
San Jose Sharks: Some Respect for the Former Captains
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Both Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have had their captaincies stripped by the San Jose Sharks over the past few years, yet both are in positions of unofficial leadership and have dedicated themselves to the team in spite of the situation.
Thornton continues to be one of the most consistent vets in the league, with eight goals and 28 points in 32 games this season. Marleau has just one less goal.
According to San Jose Mercury News writer Curtis Pashelka, Sharks coach Todd McLellan is in no hurry to name a new captain, rotating his assistants.
"The group is allowing others to participate, which is a real positive thing, too. So there's a lot of good things going on right now with the leadership and the way they're handling themselves," McLellan said.
St. Louis Blues: A Rookie Rising in Goal
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Jake Allen is the goaltender of the future for the St. Louis Blues. The team would benefit greatly if the 24-year-old could start his ascension right away.
There's a logjam in goal with veteran Martin Brodeur joining what could eventually become a three-man rotation when Brian Elliott comes back from injury. Neither Brodeur nor Elliott is viewed as anything more than a guy who can keep the spot warm for Allen if he struggles. And the last thing the Blues want is a playoff-goalie controversy—which is why they went out to grab Ryan Miller last season.
The Hockey News' Matt Larkin sums up perfectly why Brodeur being overly successful would be bad for Allen's short- and long-term future.
Allen turning into the team's obvious starter for the second half of the season would be the best Christmas gift for the Blues.
Tampa Bay Lightning: A 2nd Stanley Cup
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It's been a decade since the Tampa Bay Lightning hoisted the Stanley Cup and gave small-market teams everywhere hope they could do the same. In recent years, however, the bigwigs have been passing it around.
With the Bolts battling for top spot in the Eastern Conference and looking like a team with very few, if any, holes to fill in order to make a run for a championship, it could be their time again. Owner Jeff Vinik seems determined to turn this franchise into a powerhouse, and his early work sure makes it seem like it is going to happen.
His recent interview with Sportsnet's Damien Cox offers a great glimpse into what ownership should sound like across the league, especially in the smaller markets.
Anything short of another Cup would seem like the wrong gift.
Toronto Maple Leafs: A Cloak of Invisibility for Phil Kessel
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Phil Kessel, one of the league's top goal scorers, doesn't like to talk to the media and certainly doesn't try to hide it. He's a bit of a public relations nightmare in a city as under the media microscope as any in hockey.
The Toronto Maple Leafs superstar deserves a break. I haven't seen the Harry Potter movies yet, but there's got to be something out there that can help Kessel hide from potential interviewers without coming across like a jerk, per a report by the Toronto Star's Mark Zwolinski.
Maybe put his stall in front of a green screen and have him dress like those fans in Vancouver?
As a bonus to this slide, here's a picture of Kessel in an elf sweater, via Puck Daddy. Who says he doesn't have a sense of humor?
Vancouver Canucks: An Extension for Radim Vrbata
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Inking Radim Vrbata to a two-year deal to join the Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, on the top line has turned out to be one of the best moves of the summer. Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning would be wise to extend it for another year or two.
The match has been pretty spectacular, with Vrbata leading the team with 12 goals and sitting third with 23 points. He's a major factor in the Canucks' success this season and both twins' return to form after sub-standard seasons.
Washington Capitals: A Jack Adams for Barry Trotz
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Alex Ovechkin is playing defense and is on the plus side of the plus-minus column a year after one of the league's most abysmal ratings. The Washington Capitals appear to have turned a corner and are playing the kind of responsible hockey that leads to victories.
They're battling for a wild-card spot and, if they continue their progression, could be fighting for one of the divisional seeds by season's end.
Barry Trotz spent 15 years coaching the expansion Nashville Predators but never once earned a Coach of the Year trophy despite taking a team with less talent but more effort into the playoffs seven times.
If the Capitals get into the postseason after missing out last season, he should get some votes for the Jack Adams Award.
Winnipeg Jets: A Change in Goaltender
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Ondrej Pavelec has been the Winnipeg Jets'/Atlanta Thrashers' starting goaltender by default the past five seasons and has struggled mightily in that role. His save percentage has never jumped higher than .914, a one-year high surrounded by .906 and worse.
With the emergence of potential future starter Michael Hutchinson this season, Pavelec has been pushed to improve in order to keep earning playing time. He's got a .916 save percentage. The only problem is Hutchinson has a .937 save percentage—tops in the league—and a 1.81 GAA, which is good for second in the NHL.
He needs to be given the starting nod.
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