Struggling NHL Players Who Must Improve in 2015

With the arrival of the new year comes the halfway point of the current NHL season—an excellent time to take stock of the individual triumphs and disappointments we've seen around the league.

For every Jakub Voracek or Tyler Seguin who is on his way to a career year, another player is struggling to live up to the expectations that accompany his role on his team, his contract status or both.

This list is by no means conclusive—I'm sure every fan has a player or two they'd like to see take a step forward in 2015. These six are all important players to their teams. If their play improves, it should lead to tangible improvements in the win-loss column.

Mike Smith, Arizona Coyotes

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2014-15 Stats: 25 GP, 6-16-2, .882 save percentage, 3.57 GAA

Last Season: 62 GP, 27-21-10, .915 save percentage, 2.64 GAA

For years, the then-Phoenix Coyotes relied on a tight defensive system and strong goaltending to stay close in games despite a lack of high-end scoring talent.

Though the team's ownership situation has finally stabilized this season, its on-ice fortunes have taken a turn for the worse, as goaltender Mike Smith has struggled to live up to his usual standards.

Through 39 games of 2014-15, Arizona is uncharacteristically ranked third-worst in the league in goals against. 

Smith had been streaky in the earlier stages of his career but seemed to find consistency when he arrived in the desert three seasons ago. Last year, he was considered trustworthy enough to earn an invitation to join Canada's 2014 Olympic team. This season, he's in danger of losing his job to Devan Dubnyk.

Milan Lucic, Boston Bruins

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2014-15 Stats: 39 GP, 6-12-18

Last Season: 80 GP, 24-35-59

A fiery personality whose best hockey comes when he plays with an edge, the emotional core of the Boston Bruins has lost his mojo this season.

Milan Lucic's scoring is way below normal, and more importantly, his snarl isn't intimidating opponents like it does when he's on his game. Lucic's entanglements with the Columbus Blue Jackets' Dalton Prout have been a low-water mark for his year.

A return to form for the Bruins' menacing power forward could go a long way toward a strong second half that would help Boston secure a playoff position.

Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings

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2014-15 Stats: 40 GP, 6-8-14

Last Season: 79 GP, 15-12-27

We saw this pattern last year from Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown—he's a microcosm of what happens with the entire Kings team.

When Brown struggles during the regular season, Los Angeles hovers near the bottom of the Western Conference playoff ranks. Suddenly, he and his team flip a switch, and it's "Stanley Cup, here we come!"

Once the Kings got rolling in the playoffs, Brown never left the team's top line alongside Marian Gaborik and Anze Kopitar. He played his usual role as agitator while picking up 14 points in 26 games—the same number he has collected in the first half of this season.

Brown is earning $7.25 million in 2014-15, the first year of an eight-season, $47 million contract extension, per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet and NHL Numbers.

That's a lot of coin for 14 points, but management will happily write the cheques if Brown picks up his game in the second half and helps put the Kings back in Cup contention once again.

Darcy Kuemper, Minnesota Wild

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2014-15 Stats: 28 GP, 13-12-1, .902 save percentage, 2.68 GAA

Last Season: 26 GP, 12-8-4, .915 save percentage, 2.43 GAA

It's been another year of turmoil in net for the Minnesota Wild, but this season, no one has ridden in on a white stallion to save the day. Last year, rookie Darcy Kuemper kept his team in the playoff hunt through Minnesota's first round of goalie injuries, then Ilya Bryzgalov galloped into town at the trade deadline.

This year, Bryzgalov is in Anaheim, while starter Niklas Backstrom has been inconsistent, and Kuemper hasn't been much better.

Minnesota is not a poor defensive team—the Wild rank second in the league with just 27 shots allowed per game. But the team is 22nd in goals against per game at 2.87.

At 36, the fragile Backstrom's best days may well be behind him. Unless Minnesota can once again trade for some help down the stretch, Kuemper will the man who holds the key to any potential second-half resurgence and possible push for a playoff position.

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

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2014-15 Stats: 39 GP, 20-15-35

Last Season: 78 GP, 51-28-79

The Washington Capitals have been a team in transition this season under new coach Barry Trotz. Over the last month, the group appears to be finding its identity and is getting hot. That should be good news for sniper Alex Ovechkin.

Even with goals in his last four games, Ovechkin has just hit the 20-goal mark. With 35 points, he's on a similar pace to the lowest-scoring year of his career, when he collected 38 goals and 65 points under the deposed Bruce Boudreau and his replacement Dale Hunter in 2011-12.

We've seen Ovi get streaky before, especially in the back half of the year. A hot run from the captain could put Washington in a nice spot as it aims to return to the postseason after a year away.

Evander Kane, Winnipeg Jets

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2014-15 Stats: 26 GP, 6-9-15

Last Season: 63 GP, 19-22-41

How much longer can the Winnipeg Jets wait to see if Evander Kane can realize the potential he showed when they picked him fourth overall in the 2009 draft?

After scoring 30 goals in the Jets' first year in Winnipeg back in 2011-12, the controversial power forward held steady during the lockout-shortened season, then started his backslide. Just 23 years old, he's far too young to be in decline. But even as the Jets have improved this year, Kane has continued to disappoint.

With a solid 2015, the Jets could make the playoffs this year for the first time since moving to Winnipeg, though a rash of injuries to their blue line won't make it easy. For his part, Kane has missed time this season due to a knee injury, a suspension and, most recently, a lower-body injury.

When he returns to action, the Jets could really use "Grade A" Kane back in the lineup as they make their postseason push.

All stats courtesy of NHL.com.