What Should Be Atop Every NHL Team's Christmas List in 2015
Eggnog. Cookies. Ugly Christmas sweaters. And don't forget wish lists. 'Tis the season for making lists, and you can be sure the NHL's general managers are marking down some notes for the new year.
This collection of Christmas wants for all 30 NHL teams is based on what has happened so far this season. Perhaps an improvement in goal might make a difference. Maybe the solution is a little more complicated than that.
Like all wish lists, some gifts are impossible to grant, but Santa may be able to come through for these guys.
While some teams are struggling, others are thriving. Each of them have the opportunity to improve in the new year. What might help them advance? Click ahead to check out what should be atop your team's Christmas list in 2015-16.
Anaheim Ducks: A Time Machine
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Does anybody out there own a DeLorean DMC-12 with a flux capacitor installed? Time travel may be the only way the Anaheim Ducks can figure out what has gone wrong this season.
The group is essentially the same as the one that made it to the Western Conference Final last season and made it a strong pick for Stanley Cup champion prior to the start of this one.
Did anyone expect substituting Carl Hagelin for Kyle Palmieri or Kevin Bieksa for Francois Beauchemin would result in Ryan Getzlaf scoring one goal in 29 games? Or that the team would be dead last in the Western Conference this close to Christmas?
Arizona Coyotes: A New Home
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I'm not suggesting the league take the dogs out of the desert, but the Arizona Coyotes play in front of way too many empty seats in Glendale. With all the ups and downs the franchise has had off the ice when dealing with rink issues over the years, maybe it's time to put them in a place more Arizona folks populate, such as Scottsdale or Phoenix.
As nice as the little shopping district around the arena is, the Coyotes are still an afterthought. And the people of Arizona are missing out on some pretty talented players coming up the ranks for the 'Yotes.
Boston Bruins: A Truck Full of 5-Hour Energy Drinks
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Veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara has charged back into elite status this season after suffering a down year plagued with injury and doubt.
The 38-year-old's health and enthusiasm is a huge reason the Boston Bruins are once again looking like a good bet for the playoffs. He is their emotional leader and is adding significant offensive production from the back end in addition to his fortress-like presence.
A few cases of some NHL-friendly energy boosters could come in handy for the team's minute leader as the push for the postseason kicks in later in the season.
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Buffalo Sabres: A Crystal Ball
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Nothing would serve the Buffalo Sabres better than a glimpse into their future—which looks like a bright one.
The problem is the here and now for a club that is rebuilding. The Sabres are among the worst performers in the NHL so far this season, and the growing pains are sure to be long and frequent as talented draft picks such as Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel learn the pro game.
The ability to see how much stronger this team will be in a couple of years after doing such a good job laying the foundation of the rebuild would help management, players and fans alike be patient through the tough times.
Calgary Flames: A Cloning Machine
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Winners of 10 straight games on home ice, the Calgary Flames headed into the Christmas break on a high note, capped off by a Johnny Gaudreau hat trick.
The super sophomore is among the NHL's top scorers this season with 15 goals and 37 points through 34 games and gives the Flames hope of making the playoffs again because of his game-breaking potential. The team is never out of a game as long as Johnny Hockey is on the ice.
Gaudreau has an 11-point lead over his closest competitor on the team, Sean Monahan.
Carolina Hurricanes: A Turkey-Carving Kit
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It's time for the Carolina Hurricanes to trim the fat. The team should be looking to deal away Eric Staal to get some nice assets for the veteran and pending unrestricted free agent who may just walk away for nothing come July 1.
He's served them well in the past, but the team needs to focus on a rebuild and forget about loyalty. Especially when there's no guarantee it will come from Staal's camp. The best way to add young assets who will help strengthen the team for the future is to deal away veteran talent while there's still a great deal of value there.
Chicago Blackhawks: Bubble Wrap
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Keeping Patrick Kane healthy is crucial for the Chicago Blackhawks, who have survived another purging of contracts to get under the salary cap in the offseason and continue to maintain their status as one of the top teams in the Western Conference.
Kane leads the NHL scoring race and has helped rookie linemate Artemi Panarin become the odds-on favorite for the Calder Trophy, all while eclipsing the rest of the team with their offensive production. Kane's strong push for a scoring title last season was spoiled by a bad shoulder injury, but he returned for the playoffs and helped the Hawks win their third Cup in six years.
This is shaping up to be the 27-year-old's most dominant season yet. He's on pace for 114 points thanks in part to a 26-game streak that set some significant records.
Bubble wrap probably wouldn't take up too much room under his pads. The popping sounds as he dangles would be a bonus.
Colorado Avalanche: Bottles of Fountain of Youth Water
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Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay finished first and third, respectively, in team scoring for the Colorado Avalanche a year ago.
This year, the veterans are struggling and find themselves seventh (Iginla) and 14th (Tanguay) in team scoring.
Although the Avs are top-10 in scoring per game, they still struggle keeping pucks out of their net as a bottom-third club in that department. Just a few more goals at key times from some of the vets could help the team win some of the tough, close contests it's been losing.
A few sips of a Fountain of Youth could help restore Iginla to the 25-30-goal scorer and Tanguay to the 50-plus-point setup man.
When the young and old(er) are clicking at the same time, the Avs have playoff potential.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Some Therapy Sessions
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Nothing says dysfunction like a new coach scratching a star player. That's what has played out in Columbus, where Blue Jackets sniper Ryan Johansen and coach John Tortorella aren't exactly seeing eye to eye these days.
Johansen isn't the first player to sit out under Torts, with veterans Scott Hartnell and Fedor Tyutin also given wake-up calls at times this season.
But when it comes to the 23-year-old burgeoning superstar, who has been a little underwhelming this year with six goals and 23 points in 33 games, some therapy sessions to get on the same page with the coach would be preferable for Blue Jackets fans over a trade that would surely bite them in the same way the Tyler Seguin deal to Dallas haunts the Boston Bruins.
Dallas Stars: An Acre on the Moon
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The Dallas Stars are the equivalent of the family member who already has it all. You name a stretch of highway after them, or a star, or maybe buy an acre of land on the moon.
The Stars own the best record in the NHL, have two of the top three scorers and a respectable goaltending tandem playing behind a surprisingly decent defense.
Life is good for the Stars this Christmas.
Some more depth on defense would be a luxury the Stars would benefit from, but they're just fine even without it at the moment.
Detroit Red Wings: A New Fuse for the Power Play
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Given the Detroit Red Wings' offensively gifted group, it's difficult to pinpoint what's wrong with the power play. The Wings have the 17th-ranked man advantage at 18.2 percent but need to bump that up in the new year.
Shockingly, Pavel Datsyuk has just two power-play points in his 19 games this season, while captain Henrik Zetterberg leads the way with a dozen in 34 contests.
Zetterberg is the only player with double-digit points on the man advantage, and only three players have more than a single power-play goal.
Edmonton Oilers: A New Chris Pronger
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The Edmonton Oilers are a frustrating bunch. At times, they seem so close to a playoff-caliber club. At others, they look like the worst team in the league.
The truth is they are somewhere in the middle, but there's no way the Oilers will get back to the Stanley Cup Final without a true top-notch blueliner. There are plenty of up-and-coming back-enders such as Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse, but none of these guys are of the Chris Pronger level.
You remember Pronger in 2006, right? He took a team of Oilers lacking in the goaltending department all the way to the brink of the championship.
The Oilers probably need more than just the tower of power on the back end to make that kind of leap, but it's the most critical missing piece of their otherwise pretty talented squad this season.
Florida Panthers: New Teeth for Jaromir Jagr
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Believe it or not, the Florida Panthers are in the hunt for a division title in the Eastern Conference thanks in large part to their leader, a 43-year-old Jaromir Jagr—who heads into the break down some teeth after a high stick from Ottawa Senators forward Alex Chiasson on Tuesday night.
Since Jagr asked Santa for new Chiclets via Twitter after the game, it's instantly the team's top priority.
Jagr's smile, at least his positive attitude, is part of what's kept the Panthers loose and disciplined in their play. He's been the perfect mentor for a group that has bought into the defensive style of play that is critical to its success.
Los Angeles Kings: A Contract for Anze Kopitar
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The Los Angeles Kings may not be able to afford Anze Kopitar's new contract. Yet they can't afford not to sign the top-line center before he becomes an unrestricted free agent and tests the waters in the offseason.
Selke Trophy candidates don't grow on trees, and Kopitar has been willing to sacrifice some offense every season in order to play the defensive game at a high level against the other team's most talented playmakers.
The Kings are at a crossroads with a number of important roles to fill next year without a great deal of money to do it, but general manager Dean Lombardi will have to get creative with his existing contracts to avoid losing arguably his team's most pivotal player.
Minnesota Wild: Throat Lozenges for Mike Yeo
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Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo had a screaming fit last season. It was early January and the team was a mess. A week later, the Wild picked up goalie Devan Dubnyk and the turnaround was almost unimaginable.
The trick couldn't possibly work again, could it?
Well, Yeo blew his top in practice a few weeks ago and the Wild have responded with a 7-2-2 record since.
Maybe he's on to something here.
Montreal Canadiens: Good Health for Carey Price
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Since Carey Price last played for the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 25, the Habs are 3-9-1. They've lost their big lead in the Atlantic Division standings and look completely lost on the ice without their top goaltender.
Price was the Hart Trophy winner for a reason last season. When things were going horribly wrong for the offense or defense, or both at the same time, Price was there to bail them out with his personal heroics. Without their safety net, the Habs are being exposed.
Price is still sidelined with a lower-body injury and won't be back for at least another two weeks.
Nashville Predators: An Elite Scorer
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It's never a good sign when a pair of defensemen are leading your team in scoring in late December. For the Nashville Predators, the fact partners Roman Jose (9-17-26) and Shea Weber (10-15-25) are pacing the team is both a sign of superior strength on the back end as well as a lack of elite talent up front.
The team should use its great depth on defense to trade for a top-end scorer such as Steven Stamkos or Ryan Johansen, who could take an average group that ranks 16th in scoring in the NHL at the moment into the top 10.
New Jersey Devils: A Slow Clap and in-Season Retirement for Patrik Elias
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Patrik Elias has been a stellar representative of the New Jersey Devils for two decades. But it's probably time to retire.
The 39-year-old has played all of 13 games this season after missing all of training camp and the first 20 games of the regular season with a right knee injury. It turns out the little break he's currently enjoying is because of knee problems that may relegate him to the role of a part-time player.
No NHLer wants to go out like that, and although Elias says all the right things about his reduced role on the third line in his final year of a three-year pact, it's sad to see formerly great players languish in the league a little too long.
He deserves better. Unless the team somehow qualifies for the playoffs and his swansong is a little more dignified, it would be better to see Elias hang up the skates sooner than later this season.
New York Islanders: A Missing Persons Report for Nick Leddy
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Nick Leddy turned out to be a huge steal for the New York Islanders last season, anchoring a dynamic scoring defense that featured three players in the top 10 in team offense—each reaching at least 30 points.
Leddy has been a disappointment in his second year for the Isles, netting no goals and just nine assists through his first 35 games. That pace has him more than 10 points below last year's totals, and the team's offense is a reflection of that.
The Isles scored nearly three goals per game last year but are scoring at a pace of 2.66 this season.
New York Rangers: NoDoz Pills for the Defense
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The New York Rangers' defense needs a wake-up call. The group is struggling to get the puck out of the defensive zone consistently, which is affecting the team's offense as well as putting a great deal of pressure on goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.
Some smelling salts or caffeine pills might open some eyes on the back end and help them see outlet passes more clearly.
Ottawa Senators: Some Help for Craig Anderson
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Goaltender Craig Anderson is often a man on an island in the Ottawa Senators net. The defense in front of him just hasn't been good or consistent enough to help keep the goals against down despite Anderson's decent personal save percentage.
The Senators' defensive-zone play is downright disturbing at times, and behind star defenseman Erik Karlsson, the blue line is lacking depth and talent. In order to make a move up the standings, the Sens might want to look at some trade options to improve the group of rearguards.
Philadelphia Flyers: A Rebate Check from Jakub Voracek
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Three goals in 34 games. That's what Philadelphia Flyers star Jakub Voracek has this season after signing a massive eight-year deal worth $66 million ($8.25 million per season).
There should be a rule in the league that recoups a portion of those big deals for players who don't perform up to expectations after inking the "set for life" contracts.
At least some pre-Christmas signs of life exist with Voracek finding a fit with Sean Couturier and Wayne Simmonds for a handful of very productive games.
Pittsburgh Penguins: An All-Seeing Mirror
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One of those Disney "mirror mirrors on the wall" might be the only way the Pittsburgh Penguins are going to get answers this season.
Sidney Crosby is on pace for fewer than 60 points. Phil Kessel might be fortunate to score 30 as opposed to the 40 or 50 so many expected with the chance to play with Crosby and/or Evgeni Malkin. Defensively, the team has been a mess with only goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury playing consistently well and exceeding expectations.
The team is well back of the division playoff spots and behind in the wild-card race, too. With the talent level on the Pens roster, these guys need to take a hard look at themselves in that mirror and come up with some answers themselves before it's too late to turn things around.
San Jose Sharks: Free Hotel Stays for Home Games
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It's hard to figure out how the San Jose Sharks can be doing so well on the road with a 12-6-2 record away from the Shark Tank, yet they own a dismal 4-9 record at home—the worst in the league so far this season.
Maybe the home meals are too filling or the kids are keeping the players up at night. Time to call in some Marriott favors. It's an old trick used in the playoffs by some NHL clubs. You get the team together at a local hotel and do everything leading up to the game itself as if you're on the road.
It can't hurt. The Sharks would be a much more stable playoff bet with even a few more victories on home ice.
St. Louis Blues: A Happy Ending for Hitchcock
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The St. Louis Blues have been one of the NHL's best regular-season teams in the three full seasons Ken Hitchcock has been head coach, and the team again looks to be poised for a prime playoff berth.
But regular-season success isn't enough for a franchise still seeking its first Stanley Cup, and the Blues have not won a playoff round in three seasons. That led to a tenuous one-year contract extension for Hitchcock this summer. He needs to prove he can push this group past the first round to get another deal.
Widely viewed as one of the league's top coaches, Hitchcock has all the talent he needs to go on a deep playoff run. Whether it happens will determine what the Blues look like a year from now.
Tampa Bay Lightning: More Steven Stamkos Sightings
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Surprisingly, the Tampa Bay lightning find themselves in the bottom third in scoring this season, and the average play by captain Steven Stamkos is certainly part of the problem.
It's true that injuries have affected the reigning Eastern Conference champions, who are battling for a wild-card berth in the standings at the moment, but they need more from Stamkos to get things turned around.
Maybe the lack of a contract following the season is weighing on his mind more heavily than he's let on. He has just 14 goals in 34 games (good for 14th in the league) and went a lengthy 10 games without one between late November and mid-December when the Bolts needed him to be a difference-maker.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Some Star Power
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Ridding themselves of Phil Kessel was the right move at the right time for the Toronto Maple Leafs. But you don't give up a talented scorer without feeling the effects for a while.
The Leafs sit 20th in goals per game so far this season and are just a handful of tallies or fewer ahead of the next half-dozen teams in the race to stay out of the basement in total goals scored.
The Leafs have a real lack of star power, as evidenced by the presence of Leo Komarov on the top line this year. Maybe they can add a guy like Steven Stamkos in the new year.
Vancouver Canucks: A Shooter Tutor
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Remember the Shooter Tutor? The big plastic goaltender-shaped blocker for lonely kids who don't have a younger brother to torture between the pipes? Well, the Vancouver Canucks might have been better off investing in the plastic piece of puck deflector than giving Ryan Miller the three-year, $18 milion deal that will surely take the 35-year-old former All-Star into retirement.
He has been an Achilles' heel for the Canucks this season—his second of the three—with a 2.74 goals-against average and .909 save percentage well below his career averages. He has only managed to win 10 starts in 28 contests.
Maybe GM Jim Benning should get some nice letter paper to pen his apology notes to the fans for that move.
Washington Capitals: A Deep Playoff Run
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Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin has cemented his status as the best Caps player ever to wear the uniform. Now it's time to prove he's a winner, too.
The Capitals haven't claimed victory in more than a single round in any playoff year since Ovechkin joined the team a decade ago. But with head coach Barry Trotz helping the team become a more multi-dimensional squad, the development of goaltender Braden Holtby and the firepower the Caps boast up front, they have all the ingredients necessary to make serious waves in the postseason.
All these ingredients have them tearing up the Eastern Conference standings and giving the Western Conference powerhouse Dallas Stars a run for their money in the Presidents' Trophy race.
Winnipeg Jets: Permission to Spend...and Wisdom to Pick the Right Recipients
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It will take more than just the owners signing off on the Winnipeg Jets spending to the salary cap this summer to re-sign both stud defenseman Dustin Byfuglien and captain Andrew Ladd, who are going to be unrestricted free agents July 1. Especially with rearguard Jacob Trouba set to become a restricted free agent in line for a big raise, too.
Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff will have to get creative and shed at least another contract or two in order to keep these integral pieces together, but realistically, it's going to be a next-to-impossible feat and, it's likely at least one of the pending UFAs will be gone for greener pastures.
That's where the wisdom part comes in. Is Byfuglien going to be worth the massive amount of money he'll command on the open market? Will the team's identity be impacted in a tangible way if Ladd leaves? How much is fair for the 21-year-old Trouba, who has loads of potential but plenty to prove?
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