Elsker
Well-known member
Well, it's that time again. Twenty games into the season. Thanksgiving (American). First real benchmark point for the season.
75% or so of teams that are in playoff position now stick. Very few teams that are more than four points back at this point make it into the dance.
We're in a bit of a fuzzy situation right now due to games played (already) where we trail behind everyone above us in the Wild Card Standings by at least a game, but more significantly the teams just ahead of us by as much as two and three games. That means even NHL 0.500 hockey catches us up and the tiebreakers go into effect.
Playoff odds just over 50% (53%). Last night's loss to the Rangers as they beep-beeped their way past us in the standings hurt a lot...over 15 points worth in the chances department, lowering us from 2-in-3 chances to basically a coin flip.
So, let's say we're in our comfortable #9/#10 position. But not effectively trailing by much more than a point or two.
Here's the last three seasons at the Twenty Games In point (click for thread) and the season's final results:
2014-2015: 15 points (9 out) -> drafted Hanifin 5th overall
2015-2016: 17 points (6 out) -> drafted Bean 13th overall
2016-2017: 20 points (5 out) -> drafted Necas 12th overall
2017-2108: 22 points (3-4 out w/3 games in hand) -> ?????
So, there's a positive, if incremental, trend upward. But enough so to put us over the top this season?
Rude reminder last night as one of the usual playoff contenders brushed their way by us to try and join Washington and Pittsburgh bunched up in the current wild card ranks as they all collectively recover from their own rough starts.
Let's face it, we might make the playoffs, but a lot of our line-up is in for a real lesson in what it takes to succeed in that environment. At least until the young-twenties crowd grows into their britches, our team's "veterans" are the secondary (Williams, Staal, Skinner on another team) and tertiary (Kruger, Stempniak) assets of playoff teams. Ward wouldn't even be a back-up for one. Darling was and could still be so, at least as a back-up.
We just don't have the assets that the playoff crowd possesses. And, again, just look to ownership and the salary budget as to why. We're two or three star players short in dollars and personnel from making any noise in the playoffs, IF we even get there.
And, hey, it's acknowledged that deficit could be fixed as late as the trade deadline or even earlier by some personnel changes, however unlikely. Heck, it's probably going to take some kind of external force to inject the energy needed at this point. And that's before the injury bug bites.
But, it's encouraging, all in all. We're right there.
Top-5 ranked in some good things, like Shots/Game For (3rd highest) and Shots/Game Against (3rd lowest). But also 5th worst team in power play success percentage and are the median team for penalty kill success. Maybe it's for lack of practice since we're also the least penalized team in the league. Certainly have the media's attention.
But, I don't know. I'm just not feeling it. The X's and O's are there. System seems good and they're executing it to the best of their abilities. Darling noted during his Canes Corner interview earlier this week that he's never seen a team with such a solid work ethic (and he's seen a lot of teams). It is true that the lackadaisical shifts and effort we witnessed many a season have disappeared. We do get solid shifts these days.
But I still just don't see an identity. There's a needed hunger and purpose missing. They're all going through the proper motions. But collectively and perhaps even individually, I just don't see a playoff team down there. Not yet.
How about you?
75% or so of teams that are in playoff position now stick. Very few teams that are more than four points back at this point make it into the dance.
We're in a bit of a fuzzy situation right now due to games played (already) where we trail behind everyone above us in the Wild Card Standings by at least a game, but more significantly the teams just ahead of us by as much as two and three games. That means even NHL 0.500 hockey catches us up and the tiebreakers go into effect.
Playoff odds just over 50% (53%). Last night's loss to the Rangers as they beep-beeped their way past us in the standings hurt a lot...over 15 points worth in the chances department, lowering us from 2-in-3 chances to basically a coin flip.
So, let's say we're in our comfortable #9/#10 position. But not effectively trailing by much more than a point or two.
Here's the last three seasons at the Twenty Games In point (click for thread) and the season's final results:
2014-2015: 15 points (9 out) -> drafted Hanifin 5th overall
2015-2016: 17 points (6 out) -> drafted Bean 13th overall
2016-2017: 20 points (5 out) -> drafted Necas 12th overall
2017-2108: 22 points (3-4 out w/3 games in hand) -> ?????
So, there's a positive, if incremental, trend upward. But enough so to put us over the top this season?
Rude reminder last night as one of the usual playoff contenders brushed their way by us to try and join Washington and Pittsburgh bunched up in the current wild card ranks as they all collectively recover from their own rough starts.
Let's face it, we might make the playoffs, but a lot of our line-up is in for a real lesson in what it takes to succeed in that environment. At least until the young-twenties crowd grows into their britches, our team's "veterans" are the secondary (Williams, Staal, Skinner on another team) and tertiary (Kruger, Stempniak) assets of playoff teams. Ward wouldn't even be a back-up for one. Darling was and could still be so, at least as a back-up.
We just don't have the assets that the playoff crowd possesses. And, again, just look to ownership and the salary budget as to why. We're two or three star players short in dollars and personnel from making any noise in the playoffs, IF we even get there.
And, hey, it's acknowledged that deficit could be fixed as late as the trade deadline or even earlier by some personnel changes, however unlikely. Heck, it's probably going to take some kind of external force to inject the energy needed at this point. And that's before the injury bug bites.
But, it's encouraging, all in all. We're right there.
Top-5 ranked in some good things, like Shots/Game For (3rd highest) and Shots/Game Against (3rd lowest). But also 5th worst team in power play success percentage and are the median team for penalty kill success. Maybe it's for lack of practice since we're also the least penalized team in the league. Certainly have the media's attention.
But, I don't know. I'm just not feeling it. The X's and O's are there. System seems good and they're executing it to the best of their abilities. Darling noted during his Canes Corner interview earlier this week that he's never seen a team with such a solid work ethic (and he's seen a lot of teams). It is true that the lackadaisical shifts and effort we witnessed many a season have disappeared. We do get solid shifts these days.
But I still just don't see an identity. There's a needed hunger and purpose missing. They're all going through the proper motions. But collectively and perhaps even individually, I just don't see a playoff team down there. Not yet.
How about you?
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