In Part 1 we examined the teams that went from top to bottom. Now it's time to look at the ones who have fallen from grace.
Obviously the most noticeable team is the Washington Capitals. A coach that couldn’t get his message across to his team anymore is not a good start. So they fire him. Now they bring in one of the franchises most famous players to pick up the pieces. Tough spot for a rookie to the NHL coaching ranks. Dale Hunter brings a hard nosed approach that could pay dividends if the team wasn’t full of massive egos. Ovechkin and Semin being the most notable of the bunch. Both have it set in their head that the way they play will lead to a Stanley Cup, and anyone who disagrees should leave town. No matter how many veterans the Caps add, nothing will change until the two most talented players put aside their private agendas and trust their coach and teammates. When your leading scorer is a 3rd line grinder that nobody knows, you need to realize you what you’re doing isn’t working.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres have also struggled a bit this year. Both teams have talent, youth, and experience as winners. So far, they have little to show for it. At this point of the season, both teams sit in the middle of the NHL in goals per game, and towards the top with goals against. It is easy to blame certain players for these numbers, but the Sabres have arguably the best goalie in the game with Ryan Miller and the Lightning have a top end scorers with Steven Stamkos, Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. Whatever the case, both teams have issues that need to be solved, and quickly.
While all of this movement in the standings deserves more attention than it has gotten so far, it is still early and the All-Star break is still weeks away. Teams may work out all their kinks in the near future. The traditional powers may again ascend to their greatness and the overachievers could lose steam as the season progresses. Who knows? But the trade deadline and playoff run will be more interesting than usual for the Eastern Conference this season and hopefully help hockey again peak the interest of a national audience.
Obviously the most noticeable team is the Washington Capitals. A coach that couldn’t get his message across to his team anymore is not a good start. So they fire him. Now they bring in one of the franchises most famous players to pick up the pieces. Tough spot for a rookie to the NHL coaching ranks. Dale Hunter brings a hard nosed approach that could pay dividends if the team wasn’t full of massive egos. Ovechkin and Semin being the most notable of the bunch. Both have it set in their head that the way they play will lead to a Stanley Cup, and anyone who disagrees should leave town. No matter how many veterans the Caps add, nothing will change until the two most talented players put aside their private agendas and trust their coach and teammates. When your leading scorer is a 3rd line grinder that nobody knows, you need to realize you what you’re doing isn’t working.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres have also struggled a bit this year. Both teams have talent, youth, and experience as winners. So far, they have little to show for it. At this point of the season, both teams sit in the middle of the NHL in goals per game, and towards the top with goals against. It is easy to blame certain players for these numbers, but the Sabres have arguably the best goalie in the game with Ryan Miller and the Lightning have a top end scorers with Steven Stamkos, Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. Whatever the case, both teams have issues that need to be solved, and quickly.
While all of this movement in the standings deserves more attention than it has gotten so far, it is still early and the All-Star break is still weeks away. Teams may work out all their kinks in the near future. The traditional powers may again ascend to their greatness and the overachievers could lose steam as the season progresses. Who knows? But the trade deadline and playoff run will be more interesting than usual for the Eastern Conference this season and hopefully help hockey again peak the interest of a national audience.
Mike Bouchard
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