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It’s not rare to see good NHL teams struggle less than two weeks into the season, but it’s surprising to see how some of these teams are doing.
This year, we’re already seeing teams at or near the bottom of their respective divisions that few, if any, observers thought would ever be there. Let’s take a look at five of those NHL teams in alphabetical order:
Colorado avalanche
The Avalanche quietly lost much of their depth from their 2021-22 Stanley Cup-winning squad, even as they have tried to get it back. This year, with captain Gabriel Landeskog and sniper Valeri Nichushkin both sidelined for different reasons — and goaltending proving to be an immediate problem — the Avs have lost all of their first four games.
The Avalanche’s offense is averaging 3.25 goals per game, but their defense and netminding have been ugly. They currently have the NHL’s worst goals-against average at a shocking 6.25. Considering that the Avalanche have solid top four blueliners on paper, it’s quite surprising that the team as a whole is so brazen in its own right.
Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland has already dipped into the waiver wire to sign goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen, who will join the team once the immigration process is cleared, coach Jared Bednar told reporters. Time will tell if he’ll be ready on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks or Sunday against the San Jose Sharks, but if the Avalanche are still winless after that, it’s definitely time to hit the panic button. While some suspected the Avs would be more challenged to win this year, no one saw this start coming for them.
Related: NHL Power Rankings: New No. 1 – Stars, Jets and Flames Rise While Oilers and Avalanches Fall
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are expected to make some progress this season and end their playoff drought after nearly making it last year. But things haven’t been smooth sailing in Motown so far, with the Red Wings posting a 1-2-0 record.
The Wings’ defense wasn’t too bad, conceding 3.33 goals per game, but the offense is a different story. Detroit’s 2.33 goals per game are the fifth-worst in the NHL.
Only four Red Wings players have two to three points in the team’s first three games. That won’t cut it in the competitive Atlantic Division.
Notes from last night on a classic Rangers win (goaltending + special teams), New York >>>> $88 million man, Jonatan Berggren’s game is growing, and the state of the Red Wings’ goaltending struggles
For @HockeyNews:https://t.co/QRRfS6LZVG
— Sam Stockton (@_samstockton) October 15, 2024
After playing the New York Rangers in the second game of a home-and-home, the Wings will face the Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabers (twice), Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets. All of these teams are either above average or desperate for games – in other words, there are no “gimme” games for them for a while.
By the end of that stretch, the Red Wings could find themselves at the top of the division or buried in the Atlantic standings. The latter would be a huge letdown for a team that wanted to compete for a playoff spot this year. The 2024-2025 season is a huge opportunity to see what the future looks like for the Red Wings, and a setback would hurt.
Edmonton Oil Companies
In keeping with their abysmal start to the 2023-2024 season, the Oilers stumbled out of the gate this year, losing their first three games by a combined score of 15-3 and sinking to the cellar of the improving Pacific Division.
The biggest surprise this season is that the high-powered Oilers – who made a lot of good additions this summer – averaged just 1.75 goals per game in their first four games.
Related: Comparing the Oilers’ starts: A year-by-year look at their first three games
Edmonton’s defense is also struggling with an average of 4.50 goals against. Many, if not most, pundits have picked the Oilers to win this year’s Stanley Cup – and while there is still time to turn things around like Edmonton did last season, the Oilers are playing with fire and could ultimately win may lose home advantage in the competition. Postseason 2025.
Edmonton needs an overall better effort from its entire roster. If the Oilers don’t get it, their fans will be rightfully outraged at the product they are consuming.
Nashville Predators
As one of the most fortified teams in the NHL after the offseason, the Predators would compete for first place in the Central Division. Instead, they got a Preds team that went 0-3-0 and was outscored 14-6 in losses to the Dallas Stars, Red Wings and Seattle Kraken.
Nashville’s offense isn’t performing as it should be after acquiring Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, with the NHL’s second-fewest goals per game (two). Their defense was equally unimpressive, conceding 4.67 goals per game. We now see Predators coach Andrew Brunette calling out all his players and saying they deserved this start for playing “firewagon hockey.”
Nashville needs immediate improvement as they face the Oilers, Red Wings, Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets in the next part of the schedule. The Predators need to win at least three of those games or they will sink further behind the rest of their division rivals.
With their revamped lineup setting the bar high for them this season, Nashville can’t afford to struggle much longer. If they can’t pull themselves out of the downward spiral, it will be very intriguing to see how GM Barry Trotz responds, as missing the playoffs this year will be completely unacceptable.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks surprised people with their stellar 2023-2024 season. This season, however, is surprising in the opposite case, with three losses coming to teams that are worse than them on paper: the Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Vancouver has averaged four goals per game in their first three outings, and their offense is the eighth-worst in the NHL at 2.67 goals per game. Star Canucks blueliner Quinn Hughes and center Elias Pettersson have combined for just three assists in as many games, and only two Canucks have three points this season. That puts all kinds of pressure on Vancouver’s defense and goaltending. So far they have not taken up the challenge.
The Canucks’ schedule features a few softer touches with the Flyers and Blackhawks, but they also have showdowns against the defending Cup champion Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Devils. Vancouver needs a quick turnaround or they will have dug a hole that will be difficult to climb.
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