The NHL season is nearing its midway point, with all 32 teams having played between 35 and 41 games. An analysis by The Athletic evaluates the performance of each team so far in the season. The Anaheim Ducks have shown improvement, but continue to struggle with their special teams. The Boston Bruins have managed to recover despite their rocky start under ex-coach Jim Montgomery. The Buffalo Sabres failed to fulfill their intended win-now mode, and instead find themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
The Calgary Flames have surpassed some expectations, with younger players demonstrating solid progress. The Carolina Hurricanes have silenced skeptics and have become contenders for the Metropolitan Division. By contrast, the Chicago Blackhawks have failed to meet even their low expectations this season, and are currently near the bottom of the league. However, the Colorado Avalanche bounced back from a poor start and are now in a comfortable playoff position.
Despite anticipated setbacks, the Detroit Red Wings still fall short of expectations given their talent-rich roster. The Edmonton Oilers, on the other hand, are comfortably within the top third of the league in terms of points percentage. Enduring significant issues throughout the season, the Montreal Canadiens have managed to meet their goal for now. The New Jersey Devils have successfully integrated offseason additions, now seen as legitimate contenders in their division.
The Ottawa Senators have shown potential and resilience, but will need consistent good goaltending to secure a spot in the playoffs. The Philadelphia Flyers, in the midst of a rebuilding process, have experienced inconsistent on-ice performance, particularly in the goaltending department. The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to struggle with issues related to poor goaltending and difficulties in defense. The team’s star player, Sidney Crosby, offers some hope with his recent revival.
