It’s protected to say that only a few hockey followers would name the 2024 low season boring.
Having witnessed the Edmonton Oilers claw again from an 0-3 deficit within the Stanley Cup Ultimate to drive an finally unsuccessful Sport 7 towards the Florida Panthers, what occurred within the two months following continued to supply some jaw-dropping moments.
Between the Draft weekend on the Sphere in Las Vegas and a free-agency opening that noticed golf equipment spend over $1 billion in whole, just a few very notable gamers swapped their threads for the upcoming season.
With all golf equipment having performed at the very least 10 video games, we’re beginning to get a really feel for which newbies have hit the bottom operating and that are sputtering.
To that finish, let’s take a better take a look at how among the most high-profile acquisitions — both by commerce or by free company — are becoming in with their new groups.
All knowledge retrieved from Cash Puck and Pure Stat Trick.
STEVEN STAMKOS
When the Nashville Predators went out and spent over $111 million on 4 shiny, new gamers on the primary day of free company, they in all probability didn’t anticipate to be within the basement of the NHL’s Central Division simply 4 months later.
It actually doesn’t assist that their shiniest — and by far most adorned — acquisition, Steven Stamkos, has not lived as much as his requirements. Not less than, not but.
The 2-time Stanley Cup Champion as captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning has struggled to search out his footing in Smashville, scoring simply two objectives and three assists throughout 11 video games. Moreover, all however one in every of Stamkos’ factors has come on the man-advantage. Whereas unusual to have only one level at 5-on-5 slightly below a month into the season, it’s not utterly out of the abnormal for Stamkos. In 2023-24, almost half his level whole by the tip of the regular-season got here on the facility play. In reality, this 12 months in Nashville, simply six forwards have managed to attain at even power.
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The entire crew is struggling to supply offence, not simply Stamkos. Although for $8 million per season, the Predators had been possible eager for extra attribute output from the two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner. They will surely desire if the crew wasn’t getting out-scored 6-1 when he’s on the ice.
Is that this gradual begin indicative of what the remainder of his season will appear like in Nashville? Most likely not.
Proper now, Stamkos is capturing at a career-low 6.1 per cent. Regardless of being out-scored, the Predators are out-shooting their opponents 84-65 with him on the ice. His struggles can’t all boil all the way down to dangerous puck luck, however for a participant whose profession capturing share hovers round 16 per cent, it’s honest to say he’ll regress again to the imply.
MIKHAIL SERGACHEV
Earlier than the Utah Hockey Membership (previously the Arizona Coyotes) made an enormous splash on the NHL Draft by buying and selling for Mikhail Sergachev, they had been in want of a top-pairing defenceman to enrich Sean Durzi.
In buying Sergachev, they bought simply that. Even higher, they bought their man.
The 26-year-old has successfully develop into their No. 1 defenceman, which was made just about official with the long-term damage of Durzi. Sergachev performs in all positions — quarterbacking their energy play, serving on their first penalty-kill unit, and customarily being their go-to man on the again finish. His 25:35 time on ice is fourth within the league in that metric behind solely Roman Josi, John Carlson and Seth Jones.
Taking part in top-pairing minutes with Michael Kesselring, Utah has out-scored opponents 4-2 and out-shot opponents 129-97 with that duo on the ice.
Having already confirmed himself as a superbly succesful offensive defenceman, successful back-to-back Stanley Cups in Tampa, he got here to Utah as-advertised. In 12 video games this season, he’s scored twice and recorded seven assists. He’s recorded factors in three of his final 4 outings, together with a aim and two assists towards Calgary on Oct. 30.
Although perhaps not a shut-down defenceman, the native of Nizhnekamsk, Russia, ranks second amongst Utah defencemen in blocked photographs with 20, trailing solely Ian Cole (27).
What the small pattern dimension tells us is that Sergachev is able to being a No.1 defenceman and he’s led Utah to a 5-4-3 file — holding their very own amongst the Central Division heavyweights.
LINUS ULLMARK
Lastly nearing the tip phases of their rebuild, the Ottawa Senators have been looking for the goaltending that assist them discover their subsequent degree.
Once they traded Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic and their 2024 first-round decide to the Boston Bruins in trade for Linus Ullmark, they hoped they discovered it within the 2022 Vezina-winning goalie.
Whereas Ullmark has actually not been horrible for the Senators, he hasn’t been the game-stealing, elite goaltender they anticipated after they subsequently signed him to a four-year extension.
The 31-year-old has made six begins, posting a .902 save share and a 2.62 goals-against common — not horrific for a crew whose save share for beginning goaltenders has been sub-.900 for 2 seasons and above the league common this 12 months (.898).
Not horrific, certain, however less than Ullmark’s requirements both.
This season, Ullmark is sitting at a minus-2.1 objectives saved above anticipated, which is a reasonably steep downfall from his 14.8 goals-saved above anticipated in 2023-24 with the Bruins. He’s additionally effectively under his profession save share (.918) and goals-against common (2.51).
Even watching Ullmark exhibits that he’s not working fairly at his finest. Although he’s made some highlight-reel saves for the Senators, he’s additionally had his share of stinkers, together with towards the Vegas Golden Knights, when he allowed 5 objectives on 27 photographs — three within the third interval alone — in his first begin after getting back from a four-game injury-related absence.
In an ironic twist, the Senators have provided their goaltender a little bit of leeway: They’re neck and neck within the Atlantic Division, two factors out of a tie for second place.
JAKE GUENTZEL
There’s a purpose that the Tampa Bay Lightning traded for the rights to pending unrestricted free agent Jake Guentzel the day earlier than free company opened.
Guentzel got here with a Stanley Cup pedigree, a number of years enjoying with among the finest gamers on the earth in Sidney Crosby, and has been almost a point-per-game participant (0.94/sport) his whole profession. Now, alongside two extra top-tier gamers in Tampa, Guentzel appears to be choosing up proper the place he left off.
The Lightning’s prime line of Guentzel, Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Level have out-scored their opponents 12-3 and out-shot them 160-142 in 138 minutes collectively.
Guentzel has additionally supplied them with enough particular person success, scoring 5 objectives and eight assists in 12 video games, whereas getting seems on the Lightning’s prime power-play unit.
Although the 30-year-old has 36 whole minutes on the man-advantage, three of his 5 objectives and 5 of his eight assists have come at even-strength. He’s tied for third on the crew in 5-on-5 scoring and third in power-play factors — briefly, he’s able to producing for the Lightning in all conditions.
Working at a point-per-game clip early within the season, it’s clear that Guentzel is becoming in simply nice with the perennial Cup contenders. The largest query mark for him and the Lightning is his skill to remain wholesome.
Although he’s appeared in each sport for Tampa Bay to this point, he hasn’t had a full 82-game season since 2018-2019 and missed 15 video games final 12 months with an upper-body damage.
ELIAS LINDHOLM
After struggling a down 12 months in 2023-24 that noticed him rating simply 15 objectives in 75 video games break up between the Calgary Flames and Canucks, Elias Lindholm arrived in Boston searching for a contemporary begin amidst an already offensively-gifted core.
As a substitute, each he and the Bruins have discovered themselves sputtering to an uncharacteristically gradual begin, solely simply again to .500 hockey after latest back-to-back wins.
Lindholm has been enough offensively — his eight factors in 13 video games is third amongst Bruins forwards, behind linemates David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand — although he’s not on the degree of which he’s proven he’s succesful when he broke out for 42 objectives in 2021-22.
Maybe that was a one-off — he’s traditionally hovered on the 25-30 aim vary — however he’s been put in the very best place to succeed by centring Pastrnak and Marchand on the highest line, very like his elite linemates that 12 months in Calgary.
Necessary for the Bruins, nevertheless, is that he’s discovering different methods to contribute whereas ready for the offence to actually warmth up.
Lindholm has spent his profession cultivating a 200-foot sport and the power to play in all conditions, and that’s no completely different on the Bruins. Amongst forwards, he ranks fourth in penalty-killing ice time at 24 minutes. Of the Bruins’ 34 power-play objectives allowed, solely three of them got here when Lindholm was on the ice. The 29-year-old Swede additionally ranks first amongst Boston’s forwards in blocked photographs.
With three factors in three video games, Lindholm is beginning to discover his footing even when he isn’t the game-changer he has been prior to now. However with a Bruins core that traditionally hasn’t struggled to supply offence for prolonged durations of time, perhaps he doesn’t need to be.
JAKE DEBRUSK
The Vancouver Canucks signed Jake DeBrusk as a result of they had been in want of a top-six winger to play with Elias Pettersson. In that regard, DeBrusk hasn’t paid dividends for the Canucks — the previous Bruin performs totally on the highest line alongside J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser.
Regardless of getting seems with the crew’s most harmful duo, DeBrusk simply isn’t producing the offence the Canucks anticipated after they signed him to a seven-year, $38.5 million contract.
The 28-year-old has 5 factors in 10 video games and, maybe extra trigger for extra concern, he solely simply scored his first aim of the season on Saturday.
A part of a present career-low capturing share — 6.7 per cent, down from his 12.4 per cent profession mark — comes all the way down to dangerous puck luck and a small pattern dimension, however he’s additionally merely having hassle discovering the online. Of his 30 shot makes an attempt, 12 had been blocked and three missed the online totally. Amongst Canucks forwards, solely Boeser — who has a team-high 57 shot makes an attempt — and the snake-bitten Pettersson have had extra of their photographs blocked.
The Canucks wanted somebody with top-six offensive skill and although DeBrusk has all the time been a streaky scorer, his 27-goal marketing campaign in 2023-24 proved he was succesful.
His lack of ending, nevertheless, has been an issue for a crew that signed him to do exactly that. The Canucks have managed to maintain their heads above water within the Pacific Division so far, but when they need to replicate the success of final season, DeBrusk and the remainder of their top-six want to search out their offensive footing — and rapidly.
