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Pacific Division Power Rankings
#6
Mid-Season Blues Edition
Well, here we are in February, and the NHL season
continues to drag on. The trade deadline is still a month away, and with the
All-Star game in the rearview mirror there isn't much happening to get the
blood pumping. Sure, there might be a small outdoor game taking place soon, but
that's about the only blip on a very quiet radar. These are the dog days of the
campaign, where the league takes a collective breath before plunging headlong
into the playoff push and the post-season itself. For the denizens of the
Pacific Division how well you struggle through this phase sets the table for
future success, or failure. So, let's take a look at what keeps each team
ticking, as they count down the days until March.
#1 - Anaheim Ducks
It's hard to find something
to criticize about a squad that is tied for the league lead in points and wins,
so it might be tempting to say the Ducks are just riding things out until the
playoffs start. However, that doesn't tell the whole story, as despite boasting
a 33-12-6 record Anaheim is only +14 in goal differential this season. That
seems to indicate that this is a club that only wins close games, and tends to
lose badly when they are defeated. Obviously, it doesn't matter if you win by 1
or 3 goals, as the post-season is a sprint to 16 wins. But, it is something
Coach Bruce Boudreau can use to keep his team focused; though the rest of the
league would probably wouldn't mind if the Ducks dozed for a little while.
Last Ranking: 1
#2 - Calgary Flames
Thus far, the Flames have
been a great story in the league, showing that hard work and responsible hockey
can coexist nicely with youth and talent. This magical season doesn't show any
sign of slowing down, as the Flames currently sit 2 points back of second place
in the Pacific Division. When you factor in that this is a young squad, there
is no doubt that they should be pleased with what they have accomplished so
far. With that being said, there is at least one problem area in Calgary: their
lack of size. While Johhny Gaudreau, Sean Monohan, Kris Russel, et al
definitely have skill, they are also on the small size - and in the Western
Conference that is dangerous. Now, there isn't a way to make these players
physically grow, but the Flames could work on standing up for each other. A
united front makes everyone feel bigger, and if the Flames plan on sticking
around into April they may need those couple extra inches.
Last
Ranking: 3
#3 - San Jose Sharks
Let's be honest: whether
it's in the Standings, or on the Power Rankings, the Sharks are virtually tied
with the Canucks. They get the nod at #3 due to better wins in the past few
games over quality opponents like Anaheim, Chicago, and LA, but it's these
victories that highlight the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this team. Simply put:
when they play good teams San Jose puts in a full effort and usually wins.
Conversely, when the Sharks play weak teams, they coast and usually lose. That
inconsistency has to drive management crazy .and it only adds to the sense of
nervousness surrounding the squad. After all, while the Sharks will be judged
solely on how they perform in the playoffs, they still need to qualify and look
like a quality team in the process. Solving the consistency problem would
definitely help pass the February blues.
Last Ranking: 5
#4 - Vancouver Canucks As mentioned above, there isn't
much to choose between the Canucks and the Sharks. For Van City, things
continue to progress nicely, as they prove that last year was just an
aberration caused by goaltending controversies and bad coaching. This season,
the sailing has been smooth, with only small hiccups along the way. While that
might seem like a great formula to the season, Coach Willie Desjardin has to be
wondering exactly how his players would respond to some genuine adversity - and
he would probably prefer to find out before the playoffs start. Obviously, you
can't create problems for your team, but with only 49 games played (as of this
writing), the Canucks have a busy 2 months ahead of them. Preparing for that
challenging stretch, and making sure they are mentally tough enough to handle
adversity when it comes, should be the focus in Vancouver.
Last
Ranking: 2
#5 - Los Angeles King
What a difference a year
makes! While the Kings have mastered the art of lying in the weeds until the
opportune moment to strike, something seems different about this club from past
iterations. Maybe it is the lack of intensity, or the inability to score goals?
Or is it the suddenly porous defense, and an off year by Jonathon Quick?
Unfortunately, there is a multitude of places to put the blame, and despite his
best efforts Darryl Sutter can't seem to jumpstart his team. All of this means
that right now Los Angeles finds itself on the outside looking in when it comes
to postseason play, and the question is: should they buy or should they sell?
Certainly, a couple additions might get this team into the dance, and they've
proven to everyone that they have championship mettle once the calendar flips
to April. However, there's a strong case to be made for moving out some older,
reduced veterans and setting things up for the next 2 or 3 seasons to come.
Solving this dilemma is going to take time, and that's something LA is rapidly
running out of.
Last Ranking: 5
#6 - Edmonton Oilers
So, it has finally come to
this. Through a mixture of their own improved play - and the descent of another
club - the Oilers have officially moved out of the basement in the Power
Rankings. While they shouldn't get used to their new position yet, they have
shown a new tenacity under interim coach Todd Nelson including a greater
interest in playing cohesive, NHL level hockey, It's sad that this is the best
compliment that can be paid to Edmonton, but still it's progress forward! Since
the playoffs are out of reach, the best thing for the Oilers to do is work on
getting better as a team and setting the table for next year. It might be
tempting to tank for McDavid of Eichel, but at some point you need to win with
the players you have. Besides, rushing another teenager will only set them back
further. Rather, creating a winning culture, and ensuring any drafted player
has the chance to develop properly in the minors, would be a major
accomplishment.
Last Ranking: 7
#7 - Arizona Coyotes
Welcome! Put your stuff in
the corner, and take your time unpacking - there's no rush. While I never want
to say that a team is going all-in on losing, Arizona is doing the closest
thing possible by the way they are playing. Not only do they have a worse goal
differential than Edmonton, but they simply look like a team that is already
stopped caring. Adding to the problems is that Dave Tippett continues to play
his veterans, either to showcase them to others (not working), or because he
refuses to stop trying to win. Unfortunately for him, his team isn't as
motivated, which means that he's basically a passenger watching the ship go
down. As a result, he needs to swallow his pride and start getting the young
players some ice time so that they are ready in the next couple of years. If he
won't, then perhaps a change behind at the helm is needed, as his current
decisions are only setting an already large rebuild back even further.
Last Ranking: 6
Contact Ryan at at
ryanhall@letsgosharks.com
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