Positive and negative surprises at the Halfway Point of the NHL Season

[Fatass]

Is it the halfway point?

 

[Look Up]

Rangers ainec. Never seen a roster quit on the home fans for an extended period of time. Generational d man one of the quitters, which is a surprise to me.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Most prognosticators had the Flames as SJ and Chicago bad. They were never even close to that bad but they could make the playoffs which is a pretty crazy positive surprise

They better fall off hard next season and tank for McKenna.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Is it the halfway point?

At game 600 of 1312, so couple of weeks away yet.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

It's a holiday miracle that the Leafs closed out 2024 leading the Atlantic Division... especially considering that at the 38 game mark last season the 2023-2024 Leafs had a better record...and were in 3rd place in the Atlantic trailing both Florida and Boston.

Just goes to show how weak that division is currently.

 

[Golden_Jet]

It's a holiday miracle that the Leafs closed out 2024 leading the Atlantic Division... especially considering that at the 38 game mark last season the 2023-2024 Leafs had a better record...and were in 3rd place in the Atlantic trailing both Florida and Boston.

Just goes to show how weak that division is currently.

Don’t think it’s weak, it’s the bottom 4 of the division is better now, which brings the top 4 down as well, as many had predicted would be happening, probably even tighter next year.
Florida and Toronto seem stuck at identical records at the top..

 

[JianYang]

Positive - LA being 5th in points % being led by a ppg 37 year old Kopitar and missing Doughty through the first half of the season. Their goaltending situation is SUS at best with no tendy in the top 20 in GAA or SV%. Not sure how they do it.

Negative - Nashville being 3pts out of last.

HM: Ovi bounce back.

I think ovie had already bounced back last year after a bad start.

The question for me was whether this would be the year that father time finally comes knocking.

It's always inspirational to see older guys thrive in this sport.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

They’re trying to trash the season to draft the Long Island born kid so he’s forced to go through human torture (wearing a Rangers uniform while growing up a massive Islanders fan).

Maybe he’ll pull an Adam Fox and refuse to sign with the team that drafted him and demand that he be able to go home. That would be hilarious

 

[miscs75]

Maybe he’ll pull an Adam Fox and refuse to sign with the team that drafted him and demand that he be able to go home. That would be hilarious

That would make the traditionalists heads explode. It would be fun to watch the drama unfold on here too. Ideally he would fill a major need for the Isles and then they can move on from Brock Nelson (plus others) as a result.

 

[SladeWilson23]

Negative Surprise - Officiating is even worse this year and I did not think that was possible. Also, now we have no idea what goalie interference is.

Goalie interference has been pretty consistent this year. I can educate you if you like.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Don’t think it’s weak, it’s the bottom 4 of the division is better now, which brings the top 4 down as well, as many had predicted would be happening, probably even tighter next year.
Florida and Toronto seem stuck at identical records at the top..

Doesn't seem to have affected the Leafs much. One point back of last season's pace...one point up in overall season point percentage .

Florida and Boston sure are hurting though...

 

[Bouboumaster]

Positive:
- Habs in da mix
- Ovechkin
- Wild and the Jets
- NYR
- Colombus
- Celebrini, Michkov, and the GOAT Lane Hutson are having an epic fight for the Calder. Wolf is up there too. Overall, one of the most solid rookie class I've seen in a long time

Negative:
- Both NY teams
- Nashville
- Drama in Vancouver

 

[dabeechman]

I think ovie had already bounced back last year after a bad start.

The question for me was whether this would be the year that father time finally comes knocking.

It's always inspirational to see older guys thrive in this sport.

It was his lowest goal output for a full season in his career. It wasn't bad, but bad by his standards.

 

[GMR]

Washington
Ottawa
Habs record, powerplay and especially PK (8th?!?)
Celebrini
Hutson
Michkov

New York
The absolutely pathetic letdown that are Detroit and Buffalo

If you thought Detroit would be good this year with that roster, I have to question your hockey knowledge.

 

[HTFN]

It was his lowest goal output for a full season in his career. It wasn't bad, but bad by his standards.

By one, which would have matched his... age 25 season?

What are you even talking about? The team suffered trying to reincorporate guys destined to be on LTIR and then once that was off the table he went on his usual January-February heater and dragged their asses into the playoffs. That was hardly a bad year for a 38 year old man.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

I'm going to go with the Habs and Bluejackets being 3 and 2 points out of a playoff spot is my big surprise

A little misleading in that an 82 point pace normally puts you a long ways from competing for playoffs.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

If you thought Detroit would be good this year with that roster, I have to question your hockey knowledge.

Which doesn't mean anything. They missed the playoffs by a hair last year. Maybe you should question your own biases if you think a 90 points team turning into a bottom 5 team was a plausible presumption.

They've taken a major step back.

 

[dabeechman]

By one, which would have matched his... age 25 season?

What are you even talking about? The team suffered trying to reincorporate guys destined to be on LTIR and then once that was off the table he went on his usual January-February heater and dragged their asses into the playoffs. That was hardly a bad year for a 38 year old man.

It was his worst G/G output of his career and he is now currently on track for his best G/G of his career. The definition of a bounce back season (which if you look, is what I said).

 

[HTFN]

It was his worst G/G output of his career and he is now currently on track for his best G/G of his career. The definition of a bounce back season (which if you look, is what I said).

oh, I guess I have to out-simplify you here:

nobody watching the games thought he was the problem there, and his second half proved it. that was the bounce back, this is business as usual.

 

[End on a Hinote]

Negative:

The Canucks

 

[Hallonbroder]

Postitive:
- Washington rules (also without Ovie)
- Oveckin can break record this season
- Winnipeg Jets
- Anze Kopitar
- Jack Eichel finally between the top dogs

Negative:
- Rangers
- Nashville
- Buffalo
- Slafkovsky
- Connor Bedard
- Boston Bruins Power Play (13 %)
- Anaheim Ducks low scoring

Negatives:
- Ovies still allowed to play
- Washington resurgence

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Doesn't seem to have affected the Leafs much. One point back of last season's pace...one point up in overall season point percentage .

Florida and Boston sure are hurting though...

Florida is pacing for 6 less points.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Doesn't seem to have affected the Leafs much. One point back of last season's pace...one point up in overall season point percentage .

Florida and Boston sure are hurting though.

So like I said then, the top has come down, and the bottom has come up,

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Is it the halfway point?

It is for the devils (Game 41 underway) but they got a head start

 

[dabeechman]

oh, I guess I have to out-simplify you here:

nobody watching the games thought he was the problem there, and his second half proved it. that was the bounce back, this is business as usual.

Last 49gp of the season including PO's - 24 goals (.48 g/g) or 12% under his career average.
First 21gp of this season - 17 goals (.81 g/g) or 21% over his career average.

Damn, you got me. Guess it's not a bounce back season for Ovi.