1
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Rangers
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After a profession 12 months in 2023-24, Artemi Panarin has picked up proper the place he left off. Panarin already has six targets and 7 assists, and he has a number of factors in 4 of the Rangers’ first six video games. Panarin’s sport has hit one other degree below Peter Laviolette, and he’ll thrust himself into the Hart Trophy dialogue if he can enhance on final 12 months’s efficiency.
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1
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5-0-1
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2
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Jets
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The Jets’ third line of Mason Appleton, Adam Lowry and Nino Niederreiter is as soon as once more mopping the ice with opponents. That trio has managed 54.5% of the anticipated targets share at five-on-five whereas outscoring groups 5-0 in these conditions. Having that line within the bottom-six is a severe weapon that only a few NHL groups have of their arsenal.
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5
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6-0-0
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3
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Stars
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Jake Oettinger only recently obtained a large eight-year contract extension, and he’s proving to be value greater than that $66 million for the time being. Regardless of the Stars’ protection being just a little leaky to begin the season, Oettinger has been spectacular. He leads the NHL with 6.43 targets saved above common, and his .879 high-danger save proportion can also be stellar.
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2
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5-2-0
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4
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Devils
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One of the best information the Devils have gotten within the first 9 video games of this season is that Timo Meier is again. Meier wasn’t himself for a lot of final season, however he is wasted no time discovering a groove by way of the primary 9 video games. He has six factors within the final three, and his 9 factors are tied for the group lead. Getting peak Meier would go a good distance towards serving to New Jersey’s Cup possibilities.
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1
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5-3-1
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5
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Canucks
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There was some hand-wringing about Elias Pettersson’s effectiveness within the postseason final 12 months, and he hasn’t finished something to dispel that together with his gradual begin. Pettersson has simply three assists in Vancouver’s first six video games, and he has simply 9 photographs on purpose. As soon as the Canucks discover a approach to get their No. 1 middle going, they need to begin flying up the standings and these rankings.
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6
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3-1-2
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6
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Lightning
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Andrei Vasilevskiy regained his dominant kind in spurts after recovering from again surgical procedure final season, however he hasn’t performed at an elite degree for an extended stretch for the reason that 2022-23 season. Now, Vasilevskiy is off to a gradual begin this 12 months, permitting three or extra targets in three of his first 5 begins and posting an .878 save proportion.
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7
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4-2-0
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7
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Wild
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Heading into the season, it appeared just like the Wild had been open to the concept of rotating three goalies this season. If Filip Gustavsson continues to play like he has in his first 4 begins, they will put that concept within the shredder. Gustavsson had an extremely disappointing 2023-24 marketing campaign, however he is been sharp to date. His 7.72 targets saved above common are second within the NHL, and his .952 save proportion is not too shabby both.
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11
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4-0-2
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8
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Hockey Club
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One of many massive query marks for Utah coming into the season was younger middle Barrett Hayton. The previous No. 5 total decide was injured for many of final season and entered 2024-25 in search of a bounce-back. To date, Hayton has regarded like a future star with 4 targets and two assists in seven video games. If Hayton can preserve this manufacturing — or one thing near it — Utah will solely entrench itself additional on the prime of my checklist of must-watch groups.
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1
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4-2-1
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9
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Hurricanes
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By 4 video games, the main goal-scorer for the Hurricanes is … Shayne Ghostisbehere (4). 4 extra gamers are tied for second with two. The pattern measurement is minuscule, and one massive sport from somebody like Martin Necas or Andrei Svechnikov may get issues going, however Carolina’s lack of high-end scoring up entrance has been obvious to date.
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1
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3-2-0
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10
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Golden Knights
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Previous to final evening’s video games, I had written up a blurb about Tomas Hertl’s gradual begin. Then he drops two targets and two assists towards the Kings, and he now has seven factors in seven video games. Hertl’s five-on-five impacts nonetheless depart one thing to be desired, nevertheless it was good to see him all around the scoresheet on Tuesday evening.
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5
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4-2-1
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11
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Avalanche
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Good day, Ross Colton. Final season, Colton proved to be a stable middle-six addition for the Avalanche, however he’s scoring at a torrid tempo. Colton has six targets in seven video games, and he is discovered a house within the bumper place on the Colorado energy play. His three energy play tallies this 12 months already match final season’s complete, and the Avs simply have to hold feeding him within the slot till groups catch on.
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4
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3-4-0
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12
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Panthers
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For followers of different Atlantic Division groups hoping Sam Reinhart’s 57-goal season in 2023-24 was a fluke, it’s possible you’ll be in for a impolite awakening. Reinhart already has 5 targets in eight video games, and his line that includes Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell has been an issue for opponents within the early going. Can Reinhart eclipse the 60-goal mark this season?
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8
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4-3-1
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13
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Maple Leafs
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Coming into the season, there was a number of pleasure about Joseph Woll between the pipes for the Maple Leafs. After he suffered a preseason harm, that pleasure was dampened till Anthony Stolarz reworked into Dominik Hasek. In Woll’s absence, Stolarz has a .938 save proportion with 5.72 targets saved above common. Woll will return quickly, however Stolarz has earned extra begins.
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7
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4-3-0
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14
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Oilers
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One perplexing side of the Oilers’ gradual begin has been their energy play, which scored at a 26.3% clip final season. This 12 months, Edmonton has transformed on simply two of its first 19 alternatives with the person benefit. That comes out to 10.5%, which ranks twenty ninth within the NHL. Whereas a portion of that is because of poor puck luck, the Oilers have been pedestrian in terms of creating harmful scoring possibilities on the ability play. There may be an excessive amount of offensive expertise on the roster for the Oilers to let this proceed.
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6
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2-4-1
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15
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Flames
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The Flames are banking on Dustin Wolf being the longer term in purpose, and he is been impeccable in his first three begins of the season. In video games towards the Flyers, Blackhawks and Penguins (high quality of competitors needs to be famous), Wolf has allowed simply seven targets towards on 110 photographs confronted. He’ll be an fascinating participant to observe because the season unfolds.
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6
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5-0-1
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16
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Capitals
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Alex Ovechkin broke by way of for his first purpose of the season on Saturday, so the chase for Gretzky is formally on. That is excellent news for the Caps, however so is the truth that they’re now 4-1-0 to begin the season, they usually’re taking part in good hockey. Final season, Washington rode some puck luck to the postseason, however the course of has matched the outcomes by way of the primary 5 video games of 2024-25.
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6
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4-1-0
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17
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Senators
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Is the Sens’ younger core lastly taking the subsequent step? The early indicators of which are promising. Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson and Josh Norris have all mixed for 13 targets in six video games. Defenseman Jake Sanderson is tied for third on the group with seven factors. Perhaps it’s all beginning to come collectively in Ottawa, however this group nonetheless has 77 extra video games to show it is no fluke.
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—
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4-2-0
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18
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Bruins
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I do not assume it is an overreaction to say that the Bruins have assembled the best line in hockey historical past. Boston’s fourth line of John Beecher, Mark Kastelic and Cole Koepke has been mowing down opponents. These three have mixed for seven targets and 7 assists whereas outscoring opponents 8-0. How lengthy can these three hold this up? I do not know, however they’re a blast to observe proper now.
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6
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3-3-1
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19
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Predators
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Steven Stamkos scored his first purpose as a Predator on Saturday, and the group obtained its first win of the season on Tuesday. These are some optimistic indicators for Nashville, however the group has nonetheless dug itself an early gap with a five-game shedding streak out of the gate. The Predators nonetheless have work to do with a purpose to keep away from turning into one of many NHL’s largest disappointments.
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5
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1-5-0
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20
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Kings
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The early returns on Brandt Clarke, the No. 8 total decide in 2021, are encouraging for the Kings. The 21-year-old defenseman has 4 assists in seven video games, and the underlying numbers at five-on-five have been stable too. With Drew Doughty out for the foreseeable future, some accelerated growth from Clarke would give Los Angeles an enormous enhance.
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—
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3-2-2
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21
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Red Wings
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Proper now, the Purple Wings are getting bludgeoned at five-on-five, they usually’ve scored three or fewer targets in 5 of their first six video games. Regardless of that lack of offense, Detroit is 3-3-0 as a result of Alex Lyon has been saving his group’s bacon between the pipes. Lyon is coming off a shutout of the Islanders, and that boosted his save proportion to .955, which is 49 factors greater than his profession common.
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4
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3-3-0
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22
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Islanders
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After a 2023-24 season stuffed with additional time heartbreak, together with 16 losses past regulation, Islanders followers had been in all probability hoping for a much less tense season. To date, the Isles have continued to show their love of drama. The group has already gone previous regulation 3 times, going 1-2 in these video games, however that is what occurs with a group constructed to play tight-checking and low-scoring video games.
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6
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2-2-2
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23
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Kraken
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Matty Beniers hit a sophomore droop final season, and he is off to a different gradual begin this season. By seven video games, Beniers has solely registered one help, and that is a discouraging signal for the 2023 Calder Trophy winner. Maybe Beniers remains to be adjusting to new coach Dan Bylsma’s system, however Seattle wants him if it will get again to the postseason.
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—
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4-3-0
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24
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Sabres
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The Sabres have regarded higher over their previous couple of video games, and at the least a few of that’s as a result of play of star ahead Tage Thompson. After notching one level in Buffalo’s first three video games, Thompson is now using a five-game level streak with 4 targets and three assists in that span. He and Alex Tuch have come alive during the last week, which is music to the ears of Buffalo followers.
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2
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3-4-1
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25
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Blues
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Is Joel Hofer taking up the crease in St. Louis? It certain appears that means proper now. Jordan Binnington has gotten off to a tough begin, and the Blues are 1-3-0 with him between the pipes. Hofer, then again, has a .932 save proportion and a 3-0-0 document. Coach Drew Bannister would possibly wish to take into account using Hofer, at the least till he begins to chill off.
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1
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4-3-0
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26
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Ducks
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As a rookie final season, Leo Carlsson had his workload managed as he placed on extra weight and obtained adjusted to the pace and physicality of the NHL sport. That plan may need labored out nicely as a result of Carlsson has stood out as one of many Geese’ greatest gamers by way of the primary two weeks of the season. He has three targets in his final 4 video games, and his five-on-five impacts are respectable, particularly relative to a few of his different teammates.
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4
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3-2-1
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27
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Penguins
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Final Wednesday, Sidney Crosby tallied his 1,600th level on the identical evening that Evgeni Malkin notched his five hundredth purpose. It was a memorable evening for Penguins followers that ended with Crosby scoring in OT to beat the Sabres. For all of the struggles Pittsburgh has had during the last couple years, these two have given the fan base its cash’s value.
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8
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3-4-1
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28
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Blue Jackets
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Kirill Marcheko was a legit shiny spot for the Jackets final season, and he is carried that over into this one. He is off to a superb begin with three targets and 5 assists thus far, and he leads the group in each of these classes. The 2018 second-round decide has already develop into an essential a part of this lineup, and he is somebody the Blue Jackets can construct round.
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3
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3-3-0
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29
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Canadiens
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Outdoors of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsk, the place is the offense going to come back from in Montreal? That is nonetheless being sorted out, and Patrik Laine’s long-term harm definitely makes issues tougher. Maybe Kirby Dach can return to his pre-injury kind, however the ahead group in Montreal lacks true playmakers exterior the highest line.
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1
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2-4-1
|
30
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Blackhawks
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Regardless of some intriguing offseason additions, Chicago nonetheless has an extended approach to go earlier than it turns into an actual playoff contender. This begin has made that clear, however the query now could be how for much longer the group waits earlier than calling up gamers like Frank Nazar, the No. 13 total decide in 2022 and one other potential franchise cornerstone.
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1
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2-4-1
|
31
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Flyers
|
It isn’t stunning to see the Flyers stumbling out of the gate after they overachieved a lot final season. What’s just a little disappointing is the truth that key members of their younger core have but to get going. Tyson Foerster, Owen Tippett and Morgan Frost have mixed for one purpose and 4 assists. Philadelphia is counting on that trio to push the franchise into the longer term.
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4
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1-4-1
|
32
|
Sharks
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I questioned if it may get any worse for the Sharks after final season, however they might truly be worse. San Jose has but to choose up a win in its first seven video games, and it has scored two or fewer targets in 4 of them. The Sharks want Macklin Celebrini again within the lineup quickly with a purpose to make them watchable once more.
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—
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0-5-2
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