Recap in the Western Conference after 1/3 of the season

CENTRAL DIVISION


St Louis

Last year:  52-24-6 – 110 pts / 3rd West

This Year:  22-6-4 – 48 pts / 1st West

With an incredible start, the Blues are currently 1st in the league with 48 points.  The Blues do not have any problem to score goals
being 1st in the league in Goals For with 108.  Tarasenko leads the team offensively with 18 goals.  He is 3rd in the league with 38
points.  Defensively, the Blues are getting the job done and do not have a problem to block shots either.  They are 5th in the league
in Goals Against with 69.  In goal, Varlamov is doing a great job and gives the Blues a chance to win every night.


Colorado

Last year:  44-30-8 – 96 pts / 5th West

This Year:  16-13-3 – 35 pts / 4th West

Even if GM Leblanc is making moves in what look like a rebuild or retool process in Colorado, the Avalanches currently sit 4th in the
West with 35 points.  Offensively, Stamkos continues to put up points but Letang is the one leading the team with 40 points.  If Letang
continues at the same pace, he will be a great option for the league MVP and Top dman.


Minnesota

Last year:  56-20-6 – 118 pts / 1st West

This Year:  16-10-3 – 35 pts / 5th West

Important decisions are coming up for GM McKenzie and the Wild.  The rereates had been tough, the team is getting old and does not have much in the prospect pool.  After an amazing season last year, the team is currently 5th in the West with 35 points.  Voracek is getting the job done offensively but is not getting much help from other players.  Defensively, the team pretty much relies on Crawford who is having a decent season so far with a 2.57 GAA and a 0.915 Sv%.


Chicago

Last year:  54-26-2 – 110 pts / 4th West

This Year:  15-14-3 – 33 pts / 6th West

The Hawks are currently 6th in the West and are fighting for a playoff spot.  Eric Staal and Mark Streit are leading the team in points
but more was expected from Tyler Seguin.  Defensively, the team is not really getting the job done.  Pretty much everybody is in the
minus in the plus/minus rating and in goal, Anderson and Campbell are having a hard time keeping the puck out of the net.  It will be
interesting to see which direction the next GM will take with the team.


Dallas

Last year:  37-36-9 – 83 pts / 9th West

This Year:  15-13-3 – 33 pts / 7th West

Year after year, GM Rockett finds a way to be in the race and fight for a playoff spot.  After missing the playoffs by only 6 points
last year, the Stars are currently 7th in the West with 33 points.  Offensively, four players have more than 10 goals but the team is
in need of a scoring threat.  Defensively, Johnson is getting the job done but other guys will need to step up.


Nashville

Last year:  29-48-5 – 63 pts / 12th West

This Year:  14-15-2 – 30 pts / 8th West (but out of the playoffs)

After finishing 12th in the league last year, the Preds are currently 8th overall in points but are out of the playoff.  The Preds have
been in a rebuild mode for a while now but GM Gagnon has some very good young pieces in place already with the likes of Reinhart, Barkov, Horvat, Zadorov, Marner and Burakovsky.  Offensively, both Barkov and Kreider are having great seasons so far.  Tanev is playing well defensively but the Preds might need some help on defense if the plan is to make the playoffs this year.  Welcome to the league Jesse and good luck.


Winnipeg

Last year:  19-56-7 – 45 pts / 14th West

This Year:  11-19-1 – 23 pts / 14th West

The Jets are in full rebuild mode.  After finishing in last place in 2014-15, the Jets are still in as similar position this year which
is probably what is best for the future of the team anyway.  Brayden Schenn is carrying the team offensively with some help from Leddy
on defense.  The future looks brighter in Winnipeg.  GM Forget has some very good young guys and it cannot hurt to have a guy like Eichel to build your team around.



PACIFIC DIVISION


Los Angeles

Last year:  32-42-8 – 72 pts / 10th West

This Year:  21-8-1 – 43 pts / 2nd West

After missing the playoffs last year, the Kings are currently 3rd overall in the league.  GM Binette will try to continue the incredible
work done by his predecessor earlier this season.  Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Malkin are putting up the points on offense.  On defense,
Orpik, Seidenberg, Johnson and Muzzin play well defensively and are doing what it takes to help Rinne in goal.


Calgary

Last year:  41-34-7 – 89 pts / 7th West

This Year:  17-8-5 – 39 pts / 3rd West

The Flames are currently 3rd in the West, only 4 points out of the division lead.  Bryan Little is currently the only one that the Flames
rely on offensively.  Cory Schneider is the main reason why the Flames are that high in the standing.  It seems like GM Michaud has
decided to go with a retool so it will be interesting to see what type of moves he will do before the trade deadline.


Vancouver

Last year:  41-34-7 – 89 pts / 8th West

This Year:  14-16-2 – 39 pts / 9th West (but 3rd in the division)

Vancouver should probably be in rebuild mode but even if they are 9th in the West, the Canucks are 3rd in their division which give
them the last playoff spot.  On offense, Couturier, Elias and Read have decent stats but since the team is lacking depth on both offense
and defense, and can only rely on Ramo in goal, it will be very difficult for GM Hondronikolis to make the playoffs this year.


Anaheim

Last year:  51-25-6 – 108 pts / 2nd West

This Year:  12-12-5 – 29 pts / 10th West

After being a top team in the West for a few years, the Ducks are currently 10th in the West at the moment but only 1 point behind
Vancouver and the 3rd spot in the Pacific division.  Offensively, Plekanec and Wheeler are getting some help from Wideman.  Ference is
having a decent year on defense.  In goal, Rask is solid and giving Anaheim a chance to win every night.  What’s the plan in Anahiem?
The Ducks lineup is not as deep as it was in the previous years so if GM Leger wants to make a push and go far in the playoffs, expect
some moves in Anaheim.


San Jose

Last year:  44-34-4 – 92 pts / 6th West

This Year:  12-16-2 – 26 pts / 11th West

Tough times in San Jose.  After a few years of rebuild, GM Clost did a good job and made the playoffs last year.  Despite having
probably a better roster than some teams in front of him in the standing in my opinion, the team is currently 11th in the West.  The
Sedins are the only players who are doing a good job offensively.  The defense is even a bigger question mark as all the guys are
struggling.  GM Clost is trying to get younger by moving one or both Sedins so expect changes in San Jose.


Arizona

Last year:  31-43-8 – 70 pts / 11th West

This Year:  12-16-2 – 26 pts / 12th West

Arizona is pretty much at the same spot as where they finished last year but it was expected as the team is in rebuild mode.  No
player is doing great offensively but six players are doing a decent job by sharing the load.  Mike Smith is doing what he can to
keep the puck out of the net but he cannot be blamed with the defense that he has in front of him.


Edmonton

Last year:  19-51-12 – 50 pts / 13th West

This Year:  10-18-4 – 24 pts / 13th West

Edmonton are in full rebuild mode.  GM Allain had been very patient so far which was the right thing to do with the team he ended
up with.  I will not even bother talking about the stats.  The Oilers will be very fun to watch in the near future with all the great
young guys on the team.  The list is very impressive.  With guys like Gaudreau, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Klingberg, Stome, Barzal,
Hanifin, Honka, just to name a few, plan the parade in Edmonton in a few years.  GM Allain has been very aggressive during free agency
last summer.  Some GMs questioned the big contracts he gave to guys like Gaudreau and Klingberg but they were great low risk high
reward calculated moves in my opinion and GM Allain is all smiles right now.

Mathieu Jobin

Very cool article !

Recap in the Western Conference after 1/3 of the season
Is the cup coming to the West for the first time in the league history?

• 1 teams Like this  10 years

Paolo Clara agreed nice work

10 years  0 teams Like this