On Friday, March 3, the team that wins the Stanley Cup should be nailed. A month later, the big test for the champion candidates’ General Managers starts – who managed to find the last complementary pieces?
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We’ve seen it many times in just the last few years. How the soon-to-be Stanley Cup champion’s GM completes the team before the transfer window closes, bringing in players who contribute just what was missing from a team ready to go all the way.
Last season it was Colorado’s then GM Joe Sakic who picked Josh Manson, Andrew Cogliano and of course Artturi Lehkonen. All three – and especially Lehkonen – turned out to be no more and no less than mainstays in the race that ended with a parade.
The team that lost its Stanley Cup crown, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in turn, in February 2020 found the final pieces for two titles in a row. Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow became two-thirds of the “Bolts” super-toxic third chain that chewed up the opponents’ stars.
There is still plenty of time left until the transfer window closes. But for the clubs’ GMs, it probably feels like March 3 is completely behind the scenes.
Three right – three wrong
Anyone who actively follows the NHL should agree that the teams that have won the last three Stanley Cup titles benefited decisively from their complementary pieces.
In both cases it was a question of similar threads. Both Tampa and Colorado had their longtime and obvious key players and only needed supporting pieces.
The last reinforcements did not have too many expectations. “Bolts” and “Avs” did not need new stars for the team, but players with strong character, skin on their noses and very strong competitive instincts. Players who could support the stars in crucial moments.
That seems to be the winning recipe.
There are plenty of examples of teams trying to find a savior and making a big splash at the last minute. Often they are also examples of failure. Players who are used to being the leader of their team usually find it difficult to find their place in a squad where the leader dogs have already been there before.
The most recent example is from last year. By bringing in Claude Giroux, Florida’s GM Bill Zito tried to make the regular season’s most dangerous team, the Florida Panthers, even sharper in an area that was already working almost perfectly.
The results were not forthcoming. The Panthers really needed toughness, fighting spirit and players who are ready to sacrifice themselves for the team. It wasn’t that Giroux failed – he produced strongly offensively. The problem was that he didn’t fill an empty gap.
However, Artturi Lehkonen, Josh Manson, Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow did.
The team that has the “window up” right now
The need to be active before the trade deadline varies. Some teams see the chance to catch up with the playoff train, others state that it is time to make big changes in the squad and see an opportunity to bring in new fresh forces and get rid of baggage.
Given what each NHL season is ultimately about, the most interesting potential contenders are still the teams that look like they have a realistic chance to win the Stanley Cup.
For the undersigned, there are eight clubs that can go all the way without minor miracles.
The quartet that currently lead their divisions all belong to the teams with the “Stanley Cup window wide open.”
Most light through the sun window spreads over the Boston Bruins, the Carolina Hurricanes are favorites if the team advances from the Eastern Conference, but so far do not look as strong as the Bruins. Among the two firsts in the West, Dallas is a more functional whole than Vegas.
The strongest of the challenging quartet appears to be a “now or never” attitude of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Tampa Bay Lightning’s crushing winning streak puts them a hair behind the Leafs and half a step ahead of the New York Rangers who still have razor-sharp key areas.
From the West, it’s hard to see any other team challenging Dallas and Vegas for a playoff spot other than reigning champions Colorado. Right now, the Avalanche aren’t even in a playoff spot, but health and small tweaks can still change everything.
So the question is: what does the future champion need to do before the clock strikes 3 pm on the North American East Coast on Friday, March 3?
The needs of the division sets vary
Boston can simply count as the clear biggest favorite when half the regular season is played. Looking at how the team is composed, the guiding thought is: do nothing – do not disturb a perfect balance and harmony.
If GM Don Sweeney still wants to add even more depth to his team, then a top-six wing forward and a third-pair back could be smart little tweaks. But basically it’s just driving.
The Carolina Hurricanes must one way or another solve their huge problem of capitalizing on an almost crushingly large shooting advantage in game after game. Players who can decide in the cynical atmosphere of the playoffs are needed.
A perfectly understandable thought is that the strength is in the squad and will blossom at any moment. It still has to happen: the Hurricanes should be at least in the conference finals with the current team.
The “overflow goalkeeper” can be replaced by a reliable and cool scorer – either a forward, or a “John Klingberg” on the blue line. Alternatively, a forward who hits rebounds with a high percentage. He is happy to be the center.
The Vegas Golden Knights have two big questions: what is the health prognosis for the team’s core players – and does the team dare to enter the playoffs with a rookie goalkeeper as their first choice? Guess the goaltending question is keeping GM Kelly McCrimmon awake at night.
Dallas is a lightweight version of Boston. Really just driving and trusting the gang and the system. Denis Gurianov is the exception: the winger has completely stopped scoring. An attempt to bring in a more effective middle six-forward should be on GM Jim Nill’s agenda.
Two of the contenders have obvious flaws
The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t lead the Atlantic division and won’t when the regular season ends. Still, the Leafs are undoubtedly among the really hot Stanley Cup favorites. In the entire league, only division rival Boston has more points than the Leafs at the time of writing.
Toronto collects points through compact team play and confident goaltending. The talk of a purely offensive highlights group can be forgotten: the Leafs have conceded the third fewest goals of all 32 teams. The offense works too – only six teams have put more pucks in the net.
Still, Toronto can’t rely on everything working out. This playoff just has to lead to at least the conference finals and the flaws in terms of playoffs are obvious.
First, core defenseman Jake Muzzin’s career is probably over and even though the Leafs defend superbly, the game will be different in the playoffs. The blue line needs to be strengthened in order for GM Kyle Dubas to keep his job when the season is over.
In addition to the need for running backs, more producing depth is needed in the third and fourth chains. Are David Kampf and Pontus Holmberg centers enough to knock out first Tampa and then Boston? I wouldn’t count on that.
Reigning champions Colorado are currently not even above the playoff mark. The potential is still enormous when and if the infirmary is emptied. But Colorado must bring in a competent second center in order to dream of another Stanley Cup. Emphasis on “must”.
The New York Rangers look strong in the center lane, on the blue line and between the posts. The tip is that GM Chris Drury is looking for an experienced sniper. Especially one that currently exists in Chicago. Reason for Drury to keep in mind the risk of bringing in a big star.
Tampa then? As long as the squad’s big five – Vasilievsky, Hedman, Stamkos, Point and Kucherov – maintain their level, the “Bolts” are always good enough to go all the way. Especially as the backup forwards, Anthony Cirelli, Nick Paul, Brandon Hagel and Alex Killorn measure up.
The backline needs more quality behind Hedman and Sergatjov and Pat Maroon is no longer a useful player – even in the playoffs.
Tick-tock, the clock is ticking.
Thank you for reading.
Sources: nhl.com, themorningpuck.com, naturalstattrick.com
