Way Too Early NHL Takeaways

Story posted October 25, 2021 in

The NHL 2021-22 season is underway and for the first time ever, there are 32 teams in the running for the lord Stanley Cup. In this article I will be making three takeaways and giving early predictions based on the takeaways.

The NHL has welcomed the Seattle Kraken to the league and on Thursday, October 14 they collected their first ever win against the Nashville Predators. Besides that win however, they have lost every other game.

The Kraken have won one game out of their first five, and do not seem to have that same new team magic that the Las Vegas Knights did in 2017. Although it is early, the Kraken should continue to struggle this season. Being an expansion team is a tough challenge, although the Knights made it look easy, it is still tough for the first few seasons.

The Kraken need more time to find a rhythm. They need to build chemistry, and for now they will need to tough it out of the struggle that is headed their way.

The Oilers have started off the season strong. They are currently 3-0 and have looked amazing. Edmonton is led by two of the best players in all of hockey, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

In the three games the Oilers have played, McDavid and Draisaitl have each scored eight points combining for 16 points together. In three games that stat is unbelievable. Two players on the same team are averaging 2.67 points a game. They are on pace to break records for teammates and do not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

The Oilers are a scary good team, and so far look like a real Stanley Cup contender. McDavid has been called the best player in hockey for years and it is finally his time to make a postseason push. The Oilers have what it takes, and it f McDavid and Draisaitl can stay healthy, the Stanley Cup is not far out of reach for this roster.

Speaking about winning the Stanley Cup, let's look at the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Lightning have won the last two Stanley Cups proving their skill in the league. Tampa Bay is led by Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman. These three have all worked well with one another and taken this team deep into the playoffs in the past. But, this year seems different.

If the Oilers have the potential to win, that means that this year is not the Lighting’s year. Tampa Bay doesn’t appear to have what it takes to three-peat. The Lightning have played three amazing seasons in a row, but have hit a rocky start to this season.

Stamkos appears on his way down, Kutcherov is on his way down and they will not be able to keep up with the new, young, fast talent. The players like McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche are just better than this Lightning team. That is why this year may not be the Lightning’s.

 

Max Savitt is a first-year majoring in journalism. To contact him, email mrs6929@psu.edu.