2021-22 NHL Midseason Review
All-Star weekend came and went, and the middle of the 2021-22 NHL regular season is now here. It’s been a season full of powerhouses doing powerhouse things, overachieving and underachieving teams and more.
At this point in the season, it’s reasonable to begin analyzing potential Hart Memorial Trophy candidates. It’s hard to bet against Connor McDavid or Jonathan Huberdeau. McDavid is currently tied for the most points in the league at 66 while ranking third in assists with 41.
Huberdeau, meanwhile, leads the league in assists with 47 and is right behind McDavid in points with 64. As of now, McDavid should be favored to win the Hart Trophy.
While they probably won’t win the Hart Trophy, there are other players worth mentioning. Alex Ovechkin is doing what he’s best at by scoring goals and points, ranking in the top five in each category. Nazem Kadri is also having a solid season in Colorado, ranking in the top five in points and assists.
Speaking of Colorado, the Avalanche continue to look like one of the best teams in hockey. The Avalanche currently lead the Western Conference as well as the entire league with 72 points.
It makes sense with players such as Kadri and Mikko Rantanen on the roster. Colorado is so talented that anything less than a Stanley Cup victory would be disappointing.
There isn’t any team in the Western Conference that poses any significant threat to Colorado. The Minnesota Wild are the closest with 63 points, while St. Louis is right behind Minnesota with 61 points. Nashville, Calgary and Vegas are also in the mix in the Western Conference, with each team hovering around the 60 point mark.
The Eastern Conference, meanwhile, is much more competitive. The Metropolitan Division has been back and forth throughout the season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have taken control of the top spot with 70 points, unseating Carolina with 67 points. The Rangers and Capitals trail behind, and Washington, in particular, has taken a huge step back since the new year.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic Division has predominantly been a battle between the two Floridian teams. The Lightning is currently ahead of the Panthers by one point with 70. Toronto is also in the mix with 65 points.
All three of those teams are incredibly talented and it would not be surprising if any of the three won the division.
The teams that look the most dangerous as of now are all the division leaders, as well as Carolina, Florida, Toronto and the Rangers. Each of those teams has the necessary depth and skill to make a deep run in the playoffs, with the Eastern Conference looking significantly better than the West.
Nolan Wick is a first-year majoring in journalism. To contact him, email nhw5046@psu.edu.
