HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Most Disappointing Team?

Leafs have let me down big time, was expecting a huge first 5 games from them, at the very least 4 wins.


But seriously, it's 5 games into the season for most teams...

Problem is, we tend to judge teams on past success, and only really take note of their top-end talent.

Washington, right now, has 3 forwards I would consider first line scoring threats in Ovechkin, Backstrom, Ribeiro.

Outside of that you're into scrubs like Ward, Woljski, Crabb, Beagle....the return of Laich should help, but this team lacks the depth it once had, and Mike Green has dropped off significantly. I had them out of the playoffs this season, and I stick to that.

Now, the kings are a more confusing story.

caps easily beat lindy's merry men, but that's pretty small beer as craig laughlin is still on 24 hour suicide watch.

Ovechkin further proves he is not the player most thought he was. Second, Caps were always overrated. 3rd, the Flyers are a mess and it's not Breezy's fault...never was.

While the Avs are my team, I am pumped to see Marleau & the Sharks get off to a ridiculous start, same with the Blues.

Now, the kings are a more confusing story.
- TommyDeVito

What is confusing about the Kings? They were a team that struggled and clicked at the right time. They weren't the first and won't be the last team to find magic right before or during the playoffs. They've lacked scoring the last few years and it doesn't look like it'll change. You can have all the gifted forwards you want, sometimes there is little to no chemistry. The problem is - do you risk moving some major players for 'new' talent that may spark the offense or possibly make no impact and now you're in the same boat and players who now have diminished value?

What is confusing about the Kings? They were a team that struggled and clicked at the right time. They weren't the first and won't be the last team to find magic right before or during the playoffs. They've lacked scoring the last few years and it doesn't look like it'll change. You can have all the gifted forwards you want, sometimes there is little to no chemistry. The problem is - do you risk moving some major players for 'new' talent that may spark the offense or possibly make no impact and now you're in the same boat and players who now have diminished value?
- dan_77

I disagree, Kings have a glut of talent and chemistry in the lineup, thy were picked as a contender before last season started by almost everyone, got off to a slow start, and then shook it off and came on strong the second half of the season.

The top 6 of

Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Carter-Richards-Gagne

Top 2 D of

Doughty Mitchell

and of course Jon Quick should still have the team contending. I expect that to tun around shortly.

The success of the Sabres this year is built completely upon the youth they have performing better than they did last year, i.e. improving. Ennis being a PPG player i dont feel is an unreasonable expectation. Same with Hodgson. Foligno has to prove those 14 games last year werent a fluke. Grigorenko has to show the fans he is what we think he is. Myers has to play like he's 6'8", and a 4th year D-man.

Precisely all those things arent happening. Our centers just arent very good right now. And it isnt because of their skill set, I think it is because theyre young. This team wasnt a contender, and I think a lot of people fell for it this year because of the prospect of rolling 3 scoring lines, in a shortened season. Fact of the matter is, we have 1 scoring line, and the dude facilitating that scoring is now hurt.

Enroth isnt very good either, but the play in front of him in Carolina certainly didnt help. Miller has played as expected. He'll put up the numbers he usually does. Nearly every player on this team is underperforming. That means one of two things. Either, these players arent worth a sh!t- which I do not believe- or the coach's message isnt being received. Ruff needs to get a hold of this group. He always seems to lose them at some point during the season. If this team was playing like it was during the stretch run last year, we'd be having a whole new conversation. Ruff needs to step HIS game up, as much as Myers or Ennis or Foligno need to.

Ennis being a PPG player i dont feel is an unreasonable expectation. Same with Hodgson.
- millsp30

PPG players (with more than 2 games) last year: Crosby, Malkin, Giroux, Stamkos, Kovalchuck, Spezza, Backstrom, Lupul, Neal. Expecting Ennis and Hodgson to both be in the same league as those players is asking quite a bit. Even adding in players above .95 PPG, you have Tavares, Sedin, Eberle, Toews, Elias, Karlsson, St. Louis, Datysuk, Hossa. Outside of Buffalo, I don't think anyone would consider expecting Ennis and Hodgson to be producing at the same level as most of those names to be reasonable.

I'don't thing that Washington is a big suprise, yes they should be a better team but not a very good one. Their leader Ovy don't seem to be the player we though he would be. This guy doesn't seem to work had in the off season and like a little bit too much the nightlife. Changing Semin for Ribeiro doesn't change a team that much.

I thing Buffalo is the team that can replace their game. They were one of the best team in the last 15-20 games last season and they may have the best goalie in these teams (except of NYR that will finish in top 4 teams).