Recently I had a series of blogs where I tried to come up with the best team a single division could provide. Each team was represented by a single player and the players had to play their “natural… position as stated by the website Cap Friendly.
This next series is going to focus on the opposite. I am going to try and select the worst team each division could submit under the same guidelines. If you were trying to tank and secure a high draft pick these would be the teams to assemble. I will try to use players who play on a regular basis and I will be refraining from using backup goaltenders.
The rules
My parameters are that you can only take one player from each team in the division.
You need to have a regular starting lineup with a center, right wing, left wing, right defense, left defense, and goalie.
There will be one bench position for an seven team division.
I am using cap friendly to guide me on the positions.
Today is the Central Division
Victor Rask, Center
One of the worst acquisitions from one of the worst general manager tenures in league history. Paul Fenton was fired yesterday because he couldn’t figure out how to treat employees or set up a functioning organization. He also made horrendous trades and moving out Nino Niederreiter for Victor Rask was a damning one. Rask doesn’t move the needle at all and is dead weight. Sounds like the center you want if you are looking to tank.
Pierre Edourd-Bellemare, Left Wing
For a fourth line player he is fine. It wasn’t easy finding a candidate from Colorado. The thing is he is a fourth liner and his 1.06 points per 60 the last two years makes him a great candidate for inclusion on the roster. The team can’t win if they can’t score and this forward line isn’t going to do much scoring.
Austin Watson, Right Wing
Bad player, bad person. Can’t move the puck or contribute offensively. His biggest hits come off the ice. He’s a loser and now he’s on a loser team.
Neal Pionk, Left Defense
A non-descript player who has a 43.94 xGF% the last two years. His offense isn’t going to overcome being in the low forties for expected goals and shooting attempts. He was a part of the underwhelming return for Jacob Trouba. He will underwhelm on this team.
Brent Seabrook, Right Defense
At one point in time viewed as one of the best in the sport (Team Canada). He’s a long way from that distinction. He’s washed at this point and signed forever. He’s not going to get to play with Duncan Keith on this team.
Jake Allen, Goaltender
I said no backup goaltenders, but he did play 46 games last year. Look at how far the Blues made it in the playoffs when they finally stopped going with Allen as their back stop. The Blues arguably had better rosters in prior years. They finally got above average goaltending and won the Stanley Cup. Roman Polak, Reserve
He’s 33 and not a great skater. Things aren’t going to suddenly get better for Polak. He does not fit the mold of a modern NHL defenseman. He will not facilitate clean breakouts or produce enough offense to outweigh his shortcomings.
Bellemare-Rask-Watson Pionk-Seabrook Allen Polak
Thanks for reading!