There have been some dramatic point trends in the NHL compared to this date one year ago. We are 33% of the way through the 2016-17 regular season and there haven't been too many radical changes in terms of individual teams and their respective point totals year over year.
Biggest Gainers:
Congratulations to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have 18 more points in their bank account today than they did after their first 26 games in 2015-16. The Blue Jax have done a tremendous job of introducing their fine young prospects to their NHL roster. You'll recall that the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate in Cleveland won the Calder Cup championship last June. Blue Jax GM Jarmo Kekelainen should be credited with promoting rookie of the year candidate and top pair defenseman Zach Werenski to the big club. Werenski has 6 gaols and 11 assists (3PPG, 1 GWG). He leads all NHL rookie defensemen in points (17), goals (6) and TOI at 21:48 per game. The Blue Jax are currently third overall in goals scored per game (.3.31 GPG) and are number three in goals against (2.12 GPG).
Commendable Achievement:
The Anaheim Ducks fired Bruce Boudreau last summer after his club lost in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals for the fourth straight season. Enter former Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle who has proven thatr all things old are new again. Carlyle won a Stanley Cup in Anaheim when Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry were young bucks. Getzlaf and Perry know what is expected of them and are performing to peak levels whereas last season at this time they were gawd awful on a nightly basis. Getzlaf and Perry have combines for 8 goals and 48 points in 29 games.
Despite being the focal point of trade rumors for the past eighteen months, Cam Fowler has been an MVP candidate. Fowler has 7 goals and 11 assists in 29 games played while playing 24 minutes TOI per game.
Ryan Kesler has had a hot start and already has 12 goal sand 13 assists in 29 games.
Ricky Rakell has scored 11 goals and 5 assists while Jakob Silfverberg has 8 goals and 12 assists.
The Ducks are currently 9th in goals for (2.76 GPG) and are 10th in goals against (2.55).
Biggest Losers:
Poor Lindy Ruff. His Dallas Stars have taken the gas pipe thus far in 2016-17. The Stars are18 points behind the pace they set for themseslves after 26 games in 2015-16.
When Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are not pulling the wagon offensively, the Stars have a tough time winning.
The Stars are having serious issues with the health and wellness of their defensemen. Just when one gets healthy, another one suffers an injury or is suspended. Ruff has had to play nine different D-men this season. His best +/- men are Johnny Oduya and Jamie Olesiak who have played in only 20 and 13 games, respectively. Oleksiak was suspended for two game by the NHL on Sunday for an illegal check to an opponent's head. The once terrific big Swede John Klingberg has been in Rufff;s doghouse this season and is -7. In 8 games played, Julius Honka (-7) has shown offensive flair but needs more time to learn how to play NHL defense.
Their goaltending is below average too. Kari Lehtonen has a 2.92 GAA and .894 save % in 19 starts whhile Antii Niemi has a 3.20 GAA and .902 save %.
Dallas is 19th in goals for (2.50 GPG) and are 30th in goals against (3.20 GPG).
Atlantic Division:
Montreal Canadiens- 29 games played 42 points (flat year to year) Ottawa Senators- 29 games played, 34 points (-1) Boston Bruins- 30 games played, 34 points (-4) Tampa Bay Lightning- 29 games played, 30 points (-1) Florida Panthers- 29 games played, 30 points (-2) Detroit Red Wings- 29 games played, 30 points (-5) Toronto Maple Leafs- 27 games played, 27 points (+4) Buffalo Sabres- 27 games played. 26 points (+1)
Metro Division:
New York Rangers- 30 games played, 41 points (+2) Pittsburgh Penguins- 29 games played, 41 points (+6) Philadelphia Flyers- 31 games played, 39 points (+7) Columbus Blue Jackets- 26 games played, 38 points (+18) Washington Capitals- 27 games played, 37 points (-3) New Jersey Devils- 28 games played, 30 points (-2) Carolina Hurricanes- 28 games played , 28 points (+4) New York Islanders- 27 games played, 27 points (-7)
Central Division:
Chicago Blackhawks- 30 games played , 40 points (+4) St. Louis Blues- 29 games played, 36 points (flat year to year) Minnesota Wild- 27 games played, 34 points (flat year to year) Winnipeg Jets- 32 games played, 29 points (-3) Nashville Predators- 27 games played, 28 points (-4) Dallas Stars- 30 games played, 28 points (-18) Colorado Avalanche- 27 games played, 23 points (flat year to year)
Pacific Divison:
Anaheim Ducks- 29 games played , 35 points (+8) Edmonton Oilers- 31 games played, 35 points (+5) Calgary Flames- 31 games played, 34 points (+2) San Jose Sharks- 28 games played, 33 points (+4) Los Angeles Kings- 27 games played, 30 points (-7) Vancouver Canucks- 29 games played, 26 points (-2) Arizona Coyotes- 2 games played, 23 points (-4)