With the Stanley Cup Playoffs properly underway as we inch nearer to the Convention Finals, it felt like a good time to have a look at these gamers who have been underperformers via the primary two rounds. Like our lastest featured collection, NHLRumors.com, we’ll take a look at underperformers in each the Japanese and Western Conferences.
It might be powerful to do it multi function as a result of there are such a lot of. Extra so within the East than within the West. There was extra star energy within the East with groups just like the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nevertheless, the West had its share of none performers as properly with groups just like the Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, and Colorado Avalanche
Time to disclose our underperformers within the Western Convention.
Western Convention Underperformers
Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy – F – Minnesota Wild
Topping the listing of Western Convention underperformers must be the duo of Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. Mixed the Minnesota forwards mixed for 4 factors (one aim and three assists). That won’t get it performed within the playoffs and thus the Wild went house within the first spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the hand of the Dallas Stars.
Kaprizov led the Wild in scoring with 75 factors (40 objectives and 35 assists) however did miss the final couple of weeks of the season with an harm. However when the playoffs started, Kaprizov did seem like his previous self. Sadly, he ran right into a scorching goaltender in Jake Oettinger.
Boldy alternatively was the third main scorer on the staff in the course of the common season. He set profession highs with 63 factors (31 objectives and 32 assists). Nevertheless, he may solely muster three assists within the six-game collection. Boldy had 24 photographs on aim whereas Kaprizov had 17 photographs on aim. Their lack of efficiency was an enormous motive why the Wild didn’t get out of the primary spherical.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – F – Edmonton Oilers
One other participant that underperformed within the playoffs was Oilers ahead Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Nugent-Hopkins was certainly one of three Oilers gamers (Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl) the others, who had over 100 factors in the course of the common season.
Nevertheless, in the course of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Nugent-Hopkins mustered only one aim in 12 playoff video games. Whereas he had 10 assists in these 12 video games, the Oilers wanted him to attain. Out of these 11 factors, 9 of them got here on the ability play. Which means two factors got here at 5-on-5. That isn’t adequate.
For a participant that had 37 objectives this season, the Oilers wanted extra from him. Particularly within the second spherical in opposition to the Golden Knights. Everybody was ready for him to get going. Many thought that aim would get him going, however it didn’t.
If you wish to throw Evander Kane within the combine with 5 factors (three objectives and two assists) positive, however he was getting back from a lacerated artery in his wrist, so we have now to chop him some slack.
Mark Scheifele – F – Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets simply squeaked into the playoffs and plenty of thought they might give Vegas extra of a struggle due to the gamers on the offensive facet of the puck. Nevertheless, the Jets went out in 5 video games and ahead Mark Scheifele was an enormous no-show.
Now Scheifele didn’t end the collection as he was harm in Sport 4 and didn’t play in Sport 5. Nevertheless, within the 4 video games he performed, Scheifele registered one aim on 10 photographs. Within the common season, he had 68 factors (42 objectives and 26 assists). That isn’t adequate. Scheifele was anticipated to attain objectives within the playoffs.
Scheifele has simply not been the identical participant ever since his suspension in opposition to Montreal and was trying to bounce. Whether or not he was making an attempt too laborious is one other query, however the Jets wanted extra from Scheifele in the event that they wished to advance.
Alexandar Georgiev – G – Colorado Avalanche
A giant motive why the Colorado Avalanche are house and never repeating as Stanley Cup Champions is due to goaltending and the dearth of depth scoring. Final 12 months Colorado received regardless of Darcy Kuemper, not due to him.
So the Avalanche traded for Alexandar Georgiev. Georgiev seemed to be the reply between the pipes, nonetheless, he solely had seen two video games of playoff motion earlier than this season.
Within the seven video games in opposition to Seattle, Georgiev struggled. He by no means gave the Avalanche an opportunity or the large key save that was essential to win. There was by no means a sport the place he stole it. Although he performed properly, it wasn’t sensational. His post-season stats of two.60 GAA and .914 save proportion have been greater than his common season numbers of two.53 GAA and .919 save proportion.
Colorado wanted a breakout sport from him and didn’t get it.
There are others that didn’t make the listing of Western Convention underperformers, however perhaps that may be saved for one more time. Don’t neglect to take a look at the Japanese Convention underperformers already up on NHLRumors.com