1/5 of the season is done and we are at the American thanksgiving day bench mark. Historically 76% of teams in a playoff position at this point of the season go on to make the playoffs.
Currently we are outside looking in:
1. Boston
2. Florida
3. Tampa
4. Toronto
5. Detroit
The good: Dcat and Larkin are leading the team well in production. Raymond is having the bounce back season we expected. Compher is legit, and not solely a product of the Avs offense as hoped. Sprong has added good scoring deph, and Veleno is having a better season finally.
The bad: Perron is starting to show signs of regression with his age. Copp is playing like meh again. Rasmussen has not built on any of last years growth and is looking like the big rig pansy Johnny E out there. Fabbri is productive when here but just can't stay healthy.
The good: Seider and Walman are leading the backend as expected. Ghostbear is basically just an extra forward out there that needs to be sheltered, but he's playing in that role well. Chiarot is having a better season. Holl is not the disaster Leafs fans made him out to be, and is a pretty good defensive dman.
The bad: Petry isn't the player he once was. Maata isn't playing his best hockey right now, but he also has to cover for Petry or Ghostbear most nights.
The good: Reimer and Lyon are both playing well.
The bad: Husso should just let Reimer and Lyon split time until he gets his head on straight.
For us to make the playoffs I think we need make a real push for Patrick Kane. That could be the extra spark or oomph to push us into a wildcard spot. And I think signing a former cup champ superstar at this point of the season would be a real vote of confidence and morale booster in the room. If it doesn't work out oh well, at least we tried.
If we have to sell we need to unload Perron and Ghostbear. Perron at his age isn't worth re-signing for us, and we should sell high on Ghostbear for the return. Sprong and Fischer I would like to keep and extend IMO. Both are young and have provided good depth. I think it would be good to explore a trade for Maata and Husso as well.
Then end the season like this:
DCat - Larkin - Kane
Copp - Compher - Raymond
Berggren - Veleno - Sprong
Kostin - Rasmussen - Fischer
Czarnik
LTIR: Fabbri
Walman - Seider
Edvinsson - Holl
Chiarot - Petry
McIsaac
Lyon
Reimer