5 players that need a bounce back season
by: Daniel Yurchenko
#1. Ryan Strome.
It looked like he was making positive steps forward putting up 50 points in 2014-2015, but this year he took a big step backwards. The situation got so bad that Strome was demoted to the AHL. This year Strome only put up 28 points, about half of what he did last year. It is safe to say that Strome will be a top 9 foward for the Islanders, but another bad year could see him in the AHL.
#2. Micheal Grabner.
We saw him come into this league as a wonder kid, dazzling with his speed and skill, witch made him a Calder trophy finalist. He once scored 34 Goals. Now he can't even score 34 points. Maybe it was a fluke, but I believe he can still play well as he has another chance with the Rangers. I think he will be one of the only bright spots in a bleak season for the Rangers.
#3. Thomas Vanek
Thomas Vanek will never be the player he once was in Buffalo. He was once a premier player in NHL, he even scored 84 points once. At 32 he can still produce, but he needs to show that this season. He is already showing signs of decline, going from 52 points in 2014-2015 to 41 in 2015-2016. He has an opportunity playing around talented players in Detroit. Maybe it really is the start of a decline for Vanek unless he can prove this season that he's still got something left in the bag.
#4. Matt Moulson
Speaking of Vanek, lets talk about Moulson. He was involved in the trade that sent Vanek to the Islanders. I know Moulson as a player that put up 30+ goals on the Islanders for 3 seasons and developed great chemistry with Tavares. He needs a rebound season and fast as he only scored 21 points and 8 goals. I would have never believed you in 2013 if you told me that in two seasons Matt Moulson would only score 8 goals. 2014-2015 was a respectable year for Moulson as he scored 28 goals, but 2015-2016 was definitely not. If he is to stay in this league, he needs a bounce back season and he needs it now.
#5. Eric Staal.
Eric Staal will never be the player he was in Carolina. Not only did he score 100 points, he led them to a Stanley Cup in 2006-2007. He was a superstar. It is clear now that he will never be the superstar he was, but he could still be a decent player. He put up only 39 points last season. He should be able to improve, as he has a much better situation in Minnesota. We would all like to see Staal flip the clock and break 70 points. However that is very unlikely to happen, a realistic expectation is for Staal to break 50 points.
It looked like he was making positive steps forward putting up 50 points in 2014-2015, but this year he took a big step backwards. The situation got so bad that Strome was demoted to the AHL. This year Strome only put up 28 points, about half of what he did last year. It is safe to say that Strome will be a top 9 foward for the Islanders, but another bad year could see him in the AHL.
#2. Micheal Grabner.
We saw him come into this league as a wonder kid, dazzling with his speed and skill, witch made him a Calder trophy finalist. He once scored 34 Goals. Now he can't even score 34 points. Maybe it was a fluke, but I believe he can still play well as he has another chance with the Rangers. I think he will be one of the only bright spots in a bleak season for the Rangers.
#3. Thomas Vanek
Thomas Vanek will never be the player he once was in Buffalo. He was once a premier player in NHL, he even scored 84 points once. At 32 he can still produce, but he needs to show that this season. He is already showing signs of decline, going from 52 points in 2014-2015 to 41 in 2015-2016. He has an opportunity playing around talented players in Detroit. Maybe it really is the start of a decline for Vanek unless he can prove this season that he's still got something left in the bag.
#4. Matt Moulson
Speaking of Vanek, lets talk about Moulson. He was involved in the trade that sent Vanek to the Islanders. I know Moulson as a player that put up 30+ goals on the Islanders for 3 seasons and developed great chemistry with Tavares. He needs a rebound season and fast as he only scored 21 points and 8 goals. I would have never believed you in 2013 if you told me that in two seasons Matt Moulson would only score 8 goals. 2014-2015 was a respectable year for Moulson as he scored 28 goals, but 2015-2016 was definitely not. If he is to stay in this league, he needs a bounce back season and he needs it now.
#5. Eric Staal.
Eric Staal will never be the player he was in Carolina. Not only did he score 100 points, he led them to a Stanley Cup in 2006-2007. He was a superstar. It is clear now that he will never be the superstar he was, but he could still be a decent player. He put up only 39 points last season. He should be able to improve, as he has a much better situation in Minnesota. We would all like to see Staal flip the clock and break 70 points. However that is very unlikely to happen, a realistic expectation is for Staal to break 50 points.
Questions for the eastern conference
By:daniel yurchenko
As there is almost no hockey news we will be looking back at how the NHLs free agency affected the eastern conference. There are many questions for example, Did the Islanders get better or worse? Are the devils a playoff team? Are the Rangers still a Playoff team?
Did the islanders get better? No they didn't at best they went sideways in the talent department while getting older. Ladd fits the Islanders style of play but the islanders lost there best PK and the best hitter in the league Chimera can still be efficient but at 37, You have to wonder about the decline. The Islanders are hoping that Pa Parentue finds the chemistry he did with John Tavares a few years ago breaking the 60 point barrier. In conclusion the Islanders did not get better.
Are the Devils a playoff team. Yes but barely the Taylor hall deal was a great deal for them. Taylor Hall broke 80 points just 2 seasons ago. Resigning Palmeri was a great move. Ben love joy will step into the spot Larson left. With Henrique, Cammaleri, Palmeri and now hall the devils offense is dangerous.
In conclusion the devils are a playoff team.
Are the Rangers still a playoff team? The answer is a clear no. As the battle of New York is shifting to the islanders favour (season series was 4-0 in the islanders favour) and it is safe to say that the islanders will be a better team for years to come. The Rangers don't have a playoff roster with only a couple talented player Carl haglien Henrik Lundqvist and Ryan mcdonagh. Henrik Lundqvist is 34 and may only have 2 or 3 good seasons. While Mcdonagh once a name u associated when someone mentioned top tier defense man has fallen of the grid. One of the worst decisions the Rangers made in recent seasons was the Yandle trade. They traded away there best prospects for yandle, and a year later they traded Yandle for a 6th round pick. Let that sink in they traded there best prospect for a 6th round pick. In conclusion the Rangers are not a playoff team
Did the islanders get better? No they didn't at best they went sideways in the talent department while getting older. Ladd fits the Islanders style of play but the islanders lost there best PK and the best hitter in the league Chimera can still be efficient but at 37, You have to wonder about the decline. The Islanders are hoping that Pa Parentue finds the chemistry he did with John Tavares a few years ago breaking the 60 point barrier. In conclusion the Islanders did not get better.
Are the Devils a playoff team. Yes but barely the Taylor hall deal was a great deal for them. Taylor Hall broke 80 points just 2 seasons ago. Resigning Palmeri was a great move. Ben love joy will step into the spot Larson left. With Henrique, Cammaleri, Palmeri and now hall the devils offense is dangerous.
In conclusion the devils are a playoff team.
Are the Rangers still a playoff team? The answer is a clear no. As the battle of New York is shifting to the islanders favour (season series was 4-0 in the islanders favour) and it is safe to say that the islanders will be a better team for years to come. The Rangers don't have a playoff roster with only a couple talented player Carl haglien Henrik Lundqvist and Ryan mcdonagh. Henrik Lundqvist is 34 and may only have 2 or 3 good seasons. While Mcdonagh once a name u associated when someone mentioned top tier defense man has fallen of the grid. One of the worst decisions the Rangers made in recent seasons was the Yandle trade. They traded away there best prospects for yandle, and a year later they traded Yandle for a 6th round pick. Let that sink in they traded there best prospect for a 6th round pick. In conclusion the Rangers are not a playoff team