NHL Analysis: Every NHL season, there are two to three teams that get off to an impressive start and are talked about as potential surprise teams. Then ultimately they fade and fall off. That could certainly be the case again this year with a handful of teams, including a red hot Nashville Predators squad that has stunned nearly everyone out of the gate with the best record in the Western Conference through six games.
Nashville Predators (4-0-2)
Odds To Win 2014-15 Stanley Cup: +4000
The Predators decided to shake things up after missing the playoffs a year ago both in terms of the roster and coaching. They waved goodbye to the only coach the franchise had ever had in Barry Trotz. There was plenty of pessimism when Peter Laviolette was hired as Trotz’s replacement and the free agent haul headed by Mike Ribeiro wasn’t particularly impressive, but it’s hard to argue with the results.
Ribeiro has recorded a team leading five points and Nashville has secured at least a point in each of its six games including four wins. Laviolette has allowed his players to play a more offensive style than they did under Trotz and the numbers in their own end have been just as good since Pekka Rinne is back healthy and sporting a .940 save percentage.
That said, only four of the six teams the Predators have played so far made the playoffs a year ago and they will face some tough tests in a loaded Central division that includes the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild. Rinne is an elite goalie but the same cannot be said about the talent up front and goals will be a lot tougher to come by against better competition. Nashville has excelled against relatively mediocre opponents to this point but eventually they are bound to take a step back.
Ottawa Senators (4-1-0)
Odds To Win 2014-15 Stanley Cup: +4800
Ottawa is another team that has benefited from a relatively mediocre schedule to get off to an impressive start with four straight wins following a loss to the aforementioned Predators. However, three of their four wins came by a one goal margin with the lone exception a 5-3 win over a Colorado Avalanche team that has just one win through its first seven games. The Senators aren’t a better team on paper this year after losing Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky in the offseason and failing to replace them. So while there is reason to be optimistic following a strong start, it is much more likely they will slow down once the competition gets tougher.
Calgary Flames (4-3-1)
Odds To Win 2014-15 Stanley Cup: +9000
The 77 points the Flames finished with last season were the second fewest in the Western Conference behind only the Edmonton Oilers and it certainly didn’t help their immediate ability when they lost their leading scorer from a year ago, Mike Cammalleri. Calgary is fully committed to its youth movement with young stars like Johnny Gaudreau and Joe Colborne getting every opportunity to prove they are ready to perform at a high level in the NHL and the addition of goalie Jonas Hiller is certainly an upgrade. That said, the Flames aren’t ready to challenge for a playoff spot just yet especially in a loaded Western Conference. Calgary could very well finish with more points than they did last season but look for them to eventually tail off following a strong start.
