The saying goes – the bigger they get, the harder they fall. This couldn’t be truer when it comes to sports. Time after time, we’ve witnessed athletes rising to the top of their profession, only to fall back down to Earth. Even those who are fortunate enough to stay on the pedestal for a very long period eventually must succumb to Father Time. Even in the universe, all-stars must eventually die. The same applies to players in the NHL. Stars in the NHL can remain so only for so long – eventually, whether it be due to injury or the body’s aging, these starts must eventually pass the torch to a new generation of players. Here’s a look at five players who could decline in the upcoming season.
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin is one of the most formidable goal scorers in NHL history but as he approaches his 13th season and 32nd birthday, the fear is that he may be past his prime. With seven 50-goal seasons on his resume, only Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy have more with nine seasons apiece. Ovechkin has also won the Maurice Richard Trophy a record six times, including four consecutive years from 2012-2013 to 2015-2016. However, Ovechkin’s signs of decline were none more evident than last season, when he posted only 33 goals, which was his lowest goal scoring season since 2010-2011. While some may point to the fact that Ovechkin focused more on defense and trying to set up T.J. Oshie, at the end of the day, numbers don’t lie. While Ovechkin will remain a goal scoring threat, it’s unlikely that he’ll reach the 50-goal mark again.
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Since Henrik Lundqvist’s NHL debut in 2005-2006, he has been the undisputed King of New York between the goal pipes. However, at the age of 35, Lundqvist will, sooner or later, experience an inevitable downturn. His career 2.32 goals against average and .920 save percentage are enviable for any current goaltender. However, Lundqvist’s signs of deterioration were clear at the end of last season – a 2.74 goals against average and .910 save percentage were the worst of his career. He was able to step up his play in the postseason, posting a 2.25 GAA and a .927 save percentage but that seemed like an aberration given how he performed in the regular season.
Additionally, the wear-and-tear could be getting to him – perhaps he needs more rest days during the regular season, which will open up minutes to the backup goaltender in New York.
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
Corey Perry has finished among the Ducks’ top-three scorers since the 2007-2008 season. However, over the last two seasons, his numbers have been dropping – the upcoming season could see this trend continuing. While Perry has been capable of bounce back seasons after posting a sub par season, he’s 32 years old, which doesn’t bode too well for his future prospects. Additionally, he was relegated to some second-line shifts during the 2016-2017 season, and could spend more time there this season as well.
Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
For the first time since the 2006-2007 season, Anze Kopitar was not the Kings’ leading scorer. He compiled his lowest point total last season in non-lockout seasons, which suggests that his best days could well be behind him. Kopitar has long been one of the best two-way players in the game and while his offensive abilities may be slipping, he’s still a stellar defender. While a lack of talent on Kopitar’s line may have contributed to his lowest scoring total, it’ll pretty much be the same situation in Los Angeles next season.
Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks
Joe Pavelski has been the model of consistency for the Sharks but at 33 years of age, consistent may not be the ideal word to describe him. While exceeding the 60-point mark in six of the last seven seasons, Pavelski was also the Sharks’ leader in faceoff wins, hits, blocked shots, and average ice time per game. However, having to shoulder such a huge load along with the grind of playing a two-way game, Pavelski may be in line for a dip in his overall production in the upcoming season.
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