Anna's Thoughts 11/22/24
I’ve been working on this on and off for about a week now, but here’s the latest “Anna’s Thoughts” where I share all the thoughts you didn’t ask for, but are getting anyway. So, enjoy, or don’t enjoy. I can’t really control what you feel about these.
The Winnipeg Jets are currently playing at a historic rate. They are the fastest team in NHL history to 15 wins. They did it in just 16 games. That said, I have some concerns about this team. A week ago, Travis Yost posted a chart on Bluesky showing where each NHL team ranks in offense, defense, and special teams, showing both actual results and expected results. It’s a bit worrying for the Jets. They’re fifth in goals scored, but in terms of expected goals, they are only fourteenth. Defensively, they’ve allowed the fourth least amount of goals, but in terms of expected goals allowed, they should be sixteenth in goals allowed. Their powerplay is punching well above its weight too. They’re number one in powerplay goals scored, but are eighteenth in goals expected. The only thing reality and analytics are mostly aligned on is their penalty kill. They have the fourteenth-ranked penalty kill and analytically, it should be seventeenth. So, they’re frankly, a mediocre team getting far better results than they should. They’re last year's Vancouver Canucks. At some point, the wheels will fall off. When? I don’t know. Maybe it’s at the trade deadline when they try to add and it screws up the magic chemistry. Maybe it’ll be in the playoffs when they have to play an actually solid team in a best-of-seven series. I don’t know when it’ll be, but at some point, everything will fall apart. Stellar goaltending and having a ridiculously easy schedule (And even when they play against good teams, their good opponents are often in the middle of an underperforming streak) are really boosting this team right now. Mind you, that’s not everything that’s going right, but, those are two of the larger culprits, as I see it, for helping cover up their underlying flaws.
The Pittsburgh Penguins SHOULD fire Mike Sullivan. Unfortunately, I don’t see it happening for Penguins fans, and here’s why: Dubas needs a fall guy. It’s really that simple. Maybe, maybe, there’s a small chance now that Montgomery has been fired he bites the bullet, but probably not. I think the front office is secretly relieved that this team sucks, hope for a decent pick, and then next year if the cap goes up as much as Bettman has said it could get more aggressive to make the team better. Plus, hopefully, McGroarty will be ready for the NHL. Then, you add a new coach, and hopefully, it works out. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if that’s the plan. But this team needs some new young talent desperately, and holding your nose and using Sullivan as the fall guy while the team sucks to get a decent pick is a good way to do that.
I’m not going to lie: I miss the PWHL. I need some women’s hockey to watch. The regular season cannot get here soon enough for me. I love men’s hockey, but after getting into women’s hockey a few years ago with the PHF, my hockey experience now feels incomplete without watching some form of professional women’s hockey.
Y’all, I have a confession: I’m starting to find myself drawn to the Toronto Sceptres (despite their odious name) and the Montreal Victoire. If I root for any PWHL teams this year, it’s increasingly likely it will be one of those two. I tried to be strong and be a true red-blooded American, but alas, my will is weak. Please, PWHL, get a team in Detroit, ASAP.
Apparently, I need to make some clarifications. In my most recent article about the Red Wings I was not blaming Steve Yzerman for the Red Wings 2017 draft, I didn’t even bring up the Red Wings 2017 draft. I brought up the Dallas Stars draft solely as a comparison on the fact that they found their core, their star players who are driving the team to success, outside of the lottery. At no point was I commenting on the Red Wings 2017 draft.
Now, this second thing I must clarify is completely my fault, and I should’ve expanded more in the article, but I was completely physically exhausted when writing it. I really shouldn’t write articles when I’m running on three hours of sleep, but I was scared that if I waited until I had more sleep, the idea for the article would be out of date, so I wanted to rush it out. I should’ve just gambled. Anyway, the thing I need to expand on is this: I do not believe blowing it all up is on the table right now. This would only come up in ownership if the team ends up as a bottom-three team, and not due to injuries. I would be genuinely shocked if they did it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s at least thought about in such a situation. Frankly, even as bad as this team looks, I only see them finishing anywhere near that low in standings if they end up suffering a good number of long-term injuries to key players, and soon.
I’m not listening to accusations of being reactionary from losers who I’ve never interacted with before or have just recently met. If someone I respect because I know them and they know me well, wants to tell me I’m reactionary, I’ll listen. You random person online I have no interest in hearing from say that about me, especially because it’s usually tied with insults.
Look, all I’m saying is: that maybe the Bruins fired the wrong guy and it should’ve been the GM. Wild idea, I know.
Also, when the Bruins inevitably hire Joel Quenneville, I’m sorry, Bruins fans. Yes, I am predicting that’s who they’ll hire because who else that’s available is anywhere near Montgomery’s level? Only Quenneville. Any other hire would be a definitive step down. I genuinely cannot see anyone other than him getting hired.
If you told me before the season that the Predators would be worse than the San Jose Sharks in late November, I would’ve assumed it was because they were destroyed by endless injuries. I did not see this one coming.
This post by the Blue Jackets is the most savage post you will see by an NHL team all season.
The Ottawa Senators do to goaltenders what the Chicago Bears do to quarterbacks.
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