Here we are folks. Another week of NHL action on tap and given everything that happened last week, one should expect another interesting week in the National Hockey League.
Before beginning this installement of "The Week Ahead", I wanted to let you know that instead of doing a "Players to Keep An Eye on" section, I am instead going to focus on coaches. I hope you enjoy it!
Coaches to Keep An Eye on
The theme for this week is NHL coaches. I figured this was timely given Scott Gordon's firing last week by the New York Islanders.
The three coaches below are all in different situations with their respective clubs. One could be on the firing line, the other is adjusting to coaching a team that has not won in their last 12 games and the last one is trying to figure out how to establish some consistency.
- John MacLean, New Jersey Devils
When it comes to struggling hockey clubs, the New Jersey Devils are one of the first teams that come to mind considering how much success they have had in recent seasons.
Unfortunately for the Oilers, that excitement hasn't led to victories as the team currently finds itself in last place in the Western Conference with a record of 5-10-4 (14 points).
Head coach Tom Renney knew that this was going to be a difficult road for a young, rebuilding club but I do not think he expected the team to have the record they do now. This week, the Oilers have games against the Coyotes, Avalanche and Sharks.
At 5-13-2, the Devils are one point better than the worst team in Eastern Conference, the New York Islanders. MacLean has changed line combinations, scratched star players, held team meetings and everything else that an NHL coach should do to get his team winning again. Unfortunately, nothing has worked.
Even though team general manager Lou Lamoriello told the media a few weeks ago that MacLean's job was safe, it is believed by hockey pundits that MacLean is on the firing line. This week, MacLean will need to do everything he can to help his club win games against the Capitals, Flames, Islanders and Flyers.
- Jack Capuano, New York Islanders
Coaching the worst team in the NHL has to be extremely stressful. For Jack Capuano, however, it's all new as he took over for the fired Scott Gordon at this time last week.
It'll be up to Capuano to get his team to focus on what's happening on the ice rather than what is happening to the organization as a whole. He certainly did not have to worry about this while coaching the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the American Hockey League.
This week, Capuano's hockey club will take on the Blue Jackets and Devils -- a light schedule that could give him time to implement a system in practice.
- Joel Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks
After winning a Stanley Cup, it is said that most teams experience a "Cup hangover" of sorts. The team doesn't get off to the greatest starts and has to re-establish what they are all about.
This can certainly be said of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks are currently 11-10-2, good enough for sixth in the Western Conference. While that's obviously not a bad record, it is certainly not one that the Blackhawks are used to having after having terrific back-to-back seasons in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
This week, Quenneville's Blackhawks has games against the Sharks and Ducks.
Teams to Watch
When it comes to teams to watch, I figured this would be a good week to take a look at two teams in the NHL who currently find themselves at the bottom of the NHL standings: the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers.
- New Jersey Devils
With the way things have gone this season for the New Jersey Devils, it's hard to imagine such a low point for this hockey club.
They've run into numerous problems already: injuries, scoring, defense, salary cap, and with Brodeur out for the next two weeks, goaltending. Not only that, but their head coach, John MacLean, could be on the hot seat with his team having a record of 5-13-2.
Unfortunately for the Devils, this week will not be an easy one with two of their four games against the best in the Eastern Conference -- Washington and Philadelphia.
- Edmonton Oilers
Coming into the season, there was a lot of excitement for the Edmonton Oilers. The team had No. 1 draft pick Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi along with veterans Shawn Horcoff, Ryan Whitney, Nikolai Khabibulin, and Ales Hemsky.
Before beginning this installement of "The Week Ahead", I wanted to let you know that instead of doing a "Players to Keep An Eye on" section, I am instead going to focus on coaches. I hope you enjoy it!
Coaches to Keep An Eye on
The theme for this week is NHL coaches. I figured this was timely given Scott Gordon's firing last week by the New York Islanders.
The three coaches below are all in different situations with their respective clubs. One could be on the firing line, the other is adjusting to coaching a team that has not won in their last 12 games and the last one is trying to figure out how to establish some consistency.
- John MacLean, New Jersey Devils
When it comes to struggling hockey clubs, the New Jersey Devils are one of the first teams that come to mind considering how much success they have had in recent seasons.
Unfortunately for the Oilers, that excitement hasn't led to victories as the team currently finds itself in last place in the Western Conference with a record of 5-10-4 (14 points).
Head coach Tom Renney knew that this was going to be a difficult road for a young, rebuilding club but I do not think he expected the team to have the record they do now. This week, the Oilers have games against the Coyotes, Avalanche and Sharks.
At 5-13-2, the Devils are one point better than the worst team in Eastern Conference, the New York Islanders. MacLean has changed line combinations, scratched star players, held team meetings and everything else that an NHL coach should do to get his team winning again. Unfortunately, nothing has worked.
Even though team general manager Lou Lamoriello told the media a few weeks ago that MacLean's job was safe, it is believed by hockey pundits that MacLean is on the firing line. This week, MacLean will need to do everything he can to help his club win games against the Capitals, Flames, Islanders and Flyers.
- Jack Capuano, New York Islanders
Coaching the worst team in the NHL has to be extremely stressful. For Jack Capuano, however, it's all new as he took over for the fired Scott Gordon at this time last week.
It'll be up to Capuano to get his team to focus on what's happening on the ice rather than what is happening to the organization as a whole. He certainly did not have to worry about this while coaching the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the American Hockey League.
This week, Capuano's hockey club will take on the Blue Jackets and Devils -- a light schedule that could give him time to implement a system in practice.
- Joel Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks
After winning a Stanley Cup, it is said that most teams experience a "Cup hangover" of sorts. The team doesn't get off to the greatest starts and has to re-establish what they are all about.
This can certainly be said of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks are currently 11-10-2, good enough for sixth in the Western Conference. While that's obviously not a bad record, it is certainly not one that the Blackhawks are used to having after having terrific back-to-back seasons in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
This week, Quenneville's Blackhawks has games against the Sharks and Ducks.
Teams to Watch
When it comes to teams to watch, I figured this would be a good week to take a look at two teams in the NHL who currently find themselves at the bottom of the NHL standings: the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers.
- New Jersey Devils
With the way things have gone this season for the New Jersey Devils, it's hard to imagine such a low point for this hockey club.
They've run into numerous problems already: injuries, scoring, defense, salary cap, and with Brodeur out for the next two weeks, goaltending. Not only that, but their head coach, John MacLean, could be on the hot seat with his team having a record of 5-13-2.
Unfortunately for the Devils, this week will not be an easy one with two of their four games against the best in the Eastern Conference -- Washington and Philadelphia.
- Edmonton Oilers
Coming into the season, there was a lot of excitement for the Edmonton Oilers. The team had No. 1 draft pick Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi along with veterans Shawn Horcoff, Ryan Whitney, Nikolai Khabibulin, and Ales Hemsky.
Games to Watch
Here are games that you should watch, keep an eye on, follow, etc. this week:
- Monday, November 22
Washington Capitals vs. New Jersey Devils
Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
- Wednesday, November 24
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres
Los Angeles Kings vs. Montreal Canadiens
St. Louis Blues vs. Nashville Predators
Calgary Flames vs. New Jersey Devils
Chicago Blackhawks vs. San Jose Sharks
- Friday, November 26
New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islanders
Ottawa Senators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres
St. Louis Blues vs. Dallas Stars
San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks
- Saturday, November 27
Philadelphia Flyers vs. New Jersey Devils
Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
Dallas Stars vs. St. Louis Blues
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
- Sunday, November 28
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Detroit Red Wings
I hope you all have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday!
Photo credit: Getty Images
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