With a quarter of the season gone, we are starting to see some teams show their true colors. A fast or slow start can cool off or heat up, but good teams will rise to the top no matter what.
In the mean time there are plenty of teams out there that are being hyped because of names, reputations and (in my opinion) unsubstantiated optimism. These are teams that are overrated and need to do and show a heck of a lot more before they can be considered serious contenders.
Rather than take on some mid-level teams that are easy picking, I’m going to throw some big names at you and let you see that there are some big names out there that have wheelbarrows full of fool’s gold.
Los Angeles Kings
They may have just gone 3-1 on an impressive road trip, but I stand behind my theory that they are due for a monumental collapse. Call it a hunch, but the heavy competition at the top of the Pacific Division between (San Jose, Anaheim, and Phoenix) will leave the Kings among the pretenders instead of the contenders.
Colorado Avalanche
Almost everyone expects the Avalanche to be mentioned here, but I think that they have been over their skis long enough. They aren’t as bad as many people might think, but they aren’t quite a playoff team yet either. Their goaltending will level off and the depth on both offense and defense will be exposed as the grind of an 82-game season wears on.
Detroit Red Wings
Just so no one can call me a homer, I’ll include the Red Wings in the mix. Don’t get me wrong, Detroit is loaded with talent in my opinion, but they are getting taken to task by teams that are hungrier and working harder. Close games measure a team’s will to win, and Detroit has fallen short six consecutive times. A disturbingly poor home record is also something to be concerned about. The once imposing Joe Louis Arena has become a house of horrors for the Hockeytown faithful of late.
Pittsburgh Penguins
GASP!!! WHAT???!!! That’s right, the Penguins are a bloated hype machine that is in serious trouble. But how can I say that with all the talent they have?
Well, the Pens have invested heavily (too heavily, in fact) in a small number of players while ignoring the fact that they are not a very deep team. They have some youth and depth on the blueline, but this is the same team, almost to a man, that got swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
Where have they improved? When will Kris Letang actually play defense? Can Marc-Andre Fleury be counted on to win in the playoffs? Where has Evgeni Malkin been?
Montreal Canadiens
The ghosts of Montreal may not want to hear it but the guys that are wearing the world-famous sweaters might not even be a playoff team. The Habs are just a season removed from a division title but could get lost in the mayhem of the Atlantic Division. With a fast start from Tampa Bay, the Canadiens have another team to look up at from their current spot in the eight-team race.
Final thoughts: Could the status of these teams change as the season unfolds? It absolutely can. It’s not about hopping on a bandwagon, but rather a greater sample size of seeing exactly what these teams can accomplish. There isn’t a single team on this list that can’t make the playoffs or get hot on a run toward the Stanley Cup. However, the act of turning potential into actual success is a formula that almost every NHL coach is looking for.