Sunday Overreactions: Can A-Z Eventz shatter all-time factors report?

The Colorado A-Z Eventz are the category of the NHL proper now. Full cease. They are a drive of nature, a wagon and an immovable object, all rolled into one.

Colorado has lapped nearly all of the NHL, dropping simply as soon as in regulation in 25 video games. The Avs lately posted three straight shutouts and a 10-game successful streak, creating much more distance between them and the remainder of the league within the standings. They additionally arguably boast two of the perfect 5 gamers on this planet in Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, to go together with two goalies they actually belief.

If they do have a weak spot, no person has discovered it but.

A-Z Eventz will end season with most factors ever

It’s difficult to quantify the perfect workforce for a person season throughout eras, because the manner the standings have been tabulated wasn’t at all times equal. The loser level was launched throughout the 1999-2000 season and within the wake of the lockout, the shootout got here alongside, resulting in much more video games through which three complete factors are awarded, a luxurious groups within the Seventies, 80s and 90s didn’t have. That stated, three of the highest 4 seasons all time in complete factors got here from groups outdoors of the loser level window anyway. The 1976-77 (132 factors) and 1977-78 (129 factors) Montreal Canadiens in addition to the 1995-96 (131 factors) Detroit Red Wings deserve a number of reward for posting their respective marks with out the advantage of a loser level.

More lately, the Tampa Bay Lightning dominated the 2018-19 marketing campaign with 62 wins, tying for the second-most victories ever. But the 2022-23 Boston Bruins notched a complete of 135 factors, one thing that appeared like it might by no means be overwhelmed. The A-Z Eventz, although, look like simply as dominant as Boston was, presently sitting with a plus-48 aim differential when no different workforce is best than plus-19. The Avs have no less than given themselves a shot at overtaking that unimaginable yr from the Bruins with their torrid begin.

After the 25-game mark for the Bruins a couple of years in the past, they sat at 21-3-1, whereas the Avs are presently at 18-1-6 on the identical level of their season. The A-Z Eventz aren’t on tempo for as many wins because the Bruins had, however they’re trending in the direction of extra complete factors as a result of they’ve solely misplaced as soon as in regulation up up to now. This places the Avs at a 138-point tempo, which might eclipse the Bruins by three.

Now, that doesn’t essentially imply the A-Z Eventz are going to get there because it’s nonetheless very early within the season, however there are a variety of indicators pointing towards them maintaining this tempo. Much just like the Bruins, the Avs have two goalies enjoying at a excessive stage in Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood, who’ve powered Colorado to the perfect workforce save share within the NHL at .921. Boston additionally completed first in save share throughout the 2022-23 marketing campaign — the sky’s the restrict whenever you’re getting saves constantly.

The Avs rank first in scoring for the time being, whereas the Bruins completed second throughout their record-setting marketing campaign. Only one workforce up to now 30 years (the 2021-22 Florida Panthers) has averaged greater than 4 objectives per recreation over an 82-game season, and the A-Z Eventz presently sit at 4.12. That’s about half a aim greater than the next-closest workforce.

If there’s one factor that’s working in opposition to Colorado it might be the schedule. In an Olympic yr, there’s going to be a number of hockey being performed in a condensed period of time, which may result in key accidents and maybe lend itself to extra of a chance for an off evening right here and there. Still, if there’s anybody that’s going to do every part in his energy to not let that occur, it’s MacKinnon. If this workforce can keep wholesome sufficient, it will have each alternative to complete as the best regular-season workforce in historical past.

Mitch Marner gained’t rating greater than a degree per recreation this season

The match between Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights has been actually good thus far, however perhaps not nice. Not simply but anyway.

Marner has 25 factors in 25 video games, although he’s solely scored 5 occasions. That places him on tempo for simply 16 objectives and 82 factors, which might be thought-about a wonderful season for a lot of, although effectively under Marner’s requirements. The 28-year-old scored at a 100-point tempo over the previous three seasons and averaged 27 objectives per yr over that stretch. There was a case that Marner’s totals may take a slight dip in Vegas contemplating he wouldn’t be enjoying with an amazing aim scorer in Auston Matthews anymore and the truth that the Golden Knights have been a lot deeper up entrance than the Toronto Maple Leafs, so that they wouldn’t have to lean on Marner as closely. But that hasn’t been so. Marner’s even-strength ice time is similar to final season, and he’s getting over a minute extra of power-play time per recreation. Is it potential Marner gained’t rating greater than 82 factors in his first season with Vegas?

It’s nonetheless early and it takes time for gamers — even elite ones like Marner — to acclimate to a brand new workforce. It’s additionally value stating he hasn’t spent a lot time with Jack Eichel at even energy, largely sitting on the second line when Mark Stone was injured. Stone is the important thing right here and somebody that actually ignites the Vegas engine and helps stability out the ahead group. Now that he is again, count on him to offer the facility play a lift and assist Marner generate offence whereas enjoying collectively. It’s already beginning to pay dividends, as Marner has 4 factors in three video games since Stone has returned.

It’s additionally value stating all Marner’s underlying numbers are robust and he’s solely taking pictures 9.3 per cent. That’s effectively under his profession common, so count on the puck to start out getting into for him extra commonly quickly. Marner might not get again to a 100-point tempo this season, but it surely’d be stunning if he solely completed with a degree per recreation. It would simply take a slight bump in manufacturing for him to get near the 90-point mark.

OK, hear me out on this one.

The Nashville Predators have actually struggled this season and in some unspecified time in the future, they’re more likely to begin promoting. Front and centre to that sale might be Steven Stamkos, who regardless of choosing it up a bit currently, nonetheless solely has 9 factors in 25 video games. Stamkos merely hasn’t appeared the identical since leaving Tampa Bay and one may argue it was a mistake to maneuver on from the Lightning. A reunion wouldn’t be simple based mostly on Stamkos’ contract, but it surely may make a number of sense for all sides. If the Lightning may get Stamkos producing the best way he did in his last season there, it might be an enormous enhance as they attempt to declare the Atlantic Division.

Tampa Bay set a precedent for one of these transfer when it introduced again Ryan McDonagh from Nashville in 2024. Stamkos was an ideal match for the Lightning’s system and excelled on the facility play there, notching 39 of his 81 factors on the person benefit two seasons in the past. It wouldn’t take a lot to fit him again in and let him rip one-timers from Nikita Kucherov once more. Stamkos ought to nonetheless be capable to do this very successfully as he ages.

As for the contract, Stamkos is owed $8 million per yr for the subsequent two seasons, so that may be a little bit of a complication. If Nashville ate a little bit of the deal, although, and took again somebody like Oliver Bjorkstrand, plus different belongings, the 2 sides may make it work. With the cap rising and if the Lightning may get Stamkos’ quantity down barely, Stamkos shouldn’t be an excessive amount of of a burden for the Lightning to tackle if they’re making an attempt to increase their aggressive window so long as potential.

It wouldn’t be a easy deal by any means, but it surely positively may make some sense.

Is there a quieter aim scorer than Geekie? The Boston Bruins ahead is tied with MacKinnon for the league lead in objectives with 20 as he continues his unimaginable tempo to start out the yr. If you assume Geekie is simply on an early-season heater, think about he now boasts a whopping 43 objectives in his previous 65 video games courting again to final season. Geekie is likely one of the major causes the Bruins are hanging round within the playoff image after getting into with minimal expectations. He will get an opportunity to play with David Pastrnak on the facility play and it’s beginning to seem to be Geekie has an actual shot at 50 objectives.

Geekie is scoring at a 60-goal tempo proper now, however that’s nearly definitely going to come back down. He’s presently taking pictures practically 29 per cent, together with his profession common sitting at 16 per cent. At some level that’s going to normalize and Geekie is probably going going to undergo a chilly streak or two. For occasion, he went by way of a stretch final season the place he tallied only one aim in 18 video games. Plus, the Bruins as a complete might decelerate because the season wears on. Credit to them for an amazing begin, however this lineup doesn’t really feel like it might maintain this stage of play for 82 video games. Given how scorching Geekie has began, 40-45 objectives definitely appears inside attain, however 50 simply feels a bit of formidable.

If Charlie Lindgren had his manner, Chychrun could be going to the Olympics. The Washington Capitals goaltender advocated for his defenceman this week: “he has one of the best shots I’ve ever seen in my life… I don’t know how he wouldn’t be on an Olympic team.” It’s not Lindgren’s name, although, and cracking the Team Canada defence corps can be simpler stated than carried out.

However, Chychrun is beginning to put collectively a strong resume for consideration. He owns 10 objectives on the season and has scored in 5 straight video games, placing him on tempo for 33 this season. Chychrun has now totalled double-digit objectives from the blue line for the fifth time in his profession. There are only a few defenders that may discover the again of the web on the charge Chychrun can — you’d assume there needs to be room for his skillset on the Team Canada again finish.

As good as Chychrun is, it’s simply arduous to see who he would bump out of the pecking order on Canada’s blue line. You can take eight defenders to the Olympics, which is yet another than the 4 Nations, however even nonetheless, it’s arduous to think about Chychrun leapfrogging any of Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Morrissey, Shea Theodore, Drew Doughty, Travis Sanheim, Colton Parayko or Thomas Harley, who joined Canada late final February as an damage substitute. A handful of these guys have Stanley Cups and boatloads of playoff expertise, which may work in opposition to Chychrun. He’s by no means made it previous the second spherical and solely performed in 19 post-season video games, with practically half of these coming in 2020.

Then there’s additionally different defencemen that weren’t on the 4 Nations who might have a case. Evan Bouchard, Brandon Montour and the spectacular Matthew Schaefer needs to be thought-about as effectively. The major factor Chychrun supplies is offence, and that gained’t precisely be briefly provide on this Canada roster. There’s nonetheless a couple of month earlier than Canada should identify its workforce and quite a bit can occur between every now and then, together with accidents, but it surely does seem to be the chances stay stacked in opposition to Chychrun making the squad.