Kraken, Canucks early season
Until the “coaching takes over”, the first two to three weeks of the NHL season usually lack predictability. This can be fun for those wagering on games; it can also be nerve wracking for those seeking some consistency.
Wait it out, or roll the dice?
October can bring a lot of “overs” and a lot of results where mediocre to poor teams beat clubs they typically wouldn’t defeat once the season settles in.
It might be fun to take a stab here and there at the “upsets” while things are a bit sloppy.
This early season, two factors will likely contribute to this phenomena more than ever.
One, the shorter preseason means less preparation and less time on-ice for veterans. Players are limited to two preseason matches with the returning NHL’ers getting their ice time later in the week. If the Kraken and Canucks early preseason rosters are any indication of a league-wide tendency, rookies and prospects saw lots of action in the first two games.
Drills are great, but getting used to the real thing, especially when new systems are involved, will take a bit of time.
Secondly, there have been a half dozen coaching changes in the NHL. That means it might take a bit longer for the new systems to kick in, leading to even more mistakes with things at full speed.
That means keeping an eye on the Los Angeles Kings (Peter Laviolette), Vegas Golden Knights (Ryan Craig, with the club’s hangover from losing the Stanley Cup Final to boot), Vancouver Canucks (Manny Malhotra), and Toronto Maple Leafs (Jim Hiller).
You might throw the New York Islanders and our pal Pete DeBoer in this mix. He only coached four games with the team at the end of last season.
I get the feeling an exception to this will be the Edmonton Oilers and their new bench boss. Although they’ve been known to have slow starts, I think with Mike Babcock at the helm, Connor McDavid and all the boys will be laser focused from the get-go. They also rid themselves of the over-rated Darnell Nurse on the back-end. I like them as favorites.
The Seattle Kraken are another team with which to roll the dice, although there’s a dichotomy. The club is talking about icing a very young line-up. Great for energy and enthusiasm, heavy on the mistakes.
Choose wisely.
(Editor’s note: The editor of this site quit wagering on sports 18 years ago. If you’re taking part, have fun, but proceed carefully. Know your limits.)
Earlier Kraken:
— Dunn: Expect “Positive Changes From Kraken Leadership Group”
