Several star players in the National Hockey League (NHL) have not lived up to expectations since the start of the season.
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Here are five athletes who will have their hands full through April trying to catch up on their rough start to the season.
Jonathan Huberdeau, Calgary Flames
The important transaction involving the Saint-Jérôme native will have to wait to crown a winner as both the Flames and Florida Panthers appear to have emerged from the race weakened. It’s hard to deny, however, that Matthew Tkachuk adapted to the Florida sun much more easily than Huberdeau did to cold Alberta. With 10 goals and 33 points in 47 duels, the Quebecer is experiencing a dizzying drop in production. His 22 equalized points should make general manager Brad Treliving nervous, who will see Huberdeau making $10.5 million a year starting next season.
Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames
If it can reassure Huberdeau, he’s not the only unrecognizable Flames player this 2022-2023 season. It’s honestly difficult to explain the setbacks suffered by the Swedish goalkeeper, who finished second in the Vézina Trophy last season. With a 13-13-5 record, 0.893 save percentage and 2.86 goals against average, Markstrom is a far cry from the standards he’s set in his last seven seasons in the league. This is all the more surprising as Darryl Sutter’s hermetic system still seems to be working: The Flames are the third team to have allowed the fewest shots since the start of the season. Markstrom’s status as first goalkeeper is more precarious than ever. Surprising Dan Vladar has already played 19 games in 2022-2023.
Ryan O’Reilly, St Louis Blues
NHL players often have the best season of their careers waiting for a new contract. That’s not the case for the St. Louis Blues captain, however, whose average points per game (0.43) is the lowest since the 2010-2011 season! Like the Missouri team, O’Reilly is no shadow of its own. The 2019 Selke Trophy winner’s defensive play is also on the decline. His faceoff efficiency, one of his greatest strengths, has dropped from 56.8% to 53.4%, and after just 37 games he has a staggering -28 difference. In short, nothing that could help his agent in his future contract negotiations.
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Here’s another attacking star who’s set to reach full autonomy this summer and doesn’t live up to expectations. Granted, sharing a top 6 with forwards like Jason Dickinson, Andreas Athanasiou and Taylor Raddysh isn’t an ideal situation for Kane. However, if a player rakes in an annual salary of $10.5 million, they are expected to manage to improve the game of their teammates. Kane’s defensive generosity has always been evident, but it’s even more so when his offensive production isn’t there. The three-time Stanley Cup champion’s 34 points in 45 games could keep an ambitious team from taking him by the close.
John Klingberg, Anaheim Ducks
Roughly six months after the last free agent market opened, it’s hard to believe that a derby was held to secure the Swede’s services. Given the Ducks’ lack of depth, we couldn’t expect much performance from Klingberg with consistent strength. But when the Anaheim team awarded him a one-year, $7 million contract, it was primarily to orchestrate his power play. A complete failure you say? The Ducks are the third-worst powerplay team in the league, with a 15.86% save percentage, despite the presence of talented forwards like Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry. Klingberg has only four points in this situation despite being allowed an average of 2:18 per game on the power play.