One thing on each NHL team’s holiday wish list – Yahoo Sports

Posted: December 29, 2021 at 10:19 am

So this is Christmas, and what have you done?

That's the question every NHL team should be asking itself as the league enters its abrupt, COVID- and Christmas-induced pause to the 2021-22 season. With most squads roughly over a third of the way into the schedule, each team has a pretty good idea of what it has and what it doesn't.

While there are certainly some really solid teams in the league, you'd be hard-pressed to find one that's perfect. With it being the holiday season and all, here's one thing each NHL team should be putting on their wish list.

Anaheim Ducks: More of this.

Arizona Coyotes: A place to play hockey games after this season ends would be nice.

Boston Bruins: Some depth scoring.

Only five forwards on the Bruins have scored more than 10 points. (NHL.com)

Buffalo Sabres: Where do I start?

Calgary Flames: Maybe we could get Darryl Sutter to crack a smile?

Carolina Hurricanes: Good health is about all this team needs. It's pretty loaded!

Chicago Blackhawks: How about some offense? Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews get paid a combined $21 million, and the two have teamed up for 38 points in 30 games. Only the Coyotes, Canadiens, and Islanders have scored fewer goals per game than the Hawks, which is a concerning group to be among.

Colorado Avalanche: It'd be great if the top line could actually skate together. In 27 games this season, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Gabriel Landeskog have all been on the ice in just 10 contests.

The Avalanche's star-studded top line hasn't had many opportunities to play together this season. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)

Columbus Blue Jackets: Cole Sillinger to show that he can play in the top-six. The 18-year-old rookie has had an OK first campaign, but he was one of the team's three first-round picks from the 2021 NHL Draft and figures to be one of the cornerstones of the Blue Jackets' rebuild.

Dallas Stars: A resurgent Tyler Seguin. Now back from knee and hip surgeries, the Stars forward has just eight goals and 14 points in 29 games.

Detroit Red Wings: A Moritz Seider or Lucas Raymond Calder Trophy. Both rookies have been great this season, and are among the betting favourites for the award.

Story continues

Edmonton Oilers: A healthy Mike Smith would be nice. When your fanbase is debating who's better between Stuart Skinner and Mikko Koskinen, you know things are getting pretty rough.

Florida Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky to start being "the guy" again. The Russian puck-stopper has faltered since his red-hot start to the season, owning a poor .867 save percentage over his last seven appearances.

Los Angeles Kings: Can Dustin Brown score some goals, please? This man has taken 92 shots, which sits top-30 in the NHL, yet he only has four goals to show for it.

Minnesota Wild: Some better goaltending would be great. Cam Talbot has been OK while Kaapo Kahkonen has seen mixed results when given opportunities. If this team wants to be a Stanley Cup contender, the play between the pipes will need to be better.

Montreal Canadiens: #PainForShane. It's been a pretty brutal year to be a Habs fan.

Nashville Predators: Can we get this team a better Stadium Series jersey, please?

New Jersey Devils: A Jack Hughes breakout. The 2019 first-overall pick is in his third season, and it's about time he starts to consistently showcase the high-end potential that landed him such high draft capital in the first place.

New York Islanders: Some semblance of offense. The Isles' 2.19 goals per game is third-worst in the NHL. The squad has never been an offensive dynamo under Barry Trotz, but New York has been a tough watch for hockey fans this season.

New York Rangers: More Jacob Trouba body checks. He's lowered the boom on several opponents this season.

Ottawa Senators: A goalie. Definitely could use someone who is good at stopping pucks.

Philadelphia Flyers: A good ol' fashioned rebuild. The Flyers have tried to win with this core, they really have, but it seems unlikely this team's next championship window is going to include players like Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Getting this first line healthy. Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and Bryan Rust have all dressed in just six of Pittsburgh's 30 games this year. Not to mention, Evgeni Malkin hasn't laced them up at any point this season, either.

San Jose Sharks: I honestly couldn't tell you what the Sharks want. I can't figure out if they're trying to make the playoffs or tank.

Maybe that explains why they're stuck in standings purgatory.

Seattle Kraken: An identity.

St. Louis Blues: Charlie Lindgren to be Jordan Binnington 2.0? The career minor-leaguer owned an 8-1-1 record and a .925 save percentage with the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds and has been just as good in the NHL, posting a 5-0-0 record and a .958 save percentage for the Blues.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Some salary cap circumvention to revamp that third line.

Toronto Maple Leafs: A playoff series win.

Vancouver Canucks: They already opened their present.

Vegas Golden Knights: A happy and healthy Jack Eichel.

Washington Capitals: More Ovi goals and more Ovi records.

Winnipeg Jets: A winning father-son duo. Interim head coach Dave Lowry is the father of longtime and current Jets centre Adam Lowry.

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