O Canada: Senators, Canucks struggle to score

Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."

Calgary Flames

Plus: Michael Frolik has 10 points in 16 games, and, if things keep up, it looks to be a career year. Frolik is on pace for 52 points, which bests his 45-point rookie campaign with the Florida Panthers.

Minus: Captain Mark Giordano is no where to be found, with zero points in his last nine games and just one goal on the season. This after finishing with 21 tallies last season.

The Take: The Flames had a slow start to the season, winning just one of their first six games. But things haven't picked up much into November, as the team's record sits at 5-10-1, just a single point above the Western Conference basement. That's left some fans calling for change, specifically with coach Glen Gulutzan, who just signed on with the Flames this past offseason.

Edmonton Oilers

Plus: The workhorse Cam Talbot, who has started all but one of the Oilers' games this season, is posting an 8-6-1 record and .918 save percentage through 15 games.

Minus: Oddly, Connor McDavid, who has six points in his last four games, hasn't found the back of the net since a 2-0 win over the Canucks on Oct. 28.

The Take: For years hockey fans have heard how the Oilers would climb the standings, and that's finally come to fruition this season. Through 16 games the Oilers sit atop the Pacific Division and second overall in the Western Conference. More is needed - the team has dropped its last three games, all in regulation - but it's a nice bounce-back to relevancy after years of on-ice losses and off-ice lottery wins.

Montreal Canadiens

Plus: The obvious, Carey Price, who just doesn't lose. The Habs' netminder has won all of the 10 games he's started this season, while posting a ridiculous .957 save percentage. He's allowed just 14 goals on the year.

Minus: It's difficult to be negative about a team that has lost just twice in 16 regulation games, but if something needs to be critiqued, than more is needed from center Tomas Plekanec. A regular 20-goal scorer, he has just one on the season, finding the back of the net in the 12th game of the year. The Czech forward is on pace for only five goals.

The Take: When the Canadiens pulled off the Subban-for-Weber blockbuster, general manager Marc Bergevin noted that it was a deal to remake his team. So far, it's done exactly that. Shea Weber has stabilized the blue line while providing a host of offense along the way, already with 13 points - including seven goals - in 16 games. Couple that with MVP Price, and the Canadiens will contend in the East.

Ottawa Senators

Plus: Mike Condon has taken the ball and run with it since joining the Senators, winning both starts and allowing just one goal in the process.

Minus: The Senators' offense ranks 27th league-wide, so obviously more production is needed. Circle the names Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman, who have combined for just five goals on the year.

The Take: Quite simply, the Senators need to score more and, so far, have looked from within to resolve the issue. Stone is on pace for only 12 goals after scoring a combined 49 the last two seasons, while Hoffman projects to score 16 goals after scoring 29 a year ago. Despite this, the Senators have quickly meshed under new head coach Guy Boucher and currently sit in a playoff spot in the Atlantic division.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Plus: Mitch Marner continues to score and really hasn't had any noticeable slumps through the early part of the season. The rookie forward has 12 points in 15 games.

Minus: He's a rookie, and he's still on pace for 66 points, but Auston Matthews is in a nasty funk. After scoring four goals in his NHL debut, he has just two markers in his last 14 games.

The Take: The Maple Leafs are in the initial stages of a rebuild, and the early returns look promising with their young talent already producing. From Marner and Matthews, to William Nylander - who has four goals and eight assists in 15 games - the Leafs are teeming with offensive upside. As well, defenseman Morgan Rielly has taken another step, with 10 points on the season. If only Toronto's veterans could produce like its young talent.

Vancouver Canucks

Plus: The Canucks' goaltending is doing all it can to give the team a chance. One-time highly touted goalie Jacob Markstrom has found his game in Vancouver, posting a .915 save percentage in eight games.

Minus: Loui Eriksson may have the monkey off his back with two goals in his last three games, but those are his only goals on the season. This isn't what the Canucks had in mind when they signed him to that $6-million per year pact.

The Take: With 33 goals in 16 games, the Canucks have the second-fewest goals in the Western Conference. General manager Jim Benning insists he has a playoff team, but the squad's 6-9-1 record and pesky minus-15 goal differential flies in the face of that. The lack of scoring and overall lack of wins has many Canucks fans and hockey pundits calling for the replacement of head coach Willie Desjardins.

Winnipeg Jets

Plus: Patrik Laine told us months ago that he was the best player in this past summer's entry draft, and he may be right. The rookie sensation leads the NHL with 11 goals.

Minus: Alexander Burmistrov, the former first rounder who has just two points on the season, has recently seen reports suggesting that the Jets would like to move the Russian forward.

The Take: A round of applause is owed to general manger Kevin Cheveldayoff after he recently locked up holdout blue-liner Jacob Trouba, who originally asked out of the Manitoba capital. Trouba has since agreed to a two-year extension with the club and has rescinded his trade request. Trouba's addition helps bolster a blue line which will be key in helping a pair of young netminders in Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson.

Canucks World