— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 7, 2023
The Hurricanes rank last in the league with a team save percentage of .867. The goaltending struggled again Thursday, as Pyotr Kochetkov was pulled after allowing three goals on six shots. Antti Raanta didn't play great in relief, allowing three goals on 28 shots.
However, Brind'Amour defended Kotechtkov and instead took aim at the team's preparation.
"You don't blame him. We weren't ready. The faceoff play they ran, we showed it 15 times. Fifteen times before the game, and we fall asleep on it," Brind'Amour said, referring to Edmonton's second goal. "That's just preparation. Guys weren't dialed in."
Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal echoed his coach's comments.
"It was all-around crap. Just no fight back," Staal said. "Everyone was just hoping for a chance."
Staal added his team made it too easy on the Oilers, who scored four goals in the first period, including two in the opening 41 seconds, and never looked back.
"I don't even know if they broke a sweat," he said. "Just all-around embarrassing."
The Hurricanes won't have to wait long for a chance to right the ship, as they're back in action Thursday against the Calgary Flames.
Welcome to the third edition of theScore's 2023-24 Norris Trophy Rankings and the second in-season version. New rankings will be published once a month throughout the campaign.
These rankings focus on analytics and the all-around ability of defensemen rather than only points or reputation.
xGF% = five-on-five expected goals for percentage
5. Jonas Brodin, Wild
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
A
ATOI
xGF%
23
1
8
24:20
58.5
Brodin has never been dynamic offensively, and this season hasn't been any different. He's on pace for 32 points - which would be a career high. However, the Norris hasn't been handed out to someone with 32 points or less since Rod Langway in 1983.
So while Brodin may not be a serious competitor on this list, he'll be more than worthy of some down-ballot love if he keeps up his superb defensive play - the main reason for his appearance. Among defensemen with at least 300 five-on-five minutes, Brodin ranks first in expected goals against per 60 minutes, 10th in xGF%, and fourth in defensive goals above replacement.
Brodin isn't known for his physicality, and he's only racked up six hits. But his positioning is sound and he's among the best in the league at using his stick to break up plays. He ranks 14th with 60 blocked shots.
4. Erik Karlsson, Penguins
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
A
ATOI
xGF%
25
6
13
24:26
56.3
Karlsson isn't on pace to match his historic point production from last season, but he's arguably playing a better all-around game. It helps that he has an improved supporting cast with the Penguins, but Karlsson's xGF% is nearly six percentage points higher than it was a year ago.He's also been far stingier defensively, as he's been on the ice for 30 goals for compared to 16 goals against at five-on-five.
The three-time and reigning Norris Trophy winner hasn't just been a power-play savant, either. It's been the opposite, in fact: 15 of his 19 points have come at five-on-five. He's partly responsible for Pittsburgh's woeful 30th-ranked power play, which is operating at just 9.9%,but Karlsson could climb this list if that starts clicking.
3. Roman Josi, Predators
Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / Getty
GP
G
A
ATOI
xGF%
25
5
13
24:55
57.6
Josi is similar to Karlsson in that they're both former Norris winners, 33 years old and driving five-on-five play at a high rate - even if their point totals pale in comparison to those of the top two on this list.
The edge goes to Josi because he's doing more with less around him. While Karlsson is surrounded by future Hall of Famers, Josi, along with forwards Filip Forsberg and Ryan O'Reilly, is tasked with carrying the Predators. Josi is also the clear No. 1 defenseman in Nashville. In Pittsburgh, Kris Letang helps shoulder the burden.
Josi leads all defensemen with 94 shots this season, ranks 13th in xGF%, and 17th in xGA/60.
2. Quinn Hughes, Canucks
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty
GP
G
A
ATOI
xGF%
26
9
27
24:51
49.0
Hughes is still a beast offensively, racking up 16 points in 14 games since these rankings' last edition on Nov. 9. But his underlying numbers are starting to take a downturn. His xGF% over the last month is 46.1% despite the Canucks' xGF% being 52.6% in the same span. That means that, of late, Vancouver has statistically been better when Hughes is off the ice.
Of course, Hughes leads the team in ice time and soaks up difficult matchups. Those numbers shouldn't be taken as gospel, but he clearly isn't driving play at five-on-five at the same rate he was earlier in the campaign.
So, while he falls out of the top spot, Hughes doesn't deserve to drop any further. Overall, he's been a catalyst to one of the most surprising teams in the 2023-24 season. He's still tied for first among all skaters in assists, tied for fourth in points, and leads all defensemen with 9.4 goals above replacement.
1. Cale Makar, Avalanche
Michael Martin / National Hockey League / Getty
GP
G
A
ATOI
xGF%
23
7
27
24:28
57.3
Makar has missed Colorado's last two games with a lower-body injury, but he was a man on a mission before he went down.
The 2022 Norris winner has produced 20 points in 12 games with a 59.9 xGF% since the last edition of these rankings. Makar has been on the ice for 15 goals for and only six against at five-on-five in that span.
Makar is also tied for his team's lead in points - an impressive accomplishment on a roster featuring Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. The blue-liner is seventh among NHL skaters in points per game, and first among defensemen.
While Makar and Hughes are similarly elite offensively, Makar gets the nod because of his improved play over the last month and his superior underlying results. There's a serious case to be made that Makar should be the frontrunner for the Hart Trophy, which hasn't been won by a defenseman since Chris Pronger achieved the feat in 2000.
The Columbus Blue Jackets traded winger Eric Robinson to the Buffalo Sabres for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2025, the clubs announced Wednesday.
Columbus will receive the pick if Robinson plays 45 games this season, according to CapFriendly. The Blue Jackets have 56 contests remaining.
Robinson, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound power forward, has managed one goal in seven games this season. He's averaged 12 goals, 14 assists, and 134 hits per 82 games throughout his seven-year NHL career.
The 28-year-old notably scored a hat trick - the only one of his career - last season against the Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Robinson is in the final year of his contract with a $1.6-million cap hit. He'll be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.
Patrick Kane will make his Red Wings debut Thursday at home against the San Jose Sharks, the team announced.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion signed a one-year deal with a $2.75-million cap hit with the Red Wings on Nov. 28 after recovering from an offseason hip procedure. He'll become the third player in NHL history to play after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery, joining Ed Jovanovski and Nicklas Backstrom.
Kane, 35, recorded 57 points in 71 games last season split between the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers. He racked up 92 points the year prior.
He's expected to play right wing on the club's second line, with former Blackhawks running mate Alex DeBrincat at left wing and J.T. Compher at center.
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman John Klingberg will undergo season-ending hip surgery at the end of December, general manager Brad Treliving announced Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Joshua Kloke.
Klingberg has been out of the lineup since Nov. 11 and was placed on long-term injured reserve Nov. 23.
The Maple Leafs now have added flexibility to make a move with Klingberg's $4.15-million cap hit on LTIR for the remainder of the campaign. The club has been searching for help on the blue line, as it reportedly tried to land both Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames before the latter was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks.
The winningest bench boss in franchise history is rejoining the club as a senior adviser to D.J. Smith's coaching staff, the team announced.
"We're very pleased to welcome Jacques back to the Senators," president of hockey operations and interim general manager Steve Staios said in a statement. "Not only will his extensive expertise provide invaluable guidance, but his strategic vision and leadership are qualities that are certain to amplify our group. Jacques' proven track record, the foundation of which was built here in Ottawa, will be of significant benefit to D.J. and our entire coaching staff."
Martin was the head coach of the Senators from 1996-2004. During his tenure, he coached 692 games, winning 341 of them - both are the most in club history. He led the team to eight playoff berths, including a trip to the 2003 Eastern Conference Final and three division titles. He also won the Jack Adams Award in 1999.
Martin grew up about an hour outside of Ottawa in Saint-Pascal, Ontario.
He's held various roles since his dismissal from the Senators, including head coach and general manager of the Florida Panthers, head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers, and, most recently, senior adviser for the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs.
The 71-year-old was also an assistant for Canada at the 2002 Olympics, 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and 2006 Olympics.
Martin has specialized in the defensive aspects of the game throughout his coaching career - an area in which the Senators have struggled under Smith. The team has allowed the ninth-most expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five this season, per Natural Stat Trick, and owns the league's 28th-ranked penalty kill.
The Senators hired Smith in May 2019, making him the seventh-longest-tenured coach in the league. However, he's never led them to the playoffs, and the team sits 14th in the conference in points percentage with a 10-10-0 record this season.
Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson returned from injury Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Thompson missed nine games with an upper-body ailment. He suffered the injury on Nov. 14 against the Boston Bruins when he blocked a shot with his hand.
Thompson had six goals and six assists in 16 games prior to his return.
The 6-foot-6 sniper was in an unusual spot during Tuesday's game. Rather than centering the top line, Thompson played right wing with Jeff Skinner and Casey Mittelstadt.
Moving from wing to center helped propel Thompson's breakout campaign in 2021-22 when he potted 38 goals. He followed that up with 47 tallies last season. Since the start of 2021-22, Thompson ranks 11th among NHL skaters with 91 goals.
The 2024 NHL Draft will take place at The Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28-29, the league's board of governors confirmed Tuesday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
It'll also mark the final draft before decentralizing, Dreger adds. Each team's key front office members have typically attended the NHL draft, but after 2024, it'll operate similarly to the NFL draft, where each team makes its picks from a remote war room.
The Sphere is a $2.3-billion, 18,600-seat music and entertainment arena located just off of the Las Vegas strip. Its advanced audio and video capabilities, wraparound LED screen, and 4D physical effects have generated attention.
U2 opened with the venue's first concert on Sept. 29.
NHL drafts have predominately been held inside a team's arena over the last three decades.
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom suffered a fractured finger during Monday's practice and will be out week-to-week, the team announced Tuesday.
The injury won't require surgery.
Netminder Dustin Wolf has been recalled from the AHL in a corresponding move.
Markstrom has posted an .896 save percentage and a 2.94 goals against average in 16 games this season. His numbers below the surface are more impressive, as he ranks fifth among NHL goalies with 10.47 goals saved above expected, per Evolving-Hockey.
Wolf is the two-time reigning AHL goalie of the year. He owns a .920 save percentage in 13 games in the minors this season. The 22-year-old projects to split starts with Dan Vladar in Markstrom's absence.
Carbery said Darcy Kuemper will start in goal, against his former team. With Kuznetsov out, expecting the forward lines to be: Ovechkin-Strome-Wilson Protas-McMichael-Mantha Milano-Lapierre-Phillips Malenstyn-Dowd-NAK https://t.co/lKyE5GAB6i
It's the first time Kuznetsov has been a healthy scratch since May 3, 2021, when he was late to a team function and sat for disciplinary reasons.
Kuznetsov produced just four goals and five assists in 19 games this season and has only managed one point in his last six contests. He's struggled defensively, too.
I wonder what the Capitals saw in Kuznetsov's minutes so far this season that made them decide to healthy scratch him. pic.twitter.com/Hba2ejnzn9
The 31-year-old reportedly requested a trade this past offseason. He has two years left on his contract with a $7.8-million cap hit, making him the third-highest-paid player on the active roster.
Kuznetsov has spent his entire 11-year career in Washington and ranks seventh on the franchise's all-time points list with 560.
