Kevin Shattenkirk's game is being called into question by yet another NHL head coach.
In December, Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals apologized for suggesting Shattenkirk isn't a top-pair defenseman following a failed playoff run with last season's Presidents' Trophy winners. And now, in advance of Monday's Winter Classic, New York Rangers bench boss Alain Vigneault admitted it's taken longer than expected for Shattenkirk to establish himself with his new club.
"I would say he's a work in progress," Vigneault said Sunday, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "There's no doubt that our expectations and his expectations are a little bit higher than what we've seen so far."
Shattenkirk was dealt to Washington by the St. Louis Blues prior to last season's trade deadline, and he then signed four-year, $26.6-million contract with the Rangers on July 1, 2017. He enters Monday's outdoor game against the Buffalo Sabres with five goals and 17 assists to his credit, but he's been held without a goal over his past 22 games and is pointless in the last five.
Vigneault suggested the pressure of playing in his hometown may be weighing on the defenseman.
"I think (Shattenkirk) is probably putting a little bit of pressure on himself to do real well in front of new teammates, a new environment, friends and family," he said. "Sometimes it takes a little bit of time."
The New Rochelle, N.Y., native expects 100 friends and family members to be in the stands at Citi Field for the Winter Classic. A breakout on the big stage would do everyone well.
Two players battled all year long for individual supremacy, and in the end, it was Nikita Kucherov who edged Connor McDavid as the NHL's most productive in the 2017 calendar year.
The Tampa Bay Lightning winger led the league in both goals and points over the last year, while the Edmonton Oilers center - who finished second in points - came out on top in helpers.
Here's a look at the 12 top-scoring players since Jan. 1, 2017, all of whom hit the 80-point plateau:
Player
Team
Games
Goals
Assists
Points
Nikita Kucherov
Lightning
81
52
54
106
Connor McDavid
Oilers
83
30
72
102
Blake Wheeler
Jets
83
26
64
90
Patrick Kane
Blackhawks
81
39
51
90
John Tavares
Islanders
80
38
50
88
Nicklas Backstrom
Capitals
86
22
65
87
Mark Scheifele
Jets
81
32
55
87
Brad Marchand
Bruins
70
44
42
86
Josh Bailey
Islanders
85
20
62
82
Sidney Crosby
Penguins
83
32
50
82
Alex Ovechkin
Capitals
87
40
42
82
Jack Eichel
Sabres
84
33
47
80
Kucherov has 25 goals and 31 assists through 38 games to begin 2017-18, and is the favorite to unseat McDavid as the NHL's Art Ross and Hart Trophy winner at season's end.
theScore's NHL Power Rankings are published every other Monday. Our seventh installment is put together by editors Cory Wilkins, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman.
1. Vegas Golden Knights (26-9-2) ▲
Previously 5th
Vegas knows winning. The Golden Knights recently became the first expansion team to reel off six straight wins and are one of the hottest teams coming out of the holiday break. - Wilkins
2. Washington Capitals (24-13-3) ▲
Previously 3rd
Don't overlook the Capitals. Winners of the past two Presidents' Trophies, Washington is getting hot as we approach midseason. - Wilkins
3. Los Angeles Kings (23-11-5) ▲
Previously 4th
After a down season a year ago, the Kings are back and looking like the team that won it all in 2012 and 2014. - Wilkins
4. Toronto Maple Leafs (23-15-2) ▲
Previously 9th
The Maple Leafs scoring machine is roaring again, as Toronto has netted 26 goals in its last six outings. - Wilkins
5. Winnipeg Jets (23-11-6) ▲
Previously 8th
The Jets keep soaring along, but the team's offensive game will be challenged with Mark Scheifele out for the long term. - Wilkins
6. Tampa Bay Lightning (28-8-2) ▼
Previously 2nd
A slight dip for the Lightning, who have cooled in recent weeks. Among the changes from the start of the season? Nikita Kucherov, who has just two tallies in his last six appearances. - Wilkins
7. San Jose Sharks (20-12-4)
Previously 7th
The netminding duo of Martin Jones and Aaron Dell has impressed, holding down the fort for the low-scoring Sharks. - Wilkins
8. Boston Bruins (21-10-6) ▲
Previously 17th
The Bruins have pieced together eight consecutive games without a regulation loss and now sit in second place in the Atlantic Division. - Wilkins
9. Nashville Predators (23-10-5) ▼
Previously 1st
Nashville has scored just 15 goals in its past six outings, and that lagging production won't be helped with Filip Forsberg on the sidelines. - Wilkins
10. New Jersey Devils (22-10-6) ▲
Previously 12th
The surprise factor has worn off as the Devils remain one of the most consistent teams this campaign. - Wilkins
11. New York Rangers (20-13-5)
Previously 11th
The Rangers continue to stick around in the Metro race, but will need to tighten things up in their own end if it's going to last. -O'Leary
12. Dallas Stars (22-15-3) ▲
Previously 15th
For whatever reason, Dallas is nearly unstoppable at home and quite mediocre on the road, which is why the Stars are stuck near the middle of the pack. -O'Leary
13. St. Louis Blues (24-15-2) ▼
Previously 6th
The loss of Jaden Schwartz has hurt immensely, and the Blues have won just three of their last 10.
14. Edmonton Oilers (17-19-3) ▲
Previously 24th
The Oilers look much better lately, but still have quite a road ahead to reach the playoff cut line. Whether Connor McDavid and Co. can pull it off should prove to be highly entertaining down the stretch. -O'Leary
15. Columbus Blue Jackets (22-15-3) ▼
Previously 13th
Sergei Bobrovsky had a December to forget, winning just four starts, but the team in front of him needs to be way better, too. -O'Leary
16. New York Islanders (20-15-4) ▼
Previously 14th
Being sandwiched between the Coyotes and Sabres in any stat - particularly goals allowed - is not a good place to be, especially for a team as offensively exciting as the Islanders. -O'Leary
17. Anaheim Ducks (17-14-8) ▲
Previously 19th
The Ducks continue to get key pieces back, and suddenly sit just one point out of a wild-card spot. -O'Leary
18. Minnesota Wild (20-16-3) ▼
Previously 16th
Just about halfway through the season, the Wild do indeed still exist. -O'Leary
19. Carolina Hurricanes (18-13-7) ▲
Previously 22nd
Carolina's surged for seven wins in 10 games, because another playoff competitor is exactly what the Metropolitan Division needed. -O'Leary
20. Chicago Blackhawks (18-14-6) ▼
Previously 10th
Jeff Glass nabbing his first NHL win was a nice story and all, but this club needs Corey Crawford desperately to have a chance. -O'Leary
21. Pittsburgh Penguins (19-18-3) ▼
Previously 18th
It's time to accept the Penguins are nowhere near the team they were for the past two seasons. A big-time acquisition would certainly help, but they have very little trade bait to offer. - Wegman
22. Florida Panthers (17-16-5) ▲
Previously 27th
Don't look now, but the Panthers have won five in a row, thanks in large part to stellar goaltending from James Reimer. Unfortunately, it might be too little too late for the Cats. - Wegman
23. Colorado Avalanche (19-16-3) ▲
Previously 26th
A playoff appearance this season is still unlikely, but the Avs are very exciting to watch, and they're undoubtedly trending in the right direction. - Wegman
24. Philadelphia Flyers (16-14-8) ▼
Previously 20th
The Flyers are easily the streakiest team in the league, and their lack of consistency will ultimately keep them out of the postseason. - Wegman
25. Vancouver Canucks (16-18-5) ▼
Previously 23rd
There's a lot to like about what Vancouver has done this season, but Bo Horvat's injury erased their status as a potential playoff contender. - Wegman
26. Montreal Canadiens (16-19-4) ▼
Previously 21st
The Habs have scored three goals during their current four-game losing streak. That just about sums up their season. - Wegman
27. Buffalo Sabres (10-20-8) ▲
Previously 30th
Another year, another basement-dwelling season for the Sabres. At least the Buffalo Bills' playoff berth eliminates some of the negativity surrounding the city's sports teams. - Wegman
Sweden extended its preliminary-round winning streak at the World Junior Hockey Championship to 44 games with a 4-3 shootout win over Russia on Sunday. The run has now spanned over 11 years.
Unfortunately for the Swedes, perfection in the round robin hasn't always translated to success in the medal rounds. During the streak, they've won gold just once - in 2012 - and haven't finished on the podium since 2014.
However, with 17-year-old phenom Rasmus Dahlin leading the way on the back end, Sweden are certainly well-equipped to end their gold-medal drought.
Canada's next stop on the road to gold at the world juniors is a quarterfinal matchup against Team Switzerland on Tuesday.
The contest was confirmed following Switzerland's 6-3 loss to the Czech Republic Sunday.
Canada finished the four-game round robin schedule with a 3-0-1-0 record, while Switzerland went 1-0-0-3. The two sides did not meet in preliminary action.
The remaining quarterfinals will be decided following three contests on Sunday: Finland vs. the United States; Denmark vs. Slovakia; and Sweden vs. Russia.
