There are all kinds of pressures in hockey. Sometimes it’s there to encourage more out of a player. Other times, pressure is a positive reflection of what promise lies in potential.
The NHL has turned the page to this final month of the regular season. As it goes, we’ll be watching how one player from each club handles the weight of a little added expectation — good, bad or (maybe) ugly.
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors rates teams against one another — taking into account game results, injuries and upcoming schedule — and those results are tabulated to produce the list featured here.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the last edition, published March 30. Points paces are through Tuesday’s games.
Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 0.757
Next seven days: @ WPG (Apr. 8), @ EDM (Apr. 9)
Player under pressure: Josh Manson. Manson arrived in Colorado only a few weeks ago, but the pending UFA already said he hopes to stick around long term. In that case, Manson must keep upping the ante. The 31-year-old blueliner is a depth piece for the Avs, and every shift must be meaningful. Colorado is primed for a Stanley Cup run, and how Manson contributes will begin determining his future.
Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 0.743
Next seven days: vs. BUF (Apr. 8), @ NSH (Apr. 9), vs. ANA (Apr. 12)
Player under pressure: Ben Chiarot. It’s not all picking on the new guys, I swear. Like it or not, Florida swung hard on the Chiarot trade — and both sides need a strong return. Chiarot, another pending UFA, is playing for his next contract, and with Aaron Ekblad unavailable, Florida is counting on the new arrival to fill in the gaps now and into playoffs. Great expectations and opportunity.
Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 0.700
Next seven days: vs. BUF (Apr. 7), vs. NYI (Apr. 8), vs. ANA (Apr. 10), @ NYR (Apr. 12)
Player under pressure: Max Domi. The loss of Jesperi Kotkaniemi impacts Carolina’s forward depth,…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at www.espn.com – NHL…