One Big Worry for Fans of Each Atlantic Division NHL Team

The Maple Leafs' depth scoring, the Canadiens' rebuild and failed steps forward by the Sabres and Senators are just some of the worries facing fans in the NHL's Atlantic Division. Matthew Knies and Rasmus Dahlin [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0MjA0NzA3MDMwMjQ3MDUy/usatsi_22157165_168400847_lowres.jpg] Matthew Knies and Rasmus Dahlin At their core, sports fans are optimists, and fans of NHL teams are no different. They're always peeking around the corner in hopes that there will be better days ahead. That could mean anything from a turnaround after years of futility to a long championship run, with multiple stages of success in between. The NHL's Atlantic Division captures all aspects of that idea. There's one recent champion, one legendary franchise, recent success stories looking to take the next step and some teams looking to rewrite their resumés from pretenders to contenders. At every stage of the winning cycle, fans also fret. So, after looking at one big worry for each Metropolitan Division [https://thehockeynews.com/news/one-big-worry-for-fans-of-each-metropolitan-division-nhl-team] team earlier this week, the Atlantic fans get the same treatment. BOSTON BRUINS The Bruins have been big spenders at the last two deadlines, giving up three firsts, two seconds and other assets to bring in Hampus Lindholm and rentals Tyler Bertuzzi, Garnet Hathaway and Dmitry Orlov — and failing to win a round. Their prospect pipeline is now down to a trickle, and the Bruins have just eight total picks over the next two drafts. They’ve done well to keep their head above water after losing Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, but could seriously scar their future outlook if they try to push in their chips again this spring. FLORIDA PANTHERS Part of coach Paul Maurice's approach to coaching involves defending his players’ honor to referees. His team actually has been whistled for the second-most penalties [https://www.nhl.com/stats/teams?report=penalties&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20232024&seasonTo=20232024&gameType=2&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=penaltySecondsPerGame&page=0&pageSize=50] so far this season. But with a roster that includes the agitating Sam Bennett, prickly Matthew Tkachuk and newly anointed "most punchable face [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/anonymous-nhl-player-poll-views-sasha-barkov-as-most-underrated-nick-cousins-as-most-punchablehttps://theathletic.com/5239046/2024/01/31/nhl-player-poll-2024/]" Nick Cousins, no one ever calls the Panthers passive. Florida also ranks first in penalties drawn, so their aggressiveness isn't hurting them. It could be a winning recipe for big-boy hockey at playoff time, but it's a risk: spend too much time in the box in a best-of-seven, and your team can suddenly find itself behind the eight-ball. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS The latest concern for Leafs fans is the lack of run support for Toronto's core forwards. The team has scored 169 goals in 49 games. Matthews, Nylander, Marner and Tavares have 103 of them, just under 61 percent. Last year, they accounted for 146 out of 278, or 52.5 percent. By replacing Michael Bunting, Alex Kerfoot, Pierre Engvall and Zach Aston-Reese with Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and Noah Gregor, the offense is more imbalanced, not less. Even if the defense and goaltending hold up, the Leafs may not have a vast enough array of weapons to get it done at playoff time. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING Thought to be yesterday's news in some circles, the 2020 and 2021 champions have gamely kept themselves in playoff position despite damage to their depth and key injuries. The Lightning went into the all-star break with eight wins in their last nine games, and defensemen Erik Cernak and Mikhail Sergachev were activated in time to face the Rangers on Wednesday. But Sergachev was stretchered off the ice [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/news/mikhail-sergachev-leaves-game-early-with-lower-body-injury] in the second period with an ugly-looking leg injury that Steven Stamkos described as "pretty traumatic." If he's sidelined for long, that's a big blow to Tampa Bay's playoff hopes. DETROIT RED WINGS Do Detroit fans dare to dream? Is this the year that the playoff drought comes to an end? As of Thursday, the Atlantic is holding five playoff berths in the East. But if you sort by points percentage, the race is tighter than it looks — the chasing Penguins and Devils have multiple games in hand on the Red Wings and Lightning. But Detroit is the mirror image of Toronto: 10 players have double-digit goals. Alex Lyon has also been red hot, with a 9-3-2 record since late December. After what he did in Florida last season, are you counting him out? MONTREAL CANADIENS The Canadiens have long been hoarding draft picks — 29 in the last three drafts alone, and the last time they had fewer than seven picks was back in 2016. A seventh-ranked 5-on-5 team save percentage of .9250, according to naturalstattrick.com [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/teamtable.php], helped Montreal win perhaps more than its allotted share of games this year. But the Sean Monahan sell-off, while lucrative, underscores that the Canadiens' move up to the mushy middle doesn't mean much in the big picture — yet. There aren't many contracts coming off the books this summer. Can GM Kent Hughes get creative to reshape his roster and help his group move up the ranks? BUFFALO SABRES For Sabres fans, the level of concern is even higher. The aura of possibility surrounding last year's group evaporated faster than you could say, "six-point night for Tage Thompson." The giddiness around his offensive outbursts has vanished, as has most of the excitement around the team. To make matters worse, former Sabres like Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart have thrived in their new homes. As rumors swirl that yet another re-boot is coming, fans have every right to be nervous that the next big name out the door could become some other team's future star and clutch playoff performer. OTTAWA SENATORS At this point, the biggest concern for Senators fans is whether the Michael Andlauer/Steve Staios era can truly transform the franchise. The early months have not been without challenges: the draft-pick forfeit, the Pinto suspension and, most importantly, the continuing struggles on the ice. The team has trended upward since Jacques Martin's arrival [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/five-ottawa-senator-storylines-to-watch-for-the-rest-of-the-season#:%7e:text=The%20Senators%20have%20been%20one%20of%20the%20worst%20defensive%20teams%20all%20season.%20But%20in%20the%20past%2010%20games%2C%20they%27re%206%2D2%2D2.%20Interim%20head%20coach%20Jacques%20Martin%E2%80%99s%20system%20looks%20like%20it%27s%20beginning%20to%20work.], especially in January. But Sens fans and players are very familiar with late-season surges that don't carry over. Can Ottawa use more quality veterans in the Claude Giroux mode? Sure, but that's easier said than done in a small Canadian market, especially without the 'homecoming' card.