NHL - About 15 Games into the Season

Fifteen games into the 2014/2015 NHL Season and we are scratching our heads with the current standings and statistics.

Starting out in the Western Conference, the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets all finished in three of the bottom four spots in 2013/2014; however, each of the three teams are currently sitting in the top eight positions, all with a playoff spot at the moment.These three Canadian teams are currently sitting on top of the last seasons playoff teams such as the San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars and last year's second overall ranked team, the Colorado Avalanche.

This year's currently number one Western Conference team, the Nashville Predators, have a new coach and have changed their mentality quite a bit this year by adding several offensively gifted players rather than focusing purely on defense. The Predators are utilizing newly acquired forwards James Neal and Mike Ribeiro on the top line with their young star Filip Forsberg. This line is easily the top line in the NHL after the first 15 games.

That 70's Line (L.A. Kings - Tyler Toffoli, Jeff Carter, Tanner Pearson) was known as the hot line through the first month but things have calmed down quite a bit since November began.

In the Eastern Conference the major surprises so far are the New York Islanders being situated in fourth place overall in the East when they finished in the bottom five spots the previous season. A healthy John Tavares, youngster Brock Nelson and a few upgrades in defense with Johnny Boychuk and former Chicago Black Hawk Nick Leddy have provided the Islanders with the necessary tools to win and stay competitive this year.

The 2013/2014 President's Trophy Winners, the Boston Bruins and last years Eastern Conference Champions, the New York Rangers are struggling this year, but I am sure with the goal tending and defensive systems they have in place they can turn it around moving forward. 

With all that said, we are only fifteen games in and everything could be flipped upside down in another 15 games from now.

- DP