I non boldly predict scoring declines over the course of the year as teams have played each other repeatedly and game plans put playoff like focus on shutting down team’s top players and lines. With 3-4 games in a row vs one team both sides will have lots of opportunity to make adjustments that provide visible benefit. Coaching and team scouting will be more efficient with only 6 teams to key on for the whole season.
I can’t see Gaudreau hitting his highest scoring rate ever in the NHL this season. Gaudreau gets contained in the playoffs when teams key on him more than in one off games. We’ve seen he’s unable to adapt and change his game in a series.
Flames won’t have any weak opponents other than the Oilers to feast on. Even the Sens have Murray in net. Price, Hellebuck, Andersen, and Holtby/Demko won’t be easy.
Gaudreau’s ice time might even take a hit if Tkachuk - Lindholm - X becomes a successful line as some are hoping.
Or all of this could be moot were he traded to a team with #1 centers.
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