Frank Seravalli and Mike McKenna shared their picks for the NHL’s biggest disappointments and surprises of the season to date during Tuesday’s episode of the "Daily Faceoff Live" show.
Both Seravalli and McKenna picked members of the middling Calgary Flames as their most disappointing players. Jonathan Huberdeau and Jacob Markstrom have both struggled to make consistent impacts this season, leading to the Flames struggling out of the gate with a 24–17–9 record through 50 games.
On the surprise front, McKenna selected upstart Los Angeles Kings goaltender Pheonix Copley. Seravalli went with Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey, who has a career-best 53 points in just 52 games this year.
Here’s an excerpt from the conversation about the disappointing Flames:
Mike McKenna: It’s Jonathan Huberdeau of the Calgary Flames, and it’s probably low-hanging fruit. He’s got 33 points this year, and 10 goals in over half the season. Last year, he had 85 assists and 115 points. Played all situations. To me, he was a contender for the Hart Trophy at times. At eight years at $10.5 million, that contract looks rich for a player who’s less than a point per game. The way he’s butted heads with Darryl Sutter is kind of problematic to me, man. As far as disappointments, I’d say Huberdeau.
Frank Seravalli: I’m going to stick with the Calgary Flames and I’m going to go with Jacob Markstrom in net. Big money contract for a goalie, someone that has been pretty consistent, but when you go from a .922 to somewhere in the mid-.890s this season, your team is going to suffer as a result. I think the big thing for Markstrom is trying to find his game over this All-Star break because they’re going to need him in Calgary if they’re going to get back into the mix in the Stanley Cup Playoff chase.
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