During the off-season, we saw various notable players join new teams. While some have already been early successes for their new clubs, other players have struggled thus far.
Therefore, let’s examine three NHL players who are off to rough starts with their new teams this season.
Steven Stamkos, Nashville Predators
After a legendary 16-year stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Steven Stamkos signed a four-year, $32-million contract with the Nashville Predators this past summer. The future Hall of Famer had a strong final season in Tampa, posting 40 goals and 81 points in 79 games. However, he has not translated that kind of production over to Nashville early on.
Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Stamkos has had a slow start with the Predators, recording six goals, 10 points, and a minus-14 rating in 20 games. He has not necessarily broken through yet, either, as he has just five points over his last nine games.
Given Stamkos’ elite skill, he undoubtedly has the potential to heat back up. However, it is hard not to say that his start in Nashville has been underwhelming.
Elias Lindholm, Boston Bruins
During the off-season, the Boston Bruins signed Elias Lindholm to a seven-year, $54.25-million contract. The move was unsurprising, as the Bruins desperately needed a top-six center and had been connected to Lindholm for quite some time.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Lindholm made an impact in his first three games as a Bruin, posting two goals and five points. However, things have gone terribly for the 2013 first-round pick since.
Lindholm has scored just a single goal in the last 18 games and has just four assists over that span. He is expected to be an impactful offensive contributor for the Bruins, but he is far from it right now. If the Bruins hope to turn their season around, they will need Lindholm to get going.
Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators made a big splash this off-season when they acquired Linus Ullmark from the Bruins. It was no secret that they needed an upgrade between the pipes, so landing a star like Ullmark was massive. They then signed Ullmark to a four-year, $33-million contract extension before the start of the season.
Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
However, Ullmark has had a challenging start to his tenure with the Senators. In his first 12 appearances this season, the 31-year-old has a 4-6-1 record, a 3.00 goals-against average, and a .887 save percentage. He has also allowed five goals in three out of his last six starts.
While Ullmark’s start in Ottawa has not been the best, he has the skill to turn things around. Just last season with the Bruins, he had a 22-10-7 record and a .915 save percentage. This was after he won the Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy in 2022-23.
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