I love when a team has distinct flaws but isn’t irredeemable. It’s one of my favorite things in sports, actually—that extended fight to minimize weaknesses and maximize strengths in a journey from “slightly below average” to “slightly above average.” I don’t want a perfect protagonist. The work that goes into moderate improvement is what satisfies me. For that reason, we turn our attention to the Emma Woodhouses of the NHL.
After the extended 4 Nations break, it’s a bit of a jolt to realize that so many teams are suddenly back to high-stakes action on a schedule that feels pretty scrunched. Out in the West, six playoff spots read as extremely secure, while the remaining two look like a battle among Colorado, Calgary, and…