The Daily Faceoff Show: What recurring NHL storylines feel like Groundhog Day?

In case you missed it, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Wednesday morning, which means we should expect six more weeks of winter.

As it relates to the NHL, February can often feel like Groundhog Day, as certain storylines continue to repeat themselves throughout the dog days of the season.

On Wednesday’s episode of "The Daily Faceoff Show," Frank Seravalli and Ryan Clark discussed which NHL storylines often feel like Groundhog Day for them, that they hope to not see continue to repeat themselves.

Clark: “If you’re a fan of this league, probably COVID. But then again, that’s really everybody in the world at this point.

“As it relates to the league, it’s the idea, it’s the interruptions. You don’t know when they’re coming and how long they’re going to last.

“We think about what things look like in December. It’s a month that starts off with: ‘OK, you’re seeing a few things here and there.’ By the end of it, the league had already been on a bit of a pause. You’re seeing taxi squads; you’re seeing all these different adjustments.

“Now we’re at the point where it looks like the league is starting to find more consistency. But at the same time, you look at what February is going to look like with the schedule and it just kind of makes you wonder, what is this going to look like as it tries to get to the point where you can have an 82-game schedule. Still keep the pace you want to keep, as opposed to having to make more adjustments.”

Seravalli: “I can say the Arizona Coyotes and yet another story about either them not paying their bills or the saga in Glendale. Or now, this 5,000-seat arena conversation that seems to pop up. Everyone saying how embarrassing it is for the league. That’s an easy one.

“What’s going to be really monotonous by the end of the season — and it’s going to feel like Groundhog Day, is the lack of interest around the Eastern Conference playoff race.

“You look at it and you go: ‘There’s not really going to be a big change here.’

“The New York Islanders are in the ninth-place spot, tied with the Detroit Red Wings, at .500. The Boston Bruins, holding down that last playoff spot — .640. The change that would need to happen. The absolute or utter collapse from either the Caps or the Bruins and an insane 30-game streak or something like that from the New York Islanders to get back in the mix.

“Yes, the Islanders have played a lot fewer games and have more run way. But still, it’s not happening. These eight teams are set.”

You can watch the full episode of The Daily Faceoff Show here…