The 8 Biggest Disappointments from the 2020-21 NHL Regular Season

A few players who changed teams had difficulty adjusting to their new clubs.Here's a look at the eight biggest disappointments from this NHL regular season.The Vancouver Canucks ended their 2020-21 season with a 6-2 loss to the Calgary Flames. His regular-season production tumbled to 29 points in 41 games.Kuznetsov's output, however, was declining before this season. Following a career-high 83 points in 2017-18, he tallied 72 points the following season and just 52 points in 63 games in 2019-20.In September 2019, the league suspended him for three games for "inappropriate conduct." On May 4, TSN's Pierre LeBrun pointed out Kuznetsov and Samsonov were scratched from a recent game for missing a team function.Kuznetsov also became the subject of late-season trade rumors. While they finished a respectable fourth place in the Western Conference during the regular season, they weren't among the favorites to reach the Stanley Cup Final.Despite losing starting goalie Ben Bishop to a knee injury and center Tyler Seguin being hampered by a hip injury, the Stars reached the Cup Final for the first time in 20 years. He out-dueled Carey Price to eliminate the Montreal Canadiens from the first round of the 2020 playoffs and won three of six games against the New York Islanders in the second round before falling in seven games.Big things were expected for Hart this season, but events didn't unfold as hoped. Following last season's 24 wins, 2.42 goals-against average and .914 save percentage, the 22-year-old won just nine games in 27 appearances this year, sporting a league-worst 3.67 GAA and .877 save percentage. He missed the final 13 games of the season with a sprained MCL.Hart's difficulties, however, had little to do with his knee injury. Even if they somehow get past the Leafs, their regular-season performance since February was among the season's biggest disappointments.Several factors contributed to the Buffalo Sabres missing the playoffs this season.