The one key flaw holding back each Western Canadian NHL team, per insider

With a quarter of the NHL season gone, each Western Canadian team faces a defining question that could shape its season, says insider Adam Vingan.

The top line of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Gabe Vilardi has carried the load with 22 goals and 51 points through 19 games, outscoring opponents 16-11 at five-on-five, second only to Colorado's top line.

But beyond Nino Niederreiter, no other Jets forward has reached double-digit points, and no other line has been on the ice for more than three goals at five-on-five. Without depth scoring, the Jets risk becoming one-dimensional.

The Vancouver penalty kill rate of 67.1% would be the worst recorded since the stat was tracked beginning in 1977-78, a steep fall from last season's 82.6%.

The system collapse is structural, with opponents completing 61.7% of slot passes, up from a league-low 53.7% last year.

Goaltending isn't the culprit, despite allowing more than four goals above expected while shorthanded; this is because the defensive environment has cratered.

A 7-4 loss to Washington was emblematic of a season where Edmonton has allowed four or more goals 11 times, tied for the most in the league.

A once-reliable blue line underperformed: Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard's expected-goal share fell from 60.7% to 52.8%, prompting their separation. Darnell Nurse leads the league in turnovers directly resulting in goals within 10 seconds.

With the league's worst record, selling assets appears likely. Nazem Kadri, Rasmus Andersson and Blake Coleman all profile as attractive pieces, especially Andersson, who logs heavy minutes in all situations and drives shot volume from the point.

So, according to Vingan, playoff hopes for Western Canadian teams depend on quick answers from Vancouver's special teams, an overhaul regarding Calgary's ageing veterans, a defensive mess in Edmonton figuring it out, and depth players stepping up in Winnipeg.