The 2021-22 NHL season is being called a return to normalcy. Last season was an unprecedented one for the NHL due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Four geographically realigned divisions, including one solely comprising Canadian teams; teams playing only opponents within those divisions; and a new playoff format that eschewed wild-card teams. But it ended just […]
Continue readingWell, some teams are. Others have been weirdly silent, unwilling to make moves to clear cap space, or simply aren’t doing much when more is required. There are also teams that fall in the middle, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs. They’ve made trades and signed players, but are they truly better off? The Leafs […]
Continue readingThe opening hours of NHL free agency did not bring us an answer as to where Nazem Kadri and John Klingberg would be skating in 2022-23, but there was no shortage of money being doled out elsewhere. Plus, we were treated to some blockbuster trades, as the Carolina Hurricanes added Brent Burns and Max Pacioretty […]
Continue readingTalbot, 35, appeared in 49 games for the Wild last season, going 32-12-4 with a .911 save percentage and three shutouts. It was his second season in Minnesota and ninth overall in the NHL. But the Wild dramatically changed their goaltending situation when they acquired star Marc-Andre Fleury from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade […]
Continue readingWhile Colorado gets to enjoy its parade, we’re already turning the page. Here are our way-too-early NHL Power Rankings for the 2022-23 season. Plus, before the fun of free agency begins on July 13, we’re making one recommendation for each club on how it can improve its prospects heading into next season. Don’t worry, Colorado […]
Continue readingThe Wild would prefer to keep the pair in place, general manager Bill Guerin said Tuesday, despite their lack of salary cap space and the recent reminder that such enviable depth typically doesn’t mean as much during the playoffs. “There’s no controversy. There’s no drama. We like both goalies. We like both people,” Guerin said. […]
Continue readingWith more than a week since the 2021-22 NHL trade deadline, it’s given us a small taste of all the traded players suiting up for their new teams — for better or worse. For this week’s Power Rankings, we’ve added notes on how the players acquired this trade season have performed in this way-too-early timeframe. […]
Continue readingAs of Wednesday, 20 of the NHL’s 32 teams have hit the 41-game mark, so it’s the perfect time to check in on their progress against preseason expectations. To help tell the tale, we compared every team’s current standings point pace against their preseason over-under at Caesars Sportsbook. Who’s ahead of pace, who’s falling behind, […]
Continue readingDon’t let their last two games fool you. The Minnesota Wild are for real. And they’ve been pretty spectacular. The Wild had been on the NHL’s hottest run through early December, winners of eight straight games before closing out their recent road trip with back-to-back defeats at L.A. and Vegas. Minnesota’s loss to the Kings […]
Continue readingTonight is the first game of the 2021-22 NHL season that will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu, and it should be a great one. We’ve got a captivating early-season matchup as reigning Calder Trophy winner Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild head out west to take on the feisty Anaheim Ducks at 10 […]
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