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Winners and losers of the NHL’s new CBA
Remember salad bars? Nobody likes everything at the salad bar. Grape tomatoes, for example. Little marbles of acidic goo that I wouldn’t even consider for aesthetic adornment. Unless you’re in Vegas, there’s a finite number of bins and tubs at the salad bar. That those grape tomatoes take up valuable real estate that could otherwise […]
Continue readingEnd of season rankings: Who to keep and who to draft for next season
How does the next regular season get structured and started? We’ve had hints that the Stanley Cup wouldn’t be presented until maybe October, which leaves a new season, what, sometime in December? How does the draft and free agency work with a postponed playoff tournament? In fact, how is the whole offseason structured and how […]
Continue reading2020 NHL playoffs guide: Stanley Cup chances, biggest roster questions, bold predictions for all 24 teams
The NHL is set to return from its monthslong pause because of the coronavirus pandemic. The postseason will be played out with a 24-team format, with 12 teams from the Eastern Conference skating in Toronto and their Western Conference counterparts heading to Edmonton, Alberta. Some have said this format could be the greatest NHL playoffs […]
Continue reading10 lingering questions about the NHL return-to-play bubbles
My favorite thing about the “return to play” documents released by the NHL and the NHLPA this week — besides the whole “here’s a way to bring hockey back this summer” thing — is the subtle renaming of their “hubs” as the much more heavy metal “Phase 4 Secure Zone,” which sounds like something Katniss […]
Continue readingThe X factors that will shape the 2020 NHL playoffs
The NHL’s 24-team tournament this summer promises to be one of the most unpredictable — if not fascinating — postseasons for hockey ever. The paused season due to the coronavirus pandemic provided significant extra time for injured stars to mend, and there are a number of intriguing lineup decisions that could have an outsized impact, […]
Continue readingFuture Hall of Famers for all 31 NHL teams
If only there were a formula that could determine Hall worthiness … Well, three years ago, we created one. It’s a simple four-quadrant test that one can apply to prospective Hall of Fame candidates to see whether they have the stuff of legends, and here it is: 1. Individual production: This encompasses a player’s statistical […]
Continue readingNHL Awards Watch: Likely finalists, hipster picks, unfair snubs
While there was some brief confusion about where statistics from the qualification round would end up, they’re now playoff stats and the regular-season numbers are set in stone. Hence, we got the news that the stat-based regular-season awards for 2019-20 have been decided, with Leon Draisaitl taking home the Art Ross Trophy for most points, […]
Continue readingRod Brind’Amour’s take on the NHL’s playoff format, empty arena games and his training camp plan
In an appearance on ESPN on Ice this week, Brind’Amour discussed why his team was one of two to vote against the 24-team format, how he’ll handle the return of European players, his thoughts on drawing the New York Rangers in the first round, the impact of crowdless games and, of course, what a post-pandemic […]
Continue readingNHL viewers club: That time an emergency backup goalie beat the Maple Leafs
Today’s game: Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs, played on Saturday, Feb. 22. It’s a “Hockey Night in Canada” telecast for a Saturday night game between the Canes and Leafs. Both of these teams have playoff aspirations, had a few bumps to start the season, but found themselves in decent shape for this tilt. This […]
Continue readingFantasy hockey rankings update: Need to know playoff pickups
When injuries or ineffectiveness strike your roster, you need to know who’s available and who’s performing. Here are a few names ranking better than 105th on the ESPN Player Rater for the past 30 days, and available in at least 40 percent of leagues. Duncan Keith, D, Chicago Blackhawks (available in 60 percent of ESPN […]
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