However, the most intriguing match-up of all is one of the most contentious through a fantasy lens. On paper, the 10-1-0 Bruins should have little issue in beating a Maple Leafs club that has yet to perform to potential. But the teams are playing at Scotiabank Arena and oddsmakers have Toronto as the early, slim […]
Continue readingThe league’s top five leaders for points square off against each other. With Connor McDavid (No. 1), Leon Draisaitl (No. 2) and the Edmonton Oilers hosting Jesper Bratt (tied for No. 4) and the New Jersey Devils, while David Pastrnak (No. 3) and the Boston Bruins visit Artemi Panarin (tied for No. 4) and the […]
Continue readingThere’s a famous story about Brad Marchand‘s exit meetings in Boston after his rookie season. Throughout Marchand’s draft process and early in his pro hockey career, he was often reminded of what he couldn’t achieve. NHL teams believed he was too small (a 5-foot-9 forward was especially undersized as he was breaking in). Scouts said […]
Continue readingBrad Marchand, at this time last week, was listed to miss another 16 games, returning after the month of November was done. Late Wednesday, his timetable became “before Thanksgiving.” Then, on Thursday, he laced up and scored two goals and one assist in 18 minutes of surprise action. The Bruins gave Marchand the night off […]
Continue readingWhile we wait for the Reverse Retro uniforms to be seen on the ice, here are five things I’m looking forward to this week: Join Arda Ocal and Greg Wyshynski for The Drop, a weekly video podcast on the NHL on ESPN YouTube channel. The show comes out every Thursday and will feature player interviews, […]
Continue readingAs an added bonus, there will be a Star Watch alternate broadcast presentation on ESPN+. For this game, fans can follow Matthew Tkachuk and Steven Stamkos with isolated cameras and statistics. The Star Watch feed will also include the primary game camera, so viewers won’t miss any action. To help get you ready for the […]
Continue readingThe 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 readingI’ll try to spare you (but I’ll inevitably fail to do so). Let’s ease into this by talking about players eligible at both wing and center. Should some of them be? No. Not at all. On one side of the coin, Leon Draisaitl and Elias Lindholm take way too many faceoffs to be considered even […]
Continue readingFolks, your faceoff leader from the 2021-22 campaign is listed as a winger. So is the player that finished third. If they aren’t exclusively centers in the NHL despite taking the most faceoffs, then who really is? We’re good? We can move on? Good. Choose your league size, customize the scoring and set the rules […]
Continue readingAs the old fantasy adage goes, regardless of sport, it’s considerably easier to lose a season-long league on draft day than it is to win one. A few ill-advised choices can sink your chances of fantasy victory right from the start, making for a long, slog of a season. Which renders that three-hour window on […]
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