News and notes from around the NHL this evening:
- The Arizona Coyotes cancelled Monday night’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings because of bad ice, reports the Associated Press. The team could not get the ice in playable condition after the venue—Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona—hosted a concert Saturday night. The team announced that the preseason game will not be rescheduled. The Coyotes will have time to get the arena ice in working order as they do not play in Glendale again until Saturday night versus the San Jose Sharks.
- The Nashville Predators are on the hunt for a new captain, reports the Tennessean’s Adam Vingan. Mike Fisher, the team’s previous captain, retired during the offseason and opened up the captaincy. Fisher himself benefitted from a vacant captaincy as the Predators traded away former captain Shea Weber last offseason. Vingan reports that choosing Mike Fisher last season was a team no-brainer, but this year’s choice is more difficult. The team does not have an obvious veteran with a rich history with the Predators, so they will have to look for other leadership qualities before opening night.
- The Edmonton Oilers released five players today from training camp:
- Kirill Maksimov – Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
- Ostap Safin – Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
- Dmitri Samorukov – Guelph Storm (OHL)
- Stuart Skinner – Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
- Dylan Wells – Peterborough Petes (OHL)
I for sure think it should be johansen. There’s nothing wrong with giving it to a young star. The oilers did it, others do it. It doesn’t have to be an older tenured player. Johansen seemed to carry the team in the playoffs on the ice and in the club house. He seems like a very good leader to me
It’s not so much about being young anymore as teams such as the Oilers, Avalanche, and penguins have all employed guys under 20 as their captains the past few years. But about whether the rest of the team can accept leadership from such young men and believe those guys will be leaders not only on the score sheet but in the locker room. Someone to rally the troops, and light that fire. Sometimes a guy doesn’t have that in them. They can lead on ice but maybe the locker doesn’t have them, ala Edmonton and guys like Matt Hendricks last year, it wasnt known if CMD had the guys and maybe a year under Matt Hendricks and his leadership he could take it a step further. Turned out unnecessary as Hendricks missed 2/3 of the season and CMD was healthy and lead the league in many stats and was a professional in front of the camera (hopefully the same in the locker room). Johansson has had a contract battle once already and never been a leader yet. Doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t be, but it might take a little more seasoning to influence.