Who Could Survive Armageddon In Net?
The NHL’s neighbors on turf, the NFL, came very close to seeing a rare nightmare scenario today. The New England Patriots, already down future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady to suspension, lost backup Jimmy Garoppolo to a shoulder injury and were forced to put third-string QB Jacoby Brissett in to finish the game. In the short term, had Brissett been injured as well, the Patriots would have been hard-pressed to find a suitable replacement on the spot. However, the more important factor is the long-term, as the Patriots play again on Thursday night, and are now down to an inexperienced rookie quarterback and no other available QB’s on the roster.
The equivalent to this scenario on the ice is the loss of multiple goalies. The most crucial part of any successful hockey team, losing both the starting and backup goalie is a rare, but when it occurs it is a death knell for the majority of organizations. It has of course occurred in the short-term before, with the wacky stories of goalie coaches and nearby minor-league washouts or former college players getting an emergency call to duty. But just like the NFL and it’s quarterbacks, the long-term health and availability of goalie depth is a much more important situation than scrambling to find an option for just one game. So just how many NHL teams could survive a stretch without their starter and backup in net?
Ironically, the Patriots’ friends to the north, the Boston Bruins, are one such team. Former Vezina winner Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin, who returns to Boston where he first found NHL success, form a strong tandem in goal for the Bruins, but they are not without options beyond the pair. Top prospect Malcolm Subban has made just one NHL start in his pro career, but has been pushing for big league minutes for years and is considered by many to be one of the best goalies not in the NHL. Called into backup duty would be Zane McIntyre, who has not seen NHL action and was sub-par in his first AHL season, but was unbelievable in the college ranks, with three years of dominant play and a Hobey Baker campaign for the University of North Dakota. The young duo would at least provide Boston with more raw talent and potential than most teams could provide that far down the depth chart.
However, the best team to handle such an apocalyptic event in net is likely the Columbus Blue Jackets. With two promising young goalies with NHL experience in Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg behind incumbents Sergei Bobrovsky and Curtis McElhinney, the transition from one pair to another would not be seamless, but has more long-term potential than nearly any other situation in the NHL. In fact, don’t be surprised if either guy slated for the AHL this year finds themself supplanting McElhinney with the Jackets instead. Another team who could substitute one dynamic duo with another is the Florida Panthers. Many were surprised when Florida went out and traded for Reto Berra and signed James Reimer to a long-term deal this summer, with all-world starter Roberto Luongo already in the fold. It is expected that Berra will join veteran Mike McKenna at the AHL level to start the season, where the pair would provide more experience than nearly any other minor league combo in hockey. Should one or both goalies go down for the Panthers this season, they are well-suited to handle the loss.
The best third-string option in the league? That title belongs to Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets will likely try to find a way to give the young stalwart starts in the NHL this season, though he is buried on the depth chart, alongside fellow high-end prospect Eric Comrie, behind Ondrej Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson. Should either goalie struggle, which would not be a big surprise, or get injured, Winnipeg will not hesitate to put Hellebuyck in a position of responsibility. Should both goalies get hurt in a rare coincidence, Hellebuyck could carry the team with the young Comrie giving him some rest occasionally.
Other teams with ample depth to survive Armageddon in goal: the Montreal Canadiens, who very well may need it considering recent history, with Mike Condon and top prospect Zach Fucale behind franchise cornerstone Carey Price and veteran addition Al Montoya, and the Carolina Hurricanes, who signed journeyman Michael Leighton in part to mentor the high-potential Alex Nedeljkovic while Cam Ward and Eddie Lack handle NHL duties. Perhaps the only team that could take this hypothetical scenario a step further and handle three hurt keepers is the Anaheim Ducks, who sported even more impressive depth before the trade of Frederik Andersen to Toronto, but still have experienced backups Dustin Tokarski and Matt Hackett as well as former UMass-Lowell star Kevin Boyle behind John Gibson and Jonathan Bernier.
No one likes to see any player get injured, nevertheless a goalie and certainly not both goalies. However, these teams have the depth and talent needed to handle such a nightmare scenario and it sure would be interesting to watch them try. As the New England Patriots prepare to tackle their quarterback depth conundrum, keep these goalies in mind should such an event occur during the 2016-17 NHL season.
Shawn Horcoff Retires; Set To Join Red Wings Organization
Shawn Horcoff is calling it a career, at least on the ice. The 15-year NHL veteran is set to retire, but will continue to stick around the game of hockey as an employee of the Detroit Red Wings. As first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the 37-year-old forward will now take on a player development role within the Red Wings organization.
Although Horcoff never played for Detroit, he does call Michigan home and is a former captain and point-per-game player for Michigan State University. The transition from pro player to a coaching capacity will only involve a quick drive down the street. Known for his cerebral play-making, two-way ability, and hockey sense, Horcoff will be a valuable asset for the Red Wings, as they look to develop the next generation of talented forwards.
With over one thousand NHL games in hand, Horcoff retires with quite the successful career. Nowhere was his impact felt more than in Edmonton. A late-round pick by the Oilers in 1998, the swift center worked his way into the lineup in 2000-01 and scored 16 points in 49 games, making an unexpected contribution to Edmonton’s success and playoff contention. His numbers would increase year-by-year, as Horcoff became a vital part of the Oilers core. His best season came in 2005-06 when he put up 73 points in 79 games, including a whopping 51 assists, then added 19 more points as Edmonton shocked the hockey world with a run to the Stanley Cup final.
Horcoff continued to put up consistent points over the next few years in Edmonton, with three straight 50+ point seasons, but his numbers began to tail off after his age-30 season in 2008-09. After four more relatively disappointing seasons leading a more recognizable bottom-dwelling Oilers team, Horcoff was traded to the Dallas Stars before the 2013-14 season. After two more middling seasons in Dallas, Horcoff signed a one-year pact with Anaheim last season, but put up the worst numbers of his career.
Having played out a successful NHL run, Horcoff has likely chosen the correct route, taking up a new role in hockey rather than trying to extend a playing career that has been on the downturn for some time. With undeniable hockey intelligence and a vast set of skills, including a leadership ability that made him captain in Edmonton, Horcoff seems likely to be very successful in his development role with the Red Wings, and once again has a bright future in hockey.
Snapshots: Cap Overages, Strachan, Rinaldo, Stransky
CapFriendly released a series of tweets today outlining the teams that suffered cap overages in 2015-16 and will thus feel the effect in 2016-17. Overage penalties are incurred when players with bonus-laden contracts meet the contractual criteria to receive those bonuses. The resulting payout is attributed to the prior season, in which the bonuses were earned, but if the increases put the team over the salary cap for that year, the overage carries over as a cap penalty in the following season. The following teams had players earn bonuses that put the team’s salary cap payroll over the 2015-16 salary cap limit, and CapFriendly has calculated rough estimates of the accompanying penalty against the 2016-17 cap:
Florida Panthers – $1.42MM
San Jose Sharks – $617K
Detroit Red Wings – $550K
Toronto Maple Leafs – $512K
Edmonton Oilers – $322K
Vancouver Canucks – $315K
Tampa Bay Lightning – $314K
St. Louis Blues – $190K
Unfortunately, but also predictably, many of these teams are already struggling with the off-season salary cap crunch, and must also take these overage penalties into account. The Red Wings are currently further over the cap (about $4.24MM) than any other team in the league and already must be considering trading away a significant piece to become cap compliant. The Leafs and Sharks are also right up against the cap, and overage penalties give them even less cap flexibility to maintain compliance. The Lightning currently have over $6MM in cap space, but have yet to re-sign key restricted free agents Nikita Kucherov and Nikita Nesterov, and the last thing they need is yet another reason why they can’t afford to meet the asking price of the pair.
In other league news:
- Veteran journeyman defenseman Tyson Strachan has signed an AHL deal with the Rochester Americans, the affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced today. Strachan has bounced around the NHL and AHL throughout his career, never finding a permanent home at the big league level. The soon-to-be 32-year-old had his best season in 2014-15 though, with five points in 46 games for none other than the Sabres. Buffalo does not have much depth on the blue line at the AHL level, and Strachan seems likely to earn an upgrade to a two-way deal with his former team should the injury bug strike the defense corp in 2016-17.
- Another player looking to get back to the NHL is the Bruins’ Zac Rinaldo. WEEI’s D.J. Bean caught up with Rinaldo’s agent, Todd Reynolds, who says he hopes to see Rinaldo given another chance this season. After trading a 3rd-round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers last summer to get Rinaldo, Boston was happy with his grit and intensity early in the year. However, as young players pushed for ice time and the Bruins focused more on scoring and fighting for a playoff spot, Rinaldo got into fewer and fewer games. Eventually, he was put on waiver, went unclaimed, and was optioned to AHL Providence in February. Rinaldo was not recalled for the remainder of the season, and now questions what his role is in the organization. While Rinaldo is likely to get the chance to earn a spot in Boston during training camp and the pre-season, the Bruins have several young grinders like Noel Acciari and Tyler Randell who played well last year, as well as young scorers like Seth Griffith, Danton Heinen, and Jake DeBrusk who will look to earn NHL spots. Factor in the additions of Riley Nash and Dominic Moore, and there appears to be very few energy line spots up for grabs. Rinaldo’s NHL future is very much in doubt right now.
- The Bruins are giving another player whose future was once in doubt a fighting chance, as 2016 NHL Draft pass-over Simon Stransky has been invited to rookie camp. The biggest surprise left on the board in June, Stransky was a point-per-game player in juniors this past season, and is considered by many to be an elite offensive talent who is held back by his mediocre defensive game. However, if an organization that emphasizes the two-way game, like the Bruins, can work on developing his defensive game, his scoring and play-making skill could make him a great value find.
2016 World Cup Of Hockey: Final Rosters
The World Cup of Hockey makes it’s triumphant return this Saturday in what should be a competitive and exciting tournament and a great way to kick off the hockey season. The first World Cup since 2004, the tournament will take place in Toronto, Ontario at the Air Canada Centre, unlike its predecessors which featured many venues. The host nation of Canada is one of eight competing teams, which also include the United States, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Team Europe (composed of players from all other European countries), and Team North America (composed of Canadian and American skaters under the age of 24). The tournament will have two groups of teams competing in a round robin format, with two teams advancing to a semi-final knockout round, followed by a best-of-three final series. The groups are divided up as follows:
Group A – Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe, Team U.S.A
Group B – Team Finland, Team North America, Team Russia, Team Sweden
With the pre-tournament wrapping up and the schedule set, the World Cup is about to get underway. Pending any unexpected, last-minute changes, below are the final rosters for each team:
Canada (A)
G Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks
G Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
G Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
D Jay Bouwmeester, St. Louis Blues
D Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
D Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
D Jake Muzzin, Los Angeles Kings
D Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues
D Marc-Edouard Vlasic, San Jose Sharks
D Shea Weber (A), Montreal Canadiens
F Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
F Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
F Sidney Crosby (C), Pittsburgh Penguins
F Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
F Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
F Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
F Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
F Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
F Ryan O’Reilly, Buffalo Sabres
F Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
F John Tavares, New York Islanders
F Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
F Jonathan Toews (A), Chicago Blackhawks
Stanley Cup Odds
Las Vegas odds-maker Bovada released their odds (listed below) for the 2016-17 NHL season today, as well as the odds for each conference and division. Among the surprises was the inclusion of a co-leader alongside the reigning champion Penguins, as the Blackhawks are odds-on favorites win it all out of the West. The (relatively) high ranking of the Edmonton Oilers is also a shock, as the perennial bottom-dwellers of the last decade were given the same odds as a 2015-16 playoff team team, the Philadelphia Flyers. A mash up of Eastern Conference contenders at the 25/1 mark will also confuse many, as the Metropolitan’s Islanders and Rangers performed significantly better than the Atlantic’s Bruins, Red Wings, and Canadiens last year.
Other than the Blackhawks, who have to battle through a tough division simply to make it to the Western Conference Final, and the Oilers, who have yet to prove they can even remain in the playoff conversation past the holidays, the worst bet may be the Dallas Stars. Although they are coming off a strong 2015-16 campaign, the Stars have severe goal-tending problems, a depleted defensive unit, and a pair of banged-up superstars leading their offense. Dallas seems primed for a regression in 2016-17, and their #5 ranking in the odds is a little too high to be a smart take.
The best bet available? Any of the 16/1 teams seem like a smart choice. The Florida Panthers especially have re-tooled this off-season and likely have only Tampa Bay standing between them and an easy division title. The Los Angeles Kings have won two of the last five Stanley Cups and shouldn’t be counted out, and if they do fail to make it out of the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks seem likely to be the ones knocking them out. The Nashville Predators are a dark horse candidate seemingly every season, and after bringing in P.K. Subban, who projects to be a perfect fit in their system, this could finally be the year that the Preds put it all together. The long shot: how about the Carolina Hurricanes, who missed the playoffs in 2015-16 by a handful of points and have several young players just waiting to break out. With the worst odds of any team, that’s a high-yield bet worth making.
Pittsburgh Penguins 9/1
Chicago Blackhawks 9/1
Tampa Bay Lighting 10/1
Washington Capitals 10/1
Dallas Stars 12/1
St. Louis Blues 14/1
San Jose Sharks 14/1
Anaheim Ducks 16/1
Florida Panthers 16/1
Los Angeles Kings 16/1
Nashville Predators 16/1
Boston Bruins 25/1
Detroit Red Wings 25/1
Minnesota Wild 25/1
Montreal Canadiens 25/1
New York Islanders 25/1
New York Rangers 25/1
Edmonton Oilers 33/1
Philadelphia Flyers 33/1
Buffalo Sabres 50/1
Calgary Flames 50/1
Colorado Avalanche 50/1
New Jersey Devils 50/1
Ottawa Senators 50/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 50/1
Winnipeg Jets 50/1
Arizona Coyotes 66/1
Carolina Hurricanes 66/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 66/1
Vancouver Canucks 66/1
2016-17 Season Preview: Dallas Stars
With the NHL season just weeks away, we continue to look around the league and analyze each team’s off-season moves and look ahead to 2016-17. Today, we focus on the Dallas Stars.
Last season: 50-23-9 (109 points), 1st place in the Central Division. Defeated the Minnesota Wild in the first round (4-2), but lost in the second round vs. the St. Louis Blues (4-3)
Cap Space Remaining: $5.98MM according to CapFriendly
Key Newcomers: D Andrew Bodnarchuk (free agency, Colorado Avalanche), LW Adam Cracknell (free agency, Edmonton Oilers), D Dan Hamhuis (free agency, Vancouver Canucks), LW Jiri Hudler (free agency, Florida Panthers)
Key Departures: D Jason Demers (free agency, Florida Panthers), C Vernon Fiddler (free agency, New Jersey Devils), D Alex Goligoski (trade, Arizona Coyotes), LW Travis Moen (unsigned), D Kris Russell (unsigned), RW Colton Sceviour (free agency, Florida Panthers)
Player to Watch: Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi – If there was a clear leader in goal, then just that player would be the one to watch. Unfortunately for Stars fans, both Lehtonen and Niemi played equally poorly in 2015-16 and thus share the blame and the spotlight heading into a new season. The duo almost single-handedly eliminated Dallas from the playoffs last season, as neither could quite figure it out in the postseason. At a combined cap hit of $10.4MM and a league-low .904 save percentage, many thought that something had to change for the Star’s net-minding situation this off-season. However, neither goalie was bought out or (to this point) traded. GM Jim Nill has little that he can do. There is no market for a goalie upgrade without shedding one of the two, and no one is looking to acquire either of the goalies. It appears as if Lehtonen and Niemi will be given a second chance in 2016-17, at least until they force Nill’s hand into making a move. With a depleted defensive unit now playing in front of them, one of the pair will have to step up and claim the starter job with his strong, consistent play, or a potent Dallas offense could be rendered meaningless this season. The ship that is the Stars’ 2016-17 season is about to depart, and whether it will sink or float depends on the play in net.
Key Storyline: No team in recent memory has lost more talent from their blue line in one fell swoop than the Dallas Stars did this summer. Dallas perhaps overestimated their potential salary cap crunch, as they first traded elite puck-mover Alex Goligoski to the Arizona Coyotes, where he signed a long-term extension worth $5.475MM per year. They then sat back and watched as solid two-way defenseman Jason Demers capitalized on his free agency and signed with the Florida Panthers at a $4.5MM clip. With almost $6MM remaining in cap space (having not yet re-signed RFA winger Valeri Nichushkin), the Stars likely could have found a way to bring back one of the pair. They did go out and sign veteran blue liner Dan Hamhuis though. Hamhuis was first targeted by the Stars at the 2016 Trade Deadline, but a deal could not be worked out and the team instead acquired the stay-at-home shot blocker Kris Russell. The addition of Hamhuis will help to make up for the loss of Goligoski and Demers, though the 33-year-old has had durability concerns and a drop-off in production over the past few years and will not be able to totally replace either of the two departed top defenseman. Assuming that a reunion with the still-unsigned Russell is also unlikely, the Stars will enter 2016-17 with three of their postseason top four now gone. Young stud John Klingberg will have to carry even more weight for the defense this year, while inexperienced players like Stephen Johns, Esa Lindell, and Patrik Nemeth will also be expected to step up their games. Look for veteran defenseman Johnny Oduya to play a bigger role with the Stars in his second season in Dallas as well. If the Stars want to win the Central Division again, and even attempt to reach the Stanley Cup Final, they need their defense to do it’s best to play up to their championship-caliber offense.
2016 World Cup Of Hockey: Schedule
The World Cup of Hockey makes it’s triumphant return this Saturday in what should be a competitive and exciting tournament and a great way to kick off the hockey season. The first World Cup since 2004, the tournament will take place in Toronto, Ontario at the Air Canada Centre, unlike its predecessors which featured many venues. The host nation of Canada is one of eight competing teams, which also include the United States, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Team Europe (composed of players from all other European countries), and Team North America (composed of Canadian and American skaters under the age of 24). The tournament will have two groups of teams competing in a round robin format, with two teams advancing to a semi-final knockout round, followed by a best-of-three final series. The groups are divided up as follows:
Group A – Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe, Team U.S.A
Group B – Team Finland, Team North America, Team Russia, Team Sweden
With the pre-tournament wrapping up and final rosters set, the World Cup is about to get underway. Below is the schedule for the tournament:
Group Stage (Round Robin)
Saturday, September 17th
Group A: United States at Europe (3:30pm EST)
Group A: Czech Republic at Canada (8pm EST)
Sunday, September 18th
Group B: Sweden at Russia (3pm EST)
Group B: North America at Finland (8pm EST)
Monday, September 19th
Group A: Europe at Czech Republic (3pm EST)
Group B: Russia at North America (8pm EST)
Tuesday, September 20th
Group B: Finland at Sweden (3pm EST)
Group A: Canada at United States (8pm EST)
Wednesday, September 21st
Group B: North America at Sweden (3pm EST)
Group A: Europe at Canada (8pm EST)
Thursday, September 22nd
Group B: Finland at Russia (3pm EST)
Group A: United States at Czech Republic (8pm EST)
Semi-Final Round
Saturday, September 24th
Group B 2nd-place at Group A winner (7pm EST)
Sunday, September 25th
Group A 2nd-place at Group B winner (1pm EST)
Final Round
Tuesday, September 27th
Game One (8pm EST)
Thursday, September 29th
Game Two (8pm EST)
Saturday, October 1st
Game Three* (7pm EST)
*if neccessary
Seguin Expected To Miss World Cup With Injury
UPDATE (8:20pm CT): Buffalo Sabres forward Ryan O’Reilly will replace Seguin on Team Canada, the league announced in a press release tonight. Although O’Reilly was not considered one of the most likely replacement candidates (the Hall omission continues to puzzle many), he brings a strong all-around game and two-way ability, adding some versatility and defensive presence to the Canadian forward corp. Seguin has officially been ruled out of the World Cup.
It seems as though another Team Canada forward has fallen victim to the injury bug. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos first reported that Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin sustained an injury during the pre-tournament for the World Cup of Hockey and is now likely to miss the actual event. Kypreos added that the injury, believed to be concerning his right knee, is not deemed to be serious. However, Seguin likely needs a week or more to recover, which is time that Team Canada does not have. They are likely to leave Seguin off of the roster, meaning he will miss the entirety of the World Cup. Elliotte Friedman has corroborated the story, and reports that an official announcement is expected tomorrow.
This injury comes after fellow Team Canada forward, Los Angeles Kings center Jeff Carter, was hurt while training for the World Cup. As they did when Carter went down and was replaced by Corey Perry, it seems likely that Canada will add another winger to a center-heavy roster. The team has 24 hours to make an addition before the tournament officially begins. The top candidate is likely to be the newest New Jersey Devil, Taylor Hall, who would be a fitting replacement for Seguin, as the top two 2010 draft picks will forever have their careers compared to one another. Depth is hardly an issue for the Canadian side though, and there are any number of options should they choose to add another body to the roster.
Seguin meanwhile will look toward getting healthy for the start of the NHL season. With line mate and fellow NHL star Jamie Benn also on the shelf, recovering from injury, the Stars hope that the pair can rest up and be ready for puck drop on the 2016-17 campaign. The team is hopeful that Benn will be at 100% by game time, and Seguin’s injury is not considered serious, so he too is likely to be ready for action when the new season begins next month.
Can’t Miss Games Of The 2016-17 Season: March and April
The start of the NHL regular season may be a month away with the World Cup of Hockey and preseason still to come, but it’s never too early to get excited for the best slate of games the NHL has to offer this season. Here are the can’t miss-games for the stretch run:
March 2nd – Nashville Predators vs. Montreal Canadiens
Will any game this season get more hype from the Canadian hockey media than P.K. Subban‘s return to Montreal? Doubtful. The affects of the blockbuster that swapped Subban for Shea Weber will have been well-documented by this point in the season, but that won’t stop this game from being a must-see due to the massive media coverage and potential for drama. Also, while the Predators and Canadiens are good teams, neither is assured a playoff spot this season, and a win could go a long way at this point in the season. This will be a hard-fought battle.
March 22nd – New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers
The cross-town foes face off for the final time in the regular season, as the Rangers host the Isles at Madison Square Garden. This rivalry has really heated up in recent years, and 2016-17 should be more of the same. With play-off implications, a whole season’s worth of rivalry repercussions to wrap up, and the spotlight of NYC sports fans without football and baseball, the final battle for New York promises to deliver.
April 9th – New Jersey Devils vs. Detroit Red Wings
On the final day of the regular season, the Red Wings and their fans will say goodbye to the legendary Joe Louis Arena, as they move to a new building for 2017-18 and beyond. An organization that has had so much success will have many fond memories to recall of the old rink and celebrations will certainly be in order. That is, unless the last game at the Joe is also the last game of the Red Wings season…
April 9th – Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks
Later that night, the NHL caps off another regular season with a SoCal rivalry game. The Kings and Ducks, along with the Sharks, have turned the West Coast into hockey country, and a final chance at re-sorting the playoff picture with a fight between two great teams and bitter rivals was excellent scheduling. The playoffs might be just around the corner, but for a preview of playoff intensity, tune in to this one.
Can’t Miss Games Of The 2016-17 Season: January and February
The start of the NHL regular season may be a month away with the World Cup of Hockey and preseason still to come, but it’s never too early to get excited for the best slate of games the NHL has to offer this season. Here are the can’t miss-games for the start of the new year:
January 1st – Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
An Original Six battle AND it’s outdoors. That’s what the NHL is bringing fans with the Centennial Classic, kicking off the 100th season of the league. The Atlantic Division foes will take the ice at BMO Field on New Year’s Day, as Mike Babcock takes on his former team, who will be marching towards their 26th straight playoff appearance.
January 2nd – Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues
The Winter Classic gets bumped to the next day, as the St. Louis Blues will host an outdoor game against the rival Chicago Blackhawks. While tight playoff races will still be months away, the first battle between Central Division contenders in the new year could have a lasting affect on their postseason chances. This is one you don’t want to miss.
January 12th – New Jersey Devils vs. Edmonton Oilers
In one of this summer’s biggest moves, the Oilers traded franchise cornerstone Taylor Hall to the Devils in exchange for defenseman Adam Larsson. What will happen when the former face of the franchise returns to Edmonton? If the teams’ performances to this point haven’t pointed to a winner in the deal, then this game should give everyone a good idea.
February 25th – Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Yet another outdoor contest, the Penguins and Flyers, perhaps the best rivalry in hockey right now, square off at Heinz Field in an epic showdown. With more than just a win on the line, prepare for a big-time battle between two talented teams. An added bonus: the trade deadline will be just days away, adding more pressure to the result of the game if one (or both) of these teams find themselves on the buyer-seller line this season.