Poll: Who Will Be The First Coach Fired In 2018-19?
Not a single NHL head coach was fired during the 2017-18 season, though several changes have been made since. Barry Trotz and Bill Peters resigned their positions in Washington and Carolina, and were each hired to replace the outgoing bench bosses in New York and Calgary. Those two were Doug Weight and Glen Gulutzan, who both failed to get their teams to the playoffs in year two of their coaching history (Weight replaced Jack Capuano partway through the 2016-17 season). Assistant coaches moved up the ladder in Washington and Carolina, while the NCAA ranks were mined for new openings for the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers. Jim Montgomery and David Quinn took over for Ken Hitchcock and Alain Vingeault respectively, bringing new ideas and fresh faces to the NHL coaching circuit.
It’s not new for coaches to be fired in the offseason, but seeing no one sent packing during the year is a very rare occurrence. It was the first time it had happened since 1966-67, meaning the likelihood of it happening again in 2018-19 seems very low. So then, who will be the first to feel the seat burning underneath him? The last time we asked a question like this the readers correctly guessed that Vingeault was on his way out, but also listed Claude Julien in Montreal, Jeff Blashill in Detroit and Rick Tocchet in Arizona as possibilities.
Who will be the first coach fired in 2018-19? Will it happen at all? Cast your vote below and make sure to explain why in the comment section.
Who will be the first coach fired in 2018-19?
-
Guy Boucher - Ottawa Senators 15% (274)
-
Todd McLellan - Edmonton Oilers 14% (258)
-
Claude Julien - Montreal Canadiens 12% (232)
-
Jeff Blashill - Detroit Red Wings 8% (145)
-
Joel Quenneville - Chicago Blackhawks 6% (120)
-
Randy Carlyle - Anaheim Ducks 5% (95)
-
John Tortorella - Columbus Blue Jackets 5% (93)
-
Mike Yeo - St. Louis Blues 5% (92)
-
Dave Hakstol - Philadelphia Flyers 4% (67)
-
Bruce Boudreau - Minnesota Wild 3% (65)
-
No coaches will be fired in 2018-19 3% (64)
-
Phil Housley - Buffalo Sabres 3% (51)
-
Rick Tocchet - Arizona Coyotes 2% (40)
-
Travis Green - Vancouver Canucks 2% (33)
-
Mike Babcock - Toronto Maple Leafs 2% (32)
-
John Stevens - Los Angeles Kings 1% (25)
-
Rod Brind'Amour - Carolina Hurricanes 1% (23)
-
Todd Reirden - Washington Capitals 1% (20)
-
David Quinn - New York Rangers 1% (18)
-
Mike Sullivan - Pittsburgh Penguins 1% (15)
-
Paul Maurice - Winnipeg Jets 1% (14)
-
Bruce Cassidy - Boston Bruins 1% (13)
-
Bill Peters - Calgary Flames 1% (13)
-
Jim Montgomery - Dallas Stars 1% (11)
-
Peter DeBoer - San Jose Sharks 1% (11)
-
Bob Boughner - Florida Panthers 1% (10)
-
Jared Bednar - Colorado Avalanche 0% (9)
-
Peter Laviolette - Nashville Predators 0% (9)
-
Jon Cooper - Tampa Bay Lightning 0% (9)
-
Barry Trotz - New York Islanders 0% (7)
-
John Hynes - New Jersey Devils 0% (4)
-
Gerard Gallant - Vegas Golden Knights 0% (3)
Total votes: 1,875
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Poll: Which Playoff Team Won’t Make It In 2019?
Yesterday we asked which non-playoff team would end up in the postseason tournament in 2019, and the St. Louis Blues have received a huge amount of support. After some big moves this offseason including acquiring Ryan O’Reilly, Tyler Bozak and David Perron, the Blues are leading the poll with almost 30% of the vote. That’s more than 700 votes ahead of the Ottawa Senators, who are bringing up the rear with just 0.82% of voters thinking they’ll make it back. St. Louis is certainly a good candidate to make it back to the postseason, but the second place team might be an even more interesting case.
The Buffalo Sabres finished dead last in 2017-18 and were lucky enough to win the rights to draft defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, and yet sit second in our poll of teams who could make the jump to the postseason. One would think it’s not often that teams go from dead last in the NHL to the playoffs in one season, but it has actually happened the past two years. The Toronto Maple Leafs rode a rookie wave led by Auston Matthews to sneak into the playoffs in 2016-17, and the Colorado Avalanche found incredible success on the back of Nathan MacKinnon last year. Can the Sabres make it a three-peat of teams going from prison-to-playoffs?
If the Sabres or Blues are to make it into the postseason in 2018-19, someone else will have to drop out. Today we ask you to predict what team that will be, given their offseason and situation heading into next year. Will a superstar-driven team experience a drop like the Edmonton Oilers did last season, when even Connor McDavid‘s second consecutive Ted Lindsay Award wasn’t enough to get them to the playoffs? Which team will blow it up at the deadline and admit they can’t truly contend for the Stanley Cup like the New York Rangers did earlier this year? Who will be the biggest disappointment and miss the playoffs entirely despite loading up this summer?
Cast your vote below and make sure to leave your reasoning in the comment section!
Which playoff team won't make it in 2019?
-
Vegas Golden Knights 16% (295)
-
Minnesota Wild 15% (283)
-
New Jersey Devils 15% (274)
-
Colorado Avalanche 12% (220)
-
Anaheim Ducks 12% (219)
-
Columbus Blue Jackets 7% (126)
-
Philadelphia Flyers 6% (117)
-
Los Angeles Kings 6% (104)
-
Toronto Maple Leafs 4% (73)
-
San Jose Sharks 2% (40)
-
Boston Bruins 2% (32)
-
Washington Capitals 1% (25)
-
Pittsburgh Penguins 1% (23)
-
Winnipeg Jets 1% (20)
-
Nashville Predators 0% (9)
-
Tampa Bay Lightning 0% (4)
Total votes: 1,864
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Poll: Which Non-Playoff Team Will Make It In 2019?
We’ve seen a large amount of turnover on NHL rosters over the last few months, with the trade deadline, entry draft and plenty of action in free agency. Now as we get closer to training camp every team in the NHL has its sights set on the playoffs and a chance at the Stanley Cup. Even those who finished outside the postseason picture last season are aiming for a different result in 2018-19, and everyone who did get into the tournament is just hoping to hold on.
Last summer we asked which non-playoff team from 2016-17 would make it in 2017-18 and the results were clear. The Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning were the easy favorites, earning more than 18% of the vote each. Unfortunately for Dallas that prediction didn’t come true, as the team missed the postseason for second consecutive year. Not so for the Lightning though, who bounced back from an injury plagued year to once again be a force in the Eastern Conference.
Interestingly the Colorado Avalanche came in last with just 11 votes (0.73%) after posting a historically bad 2016-17 season, and yet the team bounced back and just made the playoffs in the Western Conference. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen were a huge part of that, but a solid performance by the entire roster should be credited for them finding their footing again last season. Can the Buffalo Sabres do a similar basement-to-playoffs run in 2018-19 with their young core of Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin and Casey Mittelstadt?
Cast your vote below on who you think will make the playoffs in 2018-19 and make sure to explain your choice in the comment section below. Even leave your thoughts on who will fail to reach the postseason next year.
Which non-playoff team will make it in 2019?
-
St. Louis Blues 30% (868)
-
Buffalo Sabres 10% (296)
-
Edmonton Oilers 9% (269)
-
Calgary Flames 9% (251)
-
Chicago Blackhawks 9% (250)
-
Dallas Stars 6% (172)
-
Florida Panthers 6% (168)
-
New York Islanders 5% (136)
-
Detroit Red Wings 4% (124)
-
Carolina Hurricanes 3% (101)
-
New York Rangers 3% (92)
-
Arizona Coyotes 3% (75)
-
Montreal Canadiens 2% (66)
-
Vancouver Canucks 1% (30)
-
Ottawa Senators 1% (26)
Total votes: 2,924
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Poll: Should The Ottawa Senators Trade Mark Stone?
The Ottawa Senators have just two weeks to sign Mark Stone before an arbitrator awards a one-year contract that would send him to unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019. His hearing is scheduled for August 3rd, after which there will still be a short window to get a deal done before the one-year deal is awarded. Getting him signed to a multi-year contract appears to be a priority, but what if the team can’t get him to sign this summer?
If Stone makes it to the arbitration award and the Senators decide not to walk away from it, it would put them in an interesting situation. He wouldn’t be eligible to sign an extension—or even discuss one—until January 1st, 2019 since he’s on a one-year deal, which would also put him just a few months from the end of the season and a potential bidding war for his services on the open market. After all, Stone has developed into one of the most consistent two-way wingers in the NHL and put up 62 points in just 58 games during the 2017-18 season. His ability to create turnovers and strip unsuspecting players of the puck is almost unmatched around the league, and he can be used in many different offensive roles depending on the situation. Though there are other top forwards scheduled for free agency next offseason, Stone would be right among them as one of the top options available.
So, if there is any indication that Stone won’t sign a multi-year contract in the next two weeks should the Senators consider trading him? The team has already lost Mike Hoffman this summer to the Florida Panthers, and traded Dion Phaneuf at the deadline to free up some cap space last season. If it’s to be believed that captain Erik Karlsson is the next one out the door, what is left for Stone to accomplish this season for the club? The Senators aren’t expected to compete for the playoffs let alone the Stanley Cup, and could be several years away from contention given that they also owe their 2019 first-round pick to Colorado for Matt Duchene—who is also scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2019. Would moving Stone following his arbitration hearing be the ideal time? Should the team be considering it even if they can work out a multi-year deal with their 26-year old forward? Or is waiting to see how the team reacts this year the best option?
Cast your vote below and explain how you’d be approaching the situation in Ottawa if you were GM Pierre Dorion. Is Stone part of the turnaround, or just an asset to get a head start on the incoming rebuild?
Should the Ottawa Senators trade Mark Stone?
-
Yes 56% (538)
-
No 44% (429)
Total votes: 967
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Poll: Who Will Be The Next Big Name To Be Traded?
We’re getting close to the slowest time of the year for NHL news, as arbitration cases start to be wrapped up and teams are finished their free agent shopping. Through August there won’t be a ton of intrigue in terms of new contracts, but it’s shaping up to be a very interesting month with regards to the trade market.
The biggest name remains Erik Karlsson, the Ottawa Senators captain who is heading into the final year of his current contract. Still a superstar defenseman, Karlsson could command a huge package from nearly any team in the league if he’s willing to sign an extension, but his feelings on the situation still aren’t entirely clear. Now 28 years old, Karlsson has always maintained his love for the city of Ottawa and it’s not exactly apparent where else he would want to spend the next chapter of his life and career. To give up a package including top prospects, an acquiring team would want to know they have him for more than just one year.
Other than Karlsson though, there are other huge names still floating out there. Artemi Panarin, Max Pacioretty and Jeff Skinner have all been rumored as available in one sense or another and could supply a big offensive boost to any acquiring team. Panarin especially could draw a huge package given his overall offensive repertoire, but all three are marked with the same issue that hurts Karlsson’s trade value—each of them has just one year left on their current deals.
It seems unlikely that all of them will begin the year on their current teams, but the market has been quiet for some time as teams deal with other things. That might change in August after arbitration ends, and teams have a full concept of where their financial situation and roster structure has landed. Who do you think will be the first to move? We’ve included a list of oft-rumored players, but feel free to share your idea in the comments below!
Who will be the next big name to be traded?
-
Max Pacioretty 34% (403)
-
Erik Karlsson 19% (229)
-
Artemi Panarin 17% (202)
-
Jeff Skinner 13% (158)
-
Justin Faulk 10% (125)
-
Jason Zucker 3% (32)
-
Other (leave in comments) 3% (30)
-
Oscar Klefbom 2% (20)
Total votes: 1,199
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Poll: Who Has Had The Worst Offseason So Far?
The free agent market is nearly completely dry—though there remains a few bargain additions who could provide some value on defense—and many teams have already blown their cap space for next season. The trade market has already seen most of its action, and though Erik Karlsson and Max Pacioretty are still expected to be moved there may not be many improvements left to be made for the majority of the league.
Yesterday we asked which team had improved the most through the first part of the offseason, and the answer was clear among our readers. More than 31% of the vote went to the St. Louis Blues, with the Toronto Maple Leafs coming in with 24% as well. No other team registered even 7%, while Nashville was the only team who didn’t receive a single vote. Today we ask the opposite: who has had the worst offseason so far?
The first reaction may be to look at where the Blues and Maple Leafs acquired their biggest additions. St. Louis signed David Perron and Tyler Bozak out of Vegas and Toronto respectively, but made the most significant change by trading for Ryan O’Reilly from the Buffalo Sabres. The Blues clearly improved for next season in the deal, but it’s hard to write off what the Sabres got in return. The two franchises are at very different stages in their competitive windows, and while Patrik Berglund and Vladimir Sobotka were overpaid, underperforming players for St. Louis, they are also substantial improvements to the bottom-six for the Sabres.
For Toronto, their only real big move has come at the hands of the New York Islanders. John Tavares left the only team he’s ever known to return to the place he grew up, and no franchise would be able to immediately fill the hole left by a franchise center. The Islanders though have tried to fill it with several players, inking a number of depth forwards in an attempt to spread out some of the load next season. Toronto themselves lost a lot in free agency, seeing Bozak and James van Riemsdyk head to new locales. They’ll be just fine with their summer thanks to the addition of Tavares, but it didn’t come without a cost.
There are plenty of teams who made almost no splash at all when free agency opened. The New Jersey Devils tried but failed to add to their forward group, while the San Jose Sharks didn’t add a single unrestricted free agent outside of Joe Thornton and Dylan DeMelo, both of whom are returning to the team they’ve played on for years. Then there are the teams who found themselves selling instead of buying. The Ottawa Senators have dealt with scandal after scandal the past few months, and ended up having to move out Mike Hoffman at a discount and now may move their franchise defenseman before the season begins. The Montreal Canadiens swapped out Alex Galchenyuk for Max Domi, but were also told that Paul Byron, Andrew Shaw and Shea Weber would all likely miss the start of the season—the latter in danger of missing much more.
Cast your vote below on who you believe has had the worst offseason so far, taking into account all that has happened since the Stanley Cup was awarded to the Washington Capitals. Make sure to explain your reasoning in the comment section below.
Which team has had the worst offseason so far?
-
New York Islanders 23% (845)
-
Ottawa Senators 18% (670)
-
Montreal Canadiens 18% (645)
-
Chicago Blackhawks 7% (251)
-
Vancouver Canucks 4% (131)
-
New Jersey Devils 3% (115)
-
Edmonton Oilers 3% (99)
-
New York Rangers 3% (98)
-
Minnesota Wild 3% (93)
-
Boston Bruins 2% (81)
-
Anaheim Ducks 2% (68)
-
Winnipeg Jets 2% (64)
-
Toronto Maple Leafs 2% (61)
-
Pittsburgh Penguins 1% (54)
-
Columbus Blue Jackets 1% (44)
-
San Jose Sharks 1% (37)
-
Detroit Red Wings 1% (31)
-
Washington Capitals 1% (27)
-
Vegas Golden Knights 1% (26)
-
Nashville Predators 1% (24)
-
Carolina Hurricanes 1% (22)
-
Dallas Stars 1% (22)
-
Los Angeles Kings 1% (21)
-
St. Louis Blues 1% (20)
-
Calgary Flames 0% (18)
-
Philadelphia Flyers 0% (17)
-
Buffalo Sabres 0% (16)
-
Arizona Coyotes 0% (13)
-
Tampa Bay Lightning 0% (12)
-
Colorado Avalanche 0% (11)
-
Florida Panthers 0% (7)
Total votes: 3,643
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Poll: Which Team Has Improved The Most So Far?
The summer of 2018 has already seen quite a few huge changes across the NHL landscape. Though the free agent market was relatively thin, it included one of the best players to ever see the open market in John Tavares. The Toronto boy chose his hometown Maple Leafs, making up for some of the losses the rest of their roster experienced. The Islanders decided to go with a committee approach to replace Tavares, and could find themselves with a more balanced attack in 2018-19.
There were others who hit big in free agency, even if they missed out on the top name. The Philadelphia Flyers brought in a familiar face in James van Riemsdyk, giving their top-six another 30-goal scorer and powerplay specialist while the Vegas Golden Knights added some more center depth in Paul Stastny and an underrated defenseman in Nick Holden.
The St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames were both busy in free agency, adding the likes of David Perron, Tyler Bozak, James Neal and Derek Ryan, but did their biggest damage on the trade market. The Blues brought in Ryan O’Reilly to solidify the center position, while the Flames flipped Dougie Hamilton and others for more young talent. Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin are expected to play large roles with Calgary next season, as they try to bounce back from their disappointing season.
What about a team like the Buffalo Sabres, who added some experience with players like Conor Sheary, Carter Hutton, Matt Hunwick, Vladimir Sobotka and Patrik Berglund, while also landing the top pick in the draft. Rasmus Dahlin is expected to make an impact for the Sabres right away, and could make the team a playoff contender immediately with some improved performances around him. The Detroit Red Wings also added a ton of talent through the draft, but likely won’t see it pay off for several seasons. They instead hope that Jonathan Bernier and others can help them stay competitive in the short term.
So who is the most improved for 2018-19? Which team will take the biggest step forward, and who can place the credit for that on their new additions? Cast your vote below, and make sure to explain your position in the comments.
Which team has improved the most?
-
St. Louis Blues 32% (668)
-
Toronto Maple Leafs 24% (501)
-
Calgary Flames 7% (141)
-
Buffalo Sabres 7% (138)
-
Carolina Hurricanes 6% (132)
-
Philadelphia Flyers 3% (68)
-
Detroit Red Wings 2% (50)
-
New York Islanders 2% (40)
-
Pittsburgh Penguins 2% (34)
-
Tampa Bay Lightning 1% (30)
-
Arizona Coyotes 1% (29)
-
Los Angeles Kings 1% (29)
-
Boston Bruins 1% (27)
-
New York Rangers 1% (27)
-
Vancouver Canucks 1% (26)
-
Washington Capitals 1% (23)
-
Colorado Avalanche 1% (19)
-
Chicago Blackhawks 1% (18)
-
Vegas Golden Knights 1% (16)
-
Edmonton Oilers 1% (14)
-
Dallas Stars 1% (12)
-
San Jose Sharks 1% (12)
-
Winnipeg Jets 1% (12)
-
Florida Panthers 0% (9)
-
Montreal Canadiens 0% (9)
-
Ottawa Senators 0% (8)
-
Minnesota Wild 0% (5)
-
New Jersey Devils 0% (5)
-
Columbus Blue Jackets 0% (3)
-
Anaheim Ducks 0% (2)
-
Nashville Predators 0% (0)
Total votes: 2,107
Poll: Where Will Ilya Kovalchuk Sign?
One of the biggest question marks this summer is the potential return of KHL superstar Ilya Kovalchuk. Though he’s made it known he wants to return to the NHL this season, there isn’t a clear front-runner to sign the 35-year old winger. The teams in New York and Florida were reported as his preferred destinations last summer, but now that he is an unrestricted free agent there could be any number of teams reaching out. Indeed we heard recently that his new agent J.P. Barry has been discussing Kovalchuk with several teams, but don’t know who those are.
The Rangers were once believed to be interested, though now that they’re heading into a mini-rebuild could avoid going after the veteran forward. After trading Ryan McDonagh, J.T. Miller, Derek Stepan, Rick Nash and more over the last few years, New York is trying to get faster and younger to compete in the new NHL. Kovalchuk doesn’t really fit that mold, but would certainly be a big attraction at Madison Square Garden should he end up there.
Florida could use some more firepower up front and has former teammate Evgeni Dadonov under contract, but might be happy plugging in younger options like Henrik Borgstrom and Maxim Mamin. The Panthers also aren’t flush with cap room, unless Kovalchuk was one of their only moves of the summer. Still, they could be an enticing option if they believe that the team can compete in 2018-19.
The Islanders are probably the most interesting contender right now, as they’re in one of his preferred destinations and just hired Lou Lamoriello, the same man who signed Kovalchuk to a 15-year $100MM contract in 2010. Obviously Lamoriello felt strongly about Kovalchuk’s talent at that point, but there’s no telling what he thinks this time around. The Islanders are working to re-sign John Tavares and compete right away, and adding a five-time 40-goal man wouldn’t hurt either situation.
Where do you think Kovalchuk will land? Does he stay on the east coast as expected last summer, or will he end up out west? Is Lamoriello the one to bring him back to the NHL, or has that bridge been burned? Vote below and make sure to leave your explanation in the comments.
Where will Ilya Kovalchuk sign?
-
New York Islanders 23% (294)
-
New York Rangers 22% (287)
-
Other 21% (277)
-
Vegas Golden Knights 10% (130)
-
KHL 9% (112)
-
Florida Panthers 7% (96)
-
Dallas Stars 5% (66)
-
San Jose Sharks 3% (38)
Total votes: 1,300
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Poll: Where Will Rick Nash Play In 2018-19?
The Boston Bruins have been eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, losing in five games at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning. After destroying the Lightning in game 1, the Bruins lost the next four and were eventually done in by a lack of secondary scoring and the depth of the Tampa Bay squad.
One player who seemed to embody the Bruins play all series was Rick Nash, who scored two goals in the first game and then was held to just a single assist in the following four. Nash, who was acquired at the trade deadline for a hefty sum, is now looking at unrestricted free agency later this summer, provided he doesn’t re-sign in Boston.
That price that the Bruins were forced to pay, a first-round pick, Ryan Lindgren and Ryan Spooner, looks even more expensive now that Boston has been knocked out in the second round. Re-signing Nash could dull the sting of losing out on those young assets, especially if it came at a reasonable price. After all, the soon to be 34-year old did record 21 goals this season and is still a positive possession player at both ends of the rink.
The question is will the Bruins even try to bring him back after a disappointing playoff run? Nash seemed open to the idea soon after the trade, but as Ty Anderson of 985 The Sports Hub tweets, it seems more likely that most of Boston’s pending unrestricted free agents will not return. With more young players ready to make an impact, the team could instead try to use some of their remaining cap space on a bigger fish, and fill in the rest of the spots internally.
Still, there is no doubt that Nash will have suitors on the open market. Just as several teams showed interest at the trade deadline, there will be some who point to his solid defensive play and still respectable offensive totals and see a useful player who could be acquired on a reasonable contract. There’s no way the veteran forward will be able to demand the kind of salary he’s been earning in recent years, but a multi-year contract is not out of the question.
Where do you think Nash will end up? Could Boston re-sign him for a smaller salary and try to recoup some of the value they sent to New York at the deadline? Could another team swoop in and make him a multi-year offer to join their playoff hopes? Will he return to one of his old stomping grounds in New York or Columbus to try and find a spark of past glory? Make sure to leave your reasoning in the comments below.
Where will Rick Nash play in 2018-19?
-
New York Rangers 21% (366)
-
Boston Bruins 15% (267)
-
Columbus Blue Jackets 9% (160)
-
Toronto Maple Leafs 5% (87)
-
New Jersey Devils 3% (58)
-
Pittsburgh Penguins 3% (56)
-
Buffalo Sabres 3% (51)
-
Vegas Golden Knights 3% (51)
-
Chicago Blackhawks 3% (50)
-
Edmonton Oilers 3% (47)
-
Montreal Canadiens 2% (44)
-
Philadelphia Flyers 2% (44)
-
Los Angeles Kings 2% (40)
-
Vancouver Canucks 2% (40)
-
Dallas Stars 2% (39)
-
New York Islanders 2% (38)
-
San Jose Sharks 2% (37)
-
St. Louis Blues 2% (35)
-
Detroit Red Wings 2% (31)
-
Minnesota Wild 2% (27)
-
Arizona Coyotes 1% (23)
-
Carolina Hurricanes 1% (23)
-
Florida Panthers 1% (23)
-
Nashville Predators 1% (22)
-
Anaheim Ducks 1% (21)
-
Calgary Flames 1% (19)
-
Washington Capitals 1% (18)
-
Winnipeg Jets 1% (15)
-
Colorado Avalanche 1% (13)
-
Tampa Bay Lightning 1% (12)
-
Ottawa Senators 1% (11)
Total votes: 1,768
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Poll: Was The Tom Wilson Punishment Appropriate?
Last night the hammer came down on Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson, when the Department of Player Safety suspended him for three playoff games. That matches Nazem Kadri as the longest suspension of these playoffs, and could potentially remove Wilson from the rest of the second round matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The league took several factors into account, including Wilson’s history—he’s already served two suspensions since last season—and Zach Aston-Reese‘ resulting injury. Some have to wonder though if Wilson’s other incidents this postseason also factored into the decision. Wilson was involved in hits on both Brian Dumoulin and Alexander Wennberg that were reviewed by the league, but deemed not worth of supplementary discipline.
In this case, the responses to the suspension have been all over the map. Some believe the hit wasn’t even worthy of a suspension, while others think Wilson should be serving even longer for his repeated physical play.
Now, we’d like to quantify those beliefs. Vote below on whether you think the penalty was too harsh, too light or just right. Explain in the comments how long or short you believe it should have been, or if you think he shouldn’t have been punished at all.
These have been a playoffs full of suspensions, and it doesn’t look like they’ll end here.
Was Tom Wilson's punishment appropriate?
-
Three games is too many 44% (516)
-
Three games is too few 33% (389)
-
Three games is just right 23% (274)
Total votes: 1,179
[Mobile users click here to vote!]